Toward Fossil Fuel and CO2 Savings in Kuwait

The electricity and potable water production sector in Kuwait depends solely on oil and gas fired generation technologies. Complete reliance on oil and gas has negative impact on the country's economy and environment, and hence, calls for exploration for alternative energy sources. This paper presents results of analysis of including renewable energy technologies within the generation inventory. The analysis examines the effects of generating 20% of electric energy from renewables by 2030. MARKAL/TIMES based model of Kuwait's electricity and water sector was developed. The model solutions for several technology generation mix cases are presented. With the 20% renewable generation case, the analysis results show that the fossil fuel saving and CO2 reduction are both around 17% when compared to the conventional oil/gas fired generation technologies case

Kuwait needs to rethink its energy mix

The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones; we transitioned to better solutions (Steven Chu and Arun Majumdar, Nature, August 2012). We all know that the oil dominance era will not end because we will run out of oil; it will fade away because the world will have alternative options. Countries with economies that are highly dependent on oil exports and excessive energy intensity (energy consumed per unit of GDP), such as Kuwait, will be significantly impacted if sustainable energy measures and economic diversification actions are not adopted

Patterns of paediatric forearm fractures at a level I trauma centre in KSA

الملخص: أهداف البحث: الأدبيات البحثية لا تُفصّّل بوضوح أنماط كسور عظام الساعد لدى الأطفال. تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد أنماط كسور الساعد لدى الأطفال في المملكة العربية السعودية. طرق البحث: أجريت هذه الدراسة المرجعية في مركز لعلاج الإصابات من المستوى الأول. تضمنت الدراسة المرضى حتى عمر ١٨ عاما الذين عانوا من كسور عظام الساعد خلال الفترة من ٢٠٠٧ إلى ٢٠١٥. تم الحصول على البيانات الديموغرافية للمرضى من الملفات الطبية، كما تم تحديد الكسور باستخدام الأشعة الاعتيادية. واستخدام متوسط الانحراف المعياري للمتغيرات المستمرة، بينما استخدمت الترددات والنسب المئوية للمتغيرات النوعية. النتائج: تضمنت هذه الدراسة ٣١٨ مريضا؛ تراوحت أعمارهم بين ١.٢ عاما إلى ١٨ عاما (المتوسط ١٠.٤٢ الانحراف المعياري ± ٤.٥٦عاما). كان معظمهم من الذكور (٨٠.٨٪)، وكان ٥٣.١٪ ˃ ١٢ عاما. كانت الإناث أعلى بشكل كبير في المجموعة ˃ ١٢ عاما بالمقارنة بالمجموعة ≥ ١٢عاما. وكان السقوط هو آلية الإصابة عند معظم المرضى (٨١.١٪) الذين اعمارهم ˃ ١٢ عاما بالمقارنة بالمجموعة ≥ ١٢عاما. لم يكن هناك فروقا ذات دلالة إحصائية عند مقارنة الفئتين العمريتين في مكان الكسر. سجل أقصى الساعد أكثر الأماكن شيوعا للكسور (٤٧.٨٪)، متبوعا بالثلث الأقصى من جدل الساعد (٣٤.٢٪). الاستنتاجات: تحدث كسور الساعد عادة في الذكور ويتم العثور عليها في كثير من الأحيان في الفئة العمرية للأطفال في سن الدراسة. تعد الكسور القاصية لعظمة الزند المكان الأكثر شيوعا في هذه الدراسة. السقوط هو الآلية الأكثر شيوعا للإصابة ويجب إتخاذ إجراءات السلامة في الأماكن التي يقضي فيها الأطفال في كثير من الأحيان أنشطتهم. Abstract: Objectives: The current literature does not clearly elaborate the pattern of paediatric forearm fractures. This study aims to identify patterns of paediatric forearm fractures in KSA. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in a level I trauma centre. The study population comprised patients up to 18 years of age who presented with forearm fractures between 2007 and 2015. The demographic data of the recruited patients were obtained from medical files, and fractures were identified using plain films. Mean and standard deviations were used for continuous variables, whereas frequencies and percentages were used for categorical variables. Results: This study included 318 patients, ranging in age from 1.2 to 18 years (average: 10.42 ± 4.56 years). The majority were boys (80.8%) and 53.1% were <12 years of age. Girls were significantly more prevalent in the <12-year-old group than in the ≥12-year-old group (p < 0.001). A fall was the mechanism of injury in the majority of patients (82.1%) in the <12-year-old group compared with the ≥12-year-old group (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in fracture site between the two age groups. The distal forearm was the most common site fractured (47.8%), followed by the distal third of the forearm diaphysis (34.2%). Conclusion: Forearm fractures are commonly seen in school-age boys. The distal radius is the most commonly fractured site reported in this study. A fall was the most common mechanism of injury, and safety measures should be implemented in places where children frequently gather. الكلمات المفتاحية: علم الأوبئة, كسور الأطفال, إصابات الطفولة, كسور الساعد, الزند القاصي, الكسر, Keywords: Childhood fractures, Childhood injuries, Distal radius, Epidemiology, Forearm fractures, Fractur

