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The aim of this research is to treat the shortcomings of teacher training programs in Saudi Arabia. Some of these programs are not able to fulfill the requirements of professional development because they neglect the impact of different interaction patterns (group and content--individual, content, and trainer--group, content, and trainer) within the e-training environment. This research used the experimental approach with a quasi-experimental design. The research sample was limited to a random sample consisting of 60 mathematics teachers, who were randomly divided into three experimental groups, equally. The results revealed that there are statistically significant differences at 0.05 between the average scores for middle school mathematics teachers in the post application of the cognitive achievement test, observation card, and product evaluation card related to the skills of producing interactive lessons due to the impact of the different interaction patterns in the e-training environment.

Teachers' beliefs have been shown to have a significant impact on educational practice, particularly in the domain of grammar instruction, where teachers have strong opinions. Traditional grammar training is sometimes criticized for promoting lower order thinking and relying on rules of thumb rather than new language developments. A rising corpus of research on grammar instruction proposes that linguistics, conceptual knowledge, and introspective or higher-order thinking should be prioritized in grammar training. Generally, this present study explored the metalinguistic reflective beliefs and teachers' beliefs on grammar content knowledge. It hoped to address the gap on this problem of inquiry. This study employed a cross-sectional survey research design for 266 EFL Saudi teachers. A questionnaire was used as an instrument for data gathering in this study. Results showed that Saudi EFL teachers have a positive view of their metalinguistic reflective beliefs. They also have positive beliefs on grammar content knowledge. It also surfaced that there is a positive relationship between the two variables (metalinguistic reflectivity and grammar content knowledge), implying that when teachers have a high level of metalinguistic reflectivity beliefs, they highly manifest acceptable beliefs in teaching grammar content. Implications of this study will strengthen the language teaching skills of teachers to strengthen the grammar curriculum of the Saudi context.

Role-play is commonly used as a learning method for teaching communication in medical institutions and there two types of role-play i.e. Round Robin and Relay's methods. This study among our students and trainers to identify which role-play has better effect on students learning at college of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Ahsa. All the first year students and trainers were included in the study. Students are divided into different groups and each group contains 9-11 students. Different scenarios are provided to the students with each physician and patient role. A pre-structured questionnaire was distributed among students and trainers to compare between the Role-play methods. The questionnaire included 15 statements related to the role-play methods based on Likert scale. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to compare different items for both methods and to obtain p-value. The results showed that 221 students and 25 trainers filled the questionnaire. The Round Robin was found to have more influence on students' perception as compared to that for Relay's except for item 4 i.e. role-play builds a team work where majority of participants agreed for Relay's method. Similar results were found while checking perception of trainers. The results of statistical test for comparing both methods suggest that there is a significant difference in Round Robin and Relay's method for most of the questions P-value < 0.05. In this research it is found that both methods of role-play used in communication skills sessions are helpful however, Round robin method has better outcome on learning as compared to Relay's method.

Introduction: Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is a severe acute complication of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) leading to pediatric morbidity and complications. Objectives: Analyze the prevalence, clinical profiles, and outcomes of DKA in children. Methodology: This retrospective cohort study explored the diabetic ketoacidosis in type I diabetes mellitus at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at King Fahad Hospital at Albaha, Saudi Arabia, between January 2022 and December 2023. Participants included children aged < 14 years. Data were collected from medical records of all admitted patients. The main outcomes were the average time needed to recover from DKA, and patient survival rates. Results: Total of 180 DKA cases were reviewed, and observed that 68.3% were recurring cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus admitted to PICU due to poor treatment adherence. The remaining 31.7% were newly diagnosed as diabetes mellitus due to the onset of DKA. The average patient age was 8.9 ([4.0]) years, with females representing two-thirds of this cohort. The most frequent precipitating factors were nonadherence to treatment (90%) and previous infections (10%). Common symptoms included abdominal pain (78.3%), as the principal source of decompensation. Conclusion: Recognizing characteristic symptoms is vital for early diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of a timely and well-structured management approach for improved outcomes, reduced morbidity, improved recovery times, and shortened hospital stays. Moreover, no deaths were reported in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Over the past few decades, there has been an increasing focus on Smart Building Projects (SBP) and the technologies associated with them. Numerous studies have been conducted globally to define smart building technologies (SBT), identify challenges, and explore areas for improvement. This study aims to examine the concept and terminology of SBT and the expertise and experience of participants in SBP in the Arab Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia. The study also investigates the challenges faced by SBT throughout its life cycle. Methods: To identify and assess the challenges affecting the adoption of smart building technologies. This approach included a literature review, pilot-testing, and a questionnaire survey. The survey targeted a sample of 90 architects/ engineers, managers, and contractors. Results: A total of 55 challenges were identified and categorized into four groups, corresponding to the key phases of the project life cycle. These phases include the programming and feasibility analysis phase, design phase, installation and commissioning phase, and operation and maintenance phase. The findings of this research expand the body of knowledge by providing architects/engineers, managers, and contractors in the architecture, engineering, construction, and facility management (AEC/FM) industry with insights into the influential challenges related to the adoption of SBT. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the concept and terminology of smart building technologies and explores the challenges faced by SBT during its life cycle. By identifying and categorizing these challenges, the study provides valuable information to AEC/FM practitioners, enabling them to overcome obstacles and improve the adoption of SBT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute appendicitis is currently considered one of the most common acute surgical diseases of the abdomen and requires emergency surgery. It is also one of the most common abdominal emergencies in both developed and developing countries. The current study is aimed at assessing the specificity and sensitivity of Ultrasound and Computed Tomography in the diagnosis of appendicitis as well as the prevalence of its complications. The association of appendicitis with several laboratory findings will also be evaluated. Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted at Dallah-Namar Hospital, Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. Results: 720 patients were differentially diagnosed with appendicitis in the study area. Of these, 618 patients had US abdomen/pelvis, with 15 (2.4%) showing positive findings. Amongst the 203 patients noted to have undergone abdominal CT,8 (4.0%) was found to have positive findings. Conclusion: The sensitivity of the US was determined to be relatively low. Also, serum creatinine was found to be elevated among all patients diagnosed with appendicitis. Further research with a larger sample size is needed to be conducted to further support the current findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is worthwhile to note that using natural products today has shown to be an effective strategy for attaining the therapeutic goal with the highest impact and the fewest drawbacks. In Saudi Arabia, date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is considered the principal fruit owing to its abundance and incredible nutritional benefits in fighting various diseases. The main objective of the study is to exploit the natural products as well as the nanotechnology approach to obtain great benefits in managing disorders. The present investigation focused on using the powder form of date palm extract (DPE) of Khalas cultivar and incorporates it into a nanolipid formulation such as a nanostructured lipid carrier (NLC) prepared with palm oil. Using the quality by design (QbD) methodology, the most optimized formula was chosen based on the number of assigned parameters. For more appropriate topical application, the optimized DP-NLC was combined with a pre-formulated hydrogel base forming the DP-NLC-hydrogel. The developed DP-NLC-hydrogel was evaluated for various physical properties including pH, viscosity, spreadability, and extrudability. Additionally, the in vitro release of the formulation as well as its stability upon storage under two different conditions of room temperature and refrigerator were investigated. Eventually, different bacterial strains were utilized to test the antibacterial efficacy of the developed formulation. The optimized DP-NLC showed proper particle size (266.9 nm) and in vitro release 77.9%. The prepared DP-NLC-hydrogel showed acceptable physical properties for topical formulation, mainly, pH 6.05, viscosity 9410 cP, spreadability 57.6 mm, extrudability 84.5 (g/cm2), and in vitro release 42.4%. Following three months storage under two distinct conditions, the formula exhibited good stability. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the developed DP-NLC-hydrogel was evaluated and proved to be efficient against various bacterial strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work compared nine Aloe species grown on the highlands of western Saudi Arabia depending on their nutrient contents and nutritive quality. The highest Ca and Na contents were recorded in the tissues of Aloe hijacensis, while the highest K and Mg were in A. vera, while the highest N and P contents were recorded in A. armatissima and A. brunneodentata, respectively. The highest nitrogen-free extract, total proteins and lipid contents were recorded in A. castellorum, A. armatissima and A. parvicoma, respectively, while the highest ash content and crude fibers in A. sabaea. The percentage of crude protein in the grazeable parts of all Aloe species except A. parvicoma, A. castellorum and A. vera, lie within the range required for the maintenance of animals, while the crude fiber content was quite low. A. armatissima had the highest value of digestible crude protein (DCP), while A. parvicoma had the highest value of the total digestible nutrients (TDN). Moreover, A. castellorum contributed to the highest values of digestible energy (DE), metabolized energy (ME) and net energy (NE). It seems that the nutritive values of all investigated species lie within the range of nutritive value of goat, dairy cattle, and beef cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In forensic anthropology, age estimation is one of the most important aspects of analysis. The use of radiographic data for age estimation based on the epiphyseal union is a scientifically approved and widely accepted method. X-ray images of the right wrist joint of 281 patients (143 males and 138 females) aged 12–22 years were retrospectively examined and the stages of union at the distal epiphyses of radius and ulna were assessed, to estimate age in a Qassim population, Saudi Arabia. The distal epiphyses of radius and ulna fused completely at 18–19 years in females and 19–20 years in males. Mean age gradually increased and varied with each stage of union, with a statistically significant difference of the females' and males' comparable means. Females experienced epiphyseal union one year earlier than males. The ROC curve showed 90.9% accuracy in males and 90.6% in females. The findings of this study indicate that radiographic analysis of the union at distal epiphyses of radius and ulna is a helpful technique for estimation of chronological age. When compared to other studies, the results showed limited variance among different population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Medical education was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and the abrupt shift to online education on lockdown. Online education challenged and negatively impacted medical colleges worldwide, especially for medical training and teaching clinical skills that require practice and clinical encounters. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the curriculum delivery and assessment of the internal medicine course during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown (2019-2020) and compare the assessment results to a control pre-COVID-19 year (2018-2019). Methods: The study design was a retrospective study. All 3rd-year medical students (a total of 882 students) enrolled in the internal medicine course were enrolled in the study: 303 students in 2018-2019, 299 students in 2019-2020, and 280 in 2020-2021. In March 2020, there was a sudden shift to online education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All lectures were conducted online in the same number and with the same content. Clinical bedside teaching was replaced with selected videos that demonstrated the clinical examination skills planned in the learning objectives. Results: During COVID (62.4%), students performed better than pre-COVID (59.5%) on the medicine midterm multiple-choice questions (MCQs) examination. Similarly, students' marks in the long case during-COVID (84.6%) were improved compared to their marks pre-COVID (82.0%). A very strong correlation was found between midterm MCQs and final MCQs (r = 0.74; P = 0.000), followed by the objective structure clinical examination (OSCE) (r = 0.50; P = 0.000) and long-term MCQs (r = 0.29; P = 0.000). There was only a weak relation between midterm MCQs and DXR (r = 0.02; P = 0.67). Similarly, the final MCQs were strongly correlated with the midterm MCQs (P = 0.000), followed by the OSCE (P = 0.000). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the success of the introduction of adaptive changes in the internal medicine course to cope with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. It showed how medical education continued during the COVID-19 pandemic while ensuring student safety. While other medical education methods could be implemented and allow for similar results, innovation in medical education methods should continue to evolve even after the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uncovered microbial communities and evaluated the microbiological safety of traditional fermented foods consumed in the Arab region. Samples of dairy and non-dairy fermented foods—mish, jibneh, zabadi, and pickles—were collected from local markets in Saudi Arabia. Using the MiSeq system, samples were sequenced using 16S amplicons and shotgun metagenomics. Alpha and beta diversity indicated inter- and intra-variation in the studied fermented foods' bacterial communities. In the case of mish, the replicates were clustered. Twenty-one genera were found to be significantly different (FDR < 0.05) in abundance in pairwise comparison of fermented foods. Five high-quality, metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens, Streptococcus thermophiles, and Lactobacillus acetotolerans were retrieved from the shotgun sequencing representing the dominant taxa in the studied fermented foods. Additionally, 33 genes that cause antimicrobial resistance (ARGs) against ten different antibiotic classes were detected. Metabolic pathways were abundant in the studied metagenomes, such as amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, cofactors, and vitamin biosynthesis. Metagenomic evaluation of Arabian fermented foods, including the identification of probiotics, pathogenic bacteria, and ARGs, illustrates the importance of microbiological analysis in evaluating their health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spondylarthritis (SpA) is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide range of rheumatological disorders. Several studies demonstrated that SpA is associated with increased healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and a lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This review aimed to summarize the current literature regarding the multidimensional impact of SpA on HRQoL and HCRU in Saudi Arabia and explore the correlation of the extent of severity of SpA with HRQoL and HCRU. Although the prevalence of SpA varies across different populations and is correlated with HLA-B27 prevalence, the magnitude of SpA in the Saudi population has not been extensively evaluated. Few studies have investigated the impact of SpA on HRQoL and HCRU in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. There