Background: Many Jordanian university students complain of the behavior of some teaching staff. Also, they complain of the grading systems in universities. Aim: This study concerns the occurrence of different forms of student mistreatment and student mistrust of the grading system in the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) as an example of universities in Jordan. Method: A total of 500 students in five health related faculties in JUST responded to a questionnaire. Results: Our results were as follow: (i) 61% of the students had experienced at least one form of mistreatment; (ii) perceived mistreatment most often (52%) had taken the form of psychological mistreatment (shouting and humiliation); (iii) other forms of mistreatment such as physical harm (32%), mistreatment related to religion (36%), mistreatment related to external appearance (35%), sexual harassment (33%) and mistreatment related to specialty (29%) were also common; (iv) with the exception of mistreatment related to specialty which was high among the nursing students, perceived mistreatment did not vary significantly between the different faculties; (v) the male students (66%) complain more than female students (56%); (vi) perceived mistreatment was exceptionally high among the Israeli Arabs, 83% compared to 59% for the Jordanians and 65% for other nonJordanian Arabs; (vii) fellow students (44%), professors (37%) and laboratory technicians (19%) were cited as major sources of mistreatment. Many students (66%) believe that grading system in JUST is unfair. Ninety seven percent of the Israeli Arabs did not trust the grading system compared to 64% of the Jordanians and 66% of the non-Jordanian Arabs. Conclusions: This study suggests that, feelings of mistreatment among university students is strong while their trust of the university grading system is low. Perceived mistreatment and an unfair grading system may be a major source of stress among our students and may affect the process of teaching and learning in our country. This should alert the university administration to face these issues and try to solve them.

Neurons in the gracile nucleus of the camel brain stem were studied by Golgi method. Neurons were classified based on soma size and shape, density of dendritic tree, morphology and distribution of appendages. Six types of neurons were identified. Type I neurons had very large somata with appendages on their somata and distal dendrites. Type II neurons had large somata and almost smooth dendrites. Type III neurons displayed medium size somata with dendritic appendages of different forms. Type IV neurons were small to medium spheroidal or triangular neurons. Somata and dendrites of these neurons had appendages of different forms. Type V medium-size neurons had bipolar, round or fusiform somata and poorly branching dendritic tree. Some spines and appendages were seen on somata and dendrites of these neurons. Neurons of type VI were medium-size unipolar, round or fusiform with spines on their dendrites. The radiating branching pattern was more common than the tufted for all types of neurons. Wide overlap between widths of dendrites of different orders was found for all neuronal types. Hopefully, this study will improve our understanding of the role of the gracile nucleus as major center for sensory information processing and contribute to our understanding of comparative neuroanatomy and neurophysiology

1. Golgi-Kopsch preparations of the oral ventral nuclei of human thalamus were analyzed in an attempt to classify the neuronal types. 2. Three types of neurons are described for the first time in humans. Type I neurons are large or medium in size and bear dendrites with protrusions, spines, and short hair-like appendages. Some have a radiate dendritic arbor and others have dendrites grouped in tufts. The dendritic trees of these neurons are dense. 3. Type II neurons are medium or small in size with less dense dendritic trees. These cells have somatic as well as dendritic appendages of different forms. 4. Relatively rare is a type of very small neurons, type III, with few and sparsely branching dendrites.

1. The morphology of neurons in the dentate gyrus of the adult human brain was analyzed with two variants of Golgi technique. 2. About 20 neuronal types and subtypes were observed in the dentate gyrus of the adult human, several of which has not previously been described in the human. The human dentate gyrus harbors 4 types of neurons in the molecular layer, 3 types within the granule cell layer, and at least 10 types in the hilus. 3. Compared to the granule neurons in the rat brain, human granule neurons show a much greater variability. Many of these human neurons have basal dendrites and/or axonal spines. Also, there are significant differences among these neurons regarding the density of their dendritic trees and dendritic spines. In contrast to the rat, human hilar neurons with complex spines have complex spines not only on their dendrites but also on their cell bodies. 4. This study opens the door for further morphological studies involving specific diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of orchid bulbs on the reproductive system of male albino mice. Orchid bulb extract was fed to 20 male albino mice (5 g/mouse/day) for 35 days and compared with a similar number of mice as controls. Total testicular germ cell population, histometrical parameters, serum blood biochemistry and hormonal assay were determined. The ingestion of orchid bulb by mice induced a significant increase in the following parameters: (i) testes and seminal vesicle weights; (ii) number of different testicular germ cell population including interstitial Leydig cells and fibroblasts; and (iii) testicular cell linage dynamics obtained from testes and cauda epidydimides. An important finding was that the ingestion of the orchid diet by male mice increased their fertility. This was indicated by an elevation in the number of impregnated females when allowed to mate with treated mice, an increase in the impregnation sites, and an increase in the number of viable fetuses and the offspring's male/female ratio. A slight significant increase in the testosterone and follicular stimulating hormone titers in the treated mice were found in their blood serum. In contrast, a decrease in the number of degenerating cells was observed. Orchid bulb treatment might play an important role in improving male reproductive potential and fertility. (Reprod Med Biol 2006;: 269-276).