Factors Related to Performance Problems of Distance Education Among Primary School Pupils Under COVID-19 and Confrontation Mechanisms (A Field Study)

The present research paper aims to identify the factors related to performance problems of distance education among primary school pupils under COVID-19 and their confrontation mechanisms. It adopted the descriptive analytical method and applied a questionnaire to collect data. The population of the search covered all primary school teachers numbered (13364) in (487) primary public schools in Riyadh, whereas the sample included (695) teachers in public schools in Riyadh. The results showed that the high effect size of the problems-related social factors scored (4.18), the high effect size of the problems-related economic factors scored (4.09), the high effect size of the problems-related cultural factors scored (4.18). Moreover, the arithmetic means of the most significant confrontation mechanisms of the social factors ranged (4.30:4.87), the economic factors ranged (4.26:4.69), and the cultural factors ranged (4.22:4.80). The study recommends highlighting the means of getting alternatives of the comprehensive vision required for decision-makers when developing planning scenarios for confronting the social, economic, and cultural factors related to the performance problems of distance education among primary school pupils under COVID-19

Molecular analysis of MAP kinase kinase signaling in Leishmania

Mitogen-activated protein kinase patways play important roles in L. mexicana cell biology. This research characterised two yet unstudied MAP2Ks (LmxPK3 and LmxPK6) in Leishmania and studied putative signal transduction between MAP2Ks and MAPKs involved in regulating flagellum length. LmxPK6 is closely related to the STE7 kinase family, and LmxPK3 is related to CAMK. Recombinant GST-LmxPK6 could not be obtained, but GST-LmxPK3 could be purified in sufficient amounts to prove kinase activity by phosphorylation of the generic substrate MBP.;Only single allele deletion mutants could be generated for LmxPK6. Multiple attempts to obtain a null mutant were unsuccessful. This might suggest that LmxPK6 is an essential kinase of L. mexicana. However, an LmxPK3 null mutant was successfully generated, relying on the LmxMPK12 flanking regions to guarantee sufficient neomycin phosphotransferase resistance marker gene expression. GFP fused to LmxPK3 at either the C-terminus or the N-terminus showed that LmxPK3 localised in the cytosol and flagellum.;A null mutant of LmxPK3 showed similar lesion development in BALB/c mice as wild type L. mexicana, and the lesion-derived amastigotes differentiated back to promastigotes and grew in culture suggesting that LmxPK3 does not play a role in Leishmania differentiation. Hence, LmxPK3 is not a drug target against leishmaniasis. Interactions between LmxPK4 and LmxMPK3 were investigated in vitro by co-expression of the two kinases in Escherichia coli followed by purification and kinase assays.;MS/MS analysis showed that LmxPK4 phosphorylates LmxMPK3 at SER183, THR194 and TYR196 of the TDY motif. Using split-GFP for the first time in Leishmania promastigotes showed an interaction between LmxPK4 and LmxMPK3 in vivo by fluorescence in distinct areas of the cytosol and formation of normal length flagella when expressed in the LmxMPK3 null mutant. A hypothesis of how LmxPK4 and LmxMKK can jointly regulate intraflagellar transport was generated.Mitogen-activated protein kinase patways play important roles in L. mexicana cell biology. This research characterised two yet unstudied MAP2Ks (LmxPK3 and LmxPK6) in Leishmania and studied putative signal transduction between MAP2Ks and MAPKs involved in regulating flagellum length. LmxPK6 is closely related to the STE7 kinase family, and LmxPK3 is related to CAMK. Recombinant GST-LmxPK6 could not be obtained, but GST-LmxPK3 could be purified in sufficient amounts to prove kinase activity by phosphorylation of the generic substrate MBP.;Only single allele deletion mutants could be generated for LmxPK6. Multiple attempts to obtain a null mutant were unsuccessful. This might suggest that LmxPK6 is an essential kinase of L. mexicana. However, an LmxPK3 null mutant was successfully generated, relying on the LmxMPK12 flanking regions to guarantee sufficient neomycin phosphotransferase resistance marker gene expression. GFP fused to LmxPK3 at either the C-terminus or the N-terminus showed that LmxPK3 localised in the cytosol and flagellum.;A null mutant of LmxPK3 showed similar lesion development in BALB/c mice as wild type L. mexicana, and the lesion-derived amastigotes differentiated back to promastigotes and grew in culture suggesting that LmxPK3 does not play a role in Leishmania differentiation. Hence, LmxPK3 is not a drug target against leishmaniasis. Interactions between LmxPK4 and LmxMPK3 were investigated in vitro by co-expression of the two kinases in Escherichia coli followed by purification and kinase assays.;MS/MS analysis showed that LmxPK4 phosphorylates LmxMPK3 at SER183, THR194 and TYR196 of the TDY motif. Using split-GFP for the first time in Leishmania promastigotes showed an interaction between LmxPK4 and LmxMPK3 in vivo by fluorescence in distinct areas of the cytosol and formation of normal length flagella when expressed in the LmxMPK3 null mutant. A hypothesis of how LmxPK4 and LmxMKK can jointly regulate intraflagellar transport was generated

