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Adult Aspiration Pneumonia Prevention Protocol Post Surgery: Outcome-Based Continuing Education Approach
No full textBackground: Aspiration pneumonia is considered as a significant complication among postoperative patients, especially those who were on mechanical ventilation. This complication is strongly associated with higher healthcare expenses, mortality, morbidity, and length of stay. Evidence-based approaches are highly needed to prevent aspiration pneumonia by early detection and prevention of the risk factors such as dysphagia, inappropriate positioning, and poor oral care. Purpose: This project introduces and proposes the implementation of the STOP ASP Aspiration Prevention bundle, which is an evidence-based protocol tailored to tackle the risk factors of aspiration pneumonia. Nurses will be educated on this protocol using an innovative teaching approach which is Outcome-Based Continuing Education (OBCE). This approach ensures that nurses acquire the needed knowledge, apply it in their daily practice, and ultimately expect a change in their care. Conclusions: The STOP ASP Pneumonia Prevention bundle promotes durable improvement in nursing practice and patient outcomes by integrating new interactive educational training, persistent evaluation, and administrative monitoring. It is expected to significantly reduce aspiration pneumonia rates. This program ensures our commitment to deliver high-quality of care and emphasizes on the significance of using evidence-based practices in decreasing postoperative complications.
Clinical Implications: The STOP ASP Pneumonia Prevention bundle is expected to improve patient outcomes by providing nurses with the needed knowledge and skills to prevent aspiration pneumonia. It highlights the significance of evidence-based practices in decreasing complications and enhancing the quality of care. This program also emphasizes the importance of using innovative educational approach and interdisciplinary teamwork in achieving high quality of care
Impact of Professional Learning Communities on Teacher Performance and Student Achievement: A Systematic Review
No full textThis thesis aims to understand the effects of implementing Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in improving teachers' performance and raising learners' achievement levels through analysis of current literature. The practice learning discussions are based on principles of partnership practice: practitioners and learners, as well as mentors, are incorporating professional confidence based on best practice principles; all these elements are becoming the key to integrating transformative learning technologies in the education systems. This work aims to establish their contribution to developing teacher self-efficacy and improving instruction and student achievement in various school settings. In the current systematic review using PRISMA guidelines, 12 research studies published between 2019 and 2024 were identified and included from the ERIC database, Google Scholar, and other research databases. TDXs were identified from these studies based on the following criteria: PLCs and methodological quality within the last five years. The study demonstrates that PLCs promote improved teacher collaboration, self-confidence, and professional development more evidently when favourable leadership and resource support are given. Furthermore, the research shows that functional PLCs are beneficial to enhancing engagement, academic achievement, and learning achievement, and therefore, PLCs have a twofold effect on instructors and learners. However, the review also reveals obstacles, including uneven adoption, limited resources, and competitive resistance. Therefore, the established results support contextual implementation, continuous leadership participation, and effective collaboration of schools, which are valuable for optimizing the PLCs. Suggestions for future research include following the PLC for a more extended period, performing comparative studies in different countries, and using experimental research design to enhance the knowledge of the dynamics of the PLC and its long-term effects. This research forms the basis of the current study as it combines the existing studies' findings and provides practical recommendation goals for educators, policymakers, and researchers interested in developing and improving educational performance through teacher's PLCs. This shows that PLCs could change teaching and learning if well facilitated and properly implemented to provide a roadmap for overall school development
Occurrence, Removal and Risk Assessment of Priority Pharmaceuticals and Selected Pesticides in Wastewater in Lebanon
