Pesticides and trace metals residue in grape and home made wine in Jordan.

Sixty home made wine and sixty-four grape samples were collected from five territories in Jordan, where grapes and wine are mostly producted. The collected samples were analyzed for the most used organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and organophosphorous pesticides (OPP) in Jordan, as well as for four heavy metals (Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb). The results showed that OCPs residues were detected in 73% of the wine samples but no OPPs residue were detected which is due to generally shorter half life of the later pesticide. Grapes showed higher incident of contamination than wine, however, OCPs and OPPs with both short and long half-lives were detected. The OPPs were detected in only 8.3% of the analyzed grape samples. Heavy metals showed higher values in grapes than in the wine samples and it was attributed to removal of solids during wine preparation processes or through contamination of wine during storage. Most of the samples were below toxic limit.

Can selection assessments predict students' achievements in the premedical year?: a study at Arabian Gulf University.

BACKGROUND: In a problem-based learning (PBL) program, students are encouraged to develop self-motivation, self-confidence, communication skills and problem-solving skills. Measuring these attributes when selecting students into medical schools is a formidable task. Admission to medical school typically depends upon students' academic achievement in their prior education. In the past 3 years the College of Medicine and Medical Science (CMMS) at the Arabian Gulf University, which has a PBL curriculum, adopted an admission policy that utilizes final high school scores, a written admission examination in English and science, as well as a structured interview. OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent to which the admissions measures predict academic achievement in the first year of studies at CMMS. DESIGN: Prediction study of prospectively collected data. Final cumulative score for all subjects at the end of the first year was the main dependent variable analyzed. SUBJECTS: All students admitted to the college during the academic year 1998-1999. RESULTS: The written admission science examination scores had the highest correlation (r =0.663, p< 0.05) with the Year 1 final cumulative score. Although the admission interview focused on non-cognitive student attributes, which may or may not affect the students' academic performance, its score had a statistically significant, if low, correlation with the Year 1 final cumulative score (r =0.275, p< 0.012). Approximately 59% of the total variability of the Year 1 final cumulative scores could be explained by the admission examination scores in science and English and the high school scores. CONCLUSION: Procedures for selecting students who are most likely to succeed academically in the initial year at an innovative medical school deserve further study and probably should include both academic performance and non-academic attributes.

Levels of disability among the elderly in institutionalized and home-based care in Bahrain.

We compared the levels of disability between the elderly admitted to an institution and those cared for at home. Of the 74 elderly people in this study, 56 were institutionalized and 18 were living at home. The Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly (CAPE) was used to assess and compare the behavioural disabilities between the two groups. In addition to their younger age, the home-cared elderly were less incontinent, more social, better communicators and less confused than the institutionalized group, despite the fact that they had more physical disabilities with regard to bathing and walking.

Levels of disability among the elderly in institutionalized and home-based care in Bahrain

We compared the levels of disability between the elderly admitted to an institution and those cared for at home. Of the 74 elderly people in this study, 56 were institutionalized and 18 were living at home. The Clifton Assessment Procedure for the Elderly [CAPE] was used to assess and compare the behavioural disabilities between the two groups. In addition to their younger age, the home-cared elderly were less incontinent, more social, better communicators and less confused than the institutionalized group, despite the fact that they had more physical disabilities with regard to bathing and walking