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In the scope of teaching English as a foreign language, and more specifically teaching speaking, reading, and writing, this study investigated the attitudes English language teachers-to-be have towards the three language skills modules, namely, Conversation, Reading, and Basic writing, offered by the College of Basic Education (hereafter CBE) in Kuwait. It also investigated the concerns of staff members at the English department in CBE with regards to the matter. The study utilized two questionnaires, one distributed to the students' population, i.e., English major students (the sample received was (N 385), and the other one distributed to all staff members in the English department in CBE (N 27). In addition, 20 students were randomly selected and interviewed to verify the questionnaires' results. The data, then, were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Percentages, means and standard deviations were calculated together with t test and ANOVA. Results showed that even though most students and staff members showed positive attitudes towards most of the questionnaires' items, others were concerned about a few items.

The research examines the teachers' perceptions of the use and effectiveness of children's literature in their EFL classrooms in the primary public schools of the State of Kuwait. The research was conducted towards the beginning of the second semester of the academic year 2017/2018. It poses three main and interchangeable questions: 1) To what extent do teachers use children's literature in their EFL classrooms?; 2) Does the school administration help towards the integration of children's literature in the EFL curriculum for the primary graders?; and 3) How effective is the teachers' use of children's literature in enhancing the students' proficiency in the skills of the English language? The population of the study is the English teachers in the primary public schools in the six educational districts in Kuwait. The sample consisted of 66 English teachers selected from the 18 schools representing the six educational districts. The participants were asked to respond to a 15-statement survey and six open-ended questions. For the first question, results showed that most of the teachers frequently use children's books in their EFL classrooms and are very much acquainted with the techniques of employing children's books in their classes and with the various genres of children's literature. For the second question, most of the participants agreed that the school administration is responsible for providing children's books. However, the results also indicated that most school administrations do not consult teachers on the books to be purchased, and, as such, these books are sometimes not suitable for use in an EFL classroom. For the third question, results showed that teachers successfully use children's books in enhancing the English skills of their EFL students, and, hence, they enrich the students' learning experience.

The influx of English borrowed items into Kuwait has recently considerably increased, driven by both linguistic and extra-linguistic factors, mainly through new electronic media, and direct contact with the donor language. Kuwaitis, especially, the new generation heavily make use of English loanwords in mobile devices applications such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and others. It is significant to note that a recipient language (in this case Kuwaiti Arabic, KA henceforth) discloses different morphological and phonological features that affect English loanwords. 400 hundred tweets tweeted by young Kuwaitis were captured and then, qualitatively analysed. This paper investigates the morphological adaptation of English loanwords as used by Kuwaitis in twitter. Results indicate that Kuwaitis heavily use and adapt English loanwords morphologically in twitter and in everyday speech. Significant educational implications were collected as well through interviewing 50 students.

Language attitudes cover a wide variety of emphases, and the reasons for studying language attitudes attract sociolinguists. Language attitudes may well tackle issues extend to all sociolinguistic and social psychological phenomena, such as how we locate ourselves socially and how we relate to other individuals and groups. They may also shape our behaviors and experiences. This study investigates Kuwaitis' Attitudes towards vehicles' stickers in Kuwait. Data were collected from responses to 17 items--questionnaire and 1 open-ended question aimed at investigating Kuwaitis' attitudes towards the content (political, religious, aesthetic, etc. and the shape (size, color, etc.) of vehicles' stickers. Findings were analyzed statistically. Means, Standard deviations, T-tests, and ANOVA were utilized. Results show that Kuwaitis, in general expressed negative attitudes towards both the content and the shape of the stickers. The open-ended question data provided inclusive data as to the reasons behind such a negative attitude.

The uncertainty of the COVID-19 virus outbreak triggered chaos, panic and fear worldwide. During the outbreak, many humorous posts tweeted and retweeted addressed the virus with a laugh. Humour is a way to escape reality, but at the same time it may have negative outcomes. In Kuwait, many such posts spread on social media, especially Twitter. They reduced panic, educated the public or made people ignore the seriousness of the pandemic. This study investigates the negative implications of using humorous text, images and video messages on Twitter. A qualitative discourse analysis of 907 humorous texts, images and videos posted on Twitter during the crisis revealed that humorous posts may foster negative attitudes concerning sectarianism, tribalism, racism, sexism and hatred. Interestingly, humorous posts in less emotionally charged categories, such as sports, family and children, also include many negative connotations and denotations. This study is unique in addressing an understudied area; humour on social media in the Arab and Gulf region. Its findings show that humorous posts can produce negative outcomes and cause fear and hatred in society. There may be a need for self-censorship and moral behaviour to prevent social tension. The notion that jokes are only jokes and people should not be offended may have unforeseen negative repercussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Accurate nationwide epidemiological evidence is vital to study the seasonal, geographic, and ethnic influence on the trends of orofacial cleft prevalence in Kuwait. Design: Data obtained from the National Center for Health Information and Ministry of Health Hospital digital records were reviewed retrospectively to identify patients with orofacial clefts (OFC) using the ICD-10 diagnostic codes. The Jonckheere-Terpstra test was used to assess the trend of birth prevalence across the different years. The associations of types of OFC with ethnic and geographic influences were tested with chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, while the strength of that association was tested with multi-nominal logistic regression. Results: Birth prevalence in Kuwait ranged from 0.75–2.55 per 1000 live births (0.73- 2.73 among Kuwaitis, 0.60–3.27 among non-Kuwaitis), with no statistically significant change observed during the past 28 years. The risk of unilateral cleft lip and palate was eight times higher during summer compared to Autumn, while the risk of cleft lip and palate remained lower during winter. Jahra (OR-7.76, CI- 1.51–39.80), Farwaneya (OR-6.65, CI- 1.34–33.06), and Hawalli (OR-6.72, CI- 1.26–35.98) governorates had higher odds of bilateral cleft lip when compared to Mubarak Alkabeer. Conclusions: The study outcome is an indicator to improve patient care and customize healthcare infrastructure in the Ministry of Health. It also provides insight to develop projections of future needs. Future studies should focus on understanding the factors that might be a potential contributor to the seasonal change observed in the prevalence of OFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, cell phones have received much attention in the context of EFL/ESL learning. Mobile learning, in general, and distant learning, in particular, in educational contexts has been approached by educationalist all over the world (Hwang & Chang, 2011). Presently, countries pay ample attention to mobile learning in education. Despite the fact that devices such as cell phones might divert students' attention, yet, no one can deny their importance as high-tech educational tools. This study investigates EFL college students' attitudes towards cell phones learning. For the sake of satisfying the study's objectives, a questionnaire has been designed and randomly distributed to 300 female undergraduate students enrolled during the First Academic Term (2014/2015). The questionnaire is consisted of 3 sections and 39 items. Section 1, students' attitudes towards the usefulness of mobile learning (26 items), section 2, investigation of students' opinions towards reasons where and why they and their instructors use cell phones (12 items), and section 3, an open-ended question, asking students if they have any comments on the importance of cell phones (1 item). The questionnaire consisted 5-Point Likert type scale. Data were quantitatively analysed using SPSS, and ANOVA tests. Percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used for the sake of the analysis. The open-ended question was analysed qualitatively.

