Saudi Women Constraints for Participation in Sports and Physical Activities

Saudi women have recently witnessed unprecedented sociocultural changes in lifestyle and prosperity, as a result of recent female empowerment policies. Among these changes is the public acceptance of female participation in sport and physical activities. However, due to lack of good opportunities for sport and physical activity participation in previous years, Saudi women might still encounter tremendous factors that prevent or limit their participation. The study purpose was to investigate constraints that limit or prohibit Saudi women from participation in light of the recent empowerment policies. A specially designed questionnaire for this study was developed based on the context of leisure constraint theory and was randomly distributed in all regions of the country, yielding a sample of 866 female participants. The results indicated that the majority used their homes as the place for participation, with significant differences among geographical location in intrapersonal and interpersonal constraints, and an overall high score in structural constraints. It was concluded that Saudi females’ ability to participate in sports and physical activities is severely constrained by too many factors that need to be alleviated by policy-makers and investors

Saudi Women Empowerment Constraints for Participation in Sports and Physical Activities

Saudi women have recently witnessed unprecedented sociocultural changes in lifestyle and prosperity, as a result of recent female empowerment policies. Among these changes is the public acceptance of female participation in sport and physical activities. However, due to lack of good opportunities for sport and physical activity participation in previous years, Saudi women might still encounter tremendous factors that prevent or limit their participation. The study purpose was to investigate constraints that limit or prohibit Saudi female from participation in light of the recent empowerment policies. The developed questionnaire was based on the leisure constraint theory and distributed in all regions of the country, yielding a sample of 866 female participants. The results indicated that the majority used their homes as the place for participation, with significant differences among geographical location in intrapersonal and interpersonal constraints, and an overall high score in structural constraints. It was concluded that Saudi females’ ability to participate in sports and physical activities is severely constrained by too many factors that need to be alleviated by policy makers and investors

Dissecting the role of the tumour microenvironment in Drosophila cancer models

Cancer research has been a primary focus in medical research for more than a century. The complex and ever-changing nature of cancer requires the use of diverse model systems and interdisciplinary approaches to gain a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms that drive disease initiation and progression, which is necessary for the development of effective therapies. Identifying new mechanisms that do not involve the tumour itself to combat cancer progression is a promising research area. However, the complexity of physiological processes and limited genetic accessibility of mammalian model systems makes it challenging to study non-tumour autonomous processes in vivo using conventional whole animal models. In recent decades, Drosophila melanogaster, with its potent genetic tools, has emerged as an attractive model system for investigating both tumour-intrinsic and non-tumour-derived processes that contribute to tumour development in vivo. This thesis is focused on exploring the relationships between genetically defined tumours and their microenvironment, including macrophage-like and adipocyte-like cells, called haemocytes and fat body cells, respectively. Our objective has been to examine the impact of signalling from these cells on tumour growth and invasion. In this study, we have used two Drosophila genetically-defined cancer models, (RasV12/ S100A4 and RasV12/ dlgKD) to identify ways in which tumour-host interactions are shared or unique in these two genetic cancer models. Specifically, the RasV12/ S100A4 model represents metastatic tumours, while the RasV12/ dlgKD model represents the characteristics of invasive tumours marked by the loss of cell polarity. This approach has involved RNAi- mediated knockdown of molecules participating in key signalling pathways, such as Drosophila-JAK/STAT (d-JAK/STAT), Drosophila-Toll (d-Toll), and Drosophila-TNF (d- TNF), accompanied by multiparameter optical imaging of in vivo tumours to measure the phenotypic effects. Notably, amongst other findings, we showed that targeting the JAK/STAT 3 receptor within the tumour itself (locally) in a RasV12/dlgKD tumour model restored adult survival. Surprisingly, we found that the tumours were in direct contact with the fat body, and this association was enhanced by knockdown of Drosophila-Toll receptor (d-toll ) in fat body or Drosophila-Toll ligand (d-spz) in haemocytes. the fat body could be equivalent to tumour- associated adipocytes, observed in other models that provide nutrients or other factors to promote tumour growth. Further, we found that knock down d-TNF receptor (d-grnd) in haemocytes leads to anti-tumour activity in RasV12/dlgKD. However, in the RasV12/S100A4 tumour model, we found that knocking down of molecules linked to common immune signalling such as d-TNF, d-Toll, and d-JAK/STAT in haemocytes, led to an increase the number of tumour-associated haemocytes. Notably, when the d-TNF ligand (d-egr) was knocked down in haemocytes, it resulted in a significant increase in primary tumour size but a decrease in invasion. Conversely, knocking down the d-grnd had no effect on tumour volume or invasion. Knocking down d-spz or d-toll had no significant impact on tumour size but led to a significant increase in invasion. In terms of d-JAK/STAT signalling, knockdown of the d- JAK/STAT ligand (d-upd1) or the d-JAK/STAT receptor (d-dome) resulted in a significant decrease in tumour size, while knockdown of the d-JAK/STAT ligand (d-upd2) led to a significant increase in tumour size. No change in tumour size was observed following knockdown of the d-JAK/STAT ligand (d-upd3). The results emphasize the importance of considering the genetic context in such studies, as our findings revealed diverse immune reactions between the two tumour models. However, to comprehensively comprehend the underlying mechanisms behind this differential immune response, further investigation is needed. This has the potential to reveal novel insights and therapeutic opportunities in the field of tumour immunology