Impact of Diabetes Complications on Breast Cancer Screening, Diagnosis, and Prognosis among Elderly Women with Pre-existing Diabetes Using the SEER-Medicare Dataset

Diabetes has been linked to lower rates of breast cancer (BC) screening, late stage of BC at diagnosis, and high mortality of incident BC. Up to date, no study has investigated the influence of diabetes complications and their severity on this linkage. The aims of the study were to explore the association between severity of diabetes-related complications and persistence with screening mammography in elderly women with diabetes; to check the association of diabetes complications severity with stage of BC at diagnosis in elderly women with incident BC and pre-existing diabetes; and to assess the effect of diabetes-related complications severity on all-cause mortality within 3 years of a BC diagnosis in elderly women with pre-existing diabetes. Aim 1 was conducted using the 5% random sample of linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data among 16,526 elderly women with diabetes who were free of cancer during the years 2002 to 2008. Aim 2 was conducted using SEER-Medicare data among 7,729 elderly women with incident BC and pre-existing diabetes during the years 2004--2011. Aim 3 was conducted among a cohort of women age ≥ 67 years diagnosed with BC in 2007 to 2011 and pre-existing diabetes (N = 4,307). Chi-square tests were used to examine the significant differences in characteristics of the study cohorts by persistence with screening mammogram, stage of BC at diagnosis, and three-year mortality, respectively. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to check the association of diabetes complications severity with persistence with screening mammography and stage of BC at diagnosis. Hazards ratios (HR) of all-cause mortality within 3 years of BC diagnosis was estimated using unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to compare time to death based on diabetes complications severity index (DCSI). Overall, having high severity of diabetes complications was significantly associated with a decrease in the likelihood of receiving breast cancer screening as compared to those without diabetes complications. Among elderly women with diabetes, those with a DCSI ≥ 5 were significantly less likely to use screening mammogram (either persistent use (odds ratio (OR) = 0.08; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.07-0.10) or non- persistent use (OR = 0.32; 95% CI = 0.28-0.37)), as compared to those without diabetes complications. Also, the severity of diabetes complications was no longer an independent predictor of BC stage II or advanced stage (III/IV) at diagnosis. However, women with DCSI =2 were significantly 26% more likely to be diagnosed at stage I (versus stage 0) of BC at diagnosis as compared to those without diabetes complications (OR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.03-1.53). In addition, severity of diabetes complication was significantly associated with all-cause mortality within three years of BC diagnosis. Women with a DCSI =1, DCSI =2, and DCSI ≥3 had 34% (hazard ratios (HR) = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.02-1.75), 69% (HR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.39-2.05), and 124% (HR = 2.24; 95% CI = 1.86-2.70) increased risk of death within 3 years after BC diagnosis, as compared to those without diabetes complications. The association between diabetes and worse BC outcomes could be predicted by severity of diabetes complications since this severity has negative consequences on screening mammography, diagnosis, and prognosis

