The impact of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation on springtime dust activity in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pu, Bing; Ginoux, Paul

2016-10-01

The increasing trend of aerosol optical depth in the Middle East and a recent severe dust storm in Syria have raised questions as to whether dust storms will increase and promoted investigations on the dust activities driven by the natural climate variability underlying the ongoing human perturbations such as the Syrian civil war. This study examined the influences of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) on dust activities in Syria using an innovative dust optical depth (DOD) dataset derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Deep Blue aerosol products. A significantly negative correlation is found between the Syrian DOD and the PDO in spring from 2003 to 2015. High DOD in spring is associated with lower geopotential height over the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa, accompanied by near-surface anomalous westerly winds over the Mediterranean basin and southerly winds over the eastern Arabian Peninsula. These large-scale patterns promote the formation of the cyclones over the Middle East to trigger dust storms and also facilitate the transport of dust from North Africa, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia to Syria, where the transported dust dominates the seasonal mean DOD in spring. A negative PDO not only creates circulation anomalies favorable to high DOD in Syria but also suppresses precipitation in dust source regions over the eastern and southern Arabian Peninsula and northeastern Africa.On the daily scale, in addition to the favorable large-scale condition associated with a negative PDO, enhanced atmospheric instability in Syria (associated with increased precipitation in Turkey and northern Syria) is also critical for the development of strong springtime dust storms in Syria.

77 FR 14592 - Identification of an Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-12

... 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Syria.'' AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The... Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting...

15 CFR Supplement No. 9 to Part 760 - Interpretation

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... closely.) 3. Q. Can a U.S. person who is a bona fide resident of Syria furnish information to the Central Boycott Office in Damascus? A. No, unless the law in Syria specifically requires information to be provided to the Central Boycott Office the exception will not apply. Syria has a local boycott office...

Waqf and Madrasas in Late Medieval Syria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahamid, Hatim

2013-01-01

The "madrasa" began to spread in Syria ("Bilad al-Sham") as a higher institution for religious education since the Zangid rule (521H./1127 to 569H./ 1173). During the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods, main cities of Syria were characterized by many madrasas, especially the major cities that served the political rule like, Damascus,…

Food security and humanitarian assistance among displaced Iraqi populations in Jordan and Syria.

PubMed

Doocy, Shannon; Sirois, Adam; Anderson, Jamie; Tileva, Margarita; Biermann, Elizabeth; Storey, J Douglas; Burnham, Gilbert

2011-01-01

The Iraq conflict resulted in the largest displacement in the Middle East in recent history, and provision of health services to the displaced population presents a critical challenge. With an increase in the number of people affected by complex emergencies and the number of people displaced in urban settings, the international community must adapt intervention strategies to meet the specific demands and contexts of this population. The study aimed to provide information on food security and livelihoods for Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan to inform humanitarian assistance planning. National cross-sectional cluster sample surveys of displaced Iraqi populations displaced were conducted in Jordan (October 2008) and Syria (March 2009). Clusters of ten households were randomly selected using probability-based sampling; a total of 1200 and 813 Iraqi households in Jordan and Syria, respectively, were interviewed about food security and receipt of humanitarian assistance. In Syria, 60% of households reported the household food situation had declined since the arrival period as compared to 46% in Jordan. Food aid receipt was reported by 18.0% of households in Jordan and 90.3% of households in Syria. In Jordan, 10.2% of households received cash assistance and in Syria 25.3% of households received cash assistance. In Jordan, cash assistance was associated with low socioeconomic status, large household size, and UNHCR registration. In Syria, female headed households, Damascus residents, families with children, and those registered with UNHCR were more likely to receive cash assistance. Food insecurity remains a concern among displaced Iraqi households in both Jordan and Syria. Improved targeting of both food and cash assistance and the expansion of cash-based programs could lead to a more effective use of funds and facilitate the implementation of assistance programs that are sustainable in the context of declining funding availability. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

77 FR 24571 - Blocking the Property and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Certain Persons With Respect...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-24

... Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria via Information Technology #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents... Human Rights Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria via Information Technology By the authority... people of Iran and Syria by their governments, facilitated by computer and network disruption, monitoring...

3 CFR - Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Relating to Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 3 The President 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Relating to Syria Presidential Documents Other Presidential Documents Presidential Determination No. 2013-4 of January 29, 2013 Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Relating to Syria Memorandum for the Secretary of State By the authority vested i...

78 FR 31630 - Designation of One (1) Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-24

... to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Syria'' AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury... Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting...

77 FR 49864 - Designation of One (1) Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-17

... to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting Certain Transactions With Respect to Syria'' AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury... Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and Prohibiting...

77 FR 31068 - Additional Identifying Information Associated With Persons Whose Property and Interests in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-24

... Directorate (individual) [SYRIA] [HRIT- SY] Entities DATAK TELECOM, No. 14, Enbe E Yamin Street, North...), Syria [SYRIA] [HRIT-SY] SYRIATEL (a.k.a. SYRIATEL MOBILE; a.k.a. SYRIATEL MOBILE TELECOM; a.k.a. SYRIATEL MOBILE TELECOM SA), Doctors Syndicate Building, Al Jalaa Street, Abu Roumaneh Area, PO Box 2900...

Factors in the Introduction of a New Communications Technology Into Syria and Turkey: Background Data.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

LeCompte, Gare

Syria and Turkey differ in styles of government and patterns of media use. Syria is governed by a military junta; factionalism, intolerance of opposition, and the lack of any options except the use of force to gain political power, have inhibited political stability. Syrian newspapers have low credibility and are characterized by low standards,…

77 FR 26407 - Prohibiting Certain Transactions With and Suspending Entry Into the United States of Foreign...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-03

... Respect to Iran and Syria #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents #0; #0; #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 77, No... Into the United States of Foreign Sanctions Evaders With Respect to Iran and Syria By the authority... evade U.S. economic and financial sanctions with respect to Iran and Syria undermine our efforts to...

When Empathy Hurts: Modelling University Students' Word of Mouth Behaviour in Public vs. Private Universities in Syria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahmoud, Ali Bassam; Grigoriou, Nicholas

2017-01-01

This study examines and compares word of mouth (WOM) behaviour among university students in Syria. To date, little is known about this important phenomenon which is surprising given the deregulated education market in Syria that allows for private universities to compete for students alongside public universities. Using a mixed methods research…

Impact of Conflict in Syria on Syrian Children at the Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jabbar, Sinaria Abdel; Zaza, Haidar Ibrahim

2014-01-01

This paper describes a study performed to investigate the impact of the conflict in Syria on Syrian refugee children. The Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan was chosen for this task. Two control (comparison) groups of children were selected: one from the Jordanian Ramtha district, which is just across the border from Syria, and that indirectly feel…

77 FR 56766 - Updated Statements of Legal Authority for the Export Administration Regulations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-14

... the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria. It also adds a citation... annual notice. In addition, the authority for parts 730, 736 and 746 of the EAR with respect to Syria is...--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria, 77 FR 27559 (May...

Syria: Land of history, civilizations and war

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

As the Syrians are welcomed into Canada, it is useful to learn about where they are coming from. Syria is an ancient land with a rich history and has always been home to diverse cultures, ethnicities and religions. Palmyra was an ancient civilization that arose during the second century. Syria became part of the land of Islam in AD 640 and was a cultural, religious and artistic center. During the Middle Ages, Syria came under the control of the Crusaders and was part of the Ottoman Empire from the early fifteen hundreds until the end of the nineteenth century. During World War I it came under French influence and was recognized as an independent nation after World War II. In 1963, Hafez al-Assad led a military coup and since then, Syria has been ruled under emergency law. After al-Assad died in 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad was elected President in an uncontested presidential campaign. Before the current conflict, Syria had a population of approximately 22 million people but now about half the population have been displaced internally and into neighbouring countries, including approximately four million refugees. It is estimated that 250,000 people have died during the Syrian conflict. PMID:29770036

3 CFR - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 3 The President 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria Presidential Documents Other Presidential Documents Notice of May 7, 2009 Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his...

3 CFR - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 3 The President 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria Presidential Documents Other Presidential Documents Notice of May 7, 2013 Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria On May 11, 2004, pursuant to his...

Syria: Overview of the Humanitarian Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-04

more than two- year civil war in Syria. The humanitarian situation, for one, has garnered significant bipartisan attention. Members have proposed and...the prospect that atrocities reaching the level of crimes against humanity and war crimes by armed groups may have been committed. Outside Syria...the United Nations. Funding commitments made during the first half of 2013 have been incorporated into the revised appeals. As of September 3, 2013

US Policy Options in Syria: An Argument for Diplomacy

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

student academic research paper are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army...2013 2. REPORT TYPE STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECT .33 3. DATES COVERED (From - To) 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE US POLICY OPTIONS IN SYRIA: AN...STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECT US POLICY OPTIONS IN SYRIA: AN ARGUMENT FOR DIPLOMACY by Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey A

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-04-09

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force ( IRGC -QF) for training Syrian forces, and Iraqi Shia militias fighting in Syria have credited Iran for...providing training and coordinating their travel into the country. Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of the IRGC , acknowledged in September 2012 that some...March 2014 estimated that between 1,000 and 1,500 IRGC members were present in Syria.44 In terms of non-lethal aid, Iran

President Assad’s Foreign Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

1990-06-01

PERIOD BETWEEN THE WARS - 100 B. THE SIX DAY WAR AND ITS AFTERMATH - - 106 C. THE EFFECTS OF THE LEBANESE CONFLICT 109 XI. SYRIA AND LEBANON...Terrorism -------------- 232 XVII. THE SOVIET-SYRIAN RELATIONS --------- 236 A. SOVIET POLICY OBJECTIVES -------- 238 B. HOW DID THE SOVIETS PENETRATE INTO...SYRIA? 239 C. THE SOVIET MILITARY AID TO SYRIA - - - - 241 D. PRICES AND TERMS ------------ 242 E. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MILITARY AID IN RELATION TO

The Social and Political Consequences of Another Stateless Generation in the Middle East

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-26

Syria.95 91 Lynch and Ali, 2. 92 Ibid., 3. 93 Ibid. 94 Irin, “Syria: Tackling malnutrition in...the northeast,” Irin News, 20 July 2009, accessed 2 December 2015, http://www.irinnews.org/report/85342/syria-tackling- malnutrition -in-the- northeast...Southwick, 140. 34 children. The acute malnutrition rate in Buthidaung is over twenty-two percent, well above the World Health Organization’s

Questioning the Role of Internationalization in the Nationalization of Higher Education: The Impact of the EU TEMPUS Programme on Higher Education in Syria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ayoubi, Rami M.; Massoud, Hiba K.

2011-01-01

Given the need for major reform of the higher education programmes in Syria, and answering the voices that question the role of European Union (EU) in assisting the development of the higher education sector, this study presents an analysis of the contribution of (TEMPUS) Programme in modernising higher education in Syria. The study compares the…

Rapid Deployment of International Tele-Intensive Care Unit Services in War-Torn Syria.

PubMed

Moughrabieh, Anas; Weinert, Craig

2016-02-01

The conflict in Syria has created the largest humanitarian emergency of the twenty-first century. The 4-year Syrian conflict has destroyed hospitals and severely reduced the capacity of intensive care units (ICUs) and on-site intensivists. The crisis has triggered attempts from abroad to support the medical care of severely injured and acutely ill civilians inside Syria, including application of telemedicine. Within the United States, tele-ICU programs have been operating for more than a decade, albeit with high start-up costs and generally long development times. With the benefit of lessons drawn from those domestic models, the Syria Tele-ICU program was launched in December 2012 to manage the care of ICU patients in parts of Syria by using inexpensive, off-the-shelf video cameras, free social media applications, and a volunteer network of Arabic-speaking intensivists in North America and Europe. Within 1 year, 90 patients per month in three ICUs were receiving tele-ICU services. At the end of 2015, a network of approximately 20 participating intensivists was providing clinical decision support 24 hours per day to five civilian ICUs in Syria. The volunteer clinicians manage patients at a distance of more than 6,000 miles, separated by seven or eight time zones between North America and Syria. The program is implementing a cloud-based electronic medical record for physician documentation and a medication administration record for nurses. There are virtual chat rooms for patient rounds, radiology review, and trainee teaching. The early success of the program shows how a small number of committed physicians can use inexpensive equipment spawned by the Internet revolution to support from afar civilian health care delivery in a high-conflict country.

Rapid Deployment of International Tele–Intensive Care Unit Services in War-Torn Syria

PubMed Central

Moughrabieh, Anas

2016-01-01

The conflict in Syria has created the largest humanitarian emergency of the twenty-first century. The 4-year Syrian conflict has destroyed hospitals and severely reduced the capacity of intensive care units (ICUs) and on-site intensivists. The crisis has triggered attempts from abroad to support the medical care of severely injured and acutely ill civilians inside Syria, including application of telemedicine. Within the United States, tele-ICU programs have been operating for more than a decade, albeit with high start-up costs and generally long development times. With the benefit of lessons drawn from those domestic models, the Syria Tele-ICU program was launched in December 2012 to manage the care of ICU patients in parts of Syria by using inexpensive, off-the-shelf video cameras, free social media applications, and a volunteer network of Arabic-speaking intensivists in North America and Europe. Within 1 year, 90 patients per month in three ICUs were receiving tele-ICU services. At the end of 2015, a network of approximately 20 participating intensivists was providing clinical decision support 24 hours per day to five civilian ICUs in Syria. The volunteer clinicians manage patients at a distance of more than 6,000 miles, separated by seven or eight time zones between North America and Syria. The program is implementing a cloud-based electronic medical record for physician documentation and a medication administration record for nurses. There are virtual chat rooms for patient rounds, radiology review, and trainee teaching. The early success of the program shows how a small number of committed physicians can use inexpensive equipment spawned by the Internet revolution to support from afar civilian health care delivery in a high-conflict country. PMID:26788827

Chronic disease and disability among Iraqi populations displaced in Jordan and Syria.

PubMed

Doocy, Shannon; Sirois, Adam; Tileva, Margarita; Storey, J Douglas; Burnham, Gilbert

2013-01-01

The Iraq conflict resulted in the largest displacement in the Middle East since the Palestinian crisis, and provision of health services to the displaced population presents a critical challenge. The study aimed to provide information on chronic medical conditions and disability to inform humanitarian assistance planning. Nationally representative cross-sectional surveys of Iraqi populations displaced in Jordan and Syria were conducted in late 2008 and early 2009. Clusters of 10 household were randomly selected using probability-based sampling; a total of 1200 and 813 Iraqi households in Jordan and Syria, respectively, were interviewed. The majority of respondents in both countries perceived healthcare as unaffordable but accessible; cost was an important barrier to care. In Jordan, most routine health expenditures were for medications where in Syria, expenses were divided between medical consultations and medication. Chronic disease prevalence among adults was 51.5% (confidence interval (CI): 49.4-53.5) in Syria and 41.0% (CI: 39.4-42.7) in Jordan, most common were hypertension and musculoskeletal problems. Overall disability rates were 7.1% (CI: 6.3-8.0) in Syria and 3.4% (CI: 3.0-3.9) in Jordan. In both countries, the majority of disability was attributed to conflict, prevalence was higher in men than women, and depression was the leading cause of mental health disability. Chronic illnesses, disabilities and psychological health are key challenges for the Iraqi population and the health systems in Jordan and Syria. Continued attention to the development of systems to manage conditions that require secondary and tertiary care is essential, particularly given reported difficulties in accessing care and the anticipated prolonged displacement. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Syrian Arab Republic: A Study of the Educational System of the Syrian Arab Republic and a Guide to the Academic Placement of Students in Educational Institutions of the United States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Parker, Garland G.

Written as a guide to be used in the admission and placement of Syrian students in U.S. institutions of higher education, this study discusses the educational system of Syria. Facts about the country, the history of modern Syria, and the history of its education are summarized. The educational system of Syria is described and information is…

Sowing the Seeds of Civil War: Regime Destabilization and the Adoption of Neoliberal Economic Policies in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-01

OF CIVIL WAR: REGIME DESTABILIZATION AND THE ADOPTION OF NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES IN SYRIA by Kelli A. Guffey June 2017 Thesis...AND THE ADOPTION OF NEOLIBERAL ECONOMIC POLICIES IN SYRIA 5. FUNDING NUMBERS 6. AUTHOR(S) Kelli A. Guffey 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND...range of liberal economic reforms, under the guidance of the IMF, ultimately contributed to instability in three main ways. First, these reforms

Strategic Forum. Number 285, January 2014. The Flawed Strategic Debate on Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

that the Syrian regime of 2015 and beyond will not count us among its benefactors. Niccolò Machiavelli wrote, “A prince must imitate the fox and...who_is_in_charge_of_us_syria_policy>. 60 Niccolò Machiavelli , The Prince , trans. Harvey Mansfield (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998), 69...very real possibility that Syria will not fulfill its chemi- cal weapons obligations under the agreement reached in late 2013. For as Machiavelli

The Arab Spring: Comparing U.S. Reactions in Libya and Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-22

UNSCR 1973, jointly written by the United Kingdom, France and Lebanon was less strongly worded proposing simply a ban on all flights in Libya...supports and arms Hezbollah in Lebanon and until recently Hamas in Gaza, in its “cold war” against Israel. Hamas 20 maintained a strong leadership...continues to maintain close ties to Iran through its offices in Syria as well as in Lebanon . In Syria, reports surfaced of Iranian intelligence

Bouguer gravity trends and crustal structure of the Palmyride Mountain belt and surrounding northern Arabian platform in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Best, John A.; Barazangi, Muawia; Al-Saad, Damen; Sawaf, Tarif; Gebran, Ali

1990-12-01

This study examines the crustal structure of the Palmyrides and the northern Arabian platform in Syria by two- and three-dimensional modeling of the Bouguer gravity anomalies. Results of the gravity modeling indicate that (1) western Syria is composed of at least two different crustal blocks, (2) the southern crustal block is penetrated by a series of crustal-scale, high-density intrusive complexes, and (3) short-wavelength gravity anomalies in the southwest part of the mountain belt are clearly related to basement structure. The crustal thickness in Syria, as modeled on the gravity profiles, is approximately 40 ±4 km, which is similar to crustal thicknesses interpreted from refraction data in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The different crustal blocks and large-scale mafic intrusions are best explained, though not uniquely, by Proterozoic convergence and suturing and early Paleozoic rifting, as interpreted in the exposed rocks of the Arabian shield. These two processes, combined with documented Mesozoic rifting and Cenozoic transpression, compose the crustal evolution of the northern Arabian platform beneath Syria.

Brucellosis in a refugee who migrated from Syria to Germany and lessons learnt, 2016

PubMed Central

Grunow, Roland; Jacob, Daniela; Klee, Silke; Schlembach, Dietmar; Jackowski-Dohrmann, Sabine; Loenning-Baucke, Vera; Eberspächer, Bettina; Swidsinski, Sonja

2016-01-01

A teenage woman migrating from Syria arrived in May 2015 in Germany. She gave birth to a healthy child in early 2016, but became febrile shortly after delivery. Blood cultures revealed Brucella melitensis. In retrospect, she reported contact with sheep in Syria and recurrent pain in the hip joints over about five months before diagnosis of brucellosis. We discuss consequences for adequate treatment of mother and child as well as for clinical and laboratory management. PMID:27525454

15 CFR 732.1 - Steps overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

..., Iran, North Korea, and Syria. For these countries, you may skip Steps 7 through 11 and go directly to...., Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria), prohibited activities of U.S. persons in support of proliferation...

15 CFR 732.1 - Steps overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

..., Iran, North Korea, and Syria. For these countries, you may skip Steps 7 through 11 and go directly to...., Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria), prohibited activities of U.S. persons in support of proliferation...

Use of remote sensing techniques for mitigation and relief action of the main disaster concerns in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalati, M.

The main disaster concern in Syria is the Earthquakes since that Northwest of Syria is part of one of the very active deformation belt on the Earth today This area and the western part of Syria are located along the great rift Afro-Arabian rift System Those areas are tectonically active and cause time to time a lot of seismically events This faulting zone system represent a unique structural feature in the Mediterranean Region The system formed initially as a result of the break up of the Arabian plate from the African plate since the mid-Cenozoic The other disaster concern in Syria is Landslides whom caused significant damaging in Syria during the last decades especially in the Northwestern and Southwestern regions Landslide disasters killed some people and destroyed many mud and cement houses coastal mountains and cut off some roads few years ago It is known that many of the earthquakes and landslides that ever happened on our planet are located in active faults zones So it is of most important to obtain detailed information on regional tectonic structures The main approach of active faults survey at present is to use geological and geophysical methods such as in-situ measuring drilling and analysis of gravity and magnetic fields However because of the magnitude of the work there are still many uncertainties that we cannot figure out by traditional approaches Remote sensing has been brought forward for many years and has applications in many hazard

Explaining the increase in coronary heart disease mortality in Syria between 1996 and 2006.

PubMed

Rastam, Samer; Al Ali, Radwan; Maziak, Wasim; Mzayek, Fawaz; Fouad, Fouad M; O'Flaherty, Martin; Capewell, Simon

2012-09-09

Despite advances made in treating coronary heart disease (CHD), mortality due to CHD in Syria has been increasing for the past two decades. This study aims to assess CHD mortality trends in Syria between 1996 and 2006 and to investigate the main factors associated with them. The IMPACT model was used to analyze CHD mortality trends in Syria based on numbers of CHD patients, utilization of specific treatments, trends in major cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy persons and CHD patients. Data sources for the IMPACT model included official statistics, published and unpublished surveys, data from neighboring countries, expert opinions, and randomized trials and meta-analyses. Between 1996 and 2006, CHD mortality rate in Syria increased by 64%, which translates into 6370 excess CHD deaths in 2006 as compared to the number expected had the 1996 baseline rate held constant. Using the IMPACT model, it was estimated that increases in cardiovascular risk factors could explain approximately 5140 (81%) of the CHD deaths, while some 2145 deaths were prevented or postponed by medical and surgical treatments for CHD. Most of the recent increase in CHD mortality in Syria is attributable to increases in major cardiovascular risk factors. Treatments for CHD were able to prevent about a quarter of excess CHD deaths, despite suboptimal implementation. These findings stress the importance of population-based primary prevention strategies targeting major risk factors for CHD, as well as policies aimed at improving access and adherence to modern treatments of CHD.

Evaluation of the environmental impact assessment system in Syria

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Haydar, F., E-mail: firashaydar@yahoo.co; Pediaditi, K., E-mail: kalliapediaditi@hotmail.co

2010-11-15

Syria is a country experiencing rapid change, undergoing a process of political and governance decentralisation, opening its markets to the private sector, and experiencing a rise in infrastructure development. In light of these economic growth targeted changes, knowledge of the status and capacity of the Syrian EIA system to ensure environmental protection becomes of paramount importance. Syria first introduced EIA as a Draft Decree in 1995, which was not formally adopted until 2008. To date, no structured evaluation of Syria's EIA system has been conducted, a knowledge gap addressed through this paper. The research presented herein comprises a review andmore » comparative evaluation of Syrian legislation and procedures, to the EU EIA Directive and World Bank Operational Directive, as well as a series of interviews with Syrian stakeholders involved in EIA implementation. The investigation concluded that the new EIA provisions provide a sound legal basis. From interviews however, it was ascertained that EIA implementation faces a number of barriers such as, a lack of EIA integration into existing decision making and licensing processes and persistent exclusion of public projects from EIA. A number of recommendations are proposed, perceived necessary for the enhancement of EIA implementation in Syria.« less

The Cipa Database for Saving the Heritage of Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silver, Minna; Rinaudo, Fulvio; Morezzi, Emanuele; Quenda, Francesca; Moretti, Maria Laura

2016-06-01

CIPA is contributing with its technical knowledge in saving the heritage of Syria by constructing an open access database based on the data that the CIPA members have collected during various projects in Syria over the years before the civil war in the country broke out in 2011. In this way we wish to support the protection and preservation of the environment, sites, monuments, and artefacts and the memory of the cultural region that has been crucial for the human past and the emergence of civilizations. Apart from the countless human atrocities and loss, damage, destruction and looting of the cultural heritage have taken place in a large scale. The CIPA's initiative is one of the various international projects that have been set up after the conflict started. The Directorate-General of the Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) of Syria as well as UNESCO with its various sub-organizations have been central in facing the challenges during the war. Digital data capture, storage, use and dissemination are in the heart of CIPA's strategies in recording and documenting cultural heritage, also in Syria. It goes without saying that for the conservation and restoration work the high quality data providing metric information is of utmost importance.

Pedagogica Deserta: Memoir of a Fulbright Year in Syria.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pickering, Samuel, Jr.

1981-01-01

This American author's account of a year spent teaching English at Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria, focuses on the educational environment, his relationships with students, cultural differences, and the background of political violence. (SJL)

Brucellosis in a refugee who migrated from Syria to Germany and lessons learnt, 2016.

PubMed

Grunow, Roland; Jacob, Daniela; Klee, Silke; Schlembach, Dietmar; Jackowski-Dohrmann, Sabine; Loenning-Baucke, Vera; Eberspächer, Bettina; Swidsinski, Sonja

2016-08-04

A teenage woman migrating from Syria arrived in May 2015 in Germany. She gave birth to a healthy child in early 2016, but became febrile shortly after delivery. Blood cultures revealed Brucella melitensis. In retrospect, she reported contact with sheep in Syria and recurrent pain in the hip joints over about five months before diagnosis of brucellosis. We discuss consequences for adequate treatment of mother and child as well as for clinical and laboratory management. This article is copyright of The Authors, 2016.

Reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health in conflict: a case study on Syria using Countdown indicators

PubMed Central

DeJong, Jocelyn; Ghattas, Hala; Bashour, Hyam; Mourtada, Rima; Akik, Chaza; Reese-Masterson, Amelia

2017-01-01

Introduction Women and children account for a disproportionate morbidity burden among conflict-affected populations, and yet they are not included in global accountability frameworks for women’s and children’s health. We use Countdown to 2015 (Millennium Development Goals) health indicators to provide an up-to-date review and analysis of the best available data on Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and internally displaced within Syria and explore data challenges in this conflict setting. Methods We searched Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Popline and Index Medicus for WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Office and relevant development/humanitarian databases in all languages from January 2011 until December 2015. We met in person or emailed relevant key stakeholders in Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Turkey to obtain any unpublished or missing data. We convened a meeting of experts working with these populations to discuss the results. Results The following trends were found based on available data for these populations as compared with preconflict Syria. Birth registration in Syria and in host neighbouring countries decreased and was very low in Lebanon. In Syria, the infant mortality rate and under-five mortality rate increased, and coverage of antenatal care (one visit with a skilled attendant), skilled birth attendance and vaccination (except for DTP3 vaccine) declined. The number of Syrian refugee women attending more than four antenatal care visits was low in Lebanon and in non-camp settings in Jordan. Few data were available on these indicators among the internally displaced. In conflict settings such as that of Syria, coverage rates of interventions are often unknown or difficult to ascertain because of measurement challenges in accessing conflict-affected populations or to the inability to determine relevant denominators in this dynamic setting. Conclusion Research, monitoring and evaluation in humanitarian settings could better inform public health interventions if findings were more widely shared, methodologies were more explicit and globally agreed definitions and indicators were used consistently. PMID:29225945

75 FR 29884 - Implementation of Changes from the 2009 Annual Review of the Entity List

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-28

..., Pakistan, Russia, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. Entities listed under the destinations of Armenia... the remaining seven destinations: China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, and the United Arab...

Marriage crisis in Syria.

PubMed

Yasin, B A

1980-01-01

The author examines some of the changing characteristics of marriage in Syria, including the deferment of age at first marriage and abstinence from marriage. Data are from the 1970 census and other official sources. Factors affecting these trends are discussed

Middle East Dust

Atmospheric Science Data Center

2013-04-16

... only some of the dust over eastern Syria and southeastern Turkey can be discerned. The dust is much more obvious in the center panel, ... 18, 2002 - A large dust plume extends across Syria and Turkey. project:  MISR category:  gallery ...

Smoking among adults in Syria: proxy reporting by 13-14 year olds.

PubMed

Maziak, W; Tabbah, K

2005-07-01

Despite active epidemiological research related to smoking in Syria in the past few years, there is currently no population-based prevalence data for adult smoking in this country. This study presents the first such figures based on information about the smoking habits of 3066 couples in Aleppo, Syria collected during a survey on respiratory morbidity among 13-14-year-old youths. Reports from the young people indicated levels of parental smoking to be 54% for men and 18% for women. This figure for women is twice that reported previously. The mean number of smokers within the studied households was one smoker per household. Smoking among women was found to be strongly associated with their educational status and their spouse's smoking status. This information is of major importance for public health efforts to deal with the smoking epidemic in Syria, as it indicates a hidden epidemic of smoking among women, most likely due to under-reporting.

Socioeconomic differences in smoking in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine: A cross-sectional analysis of national surveys.

PubMed

Abdulrahim, Sawsan; Jawad, Mohammed

2018-01-01

The association between education and wealth, as fundamental determinants of health, and smoking is well-established. Yet, social inequalities have received little attention in the expanding field of tobacco research in the Arab region. In this study, we examine inequalities in cigarette smoking by education and wealth in four Arab countries. Utilizing the most recently available population-level data sets (Syria 2009 PAPFAM, Jordan 2012 DHS, Palestine 2010 Family Health Survey, and Lebanon 2004 PAPFAM), we tested the association between cigarette smoking and education and wealth-controlling for age, marital status, and region of residence-for each country, and among men and women depending on data availability. Cigarette smoking prevalence among Arab men is high- 51.3% in Syria, 39.7% in Palestine, and 42.1% in Lebanon; among women, prevalence is 8.4% in Syria, 10.9% in Jordan, and 24.3% Lebanon. Cigarette smoking shows the expected patterns inequalities by education among men in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, and among women in Jordan and Lebanon. On the other hand, wealth does not show a clear pattern in its association with cigarette smoking and, in some cases (men in Palestine and women in Syria) the behavioral risk is higher among the wealthiest. Available data from 2004-2012 show that cigarette smoking among men and women in the four Arab countries is predominant among those with limited access to education as a fundamental cause. The weak or absent negative association between wealth and cigarette smoking suggests that access to material resources does not precipitate a reduction in the consumption of tobacco.

Explaining the increase in coronary heart disease mortality in Syria between 1996 and 2006

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Despite advances made in treating coronary heart disease (CHD), mortality due to CHD in Syria has been increasing for the past two decades. This study aims to assess CHD mortality trends in Syria between 1996 and 2006 and to investigate the main factors associated with them. Methods The IMPACT model was used to analyze CHD mortality trends in Syria based on numbers of CHD patients, utilization of specific treatments, trends in major cardiovascular risk factors in apparently healthy persons and CHD patients. Data sources for the IMPACT model included official statistics, published and unpublished surveys, data from neighboring countries, expert opinions, and randomized trials and meta-analyses. Results Between 1996 and 2006, CHD mortality rate in Syria increased by 64%, which translates into 6370 excess CHD deaths in 2006 as compared to the number expected had the 1996 baseline rate held constant. Using the IMPACT model, it was estimated that increases in cardiovascular risk factors could explain approximately 5140 (81%) of the CHD deaths, while some 2145 deaths were prevented or postponed by medical and surgical treatments for CHD. Conclusion Most of the recent increase in CHD mortality in Syria is attributable to increases in major cardiovascular risk factors. Treatments for CHD were able to prevent about a quarter of excess CHD deaths, despite suboptimal implementation. These findings stress the importance of population-based primary prevention strategies targeting major risk factors for CHD, as well as policies aimed at improving access and adherence to modern treatments of CHD. PMID:22958443

75 FR 28673 - Bureau of Verification, Compliance, and Implementation; Termination of Measures Against a Russian...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-21

... Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act. DATES: Effective Date: May 21, 2010. FOR FURTHER.... SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Section 4 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act (Pub...

15 CFR 732.3 - Steps regarding the ten general prohibitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

..., Iran, North Korea, and Syria. For those countries you should review the provisions at part 746 of the..., Iraq, North Korea, or Syria, you must consider the requirements of parts 742 and 746 of the EAR. Unless...

15 CFR 732.3 - Steps regarding the ten general prohibitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Country Chart does not apply to Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. For those countries you should review... destination for any item is Cuba, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Rwanda, or Syria you must consider the requirements...

75 FR 44887 - Foreign Direct Products of U.S. Technology

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-30

... Group D:1 and E:1 (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria). This change is being made to bring the... to include all the countries in Country Group E:1, namely, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria...

The Rise of Syria’s Urban Poor: Why the War for Syria’s Future Will Be Fought Over the Country’s New Urban Villages

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

those urban poor living in the slums sprouting up around Syria’s cities. This “village-izing” of Syria’s ancient cit- ies has changed the complexion...1986 to 20.8 million in 2010.6 This population rose predominantly in the slums surrounding Syria’s cities. From 2000 to 2010, Syria grew by 4.92...opposition activity. Baba Amr, a slum of Homs adjacent to the orchards that once fed the city, is synonymous with the THE RISE OF SYRIA’S POOR

Child health in Syria: recognising the lasting effects of warfare on health.

PubMed

Devakumar, Delan; Birch, Marion; Rubenstein, Leonard S; Osrin, David; Sondorp, Egbert; Wells, Jonathan C K

2015-01-01

The war in Syria, now in its fourth year, is one of the bloodiest in recent times. The legacy of war includes damage to the health of children that can last for decades and affect future generations. In this article we discuss the effects of the war on Syria's children, highlighting the less documented longer-term effects. In addition to their present suffering, these children, and their own children, are likely to face further challenges as a result of the current conflict. This is essential to understand both for effective interventions and for ethical reasons.

The State of Relations between the Countries of the Former Soviet Union and Its Former Client State of Syria: How Have the Relationships Changed After the Break-Up and What Does it Mean

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-04-27

end of this visit, he stated his opinion that the western market was firmly controlled by Western corporations and there was not any sense in focusing...Belarussian efforts to compete in an overcrowded market . To this end, there were plans made to open a Belarussian diplomatic representation and a...Works was exploring the possibility of having its MTZ-321 tractors assembled from kits in Syria. The report went on to state that the market in Syria for

Infectious disease profiles of Syrian and Eritrean migrants presenting in Europe: A systematic review.

PubMed

Isenring, Egon; Fehr, Jan; Gültekin, Nejla; Schlagenhauf, Patricia

2018-04-24

In the past decade, a large influx of migrants presented in Europe. Their country of origin was mainly either Syria or Eritrea. Public health institutions in host countries in Europe are challenged to screen and care for migrant populations with regard to infectious diseases. We performed a systematic literature review (according to PRISMA guidelines) to define the infectious disease profile of migrants originating in Syria and Eritrea. The search resulted in 825 papers of possible relevance for infectious diseases in migrants from Syria, of which, after screening, we included 35 in the systematic review. A further 265 papers of possible relevance for infectious diseases in Eritrean migrants were screened, of which we included 27 in the systematic review. In migrants from Syria, leishmaniasis was the most frequently reported infectious disease. In addition, colonisation with drug resistant, Gram-negativ bacteria was reported. In the Eritrean migrants the infectious disease most described in the selected papers was louse-borne relapsing fever. Other frequently reported infectious diseases were scabies and Plasmodium vivax malaria. Our systematic analysis defines the profiles of infectious diseases for migrants from Syria and Eritrea and serves as an evidence base for public health screening and care of presenting migrants. Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Forecasting future prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Syria.

PubMed

Al Ali, Radwan; Mzayek, Fawaz; Rastam, Samer; M Fouad, Fouad; O'Flaherty, Martin; Capewell, Simon; Maziak, Wasim

2013-05-25

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly becoming a major public health problem worldwide. Estimating the future burden of diabetes is instrumental to guide the public health response to the epidemic. This study aims to project the prevalence of T2DM among adults in Syria over the period 2003-2022 by applying a modelling approach to the country's own data. Future prevalence of T2DM in Syria was estimated among adults aged 25 years and older for the period 2003-2022 using the IMPACT Diabetes Model (a discrete-state Markov model). According to our model, the prevalence of T2DM in Syria is projected to double in the period between 2003 and 2022 (from 10% to 21%). The projected increase in T2DM prevalence is higher in men (148%) than in women (93%). The increase in prevalence of T2DM is expected to be most marked in people younger than 55 years especially the 25-34 years age group. The future projections of T2DM in Syria put it amongst countries with the highest levels of T2DM worldwide. It is estimated that by 2022 approximately a fifth of the Syrian population aged 25 years and older will have T2DM.

78 FR 43277 - Designation and Identification of Two (2) Individuals and Two (2) Entities Pursuant to Executive...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-19

... Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria'' and 13582 of August 17, 2011... 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria'' and...

78 FR 58859 - Provision of Defense Articles and Services to Vetted Members of the Syrian Opposition for Use in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-25

... Use in Syria To Prevent the Use or Proliferation of Chemical Weapons and Related Materials... proliferation of Syria's chemical weapons, is essential to the national security interests of the United States...

Socioeconomic differences in smoking in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine: A cross-sectional analysis of national surveys

PubMed Central

Abdulrahim, Sawsan

2018-01-01

Introduction The association between education and wealth, as fundamental determinants of health, and smoking is well-established. Yet, social inequalities have received little attention in the expanding field of tobacco research in the Arab region. In this study, we examine inequalities in cigarette smoking by education and wealth in four Arab countries. Methods Utilizing the most recently available population-level data sets (Syria 2009 PAPFAM, Jordan 2012 DHS, Palestine 2010 Family Health Survey, and Lebanon 2004 PAPFAM), we tested the association between cigarette smoking and education and wealth–controlling for age, marital status, and region of residence–for each country, and among men and women depending on data availability. Results Cigarette smoking prevalence among Arab men is high– 51.3% in Syria, 39.7% in Palestine, and 42.1% in Lebanon; among women, prevalence is 8.4% in Syria, 10.9% in Jordan, and 24.3% Lebanon. Cigarette smoking shows the expected patterns inequalities by education among men in Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon, and among women in Jordan and Lebanon. On the other hand, wealth does not show a clear pattern in its association with cigarette smoking and, in some cases (men in Palestine and women in Syria) the behavioral risk is higher among the wealthiest. Conclusions Available data from 2004–2012 show that cigarette smoking among men and women in the four Arab countries is predominant among those with limited access to education as a fundamental cause. The weak or absent negative association between wealth and cigarette smoking suggests that access to material resources does not precipitate a reduction in the consumption of tobacco. PMID:29381734

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-09-28

100 See U.N. Mission, Final Report, December 12, 2013; and, OPCW Fact-Finding Mission ( FFM ) in Syria, Final Report, December... FFM determines or has determined that a specific incident in the Syrian Arab Republic involved or likely involved the use of chemicals as weapons

Comparative Investigation of the Geological Histories Among Alba Patera and Syria Planum, Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Anderson, R. C.; Dohm, J. M.; Haldemann, A. F. C.; Hare, T.

2002-01-01

To better understand the evolution of the Tharsis magmatic complex, we performed a comparative investigation of the geological histories among two of the largest centers observed for Tharsis, Syria Planum and Alba Patera. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of conflict and mass displacement in Syria.

PubMed

Ismail, Sharif A; Abbara, Aula; Collin, Simon M; Orcutt, Miriam; Coutts, Adam P; Maziak, Wasim; Sahloul, Zaher; Dar, Osman; Corrah, Tumena; Fouad, Fouad M

2016-06-01

To describe trends in major communicable diseases in Syria during the ongoing conflict, and the challenges to communicable disease surveillance and control in the context of dynamic, large-scale population displacement, unplanned mass gatherings, and disruption to critical infrastructure. A rapid review of the peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed literature from 2005 to 2015 was performed, augmented by secondary analysis of monitoring data from two disease early warning systems currently operational in Syria, focusing mainly on three diseases: tuberculosis (TB), measles, and polio. Trend data show discrepancies in case report numbers between government and non-government controlled areas, especially for TB, but interpretation is hampered by uncertainties over sentinel surveillance coverage and base population numbers. Communicable disease control has been undermined by a combination of governance fragmentation, direct and indirect damage to facilities and systems, and health worker flight. Five years into the crisis, some progress has been made in disease surveillance, but governance and coordination problems, variable immunization coverage, and the dynamic and indiscriminate nature of the conflict continue to pose a serious threat to population health in Syria and surrounding countries. The risk of major cross-border communicable disease outbreaks is high, and challenges for health in a post-conflict Syria are formidable. Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Forecasting future prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Syria

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasingly becoming a major public health problem worldwide. Estimating the future burden of diabetes is instrumental to guide the public health response to the epidemic. This study aims to project the prevalence of T2DM among adults in Syria over the period 2003–2022 by applying a modelling approach to the country’s own data. Methods Future prevalence of T2DM in Syria was estimated among adults aged 25 years and older for the period 2003–2022 using the IMPACT Diabetes Model (a discrete-state Markov model). Results According to our model, the prevalence of T2DM in Syria is projected to double in the period between 2003 and 2022 (from 10% to 21%). The projected increase in T2DM prevalence is higher in men (148%) than in women (93%). The increase in prevalence of T2DM is expected to be most marked in people younger than 55 years especially the 25–34 years age group. Conclusions The future projections of T2DM in Syria put it amongst countries with the highest levels of T2DM worldwide. It is estimated that by 2022 approximately a fifth of the Syrian population aged 25 years and older will have T2DM. PMID:23705638

31 CFR 542.516 - Certain services in support of nongovernmental organizations' activities authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... limited to, preventing infectious disease and promoting maternal/child health, sustainable agriculture..., or through the Government of Syria or any other person whose property and interests in property are... other transactions involving, the Government of Syria or any other person whose property and interests...

How to Support the Opposition in Syria: New Models for Understanding Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

cleansing ; contin- ued instability and loss of life caused by terror- ist organizations with local, regional or even global ambitions; or worsening...Administration before him, President Obama has exercised caution, initially determining that the safest course of action, and the most palatable to the

Syria Country Analysis Brief

EIA Publications

2015-01-01

Syria's energy sector has encountered a number of challenges as a result of conflict and subsequent sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union. Damage to energy infrastructure—including oil and natural gas pipelines and electricity transmission networks—hindered the exploration, development, production, and transport of the country's energy resources.

Observations on the Air War in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-01

comfortable with a trainer aircraft. In January 2012, the Syrian air force attempted to buy 40 Yak -130 trainers from Russia, but in July 2012...election-result-delay-coup-live. 32. “Russia Will Not Deliver Yak -130 Fighter Jets to Syria,” Airforce-technology.com, 9 July 2012, http://www.airforce

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-09

Finding Mission ( FFM ) in Syria, Third Report, December 18, 2014. 43 Government Assessment of the Syrian Government’s Use of Chemical Weapons on August...Republic where the OPCW FFM determines or has determined that a specific incident in the Syrian Arab Republic involved or likely involved the use of

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-06

Finding Mission ( FFM ) in Syria, Final Report, December 2015 attached to “Letter dated 27 January 2016 from the Secretary-General addressed to the...otherwise involved in the use of chemicals as weapons, including chlorine or any other toxic chemical, in the Syrian Arab Republic where the OPCW FFM

31 CFR 1010.653 - Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria. 1010.653 Section 1010.653 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL PROVISIONS...

31 CFR 1010.653 - Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria. 1010.653 Section 1010.653 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL PROVISIONS...

31 CFR 1010.653 - Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria. 1010.653 Section 1010.653 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL PROVISIONS...

31 CFR 1010.653 - Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria. 1010.653 Section 1010.653 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY GENERAL PROVISIONS...

76 FR 23830 - Removing Designated Countries From the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS)

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-28

..., Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Over the past six years, the Department of Homeland... Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. See, e.g., 67 FR 67766 (Nov. 6... establishment in 2003, DHS has developed substantial infrastructure and adopted more universally applicable...

15 CFR 746.9 - Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... medicine. The President also exercised national security waiver authority pursuant to Section 5(b) of the... for the export or reexport to Syria of all items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99 (food and medicine are defined in part 772 of the EAR). A license is required for the...

