Compliance with tobacco control policy and visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: In Saudi Arabia, cardiovascular diseases are among the top causes of death and disability, and smoking is one of the leading risk factors, particularly among males. Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and examine the visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We conducted a mapping survey and geospatial analysis of cigarette retailers around educational facilities from February to March 2020 (before the COVID-19 restriction) in Al-Olaya municipality in Riyadh city as a pilot study. We found 249 retailers, of which 152 sold cigarettes. Data analyses in ArcMap 10.6 compared the visibility within 250 and 500 meters from educational facilities. Results: We found many retailers were not compliant with the tobacco control regulation: 57.1% of minimarkets sell cigarettes, 15.8% of cigarette retailers display the products openly, and 12.5% of cigarette retailers sold cigarettes by the stick. Moreover, 71% of the total cigarette retailers were within 500 m from schools, and 62% of all schools had at least one cigarette retailer within 500 m buffer (5-min walking or 2–3-min driving distance). Conclusion: There is non-compliance with the anti-smoking law among cigarette retailers and high visibility of cigarette retailers around educational facilities in Saudi Arabia. Monitoring is needed for the effective implementation of tobacco control policies

Density of Fast Food Outlets around Educational Facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Geospatial Analysis

Background: Childhood obesity remains a public health issue globally. The latest estimate from the World Health Organization showed that over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5–19 were overweight or obese in 2016. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the density of fast food outlets around educational facilities in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: We employed geospatial and quantitative analyses using data on fast food outlets (from surveys conducted between November 2019 and May 2020) and educational facilities in Riyadh city. Data analyses conducted using ArcMap 10.6 and Stata 15 compared the density within 500 m and 500–1000 m from the facilities. Results: We found a high density of fast food outlets around educational facilities. Nearly 80% of fast food were within twelve-minute walking or five-minute driving distances from schools, and nearly 70% of all educational facilities had at least one fast food outlet within the buffer. We also found the densities were high within both the areas closer and the areas farther away from educational facilities. In addition, the density was significantly higher around private schools compared to government schools, and the density around girls-only schools and both-gender schools was higher than that around boys-only schools. Conclusion: There is a high density of fast food outlets around educational facilities in Saudi Arabia. Effective policies are needed to help reduce potential exposure to fast food among young people in Saudi Arabia and other countries with similar settings

Impact of Baseline Characteristics on Stroke Outcomes in Pakistan: A Longitudinal Study Using the Modified Rankin Scale

Introduction. Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality globally, with a significant impact on healthcare systems. Various factors, including age, gender, comorbidities, and the type of stroke, influence the burden of stroke and its outcomes. The study was conducted with an objective to determine the impact of baseline characteristics on the long-term functional outcome of stroke patients. Methods. This prospective observational study was conducted between April 6, 2022 - December 31, 2023, at a tertiary hospital. The study included patients with radiologically confirmed stroke, selected through convenience sampling. Stroke patients of any gender and all age groups, with any comorbidity, were included. The Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) assessed disability on admission and three months post-stroke. Results. Of the 213 patients, 122 (57.3%) were males and the majority, 199 (93.4%) individuals, had acute ischemic stroke. The median age of the participants was 60 years (range: 13-97 years; IQR=18 years). The mRS score on admission was poor (5.0; IQR=1.0) for patients ≥ 60 years. In 74 (34.74%) participants, the left middle cerebral artery was a frequently involved site. Age of ≥ 60 years (mRS=4.0; IQR=4.0; p=0.001) and the presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities (mRS=5.0; IQR=1.0; p=0.001) were significantly associated with poor outcomes three months post-stroke. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that a mRS score of 4 (OR=14.20; 95% CI=1.70-145.25; p=0.02) and a mRS score of 5 (OR=78.84; 95% CI=9.35-820.25; p < 0.001) on admission were associated with poor outcomes. In addition, the presence of ≥ 3 comorbidities (OR=4.59; 95% CI=14.65; p < 0.01) and increasing age (OR=1.04; 95% CI=1.01-1.07; p=0.02) were predictors of poor outcomes three months post-stroke. Conclusions. The study underscores the importance of early intervention and effective management of comorbidities to improve functional outcomes in stroke patients. It highlights the need for targeted stroke care and rehabilitation strategies

Economic Feasibility Investigation of On-Grid and Off-Grid Solar Photovoltaic System Installation in Central Java

Received: 15 May 2023. Revised: 13 June 2023. Accepted: 2 August 2023. Available online: 25 September 2023.Solar energy, as the most abundant renewable energy source, has garnered significant attention for its potential in electricity generation. Photovoltaic (PV) panels, capable of converting solar energy into electricity, have been widely considered for residential applications, including on-grid and off-grid systems. This study seeks to evaluate the economic feasibility of implementing on-grid and off-grid solar PV systems in residential settings through a case study in Gemolong, Sragen. The Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewable (HOMER) software is employed to simulate these systems, providing an economic analysis over a specified time period. Results indicate that the on-grid system presents a more favorable option for the Gemolong region, owing to its optimized monthly production, minimal maintenance costs, and investment potential. The total installation cost for the on-grid system is estimated to be Rp 64,985,200.00, compared to the off-grid system's cost of Rp 745,731,208.82. Furthermore, the on-grid system demonstrates a 13.3% advantage in energy production. Based on the energy and economic analyses, the on-grid PV system is recommended for adoption in the Gemolong area.This research was fully supported by the PNBP grant from the Sebelas Maret University, Indonesia, with contract number 228/UN27.22/PT.01.03/2023 of the Research Group Research Grants scheme

