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Abstract We consider a simplified model of double scaled SYK (DSSYK) in which the Hamiltonian is the position operator of the Harmonic oscillator. This model captures the high temperature limit of DSSYK but could also be defined as a quantum theory in its own right. We study properties of the emergent geometry including its dynamics in response to inserting matter particles. In particular, we find that the model displays de Sitter-like properties such as that infalling matter reduces the rate of growth of geodesic slices between the two boundaries. The simplicity of the model allows us to compute the full generating functional for correlation functions of the length mode or any number of matter operators. We provide evidence that the effective action of the geodesic length between boundary points is non-local. Furthermore, we use the on-shell solution for the geodesic lengths between any two boundary points to reconstruct an effective bulk metric and reverse engineer the dilaton gravity theory that generates this metric as a solution.

Abstract We study the dynamics of a quantum system in thermal equilibrium that is suddenly coupled to a bath at a different temperature, a situation inspired by a particular black hole evaporation protocol. We prove a universal positivity bound on the integrated rate of change of the system energy which holds perturbatively in the system-bath coupling. Applied to holographic systems, this bound implies a particular instance of the averaged null energy condition. We also study in detail the particular case of two coupled SYK models in the limit of many fermions using the Schwinger-Keldysh non-equilibrium formalism. We solve the resulting Kadanoff-Baym equations both numerically and analytically in various limits. In particular, by going to low temperature, this setup enables a detailed study of the evaporation of black holes in JT gravity.

Date fruits (DFs) are lucrative fruits with both nutritional and medicinal benefits. Although DF byproducts have gained interest as potential functional food ingredients, the functional role of DF waxes remains unexplored. Most plant fruits, including DFs,had a lipophilic cuticular layer; and constitutes of epicuticular wax (EPW), which has an important role in respiration losses, mechanical support, fruit softening, and pathogen resistance. In this study, the compositional and antioxidant properties of EPW from Majdool, Khalas, and Fard DFs were investigated. Moreover, thermal transitions of EPW were examined. Results revealed the highest EPW yield in Majdool (16.62 ± 1.68 mg wax/cm2) and the lowest in Khalas (0.075 ± 0.008 mg wax/cm2). Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy showed maximum absorptivity at 250 and 290 nm across all varieties, corresponding to conjugated dienes and trienes, respectively. Fourier transform infrared peaks confirmed the presence of hydroxyl, methylene, and carbonyl groups, including specific domains of phenolic compounds. Khalas and Fard EPWs reported more total phenolic content and scavenging activity than Majdool EPW. The variations were observed in the melting temperatures of EPW, ranging from 60 °C to 85 °C. These findings establish a theoretical foundation for the potential application of DF EPW in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Abstract Motivated by recent study of DSSYK and the non-commutative nature of its bulk dual, we review and analyze an example of a non-commutative spacetime known as the quantum disk proposed by L. Vaksman. The quantum disk is defined as the space whose isometries are generated by the quantum algebra U q s u 1 , 1 $$ {U}_q\left(\mathfrak{s}{\mathfrak{u}}_{1,1}\right) $$ . We review how this algebra is defined and its associated group SU q (1, 1) that it generates, highlighting its non-trivial coproduct that sources bulk non-commutativity. We analyze the structure of holography on the quantum disk and study the imprint of non-commutativity on the putative boundary dual.

