A Proposal for Developing the Performance of Intermediate Second-Grade Students in Science Tests in Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study (TIMSS)

This study aimed at identifying the reasons responsible for the low performance of the students of the second intermediate grade in science’s tests in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). It also intends to provide a proposal for developing the performance of the students of the second intermediate grade in science tests in TIMSS. The study adopts the descriptive methodology. To achieve the results of the study, a questionnaire was prepared to identify the reasons responsible for the low performance of the students of the second intermediate grade in science tests in TIMSS. It consisted of three-dimension i.e. course content, student, and teacher & teaching performance. The results of the study showed that the study sample members are agreed with a high degree of all items of the questionnaire. Considering these results, the study provided a proposal to develop the performance of the students of the second intermediate grade in science tests in TIMSS. The proposal also consists of the same dimensions i.e. course content, student and teacher & teaching performance. The study recommends benefiting from the proposal to develop the performance of students of the second intermediate grade in science tests in TIMSS. It also suggests conducting future studies aimed at comparing some variables related to science education and learning in advanced-performing countries and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Design principles for thermally comfortable and low energy homes in the extreme hot-humid climatic Gulf region, with reference to Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Indoor thermal comfort and its consequent energy consumption, are an increasingly important area of consideration in both developed and developing countries. The Gulf States, characterised by their composite extreme hot-humid climate and Airconditioning dependent society are renowned for their high energy consumption. The main aim of this research is to review and report on ways to enhance occupant thermal comfort in homes through improved building and system design and use that minimises energy consumption possible, in the extreme climate of Dammam, Saudi Arabia. The thesis does this by measuring and analysing the thermal performance of the buildings, the thermal satisfaction and comfort responses of their occupants and the energy consumption in them during August 2013 for the summer period and January 2014 for the winter period of the study. The comfort of occupants was assessed using the adaptive thermal comfort method. Neutral indoor air temperatures were, in several homes, surprisingly high. Moreover, most of the studied dwellings do not represent thermally comfortable homes as defined within either PMV or adaptive comfort limits. The study went on to review a broad range of factors that might strongly influence neutral temperatures indoors including the properties of the dwellings, occupant behaviours and attitudes towards high energy demand, loads and costs. The findings are discussed and conclusions drawn on individual design features that contribute to the comfort or discomfort experienced by occupants. It was found that lifestyle, attitudes and other socio-cultural factors have a clear influence on the comfort and in turn energy use in individual dwellings. Although several respondents did not sincerely care about the electricity as it is cheap, in late 2015 the Saudi government hiked the price of domestic energy bills by 60% as a result of low oil prices, putting pressure on many ordinary families to take more notice of their day to day living expenses. The recent electricity price hike provides an economic impetus for the design guidance proffered in the conclusions of this thesis to be taken seriously by householders and implemented by both them and regulating authorities in order to enhance domestic buildings and in turn reduce the CO2 emissions to the global atmosphere. The conclusion of this study is broadly applicable to other regions with similar climatic conditions and cultural contexts such as the Gulf countries

Trombocitni pokazatelji u jednogrbe deve (Camelus dromedarius)

