Sperm mitochondrial dysfunction causes the generation of an insufficient amount of energy needed for sperm motility. This will affect sperm fertilization capacity, and thus, most asthenozoospermic ...men usually require assisted reproductive techniques. The etiology of asthenozoospermia remains largely unknown. The current study aimed to investigate the effect of mitochondrial genetic variants on sperm motility and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. A total of 150 couples from the ICSI cycle were enrolled in this study. One hundred five of the male partners were asthenozoospermic patients, and they were subdivided into three groups according to their percentage of sperm motility, while forty-five of the male partners were normozoospermic. Genetic variants were screened using direct Sanger’s sequencing in four mitochondrial genes (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) dehydrogenase 1 (ND1), NADH dehydrogenase 2 (ND2), NADH dehydrogenase 5 (ND5), and NADH dehydrogenase 6 (ND6)). We identified three significant variants: 13708G>A (rs28359178) in
ND5
, 4216T>C (rs1599988) in
ND1
, and a novel 12506T>A in
ND5
with
P
values 0.006, 0.036, and 0.013, respectively. The medians of sperm motility, fertilization rate, embryo cleavage score, and embryo quality score were significantly different between men showing 4216T>C, 12506T>A, 13708G>A and wild type, Mann-Whitney
P
values for the differences in the medians were < 0.05 in all of them. The results from this study suggest that 13708G>A, 12506T>A, and 4216 T>C variants in sperm mitochondrial DNA negatively affect sperm motility and ICSI outcomes.
One of the most noteworthy differential equations of the first order is the Riccati differential equation. It is applied in various branches of mathematics, including algebraic geometry, physics, and ...conformal mapping theory. The
-transform Adomian decomposition method is employed in the current study to find exact solutions for different kinds of nonlinear differential equations. We give thorough detailed proofs for new theorems related to the
-transform technique. The Adomian decomposition method and the
-transform method serve as the foundation for this technique. For certain differential equations, the theoretical analysis of the
-transform Adomian decomposition method is examined and is computed using readily computed terms. Our findings are contrasted with exact solutions found in the literature that were produced using alternative techniques. The significant features of the
-transform Adomian decomposition method are described in the article. It has been shown that the
-transform Adomian decomposition method is very efficient, useful, and adaptable to a broad variety of linear and nonlinear differential equations. Most of the symbolic and numerical calculations were performed using Mathematica.
Although the proteome of sperm has been characterized, there is still a lack of high-throughput studies on dysregulated proteins in sperm from subfertile men, with only a few studies on the sperm ...proteome in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) along with bioinformatics analyses, we investigated the proteomic landscape of sperm collected from subfertile men (
= 22), i.e., asthenozoospermic men (
= 13), oligoasthenozoospermic men (
= 9) and normozoospermic controls (
= 31). We identified 4412 proteins in human sperm. Out of these, 1336 differentially abundant proteins were identified in 70% of the samples. In subfertile men, 32 proteins showed a lower abundance level and 34 showed a higher abundance level when compared with normozoospermic men. Compared to normozoospermic controls, 95 and 8 proteins showed a lower abundance level, and 86 and 1 proteins showed a higher abundance level in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men, respectively. Sperm motility and count were negatively correlated with 13 and 35 and positively correlated with 37 and 20 differentially abundant proteins in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men, respectively. The combination of the proteins APCS, APOE, and FLOT1 discriminates subfertile males from normozoospermic controls with an AUC value of 0.95. Combined APOE and FN1 proteins discriminate asthenozoospermic men form controls with an AUC of 1, and combined RUVBL1 and TFKC oligoasthenozoospermic men with an AUC of 0.93. Using a proteomic approach, we revealed the proteomic landscape of sperm collected from asthenozoospermic or oligoasthenozoospermic men. Identified abundance changes of several specific proteins are likely to impact sperm function leading to subfertility. The data also provide evidence for the usefulness of specific proteins or protein combinations to support future diagnosis of male subfertility.
