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Based on data from numerous languages, such as English, Frisian, and Danish, Merchant (2001) proposes the preposition stranding generalization (PSG), which states that only languages that allow preposition stranding under wh-movement also allow preposition stranding under sluicing. The availability of this generalization has been the subject of a number of studies. Two contrasting views have been identified in the literature. The first view confirms the availability of the PSG in a number of different languages. The other view claims that this generalization is untenable as there exist non-preposition stranding languages that allow preposition stranding under sluicing. Our aim in this paper is to examine the availability of the PSG in the dialect of Hijazi Arabic (HA). Based on empirical data from HA on the syntactic behavior of preposition stranding under wh-movement and under sluicing, we argue that this PSG does not hold in HA. It has been observed that HA is like Emirati Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, and Indonesian in that it disallows preposition stranding under wh-movement but allows it under sluicing. Therefore, the results of this research may contribute to the ongoing discussions on the phenomenon of sluicing in linguistic theory to help obtain a more universal analysis of this interesting ellipsis construction.

Simple Summary β-escin, a component of horse chestnut seed extract, was first identified as an inhibitor of ovarian cancer (OvCa) adhesion/invasion in our high-throughput screening program using a three-dimensional organotypic model assembled from primary human cells and extracellular matrix. The goal of the study presented here is to determine if β-escin and structurally-similar compounds have a therapeutic potential against OvCa metastasis. β-escin and cardiac glycosides inhibit ovarian cancer adhesion/invasion to the omental microenvironment in vivo, and β-escin inhibits ovarian cancer metastasis in the prevention and intervention setting. Additionally, β-escin was found to decrease the stemness of ovarian cancer cells, inhibit extracellular matrix production in the tumor microenvironment, and inhibit HIF1α stability in ovarian cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment. This study reveals that the natural compound β-escin has therapeutic potential because of its ability to prevent OvCa dissemination by targeting both cancer and stromal cells in the OvCa tumor microenvironment. Abstract The high mortality of OvCa is caused by the wide dissemination of cancer within the abdominal cavity. OvCa cells metastasize to the peritoneum, which is covered by mesothelial cells, and invade into the underlying stroma, composed of extracellular matrices (ECM) and stromal cells. In a study using a three-dimensional quantitative high-throughput screening platform (3D-qHTS), we found that β-escin, a component of horse chestnut seed extract, inhibited OvCa adhesion/invasion. Here, we determine whether β-escin and structurally similar compounds have a therapeutic potential against OvCa metastasis. Different sources of β-escin and horse chestnut seed extract inhibited OvCa cell adhesion/invasion, both in vitro and in vivo. From a collection of 160 structurally similar compounds to β-escin, we found that cardiac glycosides inhibited OvCa cell adhesion/invasion and proliferation in vitro, and inhibited adhesion/invasion and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, β-escin and the cardiac glycosides inhibited ECM production in mesothelial cells and fibroblasts. The oral administration of β-escin inhibited metastasis in both OvCa prevention and intervention mouse models. Specifically, β-escin inhibited ECM production in the omental tumors. Additionally, the production of HIF1α-targeted proteins, lactate dehydrogenase A, and hexokinase 2 in omental tumors was blocked by β-escin. This study reveals that the natural compound β-escin has a therapeutic potential because of its ability to prevent OvCa dissemination by targeting both cancer and stromal cells in the OvCa tumor microenvironment.

Background Burnout is defined as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterised by feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion, increased mental distance from one’s job and reduced professional efficacy. The COVID-19 pandemic has created unexpected demands on healthcare systems worldwide and they have experienced numerous stressors. As the coping is one of the stressors management strategies that may affect burnout, this is a descriptive cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the frequency and level of burnout and its association with coping strategies among physicians and nurses in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 Pandemic using Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and Brief-COPE. Results Overall, 403 healthcare providers were recruited (85 physicians, 318 nurses). Personal, work-related and client-related burnout were detected among 67.5%, 68% and 58.3% of the respondents, respectively. The mean score for adaptive coping was (27.6 ± 10.3, median: 29 IQR: 14.0) out of 48, and the mean score for maladaptive coping was (14.2 ± 6.81, median: 14 IQR: 8.0) out of 36. Some factors associated with burnout were participants’ age group, professional position, number of family members and years of experience in the medical field. The personal, work-related and client-related burnout had inverse correlations with the overall adaptive coping category. Conclusion The frequency of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among nurses, was significant. Burnout was also frequent among both the younger age group and those with fewer years of experience. Some predictors were identified as having a close person infected with COVID-19, being assigned to treat COVID-19 patients, longer working hours, having sleeping hours affected by the pandemic and experiencing verbal or physical abuse from patients. In addition to a significant correlation between the adaptive coping category and the three burnout dimensions.

