Research Title: First report of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne arenaria Race 2 from several vegetable crops in Jordan.

Author: Sameer Masoud, Published Year: 2005

Plant Disease, 89

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood (race 2) is reported for the first time in Jordan. The nematode populations were recovered from several vegetable crops, including tomato (Lycopersicon esulentum Mill), squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), and bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), at Dier Alla in the northern area of the Jordan Valley. Symptoms included root galling, leaf chlorosis, and stunting. Galled plant root samples were collected during a survey conducted from May 2002 to August 2003 covering most of the irrigated agricultural areas of Jordan. Eighty-three Meloidogyne spp. populations were collected from various vegetable crops and fruit trees. Identification to species and race levels of the nematode populations was based on combination of currently available methods including nematode morphology, host preference based on the North Carolina (NC) differential host test (1), and cytogenetics and DNA-fingerprinting. Seventy of the eighty-three collected populations were identified as M. javanica, five as M. incognita (race 1), three as M. incognita (race 2), and five as M. arenaria (race 2). The perineal patterns of M. arenaria were characterized by a low, round to indented dorsal arch near the lateral field with irregular forks in the lateral field, fine smooth striae, and a distinct whorl. Race 2 was identified with the NC differential host test. Cytogenetic studies indicated that M. arenaria populations were triploid with an average of 52.2 chromosomes, while the populations of M. incognita (race 1), M. incognita (race 2), and M. javanica were hypotriploid with an average of 45.2, 46.1, and 46.7 chromosomes, respectively. Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR)- based assays were used to confirm species identification and to study genetic variability of the Meloidogyne spp. populations including sequence characterized amplified regions (SCAR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). In the SCAR-PCR-based assay (2), typical DNA products of 420, 670, or 1,200 bp in size were amplified by using extracted DNA of M. arenaria (race 2), M. javanica, or M. incognita (race 1 or 2), respectively, as template DNA. The RAPD-PCR primer, OPA-01, produced DNA patterns with bands that clearly distinguished M. arenaria from the other two Meloidogyne spp. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the root-knot nematode, M. arenaria race 2, in Jordan.

Keywords: M. incognita, random amplified polymorphic DNA

Research Title: Value of phenotyic and genotypic identification of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates from two hospitals in Jordan

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2015

The International Arabic Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 4

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii isolates have been recovered from hospitalized patients over the past few years from two hospitals in Jordan. Phenotypic and biochemical characterization in addition to disc susceptibility testing of all clinical isolates indicated that all of them were belonging to A. baumannii. A high degree of conservation of both the ITS length and the ITS sequence was observed, and their identities were further confirmed by amplified ribosomal DNA gene restriction analysis (ARDRA). The application of ARDRA for the identification of Acinetobacter species has several advantages over phenotypic identification. ARDRA considered rapid and reliable and universally applicable method for identification of most of the Acinetobacter genomic species, thus contribute to better understanding of the clinical importance and epidemiology of isolates.

Keywords: Acinetobacter ARDRA

Research Title: Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of 4-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl derivatives of phenolic acids esters

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2017

Natural Product Research, 32

Faculty: Science

Abstract: The glycosylation of naturally occurring phenolic acids has a significant impact on their solubility, stability and physiochemical properties. D-Galactose residue was found to form a part of glycoconjugates in several tissues and involved in a variety of physiological process. To the best of our knowledge, we have noticed a little information about the glycosylation of the phenolic acids with galactose residue. In this work, we describe the glycosylation of methyl vanillate and methyl ferulate with peracetylated-β-D-galactopyranose in the presence of BF3·OEt2. The coupling reaction yielded efficiently and selectively only the acetylated β-D-galactopyranosides 3 and 6. Removal of the acetyl groups using sodium methoxide afforded the corresponding β-D-galactopyranosides 4 and 7 in good yields. Anticancer activity in vitro was evaluated against two human cancer cell lines (MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines). β-D-galactopyranosides 4 and 7 demonstrated improved cytotoxic activity compared to the parental esters.

Keywords: Glycosylation, protection, methyl ferulate, methyl vanillate, β-D-galactopyranosides, PC-3, prostate cancer, anticancer activity, breast cancer, MCF-7

Research Title: The Effect of Waterpipe Smoking on DNA Integrity Among Youth in Jordan

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2019

Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 44

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Waterpipes have been used to smoke tobacco and other substances by the indigenous people of Africa and Asia for at least four centuries. Waterpipe smoking causes different genotoxic effects. The evaluation of chromosome aberrations (CAs) is one of the standard methods used for assessing the DNA damage in human subjects. The aim of this study was to determine whether waterpipe smoking increases the frequency of different types of CAs in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of young waterpipe smokers (n=25) compared with non-smokers (n=25) in Jordan. Twenty-five metaphases were scored and evaluated for chromosome breakage, fragment and gap for each individual. Chromosomal breakage ratios were detected to be 2.53±1 and 0.576±0.64 in the waterpipe smokers and non-smokers groups, respectively. The fragments ratios were 2.19±0.9 and 0.72±0.05, and the gaps ratios were 2.15±0.67 and 0.6±0.5 in the waterpipe smokers and non-smokers groups (p<0.0001), respectively. The results of the study revealed a significant increase in the frequencies of different types of CAs in waterpipe smokers compered to non-smokers, suggesting that smoking a waterpipe may cause genotoxic effects.

