Critical review of family well-being and cohesion indexes: a multidimensional approach to measurement in the Arab world

The absence of measurable indicators for family well-being poses significant challenges in the Arab context. Without a standardized framework for assessment, it becomes difficult to identify areas of concern and allocate resources effectively. Moreover, the lack of quantifiable data hinders the development of targeted interventions and policy initiatives aimed at promoting family well-being. Hence, the establishment of measurable indicators for family well-being is a critical step towards promoting strong, resilient families in the Arab region. By providing a comprehensive framework for assessment, monitoring, and comparison, these indicators can inform policy decisions, enhance intervention strategies, and ultimately contribute to the overall well-being of families and individuals across the region. This article delves into the intricate landscape of family well-being, exploring its diverse dimensions and critically examining the gaps in the existing indexes and the role of measurable indicators in guiding effective interventions and policy decisions. Addressing the urgent need for measurable indicators, this article outlines a novel family well-being index for the region. Comprising three pillars – economic security, emotional well-being, and social connectedness – and relying on 12 practical indicators, the index provides a foundational framework for comprehensive assessment, data-driven interventions, and informed policy decisions. This framework offers a concrete step towards promoting family well-being and fostering a thriving future for families across the region

Dispersal Behavior Of Mosquitofish (gambusia Holbrooki)

Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are native to the southeastern United States but invasive elsewhere, and are dominant predators in many ecosystems that they inhabit. Information on dispersal behavior will help better understand and predict mosquitofish metapopulation dynamics and invasions. I experimentally tested dispersal behavior of individual mosquitofish under a range of laboratory conditions relevant to field situations. Preliminary experiments showed that gender, lighting conditions, hunger and acclimation time did not significantly affect net dispersal rate. Power analysis based on this preliminary experiment determined that 6 replicate fish were sufficient for each subsequent experiment; I used 24 fish, and each fish was tested one time. Three factors that potentially could affect net swimming rate were tested: habitat of origin (permanent vs. temporary waters), water depth (3-24 mm), and the interaction between water depth and leaf litter type (upland and wetland). Fish from a temporary pond dispersed significantly faster than fish from a permanent pond, and fish dispersed significantly faster in deeper water than in shallower water. However, leaf litter significantly inhibited fish dispersal at all depths tested. Based on these experiments, G. holbrooki disperse more readily through relatively open and deeper (several centimeters) pathways between habitats such as roadside ditches, drainage canals and trails in flooded conditions. My results are useful for understanding mosquitofish dispersal behavior based on the abiotic and biotic factors examined in this experiment. I predict that mosquitofish can spread from a point of introduction at about 800 m per day, given and unobstructed path of only \u3e 6 mm depth

M-Service Quality of Telecom Companies in Qatar

Today, although mobile applications make our lives easier, the service quality provided by such applications has become a vital element in increasing customer satisfaction. This research paper aims to identify the significant mobile service quality factors (Application Design, Ease of Use, Information Content, Reliability, Responsiveness, Empathy, Security and Prices and offers) that influence customer satisfaction and loyalty in Qatar’s telecommunications sector. To answer the research question and test the hypotheses that form the study model, data were collected through an online questionnaire of 195 random customers who use Ooredoo or Vodafone mobile applications in Qatar. The proposed model was evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that Ease of Use, Information Content, Responsiveness, and Security are the most significant factors that affect M-Customer Satisfaction. Also, there is a strong relationship between M-customer Satisfaction and M-loyalty. On the contrary, Application Design, Reliability, Empathy, and Prices and offers did not affect M-customer satisfaction. Thus, the managers in telecommunication companies should adopt a strategy that focuses on the M-service quality factors that most influence M-customer satisfaction to increase customer satisfaction rates and loyalty to their products and services. It will also help reduce overall costs by delivering those products and services to a higher proportion of customers through the mobile application rather than physical branches. This paper also helps the researchers use the proposed model in future research to understand these relationships in other countries better

Antipredator response to injury-released chemical alarm cues by convict cichlid young before and after independence from parental protection. Behaviour

Summary Injury-released chemical alarm cues are released when predators attack aquatic prey. These cues are generally released only in this context and as such, conspeci c alarm cues form an important component of risk assessment. Minnows (Ostariophysi, Cyprinidae) possess a well-developed chemical alarm system. However, minnows do not respond to conspeci c injury-released alarm cues until 30 to 50 d post-hatch. Non-ostariophysan shes respond to chemical alarm cues with antipredator behavior but the ontogeny of this behavior is not known for any species. Here, we test convict cichlids (Acanthopterygii: Cichlidae), a species known to respond to alarm cues as adults. Convict cichlid parents care for their eggs and defend their developing young from predators for 4 to 6 weeks. In our experiment, we tested the ontogeny of antipredator response to chemical alarm cues in young convict cichlids well within and just beyond the size range typically defended by parents. We found that small convict cichlid young of a size typically defended by parents engaged in area avoidance and grouping behaviors in response to alarm cues and did so as effectively as young that would typically be independent of parental care

دراسة التعليم في قطر 2012 : تقرير دافعية الطلاب و مشاركة أولياء الأمور

This report examines the views of children, parents, teachers, and administrators toward K-12 education in Qatar. It is based on results from the Qatar Education Study (QES), which is a series of surveys conducted by the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) in December 2012. Together, the surveys included more than 4,200 participants from 39 preparatory and secondary schools.يتناول هذا التقرير آراء الطلاب وأولياء الأمور والمعلمين والإداريين حول نظام التعليم في قطر من الصف الثامن و حتى الصف 12( المرحلتان الإعدادية والثانوية). يعمتد هذا التقرير عىل نتائج دراسة التعليم في قطر (QES )وهي سلسلةّ من المسوح أجراها معهد البحوث الاجمتاعية والاقتصادية المسحية (SESRI )في شهر ديمبسر 2012 و قد شملت المسوح مجتمعة أكثر من 4200 مشارك من 39 مدرسة إعدادية وثانوية

Risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases in Qatar: a cohort matched study

Background: It remains unclear whether patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) are at a higher risk of poor outcomes from a SARS-CoV-2 infection. We evaluated whether patients with an ARDs infected with SARS-CoV-2 were at a higher risk of a poorer outcome than those without an ARDs. Methods: Patients with an ARDs infected with SARSCoV-2 were matched to control patients without a known ARDs. Matching was performed according to age (6 years) and sex at a case-to-control ratio of 1:3. Demographic and clinical data were extracted from the databases and were compared between the two groups. Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection was the primary outcome and was defined as the requirement for oxygen therapy support, the need for invasive or noninvasive mechanical ventilation, or the use of glucocorticoids. Results: A total of 141 patients with an ARDs were matched to 398 patients who formed the control group. The mean ages (SD) of the ARDs and nonARDs groups were 44.4 years (11.4) and 43.4 years (12.2). Women accounted for 58.8% of the ARDs group and 56.3% of the control group (p = 0.59). Demographics and comorbidities were balanced between the groups. ARDs included connective tissue disease in 43 (30.3%) patients, inflammatory arthritis in 92 (65.2%), and other ARDs in 8 (5.7%). ARDs medications included biological/targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in 28 (15.6%) patients, conventional synthetic DMARDs in 95 (67.4%), and immunosuppressive antimetabolites in 13 (9.2%). The ARDs group had more respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms related to SARS-CoV-2 infection than the control group (24.8% and 20.6% vs. 10% and 5.3%, respectively; p, 0.001 for both). Severe SARS-CoV2 infection was more common in the ARDs group than in the control group (14.9% vs. 5.8%; p, 0.001). Conclusions: In this single-center matched cohort study, patients with an ARDs experienced more respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms related to SARS-CoV-2 infection and had more severe infection than those from the control group. Therefore, patients with an ARDs require close observation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Critical review of family well-being and cohesion indexes: a multidimensional approach to measurement in the Arab world

The absence of measurable indicators for family well-being poses significant challenges in the Arab context. Without a standardized framework for assessment, it becomes difficult to identify areas of concern and allocate resources effectively. Moreover, the lack of quantifiable data hinders the development of targeted interventions and policy initiatives aimed at promoting family well-being. Hence, the establishment of measurable indicators for family well-being is a critical step towards promoting strong, resilient families in the Arab region. By providing a comprehensive framework for assessment, monitoring, and comparison, these indicators can inform policy decisions, enhance intervention strategies, and ultimately contribute to the overall well-being of families and individuals across the region. This article delves into the intricate landscape of family well-being, exploring its diverse dimensions and critically examining the gaps in the existing indexes and the role of measurable indicators in guiding effective interventions and policy decisions. Addressing the urgent need for measurable indicators, this article outlines a novel family well-being index for the region. Comprising three pillars – economic security, emotional well-being, and social connectedness – and relying on 12 practical indicators, the index provides a foundational framework for comprehensive assessment, data-driven interventions, and informed policy decisions. This framework offers a concrete step towards promoting family well-being and fostering a thriving future for families across the region

Behavioral Constraints For The Spread Of The Eastern Mosquitofish, Gambusia Holbrooki (Poeciliidae)

Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are native to the southeastern United States but notoriously invasive elsewhere, and are aggressive predators in ecosystems they inhabit. Information on dispersal behavior is needed to better understand mosquitofish spread upon introduction and potential means to mitigate that spread. We experimentally tested the effects of shallow water depths (3-24 mm) and obstacles (leaf litter) on mosquitofish dispersal behavior, plus a range of conditions relevant to field situations. Mosquitofish dispersed significantly faster in deeper water (p \u3c 0.001) but some dispersed in only 3 mm water depth (i.e., one-half average body depth). Wetland and upland leaf litter at natural densities strongly interfered with mosquitofish dispersal behavior. Based on our results, introduced mosquitofish spread rapidly given unimpeded dispersal corridors (e.g., mowed ditches), and may do so at rates \u3e800 m/day. Also, consistent lack of sexual dimorphism in dispersal behavior indicates that mosquitofish spread is not strongly dependent on female poeciliid reproductive biology. Our results support designation of mosquitofish as highly invasive and suggest that barriers to mosquitofish spread must obstruct dispersal pathways as shallow as 3 mm depth. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc

Practical Guidance on Calculating Sampling Error in Election Polls

In election poll results, the proportions favoring candidates and the survey sampling error are usually reported. However, it is hard to assess if the gap between any two candidates is statistically significant or not based on this information. This article provides an alternative measurement of sampling error for this assessment purpose. We detail the calculation steps in STATA and SPSS programs to handle polls based on simple random sampling and also polls based on more complicated designs

M-service quality of telecommunication companies in Qatar

Service quality provided by mobile applications has become a vital element in increasing customers' satisfaction. This study aims to identify the significant mobile service quality factors (application design, ease of use, information content, reliability, responsiveness, empathy, security, and prices and offers) that influence s and loyalty in Qatar's telecommunications sector. The data were collected through an online questionnaire of 195 random customers who use Ooredoo or Vodafone mobile applications in Qatar. The proposed model was evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The results show that ease of use, information content, responsiveness and security were the only significant factors that affect M-customer satisfaction. Also, there is a strong relationship between M-customer satisfaction and M-loyalty. Managers should adopt a strategy that focuses on the M-service quality factors to increase customers' loyalty