Observations on the Pearl Oyster Fishery of Kuwait

The pearl oyster fishery of Kuwait was monitored daily from January 1989 to May 1990. Landings of pearl oysters in 1989 totaled 287 tons with a market value of U.S. $1.0 million. Commercial pearls (\u3e3 mm) were estimated to be present in one of every 4200 oysters. Most of the pearl oysters landed were new recruits with hinge lengths between 40-56 mm. There was a curvilinear relationship between total weight and size of oysters (length) and the sex ratio approached 1:1. Spawning occurs throughout the year, with a spat settlement peak in early fall. Over the size range examined there was no relationship between the size of oysters and the size of pearls and subsequent resource management strategies are discussed

Gamma-Ray Protection Properties of Bismuth-Silicate Glasses Against Some Diagnostic Nuclear Medicine Radioisotopes: A Comprehensive Study

This study aimed to perform an investigation for the potential implementation of bismuth silicate glasses as novel shield equipment instead of ordinary shields in nuclear medicine facilities. Accordingly, a group of Bi2O3 reinforced silicate glass system were investigated and compared with ordinary shields in terms of their gamma-ray attenuation properties in diagnostic nuclear medicine radioisotope energies emitted from99mTc,111 In,67Ga,123 I,131 I,81mKr,201Tl,133Xe. Mass attenuation coefficient (µm) results for glass samples were calculated comparatively with the XCOM program and MCNPX code. The gamma-ray attenuation parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), mean free path (MFP), effective atomic number (Zeff ) were obtained in the diagnostic gamma ray energy range from 75 to 336 keV. To confirm the attenuation performance of superior sample, obtained results were extensively compared with ordinary shielding materials. According to the results obtained, BISI6 glass sample with the highest Bi2O3 additive has an excellent gamma-ray protection. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: This research was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University through the Fast-track Research Funding Program

Spawning and fecundity of <i>Sardinella fimbriata</i> (Val.) in Kuwaiti waters of the Arabian Gulf

39-41Based on gonadosomatic index and ova diameter measurements, spawning was found to occur from March through August with a peak in April and May. Fecundity ranged from 3,038 to 40,488 ova. Mean relative fecundity was 592 ova. g-1 fish. Because of small size range of specimens no relation was found between fecundity and length or body weight. Based on ova measurements, it is suggested that individual S. fimbriata has one long spawning season in Kuwaiti waters

The Patients&rsquo; Perspective for the Impact of Late Detection of Ocular Diseases on Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ahmed Almazroa,1,2 Hessa Almatar,1,2 Reema Alduhayan,1,2 Maram Albalawi,2,3 Mansour Alghamdi,4 Saja Alhoshan,5 Suhailah Alamri,1,2 Norah Alkanhal,1,2 Yara J Alsiwat,1,2 Saad Alrabiah,6 Mohammed Aldrgham,7 Ahmed A AlSaleh,8 Hessa Abdulrahman Alsanad,9 Barrak Alsomaie1,2 1Department of Imaging Research, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 6Department of Ophthalmology, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 7Department of Ophthalmology, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital, Princess Nourah Bint AbdulRahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 8AL-Hokama Eye Specialist Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 9Department of Social Planning, College of Social Work, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ahmed Almazroa, Email [email protected]: Late detection of ocular diseases negatively affects patients’ quality of life (QoL), encompassing health status, psychological, financial, and social aspects. However, the early detection of eye conditions leads to rapid intervention and avoiding complications, thus preserving the QoL. This study assessed the impact of ocular diseases late detection on patients’ QoL at multi-eye clinics based on questionnaire responses.Methods: We developed an original Arabic-English questionnaire to assess the QoL of patients with ocular diseases referred from primary and secondary healthcare centers to tertiary hospitals. It covered preliminary data, patient perspectives on having lately detected ocular disease and treatment costs, and the impact of late detection on finances, social life, psychology, health status, and awareness of current initiatives. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations between patient perspectives on having ocular diseases detected at a late stage and its impact on different domains. Multivariate logistic regression was applied with impact types of health status, psychological, financial, and social (dependent variables) and age, income levels, and hospital type (independent variables).Results: Three hundred and eighty-eight responded, with 50% experiencing psychological effects, 27% health issues, 23% social impacts, and 23% financial burdens. Two hundred seventeen patients (56%) reported having ocular condition detected in late stage. Logistic regression analysis showed positive association with health status, social well-being, and financial effects (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed pronounced effects in patients ≤ 50 years, with income \< 5000 SAR, and those visiting private clinics (p < 0.05). The social impact was greater in patients visiting private hospitals. Ninety percent of all patients emphasized the importance of increasing awareness for better QoL.Conclusion: Significant associations were found between the late detection of eye diseases and their impact on QoL. Therefore, early detection and increasing patients’ awareness of ocular diseases and treatment are essential.Keywords: irreversible vision, physiological effects, financial effects, social effects, ocular disease