Proposal to encode Old South Arabian Script

This is a proposal to encode the Old South Arabian script in the international character encoding standard Unicode. The script was published in Unicode Standard version 5.2 in October 2009. The script was used from the 8c BCE until 6c CE on the Arabian peninsula, especially in the area of present-day Yemen. It was used to write various southwest Semitic languages of various cultures, such as Minean, Sabaean, Qatabanian, Hadramite, and Himyaritic. Eventually the script was supplanted by the Arabic script

Treatment of oily produced water with low-cost adsorbents and ceramic membrane microfiltration

Huge quantities of water produced during oil and gas exploration. There is a need for the application of new technologies to come up with better treatment methods for oily produced water to comply with the environmental regulations and to achieve better quality for beneficial uses. In this study the application of date seeds and attapulgite were used as an effective alternative low-cost adsorbents along with the application of ceramic membrane for treating oily produced water

Healthcare professionals’ consensus on prescribing errors in hospital settings in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To create a consensus on definition and scenarios of prescribing errors in Saudi Arabia hospital practice.Methods: A two-round Delphi technique was used to reach a consensus on a definition and 42 scenarios of prescribing errors. Thirty-five evaluators  (healthcare professionals) were asked to indicate the extent to which they agree or disagree with the definition and scenarios of prescribing errors in a score of 1 (“total disagreement”) to 9 (“total agreement”) and were given a space to comment or modify the content of the survey.Results: The study tool was initially given to 35 evaluators of whom 31 (88.6 %) responded in the first round. In the second round only 24 (77.4 %) evaluators responded. A consensus was reached to accept the definition of prescribing error modified from a previous study conducted in the UK. Regarding the types of prescribing errors, a consensus was reached to include 34 scenarios, to exclude 5 scenarios and to include 3 scenarios depending on the individual clinical situation.Conclusion: The evaluators agreed to the definition of prescribing errors developed in the United Kingdom (UK) with minor modifications. However, some types of prescribing errors might be considered as errors in Saudi Arabia but not in the UK and vice versa. It is anticipated that this definition could be utilized in future studies, particularly in Saudi Arabia, and act as a guide for future research on prescribing errors.Keywords: Prescribing error scenario, Hospital settings, Consensus, Delphi techniqu

Psychosocial Correlates of Diabetes Self-management Practices

Background: Self-Management is a crucial regimen for patients with diabetes mellitus. Many factors have affected patients\u27 self-management practice including psychosocial factors. Literature revealed contradictory results concerning the psychosocial correlates of patients\u27 self-management practices. Therefore, this study assessed the psychosocial correlates of diabetes self-management practices among Jordanian diabetic patients. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design was utilized to collect data (conducted in the middle region of Jordan in 2015) from 341 Jordanian outpatients with diabetes using self-reported questionnaires (Social Support Scale, CES-D, and Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities) and chart review. Results: Participants reported practice rate of 2.85/ 7 (SD=1.3), with diet practice the most (M=3.66, SD=1.5) and exercise the least (M=1.53, SD=2.1). Participants reported receiving social support (M=3.23, SD=1.3) less than needed (M=3.39, SD=1.3). High levels of depressive symptoms were reported (M=17.1, SD= 11.4). Diet practices had significant positive correlation with family support attitude (r= .266, P= .000) and negative correlation with depressive symptoms (r= - .114, P= .037). Testing blood sugar significantly correlated with both support needed (r= .144, P= .008) and support received (r= .166, P= .002). Conclusion: Jordanian DM patients were found to practice less than optimum DM self-management practices, and to consider diet practices than exercise practices. This study confirmed that the subcategories of DM self-care management should be considered rather than considering the general plan

Transient Recovery Voltages in Vacuum Circuit Breakers Generated by the Interruption of Inrush Currents of Large Motors

