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The modified PP separators with HCS layer ensure uniform sodium ion flux, while NaF layer reduces the sodium ion diffusion barrier, and their synergistic effects improve the electrochemical performances of SMBs.

Background:Nurses constitute half of the health workforce; their health could be at risk for chronic diseases, such as prediabetes and diabetes, as well as other occupational hazards, such as nurses’ stress. Health promotion, possibly workplace based, presents opportunities to safeguard the health of nurses. Using a prediabetes risk assessment tool for screening the nurses is important to ensure that they remain physically and mentally fit to perform their work and to comply with various health and safety regulations. Objective:The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of prediabetes and its risk among nurses in Dubai Hospital and to study risk factors associated with prediabetes status. Methodology:A cross-sectional study was carried out in Dubai Hospital-Dubai Health Authority. A convenience sample was selected including 674 nurses estimated using OpenEpi software. Data was collected using a standardized diabetes risk assessment tool (The Finnish Diabetes Risk Score [FINDRISC]). Inclusion criteria were staff nurses working in Dubai Hospital in the age group from 25 to 64 years and nondiabetic staff in Dubai Hospital; an operational definition of prediabetes was used. The data were coded, and data entry and data analysis were made using SPSS 20 software version. The data were tested at a level of significance of 95%. Results:The study revealed that 42.7% of the participants had a low prediabetes risk, 38.4% had a slightly elevated prediabetes risk, 10.8% had a moderate prediabetes risk, 7.6% had a high prediabetes risk, and 0.5% had a very high prediabetes risk. Age, body mass index, waist circumference, history of antihypertensive drug treatment, history of high blood glucose, family history of diabetes, daily consumption of fruits, berries, or vegetables, and daily physical activity had a significant relationship with the prediabetes test (p< 0.01). Conclusions:Frequent testing is recommended to follow the risk score. Since we cannot control unmodifiable factors, such as age and family history, we can control modifiable factors, such as having a healthy lifestyle with healthy food and exercise to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Health promotion and education can decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The construction of an ex-situ artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer has been recognized as a viable solution to address the limitation of sodium metal anode (SMA). However, most artificial SEI layers are generated by a single element (i.e. Na-halides, Na-phosphides, or Na-chalcogenides) limiting the lifespans of SMA. To further enhance the cyclic stability and mechanical strength, a multicomponent interphase layer composed of Na2Se, Mn metal, and Zn metal (i.e. Na2Se/MZ) on the surface of Na is proposed. This unique hybrid interphase layer is spontaneously produced via chemical reaction during the rolling/folding of binary metal selenides (MnSe/ZnSe@C) with Na metal. In the Na2Se/MZ protective layer, Na2Se enables fast Na transport, Mn atoms further enhance mechanical strength. Specifically, the Zn atoms make an alloy with Na (NaZn13) during the initial deposition of Na which further provides sodiophilic nucleation sites. Compared with artificial interphase layers (Na2Se/M or Na2Se/Z) generated by single metal selenides, the Na||Na symmetric cells with multicomponent protected layers demonstrate exceptional extended cycling life of 8000 h and 1200 h at 1 mA cm−2and 4 mA cm−2, respectively. Na@Na2Se/MZ=|NVP full cells also demonstrate an extended cycling life of 2300 cycles at 15 C with 78 % capacity retention and a high-rate capacity of >60 mAh g−1at 30 C. Our findings open the path for realizing high capacity and fast-charging SMBs.

The aim was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of refractive errors (REs) and the effective spectacle coverage in Emiratis and non-Emiratis in Dubai.

Purpose: Consumer's environmental awareness and friendliness have been growing, and consumers are increasingly concerned about the impact of hotel operations on the environment. This study evaluated the effect of green practices on the customer's green word-of-mouth (GWOM) intention for hotels with environment-friendly operations. Design/methodology/approach: The data have been collected from tourists by using the judgmental sampling technique, and a usable sample size of 257 respondents has been achieved. The data analysis has been performed using partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: There is a strong relationship between green practices adopted by hotels and the green image of hotels. This study also found that the green image of a hotel positively impacts consumer green satisfaction and green trust, and these two variables have significant influence over the GWOM. Practical implications: The study can be helpful in the promotion of environmentally sustainable consumer behavior in response to a stimulus being generated by the marketers and policymakers. Social implications: This study will further help society to share and discuss favorable information about environmental sustainability through GWOM. Originality/value: The study investigated the effect of green hotels on GWOM approximately after one year of the COVID-19 outbreak. Hence, the results can ascertain to be the basis of the new policies of the hotels in post-COVID world.