Extensive reading is reading as much as possible, for one's own pleasure, at a difficulty level at which one can read smoothly and quickly. In the domain of reading, this paper investigates the effect of extensive reading from e-books, through utilizing a number of downloadable reading application programs on the students' e-devices, as opposed to traditional book-reading in an ESL context. It aims at providing answers as to how e-book reading affects the students' reading rate, their reading comprehension, and their attitudes to reading. A group of 40 freshman female students studying in the College of Basic Education, in the English Department participated in the study. Students' writing diaries together with two questionnaires made up the tools of the study. The data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings indicate that e-reading may accelerate the progress of the students' reading rate, which might be due to the utilization of the reading application features that trains the students to practice faster rates of reading. As for the comprehension level, the students reported lower levels when they read from an e-resource. On the other hand, the students' attitudes towards e-reading tend to be less positive when compared to conventional book reading, due to a number of extraneous factors that were not part of the inherent nature of the e-reading activity. Future studies on e-reading, whereby confounding factors will be rigorously controlled for are highly recommended to reach out more conclusive findings on the matter.

In the context of students' evaluation of teachers in higher education, this paper examines the perspectives of students and faculty members in the English Department in the college of Basic education (CBE) in the State of Kuwait. The study is based on a survey that covered 320 students and 19 members of staff in the English department. The study was based on a 20 statements questionnaire; in addition to two open ended questions. The data collected was analyzed through the use of SPSS, and the open-ended questions were analyzed manually. The findings reveal a general agreement on several academic and structural issues concerning the evaluation form. Both students and teachers expressed their views in detail concerning the evaluation process. Finally, a number of recommendations based on the students' and teachers' perspectives will be given in order to make the students' evaluation of teachers more valuable and beneficial.

INTRODUCTION Waterpipe smoking (WPS) is gaining popularity worldwide, especially in the Middle East, and significantly affects oral health. Nicotine stomatitis (NS) is an inflammatory response of the palate to the heat and chemical irritation caused by tobacco. The high temperatures of hot beverages have been found to have a synergistic effect. This study investigated the association of NS among waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted in several public locations in Kuwait. Demographic data, smoking habits, and hot beverage intake were recorded using questionnaires. An oral examination was performed with informed consent, and the occurrence of NS was recorded. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS statistics version 28.0 (IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS Of the 211 participants, 55 subjects (26.1%) presented with NS. All the patients with NS drank hot beverages, while 37 (67.3%) patients with NS were waterpipe smokers and hot beverage drinkers. Smokers with NS smoked significantly more tobacco heads (Z= -2.606; p=0.009) and for more hours per day (Z= -2.222; p=0.026). CONCLUSIONS This study explored the association between WPS and NS in Kuwait. Waterpipe smokers and males were more likely to present with NS. Also, the number of tobacco heads and the number of hours of WPS were found to correlate with the presence of lesions. Effective strategies to reduce WPS need to be implemented. Further studies are recommended to investigate the cause-and-effect relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil temperature plays a critical role in many soil functions, particularly in arid ecosystems, but is scarcely reported as potential indicator of climate change. Although studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate (both measurements and modeling) temperature changes in the soil profile in response to ambient temperature, no information on soil temperature is available in the state of Kuwait. Hydrological and many bio-geochemical processes are more sensitive to soil temperature than air temperature. In this study, we used observed soil temperature data (2007–2016) from three sites with three soil depth increments (5, 50, 100 cm) and compared to regional climate and regression models' output. The most salient finding of this study is the tight association between observed and simulated soil temperature at shallower soil depths from both the regional climate model (RegCM4) and linear regression model. The RegCM4 model poorly predicted (underestimated) soil temperature at deeper soil layers relative to shallower soil layers. Application of the linear scaling (LS) method has significantly improved the RegCM4 model performance with respect to measured soil temperature, which allows an accurate evaluation of the impact of climate change on the soil temperature under different soil management systems. These findings indicate that RegCM4 can be applied as a reliable predictor of soil temperature under arid ecosystems for which there is a gap in site data availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored children's usage and understandings about mobile devices. The study included 112 children aged 3-5 years, of whom 53 children lived in Kuwait and 59 children lived in the United States. The children were interviewed about their access to and usage of mobile devices, about how they learned to use mobile devices, and the actions and activities in which they engaged with the devices. The findings demonstrated that both Kuwaiti children and children in the United States used mobile devices extensively. Kuwaiti children appeared to have greater access to and usage of mobile devices than children in the United States. Children were able to demonstrate and describe many activities in their usage including answering mobile phones, taking photos and videos, playing games, listening to songs, and watching videos. The research provides children's perspectives about digital devices but also draws attention to the responsibilities of parents and educators to monitor children's usage and teach children about e-safety in their use of these devices.