This communication describes platelet indices including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW), along with parallel red blood cell parameters, in samples from 27 dromedary camels of both sexes. The overall mean values of the platelet parameters were: PLT 319.71 ± 38.6 (x109/L); MPV 5.51 ± 0.08 fL; PCT 0.14 ± 0.02% and PDW 19.50 ± 0.62%. A highly significant correlation was found between PLT and PCT (P≤0.001) in male, female and all camels and a significant correlation between MPV and PDW (P<0.05) in male and all camels. The correlation between platelet parameters and parallel red blood cell parameters, namely: hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red cell distribution width (RDW), revealed no significant correlation between RBC and PLT, PCT and HCT or MPV and MCV. However, a highly significant correlation was found between PCT and RDW in all camels (P≤0.005).This is the first report of MPV, PCT, PDW and RWD in dromedaries.Opisani su najčešći trombocitni pokazatelji: broj trombocita (PLT), srednji volumen trombocita (MPV), trombokrit (PCT) i širina krivulje raspodjele po volumenu (PDW), kao i pokazatelji crvenih krvnih stanica u 27 jednogrbih deva oba spola. Prosječne srednje vrijednosti trombocitnih pokazatelja bile su za broj trombocita (PLT) 319,71 ± 38,6×109/L); za srednji volumen trombocita (MPV) 5,51 ± 0,08 fL, trombokrit (PCT) 0,14 ± 0,02% i širinu krivulje raspodjela (PDW) 19,50 ± 0,62%. Značajna korelacija bila je ustanovljena između broja trombocita i trombokrita (P≤0,001) u mužjaka i ženki te općenito u svih pretraženih deva. Također je bila ustanovljena značajna korelacija između srednjega volumena trombocita i širene raspodjele trombocita (P<0,05). Nije ustanovljena korelacija između trombocitnih pokazatelja i pokazatelja crvenih krvnih stanica, tj. usporedbom hematokrita, srednjega volumena crvenih krvnih stanica i raspodjele po volumenu crvenih stanica nije bila ustanovljena značajna korelacija između broja crvenih krvnih stanica te broja trombocita, trombokrita i hematokrita ili srednjega volumena trombocita i srednjega volumena crvenih krvnih stanica. Međutim, značajna korelacija ustanovljena je između trombokrita i krivulje raspodjele po volumenu eritrocita u svih pretraženih deva (P≤0,005). Ovo je prvo izvješće o srednjem volumen trombocita, trombokritu, raspodjeli po volumenu trombocita te raspodjeli po volumenu crvenih krvnih stanica u jednogrbih deva

Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever in Saudi Arabia: molecular detection from camel and other domestic livestock

AbstractObjectiveTo detect Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii) DNA in clinical specimens from camel, goats, cattle and sheep in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.MethodsA total of 367 clinical samples including blood, milk, faeces and urine were collected from different livestock and subjected to PCR amplification using primers which amplify transposon-like region and transposase gene.ResultsPositive amplification from both regions was obtained from camel, goats and cattle but not from sheep. A percentage of 10.8% samples yielded positive PCR amplification from both blood and milk, where 15 of 139 blood and 16 of 148 milk samples were positive. Faeces and urine showed higher percentages of positive samples reaching 40.8% and 23.8% respectively.ConclusionsThe preferred route of shedding in camel appeared to be the faeces followed by urine, while that of goats appeared to be the faeces and that of the cattle appeared to be the milk

Trombocitni pokazatelji u jednogrbe deve (Camelus dromedarius)

This communication describes platelet indices including platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV), plateletcrit (PCT) and platelet distribution width (PDW), along with parallel red blood cell parameters, in samples from 27 dromedary camels of both sexes. The overall mean values of the platelet parameters were: PLT 319.71 ± 38.6 (x109/L); MPV 5.51 ± 0.08 fL; PCT 0.14 ± 0.02% and PDW 19.50 ± 0.62%. A highly significant correlation was found between PLT and PCT (P≤0.001) in male, female and all camels and a significant correlation between MPV and PDW (P<0.05) in male and all camels. The correlation between platelet parameters and parallel red blood cell parameters, namely: hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red cell distribution width (RDW), revealed no significant correlation between RBC and PLT, PCT and HCT or MPV and MCV. However, a highly significant correlation was found between PCT and RDW in all camels (P≤0.005).This is the first report of MPV, PCT, PDW and RWD in dromedaries.Opisani su najčešći trombocitni pokazatelji: broj trombocita (PLT), srednji volumen trombocita (MPV), trombokrit (PCT) i širina krivulje raspodjele po volumenu (PDW), kao i pokazatelji crvenih krvnih stanica u 27 jednogrbih deva oba spola. Prosječne srednje vrijednosti trombocitnih pokazatelja bile su za broj trombocita (PLT) 319,71 ± 38,6×109/L); za srednji volumen trombocita (MPV) 5,51 ± 0,08 fL, trombokrit (PCT) 0,14 ± 0,02% i širinu krivulje raspodjela (PDW) 19,50 ± 0,62%. Značajna korelacija bila je ustanovljena između broja trombocita i trombokrita (P≤0,001) u mužjaka i ženki te općenito u svih pretraženih deva. Također je bila ustanovljena značajna korelacija između srednjega volumena trombocita i širene raspodjele trombocita (P<0,05). Nije ustanovljena korelacija između trombocitnih pokazatelja i pokazatelja crvenih krvnih stanica, tj. usporedbom hematokrita, srednjega volumena crvenih krvnih stanica i raspodjele po volumenu crvenih stanica nije bila ustanovljena značajna korelacija između broja crvenih krvnih stanica te broja trombocita, trombokrita i hematokrita ili srednjega volumena trombocita i srednjega volumena crvenih krvnih stanica. Međutim, značajna korelacija ustanovljena je između trombokrita i krivulje raspodjele po volumenu eritrocita u svih pretraženih deva (P≤0,005). Ovo je prvo izvješće o srednjem volumen trombocita, trombokritu, raspodjeli po volumenu trombocita te raspodjeli po volumenu crvenih krvnih stanica u jednogrbih deva

