The Quality of Effective University Education From the Viewpoint of Students of Special Education Department

This study aims to identify the quality level of effective learning of special education students, and determining the differences at this level of quality according to the variables of gender, specialty and academic year, for 235 of special education students. After applying the quality scale of university effective education, the results showed that special education students have had above average level of effective university education quality. The Results have also shown that there were no differences between students according to the study variables

Variation in gas chromatography (GC) analysis in setting up laboratory protocols for waste to energy novel fixed bed reactor setups

Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) has been applied in various analytical chemistry works. However, to fine tune a system that can serve the purposes of pyrolysis oil identification has proven to be a laborious effort, especially when considering the fact that no standard protocol exists for such analysis. In addition, obtained products were yielded from a newly commissioned unit with a unique and novel design. In this study, a US patent office claimed reactor [SULTAN-1, Pyrolysis Reactor System for the Conversion and Analysis of Organic Solid Waste, Patent application number: 15,487,351] that degrades polyolefinc virgin and waste materials to obtain petroleum refinery and petrochemical feedstock, has been commissioned. The reactor produces three distinct physical states of matter products accumulated as testing specimens, i.e. solids, gaseous and oil. The samples analysed in this work were of the gas and oil produced by pyrolysis of end of life tyre (ELTs) shavings that required to have a special recipe to work with in the laboratory. Various MS cords were utilised and experimental setups to fine tune the process, and special emphasis was given on the gas samples variation in this communication. To reach the desired analysis results with high repeatability, a plethora of experiences of lab personnel and laboratory-based experimental work was accumulated. Laboratory protocols were also setup for this work. These will be detailed along the process execution which yielded a standard laboratory best practice analytical method as part of the State of Kuwait newly initiated Government Initiative project

Total Spondylectomy for Upper Thoracic Spine Giant Cell Tumor: A Case Report

Introduction: Giant cell tumors (GCT) are benign lesions that are generally locally aggressive tumors with occasional malignant behavior. These tumors are most frequently encountered in long bones; however, they also occur rarely in the spine. GCT of the spine are rare pathological entities, and spinal involvement shows a sacral predilection, with only a few cases involving the supra-sacral segment (mobile spine). Only a few cases of thoracic spinal GCT are reported in the literature; these tumors are particularly uncommon in the thoracic segment. Presentation of Case: A 29-year-old man presented with a complaint of neck pain over the previous six months that radiated to his left hand. GCT of the upper thoracic spine was diagnosed, which was surgically managed using a 2-stage approach involving total resection of the tumor followed by spondylectomy and multilevel spinal fixation. Discussion: Accurate diagnosis of vertebral column lesions, and choosing an optimum management plan are crucial. In the majority of cases, En-bloc resection of GCTs is not feasible ought to the close contact of the lesion with the spinal cord. Larger studies are encouraged to ascertain the efficacy of variable management approaches, particularly compared with piecemeal resection techniques. Conclusion: Spinal GCT are a unique group of tumors with an uncommon and unexpected presentation. Although surgery is the mainstay of treatment for spinal GCT, the management of this tumor can be challenging. No clear management algorithm has been established, and the tumor displays an unpredictable course. Therefore, each case needs tailored treatment

A Review of The Valorisation and Management of Industrial Spent Catalyst Waste in The Context of Sustainable Practice: The Case of The State of Kuwait in Parallel to European Industry

Industrial solid waste management encompasses a vital part of developed and developing countries strategies alike. It manages waste generated from vital industries and governs the hazardous waste generated as a major component of integrated waste management strategies. This communication reviews the practices that govern the management approaches utilised in the developed world for industrial spent catalysts. It critically assess the current situation of waste management within the developing world region focusing on the industrial waste component, in a novel attempt to crucially develop a way forward strategy based on best practices and future directions with major European industries. The review also draws parallels with European countries to compare their practices with those of the State of Kuwait, which rely solely on landfilling for the management of its industrial waste. Spent catalysts recovery methods are discussed in length covering conventional methods of valuable metals and chemicals recovery (e.g. hydrometallurgical, solid/liquid and liquid-liquid extraction) as well as biological recovery methods. A major gap exists within regulations that govern the practice of managing industrial waste in Kuwait, where it is essential to start regulating industries that generate spent catalysts in-view of encouraging the establishment of valorisation industries for metal and chemical recovery. This will also create a sustainable practice within state borders, and can reduce the environmental impact of landfilling such waste in Kuwait