15 CFR 746.9 - Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... medicine. The President also exercised national security waiver authority pursuant to Section 5(b) of the... for the export or reexport to Syria of all items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99 (food and medicine are defined in part 772 of the EAR). A license is required for the...

15 CFR 746.9 - Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... medicine. The President also exercised national security waiver authority pursuant to Section 5(b) of the... for the export or reexport to Syria of all items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99 (food and medicine are defined in part 772 of the EAR). A license is required for the...

Is Transitional Justice Necessary to Establish Long Term Stability

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-10

College), 45; Benjamin Denison and Jasmin Mujanovic, “Syria Isn’t Bosnia. And No, the Problem Isn’t ‘Ancient Hatreds,’” The Washington 17 multiple...Denison, Benjamin and Jasmin Mujanovic. “Syria Isn’t Bosnia. And No, the Problem Isn’t ‘Ancient Hatreds.’” The Washington Post. November 17, 2015

78 FR 74218 - Imposition of Additional Sanctions on Syria Under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-10

... Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 AGENCY: Bureau of International... determination was made that the Government of Syria used chemical weapons in violation of international law or lethal chemical weapons against its own nationals. Notice of this determination was published on...

78 FR 55326 - Determinations Regarding Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria Under the Chemical and Biological...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-10

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8460] Determinations Regarding Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria Under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991 AGENCY: Bureau of...(d) of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, as amended...

A resolution condemning violence by the Government of Syria against journalists, and expressing the sense of the Senate on freedom of the press in Syria.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR

2012-03-08

Senate - 03/29/2012 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and an amended preamble by Voice Vote. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

31 CFR 542.514 - Transactions related to U.S. persons residing in Syria authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 31 Money and Finance:Treasury 3 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Transactions related to U.S. persons residing in Syria authorized. 542.514 Section 542.514 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and Finance (Continued) OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY SYRIAN...

15 CFR 742.9 - Anti-terrorism: Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992. (x) Ammonium nitrate, including certain fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, controlled under ECCN 1C997. (xi) Technology for the production of Chemical... Syria will be included as controlled U.S. content, except for ECCNs 6A998, 7A994, and 9A991.d, for...

Humanitarian Needs Among Displaced and Female-Headed Households in Government-Controlled Areas of Syria.

PubMed

Doocy, Shannon; Lyles, Emily

2017-06-01

To identify unmet needs and assistance priorities of displaced and female-headed households in government-controlled areas of Syria. In mid-2016, we undertook a survey of accessible areas, largely urban and government-controlled, to identify unmet needs and assistance priorities. We used a cluster design with probability sampling to attain a final sample of 2405 households from 10 of 14 governorates; 31 of 65 (47.7%) districts were included that are home to 38.1% of people in need. Displaced and female-headed households were more vulnerable than nondisplaced and male-headed households in numerous sectors. Despite approximately half of surveyed households reporting receipt of humanitarian assistance in the preceding month and apparently effective targeting of assistance by vulnerability, unmet needs were nearly ubiquitous. The humanitarian situation in inaccessible areas of Syria is likely to be considerably worse; thus, findings presented here likely underestimate humanitarian needs. Efforts to expand support to Syria's most vulnerable households are desperately needed as are innovative targeting and modalities that enable more efficient and effective assistance.

Human tuberculosis predates domestication in ancient Syria.

PubMed

Baker, Oussama; Lee, Oona Y-C; Wu, Houdini H T; Besra, Gurdyal S; Minnikin, David E; Llewellyn, Gareth; Williams, Christopher M; Maixner, Frank; O'Sullivan, Niall; Zink, Albert; Chamel, Bérénice; Khawam, Rima; Coqueugniot, Eric; Helmer, Daniel; Le Mort, Françoise; Perrin, Pascale; Gourichon, Lionel; Dutailly, Bruno; Pálfi, György; Coqueugniot, Hélène; Dutour, Olivier

2015-06-01

The question of pre-neolithic tuberculosis is still open in paleopathological perspective. One of the major interests is to explore what type of infection could have existed around the early stage of animal domestication. Paleopathological lesions evoking skeletal TB were observed on five human skeletons coming from two PPNB sites in Syria, which belongs to the geographical cradle of agriculture. These sites represent respectively pre-domestication phase (Dja'de el Mughara, Northern Syria, 8800-8300 BCE cal.) and early domestication phase (Tell Aswad, Southern Syria, 8200-7600 BCE cal.). MicroCT scan analyses were performed on two specimens (one per site) and revealed microscopic changes in favor of TB infection. Detection of lipid biomarkers is positive for two specimens (one per site). Initial molecular analysis further indicates the presence of TB in one individual from Dja'de. Interestingly, no morphological evidence of TB was observed on animal remains of wild and newly domesticated species, discovered in these sites. These observations strongly suggest the presence of human tuberculosis before domestication and at its early stages. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Dietary habits and lifestyle among adolescents in Damascus, Syria.

PubMed

Musaiger, Abdulrahman; Kalam, Faiza

2014-01-01

Dietary and lifestyle behaviours among adolescents are risk factors for several chronic diseases in adulthood. To examine the differences in dietary habits and lifestyle between male and female adolescents in Syria. A cross-sectional multi-stage stratified sampling study was carried out on adolescents, 15-18-years-old, in Damascus, Syria. The total sample selected was 365 (178 males and 187 females). Data were collected with a pretested questionnaire. There were significant differences between males and females in the frequency of intake of vegetables, milk and dairy products, red meat, sugary beverages and fast foods. Females were more likely to skip breakfast than males (52.4% vs. 43%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Males were significantly more likely to consume larger portions of fast foods and soft drinks. Significant differences were found between genders in eating while watching television, hours using Internet, practicing physical activity and emotional eating. A significant variation between male and female Syrian adolescents in their food habits and lifestyle was observed. Interventions should consider the gender differences to promote a healthy lifestyle for schoolchildren in Syria.

Launching a Syrian Apprenticeship Scheme: Paving the Way for Change

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warden, Rebecca

2006-01-01

This article charts the progress of a project to introduce an apprenticeship scheme providing school and company-based training for the first time in Syria. It traces the successes and failures of the project. Syria is new territory for this kind of initiative. The article outlines some of the difficulties of working in a highly centralised…

Exploring English-Language Teachers' Professional Development in Developing Countries: Cases from Syria and Pakistan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dayoub, Ruba; Bashiruddin, Ayesha

2012-01-01

This paper attempts to present the findings of a study carried out in Pakistan that explored English-language teachers' professional development in developing countries. The main guiding question for the study was: How do English-language teachers at secondary schools learn to teach and develop professionally in Syria and Pakistan? Two cases were…

The Employability Skills of Business Graduates in Syria: Do Policymakers and Employers Speak the Same Language?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ayoubi, Rami M.; Alzarif, Kahla; Khalifa, Bayan

2017-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to compare the desired employability skills of business graduates in Syria from the perspective of both higher education policymakers and employers in the private sector. Design/Methodology/Approach: Interviews were conducted with 12 higher education policymakers and managers from the business sector. Content…

Situation Report--Bahrain, Central African Republic, Gabon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Syria, Yemen Arab Republic.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

International Planned Parenthood Federation, London (England).

Data relating to population and family planning in twelve foreign countries are presented in these situation reports. Countries included are Bahrain, Central African Republic, Gabon, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Swaziland, Syria, and Yemen Arab Republic. Information is provided, where appropriate and available, under two…

3 CFR 13606 - Executive Order 13606 of April 22, 2012. Blocking the Property and Suspending Entry Into the...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Human Rights Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria via Information Technology 13606 Order 13606... Abuses by the Governments of Iran and Syria via Information Technology By the authority vested in me as... the operation of, information and communications technology that facilitates computer or network...

77 FR 50210 - Unblocking of One (1) Individual Designated Pursuant to Executive Order 13573

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-08-20

... removed from the SDN List. The following designation is removed from the SDN List: Individual 1. HIJAB, Riyad (a.k.a. HIJAB, Riyad Farid), Syria; DOB 1966; POB Deir Ezzor, Syria; Prime Minister (individual... concerning OFAC are available from OFAC's Web site ( www.treas.gov/ofac ) or via facsimile through a 24-hour...

76 FR 77115 - Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations: Facilitating Enhanced Public Understanding...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-12

... (SAA) and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Part 746 of the EAR addresses... sanctions against Syria. For this reason, part 746 previously contained a cross reference to the Syria provisions in General Order No. 2 at section 746.9. BIS is removing the cross reference and replacing it with...

77 FR 43658 - Designation of One (1) Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-25

... Human Rights Abuses in Syria'' AGENCY: Office of Foreign Assets Control, Treasury. ACTION: Notice... of April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in... Executive Order 13572, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria...

The Islamic State and U.S. Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-14

has conducted operations against the group in Iraq, Syria, and Libya. Parallel U.S. diplomatic efforts are designed to promote political...governments in support of those governments’ operations against Islamic State affiliates. Evolving counterterrorism cooperation and intelligence sharing...attacks. The interdependent nature of conflicts and political crises in Iraq, Syria, and other countries where the Islamic State operates complicates

77 FR 10808 - Designation of One Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, “Blocking Property...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-02-23

... Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Human Rights..., 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria.'' DATES: The..., ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria,'' (the ``Order...

76 FR 24787 - Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-03

... Order 13572 of April 29, 2011 Blocking Property of Certain Persons With Respect to Human Rights Abuses..., finding that the Government of Syria's human rights abuses, including those related to the repression of... have engaged in human rights abuses, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national...

76 FR 54534 - Designation of One Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, “Blocking Property...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-09-01

... Executive Order 13572 of April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights... April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria..., ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in Syria,'' (the ``Order...

From Metric Image Archives to Point Cloud Reconstruction: Case Study of the Great Mosque of Aleppo in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grussenmeyer, P.; Khalil, O. Al

2017-08-01

The paper presents photogrammetric archives from Aleppo (Syria), collected between 1999 and 2002 by the Committee for maintenance and restoration of the Great Mosque in partnership with the Engineering Unit of the University of Aleppo. During that period, terrestrial photogrammetric data and geodetic surveys of the Great Omayyad mosque were recorded for documentation purposes and geotechnical studies. During the recent war in Syria, the Mosque has unfortunately been seriously damaged and its minaret has been completely destroyed. The paper presents a summary of the documentation available from the past projects as well as solutions of 3D reconstruction based on the processing of the photogrammetric archives with the latest 3D image-based techniques.

Starvation of children in Syria--sanctions and the politics of revenge.

PubMed

Sen, Kasturi

2014-01-01

As Syria completes two years of western sanctions (2011-13), their dramatic effects on health are being highlighted with first reports of starvation deaths among children in the suburbs of Damascus. Although heavy fighting has taken place in this area, experts had predicted for some time the unworkability of sanctions for regime change, arguing that only civilians would pay the price in a country (Syria in this case) which was once well on the way to meeting the Millennium Development Goals 4 targets on reducing child mortality. In this, as in the case of other "sanctioned" countries, it is not just "civilians" but the most vulnerable among them--children, who are experiencing the tragic consequences of sanctions.

CVD and obesity in transitional Syria: a perspective from the Middle East.

PubMed

Barakat, Hani; Barakat, Hanniya; Baaj, Mohamad K

2012-01-01

Syria is caught in the middle of a disruptive nutritional transition. Its healthcare system is distracted by challenges and successes in other areas while neglecting to address the onslaught of Syria's cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic. Despite the official viewpoint touting improvement in health indicators, current trends jeopardize population health, and several surveys in the Syrian population signal the epidemic spreading far and wide. The goal is to counteract the indifference towards obesity as a threat to Syrian's health, as the country is slowly becoming a leader in CVD mortality globally. PubMed, World Health Organization, and official government websites were searched for primary surveys in Syria related to CVD morbidity, mortality, and risk factors. Inclusion criteria ensured that results maximized relevance while producing comparable studies. Statistical analysis was applied to detect the most common risk factor and significant differences in risk factor prevalence and CVD rates. Obesity remained the prevailing CVD risk factor except in older Syrian men, where smoking and hypertension were more common. CVD mortality was more common in males due to coronary disease, while stroke dominated female mortality. The young workforce is especially impacted, with 50% of CVD mortality occurring before age 65 years and an 81% prevalence of obesity in women over 45 years. Syria can overcome its slow response to the CVD epidemic and curb further deterioration by reducing obesity and, thus, inheritance and clustering of risk factors. This can be achieved via multilayered awareness and intensive parental and familial involvement. Extinguishing the CVD epidemic is readily achievable as demonstrated in other countries.

Millennial Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data...for these adaptations. Although the fundamentals are not changed, the global Millennial Generation has expanded them. They are traveling to Syria...Generation has expanded them. They are traveling to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, and North Africa in support, as well as remaining a significant threat in

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: The Truth about the 'Flesh-Eating Disease' in Syria.

PubMed

Mondragon-Shem, Karina; Acosta-Serrano, Alvaro

2016-06-01

Recent news headlines claimed that corpses thrown into Syrian streets are causing cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) outbreaks. However, leishmaniasis is only transmitted by blood-feeding sandflies, not through human remains. High CL prevalence in Syria may instead be attributed to the absence of disease control programs due to the disruption of health services. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Life in the Shadow: An Examination of the Minor Foreign Relations of the DPRK

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

27 a. Cuba ...Relations Established Country Relations Established Algeria 9/25/1958 Tanzania 1/13/1965 Guinea 10/8/1958 Syria 7/25/1966 Cuba 8/29/1960 Burundi 3...using this author’s previously outlined methods. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 Congo Cuba Germany India Iran Italy Mongolia Syria Number of Times

Young Syrian adults' knowledge, perceptions and attitudes to premarital testing.

PubMed

Gharaibeh, H; Mater, F K

2009-12-01

The issue of premarital testing is a controversial and complex issue. Syria is an Islamic country that is moving towards modernization that involves changes in social structures and urbanization of attitudes, beliefs, views and values. The purpose of this study was to identify young Syrian adults' knowledge, perceptions and attitudes about premarital testing. Descriptive, cross-sectional design was utilized. The study was conducted at a mid-sized university in Syria. A stratified simple random sampling was used to recruit the university students in the last 2 years of their graduation. A total of 942 students participated in the study using a questionnaire developed to measure the participants' knowledge, attitudes and perception of premarital testing. Although university students had a considerable knowledge of premarital testing, they had a limited knowledge about certain aspects. Moreover, although they had some positive attitudes, they still had negative attitudes and perceptions towards other aspects of premarital testing. The study results could assist in the development of health education programmes in Syria and other Arab countries to increase their awareness and influence their attitudes towards premarital testing. The study limitation was that the sample was chosen from one part of Syria.

Trade and Transport in Late Roman Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fletcher, Christopher

Despite the relative notoriety and miraculous level of preservation of the Dead Cities of Syria, fundamental questions of economic and subsistence viability remain unanswered. In the 1950s Georges Tchalenko theorized that these sites relied on intensive olive monoculture to mass export olive oil to urban centers. Later excavations discovered widespread cultivation of grains, fruit, and beans which directly contradicted Tchalenko's assertion of sole reliance on oleoculture. However, innumerable olive presses in and around the Dead Cities still speak to a strong tradition of olive production. This thesis tests the logistical viability of olive oil transportation from the Dead Cities to the distant urban centers of Antioch and Apamea. Utilization of Raster GIS and remote sensing data allows for the reconstruction of the physical and social landscapes of Late Roman Syria. Least Cost Analysis techniques produce a quantitative and testable model with which to simulate and evaluate the viability of long distance olive oil trade. This model not only provides a clearer understanding of the nature of long distance trade relationships in Syria, but also provides a model for investigating ancient economic systems elsewhere in the world. Furthermore, this project allows for the generation of new information regarding sites that are currently inaccessible to researchers.

The effect of the Syrian crisis on organ transplantation in Syria.

PubMed

Saeed, Bassam

2015-04-01

The war in Syria that started in March 2011 has destroyed much of the country's infrastructure including many hospitals. The total number of kidney transplants performed in Syria in 2010 was 385 transplants before the number gradually declined to 154 transplants in 2013, a decrease of 60%. In addition, the number of operational kidney transplant centers has decreased from 8 to 4 centers. Unrelated-donor kidney transplant decreased from 70% during the years that preceded the crisis to 47% in 2013. More than 50% of physicians and surgeons involved in kidney transplant are not practicing transplant currently in their centers. Difficulties in the provision of immunosuppressive drugs for all patients in all provinces constitute a major challenge for the health authorities and transplant patients, especially patients who cannot arrange an alternate source. The project to initiate liver transplant came to a halt because foreign trainers could not visit Syria. The autologous bone marrow transplant program continued to function, but in a smaller and irregular manner. The commitment of transplant teams despite the large challenges was, and still is, extraordinary. In conclusion, all aspects of organ transplant have been affected, paralyzing new projects and negatively affecting existing programs.

Determinants of Mental Disorders in Syrian Refugees in Turkey Versus Internally Displaced Persons in Syria.

PubMed

Tekeli-Yesil, Sidika; Isik, Esra; Unal, Yesim; Aljomaa Almossa, Fuad; Konsuk Unlu, Hande; Aker, Ahmet Tamer

2018-07-01

To compare frequencies of some mental health disorders between Syrian refugees living in Turkey and internally displaced persons in Syria, and to identify factors associated with posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder. We carried out a field survey in May 2017 among 540 internally displaced persons in Syria and refugees in Turkey. The study revealed that mental disorders were highly prevalent in both populations. Major depressive disorder was more frequent among refugees in Turkey than among internally displaced persons in Syria; other mental disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder, were more prevalent in the latter than in the former. Posttraumatic stress disorder was also associated with postmigration factors. Major depressive disorder was more likely among refugees in Turkey. In addition, the likelihood of major depressive disorder was predicted by stopping somewhere else before resettlement in the current location. The resettlement locus and the context and type of displacement seem to be important determinants of mental health disorders, with postmigration factors being stronger predictors of conflict-related mental health. Internally displaced persons may benefit more from trauma-focused approaches, whereas refugees may derive greater benefit from psychosocial approaches.

[Remarks concerning risk of infections and health service infrastructure in countries of the Middle East with Syria, for example].

PubMed

Korzeniewski, Krzysztof

2006-01-01

Assessment of epidemiological situation in the Middle East, in the Mediterranean Sea basin, based on the status of the Syrian health service and diseases occurring among society of this country within the space of the last tens of years is presented in this article. Knowledge of morbidity and morbidness of Syrians, representatives of Arab-Muslim community is relatively low. First of all, it is related to isolation of Syria in the international arena, poor status of education and health service, lack of current epidemiological data on health condition of the country population. Knowledge of issues mentioned above has essential importance for people working or serving in Syria (military and civilian UN personnel), as well as for tourists travelling in the Middle East.

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 742 - Anti-Terrorism Controls: North Korea, Syria and Sudan Contract Sanctity Dates and Related Policies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... organic and inorganic fibers (kevlar) described in ECCN 1C210. (i) [Reserved] (ii) Syria. Applications for...) Contract sanctity date for high strength organic and inorganic fibers (kevlar) described in ECCN 1C210 that... Supplement. (B) Contract sanctity date for all other high strength organic and inorganic fibers (kevlar...

75 FR 24777 - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect To the Actions of the Government of Syria

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-05

... Part II The President Notice of May 3, 2010--Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria #0; #0; #0; Presidential Documents #0; #0; #0;#0;Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 86 / Wednesday, May 5, 2010 / Presidential Documents#0;#0; #0; #0;Title 3-- #0;The President [[Page 24779

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 742 - Anti-Terrorism Controls: North Korea, Syria and Sudan Contract Sanctity Dates and Related Policies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...) Robots capable of employing feedback information in real time processing to generate or modify programs...-uses in Syria will be considered on a case-by case basis. (A) Contract sanctity date for such robots... Supplement. (B) Contract sanctity date for all other such robots: August 28, 1991. (iii) Sudan. Applications...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 742 - Anti-Terrorism Controls: North Korea, Syria and Sudan Contract Sanctity Dates and Related Policies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

...) Robots capable of employing feedback information in real time processing to generate or modify programs...-uses in Syria will be considered on a case-by case basis. (A) Contract sanctity date for such robots... Supplement. (B) Contract sanctity date for all other such robots: August 28, 1991. (iii) Sudan. Applications...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 742 - Anti-Terrorism Controls: North Korea, Syria and Sudan Contract Sanctity Dates and Related Policies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

...) Robots capable of employing feedback information in real time processing to generate or modify programs...-uses in Syria will be considered on a case-by case basis. (A) Contract sanctity date for such robots... Supplement. (B) Contract sanctity date for all other such robots: August 28, 1991. (iii) Sudan. Applications...

15 CFR Supplement No. 2 to Part 742 - Anti-Terrorism Controls: North Korea, Syria and Sudan Contract Sanctity Dates and Related Policies

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...) Robots capable of employing feedback information in real time processing to generate or modify programs...-uses in Syria will be considered on a case-by case basis. (A) Contract sanctity date for such robots... Supplement. (B) Contract sanctity date for all other such robots: August 28, 1991. (iii) Sudan. Applications...

Impact of war on child health in northern Syria: the experience of Médecins Sans Frontières.

PubMed

Meiqari, Lana; Hoetjes, Maartje; Baxter, Louisa; Lenglet, Annick

2018-03-01

Few data are available to evaluate the impact of Syrian war on civilian population; to describe this impact on child health, this article uses data from Médecins Sans Frontières-Operational Centre Amsterdam's activities in Tal-Abyad and Kobane cities, northern Syria (2013-2016). Data were obtained from routine medical datasets and narrative reports, for out-patient clinics, immunisation, nutritional monitoring and assessments, and in-patient care, and were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Infections were the largest contributor to morbidity. The proportion of < 5 year out-patient consultations of infectious diseases that are listed for outbreak monitoring in emergencies was 15% in 2013, 51% in 2014, 75% in 2015 and 70% in 2016. Thalassemia was recorded in 0.5% of 2014 < 5 year out-patient consultations and 3.4% of 2013-2014 < 18-year in-patient admissions. Measles immunisation activities and routine Extended Programme for Immunisation were re-activated across northern Syria; however, immunisation coverage could not be calculated. Results from our routine data must be compared cautiously, due to differences in settings and disease categories. With such scattered interventions, routine data are limited in providing a quantified evidence of emergency's health impact; however, they help in drawing a picture of children's health status and highlighting difficulties in providing curative and preventive services, in order to reflect part of population's plight. What is Known • Few data exist to evaluate the impact of the Syrian war on the health of children; • Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF-OCA) has worked in northern Syria during different times since 2013. What is New • Quantitative and qualitative analysis of MSF's routine medical data and situtation reports show that one fifth of all consultations in children < 5 years in MSF health facilities in northern Syria 2013-2016 were due to communicable diseases; • The analysis also highlights the burden of chronic conditions that were prevalent in Syria before the war, e.g. thalassemia.

Combining Remote Sensing and Multi-Agent Simulation to Assess Alternative Water Management Policies in Conflict-Prone Areas - The Case of the Yarmouk River Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Avisse, N.; Tilmant, A.; Zhang, H.; Talozi, S.; Muller, M. F.; Rajsekhar, D.; Yoon, J.; Gorelick, S.

2016-12-01

The Yarmouk River, the main tributary to the Jordan River, is shared but not jointly managed by three countries: Syria, Jordan and Israel. Political distrust and conflicts mean that the equitable sharing of its waters has never materialized despite the signature of bilateral agreements. This state of affairs culminated in the 90ies and led to a rapid change in the flow regime of the Yarmouk River, where both peak and base flows almost disappeared at the turn of the millennium. Jordan blames Syria for building more dams than agreed on in 1987, while Syria blames Israel for doing the same in the Golan Heights. Even though less water is available for downstream Jordan and Israel, these two countries keep exchanging water, following updated rules since the 1994 Peace Treaty. While both literature and stakeholders in the region concur that most freshwater resources are consumed in Syria, there is actually no study that tracks agricultural and storage changes, both legal and illegal, in the Yarmouk basin in relation to the flow regime. This exercise is compounded by unavailability of information on water uses due to the long-standing lack of cooperation in the region, an issue exacerbated more recently by the ongoing civil war in Syria. Using a modeling framework based on remote sensing and a multi-agent simulation model, changes in the Yarmouk River flow regime are explained for three different development stages corresponding to the years 1984, 1998 and 2014. Landsat images, coupled with the analysis of land surface temperature, made possible the distinction of rainfed and irrigated crops, as well as the estimation of reservoirs' storage. For each stage, the impact on downstream riparian countries is assessed using a simulation model of the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty. Other scenarios are also analyzed to assess the effectiveness of alternative policy and cooperation scenarios including water demand management measures in Syria, the reoperation of illegal reservoirs and the restructuring of inter-basin water transfers.

Contrasting cardiovascular mortality trends in Eastern Mediterranean populations: Contributions from risk factor changes and treatments.

PubMed

Critchley, Julia; Capewell, Simon; O'Flaherty, Martin; Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen; Rastam, Samer; Saidi, Olfa; Sözmen, Kaan; Shoaibi, Azza; Husseini, Abdullatif; Fouad, Fouad; Ben Mansour, Nadia; Aissi, Wafa; Ben Romdhane, Habiba; Unal, Belgin; Bandosz, Piotr; Bennett, Kathleen; Dherani, Mukesh; Al Ali, Radwan; Maziak, Wasim; Arık, Hale; Gerçeklioğlu, Gül; Altun, Deniz Utku; Şimşek, Hatice; Doganay, Sinem; Demiral, Yücel; Aslan, Özgür; Unwin, Nigel; Phillimore, Peter; Achour, Nourredine; Aissi, Waffa; Allani, Riadh; Arfa, Chokra; Abu-Kteish, Heidar; Abu-Rmeileh, Niveen; Al Ali, Radwan; Altun, Deniz; Ahmad, Balsam; Arık, Hale; Aslan, Özgür; Beltaifa, Latifa; Ben Mansour, Nadia; Bennett, Kathleen; Ben Romdhane, Habiba; Ben Salah, Nabil; Collins, Marissa; Critchley, Julia; Capewell, Simon; Dherani, Mukesh; Demiral, Yücel; Doganay, Sinem; Elias, Madonna; Ergör, Gül; Fadhil, Ibtihal; Fouad, Fouad; Gerçeklioğlu, Gül; Ghandour, Rula; Göğen, Sibel; Husseini, Abdullatif; Jaber, Samer; Kalaca, Sibel; Khatib, Rana; Khatib, Rasha; Koudsie, Saer; Kilic, Bülent; Lassoued, Olfa; Mason, Helen; Maziak, Wasim; Mayaleh, Maher Abou; Mikki, Nahed; Moukeh, Ghmaez; Flaherty, Martin O; Phillimore, Peter; Rastam, Samer; Roglic, Gojka; Saidi, Olfa; Saatli, Gül; Satman, Ilhan; Shoaibi, Azza; Şimşek, Hatice; Soulaiman, Nesrien; Sözmen, Kaan; Tlili, Faten; Unal, Belgin; Unwin, Nigel; Yardim, Nazan; Zaman, Shahaduz

2016-04-01

Middle income countries are facing an epidemic of non-communicable diseases, especially coronary heart disease (CHD). We used a validated CHD mortality model (IMPACT) to explain recent trends in Tunisia, Syria, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Turkey. Data on populations, mortality, patient numbers, treatments and risk factor trends from national and local surveys in each country were collated over two time points (1995-97; 2006-09); integrated and analysed using the IMPACT model. Risk factor trends: Smoking prevalence was high in men, persisting in Syria but decreasing in Tunisia, oPt and Turkey. BMI rose by 1-2 kg/m(2) and diabetes prevalence increased by 40%-50%. Mean systolic blood pressure and cholesterol levels increased in Tunisia and Syria. Mortality trends: Age-standardised CHD mortality rates rose by 20% in Tunisia and 62% in Syria. Much of this increase (79% and 72% respectively) was attributed to adverse trends in major risk factors, occurring despite some improvements in treatment uptake. CHD mortality rates fell by 17% in oPt and by 25% in Turkey, with risk factor changes accounting for around 46% and 30% of this reduction respectively. Increased uptake of community treatments (drug treatments for chronic angina, heart failure, hypertension and secondary prevention after a cardiac event) accounted for most of the remainder. CHD death rates are rising in Tunisia and Syria, whilst oPt and Turkey demonstrate clear falls, reflecting improvements in major risk factors with contributions from medical treatments. However, smoking prevalence remains very high in men; obesity and diabetes levels are rising dramatically. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Public health challenges in the political economy of conflict: the case of Syria.

PubMed

Sen, Kasturi; Faisal, Waleed Al

2015-01-01

Recent uprisings in the Arab world and a full-scale war in Syria are widely viewed as popular demand for political voice against repressive regimes. However, growing economic inequalities and serious economic dysfunction played a role as trigger for conflict than is commonly accepted. Tunisia, Egypt and Syria all implemented policies of liberalization over the past two decades, leading to the worsening of living standards for the majority. The various forms of liberalization played a significant role in embedding social division and discontent whose outcomes affected other countries of the region with the onset of market reforms in nascent welfare states. Egypt, for example, was viewed by the World Bank as an economic 'best performer', despite regular riots over food prices, job losses and land expropriation for tourism. Tunisia was praised by donors just prior to the uprising (in 2010), for 'weathering well' the global economic downturn through 'sound macroeconomic management'. In Syria, the market economy made its mark over the 90s, but macroeconomic adjustment policies were implemented in a bilateral agreement with the European Union and approved by the International Monetary Fund in 2003. The economic stabilization programme that followed had limited concern for social impacts such as jobs losses, price rises and national debt, which ultimately caused immense hardship for the population at large, acting as a trigger for the initial uprising in 2011, prior to its transformation into a fully blown conflict. This article focuses on reforms implemented in the health sector and sets these in the context of the current political economy of Syria. It suggests that a protective approach to public health services during and in the aftermath of conflict may increase the possibilities of reconstruction and reconciliation between warring sides. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Undergraduate medical students’ perceptions, attitudes, and competencies in evidence-based medicine (EBM), and their understanding of EBM reality in Syria

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM) should be evaluated and guided by evidence of its own effectiveness. However, no data are available on adoption of EBM by Syrian undergraduate, postgraduate, or practicing physicians. In fact, the teaching of EBM in Syria is not yet a part of undergraduate medical curricula. The authors evaluated education of evidence-based medicine through a two-day intensive training course. Methods The authors evaluated education of evidence-based medicine through a two-day intensive training course that took place in 2011. The course included didactic lectures as well as interactive hands-on workshops on all topics of EBM. A comprehensive questionnaire, that included the Berlin questionnaire, was used to inspect medical students’ awareness of, attitudes toward, and competencies’ in EBM. Results According to students, problems facing proper EBM practice in Syria were the absence of the following: an EBM teaching module in medical school curriculum (94%), role models among professors and instructors (92%), a librarian (70%), institutional subscription to medical journals (94%), and sufficient IT hardware (58%). After the course, there was a statistically significant increase in medical students' perceived ability to go through steps of EBM, namely: formulating PICO questions (56.9%), searching for evidence (39.8%), appraising the evidence (27.3%), understanding statistics (48%), and applying evidence at point of care (34.1%). However, mean increase in Berlin scores after the course was 2.68, a non-statistically significant increase of 17.86%. Conclusion The road to a better EBM reality in Syria starts with teaching EBM in medical school and developing the proper environment to facilitate transforming current medical education and practice to an evidence-based standard in Syria. PMID:22882872

Undergraduate medical students' perceptions, attitudes, and competencies in evidence-based medicine (EBM), and their understanding of EBM reality in Syria.

PubMed

Alahdab, Fares; Firwana, Belal; Hasan, Rim; Sonbol, Mohamad Bassam; Fares, Munes; Alnahhas, Iyad; Sabouni, Ammar; Ferwana, Mazen

2012-08-12

Teaching evidence-based medicine (EBM) should be evaluated and guided by evidence of its own effectiveness. However, no data are available on adoption of EBM by Syrian undergraduate, postgraduate, or practicing physicians. In fact, the teaching of EBM in Syria is not yet a part of undergraduate medical curricula. The authors evaluated education of evidence-based medicine through a two-day intensive training course. The authors evaluated education of evidence-based medicine through a two-day intensive training course that took place in 2011. The course included didactic lectures as well as interactive hands-on workshops on all topics of EBM. A comprehensive questionnaire, that included the Berlin questionnaire, was used to inspect medical students' awareness of, attitudes toward, and competencies' in EBM. According to students, problems facing proper EBM practice in Syria were the absence of the following: an EBM teaching module in medical school curriculum (94%), role models among professors and instructors (92%), a librarian (70%), institutional subscription to medical journals (94%), and sufficient IT hardware (58%). After the course, there was a statistically significant increase in medical students' perceived ability to go through steps of EBM, namely: formulating PICO questions (56.9%), searching for evidence (39.8%), appraising the evidence (27.3%), understanding statistics (48%), and applying evidence at point of care (34.1%). However, mean increase in Berlin scores after the course was 2.68, a non-statistically significant increase of 17.86%. The road to a better EBM reality in Syria starts with teaching EBM in medical school and developing the proper environment to facilitate transforming current medical education and practice to an evidence-based standard in Syria.

The Islamic State’s Tactics in Syria: Role of Social Media in Shifting a Peaceful Arab Spring into Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-06-09

Literature Review Source Overview ................................................................24 Table 3. Overview of the applied research design ...relevant collective action theories. Chapter 3 defines the research methodology and design applied within this study. Chapter 4 presents the data collected...regions of Syria.107 Hundreds of IS-supporting accounts sent tweets with location identifications. Almost one in five IS supporters designated English

Sectarian Conflict in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

rights abuses during the conflict. This includes violating its obligations under the 1949 Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I, a 1977...regional stability rising, there is a growing urgency to end the strife and plot a course to ensure stability for all Syrians. As the son of Syrian...American immigrants and a member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), the violence in Syria is personal. My immediate and

Gynaikothrips uzeli (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) , New Record From Tartous, Syria

PubMed Central

Yaseen Ali, Ali

2014-01-01

Abstract The weeping fig thrips Gynaikothrips uzeli Zimmermann (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is newly recorded for the first time in the leaf galls of the weeping fig tree Ficus benjamina L. (Rosales: Moraceae) in the coastal area of Tartous, Syria. The thrips caused purplish red spots on the leaf surface of the host plant and the leaves curl. G. uzeili appears to be successfully adapted to this area. PMID:25527584

Sun Tzu and Machiavelli in Syria: Attacking Alliances

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

means, as well as conducted data collection overseas. On the cover Left: statue of Chinese military strategist and philosopher Sun ...the issue. For now the purpose of this short work is to contextualize the ongoing conflict in Syria through the combined lens of Sun Tzu and...variables and intentions of the actors involved. The second part lays out the strategic principles of Sun Tzu as pertaining to the conflict to

Work-Based Learning Programmes for Young People in the Mediterranean Region: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. Comparative Analyses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sweet, Richard

2009-01-01

This report examines programmes for youth that combine learning in classrooms with participation in work in 10 Mediterranean countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey. It is one element, together with the development of a network of policymakers and experts from the…

The Alligator Farther From the Canoe: Shaping the Post-Civil War Syrian Army

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-30

scorched earth’ policy of counterinsurgency and gutting it of the key leadership it needs to remain a functioning force. Some moderate Sunnis may...civil-military relationships, is trained in Western counterinsurgency techniques and whose key leadership reflects the demographic make-up of Syria...military relationships, is trained in Western counterinsurgency techniques and whose key leadership reflects the demographic make-up of Syria as a

Untangling the Gordian Knot The Socio-Cultural Challenge of Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-30

declining legitimacy through construction of traditions suggesting his leadership of modern Islam. 12 Ironically, Hamid II used Islamist language and...Nasserist leadership , and Damascus took up this role. 20 Ba’athist regimes, such as Syria, remained strong until the 1991-2003 time period. 21 The...Legion- style standards) with the most modern ideas of the time (e.g. mass politics, video technology and scientific propaganda). 23 In this method

Are primary health care providers prepared to implement an anti-smoking program in Syria?

PubMed

Asfar, Taghrid; Al-Ali, Radwan; Ward, Kenneth D; Vander Weg, Mark W; Maziak, Wasim

2011-11-01

To document primary health care (PHC) providers' tobacco use, and how this influences their smoking cessation practices and attitudes towards tobacco-control policies. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to PHC providers in 7 randomly selected PHC centers in Aleppo, Syria. All PHC providers completed the questionnaires (100% response rate). A quarter of these providers smoke cigarettes and more than 10% smoke waterpipes. Physicians who smoke were less likely to advise patients to quit (OR=0.29; 95% CI, 0.09-0.95), assess their motivation to quit (OR=0.13, 95% CI=0.02-0.72), or assist them in quitting (OR=0.24, 95% CI=0.06-0.99). PHC providers who smoke were less likely to support a ban on smoking in PHC settings (68.2% vs. 89.1%) and in enclosed public places (68.2% vs. 86.1%) or increases in the price of tobacco products (43.2% vs. 77.4%) (P<0.01 for all comparisons). Smoking, including waterpipe, continues to be widespread among PHC providers in Syria and will negatively influence implementation of anti-smoking program in PHC settings. Smoking awareness and cessation interventions targeted to PHC providers, and training programs to build providers' competency in addressing their patients' smoking is crucial in Syria. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Survey of dental radiographic services in private dental clinics in Damascus, Syria.

PubMed

Salti, L; Whaites, E J

2002-03-01

To perform a radiographic survey of private dental clinics in Damascus, Syria using a postal questionnaire to produce recommendations for improving the quality of dental radiographic services and education in Syria. Three hundred private dental clinics in Damascus were surveyed using a postal questionnaire (in English and Arabic) containing 27 questions on demographic information, equipment, techniques, selection criteria, frequency of examinations, and undergraduate/ postgraduate education. Two hundred and two (67%) dentists responded of which 95% graduated in Syria. The results showed a general lack of knowledge and understanding of dental radiography. Sixty four per cent did not know the kVp setting of their equipment, 73% used D-speed film, 57% did not use film holders and beam aiming devices, 25% did not use a viewing box. In addition, 45% of known equipment operated at 50 kVp or less and 16% was over 20 years old. No meaningful selection criteria existed with a wide variation in type and frequency of radiographs used for different clinical conditions. Syrian undergraduate training in dental radiology was minimal and there was no postgraduate education in the speciality. Several areas of the radiographic service in Damascus fall short of current recommendations on good practice. Recommendations are made to improve the service, the quality of undergraduate education and to establish postgraduate education.

River terrace development in the NE Mediterranean region (Syria and Turkey): Patterns in relation to crustal type

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bridgland, David R.; Demir, Tuncer; Seyrek, Ali; Daoud, Mohamad; Abou Romieh, Mohammad; Westaway, Rob

2017-06-01

It is widely recognized that the optimal development of river terraces globally has been in the temperate latitudes, with NW and Central Europe being areas of particular importance for the preservation of such archives of Quaternary environmental change. There is also a growing consensus that the principal drivers of terrace formation have been climatic fluctuation against a background of progressive (but variable) uplift. Nonetheless river terraces are widely preserved in the Mediterranean region, where they have often been attributed to the effects of neotectonic activity, with a continuing debate about the relative significance of fluctuating temperature (glacials-interglacials) and precipitation (pluvials-interpluvials). Research in Syria and southern-central Turkey (specifically in the valleys of the Tigris and Ceyhan in Turkey, the Kebir in Syria and the trans-border rivers Orontes and Euphrates) has underlined the importance of uplift rates in dictating the preservation pattern of fluvial archives and has revealed different patterns that can be related to crustal type. The NE Mediterranean coastal region has experienced unusually rapid uplift in the Late Quaternary. The relation between the Kebir terraces and the staircase of interglacial raised beaches preserved along the Mediterranean coastline of NW Syria reinforces previous conclusions that the emplacement of the fluvial terrace deposits in the Mediterranean has occurred during colder climatic episodes.

Syria as an Arena of Strategic Competition

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-01-01

with the Assad regime. Iran seeks to prevent the loss of Syria as its primary ally in the Arab world . Tehran’s alliance with Damascus affords Iran...Shi‘a in a continuation of a longstanding power struggle in the Islamic world . Although there have been several examples of minority-led regimes...September 4, 2012. As of February 5, 2013: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/05/ world /middleeast/iran-supplying-syrian-military-via-iraq-airspace.html

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-05

participated in multiple joint projects with Hezbollah.49 Treasury also designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force ( IRGC -QF) for training...Mohammad Ali Jafari, head of the IRGC , acknowledged in September 2012 that some members of the Quds Force were present in Syria,50 and U.S. officials have...described them as also working closely with Hezbollah. Regional observers in March 2014 estimated that between 1,000 and 1,500 IRGC members were

Next Steps in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

military intervention.2 Press sources document the presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ( IRGC ) from the Quds Force fighting with Syrian and...speech in mid-September to commanders of the IRGC , Ruhani wel- comed a possible deal between Washington and Moscow to reduce Syria’s chemical weap...ons stockpile and warned the IRGC , with units fighting openly in Syria, not to get involved in politics.6 Iran does not want to see a Saudi “victory

The occurrence of the cicada Cicadatra persica on apple trees, Malus domestica, in Erneh, Syria.

PubMed

Dardar, Marah A; Belal, Hamzeh M R; Basheer, Abedlnabi M

2013-01-01

An infestation of Cicadatra persica KirKaldy (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) on apple trees, Malus domestica Borkhausen (Rosales: Rosaceae), was reported for the first time in the apple fruit orchards of Erneh, Syria. Nymphs, adults, exuvia, and exit holes in the soil were observed. The species was identified as C. persica based on morphological characters. Some biological observations and an acoustic analysis of the male's songs were also achieved.

Future Foreign Perceptions of Chemical Weapons Utility

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-10-01

Iraq’s and Syria’s nuclear weapons programs, and the specter of such action may have precipitated Libya to abandon its program. North Korea and Iran ...declared as such. Today, only seven states have not acceded to the CWC: Angola, Egypt, Israel, Myanmar , North Korea , Somalia, and Syria.1 Of those...seven, Syria and North Korea most evidently maintain active offensive CW programs. Of CWC state par- ties, the United States has expressed compliance

Pharmaceutical Industry in Syria

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

The aim of this article is to present the development of the pharmaceutical industry in Syria using national and international public data sources. At the end of the 80ies, the pharmaceutical industry in Syria was very poor, covering 6% of the national needs. In less than 20 years, with the government support in terms of legal frame and strategic political engagement, the Syrian pharmaceutical industry finally covered almost 90% of the national needs, in terms of drugs, and exported drugs in around 52 Arabian countries. Beyond covering the local market, the main added values of this huge development consisted in exporting drugs in amount of 150 million dollars per year and providing jobs for 17000 Syrian people, out of which around 85% are women. Strong and weak points of the pharmaceutical sector are taken into consideration in the article and further interventions to support a sustainable development are proposed by the author. PMID:20945828

Perceptions of barriers to paternal presence and contribution during childbirth: an exploratory study from Syria.

PubMed

Abushaikha, Lubna; Massah, Rana

2013-03-01

The barriers that face fathers during childbirth are an understudied phenomenon. The objective of our study was to explore Syrian parents' perceptions of barriers to paternal presence and contribution during childbirth. A descriptive phenomenological qualitative approach based on Colaizzi's method was used with a purposive sample of 23 mothers and 14 fathers recruited from a major public maternity hospital in Syria. In our study, four themes on barriers to paternal presence and contribution during childbirth were found: 1) sociocultural influences and rigidity; 2) being unprepared; 3) unsupportive policies and attitudes; and 4) unfavorable reactions and circumstances. Common and current sociocultural norms in Syria do not encourage fathers to be present or contribute during childbirth. Therefore, establishing culturally sensitive supportive policies and practices is a vital step toward overcoming these barriers. © 2013, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Porosity and hydraulic conductivity estimation of the basaltic aquifer in Southern Syria by using nuclear and electrical well logging techniques

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asfahani, Jamal

2017-08-01

An alternative approach using nuclear neutron-porosity and electrical resistivity well logging of long (64 inch) and short (16 inch) normal techniques is proposed to estimate the porosity and the hydraulic conductivity ( K) of the basaltic aquifers in Southern Syria. This method is applied on the available logs of Kodana well in Southern Syria. It has been found that the obtained K value by applying this technique seems to be reasonable and comparable with the hydraulic conductivity value of 3.09 m/day obtained by the pumping test carried out at Kodana well. The proposed alternative well logging methodology seems as promising and could be practiced in the basaltic environments for the estimation of hydraulic conductivity parameter. However, more detailed researches are still required to make this proposed technique very performed in basaltic environments.

