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The burden of mental disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region , 1990-2013
No full textThe Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is witnessing an increase in chronic disorders,
including mental illness. With ongoing unrest, this is expected to rise. This is the first study
to quantify the burden of mental disorders in the EMR. We used data from the Global Burden
of Disease study (GBD) 2013. DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) allow assessment of
both premature mortality (years of life lost–YLLs) and nonfatal outcomes (years lived with
disability–YLDs). DALYs are computed by adding YLLs and YLDs for each age-sex-country
group. In 2013, mental disorders contributed to 5.6% of the total disease burden in the EMR
(1894 DALYS/100,000 population): 2519 DALYS/100,000 (2590/100,000 males, 2426/
100,000 females) in high-income countries, 1884 DALYS/100,000 (1618/100,000 males,
2157/100,000 females) in middle-income countries, 1607 DALYS/100,000 (1500/100,000
males, 1717/100,000 females) in low-income countries. Females had a greater proportion
of burden due to mental disorders than did males of equivalent ages, except for those under
15 years of age. The highest proportion of DALYs occurred in the 25–49 age group, with a
peak in the 35–39 years age group (5344 DALYs/100,000). The burden of mental disorders
Burden of Mental Disorders in EMR
PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0169575 January 17, 2017 2 / 17
consultants. Syed Danish Ali is employed by SIR Consultants. Competing Interests: We would like to declare the following commercial affiliations: Dr. Anwar Rafay is employed by Contech International health consultants. Syed Danish Ali is employed by SIR Consultants. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials. in EMR increased from 1726 DALYs/100,000 in 1990 to 1912 DALYs/100,000 in 2013 (10.8% increase). Within the mental disorders group in EMR, depressive disorders accounted for most DALYs, followed by anxiety disorders. Among EMR countries, Palestine had the largest burden of mental disorders. Nearly all EMR countries had a higher mental disorder burden compared to the global level. Our findings call for EMR ministries of health to increase provision of mental health services and to address the stigma of mental illness. Moreover, our results showing the accelerating burden of mental health are alarming as the region is seeing an increased level of instability. Indeed, mental health problems, if not properly addressed, will lead to an increased burden of diseases in the regio
تعالق الإملاء العربي بمستويات الدراسة اللغوية
No full textتتناول هذه الدراسة قضية أثر قواعد اللغة العربية المنطوقة بمستوياتها المختلفة الصوتي و الصرفي و النحوي و الدلالي في قواعد الإملاء العربي، و تأتي هذه الدراسة في محاولة لإلقاء مزيد من الضوء على مجموعة من الظواهر الإملائية المهمة، من خلال بحث جذورها التاريخية من أجل التغلب على المشاكل العويصة و الصعوبات التي تعترض الكتابة العربية المعاصرة لدى المعلمين و الطلبة على حد سوا
Waterpipe and cigarette tobacco smoking among Palestinian university students : a cross-sectional study
No full textBackground: During the last two decades, waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS), also known as hookah, witnessed a
global increase in use, especially among youth. Little information is known about the burden of WTS among
Palestinian youth. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of WTS and cigarette smoking
and explore the associated factors among a sample of Palestinian university students.
Methods: 1891 students, from five Palestinian universities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, completed a selfadministered,
web-based survey in 2014–2015. The questionnaire, which was based on the Global Adults Tobacco
Survey (GATS), had questions on WTS and cigarette smoking patterns and socio-demographic and university-related
characteristics. Binary logistic regression analyses were computed to investigate associated factors with WTS and
cigarette smoking.