This study explores the political branding of a powerless small state, the state of Kuwait during the reign of Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem, from 1950 to 1965. The study uses models developed by Anholt for a strategic perspective on nation branding and by Bolin and Miazhevich for tactical communication in nation branding. This study explores the use of strategic communication in an Islamic-Arabic culture to brand Kuwait as a sovereign nation. At the strategic level, it employs the components of strategy, substance, and symbolic action, and at the tactical level, it uses the components of agents, audience analysis, temporal orientation and media to examine symbolic action. Using those models and following a qualitative historical analysis, the study identifies and analyzes the efforts of Sheikh Al-Salem to transform Kuwait from a Sheikhdom to Statehood in the 1950s. Those efforts helped to deter Iraq's threat to the Kuwaiti sovereignty as well as establish a self-governing, constitutional monarchy in the 1960s. The study concludes by evaluating the effectiveness of Sheikh Al-Salem's efforts as measured by tangible outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new technologies of broadcasting, sports coverage, sports casters, and sports analysis, especially in Europe, have attracted many local sports players and fans to enjoy and imitate famed European players. The globalization of football (soccer) has affected sports culture in Kuwait. In-depth interviews with 17 interviewees including sports academics, experts, practitioners, coaches, sports players, fans, and sports reporters revealed that the English Premier League not only entertained the fans in Kuwait but also affected their popular culture behavior and local football league performance and attendance. The English Premier League also affected fandom lifestyle and expenditure through expensive sports subscriptions or even traveling to Europe to attend football matches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is characterized by the progressive destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency and lifelong dependency on exogenous insulin. Higher estimates of heritability rates in monozygotic twins, followed by dizygotic twins and sib-pairs, indicate the role of genetics in the pathogenesis of T1D. The incidence and prevalence of T1D are alarmingly high in Kuwait. Consanguineous marriages account for 50–70% of all marriages in Kuwait, leading to an excessive burden of recessive allele enrichment and clustering of familial disorders. Thus, genetic studies from this Arab region are expected to lead to the identification of novel gene loci for T1D. In this study, we performed linkage analyses to identify the recurrent genetic variants segregating in high-risk Kuwaiti families with T1D. We studied 18 unrelated Kuwaiti native T1D families using whole exome sequencing data from 86 individuals, of whom 37 were diagnosed with T1D. The study identified three potential loci with a LOD score of ≥ 3, spanning across four candidate genes, namely SLC17A1 (rs1165196:pT269I), SLC17A3 (rs942379: p.S370S), TATDN2 (rs394558:p.V256I), and TMEM131L (rs6848033:p.R190R). Upon examination of missense variants from these genes in the familial T1D dataset, we observed a significantly increased enrichment of the genotype homozygous for the minor allele at SLC17A3 rs56027330_p.G279R accounting for 16.2% in affected children from 6 unrelated Kuwaiti T1D families compared to 1000 genomes Phase 3 data (0.9%). Data from the NephQTL database revealed that the rs1165196, rs942379, rs394558, and rs56027330 SNPs exhibited genotype-based differential expression in either glomerular or tubular tissues. Data from the GTEx database revealed rs942379 and rs394558 as QTL variants altering the expression of TRIM38 and IRAK2 respectively. Global genome-wide association studies indicated that SLC17A1 rs1165196 and other variants from SLC17A3 are associated with uric acid concentrations and gout. Further evidence from the T1D Knowledge portal supported the role of shortlisted variants in T1D pathogenesis and urate metabolism. Our study suggests the involvement of SLC17A1, SLC17A3, TATDN2, and TMEM131L genes in familial T1D in Kuwait. An enrichment selection of genotype homozygous for the minor allele is observed at SLC17A3 rs56027330_p.G279R variant in affected members of Kuwaiti T1D families. Future studies may focus on replicating the findings in a larger T1D cohort and delineate the mechanistic details of the impact of these novel candidate genes on the pathophysiology of T1D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biotin-thiamine-responsive basal ganglia disease (BTBGD) is a rare autosomal recessive neurometabolic disorder that is caused by biallelic pathogenic SLC19A3 variants and is characterized by subacute encephalopathy associated with confusion, convulsions, dysphagia, dysarthria, or other neurological manifestations. Methods: A retrospective review of the data registry in Kuwait Medical Genetics Center for all cases diagnosed clinically and radiographically and confirmed genetically with BTBGD. Results: Twenty one cases from 13 different families were diagnosed with BTBGD in Kuwait. Most cases (86%) presented with confusion, dystonia, convulsions, or dysarthria, while three individuals were diagnosed pre-symptomatically during familial targeted genetic screening. Symptoms resolved completely within 2-week of treatment in two-thirds of the symptomatic cases but progressed in six of them to a variety of severe symptoms including severe cogwheel rigidity, dystonia and quadriparesis due to delayed presentation and management. Neuroradiological findings of the symptomatic cases revealed bilateral central changes in the basal ganglia. Two novel homozygous missense SLC19A3 variants were detected in a Kuwaiti and a Jordanian individuals, in addition to the previously reported Saudi founder homozygous variant, c.1264A > G; p.(Thr422Ala) in the remaining cases. Age of diagnosis ranged from newborn to 32 years, with a median age of 2–3 years. All cases are still alive receiving high doses of biotin and thiamine. Conclusion: This is the first study reporting the phenotypic and genotypic spectrum of 21 individuals with BTBGD in Kuwait and describing two novel SLC19A3 variants. BTBGD is a treatable neurometabolic disease that requires early recognition and treatment initiation. This study highlights the importance of performing targeted molecular testing of the founder variant in patients presenting with acute encephalopathy in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kuwait Bay's southern shore is home to several facilities used for various purposes, impacting the beaches' ecosystems and coastal environment. Furthermore, the presence of numerous stormwater outfalls on Kuwait Bay's southern shores may be one of the sources of pollutants that are discharged from these outfalls. This research aims to evaluate the microbiological quality of seawater near 5 selected stormwater outfalls located on Kuwait Bay's recreational water by measuring the levels of microbial bacteria such as fecal coliform (FC), and Escherichia Coli. (E. Coli), and fecal streptococci (FS), and water quality parameters including temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and dissolved oxygen (DO). The analytical results were compared with Kuwait Environmental Public Authority (EPA) requirements for water discharge to Kuwait Bay to assess the suitability of the beaches for recreational activities. The field results revealed the presence of mildly alkaline seawater samples, a range of fresh to saline water types, and various DO levels from very low to acceptable levels. noteworthy, the microbial indicators were extremely high and far beyond EPA guidelines, demonstrating extensive microbiological pollution at these locations. The mean FC/FS ratios of C18 had the greatest mean FC/FS ratio (16.75), signifying human contamination. C3 and C5 indicated human waste in mixed pollution with averages of (3.45 and 2.34 respectively), whereas C8 and C10 showed human contamination with average values (of 5.98, and 4.21 respectively). It is suggested that the seawater quality close to wastewater outfalls be frequently evaluated and treated using efficient onsite treatment technologies to decrease the amount of polluted wastewater discharged directly to the beaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distance education created new challenges regarding the delivery of large size isochronous continuous streaming media (SM) objects. In this paper, we consider the design of a framework for customized SM presentations, where each presentation consists of a number of SM objects that should be retrieved and displayed to the user in a coherent fashion. We describe a retrieval optimizer (Prime) that captures the flexibilities and requirements imposed by the user query, user profile, and session profile. Then, it determines how this query script should be imposed against the continuous media (CM) server to reduce contention. We also provide a cost model to evaluate each proposed plan. Finally, we explain the role of memory buffering in alleviating the server bandwidth fragmentation problem. Our preliminary experimental results show the feasibility and effectiveness of our proposed model and techniques in generating near optimal retrieval.