Review of attacks on health care facilities in six conflicts of the past three decades.

PubMed

Briody, Carolyn; Rubenstein, Leonard; Roberts, Les; Penney, Eamon; Keenan, William; Horbar, Jeffrey

2018-01-01

In the ongoing conflicts of Syria and Yemen, there have been widespread reports of attacks on health care facilities and personnel. Tabulated evidence does suggest hospital bombings in Syria and Yemen are far higher than reported in other conflicts but it is unclear if this is a reporting artefact. This article examines attacks on health care facilities in conflicts in six middle- to high- income countries that have occurred over the past three decades to try and determine if attacks have become more common, and to assess the different methods used to collect data on attacks. The six conflicts reviewed are Yemen (2015-Present), Syria (2011- Present), Iraq (2003-2011), Chechnya (1999-2000), Kosovo (1998-1999), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992-1995). We attempted to get the highest quality source(s) with summary data of the number of facilities attacked for each of the conflicts. The only conflict that did not have summary data was the conflict in Iraq. In this case, we tallied individual reported events of attacks on health care. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) reported attacks on 315 facilities (4.38 per month) in Syria over a 7-year period, while the Monitoring Violence against Health Care (MVH) tool launched later by the World Health Organization (WHO) Turkey Health Cluster reported attacks on 135 facilities (9.64 per month) over a 14-month period. Yemen had a reported 93 attacks (4.65 per month), Iraq 12 (0.12 per month), Chechnya > 24 (2.4 per month), Kosovo > 100 (6.67 per month), and Bosnia 21 (0.41 per month). Methodologies to collect data, and definitions of both facilities and attacks varied widely across sources. The number of reported facilities attacked is by far the greatest in Syria, suggesting that this phenomenon has increased compared to earlier conflicts. However, data on attacks of facilities was incomplete for all of the conflicts examined, methodologies varied widely, and in some cases, attacks were not defined at all. A global, standardized system that allows multiple reporting routes with different levels of confirmation, as seen in Syria, would likely allow for a more reliable and reproducible documentation system, and potentially, an increase in accountability.

Results of a Nationwide Capacity Survey of Hospitals Providing Trauma Care in War-Affected Syria.

PubMed

Mowafi, Hani; Hariri, Mahmoud; Alnahhas, Houssam; Ludwig, Elizabeth; Allodami, Tammam; Mahameed, Bahaa; Koly, Jamal Kaby; Aldbis, Ahmed; Saqqur, Maher; Zhang, Baobao; Al-Kassem, Anas

2016-09-01

The Syrian civil war has resulted in large-scale devastation of Syria's health infrastructure along with widespread injuries and death from trauma. The capacity of Syrian trauma hospitals is not well characterized. Data are needed to allocate resources for trauma care to the population remaining in Syria. To identify the number of trauma hospitals operating in Syria and to delineate their capacities. From February 1 to March 31, 2015, a nationwide survey of 94 trauma hospitals was conducted inside Syria, representing a coverage rate of 69% to 93% of reported hospitals in nongovernment controlled areas. Identification and geocoding of trauma and essential surgical services in Syria. Although 86 hospitals (91%) reported capacity to perform emergency surgery, 1 in 6 hospitals (16%) reported having no inpatient ward for patients after surgery. Sixty-three hospitals (70%) could transfuse whole blood but only 7 (7.4%) could separate and bank blood products. Seventy-one hospitals (76%) had any pharmacy services. Only 10 (11%) could provide renal replacement therapy, and only 18 (20%) provided any form of rehabilitative services. Syrian hospitals are isolated, with 24 (26%) relying on smuggling routes to refer patients to other hospitals and 47 hospitals (50%) reporting domestic supply lines that were never open or open less than daily. There were 538 surgeons, 378 physicians, and 1444 nurses identified in this survey, yielding a nurse to physician ratio of 1.8:1. Only 74 hospitals (79%) reported any salary support for staff, and 84 (89%) reported material support. There is an unmet need for biomedical engineering support in Syrian trauma hospitals, with 12 fixed x-ray machines (23%), 11 portable x-ray machines (13%), 13 computed tomographic scanners (22%), 21 adult (21%) and 5 pediatric (19%) ventilators, 14 anesthesia machines (10%), and 116 oxygen cylinders (15%) not functional. No functioning computed tomographic scanners remain in Aleppo, and 95 oxygen cylinders (42%) in rural Damascus are not functioning despite the high density of hospitals and patients in both provinces. Syrian trauma hospitals operate in the Syrian civil war under severe material and human resource constraints. Attention must be paid to providing biomedical engineering support and to directing resources to currently unsupported and geographically isolated critical access surgical hospitals.

Seven Destructive Seismic Crises in 12th Century Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guidoboni, E.; Bernardini, F.

2002-12-01

Between 1114 and 1170 Syria was struck by 7 seismic crises: 5 were great earthquakes (August and November 1114, November 1115, June 1117, June 1170), amongst which that of 29th June 1170 represents one of the most destructive events of the Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean area. Instead 2 were long and violent tremor sequences without a real main shock: the first one went on from October 1138 to June 1139, the second from September 1156 to May 1159. Until now all of these seismic events had been known mostly through Arab sources. However, owing to the particular political and military situation in the Syria of that period, such sources could not provide a complete frame of reference. Indeed, in those years in the territories of Syria and present-day Lebanon, some Latin States had been formed due to the military invasion of the Frankish Crusades. Furthermore, Syria was a privileged territory of travellers from various countries heading towards Palestine. Hence, basing ourselves on complex and diversified types of sources, precious new data have emerged written in Latin, Frankish, Greek, Armenian and Syrian. At the same time, the contribution of the Arab sources has been broadened. The overall picture that has emerged offers a new observational basis that has allowed us to date, differentiate, localise and thoroughly evaluate the elements of at least 5 of these earthquakes (the best documented ones: November 1114, 1115, 1138-39, 1156-59 and 1170). Overall nearly 90 hit locations have been identified, about 30 of which new and unknown to the previous studies. It has thus been possible for the first time to shed light on the intense seismic activity that affected this region in the dark ages. In just less than 60 years all of the vast territory that includes present-day Lebanon, north-eastern Syria and south-eastern Turkey was repeatedly struck. The earthquakes of 13th November 1114 and 29th November 1115 (until today often muddled up), and the sequence in 1138-39 hit the region bridging the present-day Syro-Turkish border. The long and devastating series of shakes in 1156-59 and the great earthquake of June 1170, affected a huge area within the current territories of north-western Syria, northern Lebanon and the region of inter Antioch (modern Antakya, in southern Turkey). The effects of the earthquakes in August 1110 and June 1117 have been attested to in southern Lebanon and Palestine. On the grounds of the detailed seismic scenarios of the 5 most documented earthquakes we have also been able to advance some hypotheses as to the seismogenic structures involved. In the first half of the 12th century the most intense seismicity seems to be concentrated in the zones bordering south-eastern Turkey and north-western Syria, suggesting a likely involvement both of the northernmost portion of the Dead Sea Fault System (DSFS), and the south-western segment of the East-Anatolian Fault System (EAFS), as well as, perhaps, also the convergence structures present in south-eastern Turkey (Bitlis suture zone?). Beginning from around mid-1150 the greatest seismic activity seems to migrate more southwards, along the structures of the DSFS that cross western Syria (Ghab and Missyaf faults) and northern Lebanon (Akkar fault?). Lastly, for the great event of 1170, the sources we have retrieved and analysed contain information concerning damage or felt effects in slightly fewer than 30 Crusader and Arab locations, 15 of which new and never before identified. The detailed macroseismic picture that has been reconstructed has thus also allowed us to propose an estimate of the main shock parameters for this earthquake.

Cheap Oil and the Impact on Rebuilding Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-30

Syrian energy infrastructure will not be cost effective in the current oil pricing environment. I will present a quick overview of oil’s historic role...in the Syrian economy, followed by a synopsis of the current state of Syria’s oil infrastructure . An analysis of the impact of low oil prices on...similarities between countries, a specific comparison will be made to Yemen in an effort to predict the challenges that Syria will face when entering the

Preventing State Collapse in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-01-01

the Spread of Violence, Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation, RR-609-OSD, 2014, p. 59. 5 Seth G. Jones, “Islamic State’s Global Expansion” Wall...Edge,” Washington Post, September 9, 2016. 6 Karen Yourish, Derek Watkins , Tom Giratikanon, and Jasmine C. Lee, “How Many People Have Been Killed in...www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/foreigners/2016/05/isis_and_al_ qaida_are_fighting_each_other_in_syria_what_happens_if_they.html 12 See Seth G

2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War: a Fight of Operational Synchronization

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-05-13

Defense Force (IDF) to a standstill and delivered the first “Arab Victory” over the IDF. Hezbollah—armed, advised, and funded by Iran and Syria...Force (IDF) to a standstill and delivered the first “Arab Victory” over the IDF. Hezbollah—armed, advised, and funded by Iran and Syria— synchronized...Israel’s state opponents in the 1956, 1967, 1973, or 1982 Arab-Israeli interstate wars. 2 Hezbollah—armed, advised, and funded by Iran and Syria

The Occurrence of the Cicada Cicadatra persica on Apple Trees, Malus domestica, in Erneh, Syria

PubMed Central

Dardar, Marah A.; Belal, Hamzeh M.R.; Basheer, Abedlnabi M.

2013-01-01

An infestation of Cicadatra persica KirKaldy (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) on apple trees, Malus domestica Borkhausen (Rosales: Rosaceae), was reported for the first time in the apple fruit orchards of Erneh, Syria. Nymphs, adults, exuvia, and exit holes in the soil were observed. The species was identified as C. persica based on morphological characters. Some biological observations and an acoustic analysis of the male's songs were also achieved. PMID:23909877

Are Primary Health Care Providers Prepared to Implement an Anti-smoking Program in Syria?

PubMed Central

Asfar, Taghrid; Al-Ali, Radwan; Ward, Kenneth D.; Vander Weg, Mark W.; Maziak, Wasim

2010-01-01

Objective To document primary health care (PHC) providers’ tobacco use, and how this influences their smoking cessation practices and attitudes towards tobacco-control policies. Methods Anonymous questionnaires were distributed to PHC providers in 7 randomly selected PHC centers in Aleppo, Syria. Results All PHC providers completed the questionnaires (100% response rate). A quarter of these providers smoke cigarettes and more than 10% smoke waterpipes. Physicians who smoke were less likely to advise patients to quit (OR = 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09–0.95), assess their motivation to quit (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02–0.72), or assist them in quitting (OR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06–0.99). PHC providers who smoke were less likely to support a ban on smoking in PHC settings (68.2% vs. 89.1%) and in enclosed public places (68.2% vs. 86.1%) or increases in the price of tobacco products (43.2% vs. 77.4%) (P < 0.01 for all comparisons). Conclusions Smoking, including waterpipe, continues to be widespread among PHC providers in Syria and will negatively influence implementation of anti-smoking program in PHC settings. Practice implications Smoking awareness and cessation interventions targeted to PHC providers, and training programs to build providers’ competency in addressing their patients’ smoking is crucial in Syria. PMID:21168300

Health workers and the weaponisation of health care in Syria: a preliminary inquiry for The Lancet-American University of Beirut Commission on Syria.

PubMed

Fouad, Fouad M; Sparrow, Annie; Tarakji, Ahmad; Alameddine, Mohamad; El-Jardali, Fadi; Coutts, Adam P; El Arnaout, Nour; Karroum, Lama Bou; Jawad, Mohammed; Roborgh, Sophie; Abbara, Aula; Alhalabi, Fadi; AlMasri, Ibrahim; Jabbour, Samer

2017-12-02

The conflict in Syria presents new and unprecedented challenges that undermine the principles and practice of medical neutrality in armed conflict. With direct and repeated targeting of health workers, health facilities, and ambulances, Syria has become the most dangerous place on earth for health-care providers. The weaponisation of health care-a strategy of using people's need for health care as a weapon against them by violently depriving them of it-has translated into hundreds of health workers killed, hundreds more incarcerated or tortured, and hundreds of health facilities deliberately and systematically attacked. Evidence shows use of this strategy on an unprecedented scale by the Syrian Government and allied forces, in what human rights organisations described as a war-crime strategy, although all parties seem to have committed violations. Attacks on health care have sparked a large-scale exodus of experienced health workers. Formidable challenges face health workers who have stayed behind, and with no health care a major factor in the flight of refugees, the effect extends well beyond Syria. The international community has left these violations of international humanitarian and human rights law largely unanswered, despite their enormous consequences. There have been repudiated denunciations, but little action on bringing the perpetrators to justice. This inadequate response challenges the foundation of medical neutrality needed to sustain the operations of global health and humanitarian agencies in situations of armed conflict. In this Health Policy, we analyse the situation of health workers facing such systematic and serious violations of international humanitarian law. We describe the tremendous pressures that health workers have been under and continue to endure, and the remarkable resilience and resourcefulness they have displayed in response to this crisis. We propose policy imperatives to protect and support health workers working in armed conflict zones. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genetic differentiation in Pyrenophora teres f. teres populations from Syria and Tunisia as assessed by AFLP markers.

PubMed

Bouajila, A; Zoghlami, N; Murad, S; Baum, M; Ghorbel, A; Nazari, K

2013-06-01

To investigate the level of genetic differentiation and diversity among Pyrenophora teres isolate populations originating from different agro-ecological areas of Syria and Tunisia and to determine the potential of AFLP profiling in genotyping Pyrenophora teres f. teres. In this study, AFLP markers have been employed to identify patterns of population structure in 20 Pyrenophora teres f. teres populations from Syria and Tunisia. Ninety-four isolates were studied by the use of a protocol that involved stringent PCR amplification of fragments derived from digestion of genomic DNA with restriction enzymes EcoRI and MesI. Based on 401 amplified polymorphic DNA markers (AFLP), variance analyses indicated that most of the variation was partitioned within rather than between populations. Genotypic diversity (GD) was high for populations from Rihane, local landraces and different agro-ecological zones (GD = 0·75-0·86). There was high genetic differentiation among pathogen populations from different host populations in Syria (Gst  = 0·31, ht = 0·190) and Tunisia (Gst  = 0·39, ht = 0·263), which may be partly explained by the low gene flow around the areas sampled. A phenetic tree revealed three groups with high bootstrap values (55, 68, 76) and reflected the grouping of isolates based on host, or agro-ecological areas. AFLP profiling is an effective method for typing the genetically diverse pathogen Pyrenophora teres f. teres. The study represents a comparative analysis of the genetic diversity in P. teres isolates from two countries spanning two continents and also shows that several distinct P. teres genotypes may be found in a given environment. The implications of these findings for Pyrenophora teres f. teres evolutionary potential and net blotch-resistance breeding in Syria and Tunisia were also discussed. © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Injuries in Aleppo, Syria; first population-based estimates and characterization of predominant types

PubMed Central

Maziak, Wasim; Ward, Kenneth D; Rastam, Samer

2006-01-01

Background Despite the growing burden of injuries worldwide, Syria and many other Arab countries still lack population-based estimates of different types of injuries. This study aims toprovide first population-based estimates of major injuries in Syria and characterize groups at increased risk. Methods An interviewer-administered population-based survey of adults 18–65 years residing in Aleppo, Syria was conducted in 2004. The study sample involved 2038 household representatives in Aleppo (45.2% men, mean age 35.3 ± 12.1, response rate 86%). We inquired about participants self-reported injuries in the past year that required medical attention as well as injuries among their household members. When reported, injuries were further assessed according to type, place, and outcome. Results Overall, there was 153 self-reported injuries in the past year (77.3 per 1000 adult respondents, 93.1 per 1000 in men and 64.4 per 1000 in women, p = 0.02). Other than gender, injuries differed by age (the older age group being least affected), and place of occurrence, as men were more likely to sustain traffic injuries and be injured outside the home. Injuries were reported among 236 household members (21.0 per 1000), and were slightly more frequent in children than adults (22.0 per 1000 for children, and 19.7 per 1000 for adults, p = 0.2). Traffic injuries, falls, and poisoning (food) were by far the most common types of injury experienced by participants as well as their household members. Falls and traffic injuries seem to have caused most morbidity for the injured, while burns, although not frequently reported, were associated with an unfavorable outcome in the majority of cases. Conclusion This information provides baseline information about the burden of different injuries in Syria, and the sociodemographic factors related to them. PMID:16533384

Contemporary Salafism and the Rightly Guided Caliphate: Why Is It Emulated and What Was Its Reality?

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

secession crisis; fueled the conquests that expanded the state into Egypt , Syria, Iraq, and Iran; and provided a measure of security against external... Egypt , Syria, Iraq, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula by the end of the fourth caliph’s rule. Of particular relevance to this study is Kennedy’s...University Press, 2004), 18. 9 subservience to God and the Prophet.27 Second, the author explained that possessing good religious leadership was of

Syria and the Rise of Radical Islamist Groups

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-03-01

Revolution.” 397 David Blair and Richard Spencer , “How Qatar Is Funding the Rise of Islamist Extremists,” The Telegraph, September 20, 2014, http...Islamists in Syria, Officials Say;” Spencer , “How Qatar Is Funding the Rise of Islamist Extremists.” 411 Amena Bakr, “Defying Allies, Qatar Unlikely...Ibid. 416 Spencer , “How Qatar Is Funding the Rise of Islamist Extremists.” 417 Thomas Hegghammer and Aaron Y. Zelin, “How Syria’s Civil War Became a

Near East/South Asia Report, No. 2789

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-07-27

83) 112 SYRIA Role of Banks in Growing Housing Crisis (SYRIA TIMES, 8 Jun 83) 115 YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC Survey of Country’s Agriculture Planned...economic activity into the streams of Arab-African relations; nor will we go into Israel’s role in the same game. We will only indicate that the game...investments were thus lost. —The Arabs restricted themselves to the passive role of financier instead of playing the part of an active partner and taking part

Maternal mortality in Syria: causes, contributing factors and preventability.

PubMed

Bashour, Hyam; Abdulsalam, Asmaa; Jabr, Aisha; Cheikha, Salah; Tabbaa, Mohammed; Lahham, Moataz; Dihman, Reem; Khadra, Mazen; Campbell, Oona M R

2009-09-01

To describe the biomedical and other causes of maternal death in Syria and to assess their preventability. A reproductive age mortality study (RAMOS) design was used to identify pregnancy related deaths. All deaths among women aged 15-49 reported to the national civil register for 2003 were investigated through home interviews. Verbal autopsies were used to ascertain the cause of death among pregnancy related maternal deaths, and causes and preventability of deaths were assessed by a panel of doctors. A total of 129 maternal deaths were identified and reviewed. Direct medical causes accounted for 88%, and haemorrhage was the main cause of death (65%). Sixty nine deaths (54%) occurred during labour or delivery. Poor clinical skills and lack of clinical competency were behind 54% of maternal deaths. Ninety one percent of maternal deaths were preventable. The causes of maternal death in Syria and their contributing factors reflect serious defects in the quality of maternal care that need to be urgently rectified.

UK parliamentary debate analysis: bombing ISIL in Syria.

PubMed

Rashed, Haifa

2016-01-01

This paper examines the arguments presented for and against the UK government's motion for the UK to intervene militarily in Syria in the House of Commons debate on ISIL in Syria that took place on 2 December 2015. It considers what the most common arguments were in favour of and in opposition to the motion as well as which arguments were given the most emphasis, in order to understand the prime justifications given that led to the decision to approve the motion. It suggests that due to the shadow of the 2003 Iraq war, politicians in the debate placed a considerable emphasis on the legal justification for military intervention. It argues that the focus on the national security of the UK and its allies in this particular debate seems to contrast with previous military interventions where humanitarian motives were more widely stated. This paper calls for further comparative research of parliamentary debates in order to track such changes in the rhetoric used by UK politicians to defend their support for military intervention.

Syria: health in a country undergoing tragic transition.

PubMed

Ben Taleb, Ziyad; Bahelah, Raed; Fouad, Fouad M; Coutts, Adam; Wilcox, Meredith; Maziak, Wasim

2015-01-01

To document the ongoing destruction as a result of the tragic events in Syria, to understand the changing health care needs and priorities of Syrians. A directed examination of the scientific literature and reports about Syria before and during the Syrian conflict, in addition to analyzing literature devoted to the relief and rebuilding efforts in crisis situations. The ongoing war has had high direct war casualty, but even higher suffering due to the destruction of health system, displacement, and the breakdown of livelihood and social fabric. Millions of Syrians either became refugees or internally displaced, and about half of the population is in urgent need for help. Access to local and international aid organizations for war-affected populations is an urgent and top priority. Syrians continue to endure one of the biggest human tragedies in modern times. The extent of the crisis has affected all aspects of Syrians' life. Understanding the multi-faceted transition of the Syrian population and how it reflects on their health profile can guide relief and rebuilding efforts' scope and priorities.

Improving access to mental healthcare for displaced Syrians: case studies from Syria, Iraq and Turkey.

PubMed

Hughes, P; Hijazi, Z; Saeed, K

2016-11-01

The conflict in Syria has led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that extends across multiple countries in the area. Mental health services were undeveloped before and now face huge strain and unmet need. The World Health Organization and others have developed a programme to build capacity in the delivery of mental health services in an integrated healthcare package to refugees and displaced people. The tool used for this is the mhGAP Intervention Guide and complementary materials. In this paper we refer to training in Turkey, Iraq and Syria where health professionals were trained to roll out this community-based integrated approach through primary healthcare. We describe field case examples that show the complexity of situations that face refugees, displaced people and those caught in active conflict. Training improved the knowledge and skills for managing mental health disorders in primary healthcare. Further work needs to be done to demonstrate greater access to and utilisation of services, client outcomes and organisational change with this approach.

The large earthquake on 29 June 1170 (Syria, Lebanon, and central southern Turkey)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guidoboni, Emanuela; Bernardini, Filippo; Comastri, Alberto; Boschi, Enzo

2004-07-01

On 29 June 1170 a large earthquake hit a vast area in the Near Eastern Mediterranean, comprising the present-day territories of western Syria, central southern Turkey, and Lebanon. Although this was one of the strongest seismic events ever to hit Syria, so far no in-depth or specific studies have been available. Furthermore, the seismological literature (from 1979 until 2000) only elaborated a partial summary of it, mainly based solely on Arabic sources. The major effects area was very partial, making the derived seismic parameters unreliable. This earthquake is in actual fact one of the most highly documented events of the medieval Mediterranean. This is due to both the particular historical period in which it had occurred (between the second and the third Crusades) and the presence of the Latin states in the territory of Syria. Some 50 historical sources, written in eight different languages, have been analyzed: Latin (major contributions), Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Vulgar French, and Italian. A critical analysis of this extraordinary body of historical information has allowed us to obtain data on the effects of the earthquake at 29 locations, 16 of which were unknown in the previous scientific literature. As regards the seismic dynamics, this study has set itself the question of whether there was just one or more than one strong earthquake. In the former case, the parameters (Me 7.7 ± 0.22, epicenter, and fault length 126.2 km) were calculated. Some hypotheses are outlined concerning the seismogenic zones involved.

Ethics in times of conflict: some reflections on Syria, in the backdrop of Iraq

PubMed Central

Sen, Kasturi; Hussain, Hamid; Al-Faisal, Waleed

2016-01-01

Ethical challenges facing research and reporting from conflict-affected zones are well known; among them is the difficulty of finding reliable information; the tendency to take sides and define actors as either good or evil; the precarious security situation of residents and the ever-changing scenarios on the ground. We observed, however, that these challenges go unacknowledged in research and reporting on health state and on the health system from the conflict in Iraq and Syria, with the lines between science and journalistic reporting routinely blurred in the literature. What should be the restraining factor of academic research against prejudiced reporting on injury, death and the healthcare system has mostly failed in the Syrian conflict. Even social media, with its promise of ‘independent’ and ‘citizens' voice’, can be skewed, with much of the output in the Syria crisis coming from one side only, largely due to access issues. While researchers in conflict-affected zones, such as Syria, may need to take a position on one side or another when reporting, death, destruction and disease, it is important that they admit to the challenges of accessing unbiased data, the near impossibility of obtaining representative samples and the risk of the contamination of evidence, clinical or otherwise. The example of the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts (as context) indicates a need to reassess research ethics in conflict zones and their implications for policy. PMID:28588972

A fifth major genetic group among honeybees revealed in Syria.

PubMed

Alburaki, Mohamed; Bertrand, Bénédicte; Legout, Hélène; Moulin, Sibyle; Alburaki, Ali; Sheppard, Walter Steven; Garnery, Lionel

2013-12-06

Apiculture has been practiced in North Africa and the Middle-East from antiquity. Several thousand years of selective breeding have left a mosaic of Apis mellifera subspecies in the Middle-East, many uniquely adapted and survived to local environmental conditions. In this study we explore the genetic diversity of A. mellifera from Syria (n = 1258), Lebanon (n = 169) and Iraq (n = 35) based on 14 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in the context of reference populations from throughout the Old World (n = 732). Our data suggest that the Syrian honeybee Apis mellifera syriaca occurs in both Syrian and Lebanese territories, with no significant genetic variability between respective populations from Syria and Lebanon. All studied populations clustered within a new fifth independent nuclear cluster, congruent with an mtDNA Z haplotype identified in a previous study. Syrian honeybee populations are not associated with Oriental lineage O, except for sporadic introgression into some populations close to the Turkish and Iraqi borders. Southern Syrian and Lebanese populations demonstrated high levels of genetic diversity compared to the northern populations. This study revealed the effects of foreign queen importations on Syrian bee populations, especially for the region of Tartus, where extensive introgression of A. m. anatolica and/or A. m. caucasica alleles were identified. The policy of creating genetic conservation centers for the Syrian subspecies should take into consideration the influence of the oriental lineage O from the northern Syrian border and the large population of genetically divergent indigenous honeybees located in southern Syria.

Climate Change and Political Instability in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, C. P.; Mohtadi, S.; Cane, M. A.; Seager, R.; Kushnir, Y.

2013-12-01

From 2005 to 2010, Syria experienced the most severe and persistent drought in the instrumental record, devastating the agriculture and causing widespread crop failure. A mass migration of farming families to urban peripheries followed the resulting food shortages, unemployment, and disruption of rural social structure. The addition of nearly 1.5 million drought refugees to the recent influx of Iraqi refugees greatly exacerbated conditions in the urban slums. Anger at the government's failure to respond to the drought's impacts contributed to the political unrest that began in March 2011. The recent decrease in Syrian precipitation is a combination of natural variability and long-term drying trend, and the unusual severity of the observed drought is here shown to be highly unlikely without the trend. Precipitation changes in Syria are linked to rising mean sea-level pressure in the Eastern Mediterranean, which also shows a long-term trend. Compared to the natural variability alone, the trend has made the occurrence of such a severe drought eight times more likely. There has been also a long-term warming trend in Syria, adding to the drawdown of soil moisture. No natural cause is apparent for these trends, whereas the observed drying and warming are consistent with observed increases in greenhouse gases. Furthermore, model studies show an increasingly drier and hotter future mean climate for the Eastern Mediterranean. The severity and duration of the recent Syrian drought, implicated as a cause of the current conflict, is highly likely to be a consequence of human interference in the climate system.

Lava Field, Syria

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-05-27

In southern Syria, the Azraq-Wadi as Sirhan Depression is the site of young volcanic activity, producing an extensive basaltic volcanic field. The north-northwest to south-southeast structural and fault control of the crust is evident in the straight alignment of numerous chains of cinder cones. At the top of the image, the northeast trending streaks are windblown sand deposits. The image was acquired May 20, 2009, covers an area of 46.5 x 67 km, and is located at 33.3 degrees north, 37.1 degrees east. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19479

Israel’s Interests and Options in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-01-01

israel-syria-druze-golan-heights-assad-rebels-civil-war.html ———, “Israel Fears Return of Persian Empire,” Al-Monitor, September 21, 2015b. As of...December 14, 2015: http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/09/ israel-fear- persian -empire-iran-shiite-hezbollah-axis-nuke.html ———, “Russia, Israeli...December 14, 2015: http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/23796/Default.aspx Peled, Daniella, “ISIS in Jordan: King Abdullah’s Battle for the

Adult Asylum Seekers from the Middle East Including Syria in Central Europe: What Are Their Health Care Problems?

PubMed

Pfortmueller, Carmen Andrea; Schwetlick, Miriam; Mueller, Thomas; Lehmann, Beat; Exadaktylos, Aristomenis Konstantinos

2016-01-01

Forced displacement related to persecution and violent conflict has reached a new peak in recent years. The primary aim of this study is to provide an initial overview of the acute and chronic health care problems of asylum seekers from the Middle East, with special emphasis on asylum seekers from Syria. Our retrospective data analysis comprised adult patients presenting to our emergency department between 01.11.2011 and 30.06.2014 with the official resident status of an "asylum seeker" or "refugee" from the Middle East. In total, 880 patients were included in the study. Of these, 625 (71.0%) were male and 255 (29.0%) female. The median age was 34 (range 16-84). 222 (25.2%) of our patients were from Syria. The most common reason for presentation was surgical (381, 43.3%), followed by medical (321, 36.5%) and psychiatric (137, 15.6%). In patients with surgical presentations, trauma-related problems were most common (n = 196, 50.6%). Within the group of patients with medical presentation, acute infectious diseases were most common (n = 141, 43.9%), followed by neurological problems (n = 70, 21.8%) and gastrointestinal problems (n = 47, 14.6%). There were no differences between Syrian and non-Syrian refugees concerning surgical or medical admissions. The most common chronic disorder of unclear significance was chronic gastrointestinal problems (n = 132, 15%), followed by chronic musculoskeletal problems (n = 108, 12.3%) and chronic headaches (n = 78, 8.9%). Patients from Syria were significantly younger and more often suffered from a post-traumatic stress disorder than patients of other nationalities (p<0.0001, and p = 0.05, respectively). Overall a remarkable number of our very young group of patients suffered from psychiatric disorders and unspecified somatic symptoms. Asylum seekers should be carefully evaluated when presenting to a medical facility and physicians should be aware of the high incidence of unspecified somatic symptoms in this patient population.In general, there is no major difference between asylum seekers from Syria when compared to other nationalities of asylum seekers from the Middle East.

Daily bread: a novel vehicle for dissemination and evaluation of psychological first aid for families exposed to armed conflict in Syria.

PubMed

El-Khani, A; Cartwright, K; Redmond, A; Calam, R

2016-01-01

Risks to the mental health of children and families exposed to conflict in Syria are of such magnitude that research identifying how best to deliver psychological first aid is urgently required. This study tested the feasibility of a novel approach to large-scale distribution of information and data collection. Routine humanitarian deliveries of bread by a bakery run by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) were used to distribute parenting information leaflets and questionnaires to adults looking after children in conflict zones inside Syria. Study materials were emailed to a project worker in Turkey. Leaflets and questionnaires requesting feedback were transported alongside supplies to a bakery in Syria, and then packed with flatbreads. Three thousand bread-packs were distributed, from three distribution points to which questionnaires were returned, and then taken to Turkey and dispatched to the UK. Notwithstanding delays, 3000 leaflets and questionnaires were successfully distributed over 2 days. Questionnaire return yielded 1783 responses, a 59.5% return rate. Overall ratings of the usefulness of the leaflet were 1060 (59.5%) 'quite a lot' and 339 (19.0%) 'a great deal'. Content analysis was used to code 400 respondent comments. Four themes emerged; positive comments about the leaflet, suggestions for modifications, descriptions of children's needs and the value respondents placed on faith. Findings indicate the willingness of NGO staff and volunteers to assist in research, the remarkable willingness of caregivers to respond and the value of brief advice. It demonstrates the scope for using existing humanitarian routes to distribute information and receive feedback even in high-risk settings.

A fifth major genetic group among honeybees revealed in Syria

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background Apiculture has been practiced in North Africa and the Middle-East from antiquity. Several thousand years of selective breeding have left a mosaic of Apis mellifera subspecies in the Middle-East, many uniquely adapted and survived to local environmental conditions. In this study we explore the genetic diversity of A. mellifera from Syria (n = 1258), Lebanon (n = 169) and Iraq (n = 35) based on 14 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in the context of reference populations from throughout the Old World (n = 732). Results Our data suggest that the Syrian honeybee Apis mellifera syriaca occurs in both Syrian and Lebanese territories, with no significant genetic variability between respective populations from Syria and Lebanon. All studied populations clustered within a new fifth independent nuclear cluster, congruent with an mtDNA Z haplotype identified in a previous study. Syrian honeybee populations are not associated with Oriental lineage O, except for sporadic introgression into some populations close to the Turkish and Iraqi borders. Southern Syrian and Lebanese populations demonstrated high levels of genetic diversity compared to the northern populations. Conclusion This study revealed the effects of foreign queen importations on Syrian bee populations, especially for the region of Tartus, where extensive introgression of A. m. anatolica and/or A. m. caucasica alleles were identified. The policy of creating genetic conservation centers for the Syrian subspecies should take into consideration the influence of the oriental lineage O from the northern Syrian border and the large population of genetically divergent indigenous honeybees located in southern Syria. PMID:24314104

CVD and obesity in transitional Syria: a perspective from the Middle East

PubMed Central

Barakat, Hani; Barakat, Hanniya; Baaj, Mohamad K

2012-01-01

Purpose Syria is caught in the middle of a disruptive nutritional transition. Its healthcare system is distracted by challenges and successes in other areas while neglecting to address the onslaught of Syria’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic. Despite the official viewpoint touting improvement in health indicators, current trends jeopardize population health, and several surveys in the Syrian population signal the epidemic spreading far and wide. The goal is to counteract the indifference towards obesity as a threat to Syrian’s health, as the country is slowly becoming a leader in CVD mortality globally. Methods PubMed, World Health Organization, and official government websites were searched for primary surveys in Syria related to CVD morbidity, mortality, and risk factors. Inclusion criteria ensured that results maximized relevance while producing comparable studies. Statistical analysis was applied to detect the most common risk factor and significant differences in risk factor prevalence and CVD rates. Results Obesity remained the prevailing CVD risk factor except in older Syrian men, where smoking and hypertension were more common. CVD mortality was more common in males due to coronary disease, while stroke dominated female mortality. The young workforce is especially impacted, with 50% of CVD mortality occurring before age 65 years and an 81% prevalence of obesity in women over 45 years. Conclusion Syria can overcome its slow response to the CVD epidemic and curb further deterioration by reducing obesity and, thus, inheritance and clustering of risk factors. This can be achieved via multilayered awareness and intensive parental and familial involvement. Extinguishing the CVD epidemic is readily achievable as demonstrated in other countries. PMID:22454558

Remote sensing, landscape and archaeology tracing ancient tracks and roads between Palmyra and the Euphrates in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silver, M.; Törmä, M.; Silver, K.; Okkonen, J.; Nuñez, M.

2015-08-01

The present paper concentrates on the use of remote sensing by satellite imagery for detecting ancient tracks and roads in the area between Palmyra and the Euphrates in Syria. The Syrian desert was traversed by caravans already in the Bronze Age, and during the Greco-Roman period the traffic increased with the Silk Road and trade as well as with military missions annexing the areas into empires. SYGIS - the Finnish archaeological survey and mapping project traced, recorded and documented ancient sites and roads in the region of Jebel Bishri in Central Syria in 2000-2010 before the outbreak of the civil war in Syria. Captured data of ancient roads and bridge points bring new light to the study of ancient communication framework in the area. Archaeological research carried out by the project on the ground confirmed the authenticity of many road alignments, new military and water harvesting sites as well as civilian settlements, showing that the desert-steppe area was actively used and developed probably from the second century AD. The studies further demonstrated that the area between Palmyra and the Euphrates was militarily more organised already in the second and third centuries AD than earlier believed. Chronologically, the start of this coincided with the "golden age" of the Palmyrene caravans in the second century AD. Topography and landscape were integral parts of the construction of graves/tumuli as sign-posts guiding in the desert, as well as roads and all kinds of settlements whether military or civilian.

Cancer Care at Times of Crisis and War: The Syrian Example

PubMed Central

Sahloul, Eman; Salem, Riad; Alrez, Wessam; Alkarim, Tayseer; Sukari, Ammar; Maziak, Wasim

2017-01-01

Purpose As Syria enters its fifth year of conflict, the number of civilians killed and injured continues to rise sharply. Along with this conflict comes the rapid decline of medical care, specifically cancer care. To determine physician and equipment availability, cancer screening and management, and possible solutions relative to various major cities, a survey was distributed to physicians inside Syria through the help of the humanitarian organization Syrian American Medical Society. Methods Online surveys were distributed to both certified oncologists who work in cancer clinics and general physicians who work in rural and mobile clinics inside Syria. Variables assessed were physician specialty, location, population, cost, regional situation (besieged versus government controlled), and resource availability and access. Results were stratified by location and physician specialty. Results Survey results revealed a large shortage of specialized physicians and inhibited accessibility to screening and management options in besieged areas compared with government-controlled regions. Physicians within both government-controlled and besieged cities reported limited or no targeted agents, radiation therapy, clinical trials, bone marrow transplantation, positron emission tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and genetic testing. Conclusion The Syrian civil war has resulted in suboptimal oncology care in the majority of the region. In consideration of specific deficiencies in cancer care, we recommend several solutions that may better the level of care in Syria: patient education on medical documentation and self-examination; online consultation; and cheap, effective screening methods. The implementation of these recommendations may change the course of cancer care in a country that has deteriorated into the worst humanitarian crisis of the century. PMID:28831442

Cancer Care at Times of Crisis and War: The Syrian Example.

PubMed

Sahloul, Eman; Salem, Riad; Alrez, Wessam; Alkarim, Tayseer; Sukari, Ammar; Maziak, Wasim; Atassi, M Bassel

2017-08-01

As Syria enters its fifth year of conflict, the number of civilians killed and injured continues to rise sharply. Along with this conflict comes the rapid decline of medical care, specifically cancer care. To determine physician and equipment availability, cancer screening and management, and possible solutions relative to various major cities, a survey was distributed to physicians inside Syria through the help of the humanitarian organization Syrian American Medical Society. Online surveys were distributed to both certified oncologists who work in cancer clinics and general physicians who work in rural and mobile clinics inside Syria. Variables assessed were physician specialty, location, population, cost, regional situation (besieged versus government controlled), and resource availability and access. Results were stratified by location and physician specialty. Survey results revealed a large shortage of specialized physicians and inhibited accessibility to screening and management options in besieged areas compared with government-controlled regions. Physicians within both government-controlled and besieged cities reported limited or no targeted agents, radiation therapy, clinical trials, bone marrow transplantation, positron emission tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging, and genetic testing. The Syrian civil war has resulted in suboptimal oncology care in the majority of the region. In consideration of specific deficiencies in cancer care, we recommend several solutions that may better the level of care in Syria: patient education on medical documentation and self-examination; online consultation; and cheap, effective screening methods. The implementation of these recommendations may change the course of cancer care in a country that has deteriorated into the worst humanitarian crisis of the century.

Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among adults in Aleppo, Syria.

PubMed

Al Ali, Radwan; Rastam, Samer; Fouad, Fouad M; Mzayek, Fawaz; Maziak, Wasim

2011-12-01

This report provides the first comprehensive and standardized assessment of the distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Syria, where such data are still scarce. A population-based household survey was conducted in Aleppo (population >2.5 million), involving 1,168 subjects ≥25 years old (47.7% men; mean age 44.7 ± 12.7 years). Information about socio-demographics, personal behavior, and other CVD risk factors was collected. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained. The prevalence of clinical risk factors of CVD (ClinRFs) was 45.6% for hypertension, 43.2% for obesity, 21.9% for hypercholesterolemia and 15.6% for diabetes. The prevalence of behavioral risk factors (BehRFs) was 82.3% for physical inactivity, 39.0% for smoking, and 33.4% for unhealthy diet. All ClinRFs increased with age, while gender was associated only with obesity and smoking. Education was associated with obesity and diabetes (P < 0.05 for all). Adults in Syria have some of the world's highest prevalence of CVD risk factors. Unhealthy behaviors and social norms unfavorable to women may explain some of such risk profiles.

Astronomy in Syria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Mousli, A. T.

2006-11-01

Syria has been involved in the field of astronomy since 1997, when Prof. F.R. QUERCI, France, visited Syria and made a presentation on the International NORT project; (NORT: the Network of Oriental Robotic Telescope), which was a selected project of the sixth United Nations/ European Space Agency Workshop on Basic Space Science (document no. A/AC.105/657 dated 13/12/1996). NORT aims to establish a robotic telescope network on high mountain peaks around the Tropic of Cancer, from Morocco in the west to the desert of China in the east. The purposes for establishing this network are technical and educational. The General Organization of Remote Sensing (GORS) has carried out a pilot study using remote sensing techniques and has selected four sites in order to determine the best location for the astronomical observatory the within NORT programme. Following this project, GORS decided to establish an office for astronomical studies, one of the earliest works of GORS in astronomy was an initiative to establish a planetarium within the GORS campus, to accommodate approximately 120 observers. A contest to choose the best planetarium design, for the Arab World, took place at GORS.

Impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on land use and transboundary freshwater resources.

PubMed

Müller, Marc François; Yoon, Jim; Gorelick, Steven M; Avisse, Nicolas; Tilmant, Amaury

2016-12-27

Since 2013, hundreds of thousands of refugees have migrated southward to Jordan to escape the Syrian civil war that began in mid-2011. Evaluating impacts of conflict and migration on land use and transboundary water resources in an active war zone remains a challenge. However, spatial and statistical analyses of satellite imagery for the recent period of Syrian refugee mass migration provide evidence of rapid changes in land use, water use, and water management in the Yarmouk-Jordan river watershed shared by Syria, Jordan, and Israel. Conflict and consequent migration caused ∼50% decreases in both irrigated agriculture in Syria and retention of winter rainfall in Syrian dams, which gave rise to unexpected additional stream flow to downstream Jordan during the refugee migration period. Comparing premigration and postmigration periods, Syrian abandonment of irrigated agriculture accounts for half of the stream flow increase, with the other half attributable to recovery from a severe drought. Despite this increase, the Yarmouk River flow into Jordan is still substantially below the volume that was expected by Jordan under the 1953, 1987, and 2001 bilateral agreements with Syria.

Polio in Syria: Problem still not solved.

PubMed

Al-Moujahed, Ahmad; Alahdab, Fares; Abolaban, Heba; Beletsky, Leo

2017-01-01

The reappearance of polio in Syria in mid-2013, 18 years after it was eliminated from the country, manifests the public health catastrophe brought on by the civil war. Among the lessons learned, this outbreak emphasizes the importance of increasing the international financial and logistical support for vaccine and immunization efforts, especially in countries suffering from conflicts. The lack of access to polio accredited laboratory or outright lack of laboratories in settings of conflict should be recognized allowing international surveillance to be strengthened by supplementing the laboratory definition with the clinical definition. In addition, it illustrates the imperative for the United Nations (UN) agencies involved in global health to be able to operate independently from governments during conflicts in order to provide adequate and efficient medical and humanitarian relief for civilians. Proper communicable disease surveillance and control, delivery of vaccinations, and other pivotal healthcare services to these areas require independence from governments and all military actors involved. Moreover, it shows the necessity to adequately support and fund the front-line nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are implementing the delivery of medical and humanitarian aid in Syria.

Tectonic histories between Alba Patera and Syria Planum, Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, R.C.; Dohm, J.M.; Haldemann, A.F.C.; Hare, T.M.; Baker, V.R.

