Why So Cynical? The Effect of Job Burnout as a Mediator on the Relationship Between Perceived Organizational Support and Organizational Cynicism

The current study represents a noteworthy step towards a better understanding of how perceived organizational support influences burnout and cynicism of healthcare staff. It explores whether perceived organizational support reduces job burnout and organizational cynicism and whether job burnout plays a mediating role in the relationship between POS and organizational cynicism. Data were collected from 211 personnel working in the healthcare industry in Saudi Arabia. Findings indicate that a high level of perceived organizational support ameliorates the experienced burnout symptoms, and allay cynical attitudes, emotions, and behaviors at work. The study also unfolds that burnout is mediating the relationship between POS and organizational cynicism, which highlights the importance of properly managing burnout. The study suggested that healthcare organizations should imperatively provide the necessary organizational support wherever and whenever it is needed and utilize the appropriate interventions to minimize the effects of burnout and cynicism. This is the first study that analyzed the impact of POS on organizational cynicism through the mediating variable of job burnout, and the first paper that investigates POS, organizational cynicism, and job burnout of healthcare staff in a single study. It adds to the growing body of literature on antecedents of organizational cynicism, job burnout, and POS as a mean to reduce negative workplace phenomena. Keywords: perceived organizational support, job burnout, organizational cynicism, social exchange theory, job demand model, healthcare industry, healthcare staff. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/13-7-04 Publication date: April 30th 202

An Exploration of Reading Comprehension Challenges in Saudi Arabian University EFL Students

Abstract: This is an interpretive study, framed by sociocultural theory, and employing qualitative data collection methods to explore the nature of reading comprehension challenges faced by English as Foreign Language learners. These challenges were identified through analysis of the students' reading aloud processes, and the factors to which students attributed these challenges were investigated from the perspectives of both the readers themselves and those of their lecturers. Information about student reading aloud processes was obtained through participation in the Think Aloud Protocol by sixteen student volunteers from three universities in Saudi Arabia. Nine students then volunteered to reflect on their reading aloud processes in the follow-up Retrospective Verbal Report. All sixteen students then took part in a semi-structured interview in which they were questioned about the factors influencing their reading challenges. Six of their lecturers also volunteered to undertake a similar interview process with regard to their student's reading of English. The findings showed that Saudi EFL students exhibited a number of reading processes which interfered with comprehension. They paid little attention to punctuation, and used ineffective reading strategies such as repetition and guessing, which were usually incorrect. Words were often incorrectly decoded and therefore, mispronounced, particularly vowels which were pronounced by their alphabetic names rather than phonically, and words were substituted for those which were graphically or phonologically similar, indicating a failure to monitor comprehension. Students also read slowly which interfered with the development of coherency, fluency and comprehension. A number of themes were identified with regard to the source of these challenges. These themes relate to the social and cultural framework surrounding the student, including a cohesive, authoritarian society with a strong social tradition and a culture which does not value or prioritise reading for pleasure. Participants believed that these social and cultural forces lead to a lack of resources, poor access to English, poor teaching methods and a lack of background knowledge as they read. They claimed that this generated states of mind which contributed to their reluctance, and largely negative attitudes towards, reading in English. In particular, participants reported that the social demands of their culture, the failure to teach good phonic skills, and of negative mental and emotional states, influenced their reading fluency and contributed to their reading comprehension challenges. The unique approach and design of this study, particularly in the context of the Arab world, has produced findings which demonstrate the relevance and influence of social and cultural factors on reading processes and comprehension challenges. These findings have led to a number of recommendations for the learning and teaching of English reading in international contexts. The study concludes by suggesting that these processes and factors be further investigated by future studies

Evolution of microstructure and hardness in an AZ80 magnesium alloy processed by high-pressure torsion

An AZ80 magnesium alloy with an initial grain size of ?25 ?m and a hardness of Hv ? 63 was processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) at room temperature for up to 10 turns under an imposed pressure of 6.0 GPa. After processing, the specimens were examined by optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and measurements were taken of the Vickers microhardness along diameters of the HPT discs. The results show that the grains are refined to ?200 nm after 5 and 10 turns of HPT and the hardness increases to Hv ? 120 at an equivalent strain of ?30. There is a saturation condition and no further hardening at additional equivalent strains up to >200

Control of parallel hippocampal output pathways by amygdalar long-range inhibition