Chromosomal contacts connect loci associated with autism, BMI and head circumference phenotypes

Copy number variants (CNVs) are major contributors to genomic imbalance disorders. Phenotyping of 137 unrelated deletion and reciprocal duplication carriers of the distal 16p11.2 220 kb BP2-BP3 interval showed that these rearrangements are associated with autism spectrum disorders and mirror phenotypes of obesity/underweight and macrocephaly/microcephaly. Such phenotypes were previously associated with rearrangements of the non-overlapping proximal 16p11.2 600 kb BP4-BP5 interval. These two CNV-prone regions at 16p11.2 are reciprocally engaged in complex chromatin looping, as successfully confirmed by 4C-seq, fluorescence in situ hybridization and Hi-C, as well as coordinated expression and regulation of encompassed genes. We observed that genes differentially expressed in 16p11.2 BP4-BP5 CNV carriers are concomitantly modified in their chromatin interactions, suggesting that disruption of chromatin interplays could participate in the observed phenotypes. We also identified cis- and trans-acting chromatin contacts to other genomic regions previously associated with analogous phenotypes. For example, we uncovered that individuals with reciprocal rearrangements of the trans-contacted 2p15 locus similarly display mirror phenotypes on head circumference and weight. Our results indicate that chromosomal contacts’ maps could uncover functionally and clinically related genes.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 31 May 2016; doi:10.1038/mp.2016.84

Isolation of genetic mutation leading to abnormal phenotype in human through ultra-high-throughput sequencing (UHTS)

The introduction of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) facilitated the task of localizing DNA variation and identifying the genetic cause of yet unsolved Mendelian disorders. Using Whole Exome Capture method and NGS, we identified the causative genetic aberration responsible for a number of monogenic disorders previously undetermined. Due to the novelty of the NGS method we benchmarked different algorithms to assess their merits and defects. This allowed us to establish a pipeline that we successfully used to pinpoint genes responsible for a form of West's syndrome, a Complex Intellectual Disability syndrome associated with patellar dislocation and celiac disease, and correcting some erroneous molecular diagnosis of Alport's syndrome in a Saudi Arabian family

Pengembangan Keterampilan Berpikir Positif melalui Layanan Konseling Kelompok Bagi Anggota Ikatan Mahasiswa Pemuda Pelajar Semurup, Kota Padang

DEVELOPING A POSITIVE THINKING SKILL OF IMPPS MEMBERS THROUGH GROUP COUNSELING SERVICE. Activities of community service was based on a phenomena about lack of student's positive thinking skill and there are not functional optimally in a positive way. The purpose of this service is to developing a positive thinking skill of IMPPS members in Padang through group counseling service. The implementation method used consist of five phase which is 1) Shaping, 2) Transition, 3) Intervention, 4) Conclusion, and 5) Closing service. A total participant was 50 students of IMPPS Member. Result of this service was a member of IMPPS Padang has a knowledge, paradigm, and positive thinking skill in their activities in social and learning

New Design of a Low Cost Small Engine Dynamometer for Engine Testing

This paper discusses the design and development of a low cost small engine dynamometer for engine testing to measure engine performance i.e. power, torque and specific fuel consumption. The data and result were achieved by using a small hydraulic engine dynamometer with specific considerations and standard followed in order to have good engine dynamometer. Small engine was used by coupling it with the hydraulic pump that come with the control valve and pressure gauge. Control valve was set to build back pressure inside the pumping area. When the engine starts, the pressure gauge will give a reading which can be used to calculate the engine torque. By using the engine torque, engine power can be obtained by multiplying the angular speed with engine torque. Specific fuel consumption can be defined, by dividing the brake engine power with the fuel rate. From the experiment data, the brake power of the single cylinder engine showed that it is almost similar to the specification given by the manufacturer. The low cost hydraulic engine dynamometer, which is less than RM 15,000 can be used to measure an engine performance. The engine power, torque, engine speed and air fuel ratio data can be achieved from our developed engine dynamometer

DISCOVERing and nurturing creative problem solving in young children: An exploratory study

The purpose of this exploratory study of creative problem-solving characteristics of young children was to (a) determine whether the percentage of creativity-relevant behaviors declined, stayed the same, or increased as children entered school and progressed to the first grade (ages 4, 5, and 6) and (b) describe differences and similarities across the three ages and ten domains in the assessment. Using a playbased assessment with developmentally appropriate, flexible materials and activities that were engaging to young children, trained observers with tablet computers administered the assessments, took photographs and videos, observed problemsolving behaviors, entered the behaviors into a database, reviewed children's performance with others in talent groupings, and made decisions about children's strengths across the ten areas of ability. Across the talent areas, of the 29 behaviors included, the percentage of 18 creative problem-solving behaviors increased across the three years, 9 behaviors declined at age 5 and increased at age 6, and from age 5 to age 6, 4 behaviors declined. The patterns were different in different talent areas. Consistent with results of other studies of this age group, we concluded that agerelated development, teaching methods, culture, and other factors interact in the development of creative problem solving. The use of creativity-enhancing teaching methods can make a positive difference in children's development of creative problem solving

Efficacy of patellar taping and electromyographic biofeedback training at various knee angles on quadriceps strength and functional performance in young adult male athletes with patellofemoral pain syndrome : a randomized controlled trial

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