Radical Movement-Parties, Political Change and the Epistemology of Elections:Evidence from Lebanon

A growing literature seeks to bring agency into the study of movement-parties (M-Ps). Yet studies pay little attention to radical M-Ps which confront acute dilemmas when deciding to contest parliamentary elections in systems they deem illegitimate. This article problematizes radical M-Ps’ entry in elections and the meaning they attribute to the role and function of elections – their epistemology of elections. We examine three M-Ps – Beirut Madinati, LiHaqqi, and Muwatinun wa Muwatinat fi Dawla. We demonstrate that radical M-Ps with a coherent strategy for political change, one that includes an epistemology of elections, are more likely to mitigate and survive electoral dilemmas when entering elections. Radical M-Ps lacking such a strategy risk fragmentation and potential dissolution. Methodologically, we chose Lebanon because 1) during the period under study, it is a democracy and, consequently, a relevant case study for theories of party formation; and 2) it offers a controlled comparison of M-Ps in elections. Moreover, all three M-Ps emerged during a similar time-period, with similar social bases, and, at least originally, radical positions. Research is based on participation in, and observation of, protests and elections between 2011 and 2022, as well as primary and secondary source

Rasch and Confirmatory Factor Analyses of the Arabic Version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS): An Intercultural Approach

The current study was designed to validate the Arabic version of the Diabetes Self-Management Scale (DSMS) using Rasch and confirmatory factor analyses. This included person and item fit, separation, and reliability; rating scale functionality to evidence substantive validity; unidimensional structure to evidence structural validity; and item technical quality to evidence content validity. The study was conducted between September 2021 and March 2022. Utilizing AMOS-based confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the study also assured the dimensionality of the DSMS. The participants were 103 diabetic patients in Saudi Arabia with a mean age of 44.72 years (standard deviation = 17.35). The analysis was performed using a trichotomous rating scale, and only one item exhibited a misfit (DSMS14). The item difficulty range was −1.0 to +1.0 logits, while the person’s ability range was −3.0 to +3.0 logits. The first construct proved one Rasch dimension, which was explained and further analyzed using AMOS-CFA for the one-factor model. The DSMS was shown to be beneficial as a screening instrument for patient-reported diabetes self-management, despite several flaws that need to be addressed to improve the scale further

A Review of the Resistance Mechanisms for <i>β</i>-Lactams, Macrolides and Fluoroquinolones among <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i>

Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) is a bacterial species often associated with the occurrence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). CAP refers to a specific kind of pneumonia that occurs in individuals who acquire the infection outside of a healthcare setting. It represents the leading cause of both death and morbidity on a global scale. Moreover, the declaration of S. pneumoniae as one of the 12 leading pathogens was made by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2017. Antibiotics like β-lactams, macrolides, and fluoroquinolones are the primary classes of antimicrobial medicines used for the treatment of S. pneumoniae infections. Nevertheless, the efficacy of these antibiotics is diminishing as a result of the establishment of resistance in S. pneumoniae against these antimicrobial agents. In 2019, the WHO declared that antibiotic resistance was among the top 10 hazards to worldwide health. It is believed that penicillin-binding protein genetic alteration causes β-lactam antibiotic resistance. Ribosomal target site alterations and active efflux pumps cause macrolide resistance. Numerous factors, including the accumulation of mutations, enhanced efflux mechanisms, and plasmid gene acquisition, cause fluoroquinolone resistance. Furthermore, despite the advancements in pneumococcal vaccinations and artificial intelligence (AI), it is not feasible for individuals to rely on them indefinitely. The ongoing development of AI for combating antimicrobial resistance necessitates more research and development efforts. A few strategies can be performed to curb this resistance issue, including providing educational initiatives and guidelines, conducting surveillance, and establishing new antibiotics targeting another part of the bacteria. Hence, understanding the resistance mechanism of S. pneumoniae may aid researchers in developing a more efficacious antibiotic in future endeavors

Effects of Smokeless Tobacco on Color Stability and Surface Roughness of 3D-Printed, CAD/CAM-Milled, and Conventional Denture Base Materials: An In Vitro Study

Tobacco consumption in its different forms can affect the optical and surface properties of dental materials that are used in the oral cavity. Thus, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of two commercially available smokeless tobacco products on the color stability and surface roughness of denture base resins that were fabricated using three different techniques (CAD/CAM milling, 3D printing, and conventional heat polymerization). A total of 126 denture base resin specimens were fabricated using the three different manufacturing techniques (n = 42 each). Specimens from each group were further subdivided into three subgroups (n = 14 each) and immersed in three different immersion media (a khaini suspension, a tabbaq suspension, and artificial saliva). The differences in color and surface roughness were assessed according to data that were collected and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 24.0. The tabbaq smokeless tobacco was found to cause greatest changes in color and surface roughness; the effect was observed to be highest in the 3D-printed specimens followed by the conventional heat-polymerized and CAD/CAM milled specimens. The mean changes in color and surface roughness were the highest for the tabbaq smokeless tobacco followed by the khaini smokeless tobacco and the artificial saliva. Statistically significant (p-value < 0.05) differences were observed among all techniques and suspensions. We concluded that the mean changes in color and surface roughness were significantly higher for the 3D-printed dentures compared to the conventional heat-polymerized and CAD/CAM-milled dentures. Thus, the results of the present study strengthened the concept that tobacco in any form can lead to changes in the color and surface roughness of denture base materials