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This study explored the development of the Jordanian schools' administrations within the concept of the mutual psychological contract between school principals and teachers. The study employed the descriptive developmental approach. Two scales were developed, the scale of the school's commitment to the psychological contract with teachers, which consisted of (30) items, and the scale of teachers' commitment to the psychological contract with the school, which consisted of (22) items. The sample of the study consisted of (431) teachers and (117) principals at the end of the academic year 2020/2021. The results revealed that the degree of commitment among school principals to the psychological contract with teachers was average. The differences were statistically significant in favor of the teachers with long experience, and the differences were not significant for the rest of the variables. The results of the study also indicated that the degree of teachers' commitment to the psychological contract with school principals was average. The differences were statistically significant in favor of school principals with short experiences. Mechanisms for developing school administration in Jordan were suggested, and several recommendations were made.

The present work aims to study the effect of the CuSO4 additive on the physical and radiation-shielding properties of polyepoxide resins. As a result, a series of four samples with the chemical composition xCuSO4 + (100 − x) (epoxy resin and hardener) was synthesized. The fabrication of samples was performed under atmospheric pressure and at room temperature. The density of the fabricated CuSO4-doped polyepoxides resin was measured experimentally using an MH-300A densimeter with an accuracy of 0.001 mg·cm−3. A narrow beam transmission method with an NaI (Tl) detector was used to evaluate and describe the effect of CuSO4 on the linear attenuation coefficient of the fabricated composites in the γ-ray energy interval, which ranged between 33 and 1,332 keV. The estimated results showed a high enhancement in the µ values that increased from 0.259 to 1.749 cm−1, raising the CuSO4 concentration from 0 to 40 wt% at a γ-photon energy of 33 keV. The enhancement in the µ values decreased with an increase in the γ-photon energy to 1,332 keV, whereas the µ values increased from 0.077 to 0.102 cm−1 with an increase in the CuSO4 concentration between 0 and 40 wt%, respectively. This showed that increased µ values positively affected the half-value thickness (Δ 0.5, cm), mean free path (λ, cm), lead equivalent thickness (Δ eq, cm), and the transmission factor (%); all of the mentioned parameters suffer a considerable decrease with increasing CuSO4 concentration between 0 and 40 wt%.

In the 21st century, complex problem-solving (CPS) serves as a key indicator of educational achievement. However, the elements of successful CPS have not yet been fully explored. This study investigates the role of strategic exploration and different problem-solving and test-taking behaviors in CPS success, using logfile data to visualize and quantify students’ problem-solving behavior on 10 CPS problems with different characteristics and levels of difficulty. Additionally, in the present study, we go beyond the limits of most studies that focus on students’ problem-solving behavior pattern analyses in European cultures and education systems to examine Arabic students’ CPS behavior. The results show that computer-based assessments of CPS are feasible and valid in Jordanian higher education. The findings also confirm the structural validity of CPS, indicating that the processes of knowledge acquisition (KAC) and knowledge application (KAP) can be distinguished and separated in the problem-solving process. Large differences were identified in students’ test-taking behavior in terms of the efficacy of their exploration strategy. We identified four latent classes based on the students’ exploration strategy behavior. The study thus leads to a better understanding of how students solve problems and behave during the problem-solving process in uncertain situations.

Abstract Background: Tuberculosis affects millions of people across the globe annually. Pakistan is ranked 5th among the leading TB countries in the world. Anemia is a common observation among TB patients with the multifactorial phenomenon. The present study aimed to determine the frequency of anemia in patients with pulmonary TB and its classification as per the severity and morphological characteristics. Methodology: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at DHQ Hospital Timergara, Lower Dir. A total of 109 TB patients were enrolled and underwent physical and systemic examination. Blood samples were collected to estimate complete blood counts (CBC), liver and renal function tests (LFT; RFT), serum albumin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Abdominal ultrasound was performed when any organomegaly was suspected. Hemoglobin was estimated using an automated analyzer (SYSMEX-SP100), and it was repeated via manual method among doubted cases. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients before inclusion, and the collected data was analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: There was a female majority (54%) in the studied sample, with a mean age of 38 ± 15.3 years. Majority of them belonged to low socioeconomic status (80%). Moreover, 43% of them were from Dir Lower, 30% from Dir Upper, while the remaining were from Bajaur district, Chitral, and Malakand Swat districts. Anemia was found in 82.56% of the enrolled TB patients. Most patients were moderately weak (Hb < 10 g/dl > 7 g/dl), and microcytic anemia was found in more than 80% of the anemic patients. CRP level was raised in 70% of these patients, and there was hypoalbuminemia in 80%. Furthermore, females were more anemic than males. Conclusion: In our study, anemia was prevalent in TB patients, specifically microcytic anemia. Hence, TB patients must be monitored for dietary deficiencies and/or inflammatory modulators to avoid such complications.