The switching of medium voltage electrical motors is typically realized by means of vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) essentially in view of their elevated number of switching cycles. As known, switching of VCBs generates important transient recovery voltages (TRVs) that need to be properly evaluated for both VCB sizing and insulation coordination. As large medium voltage electrical motors are installed into plants typically controlled by means of Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, maneuvers that involve the motor inrush followed by its sudden de-energization (due to the intervention of an automatic diagnostic function), results into important TRVs. The paper aims at investigating the TRVs due to this specific type of VCB switching by means of a model that has been developed for the purpose, and has then been implemented in the EMTP-RV simulation environment. The validation of the implemented models makes reference to a real plant, and is obtained by comparing the simulation results with some experimental transients provided by the plant data fault recorder. The paper finally discusses the adequacy of different countermeasures by analyzing their effectiveness for the TRVs limitation

The effects of kettlebell training versus resistance training using the own body mass on physical fitness and physiological adaptations in obese adults: a randomized controlled trial

Aim of study: This study aimed to explore the effects of different types of resistance training using kettlebells versus the own body mass, in comparison to a passive control, on key physical fitness and physiological parameters in young, obese adults. Methods: Data from 60 sedentary, obese male college students, aged 17–26, were used for final analyses. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group (CG, n = 20, no training), a kettlebell resistance training group (KRTG, n = 20), or a bodyweight resistance training group (BWRTG, n = 20). Selected measures of physical fitness were tested using the 12-minutes run test, the push-up test, the sit-up test, and the sit-and-reach test. Physiological measures included vital capacity, resting and maximum heart rate (HRmax), mean arterial blood pressure, breath holding time, and respiratory rate. Biochemical variables were measured in the morning, in a fasted state, and comprised high and low density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. The 12-weeks progressive KRTG and BWRTG were specifically tailored using sets, repetitions, and intensity levels. Results: Notable findings include significant body fat reductions in BWRTG (p < 0.001; d = 1.53) and KRTG (p < 0.001; d = 1.43), and a substantial increase in VO2max for BWRTG (p < 0.001; d = 1.32) and KRTG (p < 0.001; d = 1.34) compared to CG. KRTG also showed significant improvements in vital capacity (p < 0.001; d = 1.61) and reductions in resting heart rate (p = 0.024, d = 1.05) and respiratory rate (p = 0.001, d = 1.55), with BWRTG showing similar trends (resting heart rate: p = 0.041, d = 1.35; respiratory rate: p = 0.001, d = 1.98). Both intervention groups significantly improved breath holding time (KRTG: p = 0.001, d = 1.58; BWRTG: p < 0.001, d = 1.98) and reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels compared to CG. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that both KRTG and BWRTG are effective in improving body composition and selected fitness and physiological measures. Thus, resistance training using kettlebells or bodyweight training are recommended if the goal is to improve body composition and fitness in obese male adults. Trial Registration: OSF, September, 28th 2023. https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/Z6Y9Gosf.io/2mb9

Validation of the Arabic Version of General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) in Sudanese Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: The aim of this study was to validate the Arabic version of General Medication Adherence Scale (GMAS) in Sudanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A 3-month cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM at Al- Daraja Health Center, located in Wad Medani, Sudan. A convenient sample of patients was selected, and the study sample size was calculated using the item response ratio. Factorial, known group, and construct validities were determined. Internal consistency and reliability were also determined. Results: Responses were provided by 500 patients. The average medication adherence score was 30 (median 31). The normed fit index (NFI) was 0.950, the comparative fit index (CFI) was 0.963, the incremental fit index (IFI) was 0.963, and the root-mean-square error of approximation (RMSEA) was 0.071. The results from these fit indices indicated a good model. Factorial, known group and construct validities were all established. A significant association was found between adherence score and age (P = 0.03) since a larger proportion of older patients were found to have high adherence compared to patients in other age groups. The reliability (α) of the questionnaire was 0.834. Conclusion: The Arabic version of GMAS was validated in Sudanese patients with T2DM making it a suitable scale to be used in this population

Utility of Ankyrin 3 as a Prognostic Marker in Androgen-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Running Title: Prognostic Value of ANK3 in AR-Positive Breast Cancer