is a need to study the cost-effectiveness of various SpA treatment strategies, including biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), to prioritize healthcare spending in the Saudi healthcare system. Data on SpA in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East region are mainly based on expert views, with few population-based studies compared to other regions. Therefore, there is an imperative need to develop high-quality, national-level epidemiological studies that assess the following: (1) more accurate estimates of the current prevalence of SpA in Saudi Arabia, including the prevalence of axial SpA and psoriatic arthritis; (2) the phenotypes/clinical characteristics of SpA, including disease severity and extra-articular involvement; (3) the impact of SpA on the HRQoL of the patients and the factors that can predict the extent of impaired HRQoL in such population, which can represent the first step in developing psychological interventions that should be personalized to this patient population; (4) the impact of implementing formal assessment of disease activity on the management of the patients and, subsequently, their HRQoL; and (5) the HCRU and costs for patients with SpA, and how treatment patterns can affect this cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity and drought are among the major abiotic stresses, leading to decreased crop productivity. Fungi are notorious for their detrimental effects on crop growth and development. In light of these circumstances, the primary objective of this project is to assemble a collection of endophytic fungi to develop new organic bio-stimulants that can effectively combat salinity and drought. To achieve this goal, diverse soil types, including cultivated, desert, and salt marshes, were sampled (five samples each) from different habitats and locations in the southern part of Sinai, the Saint Katherine Protectorate (SKP) is part of the upper Sinai massif, spanning specific coordinates (33°550 to 34°300 E and 28°300 to 28°350 N). Additionally, 80 samples of the predominant medicinal plant species from ten localities in the SKP were collected. The results of survey showed that the highest abundance of endophytic fungi was observed in Artemisia judaica L. and Alkanna orientalis (L.) Boiss., with both species exhibiting 61.1 % endophytic fungi. Five isolates of fungi labeled as SAF41, SAF46, SAF51, SAF57, and SAF63, were assessed for their tolerance to salinity stress by exposing them to different NaCl concentrations. Isolate SAF63 had the most substantial negative and significant correlation with salinity stress (R2=0.9565; p<0.001), followed by SAF51 (R2=0.9432; p<0.001) and SAF41 (R2=0.9351; p<0.001). The results indicate that different fungi isolates exhibited distinct responses to varying salinity levels and drought stress, as measured by their growth in different NaCl concentrations. Isolate SAF63 demonstrated the most significant negative correlation with salinity stress, followed by SAF51 and SAF41. These findings suggest that specific endophytic fungi isolates exhibit enhanced tolerance to both salinity and drought stress, underscoring their promising potential in mitigating metabolic and physiological damage in date palm plants, ultimately leading to increased growth and yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The correlation between nocturnal enuresis (NE) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was reported. We aim to determine whether there is an association between NE and SDB in children and to assess the prevalence of SDB and NE in primary school children aged 6–12 years in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the caregivers of children aged 6–12 years in all Saudi Arabia regions. The data were gathered through a self-administered online questionnaire. It included demographic information, weight and height, and associated comorbidities, in addition to the weekly frequencies of snoring symptoms and of enuresis, as well as of unrefreshing sleep using Likert-type response scales. Counts and percentages, the mean ± standard deviation, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and regression analysis were used in the statistical analysis using R v 3.6.3. The questionnaire was completed by 686 respondents. Most respondents did not report any comorbidities in their children (77.1%). Asthma and adenotonsillar hypertrophy were reported in 16.2% and 15.6% of children, respectively. Unrefreshing sleep, mouth breathing at night, snoring, chronic nasal obstruction, and difficulty breathing while asleep were reported once or twice per week in 38%, 34%, 28%, 18%, and 18% of children, respectively. The prevalence of NE was 22.3%, with about 36.6% of children having NE two or more times per week. Significantly, NE was reported in 26.6% of children who slept before 10 PM compared to 19% of children who slept after 10 PM; in 28.6% of children who snored or loudly snored (57.1%) three times or more per week; and in 51.2% and 27.5% of children with difficulty breathing while asleep and who breathed through their mouth at night for one or two nights per week, respectively. A multivariable regression analysis showed that male gender (OR = 1.52, p = 0.010), obesity (OR = 1.24, p = 0.028), early sleeping time (OR = 1.40, p = 0.048), loud snoring for three or more nights per week (OR = 1.54, p = 0.001), difficulty breathing for one or two nights per week (OR = 1.85, p = 0.010), and mouth breathing at night for one or two nights per week (OR = 1.55, p = 0.049) were associated with higher odds of NE. Our study revealed that 22.3% of primary school children reported suffering from NE. SDB is a common problem among children with NE. The exact mechanism that links SDB to the increase in the risk of NE is unknown. Male gender, obesity, early sleeping time, loud snoring, difficulty breathing, and mouth breathing at night are potential independent risk factors of NE in school-age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The total alcohol extract obtained from the aerial parts of R. stricta and fractions of the liquid–liquid fractionation process were tested against picornavirus-causing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) based on the traditional use of the plant in Saudi Arabia. The most active petroleum ether soluble fraction was subjected to chromatographic purification, and nine compounds were isolated, identified using various chemical and spectroscopic methods, and tested for their anti-viral potential. The new ester identified as α-Amyrin 3-(3′R-hydroxy)-hexadecanoate (1) was the most active compound with 51% inhibition of the viral growth and was given the name Rhazyin A. Compounds with ursane skeleton were more active than those with lupane skeleton except in the case of the acid derivatives where betulenic acid showed 26.1% inhibition against the viral growth, while ursolic acid showed only 16.6% inhibition. Moreover, molecular docking analysis using a glide extra-precision module was utilized for investigating the possible molecular interactions accounting for anti-viral activity against picornavirus of the nine isolated compounds. Molecular docking studies revealed a strong binding of the discovered hits within the active site of FMDV 3Cpro. Compound 1 showed the lowest docking score within the nine isolated compounds comparable to the two known anti-viral drugs; glycyrrhizic acid and ribavirin. The results of this research will provide lead candidates from natural origin with potential safety and efficacy compared to the synthetic ones with lower production costs for managing FMVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The philosophy of minimum interventional dentistry (MID) is to integrate prevention, remineralization, and minimal intervention for the placement and replacement of restorations. All branches of dentistry play an important role in practicing MID, and their primary goal is to realize that any restoration is of less biological significance than the healthy original tissue Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the perception of MID among dental undergraduate students and interns in terms of knowledge, attitude, and practice at the College of Dentistry. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate students and interns at the College of Dentistry, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed, which included basic demographic profiles and questions about the knowledge, attitude, and practices toward MID. The data were tabulated in MS Excel, and all statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 163 dental students were recruited, with senior students comprising 73% and interns comprising 27%. Male students were slightly more prevalent (50.9%) than female students (49.1%). About 37.6% of participants received training about MID during educational courses, while 10.3% received it during their internship. A statistical test revealed that the prevalence of interns who were trained in performing MID was significantly higher (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The majority of the participants demonstrated proper knowledge, attitude, and practice in different aspects of MID. Interns reported a higher rate of knowledge, attitude, and practice in MID compared to undergraduate students. However, more education and hands-on training about MID concepts during the college curriculum are necessary to attain better knowledge, attitude, and practices that could be useful for more conservative clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the direction and magnitude of change in soil dynamics caused by invasive plant species has proven to be difficult because these changes are often reported to be species- and habitat-specific. This study was conducted to determine changes in three soil properties, eight soil ions, and seven soil microelements under established stands of four invasive plants, Prosopis juliflora, Ipomoea carnea, Leucaena leucocephala, and Opuntia ficus-indica. Soil properties, ions, and microelements were measured in sites invaded by these four species in southwest Saudi Arabia, and these values were compared to the results for the same 18 parameters from adjacent sites with native vegetation. Because this study was conducted in an arid ecosystem, we predict that these four invasive plants will significantly alter the soil properties, ions, and microelements in the areas they invaded. While the soils of sites with the four invasive plant species generally had higher values for soil properties and ions compared to sites with native vegetation, in most instances these differences were not statistically significant. However, the soils within sites invaded by I. carnea, L. leucocephala, and P. juliflora had statistically significant differences for some soil parameters. For sites invaded by O. puntia ficus-indica, no soil properties, ions, or microelements were significantly different compared to adjacent sites with native vegetation. Sites invaded by the four plant species generally exhibited differences in the 11 soil properties, but in no instance were these differences statistically significant. All three soil properties and one soil ion (Ca) were significantly different across the four stands of native vegetation. For the seven soil microelements, significantly different values were detected for Co and Ni, but only among stands of the four invasive plant species. These results indicate that the four invasive plant species altered soil properties, ions, and microelements, but for most of the parameters we assessed, not significantly. Our results do not support our initial prediction, but are in general agreement with previous published findings, which indicate that the effects of invasive plants on soil dynamics vary idiosyncratically among invasive species and among invaded habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery are common and are associated with prolonged hospital stay, higher costs, and increased mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the value of The Assess Respiratory risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) risk index in predicting pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Almoosa Specialist Hospital, Saudi Arabia, from August 2016 to August 2019 and included 108 patients who underwent thoracic surgery during the study period. Demographic data, ARISCAT risk index score, length of hospital stay, time of chest tube removal, postoperative complications, and time of discharge were recorded. Results: The study involved 108 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Their mean age was 42.5 ± 18.9 years, and most of them were men (67.6%). Comorbid diseases were present in 53.7%, including mainly type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. FEV1% was measured in 58 patients, with a mean of 71.1 ± 7.3%. The mean ARISCAT score was 39.3 ± 12.4 and ranged from 24 to 76, with more than one-third (35.2%) having a high score grade. The most common surgical procedures were thoracotomy in 47.2%, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in 28.7%, and mediastinoscopy in 17.6%. Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) occurred in 22 patients (20.4%), mainly pneumonia and atelectasis (9.2%). PPCs occurred most frequently during thoracotomy (68.2%), followed by VATS (13.6%), and mediastinoscopy (9.1%). Multinomial logistic regression of significant risk factors showed that lower FEV1% (OR = 0.88 [0.79– 0.98]; p=0.017), longer ICU length of stay (OR = 1.53 [1.04– 2.25]; p=0.033), a higher ARISCAT score (OR = 1.22 [1.02– 1.47]; p=0.040), and a high ARISCAT grade (OR = 2.77 [1.06– 7.21]; p=0.037) were significant predictors of the occurrence of postoperative complications. Conclusion: ARISCAT scoring system, lower FEV1% score, and longer ICU stay were significant predictors of postoperative complications. In addition, thoracotomy was also found to be associated with PPCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization affects all elements of the pre-urban environment, including soils, hydrology, vegetation, and microclimate. Recently, Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid urbanization and growth. Thus, the country's biodiversity has been threatened. In the Riyadh region, beetle assemblages were assessed along a rural-suburban-urban gradient. A total of 2791 individuals from 94 species belonging to seven families were collected at 15 sites along three different gradients of urbanization in Wadi Hanifa, which runs for a length of 120 km from northwest to southeast. Tenebrionidae dominated abundance (60.1%) and richness (38%). Beetle abundance, evenness, and diversity were not different among habitats; however, species richness was higher in rural habitats. Detrended correspondence "DCA" and canonical correspondence "CCA" analyses showed distinct differences among sites along gradients. Urbanization intensity, soil variables, and land cover were significantly correlated with CCA axis 1, while elevation and flora were significantly correlated with CCA axis 2. The most critical operating environmental variables in Wadi Hanifa were buildings, elevation, soil organic carbon, litter cover, and litter depth, as well as plant species such as Launaea capitata, Lycium shawii, Alhagi graecorum, and Heliotropium currasavicum. Ten species in our study were associated with urban habitats, six with suburban habitats, and seven with rural habitats. Consequently, expanding urban areas may negatively affect the richness and composition of beetles and may result in the loss of some native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Applications of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) have become essential for physicians seeking to make appropriate decisions. The implementation of CDSS, however, is complicated if the factors affecting physician's acceptance are not recognised. This study aims to explore the various factors that may influence the acceptance of CDSS in Saudi Arabia. A qualitative method was used to collect data from interviews with 54 GPs, with interviews conducted in three stages. The study then integrated the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and Task-Technology Fit (TTF) models to communicate the findings. It is suggested that all factors of both UTAUT and TTF influence acceptance of CDSS by GPs, with the sole exception of the social influence factor. Some additional factors were also discovered by means of in-depth interviews, including accessibility, patient satisfaction, informativeness (increased knowledge), connectedness (informing patients), communication and shared knowledge, privacy and security, and perceived risk (functional performance risk and time risk). The study thus offers a new insight of the factors influencing GPs' acceptance of CDSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal failure and dialysis are a great burden on patients and physicians. Classically, many studies have focused on the physical consequences of renal failure and dialysis. However, psychological impacts of this chronic condition (e.g., depression, anxiety, and stress) are also highly reported in these patients, irrespective of their disease stage. Aim: This study aims to assess the effect of renal dialysis on patients' quality of life and mental health in Aseer region, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A correlational cross-sectional study was conducted on all patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD) in the largest governmental centre in Abha (the capital city of Aseer region) during the study period. Data were collected by the researchers through direct, in-place interviews of eligible patients using pre-structured data collection sheets prepared by the researchers after thorough literature review and expert consultation. The collected data include socio-demographic, economic, clinical data and any relevant data that were obtained from participants and their medical records. Mental health evaluation was done by structured clinical interview