Keywords: Waterpipes genotoxic effects chromosome aberration

Research Title: Blocking of Histamine Release and IgE Binding to FcεRI on Human Basophils by Antibodies Produced in Camels

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2015

Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, 7

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Purpose The production of camel heavy-chain antihuman IgE (huIgE) that has the potential to block IgE-FcεRI interaction and histamine release by basophils. Methods Camels were immunized with a synthetic loop peptide (SLP) designed in a multiple antigen peptide system (MAPS) forming SLP-MAPS immunogen. Camel polyclonal antibodies (PCAs) were produced, purified, characterized using Protein A & G, ELISA, and SDS-PAGE, and tested for their potency to block passive sensitization and histamine release of human basophils using flow cytometry (FCM) and ELISA, respectively. Results FCM data indicated that camel conventional (IgG1) and heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs; IgG2, and IgG3) had blocking activities of 43.9%, 72%, and 96.6%, respectively. Moreover, both IgG2 and IgG3 achieved remarkable inhibition rates of 93.98% and 97.05% in histamine release, respectively, whereas the IgG1inhibiting activity was 60.05%. Conclusions Camel PCAs produced against SLP-MAPS were capable of blocking the IgE-receptor interaction and the release of histamine by basophils with superiority to HCAbs. These findings may pave the way toward the possible use of camel anti-huIgE HCAbs as blocking antibodies in the treatment of IgE-mediated allergy and asthma.

Keywords: Camels; antibodies; blocking; immunoglobulin E; anti-IgE antibodies; asthma; histamine release

Research Title: Production and Characterization of a Recombinant Camel Full Heavy Chain Antibody against Human IgE

Author: Raida W. Khalil, Published Year: 2015

JJBS, 8

Faculty: Science

Abstract: Camel heavy chain antibodies (HCAbs) have novel properties that render them useful in diagnosis and immunotherapy ofvarious diseases. The purpose of this study was to produce recombinant camel HCAbs directed against a synthetic looppolypeptide that mimics the FcεRІ binding site on human IgE. A recombinant camel HCAb was purified and characterizedafter being cloned using One Shot TOP10 Escherichia coli, expressed in BL21 Star (DE3) E. coli. Out of nineteensuccessful clones only one named IgG211 was found to contain the IgG2 HCAb coding sequence in the correct orientationwith 85% homology to camel IgG2. A 62kDa fusion protein was expressed in an insoluble form under Isopropyl β-D-1-Thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction. Probond purified fusion protein was localized by immunoblot using mouse anticamel antibody. The reactivity of recombinant camel IgG211to its corresponding antigen using ELISA was 72.9% of thecamel polyclonal IgG2. Thus, a successful production of a recombinant camel HCAb of the IgG2 isotype was achieved.Such achievement may contribute towards the application of the unique properties of camel HCAbs in the field ofantibody-based therapy for the treatment of asthma and allergy.

Keywords: Production and Characterization of a Recombinant Camel Full Heavy Chain Antibody against Human IgE

Research Title: The impact of applying Total Quality Management principles on the overall hospital effectiveness: An empirical study on the HCAC accredited governmental hospitals in Jordan

Author: Atef Al-Raoush, Published Year: 2015

European Scientific Institute, 2015 edition vol.11,

Faculty: Business

Abstract: The present study was conducted to bring the attention to the importance of applying total quality management (TQM) and their effects on organizational effectiveness, and particularly the hospital effectiveness. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of applying TQM on the overall hospital effectiveness in the accredited governmental hospitals in Jordan that accredited from Health Care Accreditation Council (HCAC). The study population represented all health care professionals working in the five HCAC accredited governmental hospitals who were working for more than three years in the same hospitals. Study sample included 1290 employees. The response rate was 83.6 % of the total questionnaires distributed. TQM principles were: Leadership commitment to quality, Customer focus, Continuous improvement, Teamwork, Employee involvement, education and training. Study findings showed a significant impact of all TQM principles on the overall hospital effectiveness (p< 0.05). Using multiple linear regression analysis showed that TQM is a strong predictor of hospital performance (Beta =0.818, t=46.613, R2= 0.669, and p value = 0.000). Taken together, applying the principles of TQM increases the overall hospital effectiveness in the HCAC accredited governmental hospitals in Jordan.

