Residential satisfaction: concept, theories and empirical studies

Residential satisfaction, defined as the feeling of contentment when one has or achieves what one needs or desires in a house, is an important indicator and planners, architects, developers and policy makers use it in a number of ways. There are three theories – housing needs theory, housing deficit theory and psychological construct theory, and most empirical studies have used these theories or a combination of these theories in their research design. A number of variables representing housing and neighbourhood characteristics, individuals‘ socio-demographic attributes as well as their perceptions of housing and neighbourhood conditions have been analysed in most empirical studies what stand to indicate that further studies are required until a general theory of residential satisfaction/ dissatisfaction emerges. Also, a host of variables belonging to housing and its environment including the sociodemographic attributes of residents exert significant influences on the level of residential satisfaction/ dissatisfaction which is however, culture and value specific indicating that further studies on residential satisfaction/ dissatisfaction can be undertaken on case specific context to guide public policies on housing

A cognitive task approach on the influence of office automation software in secretarial practice

Inefficiency in secretarial services in the application of office automation software has been of great concern to both secretaries and their employers. This inefficiency causes unnecessary delays in information processing and dissemination in the organization. The problem is rooted from the secretaries’ lacking in appropriate application of cognitive skills, proficiency in information handling as well as working experiences, and these establish the problem statement of the study. One of the important gaps this study has bridged is establishing the key elements that can assist the secretaries to perform their office tasks effectively. Efforts made to identify similar studies on secretaries’ profession were to no avail perhaps due to its non-availability or absence. It was discovered that the secretary’s level of applying perception and attention during working hours is extremely limited which contributed to poor or slow pace of service delivery. The objectives of this study are to explore the secretaries office automation software cognitive task, to investigate elements of office automation software cognitive tasks that influence secretarial practice and to investigate how office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of tasks. Snowballing sampling was used to identify participants who have fulfilled a criterion set out in the study. Therefore, twelve (12) UTHM secretarial staff who are using office automation software in their office duties were chosen to participate in the study. The study employs qualitative method, thus interviews were carried out to collect data. Thematic data analysis was done using card index. Findings revealed that the secretaries need short and long term training in order to be relevant in their working places as well as to be updated in the use of office automation software. Further results revealed that office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of cognitive tasks. The result also revealed the development of components of office automation software cognitive tasks in secretarial practice. These components were used by the secretaries in the execution of tasks such as word processing, scheduling of appointments and other secretarial duties. Another important finding revealed that, technology has changed the working environment of the secretaries which has made it imperative for them to continue using office automation software in the execution of their tasks. This has brought the idea of how office automation software supports the secretaries in the execution of their office tasks

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Appraisal of residential satisfaction in double-storey terrace housing in Malaysia: case studies from greater Kuala Lumpur

Double-storey terrace housing is considered as a popular housing type among the middleincome people particularly in urban areas. Indeed, empirical studies identified that, an increase in crime rate in urban areas has affected on residents’ satisfaction of landed housing such as double-storey terrace house. In addition, design of double-storey terrace house lacks ventilation and natural lighting which affected on residents’ satisfaction. As a result of residents’ dissatisfaction, double-storey terrace house is found as the most modified housing types in Malaysia. Thus, this paper aims to appraise residential satisfaction in two double-storey terrace neighbourhoods - Taman Sri Rampai and Taman Keramat Permai in Greater Kuala Lumpur. The research objectives were formulated based on a dynamic interaction approach which includes three main processes- cognitive, affective and behavioural. In order to examine and compare the residential satisfaction in two neighbourhoods, five components of double-storey terrace housing - physical features, housing support services, public facilities, social environment and neighbourhood facilities, were analyzed through residents’ perception on level of satisfaction. The recommendations of the study are directed towards identifying factors that can enhance levels of satisfaction among the residents of the two neighbourhoods

Menkes Disease Presenting with Epilepsia Partialis Continua

Aim. We aim to describe a female patient with Menkes disease who presented with epilepsia partialis continua. Case Presentation. Seventeen-months-old Saudi infant was presented with repetitive seizures and was diagnosed to have epilepsia partialis continua. Discussion. Menkes disease (OMIM: 309400) is considered a rare, X-linked recessive neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a mutation in the gene coding for the copper transporting ATPase (ATP7A). Affected individuals usually present with kinky hair, skeletal changes, prolonged jaundice, hypothermia, developmental regression, decreased tone, spasticity, weakness, and therapy resistant seizures. Conclusion. Raising awareness of abnormal presentation of this rare disease may help in the control of seizures through subcutaneous copper supplementation

Levels, Sources, and Risk Assessment of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) in Soils from Industrial Areas: A Case Study from Saudi Arabia

