Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Jordan
Selected AbstractsLOWER SILURIAN "HOT SHALES" IN JORDAN: A NEW DEPOSITIONAL MODELJOURNAL OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGY, Issue 3 2009D. K. Loydell Data are presented from the Batra Formation (also known as the Mudawwara Shale Formation) of a core from well BG-14 in the Batna el Ghoul area, southern Jordan, which enable a new depositional model to be proposed for the middle Rhuddanian (lower Llandovery, Silurian) "hot shale" which may be applicable to other Arabian and North African "hot shales" of similar stratigraphical age. This "hot shale" probably results from rapid early burial of organic carbon associated with a minor regression during which anoxic bottom conditions were maintained for most, but not all, of the time. Evidence for regression comes from (1) increased sediment grain size within the "hot shale" by comparison with underlying shales; (2) palynological changes including a decrease in acritarch species diversity; an increase in the relative abundance of sphaeromorphs, veryhachiids with three processes and acritarchs with short, simple processes; and a decrease in the relative abundance of acanthomorphs; (3) a positive ,13Corg excursion (other Late Ordovician and Silurian positive ,13Corg excursions occur during regressions); and (4) very brief intervals of oxygenation (associated with sediment influx) reflected in the preservation of graptolites as three-dimensional pyrite internal moulds, rather than as flattened periderm. The minor regression reflects a eustatic sea-level fall, evidence for which has recently been presented from several regions, including Arctic Canada, Bohemia and Scotland. The BG-14 "hot shale" is shown to be thicker than estimated in previous studies. Previous TOC measurements from the upper part of the "hot shale" were affected by the weathering of overlying strata in the BG-14 core. ICP-MS measurements show that uranium content is high in these weathered levels, extending the stratigraphical extent of the "hot shale" interval into the middle Rhuddanian. Depositional models such as that presented here rely on a robust biostratigraphical framework; in the Ordovician and Silurian of Arabia and North Africa, this can be provided by graptolites and chitinozoans. [source] AUTHORITY, POLITY, AND TENUOUS ELITES IN IRON AGE EDOM (JORDAN)OXFORD JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 4 2004BENJAMIN W. PORTER Summary. The strategies political elites implement to garner political authority and legitimacy in emergent polities are scrutinized in a case study from Iron Age Edom, located in modern southern Jordan and the south-east corner of the State of Israel. Edom provides a productive context in which to conduct this investigation as local elites managed a fractious polity consisting of unstable segmentary identities, while at the same time, remaining loyal to the successive Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian empires that dominated them. This tenuous position required elites to maintain a flexible elite identity while promoting broader metaphors of attachment (e.g. Edomite) among their disparate constituents. This case study ultimately moves toward an understanding of political polities, not as disembodied entities (e.g. States), but as embedded phenomena within the societies they comprise. [source] Knowledge of Jordanian mothers with regards to emergency management of dental traumaDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Suhad H. Al-Jundi Abstract,,, Studies in Jordan indicated that delay in seeking emergency management of dental trauma leads to unfavorable outcome of even mild forms of trauma. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess, by means of a structured questionnaire, the level of general knowledge of mothers in Jordan with regards to the immediate emergency management of dental trauma, and its relation to socioeconomic variables. The questionnaire surveyed mothers' demographic data, basic knowledge of immediate management of tooth fracture, avulsion, and loss of consciousness. It also investigated the participants self assessed knowledge, attitude to public education, and knowledge of availability and priority of emergency services for trauma in Jordan. The sample consisted of 2215 mothers who attended mother and child care centers in the capital Amman, and in Irbid (the second largest city in Jordan) over a period of 3 months (July to September, 2003). Overall the participants' basic knowledge with regards to the emergency management of the trauma cases presented in the questionnaire was deficient regardless of age, level of education, socioeconomic class, or number of previous encounters with dental trauma. Generally, the attitude to public education on the topic was positive and chi-square test indicated that the level of education of mothers positively affected their knowledge of ,during working hour' emergency services and the importance of immediate management of dental trauma. Educational programs that can be added to the mother and child care advice protocols may help improve the knowledge and awareness of mothers and therefore improve the outcomes of dental trauma. [source] Dental emergencies presenting to a dental teaching hospital due to complications from traumatic dental injuriesDENTAL TRAUMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Suhad H. Al-JundiArticle first published online: 29 JUL 200 Abstract ,,,In Jordan, only two surveys of dental trauma have been carried out. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and pattern of dental emergencies resulting from traumatic injuries, as well as treatment provided to children presenting with these dental emergencies. Over a 1-year period, 620 children presented to our pediatric dental clinics with dental emergencies; 195 (31%) of these emergencies were a consequence of dental trauma to 287 teeth and were included in the study. The average time between the trauma and the dental emergency was 5 months. Pain or sensitivity was the most frequent presenting symptom (31.3%) followed by swelling or sinus tract (17.4%). The age of these patients ranged from 15 months to 14 years, with an average age of 9.3 years. Males accounted for 75.4% of the children in the samples, whereas females accounted for only 24.6%. The main cause of dental trauma was falling during play (58.5%); the least common cause was motor vehicle accidents, accounting for only 1.5% of all injuries. Most of the dental injuries occurred at home (41.5%), around noon time. The most commonly involved teeth were permanent maxillary central incisors accounting for 79.5% of all teeth involved by dental trauma. The most frequently encountered type of trauma in this sample was crown fracture seen in 76.6% of the teeth . Soft tissue injuries were estimated to occur in 16.9% of the children. The treatment received by the children in the sample ranged from no active treatment (6.2%) to elaborate dental procedures such as pulp therapy (41.3%) and prosthetic replacement of missing teeth (5.1%). [source] Strike at Samu: Jordan, Israel, the United States, and the Origins of the Six-Day War*DIPLOMATIC HISTORY, Issue 1 2008Clea Lutz Bunch First page of article [source] Movement patterns of endangered Roanoke logperch (Percina rex)ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 3 2008J. H. Roberts Abstract,,, Using mark,recapture methods, we studied movements of endangered Roanoke logperch (Percina rex Jordan & Evermann), a benthic darter, at 12 riffle,run sites over a 9-year-long period in the Roanoke River, Virginia, USA. Our primary objective was to characterise movements among transects within sites, but we opportunistically recorded two between-site movements as well. Our recapture rate was low (22 of 485 marked fish), but most recaptured fish exhibited movements between tagging and recapture, relocating either to another transect within a site (12 fish) or to another site altogether (two fish). Within sites, Roanoke logperch exhibited fidelity over time to the areas in which they were initially marked. These restricted areas were lengthier than transects (>15 m) but shorter than entire riffle,runs (<150 m). The two between-site movements were extensive (3.2 and 2.5 km), observed over a long mark,recapture interval (2 and 5 years, respectively), and may have represented migratory or dispersal movements. Their detection required an unusually extensive study design. Both small- and large-scale movements fulfil important ecological functions for Roanoke logperch, and greater study of such movements in this and other darter species is needed to inform conservation choices. [source] Habitat use and population structure of four native minnows (family Cyprinidae) in the upper Missouri and lower Yellowstone rivers, North Dakota (USA)ECOLOGY OF FRESHWATER FISH, Issue 1 2004T. L. Welker Abstract,,, In 1997 and 1998, sampling was conducted on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, North Dakota, to obtain information on the distribution, abundance, and habitat use of the flathead chub (Platygobio gracilis Richardson), sicklefin chub (Macrhybopsis meeki Jordan & Evermann), sturgeon chub (Macrhybopsis gelida Girard), and western silvery minnow (Hybognathus argyritis Girard), four declining fish species (family Cyprinidae) native to the Missouri River basin, USA. The study area consisted of four distinct river segments near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers , three moderately altered segments that were influenced by a main-stem dam and one quasi-natural segment. One moderately altered segment was located at the confluence of the two rivers (mixing-zone segment (MZS)). The other two moderately altered segments were in the Missouri River adjacent to the MZS and extended up-river (above-confluence segment (ACS)) and down-river (below-confluence segment (BCS)) from this segment. The quasi-natural segment (Yellowstone River segment (YRS)) extended up-river from the MZS in the Yellowstone River. Catch rates with the trawl for sicklefin chub and sturgeon chub and catch rates with the bag seine for flathead chub and western silvery minnow were highest in the BCS and YRS. Most sicklefin and sturgeon chubs were captured in the deep, high-velocity main channel habitat with the trawl (sicklefin chub, 97%; sturgeon chub, 85%), whereas most flathead chub and western silvery minnow were captured in the shallow, low-velocity channel border habitat with the bag seine (flathead chub, 99%; western silvery minnow, 98%). Best-fit regression models correctly predicted the presence or absence of sicklefin chub, flathead chub, and western silvery minnow more than 80% of the time. Sturgeon chub presence and absence were predicted correctly 55% of the time. Best-fit regression models fit to fish number data for flathead chub, sicklefin chub, and sturgeon chub and fish catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) data for flathead chub also provided good fits, with R2 values ranging from 0.32 to 0.55 (P < 0.0001). The higher density and catch of the four native minnows in the YRS and BCS suggest that these two segments are better habitat than the ACS and MZS. [source] A Taxonomic