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This study aims to examine the effects of electronic games on students' academic achievement. The study was conducted on a sample of parents in the city of Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. A questionnaire was used for data collection, with a sample of 76 parents randomly chosen, comprising 64 females (84.2%) and 12 males (15.8%). The study findings revealed that most students who preferred adventure games used electronic games on weekends for entertainment. However, excessive usage of these games had a negative impact on their academic achievement. Games tend to consume students' time, which in turn, affects their achievement. Based on the study results, the researchers recommended raising awareness among families regarding the risks of electronic games for children and their effects on their academic achievement through workshops, lectures, and seminars. Further research studies should be conducted to highlight the effects of electronic games on students' academic achievement from the perspectives of students themselves and their teachers.

The shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to numerous complaints from caregivers unaccustomed to new technologies, resulting in technostress, defined as "stress or psychosomatic illness caused by working with computer technology on a daily basis." This study investigates the prevalence and impact of technostress on caregivers of primary and middle school children attending online school from home in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A cross-sectional study was conducted among caregivers with children in primary and middle school residing in the UAE (n = 727; males = 86, females = 641). Data was collected using an online questionnaire examining technostress and its impact on caregiver-child relationships and health, including sleep, anxiety, and appetite. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26). Caregivers aged 30-39 years and females had the highest technostress scores (p < 0.05), while occupation and education levels had no effect. Technostress was significantly correlated with mental health (r[superscript 2] = 0.291; p < 0.001) and caregiver-child relationships (r[superscript 2] = 0.429; p < 0.001). Caregivers with two or more children in primary and middle school had higher technostress scores (p < 0.05). In conclusion, female caregivers aged 30-39 experienced higher technostress, negatively impacting their mental health and relationships with their children. We recommend targeted anti-technostress courses and enhanced communication.

This article explored the effectiveness of employing the e-mind mapping strategy in scientific courses in Emirati private preparatory schools in the light of adopting the blended learning approach. It explored that from the perspective of students. The researchers adopted the descriptive analytical and quantitative approaches. They used a survey that was developed by them based on several studies. Those studies were published in peer-reviewed journals. The forms of the survey were uploaded to the web through using the use of Google Form. The purposive sampling method was employed. For instance, the researchers sent the link of the survey to 400 students in five Emirati private preparatory schools. Two schools of those ones are located in Ajman, one school in Abu Dhabi, one school in Dubai and one school in Sharjah. However, 182 forms were filled. The response rate is 45.5%. The researchers used descriptive statistical methods. They found that the effectiveness of employing the e-mind mapping strategy in scientific courses in Emirati private preparatory schools in the light of adopting the blended learning approach is high. This strategy promotes innovation within students and improves their learning skills. It enables students to carry out self-learning practices. It improves students' ability to do writing-related tasks. The researchers recommend holding courses for teachers for teaching them the way of creating e-mind maps through using various software.

This study examined the challenges and issues faced by teachers and parents related to the transition from face-to-face instruction to online instruction. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ten teachers and ten parents from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) school system were interviewed to reveal their challenges in managing online teaching and learning. According to the findings, both teachers and parents encountered several problems. Teachers faced challenges such as the need to adapt their teaching strategies and techniques to the new situation, the need for technical support to facilitate the teaching-learning process, the lack of students' in-class participation and genuine motivation, and the nature and format of the teaching platform, and the fact that they need to have a high level of experience in using technology to serve their students well and engage them in interactive classroom activities. Parents reported several challenges, including lack of experience with the online learning platform, unwillingness to work with teachers to use the online learning platform effectively, lack of experience in properly preparing their children to participate in active online instruction, and multiple children attending different classes at the same time. These challenges place a great burden on parents who must support their children in the younger grades.

The flipped classroom model has become more popular and one of the focus of many researchers and teachers in the recent years. The aim of current study is to explore the effect of flipped classroom model on students' achievements in the new SAT 2016 mathematics skills (Heart of Algebra, Problem solving and data analysis, and Passport to Advanced Math) for the eleventh grade Emirati female students in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Specifically, this study aims at determining whether there was a statistically significant difference in student achievements in the new SAT mathematics skills between two groups of grade 11 students. Thus, pretest/posttest quasi-experimental design was applied. The experimental group was taught by flipped classroom model, and the control group was taught by traditional instruction methods. The results revealed that there is a statistically significant difference between the pretest and posttest of the experimental group over the control group the new SAT mathematics skills. Furthermore, the findings suggest that teachers who teach mathematics standardized test skills like SAT can use flipped classroom model to enhance students' readiness and to improve their thinking skills to simulate the 21st-century skills.

This study aims to define the level of utilizing blended learning in teaching science from the point of view of science teachers (85 male and female teachers) who are working in private schools of Ajman Educational Zone. The study also aims to find if there are significant differences according to gender, years of experience, or the fact that those teachers attended training courses in the field of smart learning. To achieve the goals of this study, an instrument was used to measure the level of utilizing blended learning in teaching science. The study showed the following main results: the level of utilizing blended learning in teaching science was high. There are statistically significant differences in utilizing blended learning according to the years of experience and training courses (in favor of less experienced teachers and teachers who attended training courses in the field of smart learning). The results did not show any statistically significant difference according to the gender. In the light of the study findings and their interpretation, the study highly recommends holding training courses in the field of blended learning and providing the necessary tools to implement it.

In this qualitative study, faculty members' perceptions of the integration, affordances, and challenges of mobile learning (m-learning) were investigated through semi-structured interviews. The results showed that participants' integration of m-learning varies and tends to focus on select activities. At the same time, participants recognized m-learning as a valuable learning approach with potential to enrich the teaching and learning process and enhance flexibility. A lack of knowledge and skills, deficiencies in training and supports, problems with Internet connection, a digital divide among students, learning disruption, and a lack of awareness about the utility of m-learning were identified challenges that hinder current integration of m-learning.