2004-01-01

Syria Planum and Alba Patera are two of the most prominent features of magmatic-driven activity identified for the Tharsis region and perhaps for all of Mars. In this study, we have performed a Geographic Information System-based comparative investigation of their tectonic histories using published geologic map information and Mars Orbiter Laser Altimetry (MOLA) data. Our primary objective is to assess their evolutional histories by focusing on their extent of deformation in space and time through stratigraphic, paleotectonic, topographic, and geomorphologic analyses. Though there are similarities among the two prominent features, there are several distinct differences, including timing deformational extent, and tectonic intensity of formation. Whereas Alba Patera displays a major pulse of activity during the Late Hesperian/Early Amazonian, Syria Planum is a long-lived center that displays a more uniform distribution of simple graben densities ranging from the Noachian to the Amazonian, many of which occur at greater distances away from the primary center of activity. The histories of the two features presented here are representative of the complex, long-lived evolutional history of Tharsis. ?? 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of the Syrian refugee crisis on land use and transboundary freshwater resources

PubMed Central

Müller, Marc François; Yoon, Jim; Gorelick, Steven M.; Avisse, Nicolas; Tilmant, Amaury

2016-01-01

Since 2013, hundreds of thousands of refugees have migrated southward to Jordan to escape the Syrian civil war that began in mid-2011. Evaluating impacts of conflict and migration on land use and transboundary water resources in an active war zone remains a challenge. However, spatial and statistical analyses of satellite imagery for the recent period of Syrian refugee mass migration provide evidence of rapid changes in land use, water use, and water management in the Yarmouk–Jordan river watershed shared by Syria, Jordan, and Israel. Conflict and consequent migration caused ∼50% decreases in both irrigated agriculture in Syria and retention of winter rainfall in Syrian dams, which gave rise to unexpected additional stream flow to downstream Jordan during the refugee migration period. Comparing premigration and postmigration periods, Syrian abandonment of irrigated agriculture accounts for half of the stream flow increase, with the other half attributable to recovery from a severe drought. Despite this increase, the Yarmouk River flow into Jordan is still substantially below the volume that was expected by Jordan under the 1953, 1987, and 2001 bilateral agreements with Syria. PMID:27930317

Health system challenges for the management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes: an empirical qualitative study from Syria.

PubMed

Ahmad, Balsam; Fouad, Fouad M; Elias, Madonna; Zaman, Shahaduz; Phillimore, Peter; Maziak, Wasim

2015-01-01

To explore through empirical qualitative data health system barriers to effective management of cardiovascular disease and diabetes in Syria before the crisis, and how such analysis can inform the building of a post-crisis system. Data were collected through document review, semi-structured key informant interviews, and fieldwork in clinics. Institutional commitment to address the increasing burden of CVD and diabetes in Syria was limited and uncoordinated. Challenges included an increasingly split healthcare system, with private provision for those who could afford it, and a residual state health sector for the majority. Public trust in the system had been declining. We conclude that lack of effective management of CVD and diabetes indicated weaknesses of the state and its retracting role in providing effective healthcare. Such weaknesses that existed before the crisis are now compounded by new challenges resulting from wide destruction of the health system due to the ongoing war. The rebuilding of post-conflict heath care system may benefit from insights into the structural problems of the pre-crisis system.

View of portion of Mediterranean Coast of Turkey and Syria

NASA Image and Video Library

1975-07-20

AST-16-1268 (20 July 1975) --- A near vertical view of a portion of the Mediterranean coast of Turkey and Syria, as photographed from the Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit during the joint U.S-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. This view covers the Levant Coast north of Beirut, showing the cities of Aleppo, Hamah, Homs and Latakia. The Levantine rift bends to the northeast. This picture was taken with a 70mm Hasselblad camera using high-definition aerial Ektachrome SO-242 type film. The altitude of the spacecraft was 225 kilometers (140 statute miles) when this photograph was taken.

Self-rated health and its determinants among adults in Syria: a model from the Middle East

PubMed Central

Asfar, Taghrid; Ahmad, Balsam; Rastam, Samer; Mulloli, Tanja P; Ward, Kenneth D; Maziak, Wasim

2007-01-01

Background Self-rated health (SRH) has been widely used to research health inequalities in developed western societies, but few such studies are available in developing countries. Similar to many Arab societies, little research has been conducted in Syria on the health status of its citizens, particularly in regards to SRH. This Study aims to investigate and compare determinants of SRH in adult men and women in Aleppo, Syria. Methods A cross-sectional survey of adults 18 to 65 years old residing in Aleppo (2,500,000 inhabitants), Syria was carried out in 2004, involving 2038 household representatives (45.2% men, age range 18–65 years, response rate 86%). SRH was categorized as excellent, normal, and poor. Odds ratios for poor and normal SRH, compared to excellent, were calculated separately for men and women using logistic regression. Results Women were more likely than men to describe their health as poor. Men and women were more likely to report poor SRH if they were older, reported two or more chronic health problems, or had high self perceived functional disability. Important gender-specific determinants of poor SRH included being married, low socioeconomic status, and not having social support for women, and smoking, low physical activity for men. Conclusion Women were more likely than men to describe their health as poor. The link with age and pre-existing chronic conditions seems universal and likely reflects natural aging process. Determinants of SRH differed between men and women, possibly highlighting underlying cultural norms and gender roles in the society. Understanding the local context of SRH and its determinants within the prevailing culture will be important to tailor intervention programs aimed at improving health of the Syrian and similar Arab societies. PMID:17651491

Spatial and temporal analysis of drought variability at several time scales in Syria during 1961-2012

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mathbout, Shifa; Lopez-Bustins, Joan A.; Martin-Vide, Javier; Bech, Joan; Rodrigo, Fernando S.

2018-02-01

This paper analyses the observed spatiotemporal characteristics of drought phenomenon in Syria using the Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI) and the Standardised Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Temporal variability of drought is calculated for various time scales (3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 months) for 20 weather stations over the 1961-2012 period. The spatial patterns of drought were identified by applying a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to the SPI and SPEI values at different time scales. The results revealed three heterogeneous and spatially well-defined regions with different temporal evolution of droughts: 1) Northeastern (inland desert); 2) Southern (mountainous landscape); 3) Northwestern (Mediterranean coast). The evolutionary characteristics of drought during 1961-2012 were analysed including spatial and temporal variability of SPI and SPEI, the frequency distribution, and the drought duration. The results of the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test applied to the SPI and SPEI series indicate prevailing significant negative trends (drought) at all stations. Both drought indices have been correlated both on spatial and temporal scales and they are highly comparable, especially, over a 12 and 24 month accumulation period. We concluded that the temporal and spatial characteristics of the SPI and SPEI can be used for developing a drought intensity - areal extent - and frequency curve that assesses the variability of regional droughts in Syria. The analysis of both indices suggests that all three regions had a severe drought in the 1990s, which had never been observed before in the country. Furthermore, the 2007-2010 drought was the driest period in the instrumental record, happening just before the onset of the recent conflict in Syria.

Tectonic history of the Syria Planum province of Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tanaka, K.L.; Davis, P.A.

1988-01-01

We attribute most of the development of extensive fractures in the Tharsis region to discrete tectonic provinces within the region, rather than to Tharsis as a single entity. One of these provinces is in Syria Planum. Faults and collapse structures in the Syria Planum tectonic province on Mars are grouped into 13 sets based on relative age, areal distribution, and morphology. According to superposition and fault crosscutting relations and crater counts we designate six distinct episodes of tectonic activity. Photoclinometric topographic profiles across 132 grabens and fault scarps show that Syria Planum grabens have widths (average of 2.5 km, and most range from 1 to 6 km) similar to lunar grabens, but the Martian grabens have slightly higher side walls (average abour 132 m) and gentler wall slopes (average of 9?? and range of 2??-25??) than lunar grabens (93 m high and 18?? slopes). Estimates of the amount of extension for individual grabens range from 20 to 350 m; most estimates of the thickness of the faulted layer range from 0.5 to 4.5 km (average is 1.5 km). This thickness range corresponds closely to the 0.8- to 3.6-km range in depth for pits, troughs, and canyons in Noctis Labyrinthus and along the walls of Valles Marineris. We propose that the predominant 1- to 1.5-km values obtained for both the thickness of the faulted layer and the depths of the pits, troughs, and theater heads of the canyons reflect the initial depth to the water table in this region, as governed by the depth to the base of ground ice. Maximum depths for these features may indicate lowered groundwater table depths and the base of ejecta material. -from Authors

Application of radioisotope XRF and thermoluminescence (TL) dating in investigation of pottery from Tell AL-Kasra archaeological site, Syria.

PubMed

Abboud, R; Issa, H; Abed-Allah, Y D; Bakraji, E H

2015-11-01

Statistical analysis based on chemical composition, using radioisotope X-ray fluorescence, have been applied on 39 ancient pottery fragments coming from the excavation at Tell Al-Kasra archaeological site, Syria. Three groups were defined by applying Cluster and Factor analysis statistical methods. Thermoluminescence (TL) dating was investigated on three sherds taken from the bathroom (hammam) on the site. Multiple aliquot additive dose (MAAD) was used to estimate the paleodose value, and the gamma spectrometry was used to estimate the dose rate. The average age was found to be 715±36 year. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors associated with anemia in refugee children.

PubMed

Hassan, K; Sullivan, K M; Yip, R; Woodruff, B A

1997-11-01

A nutrition survey was performed in 1990 among children 6 through 35 mo of age living in Palestinian refugee camps in Syria, Jordan, the West Bank, Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Overall, 67% [95% confidence interval (CI): 66, 68] were anemic (hemoglobin <110 g/L), ranging from 54% in the West Bank to 75% in Syria. The following factors were significantly associated with anemia in one or more of three age groups (6-11.9, 12-23.9 and 24-35.9 mo) by logistic regression: living in Syria, Lebanon, or Gaza [with prevalence odds ratios (POR) in the range of 1.4-2.6 depending on the age group and area, relative to children living in Jordan]; never having been breast-fed (POR = 1.7); male sex (POR = 1.2); maternal illiteracy (POR = 1.4 relative to those with >/=6 y of education); having a recent (within 2 wk) or current episode of fever or diarrhea; and stunting. Recent or current illness and stunting interacted in two age groups with the general trend of stunted children with recent or current illness having high POR. Early childhood anemia is associated with factors reflecting poor socioeconomic status and recent diarrheal and febrile illnesses in Palestinian refugee camps.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Syria: clinical features, current status and the effects of war.

PubMed

Hayani, Kinan; Dandashli, Anwar; Weisshaar, Elke

2015-01-01

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a worldwide disease caused by an infection with the protozoan parasite Leishmania transmitted via sand flies. It is endemic in many of the poorest countries of all continents. "Aleppo boil" is one of the recognised names given to this disease in the medical literature. Although CL used to be well-controlled and well-documented in Syria, its incidence has dramatically increased since the beginning of the war; however, there is lack of documentation. Here, we present the past and current epidemiological situation of the disease in Syria. We also draw attention to gross and highly unusual clinical variants of CL presented to the Department of Dermatology in Aleppo covering the important differential clinical diagnoses, since this disease is already known to mimic other conditions. Diagnostic procedures and treatment as well as prevention are summarised. Due to the increased ability to travel, and especially the flight of Syrians to neighbouring countries, as well as to Europe, CL may become a new threat in formerly unaffected regions. Through this account, we hope to give weight to the aspiration that CL does not remain a neglected and often clinically overlooked tropical dermatosis.

A possible "grinder" from Tell Arbid, Syria.

PubMed

Pitre, Mindy C; Koliński, Rafał; Sołtysiak, Arkadiusz

2017-12-01

Cereal grinding has been practiced in Mesopotamia since the Upper Palaeolithic. While evidence of cereal grinding is clear from the archaeological and textual records, what remains unclear is whether the activity leaves signs on the skeleton in the form of markers of occupational stress (MOS). A particular constellation of MOS (e.g., osteoarthritis, traumatic injuries, and accessory articular facets) has previously been used to infer the habitual grinding of grain. These same MOS were recently observed in the skeleton of a female discovered in the Middle Bronze Age cemetery at Tell Arbid, NE Syria. Through differential diagnosis our results suggest that it remains problematic to identify grain-processing activities from the skeleton, even when a bioarchaeological approach is carried out.

Progressive liver failure post acute hepatitis A, over a three-month period, resulting in hepatorenal syndrome and death

PubMed Central

Al Saadi, Tareq; Sawaf, Bisher; Alkhatib, Mahmoud; Zakaria, Mhd Ismael; Daaboul, Bisher

2017-01-01

Abstract Hepatitis A is a common viral illness worldwide. It usually results in an acute, self-limiting disease and only rarely leads to fulminant hepatic failure or any other complications. During the period of conflict in Syria, and due to the damages to water infrastructure and poor sanitation, a dramatic increase in hepatitis A virus infection has been documented. Here we report a rare case of a 14-year-old male whose hepatitis A was complicated with hepatorenal syndrome and subacute liver failure. The war condition in Syria impeded transportation of the patient to a nearby country for liver transplantation, contributing to his unfortunate death. PMID:27247182

Effect of postnatal home visits on maternal/infant outcomes in Syria: a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Bashour, Hyam N; Kharouf, Mayada H; Abdulsalam, Asma A; El Asmar, Khalil; Tabbaa, Mohammed A; Cheikha, Salah A

2008-01-01

Early postpartum home visiting is universal in many Western countries. Studies from developing countries on the effects of home visits are rare. In Syria, where the postpartum period is rather ignored, this study aimed to assess whether a community-based intervention of postnatal home visits has an effect on maternal postpartum morbidities; infant morbidity; uptake of postpartum care; use of contraceptive methods; and on selected neonatal health practices. A randomized controlled trial was carried out in Damascus. Three groups of new mothers were randomly allocated to receive either 4 postnatal home visits (A), one visit (B), or no visit (C). A total of 876 women were allocated and followed up. Registered midwives with special training made a one or a series of home visits providing information, educating, and supporting women. A significantly higher proportion of mothers in Groups A and B reported exclusively breastfeeding their infants (28.5% and 30%, respectively) as compared with Group C (20%), who received no visits. There were no reported differences between groups in other outcomes. While postpartum home visits significantly increased exclusive breastfeeding, other outcomes did not change. Further studies framed in a nonbiomedical context are needed. Other innovative approaches to improve postnatal care in Syria are needed.

Family size preferences and contraception in Syria.

PubMed

Immerwahr, G; Maier, A

1986-06-01

Data from the Syria Fertility Survey, a part of the World Fertility Survey, are used to ascertain the relation of background characteristics of Syrian women to their preferred number of children, their desire to stop child-bearing and the extent to which this desire is implemented by the use of contraception. Data show Syria in total to have very high fertility, almost the highest in the world. Syrian women state high fertility desires, a high preference for sons and a low use of contraception despite widespread contraceptive knowledge. While they also show in the urban sector a recent fertility decline and a desired family size well below that of the rural sector, that desired family size is at least double replacement level fertility, even among younger urban women. If one were to look at this picture as static, the outlook for an early substantial fertility reduction would at 1st seem quite disappointing. However, there is some prospect of substantial change, not only in the urban sector butalso in the likelihood that this recent urban trend will soon be felt in the rural sector as well. The spread of education and other forms of modernization suggest the likelihood of a steady decline of fertility in the coming decades in the country as a whole.

A series of civilian fatalities during the war in Syria.

PubMed

Çelikel, Adnan; Karaarslan, Bekir; Demirkıran, Dua Sümeyra; Zeren, Cem; Arslan, Muhammet Mustafa

2014-09-01

A considerable number of deaths due to firearm injuries have occurred during wars all over the world. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics and injury properties of cases died during civil war in Syria. The postmortem examination and autopsy reports of 321 forensic deaths occurred between January and December 2012 were analyzed, retrospectively. Of the 321 forensic deaths,186 cases were injured and died in the civil war in Syria and, therefore, included in the scope of the study. Four cases died by natural causes or traffic accidents were excluded. Cases were most commonly (n=73, 39.2%) aged between 21 and 30 years, and 21.5% (n=40) of cases aged under 20 years. Of females, 68.8% (n=11) were children and young adults under 20 years of age. An overwhelming majority of deaths (n=125, 67.2%) were caused by explosive and shrapnel injuries, followed by (n=49, 26.3%) gunshot injuries related deaths. This study indicated that a significant proportion of those who died after being injured in the Syrian war were children, women and elderly people. The nature and localization of the observed injuries indicated open attacks by military forces regardless of targets being civilians and human rights violations.

Satellite imagery-based monitoring of archaeological site damage in the Syrian civil war

PubMed Central

Laugier, Elise Jakoby

2017-01-01

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the rich archaeological heritage of Syria and northern Iraq has faced severe threats, including looting, combat-related damage, and intentional demolition of monuments. However, the inaccessibility of the conflict zone to archaeologists or cultural heritage specialists has made it difficult to produce accurate damage assessments, impeding efforts to develop mitigation strategies and policies. This paper presents results of a project, undertaken in collaboration with the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) and the US Department of State, to monitor damage to archaeological sites in Syria, northern Iraq, and southern Turkey using recent, high-resolution satellite imagery. Leveraging a large database of archaeological and heritage sites throughout the region, as well as access to continually updated satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe, this project has developed a flexible and efficient methodology to log observations of damage in a manner that facilitates spatial and temporal queries. With nearly 5000 sites carefully evaluated, analysis reveals unexpected patterns in the timing, severity, and location of damage, helping us to better understand the evolving cultural heritage crisis in Syria and Iraq. Results also offer a model for future remote sensing-based archaeological and heritage monitoring efforts in the Middle East and beyond. PMID:29190783

Cost-effectiveness analysis of salt reduction policies to reduce coronary heart disease in Syria, 2010-2020.

PubMed

Wilcox, Meredith L; Mason, Helen; Fouad, Fouad M; Rastam, Samer; al Ali, Radwan; Page, Timothy F; Capewell, Simon; O'Flaherty, Martin; Maziak, Wasim

2015-01-01

This study presents a cost-effectiveness analysis of salt reduction policies to lower coronary heart disease in Syria. Costs and benefits of a health promotion campaign about salt reduction (HP); labeling of salt content on packaged foods (L); reformulation of salt content within packaged foods (R); and combinations of the three were estimated over a 10-year time frame. Policies were deemed cost-effective if their cost-effectiveness ratios were below the region's established threshold of $38,997 purchasing power parity (PPP). Sensitivity analysis was conducted to account for the uncertainty in the reduction of salt intake. HP, L, and R+HP+L were cost-saving using the best estimates. The remaining policies were cost-effective (CERs: R=$5,453 PPP/LYG; R+HP=$2,201 PPP/LYG; R+L=$2,125 PPP/LYG). R+HP+L provided the largest benefit with net savings using the best and maximum estimates, while R+L was cost-effective with the lowest marginal cost using the minimum estimates. This study demonstrated that all policies were cost-saving or cost effective, with the combination of reformulation plus labeling and a comprehensive policy involving all three approaches being the most promising salt reduction strategies to reduce CHD mortality in Syria.

A first hazard analysis of the Harrat Ash Shamah volcanic field, Syria-Jordan Borderline

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cagnan, Zehra; Akkar, Sinan; Moghimi, Saed

2017-04-01

The northernmost part of the Saudi Cenozoic Volcanic Fields, the 100,000 km2 Harrat Ash Shamah has hosted some of the most recent volcanic eruptions along the Syria-Jordan borderline. With rapid growth of the cities in this region, exposure to any potential renewed volcanism increased considerably. We present here a first-order probabilistic hazard analysis related to new vent formation and subsequent lava flow from Harrat Ash Shamah. The 733 visible eruption vent sites were utilized to develop a probability density function for new eruption sites using Gaussian kernel smoothing. This revealed a NNW striking zone of high spatial hazard surrounding the cities Amman and Irbid in Jordan. The temporal eruption recurrence rate is estimated to be approximately one vent per 3500 years, but the temporal record of the field is so poorly constrained that the lower and upper bounds for the recurrence interval are 17,700 yrs and 70 yrs, respectively. A Poisson temporal model is employed within the scope of this study. In order to treat the uncertainties associated with the spatio-temporal models as well as size of the area affected by the lava flow, the logic tree approach is adopted. For the Syria-Jordan borderline, the spatial variation of volcanic hazard is computed as well as uncertainty associated with these estimates.

Satellite imagery-based monitoring of archaeological site damage in the Syrian civil war.

PubMed

Casana, Jesse; Laugier, Elise Jakoby

2017-01-01

Since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011, the rich archaeological heritage of Syria and northern Iraq has faced severe threats, including looting, combat-related damage, and intentional demolition of monuments. However, the inaccessibility of the conflict zone to archaeologists or cultural heritage specialists has made it difficult to produce accurate damage assessments, impeding efforts to develop mitigation strategies and policies. This paper presents results of a project, undertaken in collaboration with the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) and the US Department of State, to monitor damage to archaeological sites in Syria, northern Iraq, and southern Turkey using recent, high-resolution satellite imagery. Leveraging a large database of archaeological and heritage sites throughout the region, as well as access to continually updated satellite imagery from DigitalGlobe, this project has developed a flexible and efficient methodology to log observations of damage in a manner that facilitates spatial and temporal queries. With nearly 5000 sites carefully evaluated, analysis reveals unexpected patterns in the timing, severity, and location of damage, helping us to better understand the evolving cultural heritage crisis in Syria and Iraq. Results also offer a model for future remote sensing-based archaeological and heritage monitoring efforts in the Middle East and beyond.

Differences in tobacco smoking prevalence and frequency between adolescent Palestine refugee and non-refugee populations in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank: cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

PubMed

Jawad, Mohammed; Khader, Ali; Millett, Christopher

2016-01-01

Evidence is conflicting as to the whether tobacco smoking prevalence is higher in refugee than non-refugee populations. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence and frequency of tobacco smoking in Palestine refugee and non-refugee adolescent populations in the Middle East. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank among adolescent Palestine refugees and non-refugees. Age- and sex-adjusted regression models assessed the association between refugee status and current (past-30 day) tobacco use prevalence and frequency. Prevalence estimates for current tobacco smoking were similar between Palestine refugee and non-refugee groups in Jordan (26.7 % vs. 24.0 %), Lebanon (39.4 % vs. 38.5 %), and the West Bank (39.5 % vs. 38.4 %). In Syria, Palestine refugees had nearly twice the odds of current tobacco smoking compared to non-refugees (23.2 % vs. 36.6 %, AOR 1.96, 95 % CI 1.46-2.62). Palestine refugees consumed more cigarettes per month than non-refugees in Lebanon (β 0.57, 95 % CI 0.17-0.97) and Palestine refugees consumed more waterpipe tobacco per month than non-refugees in Syria (β 0.40, 95 % CI 0.19-0.61) and the West Bank (β 0.42, 95 % CI 0.21-0.64). Current tobacco smoking prevalence is in excess of 20 % in both adolescent Palestine refugee and non-refugee populations in Middle Eastern countries, however Palestine refugees may smoke tobacco more frequently than non-refugees. Comparison of simple prevalence estimates may therefore mask important differences in tobacco use patterns within population groups.

[Ideal family size in Arab countries].

PubMed

Ayad, M

1987-01-01

This study on the ideal family size in Arab countries, is based on the findings of the World Fertility Survey led in 8 Arab countries (Egypt, 1980; Jordan, 1976; Morocco, 1980; Mauritania, 1981; Sudan, 1979; Syria, 1978; Tunisia, 1978; and Arab Republic of Yemen, 1979). During these surveys, a questionnaire was presented to a specimen of 2,500 to 8,500 women, 1st to married and fertile women, then to childless or pregnant women. The study of the responses shows that a great majority of Arab women desire a large family. Less than 20% of them do not want to have another child in the future in Mauritania, Sudan, and Yemen; between 37% and 53% in the 5 other countries. The total number of children wanted is 4.9 in Morocco, 5.4 in Yemen, 6.1 in Sudan, 6.3 in Jordan and Syria, and 8.7 in Mauritania. Women prefer to have boys rather than girls. In Egypt and Tunisia, respectively, 83% and 66% do not want to have another child when there are as many boys as girls in the family. As expected, the more children a woman has, the less she wants to have another one. The more women use contraception and modern contraceptives, the less they want another child. Of the women who do not want another child, 67% are using contraception in Tunisia, 65% in Egypt, 50% in Syria, Morocco, and Jordan, but 25% in Sudan, 17% in Yemen, and 15% in Mauritania. The transition from natural fertility to planned fertility is very slow in Mauritania, Yemen, and Sudan, while Syria and Jordan present the beginning of an evolution. The decline of fertility is faster in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. In Arab countries, the weight of the traditional patriarchal family, and the lack of education and social opportunities for women is slowing down demographic transition.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene access in southern Syria: analysis of survey data and recommendations for response.

PubMed

Sikder, Mustafa; Daraz, Umar; Lantagne, Daniele; Saltori, Roberto

2018-01-01

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are immediate priorities for human survival and dignity in emergencies. In 2010, > 90% of Syrians had access to improved drinking water. In 2011, armed conflict began and currently 12 million people need WASH services. We analyzed data collected in southern Syria to identify effective WASH response activities for this context. Cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in 2016 and 2017 in 17 sub-districts of two governorates in opposition controlled southern Syria. During the survey, household water was tested for free chlorine residual (FCR). Descriptive statistics were calculated, and mixed effect logistic regressions were completed to determine associations between demographic and WASH variables with outcomes of FCR > 0.1 mg/L in household water and reported diarrhea in children < 5 years old. In 2016 and 2017, 1281 and 1360 surveys were conducted. Piped water as the main water source declined from 22.0% to 15.3% over this time. Households accessed 50-60 l per capita daily (primarily from private water trucking networks). Households spent ~ 20% of income on water and reported market-available hygiene items were unaffordable. FCR > 0.1 mg/L increased from 4.1% to 27.9% over this time, with Water Safety Plan (WSP) programming strongly associated with FCR (mOR: 24.16; 95% CI: 5.93-98.5). The proportion of households with childhood diarrhea declined from 32.8% to 20.4% over this time; sanitation and hygiene access were protective against childhood diarrhea. The private sector has effectively replaced decaying infrastructure in Syria, although at high cost and uncertain quality. Allowing market forces to manage WASH services and quantity, and targeting emergency response activities on increasing affordability with well-targeted subsidies and improving water quality and regulation via WSPs can be an effective, scalable, and cost-effective strategy to guarantee water and sanitation access in protracted emergencies with local markets.

Torture and its sequel--a comparison between victims from six countries.

PubMed

Moisander, Pia A; Edston, Erik

2003-11-26

The aim of the study was to compare torture victims from six different nations and analyse differences and similarities. From the files of the Centre for Trauma Victims in Stockholm (KTC), 160 patients were selected: 53 patients from Bangladesh, 21 from Iran, 16 from Peru, 24 from Syria, 25 from Turkey, and 21 from Uganda. The data was classified into: (i) information about social conditions and circumstances pertaining to alleged torture, (ii) type of trauma and torture methods, and (iii) acute and late sequel to torture. Descriptive and non-parametric statistics were used in the analyses. There was a strong male dominance in all but the Ugandan group where 43% were women. The majority in all but the Turkish group had college exams and/or university studies. Over 84% were members of a political organisation except in the Iranian and Syrian groups, where more than 40% had no political affiliation. The majority in all groups had travelled to Sweden alone to apply for asylum, but most refugees from Turkey, Iran, and Syria had close relatives already living in Sweden. The stories of circumstances and torture methods were similar within each group but differed a great deal between groups. Typically, in Bangladesh, Peru, and Turkey, the periods under arrest were short: from a few hours to 3 days. In Iran, Uganda, and Syria, the time in custody varied from several months to several years. A prison sentence preceded by trial was common only in Iran. Many patients, especially from Bangladesh and Turkey, had been arrested several times. Sensory deprivation by isolation and blindfolding was common in all countries except Uganda and Peru. Beating with fists, sticks, truncheons, etc. were reported in 100% in every group. In Bangladesh, police batons (lathi) were used more commonly than in any other group. Whipping with electric cords occurred frequently only in Iran and Syria. Rape was most often reported among the Ugandans. Genital torture was frequently alleged by patients from Bangladesh and Turkey. Suspension was common in all countries except for Uganda. Falaka, i.e. beating of the soles, and electric torture were common (>60%) in Bangladesh, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. Sharp injuries inflicted with knives and bayonets were often seen among the Bangladeshi and Ugandans. Burning injuries due to cigarettes were commonly seen only in patients from Bangladesh. Some methods were found to be almost exclusive for each country: "water treatment" (Bangladesh), the "tyre" (Syria), "telephono" and "submarino" (Peru). The sequel of torture differed in some respects between groups. Fractures were more common among Iranians. Patients from Uganda and Bangladesh had numerous scars. Subjectively reported symptoms were most frequent among Bangladeshi, especially joint pain and ear, nose, and throat symptoms and least frequent among Ugandans. PTSD diagnosed on the basis of a psychiatric interview and psychological tests was found in 69-92% of patients in all groups. The study shows significant differences between countries regarding circumstances, torture methods, and sequel to torture. This knowledge is of value to forensic specialists documenting alleged torture and essential for fair and valid forensic statements.

Responding to chemical weapons violations in Syria: legal, health, and humanitarian recommendations.

PubMed

Brooks, Julia; Erickson, Timothy B; Kayden, Stephanie; Ruiz, Raul; Wilkinson, Stephen; Burkle, Frederick M

2018-01-01

The repeated use of prohibited chemical weapons in the Syrian conflict poses serious health, humanitarian, and security threats to civilians, healthcare personnel, and first responders. Moreover, the use of chemical weapons constitutes a clear and egregious violation of international law-likely amounting to a war crime-for which continued impunity is setting a dangerous precedent in relation to current and future conflicts. This debate article calls upon concerned states, organizations, and individuals to respond urgently and unequivocally to this serious breach of international legal and humanitarian norms. Based on health, humanitarian, and legal findings, this article calls for concrete action to: 1) reduce the risk of chemical weapons being used in current and future conflicts; 2) review and support the preparedness equipment and antidote supplies of first responders, humanitarian organizations, and military forces operating in Syria; 3) support international mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing the prohibition on chemical weapons, including through criminal accountability; 4) support civilian victims of chemical weapons attacks, including refugees; and 5) re-commit to the complete elimination of chemical weapons in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Convention (1993), a comprehensive treaty that bans chemical weapons and requires their complete destruction. All involved states and organizations should take urgent steps to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable victims of conflict, including victims of chemical weapons attacks in Syria, and to reinforce international law in the face of such serious violations.

Modern Processing Capabilities of Analog Data from Documentation of the Great Omayyad Mosque in Aleppo, Syria, Damaged in Civil War

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavelka, K.; Šedina, J.; Raeva, P.; Hůlková, M.

2017-08-01

In 1999, a big project for the documentation of the Great Omayyad mosque in Aleppo / Syria under UNESCO was conducted. By end of the last century, still analogue cameras were still being used, like the UMK Zeiss, RolleiMetric System. Digital cameras and digital automatic data processing were just starting to be on the rise and laser scanning was not relevant. In this situation, photogrammetrical measurement used stereo technology for complicated situations, and object and single-image technology for creating photoplans. Hundreds of photogrammetric images were taken. However, data processing was carried out on digital stereo plotters or workstations; it was necessary that all analogue photos were converted to digital form using a photogrammetric scanner. The outputs were adequate to the end of the last century. Nowadays, after 19 years, the photogrammetric materials still exist, but the technology and processing is completely different. Our original measurement is historical and nowadays quite obsolete. So we was it decided to explore the possibilities of the new processing of historical materials. Why? The reason is that in the last few years there has been civil war in Syria and the above mentioned monument was severely damaged. The existing historical materials therefore provide a unique opportunity for possible future reconstruction. This paper refers to the completion of existing materials, their evaluation and possibilities of new processing with today's technologies.

An online academic writing and publishing skills course: Help Syrians find their voice

PubMed Central

Sabouni, Ammar; Chaar, Abdelkader; Bdaiwi, Yamama; Masrani, Abdulrahman; Abolaban, Heba; Alahdab, Fares; Firwana, Belal; Al-Moujahed, Ahmad

2017-01-01

Purpose: A group of Arab-American physicians and researchers in the United States organized a blended online course in academic writing and publishing in medicine targeting medical students and physicians in war-torn Syria. This was an effort to address one of the reasons behind the poor quantity and quality of scientific research papers in Syria and the Arab region. In this paper, we report on the design, conduct, and outcome of this course and attempt to evaluate its effectiveness. Methods: The educational intervention was a 2-month blended online course. We administered a questionnaire to assess satisfaction and self-reported improvement in knowledge, confidence, and skills of academic writing and publishing. Results: The course succeeded in reaching more than 2588 physicians and medical students from the region; 159 of them completed most of the course. Eighty-three percent of the participants felt that they were confident enough to write an academic paper after the course and 95% felt the learning objectives were achieved with an average student satisfaction of 8.4 out of 10. Conclusion: Physicians in Syria and neighboring countries are in need of training to become an active part of the global scientific community and to document and communicate the crisis their countries are going through from a medical perspective. Low-cost online educational initiatives help respond, at least partially, to those needs. PMID:28791242

Fluvio geomorphic set-up of Noctis Fossae in Noctis Labyrinthus of Syria-Planum Provenance, Mars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chavan, A. A.; Bhandari, S.

2017-12-01

The modern era of planetary exploration has revealed fluvial or fluvial like landforms on the extraterrestrial surfaces of planets and moons of our solar system. This has posed as interesting challenges for advancing our fundamental understanding of fluvial processes and their associated landforms on the planetary surfaces especially on Mars. It has been recognized through earlier studies that the channels and valleys are extensively dissected on Mars. The Valleys are low lying, elongate troughs surrounded by elevated topography. Moreover, valley networks on Mars are the most noticeable features attesting that different geological processes and possibly climatic conditions prevailed in the past and played a vital role in formulating the Martian topography. Channel incisions which are a domino effect both tectonic and surface runoff and groundwater sapping. The components of surface runoff have been deciphered with the help of morphometric exercises. Further, the geomorphological studies of these landforms are critical in understanding the regional tectonics. The present work is an assessment of Fluvio geomorphic set-up of Noctis Fossae in Noctis Labyrinthus of Syria-Planum Provenance, Mars. This study focuses on the fluvio geomorphology of the southern highlands (00 to 400S to 850-1200W) to determine how these features were formed, which process formed these valleys and includes the probable causes resulting into the development of the topography. Keywords: Noctis Fossae; Noctis Labyrinthus; Syria Planum; Mars

Crustal structure of central Syria: The intracontinental Palmyride mountain belt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Saad, Damen; Sawaf, Tarif; Gebran, Ali; Barazangi, Muawia; Best, John A.; Chaimov, Thomas A.

1992-07-01

Along a 450-km transect across central Syria seismic reflection data, borehole information, potential field data and surface geologic mapping have been combined to examine the crustal structure of the northern Arabian platform beneath Syria. The transect is surrounded by the major plate boundaries of the Middle East, including the Dead Sea transform fault system along the Levantine margin to the west, the Bitlis suture and East Anatolian fault to the north, and the Zagros collisional belt to the northeast and east. Three main tectonic provinces of the northern Arabian platform in Syria are crossed by this transect from south to north: the Rutbah uplift, the Palmyra fold-thrust belt, and the Aleppo plateau. The Rutbah uplift in southern Syria is a broad, domal basement-cored structure with a thick Phanerozoic (mostly Paleozoic) cover of 6-7 km. Isopachs based on well and seismic reflection data indicate that this region was an early Paleozoic depocenter. The Palmyra fold-thrust belt, the northeastern arm of the Syrian Arc, is a northeast-southwest-trending intracontinental mountain belt that acts as a mobile tectonic zone between the relatively stable Rutbah uplift to the south and the less stable Aleppo plateau to the north. Short-wavelength en-echelon folds characterized by relatively steep, faulted southeast flanks dominate in the southwest, most strongly deformed segment of the belt, while a complex system of deeply rooted faults and broad folds characterize the northeastern region, described in this study. The Aleppo plateau lies immediately north of the Palmyride belt, with a combined Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary section that averages 4-5 km in thickness. Although this region appears relatively undeformed on seismic reflection data when compared to Palmyride deformation, a system of near-vertical, probable strike-slip faults crosscut the region in a dominantly northeasterly direction. Gravity and magnetic modeling constrains the deep crustal structure along the transect. The crustal thickness is estimated to be approximately 38 km. Interpretation of the gravity data indicates two different crustal blocks beneath the Rutbah uplift and the Aleppo plateau, and the presence of a crustal-penetrating, high-density body beneath the northeast Palmyrides. The two distinct crustal blocks suggest that they were accreted possibly along a suture zone and/or a major strike-slip fault zone located approximately in the present-day position of the Palmyrides. The age of the accretion is estimated to be Proterozoic or Early Cambrian, based on the observation of a pervasive reflection (interpreted as the Middle Cambrian Burj limestone) in the Rutbah uplift and in the Aleppo plateau and by analogy with the well-mapped Proterozoic sutures of the Arabian shield to the south.

Syria Transition Support Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ

2013-05-15

Senate - 07/24/2013 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 147. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

78 FR 9569 - Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Relating to Syria

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-08

... urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and...

Syrian Volcano

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-07-23

This MOC image shows a small volcano in the Syria Planum region of Mars. Today, the lava flows that compose this small volcano are nearly hidden by a mantle of rough-textured, perhaps somewhat cemented, dust

15 CFR 732.1 - Steps overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... (Foreign-Produced Direct Product Reexports) for all countries except: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria... end-uses and end-users, countries subject to a comprehensive embargo (e.g., Cuba, Iran, North Korea...

Exposure to secondhand smoke at home and in public places in Syria: a developing country's perspective.

PubMed

Maziak, W; Ali, R Al; Fouad, M F; Rastam, S; Wipfli, H; Travers, M J; Ward, K D; Eissenberg, T

2008-01-01

This study employs sensitive methods to address the issue of exposure to secondhand smoke among children and women in an understudied developing country setting (Syria). The study combines data collected by the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies as part of two international studies conducted in 2006: the Secondhand Smoke Exposure among Women and Children study (Johns Hopkins) and the Global Air Monitoring Study (Roswell Park Cancer Institute). We employed objective measures (hair nicotine, and ambient household nicotine assessed by passive monitors) to assess children's and mothers' exposure to secondhand smoke at home, and used the TSI SidePak personal aerosol monitor to sample respirable suspended particles less than 2.5 microm diameter (PM(2.5)) in the air in public places (40 restaurants/cafés in Aleppo). In homes, the mean ambient nicotine level (+/- standard deviation, SD) was 2.24 +/- 2.77 microg/m(3). Mean level of hair nicotine was 11.8 ng/mg among children (n = 54), and was higher if the mother was a smoker (19.4 +/- 23.6 ng/mg) than nonsmoker (5.2 +/- 6.9 ng/mg) (p < .05). Mean hair nicotine among nonsmoking mothers (n = 23) was 1.17 +/- 1.56 ng/mg. Children's hair nicotine level was strongly correlated with ambient household nicotine and number of cigarettes smoked daily in the house (r = .54 and r = .50, respectively, p < .001), and also was related to having a father who smoked in the children's presence. In public places, average PM(2.5) in the monitored 40 hospitality venues was 464 microg/m(3) and correlated with smoker density measured as cigarettes-waterpipes/100 m(3) (r = .31, p = 0.049). Thus, children in Syria are exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke at home, in which mothers' smoking plays a major role. Also, levels of respirable hazardous particles are high in public hospitality venues, putting customers and workers at serious health risks. Efforts to limit exposure of children and women at home and to adopt clean air policies should become a public health priority in Syria and the Arab region.

Pre-Design of Transitional Rural Housing for Syria with Recycled Rubble from Destroyed Buildings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morishita, Naomi; Haj Ismail, Salah; Cetin, Rukiye

2017-10-01

The scale of destruction caused by seven years of on-going war in Syria has caused mass migration of the Syrian people within and outside of Syria. The situation calls for a means to provide the internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Syria with humane post-war affordable housing that can be quickly and easily built with few resources. Fossil fuel resources are not only scarce because of the war, but are also being used as a valuable commodity to finance the war economy, and thus, housing should minimize consumption of energy for heating and cooling because of the fossil fuel scarcity while providing high thermal comfort to the inhabitants. The housing parameters for the proposed solution are to integrate as much of the local building materials in the Aleppo region as possible using existing regional building traditions. Imported products such as building materials, machinery, equipment, as well as foreign labour and knowhow are to be kept to a minimum while incorporating recycled rubble from destroyed buildings. A comparative study of current disaster relief housing illustrates the appropriateness of each design solution in relation to the above-proposed housing parameters. A detailed analysis of the physical properties of an existing case study building in Dabiq, a town 40 km northeast of Aleppo, outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the building tradition to determine which aspects of the construction may be improved for better thermal comfort and resistance against earthquakes. The simulation results from WUFI Plus show the building behaviour of the case study house. This paper offers a concept for transitional single-family housing for IDPs based upon the adobe tradition in the rural areas of Aleppo. Reducing the heating and cooling loads can also drastically reduce fossil fuel requirements during the construction and operation phases of the single-family homes while maintaining a high level of indoor thermal comfort. Traditional construction techniques can potentially employ more craftspeople combined with manual labour instead of using automated systems. The relative safety of the rural areas can thus be increased, as storage and use of fossil fuels in the villages will be decreased allowing for quicker resettlement with less disruption from war.

Obstetric near-miss and maternal mortality in maternity university hospital, Damascus, Syria: a retrospective study

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Investigating severe maternal morbidity (near-miss) is a newly recognised tool that identifies women at highest risk of maternal death and helps allocate resources especially in low income countries. This study aims to i. document the frequency and nature of maternal near-miss at hospital level in Damascus, Capital of Syria, ii. evaluate the level of care at maternal life-saving emergency services by comparatively analysing near-misses and maternal mortalities. Methods Retrospective facility-based review of cases of near-miss and maternal mortality that took place in the years 2006-2007 at Damascus Maternity University Hospital, Syria. Near-miss cases were defined based on disease-specific criteria (Filippi 2005) including: haemorrhage, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, dystocia, infection and anaemia. Main outcomes included maternal mortality ratio (MMR), maternal near miss ratio (MNMR), mortality indices and proportion of near-miss cases and mortality cases to hospital admissions. Results There were 28 025 deliveries, 15 maternal deaths and 901 near-miss cases. The study showed a MNMR of 32.9/1000 live births, a MMR of 54.8/100 000 live births and a relatively low mortality index of 1.7%. Hypertensive disorders (52%) and haemorrhage (34%) were the top causes of near-misses. Late pregnancy haemorrhage was the leading cause of maternal mortality (60%) while sepsis had the highest mortality index (7.4%). Most cases (93%) were referred in critical conditions from other facilities; namely traditional birth attendants homes (67%), primary (5%) and secondary (10%) healthcare unites and private practices (11%). 26% of near-miss cases were admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Conclusion Near-miss analyses provide valuable information on obstetric care. The study highlights the need to improve antenatal care which would help early identification of high risk pregnancies. It also emphasises the importance of both: developing protocols to prevent/manage post-partum haemorrhage and training health care professionals to manage infrequent but fatal conditions like sepsis. An urgent review of the referral system and the emergency obstetric care in Syria is highly recommended. PMID:20959012

Environmental Education in Some Arab States.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Za'rour, George I.

1981-01-01

Briefly summarizes environmental education goals and topics as identified in elementary and secondary education curricula in four Arab states (Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Jordan) and describes environmental education nonformal efforts in Lebanon. (DC)

Syria Accountability and Liberation Act

THOMAS, 111th Congress

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18

2009-02-26

House - 07/23/2009 Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Syria Sanctions Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY

2011-08-02

Senate - 08/02/2011 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Syria Sanctions Enhancement Act of 2013

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT

2013-11-14

Senate - 11/14/2013 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

15 CFR 740.2 - Restrictions on all License Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... sanctioned destination (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria), unless a license exception or portion thereof is..., Japan, New Zealand, or a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member state (see NATO membership...