Projections from the basal amygdala (BA) to the ventral hippocampus (vH) are proposed to provide information about the rewarding or threatening nature of learned associations to support appropriate goal-directed and anxiety-like behaviour. Such behaviour occurs via the differential activity of multiple, parallel populations of pyramidal neurons in vH that project to distinct downstream targets, but the nature of BA input and how it connects with these populations is unclear. Using channelrhodopsin-2-assisted circuit mapping in mice, we show that BA input to vH consists of both excitatory and inhibitory projections. Excitatory input specifically targets BA- and nucleus accumbens-projecting vH neurons and avoids prefrontal cortex-projecting vH neurons, while inhibitory input preferentially targets BA-projecting neurons. Through this specific connectivity, BA inhibitory projections gate place-value associations by controlling the activity of nucleus accumbens-projecting vH neurons. Our results define a parallel excitatory and inhibitory projection from BA to vH that can support goal-directed behaviour

Hidden homogeneous extreme multistability of a fractional-order hyperchaotic discrete-time system: chaos, initial offset boosting, amplitude control, control, and synchronization

Fractional order maps are a hot research topic; many new mathematical models are suitable for developing new applications in different areas of science and engineering. In this paper, a new class of a 2D fractional hyperchaotic map is introduced using the Caputo-like difference operator. The hyperchaotic map has no equilibrium and lines of equilibrium points, depending on the values of the system parameters. All of the chaotic attractors generated by the proposed fractional map are hidden. The system dynamics are analyzed via bifurcation diagrams, Lyapunov exponents, and phase portraits for different values of the fractional order. The results show that the fractional map has rich dynamical behavior, including hidden homogeneous multistability and offset boosting. The paper also illustrates a novel theorem, which assures that two hyperchaotic fractional discrete systems achieve synchronized dynamics using very simple linear control laws. Finally, the chaotic dynamics of the proposed system are stabilized at the origin via a suitable controller

Impact of Glycemic Control on Shoulder Proprioception in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Mediating the Connection - Insights from a Cross-Sectional Analysis

Mastour Saeed Alshahrani,1,&ast; Ravi Shankar Reddy,1,&ast; Adel Alshahrani,2,&ast; Saud F Alsubaie3,&ast; 1Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences-Physiotherapy Program, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, 55461, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Ravi Shankar Reddy, Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966 503587903, Email [email protected]: Shoulder proprioception is vital and this cross-sectional study investigated the association between glycemic control and shoulder joint proprioception in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).Methods: A total of 120 participants, including 60 with T2DM and 60 healthy individuals, were assessed for shoulder joint position sense (JPS) using a digital inclinometer. The T2DM group exhibited significantly greater mean shoulder joint position errors in flexion (4.32° vs 2.15°), abduction, medial rotation, and lateral rotation compared to the healthy group (p < 0.001).Results: The study found significantly greater shoulder joint position errors in the T2DM group compared to the healthy group, highlighting notable proprioceptive deficits in individuals with T2DM. Additionally, a significant positive correlation was found between HbA1c levels and shoulder joint position errors in the T2DM group, suggesting a link between long-term glycemic control and proprioceptive accuracy.Discussion: The significant positive correlation between HbA1c levels and shoulder joint position errors suggests that poor glycemic control is associated with impaired proprioception in T2DM patients. This underscores the need for comprehensive management strategies to mitigate proprioceptive deficits and improve the quality of life in individuals with T2DM.Keywords: joint position sense, diabetes complications, sensory feedback, neuromuscular function, HbA1c Level

Feasibility and Acceptability of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Compared with Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Treatment as Usual in People with Depression and Cardiovascular Disorders: A three-arm Randomised Controlled Trial