The Epidemiology and Outcome of Biliary Atresia: Saudi Arabian National Study (2000–2018)

BackgroundThe epidemiology and outcomes of biliary atresia (BA) have been well-documented in national cohorts from two main ethnicities, namely, the Asian Orientals and Caucasians, with incidence ranging from 1 in 5,000 to 1 in 9,000 live births in East Asia and 1 in 15,000 to 19,000 live births in Europe and North America.ObjectiveWe report the first nationwide BA study outside North America, Europe, and East Asia to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of BA in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA national database of BA cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 was analyzed. We assessed clearance of jaundice (bilirubin &lt;20 μmol/L) in all cases that underwent Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). We then estimated survival using the Kaplan–Meier method with endpoints of liver transplantation (LT), death, or survival with native liver (SNL).ResultsBA was diagnosed in 204 infants (106 females; 10% pre-term). The incidence of BA was 1 in 44,365, or 2.254 in 100,000 live births (range, 0.5–4 in 100,000). Polysplenia was diagnosed in 22 cases (11%). The median age at referral was 65 days. A total of 146 children (71.5%) underwent KPE at a median age of 70 days. Clearance of jaundice was achieved in 66 of the 146 (45%) infants. The 10-year SNL after KPE was 25.5%, and the overall 10-year estimated survival was 72.5%. The Kaplan–Meier survival curves for patients undergoing KPE at the age of &lt;60, 61–90, and &gt;90 days showed a SNL rate at 51.6, 33, and 12.5%, respectively, at 5 years (P &lt; 0.001). The 2-, 5-, and 10-year post-LT survival rates were 92.5, 90.6, and 90%, respectively. Undergoing an initial KPE did not impact negatively on the overall LT survival rate when compared to BA cases that underwent primary LT (P = 0.88).ConclusionThe incidence rate of BA in Saudi Arabia is lower than the incidence reported elsewhere. Late referral of BA cases remains a problem in Saudi Arabia; as a result, the SNL rate was lower than reported by other national registries. Hence, national policies devoted to timely referral and earlier age at KPE are needed

Oral manifestations in young adults infected with COVID-19 and impact of smoking:a multi-country cross-sectional study

Background: Oral manifestations and lesions could adversely impact the quality of people's lives. COVID-19 infection may interact with smoking and the impact on oral manifestations is yet to be discovered. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the self-reported presence of oral lesions by COVID-19-infected young adults and the differences in the association between oral lesions and COVID-19 infection in smokers and non-smokers. Methods: This cross-sectional multi-country study recruited 18-to-23-year-old adults. A validated questionnaire was used to collect data on COVID-19-infection status, smoking and the presence of oral lesions (dry mouth, change in taste, and others) using an online platform. Multi-level logistic regression was used to assess the associations between the oral lesions and COVID-19 infection; the modifying effect of smoking on the associations. Results: Data was available from 5,342 respondents from 43 countries. Of these, 8.1% reported COVID-19-infection, 42.7% had oral manifestations and 12.3% were smokers. A significantly greater percentage of participants with COVID-19-infection reported dry mouth and change in taste than non-infected participants. Dry mouth (AOR=, 9=xxx) and changed taste (AOR=, 9=xxx) were associated with COVID-19-infection. The association between COVID-19-infection and dry mouth was stronger among smokers than non-smokers (AOR = 1.26 and 1.03, p = 0.09) while the association with change in taste was stronger among non-smokers (AOR = 1.22 and 1.13, p = 0.86). Conclusion: Dry mouth and changed taste may be used as an indicator for COVID-19 infection in low COVID-19-testing environments. Smoking may modify the association between some oral lesions and COVID-19-infection