15 CFR 740.2 - Restrictions on all License Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... sanctioned destination (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria), unless a license exception or portion thereof is... Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member state (see NATO...

Communication practices in the US and Syria.

PubMed

Merkin, Rebecca S; Ramadan, Reem

2016-01-01

This study highlights Syrian communication practices using comparative tests with the United States communication as a baseline. Additionally, theoretical findings on individualism and collectivism theory are extended to include findings from Syria. Multivariate Analysis of Covariance was used to test culture's effect in demographically similar (in age, SES, and education) student convenience samples, with the covariate communication adaptability, on dependent variables: empathy, social confirmation, social composure, friendships, non-verbal immediacy, social self-efficacy, and general self-efficacy. Results indicated that Syrians possess more empathy, social confirmation, and perceived general self-efficacy in comparison to U.S. citizens who have greater social composure, friendships, non-verbal immediacy and social self-efficacy. These results indicate that Syrians have the strength of self-efficacy to succeed in intercultural relationships while U.S. Americans have the assets of warmth and sociability to enable successful interactions with Syrians.

Prevalence of herpes simplex types 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, cytomegalovirus, immunoglobulin G antibodies among female university students in Syria.

PubMed

Barah, Faraj

2012-09-01

To examine the current seroepidemiology of immunoglobulin (Ig)G for herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV 1-2), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) among university females of childbearing age in Syria. A cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the female students of the Pharmacy College, Kalamoon University, Deratiah, Syria, where 316 sera were collected from October 2009 to November 2010, and subjected to HSV 1-2, VZV, and CMV IgG screening and titration using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based techniques in the Microbiology Laboratory. A total of 164 participants were positive for HSV 1-2 IgG giving a prevalence of 52%, leaving a relatively high proportion of susceptibility among the tested group. For VZV, 91% of the participants (n=287) were positive for its specific IgG, while, regarding CMV, 74.5% (n=235) were positive, and 25.5% were negative for CMV specific IgG. Although most participants were seropositive for herpes viruses IgG, suggesting a natural virus circulation within the community, screening for protective immunity is suggested against HSV, since a relatively high proportion of tested females are still susceptible. In addition, and because of its nasty outcomes during pregnancy, IgG against CMV should also be tested. High percentage of positivity towards VZV could be explained due to introduction of the new vaccine program, and therefore, further analysis during pregnancy is not recommended.

Randomized trial of the effectiveness of combined behavioral/pharmacological smoking cessation treatment in Syrian primary care clinics.

PubMed

Ward, Kenneth D; Asfar, Taghrid; Al Ali, Radwan; Rastam, Samer; Weg, Mark W Vander; Eissenberg, Thomas; Maziak, Wasim

2013-02-01

Effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation has not been evaluated in low income countries, such as Syria, where it is expensive and not widely available. We evaluated whether nicotine patch boosts smoking cessation rates when used in conjunction with behavioral support in primary care clinics in Aleppo, Syria. Two arm, parallel group, randomized, placebo controlled, double-blinded multi-site trial. Four primary care clinics in Aleppo, Syria.  Two hundred and sixty-nine adult primary care patients received behavioral cessation counseling from a trained primary care physician and were randomized to receive six weeks of treatment with nicotine versus placebo patch. Primary end-points were prolonged abstinence (no smoking after a 2-week grace period) at end of treatment, and 6 and 12 months post-quit day, assessed by self-report and exhaled carbon monoxide levels of <10 p.p.m. Treatment adherence was excellent and nicotine patch produced expected reductions in urges to smoke and withdrawal symptoms, but no treatment effect was observed. The proportion of patients in the nicotine and placebo groups with prolonged abstinence was 21.6% and 20.0%, respectively, at end of treatment, 13.4% and 14.1% at 6 months, and 12.7% and 11.9% at 12 months.  Nicotine patches may not be effective in helping smokers in low-income countries to stop when given as an adjunct to behavioural support. © 2012 The Authors, Addiction © 2012 Society for the Study of Addiction.

Beliefs and attitudes related to narghile (waterpipe) smoking among university students in Syria.

PubMed

Maziak, Wasim; Eissenberg, Thomas; Rastam, Samer; Hammal, Fadi; Asfar, Taghrio; Bachir, Mohamed E; Fouad, Mohamed F; Ward, Kenneth D

2004-10-01

To assess the beliefs and attitudes related to narghile (waterpipe) smoking that are likely to contribute to its increased popularity among young people in Syria. In 2003, a cross-sectional survey was administered to university students in Aleppo, using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Overall, 587 students participated in the study (278 males, 309 females; mean age, 21.8 +/- 2.1; response rate 98.8%). The most common positive perceptions of narghile were related to its smell and taste. Negative perceptions of narghile included the smoke produced, the pollution, and perceived adverse health effects. Students believed the popularity of narghile to be part of a rising regional trend in its use, due to its being an appealing way to spend leisure time socializing with friends. More students (49.7%) believed narghile to be more harmful to health than cigarettes, compared with 30% who believed the opposite. Respiratory disease was the most commonly cited health effect of narghile smoking. Family attitudes regarding tobacco use by younger members were more permissive about narghile compared with cigarettes, and, surprisingly, were more permissive about females smoking narghile than males doing so. The rise in narghile smoking as a trendy social habit appears to be occurring despite considerable appreciation of its potential health risks. Permissiveness of adult family members towards narghile use by young female members, especially in the presence of a strong taboo against female cigarette smoking may contribute to the continuous spread of narghile smoking among women in Syria.

Emergency Food Assistance in Northern Syria: An Evaluation of Transfer Programs in Idleb Governorate.

PubMed

Doocy, Shannon; Tappis, Hannah; Lyles, Emily; Witiw, Joseph; Aken, Vicki

2017-06-01

The war in Syria has left millions struggling to survive amidst violent conflict, pervasive unemployment, and food insecurity. Although international assistance funding is also at an all-time high, it is insufficient to meet the needs of conflict-affected populations, and there is increasing pressure on humanitarian stakeholders to find more efficient, effective ways to provide assistance. To evaluate 3 different assistance programs (in-kind food commodities, food vouchers, and unrestricted vouchers) in Idleb Governorate of Syria from December 2014 and March 2015. The evaluation used repeated survey data from beneficiary households to determine whether assistance was successful in maintaining food security at the household level. Shopkeeper surveys and program monitoring data were used to assess the impact on markets at the district/governorate levels and compare the cost-efficiency and cost-effectiveness of transfer modalities. Both in-kind food assistance and voucher programs showed positive effects on household food security and economic measures in Idleb; however, no intervention was successful in improving all outcomes measured. Food transfers were more likely to improve food access and food security than vouchers and unrestricted vouchers. Voucher programs were found to be more cost-efficient than in-kind food assistance, and more cost-effective for increasing household food consumption. Continuation of multiple types of transfer programs, including both in-kind assistance and vouchers, will allow humanitarian actors to remain responsive to evolving access and security considerations, local needs, and market dynamics.

The right to practice medicine without repercussions: ethical issues in times of political strife.

PubMed

Hathout, Leith

2012-09-13

This commentary examines the incursion on the neutrality of medical personnel now taking place as part of the human rights crises in Bahrain and Syria, and the ethical dilemmas which these incursions place not only in front of physicians practicing in those nations, but in front of the international community as a whole.In Bahrain, physicians have recently received harsh prison terms, apparently for treating demonstrators who clashed with government forces. In Syria, physicians are under the same political pressure to avoid treating political demonstrators or to act as informants against their own patients, turning them in to government authorities. This pressure has been severe, to the point that some physicians have become complicit in the abuse of patients who were also political demonstrators.This paper posits that physicians in certain countries in the Middle East during the "Arab Spring," specifically Syria and Bahrain, are being used as both political pawns and political weapons in clear violation of Geneva Convention and World Medical Association guidelines, and that this puts them into the most extreme sort of "dual loyalty" dilemma. They are being forced to choose between their own safety and well-being and that of their patients - a negative sum scenario wherein there is no optimal choice. As such, an international call for a United Nations inquiry must be made in order to protect the neutrality of medical care and personnel during times of armed conflict.

The right to practice medicine without repercussions: ethical issues in times of political strife

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

This commentary examines the incursion on the neutrality of medical personnel now taking place as part of the human rights crises in Bahrain and Syria, and the ethical dilemmas which these incursions place not only in front of physicians practicing in those nations, but in front of the international community as a whole. In Bahrain, physicians have recently received harsh prison terms, apparently for treating demonstrators who clashed with government forces. In Syria, physicians are under the same political pressure to avoid treating political demonstrators or to act as informants against their own patients, turning them in to government authorities. This pressure has been severe, to the point that some physicians have become complicit in the abuse of patients who were also political demonstrators. This paper posits that physicians in certain countries in the Middle East during the “Arab Spring,” specifically Syria and Bahrain, are being used as both political pawns and political weapons in clear violation of Geneva Convention and World Medical Association guidelines, and that this puts them into the most extreme sort of “dual loyalty” dilemma. They are being forced to choose between their own safety and well-being and that of their patients – a negative sum scenario wherein there is no optimal choice. As such, an international call for a United Nations inquiry must be made in order to protect the neutrality of medical care and personnel during times of armed conflict. PMID:22974272

Epidemiology and risk factors of uninvestigated dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease among students of Damascus University, Syria.

PubMed

Al Saadi, Tareq; Idris, Amr; Turk, Tarek; Alkhatib, Mahmoud

2016-12-01

Uninvestigated dyspepsia (UD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are common disorders universally. Many studies have assessed their epidemiological characteristics around the world. However, such information is not known for Syria. We aim to estimate the epidemiologic characteristics and possible risk factors for UD, IBS, and GERD among students at Damascus University, Damascus, Syria. A cross-sectional study was conducted in July-September 2015 at a campus of Damascus University. A total of 320 students were randomly asked to complete the survey. We used ROME III criteria to define UD and IBS, and Montreal definition for GERD. In total, 302 valid participants were included in the analysis. Prevalence for UD, IBS, and GERD was 25%, 17%, and 16%, respectively. Symptom overlap was present in 46 students (15%), with UD+IBS in 28 (9.3%), UD+GERD in 26 (8.6%), and IBS+GERD in 14 (4.6%) students. Eleven (3.6%) students had symptoms of UD+IBS+GERD. Each of these overlaps occurred more frequently than expected by chance. Significant risk factors included cigarettes smoking, waterpipe consumption, and body mass index <18.5kg/m 2 for UD; female gender and three cups of coffee/d for IBS; and two cups of tea and one to five cigarettes/d for GERD. Risk factors for these disorders remain poorly characterized and need further investigations. Copyright © 2016 Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Potential fresh water saving using greywater in toilet flushing in Syria.

PubMed

Mourad, Khaldoon A; Berndtsson, Justyna C; Berndtsson, Ronny

2011-10-01

Greywater reuse is becoming an increasingly important factor for potable water saving in many countries. Syria is one of the most water scarce countries in the Middle East. However, greywater reuse is still not common in the country. Regulations and standards for greywater reuse are not available. Recently, however, several stakeholders have started to plan for greywater reuse. The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential for potable water saving by using greywater for toilet flushing in a typical Syrian city. The Sweida city in the southern part of Syria was chosen for this purpose. Interviews were made in order to reflect the social acceptance, water consumption, and the percentage of different indoor water uses. An artificial wetland (AW) and a commercial bio filter (CBF) were proposed to treat the greywater, and an economic analysis was performed for the treatment system. Results show that using treated greywater for toilet flushing would save about 35% of the drinking water. The economic analyses of the two proposed systems showed that, in the current water tariff, the payback period for AW and CBF in block systems is 7 and 52 years, respectively. However, this period will reduce to 3 and 21 years, respectively, if full water costs are paid by beneficiaries. Hence, introducing artificial wetlands in order to make greywater use efficient appears to be a viable alternative to save potable water. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The possible use of ancient tower tombs as watchtowers in Syro-Mesopotamia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silver, M.; Törmä, M.; Silver, K.; Okkonen, J.; Nuñez, M.

2015-08-01

Traditionally polygonal tower tombs dating from the Greco-Roman era, especially found in the area of Syro-Mesopotamia, have only been treated as funerary structures without discussion of their other possible purposes. In this paper we wish to inquire whether they had other functions as well. The most famous examples of these types of tombs are situated in Palmyra in Syria. They are built of limestone, follow a square layout, and some exceed the height of 20 m. Similar structures are found in the Euphrates valley of Syria. The Finnish project SYGIS that worked in the neighbourhood of the Euphrates and Palmyra during the previous decade studied some of the structures in the region. As far as the tower tombs are concerned, our research suggests that new structural, topographical and spatial aspects can be raised, and GIS (Geographic Information Systems) can be applied for analysing their properties for visibility. The tendency to locate tower tombs along roads and the entrance areas of a city as well as at a mountain edge seems to indicate that the tombs may have had observational functions serving as watch towers. The aspects of the location in terrains are emphasized in the present study, and digital terrain models were utilized using SRTM DEM (Digital Elevation Model) data for carrying out viewshed analyses in order to survey the observational qualities of the towers in Palmyra, on Halabiya, on Jebel Bishri in Syria and Hatra in Iraq.

The Relevancy of the Clausewitzian Trinity to the War on Terrorism

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-04-14

Jordan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Syria, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia , Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, Lebanon, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait...routinely discounted. American patriotism, obesity , emotionality, self-centeredness: these are the crucial issues.”111

Expression of Concern

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delvaux, Damien

2016-08-01

This is a note of a temporary expression of concern related to the publication titled, "Sapphirine and fluid inclusions in Tel Thanoun mantle xenoliths, Syria" by Ahmad Bilal, which appeared in Journal of African Earth Sciences, 116 (2016) 105-113.

15 CFR 740.2 - Restrictions on all License Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... export or reexport is to a sanctioned destination (Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria), unless a license...) Being made to Australia, Japan, New Zealand, or a NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) member state...

iss055e013356

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-04-07

iss055e013356 (April 7, 2018) --- The eastern-most portion of the Mediterranean Sea and portions of the countries of Turkey, Syria and Lebanon was photographed from the International Space Station by an Expedition 55 crew member.

A resolution calling for democratic change in Syria, and for other purposes.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA

2012-04-25

Senate - 05/07/2012 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 388. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Claritas Fossae Enhanced Color

NASA Image and Video Library

1998-06-04

Mars Syria Planum-centered volcanism and tectonism produced fractures, narrow to broad grabens, large scarps, and broad fold and thrust ridges that deformed a basement complex captured by NASA's Viking Orbiter 2. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00154

The Humanitarian Situation in Syria: A Snapshot in the Third Year of the Crisis

PubMed Central

Doocy, Shannon; Delbiso, Tefera D.; Guha-Sapir, Debarati

2015-01-01

Between April and June 2014, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an International NGO, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East (GOPA) conducted a needs assessment of Syrians affected by the crisis with the objective of gaining a better understanding of humanitarian needs and assistance priorities. Findings suggest that interventions that increase access to non-food items, food, medication and education should be prioritized where cost was the primary barrier to accessing goods and services. Cash transfer programs and direct provision of material assistance should be considered, though the most appropriate assistance modality is likely to vary by sector, location and the preferences and prior experience of donors and implementing organizations. Renewed international commitment to funding humanitarian assistance efforts in Syria and neighboring countries where the burden of refugees is greatest is essential from both a human rights perspective and in terms of maintaining stability in the region. PMID:25821647

When "humanitarianism" becomes "development": the politics of international aid in Syria's Palestinian refugee camps.

PubMed

Gabiam, Nell

2012-01-01

In recent years, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has attempted to go beyond its role as a provider of relief and basic services in Palestinian refugee camps and emphasize its role as a development agency. In this article, I focus on the Neirab Rehabilitation Project, an UNRWA-sponsored development project taking place in the Palestinian refugee camps of Ein el Tal and Neirab in northern Syria. I argue that UNRWA's role as a relief-centered humanitarian organization highlights the everyday suffering of Palestinian refugees, suffering that has become embedded in refugees’ political claims. I show that UNRWA's emphasis on “development” in the refugee camps is forcing Palestinian refugees in Ein el Tal and Neirab to reassess the political narrative through which they have understood their relationship with UNRWA.

The sale of antibiotics without prescription in pharmacies in Damascus, Syria.

PubMed

Al-Faham, Zaid; Habboub, Ghaith; Takriti, Farah

2011-05-28

Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to the development of organism resistance. The acquisition of antibiotics without prescription by the general population seems to be common practice in pharmacies of Damascus, Syria. This study aimed to determine the proportion of pharmacies dispensing antibiotics without medical prescription and without seeing the patient. A cross-sectional study involving a sample of 224 pharmacies was conducted in Damascus. To obtain antibiotics without medical prescription, the investigators posed as individuals who had a sister with symptoms of sinusitis. From 200 pharmacies visited, 87% agreed without insistence from the investigator to sell antibiotics without prescription. This figure increased to 97% when the investigators who were at first denied antibiotics insisted on having the antibiotics. Dispensing of antibiotics is high in Damascus despite federal regulations. Health education programs should be directed to pharmacies and also to the population.

The humanitarian situation in syria: a snapshot in the third year of the crisis.

PubMed

Doocy, Shannon; Delbiso, Tefera D; Guha-Sapir, Debarati

2015-03-03

Between April and June 2014, International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC), an International NGO, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East (GOPA) conducted a needs assessment of Syrians affected by the crisis with the objective of gaining a better understanding of humanitarian needs and assistance priorities. Findings suggest that interventions that increase access to non-food items, food, medication and education should be prioritized where cost was the primary barrier to accessing goods and services. Cash transfer programs and direct provision of material assistance should be considered, though the most appropriate assistance modality is likely to vary by sector, location and the preferences and prior experience of donors and implementing organizations. Renewed international commitment to funding humanitarian assistance efforts in Syria and neighboring countries where the burden of refugees is greatest is essential from both a human rights perspective and in terms of maintaining stability in the region.

Refugees in Europe: national overviews from key countries with a special focus on child and adolescent mental health.

PubMed

Hodes, Matthew; Vasquez, Melisa Mendoza; Anagnostopoulos, Dimitris; Triantafyllou, Kalliopi; Abdelhady, Dalia; Weiss, Karin; Koposov, Roman; Cuhadaroglu, Fusun; Hebebrand, Johannes; Skokauskas, Norbert

2018-04-01

Many European countries are becoming multicultural at a previously unseen rate. The number of immigrants including refugees has considerably increased since 2008, and especially after the beginning of the war in Syria. In 2015, 88,300 unaccompanied minors sought asylum in the Member States of the European Union (EU) and most came from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Somalia and Eritrea. As a reaction to increased immigration, governments in many countries including Germany, Sweden and Norway implemented more restrictive immigration policy. A requirement for all countries, however, is the protection and welfare provision for all arriving children, regardless of their nationality, ensured by international and national legal frameworks. This paper provides an overview of the post 2015 immigration crisis in key European countries with a special focus on current demographics, refugee children, mental health studies, policies and practical support available for refugees.

View of the ODS in the Atlantis payload bay prior to docking

NASA Image and Video Library

1996-09-17

STS079-824-081 (16-26 Sept. 1996) --- In this 70mm frame from the space shuttle Atlantis, the Jordan River Valley can be traced as it separates Lebanon, Palestine and Israel on the west, from Syria and Jordan on the east. The river flows along the Dead Sea rift; the east side of the fault zone (Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia) has moved north about 100 kilometers relative to the west side (Lebanon, Israel, Egypt) during the past 24 million years. The Dead Sea and Sea of Galilee are in depressions formed where faults of the zone diverge or step over. The Dead Sea once covered the area of salt evaporation pans (the bright blue water). The lagoon, barrier islands and evaporite deposits (bright white) along the Mediterranean coast of the Sinai Peninsula (lower left of frame) are just east of Port Said.

Conflict and Care

PubMed Central

Young, Savannah S.; Lewis, Denise C.; Gilbey, Peter; Eisenman, Arie; Schuster, Richard; Seponski, Desiree M.

2016-01-01

Israel has provided immediate healthcare to Syrian children, civilians and fighters since early 2013 despite being in an official state of war with Syria since 1973. We present qualitative findings from a larger mixed-methods phenomenological study to understand how the geopolitical and social history of Israel and Syria influences healthcare providers and Syrian patient caregivers in northern Israel. Theories of humanization and cognitive dissonance guided this study and frame the beliefs and experiences of healthcare providers who treated wounded Syrians in Israeli hospitals. Findings indicate healthcare providers and Syrian caregivers adjusted their beliefs to allow for positive healthcare experiences. Qualitative analysis revealed two major themes: supportive and hindering systemic elements contributing to the healthcare provider-patient-caregiver relationship. Internal psychological developments, contextual factors, and relational processes influenced humanization of the other within the relationship. This study illuminates unique ethical and humanitarian demands relevant for healthcare workers and those with whom they interact. PMID:28508018

Synoptic characteristics of dust over the southwest of Iran

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katiraie-Boroujerdy, P.; Ghahri, F.; Ranjbar Saadatabadi, A.

2012-12-01

Iran is frequently affected by dust events because it is located in arid and semiarid belt of the world. As Khozestan province is in the vicinity of large deserts and also due to especial atmospheric conditions the frequency of dust in this area is increased in the recent years. Therefore it has the destructive affect on the healthcare, economy, social and etc. The study is based on the, sea level, 850 mb and 500 mb weather charts, surface wind field and observations weather data during the period of 1968-2008. By numerical simulation with WRF modeling it has tried to high light provide an answer to how this event produced and reached to Ahwaz. It has been shown in this 40 years, dust events by high strength and frequency occur in July in Ahwaz. Synoptic patterns revealed that for making sever dust event Persian Gulf thermal trough extends to the north west of Iraq and European ridge extends over the Black sea and large part of the Turkey by passing waves of middle level Mediterranean trough from northwest of Iraq and east of Syria. Numerical simulation shows strong surface flow over source regions in northwest of Iraq and east of Syria, creation westerly low level jet in low-lying areas and the increase in friction velocity in the source regions. In the deserts of Iraq and north east of Syria increase in friction velocity to its highest value (approx 0.6 m/s) causes reduction in visibility and by decrease to lowest value (approx 0.4 m/s) visibility reaches up to 600 meters in Ahwaz.

Landscape transformations at the dawn of agriculture in southern Syria (10.7-9.9 ka cal. BP): Plant-specific responses to the impact of human activities and climate change

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arranz-Otaegui, Amaia; López-Sáez, José Antonio; Araus, José Luis; Portillo, Marta; Balbo, Andrea; Iriarte, Eneko; Gourichon, Lionel; Braemer, Frank; Zapata, Lydia; Ibáñez, Juan José

2017-02-01

In southwest Asia, the accelerated impact of human activities on the landscape has often been linked to the development of fully agricultural societies during the middle and late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB) period (around 10.2-7.9 ka cal. BP). This work contributes to the debate on the environmental impact of the so-called Neolitisation process by identifying the climatic and anthropogenic factors that contributed to change local and regional vegetation at the time when domesticated plants appeared and developed in southern Syria (around 10.7-9.9 ka cal. BP). In this work a multidisciplinary analysis of plant microremains (pollen and phytoliths) and macroremains (wood charcoal) is carried out along with stable carbon isotope discrimination of wood charcoals in an early PPNB site (Tell Qarassa North, west of the Jabal al-Arab area). Prior to 10.5 ka cal. BP, the results indicate a dynamic equilibrium in the local and regional vegetation, which comprised woodland-steppe, Mediterranean evergreen oak-woodlands, wetland vegetation and coniferous forests. Around 10.5-9.9 ka cal. BP, the elements that regulated the vegetation system changed, resulting in reduced proportions of arboreal cover and the spread of cold-tolerant and wetlands species. Our data show that reinforcing interaction between the elements of the anthropogenic (e.g. herding, fire-related activities) and climatic systems (e.g. temperature, rainfall) contributed to the transformation of early Holocene vegetation during the emergence of fully agricultural societies in southern Syria.

Martian Plains Volcanism in Syria Planum and Tempe Mareotis as Analogs to the Eastern Snake River Plains, Idaho: Similarities and Possible Petrologic Contributions to Topography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sakimoto, S. E. H.; Gregg, T. K. P.; Hughes, S. S.; Chadwick, J.

2003-01-01

Prior to the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) and Mars Odyssey (MO) missions, The Syria Planum region of Mars was noted for several clusters of small (5-100 km) shield volcanoes and collapse craters, long tube and fissure-fed lava flows, and possible volcanic vents that were thought to be nearly contemporaneous with the volcanism in the Tempe- Mareotis province, which has long been known for volcanic shields and vents analogous to those of the Eastern Snake River Plains (ESRP) in Idaho. Recent MGS-based work on regional and global populations of martian small shields has revealed significant global trends in edifice attributes that are well-explained by eruption models with latitudinal variations in subsurface water/ice abundance, consistent with recent MO evidence for significant amounts of subsurface water that varies in latitude abundance s, and topographic and morphologic evidence for more geologically recent lava-ice relationships. However, while the global trends in small volcano data can be at least partially explained by volatile interactions with volcanism, some global and regional characteristics appear to be perhaps better explained by possible compositional, crystallinity or eruption style variations. This study expands the sampling of shields done in martian initial global studies for the Syria Planum and Tempe-Mareotis regions, which display a newly visible breadth and number of features in image and topography data. We compare these features to a similar range of features visible in the ESRP where both compositional and eruption style variations can quantitatively be shown to contribute to morphologic and topographic differences.

Predictors of adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment in a cessation trial among smokers in Aleppo, Syria

PubMed Central

Ben Taleb, Ziyad; Ward, Kenneth D; Asfar, Taghrid; Bahelah, Raed; Maziak, Wasim

2015-01-01

Introduction The development of evidence-based smoking cessation programs is in its infancy in developing countries, which continue to bear the main brunt of the tobacco epidemic. Adherence to treatment recommendations is an important determinant of the success of smoking cessation programs, but little is known about factors influencing adherence to either pharmacological or behavioral treatment in developing countries settings. Our study represents the first attempt to examine the predictors of adherence to cessation treatment in a low-income developing country. Methods Predictors of adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment were identified by analyzing data from a multi-site, two-group, parallel-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial in primary care clinics in Aleppo, Syria. Participants received 3 in-person behavioral counseling sessions plus 5 brief follow-up phone counseling sessions, and were randomized to either 6 weeks of nicotine or placebo patch. Results Of the 269 participants, 68% adhered to pharmacological treatment, while 70% adhered to behavioral counseling. In logistic regression modeling, lower adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment was associated with higher daily smoking at baseline, greater withdrawal symptoms, and perception of receiving placebo instead of active nicotine patch. Women showed lower adherence than men to behavioral treatment, while being assigned to placebo condition and baseline waterpipe use were associated with lower adherence to pharmacological treatment. Conclusion Adherence to cessation treatment for cigarette smokers in low-income countries such as Syria may benefit from integrated cessation components that provide intensive treatment for subjects with higher nicotine dependence, and address concurrent waterpipe use at all stages. PMID:26077603

The tobacco epidemic in Syria

PubMed Central

Ward, K D; Eissenberg, T; Rastam, S; Asfar, T; Mzayek, F; Fouad, M F; Hammal, F; Mock, J

2006-01-01

Background The Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) was established in response to the smoking epidemic in Syria and lack of local knowledge and expertise to confront it. Objectives To (1) study tobacco use and local smoking practices using both qualitative and quantitative research methods; (2) develop and test an effective smoking cessation intervention for the Syrian environment; and (3) train Syrian researchers. Methods and results The Aleppo Household Survey involved a representative sample of adults in Aleppo (2038 subjects, 45.2% men, mean age 35.3 years, response rate 86%). The prevalence of cigarette smoking was 56.9% among men and 17.0% among women, while the prevalence of waterpipe smoking was 20.2% among men and 4.8% among women. Daily use predominated for cigarettes (29.0%), while the opposite was seen in waterpipe use with 10.6% smoking occasionally. Interest in quitting was greater for cigarette than waterpipe smokers (74.0% v 48.6%), while quit rates were higher for waterpipe compared to cigarettes (28.2% v 16.5%). In‐depth ethnographic interviews with smokers show that smoking waterpipe is often viewed as an aesthetic enjoyable experience, while smoking cigarettes is viewed as a mundane anxiety‐relieving addiction. Clinical laboratory studies reveal that both waterpipe and cigarette smokers in Syria are exposed to smoke toxicants and exhibit dependence symptoms. Conclusions All these data have been used iteratively to adapt smoking cessation interventions from developed countries to suit the local Syrian environment. Research conducted in the SCTS to date has provided a fertile training ground for Syrian researchers, as well as for the building of regional collaborations. PMID:16723671

31 CFR 542.513 - Official activities of certain international organizations authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.../structure/pdfs/un-system-chart-color-sm.pdf for a listing of Specialized Agencies, Programmes, Funds, and... and interests in property are blocked pursuant to § 542.201(a), other than the Government of Syria...

Cardiovascular health among adults in Syria: a model from developing countries.

PubMed

Maziak, Wasim; Rastam, Samer; Mzayek, Fawaz; Ward, Kenneth D; Eissenberg, Thomas; Keil, Ulrich

2007-09-01

Despite the considerable mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), many developing countries lack reliable surveillance of these ailments and their risk factors to guide intervention. This study aims to provide the first population-based estimates of CVD morbidity and mortality among adults in Aleppo, Syria and the distribution of their risk factors. A cross-sectional survey of adults 18 to 65 years old residing in Aleppo, Syria was carried out in 2004, involving 2038 household representatives (45.2% men; mean age, 35.3 years; response rate, 86%). Main outcomes of interest were physician-diagnosed CVD (infarction, angina, failure, stroke) among survey participants, and past 5-year mortality due to CVD among their household members older than 20 years of age (N = 6252, 49.5% men). Measurement of blood pressure (BP), height and weight, and smoking history were obtained as well. Prevalence of CVD was 4.8% for heart disease and 1.0% for stroke. CVD was responsible for 45.0% of overall mortality reported in the past 5 years, whereby 49% of CVD deaths occurred before the age of 65 years. Mean age of death was 62.6 years (63.6 years for heart disease and 61.4 years for stroke). Annual crude death rate due to CVD was 314 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 215-414); of these, 179 were due to heart disease, and 135 due to stroke. More men than women died from heart disease, whereas the opposite was true for stroke. Hypertension was detected in 40.6% (47.7% men, 34.9%women), obesity in 38.2% (28.8% men, 46.4% women), and smoking (cigarettes or waterpipe) in 38.7% (63.6% men, 19.2% women) of participants. Of those surveyed, 39.3% had one CVD risk factor, 27.4% had two risk factors, and 8.3% had 3 risk factors. Main predictors of clustering of risk factors were older age, male gender, and low education. Syria is currently undergoing a stage in which morbidity and mortality from CVD are high but likely to increase based on the population's risk profile. CVD risk distribution in Syrian society highlights the non-generalizability of CVD models from developed societies, and calls for local studies to inform effective interventions and policies.

Documentation of some Cultural Heritage Emergencies in Syria In August 2010 by Spherical Photrammetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fangi, G.

2015-09-01

Syria is a country of many civilizations, Marie, Aramaic, Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, Ottoman civilizations. Unfortunally the recent war is the reason for many cultural heritage items to be destroyed, beyond the thausand civilian people killed. In 2010, just before the war, the A. made a touristic trip together with Crua (Recreational Club of the Ancona University). It was the occasion to make some fast documentation of some Syrian CH monuments. Mostly of the images were taken by the A. not to make a survey, but as a photographic report, as fast and complete as possible. For a regular survey project, the tripod, the spherical head should be used for the takings and the 3x3 Cipa rules should be followed, that occurred only in the three main projects, say the survey of the citadel walls in Aleppo, the survey of the Umayyads Mosque in Damascus, and the survey of the minaret of the Umayyads Mosque in Aleppo. All the other documentation surveys have been carried out with hand-held camera taking the dimension of the model from Google earth high resolution, when available. But, apart the regular surveys, due to the explosion of the unexpected war, the photographs taken in such a touristic way, have been used to try to get some usable plottings an restitutions and it worked successfully mostly of the times. These surveys could be useful in case of reconstruction and in case of lack of suitable alternative metric documentation. Because of the continuing threats, all six Syrian World Heritage properties were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, at the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Cambodia last June: Ancient City of Aleppo, Ancient City of Bosra, Ancient City of Damascus, Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, Krak des Chevaliers and Qal'at Salah El-Din ans finally the Site of Palmyra. See the following links: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kr.a3e0DL5sA and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltFFjjrUgtU. Apart the Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, the A. visited all the World Heritage sites and partly documented. Some of them have already been plotted, some are in the orientation stage, some have been documented only.

Providing surgery in a war-torn context: the Médecins Sans Frontières experience in Syria.

PubMed

Trelles, Miguel; Dominguez, Lynette; Tayler-Smith, Katie; Kisswani, Katrin; Zerboni, Alberto; Vandenborre, Thierry; Dallatomasina, Silvia; Rahmoun, Alaa; Ferir, Marie-Christine

2015-01-01

Since 2011, civil war has crippled Syria leaving much of the population without access to healthcare. Various field hospitals have been clandestinely set up to provide basic healthcare but few have been able to provide quality surgical care. In 2012, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) began providing surgical care in the Jabal al-Akrad region of north-western Syria. Based on the MSF experience, we describe, for the period 5th September 2012 to 1st January 2014: a) the volume and profile of surgical cases, b) the volume and type of anaesthetic and surgical procedures performed, and c) the intraoperative mortality rate. A descriptive study using routinely collected MSF programme data. Quality surgical care was assured through strict adherence to the following minimum standards: adequate infrastructure, adequate water and sanitation provisions, availability of all essential disposables, drugs and equipment, strict adherence to hygiene requirements and universal precautions, mandatory use of sterile equipment for surgical and anaesthesia procedures, capability for blood transfusion and adequate human resources. During the study period, MSF operated on 578 new patients, of whom 57 % were male and median age was 25 years (Interquartile range: 21-32 years). Violent trauma was the most common surgical indication (n-254, 44 %), followed by obstetric emergencies (n-191, 33 %) and accidental trauma (n-59, 10 %). In total, 712 anaesthetic procedures were performed. General anaesthesia without intubation was the most common type of anaesthesia (47 % of all anaesthetics) followed by spinal anaesthesia (25 %). A total of 831 surgical procedures were performed, just over half being minor/wound care procedures and nearly one fifth, caesarean sections. There were four intra-operative deaths, giving an intra-operative mortality rate of 0.7 %. Surgical needs in a conflict-afflicted setting like Syria are high and include both combat and non-combat indications, particularly obstetric emergencies. Provision of quality surgical care in a complex and volatile setting like this is possible providing appropriate measures, supported by highly experienced staff, can be implemented that allow a specific set of minimum standards of care to be adhered to. This is particularly important when patient outcomes - as a reflection of quality of care - are difficult to assess.

Cardiovascular health among adults in Syria: a model from developing countries

PubMed Central

Maziak, Wasim; Rastam, Samer; Mzayek, Fawaz; Ward, Kenneth D; Eissenberg, Thomas; Keil, Ulrich

2007-01-01

Background Despite the considerable mortality and morbidity associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) many developing countries lack reliable surveillance of these ailments and their risk factors to guide intervention. This study aims to provide the first population-based estimates of CVD morbidity and mortality among adults in Aleppo-Syria and the distribution of their risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey of adults 18-65 years old residing in Aleppo-Syria was carried out in 2004 involving 2038 household representatives (45.2% men, mean age 35.3 years, response rate 86%). Main outcomes of interest were physician-diagnosed CVD (infarction, angina, failure, stroke) among survey participants, and past 5 year mortality due to CVD among their household members > 20 years of age (n=6252, 49.5% men). Measurement of blood pressure (BP), height and weight, and smoking history were obtained as well. Findings Prevalence of CVD was 4.8% for heart disease and 1.0% for stroke. CVD was responsible for 45.0% of overall mortality reported in the past 5 years, whereby 49% of CVD deaths occurred before the age of 65 year. Mean age of death was 62.6 years (63.6 years for HD and 61.4 years for stroke). Annual crude death rate due to CVD was 314 per 100,000 (95%CI: 215-414), of these 179 were due to heart disease, and 135 due to stroke. More men died from heart disease than women, while the opposite was true for stroke. Hypertension was detected in 40.6% (47.7% men, 34.9%women), obesity in 38.2% (28.8% men, 46.4% women), and smoking (cigarettes or waterpipe) in 38.7% (63.6% men, 19.2% women) of participants. Of those surveyed, 39.3% had 1 CVD risk factor, 27.4% had 2 risk factors, and 8.3% had 3 risk factors. Main predictors of clustering of risk factors were older age, male gender, and low education. Conclusions Syria is currently undergoing a stage, where morbidity and mortality from CVD are high but likely to increase based on the population's risk profile. CVD risk distribution in the Syrian society highlights the non-generalizability of CVD models from developed societies, and calls for local studies to inform effective interventions and policies. PMID:17553700

78 FR 32304 - Designation of Entity Pursuant to Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, “Blocking Property...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-29

... Who Commit, Threaten To Commit, or Support Terrorism''; Identification of Entity Pursuant to Executive... Terrorism'' and Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011 ``Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and...

GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-4 - EARTH-SKY - OUTER SPACE

NASA Image and Video Library

1965-06-03

S65-34776 (3-7 June 1965) --- This photograph shows the Nile Delta, Egypt, the Suez Canal, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq as seen from the Gemini-Titan 4 (GT-4) spacecraft during its 12th revolution of Earth.

3 CFR - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and... destruction and missile programs, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national...

3 CFR - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... occupation of Lebanon, pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, and undermining U.S. and... missile programs, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign...

Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Reform and Modernization Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Rep. Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [R-FL-18

2011-06-03

Senate - 12/14/2011 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Passed HouseHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Lebanon: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-08-03

Syrian President Basher al Asad, and both sides have spoken positively about turning a new page in Syrian-Lebanese relations. Despite the public... Basher al-Assad visited Beirut along with His 45 “Lebanon, Syria Sign String of Accords,” Middle East

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-10

MRA -OCO) and International Disaster Assistance (IDA-OCO) accounts. A further $155 million from the Economic Support Fund-Overseas Contingency...table does not show, $1.1 billion within Migration and Refugee Assistance ( MRA -OCO) and International Disaster Assistance (IDA-OCO) accounts

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-17

support humanitarian response needs from the Migration and Refugee Assistance ( MRA -OCO) and International Disaster Assistance (IDA-OCO) accounts. A...and Refugee Assistance ( MRA -OCO) and International Disaster Assistance (IDA-OCO) accounts expected to be used for humanitarian assistance related to

7 CFR 305.17 - Authorized treatments; exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 5 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Authorized treatments; exceptions. 305.17 Section 305.17 Agriculture Regulations of the Department of Agriculture (Continued) ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH..., Libya, Malta, Macedonia, Morocco, Sardinia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and...

77 FR 58912 - Designation of One (1) Individual Pursuant to Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-24

...; alt. DOB 31 Aug 1955; alt. DOB 31 Aug 1958; POB Al Basuriyah, Lebanon; alt. POB Beirut, Lebanon; Passport 042833 (Lebanon); Secretary General of HIZBALLAH (individual) [SDT] [SYRIA]. Dated: September 13...

Characteristics of cigarette smoking and quitting among university students in Syria.

PubMed

Maziak, W; Hammal, F; Rastam, S; Asfar, T; Eissenberg, T; Bachir, M E; Fouad, M F; Ward, K D

2004-08-01

No study to date in Syria has documented the smoking and quitting characteristics in a representative sample of university students, and this study aims to fill this void. In 2003, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among students at Aleppo University using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Overall, 587 students participated in the study (278 males, 309 females; mean age, 21.8 +/- 2.1 years; response rate, 98.8%). Experiences and attitudes related to smoking and quitting were assessed for two popular forms of tobacco use in Syria-cigarettes and narghile (waterpipe). Current cigarette smoking was reported by 30.9% of male and 7.4% of female students and daily smoking by 24.8% of male and 5.2% of female students. Narghile smoking was seen among 25.5% of men and 4.9% of women, mostly on an occasional basis. More than half of current smokers (56%) believed they could quit cigarettes, 75.2% were interested in quitting, and 78% of those had made a quit attempt in the past year. Important correlates of cigarette smoking among students were being older, male, and smoking narghile, while being older and from a poorer family were associated with increased interest in quitting. Interestingly, peers' smoking was associated with current smoking among students, but inversely with their willingness to quit. Cigarette smoking is mainly a problem of male students, whose narghile smoking is likely to be dramatically increasing as well, sometimes practiced as a substitute for cigarettes. The findings that most smokers in this sample are interested in quitting smoking and have tried unsuccessfully to do so indicate that cessation support for youths in this country is urgently needed.

Gender, depression and physical impairment: an epidemiologic perspective from Aleppo, Syria

PubMed Central

Rastam, Samer; Ward, Kenneth D.; Maziak, Wasim

2010-01-01

Objective Examine the association of physical impairment with gender, depression, and socio-demographics in the community in Aleppo, Syria. Method We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study in Aleppo on adults aged 18–65 (N = 2,038). We used a computerized interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Physical impairment was measured via an adapted 12-item World Health Organization, Health State Description Individual Questionnaire which includes both physical and emotional items. We used physical impairment items score to classify individuals into low, middle, and high physical impairment category. Self-report of physician-diagnosed depression and chronic diseases active in the past year and their current treatment status were obtained. Results Sample mean age (SD) was 35.3 (12.1) years, 55% were female, and 4.5% had depression. Female gender, low socioeconomic status (SES), and depression were associated with high physical impairment. Women had more impairment (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 2.15–5.21) with little change after controlling for depression and chronic diseases, but significantly decreased after controlling for socio-demographics (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 0.84–2.73). The association with low (vs. high) SES was prominent (OR = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.32–4.67) after controlling for all variables. Depression’s association (OR = 4.85, 95% CI: 1.93–12.15) lost significance after controlling for chronic diseases (OR = 2.81, 95% CI: 0.96–8.25), but further adjustment for socio-demographics had little effect. Conclusion Women and individuals of low SES appear more vulnerable to physical impairment in the community in Aleppo. Depression’s association with physical impairment may be mediated through co-existing chronic diseases. Public health planning regarding physical impairment in Syria should encompass these as putative risk factors. PMID:20195569

Adolescent obesity in Syria: prevalence and associated factors.

PubMed

Nasreddine, L; Mehio-Sibai, A; Mrayati, M; Adra, N; Hwalla, N

2010-05-01

Abstract Background Data on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Eastern Mediterranean countries remain scarce, particularly for children and adolescents. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of obesity and examine associated factors and covariates amongst school adolescents in Syria. Methods A cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 776 adolescents (386 males and 390 females), aged 15-18 years, was conducted in six randomly chosen secondary schools in Damascus, the capital city of Syria. Anthropometric measurements and dietary assessment data were collected using standard methods and techniques. Overweight and obesity were defined according to World Health Organization 2007 child growth standards. Results The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were estimated at 18.9 and 8.6%, respectively. Carbohydrate and saturated fatty acid intakes were significantly higher amongst overweight and obese (250.66 and 32.82 g/day, respectively) as compared with normal weight adolescents (218.12 and 26.10 g/day, respectively). Regression analysis showed that the likelihood of obesity was significantly greater amongst adolescent boys than girls (OR = 2.30, P < 0.05) and amongst subjects reporting family history of obesity (OR = 2.98, P < 0.05). The odds of obesity increased consistently with increasing educational attainment of both parents and was higher (OR = 1.63) amongst adolescents reporting lower crowding index than their counterparts. Conclusion Our findings of a positive association between obesity and socio-economic status measured by parental education and crowding index call for intervention strategies for the promotion of healthy dietary practices not only amongst school adolescents but also parents, targeting families as the unit of intervention. Further studies are needed to examine nutritional habits and food choices amongst families of different socio-economic strata.

Breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, perceived behavior, and intention among female undergraduate university students in the Middle East: the case of Lebanon and Syria.

