Mindfulness-based interventions for young offenders: a scoping review

Youth offending is a problem worldwide. Young people in the criminal justice system have frequently experienced adverse childhood circumstances, mental health problems, difficulties regulating emotions and poor quality of life. Mindfulness-based interventions can help people manage problems resulting from these experiences, but their usefulness for youth offending populations is not clear. This review evaluated existing evidence for mindfulness-based interventions among such populations. To be included, each study used an intervention with at least one of the three core components of mindfulness-based stress reduction (breath awareness, body awareness, mindful movement) that was delivered to young people in prison or community rehabilitation programs. No restrictions were placed on methods used. Thirteen studies were included: three randomized controlled trials, one controlled trial, three pre-post study designs, three mixed-methods approaches and three qualitative studies. Pooled numbers (n = 842) comprised 99% males aged between 14 and 23. Interventions varied so it was not possible to identify an optimal approach in terms of content, dose or intensity. Studies found some improvement in various measures of mental health, self-regulation, problematic behaviour, substance use, quality of life and criminal propensity. In those studies measuring mindfulness, changes did not reach statistical significance. Qualitative studies reported participants feeling less stressed, better able to concentrate, manage emotions and behaviour, improved social skills and that the interventions were acceptable. Generally low study quality limits the generalizability of these findings. Greater clarity on intervention components and robust mixed-methods evaluation would improve clarity of reporting and better guide future youth offending prevention programs

Transmission and evolution of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Saudi Arabia:a descriptive genomic study

BACKGROUND: Since June, 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has, worldwide, caused 104 infections in people including 49 deaths, with 82 cases and 41 deaths reported from Saudi Arabia. In addition to confirming diagnosis, we generated the MERS-CoV genomic sequences obtained directly from patient samples to provide important information on MERS-CoV transmission, evolution, and origin. METHODS: Full genome deep sequencing was done on nucleic acid extracted directly from PCR-confirmed clinical samples. Viral genomes were obtained from 21 MERS cases of which 13 had 100%, four 85-95%, and four 30-50% genome coverage. Phylogenetic analysis of the 21 sequences, combined with nine published MERS-CoV genomes, was done. FINDINGS: Three distinct MERS-CoV genotypes were identified in Riyadh. Phylogeographic analyses suggest the MERS-CoV zoonotic reservoir is geographically disperse. Selection analysis of the MERS-CoV genomes reveals the expected accumulation of genetic diversity including changes in the S protein. The genetic diversity in the Al-Hasa cluster suggests that the hospital outbreak might have had more than one virus introduction. INTERPRETATION: We present the largest number of MERS-CoV genomes (21) described so far. MERS-CoV full genome sequences provide greater detail in tracking transmission. Multiple introductions of MERS-CoV are identified and suggest lower R0 values. Transmission within Saudi Arabia is consistent with either movement of an animal reservoir, animal products, or movement of infected people. Further definition of the exposures responsible for the sporadic introductions of MERS-CoV into human populations is urgently needed. FUNDING: Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health, Wellcome Trust, European Community, and National Institute of Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre

Pre-Procedure Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetic and High-Risk Patients Visiting King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital: The Role of the Dentist in Diabetes Screening

Maisa O Al-Sebaei,1 Mohamed Bamashmous,2 Lojain Bassyoni,1 Rasha Alsubaie,3 Dania O Alnahdi4 1Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Public Health, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Private Practice, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Taif Specialty Dental Centre MOH, Taif, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Maisa O Al-Sebaei, King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Dentistry, PO Box 80209, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia, Tel +966553358482, Fax +966126404166, Email [email protected]: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a widespread problem. Satisfactory control of DM is essential for maintaining oral health and optimizing the outcomes of dental treatment; DM patients with poor glycaemic control have a high risk of dental treatment-related complications. Furthermore, the dentist and dental office can play an important role in DM screening. Therefore, this study aimed at measuring random blood glucose (RBG) levels in patients with established DM or high risk of DM seeking dental treatment at the King Abdulaziz University Dental Hospital to avoid treatment complications and execute an immediate physician referral.Methods and Material: This cross-sectional study included patients presenting to our institution for dental treatment, who were categorized as diabetic (established diagnosis) or at high risk of DM according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. Participants’ pre-procedure RBG level was assessed via a glucometer. High-risk participants were classified as per their blood glucose level into two groups ( 200 mg/dL), while the diabetic participants were placed into four groups ( 300 mg/dL).Results: This study included 695 patients (361 females and 334 males), of which 354 (52%) had established DM and 341 (48%) were high-risk patients. Around 31% of patients in the high-risk group were potentially diabetic but unaware of it; 46% of the diabetic patients had RBG levels > 200 mg/dL. For the high-risk participants, age had a statistically significant association (P-value 0.03) with the RBG level.Conclusion: Pre-procedure RBG measurement in diabetic and high-risk patients undergoing dental treatment is crucial for the prevention of DM-related complications. Dental health-care professionals have a vital role in screening, early detection, and referral of these patients.Keywords: blood glucose, dentists, diabetes complications, diabetes mellitus, screenin