Hazard maps are essential tools to aid decision makers in land-use planning, sustainable infrastructure development, and emergency preparedness. Despite the availability of historical data, there has been no attempt to produce hazard maps for Kuwait. In cooperation with the World Bank, this study investigated the natural and anthropogenic hazards that affect Kuwait. The objective was to assess the hazards that face Kuwait and map the hazards of most concern. Hazard maps depicting the spatial distribution of hazard-prone areas are discussed in this article. Hazard assessment maps were generated using multiple datasets and techniques, including meteorological data, satellite imagery, and GIS. Hazard profiling identified a total of 25 hazards, of which five "priority" hazards were explored in detail: (1) surface water flooding; (2) dust storms and sand encroachment; (3) drought; (4) air pollution; and (5) oil spills. The results of this study can aid decision makers in targeting the hazards of most concern. The developed maps are valuable tools for emergency response and hazard mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Dyslipidemia is a prevalent condition with significant morbidity and mortality across the world, including in the Arabian Gulf. The present study aimed to describe the characteristics of patients receiving evolocumab in clinical practice. Methods: ZERBINI was a multi-country, observational, retrospective/prospective study of subjects receiving evolocumab as part of routine clinical management of their hyperlipidemia. This regional publication reports on adult participants from Saudi Arabia and Kuwait who have had ≥1 dose of evolocumab before enrollment and ≤6 months' prior exposure to evolocumab. Patient characteristics and treatment persistence data were collected in addition to baseline and follow-up data up to 12 months post-evolocumab initiation. Results: Overall, 225 patients were included from two sites, Saudi Arabia (N = 155) and Kuwait (N = 70). Mean age was comparable across sites and most patients had baseline coronary artery disease and/or hypertension. Baseline LDL-C levels (mean ± SD 3.6 ± 1.4 mmol/L in Saudi Arabia, 3.1 ± 1.4 mmol/L in Kuwait) were reduced by approximately 57%–62% in the first 6 months after evolocumab initiation (1.5 ± 1.2 mmol/L in Saudi Arabia [n = 63], 1.2 ± 0.8 mmol/L in Kuwait [n = 28]). This decrease was maintained over the 12-month follow-up period. Most patients achieved ACC 2018 LDL-C goals (<1.8 mmol/L; 74.6% in Saudi Arabia, 93.1% in Kuwait) and ESC 2019 LDL-C goals (<1.4 mmol/L; 66.7% in Saudi Arabia, 75.9% in Kuwait) in the first 6 months after evolocumab initiation. Medication persistence with evolocumab was high (up to 90.7%). Evolocumab had a favorable safety profile and no treatment-emergent adverse events were observed at either site. Conclusion: Evolocumab is an effective lipid-lowering treatment in local populations. LDL-C goal achievement is increased when evolocumab is added to background lipid-lowering therapy with high tolerability and persistence. Long-term follow-up and large-scale data are needed to further support these observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) have not been reported in the Gulf region. This study aims to identify baseline characteristics of patients undergoing TAVI, based on nationality, and analyze their overall outcomes at a single center in Kuwait. Methods: A retrospective study of 61 patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI between 2018 and 2021 in Sabah Al Ahmad Cardiac Centre in Kuwait. Clinical and baseline demographics data along with preprocedural computed tomography (CT) and echocardiography were reviewed. Postprocedural outcomes, including conduction disturbances and inhospital mortality rates, were analyzed. Patients were analyzed according to Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti citizens' status. Results: The mean age of Kuwaiti patients was 72.2 ± 9.2, whereas the mean age of non-Kuwaiti citizens was 78.8 ± 5.5. No significant differences were observed between Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti in electrocardiogram (ECG) and CT parameters (P > 0.05). A statistically significant difference among Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti patients was observed only laboratory parameters, white blood cell (WBC) count, international normalized ratio (INR), and C-reactive protein (CRP). The mean value of WBC count (WBC), INR, and CRP was higher among non-Kuwaiti patients when compared to Kuwaiti patients (P < 0.05). Inhospital mortality was low 1/61 (1.6%). Conclusion: Cumulative inhospital mortality in TAVI was 1.6%. TAVI experience in Kuwait with Edwards SAPIEN valve is comparable to international cohorts. No significant differences in procedural outcomes, including conduction disturbance and mortality, were observed between the two subgroups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid growth of urbanization exposes the environment to severe issues that threaten the quality of life. High land surface temperature (LST) is one of the most prominent issues in large cities where anthropogenic activities are accumulated, energy consumption and gas emissions increase, forming urban heat islands (UHI). In this research, the LST and the UHI formations were used as indicators to inspect and evaluate the environmental status of Kuwait's urban area, which recently recorded a notable rise in air temperature. The LST spatial and temporal changes were examined and analyzed by utilizing satellite images of Landsat-8 for the period 2013-2020. The relationship between LST and air temperature was determined using the linear regression method. UHIs formation sites were investigated on different surfaces using the land use map. Results revealed that the LST average increased by 3°C in 2020 within seven years, and a strong positive relationship was observed between the LST and the air temperature. The UHI was mainly concentrated in industrial areas, oil fields, and airports. Moreover, the LST in the rural area reached 41.47°C, which is 4°C higher than it was in 2013. UHI intensity was calculated to assess the extent of variability in the LST between urban and rural areas; this intensity was lower in 2020 than in 2013 due to vegetation reduction in 2020. The continuous rise of the LST in Kuwait could lead to an inevitable environmental issue. Vegetation and water bodies play a significant role in moderating the LST, and these types of land coverage are rare in Kuwait. This research may contribute to controlling the temperature rise in UHI accumulation areas by following appropriate environmental solutions, sustainable urban planning, and encouraging the greening process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater samples were collected along the coastal region of Kuwait to determine the geochemical nature of the ions and their thermodynamic states. The state of thermodynamic equilibrium predicts the nature of the reaction in the aquifer. The geochemical nature was determined by standard plots and ion ratios. The geochemical results of the groundwater samples were then studied with stability plots for silicate and carbonate equilibrium and later they were compared with the saturation states with the aid of geochemical model (PHREEQC). The samples reflect higher electrical conductivity values with greater values of Na and Cl ranging from brackish to hypersaline nature. The silicate stability plots with respect to major cations reflect that the samples were stable with respect to K-feldspar and kaolinite composition. The carbonate stability plots reflect the stability of the composition predominantly with respect to calcite and dolomite fields. Subsequently, the saturation states of silicates and the carbonate minerals were determined by using PHREEQC. The saturation index values indicate these samples were consistent with the observations made by plotting in the stability plots with minor variations. Though lithology plays a critical role the minor variations were mainly due to the consideration of temperature and the impact of the associated ionic species in the model. The variations were more significant in the carbonate mineral saturation as carbonates react and attain saturation faster than the silicate minerals. The study also infers that the "Common Ion Effect" governs the saturation of these carbonate minerals. Hence, the study reveals the fact that the carbonate minerals are more saturated than the silicate minerals in the groundwater and it is mainly governed by the lithology of the associated ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been a growing interest in examining the role of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in the etiology of type 1 diabetes (T1D). This study aimed to delineate differences in methylation patterns between T1D-affected and healthy individuals by examining the genome-wide methylation of individuals from three Arab families from Kuwait with T1D-affected