Impetiginous Cutaneous Leishmaniasis after COVID-19 Infection in a Patient with Poor Cardiac Profile: A Case Report and Literature Review

Cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence has been rising in the past couple of decades. Standard therapy often includes antileishmanial drugs; however, due to their low safety and toxicity threshold, alternative treatments are being investigated. The association between COVID-19 and cutaneous leishmaniasis remains unclear and exploring this connection may offer crucial insights into the pathophysiology of and treatment strategies for infected patients. In this article, we describe a case of a male patient with a history of cardiac and other comorbidities who presented with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the form of impetigo-like skin lesions after being infected with COVID-19. Due to the patient’s poor cardiac profile, sodium stibogluconate was not used and an alternative therapeutic approach was employed. The patient was treated with oral terbinafine, cryotherapy on specific lesions, and a course of cephalexin. Following the course of treatment and subsequent follow-up, the patient exhibited complete resolution and healing of the lesions with scarring, and no active lesions or recurrence were observed. This case highlights the potential for alternative treatment strategies for cutaneous leishmaniasis in patients with comorbidities and emphasizes the importance of further research to better understand the link between COVID-19 and cutaneous leishmaniasis

MLab: A Mobile Language Learning Lab System for Language Learners

This paper describes the design and development of a mobile language lab system called MLab. The MLab system aims to replace the traditional language lab - which typically has a restrictive layout and lacks interaction - with a more user-friendly, low-cost mobile language lab. The target users of MLab are language teachers and students, and the system offers them the freedom to move around and use their own devices at any time and in any place. The MLab system was developed using several web technologies and Application Programming Interface (API) to provide a fast and convenient method of accessing required content. To evaluate the MLab system, a pilot test was conducted with a class of 15 students and their teacher. The results showed high usability rates and generally positive attitudes toward using the system

A case of fatal acute bacterial meningoencephalitis with extremely high cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count

Abstract Acute bacterial meningoencephalitis is still prevalent despite the widespread vaccination and still fatal despite the advances in antimicrobial therapy. Identifying patients at risk, lowering the threshold of clinical diagnosis and early treatment of such a curable disease will save patients' lives

ChatGPT across Arabic Twitter: A Study of Topics, Sentiments, and Sarcasm

While ChatGPT has gained global significance and widespread adoption, its exploration within specific cultural contexts, particularly within the Arab world, remains relatively limited. This study investigates the discussions among early Arab users in Arabic tweets related to ChatGPT, focusing on topics, sentiments, and the presence of sarcasm. Data analysis and topic-modeling techniques were employed to examine 34,760 Arabic tweets collected using specific keywords. This study revealed a strong interest within the Arabic-speaking community in ChatGPT technology, with prevalent discussions spanning various topics, including controversies, regional relevance, fake content, and sector-specific dialogues. Despite the enthusiasm, concerns regarding ethical risks and negative implications of ChatGPT’s emergence were highlighted, indicating apprehension toward advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology in language generation. Region-specific discussions underscored the diverse adoption of AI applications and ChatGPT technology. Sentiment analysis of the tweets demonstrated a predominantly neutral sentiment distribution (92.8%), suggesting a focus on objectivity and factuality over emotional expression. The prevalence of neutral sentiments indicated a preference for evidence-based reasoning and logical arguments, fostering constructive discussions influenced by cultural norms. Sarcasm was found in 4% of the tweets, distributed across various topics but not dominating the conversation. This study’s implications include the need for AI developers to address ethical concerns and the importance of educating users about the technology’s ethical considerations and risks. Policymakers should consider the regional relevance and potential scams, emphasizing the necessity for ethical guidelines and regulations

Dermatology residents as educators: a qualitative study of identity formation

Abstract Background One of the many identities a physician comes to form during their career is their identity as an educator. Exploring formation of this identity may enrich our understanding of how physicians make decisions related to their roles as educators, their behaviors, and how this ultimately influences the educational environment. It is the aim of this study to investigate educator identity formation of dermatology residents while early in their careers. Methods Drawing on a social constructionist paradigm, we conducted a qualitative study, utilizing an interpretative approach. We examined longitudinal data over a 12-month period using dermatology residents’ written reflections from their professional portfolios and semi-structured interviews. We collected this data as we progressed through and beyond a 4-month professional development program designed to encourage residents’ growth as educators. Sixty residents in their second, third, or final year of residency programs located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were invited to take part in this study. Twenty residents participated with sixty written reflections and 20 semi-structured interviews. Qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Results Sixty written reflections and 20 semi-structured interviews were analyzed. Data was categorized according to themes corresponding to the original research questions. For the first research question regarding identity formation, themes included definitions of education, the process of education, and identity development. For the second research question, 1 theme entitled professional development program included, the following sub-themes: individual act, interpersonal activity, and an organizational undertaking, with many believing that residency programs should prepare residents for their educator roles. Participants also described newfound leadership ambitions of creating new dermatology fellowship programs as a result of taking part in the Resident-as-Educator program. Conclusions Our study provides insights on the dynamic formation of educator identities amongst dermatology residents. Investment in developing residents as educators through professional development programs may instigate transformational change on the individual physician level and profession’s level