Black scorch disease (BSD), caused by the fungal pathogen Thielaviopsis punctulata (Tp) DSM102798, poses a significant threat to date palm cultivation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In this study, Chicago and Hi-C libraries were prepared as input for the Dovetail HiRise pipeline to scaffold the genome of Tp DSM102798. We generated an assembly with a total length of 28.23 Mb comprising 1,256 scaffolds, and the assembly had a contig N50 of 18.56 kb, L50 of three, and a BUSCO completeness score of 98.6% for 758 orthologous genes. Annotation of this assembly produced 7,169 genes and 3,501 Gene Ontology (GO) terms. Compared to five other Thielaviopsis genomes, Tp DSM102798 exhibited the highest continuity with a cumulative size of 27.598 Mb for the first seven scaffolds, surpassing the assemblies of all examined strains. These findings offer a foundation for targeted strategies that enhance date palm resistance against BSD, and foster more sustainable and resilient agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overuse of chemical fertilizers degrades the soil ecosystem and restricts the natural development of plants. Various byproducts are produced throughout the production and consumption of coffee within the coffee industry, and they are significant in terms of environmental waste. Spent coffee grounds (SCGs) contains various bioactive compounds that have demonstrated potential applications in various fields. These compounds can enhance soil quality by improving its physicochemical properties and biological fertility, ultimately leading to improved plant growth and reducing food waste and contamination at the same time. This current study examined the impact of chemical fertilizer, vermicompost, SCGs with percentage fertilizer (SCGPF), and SCGs on the top dressing fertilizer (SCGTDF) on red radish (Raphanus sativus) growth and soil quality. This greenhouse experiment tested various concentrations of SCGPF (5%, 10%, 25%, and 50%) and different doses of SCGTDF (0.5 g, 1 g, and 2.5 g). The results showed that the 0.5 g SCGTDF treatment yielded the highest mean plant length (18.47 cm) and fresh weight (27.54 g), while the vermicompost at a 50% concentration produced the highest mean leaf surface area (58.32 cm2). These findings suggest the potential of SCGs as a sustainable fertilizer alternative, contributing to improved plant growth and soil quality, thus supporting sustainable agricultural practices and a circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pressing need for sustainable agricultural practices, especially with the increasing population, has directed attention towards alternative fertilizers that enhance crop yield while preserving soil integrity and reducing food loss. The current study investigated the comparative efficacy of food waste compost (FOWC), vermicompost, and chemical fertilizers on the growth of red radish. The present work used a systematic experimental design to evaluate plant growth parameters, including radish weight and height. The soil quality was determined by measuring the pH and electrical conductivity for all soil samples. The results indicated a significant variation in red radish fresh weight among different treatments. For example, the 25% vegetable and fruit waste compost (VFWC) treatment demonstrated a relatively high mean fresh weight, while the 50% mixed compost (MC) treatment yielded a much lower mean fresh weight. These numbers underscore the potential efficacy of specific food waste treatments in enhancing plant growth, with vermicompost at 50% and VFWC at 25% showing considerable promise in increasing crop yield. The current study concluded that FOWC and vermicompost significantly improved plant growth, advocating for their use as sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to chemical fertilizers. The current findings emphasized the importance of selecting appropriate fertilizer types and concentrations to optimize agricultural productivity and environmental sustainability, supporting the incorporation of food waste into agricultural systems as a beneficial resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional survey investigates the influence of youths' religiosity on their attitude towards people with disabilities. The Muslim religiosity questionnaire and multidimensional attitudes scale towards persons with disabilities were used to survey 733 youths from the federal university in the United Arab Emirates. The results indicated that the youths were religious and had positive attitudes towards people with disabilities. An increase in religiosity is associated with a positive attitude towards disability, and both religiosity and total family income positively impacted the attitude towards people with disabilities. Reducing inequalities by including persons with disabilities is one of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development objectives. Policies should aim to enhance curriculum, improvise public guidelines and partner with associated faith-based leaders to build an inclusive society for people with disabilities, thus helping to achieve sustainable development goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the clinical and epidemiological factors associated with severe COVID-19 cases in hospitalized patients across two emirates within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A retrospective observational analytical study analysed data from 738 medical records and conducted 573 in-depth interviews with patients hospitalized across multiple healthcare centers in the UAE, between 29 January 2020 and 14 October 2021. Regression analysis predicted risk factors for COVID-19 severity. Results: Main risk factors identified were crowding (aOR 1.919; 95%CI 1.144, 3.221), obesity (aOR 2.383; 95%CI 1.332, 4.263), diabetes (aOR 11.14; 95%CI 2.653–46.797), severe dehydration (aOR 3.219; 95%CI 2.161, 4.795), cough or sore throat (aOR 1.607; 95%CI 1.032, 2.502), shortness of breath (aOR 1.921; 95%CI 1.294, 2.853), increased days from symptom onset to admission (aOR 1.055; 95%CI 1.006, 1.105), elevated ANC (aOR 1.263, 95%CI 1.121, 1.424), and AST/SGOT (aOR 1.055, 95% CI 1.016, 1.095). Protective factors included smoking (aOR 0.367; 95%CI 0.182, 0.740), first dose of COVID-19 vaccination (aOR 0.595; 95%CI 0.377, 0.93), higher oxygen saturation (aOR 0.853; 95%CI: 0.801, 0.907) and elevated ALC (aOR 0.540; 95%CI 0.323, 0.905). Conclusion: Identifying risk factors is crucial for high-risk individuals who may require closer monitoring to improve their outcomes. This can provide guidance for surveillance systems and early detection strategies to mitigate the impact of future outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Recent surveys indicate a significant increase in total caffeine intake among schoolchildren. Limited research has been published concerning the total intake of caffeine among schoolchildren in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE. Methods: This cross-sectional survey estimated the total caffeine intake from foods and beverages among 10,275 schoolchildren in the UAE. Caffeine intakes were related to the European Food Safety Authority's level of no safety concern (3.0 mg/kg BW) and level of effects on sleep (1.4 mg/kg BW). Results: More than half (56.2%) of the students consumed more than 100 mg (the upper limit allowed) of caffeine from dietary sources. High intake of caffeine (> 100 mg/day) was significantly associated (p = 0.001) with reduced sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, infrequent exercising, using smart devices for more than 2 h a day, getting a lower GPA, skipping breakfast, eating fewer servings of vegetables than recommended, frequent consumption of fast food and more frequent snack consumption. Conclusion: Excessive intake of caffeine from different dietary sources coexists with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors and sleep problems. Tailoring educational programs and intervention strategies is warranted to correct the unhealthy intake of caffeine and the associated unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors among schoolchildren in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-commerce saw a paradigm shift during COVID. Consumers turned to online shopping when pandemic lockdowns caused brick-and-mortar stores to shut for extended periods. Although the pandemic drove more buyers online, it had negative impacts that affected e-commerce performance. This study assesses both positive and negative impacts and their relative significance. The findings are then used to prioritize different strategies for e-commerce development in four vibrant Middle Eastern economies: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait. The study employs a hybrid approach incorporating grey analytical hierarchy process (GAHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA). The GAHP evaluates the relative significance of impacts, whereas the GRA ranks the strategies. The study is based on the responses from 36 local e-commerce specialists. The findings revealed that the supply chain disruption was a rather significant factor, and that "expanding supplier base" was a top-ranked strategy. The study suggests that increasing market share of e-commerce will necessitate the improvement of the supply chains, including the expansion of the supply base, as well as the establishment of sustainable supply chains. In addition to that, the moment has come to implement meaningful changes, such as digital transformation of supply chains, in order to fulfil customer expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high volatility and inherent high-risk nature of cryptocurrency investments promote the study of the determinants of value perception and the various factors influencing individuals' intentions regarding whether to adopt, abstain from, or continue their investments in these dynamic cryptocurrency markets. The main aim of this study is to examine the determinants of behavioral intention to continue using cryptocurrencies. In addition, it is aimed at exploring the effect of gambling attitudes on the perceived benefits and legal environment in the cryptocurrency