using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Quality of life was assessed by the Quality-of-Life Index (Dialysis Version 3). Results: A total of 162 HD patients were included in the study. Patient age ranged from 18 to 64 years with mean age of 44.6 ± 11.9 years. Among the participants, 87 (53.7%) were male. Renal dialysis duration was less than 5 years in 67 patients (41.4%) and 10 years or more in 34 patients (21%). Depression was mild to moderate among 24.6% of the patients. In addition, 24.1% of the patients complained of mild to moderate anxiety, while 7.4% had severe anxiety. Stress was mild to moderate among 7.4% of the patients. Around 77.2% of the study patients had good satisfaction levels regarding their life, while 3.1% had poor satisfaction levels. Finally, 87% of the patients had a positive perception of their life importance. Conclusion: In conclusion, the current conducted study showed that patients on haemodialysis had, on average, good quality of life with mild negative impacts on psychological health. Young patients with higher level of education and adherence to the restrictions of dietary and fluid intake showed the highest scores for quality of life and lowest scores for psychological symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism industry faces many risks, which pose a threat, especially for small and medium-sized travel agencies (SMTAs) with limited resources and simple capabilities. Managerial and marketing risks facing SMTAs have been discussed in some studies, but the relationship between these two types of risks in SMTAs has not been addressed before. This study investigates managerial and marketing risks facing SMTAs in Saudi Arabia and examines the relationship between both variables. For this purpose, data were collected from 379 Managers in SMTAs in Saudi Arabia. Using structural equation modeling with Amos, results showed a significant positive relationship between managerial and marketing risks facing SMTAs. The conclusions of this article can assist policymakers, decision-makers, planners, and marketers in formulating effective tourist strategies to face the administrative and marketing risks facing small and medium-sized travel agencies, prevent these companies from achieving their goals and be a good supporter of national economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has recently sought to activate the role of the Central Bank or the Monetary Agency in supervising commercial banks, in addition to trying to develop the various components of the banking system to the extent that qualifies them to achieve economic development. Based on this role, the main objective of this study is to try to identify the fundamental differences between each of the commercial banks and the Central Bank, and the various mechanisms and methods of banking supervision exercised by the Central Bank on commercial banks, and to evaluate their effectiveness and the reality of their application, especially with regard to prudential control, which is the most recent The most important method of banking supervision. And the extent of the central bank's understanding of the role that commercial banks can play in society if laws encouraging them are found. In achieving its objectives, the research depends on the descriptive analytical approach, and the use of the descriptive approach in exposure to general concepts, and the analytical approach through the analysis and diagnosis of some issues related to central and commercial banks. The research has reached many results, perhaps the most important of which is that the central bank represents a manifestation of economic sovereignty, and although central banks in the world differ in terms of form and functions from one country to another, they are characterized by some general features and characteristi cs that make them a central hub and leader of the monetary market and a supervisor and watchdog. It is organized as the issuing bank, the bank of banks, and the government bank. It undertakes the process of managing reserves and regulating credit. It uses a set of direct and indirect tools and means to perform its functions. There is also confusion between the nature and activity of the central bank with commercial banks. Which requires clarifying the lines between each of them. The study sample also agreed that there is an effective role for central banks in formulating monetary and supervisory policy for commercial banks. Commercial banks must also abide by the supervisory tools decided by the central banks. So achieve customer confidence, and check more warranty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research measures the relationship between financial inclusion and the sustainability of financing small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the methodology of the research is based on the use of data at the level of companies, where there are 267 thousand small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom, 68% of which are managed by expatriates. The number of micro-enterprises reached 1.5 million, in addition to 230 thousand small enterprises and 37 thousand medium enterprises, all representing 99% of the number of enterprises in the Kingdom in mid-2015, and about 996 thousand small enterprises with a localization rate of less than 13.37%. From 2009 to 2019. Through the adoption of statistical analyzes, the effect of financial inclusion on the availability of financing for small and medium enterprises was analyzed and studied. This research showed that there are positive results for the financial inclusion of credit available to listed small and medium companies, and that promoting financial inclusion helps in the survival and sustainability of small and medium companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Nearly 60 million people suffer from computer vision syndrome (CVS) globally, resulting in reduced work productivity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of CVS, describe the working conditions, visualize ergonomic factors and determine preventive measures application among university staff members. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with university medical staff members using a semi-structured questionnaire that included a validated CVS questionnaire. Results. CVS prevalence was 81.2%. Dryness, headache, feeling that sight is worsening and difficulty in focusing on near vision were the most experienced symptoms. Prevalence of CVS was significantly higher among females (52.3%), those having a higher mean work duration (21.65 ± 7.55 years), those who frequently use a smartphone (84.9%) and those spending most of their screen time during both day and night (87.1%). Visual ergonomics and preventive measures application, such as correct screen level, regular cleaning of the screen, appropriate illumination and use of eye drops, were significantly associated with negative CVS. Conclusions. These results raised attention to the essential need for visual assessment of university staff members for early and proper diagnosis of CVS to minimize its impact on working performance. Accordingly, it is recommended to organize university-based awareness programs regarding CVS for working personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted medical education worldwide. This study investigates how Saudi medical colleges face the pandemic and proceed with teaching and assessment plans. The study also highlights the best practices employed by Saudi medical colleges during the time of COVID-19 crisis and proposes a contingency plan in the event of future outbreaks necessitating similar containment measures. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among medical colleges in Saudi Arabia between June and August 2020. A convenience sampling method was applied. An online questionnaire was designed. The questionnaire consisted of six main parts: basic demographic data, curriculum, teaching and learning, learning management systems (LMS), assessment, and lessons learned. The questions targeting the educational process focused on what was happening before and what was done during the pandemic. Data were collected using Google Forms. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Results: A variety of teaching modalities were used before the pandemic, including class lectures (95.46%), problem-based learning (70%), case-based learning (47.25%), team-based learning (43.67%), videos/online interaction (24.58%), and flipped classroom (18.13%). During the pandemic, 97.87% of the participants used video lectures. During the pandemic, PBL and tutorial usage were reduced to 40.09% and 48.44% compared to 71.59% and 64.91% before the pandemic, respectively. Most faculty members (65.39%) reported no problems (nor did they encounter any obstacles) during online classes. Fully 96.18% of participants used Blackboard LMS during the pandemic. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 50.83% of participants reported utilizing continuous assessment, and 50.35% reported that the summative (final) assessment they performed was an online assessment. Most participants reported (85.68%) use online multiple-choice questions, followed by students' projects (34.84%), online SAQs (25.53%), and online objective structured clinical examinations (21.47%) if the pandemic were to continue. Conclusions: This study's value lies in the large sample of faculty and nationwide distribution of responses. Study results enable an understanding of early heuristic responses to online education, which may be used as a guide for mitigation efforts and to identify success stories, obstacles, key issues, and solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this cross-sectional observational study was to assess dental students' satisfaction regarding team-based learning (TBL) methodology in prosthodontics courses taught at College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Saudi Arabia. Undergraduate dental students at second, third, fourth, and fifth years were taught prosthodontics courses through traditional and TBL pedagogies. TBL sessions consisted of preparation, readiness assurance, and application. At the end of each prosthodontics course, the students were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire that was divided into four sections to assess the effect of TBL on the following parameters: information acquisition, interpersonal skills improvement, classroom environment, and the students-instructors interaction. The responses of the questionnaire followed the Likert scoring method (scaled from 1 to 5). The t-test and ANOVA statistical analyses were performed using SPSS. Results. The response rate to the questionnaire was 86%. There were a significant relationship and correlation between TBL pedagogy and student satisfaction (P values ≤ 0.05) for all levels. The means of the responses for the second and fifth years were 4.36 and 4.56, respectively, where the means for the third and fourth years were 3.54 and 3.59, respectively. The parameter notably affected by TBL was interpersonal skills enhancement. All students strongly agreed that TBL enhances personal flexibility and boosts their self-esteem. Conclusion. Students showed positive perceptions about TBL pedagogy in terms of active engagement, knowledge acquisition, and improvement of interpersonal skills leading to more efficient learning outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used for medical applications particularly as antimicrobial agents against multidrug-resistant microbial strains. Some plants stimulate the reduction of Ag ions to AgNPs. In this study, we prepared AgNPs via the green synthesis approach using fenugreek leaves grown in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, we characterized these AgNPs and evaluated their antimicrobial activities against pathogenic yeast, bacteria, and fungi. The ultraviolet-visible peak at 380 nm confirmed the biosynthesis of NPs. Transmission electron microscopy analyses revealed particle size in the range of 9–57 nm with a spherical shape. Dynamic light scattering results confirm slight aggregation as the average particle size was shown as 68.71 nm and a polydispersity index of 0.083. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy results showed an intense peak at 3 keV, indicating the presence of elemental AgNPs. The synthesized AgNPs efficiently inhibit the growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria; however, varying degree of inhibition was shown toward fungi. The potent antimicrobial ability of the synthesized NPs can be attributed to their small size and round shape. Among all test organisms, the growth of Candida albicans and Helminthosporium sativum was remarkably affected by AgNPs treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged medical education and resulted in a rapid and unexpected global shift toward online education. The study presents the experience of the College of Medicine of King Saud University in delivering a comprehensive internal medicine course for final-year medical students, which includes the implementation of novel methods of assessment. Methods: A 2-week revision of the internal medicine course was conducted for 70 pregraduation medical students. Lectures and focused case-based tutorials were conducted online. Novel assessment methods included brief written essays summarizing the tutorials, open-book short-answer question (SAQ) examination, and a virtual standardized oral examination (vSOE). A questionnaire was sent to the students (n = 70) on the contents of the course, clarity of objectives, duration, and online platform. Results: The response rate was 99.3%. Students scored higher in the SAQs compared with traditional multiple-choice tests (mean score: 92.3% vs. 69.8%). The vSOE was efficient, and grades were comparable to traditional objective structured clinical examination. The majority of students (93%) reported the scientific content as good or excellent, whereas approximately 30% found the course goals lacked a clear description. The majority (76%) found the course length appropriate, and 94% reported the online platform installation and operation easy or very easy. Conclusions: The comprehensive online internal medicine course was successfully delivered to pregraduation students. Innovative online examination methods can be a reasonable alternative in the case of lockdown. This modality of teaching and assessment was considered useful and met the expectations of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety is considered as a widespread phenomenon that constitutes a worldwide reason of reduced academic achievements among students. Aim:To investigate the relationship between student nurse's anxiety from exams and their quality of life in selected universities at KSA. Subject and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design on 189 student nurses from HafrAl Batin university.One tool is divided into three main parts; demographic data, and student's anxiety levels during exams, and student's quality of life assessment sheets. Results: there are a statistically significant correlation between student's anxiety during exams and their quality of life ((p <0.001). Conclusion & Recommendations: there are statistically significant relations were found between student's anxiety during exams and quality of life with their sociodemographic characteristics in item only related to the barrier faced in life for adaptation and compliance with exams. From the foregoing conclusion, students must receive regular; periodic in-service psychological rehabilitative program contains methods of adaptation and compliance with exams which indirectly promote their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the variability in perspectives between pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists in managing cryptorchidism. Methods: We conducted this survey among pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists managing cryptorchidism in Saudi Arabia in October 2020. We distributed a questionnaire to 187 consultants using the Google forms platform. We collected data related to the consultants experience, preoperative management, management of nonpalpable testes, management of palpable undescended testes, management of the cryptorchidism in special situations. Results: The response rate was 77% for pediatric surgeons (n=77) and 46% for pediatric urologists (n=40). The number of cases managed by each specialty per year differed significantly (p=0.02); however, there was no significant difference in their experience (p=0.37). The preferred age for orchidopexy was 6-12 months for both specialties. Pediatric surgeons tend to prescribe preoperative ultrasound more frequently for nonpalpable testes (p=0.05). Laparoscopy was the preferred surgical approach by both specialties. Management of intra-abdominal testes not reaching the contralateral internal ring differed between groups (p<0.001), and it was related to the number of procedures performed annually (p=0.03). Both groups responded differently to the management of unsatisfactory testicular position after orchidopexy (p<0.001). Pediatric surgeons managed it with either observation or re-operative inguinal orchidopexy; however, most pediatric urologists preferred re-operative inguinal orchidopexy. This response was affected by the number of procedures performed annually (p=0.04). Conclusion: In Saudi Arabia, practicing pediatric surgeons and pediatric urologists have different perspectives in the management of cryptorchidism. The results of this survey demonstrated the need to establish national guidelines to manage patients with cryptorchidism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. In response to the pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education announced the suspension of educational activities. The pandemic has challenged universities worldwide to provide education virtually as an immediate response to prolonged lockdown periods. This article highlights the College of Medicine's experience at