AUB ScholarWorks (American Univ. of Beirut)
Not a member yet
33634 research outputs found
Sort by
Unraveling the Interplay between Cytochromes P450 and Insulin Signaling in the Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease (Type 3 Diabetes)
No full textBackground: Diabetes mellitus is a persistent metabolic condition marked by elevated blood glucose levels due to inadequate insulin production or inefficient insulin utilization. The underlying metabolic disruption is fraught with complications affecting multiple organs. Type 3 Diabetes (T3D) is one of the diabetic complications affecting the brain, and it is characterized by the ‘sporadic’ onset of neurodegeneration that is like that of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Overtime, memory, cognition, and plasticity of the brain deteriorate as insulin/insulin-like growth factor receptor binding is reduced, culminating in deficient insulin responsiveness. Emerging evidence points to the key role of impaired insulin signaling and oxidative stress in mediating diabetic complications, as well as AD. In fact, patients with AD show a susceptibility to insulin resistance (IR). Meanwhile, patients with diabetes are increasingly shown to develop cognitive impairments. In this study, we aim to better understand the relationship between AD and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Cytochrome P450 (CYPs) enzymes have been reported to be a prominent and emerging contributor to IR, cognitive impairment, and oxidative stress in a multitude of diabetic complications including diabetic neuropathy. More importantly, CYP-derived metabolites, 20-HETE and EET, have been described to play central roles in nervous system health. However, to our knowledge, no study investigates CYP contribution to T3D or AD. Aim: This work aims to investigate the role of CYP-metabolites 20-HETE and EET in mediating AD or diabetes-induced brain injury. We further aim to assess the possible effect of central insulin resistance on the 20-HETE/EETs levels and oxidative stress on the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: A battery of tests assessing multiple cognitive modalities correlating a spectrum of AD-like symptoms in our animal model were done. We utilized the Novel Object Recognition test, Y-maze, Sociability and Social Novelty test, and Morris Water Maze for the assessment of aspects of memory processing. Animals were subjected to behavioral cognitive testing after treatment with CYP-modulators HET0016 and AUDA to assess their therapeutic potential. Our investigation was followed by molecular testing on brain tissue with focus on the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus in which we screened for CYP protein expression, 20-HETE and EET metabolites levels in circulation and in the brain, reactive oxygen species production, and key pathological markers of AD such as beta-amyloid accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation in both mice models. We further screened for specific markers of IR and neurodegeneration using a variety of techniques including western blotting and immunohistology to identify alterations in our target proteins. Results: Our results showed an alteration at the molecular level in the expression of CYP450 enzymes as well as a disruption in myelin protein MBP. These were correlated with the deposition of β-amyloid in the cortical regions of T2DM and AD mice, which were further associated with an alteration of IRS-1 phosphorylation and 20-HETE and EETs levels, along with an increased ROS production. Administering either AUDA or HET0016 mitigated the effects of diabetes on mice brains. Conclusion: The results obtained highlight a prominent mechanistic axis involving CYPs alteration and 20-HETE/EET imbalance in mediating oxidative brain injury in diabetes and AD. Moreover, we show that CYP-modulation with pharmacological targets may hold therapeutic value, however these mechanisms necessitate further experimentation
Testing Practices in Lebanon: A Study of Practitioners' Perspectives on Cross Cultural Biases
Get PDFCross-cultural testing, influenced by globalization and the transfer of assessments, faces challenges, such as literal translation and lack of cultural adaptation, risking ineffective practices. A substantial proportion of existing assessments are often Western-centric and may not align with the Arab region's cultural and linguistic diversity.
In Lebanon, challenges intensify due to multilingualism, diglossia, and socio-economic constraints. This study aims to investigate the awareness of practitioners using standardized assessments of cross-cultural testing biases, explore their testing practices to accommodate individuals with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and propose suggestions to improve the testing practice in Lebanon in the context of multilingualism with limited resources.
The sample surveyed was 82 therapists working in Lebanon in psychology, speech and language therapy, and psychomotor therapy. This study used a mixed-method sequential approach. The dominant method is the quantitative analysis, followed by the qualitative analysis to give more depth to the quantitative findings. First, an online survey with both open-ended and close-ended questions was distributed. Afterwards, eight therapists from various specialities were interviewed for in-depth clarification. A thematic analysis approach was used to examine the interviews and to identify the main themes.
The results shed light on assessors' awareness of psychometric tests in a multicultural context and their limitations. The findings showed moderate awareness towards cross-cultural testing biases. Their understanding of the Lebanese contextual challenges focused mainly on socio-economical constraints, neglecting, to an extent, challenges related to the lack of robust psychometric training. Moreover, by exploring the strategies used to overcome biases, the practitioners used basic, qualitative and non-costly strategies, highlighting extensive reliance on their clinical judgement in all assessment phases. As for areas for improvement, practitioners expressed the need for specialised training and practicum in evaluation and for more centralized entities on a governance level that would facilitate the development and adaptation of culturally and linguistically sensitive tests
Workers' Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: a Scoping Review.
