Exploration of optimal strategies for the development of an oil-based economy: the case of Saudi Arabia

This study deals with the subject of development planning in the oil-based economy of Saudi Arabia. The main objective was to explore optimal strategies for the development of the Saudi economy. That was done through the development of a two-sector planning model. The model is a long-run optimal planning model using the technique of dynamic linear programming. The structure of the model involves an objective function and a set of constraints. The objective function reflects the main goal of the development planning of Saudi Arabia, which emphasizes the development of the nonoil sector, and the constraints are specified through a two-sector macroeconomic model. The results of solving the model give optimal values of the endogenous variables at the beginning of different discrete intervals. Each interval is five years. The base year is 1980 and the terminal year is 2014. The model assumes a lifetime of the oil resource extraction which is compatible with the long-term strategy of developing the nonoil sector;The results of the optimization indicated the possibility of developing a nonoil sector in the oil-based economy, but that requires a high level of investment compared with production in the nonoil sector for a long time. It also indicated the continuous dependence of the nonoil sector on expatriate labor in the future. This conclusion emphasizes how careful the country should be when designing any policy to limit foreign labor, and the urgency of increasing the participation in the labor force of Saudi citizens, including women. The two-sector model developed could be a helpful tool to explore the long-run perspective of intertemporal investment strategies of the Saudi economy given the lifetime of the oil resource

Political power and rule in Kuwait

No abstract available

Implementing the TRAPD model for the Saudi adaptation of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0

Abstract Background The World Mental Health-Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) 3.0, originally in English, is a fully-structured interview designed for the assessment of mental disorders. Although Arabic translations of CIDI from countries like Lebanon and Iraq exist, a Modern Standard Arabic translation was developed to suit the Saudi population. While the translation model used in the present paper has been used to translate instruments in Asian and European languages, there is no study to the best of our knowledge which has used this specific model to translate a validated instrument from English to Arabic. Case presentation This paper describes the Saudi adaptation of CIDI 3.0. The TRAPD team translation model—comprising of translation, review, adjudication, pretesting and documentation—was implemented to carry out the Saudi adaptation of CIDI 3.0. Pretests involving cognitive interviewing and pilot study led to translation revisions which consequently confirmed that Saudi respondents had a good understanding of various items of the instrument. The adaptation procedures for the Saudi CIDI 3.0 were well documented and the instrument was linguistically validated with the Saudi population. Conclusion The TRAPD model was successfully implemented to adapt the CIDI 3.0 to be used as the main survey instrument for the Saudi National Mental Health Survey, findings of which will provide health policy makers mental health indicators for health decision making and planning.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148144/1/13033_2019_Article_267.pd

A comparative study of voluntarily reported medication errors among adult patients in intensive care (IC) and non- IC settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To investigate the risk factors associated with medication errors and to compare the incidence and types of voluntarily reported medication errors among adult intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Methods: The design of this study was retrospective. All voluntarily reported medication errors involving adult patients (≥ 18 years) who were admitted into King Abdulaziz Medical City during the study period (January 2012 to June 2013) were included in the study. Reported medication errors were classified as ICU or non-ICU errors. Medication errors were also classified according to the node of medication use, harm category, and type of medication errors.Results: A total of 31,399 patients admitted into the hospital were included in the study, with 1,966 (6 %) admitted into the ICU and 29,433 (94 %) admitted into the non-ICU units. Overall, the incidence of medication errors was 1.2 % (390/31,399), 1. Over half of the errors were administration-related (51 %). The incidence of medication errors was 5.5 % (108/1,966) in ICU compared with 0.96 % (282/29,433) in non-ICU units (p < 0.001. In both settings, prescribing errors, delay in drug administration and dispensing extra dose were the most common medication errors. Higher risk for medication errors was significantly associated with admission into ICU vs. non-ICU units [OR = 5.24, 95 % CI: (4.12, 6.65); p < 0.001] and with patients’ age ≥ 60 vs. < 60 years [OR = 1.48, 95 % CI: (1.19, 1.83); p < 0.001].Conclusion: Medication errors are common in the health facility and occur during all stages of medication use from prescribing to administration. Higher risk for medication errors is associated with admission into the ICU and with patients’ age ≥ 60. Physician, pharmacists, and nurses need to be vigilant, up-to-date, and continuously trained to reduce the incidence of medication errors.Keywords: Medication errors, Voluntary reporting, Intensive care unit, Hospital settin

The Saudi National Mental Health Survey: Methodological and logistical challenges from the pilot study

Several challenges exist in carrying out nationâ wide epidemiological surveys in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) due to the unique characteristics of its population. The objectives of this report are to review these challenges and the lessons learnt about best practices in meeting these challenges from the extensive piloting of the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS), which is being carried out as part of the World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. We focus on challenges involving sample design, instrumentation, and data collection procedures. The SNMHS will ultimately provide crucial data for health policyâ makers and mental health specialists in KSA.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138907/1/mpr1565.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138907/2/mpr1565_am.pd

3-(Adamantan-1-yl)-4-ethyl-1-{[4-(2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl]methyl}-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione

In the title compound, C26H37N5OS, the piperazine ring adopts a chair conformation. The triazole ring forms dihedral angles of 67.85 (9) and 59.41 (9)� with the piperazine and benzene rings, respectively, resulting in an approximate Vshaped conformation for the molecule. An intramolecular C— H...O hydrogen bond generates an S(6) ring motif. The crystal structure features C—H...n interactions, producing a two-dimensional supramolecular architecture

Relationship Between Sonic Hedgehog Protein, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is not well known but oxidative stress has been suggested to play a pathological role. We report here that the serum levels of Sonic hedgehog (SHH) protein and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) might be linked to oxidative stress in ASD. By using the whole blood or polymorphonuclear leukocytes, we demonstrated that autistic children produced a significantly higher level of oxygen free radicals (OFR). In addition, we found significantly higher levels of serum SHH protein in children with mild as well as severe form of autism. We also found that the serum level of BDNF was significantly reduced in autistic children with mild form of the disorder but not with severe form of the disorder. Our findings are the first to report a correlation between SHH, BDNF and OFR in autistic children, suggesting a pathological role of oxidative stress and SHH in autism spectrum disorders

Exploring the relationship between carbon performance, carbon reporting and firm performance: A conceptual paper

In recent years, there has been an increased interest in carbon information disclosure.This research aims to examine carbon reporting practices of Malaysian companies.Further analysis will be conducted to examine the influence of internal organizational factors on the carbon reporting practices.The relationship between carbon performance, carbon reporting and firm performance will be investigated. This paper also explores the moderating effect of the corporate governance quality on the relationship between carbon reporting practices and firm performance.The findings from this study have a significant contribution to carbon reporting literature, Malaysian companies, government and accounting regulation body