The association of hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus and the risk of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia among cancer patients: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Aim—Conduct a systematic review with meta-analysis to determine the association between incident chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN) and either diabetes mellitus (DM) or hyperglycemia in patients with cancer. Methods—Observational studies in cancer patients of any age receiving chemotherapy and having diabetes or hyperglycemia either during or before chemotherapy induction were included. Studies were retrieved by searching four databases (PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, and Cochrane) and cross-referencing. The metric for combining studies was the odds ratio (OR). Results were pooled using a random-effects model, while heterogeneity and inconsistency were assessed using the Q and I 2 statistic, respectively. Potential small-study effects were assessed using the funnel plot. Results—Ten studies met the criteria for inclusion. Overall, the odds of having CIN were 32% higher among cancer patients with either DM or hyperglycemia compared with those without DM or hyperglycemia (OR = 1.32, 95% CI, 1.06–1.64). Statistically significant heterogeneity and inconsistency were found (Q = 33.15, p \u3c 0.05, I 2 = 72.9%). Funnel plot asymmetry reflecting potential small-study effects was observed. Conclusions—Diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia may be associated with an increased risk for CIN among cancer patients. However, additional well-designed studies are needed before any final and definitive recommendations can be made

The Arbitration System in Dealing with Urgent Requests

Since the appearance of the arbitration system and its advantages, the state\u27s monopoly of judiciary has retreated and the state ceded part of its general authority by allowing individuals and private entities to solve some of their disputes through ways they have consented to follow. However, the state has still had urgent judiciary - beside the substantive judiciary – which guarantees quick and temporary solutions when imminent risk threatens their interests. As a result, the inquiry can be raised as whether the arbitrary judiciary has jurisdiction over disputes concerning imminent risks or not. After reviewing articles No. 173 – 188 except art. 177 of the Kuwaiti Civil Procedures Code, it clear that the legislation has granted common jurisdiction regarding imminent risk for both the judicial system and arbitrary system, considering that the common jurisdiction is deemed to be integrative not competitive. In other words, the arbitrary entity has no power to enforce its decisions regarding imminent risk as a general rule. However, dispute parties can resort to judiciary to enforce decisions issued by the arbitrary entity concerning imminent ris

Flying Outside the Flock: A Kafkaesque Reading of the Novel (The Taste of the Wolf) By the Kuwaiti Writer Abdullah Al-Busais

The experience of Kuwaiti writer and auther Abdullah Al-Busais is remarkable for its originality and creative ability to question the intellectual and cultural systems in Gulf societies. Moreover, the novel (Taste of the Wolf) comes to put the issue of the role of social customs and traditions in making human identity in an eloquent, descriptive and anatomical language capable of analyzing social cultural structures. This research discusses the vision of the novel in discussing the impact of traditional societies on their children and on the formation of their identities in the light of Kafka\u27s literature which experienced the same spirit: the spirit of monetary and cultural accountability of conservative societies, and the impact of this accountability in suppressing the individual identity of members of the group. This research will compare Kafka\u27s novel (The Metamorphosis) and the novel (The Taste of the Wolf), after analyzing Kafka\u27s biography, from a Freudian perspective, through the issue of the Oedipal relationship which was represented in Kafka\u27s relationship with his father and society; which is the same relationship represented in Dhiban\u27s struggle with his community. Then, the following section presents the most important details of the novel (The Metamorphosis) as a Kafkaesque reaction to his suffering in his Czech-Jewish society. The subsequent section of the study analyzes the novel (The Taste of the Wolf) in the light of Kafkaesque concepts, as an example of the link of society with the formation of cultural identity, the oppression of children, and the inability to move except through this complex social system. This is followed by the theme of transformation into an animal as the last part of this study analyzes Dhiban\u27s identification with the wolf animal, and the link between this transformation and the transformation of the hero of the second novel, (The Metamorphosis), Georgios Samsa to a large insect, and the social and cultural significance of this transformation

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) and the Role of Advanced Hemodynamic Monitoring