The aim of this study is to evaluate the compliance level of corporate governance rules and examine the impact of this compliance on risk taking of corporations in Jordan. This study used panel data ...of the listed corporations in Amman Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2017. Corporate governance index was constructed to gauge the compliance level of corporate governance rules. The results show a good level of overall compliance of corporate governance rules. As for the compliance of the categories of corporate governance rules, rules of transparency and disclosure are ranked first, while rules of general meeting assembly are ranked fourth. The regression results report a negative influence of corporate governance and corporate risk taking. In addition, four governance variables concerning the features of the board of directors are used in the study. The results reveal a negative impact of the size of the board of directors, independence of the board, and committees of the board on corporate risk taking. It is expected that the outcomes of the study can be used by management of the corporations in addition to the Jordanian Securities Commission that seek to enhance confidence in the Jordanian capital market.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to assess nurse’s knowledge and practice regarding basic life support (BLS) skills while working with SARS-CoV-2 patients in Jordanian hospitals.
...Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 386 nurses with direct contact with SARS-CoV-2 patients at Jordanian hospitals. A self-administered structured questionnaire was used based on the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines.
Findings
A total of 386 participants were recruited. The mean years of experience were 7.89 (SD = 5.97). About three quarters of participants revealed they deal with SARS-CoV-2 patients directly (n = 284, 73.6%). The total mean score of nurse’s knowledge was 4.44 (SD = 1.22), while the total mean score of practice was 8.44 (SD = 2.05). Independent t-test was used, which revealed a statistically significant difference between educational level and total score of nurse’s knowledge t(386) = 0.215 and p = 0.001 and between training to deal with SARS-CoV-2 during BLS and total score of practice t(386) = 2.66 and p = 0.008. Pearson correlation discloses a positive correlation between the total score of knowledge and practice (r = 0.343 and p = 0.001).
Research limitations/implications
In general, nurses revealed a moderate level of knowledge and practice of BLS skills. However, assessing nurse’s knowledge and practice during the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 plays a key role in identifying the gap in nurse’s knowledge and practice, and therefore, it will have an impact on providing high-quality BLS to save infected patients while providing maximum safety according to AHA guidelines.
Originality/value
This study is the first study that examined the level of knowledge and practice of BLS skills during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Jordan.
This study investigates the determinants of foreign portfolio investment in Jordan using series of data covering the period from 2000 to 2016. Eight independent variables were employed. They are: ...aggregate economic activity, inflation, interest rate differentiation, stock market performance, risk diversification, country creditworthiness, governance, and corruption. The regression results show that good and stable macroeconomic environment attracts foreign investors. In addition, foreign investors prefer to invest in the capital market which provides an opportunity of risk diversification. A country that has enough liquidity to meet its obligation, and has well-governed environment attracts more portfolio investment. The results of the study provide empirical evidence about the factors that have a significant impact on the flow of foreign portfolio investment to Jordan. These factors can be utilized when formulating polices by the specialized authorities who are seeking to attract more portfolio investment.
The on-chip integration of a power inductor together with other power converter components of small sizes and high-saturation currents, while maintaining a desired or high inductance value, is here ...pursued. The use of soft magnetic cores increases inductance density but results in a reduced saturation current. This article presents a 3D physical model and a magnetic circuit model for an integrated on-chip power inductor (OPI) to double the saturation current using permanent magnet (PM) material. A ~50 nH, 7.5 A spiral permanent magnet on-chip power inductor (PMOI) is here designed, and a 3D physical model is then developed and simulated using the ANSYS®/Maxwell® software package (version 2017.1). The 3D physical model simulation results agree with the presented magnetic circuit model, and show that in the example PMOI design, the addition of the PM increases the saturation current of the OPI from 4 A to 7.5 A, while the size and inductance value remain unchanged.