Background and Objectives: The objective of this paper is to determine the rate and predictors of non-adherence to antiseizure medications in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study which involved questionnaires and data collection from patients' medical records was conducted at neurology clinics. The rate of non-adherence to antiseizure medications was measured using "the Medication Adherence Rating Scale" (MARS). Predictors of non-adherence to antiseizure medications were evaluated using a multidimensional questionnaire specific to epilepsy. Results: One hundred and sixty-two patients participated in the study. The mean (SD) age was 34.1 (10.4) years, and 56% were male. Epilepsy was controlled (i.e., seizure-free ≥ 1 year) in 42% of patients. The mean ± SD (range) MARS scores were 7.80 ± 1.59 (2–10). Out of 162 patients, 58 (36%) patients had MARS scores ≤ 7 out of 10. The most frequently rated predictor for non-adherence was poor seizure control, which was reported by around 36% of patients. Forgetfulness, dosing frequency, and social stigma were also among the commonest predictors of non-adherence to antiseizure medications that were rated by approximately 27%, 24%, and 22% of the patients, respectively. The impacts of several socio-demographic and clinical factors on adherence were assessed. In the regression analysis, the odds of non-adherence in a patient who experienced adverse effects were twice that of a patient who did not have adverse effects (p = 0.113). Furthermore, females, employers, and patients who had comorbidity, those with focal epilepsy, those on polytherapy of antiseizure medication, and those receiving multiple doses per day, were all more likely (but not significantly, p > 0.05) to be non-adherent compared to their counterparts. Conclusions: The significance of this study is that it reveals that adherence to antiseizure medications is suboptimal in Saudi Arabia. Poor seizure control, forgetfulness, dosing frequency, and social stigma were the primary patient-reported predictors of non-adherence in epilepsy. This emphasizes the importance of routine evaluation of adherence in practice to identify and address what individual patients perceive as a barrier to adherence with antiseizure medications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of a comprehensive educational program on preeclamptic women's knowledge, risk perception of cardiovascular disease, self-efficacy, and adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors. Patients and methods: This study employed a pretest-posttest design. One hundred and two women who previously had preeclampsia were enrolled from July 2022 to December 2022 from outpatient obstetrics, gynecology, and family planning clinics. The primary and secondary outcomes were measured at baseline, after eight weeks, and after three months of the educational intervention. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 23, descriptive and inferential statistics, specifically the Chi-square test, independent t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVA. Results: A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups immediately post-intervention and the three-month follow-up, with a significant improvement among the intervention group than control group regarding cardiovascular disease knowledge (p < 0.001), risk perception (p < 0.001), self-efficacy (p < 0.001), and healthy lifestyle behaviors (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant interaction between group and time regarding total cardiovascular disease risk perception (F = 203.67, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.673), self-efficacy (F = 70.06, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.405), and adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors (F = 145.08, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.597). Conclusion: This study concluded that the comprehensive educational program had a positive effect on improving preeclamptic women's knowledge and risk perception of CVD, self-efficacy, and adherence to healthy lifestyle behaviors following preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shrimp has been known for its delicacy, but it undergoes rapid deterioration induced by biochemical and microbiological reactions. Melanosis is a major cause of discoloration associated with consumer rejection. All ethanolic extracts from different leaves including soursop, noni, and Jik leaves were dechlorophyllized via the “Green” sedimentation method before being used. The inhibitory activity against polyphenoloxidase (PPO) from Pacific white shrimp (Litopeneous vannamei) and the copper-chelating properties of varying extracts were compared. Soursop leaf extract (SLE) showed higher PPO inhibitory activity and copper-chelating ability than others (p < 0.05). Based on LC-MS, aempferol-3-O-rutinoside was identified as the most abundant compound, followed by catechin and neocholorigenic acid. The efficacy of SLE at different levels (0.25–1%) for inhibiting melanosis and preserving the quality of Pacific white shrimp was evaluated during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 12 days in comparison with that of a 1.25% sodium metabisulfite (SMS)-treated sample. SLE at a level of 1% effectively retarded melanosis and bacterial growth, in which the total viable count did not exceed the microbial limit within 12 days. In addition, 1% SLE treatment impeded autolysis, reduced protein degradation and decomposition, and minimized lipid oxidation, as witnessed by the lower increases in pH, TVB-N, and TBARS values. Sensory evaluation indicated higher likeness scores and overall acceptability for SLE-1% and SMS-1.25% shrimps than those of the control and other samples. Therefore, SLE could be used as a natural alternative that effectively lowered the melanosis and quality loss of shrimp during refrigerated storage.