mono-/dizygotic twins and non-twinned siblings. Bisulfite sequencing of DNA from the peripheral blood of the affected and healthy individuals from each of the three families was performed. Methylation profiles of the affected individuals were compared to those of the healthy individuals Principal component analysis on the observed methylation profiling based on base-pair resolution clustered the T1D-affected twins together family-wide. The sites/regions that were differentially methylated between the T1D and healthy samples harbored 84 genes, of which 18 were known to be differentially methylated in T1D individuals compared to healthy individuals in publicly available gene expression data resources. We further validated two of the 18 genes—namely ICA1 and DRAM1 that were hypermethylated in T1D samples compared to healthy samples—for upregulation in T1D samples from an extended study cohort of familial T1D. The study confirmed that the ICA1 and DRAM1 genes are differentially expressed in T1D samples compared to healthy samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the frequent urban air pollution episodes over Kuwait recently, decision-makers and government agencies are struggling for sustainable strategies to optimize urban land use and land cover change (LUCC) and improve air quality. This article is targeting to identify the underlying relationships between dust concentration variations and LUCC, using the numerical modelling approach. The RegCM4 and WRF-CHEM models were employed to explore the impacts of land use change over Kuwait to be Evergreen Broad-leaf instead of Desert. Results reveal that both models performed good estimate in two severe dust storm cases, as they detected these cases with reasonable concentrations compared to the reanalysis data with positive correlation, and the overall mean dust concentrations in the target area declined by approximately 6–50% using RegCM4 and 25% with WRF in both dust episodes. Besides, the LUCC affected the wind directions around the area of LUCC; however, it had no impact on the wind's strength. These results suggested that LUCC caused by an increase in long trees might be an important factor for the PM10 concentration reduction in Kuwait and would need to be investigated over a longer period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, the State of Kuwait has witnessed a steady rise in the prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents. The present study aims to provide an update on the rate of overweight or obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents and examines the associations between adolescents' overweight/obesity levels and their perception of body weight as seen by parents or friends. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Kuwaiti secondary schools and included adolescents between the ages of 15 and 18 years, using a multistage stratified random sampling method. Body weight and height were measured. A specifically designed self-report questionnaire was used to assess parents' and friends' perceptions of an adolescent's body weight. Results: A total of 706 adolescents were included the study. The prevalence of overweight or obesity among Kuwaiti adolescents reached nearly 50%, with males (54.3%) having a significantly higher overweight or obesity percentage than females (44.6%). No significant difference in the prevalence of obesity relative to age, from 15 to 18 years, was found. In addition, logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age and gender, revealed that adolescents perceived their parents (p = 0.011 and p < 0.001) or friends (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001) as more likely to classify their weight as overweight or obese, respectively. Conclusion: Overweight or obesity levels appear to be high among Kuwaiti adolescents, and appears to have reached a plateau recently. Efforts to combat obesity and promote physical activity and healthy nutrition are needed. Future studies should seek to identify important moderators of parental and social underestimation/overestimation of children's overweight or obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients have not been reported in the Gulf region. Objectives: To define the baseline electrocardiographic (ECG), echocardiographic, and computed tomographic findings of patients undergoing TAVI and analyze the predictors of developing new-onset persistent left bundle branch block (LBBB). Methods: Patients with severe aortic stenosis who underwent TAVI between 2013 and 2021 at the Sabah Al-Ahmed Cardiac Centre in Al-Amiri Hospital in the state of Kuwait were included in this study. Baseline characteristics, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography, and preprocedural computed tomography data were extracted. The primary outcome was new-onset LBBB. Results: A total of 61 patients were included (65.6% females; mean age: 73.5 ± 9 years; baseline ejection fraction: 55.5% ± 9.7%). Of these, 18 developed new-onset LBBB. Those who developed LBBB tended to have lower ejection fraction (52.5 ± 9.6 vs. 56.8% ± 9.5%; P = 0.116). Those who developed LBBB were more likely to develop 1st degree atrioventricular block post-TAVI (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The incidence of new-onset LBBB post-TAVI was 29.5%. The new-onset LBBB group was more likely to develop conduction abnormalities requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) is a recently defined entity that necessitates evaluating individual clinical risk factors in this cohort. Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate patients with CCS and examine their coronary profiles in order to delineate differences between genders. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on 51 patients who met the criteria of CCS and have undergone both coronary angiography and CT coronary angiography. Analyses were conducted using univariate statistics. Results: The cohort consisted of mainly Kuwaiti nationals with an average age of 61 ± 10 years. Females consisted 41% of the cohort, were older by an average of 9 years (P = 0.001), and were overweight (67% vs. 44%). Males were more likely to be cigarette consumers (47% vs. 14%; P = 0.022). Females had more comorbidities such as hypertension (86% vs. 80%) and atrial fibrillation (24% vs. 10%), excluding stroke (0% vs. 3.3%), and coronary artery disease (71% vs. 83%). Males had an elevated level of creatinine (88 vs. 72 umol/L; P = 0.045). Other results were not significantly different between genders. Males were more likely to be prescribed aspirin upon admission (100% vs. 81%; P = 0.026), however, this difference decreased upon discharge (97% vs. 86%; P = 0.297). Recurrent ischemia (12%; n = 6) was the most common major outcome recorded. Conclusions: This study shows that females were more likely to be older than their male counterparts whereas males were more often on aspirin and more likely to be cigarette smokers. We found no significant differences in comorbidities, admission laboratory and imaging results, nor outcomes between genders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab, a humanised anti‐interleukin‐6 receptor antibody, in the treatment of critical or severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of severe or critical COVID‐19 patients (≥18 years) admitted to one hospital in Kuwait. Fifty‐one patients received intravenous tocilizumab, while 78 patients received the standard of care at the same hospital. Both groups were compared for clinical improvement and in‐hospital mortality. Results: The tocilizumab (TCZ) group had a significantly lower 28‐day in‐hospital mortality rate than the standard‐of care‐group (21.6% vs. 42.3% respectively; p = 0.015). Fifty‐five per cent of patients in the TCZ group clinically improved vs. 11.5% in the standard‐of‐care group (p < 0.001). Using Cox‐proportional regression analysis, TCZ treatment was associated with a reduced risk of mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 0.25; 95% CI: 0.11–0.61) and increased likelihood of clinical improvement (adjusted hazard ratio 4.94; 95% CI: 2.03–12.0), compared to the standard of care. The median C‐reactive protein, D‐dimer, procalcitonin, lactate dehydrogenase and ferritin levels in the tocilizumab group decreased significantly over the 14 days of follow‐up. Secondary infections occurred in 19.6% of the TCZ group, and in 20.5% of the standard‐of‐care group, with no statistical significance (p = 0.900). Conclusion: Tocilizumab was significantly associated with better survival and greater clinical improvement in severe or critical COVID‐19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indole acetic acid (IAA) production is one of the distinctive traits of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Ten different rhizobacterial strains were isolated from the roots of tomato crops (Solanum lycopersicum L.), grown in Kuwait, and then screened for their plant growth-promoting abilities, with emphasis on IAA production. The