context. An online questionnaire was developed in order to gather data from 258 respondents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The research model was assessed, and the hypotheses were tested using PLS-SEM. The outcomes of the PLS analysis revealed that gambling attitudes, perceived benefits, legal environment, and market uncertainty are significant determinants of behavioral intention to continue using cryptocurrencies. This study also revealed a significant effect of gambling attitudes and legal environment on the perceived benefits of cryptocurrencies. This study adds to the body of knowledge on cryptocurrency adoption by providing new insights into the factors that influence consumers' continued investment. Furthermore, the study has crucial practical implications for cryptocurrency firms in promoting this financial technology to users by increasing policymakers' understanding of how investors think and get inspired to continue investing in cryptocurrencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Arab Emirates has adopted environmental sustainability agendas for urban development and housing levels. In response, the urban design of public housing has been transformed from a low-rise urban sprawl housing typology into more compact urban forms and recently into vertical urban forms. While the social aspects related to Emirati families have been carefully preserved in the designs of all these public housing typologies, the environmental sustainability aspects have not been rigorously assessed in these designs, especially at the urban scale. To address this, this study was aimed at assessing the energy and ecological performance of a recent pioneering vertical public housing project in comparison with two case studies representing the most-compact low-rise urban form and the conventional low-rise urban sprawl public housing. The assessments of the three cases were compared with local benchmarks to evaluate how close their environmental performance was to these benchmarks, especially for the vertical housing design. As for the research method, these assessments were performed by calculating the expected average annual operational energy and embodied environmental impacts using the Urban Modeling Interface design tool for reliable simulations. The simulation results for the three urban housing case studies revealed that the average annual operational energy per square meter [energy use intensity (EUI)] for the pioneering vertical housing project, with its high urban compactness floor-area ratio (FAR) of 1.34, reached 104 kWh/m2. By comparison, the most-compact form of low-rise urban public housing, with a FAR of 0.41, had an EUI value of about 120 kWh/m2, with the urban sprawl case study having an EUI value of about 157 kWh/m2. The estimated average total embodied energy per square meter over 50 years was 1,070.79 kWh/m2 in the vertical residential building, a decrease from the 1,331 kWh/m2 for the compact low-rise housing and the much higher 1,527.67 kWh/m2 for the urban sprawl public housing. In addition, the recorded average annual carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per square meter over 50 years significantly decreased, from 147.37 kgCO2/m2 in the conventional urban sprawl and 129.83 kgCO2/m2 in the compact low-rise housing to only 105.35 kgCO2/m2 in the vertical public housing project. Despite the notable enhancement in energy performance in the vertical public housing when compared with the low-rise urban forms, there is still a desperate need for more-efficient and sustainable design strategies for the vertical public housing typology to make it comply with the local benchmark for sustainable residential buildings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United Arab Emirates, sudden decline syndrome (SDS) is a destructive disease of date palm caused by the soil-borne fungal pathogen Fusarium proliferatum (Fp) DSM106835. Here, a high-resolution genome assembly of Fp DSM106835 was generated using PacBio HiFi sequencing with Omni-C data to provide a high-quality chromatin-organised reference genome with 418 scaffolds, totalling 58,468,907 bp in length and an N50 value of 4,383,091 bp from which 15,580 genes and 16,321 transcripts were predicted. The assembly achieved a complete BUSCO score of 99.2% for 758 orthologous genes. Compared to seven other Fp strains, Fp DSM106835 exhibited the highest continuity with a cumulative size of 44.26 Mbp for the first ten scaffolds/contigs, surpassing the assemblies of all examined Fp strains. Our findings of the high-quality genome of Fp DSM106835 provide an important resource to investigate its genetics, biology and evolutionary history. This study also contributes to fulfill the gaps in fungal knowledge, particularly the genes/metabolites associated with pathogenicity during the plant-pathogen interaction responsible for SDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water flea Daphnia O.F. Müller 1776 (Crustacea: Cladocera) is an important model of recent evolutionary biology. Here, we report a complete genome of Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia) arabica (Crustacea: Cladocera), recently described species endemic to deserts of the United Arab Emirates. In this study, genome analysis of D. arabica was carried out to investigate its genomic differences, complexity as well as its historical origins within the subgenus Daphnia (Ctenodaphnia). Hybrid genome assembly of D. arabica resulted in ~116 Mb of the assembled genome, with an N50 of ~1.13 Mb (BUSCO score of 99.2%). From the assembled genome, in total protein coding, 5374 tRNA and 643 rRNA genes were annotated. We found that the D. arabica complete genome differed from those of other Daphnia species deposited in the NCBI database but was close to that of D. cf. similoides. However, its divergence time estimate sets D. arabica in the Mesozoic, and our demographic analysis showed a great reduction in its genetic diversity compared to other Daphnia species. Interestingly, the population expansion in its diversity occurred during the megadrought climate around 100 Ka ago, reflecting the adaptive feature of the species to arid and drought-affected environments. Moreover, the PFAM comparative analysis highlights the presence of the important domain SOSS complex subunit C in D. arabica, which is missing in all other studied species of Daphnia. This complex consists of a few subunits (A, B, C) working together to maintain the genome stability (i.e., promoting the reparation of DNA under stress). We propose that this domain could play a role in maintaining the fitness and survival of this species in the desert environment. The present study will pave the way for future research to identify the genes that were gained or lost in this species and identify which of these were key factors to its adaptation to the harsh desert environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most significant serotype of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli that causes foodborne illnesses is Escherichia coli O157:H7. Elimination of E. coli O157:H7 during food processing and storage is a possible solution. Bacteriophages have a significant impact on bacterial populations in nature due to their ability to lyse their bacterial host. In the current study, a virulent bacteriophage, Ec_MI-02, was isolated from the feces of a wild pigeon in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for potential future use as a bio-preservative or in phage therapy. Using a spot test and an efficiency of plating analysis, Ec_MI-02 was found to infect in addition to the propagation host, E. coli O157:H7 NCTC 12900, five different serotypes of E. coli O157:H7 (three clinical samples from infected patients, one from contaminated green salad, and one from contaminated ground beef). Based on morphology and genome analysis, Ec_MI-02 belongs to the genus Tequatrovirus under the order Caudovirales. The adsorption rate constant (K) of Ec_MI-02 was found to be 1.55 × 10−8 mL/min. The latent period was 50 min with a burst size of almost 10 plaque forming units (pfu)/host cell in the one-step growth curve when the phage Ec_MI-02 was cultivated using the propagation host E. coli O157:H7 NCTC 12900. Ec_MI-02 was found to be stable at a wide range of pH, temperature, and commonly used laboratory disinfectants. Its genome is 165,454 bp long with a GC content of 35.5% and encodes 266 protein coding genes. Ec_MI-02 has genes encoding for rI, rII, and rIII lysis inhibition proteins, which supports the observation of delayed lysis in the one-step growth curve. The current study provides additional evidence that wild birds could also be a good natural reservoir for bacteriophages that do not carry antibiotic resistance genes and could be good candidates for phage therapy. In addition, studying the genetic makeup of bacteriophages that infect human pathogens is crucial for ensuring their safe usage in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic which started in November 2019 and since then has led to multiple lockdowns aimed towards controlling the pandemic, these lockdowns contributed to major changes in individuals' lifestyles including eating patterns and restriction of physical activity due to continues house confinement. Such changes have significantly contributed to weight change, with increasing rates of obesity in the UAE, COVID-19 have posed a major concern to the country's obesity levels. Aim: To measure the prevalence and investigate the views related to weight change among adults in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through a self-administered online questionnaire distributed using social media platforms between February 15th and March 14th, 2021. The sample size was 439 adults in the UAE (18– 59 years), collected by volunteer sampling. Analysis was done using SPSS with a significance of 5.0%. Exclusion criteria included pregnancy and bariatric surgeries history. Results: 51.1% of participants gained weight, 36.2% lost weight and 12.7% maintained their weight. Meal consumption frequency and weight gain were correlated. Consuming fast food resulted in 65.7% of participants gaining weight. 