Background: The treatment of osteoarticular infections in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) is a challenging task for the practitioner. The aim of this study is to evaluate cefixime for the treatment of osteoarticular infections in pediatric SCD patients by retrospective design. Methods: This study was done in the pediatric hospital of King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The data was obtained from medical records of patients aged 1–16 years admitted between January 2019 to December 2020, diagnosed with SCD and received cefixime for the treatment of OI. A descriptive study for pediatric patients admitted between January 2019 to December 2020 diagnosed with sickle cell disease and diagnosed with osteoarticular infection. All patients were treated with cefixime. Medians and interquartile ranges (IQRs) were used for the descriptive analysis. Results: A total of 260 patients were screened, and 51 cases [osteomyelitis (OM), n = 43, and septic arthritis (SA), n = 8] met the inclusion criteria. The median age of OM patients was 7 years, with males making up 67.4% of the cohort. The median length of IV antibiotics and hospital stays were 10 days and 11 days, respectively. The median total duration of antibiotic use was 37 and 25 days for OM and SA, respectively. The treatment success rate was 88% in OM cases and 100% in SA patients. Readmission was noted in 39.5% of the OM patients, while only 25% of the SA patients were recorded for reinfection. Conclusion: The study's findings revealed that Cefixime is a viable oral alternative for treating osteoarticular infection in pediatric SCD patients. Nonetheless, a prospective investigation is required to corroborate the findings of this study.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Thrombocytopenia is a common hematological manifestation of malaria, but locally there is limited data on the association of thrombocytopenia degree and malarial species in Pakistan. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the frequency of thrombocytopenia and its severity among patients with malaria. METHODOLOGY: In this prospective cross-sectional study, a total of 120 patients with smear-positive for malaria on microscopy were included. The patient's complete blood count (CBC) was assessed daily to monitor the platelet counts, and thrombocytopenia was divided into four categories, i.e., mild, moderate, severe, and very severe thrombocytopenia. RESULTS: Out of the total 120 malaria-positive cases, 78(65%) were positive for P. vivax, 32(26.7%) were affected by P. falciparum, and 10(8.3%) patients had mixed infection. Thrombocytopenia developed among 73% of the total patients with malaria; of these, 35.23% developed mild thrombocytopenia, while 31.82%, 23.86%, and 9.09% developed moderate, severe, and very severe thrombocytopenia, respectively. Among those 30(34.0%) infected with P. falciparum, 8(26.7%) developed mild thrombocytopenia, while 8(26.7%) and 14(46.7%) developed moderate to very severe thrombocytopenia. Similarly, most patients with P. vivax 23(39.7%) had mild to moderate 20(34.5%) thrombocytopenia, 15(25.9%) had severe, and only 5.19% had very severe thrombocytopenia p-value=0.141 shows non-significant association. Furthermore, P. vivax group developed complications, while two of the four patients of the P. falciparum group developed cerebral malaria, one developed renal failure, and the last one had pancytopenia. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, thrombocytopenia is frequent among patients with malaria. Moreover, the severity of thrombocytopenia and complications are more evident among those infected with P. falciparum than those with P. vivax.