No full textThe emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in December 2019 marked the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to widespread global health crises and necessitating unprecedented measures, including lockdowns and restrictions. This paper presents a scoping review of the literature to explore the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on workers' wellbeing.
To explore this topic, a scoping review was conducted. The study adhered to the JBI and PRIMSA Extension for Scoping Review Framework. An inclusive search strategy to identify all articles that investigated mental health and wellbeing was initially carried out. The searches identified 6,952 papers, with 1,091 duplicates removed. After title and abstract screening based on predefined criteria, 2,237 articles were excluded. The remaining 3,624 underwent full-text screening, leading to the exclusion of 3,128 articles. Ultimately, 496 articles were included, and a focused analysis on a subset of 25 articles addressing wellbeing outcomes among workers during the COVID-19 pandemic will be presented in this review.
With a global perspective, the study reveals diverse contributions, including 32% of studies originating from the United States, and notable concentrations in Italy (12%) and the UK (12%). Healthcare workers (HCWs) constitute 84% of the professions studied, with nurses (40%) and doctors/physicians/advanced practice providers (36%) being prominent. The methodologies employed encompass a cross-sectional study design and online self-administered questionnaires in all articles. The majority of participants are female (72%), and journal quartiles indicate 64% in Q1. Wellbeing measurement tools, predominantly the WHO wellbeing index (WHO-5), and online self-administered questionnaires are consistently utilized.
In light of the findings, this study provides recommendations to address gaps in the existing research. Longitudinal studies are crucial to capture the evolving nature of these impacts over time. Additionally, expanding the scope of participant representation can advance the understanding of the complex psychological challenges faced by workers during the pandemic
Exploring a Role for Nucleophosmin-1 in Homing of Breast and Prostate Cancers to the Bone
No full textTitle: Exploring a Role for Nucleophosmin-1 in Homing of Breast and Prostate Cancers to
the Bone
Background: Metastasis is the most devastating aspect of cancer, accounting for 90% of
cancer-related mortality. Despite intensive research efforts to untie the molecular paradigms of metastasis, this process is still incurable and requires in-depth exploration. According to international databases, prostate and breast cancers (PC and BC) classify among the leading cancers globally, with a frightening increase in mortality to incidence ratio in the Middle East. Bone is the preferential site of metastasis for both PC and BC. Others and we described a critical role for Nucleophosmin-1 (NPM1), a pleiotropic chaperone protein, in several cancers. NPM1 is overexpressed in PC and in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), associating with patients’ poor survival. Of several NPM1 functions, ribosomal biogenesis influences crucial steps in metastasis.
Aim: Our research focused on exploring the role of NPM1 and related pathways in PC and
BC. We particularly assessed ribosomal machinery and epithelial mesenchymal transition
(EMT), upon downregulation of NPM1.
Methods: BC (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) and PC (PC3 and LNCaP) cells were used in our study. Ribosomal biogenesis was evaluated by real-time PCR. NPM1 expression was downregulated in MDA-MB-231 and PC3 cells, using small interference and short hairpin RNA. Key proteins interacting with NPM1 or involved in the EMT process were evaluated by western-blotting and confocal microscopy assays upon down-regulation of NPM1.
Results: We demonstrated that downregulation of NPM1 in BC and PC cells with high
metastatic potential (MDA-MB-231 and PC3) reduced their proliferation. Moreover, NPM1
knock-down in these cell lines reduced the protein expression levels of SENP3, increased the protein levels of ARF, and reduced rRNA synthesis. Strikingly, BC and PC cells exhibited a more differentiated phenotype (with higher expression of epithelial markers) upon downregulation of NPM1, as compared to the mesenchymal phenotype of these high metastatic tumors.