isolated strains were identified by 16S partial r-RNA sequencing and further characterized by conventional biochemical tests. Based on the nucleotide sequence analysis and homology of the isolates, a phylogenetic tree was constructed. The plant growth-promoting abilities of the strains were determined by testing for ammonium production, hydrogen cyanide and acid production, growth in nitrogen-free media, phosphate solubilization, and IAA production. The potential IAA PGPRs were re-applied onto the rhizosphere of green-house grown tomato plants to determine their effects on tomato growth. The results have indicated that all isolated strains were able to produce indole acetic acid even without the presence of a tryptophan precursor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: Whole-exome sequencing is a valuable tool to determine genetic variations that are associated with rare and common health conditions. A limited number of studies demonstrated that mitochondrial DNA can be captured using whole-exome sequencing. Previous studies have suggested that mitochondrial DNA variants and haplogroup lineages are associated with obesity. Therefore, we investigated the role of mitochondrial variants and haplogroups contributing to the risk of obesity in Arabs in Kuwait using exome sequencing data. Subjects/Methods: Indirect mitochondrial genomes were extracted from exome sequencing data from 288 unrelated native Arab individuals from Kuwait. The cohort was divided into obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2] and non-obese (BMI < 30 kg/m2) groups. Mitochondrial variants were identified, and haplogroups were classified and compared with other sequencing technologies. Statistical analysis was performed to determine associations and identify mitochondrial variants and haplogroups affecting obesity. Results: Haplogroup R showed a protective effect on obesity [odds ratio (OR) = 0.311; P = 0.006], whereas haplogroup L individuals were at high risk of obesity (OR = 2.285; P = 0.046). Significant differences in mitochondrial variants between the obese and non-obese groups were mainly haplogroup-defining mutations and were involved in processes in energy generation. The majority of mitochondrial variants and haplogroups extracted from exome were in agreement with technical replica from Sanger and whole-genome sequencing. Conclusions: This is the first to utilize whole-exome data to extract entire mitochondrial haplogroups to study its association with obesity in an Arab population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a retrospective single-center study of 417 consecutive patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to Jaber Al-Ahmad Hospital in Kuwait between February 24, 2020 and May 24, 2020. In total, 39.3% of patients were asymptomatic, 41% were symptomatic with mild/moderate symptoms, 19.7% were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Most common symptoms in cohort patients were fever (34.3%) and dry cough (32.6%) while shortness in breath was reported in (75.6%) of ICU admissions. Reported complications requiring ICU admission included Sepsis (68.3%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (95.1%) and heart failure (63.4%). ICU patients were more likely to have comorbidities, in comparison to non-ICU patients, including diabetes (35.4% vs 20.3%) and hypertension (40.2% vs 26.9%). Mortality rate of cohort was 14.4% and mean age of death was 54.20 years (± 11.09) and 90% of death cases were males. Chest high-resolution computed tomography for ICU cases reveled multifocal large patchy areas of ground glass opacification mixed with dense consolidation. Cases admitted to ICU showed abnormal levels of markers associated with infection, inflammation, abnormal blood clotting, heart problems and kidney problems. Mean hospital stay for asymptomatic cases was 20.69 days ±8.57 and for mild/moderate cases was 21.4 days ±8.28. Mean stay in ICU to outcome for survivors was 11.95 days ±8.96 and for death cases 13.15 days ±10.02. In this single-center case series of 417 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Kuwait 39.3% were asymptomatic cases, 41% showed mild/moderate symptoms and 18.7% were admitted to ICU with a mortality rate of 14.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapunzel syndrome is a rare condition typically found in young female patients with mental or psychiatric disorders. It manifests as a large trichobezoar extending beyond the pylorus into the small intestine and leads to various adverse conditions. Early diagnosis and prompt management are crucial to avoiding complications. These bezoars are extracted endoscopically, laparoscopically and via open surgery (most common). In this current report, we discuss a successful laparoscopic extraction of a trichobezoar in a 12-year-old girl with acute abdominal pain due to small-bowel obstruction. We describe our technique compared with others' techniques and include a literature review on this topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: Sheep; mortality; morbidity; young lambs; colostrum; survey study EN Sheep mortality morbidity young lambs colostrum survey study INTRODUCTION One of the serious problems that affect the sheep industry in Kuwait is the high mortality rate of newborn lambs. In addition, lambs feeding on high quality colostrum helped these lambs to have more chances for survival, since colostrum is the only source for antibodies and nutrition for newborn lambs. Mastitis in ewes was reported to reduce serum Igs in ewes and consequently, in the colostrum (Chirstley et al., 2003; Lascelles, 1979); ewes in the present study were free of mastitis. [Extracted from the article]

A World Meteorological Organization (WMO) committee officially evaluated temperature record extremes of 54.0°C at two locations, one in Mitribah, Kuwait on July 21, 2016 and a second in Turbat, Pakistan on May 28, 2017. The committee agreed that quantity and quality of documentation of both observations were excellent. Additional metrological testing of the equipment focused on three aspects: the calibration of both thermometers, an effort to estimate the factors influencing the measurements and a direct comparison of the two thermometers when exposed simultaneously to 54°C. The metrological analysis's conclusion for the Mitribah value is a temperature estimated to be 53.87°C with an expanded uncertainty of ±0.08°C. Correspondingly, for the Turbat value the temperature is estimated to be 53.72°C with an expanded uncertainty of ±0.40°C. Following that analysis, the committee recommended acceptance of the calibrated observations to the first decimal digit such that the Mitribah observation is accepted as 53.9 ± 0.1°C and the Turbat as 53.7 ± 0.4°C. The Mitribah, Kuwait temperature is now accepted by the WMO as the highest temperature ever recorded for Asia (WMO RA II) and the two observations are the third (tied within uncertainty limits) and fourth highest WMO‐recognized temperature extremes and, significantly, they are the highest, officially recognized temperatures to have been recorded in the last 76 years. This evaluation has involved the most extensive temperature extremes analysis ever to be undertaken by an international evaluation committee of the WMO CCl Archive of Weather and Climate Extremes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses an important era of women's activism in Kuwait. In the 1950s, when the government recognized women's rights for education, the wave to obtain other civil rights clashed with culture, tradition and religion which became serious obstacles facing women in their struggle for basic rights. This historical study focuses on the establishment of two women's organizations -- the Arab Women's Development Society in December 1962 and the Kuwait Women's Cultural and Social Society in February 1963. To sway the negative image of women in a patriarchal society, women used activism as a public relations tool to achieve their social, civil and political rights. The study uses cultural-economic model (CEM) to illustrate how activism and public relations were articulated as synonymous to foster women's rights in Kuwait. Archived documents and content analysis of media content published in the 1960s reveal that activism played a vital role as a public relations strategy and that social activism was more effective than political activism. The study highlights the implications of culture within the context of both public relations and activism. • Study adopts the cultural-economic model of public relations to analyze activism in the womens rights movement of Kuwait. • Content analysis of newspapers and magazines suggests public relations and activism were synonymous to the women's rights movement in Kuwait. • Women's activism for social rights was more emancipatory than for political rights in an Islamic society such as Kuwait. • Study provides insight into public relations, activism and the Middle East. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been noticed that the use of English/Kuwaiti Arabic CS has been invading different social domains in Kuwait, one of which is Kuwaiti media. This sociolinguistic study is meant to investigate students' attitudes at the college of basic Education (PAAET) and the college of Education, Kuwait University, towards the use of codeswitching in Kuwaiti TV channels. A questionnaire has been utilized and copies have been distributed to 764 students. The findings of the questionnaire were examined across gender, year of study, and student's major as sociolinguistic parameters. The results were analyzed quantitatively. Frequencies, means, standard deviations, t-test and one-way ANOVA were measured followed by analysis and discussions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The use of laparoscopic management as a first choice for the treatment of duodenal perforation is gaining ground but is not routine in many centers. In this report, we aim to report our experience with laparoscopy as the first approach for the repair of duodenal perforation.Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients during our initial experience with the use of laparoscopy for the treatment of duodenal perforation between 2009 and 2013.Results: A total of 100 patients underwent management of duodenal perforation. Laparoscopy was attempted initially in 76 patients (76%) and completed in 64 patients (64%). The length of hospital stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (mean 2.6) than in the open group (mean 3.1) (p = 0.008). Complications developed in 14 patients (20%). There was a tendency towards fewer admissions to intensive care, less acute kidney injuries, and less acute respiratory distress syndrome in the laparoscopic group. In patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery, the chances of uneventful recovery were 4.3 times higher than in those patients who underwent open surgery (95% CI 1.3-13.5, p = 0.014).Conclusions: Laparoscopy in the treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer is safe and can be utilized as a routine approach for the treatment of this pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haloxylon salicornicum moq. Bunge ex Boiss (Rimth) is one of the native plants of Kuwait, extensively depleting through the anthropogenic activities. It is important to conserve Haloxylon community in Kuwait as it can tolerate extreme adverse conditions of drought and salinity to be potentially used in the desert and urban revegetation and greenery national programs. Therefore, a set of 16 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess genetic diversity and population structure of 108 genotypes from six locations in Kuwait. The ISSR primers produced 195 unambiguous and reproducible bands out of which 167 bands were polymorphic (86.5%) with a mean PIC value of 0.31. The overall average values of Nei’s gene diversity (h') and Shannon’s diversity index (I) were 0.254 and 0.375, respectively. Results of AMOVA revealed high genetic variations within populations (77.8%) and low among populations (22%). The values of Fixation index (FST = 0.22; P = 0.0), Genetic differentiation (GST = 0.262; G’ST = 0.327; D = 0.335 and Gene flow (NM = 0.880) were indicative of heterozygous populations. The results of STRUCTURE and split decomposition analysis suggested that the Rimth accessions of Kuwait can be grouped into five and six subpopulations, respectively. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) grouped them into three clusters. The pairwise Nei’s genetic distances (DS) among populations demonstrated a narrow range from 0.047 to 0.187 (Scale-0.0 to 1.0). The Mantel’s test revealed a weak correlation (r2- 0.188; P-0.013) between the genetic distance and geographic distances. Our results suggest that the narrowly distributed Haloxylon community in Kuwait demonstrated a high genetic diversity within the populations however the overall population structure was weak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: The aim of visual systematic screening is early identification of oral cancer (OC) precursor lesion. OC mortality improves when cancer is identified at early stages. This is important in patients whose lifestyle choices render them at higher risk of developing OC. This study described the prevalence of OC screening among smokers and nonsmokers in Kuwait and ascertained demographic predictors. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized a self-administered online survey in English and Arabic through Survey Monkey® and disseminated using the social networking app "WhatsApp." The survey included 21 questions on demographics, smoking status, and knowledge of OC. Screening questions were adopted from the Maryland Cancer Screening and Risk Behavior Survey. Data were analyzed using the computer software "Statistical Package for Social Sciences, SPSS version 24.0" (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The study included 404 Kuwaiti respondents, 311 (77%) nonsmokers and 93 (23%) smokers. Prevalence of OC screening was 7.2, 7.7% among nonsmokers and 5.4% in smokers. Only 36.6% were aware of OC, with more nonsmokers (38.9%) than smokers (29%). Logistic regression revealed twice more males likely to go for screening than females and with the likelihood of those being in the age group of 25–44 years four times more (P < 0.012) than other age groups. Conclusion: There was low prevalence of screening and poor awareness of OC among sampled. Increased efforts are needed by health professionals to spread awareness and improve knowledge on OC and demand the inclusion of screening during their routine and opportunistic oral examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytate is a major constituent of plants, which comprises 1–5% of edible legumes, seeds, cereals, and nuts. Phytate binds with divalent minerals such as zinc and iron to form insoluble mineral complexes, reducing their bioavailability. The aim of this paper is to establish a phytate database in Kuwait for frequently consumed traditional and composite dishes, and to study the role of phytate on zinc and iron bioavailability using phytate:minerals molar ratios. Based on a field survey, 150 frequently consumed traditional and international composite dishes were selected. These dishes were standardized, cooked, and freeze-dried, and their moisture, phytate, iron, and zinc contents were determined chemically. The dishes with no phytate content were excluded. The nutrient data of the selected dishes were tabulated, including moisture, phytate, zinc, iron, and corresponding phytate:mineral ratios were calculated. All nutrient data were standardized according to the global food composition database for phytate. The results showed that 73.5% of the dishes had moderate or high zinc bioavailability. Only 13.2% of the dishes were adequate for iron bioavailability. More research is recommended to study the relationship between phytate and mineral deficiencies, particularly anemia. • The role of phytate in zinc and iron bioavailability in mixed composite dishes in Kuwait. • Plant based dishes had lower phytate: minerals bioavailability than animal-plant based dishes. • Food composition data for phytate will provide a scientific tool for minerals deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the perceptions of women who work in the media in Kuwait—a conservative, male-dominated society. It examines how female media professionals are treated and explores the factors that either encourage or discourage the empowerment of Kuwaiti women working in this field. In-depth interviews were conducted with five female media professionals and academics in Kuwait in order to develop measures of perceptions towards their profession, media organizations, and the general outlook of Kuwait society. The perceptions of a sample of 237 female media professionals were measured using a fifty-one-item questionnaire. An exploratory factor analysis shows that the respondents’ perceptions are grouped into eight sets of variables. The results show that, while the respondents feel empowered by education, regulations, and the current lifestyle in Kuwait, their cultural upbringing, self-image, and societal outlook discourage their empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteria associated with leaves of sixteen cultivated and wild plant species from all over Kuwait were analyzed by a culture-independent approach. This technique depended on partial sequencing of 16S rDNA regions in total genomic DNA from the bacterial consortia and comparing the resulting sequences with those in the GenBank database. To release bacterial cells from leaves, tough methods such as sonication co-released too much leaf chloroplasts whose DNA interfered with the bacterial DNA. A more satisfactory bacterial release with a minimum of chloroplast co-release was done by gently rubbing the leaf surfaces with soft tooth brushes in phosphate buffer. The leaves of all plant species harbored on their surfaces bacterial communities predominated by hydrocarbonoclastic (hydrocarbon-utilizing) bacterial genera. Leaves of 6 representative plants brought about in the laboratory effective removal of volatile hydrocarbons in sealed microcosms. Each individual plant species had a unique bacterial community structure. Collectively, the phyllospheric microflora on the studied plants comprised the generaFlavobacterium, Halomonas, Arthrobacter, Marinobacter, Neisseria, Ralstonia, Ochrobactrum. Exiguobacterium, Planomicrobium, Propionibacterium, Kocuria, Rhodococcus and Stenotrophomonas.This community structure was dramatically different from the structure we determined earlier for the same plants using the culture-dependent approach, although in both cases, hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria were frequent. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important opportunistic pathogens causing serious complications in patients in hospitals and community. The clinical significance of K. pneumoniae is mainly due to its ability to acquire multiple antibiotic resistance genes. In this study we report the findings of a survey of plasmid mediated quinolone resistance in Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing K. pneumoniae in Kuwait. Methods: Clinical samples were collected from the microbiology laboratories of three major hospitals. Isolates were confirmed as ESBL-producers by disc diffusion method and PCR for the presence of bla genes. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and genetic analysis were performed to detect the presence of a number of genes conferring resistance to β-lactam and fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agents including blaSHV, blaTEM, aac (6')-Ib-cr, qnrA, qnrB and qnrS. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for typing the isolates. Results: In total 173 ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae were detected. qnr genes were identified in 27 (15.6 %) isolates and aac(6')-Ib Ib-cr gene in 26 (96 %). One (3.7 %) contained qnrA2, 21 harbored qnrB1 (78 %) and 5 (18.5 %) contained qnrS. Twenty one (78 %) isolates contained all three bla genes. PFGE showed diverse profiles. Conclusion: We identified for the first time the emergence of the mobile fluoroquinolone resistance qnrA2 in a clinical isolate in the middle east and also showed the dissemination of aac (6')-Ib-cr, qnrB, and qnrS genes among ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae in Kuwait. The abundance of plasmid mediated resistance to fluoroquinolones among ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae is alarming as it facilitates therapy failure. Preventing the spread of these isolates is crucial if we are to sustain the effectiveness of the limited choices we have left in antimicrobial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes strands of sectarian and tribal discourse in newspapers readers’ online comments (NROCs) and their impact on attitudes to freedom of expression, censorship and national unity in Kuwait. It finds that minority, Shiite, and the lower ranked social group, Bedouins, are identified as disloyal to Kuwait, backward and uncivilized in the NROCs. The outcomes of an experiment that engage 715 subjects indicate that the non-readers of the sectarian and tribal comments are in favor of censoring NROCs. Also, readers of sectarian NROCs are more likely to declare that the sectarian comments damage Kuwait’s national unity. The findings are discussed in the light of the negative social effects of hateful online speech and the role that editors of NROCs need to assume in order to counter such speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A total of 318 local and imported meat, milk, eggs, fish, and animal feed samples collected in Kuwait were analyzed by cell-based reporter gene assay (Dioxin-Responsive Chemical Activated LUciferase gene eXpression DR-CALUX) for PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs. The bioanalytical equivalents (BEQs) obtained by DR-CALUX bioassay were compared with the official maximum limits according to the European Commission (EC) regulations. Suspected and randomly chosen negative samples were analyzed by gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry (GC–HRMS). The results showed that among suspected samples, one sample was confirmed to be non-compliant. The positive sample was of imported origin. The correlation coefficient of 0.98 between DR-CALUX and GC–HRMS was found. Moreover, the average daily intakes of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs for the Kuwaiti population were estimated. Results obtained in this study were discussed and compared with other published data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

From the beginning of modern sociolinguistics, a major goal has been the study of speech communities characterized by language contact. Languages don't actually come into contact with each other. It is always the speakers of the languages who are in contact. This article is a sociolinguistic investigation of a simplified Kuwaiti Arabic form that Kuwaitis use when interacting with their domestic workers and which may be categorized under 'foreigner talk'. The argument is basically based on foreigner talk theories, and simplified and broken forms of language. Ferguson (1975) defines foreigner talk, hereafter (FT) as a simplified register used by native English speakers when interacting with linguistically incompetent non-native speakers. Mainly, the article sheds some light on some of the simplified grammatical constructions Kuwaitis use through verbal interaction with their domestic workers. Five Kuwaiti families were chosen as subjects of the study. Each family has three domestic servants working for them. Tape-recording was done in different social contexts. A total of 72 hours were obtained and then transcribed and qualitatively analyzed. Eleven simplified grammatical constructions through twenty eight social contexts were fully analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To determine prevalence and risk factors of pregnancy-related lumbopelvic pain (PRLPP) in women in Kuwait. Design. The study was designed as a multisite, cross-sectional design in which self-administered surveys were distributed. Setting and Participants. Public locations and health care facilities in Kuwait. Pregnant women (400) were invited to participate. Outcome Measures. Demographics, history of PRLPP, risk factors for PRLPP, location of pain, absenteeism due to LPP, management of previous LPP, and functional disability due to PRLPP. Results. Two hundred eighty questionnaires were returned. Mean age was 29.5 years; mean body mass index (BMI) was 29.69 kg/m2. Of the participants, 91% reported LPP, 78.8% reported history of menstrual pain, and 58.7% reported previous LPP, and 59% reported PRLPP during previous pregnancies, 42.8% reported activities of daily living were limited. Risk factors included a history of back pain ( P = 0.00), PRLPP in a previous pregnancy ( P = 0.01), and being in the third trimester of pregnancy ( P = 0.02). BMI was not associated with PRLPP. Conclusions. Clinicians in Kuwait need to screen for risk factors and detect PRLPP early and intervene as needed. Although overweight and obesity may not contribute largely to PRLPP in women in Kuwait, weight control is a major concern for healthy pregnancy. Physical therapy has a role in preventing and addressing this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kuwaiti habitats with two-decade history of oil pollution were surveyed for their inhabitant oil-utilizing bacterioflora. Seawater samples from six sites along the Kuwaiti coasts of the Arabian Gulf and desert soil samples collected from seven sites all over the country harbored oil-utilizing bacteria whose numbers made up 0.0001-0.01% of the total, direct, microscopic counts. The indigenous bacterioflora in various sites were affiliated to many species. This was true when counting was made on nitrogen-containing and nitrogen-free media. Seawater samples harbored species belonging predominantly to the Gammaproteobacteria and desert soil samples contained predominantly Actinobacteria. Bacterial species that grew on the nitrogen-free medium and that represented a considerable proportion of the total in all individual bacterial consortia were diazotrophic. They gave positive acetylene-reduction test and possessed the nifH genes in their genomes. Individual representative species could utilize a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, as sole sources of carbon and energy. Quantitative determination showed that the individual species consumed crude oil, n-octadecane and phenanthrene, in batch cultures. It was concluded that the indigenous microflora could be involved in bioremediation programs without bioaugmentation or nitrogen fertilization. Irrigation would be the most important practice in bioremediation of the polluted soil desert areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]