No full textThesis. M.E. American University of Beirut. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2025.Appendix: pages 129-169.Includes bibliographical references (pages 170-198)Release date: 2028-02-12.The prevalence of pharmaceutical residues and pesticides in wastewater and sludge has emerged as a pressing environmental issue, attributed to their extensive usage and potential implications in affecting human health and aquatic ecosystems. Within the Lebanese context, characterized by elevated pharmaceutical consumption rates, this matter assumes notable significance. This study investigates the occurrence and seasonal variation of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in wastewater across Lebanon and evaluates their removal efficiency in wastewater treatment plants operating under different schemes and conditions. Twenty-seven pharmaceuticals and four pesticides were targeted and were selected based on their common use in Lebanon, their widely reported occurrence in wastewaters, and recognized environmental impacts. The methodological framework involved the collection of wastewater influents, effluents and sludge samples, and their subsequent extraction and analysis employing advanced analytical techniques (QToF). The results revealed significant concentrations of various pharmaceuticals, with caffeine, valsartan, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen being the most prominent in all influents. The presence of these pharmaceuticals in Lebanon's WWTPs is consistent with global patterns, highlighting the widespread nature of these contaminants. The study identified Tebnine WWTP, which receives wastewater from livestock farms and hospitals, as a hotspot for elevated pharmaceutical concentrations, highlighting the impact of diverse wastewater sources on contamination levels. Sixteen pharmaceuticals and three pesticides were also detected in the sludge samples, amplifying the concerns. The removal efficiencies varied across different compounds and WWTPs, emphasizing the complexity of treatment mechanisms. Significant amounts of pharmaceuticals and pesticides were found to persist in the treated effluents. The study also revealed significant variations in the removal efficiencies of the targeted compounds across the treatment stages. Primary treatment results indicated limited removal through adsorption for most compounds, with some instances of desorption and accumulation. Secondary treatment, dominated by biodegradation, showed higher removal efficiencies for compounds like acetaminophen, ketoprofen, and certain antibiotics, though variability persisted among different WWTPs. Disinfection methods, including chlorination and UV light, further contributed to the removal of residual compounds, with differential effectiveness based on the chemical characteristics of each compound. The ecotoxicological risk assessment revealed that caffeine and clarithromycin posed the highest risk, particularly against algae, with varying risk levels observed in different WWTPs. Diclofenac, caffeine, clarithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and diazinon also exhibited significant risks against various aquatic species. The human risk assessment unveiled varying risk levels associated with different compounds across varying age groups. Diazinon stood out with the highest human risk quotient (HRQ), in both influent and effluent samples, while clarithromycin, acetamiprid and carbamazepine also demonstrated notable risks, with effluent samples from certain WWTPs still posing potential threat to human health. This study contributes to the understanding of pharmaceutical contamination in wastewater in Lebanon, its spatial distribution across the country, its response to seasonal variations, and the efficiency of its removal using conventional treatment processes. Such insights are paramount for evaluating potential risks to human health and the environment and formulating efficacious strategies for mitigating such contamination in the environment
Ultrasound-Based Neuromodulation for Cognition Enhancement: Exploring Frequency-Specific Effects on Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Rats
No full textNeurogenesis, the process of generating functional neurons from neural stem or progenitor cells, holds significant therapeutic potential for treating neurological disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and cognitive impairments. Neurostimulation, which involves externally modulating neural activity, has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing neurogenesis. While Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) has shown efficacy in modulating neural circuits and promoting neurogenesis, its invasive nature poses risks such as infection and bleeding, limiting its broader application. In contrast, ultrasound-based neurostimulation offers a non-invasive alternative with substantial potential. Low-intensity ultrasound has been shown to modulate neural activity, enhance synaptic plasticity, and potentially stimulate neurogenesis.
This study aimed to investigate the frequency-specific effects of low-intensity ultrasound on hippocampal neurogenesis and its functional outcomes in Sprague-Dawley rats. A four-week experimental protocol was implemented, during which ultrasound stimulation was applied directly to the hippocampus. Three distinct ultrasound frequencies—500 kHz, 1 MHz, and 5 MHz—were systematically examined to determine optimal conditions for promoting neurogenesis. Neural proliferation was assessed using immunofluorescence, with BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) labeling proliferating cells and NeuN (Neuronal Nuclei) marking mature neurons. Additionally, the novel object recognition (NOR) test, a hippocampal-dependent cognitive task, was used to evaluate functional outcomes, with behavioral metrics including time spent exploring the novel object and latency to explore recorded post-stimulation.