PubMed

Hamade, Haya; Naja, Farah; Keyrouz, Sarah; Hwalla, Nahla; Karam, Jeanette; Al-Rustom, Lea; Nasreddine, Lara

2014-06-01

The Middle East has one of the lowest rates of exclusive breastfeeding in the world, highlighting the need to promote breastfeeding in this region. Young adults represent a key population of interest, since decisions about infant-feeding appear to be made before children are even conceived. To examine breastfeeding knowledge, attitude, and perceived behavior among female undergraduate students in Lebanon and Syria and determine factors associated with intention to breastfeed in this population. This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010/11 in Damascus and Beirut. Four universities were selected in each city. A multicomponent questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of participants (n = 194 from Beirut and n = 199 from Damascus). The questionnaire included breastfeeding knowledge (measured by the Infant Feeding Knowledge Test Form), attitude (Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale), perceived behavior (Breastfeeding Behavior Questionnaire), and intention (Infant Feeding Intention Scale). Factors associated with intention to breastfeed were examined by multivariate linear regression analysis. The participants had an average breastfeeding knowledge level (mean score, 10.39 +/- 2.09) and neutral perceived behavior (mean score, 22.00 +/- 3.68), while having relatively positive attitudes (mean score, 58.12 +/- 6.49). Knowledge gaps and negative perceptions were identified, particularly linked to breastfeeding in public and among working mothers. Breastfeeding intention was found to be significantly associated with knowledge and attitude in Lebanon (beta = 0.103 and beta = 0.230, respectively), and with perceived behavior in Syria (beta = -0.135). By revealing specific knowledge gaps and misconceptions and identifying country-specific disparities in the predictors of the intention to breastfeed, the findings of this study may provide a basis for devising culture-specific interventions aimed at promoting breastfeeding.

Chest trauma experience over eleven-year period at al-mouassat university teaching hospital-Damascus: a retrospective review of 888 cases.

PubMed

Al-Koudmani, Ibrahim; Darwish, Bassam; Al-Kateb, Kamal; Taifour, Yahia

2012-04-19

Thoracic trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In this study, we present our 11-year experience in the management and clinical outcome of 888 chest trauma cases as a result of blunt and penetrating injuries in our university hospital in Damascus, Syria. We reviewed files of 888 consequent cases of chest trauma between January 2000 and January 2011. The mean age of our patients was 31 ± 17 years mostly males with blunt injuries. Patients were evaluated and compared according to age, gender, etiology of trauma, thoracic and extra-thoracic injuries, complications, and mortality. The leading cause of the trauma was violence (41%) followed by traffic accidents (33%). Pneumothorax (51%), Hemothorax (38%), rib fractures (34%), and lung contusion (15%) were the most common types of injury. Associated injuries were documented in 36% of patients (extremities 19%, abdomen 13%, head 8%). A minority of the patients required thoracotomy (5.7%), and tube thoracostomy (56%) was sufficient to manage the majority of cases. Mean hospital LOS was 4.5 ± 4.6 days. The overall mortoality rate was 1.8%, and morbidity (n = 78, 8.7%). New traffic laws (including seat belt enforcement) reduced incidence and severity of chest trauma in Syria. Violence was the most common cause of chest trauma rather than road traffic accidents in this series, this necessitates epidemiologic or multi-institutional studies to know to which degree violence contributes to chest trauma in Syria. The number of fractured ribs can be used as simple indicator of the severity of trauma. And we believe that significant neurotrauma, traffic accidents, hemodynamic status and GCS upon arrival, ICU admission, ventilator use, and complication of therapy are predictors of dismal prognosis.

Mapping the health and environmental situation in informal zones in Aleppo, Syria: report from the Aleppo household survey.

PubMed

Maziak, W; Ward, K D; Mzayek, F; Rastam, S; Bachir, M E; Fouad, M F; Hammal, F; Asfar, T; Mock, J; Nuwayhid, I; Frumkin, H; Grimsley, F; Chibli, M

2005-08-01

Despite large communities living in informal zones around major cities in Syria, there is currently no information on the health and environmental situations in these areas. From May to August 2004, the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies (SCTS) conducted the first household survey aiming to provide a baseline map of main health problems and exposures affecting these communities in Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria (2,500,000 inhabitants). Information on 1,021 participants randomly selected using stratified cluster sampling were available (46% males, mean age 34+/-11.7, age range 18-65 years, response rate 86%), including self-reported health/disability, exposures, and saliva cotinine measurement. Some positive findings include better than expected access to electricity, piped water, city sewage, and the use of propane for cooking. Particular areas of concern include high fertility rates, overcrowded housing conditions, and gender inequality in education and work. Household features likely to reflect negatively on residents' health include the use of diesel chimneys for heating and lack of smoking restrictions. Overall, residents of informal zones suffer from substantial physical and mental health problems and are exposed to high levels of indoor air pollution. All seem to affect women and the elderly disproportionately, while men are more affected by smoking, occupational respiratory exposures, and injuries. Both infectious and non-infectious respiratory outcomes were very common among study participants. Chronic and degenerative disease, including CVD and joint problems, were a source of substantial morbidity among the studied communities. This study highlights major health and environmental specificities of marginalized populations living in Aleppo, where women seem to bear a disproportionate burden of poor health and disability. Smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke seem among the major exposures facing these populations.

The impact of living-unrelated transplant on establishing deceased-donor liver program in Syria.

PubMed

Saeed, Bassam

2014-10-01

Liver transplant is the criterion standard for patients with end-stage liver disease. Yet there is no liver transplant in Syria. Traveling abroad for a liver transplant is a luxury few Syrians can afford. There is currently an on-going debate whether to start a liver transplant program using living or deceased donors. In 2003, a new law was enacted, authorizing the use of organs from volunteer strangers and deceased donors. Despite the positive aspects of this law (allowing unrelated donors to increase the number of transplants in the country); the negative aspects also were obvious. The poor used the law to sell their organs to the rich, and this model is in violation of the Istanbul Declaration. To better document transplant communities' perceptions on organ donation, an e-mail survey was sent to a nationally representative sample of physicians (n = 115) that showed that 58% of respondents did not support the start of liver transplant from live donors, as they fear a considerable risk for the donor and the recipient. Seventy-one percent of respondents believe that unrelated kidney donation has contributed to tarnishing the reputation of transplant, and 56% believe that a deceased-donor program can run in parallel with unrelated organ donations. The interest in deceased-donor program has been affected negatively by the systematic approach of using poor persons as the source of the organ. This lack of interest has affected starting a liver program that relies on deceased donors; especially the need for kidneys is more than livers. Health authorities in Syria were inclined to initiate a liver transplant program from live donors, despite the risks of serious morbidities and mortality. In conclusion then, paid kidney donation in actual effect is actually a hindrance to establishing a deceased-donor liver program.

Isotope hydrology of deep groundwater in Syria: renewable and non-renewable groundwater and paleoclimate impact

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Al-Charideh, A.; Kattaa, B.

2016-02-01

The Regional Deep Cretaceous Aquifer (RDCA) is the principal groundwater resource in Syria. Isotope and hydrochemical data have been used to evaluate the geographic zones in terms of renewable and non-renewable groundwater and the inter-relation between current and past recharge. The chemical and isotopic character of groundwater together with radiometric 14C data reflect the existence of three different groundwater groups: (1) renewable groundwater, in RDCA outcropping areas, in western Syria along the Coastal and Anti-Lebanon mountains. The mean δ18O value (-7.2 ‰) is similar to modern precipitation with higher 14C values (up to 60-80 pmc), implying younger groundwater (recent recharge); (2) semi-renewable groundwater, which is located in the unconfined section of the RDCA and parallel to the first zone. The mean δ18O value (-7.0 ‰) is also similar to modern precipitation with a 14C range of 15-45 pmc; (3) non-renewable groundwater found in most of the Syrian interior, where the RDCA becomes confined. A considerable depletion in δ18O (-8.0 ‰) relative to the modern rainfall and low values of 14C (<15 pmc) suggest that the large masses of deep groundwater are non-renewable and related to an older recharge period. The wide scatter of all data points around the two meteoric lines in the δ18O-δ2H diagram indicates considerable variation in recharge conditions. There is limited renewable groundwater in the mountain area, and most of the stored deep groundwater in the RDCA is non-renewable, with corrected 14C ages varying between 10 and 35 Kyr BP.

Multiplatform observations of dust vertical distribution during transport over northwest Iran in the summertime

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdi Vishkaee, Farhad; Flamant, Cyrille; Cuesta, Juan; Flamant, Pierre; Khalesifard, Hamid R.

2011-03-01

Dynamical processes leading to dust emission over Iran and surrounding countries in the summer as well as the subsequent transport of dust toward northwest Iran are analyzed on the basis of two case studies using a suite of ground-based and spaceborne remote sensing platforms together with modeling tools. Ground-based lidar measurements acquired in Zanjan provide new insight into the vertical distribution of dust linked to transport over northwest Iran and highlight the importance of low-level transport of dust from both Iraq and Iran for air quality issues in Tehran. During the 3-5 August 2007 case, dust emission regions are located in Syria/Iraq and close to Qom, Iran, in a large intermittent salt lake in the western part of the Dasht-e Kavir desert. The visibility in Tehran associated with this event decreases significantly (reaching 7 km) on 5 August 2007 only. During the 11-13 September 2008 case, the dust transported to northwest Iran originates from Syria/Iraq only. The visibility in Tehran during this case is low throughout the period, sometimes less than 5 km due to the transport of dust at low levels. In both cases, emissions in Syria and Iraq occur in response to strong Shamal winds. However, transport of dust toward Iran takes place at different levels: above 700 hPa in August and below 700 hPa in September. This is found to be related to the presence of strong northeasterly winds over the Zagros Mountains as well as in its lee (south of the range) in the August case only. In August also, dust emissions in the Qom region results from strong winds blowing over the Dasht-e Kavir desert.

Predictors of adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment in a cessation trial among smokers in Aleppo, Syria.

PubMed

Ben Taleb, Ziyad; Ward, Kenneth D; Asfar, Taghrid; Bahelah, Raed; Maziak, Wasim

2015-08-01

The development of evidence-based smoking cessation programs is in its infancy in developing countries, which continue to bear the main brunt of the tobacco epidemic. Adherence to treatment recommendations is an important determinant of the success of smoking cessation programs, but little is known about factors influencing adherence to either pharmacological or behavioral treatment in developing countries settings. Our study represents the first attempt to examine the predictors of adherence to cessation treatment in a low-income developing country. Predictors of adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment were identified by analyzing data from a multi-site, two-group, parallel-arm, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled smoking cessation trial in primary care clinics in Aleppo, Syria. Participants received 3 in-person behavioral counseling sessions plus 5 brief follow-up phone counseling sessions, and were randomized to either 6 weeks of nicotine or placebo patch. Of the 269 participants, 68% adhered to pharmacological treatment, while 70% adhered to behavioral counseling. In logistic regression modeling, lower adherence to pharmacological and behavioral treatment was associated with higher daily smoking at baseline, greater withdrawal symptoms, and perception of receiving placebo instead of active nicotine patch. Women showed lower adherence than men to behavioral treatment, while being assigned to placebo condition and baseline waterpipe use were associated with lower adherence to pharmacological treatment. Adherence to cessation treatment for cigarette smokers in low-income countries such as Syria may benefit from integrated cessation components that provide intensive treatment for subjects with higher nicotine dependence, and address concurrent waterpipe use at all stages. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seismic hazard assessment of Syria using seismicity, DEM, slope, active tectonic and GIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahmad, Raed; Adris, Ahmad; Singh, Ramesh

2016-07-01

In the present work, we discuss the use of an integrated remote sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques for evaluation of seismic hazard areas in Syria. The present study is the first time effort to create seismic hazard map with the help of GIS. In the proposed approach, we have used Aster satellite data, digital elevation data (30 m resolution), earthquake data, and active tectonic maps. Many important factors for evaluation of seismic hazard were identified and corresponding thematic data layers (past earthquake epicenters, active faults, digital elevation model, and slope) were generated. A numerical rating scheme has been developed for spatial data analysis using GIS to identify ranking of parameters to be included in the evaluation of seismic hazard. The resulting earthquake potential map delineates the area into different relative susceptibility classes: high, moderate, low and very low. The potential earthquake map was validated by correlating the obtained different classes with the local probability that produced using conventional analysis of observed earthquakes. Using earthquake data of Syria and the peak ground acceleration (PGA) data is introduced to the model to develop final seismic hazard map based on Gutenberg-Richter (a and b values) parameters and using the concepts of local probability and recurrence time. The application of the proposed technique in Syrian region indicates that this method provides good estimate of seismic hazard map compared to those developed from traditional techniques (Deterministic (DSHA) and probabilistic seismic hazard (PSHA). For the first time we have used numerous parameters using remote sensing and GIS in preparation of seismic hazard map which is found to be very realistic.

Bilharziasis survey in south-western Asia; covering Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Sa'udi Arabia, and Syria: 1950-51.

PubMed

ABDEL-AZIM, M; GISMANN, A

1956-01-01

This paper describes a limited survey of bilharziasis and its vectors carried out during 1950 and 1951 in some countries of south-western Asia. Lack of time and of full facilities prevented the survey from being as comprehensive and systematic as would have been wished, but enough data were obtained to provide a general estimate of the situation.Information already available from the literature was supplemented by collecting unpublished records, questioning the inhabitants, examining random samples of stools and urine, and investigating rivers, wells, and springs. Bilharziasis haematobia is already heavily endemic in the irrigated areas of Iraq and is also present, in comparatively smaller foci, in northern Syria, Israel, and Sa'udi Arabia. In the opinion of the senior author (M. A. A.), the envisaged extension of irrigation is likely to create a serious health problem in Mesopotamia and to introduce the disease into the Jordan region unless the spread of the molluscan vector, Bulinus sp., is checked. Intensification of infection and further spread are possible in Israel and in the Syrian Jezire, while the remainder of Syria and Lebanon are not considered to be endangered. Bilharziasis mansoni is widespread in the fertile areas of Sa'udi Arabia and also occurs in one minor focus in Israel. The industrialization of Sa'udi Arabia which is planned to exploit its oil resources, with its inevitable concentration of population, equally presents a danger in the intensification of bilharziasis. It is considered that, unless prompt measures are undertaken to break the link between the agricultural and industrial expansion and the spread of the disease, the debilitation of large groups of the population and the economic loss which may well result over most of the inhabited parts of the area discussed will be significant.

Sexuality and Intellectual Disability.

PubMed

Wenger, Jodi; Downes, Alison; Blum, Nathan; Augustyn, Marilyn

2015-10-01

Amad is a wonderful 16-year-old young man from Syria who has recently relocated to the United States from his war-torn native country. In his last few years in Syria, he was primarily at home with his mother, and they sought refuge with a maternal aunt in the United States seeking asylum and treatment of Amad's disability. At 8 years of age, he had intelligence testing in the United Arab Emirates, which showed a verbal intelligence score on the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC) of 68 and a performance of 64. His working memory was 67 and his processing speed was 65. On arrival in the United States, his achievement was roughly at a third-grade level in Arabic. In the year and a half that he has been in the United States, he quickly improved his English skills, which he learned as a toddler. His father remains in Syria unable to safely immigrate and his mother is raising him alone in the United States with the help of her sister. They come to you for an urgent care visit because Amad recently was accused of sexual harassment by two girls at his high school. He is in a substantially separate program but is included for lunch and technology. While in the computer laboratory, he repeatedly approached the girls and asks them to "date" him, and on 1 occasion sat behind 1 girl and repeatedly reached out to stroke her long blonde hair. His mother is distraught because she recently found out that Amad also has a Facebook page and had been attempting to contact the same two girls on social media. The girls' parents recently threatened to file criminal harassment charges and Amad's mother comes to you asking for help with making Amad stop this activity. What would you do next?

Sexuality and Intellectual Disability.

PubMed

Wenger, Jodi; Downes, Alison; Blum, Nathan; Augustyn, Marilyn

Amad is a wonderful 16-year-old young man from Syria who has recently relocated to the United States from his war-torn native country. In his last few years in Syria, he was primarily at home with his mother, and they sought refuge with a maternal aunt in the United States seeking asylum and treatment of Amad's disability.At 8 years of age, he had intelligence testing in the United Arab Emirates, which showed a verbal intelligence score on the Wechsler intelligence scale for children (WISC) of 68 and a performance of 64. His working memory was 67 and his processing speed was 65. On arrival in the United States, his achievement was roughly at a third-grade level in Arabic. In the year and a half that he has been in the United States, he quickly improved his English skills, which he learned as a toddler. His father remains in Syria unable to safely immigrate and his mother is raising him alone in the United States with the help of her sister.They come to you for an urgent care visit because Amad recently was accused of sexual harassment by two girls at his high school. He is in a substantially separate program but is included for lunch and technology. While in the computer laboratory, he repeatedly approached the girls and asks them to "date" him, and on 1 occasion sat behind 1 girl and repeatedly reached out to stroke her long blonde hair.His mother is distraught because she recently found out that Amad also has a Facebook page and had been attempting to contact the same two girls on social media. The girls' parents recently threatened to file criminal harassment charges and Amad's mother comes to you asking for help with making Amad stop this activity. What would you do next?

Specialty preference and intentions to study abroad of Syrian medical students during the crisis.

PubMed

Sawaf, Bisher; Abbas, Fatima; Idris, Amr; Al Saadi, Tareq; Ibrahim, Nazir

2018-03-16

Little research addresses how medical students develop their choice of specialty training in crisis and resource-poor settings. The newly graduated medical students determine the future of the healthcare system. This study aims to elucidate the factors influencing Syrian medical students' specialty selection and students' intentions to study abroad. A cross-sectional study carried out at the universities of Damascus, Al-Kalamoon and the Syrian Private University in Syria using self-administered questionnaire to investigate medical students' specialty preferences and plans for career future. The questionnaire included questions about students' demographic and educational characteristics, intention to train abroad, the chosen country for training. Randomly selected 450 students completed the questionnaire. The two most common specialties selected were general surgery (27.6%) and internal medicine (23.5%). The most influencing factors on their decision were 'flexibility of specialty' (74.8%) and 'Better work opportunities after specializing' (69.1%). Most participants stated that they are interested in specializing abroad outside Syria (78.7%). The two most common countries of choice were Germany (35.5%) and the United States of America (24.6%). Acquiring a visa to the foreign country was the most common obstacle of specializing abroad (n = 186, 53.6%). Male gender, having a previous clinical training abroad, and having friends or relatives living abroad were significant factors in predicting students' interest in specializing abroad. Internal medicine and surgery are the most reported specialties of choice in this study and most of the participants reported intentions to study abroad. Their specialty preferences are influenced by both familiar epidemiological and war-driven factors. These data can be useful to design further cohort study to understand the war-related affecting factors on students' plans for their career in the effort of improving the balance of healthcare system in Syria.

A Whole Genome DArTseq and SNP Analysis for Genetic Diversity Assessment in Durum Wheat from Central Fertile Crescent

PubMed Central

Shahid, Muhammad Qasim; Çiftçi, Vahdettin; E. Sáenz de Miera, Luis; Aasim, Muhammad; Nadeem, Muhammad Azhar; Aktaş, Husnu; Özkan, Hakan; Hatipoğlu, Rüştü

2017-01-01

Until now, little attention has been paid to the geographic distribution and evaluation of genetic diversity of durum wheat from the Central Fertile Crescent (modern-day Turkey and Syria). Turkey and Syria are considered as primary centers of wheat diversity, and thousands of locally adapted wheat landraces are still present in the farmers’ small fields. We planned this study to evaluate the genetic diversity of durum wheat landraces from the Central Fertile Crescent by genotyping based on DArTseq and SNP analysis. A total of 39,568 DArTseq and 20,661 SNP markers were used to characterize the genetic characteristic of 91 durum wheat land races. Clustering based on Neighbor joining analysis, principal coordinate as well as Bayesian model implemented in structure, clearly showed that the grouping pattern is not associated with the geographical distribution of the durum wheat due to the mixing of the Turkish and Syrian landraces. Significant correlation between DArTseq and SNP markers was observed in the Mantel test. However, we detected a non-significant relationship between geographical coordinates and DArTseq (r = -0.085) and SNP (r = -0.039) loci. These results showed that unconscious farmer selection and lack of the commercial varieties might have resulted in the exchange of genetic material and this was apparent in the genetic structure of durum wheat in Turkey and Syria. The genomic characterization presented here is an essential step towards a future exploitation of the available durum wheat genetic resources in genomic and breeding programs. The results of this study have also depicted a clear insight about the genetic diversity of wheat accessions from the Central Fertile Crescent. PMID:28099442

Pentagon spokesman: Up to 250 more U.S. forces to deploy to Syria > U.S.

Science.gov Websites

the CMSAF The Book Speeches Archive Former AF Top 3 Viewpoints and Speeches Air Force Warrior Games Games Portraits in Courage Portraits In Courage Vol. I Portraits In Courage Vol. II Portraits In Courage

76 FR 27377 - Additional Identifying Information Associated With Persons Whose Property and Interests in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-11

... REVOLUTIONARY GUARD CORPS (IRGC)-QODS FORCE (a.k.a. PASDARAN-E ENGHELAB-E ISLAMI (PASDARAN); a.k.a. SEPAH-E QODS (JERUSALEM FORCE)) [SDGT] [SYRIA] [IRGC.] 2. SYRIAN GENERAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE (a.k.a. IDERAT AL-AMN AL...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 742 - Nonproliferation of Chemical and Biological Weapons

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Iran of dimethyl methylphosphonate, phosphorus oxychloride, and thiodiglycol is February 22, 1989. (5... hydrogen fluoride, sodium fluoride, sodium bifluoride, phosphorus pentasulfide, sodium cyanide... contract sanctity date for exports to all destinations (except Iran or Syria) of phosphorus trichloride...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 742 - Nonproliferation of Chemical and Biological Weapons

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Iran of dimethyl methylphosphonate, phosphorus oxychloride, and thiodiglycol is February 22, 1989. (5... hydrogen fluoride, sodium fluoride, sodium bifluoride, phosphorus pentasulfide, sodium cyanide... contract sanctity date for exports to all destinations (except Iran or Syria) of phosphorus trichloride...

76 FR 23872 - Editorial Corrections to the Export Administration Regulations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-29

... No. 100709293-1073-01] RIN 0694-AE96 Editorial Corrections to the Export Administration Regulations... Administration Regulations (EAR). In particular, this rule corrects the country entry for Syria on the Commerce... the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), including several Export Control Classification Number...

15 CFR 742.9 - Anti-terrorism: Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... will generally be denied: (i) Items that are controlled for chemical and biological weapons... charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992. (x) Ammonium nitrate, including certain fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, controlled under ECCN 1C997. (xi) Technology for the production of Chemical...

15 CFR 742.9 - Anti-terrorism: Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... will generally be denied: (i) Items that are controlled for chemical and biological weapons... charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992. (x) Ammonium nitrate, including certain fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, controlled under ECCN 1C997. (xi) Technology for the production of Chemical...

15 CFR 742.9 - Anti-terrorism: Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... will generally be denied: (i) Items that are controlled for chemical and biological weapons... charges and devices controlled under ECCN 1C992. (x) Ammonium nitrate, including certain fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, controlled under ECCN 1C997. (xi) Technology for the production of Chemical...

An original resolution condemning violence by the Government of Syria against the Syrian people.

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA

2012-02-16

Senate - 02/17/2012 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Discovery and Characterization of Novel Signatures from the Ricinus communis L. (Castor Bean) Genome

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-01

mortar and pestle under liquid nitrogen, using Qiagen DNeasy Plant Maxi kits according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and quantified...Former Soviet Union India Iran Indonesia Israel Japan Jordan Malaya Pakistan Philippines Saudi Arabia Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan

Selected Economic Translations on Eastern Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

1960-03-25

not think it necessary to discuss in detail the premr ises and system of operation of the Council of Mutual Economia Aid, which in 1959 celebrates its...Switzerland, Turkey, South Africa, Jordan, Egypt, • Iceland, China, Mexico , Greece,, Sweden,, Israel, Austria,., . Lebanon*. Syria*, Pakistans and.the

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Jordan and Syria: A Comparison

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-01

Studies in Contemporary History and Security ,ed Kurt Spillman and Andreas Wenger (Bern, Peter Lang Publishing, 1999), 68. 94 Maye Kassem ...Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 972 (2005): 1. Joffe, George. Jordan in transition. New York: Hurst & Co, 2002. Kassem , Maye. Egyptain

78 FR 31631 - Designation of One (1) Individual Pursuant to Executive Orders 13572 of April 29, 2011, “Blocking...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-24

... to Human Rights Abuses in Syria'' and 13573 of May 18, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Senior Officials... 13572 of April 29, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons with Respect to Human Rights Abuses in...

Retrospective analysis of patients with burn injury treated in a burn center in Turkey during the Syrian civil war

PubMed Central

Yuce, Yucel; Acar, Hakan A.; Erkal, Kutlu H.; Arditi, Nur B.

2017-01-01

Objectives: To report the management of burn injuries that occured in the Syria civil war, which were referred to our burn center. Methods: Forty-three patients with burns, injured in the civil war in Syria and whom were referred to Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Educating and Training Hospital Burn Centre of İstanbul, Turkey between 2011-2015 were analyzed in a retrospective study. Results: Most of our patients were in major burn classification (93%; 40/43) and most of them had burns >15% total on body surface area. Most of them were admitted to our center late after first management at centers with improper conditions and in cultures of these patients unusual and resistant strains specific to the battlefield were produced. Conclusion: Immediate transfer of the patients from the scene of incidence to burn centers ensures early treatment, this factor may be effective on the outcome of these patients. PMID:28042637

Hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control in Arab countries: A systematic review

PubMed Central

Tailakh, Ayman; Evangelista, Lorraine S.; Mentes, Janet C.; Pike, Nancy A.; Phillips, Linda R.; Morisky, Donald E.

2015-01-01

One billion of the world’s population has hypertension, resulting in four million deaths per year. Data on the prevalence of hypertension in the Arab world are very limited. This review summarizes existing knowledge regarding prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in Arab countries. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched for publications on HTN among Arab people from 1980 to January 2011. Only 13 studies were identified in the literature from 10 Arab countries. The overall estimated prevalence of hypertension was 29.5% (n = 45 379), which indicates a higher prevalence of hypertension among Arabs compared to people from the USA (28%) and sub-Saharan African (27.6%). Awareness of hypertension was reported for 46% of the studies and varied from 18% (Jordan) to 79.8% (Syria). The control rate varied from 56% (Tunisia) to 92% (Egypt and Syria). The prevalence of hypertension was found to increase with age, occurring more frequently in Arab women. PMID:24118852

Molecular characterization of faba bean necrotic yellows viruses in Tunisia.

PubMed

Kraberger, Simona; Kumari, Safaa G; Najar, Asma; Stainton, Daisy; Martin, Darren P; Varsani, Arvind

2018-03-01

Faba bean necrotic yellows virus (FBNYV) (genus Nanovirus; family Nanoviridae) has a genome comprising eight individually encapsidated circular single-stranded DNA components. It has frequently been found infecting faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in association with satellite molecules (alphasatellites). Genome sequences of FBNYV from Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, Spain and Syria have been determined previously and we now report the first five genome sequences of FBNYV and associated alphasatellites from faba bean sampled in Tunisia. In addition, we have determined the genome sequences of two additional FBNYV isolates from chickpea plants sampled in Syria and Iran. All individual FBNYV genome component sequences that were determined here share > 84% nucleotide sequence identity with FBNYV sequences available in public databases, with the DNA-M component displaying the highest degree of diversity. As with other studied nanoviruses, recombination and genome component reassortment occurs frequently both between FBNYV genomes and between genomes of nanoviruses belonging to other species.

Portable X-ray powder diffractometer for the analysis of art and archaeological materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nakai, Izumi; Abe, Yoshinari

2012-02-01

Phase identification based on nondestructive analytical techniques using portable equipment is ideal for the analysis of art and archaeological objects. Portable(p)-XRF and p-Raman are very widely used for this purpose, yet p-XRD is relatively rare despite its importance for the analysis of crystalline materials. This paper overviews 6 types of p-XRD systems developed for analysis of art and archaeological materials. The characteristics of each system are compared. One of the p-XRD systems developed by the authors was brought to many museums as well as many archeological sites in Egypt and Syria to characterize the cultural heritage artifacts, e.g., amulet made of Egyptian blue, blue painted pottery, and Islamic pottery from Egypt, jade from China, variscite from Syria, a Japanese classic painting drawn by Korin Ogata, and oil paintings drawn by Taro Okamoto. Practical application data are shown to demonstrate the potential ability of the method for analysis of various art and archaeological materials.

Self organizing map neural networks approach for lithologic interpretation of nuclear and electrical well logs in basaltic environment, Southern Syria.

PubMed

Asfahani, J; Ahmad, Z; Ghani, B Abdul

2018-07-01

An approach based on self organizing map (SOM) artificial neural networks is proposed herewith oriented towards interpreting nuclear and electrical well logging data. The well logging measurements of Kodana well in Southern Syria have been interpreted by applying the proposed approach. Lithological cross-section model of the basaltic environment has been derived and four different kinds of basalt have been consequently distinguished. The four basalts are hard massive basalt, hard basalt, pyroclastic basalt and the alteration basalt products- clay. The results obtained by SOM artificial neural networks are in a good agreement with the previous published results obtained by other different techniques. The SOM approach is practiced successfully in the case study of the Kodana well logging data, and can be therefore recommended as a suitable and effective approach for handling huge well logging data with higher number of variables required for lithological discrimination purposes. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Retrospective analysis of patients with burn injury treated in a burn center in Turkey during the Syrian civil war.

PubMed

Yuce, Yucel; Acar, Hakan A; Erkal, Kutlu H; Arditi, Nur B

2017-01-01

To report the management of burn injuries that occured in the Syria civil war, which were referred to our burn center. Methods: Forty-three patients with burns, injured in the civil war in Syria and whom were referred to Dr. Lütfi Kırdar Kartal Educating and Training Hospital Burn Centre of İstanbul, Turkey between 2011-2015 were analyzed in a retrospective study. Results: Most of our patients were in major burn classification (93%; 40/43) and most of them had burns greater than 15% total on body surface area. Most of them were admitted to our center late after first management at centers with improper conditions and in cultures of these patients unusual and resistant strains specific to the battlefield were produced. Conclusion: Immediate transfer of the patients from the scene of incidence to burn centers ensures early treatment, this factor may be effective on the outcome of these patients.

Lebanon: Blaming the Victims.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esseff, John A.

1987-01-01

Traces the history of Lebanon and its involvement with Syria, Israel, and the Palestinians. Provides a commentary on living conditions and political factions within Lebanon. States that external forces have intruded upon the Lebanese people, compounding their own problems, and confusing private issues with the political and religious struggles of…

NEWS ARTICLES

Science.gov Websites

CENTCOM: Search CENTCOM CENTCOM Home ABOUT US COMMAND NARRATIVE LEADERSHIP COMPONENT COMMANDS HISTORY , security forces May 14, 2018 Syrian Democratic Forces fire in self-defense May 11, 2018 Military Strikes against Daesh terrorists in Iraq and Syria May 04, 2018 Syrian Democratic Forces announce drive to reclaim

15 CFR 742.9 - Anti-terrorism: Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... will generally be denied: (i) Items that are controlled for chemical and biological weapons... fertilizers containing ammonium nitrate, controlled under ECCN 1C997. (xi) Technology for the production of Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) Schedule 2 and 3 chemicals controlled under ECCN 1E355. (xii) Concealed...

CTC Sentinel. Volume 9, Issue 7

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

dieser Ummah” (“The Tourism of this Ummah”) next to Austrian Islamic State recruit Mohamed Mahmoud (kunya: Abu Usamah al-Gharib) shooting two alleged...July 2016, the Islamic State officially claimed 39 gover - norates,c spanning 14 countries. The 17 governorates outside of Syria and Iraq operate in

Religious Education in Syria: Unity and Difference

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cardinal, Monique C.

2009-01-01

This article discusses the almost identical syllabuses of the Christian and Muslim religious education programmes of the Syrian Arab Republic. Content analysis of the students' textbooks and teachers' guides (in Arabic) reveals common themes of citizenship education and national unity. Classroom observations in Damascus also highlight how…

Arctic Capability Inventory Tool User Guide: Version 2 (International References)

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-01

drawn from the primary source documents. In cases where the analyst included additional information, the text is included in [square brackets]. The...following: FERPistheallhazardsplanforacoordinatedfederalresponsetoemergencies. Inmost cases ,departmentsmanageemergencieswithevent...signed—(20)Andorra,Azerbaijan, Ecuador ,Eritrea,Israel,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Peru,SanMarino,Syria,Tajikistan,TimorLeste,Turkey

Infectious Disease Risk and Vaccination in Northern Syria after 5 Years of Civil War: The MSF Experience.

PubMed

de Lima Pereira, Alan; Southgate, Rosamund; Ahmed, Hikmet; O'Connor, Penelope; Cramond, Vanessa; Lenglet, Annick

2018-02-02

In 2015, following an influx of population into Kobanê in northern Syria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in collaboration with the Kobanê Health Administration (KHA) initiated primary healthcare activities. A vaccination coverage survey and vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) risk analysis were undertaken to clarify the VPD risk and vaccination needs. This was followed by a measles Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA). We describe the methods and results used for this prioritisation activity around vaccination in Kobanê in 2015. We implemented a pre-SIA survey in 135 randomly-selected households in Kobanê using a vaccination history questionnaire for all children <5 years. We conducted a VPD Risk Analysis using MSF 'Preventive Vaccination in Humanitarian Emergencies' guidance to prioritize antigens with the highest public health threat for mass vaccination activities. A Measles SIA was then implemented and followed by vaccine coverage survey in 282 randomly-selected households targeting children <5 years. The pre-SIA survey showed that 168/212 children (79.3%; 95%CI=72.7-84.6%) had received one vaccine or more in their lifetime. Forty-three children (20.3%; 95%CI: 15.1-26.6%) had received all vaccines due by their age; only one was <12 months old and this child had received all vaccinations outside of Syria. The VPD Risk Analysis prioritised measles, Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib) and Pneumococcus vaccinations. In the measles SIA, 3410 children aged 6-59 months were vaccinated. The use of multiple small vaccination sites to reduce risks associated with crowds in this active conflict setting was noted as a lesson learnt. The post-SIA survey estimated 82% (95%CI: 76.9-85.9%; n=229/280) measles vaccination coverage in children 6-59 months. As a result of the conflict in Syria, the progressive collapse of the health care system in Kobanê has resulted in low vaccine coverage rates, particularly in younger age groups. The repeated displacements of the population, attacks on health institutions and exodus of healthcare workers, challenge the resumption of routine immunization in this conflict setting and limit the use of SIAs to ensure sustainable immunity to VPDs. We have shown that the risk for several VPDs in Kobanê remains high. We call on all health actors and the international community to work towards re-establishment of routine immunisation activities as a priority to ensure that children who have had no access to vaccination in the last five years are adequately protected for VPDs as soon as possible.

Current Reform in Higher Education in Bahrain.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saif, Philip S.

Higher education in Bahrain and background information on this Arab Gulf country are considered. Bahrain, similar to other Gulf States, depended heavily on expatriates as teachers, most of whom were from Egypt, Syria, and Lebanon. Bahraini students have pursued college studies in other countries. Higher education in the country started as separate…

31 CFR 542.501 - General and specific licensing procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... Licensing actions taken pursuant to part 501 of this chapter with respect to the prohibitions contained in this part are considered actions taken pursuant to this part. General licenses and statements of licensing policy relating to this part also may be available through the Syria sanctions page on OFAC's Web...

Irans Foreign and Defense Policies

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-21

regional politicians and leaders. Of most concern to U.S. policymakers is that Iran provides direct material support to armed groups , some of which use...such as those of Syria and Iraq, has aggravated challenges from Sunni insurgent groups by fueling Sunni popular resentment. Iran’s national...Regimes and Groups ................................................ 4 Other Political Action

Narratives, Policy, and Change: The Deconstruction and Reconstruction of U.S. Narratives in Syria

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-12

or issue is potentially biased by our cultural values, attitudes, and beliefs. This understanding contributes to how we describe the problem or......special operations, however, every effort will be made to prevent the author’s bias from influencing the research in this study. Delimitations This

The Position as Regards Functional Literacy Pilot Projects. Summary.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Paris (France).

A comparative analysis was made of Experimental World Literacy Program projects in 17 nations (Algeria, Brazil, Chile, Equador, Ethiopia, Guinea, India, Iran, Mali, Jamaica, Madagascar, Nigeria, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Venezuela) after 18 months of operation. Included were functional literacy projects in 10 nations, literacy programs…

Leadership Styles at Syrian Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khalifa, Bayan; Ayoubi, Rami M.

2015-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore the two major types of leadership, i.e transactional and transformational, and organizational learning at public and private universities in Syria. It further aims at exploring the role of transactional and transformational leadership in enhancing organizational learning at Syrian universities.…

78 FR 36223 - Extension and Redesignation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-17

... toll-free number). Note: The phone number provided here is solely for questions regarding this TPS... Authorization Document FSA--Free Syrian Army Government--U.S. Government IDP--Internally Displaced Persons IJ.... In addition to the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and Syrian National Army, reports published in 2012...

Mycobiota of Lupinus albus seed from a public germplasm collection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Seedborne mycobiota of Lupinus albus was assessed using blotter paper and agar media with Rose Bengal or semi-selective for Pythium or Fusarium. Samples of 200 seeds were taken from each of 16 inventories, comprising 14 accessions originating from Germany, France, Ukraine, Syria, Hungary or Spain, a...

78 FR 46782 - Federal Acquisition Regulation; Iran Threat Reduction

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-01

...] RIN 9000-AM44 Federal Acquisition Regulation; Iran Threat Reduction AGENCIES: Department of Defense... expansion of sanctions relating to the energy sector of Iran and sanctions with respect to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, as contained in titles II and III of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights...

77 FR 75845 - Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-26

... sections 602 and 603 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012; section 5, portions... Government of Iran-related entities or certain activities by the Government of Iran. DATES: Effective Date... Order 13622 of July 30, 2012, ``Authorizing Additional Sanctions With Respect to Iran'' (``E.O. 13622...

75 FR 10462 - Action Affecting Export Privileges; Mohamad M. Elkateb; In the Matter of: Mohamad M. Elkateb...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-08

.... \\2\\ 50 U.S.C. app. 2401-2420 (2000). Since August 21, 2001, the Act has been in lapse and the... scheme to purchase U.S.-origin lab equipment for a customer in Syria from a foreign distributor of the U...

77 FR 27557 - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-10

... deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of... throughout the region. The Syrian regime's actions and policies, including obstructing the Lebanese government's ability to function effectively, pursuing chemical and biological weapons, and supporting...

Is Mohammed a Strategic Leader?

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-03-01

followers began to raid caravans running trade between Mecca, Medina, and Syria. He had no income other than booty from the spoils of war. He established...tide of the battle turned when his lead swordsmen and archers abandoned their posts to gather booty thereby allowing the Meccan cavalry to flank the

Detection of drought tolerant genes within seedling apple rootstocks in Syria

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

This investigation was conducted to detect the drought tolerant genes (four genes) within seedling apple rootstocks derived from five apple genotypes, including Syrian apple cultivars. The results showed that the gene MdPepPro (a cyclophilin) was found in all studied genotypes and their progenies e...

10 CFR 110.28 - Embargoed destinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Embargoed destinations. 110.28 Section 110.28 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL Licenses § 110.28 Embargoed destinations. Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Syria Sudan [58 FR 13003, Mar. 9, 1993, as...

10 CFR 110.28 - Embargoed destinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Embargoed destinations. 110.28 Section 110.28 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL Licenses § 110.28 Embargoed destinations. Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Syria Sudan [58 FR 13003, Mar. 9, 1993, as...

10 CFR 110.28 - Embargoed destinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Embargoed destinations. 110.28 Section 110.28 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL Licenses § 110.28 Embargoed destinations. Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Syria Sudan [58 FR 13003, Mar. 9, 1993, as...

10 CFR 110.28 - Embargoed destinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Embargoed destinations. 110.28 Section 110.28 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL Licenses § 110.28 Embargoed destinations. Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Syria Sudan [58 FR 13003, Mar. 9, 1993, as...

10 CFR 110.28 - Embargoed destinations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 2 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Embargoed destinations. 110.28 Section 110.28 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (CONTINUED) EXPORT AND IMPORT OF NUCLEAR EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL Licenses § 110.28 Embargoed destinations. Cuba Iran Iraq North Korea Syria Sudan [58 FR 13003, Mar. 9, 1993, as...

Iraq: Regional Perspectives and U.S. Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

conference on Iraq that was held in November 2004, in Sharm al Shaykh, Egypt, which included high level representatives from Iraq, its key neighbors...engagement with Syria and Iran expanded after early 2007. The International Compact for Iraq was adopted in May 2007 at a two-day summit in Sharm al

77 FR 19026 - Designation of Syrian Arab Republic for Temporary Protected Status

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-29

...\\ The Secretary can designate a foreign state for TPS based on one of three circumstances. One... Syrian military have also shot unarmed protestors, including children, medical doctors, ambulance drivers...--Syria.'' Do I need to submit additional supporting documentation? If one or more of the questions listed...

31 CFR 103.188 - Special measures against Commercial Bank of Syria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... Finance FINANCIAL RECORDKEEPING AND REPORTING OF CURRENCY AND FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS Anti-Money Laundering...-money laundering program requirement; (viii) A broker or dealer in securities registered, or required to... 31 Money and Finance: Treasury 1 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Special measures against Commercial...

31 CFR 596.505 - Certain transactions related to stipends and scholarships authorized.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... covering tuition and related educational, living and travel expenses provided by the Government of Syria to Syrian nationals or the Government of Sudan to Sudanese nationals who are enrolled as students in an... institution concerning the status of a student maybe relied upon in determining the applicability of this...

Defense.gov Special Report: Cape Ray

Science.gov Websites

mission of destroying chemical materials from Syria in an unspecified location in the Mediterranean. It was the first time the United States neutralized chemical materials at sea. News Stories DoD Mobile Chemical-agent Destruction System Wins U.K. Award A United Kingdom organization has given an innovation

Learners' Perceptions of Listening Comprehension Problems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hasan, Ali S.

2000-01-01

Reports a study of listening problems encountered in the English-as-a-foreign-language classroom in the English for Specific Purposes Centre at Damascus University in Syria. Looks particularly at learner strategies, features of the listening text, characteristics of the speaker, attitudes of the listener, the task to be completed as a result of…

The Lost Years

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zehr, Mary Ann; Mousa, Yasmine

2008-01-01

Thousands of children were deprived of schooling in the difficult aftermath of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq five years ago. During those times, more than 2 million Iraqis have fled their homeland, mainly to Jordan and Syria. Even though the schoolchildren who came to these neighboring Arab lands with their families are now given seats in…

Institutionalisation in a Newly Created Private University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hodson, Peter; Connolly, Michael; Younes, Said

2008-01-01

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the introduction of a quality assurance system in a new, private university in Syria, and considers the extent to which the theoretical model based on institutional theory and isomorphism is reflected in practice. Design/methodology/approach: A five year longitudinal study which reviews the design,…

Teachers' Attitudes toward Information and Communication Technologies: The Case of Syrian EFL Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Albirini, Abdulkafi

2006-01-01

Based on the new technology initiative in Syrian education, this study explored the attitudes of high school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers in Syria toward ICT. In addition, the study investigated the relationship between computer attitudes and five independent variables: computer attributes, cultural perceptions, computer…

English Teaching Profile: Syrian Arab Republic.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

British Council, London (England). English Language and Literature Div.