Financial markets have witnessed significant disruptions driven by ongoing waves of financial innovation, and digitalization brought about by technological advances which are referred to as “FinTech”. Consequently, this paper examines connectedness and risk transmission between FinTech industry, Blockchain, and stability of the financial sector in the UAE. Furthermore, it explores the impact of economic and financial turbulences such as COVID-19 pandemic on the transmission of shocks across FinTech and financial instability using a Time-varying Parameter Vector Autoregressive model. Empirical results indicate that VIX and Global Fintech are the dominant player of the system, and significantly impacting vulnerability of the UAE financial system. However, the post-COVID analysis display shifts in the roles of indices within the connectedness network, such as the OVX transitioning from being a volatility receiver to a transmitter, emphasizing evolving market sentiments in the wake of major crises. Finally, volatility spillovers increased across markets under extreme market conditions indicating that UAE is fully integrated within the global financial markets.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease affecting lipoprotein metabolism. FCS is estimated to occur in 1 in 1–2 million individuals and can be diagnosed at any age, equally affecting all genders, races, and ethnicities. The condition is characterized by hypertriglyceridemia, which may predispose patients to acute pancreatitis. In this report, we present the case of a now 6-year-old girl with FCS on gemfibrozil and dietary restrictions. The patient initially presented at 40 days of age with bloody diarrhea. Serum samples revealed lipemia, with markedly elevated triglyceride levels. The patient was diagnosed with FCS, confirmed by genetic testing showing the homozygous variant c.833C>T(p,Ser278Phe) for the LPL gene. Despite being on a low-fat diet with medium chain triglyceride (MCT) based milk formulas, the patient developed acute pancreatitis 2 months later with continued elevated triglyceride levels. She was placed on gemfibrozil and fat-soluble vitamins at 2 months of age, with marked improvements subsequently noted. Currently, the patient is doing well, with normal growth parameters and no other episodes of acute pancreatitis. Her triglyceride levels have been maintained within normal levels. FCS is a rare, inherited lipid disorder that often goes underdiagnosed and unmanaged. It is worth considering the fibric acid derivative (gemfibrozil) to be one of the lines of management early on after diagnosis.

Climate change hazards continue to pose detrimental impacts on coastal cities in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman) of the Middle East, which undermines their climate resilience. The situation is exacerbated by the rapid urban development in coastal cities in the GCC countries over the past 20 years. This review study examined the climate change hazards that are having negative impacts on the resilience of coastal cities in the GCC countries using a systematic literature review approach. It also explores the urban resilience strategies implemented towards climate change hazards mitigation and adaptation in order to build climate-resilient coastal cities in the GCC countries. A total of 48 peer-reviewed articles were included in the systematic review derived from Scopus, WoS, and Google Scholar, covering the nine coastal cities in the six GCC countries. Most of the studies were focused on the coastal cities of Jeddah (30 %) in Saudi Arabia and Doha (24 %) in Qatar, compared to the other seven coastal cities in the GCC countries. Flooding, rising temperature, sea level rise, dust storms, cyclones, and migration of sand dunes were the six most reported climate change hazards, respectively, posing significant negative impacts on coastal cities and undermining their resilience to current and future climate change impacts. The various urban resilience strategies implemented against climate change hazards were categorised under five resilience dimensions: infrastructure resilience, social resilience, environmental resilience, economic resilience, and governance and policy resilience dimensions. The infrastructure resilience dimension was reported in 50.7 % of the studies, since it is the most implemented, while far less research attention was given to the environmental (14.5 %), government and policy (8.7 %), and economic (2.9 %) resilience dimensions of coastal cities in the GCC countries. The urban resilience strategies for climate mitigation and adaptation were reported to have successfully reduced the vulnerability of coastal cities to climate change hazards over the past decade, by improving their climate resilience. The findings contribute to informing urban planning policy-making focused on coastal environmental management in the coastal cities of the GCC countries that should further enhance the climate resilience of these coastal cities.

There is a high prevalence of heart failure (HF) worldwide, which has significant consequences for healthcare costs, patient death and quality of life. Therefore, there has been much focus on finding and using biomarkers for early diagnosis, prognostication and therapy of HF. This overview of the research presents a thorough examination of the current state of HF biomarkers and their many uses. Their function in diagnosing HF, gauging its severity and monitoring its response to therapy are all discussed. Particularly promising in HF diagnosis and risk stratification are the cardiac-specific biomarkers, B-type natriuretic peptide and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Markers of oxidative stress, extracellular matrix, renal function, inflammation and cardiac peptides have shown promise in evaluating HF severity and prognosis. MicroRNAs and insulin-like growth factor are two emerging biomarkers that have shown potential in helping with HF diagnosis and prognosis.