The results demonstrated frequency-dependent effects of ultrasound stimulation on hippocampal neurogenesis at both molecular and behavioral levels. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a significant increase in BrdU-positive cells at 500 kHz, indicating enhanced neural proliferation at this frequency, whereas higher frequencies (1 MHz and 5 MHz) exhibited reduced neurogenic efficacy. Behavioral assessments using the NOR test further corroborated these findings, as rats exposed to 500 kHz ultrasound showed superior cognitive performance, reflected in increased time spent exploring the novel object and shorter latency times. In contrast, rats in the 1 MHz and 5 MHz groups exhibited diminished exploratory behavior and prolonged latency, aligning with the molecular data and suggesting a direct relationship between enhanced neurogenesis and cognitive improvements at 500 kHz
Assessment of the Exposure to Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Tea Consumption in Lebanon
No full textPyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) are naturally occurring phytotoxins that can contaminate Camellia sinensis, posing health risks when present in tea. This study aimed to quantify six major PAs in loose black and green teas sold in the Beirut suburbs, compare obtained PA levels with current European regulatory guidelines and literature, and conduct an exposure assessment to evaluate health risks from PAs through tea consumption. PA levels were determined by sample extraction followed by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. A total of 28 tea samples, including black teas (n=14) and green teas (n=14), were analyzed, with sum PA concentrations averaging 120.1 µg/kg, and ranging between 25.8 – 607.7 µg/kg. Black tea averaged higher contamination levels (148.7 µg/kg) compared to green tea (91.2 µg/kg) (P˃0.05). Comparison by tea origin showed that Vietnamese-origin green tea had the highest average contamination, with 171.9 µg/kg. Exposure assessments revealed that 21.4% of samples from each tea type exceeded the EU adult limit, while more than half of the samples from each tea type surpassed the EU limit for children. In a short-term risk assessment, rarely did the samples pose a concern for adults, while a much larger proportion posed a concern for children. A long-term risk assessment indicated minimal risk for adults but moderate concern for children under average consumption, with higher risks associated with more frequent consumption habits for both age groups. These findings highlight potential dietary PA exposure exceeding safety limits, particularly for children and frequent tea consumers. Stricter regulations and enhanced monitoring of teas are needed to ensure food safety for tea consumption
Seasonal Variability of the Cost of Healthy Diets in Lebanon
No full textThis study examines the affordability of healthy diets in Lebanon, with a particular focus on
the consumption of locally sourced and seasonally available foods. It aims to evaluate the
economic feasibility of adhering to a diet centered on fresh, local, and seasonal produce by conducting a comprehensive analysis of average market prices, seasonal fluctuations in the availability of fruits and vegetables, and their nutritional profiles.
Using a mixed-method approach, the study integrates six-year market price data analysis with healthy meal plan modeling based on the Lebanese Food-Based Dietary Guidelines
(LFBDG), compared against the EAT-Lancet reference diet. Nutritionist Pro™ software was employed to model and assess nutrient adequacy of three 7-day seasonal meal plans (summer, winter and spring), while affordability was assessed using spreadsheets for costing and benchmark comparisons with local and global dietary cost indicators.
Findings show that seasonal price variability significantly affects food affordability, with off
season produce consistently costing more. Despite exceeding the cost thresholds of Lebanon’s SMEB and MEB baskets, the average seasonal diet cost (4.20/day), indicating statistical affordability when seasonality is optimized. However, nutritional modeling revealed moderate over-reliance on animal-sourced protein and underconsumption of legumes, nuts, and healthy fats, diverging from sustainability-focused dietary targets.