A description of the status and role of English language use and instruction in Syria, in which English has been given the status of the first foreign language, is presented. The following topics are reported on: (1) general usage; (2) English within the educational system, including the length of English training, testing, syllabus construction,…

Books about the Middle East for Children and Youth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kuntz, Patricia

This bibliography comprises a list of 236 reviewed children's books about the Middle East. All books were published since 1970 in the United States. For the purpose of this document the countries of the Middle East number 16: Bahrain, Cyprus, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab…

Teaching Islam and Arabic over the Internet

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nissim, Chaim

2004-01-01

Arabic is the language of the Arab minority in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the neighbors of Israel (Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon). Hence, learning Arabic and Arab culture is very important to promoting understanding between Arabs and Jews. The concept of using the internet to promote learning and communication between students in…

The Middle East: An Annotated Bibliography of Literature for Children (with Supplement).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maehr, Jane

The goal of this collection is to present an annotated bibliographical listing of children's literature, written in English, about the Middle Eastern countries of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, the United Arab Republic (Egypt), and other countries located near the Persian Gulf. The bibliographic entries…

Rumors in Iraq: A Guide to Winning Hearts and Minds

DTIC Science & Technology

2004-09-01

32 b. Quality of Life .........................................................................33 c...involved in planning a coup—this time in Syria. The revolt never took place due to friction among the participants, timing of the Suez invasion, and...rumors into one of eight overarching subjects: Government/Political, Quality of Life , Insurgency, Security, Terrorism, Military, Communication, and

78 FR 43972 - Amendments to the Export Administration Regulations: Implementation of Limited Syria Waiver for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-23

... Section 5(b) of the SAA, Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004 and the International Emergency Economic... political transition, restore stability, and counter destabilizing influences in the region, and are... support a political transition, restore stability, and counter destabilizing influences in the region, and...

On the Notions "Standard" and "Prestigious" in Arabic Linguistics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ibrahim, Muhammad H.

This paper examines the results of two sociolinguistic studies of the Arabic spoken by men and women in Jordan and Syria in terms of sex differentiation in Arabic. The study reported in this paper proposes that the terms "prestigious" and "standard" should not be used interchangeably; accordingly, it reinterprets the previous…

Coping with a Nuclearizing Iran

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-01

on-israeli-target-1.2529 Kaplan, Seth , “A New U.S. Policy for Syria: Fostering Political Change in a Divided State,” Middle East Policy, Vol. XV, No...fifth_columns_in_the_gulf Wehrey, Frederic, Dalia Dassa Kaye, Jessica Watkins , Jeffrey Martini, and Robert A. Guffey, The Iraq Effect: The Middle East After

Korean Spring? An Analysis of the Arab Spring and Its Relevance for North Korea

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-06-08

Spring. North Korea is undergoing a transition following the death of Kim Jong II. This research thesis analyzed the conditions that existed during the...transition following the death of Kim Jong II. This research thesis analyzed the conditions that existed during the Arab Spring in Egypt, Libya and Syria...

3 CFR - Presidential Determination With Respect to Foreign Governments' Efforts Regarding Trafficking in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... provide certain funding for those countries' governments for fiscal year 2010, until such government..., Iran, and Syria, not to provide certain funding for those countries' governments for fiscal year 2010... section 110(d)(4) of the Act, with respect to Burma, that a partial waiver to allow funding for programs...

77 FR 67726 - Department of State: State Department Sanctions Information and Guidance

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-13

... information and freedom of expression in Iran and Syria and is cognizant of the vital importance of providing... information in Iran; or (B) to disrupt, monitor, or otherwise restrict speech of the people of Iran.'' Section... of information and freedom of expression over their networks, to track and monitor the communications...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 736 - General Orders

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Syria of products of the United States, other than food and medicine. The President has also exercised... items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99 (medicine is defined in part 772... authority to conduct the nation's foreign affairs); medicine (on the CCL) and medical devices (both as...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 736 - General Orders

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Syria of products of the United States, other than food and medicine. The President has also exercised... items subject to the EAR, except food and medicine classified as EAR99 (medicine is defined in part 772... authority to conduct the nation's foreign affairs); medicine (on the CCL) and medical devices (both as...

Bursting Bubbles between Sand and Sea: Teaching Dance on the Edge of the Mediterranean

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khoury, Krystel; Martin, Rosemary; Rowe, Nicholas

2013-01-01

In July 2010, on the crest of "The Arab Spring," 28 independent dance teachers from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Malta, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon, gathered in Bodrum, Turkey, for the Symposium on Dance Education in Arabic Speaking Countries. This article reflects on the symposium experience, examining the sociopolitical…

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 740 - Country Groups

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... X X X New Zealand 1 X X X Norway X X X X Poland X X X Portugal X X X X Romania X X Russia X X... Qatar X X Russia X X Saudi Arabia X X Syria X X Taiwan X Tajikstan X X Turkmenistan X X Ukraine X United...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 740 - Country Groups

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... X X X New Zealand 1 X X X Norway X X X X Poland X X X Portugal X X X X Romania X X Russia X X... Qatar X X Russia X X Saudi Arabia X X Syria X X Taiwan X Tajikstan X X Turkmenistan X X Ukraine X United...

Maximalist Islamic Education as a Response to Terror: Some Thoughts on Unconditional Action

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waghid, Yusef; Davids, Nuraan

2015-01-01

Inasmuch as Muslim governments all over the world dissociate themselves from despicable acts of terror, few can deny the brutality and violence perpetrated especially by those in authoritative positions like political governments against humanity. Poignant examples are the ongoing massacre of Muslim communities in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and…

Nationalism in Ottoman Greater Syria 1840-1914: The Divisive Legacy of Sectarianism

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

represented what Salibi termed “Maronite particularism,”27 in a “great confidence game ” between Maronites and Sunnis who espoused an Islamic Arab...private salon discussions. Ultimately, sectarianism was a critical element that prevented the formation of single Arab state prior to World War I, and

Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens in Hospitalized Syrian Children

PubMed Central

Kassem, Diana Faour; Hoffmann, Yoav; Shahar, Naama; Ocampo, Smadar; Salomon, Liora; Zonis, Zeev

2017-01-01

Since 2013, wounded and ill children from Syria have received treatment in Israel. Screening cultures indicated that multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens colonized 89 (83%) of 107 children. For 58% of MDR infections, the pathogen was similar to that identified during screening. MDR screening of these children is valuable for purposes of isolation and treatment. PMID:27618479

Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens in Hospitalized Syrian Children.

PubMed

Kassem, Diana Faour; Hoffmann, Yoav; Shahar, Naama; Ocampo, Smadar; Salomon, Liora; Zonis, Zeev; Glikman, Daniel

2017-01-01

Since 2013, wounded and ill children from Syria have received treatment in Israel. Screening cultures indicated that multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens colonized 89 (83%) of 107 children. For 58% of MDR infections, the pathogen was similar to that identified during screening. MDR screening of these children is valuable for purposes of isolation and treatment.

Identity, Investment and Language Learning Strategies of Two Syrian Students in Syria and Britain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hajar, Anas

2017-01-01

This paper reports on a longitudinal phenomenographic inquiry into understanding how two postgraduate Syrian students' ways of approaching English language learning in their homelands influenced the shape of their personal study abroad goals, language strategy use and L2 identity. It is guided by Norton's [(2013). "Identity and language…

Translations on Near East and North Africa. Number 1593, New Valley Development Projects.

DTIC Science & Technology

1976-12-17

People’s Demo- cratic Republic of Yemen _Persian Gulf Area Qatar _Saudi Arabia _Spanish North Africa Sudan _Sultanate of Oman _Syria...and organizing the drainage situation. We have acquired the use of the highest-quality pipe materials used in wells and a knowledge of aquifers . We

Iran: U.S. Concerns and Policy Responses

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-05

and governments assert that the nuclear deal could give Iran additional political and economic resources to support pro-Iranian movements and regimes...such as the embattled government of Bashar Al Assad of Syria. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly opposed the JPA as failing to...67 Figures Figure 1. Structure of the Iranian Government

Teaching the Holocaust as a Cautionary Tale

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marks, Melissa J.

2017-01-01

Teaching about the Holocaust as an atrocity of the 1940s misleads students into thinking that it is a genocide occurred, that the world agreed "Never Again," and that the United Nations would prevent future genocides. With genocides in Rwanda, Srebrenica, and Syria occurring in the years since the Holocaust, teachers need to use the…

A Comparative Assessment of Higher Education Financing in Six Arab Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

El-Araby, Ashraf

2011-01-01

This study analyses the policies for financing higher education in six Arab countries: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia. It assesses the adequacy of spending on higher education, the efficiency with which resources are utilized, and the equity implications of resource allocations. Based on six detailed case studies, this…

77 FR 76864 - Amendment to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Afghanistan and Change to Policy on...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-31

... Belarus, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela. This policy also applies to countries... International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Afghanistan and Change to Policy on Prohibited Exports AGENCY.... Goforth, Director, Office of Defense Trade Controls Policy, U.S. Department of State, telephone (202) 663...

Syria: effects of conflict and sanctions on public health.

PubMed

Sen, Kasturi; Al-Faisal, Waleed; AlSaleh, Yaser

2013-06-01

The past 18 months have witnessed considerable turmoil in countries of the MENA region. The Syrian Arab Republic (SAR) is one such country, currently in the midst of a civil war. This report draws attention to some of the recent achievements of its health services, where, despite a dearth of published materials, the country achieved remarkable declines in maternal mortality and infant mortality rates. Its health sector now faces destruction from on-going violence compounded by economic sanctions that has affected access to health care, to medicines and to basic essentials as well as the destruction of infrastructure. This paper draws attention to the achievements of the country's health services and explores some of the consequences of conflict and of sanctions on population health. Readers need to be mindful that the situation on the ground in a civil war can alter on a daily basis. This is the case for Syria with much destruction of health facilities and increasing numbers of people killed and injured. We retain however our focus on the core theme of this paper which is on conflict and on sanctions.

Physical abuse in low-income women in Aleppo, Syria.

PubMed

Maziak, Wasim; Asfar, Taghrid

2003-04-01

Violence against women is a vicious practice present in all societies. Yet data about its occurrence and associated factors are scarce in the Arab world. In this study, we attempt to determine the spread of physical abuse and its sociodemographic correlates among low-income women in Aleppo, Syria. A sample of 411 women was recruited from 8 randomly selected primary care centers in Aleppo. Response rate was 97%, mean age of participants 28 +/- 8 years, and most women (88%) were married. A special questionnaire was used including questions about physical abuse, the self-reporting questionnaire (SRQ-20), and questions about relevant sociodemographic information. Current physical abuse (battering at least 3 times during the previous year) was found in 23% of the investigated and among 26% of married women, while regular abuse (battering at least once weekly) was found in 3.3% of married women. Correlates of physical abuse were women's education, religion, age, marital status, economic status, mental distress, smoking, and residence. Our data show that physical abuse is prevalent in this population and that women's education is the most important modifiable factor.

Risk factors associated with chronic low back pain in Syria.

PubMed

Alhalabi, Mohammad Salem; Alhaleeb, Hassan; Madani, Sarah

2015-01-01

We aimed to identify risk factors associated with chronic low back pain (C-LBP) in Syria. We conducted the study in a busy outpatient neurology clinic in Damascus city from October 2011 to August 2012. We enrolled all eligible adults presenting with C-LBP along with those who denied any back pain as a controls. We considered C-LBP any LBP lasting over 3 months. We developed our own questionnaire. A clinical nurse interviewed each person and filled in the results. We had a total of 911 subjects; 513 patients and 398 controls. We found that C-LBP increased with age. Having a sibling with C-LBP was a strong predictor of C-LBP. In women obesity, but not overweight, was a risk factor. Number of children was a risk factor for mothers. Higher level of education decreased the chance of C-LBP in women. Sedentary job increased the risk of C-LBP. This study sheds some light on risk factors for C-LBP in our population and might help find possible preventive measures.

Development of attention functions in 5- to 11-year-old Arab children as measured by the German Test Battery of Attention Performance (KITAP): a pilot study from Syria.

PubMed

Sobeh, Jamal; Spijkers, Will

2012-01-01

We administered the German Test-battery of Attention Performance (KITAP) to Arab children living in Syria (N=143, 5-11 years) in order to assess the influence of age and gender on different dimensions of attention. The results demonstrate the validity of cross-cultural application of KITAP with Syrian school-aged children. The influence of age was more evident on speed of performance than on quality of performance, with rapid, general improvement until the age of 9 years. Some attention functions like alertness and inhibitory control seemed to be developed earlier than other functions like, flexibility, distractibility, and divided attention. Gender-related differences were observed in some subtests: Boys had faster reaction times but made more errors than girls. Interestingly, Arab-Syrian children showed better performance on some attention tests compared with German norms. The present study provides support for the use of cross-cultural studies for better understanding of the development of attention in school-aged children.

Relating Climate and Enviornmental Stress to Conflict... or Cooperation?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kelley, C. P.

2016-12-01

There are many factors which contribute to social unrest, including governance, economy, access to resources and others. As global climate change progresses, many regions and nations, particularly those that are most vulnerable and least resilient, will face increasing challenges with respect to water and food scarcity. Increasing population and demand for water, combined with declining access to groundwater, will greatly increase exisiting vulnerability. Syria, Yemen and other countries serve as examples of nations that have experienced increasing both environmental stress and conflict. The Syria case in particular has had clear global repercussions, most notably contributing to a global refugee crisis. However, there are also examples of nations that have experienced increasing environmental stress that instead demonstrated transboundary water cooperation rather than conflict. An important and emerging body of work is that which seeks to better understand and characterize real-time resilience and vulnerability in order to better mitigate the consequences of future regional climate change. Prediction of potential conflict is a formidable challenge, one that is highly complex and multivariate, operating on many different temporal and spatial scales.

Reconstructing Druze population history

PubMed Central

Marshall, Scarlett; Das, Ranajit; Pirooznia, Mehdi; Elhaik, Eran

2016-01-01

The Druze are an aggregate of communities in the Levant and Near East living almost exclusively in the mountains of Syria, Lebanon and Israel whose ~1000 year old religion formally opposes mixed marriages and conversions. Despite increasing interest in genetics of the population structure of the Druze, their population history remains unknown. We investigated the genetic relationships between Israeli Druze and both modern and ancient populations. We evaluated our findings in light of three hypotheses purporting to explain Druze history that posit Arabian, Persian or mixed Near Eastern-Levantine roots. The biogeographical analysis localised proto-Druze to the mountainous regions of southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq and southeast Syria and their descendants clustered along a trajectory between these two regions. The mixed Near Eastern–Middle Eastern localisation of the Druze, shown using both modern and ancient DNA data, is distinct from that of neighbouring Syrians, Palestinians and most of the Lebanese, who exhibit a high affinity to the Levant. Druze biogeographic affinity, migration patterns, time of emergence and genetic similarity to Near Eastern populations are highly suggestive of Armenian-Turkish ancestries for the proto-Druze. PMID:27848937

First genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in pre-weaned calves, broiler chickens and children in Syria by PCR-RFLP analysis.

PubMed

Kassouha, Morshed; Soukkarieh, Chadi; Alkhaled, Abdulkarim

2016-07-30

In this study, PCR-RFLP was used for the first time in Syria for genotyping Cryptosporidium species of man, calves and chickens. The total of 391 fecal samples included 213 from children with diarrhea (<5years), 67 from pre-weaned calves with diarrhea and 111 from broiler chicken farms. All samples were collected and examined with acid fast stain to detect the positive samples. Subsequently a nested-PCR test was performed on 35 positive samples (17 from calves, 11 from chicken, and 7 from children) targeting SSU rRNA gene, and was followed by RFLP analysis using three restriction enzymes SspI, VspI and MboII. Results showed that C. parvum was the only identified species in children and calves, on the other hand C. baileyi was identified in broilers in addition to another species with unknown RFLP profile in comparison to those which have been described in chicken. Further studies using more genes are needed to sequence and detect subtypes of this parasite. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Arab-Levantine personality structure: A psycholexical study of modern standard Arabic in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the West Bank.

PubMed

Zeinoun, Pia; Daouk-Öyry, Lina; Choueiri, Lina; van de Vijver, Fons J R

2018-06-01

The debate of whether personality traits are universal or culture-specific has been informed by psycholexical (or lexical) studies conducted in tens of languages and cultures. We contribute to this debate through a series of studies in which we investigated personality descriptors in Modern Standard Arabic, the variety of Arabic that is presumably common to about 26 countries and native to more than 200 million people. We identified an appropriate source of personality descriptors, extracted them, and systematically reduced them to 167 personality traits that are common, are not redundant with each other, and are familiar and commonly understood in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the West Bank (Palestinian territories). We then analyzed self- and peer ratings (N = 806) and identified a six-factor solution comprising Morality (I), Conscientiousness (II), Positive Emotionality (III), Dominance (IV), Agreeableness/Righteousness (V), and Emotional Stability (VI) without replicating an Openness factor. The factors were narrower or broader variants of factors found in the Big Five and HEXACO models. Conceptual and methodological considerations may have impacted the factor structure. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

[Jean-Charles Sournia, resident of Lyon Hospitals and Surgeons in Alep].

PubMed

Fischer, L P; Rougier, Jacques; Schott, Bernard; Babik, Hany; Fischer, Bénédicte

2002-01-01

The article deals with the life and activity of J. Ch. Sournia from 1938 to 1966. Born in Bourges (France) in 1917, he studied at "l'Ecole du Service de Santé Militaire" in Lyon. In 1938 he became a non-resident student of Lyon Hospitals and a resident in 1943. Assistant of thoracic surgery by Professors Paul Santy and Marcel Bérard he underwent an advanced training course by Pr Crawford in Sweden. There he met his Swedish wife-to-be. Appointed professor of Surgery he taught Surgery in Alep and Anatomy in Beyrouth. In the same time he was interested in the History of Syria and its archeology during the Byzantine Centuries (from the IVth to the VIIth A. D.). While his wife was teaching literature at Rennes University he was appointed surgery professor at the Medical College in Rennes and wrote "the Middle-East of Primitive Christianity-History and Archaeology by Byzantine Syria" (Fayard 1966) in which he focused his study on monks who lived for long years on pillar top to be closer to God, like St Simeon.

Environmental Roots of the Late Bronze Age Crisis

PubMed Central

Kaniewski, David; Van Campo, Elise; Guiot, Joël; Le Burel, Sabine; Otto, Thierry; Baeteman, Cecile

2013-01-01

The Late Bronze Age world of the Eastern Mediterranean, a rich linkage of Aegean, Egyptian, Syro-Palestinian, and Hittite civilizations, collapsed famously 3200 years ago and has remained one of the mysteries of the ancient world since the event’s retrieval began in the late 19th century AD/CE. Iconic Egyptian bas-reliefs and graphic hieroglyphic and cuneiform texts portray the proximate cause of the collapse as the invasions of the “Peoples-of-the-Sea” at the Nile Delta, the Turkish coast, and down into the heartlands of Syria and Palestine where armies clashed, famine-ravaged cities abandoned, and countrysides depopulated. Here we report palaeoclimate data from Cyprus for the Late Bronze Age crisis, alongside a radiocarbon-based chronology integrating both archaeological and palaeoclimate proxies, which reveal the effects of abrupt climate change-driven famine and causal linkage with the Sea People invasions in Cyprus and Syria. The statistical analysis of proximate and ultimate features of the sequential collapse reveals the relationships of climate-driven famine, sea-borne-invasion, region-wide warfare, and politico-economic collapse, in whose wake new societies and new ideologies were created. PMID:23967146

Reconstructing Druze population history.

PubMed

Marshall, Scarlett; Das, Ranajit; Pirooznia, Mehdi; Elhaik, Eran

2016-11-16

The Druze are an aggregate of communities in the Levant and Near East living almost exclusively in the mountains of Syria, Lebanon and Israel whose ~1000 year old religion formally opposes mixed marriages and conversions. Despite increasing interest in genetics of the population structure of the Druze, their population history remains unknown. We investigated the genetic relationships between Israeli Druze and both modern and ancient populations. We evaluated our findings in light of three hypotheses purporting to explain Druze history that posit Arabian, Persian or mixed Near Eastern-Levantine roots. The biogeographical analysis localised proto-Druze to the mountainous regions of southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq and southeast Syria and their descendants clustered along a trajectory between these two regions. The mixed Near Eastern-Middle Eastern localisation of the Druze, shown using both modern and ancient DNA data, is distinct from that of neighbouring Syrians, Palestinians and most of the Lebanese, who exhibit a high affinity to the Levant. Druze biogeographic affinity, migration patterns, time of emergence and genetic similarity to Near Eastern populations are highly suggestive of Armenian-Turkish ancestries for the proto-Druze.

Vegetation development in the Middle Euphrates and Upper Jazirah (Syria/Turkey) during the Bronze Age

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Deckers, Katleen; Pessin, Hugues

2010-09-01

Vegetation changes are reconstructed based on more than 51,000 charcoal fragments of more than 380 samples from nine Bronze Age sites in northern Syria and southern Turkey. In addition to fragment proportions, special attention was paid to the frequency of Pistacia relative to Quercus and Populus/ Salix relative to Tamarix, fruit-tree ubiquity, and riverine diversity in order to gain an improved understanding of the human versus climatic impact on the vegetation. The results indicate that human impacts first took place within the riverine forest. This phase was followed by land clearing within the woodland steppe, especially in the northern portion of the study area. In the south near Emar, the woodland steppe probably disappeared by the Late Bronze Age. It is uncertain whether this was caused by aridification and/or human clearing. The northward shift of the Pistacia-woodland steppe is very likely a result of climatic drying that occurred throughout the entire period under investigation. Although increased deforestation is evident through time, the small proportions of imported wood indicate that local resources were still available.

The politics of water.

PubMed

Postel, S

1993-01-01

Water scarcity in some regions is a leading source of economic and political instability. Upstream countries have a clear advantage over downstream countries. Almost 40% of the world's population relies on river systems used by at least 2 countries. Water conflicts are most evident in the Middle East where population growth rates are among the world's highest and agricultural productivity depends almost exclusively on irrigation. Water scarcity is most critical in the Jordan River basin which Israel, Jordan, the occupied West Bank, and part of Syria share. Israel exceeds its renewable water supply by 15%. Even though Jordanians use less than 50% of the water/capita Israel uses, its population grows 3.4%/year of Israel's water supply is the Yarqon-Taninim aquifer whose recharge area is on the West Bank. Israel draws water from this aquifer for its own use, but does not let West Bank Arabs draw from it. Another water supply lies in the Golan Heights with Israel seized from Syria. Its other source is an overpumped coastal aquifer. 9 nations claim the Nile with Egypt being the last country to receive its waters. Egypt has very few of its own water sources plus is has rapid population growth. Turkey plans on constructing 22 dams, 19 hydropower stations, and 25 irrigation systems on the Euphrates river, resulting in a 35% reduction in water flow to Syria in normal years and even more in dry years. This project would also pollute the river with irrigation runoff. International cooperation is needed to address wait crisis. Israel could share its drip irrigation technology with others, such as it has done with the Islamic Central Asian republics. Ethiopia could store Nile water in its highlands which have a lower evaporation rate than that at Egypt's Aswan Dam, resulting in more available water. Perhaps the mutual gains possible from cooperation will unite long standing enemies toward peace.

Chest trauma experience over eleven-year period at al-mouassat university teaching hospital-Damascus: a retrospective review of 888 cases

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Thoracic trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In this study, we present our 11-year experience in the management and clinical outcome of 888 chest trauma cases as a result of blunt and penetrating injuries in our university hospital in Damascus, Syria. Methods We reviewed files of 888 consequent cases of chest trauma between January 2000 and January 2011. The mean age of our patients was 31 ± 17 years mostly males with blunt injuries. Patients were evaluated and compared according to age, gender, etiology of trauma, thoracic and extra-thoracic injuries, complications, and mortality. Results The leading cause of the trauma was violence (41%) followed by traffic accidents (33%). Pneumothorax (51%), Hemothorax (38%), rib fractures (34%), and lung contusion (15%) were the most common types of injury. Associated injuries were documented in 36% of patients (extremities 19%, abdomen 13%, head 8%). A minority of the patients required thoracotomy (5.7%), and tube thoracostomy (56%) was sufficient to manage the majority of cases. Mean hospital LOS was 4.5 ± 4.6 days. The overall mortoality rate was 1.8%, and morbidity (n = 78, 8.7%). Conclusions New traffic laws (including seat belt enforcement) reduced incidence and severity of chest trauma in Syria. Violence was the most common cause of chest trauma rather than road traffic accidents in this series, this necessitates epidemiologic or multi-institutional studies to know to which degree violence contributes to chest trauma in Syria. The number of fractured ribs can be used as simple indicator of the severity of trauma. And we believe that significant neurotrauma, traffic accidents, hemodynamic status and GCS upon arrival, ICU admission, ventilator use, and complication of therapy are predictors of dismal prognosis. PMID:22515842

Primary centers and secondary concentrations of tectonic activity through time in the western hemisphere of Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, R.C.; Dohm, J.M.; Golombek, M.P.; Haldemann, A.F.C.; Franklin, B.J.; Tanaka, K.L.; Lias, J.; Peer, B.

2001-01-01

Five main stages of radial and concentric structures formed around Tharsis from the Noachian through the Amazonian as determined by geologic mapping of 24,452 structures within the stratigraphic framework of Mars and by testing their radial and concentric orientations. Tectonic activity peaked in the Noachian (stage 1) around the largest center, Claritas, an elongate center extending more than 20?? in latitude and defined by about half of the total grabens which are concentrated in the Syria Planum, Thaumasia, and Tempe Terra regions. During the Late Noachian and Early Hesperian (stage 2), extensional structures formed along the length of present-day Valles Marineris and in Thaumasia (with a secondary concentration near Warrego Vallis) radial to a region just to the south of the central margin of Valles Marineris. Early Hesperian (stage 3) radial grabens in Pavonis, Syria, Ulysses, and Tempe Terra and somewhat concentric wrinkle ridges in Lunae and Solis Plana and in Thaumasia, Sirenum, Memnonia, and Amazonis are centered northwest of Syria with secondary centers at Thaumasia, Tempe Terra, Ulysses Fossae, and western Valles Marineris. Late Hesperian/Early Amazonian (stage 4) structures around Alba Patera, the northeast trending alignment of Tharsis Montes, and Olympus Mons appears centered on Alba Patera. Stage 5 structures (Middle-Late Amazonian) represent the last pulse of Tharsis-related activity and are found around the large shield volcanoes and are centered near Pavonis Mons. Tectonic activity around Tharsis began in the Noachian and generally decreased through geologic time to the Amazonian. Statistically significant radial distributions of structures formed during each stage, centered at different locations within the higher elevations of Tharsis. Secondary centers of radial structures during many of the stages appear related to previously identified local magmatic centers that formed at different times and locations throughout Tharsis. Copyright 2001 by the American Geophysical Union.

A Peek into a Cul-De-Sac and a Mews of Martian Dust Storm Activity: Western Hellas and Syria-Claritas Fossae During Mars Year 29

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heavens, N. G.

2016-12-01

Western Hellas Planitia (WHP) and the region encompassed by Syria Planum and Claritas Fossae are the main centers of textured dust storm activity in Mars's southern low to mid-latitudes. (Texture in this context refers to distinct fine structure at the cloud tops indicative of active lifting.) WHP is a well-known initiation zone for regional and global dust storm activity and often the end point of the Utopia "flushing storm" track. Syria-Claritas Fossae (SCF), too, can be a lifting center in global dust storm activity. Indeed, SCF and the area to its west was the region most denuded of dust by the Mars Year (MY) 25 global dust storm, perhaps suggesting that SCF contained the principal lifting center of the storm. Thus, if the Acidalia and Utopia storm tracks are Mars's dust storm alleys, through which dust storms pass quickly again and again; WHP might be a cul-de-sac and SCF something like a mews, where dust storm activity can enter more or less easily but may not as easily leave. In this presentation, I will focus on dust storm activity in these areas in a typical non-global dust storm year, MY 29. Synthesizing visible imagery by the Mars Color Imager (MARCI) on board Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) also on board MRO, I will consider the climatology, morphology, texture, and vertical structure of dust storm activity in these areas in order to infer their governing dynamics. This investigation has two aims: (1) to understand why these areas are centers of textured dust storm activity; and (2) to connect the characteristics of smaller-scale dust storm activity in these regions to the underlying dynamics in order to understand the role of WHP and SCF in the dynamics of global dust storms. This work is supported by NASA's Mars Data Analysis Program (NNX14AM32G).

Defining Polio: Closing the Gap in Global Surveillance.

PubMed

Tajaldin, Bachir; Almilaji, Khaled; Langton, Paul; Sparrow, Annie

2015-01-01

By late 2012 the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) had nearly eradicated this ancient infectious disease. Successful surveillance programs for acute flaccid paralysis however rely on broad governmental support for implementation. With the onset of conflict, public health breakdown has contributed to the resurgence of polio in a number of regions. The current laboratory based case definition may be a contributory factor in these regions. We sought to compare case definition rates using strict laboratory based criteria to rates obtained using the clinical criteria in modern day Syria. We also sought to examine this distribution of cases by sub-region. We examined the World Health Organization (WHO) reported figures for Syria from 2013-2014 using laboratory based criteria. We compared these with cases obtained when clinical criteria were applied. In addition we sought data from the opposition controlled Assistance Coordination Unit which operates in non-Government controlled areas where WHO data maybe incomplete. Cases were carefully examined for potential overlap to avoid double reporting. Whilst the WHO data clearly confirmed the polio outbreak in Syria, it did so with considerable delay and with under reporting of cases, particularly from non-government controlled areas. In addition, laboratory based case definition led to a substantial underestimate of polio (36 cases) compared with those found with the clinically compatible definition (an additional 46 cases). Rates of adequate diagnostic specimens from suspected cases are well below target, no doubt reflecting the effect of conflict in these areas. We have identified a gap in the surveillance of polio, a global threat. The current laboratory based definition, in the setting of conflict and insecurity, leads to under diagnosis of polio with potential delays and inadequacies in coordinating effective responses to contain outbreaks and eradicate polio. Breakdown in public health measures as a contributing factor is likely to result in a resurgence of previously controlled infectious diseases. The clinical definition should be reinstituted to supplement the lab-based definition. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Leishmania infections in Austrian soldiers returning from military missions abroad: a cross-sectional study.

PubMed

Obwaller, A G; Köhsler, M; Poeppl, W; Herkner, H; Mooseder, G; Aspöck, H; Walochnik, J

2018-01-12

The incidence of leishmaniasis is known to increase in conflict areas. The aims of this study were to determine the exposure to Leishmania species in Austrian soldiers returning from missions abroad and to assess possible risk factors. A retrospective explorative cross-sectional serologic study was conducted in 225 healthy Austrian soldiers returning from UN or EU peacekeeping missions in Syria, Lebanon and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH). Sera were tested for anti-Leishmania antibodies using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All positive individuals were screened for Leishmania DNA by PCR targeting the ITS1 region using EDTA blood samples. In total, 13.3% (30/225) of the individuals tested were either positive (8%, 18/225) or borderline (5.3%, 12/225) in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, with the highest seroprevalence in soldiers returning from Syria (17.8%, 18/101; 12 positive, six borderline), second from Lebanon (11.1%, 7/63; four positive, three borderline) and lowest from BIH (8.2%, 5/61; two positive, three borderline). Ten soldiers returning from Syria and one from BIH were also positive for Leishmania DNA. Six of these were identified as Leishmania donovani/infantum complex, two as L. tropica and another three as mixed infections by DNA sequencing. Epidemiologic data were collected via a questionnaire, and seropositivity was correlated with a history of insect bites that took a long time to heal (odds ratio, 5.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.23-23.04; p 0.025). Although pretravel serologic data were not available in this study, the exposure of soldiers to Leishmania spp. during their missions can be assumed to be considerable. Because even asymptomatic infections may resurge in case of emerging immunodeficiencies, adequate prevention measures seem important. Copyright © 2018 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study of Fungal Colonization of Wheat Kernels in Syria with a Focus on Fusarium Species

PubMed Central

Alkadri, Dima; Nipoti, Paola; Döll, Katharina; Karlovsky, Petr; Prodi, Antonio; Pisi, Annamaria

2013-01-01

Wheat is one of the main crops in Mediterranean countries, and its cultivation has an important role in the Syrian economy. In Syria, Fusarium head blight (FHB) has not been reported so far. Mycological analysis of 48 samples of wheat kernels collected from cultivation areas with different climatic conditions were performed in 2009 and 2010. Fungal isolates were identified at the genus level morphologically; Fusarium species were characterized morphologically and by species-specific PCR. The most frequent fungal genera found were Alternaria spp. and Cladosporium spp., with frequencies of 24.7% and 8.1%, respectively, while the frequency of Fusarium spp. was 1.5% of kernels. Most frequent Fusarium species were F. tricinctum (30% of all Fusarium isolates), F. culmorum (18%), F. equiseti (14%) and F. graminearum (13%). The mycotoxin production potential of selected Fusarium isolates was assessed by HPLC-MS analysis of rice cultures; chemotyping by PCR was carried out for comparison. All six F. graminearum strains tested produced small amounts (<3 mg/kg) of nivalenol (NIV). All ten F. culmorum strains tested produced large amounts of trichothecenes (>100 mg/kg); four strains produced NIV and six strains produced deoxynivalenol (DON) and 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3Ac-DON). PCR chemotyping lead to an oversimplified picture, because all 3Ac-DON chemotype strains produced more DON than 3Ac-DON; furthermore, the strongest NIV producers produced significant amounts of DON. All tested strains of F. culmorum, F. graminearum, F. pseudograminearum (two strains) and most F. equiseti strains (five of six strains) produced zearalenone. Grains of durum wheat were more frequently colonized by Fusarium spp. than grains of soft wheat. Incidence of Fusarium spp. in irrigated fields was higher than in rainfed fields. The incidence of Fusarium strains producing mycotoxins raises concerns about the risk of Fusarium head blight to Syria and its consequences for public health. PMID:23493058

Infectious Disease Risk and Vaccination in Northern Syria after 5 Years of Civil War: The MSF Experience

PubMed Central

de Lima Pereira, Alan; Southgate, Rosamund; Ahmed, Hikmet; O’Connor, Penelope; Cramond, Vanessa; Lenglet, Annick

2018-01-01

Introduction: In 2015, following an influx of population into Kobanê in northern Syria, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in collaboration with the Kobanê Health Administration (KHA) initiated primary healthcare activities. A vaccination coverage survey and vaccine-preventable disease (VPD) risk analysis were undertaken to clarify the VPD risk and vaccination needs. This was followed by a measles Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA). We describe the methods and results used for this prioritisation activity around vaccination in Kobanê in 2015. Methods: We implemented a pre-SIA survey in 135 randomly-selected households in Kobanê using a vaccination history questionnaire for all children <5 years. We conducted a VPD Risk Analysis using MSF ‘Preventive Vaccination in Humanitarian Emergencies’ guidance to prioritize antigens with the highest public health threat for mass vaccination activities. A Measles SIA was then implemented and followed by vaccine coverage survey in 282 randomly-selected households targeting children <5 years. Results: The pre-SIA survey showed that 168/212 children (79.3%; 95%CI=72.7-84.6%) had received one vaccine or more in their lifetime. Forty-three children (20.3%; 95%CI: 15.1-26.6%) had received all vaccines due by their age; only one was <12 months old and this child had received all vaccinations outside of Syria. The VPD Risk Analysis prioritised measles, Haemophilus Influenza type B (Hib) and Pneumococcus vaccinations. In the measles SIA, 3410 children aged 6-59 months were vaccinated. The use of multiple small vaccination sites to reduce risks associated with crowds in this active conflict setting was noted as a lesson learnt. The post-SIA survey estimated 82% (95%CI: 76.9-85.9%; n=229/280) measles vaccination coverage in children 6-59 months. Discussion: As a result of the conflict in Syria, the progressive collapse of the health care system in Kobanê has resulted in low vaccine coverage rates, particularly in younger age groups. The repeated displacements of the population, attacks on health institutions and exodus of healthcare workers, challenge the resumption of routine immunization in this conflict setting and limit the use of SIAs to ensure sustainable immunity to VPDs. We have shown that the risk for several VPDs in Kobanê remains high. Conclusion: We call on all health actors and the international community to work towards re-establishment of routine immunisation activities as a priority to ensure that children who have had no access to vaccination in the last five years are adequately protected for VPDs as soon as possible. PMID:29511602

U.S. Foreign Assistance to the Middle East: Historical Background, Recent Trends, and the FY2011 Request

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-15

entrepreneurship in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia culminating in a conference in March 2010 called the U.S.-Saudi Women’s Forum on Social Entrepreneurship . The...Syria. Recent examples of MEPI-funded programs include: • Saudi Arabia—In April 2009, MEPI began funding a pilot program on women’s social

78 FR 27299 - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-09

... regime's brutal war on the Syrian people, who have been calling for freedom and a representative government, endangers not only the Syrian people themselves, but could yield greater instability throughout... continue in effect beyond May 11, 2013. Therefore, in accordance with section 202(d) of the National...

Does History Matter? Ask the Armenians

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Totten, Samuel

2005-01-01

This article discusses the history of the Armenian genocide and the impact it brought on the Armenians. The author relates his experience attending a two-day memorial commemoration in the desert of Syria for the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide that he became fully aware of how profound the memory of that human disaster is for today's…

The Middle East: An Annotated Bibliography of Literature for Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maehr, Jane

This is an annotated bibliography of folklore, fiction and nonfiction about the Middle East, written in English for children aged 5 and older. There are eleven chapters - one which focuses on the entire Middle Eastern region, and ten which deal with individual countries: Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, and…

English Language Teaching Profile: Syrian Arab Republic.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

British Council, London (England). English-Teaching Information Centre.

The status of English as a first foreign language is discussed as well as the reasons why the standard of English and the extent to which it is spoken in Syria do not match its official status. The use of English within the educational system is examined with particular reference to secondary and university levels. The manner of determination of…

Armed Conflict in Syria: Background and U.S. Response

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-06

various denominations) 10%, Jewish (very small communities in Damascus, AI Qamishli, and Aleppo) Ethnic Groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians...struggled with many of the challenges that have bred deep dissatisfaction in other Arab autocracies, including high unemployment , high inflation...relationships. Socioeconomic differences abound among farmers, laborers, middle-class wage earners, public sector employees, military officials, and

Iran, North Korea, and Syria Sanctions Consolidation Act of 2011

THOMAS, 112th Congress

Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ

2011-05-23

Senate - 10/13/2011 Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 112-332. (All Actions) Notes: For further action, see H.R.1905, which became Public Law 112-158 on 8/10/2012. Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

31 CFR 542.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[SYRIA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Note 2 to paragraph (a) of § 542.201...

31 CFR 542.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... Persons List (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[SYRIA].” The names of persons listed in or designated... incorporated into the SDN List with the identifier “[HRIT-SY].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on OFAC's Web site: www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List...

31 CFR 542.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[SYRIA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Note 2 to paragraph (a) of § 542.201...

31 CFR 542.201 - Prohibited transactions involving blocked property.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... (“SDN List”) with the identifier “[SYRIA].” The SDN List is accessible through the following page on the Office of Foreign Assets Control's Web site: http://www.treasury.gov/sdn. Additional information pertaining to the SDN List can be found in appendix A to this chapter. Note 2 to paragraph (a) of § 542.201...

Adams, Walter Sydney (1876-1956)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Murdin, P.

2000-11-01

Born in Antioch, Syria, to American missionary parents, he worked under GEORGE HALE at Yerkes Observatory at the University of Chicago, accompanying Hale to California to set up the Mount Wilson Observatory, and becoming its director on Hale's retirement. He helped design the 200 in telescope for Mount Palomar Observatory. His method of spectroscopic parallaxes, a technique using spectra to give ...

To What Extent Does Isis Mark a New Stage in the Development of Salafi-Jihadism

DTIC Science & Technology

This thesis examines whether the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) marks a new stage in the development of Salafi-jihadism. Based on a thorough...of media are additional new characteristics that distinguish ISIS from the other Salafi-jihadist groups. The thesis concludes that ISIS marks a new

77 FR 61652 - Determination by the Secretary of State Relating to Iran Sanctions

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-10

... DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice 8058] Determination by the Secretary of State Relating to Iran Sanctions AGENCY: Department of State. This notice is to inform the public that the Secretary of State... Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA) (Pub. L. 112-81), as amended by the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria...

78 FR 11275 - Designation of One (1) Individual and Four (4) Entities Pursuant to Executive Order 13628 of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... of October 9, 2012, ``Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 and Additional Sanctions With Respect to Iran... issued Executive Order 13628, ``Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Iran...

The Seeds of Discontent: Examining Youth Perceptions of Higher Education in Syria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buckner, Elizabeth

2013-01-01

This article examines young Syrians' perceptions of higher education after the 2001 reforms, which expanded access to higher education and permitted the establishment of private universities. Data come from in-depth interviews conducted with 22 Syrians residing in Damascus, aged 18-32 in 2009. Analysis indicates youth are critical of the higher…

CTC Sentinel. Volume 6, Issue 8, August 2013

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-08-01

Iran. Hizb Allah to Iran isn’t a card to play with. Hizb Allah today is the crown jewel of the resistance bloc; presidential moderation doesn’t mean...video recorded on a Hizb Allah fighter’s phone of the IRAM in action. 48 “ DIY Weapons in Syria – Hezbollah Deploys IRAMs in Qusayr,” Brown Moses

Land Reform and Its Effects on Rural Community Development in Selected Near Eastern Countries.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yacoub, Salah M.

The effects of land reform programs on community development and the overall socioeconomic development in the three Near Eastern countries of Jordan, Iraq, and Syria were assessed. Land reform was defined as the: redistribution of rights in land ownership and management; reform in the land tenancy patterns; and land settlements, including the…

Arabs in the New World: Studies on Arab-American Communities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abraham, Sameer Y., Ed.; Abraham, Nabeel, Ed.

This book is a collection of articles and research materials on Arab-Americans. Part one of the book provides an historical overview of Arab-Americans, their reasons for emigration from Greater Syria, and profiles of the two major religious groups, Muslims and Christians, in the United States Arab population. Authors of this section include Alixa…

Political and Socio-Economic Change: Revolutions and Their Implications for the U.S. Military

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-09-01

redlines and then being embarrassed by them. The use of chemical weapons by Syria is the lat- est, where the redline has been diluted to a “range of...thus engen - ders doubts about U.S. credibility and undermines confidence in U.S. judgment, thereby diminishing American power. 62 Third, the

The Opinions of Instructors Teaching Turkish to Foreigners about the Writing Skills of Syrian Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sengül, Murat

2015-01-01

This study focuses on the difficulties experienced by the instructors while teaching writing skill to Arabians from Syria, and how these difficulties could be overcome. The study group of the research includes 11 instructors working in Turkish Teaching Centers (TTCs) of Cukurova University and Adana Science and Technology University. The data…

Making up the "Ummah": The Rhetoric of ISIS as Public Pedagogy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Low, Remy

2016-01-01

In this article, the author submits that the push for moderation and social cohesion through deradicalization is an inadequate response to violence inspired by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) because it elides the political disaffections to which the group speaks. In advancing this argument, the author suggests that the rhetoric of ISIS…

Undergraduate Arab International Students' Adjustment to U.S. Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abu Rabia, Hazza M.

2017-01-01

The adjustment process and issues of 16 Arab international students enrolled at two universities in the Northeast of the United States were examined through this qualitative, exploratory study. The participants were from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and United Arab Emirates and had been in the US for 2 to 5 years. In-depth…

A Qualitative Investigation of the Factors Affecting Arab International Students' Persistence in the United States

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rabia, Hazza Abu

2017-01-01

This qualitative study explored the factors that enhance Arab international students' persistence and facilitate their academic and cultural adjustment at postsecondary institutions in the United States. The sample for this study consisted of Arab international students from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Syria, UAE, Iraq, and Jordan. In-depth…

Language Change in the Wake of Empire: Syriac in Its Greco-Roman Context

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Butts, Aaron Michael

2013-01-01

Greek-Aramaic bilingualism was wide-spread throughout Late Antique Syria and Mesopotamia. Among the various Aramaic dialects, Syriac underwent a particularly intense and prolonged period of contact with Greek. This contact led to changes in both languages. The present study provides a new analysis of contact-induced changes in Syriac due to Greek,…

77 FR 43658 - Designation of Twenty-Nine (29) Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-25

...) Individuals Pursuant to Executive Order 13573 of May 18, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the... 13573 of May 18, 2011, ``Blocking Property of Senior Officials of the Government of Syria.'' DATES: The... Executive Order 13573, is effective on July 18, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Director...

