UNDERSTANDING THE OCCUPATION OF PLAY: A MIDDLE EASTERN REVELATION A PRELIMINARY EXPLORATION INTO ARAB PARENTAL VALUES AND CHILDREN’S ENGAGEMENT IN PLAY IN KUWAIT

Feddah Musaed Ahmad: Understanding the Occupation of Play: A Middle Eastern Revelation A Preliminary Exploration into Arab Parental Values and Children’s Engagement in Play in Kuwait (Under the direction of Ruth Humphry) The constructs and meanings of play in diverse cultures are insufficiently represented in research. As a result, researchers frequently misconstrue the cultural and ethnic differences observed in children's play, and therefore, misinterpret child behavior and trajectories for development. Individual development occurs within socio-cultural and historical contexts based on the experiences, beliefs, values, and expectations of a given cultural milieu. The purpose of this research study is to investigate parental expectations based on how they interpret and understand the effects of play on children in Arab regions. To provide this backdrop, this research study is based in a predominantly Muslim country influenced by its religious teaching (Maktabi, 2016; Wheeler, 2000). Making sense of how play is represented in this population will provide a foundation for further research into how play connects to child development. As an initial step, this study seeks to (a) understand Arab parents’ conceptualization of their children’s play based on their cultural values and expectations and (b) explore and observe Arab children’s play, engagement, and interactions. Adopting multiple qualitative techniques—conducting interviews with parents, using photo-elicited methods, and naturalistically observing children in school environments—will enrich the understanding of play as an occupation. The research study might generalize to Arab (Gulf) populations due to the many cultural values derived from Islam in this region. The findings revealed a variation in themes based on parental expectations and child observations. In both research phases it suggested that children are shaped by cultural practices, and play was regarded as a developmental process of coming to observe, interpret, and understand skills needed to improve adaptive functions in becoming a valuable adult in society.Doctor of Philosoph

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis: a call to the clinicians for keeping this rare condition on clinical radar

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis is a rare disease of central nervous system, which can present with a variety of clinical manifestations. That is why first attack of ADEM, in particular remains a diagnostic puzzle. Early anticipation and diagnosis is important for better outcomes. We present a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis which initially had atypical clinical features with cough, expectoration, fever and later manifested strange neurological features, diagnosed to be a case of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis based on radio-imaging

Water-in-oil microemulsions exhibit antimicrobial activity

Objectives: Previous research from this group has identified significant antimicrobial activity associated with oil-in-water (O/W) microemulsions. This activity has been exhibited against both bacteria and fungi (including yeasts) and bacterial biofilms and is dependent upon the position of the microemulsion within its stability zone. This novel work aims to identify antimicrobial activity of water-in-oil (W/O) microemulsions. Materials & Methods: A simple, thermodynamically stable water-in-oil microemulsion was tested for its time-related antimicrobial activity against a selected panel of test microorganisms (i.e.: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P) and its effectiveness as a self-preserving system against a similar panel (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P and Aspergillus niger ATCC 16404). Results: The microemulsion exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against all the selected microorganisms. Decreases in the viability of cultures (P. aeruginosa, C. albicans, E. coli and S. aureus) were observed over a short period of time after exposure to a known concentration of the first microemulsion. The results for the four samplings in the preservative effectiveness test according to the European Pharmacopeia requires a significant reduction in bacterial count, and this requirement was achieved in all samplings. Conclusions: Thermodynamically stable water-in-oil microemulsions are antimicrobially active, self-preserving systems, as are their oil-in-water counterparts

Los lenguajes controlados y la documentación técnica : mejorando la traducibilidad