This thesis demonstrates that it is possible to design cost-effective, nutritionally adequate
seasonal diets in Lebanon, especially when incorporating preserved foods (mouneh), wild
edibles, and traditional culinary practices. Such diets support food sovereignty, enhance local food economies, and provide culturally acceptable solutions to improve diet quality and affordability amidst economic crisis and rising food insecurity
International Organizations: Their Role and Impact on Local Politics
No full textProject. M.A.P.P.I.A. American University of Beirut. Department of Political Studies and Public Administration. Public Policy and International Affairs, 2025.This research focuses on the role of local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs and INGOs) in Lebanon’s electoral process. It analyzes their impact on electoral reforms, political participation, and governance. The research highlights how civil society actors have influenced the conduct of elections and voter awareness through an analysis of the involvement of organizations such as the Lebanese Association for Democratic Elections (LADE) and the United Nations Development Programme’s Lebanese Elections Assistance and Parliament Support (UNDP LEAPS). The research will include a historical comparison between the 1992 and 1996 elections, which lacked structured electoral monitoring, and the 2018 and 2022 elections, where NGOs played a role in monitoring the elections, which resulted in increasing participation of women and independent candidates in Lebanon’s political sphere as an example. Through a combination of interviews with key stakeholders and a literature review, this study will explore how NGOs work in Lebanon’s complex sectarian and consociational political system. The research argues that such NGOs and INGOs do not have to directly intervene or pressure electoral reform through institutional pressure as their advocacy work, over time, reaps the resulting changes in voter engagement and electoral transparency. The study also assesses how international organizations influence electoral governance while maintaining neutrality. The findings suggest that despite challenges such as the entrenchment of sectarianism in Lebanon and election law loopholes, NGO-led electoral initiatives have played an important role in increasing political awareness among the Lebanese population
Lebanese Chemistry Teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Socioscientific Issues
No full textScientific literacy has been the overarching goal of science education for decades. Scientifically literate individuals must have conceptual knowledge of not only subject matter and scientific procedures, but also socioscientific concerns. Scholars contended that scientific literacy can be achieved by integrating socioscientific issues (SSI) into science education. This integration is strongly dependent on teachers’ knowledge and capabilities since teachers play a pivotal role in how (SSI) are taught in school science. Hence, teachers must have adequate pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) to teach SSI. Consequently, it is important to investigate teachers’ preparedness to help students integrate SSI with scientific knowledge to enhance their evidence-based thinking and decision-making. Following this line of thought, the purpose of this study is to explore the PCK of Lebanese secondary chemistry teachers for teaching SSI related to the chemistry subject. The participants are eight chemistry teachers from different regions in Lebanon, teaching at private and public schools and with a range of teaching experiences. Teachers' PCK for SSI were investigated through a case study design. Moreover, this study adopts the PCK construct as a framework that guides teaching. This framework helps to identify what the teachers should know or do to have effective teaching. Two instruments were used for data collection. The first one is a questionnaire composed of two scenarios (global warming and water fluoridation) followed by open-ended questions related to each scenario. The second one is a semi-structured interview. The questionnaire includes three parts: (1) teachers’ background information, (2) teachers’ views and understandings about SSI, and (3) teachers’ PCK for SSI teaching. The instrument comprises a rubric for scoring the participants’ responses to the questionnaire and to be used in data analysis. The rubric comprised three categories: low, medium and high. Each category included codes which represent the answers of the questions in the survey for each knowledge domain. For each participant, responses on each question were placed in one of the three categories. After assigning each response to a category, each question in a domain was given a score (0,1 or 2) depending on the category the response is present in. Then an average score was calculated for each knowledge domain separately and for all the PCK domains as a whole. Results of the present study showed that most of the participant teachers had adequate knowledge and understanding about SSI. Results also showed that teachers’ PCK profile for teaching SSI ranged from low to high. Moreover, their knowledge level varied in different domains of PCK. Thus, they showed highest knowledge in the curriculum, content and school domains, while lowest knowledge in the pedagogy and student domains. Based on these findings, it is recommended that SSI teaching should be included in university teacher education programs and PD programs should target the enhancement of PCK related to SSI.
A Narrative Review on Employee Resource Groups: Global Insights and Implications for the MENA Region
No full textProject. M.H.R.M. American University of Beirut. Suliman S. Olayan School of Business, 2025.In this narrative review, I am reviewing the existing literature on marginalized
communities in the workplace and the barriers they face globally, examining how ERGs
can support them, promoting diversity and inclusion in the MENA region. This review
emphasizes the need for more research studies that reflect the lived experiences of
marginalized people in the region. The review of the existing literature is important for
understanding the impact that employee resource groups (ERGs) have had on
employees and organizations in developed countries, providing a foundation for
exploring the potential implementation in the MENA region to achieve similar results.
The study reviews 30 articles based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. These
studies examined various aspects and benefits of ERGs in the workplace and the impact
they had on marginalized employees. The findings of the study showcase the significant
outcomes that ERGs can have on MENA region workplaces, targeting the prevalent
challenges plaguing organizational harmony and support. The study offers a
groundwork for ERG implementation in the MENA region to boost DEI practices and
recommends that future research studies explore the possibility of regional integration
of such initiatives while factoring in the socio-political and cultural dynamics that might
halt yielding similar results as in developed countries
Unveiling The Antioxidant and Anticancer Potential of Local Mediterranean Olive and Fig Extracts Against Breast Cancer
No full textBackground: Breast cancer (BC) stands out as the fastest-growing cancer worldwide, posing a significant threat to public health. Lebanon has witnessed the highest age standardized rate (ASR) of breast cancer incidence in the eastern Mediterranean region.
The Mediterranean diet (MD) has gained widespread recognition for its potential in mitigating various ailments including cancer. This positive effect was attributed to its rich array of bioactive compounds in its local produce including polyphenols, flavonoids, and phytosterols. Given the serious side effects of traditional chemotherapeutic drugs along with multidrug resistance, efforts are aiming to further investigate the effects of key components of the Mediterranean diet in the context of breast cancer prevention and management. Research has predominantly focused on olive oil and fig leaf and lumen extracts, with limited exploration of the potential anticancer properties of Ficus carica (FC) pulp and skin and Olea europea (OE) fruit extracts. Objective: The objective of this research is to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer potential of extracts of three Lebanese FC varieties (Shatawi (Sh), Baqarati (Bq), Asali (As)) and two local OE varieties (green olive (GO), black olive (BO)) in single and combined treatment on decreasing viability of breast cancer cells and elucidating their mechanism of action in vitro. Methodology: Methanolic extraction of both FC and OE varieties was followed by quantification of key phytochemicals such as total polyphenols (using Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and anthocyanin content (using the total anthocyanin quantification assay). Extracts were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH and FRAP assays. The anticancer potential of extracts was assessed using MTT assay, where concentrations of FC extracts (2,5,7,10,20,30 mg/ml) and OE extracts (0.3, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.6, 2.4 mg/ml) were tested against FHs 74 non-tumorigenic intestinal epithelial cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines; whereas their effect on cell cycle progression was tested by Guava EasyCyte8 Flow Cytometry-Millipore. Combination indices of combined treatment were reported based on calculations from Chou et al. (1984) to assess any synergistic effect on cell viability.
Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed that OE variety extracts exhibited significantly higher total polyphenolic content (TPC), particularly anthocyanins, with the black olive (BO) variety displaying the highest levels compared to FC variety extracts. This elevated TPC corresponded to a three-folds stronger antioxidant capacity in OE extracts. Furthermore, results from MTT supported the cytotoxic effect of the Lebanese olive and fig extracts on breast cancer cells. This effect was amplified for MCF-7, but not for MDA-MB-231cells. OE variety extracts showed stronger anticancer activity at 100- folds lower concentration than FC variety extracts. Combined treatment of both breast cancer cell lines with these extracts showed a strong synergism, while having no toxic effect on the non-cancerous FHs 74 cells, highlighting the selectivity of the extracts on decreasing breast cancer cell viability. Conclusion: Darker colored FC and OE variety extracts exhibited higher total polyphenolic content and greater antioxidant activity than lighter varieties. Extracts from these darker varieties have higher anticancer effects. The two dark extracts BO and Sh extracts have synergistic effect in decreasing breast cancer viability, but not in non-cancerous cells. Testing the mechanism of action of these extracts has shown that extracts lock up the cells in sub-G1 phase indicating apoptosis