King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, in managing undergraduate medical education in response to the pandemic situation. We describe the process of implementing the curriculum's delivery online during the lockdown and the decisions regarding the final assessment for all years. Furthermore, we highlight the steps taken to prepare for the new academic year 2020-2021 as a blended learning approach in light of the COVID-19 situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic subfamily Pseudophotopsidinae Bischoff, 1920 (Hymenoptera: Mutillidae) from the Arabian Peninsula is revised. Six Pseudophotopsis species are reported from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Yemen. Two new species, P. dhofarensis sp. nov. (male) from Oman and P. subaurea sp. nov. (male) from Saudi Arabia, are described and illustrated. The hitherto unknown female of P. mascatiana Invrea, 1962 is described and P. aegyptiaca (Bischoff, 1920) (female) is associated and synonymized with P. maura Bischoff, 1920 (male). An illustrated key for the species and their distribution in the Arabian Peninsula are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The present study is one in a series of planned studies aiming to catalogue the whole order Diptera in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia. New information All known Egyptian and Saudi Arabian conopid taxa are systematically catalogued in the present study. Three species are recorded herein for the first time from Saudi Arabia: Conops (Asiconops) elegans Meigen, 1804 and Thecophora atra (Fabricius, 1775) (Al-Baha region, south-western of Saudi Arabia), and Conops (Conops) quadrifasciatus De Geer, 1776 (Tabuk region, north-western of Saudi Arabia). Physocephala variegata (Meigen, 1924) is also recorded for the first time from Gebel Elba, the south-eastern triangle of Egypt. Considering that Gebel Elba in Egypt and Al-Baha in Saudi Arabia are affiliated to the Afrotropical Region, this is the first time Physocephala variegata and Thecophora atra have been recorded from the Afrotropical Region. An updated taxonomy, world and local distributions, dates of collection and some coloured photographs are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal Architecture & Planning is the property of King Saud University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The monotypic subfamily Epitraninae Burks, 1936 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Chalcididae) is reported for the first time in Saudi Arabia. Seven Epitranus species are recorded in the Southwestern and Central regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, of which three species are new: E. delvarei Soliman & Gadallah, sp. nov. (female & male), E. similis Gadallah & Soliman, sp. nov. (male), and E. subinops Soliman & Gadallah, sp. nov. (female), are described and illustrated. Four new records, E. clavatus (Fabricius), E. hamoni complex, E. inops Steffan, and E. torymoides (Risbec), are also reported. An illustrated key to species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The doryctine wasp species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Farasan Archipelago (Saudi Arabia) are studied here for the first time. Six species are reported, of which Mimodoryctes arabicus Edmardash, Gadallah & Soliman is described and illustrated as a new species. Neoheterospilus sp. is most probably a new species but further collecting should be done to obtain the female. Four species are new records for Saudi Arabia as well as for the whole Arabian Peninsula: Dendrosotinus ferrugineus (Marshall, 1888), Hecabalodes anthaxiae Wilkinson, 1929, Mimodoryctes proprius Belokobylskij, 2001, and Rhaconotus (Rhaconotus) carinatus Polaszek, 1994. The newly recorded species are re-described and illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The exact definition of self-medication is "the selection and usage of certain medication by individuals to treat selfrecognized disease and symptomatology. This practice might influence health care institutes toward this point. This behavior might have certain adverse effects like wastage of resourced and missing of hazardous diagnosis. Objectives: To assess the Prevalence, current knowledge, and attitude towards self -medication among the population attending primary health care centers in Medina city after MOH Ministerial Warns against Selling Antibiotics without prescription and to examine self -medication associated risk factors among the studied population. Subjects and methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Medina City, Saudi Arabia during November 2019. A multistage, stratified random sampling procedure was used. The data was collected by a structured interview questionnaire. Data collection was done through interviews with the participated subjects by the researcher himself. Results: The response rate was 91.75 % (367/4000. The self-medication's prevalence among the studied population was 74.7%. The common complaints of selfmedication were headache and body aches (47.1%), flu and cough (24.4%), and sore throat (9%). The most common type of drugs used as self-medication was antipyretics (55%), analgesic (51.2%), decongestants (20.7%) and antibiotics (15.3%), Regarding reasons of selfmedication, minor illness (47.4%), saving time & money (15.3%), 31 avoid crowding at PHC (11 .3%), previous good experience with the drug (7.7%), high cost of consultations (5.5%) and emergency (4.4%) were the common Uses. Conclusion: There is a considerable high proportion of self-medication among the Saudi population in Medina city y. The most common self- medication used by the studied sample was the antipyretics. The study findings showed the effect of law that prohibits the purchase of antibiotics without prescription indicating the importance of generalization of the prohibition of all prescription drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phylogenetic study based on 25 species of Phasgonophorinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and 36 characters was carried out for ensuring the generic placement of three new species from Saudi Arabia. As a result of this study, the genera Trigonura Sichel, 1866, Bactrochalcis Kieffer, 1912, Centrochalcis Cameron, 1913, Centrochalcidia Gahan & Fagan, 1923, Chalcidellia Girault, 1924, Urochalcis Nikol'skaya, 1952, Trigonurella Bouček, 1988, and Muhabbetella Koçak & Kemal, 2008 are synonymized with Phasgonophora Westwood, 1832. This genus is recorded in Saudi Arabia for the first time, represented here by P. rubens (Klug), and newly described species P. baiocchii Soliman & Gul, sp. nov., P. granulis Delvare, sp. nov., and P. magnanii Gadallah & Gul, sp. nov. An illustrated key to species of the Arabian Peninsula is provided. The relevant specimens were mostly reared from buprestid species infesting Acacia sp. and Dodonaea viscosa in Al-Baha, Asir and Riyadh regions, Saudi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study presents the analysis of a moderate earthquake (Mw 4.0) and its largest aftershocks located along the Red Sea coast, southwestern Saudi Arabia, with the aim to understand the enigma of peculiar seismicity in the Arabian Shield. We analyzed a high-quality waveform dataset collected from ten well-recorded earthquakes of moment magnitude ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 in order to determine the hypocenter locations and focal mechanisms. The focal mechanisms were retrieved from the regional moment-tensor inversion for the mainshock and using the P-wave polarities for the corresponding aftershocks of Mw ≥ 2.0, respectively. The focal mechanism solutions were inverted to retrieve the seismogenic stress using the stress tensor inversion. The combination of the nearby fault trends and the obtained results from hypocentral relocations, focal mechanism solutions, and stress tensor inversion emphasizes that the NE fault trend is likely to be the causative fault resulting in the 2017 Namas earthquake sequence, implying that the local tectonic setting is incompatible with the large-scale regional tectonics of the Red Sea opening. On the contrary, estimates of low-stress drops exhibit typical values compatible with those reported for the shallow plate-boundary earthquakes that occurred in the Red Sea, suggesting that the existing weak zones in the southernmost part of the Arabian Shield may be attributed to the large-scale regional tectonics of the Red Sea opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illustrates how archival records can provide information in Third World countries. The issues of Saudi Arabia's official newspaper were examined over a one-year period and 434 announcements calling for bids for a variety of educational services were recorded, coded, and organized. (MLF)

