Search

Qatar's role in mediation diminished following the 2017 Gulf Crisis and the regional backlash to its interventionist policy during the Arab Spring. After the resolution of the Gulf Crisis in 2021, the Qatari role in conflict mediation re-emerged with a return to third-party mediation in the early 2020s, receiving widespread attention following the U.S.-Taliban agreement. The post-crisis return of Qatar to playing central mediator and facilitator roles in conflict management has, however, been subject to discontinuities as well as continuities in its mediation style as a result of the crisis in its international relations. This article analyses the evolution of mediation strategy, utilizing case studies of Qatar's mediation in Afghanistan, Chad, and Libya through a framework focusing on results, modality, acceptability and reception. The analysis identifies key comparative findings on Qatar's post-2020 renewed role in conflict mediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and minor stroke demonstrate cognitive impairment, and a four-fold risk of late-life dementia. Aim: To study the extent to which the rates of brain volume loss in TIA patients differ from healthy controls and how they are correlated with cognitive impairment. Methods: TIA or minor stroke patients were tested with a neuropsychological battery and underwent T1 weighted volumetric magnetic resonance imaging scans at fixed intervals over a 3 years period. Linear mixed effects regression models were used to compare brain atrophy rates between groups, and to determine the relationship between atrophy rates and cognitive function in TIA and minor stroke patients. Results: Whole brain atrophy rates were calculated for the TIA and minor stroke patients; n = 38 between 24 h and 18 months, and n = 68 participants between 18 and 36 months, and were compared to healthy controls. TIA and minor stroke patients demonstrated a significantly higher whole brain atrophy rate than healthy controls over a 3 years interval (p = 0.043). Diabetes (p = 0.012) independently predicted higher atrophy rate across groups. There was a relationship between higher rates of brain atrophy and processing speed (composite P = 0.047 and digit symbol coding P = 0.02), but there was no relationship with brain atrophy rates and memory or executive composite scores or individual cognitive tests for language (Boston naming, memory recall, verbal fluency or Trails A or B score). Conclusion: TIA and minor stroke patients experience a significantly higher rate of whole brain atrophy. In this cohort of TIA and minor stroke patients changes in brain volume over time precede cognitive decline.

This article has been retracted. A retraction notice can be found at . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, the number of children with nephrolithiasis increased to 50 cases per 100,000. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNCL) has been shown to be a successful treatment. However, standard PCNL has resulted in a number of problems, in pediatric patients, because to the large nephroscope and amplatz size of 24-30 F. Aim of this systematic review was to compare available literature of Mini PCNL and Standard PCNL to assess efficacy and Stone free rates (SFR) in pediatric population. In this systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effect of different amplatz sheath sizes for percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) in pediatric population. Our report follows the PRISMA protocol. A methodical search was conducted using multiple databases of research-based literature including PubMed, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and Web of Sciences. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 and STRATA were used to sort, analyze, and present data graphically. Stone free rates were reportedly higher in standard PCNL in three (3/6) studies with 93.7% / 91.7%, 83.4% / 74.9% and 94.7% / 89.5% while all other studies reported mini PCNL SFR higher than Standard PCNL with 75.8% / 71.4%, 90.5% / 85.7 and 87.9% / 59.1% respectively. Multivariate analysis was reported in only 1 study with coefficient of 0.079 and 95% CI as 0.944 - 1.241 (Lower - Upper). When it comes to managing both simple and difficult renal calculi in children, mini-PCNL is just as safe and successful as SPCNL, with similar operational times, SFRs, and total problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the clinical response of EMLA cream (Eutectic Mixture of Local Anaesthetics; 2.5% Lidocaine/2.5% Prilocaine) in decreasing peripheral cannulation pain in children. Study Design: Quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from May to Aug 2021. Methodology: This study was conducted on 80 paediatric patients who were classified as American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Grades I and I and selected using non-probability consecutive sample. They underwent peripheral cannulation to maintain intravascular access for surgical procedure. The forty children in EMLA Group (Group-A) were applied 2.5 ml EMLA cream for 60 min, covered by Tegaderm® over suitable vein, while the 40 children in Control Group (Group-B) received no local anesthetic cream. Participants rated pain during venipuncture on Visual Analog Scale (VAS 0-10; 0, no pain; 10, intolerable pain). Results: Out of 80 patients equaly divided into two groups, 40(50%) were males, while 40(50%) were females. The patients included in our study had mean age of 7.35±1.5 years. In EMLA group the mean score of pain was 1.5±0.87 compared to the Control group (mean score = 7.4±1.4; p=0.001). Conclusion: The result of our study suggests that EMLA cream is more efficacious in decreasing venipuncture pain than if no local anaesthetic cream is applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study presents a Critical Discourse Analysis of Jane Austen's 18th-century novel Emma by employing a qualitative methodological approach. Utilizing Van Dijk's (1995) Socio-cognitive model, the analysis is conducted at the Macrostructure level which allows for the interpretation of the novel's meanings and themes. The study specifically examines dialogues related to the theme of marriage by extracting the concerned excerpts from the text. Through this analysis, the research uncovers the underlying ideologies concerning marriage as presented by female authors of the period. The results indicate that Austen's portrayal of marriage reflects a societal context in which women are systematically underprivileged and subject to male dominance. This suggests that Emma not only offers a narrative about individual characters but also provides a broader commentary on the gender inequalities prevalent in the 18th century. The study thus contributes to the understanding of how literature can mirror and critique social realities particularly concerning women's roles within the institution of marriage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternal and neonatal health has always been a point of concern for policymakers in Pakistan, understanding all determinants resulting in adverse maternal or fetal outcomes is an essential point to eliminating risk factors and establishing better opportunities for survival for mothers and newborns. This study aims to evaluate the association of psychological wellbeing with pregnancy outcomes, and maternal and neonatal health in the Pakistani population. Objective: To assess the psychological wellbeing in pregnant females and its association with pregnancy outcomes, maternal and neonatal health in Pakistani population. Methods: This is a prospective, cohort study conducted at private antenatal care centers of Karachi from January 2022 till March 2023, the estimated sample size was 384. Kupposwami scale for socio-economic status, psychological assessment Wellbeing in pregnancy questionnaire and satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) were used to assess psychological wellbeing during pregnancy. Cross-tabulation and Paired sample t-test was used along with chi-square test, keeping the p-value = 0.05 as significant. Results: The mean results of the SWL score indicated minimal satisfaction with life with a 12.9 ± 8.1 mean value. Pre-term labor was reported in 37 (9.6%) and maternal mortality was reported in 9 (2.3%). low birth weight (<1500) was reported in 11 (2.8%) while small for gestational age was reported in 19 (4.9%), neonatal mortality was reported in 15(3.9%). Conclusion: This study concludes that maternal mental health distress is independent risk factor for low birth weight, and preterm deliveries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic integrity refers to the concept of ensuring moral standards and ethics in academia. The commitment and demonstration of moral values like honesty, trust and fair dealing in academic settings and contexts are the fundamentals of academic integrity. The International Center of Academic Integrity (ICAI) sets out five values to define academic integrity including honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage. This is a fact that higher levels of academic integrity consequently lead towards better academic standards and refinement of academic quality at higher education institutions (HEIs). The paper entails a qualitative approach and is based upon the past pertinent studies as well as the personal experiences of the authors in academia to discuss and evaluate the academic integrity in the context of Pakistani HEIs. The actions and practices which violate academic integrity constitute academic misconduct and adamic dishonesty. The malpractices may be done at the end of students, faculty or institutional authorities and HEIs administration. This paper discusses the problems and issues which undermine the academic integrity in HEIs encompassing the major issues including plagiarism, cheating in exams, contract cheating, collusion, facilitation and deceit among others. The paper also proposes the ways to address the issues of academic misconduct by suggesting measures and recommendations to curb the aspects of academic dishonesty by the students, faculty members and HEIs administrative staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transnational education (TNE) also referred to as borderless, cross-border, or off-shore education refers to a system of education wherein the students, without leaving their home country, study to attain a foreign qualification. The rise of transnational education is one of the most prominent aspects of modern globalized world. This paper assesses the origin and development of TNE sector in Pakistan by evaluating the multifarious facets of TNE in the context of Pakistan's education system by highlighting the important issues and major challenges faced by the TNE system in the country. The TNE sector of Pakistan has grown steadily and progressively over the last two decades. The encouragingly fast-paced growth of TNE system omens positive prospects from the perspective of Pakistan's higher education sector. The commendable progress of the TNE establishments and institutions in the country have both offered opportunities as well as also posed various challenges which are to be aptly addressed and countered in order to unlock the true potential of TNE sector in Pakistan. The paper entails a qualitative research approach and surveys a range of secondary data sources including the reports, publications, working papers and online sources. The paper eventually presents a few proposals and recommendations for the uplift of TNE by suggesting the way forward to explore and exploit the future prospects in the TNE sector of Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue mosquitoes are the only reason for dengue fever. To effectively combat this disease, it is important to eliminate dengue mosquitoes and their larvae. However, there are currently very few computer-aided models available in scientific literature to prevent the spread of dengue fever. Detecting the larvae stage of the dengue mosquito is particularly important in controlling its population. To address this issue, we propose an automated method that utilizes deep learning for semantic segmentation to detect and track dengue larvae. Our approach incorporates a contrast enhancement approach into the semantic neural network to make the detection more accurate. As there was no dengue larvae dataset available, we develop our own dataset having 50 short videos with different backgrounds and textures. The results show that the proposed model achieves up to 79% F-measure score. In comparison, the DeepLabV3, Resnet achieves up to 77%, and Segnet achieves up to 76% F-measure score on the tested frames. The results show that the proposed model performs well for small object detection and segmentation. The average F-measure score of all the frames also indicates that the proposed model achieves a 76.72% F-measure score while DeepLabV3 achieves a 75.37%, Resnet 75.41%, and Segnet 74.87% F-measure score. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study carries out the textual analysis of Hassan Blasim’s selected short stories to see the ways, in which the US military intervention in Iraq, (in) famously called as ‘the War on Terror’, results in creating terror, instead of eliminating it. The theoretical underpinnings used for the research have been borrowed from Robert J. C. Young’s study on terror effects. The study reveals that terror causes a psychological trauma within individuals. It inhabits the individuals and affects their ways of thinking. This study highlights the impact of the so-called war on terror and brings forth the role of cultural productions which record the debilitating aftermaths of such wars. This research underscores the value of literary texts, which, through such portrayals record the horrors of wars in a bid to to make them part of the cultural memory of the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]