Background:The health and social burdens of diabetes mellitus (DM) are steadily increasing worldwide, reflecting the impact of urbanization, industrial transitions, and shifting to nonhealthy, sedentary life patterns’, as well as the high sugar, low-fiber food consumptions. All these factors have contributed to the global increase in the prevalence of DM and metabolic disorders. Objectives:The objective is to study the prevalence of DM among adult cohorts in Dubai and the extent of behavioral health risk factors associations. Methodology:A cross-sectional household health survey with multistage, stratified cluster random sample of 9,630 participants including 2,496 households was carried out in Dubai 2019. About 5,371 non-United Arab Emirates (UAE) national, 2,245 UAE-nationals, of different age-groups, gender, education, nationality, smoking, and marital status were included in the survey. The survey questionnaire was adapted from the one used in the World Bank’s Living Standards Measurement Surveys (LSMSs) and the WHO’s World Health Surveys (WHSs). Self-reported diabetes was considered as well as newly diagnosed diabetes based on HbA1C results. About 75 well-trained surveyors, 25 well-trained nurses, and other laboratory technicians conducted the survey. SPSS 21 and Stata 12 software was used for data management. Results:The data indicate that the prevalence of diabetes among Dubai Emiratis is much higher than Dubai expats (19.3 vs. 12.4% p= 0.000). The association between diabetes and age was evident regardless of nationality. Rates of diabetes were higher in males (15.4%) compared to females (11.8%) (p< 0.001). About 11.2% of those considered overweight have DM, while the prevalence is 21.5% in obese people (p= 0.000). Physical inactivity, smoking, and hypertension (HTN) were strongly associated with higher rates of DM. Regardless of nationality, lower levels of education were statistically significantly associated with the prevalence of DM (p= 0.000), while single marital status was associated with the lowest rate of DM. Conclusions:Dubai household health survey 2019 indicated that the prevalence of DM among Dubai adults was still high as an overall estimation. Higher rates of diabetes were significantly associated with Emirati nationality, older age-groups, male gender, physical inactivity, high BMI, HTN, smoking,marital status of divorced, separated or divorced as well as low educational level groups.

Background:Diabetes mellitus is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, imposing a considerable burden on health systems and societies as it affects both individuals and their families and has a large impact on the economic and social development of a country. Objectives:The purpose of this study was to study the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes among the Dubai population and associations with diabetes risk factors. Methodology:A cross-sectional Diabetes Household Survey was carried out in the Emirates of Dubai during 2017 as a complementary stage of the Dubai Household Survey, 2014, which was a randomly selected, multistage, stratified, cluster survey. The sampling technique was selected to assess the rates of undiagnosed diabetes as well as the rates of pre-diabetes through screening with HbA1c. The size of the 2017 survey sample was estimated at 300 individuals for Emirati and 300 for non-Emirati. An additional 200 individuals were added to address non-response cases. These were added to those who were identified as diabetics in the 2014 Household Health Survey and then weighted to give a representative sample for the Dubai population. Results:The study revealed that the prevalence of diabetes in Dubai among UAE nationals was 19%, and it was 14.7% for expats. Consequently, the overall prevalence of diabetes in Dubai is 15.2%. Undiagnosed diabetes was 10% in UAE nationals and 10.9% in expats. Pre-diabetes in UAE national males was lower than in females, although this pattern was not observed among expats. Younger age, normal weight, and exercise were associated with lower rates of diabetes and pre-diabetes in UAE nationals and expats. Hypertension was associated with higher rates of diabetes regardless of nationality. Conclusions:The study concluded that the prevalence of diabetes among the Dubai population is alarmingly high and that a large proportion of the population are not aware of their diagnosis. A higher prevalence of diabetes is associated with multiple factors, such as age, male gender, hypertension, higher BMI, lack of exercise, and lower level or no education, as well as a family history of diabetes mellitus. Many of these factors can be easily modified, which could lead to a decrease in the burden of the disease.

Background: Escherichia coli various strains can cause alarmingly serious infections. Countries like Pakistan harbour the class of bacteria with one of the highest rates of resistance, but very little has been done to explore their genetic pool. Objectives: This study was designed to find out the frequency of virulence genes of Uropathogenic E. coli and their association with antibiotic resistance along with the evolutionary adaptation of the selected gene through the phylogenetic tree. Methods: Isolates from 120 urinary tract infected patients were collected. Antibiotic sensitivity was detected by the disk diffusion method and DNA extraction was done by the boiling lysis method followed by PCR-based detection of virulence genes. The final results were analysed using the chi-square test. Results: The isolates were found to be least susceptible to nalidixic acid, followed by ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, aztreonam, amoxicillin, gentamycin, nitrofurantoin and imipenem. The iucC was the most common virulence gene among the resistant isolates. About 86% of the collected samples were found to be multi-drug resistant. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between the iucC gene and resistance to ampicillin (P=0.03) and amoxicillin (P=0.04), and also between fimH and resistance to aztreonam (P=0.03). Conclusion: This study unravels the uncharted virulence genes of UPEC in our community for the very first time. We report a high frequency of the iucC and fimH virulence genes. This, along with their positive association with resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics in the studied community, indicates their important role in the development of complicated UTIs.

This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the prevalence of and identify factors associated with latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection in prisoners of North West Frontier Province (NWFP).