Infected pancreatic necrosis: outcomes and clinical predictors of mortality. A post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study

: The identification of high-risk patients in the early stages of infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is critical, because it could help the clinicians to adopt more effective management strategies. We conducted a post hoc analysis of the MANCTRA-1 international study to assess the association between clinical risk factors and mortality among adult patients with IPN. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify prognostic factors of mortality. We identified 247 consecutive patients with IPN hospitalised between January 2019 and December 2020. History of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.135-15.882; aOR 4.245), qSOFA (p = 0.005; 95% CI 1.359-5.879; aOR 2.828), renal failure (p = 0.022; 95% CI 1.138-5.442; aOR 2.489), and haemodynamic failure (p = 0.018; 95% CI 1.184-5.978; aOR 2.661), were identified as independent predictors of mortality in IPN patients. Cholangitis (p = 0.003; 95% CI 1.598-9.930; aOR 3.983), abdominal compartment syndrome (p = 0.032; 95% CI 1.090-6.967; aOR 2.735), and gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal bleeding (p = 0.009; 95% CI 1.286-5.712; aOR 2.710) were independently associated with the risk of mortality. Upfront open surgical necrosectomy was strongly associated with the risk of mortality (p &lt; 0.001; 95% CI 1.912-7.442; aOR 3.772), whereas endoscopic drainage of pancreatic necrosis (p = 0.018; 95% CI 0.138-0.834; aOR 0.339) and enteral nutrition (p = 0.003; 95% CI 0.143-0.716; aOR 0.320) were found as protective factors. Organ failure, acute cholangitis, and upfront open surgical necrosectomy were the most significant predictors of mortality. Our study confirmed that, even in a subgroup of particularly ill patients such as those with IPN, upfront open surgery should be avoided as much as possible. Study protocol registered in ClinicalTrials.Gov (I.D. Number NCT04747990)

Practicability of somatic cell count and electrical conductivity as subclinical mastitis diagnostic tests in camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Critical gaps exist in our understanding of the diagnostic reliability of subclinical mastitis tests in dromedary camels. Using a retrospective longitudinal cross-sectional approach, 191 lactating camels were randomly sampled from 47 camel herds to investigate at first the practicability of somatic cell count (SCC) and electrical conductivity (EC) tests as subclinical mastitis tests in camels through their validations by California mastitis test (CMT) score, and then through the subsequent employments of those objective means in assessing certain potential risk markers predisposing camels to this disease. Results indicate the reliability and validity of SCC test, in contrast to EC test, in distinguishing subclinical mastitic udders in camels, as demonstrated by the strong interrelationships (r = 0.83 vs 0.12; R2 = 0.80 vs 0.02), excellent agreement beyond chance (kappa coefficient = 0.76 vs 0.09) between SCC test and CMT scores, as well as by the high sensitivity of SCC test [Area Under Curve (AUC) = 0.94 vs 0.48] in distinguishing mastitic udders compared to the EC test. Based on the SCC test, the calculated overall prevalence rate for subclinical mastitis was 35 %, and the breed, parity, and lactation period were the only risk markers predisposing camels to subclinical mastitis. Collectively, it can be concluded that the objective SCC test possesses considerable diagnostic merit for early detection of subclinical mastitis in camels, while the EC test was non-satisfactory and non-diagnostic. Accordingly, it seems logical to base herd management decisions on SCC readings using the cut-off Log10SCC value of 5.67 (or SCC = 472.50 × 03 cells mL–1)