Keywords: Total quality management, organizational effectiveness, hospital effectiveness, Accreditation, Health Care Accreditation Council, Jordan.

Research Title: PATIENT'S SAFETY CULTURE: PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATIONS: REVIEW ARTICLE

Author: Atef Al-Raoush, Published Year: 2015

European Scientific Journal, vol.11, No.15

Faculty: Business

Abstract: This study was conducted to review the literature towards patient's safety culture in terms and applications. Patient's safety is an essential component of healthcare quality. Even with continuous alertness, health care providers face many challenges in today’s health care environment in trying to keep patients safe. Patient's safety is now a required subject that can provide feedback to the healthcare systems with the possibility of implementing improvement measures based on the identification of specific problems. The culture of patient's safety can be analyzed at different levels of the healthcare system, through identifying strengths and weaknesses that configure the way that healthcare professionals think, behave and approach their work. Continuous evolutions in healthcare increase the importance of establishing and maintaining a culture of patient's safety. Therefore research on safety culture is needed to raise awareness about the role of culture in promoting a safer environment. Patient's safety culture examines how the perceptions, behaviors, and competencies of individuals and groups determine an organization’s commitment, style, and proficiency in health and safety management and it is used by organizations to determine targets for interventions to improve patient's safety, evaluate the success of patient's safety interventions, fulfill regulatory requirements, and conduct benchmarking. Patient's safety culture is approached from different perspectives or dimensions such as reporting the frequency and severity of incidents, which so far are not taken into account by hospital staff. In this sense, an ongoing commitment must exist by management to promote and facilitate the culture of patient's safety by providing the necessary tools to identify the most prevalent cultural patterns

Keywords: : patient, safety, culture, health care, quality

Research Title: Staff Perceptions of Obstacles to Quality Management Systems in Low- and High- Performing Hospitals in Jordan

Author: Atef Al-Raoush, Published Year: 2016

International Journal of Business and Management;, Vol. 11, No. 2;

Faculty: Business

Abstract: Implementing a quality management system (QMS) is important for hospitals to deliver high-quality services. Hospitals in Jordan vary greatly in terms of the quality of their services. This study aimed to explore QMS obstacles in low- and high-performing hospitals in Jordan. The study employed a Mixed Method-Sequential Exploratory design. A questionnaire was used to explore the QMS obstacles. The study population was drawn from six public and private hospitals considered low- and high-performing. A total of 908 participants who worked in the six hospitals completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire contained 23 items and was rated using 5-points Likert Scale. The data was analysed using quantitative tools as Descriptive statistics, General Liner Model (Univariate analysis) to determine the major QMS obstacles in low- and high-performing hospitals and to explore the relationship between participants’ background variables. The study found that low-performing hospitals faced six major obstacles: lack of rewards for hospital staff, inadequate material resources, lack of training programmes in sufficient staff motivation, insufficient budget for a QMS, and inadequate authority delegation. Whereas, the high-performing hospitals faced three major obstacles: lack of rewards for hospital staff, inadequate authority delegation, and shortage of staff. The results showed that there were significant differences between low- and high-performance hospitals in terms of the QMS obstacles. The study also provides recommendations for improving the implementation of QMS in Jordanian hospitals.

Keywords: obstacles, quality management system (QMS), low- and high-performing hospitals

Research Title: Areas of Corruption in the Health Sector in Jordan as Perceived by Local Community Representatives.

Author: Atef Al-Raoush, Published Year: 2017

European Journal for Business and Management, Vol.9, No.3, 2017

Faculty: Business

Abstract: Corruption is a multifaceted social, political, ethical and economic phenomenon that affects all countries. Despite that Jordan spends about 8% of its GDP on health; very little attention has been paid by researchers and policy makers to corruption and integrity in the health care delivery system. This study aims at identifying areas of corruption in the health sector in Jordan, factors that promote corrupt practices and policy directions to prevent and control them as perceived by local community representatives. The study adopted the qualitative approach utilizing the focus group method to collect data. A total of 36 convenient sample of local community representatives from the Middle, North and South Regions of Jordan participated in the study (12 from each region). A conceptual model which addresses the corrupt practices of the main actors: providers, patients, and suppliers, was used during. The findings of the three focus groups were put together by the investigators and analyzed by the principal investigator. The results showed that areas of corruption among providers were perceived mainly in requesting unneeded investigations and medical procedures, referring patients to certain providers in order to achieve financial gains (commission), prescribing expensive medicine and wasting working hours. Areas of corruption caused by patients were perceived in the confiscation of the health insurance cards, trying to get free care by under-reporting their income and deceiving insurers to obtain benefits. Causes of corruption and interventions to improve integrity in the health sector were also addressed by the participants.

Keywords: corruption, health sector, integrity, local community representatives