Revision of Illiberis Walker (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae: Procridinae) in KoreaENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2004Sung-Soo KIM ABSTRACT The Korean species of Illiberis Walker are revised. A total of 10 species are recognized, including four species new to Korea: I. rotundata Jordan, I. psychina (OberthÜr), I. consimilis Leech, and I. hyalina (Staudinger). The identities of I. cybele Leech and I. assimilis Jordan, the two ambiguously defined Korean species, are reconfirmed with the examination of type specimens and additional materials. Photos of the adults and type materials are provided, and male and female genitalia of each species are illustrated. Biology and distribution for each species are briefly discussed with the larval host records from Korea. [source] Incidence of iron-deficiency anaemia in infants in a prospective study in JordanEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2000Julia Kilbride Abstract: A high prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia has been reported in Jordanian infants. A prospective study of infants in downtown Amman examined the relationship between anaemia in pregnancy and iron deficiency in infancy. The iron status of infants born to 107 anaemic (Hb <11 g/dl) and 125 non-anaemic mothers was reviewed at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Indicators to define iron-deficiency anaemia were Hb <11 g/dl and either plasma ferritin <12 ,g/l or zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) >35 ,g/dl whole blood. Haemoglobin electrophoresis excluded haemoglobinopathy. There was 72% iron-deficiency anaemia throughout the year, significantly higher in infants born to anaemic mothers (81%; n=91) compared with controls (65%; n=112). At 12 months, 72% of the infants tested (n=195) were anaemic. While 57% were identified as iron-deficient by research criteria of either ferritin or ZPP, only 37% were identified by ferritin alone, 40% by ZPP alone and 29% if both ferritin and ZPP were required to meet criteria. Most infant anaemia was identified as due to iron deficiency, supporting contextual setting as assisting diagnosis: infants in developing countries are recognised as vulnerable to iron deficiency. Using multiple criteria, more cases were identified when either ferritin or ZPP were abnormal than when one alone, or both parameters were required to meet research criteria. [source] Volatile components of Thymus vulgaris L. from wild-growing and cultivated plants in JordanFLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 4 2007M. Hudaib Abstract The composition of the essential oil hydrodistilled from the aerial parts of Thymus vulgaris L. grown in Jordan has been determined by GC and GC,MS. Variations in oil composition and yield between cultivated and wild-growing plants collected from different localities, at different altitudes, have been also evaluated. Higher oil yields were observed in plants growing wild (3.7,5.6% of dried material) than in cultivated plants (1.1,2.0%), and those collected from the Mshaqar region, in the middle of Jordan and at the highest altitude, were the richest in oil (,5.4%). Generally, the oil was characterized by marked levels of phenolic monoterpenoids (mainly thymol and carvacrol) in the range 70.8,89.0%. High levels of the monoterpenoid hydrocarbons p -cymene (3.4,8.2%) and , -terpinene (1.6,7.7%) were also observed. Other major components were 1,8-cineole (up to 2.1%), , -thujone (up to 1.2%), camphor (up to 1.1%) and , -caryophyllene (0.2,2.8%). With the exception of plants growing wild in the Ramtha region, in the far north of Jordan, carvacrol was found as the principal phenol of all other oils (50.6,86.1%) and was dominant (>85%) in wild plant oils. The oil from Ramtha was characterized by the highest level of thymol (,63.8%) as the dominant phenol and was most abundant in p -cymene (8.2%), 1,8-cineole (2.1%) and , -terpinene (7.7%). In addition to assigning carvacrol or thymol chemotypes to the plant, the high content of active monoterpenoid phenols strongly suggests a potential use of Jordanian thyme oil in cough products and antimicrobial,herbal drug combinations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A Reassessment of the holocene stratigraphy of the Wadi Hasa Terrace and Hasa formation, JordanGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 6 2007Joseph Schuldenrein Vita-Finzi's 1960s model for Mediterranean terrace evolution was once the basis for regional valley histories across much of the Levant. A revisit to the Hasa terrace, formerly considered Early to Middle Holocene in age, resulted in a revised chronostratigraphy. Sedimentological and geochemical analyses bolstered by radiocarbon dating indicate that valley floor construction began shortly after the end of the Middle Holocene, at least 2000 years later than initially proposed. An updated model for floodplain evolution proposes three discrete phases of accretion and alluvial plain formation. A weak cambic soil overprints the alluvium and suggests slightly moister climates than at present for much of the Late Holocene. This model is in accord with settlement data. Intensified uplands agropastoralism accelerated the erosion of slope soils that were recycled and deposited as alluvium across the valley floor. The valley floor sequences of the Hasa are analogous to alluvial chronologies for neighboring wadis of the eastern Jordan Rift and can be tied to key Middle and Late Holocene geomorphic events in the Dead Sea and the southwestern Levant. The data strongly indicate that alluvial fill histories after 1800 cal B.C. were anthropogenically driven, whereas Middle Holocene landscape changes were climatically and structurally triggered. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Landforms, sediments, soil development, and prehistoric site settings on the Madaba-Dhiban Plateau, JordanGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2005Carlos E. Cordova This paper examines recurrent spatial patterns of prehistoric sites in relation to landforms, alluvial fills, and soil development in the uplands and valleys of the Madaba and Dhiban Plateaus of Jordan. Mousterian lithics (Middle Paleolithic) are largely found on high strath terraces plateaus, where they are associated with red Mediterranean soils. In valleys, Upper Paleolithic sites are often associated with reworked loess deposits of the Dalala allostratigraphic unit. Epipaleolithic occupations are found stratified in deposits of the Thamad Terrace, and Pre-Pottery Neolithic and Pottery Neolithic occupations are associated with colluvium mantling the Thamad Terrace. The Tur al-Abyad Terrace and the Iskanderite alluvial inset are the remnants of middle Holocene floodplains, which were attractive areas for Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age settlements. Sometime around 4000 B.C., stream incision and further lateral erosion destroyed these floodplains. These historic terraces are underlain by alluvial deposits ranging in age from Roman to Early Islamic periods. The sequence of allostratigraphic units, paleosols, and terraces are the basis for reconstructing phases of fluvial aggradation and stream incision during the past 20,000 years. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Geochemistry and petrography of basalt grindstones from the Karak Plateau, central JordanGEOARCHAEOLOGY: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2004Brandon G. Watts Seventeen basalt grindstone fragments from central Jordan's Karak Plateau were studied. Most of these artifacts are vesicular or amygdaloidal with calcite as the dominant mineral filling the voids. The major minerals are olivine (with iddingsite rims), plagioclase, clinopyroxene, magnetite, and apatite. Glass is present in some samples. One basalt fragment is quite different in appearance and composition and may have come from flows closer to the Dead Sea. Grindstone fragment compositions plot in the tephrite-basanite and basalt fields. A plot of the concentrations of niobium, zirconium, and yttrium reveal that the sample compositions plot in the "within-plate alkali basalt" and "within-plate tholeiite" fields. The acquisition of basalts for preparing such implements appears to have been random. Some may have been introduced through trade and migration. Archaeological and environmental studies on the Karak Plateau are urgently needed because Jordan's population growth and economic development are destroying many sites and their environmental contexts. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Origin, age and petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic composite dikes from the Arabian-Nubian Shield, SW JordanGEOLOGICAL JOURNAL, Issue 2 2004G. Jarrar Abstract The evolution of a Pan-African (c. 900,550,Ma) suite of composite dikes, with latite margins and rhyolite interiors, from southwest Jordan is discussed. The dikes cut the Neoproterozoic calc-alkaline granitoids and high-grade metamorphic rocks (c. 800,600,Ma) of the northern Arabian-Nubian Shield in Jordan and have been dated by the Rb-Sr isochron method at 566±7,Ma. The symmetrically distributed latite margins constitute less than one-quarter of the whole dike thickness. The rhyolite intruded a median fracture within the latite, while the latter was still hot but completely solidified. The dikes are alkaline and bimodal in composition with a gap in SiO2 between 61 and 74,wt%. Both end members display similar chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns. The rhyolites display the compositional signature of A-type granites. The (La/Lu)N values are 6.02 and 4.91 for latites and rhyolites, respectively, and the rhyolites show a pronounced negative Eu anomaly, in contrast to the slight negative Eu anomaly of the latites. The chemical variability (e.g. Zr/Y, Zr/Nb, K/Rb) within and between latites and rhyolites does not support a fractional crystallization relationship between the felsic and mafic members of the dikes. We interpret the magma genesis of the composite dikes as the result of intrusion of mantle-derived mafic magma into the lower crust in an extensional tectonic regime. The mafic magma underwent extensive fractional crystallization, which supplied the necessary heat for melting of the lower crust. The products of the initial stages of partial melting (5,10%) mixed with the fractionating mafic magma and gave rise to the latite melts. Further partial melting of the lower crust (up to 30%) produced a felsic melt, which upon 50% fractional crystallization (hornblende 15%, biotite 5%, feldspars 60%, and quartz 20%) gave rise to the rhyolitic magma. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Political Opposition in Civil Society: An Analysis of the Interactions of Secular and Religious Associations in Algeria and Jordan1GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION, Issue 4 2008Francesco Cavatorta The lack of effective political parties is one of the dominant characteristics of modern Arab polities. The role of opposition to the authoritarian regimes is therefore left to a number of civil society organizations. This study examines the interactions among such groups in the context of the traditional transition paradigm and it analyses specifically how religious and secular organizations operate and interact. The empirical evidence shows that such groups, far from attempting any serious coalition-building to make common demands for democracy on the regime, have a competitive relationship because of their ideological differences and conflicting policy preferences. This strengthens authoritarian rule even in the absence of popular legitimacy. The article focuses its attention on Algeria and Jordan. [source] Growth and chemical composition of wild oat (Avena fatua) under Mediterranean conditionsGRASS & FORAGE SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004M. K. J. El-Shatnawi Abstract Wild oat (Avena fatua) is an annual cool-season species that grows in areas with a Mediterranean climate and has potential as a forage source in Jordan. A field experiment was conducted during the growing seasons of 1999,2000 and 2000,2001 under sub-humid Mediterranean conditions at Samta in the Ajloun Mountains, Jordan. Data on seasonal herbage mass, morphology and chemical composition of wild oat were collected at 60, 80, 100, 120 and 140 days after emergence. Plant height increased rapidly beyond 100 days after emergence. The increase in herbage mass of dry matter was gradual and peaked at 140 days after emergence. The lowest concentration of crude fibre was at 60 and 80 days after emergence, with a range of 201,263 g kg,1 DM. Crude fibre concentrations (610,630 g kg,1 DM) peaked at 140 days after emergence (maturity). In contrast to concentrations of crude fibre, concentrations of crude protein decreased gradually with age. The calcium and phosphorus concentrations were sufficient to meet the maintenance requirements of ewes. [source] Study of mutations in Jordanian patients with haemophilia A: identification of five novel mutationsHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 1 2010A. AWIDI Summary., Haemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by mutations in the factor VIII gene (F8), which encodes factor VIII (FVIII) protein, a plasma glycoprotein, that plays an important role in the blood coagulation cascade. In the present study, our aim was to identify F8 gene mutations in HA patients from Jordan. One hundred and seventy-five HA patients from 42 unrelated families were included in this study. Among these patients, 117 (67%) had severe HA, 13 (7%) had moderate HA and 45 (26%) had mild HA. Severe patients were first tested for intron-22 inversion using long range polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then negative patients were tested for intron-1 inversion using PCR. Sequencing for the entire F8 gene was performed for all severe HA patients who were found negative for intron-22 and -1 inversions and it was also performed for moderate and mild HA patients. HA causative mutations were identified in all patients. Intron-22 and -1 inversions were detected in 52% and 2% of families respectively. Beside these two mutations, 19 different mutations were identified, which include 15 missense and four frameshift mutations. Five novel mutations were identified including one frameshift and four missense mutations. No large deletions or nonsense mutations were detected in patients who participated in this study. Only 17 patients with severe HA were found positive for FVIII inhibitors. The data presented will play an important role for genetic counselling and health care of HA patients in Jordan. [source] Validation of the Learning Transfer System Inventory: A study of supervisors in the public sector in JordanHUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2008Abdulfattah Yaghi Jordanian policymakers rely on trained supervisors to lead organizational change in public administration. The impact of training, however, remains weak unless trainees apply what they have learned (training transfer). In order to assess training transfer, the present study validates a Classic Arabic version of the Learning Transfer System Inventory (CALTSI). The instrument was administered to a random sample of 500 supervisors. Exploratory factor analysis with oblique factor rotation validates 15 of the original 16 factors of the LTSI and explains about 65% of the common variance. These findings and their implications are discussed. [source] A statistical downscaling method for monthly total precipitation over TurkeyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Hasan Tatli Abstract Researchers are aware of certain types of problems that arise when modelling interconnections between general circulation and regional processes, such as prediction of regional, local-scale climate variables from large-scale processes, e.g. by means of general circulation model (GCM) outputs. The problem solution is called downscaling. In this paper, a statistical downscaling approach to monthly total precipitation over Turkey, which is an integral part of system identification for analysis of local-scale climate variables, is investigated. Based on perfect prognosis, a new computationally effective working method is introduced by the proper predictors selected from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction,National Center for Atmospheric Research reanalysis data sets, which are simulated as perfectly as possible by GCMs during the period of 1961,98. The Sampson correlation ratio is used to determine the relationships between the monthly total precipitation series and the set of large-scale processes (namely 500 hPa geopotential heights, 700 hPa geopotential heights, sea-level pressures, 500 hPa vertical pressure velocities and 500,1000 hPa geopotential thicknesses). In the study, statistical preprocessing is implemented by independent component analysis rather than principal component analysis or principal factor analysis. The proposed downscaling method originates from a recurrent neural network model of Jordan that uses not only large-scale predictors, but also the previous states of the relevant local-scale variables. Finally, some possible improvements and suggestions for further study are mentioned. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Studying the anti-tyrosinase effect of Arbutus andrachne L. extractsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 4 2008R. A. Issa Synopsis Arbutus andrachne L. is widely distributed in Jordan. Tyrosinase is the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of melanin. This preliminary study was carried out to assess the possible anti-tyrosinase activity of A. andrachne extracts. Arbutin, hydroquinone and kojic acid were selected as inhibitor standards. Five different extracts (chloroform, butanol, ethanol, methanol and water) were prepared from A. andrachne stems and their activities were compared with the selected tyrosinase inhibitors. IC50 was measured for both, standard and plant extracts. Among the different extracts, the methanolic extract exhibited the highest anttyrosinase activity with an IC50 value (1 mg mL,1). Furthermore, 9 mg A. andrachne methanolic extract showed 97.49% inhibition of tyrosinase activity. Arbutin, hydroquinone, ,-sitosterol and ursolic acid were identified in the different extracts of A. andrachne by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and isolated by preparative TLC from the methanolic and chloroform stem extracts, respectively. Résumé Arbutus andrachne L. est largement répandu en Jordanie. La tyrosinase est un enzyme clé dans la biosynthèse de la mélanine. Cette étude préliminaire est menée dans le but de juger de la possible activité anti-tyrosinase des extraits d'A. andrachne L. L'arbutine, l'hydroquinone et l'acide kojique ont été sélectionnés comme inhibiteurs de référence. Cinq extraits différents (chloroforme, butanol, éthanol, méthanol et eau) ont été préparés à partir de tiges d'A. andrachne L. et leurs activités ont été comparées à celles des inhibiteurs de tyrosinase sélectionnés. L'IC50 a été mesurée à la fois pour les références et les extraits de plantes. Parmi les différents extraits, l'extrait méthanolique montre l'activité anti-tyrosinase la plus élevée avec une valeur d'IC50 de 1 mg mL,1. De plus, 9 mg d'extrait méthanolique d'A. andrachne L. possède une activité inhibitrice de la tyrosinase de 97.49%. L'arbutine, l'hydroquinone, le ,-sitostérol et l'acide ursolique ont été identifiés dans les différents extraits par chromatographie sur couches minces et isolés par chromatographie préparative, respectivement à partir des extraits méthanoliques et chloroformiques de tiges. [source] Rheological characterization of hair shampoo in the presence of dead sea saltINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2004B. Abu-Jdayil Synopsis In Jordan, a growing industry has been established to produce different types of Dead Sea (DS) cosmetics that have DS salt (contains mainly NaCl, KCl, and MgCl2) in their formulas. In this work, the effect of DS salt on the rheology of hair shampoo containing the sodium lauryl ether sulfate as a main active matter was studied. The effects of DS salt and active matter concentration, and the temperature and time of salt mixing, on the rheological properties of hair shampoo were investigated. The salt-free shampoo showed a Newtonian behavior at ,low active matter' (LAM) and shear thinning at ,high active matter' (HAM). The presence of DS salt changed the rheological behavior of LAM shampoo from Newtonian (for the salt-free shampoo) to shear thinning. On the other hand, the behavior of HAM shampoo switched from shear thinning to Newtonian behavior in the presence of high concentration of DS salt. The addition of DS salt increased the apparent viscosity of shampoo to reach a maximum value that corresponded to a salt concentration of 1.5 wt.%. Further addition of DS salt led to a decrease in the shampoo viscosity to reach a value less than that of the salt-free sample at high salt concentration. Changing the mixing temperature (25,45 °C) and mixing time (15,120 min) of DS salt with shampoo has no significant influence on the rheological behavior. However, the mixing process increased the apparent viscosity of salt-free shampoo. The power law model fitted well the flow curves of hair shampoo with and without DS salt. Résumé En Jordanie, une industrie croissante a été mise en place afin de produire différents types de cosmétiques à base de sels de la Mer morte (DS) contenant ces sels (pour la plupart,principalement NaCl, KCl, MgCl2) dans leurs formules. Dans ce présent travail, l'effet de ces DS sur la rhéologie d'un shampooing à base de lauryl ether sulfate de sodium comme actif principal, a étéétudié. Les effets de ce sel de DS et de la concentration en matière active ainsi que la température et le temps de mélange du sel sur les propriétés rhéologiques du shampooing ont été appréhendés. Le shampooing exempt de sel montrait un comportement Newtonien à basse concentration d'actif (LAM) et une rhéo-fluidification à haute teneur en actif (HAM). La présence de sel de DS a changé le comportement rhéologique du shampooing LAM, du Newtonien (pour le shampooing sans sel) vers la rhèo-fluidification. Par ailleurs, le comportement du shampooing HAM est passé de la rhèo-fluidification au Newtonien en présence de fortes concentrations de sels de