An-Najah National University

About: An-Najah National University is a education organization based out in Nablus, Palestinian Territory. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Adsorption. The organization has 1857 authors who have published 2607 publications receiving 68226 citations. The organization is also known as: An Najah National University.

What Do Primary Healthcare Providers and Complementary and Alternative Medicine Practitioners in Palestine Need to Know about Exercise for Cancer Patients and Survivors: A Consensual Study Using the Delphi Technique

Abstract: Background. Exercise has physiologic and psychological benefits for cancer patients and survivors. Today, various exercises are recommended as adjunct to therapies for cancer patients and survivors. This study was conducted to develop a consensual core list of important knowledge items that primary healthcare providers and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners need to know on the role of exercises and physical activities in stimulating anticancer immunity. Methods. Knowledge items were collected following interviews with key contact experts (4 oncologists, 3 exercise and medicine specialists, 2 researchers, 2 cancer patients, and 3 survivors) and extensive literature review. The collected knowledge items were rated by 9 researchers who conducted research on exercise and cancer. A modified two-iterative Delphi technique was employed among a panel (n = 65) of healthcare providers and CAM practitioners to develop the consensual core list of knowledge items. Results. Of the 49 knowledge items, consensus was achieved on 45 (91.8%) items in 6 categories. Of those, 9 (20.0%) were general items on recommending moderate to vigorous habitual exercises and physical activities. The rest of items were related to the effects of habitual exercises and physical activities on the functions of immune system and exposure to carcinogens 16 (35.6%), anticancer therapies 12 (26.7%), metastasis of cancer 3 (6.7%), metabolism within tumors 3 (6.7%), and myokines release 2 (4.4%). Conclusion. Formal consensus was achieved for the first time on a core list of knowledge items on how exercises and physical activities might stimulate anticancer immunity. This core list might be considered at the time of developing training/educational interventions and/or continuing education for primary healthcare providers and CAM practitioners. Future studies are still needed to investigate if such consensual lists might improve congruence in cancer care continuum and improve survival rates and wellbeing of cancer patients and survivors.

Structural and electronic structure properties of FeSi: the driving force behind the stability of the B20 phase

Abstract: We present the results of a first-principles pseudopotential plane-wave study for the structural properties of the e-FeSi (B20), NaCl (B1) and CsCl (B2) structures of FeSi. The calculations were performed using the local density and the generalized gradient approximations (LDA and GGA), for the exchange-correlation potential. The electronic structures of the B1 and B2 phases have been similarly investigated. These calculations have enabled us to identify the driving force behind the crystallization of FeSi in the B20 phase. Both the B1 and B2 phases are found to be semimetallic, with the Fermi energy lying in a pseudo-band-gap. The B20 structure is predicted to become unstable with respect to the B2 phase at a moderate pressure, of 13.5 and 10.9 GPa according to the GGA and LDA calculations, respectively.

Major depression across West Bank: A cross-sectional general population study

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In recent decades entire populations have been living under chronic strain, apprehension and violence. This is the case for Palestinians. Despite the increased volume of mass media attention on this situation, little is known about the psychological effects of this condition on this population. AIMS: The study was designed to investigate the lifetime and one-month prevalence of major depression episode (MDE) in a multi-stage sample of 916 adult Palestinians drawn from the Al-Aqsa Intifada. METHODS: The survey was based on personal interviews and was carried out from February to September 2007. The clinical examination used DSM-IV criteria for the detection of MDE, extracted from SCID-I. Data, suicidal behaviour, previous help seeking, medication use and exposure to trauma were also collected. RESULTS: Lifetime and one-month prevalence of MDE was found to be 24.3% and 10.6%, respectively. Male Palestinians suffered from slightly higher rates of MDE than their female counterparts, but this difference was not statistically significant. Being widowed and living in towns in West Bank also increased the likelihood to develop MDE. A comparison of prevalence rates in refugee and non-refugee populations showed no significant differences. This could be explained by the fact that though refugees were forcibly displaced, they were living among compatriots (non-refugees), thus both groups were experiencing the same sociopolitical adversities. Being also exposed to traumatic events increased the risk of suffering from MDE. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that a population under continuous strain and apprehension, living in unremitting socioeconomic deprivation, is more likely to suffer from major depression. Language: en

Synthesis, characterization and rheological properties of epoxy monomers derived from bifunctional aromatic amines

Abstract: Several new epoxy monomers were synthesized from glycidylation of functional aromatic amines containing hydroxyl or thiol groups. The epoxy monomers were triglycidyl-2-aminophenol, triglycidyl-2-aminothiophenol, tetraglycidyl-1,2-phenylenediamine and tetraglycidyl-4-methyl-1,2-phenylenediamine. The characterization of the epoxy monomers was carried out by FTIR and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Rheological properties of solutions of the epoxy monomers in ethanol were evaluated using an advanced rheometer. The effect of solution concentration and temperature on the viscosity of the epoxy solution was evaluated. The shear rheology study at various temperatures of the epoxy resins solutions in ethanol was carried out on solutions with concentrations ranges form 0.5 to 5 wt% and temperatures (20–70 °C). The results revealed that the tetra-functional epoxy resins behave as Newtonian liquids and its viscosity is independent on the shear rate. However, the solutions of tri-functional epoxy resins are non-Newtonian liquids, and their viscosities are shear rate dependent. The activation energy of the epoxy monomers was calculated from the Arrhenius equation using solution with concentrations ranges of 0.5–5 wt%.

Modeling of the output current of a photovoltaic grid-connected system using random forests technique:

Abstract: This study presents a prediction technique for the output current of a photovoltaic grid-connected system by using random forests technique. Experimental data of a photovoltaic grid-connected syste...