Repetitive and Iterative Learning Controllers Designed by Duality with Experimental Verification

A duality theory existing between iterative learning and repetitive control for linear time-invariant systems has been reported. This paper considers the application of this duality in the design of such controllers for a non-minimum phase experimental facility and a three-axis gantry robot, where the task performed can be configured in either mode of operation. The models used in the design work have been obtained using frequency domain tests conducted on the physical plants. The control design has been performed for both systems, and verified using simulation studies in the case of the gantry robot and experimentally obtained test results in the case of the non-minimum phase plant

The effect of annealing conditions: temperature, time, ramping rate and atmosphere on nanocrystal Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin film solar cell properties

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) nanoparticles were fabricated successfully using the hot injection method; CZTS films were deposited by spin coating of nanocrystal ink. The aim of this work is to study the effect of annealing parameters: temperature, time, ramping rate and atmosphere on CZTS thin film structure and optical properties. XRD, Raman Spectroscopy, SEM, EDX mapping are used to analyse the films and they demonstrate the increase in quality and improvement in the crystallinity of CZTS and the homogeneity of elements which is one of the important factors for CZTS thin film solar cells. The crystallinity, structure and chemical composition of CZTS thin films increased and improved under annealing in H2S+N2 atmosphere which demonstrated that annealing at 500 oC for 1 h with a ramping rate of 10 oC/min under H2S+N2 atmosphere is a suitable condition for the fabrication of CZTS thin films used in solar cell devices

Synthesis of New Liquid-Crystalline Compounds Based on Terminal Benzyloxy Group: Characterization, DFT and Mesomorphic Properties

The effect of the terminal benzyloxy group on the mesomorphic properties of liquid crystalline materials developed from rod-like Schiff base has been described. For this objective, a novel Schiff base liquid crystal family, specifically new series of Schiff base liquid crystals, namely, (E)-4-(alkyloxy)-N-(4-(benzyloxy)benzylidene)aniline, In, are prepared and investigated in detail. The length of the terminal alkyloxy chain (n) varies amongst the compounds in the series. Where n varies between 6, 8 and 16 carbons. At the other end of the compounds, benzyloxy moiety was attached. The molecular structures of all synthesized compounds were established using different spectroscopic techniques. The molecular self-assembly was explored using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscope (POM). Depending on the length of the terminal alkyloxy chain, only one type of SmA phase with different stability was observed. The previously reported para-substituted systems and the present investigated compounds were compared and discussed. The calculated quantum chemical parameters were computationally correlated using the DFT method via the B3LYP 6-311G(d,p) basis set. The theoretical computations revealed that the length of the alkyl side chain influences the zero-point energy, reactivity and other estimated thermodynamic parameters of benzoyloxy/azomethine derivatives. Furthermore, the FMO energy analysis shows that molecule I16 have higher HOMO energies than the other compounds, and I6 has a much lower LUMO level than the rest

Synthesis and characterization of new imine liquid crystals based on terminal perfluoroalkyl group

New organic derivatives named, (E)-3(or4) -(alkyloxy)-N-{(trifluoromethyl)benzylidene}aniline, 1a-f, were synthesized and examined their liquid crystalline behaviors. FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, 19F NMR, elemental analyses and GCMS were used to validate the prepared compounds' chemical structures. We used differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarized optical microscopy (POM) to investigate the mesomorphic characteristics of the formed Schiff bases. All tested compounds of series 1a-c have mesomorphic behaviour of nematogenic temperature ranges while the group 1d-f show non-mesomorphic properties. Moreover, it was found that the enantiotropic N phases included all of the homologue 1a-c. Computational studies using DFT (density functional theory) validated the experimental mesomorphic behavior results. All the analyzed compounds had their dipole moments, polarizability, and reactivity characteristics explained. Theoretical simulations showed that as the length of the terminal chain is increased, the polarizability of the stuided compounds increases. Consequently, compounds 1a and 1d have the least polarizability