66.2% of people who lost weight during the COVID-19 pandemic did exercise. Stress management and sleeping patterns were not contributing factors to the weight change. 64.4% of the participants who were not satisfied with their weight and believed that they need to make changes in their lifestyle received no guidance from professional personnel to reach their desired weight. Conclusion: In this study, the majority of participants have witnessed an increase in weight. UAE health authorities must provide guidance and support to the population via structured nutritional programs and lifestyle awareness campaigns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Overprescribing of antibiotics is one of the important contributors of antimicrobial resistance globally. A high proportion of antibiotics prescribed in community settings are unnecessary or inappropriate. This study assesses the prescribing practices and factors related to antibiotic prescribing in community pharmacies in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a quantitative approach was carried out in the community pharmacies of Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), UAE. Six hundred and thirty prescription encounters from 21 randomly selected community pharmacies were investigated using World Health Organization (WHO) core prescribing indicators. Factors related to antibiotic prescribing were identified using logistic regression analyses. Results: In 630 prescription encounters, a total of 1814 drugs were prescribed. Out of these, the most commonly prescribed drug class was antibiotics (43.8% prescriptions) and the antibiotic was amoxicillin/clavulanic-acid (22.4%). The average number of drugs per prescription was 2.88, which was higher than the WHO recommended value of 1.6–1.8. In addition, more than half of the prescriptions (58.6%) had drugs by generic names and the majority of the drugs prescribed (83.8%) were from the essential drug list, which were lower than the optimal values of 100%. The majority of the antibiotics prescribed in the study were from the WHO's Access group antibiotics. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified patient age (children—OR: 7.40, 95% CI: 2.32–23.62, p = 0.001 and adolescent—OR: 5.86, 95% CI: 1.57–21.86, p = 0.008), prescriber qualification as general practitioner (OR: 1.84, 95% CI:1.30–2.60, p = 0.001), and number of drugs per prescription (OR: 3.51, 95% CI: 1.98–6.21, p < 0.001) as independent factors associated with antibiotic prescribing. Conclusions: This study reveals considerable variations from the WHO recommendations for the different prescribing indicators in the community pharmacies of RAK, UAE. In addition, the study reports overprescribing of antibiotics in the community setting, indicating the need for interventions to promote rational use of antibiotics in a community setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study is to present the first United Arab Emirates pulmonary hypertension registry of patients' clinical characteristics, hemodynamic parameters and treatment outcomes. Method: This is a retrospective study describing all the adult patients who underwent a right heart catheterization for evaluation of pulmonary hypertension (PH) between January 2015 and December 2021 in a tertiary referral center in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Results: A total of 164 consecutive patients were diagnosed with PH during the five years of the study. Eighty-three patients (50.6%) were World Symposium PH Group 1-PH; nineteen patients (11.6%) were Group 2-PH due to left heart disease; twenty-three patients (14.0%) were Group 3-PH due to chronic lung disease; thirty-four patients (20.7%) were Group 4-PH due to chronic thromboembolic lung disease, and five patients (3.0%) were Group 5-PH. Among Group 1-PH, twenty-five (30%) had idiopathic, twenty-seven (33%) had connective tissue disease, twenty-six (31%) had congenital heart disease, and five patients (6%) had porto-pulmonary hypertension. The median follow-up was 55.6 months. Most of the patients were started on dual then sequentially escalated to triple combination therapy. The 1-, 3- and 5-year cumulative probabilities of survival for Group 1-PH were 86% (95% CI, 75–92%), 69% (95% CI, 54–80%) and 69% (95% CI, 54–80%). Conclusions: This is the first registry of Group 1-PH from a single tertiary referral center in the UAE. Our cohort was younger with a higher percentage of patients with congenital heart disease compared to cohorts from Western countries but similar to registries from other Asian countries. Mortality is comparable to other major registries. Adopting the new guideline recommendations and improving the availability and adherence to medications are likely to play a significant role in improving outcomes in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of retirement is rarely explored in the context of the Middle Eastern and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This study drew on data from a large-scale survey of retirees in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a universal welfare state characterized by the persistence of the traditional male-breadwinner model and gender roles, to analyze the determinants of retirement timing and post-retirement work. Multi-level regressions were performed to explore the effects of individual, family, institutional, and social-economic factors. The study revealed that Emirati females tended to retire earlier than men to fulfill their domestic duties and informal caregiving roles, rather than to retire together with their spouse. Additionally, early retirement incentives offered by Abu Dhabi pension systems appeared to attract employees into early retirement. On the other hand, securing more financial resources and reduced sense of belonging in society were among the most significant predictors of post-retirement job searching motivations among Emirati retirees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to examine the impact of flexible work arrangements (FWAs) on employees' perceived productivity, quality of work and organisational commitment (OC) with a special focus on the United Arab Emirates. It also analyses the mediating effect of employee happiness on the relationship between FWA and employees' perceived productivity, OC and perceived work quality. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative, non-experimental correlational study was used for this research project. The study yielded numerical data, which were analysed using a deductive approach. The analysis aimed at exploring the relationships between the constructs, which were viewed as variables; these relationships were considered correlations, mediation and moderation. The sample comprises employees currently working at different public and private sector organisations, representing all major service industries in the UAE. Nine questions were used to assess the flexibility at work and six out of the nine questions were used to measure the level of FWAs using the Likert scale. Findings: FWA has a significant and positive association with the employees' perceived productivity, quality of work and OC. It was confirmed that happiness plays a mediating role in the relationship between FWA and employee outcomes. The facility allows employees to manage their personal and professional lives with ease using their preferred work method. This ability promotes employee satisfaction. In conclusion, managers and employees around the world should view FWAs as a positive tool to enhance employee productivity and OC, particularly in an emergency like the Covid-19 pandemic. Research limitations/implications: The participants' honesty was a limitation, which could raise questions on the validity of this study. This limitation arises when the self-report method is used for data collection. Use of multiple instruments could be another limitation. Practical implications: Organisational leaders can use FWAs to improve employee outcomes. When an organisation grants flexible work options to employees, it implies that the organisation trusts its employees to complete the task. This factor motivates all employees to work with dedication, which is particularly true if the employees are creative people and wish to work on their preferred time and place. Originality/value: This study is significant because the findings will allow managers to assess the benefits of using FWAs to improve employee productivity, particularly in the service sector. It combines the aspects of perceived productivity, OC and perceived work quality, as well as employee happiness to assess the role of FWAs in organisations. The study also investigates the influence of FWAs in improving these employee outcomes. Based on the literature review, this study on FWAs is the first of its kind in the UAE, the country using a truly multinational workforce coming from more than 100 countries and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The present research objective is to investigate the impact of students' eating attitudes or habits and lifestyles on the academic performance of college students in the UAE. The research also examines the mediating influence of students' self-esteem among students' eating attitudes or habits, lifestyle, and academic performance in college students in the UAE. Design / methodology / approach: The investigators employ primary data collection techniques, such as survey questionnaires, to obtain primary data from the selected students. The researchers utilized smart PLS to assess the reliability of items and variables and examine the relationships between said variables. Findings: The findings indicate a positive correlation between the dietary habits, lifestyle, and academic achievement of college students in the United Arab Emirates. The findings indicate a significant relationship between the self-esteem of college students in the UAE and their eating attitudes or habits, lifestyle, and academic performance. Specifically, the results suggest that self-esteem is a mediator between these variables. Practical implications: This study offers guidance to policymakers regarding the development of policies aimed at achieving high academic