An annotated checklist of the Stomoxyini (Diptera: Muscidae) of the Levant with new records from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Sinai Egypt

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Stomoxyini are obligate blood feeders and several members of the tribe, especially Stomoxys and Haematobia, are major pests of domestic livestock causing billions of U.S. dollars in damages annually. Therefore, USDA-CMAVE scientists and Israeli scientists worked cooperatively to survey the spec...

77 FR 71608 - Notification of the Removal of Conditions of Entry on Vessels Arriving From the Republic of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-03

..., Syria, Timor-Leste, Venezuela, and Yemen. This current list is also available in the policy notice... arriving from the country of the Republic of Indonesia. DATES: The policy announced in this notice is... holidays. This policy is also available at www.homeport.uscg.mil under the Maritime Security tab...

Implications of Financing Higher Education for Access and Equity: The Case of Syria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kabbani, Nader; Salloum, Siba

2011-01-01

This article examines the implications for access and equity of the Syrian government's efforts to reform higher education in the country over the past decade. In the context of social and economic reforms that are moving the county from a state-controlled to a social market economy, it focuses on adequacy in financing higher education, as well as…

The Role of L+ Turkish and English Learning in Resilience: A Case of Syrian Students at Gaziantep University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cinkara, Emrah

2017-01-01

The study investigated Syrian students' resilience, the ability to bounce back from some form of disaster, disruption, stress, or change. The situation in Syria caused thousands of deaths and millions of refugees, which is the main source of disaster and Syrian students need to recover from this. According to UNHCR, Turkey welcomed around…

A Comparative Analysis of the Intended Curriculum and Its Presentation in 10th Grade Chemistry Textbooks from Seven Arabic Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khaddoor, Rouba; Al-Amoush, Siham; Eilks, Ingo

2017-01-01

This study investigates the nature of intended secondary chemistry curricula, as they are represented by chemistry textbooks, from seven Arabic countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The curricula are evaluated through analysis of the officially approved 10th grade chemistry textbooks used nationwide in all…

Expressing the sense of Congress that the President is prohibited under the Constitution from initiating war against Syria without express congressional authorization and the appropriation of funds for the express purpose of waging such a war.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Rep. Jones, Walter B., Jr. [R-NC-3

2013-06-20

House - 07/15/2013 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status IntroducedHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Three Capitals for Two States -- Analysis of Jerusalem’s Sovereignty and Perspectives

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-05-19

central plot in each of them when he described Jerusalem as “a Dome, A Tomb and a 7 Wall; a Crescent, a Cross and a Star; three faiths, three...day Israel, Lebanon, Jordan and parts of Syria, was at the crossroads of the Persian, Egyptian , and Assyrian empires, and Jerusalem was on the central

The Strategic Implications of Chinese Companies Going Global

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-01-01

required by law to be controlled or owned by the state (see Table 1). The sectors include power generation and distribution; oil, coal , petrochemicals...Asia, the South Pacific, and the Caribbean Basin . The scope and scale of Chinese commercial activities abroad certainly dictate to what degree they...Guinea, Indonesia , Iraq, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Peru, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Venezuela CNOOC Equatorial Guinea

78 FR 34706 - Designation of Two (2) Entities Pursuant to Executive Order 13628 of October 9, 2012

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-10

... Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 and Additional Sanctions With Respect to Iran.'' DATES: The designations by the Director of OFAC of the two (2... Executive Order 13628, ``Authorizing the Implementation of Certain Sanctions Set Forth in the Iran Threat...

Pre-Emption and Precedent: The Significance of Iraq (1981) and Syria (2007) for an Israeli Response to an Iranian Nuclear Threat

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-06-10

x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ...79 1 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Background You don‘t want a messianic apocalyptic cult controlling atomic...Elli_Louka_Nuclear_Weapons_Proliferation.pdf (accessed 15 April 2011). 8 This study consists of five chapters. Chapter 1, ― Introduction ‖ announces the topic and describes its

3 CFR - Continuation of the National Emergency With Respect to the Actions of the Government of Syria

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. As a result... of May 1, 2012. The President took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by the actions of...

Parents and Their Children's Variable Language: Is It Acquisition or More?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Habib, Rania

2017-01-01

This study compares the use of the variable (q), which is realized as rural [q] and urban [?], in the speech of twenty-two parents and their twenty-one children from the village of Oyoun Al-Wadi in Syria. The study shows that children acquire the general gendered linguistic pattern of the community but do not replicate the linguistic frequencies…

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 740 - Country Groups

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... Zealand 1 X X X X Norway X X X X X Poland X X X X Portugal X X X X X Romania X X X Russia X X Singapore X... Pakistan X X X Qatar X X Russia X X Saudi Arabia X X Somalia X Sri Lanka X Sudan X Syria X X X Taiwan X...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 740 - Country Groups

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... Netherlands X X X X New Zealand 1 X X X Norway X X X X Poland X X X Portugal X X X X Romania X X Russia X X... Macau X X X Moldova X X Mongolia X X Oman X X Pakistan X X X Qatar X X Russia X X Saudi Arabia X X Syria...

15 CFR Supplement No. 1 to Part 740 - Country Groups

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... Netherlands X X X X New Zealand 1 X X X Norway X X X X Poland X X X Portugal X X X X Romania X X Russia X X... Macau X X X Moldova X X Mongolia X X Oman X X Pakistan X X X Qatar X X Russia X X Saudi Arabia X X Syria...

Are We Really Ready to Accommodate Cultural Diversity in Our Language Classes?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Uyar, Yusuf

2016-01-01

After the civil war and the terrorist threat experienced in Syria and Iraq recently, school-age children of the families who were forced to migrate to Turkey have gradually begun to be incorporated into Turkish education system. Although the engagement is few in number now, it will increase within the next years in line with the planning, and…

Education in Emergencies: Case of a Community School for Syrian Refugees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hos, Rabia

2016-01-01

With the break of the civil war in Syria, many Syrians have been displaced either internally or as refugees. Turkey, one of the leading host of Syrian refugees, has made changes to the policies to accommodate the needs of Syrians. Education is one of the most prominent needs of displaced refugee children. While 80 percent of refugee children…

U.S. Counter-ISIL Strategy: Appropriate and Successful, but Needs Adjustments

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-03-31

future operations and contingencies. 15. SUBJECT TERMS Terrorism , ISIL, U.S. Strategy, CORDS, U.S. Counter-ISIL Strategy 16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION...Syria, and American allies and partners throughout the region as it seeks to overthrow governments, control territory, terrorize local populations... terrorism mission is to “gain more fidelity on ISIL’s 22 Senate Foreign Relations Committee

31 CFR 542.510 - Exports or reexports to Syria of items licensed or otherwise authorized by the Department of...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... services authorized. 542.510 Section 542.510 Money and Finance: Treasury Regulations Relating to Money and... REGULATIONS Licenses, Authorizations, and Statements of Licensing Policy § 542.510 Exports or reexports to.... Note to § 542.510: This section does not authorize the exportation or reexportation of any item not...

A Multilevel Analysis of the Role of School Quality and Family Background on Students' Mathematics Achievement in the Middle East

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kareshki, Hossein; Hajinezhad, Zahra

2014-01-01

The purpose of the present study is investigating the correlation between school quality and family socioeconomic background and students' mathematics achievement in the Middle East. The countries in comparison are UAE, Syria, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, and Bahrain. The study utilized data from IEA's Trends in International…

JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-02-01

Dec] 35 OMAN Increase in Electricity, Water Production Observed [AL-WATAN 3 Dec] 37 SAUDI ARABIA Official Discusses Continued Economic Growth...SYRIA Officials Express Concern at Environmental Pollution [AL-THA WRAH 25 Nov] 41 SOUTH ASIA AFGHANISTAN Afghan-Soviet Economic Cooperation...Region; Scientific Study Stresses: Strategic, Political, and Economic Motives Are Behind Endeavor"] [Text] There are reasons that motivate a major

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the humanitarian crisis in Syria and neighboring countries, resulting humanitarian and development challenges, and the urgent need for a political solution to the crisis.

THOMAS, 113th Congress

Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA

2014-03-13

Senate - 04/03/2014 Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (All Actions) Tracker: This bill has the status Agreed to in SenateHere are the steps for Status of Legislation:

Student Needs and Motives When Attending a University: Exploring the Syrian Case

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Al-Fattal, Anas; Ayoubi, Rami

2013-01-01

This paper aims at exploring student needs and motives to pursue higher education in Syria. Based on the model of student buyer behavior developed by Kotler and Fox in 1995, the study focuses on the first step of this model, so-called motives. The study results are based on qualitative data collected by means of semi-structured styles of…

CTC Sentinel. Volume 7, Issue 3

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-03-01

foreign fighting, including Finland . In March 2014, the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (FSIS) stated that over 30 individuals had...hardened jihadists returning to Finland from Syria.5 This article examines the factors that may have contributed to Finnish Muslim participation...Violent Extremism in Finland – Situation Overview 2/2013,” Finland Ministry of the Interior, August 26, 2013. The reports do not clarify whether

On the (Im)Possibility of Democratic Citizenship Education in the Arab and Muslim World

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waghid, Yusef; Davids, Nuraan

2014-01-01

The euphoria of the recent Arab Spring that was initiated in northern African countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya and spilled over to Bahrain, Yemen and Syria brings into question as to whether democratic citizenship education or more pertinently, education for democratic citizenship can successfully be cultivated in most of the Arab and…

The Integration of Counterterrorism into the DNA of American Policing

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

the most effective way for police departments , small or large, to fight terrorism.15 The Los Angeles Police Department ( LAPD ) agrees, and...IRTPA Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and Syria K9 canine xi LAPD Los Angeles Police Department LE...due to the exceptional level of instruction and interaction from faculty and staff, which made

iss047e057822

NASA Image and Video Library

2016-04-14

ISS047e057822 (04/14/2016) --- The Middle East is seen from 250 miles above in this photo from the International Space Station. Countries seen left to right along the Mediterranean coast include Egypt, Gaza, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Turkey. The major waterways shown from left to right are the Nile River, Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea.

77 FR 53901 - Notification of the Imposition of Conditions of Entry for Certain Vessels Arriving to the United...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-04

... Principe, Syria, Timor-Leste, Venezuela, and Yemen. This current list is also available in the policy... Hodeidah. DATES: The policy announced in this notice will become effective September 18, 2012. ADDRESSES... telephone number is 202-366-9329. This policy is also available at www.homeport.uscg.mil under the Maritime...

A longitudinal investigation of depressive symptoms in undergraduate students of pharmacy in Syria.

PubMed

Gonçalves, Vânia; Zidan, Amani; Issa, Mona; Barah, Faraj

2012-05-01

This prospective longitudinal study investigated depressive symptoms and its association with students' demographic, academic, and health factors in undergraduate students of pharmacy in Syria. Students attending any year (1st to 5th year) were assessed in the first semester (time 1) and in the second semester (time 2). An academic year comprises two semesters of 16 weeks each. Data for 450 students were analyzed at time 1, and 262 students were assessed at the two time points. Our results showed that most of the students experienced depressive symptoms, with a substantial percentage presenting moderate to severe levels of symptoms (35% or 450 students at time 1; 23% or 262 students at time 2). Across the two semesters, a significant decrease in depressive symptoms was observed for students with complete data at the two time points. Depressive symptoms at time 2 increased significantly with increasing depressive scores at time 1 and decreasing students' expectations about their academic performance. Our results support the clear need for dynamic, full-time, and accessible psychological services at the university to promote and assess mental health and to deliver psychological interventions to students at need.

Syrian pharmacy students' intentions and attitudes toward postgraduate education.

PubMed

El-Hammadi, Mazen

2012-10-12

To investigate Syrian pharmacy students' intentions and attitudes toward postgraduate study, and to determine and evaluate the factors that influence their preferences. A questionnaire was developed and used to collect data from final-year bachelor of pharmacy (BPharm) students at Damascus University. Of the 265 students who responded to the survey, approximately 50% intended to work, 25% intended to pursue further study, and 25% were undecided. Personal fulfillment was the factor that most influenced students' intentions concerning future education. Men were more concerned over their financial future, while women's intentions were more influenced by scientific issues. The 3 most preferred pharmaceutical areas of further study were biochemistry and laboratory diagnosis, pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical industry, and clinical pharmacy. More students favored pursuing graduate school abroad rather than in Syria. The majority of those who intended to enroll in local graduate programs were interested in academic programs while less than a fifth favored residency programs. The graduate programs in Syria do not appear to satisfy pharmacy students' ambitions or have the capacity to accommodate the growing demand associated with the rapid increase in the number of pharmacy graduates in the country. Consequently, a majority of students prefer to pursue postgraduate study abroad.

Project Anqa: Digitizing and Documenting Cultural Heritage in the Middle East

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhtar, S.; Akoglu, G.; Simon, S.; Rushmeier, H.

2017-08-01

The practice of digitizing cultural heritage sites is gaining ground among conservation scientists and scholars in architecture, art history, computer science, and related fields. Recently, the location of such sites in areas of intense conflict has highlighted the urgent need for documenting cultural heritage for the purposes of preservation and posterity. The complex histories of such sites requires more than just their digitization, and should also include the meaningful interpretation of buildings and their surroundings with respect to context and intangible values. Project Anqa is an interdisciplinary and multi-partner effort that goes beyond simple digitization to record at-risk heritage sites throughout the Middle East and Saharan Africa, most notably in Syria and Iraq, before they are altered or destroyed. Through a collaborative process, Anqa assembles documentation, historically contextualizes it, and makes data accessible and useful for scholars, peers, and the wider public through state-of-the-art tools. The aim of the project is to engage in capacity-building on the ground in Syria and Iraq, as well as to create an educational web platform that informs viewers about cultural heritage in the region through research, digital storytelling, and the experience of virtual environments.

Perspectives of displaced Syrian women and service providers on fertility behaviour and available services in West Bekaa, Lebanon.

PubMed

Kabakian-Khasholian, Tamar; Mourtada, Rima; Bashour, Hyam; Kak, Faysal El; Zurayk, Huda

2017-10-01

Prior to the conflict, Syria had relatively high fertility rates. In 2010, it had the sixth highest total fertility rate in the Arab World, but it witnessed a fertility decline before the conflict in 2011. Displacement during conflict influences fertility behaviour, and meeting the contraceptive needs of displaced populations is complex. This study explored the perspectives of women and service providers about fertility behaviour of and service provision to Syrian refugee women in Bekaa, Lebanon. We used qualitative methodology to conduct 12 focus group discussions with Syrian refugee women grouped in different age categories and 13 in-depth interviews with care providers from the same region. Our findings indicate that the displacement of Syrians to Lebanon had implications on the fertility behaviour of the participants. Women brought their beliefs about preferred family size and norms about decision-making into an environment where they were exposed to both aid and hardship. The unaffordability of contraceptives in the Lebanese privatised health system compared to their free provision in Syria limited access to family planning services. Efforts are needed to maintain health resources and monitor health needs of the refugee population in order to improve access and use of services.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Related Disorders among Female Yazidi Refugees following Islamic State of Iraq and Syria Attacks-A Case Series and Mini-Review.

PubMed

Gerdau, Inga; Kizilhan, Jan Ilhan; Noll-Hussong, Michael

2017-01-01

Following the severe attacks by the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and Syria" on the Yazidi population, which started in summer 2014, the state government of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, funded a Special-Quota Project to bring 1,000 very ill or left-behind women and children who were being held hostage to 22 cities and towns in Baden-Württemberg to receive integrated care. Here, we report for the first time on the cases of four Yazidi women living in Ulm, Germany, focusing on the clinically observed and psychometrically assessed mental phenomena or disorders. Our primary aim was to explore what International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision diagnoses are present in this population. Although highly traumatized, these women were suffering primarily from adjustment disorder rather than posttraumatic stress disorder according to official classification systems. Despite their symptoms of depression and anxiety, the women's responses to self-assessment questionnaires provided no evidence of compulsion, somatization, or eating disorders. The results suggest that further investigation of the individual-level effects of rape and torture, as well the historic, systemic, and collective effects, e.g., on families and societies, is required.

Reforms and emerging noncommunicable disease: some challenges facing a conflict-ridden country--the case of the Syrian Arab Republic.

PubMed

Sen, Kasturi; Al-Faisal, Waleed

2013-01-01

The past year witnessed considerable turbulence in the Arab world-in this case, Syria, a lower middle-income country with a record of a strong public health infrastructure. This paper explores the current challenges facing its health system from reforms, civil strife and international sanctions all of which we argue have serious implications for population health. The health sector in Syria was little known, and until recently, it was well integrated to provide preventive and specialized care when needed. Regionally, it was one of the few countries ready and capable of addressing the challenges of demographic and epidemiologic transition with a long-standing emphasis on primary care and prevention, unlike most countries of the region. This context has changed dramatically through the recent implementation of reforms and the current civil war. Changes to financing, management and the delivery of health service placed access to services in jeopardy, but now, these are compounded by the destruction from an intractable and violent conflict and international sanctions. This paper explores some of the combined effects of reforms, conflict and sanctions on population health. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Remote sensing and modelling analysis of the extreme dust storm hitting the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean in September 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Solomos, Stavros; Ansmann, Albert; Mamouri, Rodanthi-Elisavet; Binietoglou, Ioannis; Patlakas, Platon; Marinou, Eleni; Amiridis, Vassilis

2017-03-01

The extreme dust storm that affected the Middle East and the eastern Mediterranean in September 2015 resulted in record-breaking dust loads over Cyprus with aerosol optical depth exceeding 5.0 at 550 nm. We analyse this event using profiles from the European Aerosol Research Lidar Network (EARLINET) and the Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO), geostationary observations from the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI), and high-resolution simulations from the Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS). The analysis of modelling and remote sensing data reveals the main mechanisms that resulted in the generation and persistence of the dust cloud over the Middle East and Cyprus. A combination of meteorological and surface processes is found, including (a) the development of a thermal low in the area of Syria that results in unstable atmospheric conditions and dust mobilization in this area, (b) the convective activity over northern Iraq that triggers the formation of westward-moving haboobs that merge with the previously elevated dust layer, and (c) the changes in land use due to war in the areas of northern Iraq and Syria that enhance dust erodibility.

Tele-Pediatric Intensive Care for Critically Ill Children in Syria.

PubMed

Ghbeis, Muhammad Bakr; Steffen, Katherine M; Braunlin, Elizabeth A; Beilman, Gregory J; Dahman, Jay; Ostwani, Waseem; Steiner, Marie E

2017-12-12

Armed conflicts can result in humanitarian crises and have major impacts on civilians, of whom children represent a significant proportion. Usual pediatric medical care is often disrupted and trauma resulting from war-related injuries is often devastating. High pediatric mortality rates are thus experienced in these ravaged medical environments. Using simple communication technology to provide real-time management recommendations from highly trained pediatric personnel can provide substantive clinical support and have a significant impact on pediatric morbidity and mortality. We implemented a "Tele-Pediatric Intensive Care" program (Tele-PICU) to provide real-time management consultation for critically ill and injured pediatric patients in Syria with intensive care needs. Over the course of 7 months, 19 cases were evaluated, ranging in age from 1 day to 11 years. Consultation questions addressed a wide range of critical care needs. Five patients are known to have survived, three were transferred, five died, and six outcomes were unknown. Based on this limited undertaking with its positive impact on survival, further development of Tele-PICU-based efforts with attention to implementation and barriers identified through this program is desirable. Even limited Tele-PICU can provide timely and potentially lifesaving assistance to pediatric care providers. Future efforts are encouraged.

[Ecoepidemiology of leishmaniases in Syria. 2--Presence, in dogs, of Leishmania infantum Nicolle and Leishmania tropica (Wright) (Kinetoplastida-Trypanonomatidae)].

PubMed

Dereure, J; Rioux, J A; Khiami, A; Pratlong, F; Périères, J; Martini, A

1991-01-01

In an ecoepidemiological study in the Syrian foci of human visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis, domestic dogs infected with Leishmania infantum MON-1 and L. tropica MON-76 were found for the first time. In Syria canine leishmaniasis caused by L. infantum, occurs in the humid and sub-humid western belt from the coastal zone to the nearby mountain ranges. Sporadis cases of human VL occur in this area. Canine CL, caused by L. tropica was found in the semi-arid zone in a village with a high human infection rate. The infection causes small papules or crusted ulcers on the nose or muzzle. These observations are relevant to control. In human VL foci it is recommended not to control the dog population, unless this is linked with other activities, such as rabies control. Control of dogs in the CL areas is not justified because of the small size of the lesions and the rarity of the parasites. Indeed the role of the dog as the "true" reservoir host is questionable. Human CL infection is best controlled by active case detection and specific treatment.

Transfer of (40)K, (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po from soil to plant in various locations in south of Syria.

PubMed

Al-Masri, M S; Al-Akel, B; Nashawani, A; Amin, Y; Khalifa, K H; Al-Ain, F

2008-02-01

Transfer factors of (40)K, (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po from soil to some agriculture crops in various locations in south of Syria (Dara'a and Assuwaydaa districts) have been determined. Soil and vegetable crops (green pepper, cucumber, tomato, and eggplant), legumes crops (lentil, chickpea, and broad bean), fruit trees (apple, grape, and olives) and cereals (barley and wheat) were collected and analyzed for (238)U, (210)Pb, and (210)Po. The results have shown that higher transfer factors (calculated as Bqkg(-1) dry wt. plant material per Bqkg(-1) dry wt. soil) for (210)Po, (210)Pb and (238)U were observed in vegetable leaves than fruits and cereals leaves; the highest values of transfer factor (TF) for (238)U were found to be 0.1 for straw of chickpea. Transfer factors for (210)Po varied between 2.8x10(-2) and 2 in fruits of eggplant and grain of barley, respectively. In addition, several parameters affecting transfer factors of the radionuclides were evaluated. The results can be considered as base values for TF of natural radionuclides in the region.

Precision Strike Technology Symposium (PSTS 09)

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-10-29

Control System) AUR (All-Up-Round) UHF SATCOM GPS JIC Threat and Target Data NGA Mapping, Charting & Geodesy 5 0 IRAQ SAU DI AR ABIA OM AN EM IRA TES JO...d M il it ary Ci ty Abu Dhabi qom Ahraz Shiraz Esfahan Yaz d Kerman Rafha 5 0 IRAQ SAU DI AR ABIA OM AN EM IRA TES JO RDAN SYRIA PAKI ST AN

Al-Qaeda-Syria (AQS): An Al-Qaeda Affiliate Case Study

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-10-01

comparative methodology that included eight case studies on groups affiliated or associated with Al-Qaeda. These case studies were then used as a...Case Study Zack Gold With contributions from Pamela G. Faber October 2017 This work was performed under Federal Government...for Stability and Development Center for Strategic Studies REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved OMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden

International Coordination of and Contributions to Environmental Satellite Programs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-06-01

the international coordination of, and contributions to, environmental satellite programs. It re- views the background and history of international...Earth’s atmos- phere, surface temperature, cloud cover, water-ice boundaries, * and proton and electron flux near the Earth. They have the capability of...Islands Madagascar Sweden Chile Malaysia Switzerland China, People’s Rep. of Mali Syria Colombia Malta Tahiti Costa Rica Martinique Taiwan Curacao

Terrorism: National Security Policy and the Home Front.

DTIC Science & Technology

1995-05-15

militia commanders, linked by a common ideology and background. In addition, clans and families have dominated large factions within Hizbollah. In the ... placed significant weight on developing a strong military arm. The State Department’s 1993 report on international terrorism lists Hizbollah’s...with Syria and Lebanon. The most violent round of clashes since the Israeli invasion of Lebanon took place in July 1993, after Hizbollah attacks

Project 1946

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-12-01

persuaded the Israelis to halt their advance and move to reinforce the war’s Southern Front, where the Egyptians were about to attempt their breakout...small, equipment was not up to date, and additionally, everyone in the community believed that just by having the Egyptian and the Syrian armies...militaries and governments. Egyptian President Gamal ’Abd Al- Nassir’s resignation was a direct result.22 There were similar movements in Syria, and

Continuity Education in Emergency and Conflict Situations: The Case for Using Open, Distance and Flexible Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Creed, Charlotte; Morpeth, Roslyn Louise

2014-01-01

Emergency and conflict in countries such as Syria, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have made us more aware of the long-term serial disruption and psychosocial damage faced by people caught up in emergency and conflict areas. Open, distance and flexible learning (ODFL) has sometimes been employed in these regions to maintain a degree of…

Iran Sanctions

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-09-09

the Iran-Syria-North Korea Non- Proliferation Act) authorizes sanctions on foreign persons (individuals or corporations , not countries or governments ...view—increasingly shared by major allies—is that sanctions should target Iran’s energy sector that provides about 80% of government revenues. U.S...its government revenue. Iran’s oil sector is as old as the petroleum industry itself, and Iran’s onshore oil fields and oil industry infrastructure are

Lessons Learned from the Afghan Mission Network: Developing a Coalition Contingency Network

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

SIPRNet Secret Internet Protocol Router Network SOP Standard Operating Procedure SVTC Secure Video Teleconference (or –Conferencing) TTP Tactics...Voice over internet protocol (VOIP) telephone connectivity • Email • Web browsing • Secure video teleconferencing (SVTC...10, 2012. As of January 15, 2013: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/10/us-troops-jordan-syria-crisis Baldor, Lolita C., and Pauline Jelinek

Syrian Civil War: Solving the Prisoner’s Dilemma

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

the relationship between Turkey and Syria became much warmer. This relationship further developed after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan took...prevented Erdogan from continuing his support of Bashar al- Assad when the regime was decimating a mostly Sunni opposition movement. Assad put 75...If Erdogan turned against Assad, then he would immediately lose economic benefits accrued during the previous decade. Additionally, Turkey would

Forming a Cyber Coalition

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-04-06

Estonia 6 :  98% of Estonian‟s territory was covered with Internet access: fixed line, broadband, WiMax, WiFi , and CDMA21 mobile wireless Internet...The hacked homepage displayed a prominent image of Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, with a text proclaiming “Syrian Electronic Army Were...update and harmonize their criminal laws against hacking , infringements on copyrights, computer facilitated fraud, child pornography, and other illicit

Investigation of Some Variables of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Empathy and Depression in Syrian Children

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sengün, Gökhan; Ögretir, Ayse Dilek

2018-01-01

Turkey has been facing with migration for various reasons. More than half of those migrating from Syria to Turkey are children. In this study, it was aimed to examine the levels of PTSD, empathy and depression in Syrian children. A total of 121 boys and 135 girls from Altindag district of Ankara formed a sample group of 256 children. Personal…

Possible U.S. Intervention in Syria: Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-12

had not formally considered an alternative authorization proposal, although some Members had circulated draft proposals or introduced measures that...have circulated a draft authorization for the use of military force that would authorize the president “to use the United States Armed Forces to...16 Draft circulated to legislative staff via email, September 3, 2013. Available at: http://www.lawfareblog.com/wp- content/uploads/2013/09

Ethnic Conflict: The Case of the Kurds

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-04-01

political context in which the twenty million Kurds now live in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria and Armenia. Focusing on the Iraqi situation, I also suggest...several conditions I feel the Kurds must achieve in order to obtain the necessary international political support needed to achieve a meaningful...is to explore this people; their history, customs, political solidarity, and their frequently frustrated quest for autonomy. Can there be an

3 CFR 13582 - Executive Order 13582 of August 17, 2011. Blocking Property of the Government of Syria and...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America..., President of the United States of America, in order to take additional steps with respect to the Government..., hereby order: Section 1. (a) All property and interests in property that are in the United States, that...

78 FR 24468 - Unblocking of 1 Individual Designated Pursuant to Executive Order 13572

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-25

... is removed from the SDN List: Individual AL-KUZBARI, Nabil Rafik (a.k.a. AL-KOUZBARI, Nabil; a.k.a. AL- KUZBARI, Nabil; a.k.a. AL-KUZBARI, Nabil Rafiq; a.k.a. KUSBARI, Nabil; a.k.a. KUZBARI, Ahmad; a.k.a. KUZBARI, Ahmad Nabil; a.k.a. KUZBARI, Nabil R.); DOB 20 Sep 1936; POB Damascus, Syria; citizen...

USSR Report, International Affairs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-05-16

25 Countries January—December 1984 1985 Malaysia Mongolian People’s Republic Nepal Pakistan Saudi Arabia Singapore Syria Turnover Export...mutual deliveries of machinery, equipment and other goods, increase of their export to third countries’ markets the Parties shall facilitate the further...physical or juridical persons on the basis of this Agreement, shall be established on the basis of world prices of the main markets for corresponding goods

Israeli Deterrence And the 2nd Lebanon War

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-04-06

06 April 2017 DISTRIBUTION A. Approved for public release: distribution unlimited. Disclaimer The views expressed in this academic...which often replaces the government.119 Views are divided whether Hezbollah is first a Lebanese entity or an Iranian envoy.120 Nevertheless...proxy who can deter an Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities.131 Iran views Syria as a channel for aid to the Shiite population in Lebanon and

USSR Report International Affairs.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-09-02

minimum interest rate (price of a loan), proportion of the value of a contract to be covered by an easy loan (minimum size of payments in cash...Kuwait Laos Lebanon Malaysia Mongolian People’s Republic Nepal Pakistan Saudi Arabia Singapore Syria Turnover Export Import Turnover...including the blockade imposed on export financing. The latter was started in July 1980 by swiftly increasing the interest rates on foreign trade loans

German Foreign Fighters in Syria and Iraq

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-01

players of a Saudi semi-professional soccer team mobilized as a group to travel and fight in Iraq.47 Yet the Saudi soccer squad is not the only...as their biographical availability and integration into German society. The study finds that German foreign fighters are primarily mobilized through...MASTER OF ARTS IN SECURITY STUDIES (MIDDLE EAST, SOUTH ASIA, SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA) from the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL March 2016

[The doctor and the consul. Relations between Galen and Flavius Boethos under Marcus Aurelius].

PubMed

Gourevitch, Danielle

2012-01-01

The author describes the rich relationship between young Galen, just arrived in Rome from his native Minor Asia, and Flavius Boethos a consul suffectus who was to become the governor of Syria, and asked him to cure his wife and then their son, Cyrillos. Although very famous, Galen who never became a Roman citizen, needed such a friend and social mentor.

Near East/South Asia Report

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-04-15

Discusses Press Rights, Union Elections (Jalal-al-Din al-Hamamisi Interview; ROSE AL-YUSUF, 25 Feb 85) 29 Israel’s Lebanese Policy Marks Return...92 Lebanese Pound Slides to New Low (Ellas Baroudi; AN-NAHAR ARAB REPORT & MEMO, 4 Feb 85) .. 96 SYRIA Syrian Economic Measures...Threaten Islam (SOBH-E AZADEGAN, 23 Jan 85) 150 Fadzlallah Gives Views on Lebanese Resistance, Civil War (Allamah Seyyed Muhammad Fazlollah

Possible U.S. Intervention in Syria: Issues for Congress

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-03

Obama Administration presented intelligence analysis suggesting that the Syrian government was responsible for an August 21 chemical weapons attack...these critics argue, the costs of inaction have grown intolerably as humanitarian situation has deteriorated, violent extremist groups have seized the...Kerry further stated that tests of blood and hair samples from Syrian first responders obtained by the United States indicated exposure to the nerve

Epidemiological findings of major chemical attacks in the Syrian war are consistent with civilian targeting: a short report.

PubMed

Rodriguez-Llanes, Jose M; Guha-Sapir, Debarati; Schlüter, Benjamin-Samuel; Hicks, Madelyn Hsiao-Rei

2018-01-01

Evidence of use of toxic gas chemical weapons in the Syrian war has been reported by governmental and non-governmental international organizations since the war started in March 2011. To date, the profiles of victims of the largest chemical attacks in Syria remain unknown. In this study, we used descriptive epidemiological analysis to describe demographic characteristics of victims of the largest chemical weapons attacks in the Syrian war. We analysed conflict-related, direct deaths from chemical weapons recorded in non-government-controlled areas by the Violation Documentation Center, occurring from March 18, 2011 to April 10, 2017, with complete information on the victim's date and place of death, cause and demographic group. 'Major' chemical weapons events were defined as events causing ten or more direct deaths. As of April 10, 2017, a total of 1206 direct deaths meeting inclusion criteria were recorded in the dataset from all chemical weapons attacks regardless of size. Five major chemical weapons attacks caused 1084 of these documented deaths. Civilians comprised the majority ( n  = 1058, 97.6%) of direct deaths from major chemical weapons attacks in Syria and combatants comprised a minority of 2.4% ( n  = 26). In the first three major chemical weapons attacks, which occurred in 2013, children comprised 13%-14% of direct deaths, ranging in numbers from 2 deaths among 14 to 117 deaths among 923. Children comprised higher proportions of direct deaths in later major chemical weapons attacks, forming 21% ( n  = 7) of 33 deaths in the 2016 major attack and 34.8% ( n  = 32) of 92 deaths in the 2017 major attack. Our finding of an extreme disparity in direct deaths from major chemical weapons attacks in Syria, with 97.6% of victims being civilians and only 2.4% being combatants provides evidence that major chemical weapons attacks were indiscriminate or targeted civilians directly; both violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Identifying and quantifying chemical weapons violations requires inter-disciplinary collaboration to inform international policy, humanitarian intervention and legal action.

Molecular, serological and biological variation among chickpea chlorotic stunt virus isolates from five countries of North Africa and West Asia.

PubMed

Abraham, A D; Menzel, W; Varrelmann, M; Vetten, H Josef

2009-01-01

Chickpea chlorotic stunt virus (CpCSV), a proposed new member of the genus Polerovirus (family Luteoviridae), has been reported only from Ethiopia. In attempts to determine the geographical distribution and variability of CpCSV, a pair of degenerate primers derived from conserved domains of the luteovirus coat protein (CP) gene was used for RT-PCR analysis of various legume samples originating from five countries and containing unidentified luteoviruses. Sequencing of the amplicons provided evidence for the occurrence of CpCSV also in Egypt, Morocco, Sudan, and Syria. Phylogenetic analysis of the CP nucleotide sequences of 18 samples from the five countries revealed the existence of two geographic groups of CpCSV isolates differing in CP sequences by 8-10%. Group I included isolates from Ethiopia and Sudan, while group II comprised those from Egypt, Morocco and Syria. For distinguishing these two groups, a simple RFLP test using HindIII and/or PvuII for cleavage of CP-gene-derived PCR products was developed. In ELISA and immunoelectron microscopy, however, isolates from these two groups could not be distinguished with rabbit antisera raised against a group-I isolate from Ethiopia (CpCSV-Eth) and a group-II isolate from Syria (CpCSV-Sy). Since none of the ten monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that had been produced earlier against CpCSV-Eth reacted with group-II isolates, further MAbs were produced. Of the seven MAbs raised against CpCSV-Sy, two reacted only with CpCSV-Sy and two others with both CpCSV-Sy and -Eth. This indicated that there are group I- and II-specific and common (species-specific) epitopes on the CpCSV CP and that the corresponding MAbs are suitable for specific detection and discrimination of CpCSV isolates. Moreover, CpCSV-Sy (group II) caused more severe stunting and yellowing in faba bean than CpCSV-Eth (group I). In conclusion, our data indicate the existence of a geographically associated variation in the molecular, serological and presumably biological properties of CpCSV.

Growth of Islam. Seventh Grade Activity. Schools of California Online Resources for Education (SCORE): Connecting California's Classrooms to the World.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Houson, Judy

This seventh grade activity asks students to gather data that will help them understand and appreciate the Islamic way of life and to learn to feel comfortable living with a Muslim family in Syria during the second semester of the school year. The activity states each student will be interviewed by a Fulbright official, expected to keep a…

USSR Report, Life Sciences Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-07-10

ZHURNAL MIKROBIOLOGII, EPIDEMIOLOGII I IMMUNOBIOLOGII, No 11, 1983) 135 Dehydrogenase Activity of Plague Vaccine Strains as Indirect Indicator of...Arabia 2. Israel 10. Syria 3. Indonesia 11. Thailand 4. Jordan 12. Turkey 5. Iraq 13. Philippines 6. Iran 14. Sri Lanka 7. Kuwait 15. Japan 8...established that the majority of bacterial toxins have a protein nature and have receptor and activator functions. The part of the toxin molecule that

Israel: Strategic Asset or Strategic Liability?

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-23

Martin Fletcher, an NBC News correspondent, with a Palestinian man in Ramallah, Israel. During the interview, Mustafa al Khteeb says, “I cannot feed my...Kilometers Petra Qunaltlra Syria Az-Zarqa . • Jordan AI Karak CJ - Arab State/Palestine Jewish State{Israel Corpus Separatum/ Jerusalem BASED...and Walt, The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, 53. 129 Ibid., 53-4. 130 Ibid., 54. 131 Martin Fletcher, “Not Welcome: Disappointment Greets

The Weaponization of Social Media

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-10

over four years of bloody civil war against secular opposition groups and the Islamic State. In September 2015, the government of Syria received... group is trying to convey. The Islamic State’s narrative can be broken down into four parts: success, political grievance, religious obligation, and a...editor, Ms. Bonnie Joranko. I would not have been able to complete this project without her assistance. Finally, I would like to thank my four -year

JPRS Report, Near East & South Asia.

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-03-07

Near East & South Asia JPRS-NEA-88-014 CONTENTS 7 MARCH 1988 NEAR EAST REGIONAL GCC Governments Give Purchase Priority to National Products ...Russians 8 SYRIA Nation’s Electricity Production , Waste Problems Reviewed 10 Reasons for Asad Romanian Visit Discussed [AL-MUSTAQBAL, 5 Dec 87...REGIONAL GCC Governments Give Purchase Priority to National Products 44000044 Dammam AL-IQTISAD in English Oct 87 pp 66-67 [Text] Following is the

The Weaponization Of Migration: Examining Migration As a 21st Century Tool Of Political Warfare

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

em ittan ces / D iasp o ra T ax Pre...YEAR CHALLENGER ASSISTED BY TARGET LOCATION M ig ran ts U sed fo r M an p o w er In filtratio n D isru p t / D ep riv e E n em y...counterinsurgency move. In Syria, indiscriminate bombing by Russian and Syrian forces continues to cause significant population displacement

The Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety (ASDA): Its Development, Validation, and Results in Three Arab Countries

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abdel-Khalek, Ahmed M.

2004-01-01

The Arabic Scale of Death Anxiety (ASDA) was constructed and validated in a sample of undergraduates (17-33 yrs) in 3 Arab countries, Egypt (n = 418), Kuwait (n = 509), and Syria (n = 709). In its final form, the ASDA consists of 20 statements. Each item is answered on a 5-point intensity scale anchored by 1: No, and 5: Very much. Alpha…

Iran Sanctions

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-02-10

Korea-Syria Non- Proliferation Act (INKSNA) authorizes sanctions on foreign persons (individuals or corporations , not countries or governments ) that...financial system and had asked the German government to order it closed.42 On May 23, 2011, the EU named EIH and about 100 other entities as Iran...The energy sector provides nearly 70% of Iran’s government revenues. Iran’s alarm stems from the potential loss of oil sales as a result of: • A

Mediated Nationalism: Press Freedom, Mass Media, and Nationalism

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-12-01

Syria due to war, and the continuous technological advances of modern societies , similarly to how Western Europe experienced American cultural...Referendum where he won 51% of the votes,22 granting him extensive executive powers . President Erdogan used the coup attempt to fire over 100,000 people and...In doing so, societies needed something that linked them together and he proposes that print media was the source people found which identified

Syria: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-26

NUMBER 6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER 5e. TASK NUMBER 5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER 7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) Congressional...Feltman, “We noted in our discussions improvement in our ability to work bilaterally with the Syrians since our last visit here two months ago…. To...can move forward, where our interests overlap, and to see where we can try and work together to bridge the

Qatar: Background and U.S. Relations

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-11-04

Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Ziad Al Mahmoud Foreign Minister Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Attiyah Minister of Energy and Industry Mohammed bin Saleh al Sada...about voter franchise extension were resolved.5 The Advisory Council would have oversight authority over the Council of Ministers and would be able...Sunni armed groups in Syria has the potential to have a more lasting impact on the region, but has challenged the traditional Qatari preference for

Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-03-04

agreement in principle in late January but refused to endorse the first cabinet slate proposed by Prime Minister- designate Fayez al Sarraj. HOR members... designate Sarraj and HOR leaders about the way forward continued. Negotiations are ongoing with regard to these issues, but some Libyans have... theatre for ISIL outside of the Syria-Iraq theatre , they have several thousand members there, they have absorbed some of the groups inside of Libya

Middle Eastern Geographies of World War I

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-21

and ill-equipped forces. Within this atmosphere of persecution and economic depression caused by the war’s stoppage of religious pilgrimages...St. J.B. Armitage, "T.E. Lawrence: a centennial lecture," Asian Affairs 20, no. 1 (1989): 14. This Turkish offensive severely threatened the...British invade Syria. The Arabs working from Akaba became virtually the 163 St. J.B. Armitage, “Lawrence: a centennial lecture,” 18. 164 Wavell

The Funding Of Boko Haram And Nigerias Actions To Stop It

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-12-01

Group against Money Laundering in West Africa GSCF Global Security Contingency Fund ISIS Islamic State of Iraq and Syria JTF joint task force...78. 5 Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) believed that...has failed to address deficiencies such as money laundering and terrorist financing within its banks.96 Having a financial intelligence unit within a

CTC Sentinel. Volume 7, Issue 8, August 2014

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-08-01

began targeting pro - government Arabs in a powerful multi- year campaign of assassinations that culminated in al-Baghdadi’s “Soldiers Harvest...State and pro -government media focus on Muslims being targeted in Egypt, 35 33 Personal interview, “Sezgin,” Istanbul, Turkey, July 15, 2014. 34...activists on Twitter post similar pro - vocative statements to encourage Muslims to join jihad in Syria. 4 His Twitter account can be accessed at

Strategy-Policy Mismatch: How the U.S. Army Can Help Close Gaps in Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-01-01

Niblack, and Dana J. Johnson, A League of Airmen: U.S. Air Power in the Gulf War, Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation, MR-343-AF, 1994. 8 Lolita C...Sanger, and Anne Barnard, “Off-the-Cuff Obama Line Put U.S. in Bind on Syria,” New York Times, May 4, 2013. Baldor, Lolita C., “U.S. Troops Could

Response to a Large Polio Outbreak in a Setting of Conflict - Middle East, 2013-2015.

PubMed

Mbaeyi, Chukwuma; Ryan, Michael J; Smith, Philip; Mahamud, Abdirahman; Farag, Noha; Haithami, Salah; Sharaf, Magdi; Jorba, Jaume C; Ehrhardt, Derek

2017-03-03

As the world advances toward the eradication of polio, outbreaks of wild poliovirus (WPV) in polio-free regions pose a substantial risk to the timeline for global eradication. Countries and regions experiencing active conflict, chronic insecurity, and large-scale displacement of persons are particularly vulnerable to outbreaks because of the disruption of health care and immunization services (1). A polio outbreak occurred in the Middle East, beginning in Syria in 2013 with subsequent spread to Iraq (2). The outbreak occurred 2 years after the onset of the Syrian civil war, resulted in 38 cases, and was the first time WPV was detected in Syria in approximately a decade (3,4). The national governments of eight countries designated the outbreak a public health emergency and collaborated with partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to develop a multiphase outbreak response plan focused on improving the quality of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance* and administering polio vaccines to >27 million children during multiple rounds of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). † Successful implementation of the response plan led to containment and interruption of the outbreak within 6 months of its identification. The concerted approach adopted in response to this outbreak could serve as a model for responding to polio outbreaks in settings of conflict and political instability.