This study aimed at exploring the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) as a multi-modality, evidence-based approach to improving the quality of patient care after major surgery and to investigate the effectiveness of the implementation of the ERAS on the outcome measures. Therefore, the problem of this study lies in exploring the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) upon the role of advanced hemodynamic monitoring through examining a sample of (220) patients in two Jordanian hospitals (Jordan Hospital and the Specialty Hospital) undergoing major surgery. The study concluded that the patients had witnessed progressive outcome measures in the Improved Post-operative Morbidity Score (POMS), and the Reduced Length of Stay in Hospital, and the Reduced episodes of harm and surgical complications

Temperate propolis has anti-inflammatory effects and is a potent inhibitor of nitric oxide formation in macrophages

Previous research has shown that propolis has immunomodulatory activity. Extracts from two UK propolis samples were assessed for their anti-inflammatory activities by investigating their ability to alter the production of the cytokines: tumour necrosis factor-ff (TNF-ff), interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-10 from mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages co-stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The propolis extracts suppressed the secretion of IL-1 and IL-6 with less effect on TNFff. In addition, propolis reduced the levels of nitric oxide formed by LPS-stimulated macrophages. Metabolomic profiling was carried out by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) on a ZIC-pHILIC column. LPS increased the levels of intermediates involved in nitric oxide biosynthesis; propolis lowered many of these. In addition, LPS produced an increase in itaconate and citrate, and propolis treatment increased itaconate still further while greatly reducing citrate levels. Moreover, LPS treatment increased levels of glutathione (GSH) and intermediates in its biosynthesis, while propolis treatment boosted these still further. In addition, propolis treatment greatly increased levels of uridine diphosphate (UDP)-sugar conjugates. Overall, the results showed that propolis extracts exert an anti-inflammatory effect by the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and by the metabolic reprogramming of LPS activity in macrophages

MODELING OF CONSOLIDATION AND FLOW OF GRANULAR MATERIAL UNDER VARYING CONDITIONS

Granular materials are ubiquitous. They are widely used in many natural and man-made processes such as formation of lunar regolith, dunes and beach sand, as well as processes in pharmaceutical, chemical, and construction industries. Despite their clear industrial relevance, a fundamental understanding of most of the phenomena that involve granular materials in the chemical industry is lacking. Recently, it has been found that cyclic variation of the temperature of a granular bed can cause static particle beds to consolidate (increase their packing fraction) over time due to thermo-mechanical coupling. We employ experimental techniques and numerical simulations, using the thermal particle dynamics method (TPD), to study this phenomenon. In order to simulate many natural phenomena such as lunar regolith formation, one needs to determine a simulation depth of the bed which will yield realistic results yet be manageable computationally. Here we use penetration theory to estimate the required simulation bed height. Lateral periodic boundary conditions are used in our simulations to show that consolidation still occurs during vertical heating even in the absence of confining side walls. Granular flows in which shearing plays a key role are prevalent in natural and industrial applications and understanding their behavior and flow characteristics is of considerable importance. Nevertheless, difficulties in making accurate experimental measurements, complexities involved in doing bulk characterization, and the non-linear nature of interparticle interactions have made development and testing of theoretical models extremely challenging. For this reason, the discrete element method (DEM) is often used as the gold standard for comparison to continuum-level theories of granular material flows. Due to the fact that this modeling approach is derived from first-principle constructs -- like contact mechanics -- its use in lieu of experimentation is reasonably wide-spread and is becoming a staple even in industrial practice. In this work, we explore various aspects of quantitative validation of DEM simulations using detailed measurements of simple, well-characterized flows that allow us to examine the effect of rough surfaces, rotational rates, collisional and frictional force models on granular flow using different devices. Experimentally, we use digital particle tracking velocimetry (DPTV) to obtain velocity, solids fractions, and granular temperature profiles. Computationally, we compare the results obtained using different contact mechanics force laws to those from experimental measurements and perform sensitivity analyses on device and particle geometry as well as material properties employed. In general, the frictional force models range from pragmatic linear techniques to rigorously more complex (nonlinear) contact mechanics inspired routines. Here, we examine both force models to compare with the experimental measurements. In addition, we examine the robustness of these observations to both particle materials properties as well as systemic variables (such as total system solids fraction)