Very few studies have been concerned with assessing the prevalence of burnout and depressive symptoms, especially during an infectious outbreak on non-frontline health care workers, such as a psychiatrist. In such instances, the role of psychiatrists and other mental health providers as a source of psychological support to the public and frontline workers is indispensable and valuable. This study aims to assess the prevalence of burnout and depressive symptoms, and their correlation, during the COVID-19 pandemic among psychiatry residents in Saudi Arabia. A total of 121 out of 150 psychiatry residents in Saudi Arabia completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Patient’s Health Questionnaire for the assessment of burnout and depressive symptoms. Burnout symptoms were found in 27.3%, and another 27.3% reported having depression symptoms. In addition, 16.5% reported having both burnout and depressive symptoms, with a significant relationship between them. Participants in the first 2 years of training and having a history of receiving mental health treatment in the past 2 years were at higher risk. The need is urgent to increase investment in mental health services and to construct a plan to reduce this risk of burnout and depression among psychiatrists by developing preventative strategies to prevent burnout and promote wellness is more important than ever.

Research on native Arabic speakers’ perception of non-native English phonemic contrasts has manifested various conclusions. Some studies have revealed that native Arabic speakers experience difficulty in the perception of non-native English phonemic contrasts, where others have concluded that they largely do not experience such difficulty. Due to this discrepancy, the current study aimed to examine the overall perceptual accuracy of only the English labial categories /p, b, f, and v/ in onset positions performed by native Arabic speakers. The study also examined the potential effects of the phonetic contexts and the familiarity of the stimuli being tested on the participants’ perceptual performance. Twenty-four Saudi male participants completed consonantal phoneme identification and discrimination tasks. The findings revealed that the participants experienced difficulty in the perception of the categories /p/ and /v/, confusing them with their counterparts /b/ and /f/. The findings also revealed that neither phonetic context nor familiarity had any effect on the participants’ perceptual accuracy of all of the categories in question, except in the context in which the category /v/ was followed by back vowels. In this specific context, the participants’ performance tended to be lower, which could be attributed to the influence of lip rounding, which results in coarticulation with the fricative noise associated with this category (/v/). Lastly, the results obtained in this study provide additional crucial insights into auditory phonetics and present additional explanation on how the human auditory system recognizes speech sounds.

Background: The objective was to evaluate the level of awareness regarding systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among the general population in the Al-Qassim region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out between March and April 2021 and conducted among the general population at Al-Qassim region, KSA. A valid pre-tested electronic questionnaire was distributed through social media among the targeted population that included socio-demographic characteristics and questionnaires measuring awareness, attitude and their belief about SLE. All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 26.Results: A total of 377 participants were enrolled. The most common age group was more than 40 years old (39%), with slightly females (52.5%) than males. The prevalence of participants who had heard about SLE was 52.5%. Of those who have heard about SLE, a poor level of awareness was detected among 69.2% of participants, while 30.8% were at a good level. Factors associated with an increased level of awareness were having diagnosed been with SLE and those who indicated their doctor as their sources of SLE information.Conclusions: The awareness of the general population in the Al-Qassim region regarding SLE was insufficient. Obtaining SLE information from their doctor and having been diagnosed with SLE are associated with better awareness. We propose that awareness campaigns should be promoted.

Background: Delay in seeking medical care has many negative effects on the patient’s condition and medical cost, and it reduces the potential benefits of early interventions. Delay in seeking medical care, which is affected by many factors, is a common global problem. This study aimed to study the prevalence and causes of delay in seeking medical care in Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia. Method: This research was a cross-sectional study conducted among Al-Madina population using a self-administrated questionnaire which was only administered when the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the study have been met by the participants. The questionnaire collected the demographic characteristics and information about the prevalence and the reasons of delaying in seeking medical care in Al-Madina, Saudi Arabia. Results: The study included 441 subjects out of which 61.9% were females while 38.1% were males. Seventy-eight and point two percent had university education level. Only 27.4% of participants always seek medical care as soon as they feel they need it. Delayed seeking medical care due to a financial impediment was stated by 26.1% of the subjects. Merely 25.2% had health insurance. The language was the most important criteria when choosing health service providers for 42% of patients. Severe pain forces 40.1% of participants to seek medical care, while moderate pain drives only 4.3% to seek medical care while 58.9% seek medical care when the pain or discomfort increases with time. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of delay in seeking medical care among Al-Medina population, Saudi Arabia. Economic factors and lack of health insurance are among the main obstacles in seeking medical care. Acute pain serves as the principal reason in seeking medical care among Al- Madina population.