<p>The objective of this study was to assess the pollution levels, sources, and human health risk of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soils of industrial areas of the central and eastern regions of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the surface soil samples from industrial areas (cement kiln, oil refinery, electric power plant, steel industry, and desalination plant) were collected and analyzed by High-Resolution Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry-Time of Flight (HRGC-MS/MS-TOF) to quantify the levels of 26 PCBs (including 12 dioxin-like PCBs and 14 indicator-PCBs). The investigated 26 PCBs were detected in all soil samples. The total PCBs concentration (from tri-CBs to hepta-CBs) ranged from 171 to 4892 pg g⁻¹ with an average of 1369 pg g⁻¹ in soils of the central region and of 142–1231 pg g⁻¹ with an average of 302 in soils of the eastern region, showing higher values at cement factory and/or oil refinery sites. Overall, the indicator-PCBs were the main congeners and contributed dominantly to the total mass of PCBs in comparison with the dioxin-like PCB congeners, with the most abundant for PCB-180 in the soil samples of the central region. Among individual dioxin-like PCBs, PCB-126 had the highest average value of the toxicity equivalence (TEQ). The TEQ values of ∑12dioxin-like PCBs did not exceed the Canadian soil quality guidelines of dioxin (4 pg TEQ g⁻¹). Based on human health risk assessment via ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation, low adverse effects of PCBs could be expected as indicated by lower values of cancer risk (≤10⁻⁶). The principal component analysis indicated that there is a different source of PCBs with similar or different PCB profiles.</p

Data_Sheet_1_Detection of Avian Orthoavulavirus-1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 with neuro-viscerotropic tropism in some backyard pigeons (Columbidae) in Eastern Saudi Arabia.docx

IntroductionAvian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV1) has a wide host range, including domestic and wild birds. The present study aimed to identify the currently circulating AOAV1 strains from some outbreaks in some backyard pigeons in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia (ERSA).MethodsTracheal/cloacal swabs and tissue specimens were collected from eight backyards in Al-Ahsa, ERSA, between January 2021 and March 2023. Samples were tested for the presence of AOAV1 using commercial real-time RT-PCR. Part of the fusion gene was also amplified by gel-based RT-PCR, and the obtained amplicons were sequenced.Results and discussionAOAV1 was detected in samples from the eight flocks. The retrieved sequences from samples of 6/8 pigeon backyards are reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on the obtained sequences from these backyard pigeons showed the segregation of the obtained sequences in AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1. Clinically, nervous manifestations were dominant in pigeons infected with both genotypes. Respiratory manifestations and significantly higher overall mortality rate were induced by genotype VI.2.1. The deduced amino acid sequences of the fusion protein cleavage site (FPCS) showed that all the detected isolates belong to velogenic strains. Differences in clinical profiles induced by the natural infection of pigeons with AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 were reported. The present findings highlight the potential roles of some backyard pigeons in the long-distance spread and cross-species transmission of the reported AOAVI genotypes. Further research is required to perform biotyping and pathotyping of the reported strains.</p

Image_1_Detection of Avian Orthoavulavirus-1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 with neuro-viscerotropic tropism in some backyard pigeons (Columbidae) in Eastern Saudi Arabia.JPEG

IntroductionAvian orthoavulavirus-1 (AOAV1) has a wide host range, including domestic and wild birds. The present study aimed to identify the currently circulating AOAV1 strains from some outbreaks in some backyard pigeons in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia (ERSA).MethodsTracheal/cloacal swabs and tissue specimens were collected from eight backyards in Al-Ahsa, ERSA, between January 2021 and March 2023. Samples were tested for the presence of AOAV1 using commercial real-time RT-PCR. Part of the fusion gene was also amplified by gel-based RT-PCR, and the obtained amplicons were sequenced.Results and discussionAOAV1 was detected in samples from the eight flocks. The retrieved sequences from samples of 6/8 pigeon backyards are reported. Phylogenetic analysis based on the obtained sequences from these backyard pigeons showed the segregation of the obtained sequences in AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1. Clinically, nervous manifestations were dominant in pigeons infected with both genotypes. Respiratory manifestations and significantly higher overall mortality rate were induced by genotype VI.2.1. The deduced amino acid sequences of the fusion protein cleavage site (FPCS) showed that all the detected isolates belong to velogenic strains. Differences in clinical profiles induced by the natural infection of pigeons with AOAV1 genotypes VI.2.1 and VII.1.1 were reported. The present findings highlight the potential roles of some backyard pigeons in the long-distance spread and cross-species transmission of the reported AOAVI genotypes. Further research is required to perform biotyping and pathotyping of the reported strains.</p