Los lenguajes controlados pueden suponer una estrategia efectiva para mejorar los procesos de traducción, modificando el texto origen para que se adapte a una serie de reglas que mejoran su traducibilidad. El artículo analiza el concepto de lenguaje controlado y revisa las diferentes áreas de control y su tipología, para después realizar un breve repaso al origen y evolución de estos si stemas lingüísticos. A continuación explora qué papel representan los lenguajes controlados en el proceso de redacción y traducción de documentación técnica. Por último, se centra en la relación entre lenguajes controlados y traducción y, más en concreto, la traducción automática, haciendo especial hincapié en las reglas más efectivas para la mejora de la traducibilidad.Els llenguatges controlats poden suposar una estratègia efectiva per a millorar els processos de traducció, modificant el text origen perquè s'adapte a una sèrie de regles que milloren la seua traduïbilitat. L'article analitza el concepte de llenguatge controlat i revisa les diferents àrees de control i la seua tipologia, per a després realitzar un breu repàs a l'origen i evolució d'estos sistemes lingüístics. A continuació explora quin paper representen els llenguatges controlats en el procés de redacció i traducció de documentació tècnica. Finalment, es centra en la relació entre llenguatges controlats i traducció i, més concretament, traducció autom àtica, fent especial insistència en les regles més efectives per a la millora de la traduïbilitat.Controlled languages can be an effective strategy to improve translation processes, pre-editing the source text to conform to a set of rules to improve its translatability. This article analyses the concept of controlled language and reviews the different control areas and their typology. Further, it reviews the origin and evolution of these linguistic systems and explores the role controlled languages play in the process of writing and translating technical documentation. Finally, it focuses on the relationship between controlled language and translation and, more specifically, machine translation, with particular emphasis on the rules aimed at improving translatability

Poly(Glycerol Adipate-co-ω-Pentadecalactone) Spray-Dried Microparticles as Sustained Release Carriers for Pulmonary Delivery

Purpose The aim of this work was to optimize biodegradable polyester poly(glycerol adipate-co-ω-pentadecalactone), PGA-co-PDL, microparticles as sustained release (SR) carriers for pulmonary drug delivery. Methods Microparticles were produced by spray drying directly from double emulsion with and without dispersibility enhancers ( L -arginine and L -leucine) (0.5–1.5%w/w) using sodium fluorescein (SF) as a model hydrophilic drug. Results Spray-dried microparticles without dispersibility enhancers exhibited aggregated powders leading to low fine particle fraction (%FPF) (28.79 ± 3.24), fine particle dose (FPD) (14.42 ± 1.57 μg), with a mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) 2.86 ± 0.24 μm. However, L -leucine was significantly superior in enhancing the aerosolization performance ( L- arginine:%FPF 27.61 ± 4.49–26.57 ± 1.85; FPD 12.40 ± 0.99–19.54 ± 0.16 μg and MMAD 2.18 ± 0.35–2.98 ± 0.25 μm, L -leucine:%FPF 36.90 ± 3.6–43.38 ± 5.6; FPD 18.66 ± 2.90–21.58 ± 2.46 μg and MMAD 2.55 ± 0.03–3.68 ± 0.12 μm). Incorporating L -leucine (1.5%w/w) reduced the burst release (24.04 ± 3.87%) of SF compared to unmodified formulations (41.87 ± 2.46%), with both undergoing a square root of time (Higuchi’s pattern) dependent release. Comparing the toxicity profiles of PGA-co-PDL with L -leucine (1.5%w/w) (5 mg/ml) and poly(lactide-co-glycolide), (5 mg/ml) spray-dried microparticles in human bronchial epithelial 16HBE14o- cell lines, resulted in cell viability of 85.57 ± 5.44 and 60.66 ± 6.75%, respectively, after 72 h treatment. Conclusion The above data suggest that PGA-co-PDL may be a useful polymer for preparing SR microparticle carriers, together with dispersibility enhancers, for pulmonary delivery

Minimizing Variability of Cascade Impaction Measurements in Inhalers and Nebulizers

The purpose of this article is to catalogue in a systematic way the available information about factors that may influence the outcome and variability of cascade impactor (CI) measurements of pharmaceutical aerosols for inhalation, such as those obtained from metered dose inhalers (MDIs), dry powder inhalers (DPIs) or products for nebulization; and to suggest ways to minimize the influence of such factors. To accomplish this task, the authors constructed a cause-and-effect Ishikawa diagram for a CI measurement and considered the influence of each root cause based on industry experience and thorough literature review. The results illustrate the intricate network of underlying causes of CI variability, with the potential for several multi-way statistical interactions. It was also found that significantly more quantitative information exists about impactor-related causes than about operator-derived influences, the contribution of drug assay methodology and product-related causes, suggesting a need for further research in those areas. The understanding and awareness of all these factors should aid in the development of optimized CI methods and appropriate quality control measures for aerodynamic particle size distribution (APSD) of pharmaceutical aerosols, in line with the current regulatory initiatives involving quality-by-design (QbD)