Skin diseases are more common than other diseases. Skin diseases may be caused by fungal infection, bacteria, allergy, or viruses, etc. The advancement of lasers and Photonics based medical technology has made it possible to diagnose the skin diseases much more quickly and accurately. But the cost of such diagnosis is still limited and very expensive. So, image processing techniques help to build automated screening system for dermatology at an initial stage. The extraction of features plays a key role in helping to classify skin diseases. Computer vision has a role in the detection of skin diseases in a variety of techniques. Due to deserts and hot weather, skin diseases are common in Saudi Arabia. This work contributes in the research of skin disease detection. We proposed an image processing-based method to detect skin diseases. This method takes the digital image of disease effect skin area, then use image analysis to identify the type of disease. Our proposed approach is simple, fast and does not require expensive equipment other than a camera and a computer. The approach works on the inputs of a color image. Then resize the of the image to extract features using pretrained convolutional neural network. After that classified feature using Multiclass SVM. Finally, the results are shown to the user, including the type of disease, spread, and severity. The system successfully detects 3 different types of skin diseases with an accuracy rate of 100%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Oodera Westwood, 1874 (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae, Cleonyminae) is recorded for the first time for the Arabian Peninsula, from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman. The present study is based on specimens reared from xylophagous beetle larvae of the family Buprestidae (Coleoptera) infesting dead Acacia trees from Al-Dakhiliyah and Dhofar governorates in Oman and Al-Baha, Asir and Riyadh regions in Saudi Arabia. Four new species, Oodera arabica sp. nov., O. omanensis sp. nov., O. rapuzzii sp. nov., and O. similis sp. nov. are described, illustrated and compared with closely related Oodera species. An illustrated key and the xylophagous host records of the species are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pharmacists have limited knowledge about adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in Saudi Arabia. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of educational intervention on the knowledge of hospital pharmacists about ADRs. Methods: This was a 3-month randomized controlled trial conducted in Saudi Arabia between January 2018 and March 2018. Participants in both groups were required to complete an online questionnaire at baseline and at 12-week follow-up. Participants in the intervention group received a structured information sheet about ADRs 2 weeks after the first assessment. The main outcome measure was difference in mean knowledge score about ADRs. Main outcome measure: Difference in mean knowledge score about ADRs. Results: A total of 46 participants were included in the study. At the 12-week follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the mean knowledge score (± standard deviation) of intervention participants from 7.67 (± 2.1) at baseline to 11.22 (± 0.4) (95% CI −4.5 to −2.5; p < 0.0001). The mean knowledge score of control participants remained unchanged at 6.71 (± 2.3) during both baseline and follow-up assessments. Conclusion: ADR-specific education was associated with a significant improvement in the knowledge and understanding of pharmacists about ADRs and their methods of reporting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The species of the genus Micatagla Argaman (Bradynobaenidae: Apterogyninae) in Saudi Arabia are reviewed. A single species, M. antropovi Pagliano, 2002, has previously been reported from Abu Arish (Jazan region, Saudi Arabia). Four new species based on females are described and illustrated in the present paper: M. fuscogaster sp. nov. and M. reemae sp. nov. (Garf Raydah Natural Reserve, Asir region), M. saudita sp. nov. (Wadi Hanifah, Riyadh region) and M. similis sp. nov. (Shada Al-Ala Natural Reserve, Al-Baha region). An illustrated key to the females and an annotated faunistic list of all Micatagla species of Saudi Arabia are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a correction notice for an article titled "Towards unlocking the biocontrol potential of Pichia kudriavzevii for plant fungal diseases: in vitro and in vivo assessments with candidate secreted protein prediction" published in BMC Microbiology. The correction includes the addition of an acknowledgement to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, as well as an update to the corresponding author's email address. The original article has been corrected. The correction notice also states that Springer Nature remains neutral regarding jurisdictional claims and institutional affiliations. The authors of the article are Bassma Mahmoud Elkhairy, Nabil Mohamed Salama, Abdalrahman Mohammad Desouki, Ashraf Bakry Abdelrazek, Khaled Abdelaziz Soliman, Samir Abdelaziz Ibrahim, and Hala Badr Khalil. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Understanding the knowledge and conceptions of Saudi population regarding family planning methods is important for increasing the public awareness and maintaining the health of the women. Objectives: Evaluating the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the family planning methods in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A cross-sectional community questionnaire based study was conducted among 560 adult married subjects in Saudi Arabia, from March to July 2017. Results: The most of included subjects had college degree, less than 3 children and were employee. The majority of subjects had good knowledge regarding the meaning, types and uses of contraceptives which resulted in high attitude and good practice pattern as 65.4% of subjects had good KAP toward family planning. Conclusion: The use of contraceptive types was quietly high among the Saudi subjects and this could be due to that most of the subjects had high educational degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the knowledge and conceptions of Saudi population regarding family planning methods is important for increasing the public awareness and maintaining the health of the women. Objectives: Evaluating the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) regarding the family planning methods in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). Methods: A cross-sectional community questionnaire based study was conducted among 560 adult married subjects in Saudi Arabia, from March to July 2017. Results: The most of included subjects had college degree, less than 3 children and were employee. The majority of subjects had good knowledge regarding the meaning, types and uses of contraceptives which resulted in high attitude and good practice pattern as 65.4% of subjects had good KAP toward family planning. Conclusion: The use of contraceptive types was quietly high among the Saudi subjects and this could be due to that most of the subjects had high educational degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was a qualitative assessment of potential microplastics (MPs) in the sewage effluent collected from a local sewage treatment plant located in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. The composite samples of domestic sewage effluent were subjected to UV (ultraviolet) light-induced zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) mediated photocatalysis. The first phase of the study included the synthesis of the ZnONPs with an extensive characterization. The synthesized nanoparticles were 220 nm in size with a characteristic spherical/hexagonal shape. These NPs were then used at three different concentrations (10 mM, 20 mM, and 30 mM) for the UV light-induced photocatalysis. A shift in the Raman spectra on photodegradation mirrored the surface changes of the functional groups shown by the FTIR spectra; presence of functional groups containing oxygen and C–C bonds associated with oxidation and chain scission. SEM micrographs showed photodegraded particles. Complementary elemental maps from the EDS analysis showed the presence of C, O, and Cl suggesting the potential presence of MPs. The O/C ratio was used to assess potential oxidation degree. In addition, an evaluation of the toxicological effects of the potential MPs in the sewage effluent on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to the effluent at two concentrations (50% and 75%) elicited a marked response in the endpoints evaluated; EROD activity, MDA (malondialdehyde), 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine levels in and AChE (acetylcholinesterase) activity in the brain. Thus, the key results provide new insights into the use of clean technologies to combat global MP pollution in aquatic ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Spectroscopy with SEM/EDS revealed the C,O elemental maps in the plastic matrix. • ZnO nanoparticles demonstrated photodegradation of the potential microplastics. • The biological endpoints showed a marked alleviation of the toxicological effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]