performance by promoting practical eating attitudes, habits, and lifestyles among students. The research suggests that implementing strategies to enhance students' teaching practices is imperative for fostering self-esteem and enhancing academic performance. Originality/value: Academic achievement is a crucial factor in determining the success of students, which can be achieved through adopting a practical lifestyle and dietary habits. This aspect necessitates the prioritization of novel research and policymakers. Ongoing research examines the correlation between students' eating attitudes or habits, lifestyle, and academic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is responsible for the majority of foodborne outbreaks worldwide and may lead to death. Bacteriophages are natural killers of bacteria. All previously reported E. coli O157:H7 phages were isolated from ruminants or swine. Here, we report for the first time a phage isolated from bird feces in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), designated as UAE_MI-01, indicating birds as a good source of phages. Thus, phages could be a tool for predicting the presence of the host bacteria in an animal or the environment. UAE_MI-01 was found to be a lytic phage that was stable at wide ranges of pH, temperature, and chemical disinfectants, and with a burst size of almost 100 plaque-forming units per host cell after a latent period of 20 min and an adsorption rate constant (K) of 1.25 × 10−7 mL min−1. The phage genome was found to be 44,281 bp long with an average GC content of 54.7%. The presence of the phage indicates the presence of the host cell E. coli O157:H7 in wild birds. Therefore, other birds, mainly poultry, could be also investigated for the presence of this pathogenic bacterium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an E. coli O157:H7 bacteriophage isolated from a bird. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater and harvested rainwater represent the only conventional freshwater resources in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Groundwater resources in Wadi Al Bih, UAE, are sustainable due to the low exploitation rate for domestic and agricultural purposes. Thus, the groundwater depletion in this area is far less than in other parts of the country. The Wadi Al Bih area is very important for achieving water security in UAE. Therefore, the possible measures of increasing groundwater recharge (e.g., managed aquifer recharge (MAR) methods) are investigated in this paper. The available water resource data were collected, reviewed, validated, and stored in a GIS database. Then, a GIS-based water budget model (WBM) was developed to evaluate the available groundwater resources in Wadi Al Bih and recharge sources. The analyses showed that only 49% of the accumulated rainwater behind the dam is recharging the underlying aquifer. Due to the absence of any direct recharge techniques, the remaining 51% is lost by direct evaporation (15%), and as soil moisture increases in the unsaturated zone (36%), it will subsequently evaporate or percolate depending on the precipitation pattern and air temperature. The results of the WBM indicated that the freshwater resources were decreasing at an alarming rate of approximately thirty-five million cubic meters (MCM) per year until 2019. The groundwater storage and salinity were governed by the rates and patterns of precipitation. For example, the recharge resulting from the two consecutive maximum monthly precipitation events in December 2019 and January 2020 has significantly increased the fresh groundwater reserve and slightly retreated the saline/brackish water toward the shoreline. Moreover, a Mann–Kendall trend analysis was conducted to assess the influence of precipitation, temperature, and evaporation on groundwater recharge. The outcomes suggested that climate variables had a significant effect on groundwater supplies. The mitigation measures include revising groundwater withdrawal rates based on the annual recharge and enhancing recharge using different MAR techniques and dam operation plans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban sprawl has been a persistent sustainability impediment caused by its associated low urban density that led to heavy reliance on private cars. To overcome this problem, urban densification, as a sustainable planning approach, has been widely advocated. Al Ain, one of the most affected cities by urban sprawl in the United Arab Emirates, has recently adopted an urban densification process through its Al Ain Plan 2030 and started applying it by 2010 in a pioneering redevelopment project in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood. This research aims at studying the impacts of the applied urban densification measures and tools on social sustainability in this neighborhood. The research adopts a qualitative case study method utilizing field observations as the main source of primary data collection, while the analysis of CAD drawings, census data, land-use plans, and Google Earth maps forms a secondary source of data for this study. Based on the results of the study, it is concluded that urban densification through its two applied measures, the Intensification and the Infill Development, have enhanced social sustainability in Bida Bin Ammar neighborhood but with various degrees of success for each of the social sustainability principle and indicators. While mixed use and accessibility principles have been partially enhanced in the study area, density, mobility, social capital, quality of life, sense of belonging, and safety and security have been weakly enhanced. Accordingly, a proposed set of guidelines have been initiated to inform decision-makers in the city, and maybe in other cities in the UAE and the Arabian Gulf region, to help them revise the applied urban densification process in a way that helps achieve more socially sustainable urban communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent report from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) highlights the global issue of cancer incidence in younger individuals. The report, based on data from the UAE National Cancer Registry, shows a notable clustering of colorectal cancer at early ages, consistent with previous reports since 2014. Additionally, the report reveals that a significant percentage of breast and thyroid cancers occur in patients younger than 40 years. The high burden of cancer in younger age groups emphasizes the need for understanding risk factors and implementing early screening and preventive strategies. Further research is needed to explore the roles of genetic admixture, cultural habits, environmental risks, and the microbiome in cancer epidemiology in the UAE. [Extracted from the article]

This paper aims to explore external auditors' perception of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It investigates whether there is a perception among external auditors toward the contribution of AI to audit quality. It also aims to test whether the perception of AI usage and its impact on audit quality differs between local and international external auditors. Data were collected using an online survey from 22 local and 41 international audit firms to achieve these research objectives. Participants were either the auditing manager, audit partners, senior auditors or other personnel who may have experience in the field of accounting and auditing. To test our hypotheses, data analysis was undertaken using reliability and validity tests, descriptive analysis and independent samples t-test. We found that the analysis shows that there is a non-significant difference in the perceived contribution of AI to audit quality between local and international audit firms. All the audit firms, whether local or international, have equal perceived contributions with regard to the audit quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), sudden decline syndrome (SDS) is one of the major fungal diseases caused by Fusarium solani affecting date palm plantations. To minimize the impact of the causal agent of SDS on date palm, native actinobacterial strains isolated from rhizosphere soils of healthy date palm plants were characterized according to their antifungal activities against F. solani DSM 106836 (Fs). Based on their in vitro abilities, two promising biocontrol agents (BCAs), namely Streptomyces tendae UAE1 (St) and Streptomyces violaceoruber UAE1 (Sv), were selected for the production of antifungal compounds and cell wall degrading enzymes (CWDEs), albeit their variations in synthesizing 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase (ACCD). Although both isolates showed antagonism when applied 7 days before the pathogen in the greenhouse experiments, the ACCDproducing Sv was relatively superior in its efficacy against SDS over the non-ACCD-producing St. This was evident from the symptoms of SDS in diseased date palm seedlings which were greatly reduced by Sv compared to St. On a scale of 5.0, the estimated disease severity indices in Fs-diseased seedlings were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced from 4.8 to 1.5 and 0.5 by St and Sv, respectively. Thus, the number of conidia of Fs recovered from plants pre-treated with both BCAs was comparable, but significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared to plants without any BCA treatment. In addition, a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in ACC levels of both the root and shoot tissues was detected in Sv + Fs seedlings to almost similar levels of healthy seedlings. However, in planta ACC levels highly increased in seedlings grown in soils infested with the pathogen alone or amended with St prior to F. solani infestation (St + Fs). This suggests a major role of ACCD production in relieving the stress of date palm seedlings infected with F. solani, thus supporting the integrated preventive disease management programs against this pathogen. This is the first report of effective rhizosphere actinobacterial BCAs to provide protection against SDS on date palm, and to help increase agricultural productivity in a more sustainable manner in the UAE and the other arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Nurses were on the front line against the COVID 19 pandemic, fighting to save human lives. Many nurses sacrificed their well-being and social life to win the battle. In consequence, many nurses have been infected with the virus around the Globe. This study aims to determine the immediate and short-term physical, psychological, and social impact of COVID 19 infection on nurses and midwives retrospectively. On the other hand, it aims to find the effect of COVID 19 stigma on the self-esteem of the infected nurses. Methods: To achieve this goal, the authors used an exploratory, mixed-method design with a sample of nurses and midwives working in a tertiary hospital in UAE who has been infected with the COVID 19 virus and recovered. The authors have used the qualitative results to explain and interpret the findings of the quantitative findings. The data were collected through distributing the quantitative survey to participants and then it was followed by conducting semi-structured interviews. Results: The careful exploration of the experiences of nurses infected with the COVID 19 virus suggested a simple model that manages the patients in hospitals and at homes, including improving self-efficacy and patient coping, providing the basic nursing skills to patients and families, providing continuous psychological support, and providing high standards of health care. Conclusion: The new suggested model will maintain a positive status of wellbeing amongst infected patients during the infection time and in 3–6 months after the infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), only limited epidemiological data and treatment guidance exist for acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), a rare, life-threatening blood disorder. AIMS: Expert insights from KSA and UAE were used to obtain local epidemiological data, to characterize current disease management and unmet needs, and to formulate recommendations for the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of aTTP. Costs and socioeconomic burden were a secondary focus. METHODS: Hematologists from KSA and UAE with clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of aTTP individually answered questions on the burden and management of aTTP via an online survey. Based on these insights, a draft consensus was discussed and refined jointly by the hematologists in a live session for each country. Payers provided information on the economic burden and cost of aTTP management. RESULTS: The experts estimate the incidence of aTTP to 5–6 (KSA) and 1–2 (UAE) per 1,000,000 person-years and anticipate it increasing. Most of the presenting patients are aTTP-naive. Recurrent disease is rare. Diagnosis of aTTP should involve ADAMTS13 activity testing. Plasma exchange and immunosuppression are the current standard of care. Key unmet needs include a lack of awareness of aTTP, access to rapid testing and novel treatments to improve outcomes. CONCLUSION: The expert consensus to address the unmet needs and improve aTTP outcomes include increasing aTTP awareness and access to ADAMTS13 testing; the development of national guidelines; and, additionally, strategies to improve patients' long-term quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is undoubtedly affecting the global weather of the Earth. Rapid human civilization has mainly caused this in the last few decades. This research examined the spatial and temporal land surface temperature (LST) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) coastal cities located in an arid region that faced massive urbanization over the last 50 years. We estimated the LST using by-products of Landsat and MODIS images covering 2000 until 2020. The assessment of LST was performed in two contexts, i.e., spatially and temporally, covering daytime vs. nighttime during the summer and winter seasons. Additionally, a supervised classification technique was adopted to extract the land use and land cover in the study area from the late 1970s until 2018. Unexpectedly, the results indicated that daytime LST in districts near the coastlines (heavily urbanized areas) are lower than the ones far away from the coast (about 9 °C). This observation represents the spatial LST inversion in the study area. Nevertheless, this difference was not observed during nighttime LST temporally, the daytime LST did not increase significantly during either summer or winter seasons. However, the nighttime LST has increased temporally by about 17% since 2000 (the temporal LST inversion). Both LST inversions could be attributed to the uniqueness of the study area, given that bare land desert was replaced by vegetation, high-rise buildings, and industrial activities. Additionally, the wind breeze blowing from the gulf might potentially contribute to cooling the coastal urban area during the daytime. Furthermore, in-depth zonal statistics were conducted to visualize the effect of land use on LST. The study observed that fully built-up areas with vegetation have lower LST than built-up areas without vegetation or a combination of sand and vegetation. The research outcomes are invaluable for decision-makers and researchers in achieving sustainable urban development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-five actinobacterial isolates obtained from Salicornia bigelovii rhizosphere in the United Arab Emirates were evaluated for their potential to produce polyamines and for their abilities to be rhizosphere-competent. The highly polyamine-producing Actinoplanes deccanensis UAE1 and Streptomyces euryhalinus UAE1 were selected, and their inoculation impacts on S. bigelovii were assessed under greenhouse conditions. Application of any of the two isolates significantly increased the length and dry weight of shoot and root tissues, photosynthetic pigments, and seed yields compared to control plants, suggesting that A. deccanensis and S. euryhalinus can promote S. bigelovii growth. The application of these isolates resulted in significant increases in the levels of endogenous free polyamines and plant growth regulators (auxins, gibberellic acid, and cytokinins), but a concomitant reduction in abscisic acid in S. bigelovii-tested tissues. Specifically, we found that putrescine, spermidine, and spermine produced by S. euryhalinus were the major contributors to plant growth parameters, but to a lesser extent by A. deccanensis. Both A. deccanensis and S. euryhalinus were, however, not capable of producing significant levels of other plant growth regulators in vitro. Plant yield was higher in the presence of S. euryhalinus than with A. deccanensis, suggesting relative superiority of S. euryhalinus as a rhizosphere-competent isolate compared to the nonrhizosphere-competent isolate A. deccanensis. This is the first study reporting the production of polyamines by marine actinobacteria and demonstrating the potential of polyamine-producing actinobacteria to enhance growth of halophytic plants through the increase in the endogenous levels of free polyamines and other plant growth regulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in investigating transportation issues at university campuses has been growing worldwide. Given the university travelers' unique travel patterns and characteristics influenced mainly by students, forecasting the travel demand of university travelers provides a unique opportunity to understand these patterns and seek solutions for transportation problems at such major trip generators. This study aims at developing a travel demand forecasting model (TDFM) for a university campus, which can be vital for testing alternative solutions, strategies, and policies to tackle transportation problems on university campuses, especially those related to sustainable transportation. The proposed methodology was applied to Sharjah University City (SUC) as a case study. Thus, a tour-based TDFM was developed to replicate the patterns of activity-based travels at SUC. The model was established using the state-of-the-art modeling tool PTV VISUM. Subsequently, it was validated for the baseline year and then applied to forecast future traffic demands. With the aim to reduce vehicular traffic volumes, the model was employed to evaluate two scenarios: introducing parking permits and pricing and establishing a park-and-ride facility to serve travelers to campus. These scenarios were compared in terms of several traffic and environmental performance measures. Based on predefined criteria, results highlighted that parking permit enforcement outperformed the park-and-ride facility. The present research may be considered one of the few studies to integrate a tour-based TDFM with a university's entire transportation network, a detailed traffic microsimulation, and an emission evaluation model. Results highlighted the effectiveness of the proposed modeling framework in providing reliable solutions for challenging questions that face urban university campus planners under different scenarios. Other universities can follow the methodology presented in this work to develop similar travel forecasting models for their campuses based on their specific travel characteristics. • Developed a travel demand forecasting model to tackle transportation problems on university campuses. • Used a tour-based approach rather than the traditional four-step modeling approach. • Applied to Sharjah University City, UAE, to evaluate two scenarios to reduce vehicular traffic volumes on campus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integration between information systems is critical, especially in the healthcare domain, since interoperability requirements are related to patients' data confidentiality, safety, and satisfaction. The goal of this study is to propose a solution based on the integration between queue management solution (QMS) and the electronic medical records (EMR), using Health Level Seven (HL7) protocols and Extensible Markup Language (XML). The proposed solution facilitates the patient's self-check-in within a healthcare organization in UAE. The solution aims to help in minimizing the waiting times within the outpatient department through early identification of patients who hold the Emirates national ID cards, i.e., whether an Emirati or expatriates. The integration components, solution design, and the custom-designed XML and HL7 messages were clarified in this paper. In addition, the study includes a simulation experiment through control and intervention weeks with 517 valid appointments. The experiment goal was to evaluate the patient's total journey and each related clinical stage by comparing the "routine-based identification" with the "patient's self-check-in" processes in case of booked appointments. As a key finding, the proposed solution is efficient and could reduce the "patient's journey time" by more than 14 minutes and "time to identify" patients by 10 minutes. There was also a significant drop in the waiting time to triage and the time to finish the triage process. In conclusion, the proposed solution is considered innovative and can provide a positive added value for the patient's whole journey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to identify early risk factors for in-hospital mortality in these patients. Methods: A total of 371 adult patients (>18 years) admitted to the ICU of Al Ain Hospital between March 16 and July 19, 2020 with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR) on nasopharyngeal swabs were included. Results: The mean patient age was 53 years (standard deviation = 13). Patients were mostly male (n = 314 [84.6%]) and of South Asian origin (n = 231 [62.3%]). Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 182 (49.1%) patients for a median of 11 days (25–75% interquartile range: 6–17). During the ICU stay, renal replacement therapy was required in 87 (23.5%) and vasopressor therapy in 190 (51.2%) patients. ICU and hospital lengths of stay were 9 (IQ: 5–17) and 18 (IQ: 13–29) days, respectively and ICU and hospital mortality rates were both 20.2%. In a multivariable analysis with in-hospital mortality as the dependent variable, greater Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score on ICU admission, diarrhea prior to hospital admission, greater, admission from hospital ward, and higher lactate dehydrogenase levels and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio on admission to the ICU were independently associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality. Conclusion: In this cohort of patients admitted to the ICU of a tertiary hospital in the UAE, COVID-19 pneumonia was associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Identifying patients at high risk of death may help detect future therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizational psychology applies psychological theories to improve the physical and mental well-being of employees, increase productivity, and improve competitiveness. Accordingly, the authors adopted the interactional and transactional theories of stress to study the effect of the hospital accreditation stressors on the well-being status among nurses mediated by their coping mechanisms. Also, the study will evaluate the moderating effect of supervisory support on this relationship. To achieve these goals, the authors used a cross-sectional, causal, and quantitative methodology with a convenience sample of 416 nurses from several public hospitals from the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The study revealed an insignificant direct effect for accreditation stressors on the well-being status of the nurses. These effects were significant when mediated by the nurse's coping mechanisms. Furthermore, the study revealed insignificant moderation effects for supervisory support on the nurse's coping mechanisms. The outcome of this study could help supervisors and interested researchers fill the gaps related to accreditation stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the aim to enhance sustainability in general including walkability, the recent urban forms of the designs of the Emirati neighborhoods have been denser and more compact, if compared with the older design models. While there are various guidelines and regulations related to the microscale walkability measures for the urban design of neighborhoods in the Emirates but unfortunately the macroscale walkability measures have not received similar attention. So, to investigate how would these denser and more compact recent neighborhoods designs better perform regarding walkability macroscale measures, the research utilized the urban modelling interface (UMI) walkability simulation tool to calculate the UMI Walkscores of these designs because it considers almost all macroscale factors including both urban morphology and urban planning measures and it also allows for the customization of the types, required catchment distances, and weights of the significance of locally provided amenities. The UMI Walkscores were calculated for the six recent denser and more compact neighborhoods designs and were compared with the UMI Walkscore for a conventionally designed model of urban sprawling neighborhoods. Unexpectedly, it has been found out that urban compactness per se is not a sufficient design measure for enhancing walkability in local neighborhood designs, where much higher compactness and density have achieved disappointing UMI Walkscores. So, it seems that for the recent neighborhoods' designs, little attention was paid to the impact of the street network connectivity measures of Intersection Density, Block Length and the link-to-nodes ratio, on UMI Walkscores, if compared with the main attention paid to increasing FAR through decreasing plot sizes. Meanwhile, the explicit macroscale urban planning measures including the land-use factors of the types, numbers, and the location of amenities, as well as the implicit factors of their destination and global weights seem to be more influential in enhancing the UMI Walkscores but have been less considered when planning these neighborhoods. So, besides considering well-known macroscale urban morphology aspects of street network connectivity and locational distribution of provided amenities, boosting walkability macroscale measures on the design level requires adopting a set of adequately customized measures including the appropriate values of their global and distribution weights. These walkability design weights should be also resilient and continuously reviewed to satisfy the changing needs of the local communities. Based on its findings, the research proposed a five-actions plan to help boost walkability macroscale measures in the design of local urban communities in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid nodules are a common clinical finding and most are benign, however, 5–15% can be malignant. There is limited regional data describing the accuracy of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytological examination compared to ultrasound examination of thyroid in patients who have undergone thyroid surgery. Methods: A retrospective analysis of ultrasonographic (US) reports, FNA cytology reports and histopathology reports of 161 thyroid nodules presented at the endocrine center at Tawam hospital in Al Ain city, the United Arab Emirates during the period 2011–2019 was performed. US reports and images with FNA cytopathology reports and slides were reviewed by an independent radiologist and pathologist. Results: In total, 40 nodules were reported as benign by US examination, while very low suspicious, low suspicious, intermediate suspicious and highly suspicious categories were reported in 21, 41, 14 and 45 nodules respectively. In addition, 68 nodules were reported as benign (Bethesda category II), while atypical follicular cells of unknown significance (Bethesda category III), follicular neoplasm (Bethesda category IV), suspicious for malignancy (Bethesda category V), and malignant (Bethesda category VI) categories were reported in 33, 9, 24 and 27 nodules respectively. The risk of malignancy for US benign nodules was 5%, while the risks of malignancy in very low suspicious, low suspicious, intermediate suspicious and highly suspicious nodules were 52%, 36%, 100% and 87%, respectively. The risk of malignancy for Bethesda category II was 3%, while the risks of malignancy in category III, IV, V and VI were 58%, 67%, 96% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Thyroid FNA cytological examination and ultrasonography are key tools in predicting malignancy in thyroid nodules. Thyroid nodules with the diagnosis of Bethesda category III & IV run a high risk of malignancy thus more vigilance is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma is a major burden on health-economic resources; hence, knoing the epidemiology of these patients is important in planning and provision of asthma care. In addition, identifying and managing the comorbidities helps improve symptoms and reduce associated morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVES: Epidemiology of difficult asthma has not been ell studied in the Middle East, so in this study, e present the demographic and clinical characteristics of severe asthma in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). METHODS: We retrospectively revieed the notes of severe asthma patients attending three tertiary care hospitals beteen May 2015 and December 2019. Data on baseline demographics, asthma characteristics, treatment, and comorbidities ere collected. RESULTS: We revieed the notes of 458 patients (271 females and 187 males) that fulfilled the 2019 Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines for the diagnosis of severe asthma. The mean age as 47.7 (standard deviation 17.2) years. Males had significantly higher asthma control test scores (17.9 vs. 16, P = 0.01) and mean blood eosinophils (0.401 vs. 0.294, P <0.01) than females. The most common comorbidity observed as allergic rhinitis (52.2%) folloed by gastroesophageal reflux disease (27.1%). In total, 109 (23.8%) patients ere on biological therapies ith most patients being on omalizumab and dupilumab (29 and 18 patients, respectively). Most patients ere nonsmokers (97.2%), and majority ere of TH2-high phenotype (75.