Assaying for antiviral activity of the folkloric medicinal desert plant Rhazya stricta on coronavirus SARS-CoV-2

AbstractThe emergence of superbugs and resistant pathogens poses a challenge in scientific and medical research as they threaten public health worldwide. Many herbal natural products currently used in therapies have been suggested to exert antimicrobial, antiviral and even virucidal activities against a vast majority of impervious pathogens. Rhazya stricta, a folk medicinal desert plant from Saudi Arabia was recently revealed to exhibit bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. The pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a threat to public health worldwide. Hence, we examined the antiviral activity of R. stricta against the virus. The R. stricta water extract was prepared at the traditional dose. The antagonistic effects of this extract against pathogens have been proven in previous studies, and those against SARS-CoV-2 were shown in the present study. Therefore, we explored the effects of the plant extracts and fractions against the virus for future drug development. All plant extracts showed antiviral effects against SARS-CoV-2 in the Vero E6 cell lines. Non-alkaloids showed the strongest effect against the virus, followed by weak base alkaloids and finally strong base alkaloids. A cytotoxicity assay was performed to explore the safest dose with the strongest antiviral effects. The non-alkaloid extract derived from R. stricta leaves is a promising antiviral candidate for the development of potential drugs with appropriate activity against COVID-19 and other life-threatening diseases

Apigetrin-enriched Pulmeria alba extract prevents assault of STZ on pancreatic β-cells and neuronal oxidative stress with concomitant attenuation of tissue damage and suppression of inflammation in the brain of diabetic rats

In the present study, in vitro, in vivo, and in silico models were used to evaluate the therapeutic potential of Pulmeria alba methanolic (PAm) extract, and we identified the major phytocompound, apigetrin. Our in vitro studies revealed dose-dependent increased glucose uptake and inhibition of α-amylase (50% inhibitory concentration (IC50)= 217.19 µg/mL), antioxidant (DPPH, ferric-reducing activity of plasma (FRAP), and lipid peroxidation (LPO) [IC50 = 103.23, 58.72, and 114.16 µg/mL respectively]), and anti-inflammatory potential (stabilizes human red blood cell (HRBC) membranes, and inhibits proteinase and protein denaturation [IC50 = 143.73, 131.63, and 198.57 µg/mL]) by the PAm extract. In an in vivo model, PAm treatment reversed hyperglycemia and attenuated insulin deficiency in rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. A post-treatment tissue analysis revealed that PAm attenuated neuronal oxidative stress, neuronal inflammation, and neuro-cognitive deficiencies. This was evidenced by increased levels of antioxidants enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione (GSH)), and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), proinflammatory markers (cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), nuclear factor (NF)-κB and nitric oxide (NOx)), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities in the brain of PAm-treated rats compared to the STZ-induced diabetic controls. However, no treatment-related changes were observed in levels of neurotransmitters, including serotonin and dopamine. Furthermore, STZ-induced dyslipidemia and alterations in serum biochemical markers of hepatorenal dysfunction were also reversed by PAm treatment. Extract characterization identified apigetrin (retention time: 21,227 s, 30.48%, m/z: 433.15) as the major bioactive compound in the PAm extract. Consequently, we provide in silico insights into the potential of apigetrin to target AChE/COX-2/NOX/NF-κB Altogether the present study provides preclinical evidence of the therapeutic potential of the apigetrin-enriched PAm extract for treating oxidative stress and neuro-inflammation associated with diabetes