© 2019, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. Purpose: Androgen receptor (AR) and AR signaling pathways are thought to play a role in breast cancer (BC) and are potentially related to treatment responses and outcomes. Ankyrin 3 (ANK3) is associated with AR stability in cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the clinicopathological utility of ANK3 expression with emphasis on AR and its associated signalling pathway at transcriptomic and proteomic phases. Patients and methods: The Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) cohort (n = 1980) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset (n = 1039) were used to assess the expression and significance of ANK3 mRNA and other AR signalling pathway-associated gene signature. Using immunohistochemistry, ANK3 protein expression was evaluated in large (n = 982) cohort of early-stage BC with long-term follow-up and compared with clinicopathological characteristics and its prognostic value in the whole cohort and the subgroups stratified by AR protein expression. Results: An AR-related gene signature was developed, comprising 20 genes, which included ANK3. This AR-related gene signature was significantly associated with AR mRNA expression, oestrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and the patients’ outcomes. In tumours with high AR protein expression (n = 614), high ANK3 protein expression was significantly associated with progesterone receptor positivity and it was independently associated with the good outcomes (p = 0.025). Conclusions: This study indicates that ANK3 is related to AR signalling pathway and is associated with BC prognosis

Clinicopathological and prognostic significance of Ras association and pleckstrin homology domains 1 (RAPH1) in breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Ras association and pleckstrin homology domains 1 (RAPH1) is involved in cytoskeleton regulation and re-epithelialisation in invasive carcinoma and therefore may play a key role in carcinogenesis and metastasis. We herein investigated the biological and clinical significance of RAPH1 in breast cancer using large annotated cohorts.METHODS: The clinicopathological and prognostic significance of RAPH1 was assessed at the genomic and transcriptomic levels using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset (n=1039) and the results were validated using the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) cohort (n=1980). RAPH1 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in a large, well-characterised cohort of early-stage breast cancer (n=1040).RESULTS: In both the TCGA-BRCA and METABRIC cohorts, RAPH1 mRNA expression and RAPH1 copy number alteration were strongly correlated. RAPH1 mRNA overexpression was significantly correlated with high expression of adhesion and EMT markers including CDH1, TGFbeta1 and CD44. RAPH1 mRNA overexpression was a significant predictor of a poor prognosis (Hazard ratio: 3.88; p = 0.049). High RAPH1 protein expression was associated with higher grade tumours with high proliferation index, triple negative phenotype and high E-cadherin expression. High RAPH1 protein expression was an independent predictor of shorter survival (Hazard ratio: 4.37; p = 0.037).CONCLUSIONS: High RAPH1 expression is correlated with aggressive breast cancer phenotypes and provides independent prognostic value in invasive breast cancer

Lunapark deficiency leads to an autosomal recessive neurodevelopmental phenotype with a degenerative course, epilepsy and distinct brain anomalies

LNPK encodes a conserved membrane protein that stabilizes the junctions of the tubular endoplasmic reticulum network playing crucial roles in diverse biological functions. Recently, homozygous variants in LNPK were shown to cause a neurodevelopmental disorder (OMIM#618090) in four patients displaying developmental delay, epilepsy and nonspecific brain malformations including corpus callosum hypoplasia and variable impairment of cerebellum. We sought to delineate the molecular and phenotypic spectrum of LNPK-related disorder. Exome or genome sequencing was carried out in 11 families. Thorough clinical and neuroradiological evaluation was performed for all the affected individuals, including review of previously reported patients. We identified 12 distinct homozygous loss-of-function variants in 16 individuals presenting with moderate to profound developmental delay, cognitive impairment, regression, refractory epilepsy and a recognizable neuroimaging pattern consisting of corpus callosum hypoplasia and signal alterations of the forceps minor ('ear-of-the-lynx' sign), variably associated with substantia nigra signal alterations, mild brain atrophy, short midbrain and cerebellar hypoplasia/atrophy. In summary, we define the core phenotype of LNPK-related disorder and expand the list of neurological disorders presenting with the 'ear-of-the-lynx' sign suggesting a possible common underlying mechanism related to endoplasmic reticulum-phagy dysfunction