LINGUISTIC INTERPRETATION OF THE DIFFERENCE OF THE HARAKAT OF LETTERS IN THE RECITATION OF AL-QIRA'AT AL-'ASYR

In the science of Qiraat, the problem of vowel reading on letters and words in the Qur'an is still much that has not been revealed, both from the aspect of classical and modern scholarly opinions. This study aims to describe and introduce several rules about the process of occurrence of vowel a/i/u in certain words and verses, which are caused by the presence of letters, hamzah, sukun, and ishmam, including exploring new ways of analyzing the phonology of modern Arabic vowels based on standard generative theory. This research is literature research. Primary data sources were obtained by al-Našr fi al-Qirā'at al-Islāmiyyah, and several verses of the Qur'an for comparison. Secondary data sources are literature, both in the form of books, journals, and research results related to phonology. Data collection is carried out by documentation techniques, listening, and recording. Data analysis techniques use open coding, then analyzed descriptively using grounded theory. This study informs about the rule that the variety of vowel punctuation on some verbs in the Qur'an will change according to the readings attributed to the ten Qira'at. The Vowel sign emphasizes the reading of dammah/kasrah). The emphasis mark on nouns requires the insertion of dammah while on verbs and insertion of kasrah. The round distinguishing mark (sifr) is important in turning kasrah into dammah. Both Kasrah and dammah have the property of 'Al, but some of them are distinguished by round marks on dammah and square marks on kasrah. The Vowel sign for classical scholars indicates that the kasrah from the letter "waw" in the verb "qul" moved to the letter "qaf" after hadzf dammah, then "waw" changed to "ya" to correspond to the kasrah in front of it. Modern linguists believe that the dammah of the letter "qaf" can be changed to Kasrah and then "waw" removed, so that the existence of the two kasrahs is merged and becomes a long shaddah. The differences and changes in vowels in phonetics cannot be separated from the debate that exists between classical and modern scholars. This indicates that the problem of qira'at is closely related to diacritical marks that are icons of producing sounds with various characters. This research has implications that having to study Qur'anic verses from a Vowel aspect will require us to see how scholars used to read so that the sounds produced are not only one variant but have a variety of very detailed and interesting reasons to be studied based on modern linguistic theory. Keywords: Vowel; linguistic interpretation; recitation, Qira’at Ten   Dalam ilmu Qiraat, persoalan bacaan vokal pada huruf dan kata-kata dalam al-Qur’an masih banyak yang belum diungkap, baik dari aspek pendapat ulama klasik maupun modern. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan  dan mengenalkan  beberapa kaidah tentang proses terjadinya vokal a/i/u pada kata dan ayat tertentu, yang disebakan oleh adanya huruf, hamzah,  sukun dan isymam, termasuk  mengeksplorasi cara-cara baru dalam menganalisis fonologi vokal bahasa Arab modern berdasarkan teori generatif standar. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kepustakaan. Sumber data primer diperoleh al-Našr fi al-Qirā'at al-Islāmiyyah, dan beberapa ayat al-Qur’an sebagai bandingannya. Sumber data sekunder adalah literatur, baik berupa buku-buku, jurnal dan hasil-hasil penelitian yang berkaitan dengan fonologi. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan teknik dokumentasi, simak dan catat. Teknik analisis data menggunakan  pengkodean terbuka, lalu dianalisis secara deskriptif menggunakan grounded theory. Penelitian ini menginformasikan tentang kaidah bahwa ragam tanda baca vowel pada beberapa kata kerja dalam al-Qur’an akan berubah sesuai dengan bacaan yang dinisbatkan kepada sepuluh Qira’at. Tanda Vowel menekankan pada bacaan dammah/kasrah). Tanda penekanan pada kata benda mengharuskan penyisipan dammah sedangkan pada kata kerja dan penyisipan kasrah. Tanda pembeda bulat (sifr)penting dalam mengubah kasrah menjadi dammah. Baik Kasrah maupun dammah sama-sama memiliki sifat ‘Al, namun beberapa di antaranya dibedakan dengan tanda bulat pada dammah dan tanda persegi  pada kasrah. Tanda Vowel bagi ulama klasik  mengiformasikan bahwa kasrah dari huruf “waw” pada kata kerja “qul” berpindah ke huruf “qaf” setelah terjadi hadzf dammah, kemudian “waw” berubah menjadi “ya” agar sesuai dengan kasrah di depannya. Sedangkan bagi para linguis modern meyakini bahwa dammah dari huruf “qaf” dapat berubah menjadi Kasrah dan kemudian “waw” dihapus, sehingga keberadaan kedua kasrah tersebut digabung dan menjadi shaddah yang panjang. Perbedaan dan perubahan Vowel dalam ilmu fonetik tidak lepas dari perdebatan yang pajang antara ulama klasik dan modern. Hal ini mengindikasikan bahwa masalah qira’at sangat berkaitan dengan tanda diakritik yang menjadi icon penghasil bunyi dengan aksara yang  beragam. Penelitian ini berimplikasi pada  keharusan  mempelajari ayat-ayat Al-Qur’an dari aspek Vowel akan mengharuskan kita untuk melihat kmbali seperti apa para ulama dulu membaca, sehingga bunyi-bunyi yang dihasilkan tidak hanya satu varian, namun memiliki ragam alasan yang sangat detail dan menarik untuk dipelajari berdasarkan teori linguistik modern. Kata kunci: Linguistik interpretasi:  Suara, Vokal, Qiraat 10 mutawati

Genetically Predicted Blood Pressure Across the Lifespan: Differential Effects of Mean and Pulse Pressure on Stroke Risk.

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for stroke. Yet, it remains unknown whether blood pressure pulsatility (pulse pressure [PP]) causally affects stroke risk independently of the steady pressure component (mean arterial pressure [MAP]). It is further unknown how the effects of MAP and PP on stroke risk vary with age and stroke cause. Using data from UK Biobank (N=408 228; 38-71 years), we selected genetic variants as instruments for MAP and PP at age ≤55 and >55 years and across age deciles. We applied multivariable Mendelian randomization analyses to explore associations with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and their subtypes. Higher genetically predicted MAP was associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage across the examined age spectrum. Independent of MAP, higher genetically predicted PP only at age >55 years was further associated with higher risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio per-SD-increment, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.13-1.34]). Among subtypes, the effect of genetically predicted MAP on large artery stroke was attenuated, whereas the effect of genetically predicted PP was augmented with increasing age. Genetically predicted MAP, but not PP, was associated with small vessel stroke and deep intracerebral hemorrhage homogeneously across age deciles. Neither genetically predicted MAP nor PP were associated with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. Beyond an effect of high MAP at any age on ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, our results support an independent causal effect of high PP at older ages on large artery stroke. This finding warrants further investigation for the development of stroke preventive strategies targeting pulsatility in later life

Wave Intensity Analysis Provides Novel Insights Into Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension and Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to systemic hypertension, the significance of arterial waves in pulmonary hypertension (PH) is not well understood. We hypothesized that arterial wave energy and wave reflection are augmented in PH and that wave behavior differs between patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). METHODS AND RESULTS: Right heart catheterization was performed using a pressure and Doppler flow sensor-tipped catheter to obtain simultaneous pressure and flow velocity measurements in the pulmonary artery. Wave intensity analysis was subsequently applied to the acquired data. Ten control participants, 11 patients with PAH, and 10 patients with CTEPH were studied. Wave speed and wave power were significantly greater in PH patients compared with controls, indicating increased arterial stiffness and right ventricular work, respectively. The ratio of wave power to mean right ventricular power was lower in PAH patients than CTEPH patients and controls. Wave reflection index in PH patients (PAH: ≈25%; CTEPH: ≈30%) was significantly greater compared with controls (≈4%), indicating downstream vascular impedance mismatch. Although wave speed was significantly correlated to disease severity, wave reflection indexes of patients with mildly and severely elevated pulmonary pressures were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Wave reflection in the pulmonary artery increased in PH and was unrelated to severity, suggesting that vascular impedance mismatch occurs early in the development of pulmonary vascular disease. The lower wave power fraction in PAH compared with CTEPH indicates differences in the intrinsic and/or extrinsic ventricular load between the 2 diseases

Prioritization of zoonoses for multisectoral, One Health collaboration in Somalia, 2023

Background: The human population of Somalia is vulnerable to zoonoses due to a high reliance on animal husbandry. This disease risk is exacerbated by relatively low income (poverty) and weak state capacity for health service delivery in the country as well as climate extremes and geopolitical instability in the region. To address this threat to public health efficiently and effectively, it is essential that all sectors have a common understanding of the priority zoonotic diseases of greatest concern to the country. Methods: Representatives from human, animal (domestic and wildlife), agriculture, and environmental health sectors undertook a multisectoral prioritization exercise using the One Health Zoonotic Disease Prioritization (OHZDP) tool developed by the United States CDC. The process involved: reviewing available literature and creating a longlist of zoonotic diseases for potential inclusion; developing and weighting criteria for establishing the importance of each zoonoses; formulating categorical questions (indicators) for each criteria; scoring each disease according to the criteria; and finally ranking the diseases based on the final score. Participants then brainstormed and suggested strategic action plans to prevent, and control prioritized zoonotic diseases. Results: Thirty-three zoonoses were initially considered for prioritization. Final criteria for ranking included: 1) socioeconomic impact (including sensitivity) in Somalia; 2) burden of disease in humans in Somalia); 3) availability of intervention in Somalia; 4) environmental factors/determinants; and 5) burden of disease in animals in Somalia. Following scoring of each zoonotic disease against these criteria, and further discussion of the OHZDP tool outputs, seven priority zoonoses were identified for Somalia: Rift Valley fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome, anthrax, trypanosomiasis, brucellosis, zoonotic enteric parasites (including Giardia and Cryptosporidium), and zoonotic influenza viruses. Conclusions: The final list of seven priority zoonotic diseases will serve as a foundation for strengthening One Health approaches for disease prevention and control in Somalia. It will be used to: shape improved multisectoral linkages for integrated surveillance systems and laboratory networks for improved human, animal, and environmental health; establish multisectoral public health emergency preparedness and response plans using One Health approaches; and enhance workforce capacity to prevent, control and respond to priority zoonotic diseases

Estimation of coronary wave intensity analysis using noninvasive techniques and its application to exercise physiology

Wave intensity analysis (WIA) has found particular applicability in the coronary circulation where it can quantify traveling waves that accelerate and decelerate blood flow. The most important wave for the regulation of flow is the backward-traveling decompression wave (BDW). Coronary WIA has hitherto always been calculated from invasive measures of pressure and flow. However, recently it has become feasible to obtain estimates of these waveforms noninvasively. In this study we set out to assess the agreement between invasive and noninvasive coronary WIA at rest and measure the effect of exercise. Twenty-two patients (mean age 60) with unobstructed coronaries underwent invasive WIA in the left anterior descending artery (LAD). Immediately afterwards, noninvasive LAD flow and pressure were recorded and WIA calculated from pulsed-wave Doppler coronary flow velocity and central blood pressure waveforms measured using a cuff-based technique. Nine of these patients underwent noninvasive coronary WIA assessment during exercise. A pattern of six waves were observed in both modalities. The BDW was similar between invasive and noninvasive measures [peak: 14.9 ± 7.8 vs. -13.8 ± 7.1 × 10(4) W·m(-2)·s(-2), concordance correlation coefficient (CCC): 0.73, P < 0.01; cumulative: -64.4 ± 32.8 vs. -59.4 ± 34.2 × 10(2) W·m(-2)·s(-1), CCC: 0.66, P < 0.01], but smaller waves were underestimated noninvasively. Increased left ventricular mass correlated with a decreased noninvasive BDW fraction (r = -0.48, P = 0.02). Exercise increased the BDW: at maximum exercise peak BDW was -47.0 ± 29.5 × 10(4) W·m(-2)·s(-2) (P < 0.01 vs. rest) and cumulative BDW -19.2 ± 12.6 × 10(3) W·m(-2)·s(-1) (P < 0.01 vs. rest). The BDW can be measured noninvasively with acceptable reliably potentially simplifying assessments and increasing the applicability of coronary WIA

Small bowel MRI in adult patients: not just Crohn’s disease—a tutorial

To provide an overview of less well-known small bowel and mesenteric diseases found at small bowel magnetic resonance (MR) enterography/enteroclysis and to review the imaging findings. MR enterography and enteroclysis are important techniques for evaluation of small bowel diseases. In most centres these techniques are primarily used in Crohn's disease, and most radiologists are familiar with these MRI findings. However, the knowledge of findings in other diseases is often sparse, including diseases that may cause similar clinical symptoms to those of Crohn's disease. We present a spectrum of less common and less well-known bowel and mesenteric diseases (e.g. internal hernia, intussusception, neuroendocrine tumour) from our small bowel MR database of over 2,000 cases. These diseases can be found in patients referred for bowel obstruction, abdominal pain or rectal blood loss. Further, in patients with (or suspected to have) Crohn's disease, some of these diseases (e.g. neuroendocrine tumour, familial Mediterranean fever) may mislead radiologists to erroneously diagnose active Crohn's disease. Radiologists should be familiar with diseases affecting the small bowel other than Crohn's disease, including diseases that may mimic Crohn's diseas

The role of peer physical activity champions in the workplace: a qualitative study

Aims: Peer health champions are suggested as an important component of multilevel workplace interventions to promote healthy behaviours such as physical activity. There is accumulating quantitative evidence of their effectiveness but as yet little exploration of why and how champions influence the behaviour of their peers. The current study explores the role of peer physical activity champions (PPACs) in influencing colleagues’ physical activity behaviour from the perspectives of both champions and colleagues. Methods: Seven months after the introduction of a workplace physical activity programme in 17 small and medium sized enterprices (SMEs) two focus groups were held with PPACs and four with programme participants. Focus groups were semi-structured and topics covered included: the influence of PPACs and other colleagues on their physical activity, characteristics of an effective PPAC and feelings about the PPAC role. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Three overarching themes emerged: how PPACs encourage physical activity; valuable PPAC characteristics; and sustaining motivation for the PPAC role. Both direct encouragement from PPACs and facilitation of wider physical activity supportive social networks within the workplace encouraged behaviour change. Physical activity behaviour change is a delicate subject and it was important that PPACs provided enthusiastic and persistent encouragement without seeming judgemental. Being a physical activity role model was also a valuable characteristic. The PPACs found it satisfying to see positive changes in their colleagues who had become more active. However, colleagues often did not engage in suggested activities and PPACs required resilience to maintain personal motivation for the role despite this. Conclusions: The results indicate that it is feasible to incorporate PPACs into SME based physical activity interventions. Given the importance that participants attached to feeling part of a group of individuals with a common aim of increasing their physical activity, it is recommended that PPAC training includes suggestions for facilitating social connections between colleagues. Sensitivity is required when initiating and engaging in conversations with colleagues about increasing their physical activity and therefore brief motivational interviewing training may be helpful for PPACs. Programmes should ensure PPACs themselves are provided with social support, especially from others in the same role, to help sustain motivation for their role. These findings will be useful to health-promotion professionals developing workplace health programmes. Future research should explore the processes by which peer health champions facilitate changes in a range of health behaviours to identify common and behaviour specific recommendations

Quality of Life in Men With Prostate Cancer Randomly Allocated to Receive Docetaxel or Abiraterone in the STAMPEDE Trial

PURPOSE: Docetaxel and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone or prednisolone (AAP) both improve survival when commenced alongside standard of care (SOC) androgen deprivation therapy in locally advanced or metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Thus, patient-reported quality of life (QOL) data may guide treatment choices. METHODS: A group of patients within the STAMPEDE trial were contemporaneously enrolled with the possibility of being randomly allocated to receive either docetaxel + SOC or AAP + SOC. A mixed-model assessed QOL in those who had completed at least one QLQ-C30 + PR25 questionnaire. The primary outcome measure was difference in global-QOL (QLQ-C30 Q29&30) between patients allocated to docetaxel + SOC or AAP + SOC over the 2 years after random assignment, with a predefined criterion for clinically meaningful difference of > 4.0 points. Secondary outcome measures included longitudinal comparison of functional domains, pain, and fatigue, plus global-QOL at defined timepoints. RESULTS: Five hundred fifteen patients (173 docetaxel + SOC and 342 AAP + SOC) were included. Baseline characteristics, proportion of missing data, and mean baseline global-QOL scores (docetaxel + SOC 77.8 and AAP + SOC 78.0) were similar. Over the 2 years following random assignment, the mean modeled global-QOL score was +3.9 points (95% CI, +0.5 to +7.2; P = .022) higher in patients allocated to AAP + SOC. Global-QOL was higher for patients allocated to AAP + SOC over the first year (+5.7 points, 95% CI, +3.0 to +8.5; P < .001), particularly at 12 (+7.0 points, 95% CI, +3.0 to +11.0; P = .001) and 24 weeks (+8.3 points, 95% CI, +4.0 to +12.6; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patient-reported QOL was superior for patients allocated to receive AAP + SOC, compared with docetaxel + SOC over a 2-year period, narrowly missing the predefined value for clinical significance. Patients receiving AAP + SOC reported clinically meaningful higher global-QOL scores throughout the first year following random assignment

f(R) theories

Over the past decade, f(R) theories have been extensively studied as one of the simplest modifications to General Relativity. In this article we review various applications of f(R) theories to cosmology and gravity - such as inflation, dark energy, local gravity constraints, cosmological perturbations, and spherically symmetric solutions in weak and strong gravitational backgrounds. We present a number of ways to distinguish those theories from General Relativity observationally and experimentally. We also discuss the extension to other modified gravity theories such as Brans-Dicke theory and Gauss-Bonnet gravity, and address models that can satisfy both cosmological and local gravity constraints.Comment: 156 pages, 14 figures, Invited review article in Living Reviews in Relativity, Published version, Comments are welcom