Automation in forensic DNA analysis is crucial for analysts to reduce time, improve results, and decrease risk of contamination. With the variety of commercially available automated DNA extraction systems, comes the need for end-users to be informed of what they provide and what they might lack. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of two semi-automated DNA extraction systems used for forensic DNA analysis: Automate Express™ and Hamilton Microlab STAR™ system, for four parameters; reproducibility, stability, sensitivity and contamination. Overall, the results indicated that both semi-automated systems performed similarly in providing robust and reproducible DNA results while maintaining good capability to overcome PCR inhibition with low risk of contamination. The two semi-automated systems showed higher DNA recovery than organic extraction using phenol-chloroform by 22% for semen and 7% for blood samples. In addition, three sample types, blood, saliva, semen were tested to compare the two systems (total samples n=100). Overall, the data showed the average DNA recovery for Hamilton was higher than the DNA recovery by Automate Express™ for the blood and semen sample types indicating better performance of the Hamilton Microlab STAR™ in terms of recovery and sensitivity level.

The fabrication of macrostructures based on carbon nanostructures (CNS), such as CNS sheets, while maintaining the nanoscale mechanical properties of CNS, poses a significant technological and fundamental challenge. The presence of voids in the structure of CNS sheets significantly impacts their mechanical and electrical reliabilities. This study presents the fabrication of high-strength CNS (carbon nanostructures) sheets achieved through the mechanical densification of CNS sheets produced via the filtration process. Utilizing the filtration process as a potentially scalable and cost-efficient method reliably enhances the mechanical properties of CNS sheets. Within these CNS sheets, carbon nanostructures are densely stacked into macroscopically layered films, reducing voids, and enhancing mechanical properties. These CNS sheets hold promise for various applications, including electromagnetic interference shielding, electronics, energy storage, heat dissipation, among others. The CNS sheets obtained through the densification of CNS layers are analyzed to investigate how surfactant concentration and sonication time impact their mechanical properties. These high-strength CNS sheets, with improved mechanical properties, open doors to diverse applications ranging from electronics to energy storage, promising innovation in multiple fields.

The development of appropriate and valid multicultural and multilingual instruments research is necessary due to a growing multicultural and multilingual society in the 21st century. We explored the use of a cognitive scale related to subjective complaints, focusing on the first step: a cross-cultural and semantic validation. This study presents the translation and cross-validation process of the “Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia” (SSTICS) for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) region via different languages used in Dubaï/Abu Dhabi. This scale measures cognitive complaints and has been validated with psychosis and used in 20 clinical trials worldwide. It evaluates areas of the illness related to self-awareness focusing on memory dysfunction and deficits of attention, language, and praxis. We described the method of cross-cultural validation, with back-translation, semantic steps, and societal contexts. The use of the Subjective Scale to Investigate Cognition in Emirates (SSTIC-E) was explored with different samples of UAE Arabic-speaking subjects. First, a pilot sample mean SSTICS total score was 16.5 (SD:16.9); (p

Objectives This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin regarding insulin therapy.Design A cross-sectional study.Setting This study was conducted at the Dubai Diabetes Center from 1 December 2018 to 1 March 2020.Participants Face-to-face interviews were conducted for 350 participants with type 2 diabetes at the Dubai Diabetes Center. Interviews followed the structured format of a questionnaire designed to obtain demographic details and score participants on knowledge, attitude and practices. We included patients aged >18 years and receiving insulin therapy. Patients with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women with gestational diabetes, those aged

As the adoption of soilless production systems escalates to meet the rising demand for safe and healthy fresh produce, the growing environmental awareness and consumer's preference for sustainable production systems are stimulating the reduction of synthetic inputs. A greenhouse study using an auto-pot zero-runoff hydroponic system and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) as a model vegetable crop was conducted to evaluate the potential of substituting synthetic fertilizer nutrient solutions (NS) with organic-based NS. The use of organic NS resulted in lettuce plants with fewer leaves and a smaller leaf area, plant height, stem diameter, and fresh biomass compared to those grown with inorganic fertilizer. Among the organic NS used, NS B from fish farm waste (159.8 g) and E from plant sources (157.9 g) ensured crop yield performance slightly lower than the inorganic fertilizer NS (175.1 g), but higher than the other humic acid based-organic NS C and D. However, total chlorophyll (0.81 and 0.93 mg/g respectively) and carotene (0.23 and 0.26 mg/g, respectively) levels were higher in organically grown lettuce compared to the control (0.95 0.17 mg/g, respectively). Furthermore, plants grown organically in NS C and D had greater phenolic levels (3.36 and 3.22 g/100 g, respectively) as compared to those nourished with inorganic fertilizer (2.28 g/100g). All organically grown lettuce plants had lower levels of Ca, K, and Mg, and higher P compared to the control. Moreover, all organic NS resulted in lower leaf nitrate levels (ranging from 3.2 to 8.7 mg/kg) compared to the inorganic NS (259.8 mg/kg) based on dry weight. Our findings suggest that organic liquid fertilizers may enable the sustainable production of safe, nutritious, and healthy vegetable crops. However, further study is required to improve and overcome the limitations of such systems.