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer via the DOI in this record.Depression co-occurs in 20 % of people with cardiovascular disorders, can persist for years, and predicts worse physical health outcomes. While psychosocial treatments have been shown to treat acute depression effectively in those with comorbid cardiovascular disorders, to date, there has been no evaluation of approaches aiming to prevent relapse and treat residual depression symptoms in this group. Consequently, the current study aimed to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a randomised controlled trial design evaluating an adapted version of mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) designed specifically for people with co-morbid depression and cardiovascular disorders. A 3-arm feasibility randomised controlled trial was conducted, comparing MBCT adapted for people with cardiovascular disorders plus treatment as usual (TAU), mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) plus TAU, and TAU alone. Participants completed a set of selfreport measures of depression severity, anxiety, quality of life, illness perceptions, mindfulness, self-compassion and affect and had their blood pressure taken immediately before, after, and three months following the intervention. Those in the adapted-MBCT arm additionally underwent a qualitative interview to gather their views about the adapted intervention. 3,400 potentially eligible participants were approached when attending an outpatient appointment at a cardiology clinic or via a GP letter following a case note search. 242 (7.1 %) were interested in taking part, 59 (1.7 %) were screened as being suitable, and 33 (<1 %) were eventually randomised to the three groups. Of 11 participants randomised to adapted MBCT, seven completed the full course, levels of home mindfulness practice were high, and positive qualitative feedback about the intervention was given. Twenty-nine out of 33 randomised participants completed all the assessment measures at all three-time points. The means PHQ-9 scores for the MBCT-HeLM group were lower at post-intervention and at the three-month follow-up compared to the MBSR and TAU groups. The sample was heterogeneous in terms of whether they reported current depression or had a history of depression and the time since the onset of cardiovascular disorders (one to 25 years). The adapted MBCT intervention was feasible and acceptable to participants, however, certain aspects of the trial design were not. In particular, low recruitment rates were achieved and there was a high withdrawal rate between screening and randomisation. Moreover, the heterogeneity in the sample was high, meaning the adapted intervention was unlikely to be well tailored to all the participants needs. This suggests that if the decision is made to move to a definitive trial, study recruitment procedures will need to be revised to recruit a target sample that optimally matches the adapted intervention.This research was, in part, supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care South West Peninsula. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. Also, the research was carried out as part of a PhD funded by King Saud University, Saudi Arabian Ministry of Higher Education

Developing a simulated intelligent instrument to measure user behavior toward cybersecurity policies

Institutions struggle to protect themselves from threats and cybercrime. Therefore, they devote much attention to improving information security infrastructures. Users’ behaviors were explored via a traditional questionnaire research instrument in a data collocate process. The questionnaire explores users’ behaviors theoretically, so the respondents’ answers to the questionnaire are insufficiently reliable, and the responses might not reflect actual behavior based on the human bias when facing theoretical problems. This study aims to solve unreliable responses to the questionnaire by developing a simulated intelligent instrument to measure users’ behaviors toward cybersecurity policies in an experimental study using gamification

A systematic review of postgraduate training programmes directed at pharmacists entering primary care

This systematic review explores the international postgraduate education and training programmes designed to provide or develop knowledge or skills focused on enabling pharmacists to work in a general practice setting. Four thousand, eight hundred and seventy-one (4,871) articles were identified from database searches of SCOPUS, EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, IPA, Web of Science and ERIC. After removal of duplicates and article screening, seven articles were included. Educational content, setting, contact time and methods of assessment varied across all studies. There is paucity of published literature relating to the development and evaluation of education programmes directed at pharmacists entering into general practice. A combination of work and classroom-based education provided by general practitioners and pharmacists already working in primary care is deemed most beneficial coupled with systematic debriefing sessions at the completion of training courses. The findings suggest future training should focus on specific disease states.</jats:p

Smart fuzzy logic control of photovoltaic system: Case study Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Robust controls of photovoltaic (PV) system applications that include modular multilevel inverter (MMI) for interfacing stand-alone and grid-connected operating modes are investigated in this paper to overcome interfacing problems of two-level and three-level inverters. The MMI provides high-quality voltage, current, and power signals without additional filters, which reduces complexity and cost of interface circuits. A new control method of active and reactive power has been introduced for PV systems to get maximum power point (MPP) in various climatic circumstances. The steady-state and dynamic performances of MMI are investigated using MATLAB/Simulink. A fuzzy logic control is proposed to track the MPP utilizing the perturb and observe (P&O) technique. A fair comparison between fuzzy logic control and proportional integral (PI) control was conducted using MATLAB/Simulink. The fuzzy logic controller for obtaining MPPT by P&O method is proposed to get fast and accurate results. The obtained results obvioused that the fuzzy logic controller is quick accessing MPP than PI controller. A simple LC filter can achieve minimum harmonics provided by total harmonic distortion (THD) of MMI within IEEE limit. The PV system for standalone and grid-connected modes is being tested under climatic conditions in the city of Tabuk, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). © 2023 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved