Open Government in the social media age? The role of Twitter in the policymaking process in the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia

This research examined the role of Twitter in the policymaking process of the Shura Council of Saudi Arabia. The research investigated government use of social media and how it is utilised in a non-western, non-democratic country. Therefore, this study explored whether social media can enhance engagement between citizens and policymakers in a political context where this engagement does not take place through democratic elections. This research investigated how Council members perceive the socio-political use of Twitter and the impact their perceptions have on the policymaking process. It also considers how Twitter enhances public interventions in a legislative/parliamentary process, has changed the views of the legislators/decision makers in the Council, has influenced the agenda setting of the Council during the policy-making process, and has affected the workings of the Council during that process. Using interviews and a survey amongst Council members, and interpretive content analysis of Council members’ Twitter posts, the research explored how Twitter has influenced Council members during the policy-making process. The empirical finding of this research is that in Saudi Arabia, Twitter has opened government to the public, as the appointed Council members have a positive view of using Twitter within decision- and policymaking at the Shura Council. Council members use Twitter to engage in conversations with the public and learn about public concerns. Applying key concepts from both social media and policy studies shows how Twitter has facilitated public engagement. The research found Twitter has facilitated public engagement, but communication is often top-down in nature. Also, only a few Council members found that Twitter affected their decision-making process; Council members see Twitter as a useful public platform, but their primary motivation for using social media is to send out statements and for self-promotion rather than to actively communicate with the public

Using Quantile Regression to Analyze the Relationship between Socioeconomic Indicators and Carbon Dioxide Emissions in G20 Countries

Numerous studies addressed the impacts of social development and economic growth on the environment. This paper presents a study about the inclusive impact of social and economic factors on the environment by analyzing the association between carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and two socioeconomic indicators, namely, Human Development Index (HDI) and Legatum Prosperity Index (LPI), under the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) framework. To this end, we developed a two-stage methodology. At first, a multivariate model was constructed that accurately explains CO2 emissions by selecting the appropriate set of control variables based on model quality statistics. The control variables include GDP per capita, urbanization, fossil fuel consumption, and trade openness. Then, quantile regression was used to empirically analyze the inclusive relationship between CO2 emissions and the socioeconomic indicators, which revealed many interesting results. First, decreasing CO2 emissions was coupled with inclusive socioeconomic development. Both LPI and HDI had a negative marginal relationship with CO2 emissions at quantiles from 0.2 to 1. Second, the EKC hypothesis was valid for G20 countries during the study period with an inflection point around quantile 0.15. Third, the fossil fuel consumption had a significant positive relation with CO2 emissions, whereas urbanization and trade openness had a negative relation during the study period. Finally, this study empirically indicates that effective policies and policy coordination on broad social, living, and economic dimensions can lead to reductions in CO2 emissions while preserving inclusive growth

Effect of Conventional and Electronic Cigarettes Smoking on the Color Stability and Translucency of Tooth Colored Restorative Materials: An In Vitro Analysis

This in vitro study compared the effects of conventional and electronic cigarettes on the aesthetics (color stability and translucency) of two types of composite resins: micro and nano-hybrid. Methods: A total of 120 specimens from two different composite materials Filtek Z250 XT (Nano-hybrid, 3M) and Filtek Z250 (Micro-hybrid, 3M) were divided into four groups (n = 30); shade A2 was used. The samples were exposed to conventional and electronic cigarette smoke via a custom made chamber device. The color values and measurements were recorded using a spectrophotometer before and after the exposure. The color and translucency were evaluated using the three-dimensional CIE Lab. Results: There was a significant change in the color (ΔE) and the translucency parameter (TP) in all of the specimens exposed to electronic cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. The results showed that the highest ΔE mean is for the nano-hybrid composite exposed to conventional cigarettes with 1.74 ΔE while the same material is 0.64 under the electronic cigarettes and the difference is significant with (p < 0.05). The micro-hybrid composite data showed less changes in color under both exposures with 0.85 ΔE mean under the conventional cigarette smoke and 0.48 under the electronic cigarette smoke with (p < 0.004). Conclusions: The conventional cigarette smoke has more effect on the color stability of the composite resins than electronic cigarettes. From a clinical point of view, the effect of smoke exposure on the tested specimens’ color, for the time duration to which the specimens were exposed, were moderate (ΔE < 2). The micro-hybrid composites showed better color stability as compared to the nano-hybrid composites

Incidence, predictors and severity of adverse events among whole blood donors

<div><p>Background</p><p>Adverse events have been reported post blood donation. Donors might refrain from donating again due to such events which lowers the blood supply in collection centers.</p><p>Aim</p><p>This study measured the incidence, predictors and severity of adverse events among donors of a single whole blood unit at one of the largest donation centers in Saudi Arabia.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A retrospective cohort was conducted in 2015 to investigate the adverse events immediately post donation. Donor characteristics such as age, blood pressure, hemoglobin level, weight and history of donation were described and tested as potential risk predictors. Eligible blood donors were 18,936/24,634 (76.8%).</p><p>Results</p><p>Incidence of adverse events found 1.1% (208 donors), of which 0.65% had mild symptoms (chills; nausea; pallor; dizziness; nervousness; headache), while 0.45% had severe symptoms (hypotension; convulsions; syncope; respiratory distress; emesis). Multiple logistic regression showed that, the incidence of adverse events was significantly higher among young age donors <30 years RR[95%CI] = 1.58[1.18–2.12], p < 0.002, higher hemoglobin levels RR[95%CI] = 1.30[1.15–1.46], lower weight donors <75kg RR[95%CI] = 1.71[1.29–2.27], p <0.001 and first time donors RR[95%CI] = 2.21[1.64–2.97], p < 0.001 compared to older age donors ≥30, lower hemoglobin levels, heavier weight donors ≥ 75, and previous donors, respectively. More severe adverse events were observed among older and heavier donors, previous donors, lower hemoglobin levels and hypertensive donors but with no statistical significance.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Young blood donors, donors with lower weight and first time donors are at higher risk of contracting adverse events. Higher hemoglobin level is also a potential risk predictor of adverse events post whole blood donation.</p></div

Significant predicators of adverse events.

<p>Significant predicators of adverse events.</p

Relative risk curve of adverse events in relation with the hemoglobin levels.

<p>Relative risk curve of adverse events in relation with the hemoglobin levels.</p

Incidence of adverse events with donor characteristics.

<p>Incidence of adverse events with donor characteristics.</p

Frequency of mild and severe adverse events post blood donation.

<p>Frequency of mild and severe adverse events post blood donation.</p

Severity of adverse events post blood donation with its significant risk predictors.

<p>Severity of adverse events post blood donation with its significant risk predictors.</p