Conclusion: Our results highlight a role for NPM1 in the mesenchymal phenotype of PC and BC metastatic cancer cells and provide insights on the implication of NPM1 and its induced ribosomal biogenesis in the metastatic phenotype of these highly aggressive cancers
The Shock Doctrine in Lebanon: A History and a Current Reality
Get PDFThis research delves into the diverse manifestations of shocks and their subsequent reactions within varying socio-political models. The focus is on comparing nations where legitimacy stems from formal institutional decisions, characterized by anticipated opposition where opposition is both feared and felt, with countries like Lebanon, where a fragile truce among sectarian militia-based communities forms the basis of legitimacy. The problem at hand lies in comprehending the intricacies of how shocks unfold and elicit reactions across different socio-political landscapes. In Lebanon, the absence of structured reactions to shocks is evident, as decisions are often accepted without formal mandates, contributing to a pervasive sense of numbness among the populace. The motivation for this study arises from the recognition that, despite the significance of the "Shock” and its implications, the field remains largely unexplored, particularly in a non-western context. This research aims to address this gap by focusing on Lebanon, where shocks are met with little opposition or structured reactions, providing a unique case study that can contribute valuable insights to the broader understanding of socio-political dynamics in the face of significant shocks
Spirited
No full textSpirited is a story about confidence and responsibility with a of magical twist. It follows Noon who gets stuck in Abou Shorour’s dark world, and tries to escape to find her parents. Along her journey, she discovers the truth of her adventure with the help of four spirits of light .Darkness darkness everywhere
The little Noon is stuck in there
Abou Shorour the spirit of darkness,
won’t let her escap his clutches
But, little did she know that spirits of light
Will aid her in her fight
Will she be able to escape the dark world of the evil spirit, and go back to her parents
Roundtable 2023
No full textThis discussion is the sixth and final of AUB-NCC’s 2023 series of roundtables, titled “Navigating Climate Change and Environmental Activism in the MENA Region: Challenges and Opportunities”. The closing forum was organized by AUB-NCC and the World Bank on March 14th, 2024 at the OSB Maamari Auditorium in AUB.The series is co-designed with: Nature Conservation Center, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, Asfari Institute for Civil Society & Citizenship, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Arab Reform Initiative.Panel: Ms. Anna Fleischer, Director of the Beirut Office at Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung ; Dr Nasser Yassin, Lebanon’s Minister of the Environment ; Dr Jean Christophe Carret, World Bank Country Director for Middle East ; Mr. Ziad Abdel Samad, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Arab NGO Network for Development ; Dr. Alain Daou, Director of AUB-NCC and Founding Dean of the Faculty of Business at AUB Mediterraneo ; Dr. Joanna Doummar, Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Earth Sciences at AUB ; Dr. George Mitri, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Land and Natural Resources Program at the Institute of the Environment, University of Balamand, Lebanon ; Dr Ali Ahmad, Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank ; Ms. Lamia Moubayed, President at Institute of Finance Basil Fuleihan / Vice-chair at the UN Committee of Experts on Public Administration.This brief was published following the sixth and final of AUB-NCC’s 2023 series of roundtables, titled “Navigating Climate Change and Environmental Activism in the MENA Region: Challenges and Opportunities”. The discussion centered around the first Lebanon Country Climate Development Report (CCDR), recently published by the World Bank
Development, Discourse, and Agroecology: Theorizing from the South
No full textAs agroecology gains prominence globally, its meaning is increasingly fragmented and de-politicized. There are repercussions to the global development complex adopting the term and disseminating it into local contexts. The aim of this paper is to understand what kinds of agroecology are promoted in development discourse, and how hegemonic global discourse might impact local uptake of the term. This study embarks on a critical exploration of the multifaceted concept of 'agroecology' as it is understood within agri-food development specifically. It explores the historical roots of agroecology’s emergence as a framework that problematizes the logic of the Green Revolution’s development package, which has left an enduring impact on the contemporary food system. This groundwork served as the crucial step in the Discourse Historical Approach (DHA)–– a strand of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). There has been increasing attention to the question of discourse, with several scholars calling for the usage of the CDA method to unravel the power dynamics present in the discourses around agroecology. The study builds on the political-economic and historical contexts to understand the specific discourses around agroecology in Lebanon. As explored, the ambiguity surrounding the term reflects inherently political choices, with different actors framing agroecology according to their intentions, ideologies, and value-systems
Mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and first lockdown in Lebanon: Risk factors and daily life difficulties in a multiple-crises setting
No full textComposite Electrospun Membranes for Water Desalination using Direct Contact Membrane Distillation
No full textThe most basic component of life is water. However, the world's naturally occurring fresh water supplies are seriously threatened by a rise of economic development, industrialization, and uncontrolled population increase, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Desalination is seen to be a viable way to meet the steadily rising demand for fresh water due to the restricted availability of fresh water. To make saltwater usable, the extra salts and minerals are removed using a process called desalination. Membrane-based technologies have been more popular in the last few decades because of their high separation efficiency, affordability, and simplicity of use.
In this study, we investigate the enhancement of electrospun polyvinylidene fluoride-co- hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) membranes for application in Direct Contact Membrane Distillation (DCMD). Through a series of meticulous experiments and analyses, we demonstrate the significant impact of modifying these membranes with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer on their physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Electrospinning was employed to fabricate PVDF-HFP membranes, which were then subjected to various modification steps, including heat pressing and dipping in PDMS solutions of different concentrations and durations. Characterization studies revealed that the addition of PDMS elastomer led to a reduction in pore diameters, strengthened surface fibers, and improved thermal and mechanical stability. This resulted in membranes better suited to withstand the harsh conditions encountered in DCMD processes. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that while dipping PVDF-HFP membranes in PDMS solutions had adverse effects on certain membrane properties, such as thickness and pore diameter, the overall performance of these membranes in DCMD was significantly enhanced. The modified PVDF-HFP membranes exhibited improved flux and salt rejection rates during DCMD operations, indicating their suitability for various water purification applications, particularly in saltwater desalination.
Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the modification of electrospun membranes for DCMD applications, offering a promising avenue for the development of efficient and durable membrane-based water purification systems