Metabolic syndrome presenting as abdominal pain

Metabolic syndrome represents a sum of risk factors that lead to the occurrence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events. The early detection of metabolic syndrome is extremely important in adults who are at risk. Although the physiopathological mechanisms of the metabolic syndrome are not yet clear, insulin resistance plays a key role that could explain the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in untreated metabolic syndrome patients. Here, we present the case of a 26-year-old male who was diagnosed with metabolic syndrome and severe hypertriglyceridemia after presenting with abdominal pain. Although hypertriglyceridemia and hyperglycemia are the most common predictors of metabolic syndrome, clinicians need to be vigilant for unexpected presentations in patients at risk for metabolic syndrome. This case sheds light on the importance of early detection

Adverse drug reaction reporting among physicians working in private and government hospitals in Kuwait

Introduction: To improve patient safety and care, the identification and reporting of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) should be systematic and mandatory for all healthcare professionals (HCPs). Physicians remain the main HCPs with direct patient care whose role in ADRs reporting should not be ignored. Objective: To document the awareness and attitude of physicians working in private and government hospitals in Kuwait with regard to pharmacovigilance (PV) and ADR reporting and to identify their practices of reporting ADRs. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a paper-based 25-item questionnaire. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 1017 questionnaires were distributed to the eligible physicians in the government and private hospitals, giving a response rate of 84.2% and 83.0%, respectively (an overall response rate of 83.8%). Private physicians exhibited a better knowledge profile with regards to the purpose of PV (75.2% vs 64.8%; p = 0.002) and the correct ADR definition (75.8% vs 65.3%; p = 0.001). The majority of physicians showed good attitude towards reporting ADRs, nevertheless, private physicians had a significantly stronger belief that reporting ADRs is a professional obligation (93.4% vs 85.5%; p = 0.001). Three quarters of the study population (74.6%) had identified an ADR during their daily practice, however, only a small proportion (34.2%) confirms having ever reported ADRs. Regardless, significantly more private physicians had done so (42.4% vs 29.6%; p < 0.001). ADR reporting was significantly higher in physicians who knew the correct ADRs to be reported (adjusted OR = 1.86, p = 0.036), and those who were aware of any center or ADR reporting system in Kuwait (adjusted OR = 2.88, p = 0.020). Conclusions: A national PV center empowered by clear legislation on “how” and “what” to report should improve physicians’ reporting practices and hence is required in the country. This should be combined with constant training and education in this regard. Keywords: Pharmacovigilance, Adverse drug reactions, Physicians, Hospitals, Private, Governmen

Thermal Response and Degressive Reaction Study of Oxo-Biodegradable Plastic Products Exposed to Various Degradation Media

In this work, three plastic film products commonly used as commodity thermoplastic articles were analysed with the aim of characterizing their thermal behaviour and stability. The test specimens were subjected to a series of analytical tests to confirm their biodegradable nature. The specimens ranged between 30 and 70 μm in thickness and showed high concentrations of regulated metals, namely, lead (Pb), postchemical analysis which can lead to its migration to natural sinks. The specimens were also exposed to degressive media, namely, accelerated (UV induced) weathering and soil burial field testing. The weight loss measured exceeded 58% after soil burial indicating deterioration under natural environmental stressors. In addition, the thermal characterization campaign executed with the aim of determining the product’s thermal response followed internationally recognised experimental protocols for the determination of thermal stability. The methodology used followed the International Confederation for Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry (ICTAC) recommendation for thermal stability and the computation of kinetic parameters. The degradation reaction kinetics were also determined postexposure to degressive media. Thermogravimetric analysis coupled with differential scanning calorimetry heat flow analysis and Fourier infrared spectroscopy results was also used in studying the degradation behaviour of the specimens. Analytical kinetic estimation methods relying on model free solutions enabled the determination of the apparent activation energy (Ea) of the specimens postexposure to degradation media. A shift in the degradation mechanism was also detected after studying the kinetic parameters which showed a range of Ea between 86.64 and 226.90 kJ mol-1 depending on the type of specimens and exposure media. It can be concluded that the oxo-biodegradable films are well suited for thermal treatment in the future as discarded plastic solid waste (PSW) articles. This work also paves the way for developing national standards and future plans for societies burdened with PSW accumulation