Results: 50.9% of the sample was women. The mean age was 20.1 ± 2.0. Overall, 30.0% of participants were current
tobacco smokers and 33.4% reported ever smoking tobacco through a waterpipe. The prevalence of current WTS
(24.4%) surpassed the prevalence of current cigarette smoking (18.0%), with a significantly higher prevalence
among men compared to women. The gender gap for WTS (36.4% vs. 12.9%) was smaller than that for cigarette
smoking (32.8% vs. 3.6%). Binary logistic regression models for the total sample (men and women) revealed that
men were more likely to be current waterpipe and cigarette tobacco smokers compared to women (AOR = 4.20,
95% CI = 3.22–5.48, and AOR = 10.91, 95% CI = 7.25–16.42, respectively). Geographic area of residence, faculty of
study and self-reported academic achievement were also associated with the likelihood of being current waterpipe
and cigarette tobacco smokers.
Conclusion: A high prevalence of WTS was reported among our study sample, and it surpassed the prevalence of
cigarette smoking. Interventions to curb the practice of tobacco smoking among Palestinian youth should be
tailored differently to WTS and cigarette smoking, be gender-sensitive and specific and target the regional variation
in the smoking behavior
Climate justice in the Palestinian legal system : analysis and proposals for reform
No full textPublished in : Asian Social Science; Vol. 13, No. 11 ; 2017This article examines the legal treatment of climate change matters in the Palestinian legislation. To assess the adequacy of current legislation, the article starts by looking at the amended Basic Law of 2003, as a temporary constitution. It then looks at laws relevant to various environmental elements and energy, and finally explores options for reform. It is found that several legal aspects of environment justice are already addressed by national legislation. Nonetheless, key legal and regulatory provisions on climate change concerns, in particular mitigation and adaptation, are still need to be developed. The article recommends appropriate legislative instruments to fill gaps in the overall existing legal framework, including the creation of a well-architected institutional framework, with clear jurisdiction and responsibilities, among competent authorities; to enhance national and sectoral strategies and plans for mitigation and adaptation to climate change. A national highly-transparent Environment and Climate Change Fund has also been suggested; to sustain the national ability in financing environmental and climate change activities.Palestine Environment Quality Authority. UNDP and RICARDO company for energy and environment
Identification of differentially expressed genes in two grape varieties cultivated in semi-arid and temperate regions from West-Bank, Palestine.
No full textPlants respond to stress conditions by altering genetic pathways. In this study, we aimed to identify and analyze
differentially expressed genes in leaves of two grape varieties (genotypes) that were grown in Palestine either in
a semi-arid region with a prolonged drought and high temperature stress or in a temperate region with moderate
stress levels. In total, twelve transcripts with altered expression patterns, either by stress or genotype, were
identified with the differential display RT-PCR (DDRT-PCR) technique and validated via quantitative real-time
PCR (qRT-PCR). Eight transcripts represent genes that are down-regulated by stress in the leaves of at least one
variety, among of which are members of the DEAD-box RNA helicase, Haloacid Dehalogenase (HAD) hydrolase,
kinesin-like, and mitochondrial Adenine nucleotide transporter (ANT) gene families. Two genes encoding for
members of the GDSL Lipase/Esterase and Multiprotein Bridging Factor (MBF) gene families were found to be upregulated in stressed leaves. Two transcripts coding for a NAC-domain containing protein and a WD-repeat
containing protein, respectively, were found to be non-responsive to those abiotic stresses but are differentially
expressed in a genotype-dependent manne
Control of Robotic Crawler Cranes in Tandem Lifting Operations
No full textMoving heavy and over-sized loads poses significant
control challenges. A single crawler crane may be insufficient for
such lifting tasks if the payload exceeds the capacity, or if the
payload’s size and shape make it difficult to secure it to a single
crane hook. To solve these problems, it may be necessary to
manipulate such items by tandem lifting with two cranes. These
cranes are usually driven by two operators whose actions are
coordinated by a lift director. In this paper, a pseudo-dynamic
model describing the behavior of such a system, when the bases
of the cranes are moving in a straight line, is derived. The paper
also sets basic guidelines that prevent tip-over accidents. Finally,
it presents a control system that eliminates the need for a second
crane operator by making one crane mimic the behavior of the
other crane, thus reducing the possibility of human errors