DS. L'addition de sels de DS a accru la viscosité apparente jusqu'à une valeur maximale correspondant à 1.5% (w/w). Des additions ultérieures de sel ont conduit à une chute de la viscosité jusqu'à une valeurs inférieure à celle du shampooing sans sel. Le changement de la température de mélange du sel (25 °C à 45 °C) et du temps de mélange (15 à 120 min) du sel avec le shampooing n'a aucune influence significative sur le comportement rhéologique. Cependant, le procédé de mélange a augmenté la viscosité apparente du shampooing sans sel. La modélization par puissance a correctement ajusté les courbes d'écoulement du shampooing avec et sans sel de DS. [source] Rennin-like milk coagulant enzyme produced by a local isolate of MucorINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DAIRY TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Z A Tubesha Among 20 isolates of Mucor isolated from various environments in Jordan and found to produce a rennin-like acid protease, known as Mucor rennin-like enzyme (MRE), Mucor J20 was found to produce the highest level of MRE. The optimum incubation conditions for enzyme production in a fortified wheat bran mixture using solid-state fermentation were 3,4 days at 30°C. The highest MRE activity (185,200 rennin units or RU) was produced in a medium containing wheat bran and lentil straw (1 : 1 w/w) moistened with whey, and incubated in clay pots at 30°C for 4 days. A slightly lower activity value (178 RU) was found when using a mineral salt solution or distilled water instead of whey, or when using wheat bran alone with whey. At pH 4, the MRE retained its complete activity (100%) for 6 weeks at 5°C and 10°C, and for 3 and 2 weeks at 20°C and 30°C, respectively. After heating at 60°C for 10 min, the enzyme lost its activity at all pH levels used (pH 2,8). The crude extract of MRE was successfully applied in the manufacture of a cheese curd. [source] Skin cancer trends in northern JordanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 4 2006Abdel K. Omari MD Background, The Jordan Cancer Registry was established in 1996, since which time all cases of cancer have been reported and registered. We have used this registry to perform the first analysis of skin cancer in northern Jordan and to compare our findings with those of published reports from other regions. Methods, All histopathologically proven cases of skin cancer, reported during the years 1997 through 2001, were reviewed. Information regarding tumor type, age, gender, and anatomical location was collected. Results, A total of 272 cases of malignant skin tumors were diagnosed between the years 1997 and 2001. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) was the commonest type, representing 52.9% of all skin cancers. Females were more frequently affected than males, with age-adjusted incidence rates of 23.3 and 19.7 per 100,000 of population, respectively. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) comprised 26.4% of the total, its age-adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 of population being 14.2 for males and 6.18 for females. the incidence rate increased in males and decreased in females during the study period. The incidence of both BCC and SCC increased with age. The head and neck region was the commonest site affected by both types of cancer. Malignant melanoma (MM) comprised 11.39% of all skin cancer cases, with a female to male ratio of 1.2 : 1. The median age at onset for female patients was 49 years while that for males was 70 years, and the commonest site affected was the lower limbs, followed by the trunk. Conclusions, In Jordan, sun-related skin cancers have relatively low incidences and a rather stable pattern, compared with other areas with similar climate and skin phenotypes. [source] Pediculosis capitis in northern JordanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 12 2000Zuhair S. Amr BSc Background Little is known about the prevalence of pediculosis among school students in northern Jordan. Objective To study the incidence of pediculosis among school students of different socio-economic levels in northern Jordan. Method A total of 2519 school students of both sexes enrolled in eight elementary governmental schools were examined for the presence of Pediculus capitis. Schools were grouped into four socio-economic classes: very low (VL), low (L), medium (M), and high (H). The chi-squared test was performed to analyze the results. Results Overall, 338 students (13.4%) were infested with nits, immature or adult P. capitis. Girls showed a higher prevalence (14.5%) than boys (11.1%). Statistical analysis for socio-economic classes and infestation rates yielded a significant effect of the four classes on infestation. This conclusion was evident among schoolgirls, where infestation rates were 28.8%, 18.9%, 6.1%, and 0.2% in VL, L, M, and H socio-economic classes, respectively. Schoolchildren in the age group 8,9 years exhibited higher prevalence rates (16% in boys and 22.1% in girls), while prevalences declined to 10.2% and 6.6% among boys and girls aged 10,12 years, respectively. Conclusions This study reveals that socio-economic status is a major factor influencing the occurrence of pediculosis among school students of both sexes in Jordan. A national campaign should be implemented to enhance public awareness. [source] Modeling of a geothermal standing column wellINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008E. Abu-Nada Abstract This paper presents a three-dimensional numerical investigation of a geothermal standing column well (SCW) to carry out heating simulations during January in four selected locations in Jordan. It is shown that the outlet temperature of SCW increases with the depth of the borehole. However, the successful choice of the location is of extreme importance as there is a limit on the outlet temperature that can be achieved at a given location. It is demonstrated that bleeding is generally effective in increasing the outlet temperature. An optimum range of bleed rate exists around 12,13%. Also, bleeding is more effective in achieving higher outlet temperatures when used in locations with higher soil porosity. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] French Battleships 1922,1956 , By John Jordan and Robert DumasINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NAUTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY, Issue 2 2010ANDREW LAMBERT No abstract is available for this article. [source] Having a child with asthma,Quality of life for Jordanian parentsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 6 2009Nemeh Al-Akour DSN This study was conducted to assess the quality of life (QoL) of Jordanian parents of children with asthma and its associated factors. Three hundred and twenty-six parents of 200 children participated in the study. The Pediatric Asthma Caregivers' Quality of Life Questionnaire (PACQLQ) was used to measure how parents of children with asthma disease impaired their daily life during the previous week on two domains ,activity limitations' and ,emotional function'. In this study, parents of children with asthma scored their QoL during the past week moderately to the positive end of the scale but they scored more limitations in the domain of activities than in emotions. Parents in the same family scored activity domain fairly similar and there was a significant difference in their scoring of total emotional function. Parents with older children, living in the rural areas, mothers of children with mild asthma were associated with higher QoL. Children received needed daily asthma medication during the preceding week. Asthma medication might mean to the parents that the child was getting the best possible treatment. Further studies to identify the factors that influence QoL of parents of children with asthma in Jordan are needed. [source] Nursing information systems in JordanINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 2 2009Fadia Hasna PhD RN This paper analyses how informatics are used in knowledge management in Jordan and includes conceptual frameworks for knowledge initiatives and an illustration of how data are transformed to knowledge through the processing of information; nursing informatics are mapped. Finally, applications of informatics in USA and Jordan are explored comparatively with focus on nursing roles in informatics and the key relevance to ethical challenges once these applications happen. [source] Quality of life in Jordanian children with asthmaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 6 2008Nemeh Al-Akour RN MSN DNSc The purpose of this study was to describe how Jordanian children with asthma experience their quality of life (QoL). Two hundred children with asthma (34% girls and 66% boys) participated in the study. The Paediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to measure how children with asthma disease impaired their daily life during the previous week on three domains: ,activity limitations', ,symptoms' and ,emotional function'. The main finding of this study was that children with asthma scored their QoL towards the negative end of the scale, but they scored more limitations in the domain of activities than in emotions and symptoms. Children reported that the most restricted activity was their ability to run. Younger children, being a girl and living in the rural areas, were associated with lower QoL. The children in the present study might not comply with their health regimen, and this might gave a darker view of the daily life of children with asthma. Further studies of Jordanian children and their QoL were suggested to identify and support the factors which influence QoL of children with asthma and other chronic diseases in Jordan. [source] The influence of HIV/AIDS on the practice of primary care nurses in Jordan: Rhetoric and realityINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 5 2005Hani Nawafleh PhD(Cand) The role of nurses in raising community awareness about HIV/AIDS is well-reported. However, little is known about the practice of Jordanian nurses and the role they play in the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. This interpretive ethnographic study sought to illuminate the role of primary care nurses and examine the influence of HIV/AIDS on their practice. The study was undertaken in Jordan in three rural and three urban primary health-care centres. Data collection included participant observation, key informant interviews and document analysis. These data informed the development of descriptive ethnographic accounts that allowed for the subsequent identification of common and divergent themes reflective of factors recognized as influencing the practice of the nurse participants. The findings indicate that the rhetoric offered by all levels of administration and endorsed in policy is not reflective of the reality of practice. Poor resources and educational preparation, a limited nursing skill mix and access to professional development, lack of nursing leadership and role models, cultural beliefs and geographic isolation are factors that reduced the capacity of the primary care nurses to raise awareness and, therefore, influence the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||