Sperm motility is a prerequisite for achieving pregnancy, and alterations in sperm motility, along with sperm count and morphology, are commonly observed in subfertile men. The aim of the study was ...to determine whether the expression level of genes annotated with the Gene Ontology (GO) term 'sperm motility' differed in sperm collected from healthy men and men diagnosed with oligoasthenozoospermia. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), quantitative mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and enrichment analyses were used to validate a set of 132 genes in 198 men present at an infertility clinic. Out of the 132 studied sperm-motility-associated genes, 114 showed differentially expressed levels in oligoasthenozoospermic men compared to those of normozoospermic controls using an RT-qPCR analysis. Of these, 94 genes showed a significantly lower expression level, and 20 genes showed a significantly higher expression level. An MS analysis of sperm from an independent cohort of healthy and subfertile men identified 692 differentially expressed proteins, of which 512 were significantly lower and 180 were significantly higher in oligoasthenozoospermic men compared to those of the normozoospermic controls. Of the 58 gene products quantified with both techniques, 48 (82.75%) showed concordant regulation. Besides the sperm-motility-associated proteins, the unbiased proteomics approach uncovered several novel proteins whose expression levels were specifically altered in abnormal sperm samples. Among these deregulated proteins, there was a clear overrepresentation of annotation terms related to sperm integrity, the cytoskeleton, and energy-related metabolism, as well as human phenotypes related to spermatogenesis and sperm-related abnormalities. These findings suggest that many of these proteins may serve as diagnostic markers of male infertility. Our study reveals an extended number of sperm-motility-associated genes with altered expression levels in the sperm of men with oligoasthenozoospermia. These genes and/or proteins can be used in the future for better assessments of male factor infertility.
This study aims to examine the relationship between financial inclusion and financial stability in Jordan by using Fully Modified Least Squares (FMOLS) technique. The analysis is based on time series ...from 2006 to 2017. Jordanian financial inclusion index is developed to assess the level of financial inclusion, whereas financial stability was measured by Jordanian financial stability index proposed by Central Bank of Jordan. The results show a weak significant and positive impact of financial inclusion on the financial stability in Jordan. Additionally, five control variables are used in the study. The results show a negative impact of domestic credit to private sector, income inequality, financial integration, and global financial crisis on financial stability. In contrast, real GDP per capita has a significant and positive impact. It is expected that the findings of the study can be used by policy makers and supervising authorities to realize the objectives of the national strategy of financial inclusion in Jordan.
Background
Secondary prevention is a priority after coronary revascularization for effective long‐term cardiovascular care. Coronary Heart Disease is a major health problem in Jordan, but little is ...known about the current provision of secondary prevention.
Aim
The aim of this study was to evaluate risk factors and explore the current provision of secondary Coronary Heart Disease prevention among patients presenting with first‐time Coronary Heart Disease at two time points: during hospitalization (Time 1) and 6 months later (Time 2), in multicentre settings in Jordan.
Methods
A descriptive, repeated measures research study design was applied to a consecutive sample of 180 patients with first‐time Coronary Heart Disease. Demographic and clinical details were recorded from medical files. Self‐administered questionnaires developed by the researchers were used to measure secondary prevention information related to Coronary Heart Disease, including secondary prevention services, lifestyle advice received and medical advice topics. A short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure physical activity. Participants were assessed at Times 1 and 2.
Results
Unstructured lifestyle advice given to the patients at Times 1 and 2 most frequently related to medications, smoking, diet and blood lipids control advice topics, with no statistically significant improvement in cardiovascular risk factors among patients between Times 1 and 2.
Conclusion
Despite an extremely high prevalence of risk factors in this population, the provision of secondary prevention is poor in Jordan, which requires urgent improvement, and the contribution of nurses' to secondary prevention should be enhanced.
Summary statement
What is already known about this topic?
Cardiovascular diseases have relatively earlier onset and higher prevalence in the Middle East and North Africa. However, there is a limited knowledge about the prevalence of risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in the region.
There is strong evidence that behavioural modification should be given high priority to help patients with Coronary Heart Disease to be compliant with healthy lifestyle behaviours.
The prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease and premature mortality in the Middle Eastern countries is progressively increasing, indicating a lack of effective strategy.
What this paper adds
The prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease risk factors is still egregiously high in the Jordanian population.
The secondary prevention strategy and lifestyle changes are insufficient among patients with Coronary Heart Disease in Jordan.
Health policy makers are strongly recommended to establish cardiac rehabilitation programmes to reduce cardiac events and mortality in Jordan.
The implications of the study
Nursing administrations need to focus on secondary prevention strategies to minimize the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in developing countries.
Nursing leaders in Jordan should develop health intervention programmes to help patients with Coronary Heart Disease change their lifestyles.
Greater efforts are needed to stop progression of risk factors and improve secondary prevention in Jordan, and further studies are warranted, such as interventional studies to enhance secondary prevention for patients with Coronary Heart Disease.
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