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In this first report of severe asthma characteristics in the UAE, e found a pattern of female preponderance and most patients having a Th2-high phenotype. The findings are likely to help optimize asthma care in the region in the era of biologic therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agenesis comprises of the most common developmental anomaly of the human dentition, and is seen to affect at least about 25% of the population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of agenesis of third molars, mandibular second premolars and maxillary lateral incisors in the patients visiting a dental college in United Arab Emirates. Orthopantamograms (OPGs) of 945 dental patients aged 6 years -30 years were examined for the agenesis of teeth. Bilateral agenesis was considered and unilateral missing teeth were excluded from the study. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the percentages and frequencies were calculated using chi square test and the level of significance was considered if p value was <0.05. The prevalence of bilateral agenesis or congenitally missing teeth within the selected 945 OPGs were at 8.99%. The most common bilateral agenesis or congenitally missing teeth were the third molars (31.7%) followed by mandibular second premolar (10.5%) and maxillary lateral incisors (8.2%). The most common tooth presenting with agenesis was the third molars. The agenesis was more in the males than females and also it was more common in the mandibular arch than in the maxillary arch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The development of teaching public relations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an important topic to uncover because it is related to and to some extent parallel with the development of the UAE and its vital sectors. The purpose of the study is determine the circumstances of the emergence of teaching public relations in the UAE, to investigate public relations education offered in the UAE universities, to discuss the development of public relations education including challenges and opportunities. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conducted 12 semistructured interviews with public relations educators in the UAE universities to understand the importance, development and current status of public relations and education. Findings: The finding indicates a lot of developments took place in the establishment of public relations programs and its professionalization within a short time span, but more empirical research is needed to address the issues that have been brought up in the study. Research limitations/implications: The current research looked at the undergraduate public relations programs, but the status of graduate programs in communication and public relations needs to be investigated. More research in academic field is needed to discuss how the development of the public relations education influenced the public relations practice in UAE. Originality/value: There is not much research done specifically on the public relations education in the UAE. The study sheds light on understanding the perspective of public relations educators on public relations programs and provides insights on how public relations education can be integrated to the local context without losing the global perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the degree of cyberbullying in a sample of ninth and tenth grade students in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates (UAE) in terms of gender and social ecology variables. The method used was a descriptive analytical approach. The study used the data elicitation tool that includes eight items developed by Buffy and Dianne (2006) to measure the degree of cyberbullying. The researchers added eight additional items based on the students' comprehension level. The results showed that there is a low-impact level of cyberbullying on the tested students in Al Ain/UAE. The results also revealed that there are statistically significant differences at (a=0.05) between the participants who are bullied in terms of gender and social ecology in favor of the students whose parents are of a low educational level and whose mothers are employed. Based on the results, the study concludes with recommendations related to the importance of following social, educational and technical policies to reduce the negative effects of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common malignant thyroid neoplasm comprising 80–90% of all thyroid malignancies. Molecular changes in thyroid follicular cells are likely associated with the development of PTC. Mutations in serine/threonine-protein kinase (BRAF) and Rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (RAS) are commonly seen in PTC. Methods: In total, 90 cases of PTC are randomly selected from archive paraffin blocks and 10μm sections were cut and processed for DNA extraction. BRAFV600E mutation and 8 types of KRAS mutations were investigated using Real Time PCR. Results: BRAFV600E mutation was identified in 46% of PTC while KRAS mutations were seen in 11% of PTC. There was significant correlation between BRAFV600E mutation and PTC larger than 5cm in diameter, positive surgical margin and lymph node metastasis. BRAFV600E mutation was significantly higher in patients with less than 55-year of age than those more than 55-year of age. BRAFV600E mutation was significantly higher in patients with family history of thyroid cancer than those without. There was no significant difference in BRAFV600E mutation between males and females, PTC classic and follicular variants, unifocal and multifocal PTC. There was a significant higher percentage of BRAFV600E mutation in classic PTC than papillary microcarcinoma variant. There was no significant age, gender, histologic type, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, tumor focality, and surgical margin status differences between KRAS mutated and non-mutated PTC. Conclusion: BRAFV600E and KRAS mutation are seen in a significant number of PTC in the UAE. BRAF mutation is significantly correlated with large tumor size, positive surgical margins and lymph node metastasis suggesting an association between BRAFV600E mutation and tumor growth and spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicornia bigelovii is a promising halophytic cash crop that grows in seawater of the intertidal zone of the west-north coast of the UAE. This study assess plant growth promoting (PGP) capabilities of halotolerant actinobacteria isolated from rhizosphere of S. bigelovii to be used as biological inoculants on seawater-irrigated S. bigelovii plants. Under laboratory conditions, a total of 39 actinobacterial strains were isolated, of which 22 were tolerant to high salinity (up to 8% w/v NaCl). These strains were further screened for their abilities to colonize S. bigelovii roots in vitro ; the most promising ones that produced indole-3-acetic acid, polyamines (PA) or 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase (ACCD) were selected for rhizosphere-competency under naturally competitive environment. Three outstanding rhizosphere-competent isolates, Streptomyces chartreusis (Sc), S. tritolerans (St), and S. rochei (Sr) producing auxins, PA and ACCD, respectively, were investigated individually and as consortium (Sc / St / Sr) to determine their effects on the performance of S. bigelovii in the greenhouse. Individual applications of strains on seawater-irrigated plants significantly enhanced shoot and root dry biomass by 32.3–56.5% and 42.3–71.9%, respectively, in comparison to non-inoculated plants (control). In addition, plants individually treated with Sc , St and Sr resulted in 46.1, 60.0, and 69.1% increase in seed yield, respectively, when compared to control plants. Thus, the synergetic combination of strains had greater effects on S. bigelovii biomass (62.2 and 77.9% increase in shoot and root dry biomass, respectively) and seed yield (79.7% increase), compared to the control treatment. Our results also showed significant (P < 0.05) increases in the levels of photosynthetic pigments, endogenous auxins and PA, but a reduction in the levels of ACC in tissues of plants inoculated with Sc / St / Sr. We conclude that the consortium of isolates was the most effective treatment on S. bigelovii growth; thus confirmed by principal component and correlation analyses. To this best of our knowledge, this is the first report about halotolerant rhizosphere-competent PGP actinobacteria thriving in saline soils that can potentially contribute to promoting growth and increasing yield of S. bigelovii. These halotolerant actinobacterial strains could potentially be exploited as biofertilizers to sustain crop production in arid coastal areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the communication strategies that were adopted by thalassemia campaigns in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The author discusses how thalassemia campaigns relay their messages and activities. Which communication channels are used by the campaigns? And which target audience do they consider to be important? The content analysis and survey were conducted to understand the strategy and impact of the campaigns. The results confirm that the campaigns were successful in various aspects such as planning, targeting the audience, coming up with creative and appropriate messages, as well as choosing effective communication channels. The awareness strategy utilised in the campaign took into consideration the specific social and cultural aspects of the Gulf region, especially where endogamy marriages take place, and which thus are directly related to the campaign's subject. The research results indicate that social media usage (37.52%), personal communication (30.02%) and print media (15.03%) played a significant role during the campaigns in raising awareness of thalassemia in the UAE. It was found that less than half of all respondents (48.21%) confirmed that they received information regarding the disease through thalassemia campaigns' web sites, 20.36% said that they accumulated information about the disease from mass media, while 13.16% of respondents said that local media outlets were their source of information about thalassemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]