Background: Mobile phones, used in billions throughout the world, are high-touch devices subject to a dynamic contamination of microorganisms and rarely considered as an important fomite to sanitise systematically. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably the most impactful pandemic of the 21st century with millions of deaths and disruption of all facets of modern life globally. Aim: To perform a systematic review of the literature exploring SARS-CoV-2 presence as a contaminant on mobile phones. Methods: A systematic search (PubMed and Google Scholar) of literature was undertaken from December 2019 to March 2023 identifying English language studies. Studies included in this review specifically identified or tested for the contamination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or genome on mobile phones while studies testing for SARS-COV-2 in environments and/or other fomites samples than but not mobile phones were excluded. Results: A total of 15 studies with reports of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on mobile phones between 2020 and 2023 were included. Amongst all studies, which encompassed ten countries, 511 mobile phones were evaluated for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and 45% (231/511) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. All studies were conducted in the hospital setting and two studies performed additional testing in residential isolation rooms and a patient’s house. Four studies (3 in 2020 and one in 2021) reported 0% contamination while two other studies (in 2020 and 2022) reported 100% of mobile phone contamination with SARS-COV-2. All other studies report mobile phones positive for the virus within a range of 4–77%. Conclusion: A total of 45% of mobile phones are contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 virus. These devices might be an important fomite vector for viral dissemination worldwide. Competent health authorities are advised/recommended to start a global implementation of mobile phone decontamination by introducing regulations and protocols in public health and health care settings such as the 6th moment of hand washing.

Herein, we describe the first consistent regiospecific reaction of isothiocyanates with a variety of substituted N-arylcyanothioformamides in a 1:1 molar ratio to generate a series of imidazolidineiminodithiones decorated with a multitude of functional groups on both aromatic rings. The reaction is carried out at room temperature using a 20 mol% catalytic amount of triethylamine with DMF as the solvent to selectively form the mentioned products with exclusive regioselectivity. The methodology features wide substrate scope, no requirement for chromatography, and good to high reaction yields. The products were isolated by simple ether/brine extraction and the structures were verified by multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and high accuracy mass measurements. The first conclusive molecular structure elucidation of the observed regioisomer was established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Likewise, the tautomer of the N-arylcyanothioformamide reactant was proven by X-ray diffraction analysis. Density functional theory computations at the B3LYP-D4/def2-TZVP level in implicit DMF solvent were conducted to support the noted regiochemical outcome and proposed mechanism.

To acquire a significant footing in today’s competitive airport environments, enhancing airport service performance for passengers is essential. This study aims to investigate the relationship between queuing time, prime services, security screening, and service performance at Abu Dhabi International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A quantitative methodology was employed. The sample size for the PLS-SEM analysis and the passengers’ airport service performance was determined to be 230 respondents. The results revealed a significant relationship between queuing time, prime services, security screening, and airport service performance. The findings also demonstrated a significant positive relationship between queuing time and airport service performance (β = 0.193, t = 3.564, p ≤ 0.000), a significant positive relationship between prime services and airport service performance (β = 0.478, t = 9.225, p ≤ 0.000), and a significant positive relationship between security screening and airport service performance (β= 0.227, t = 4.196, p ≤ 0.000). The outcomes are anticipated to support Abu Dhabi International Airport management in making efficient processes to augment airport service accomplishment for passengers from UAE and different countries.

Limited data exists on the mental health of children in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study aimed to fill this gap by examining the prevalence of anxiety, depression, and risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among school students in post-lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. A sample of 3,745 school students participated, responding to standardized tests (Mood and Feeling Questionnaire-Child Self-Report, Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders-Child Version, and Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale-8). Findings showed that the risk for PTSD was the most prevalent (40.6%), followed by symptoms of anxiety (23.3%), and depression (17.1%). For gender differences, symptoms of the three conditions (depression, anxiety, and PTSD) were higher in female students (9.2%) compared to male peers (7.7%) (p = 0.09). Moreover, symptoms of depression and anxiety were found to be higher among late adolescents (p

Glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, is essential for neuronal function, and it acts on ionotropic or metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). A disturbance in glutamatergic signaling is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases. Developing disease-modifying treatments for neurodegenerative diseases targeting glutamate receptors is a promising avenue. The understudied group III mGluR 4, 6–8 are commonly found in the presynaptic membrane, and their activation inhibits glutamate release. Thus, targeted mGluRs therapies could aid in treating neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes group III mGluRs and their pharmacological ligands in the context of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington's diseases. Attempts to evaluate the efficacy of these drugs in clinical trials are also discussed. Despite a growing list of group III mGluR-specific pharmacological ligands, research on the use of these drugs in neurodegenerative diseases is limited, except for Parkinson’s disease. Future efforts should focus on delineating the contribution of group III mGluR to neurodegeneration and developing novel ligands with superior efficacy and a favorable side effect profile for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract Designing a broadband, wide-angle, and high-efficient polarization converter with a simple geometry remains challenging. This work proposes a simple and computationally inexpensive method for devising broadband polarization conversion metasurfaces. We focus on a cross-shape configuration consisting of two bars of different lengths connected at the center. To design the metasurface, we decompose the system into two parts with two orthogonally polarized responses and calculate the response of each part separately. By selecting the parameters with a proper phase difference in the response between the two parts, we can determine the dimensions of the system. For designing broadband polarization conversion metasurfaces, we define a fitness function to optimize the bandwidth of the linear polarization conversion. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed method can be used to design a metasurface that achieves a relative bandwidth of $$97\%$$ 97 % for converting linearly polarized waves into cross-polarized waves. Additionally, the average polarization conversion ratio of the designed metasurface is greater than $$91\%$$ 91 % over the frequency range of 10.9–28.5 GHz. This method significantly reduces the computational expense compared to the traditional method and can be easily extended to other complex structures and configurations.

Extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual and augmented reality head-mounted displays (HMDs), are increasingly utilised within healthcare to provide clinical interventions and education. Currently, XR devices are utilised to assist in reducing pain and improving psychological outcomes for immunocompromised patients in intensive care units, palliative care environments and surgical theatres. However, there is a paucity of research on the risks of infection from such devices in healthcare settings. Identify existing literature providing insights into the infection control risk XR HMDs pose within healthcare facilities and the efficacy of current infection control and cleaning procedures. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) in addition to Google Scholar were systematically searched. A total of seven studies were identified for this review. Microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were found to be present on XR HMDs. Published cleaning and infection control protocols designed to disinfect XR HMDs and protect users were heterogeneous in nature. Current cleaning protocols displayed varying levels of efficacy with microbial load affected by multiple factors, including time in use, number of users and XR HMD design features. In healthcare settings, fitting XR HMDs harbouring microorganisms near biological and mucosal entry points presents an infection control risk. An urgent revision of the Spaulding classification is required to ensure flexibility that allows for these devices to be reclassified from ‘Non-critical’ to ‘Semi-Critical’ depending on the healthcare setting and patient population (surgery, immunocompromised, burns, etc.). This review identified evidence supporting the presence of microorganisms on XR HMDs. Due to the potential for HMDs to contact mucosal entry points, devices must be re-considered within the Spaulding classification as ‘Semi-critical’. The existence of microbial contaminated XR HMDs in high-risk medical settings such as operating wards, intensive care units, emergency departments, labour and delivery wards and clinical areas with immunosuppressed patients requires urgent attention. Public health authorities have a duty of care to develop revised guidelines or new recommendations to ensure efficient sanitation of such devices.

This study aimed at examining the effect of a behavioral program on raising the level of self-concept among individuals with mild intellectual disability. To achieve this goal, the researcher prepared a skills-based behavioral training program that is geared towards individuals with mild intellectual disability. Subjects were assigned randomly in groups (experimental and control). The results indicate that there were significant differences between the two groups in favor of the experimental group.