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Background: There is a global call for upscaling and optimising the role of community pharmacists (CPs) in the control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where NCDs are classified as a public health pandemic, upscaling CPs contributions has become more critical. Several contextual, professional, and educational challenges constrain the role of CPs. Objective: To synthesise the perspectives of key stakeholders in the UAE healthcare system and propose a roadmap for advancing the role of CP s in controlling NCDs in the UAE. Methods: This research followed a qualitative design using the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) framework for quality assurance of pharmacy profession development. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with 28 experts and senior leaders, then analysed using the thematic analysis technique with the assistance of NVivo software. Results: The analysis yielded three main themes that outlined the prospective roadmap: education, work environment, and policy. Some of the generated subthemes were establishing accredited NCD-specialised programmes, building a national framework for interprofessional education and collaboration, and upscaling the engagement of CPs in public health platforms and initiatives. Conclusion: Improving the role of CPs in controlling the NCD pandemic in the UAE requires coherent and well-structured multidisciplinary endeavours from health policymakers, educational institutions, and all groups of healthcare professionals, including the CPs themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to assess the students' skills in creating virtual classrooms using the Google Classroom (GC) application through a 30 item questionnaire. In addition, the study used a Likert scale and an interview to explore students' perceptions towards GC. The sample consisted of 26 Master's students in the College of Education at Al Ain University in UAE. Data was generated from analyzing the questionnaire, and the Likert scale and the interview were used to answer the research questions. The results revealed that the degree of Master's students' skills in creating virtual classrooms was weak, and there are no statistically significant differences between students' skills based on gender and specialization. The results also showed that the perception of the GC was positive, and the majority of participants assured that GC is easy to create and use. They also expressed interest to learn more about GC through training. The findings from this study could be utilized by College of Education faculty members, students, administrators, and policymakers.

This research develops a model to investigate the influence of different determinants on student's Academic Performance (AP) in UAE University (UAEU). The model consists of Big Five personality traits (BigF) and other learning-orientation strategies. The importance of this research to the UAE's context stems from the fact that determinants of AP vary from one country to another and hence, UAE students may possess different personal traits and learning strategies. From 179 legible responses, the proposed model showed its success in detecting AP of UAEU students with the BigF attributes being the main contributors to explaining AP. The research showcases interesting insights and implications pertaining to UAEU-student's learning strategies, traits and habits. The implications point to different theoretical and professional contributions and contentions and hence, suggesting different recommendations.

The study aims at proposing a quantitative instrument tailored to measure the level of mathematics motivation and self-concept of students in mathematics courses at academic institutions of higher education. The significance of this study stems from its endeavour to measure mathematics motivation and self-concept of students in courses of mathematics at academic institutions of higher education which ultimately contributes to the success of students, academic institutions and societies. A quantitative research methodology has been employed in this study in which a 55-item survey instrument has been tailored and piloted. The results of factor analysis indicate that the instrument's items loaded into mathematics motivational factors and mathematics self-concept factors. The cumulative percentage explained by mathematics motivational factors is 55.3% and the cumulative percentage explained by mathematics self-concept factors is 53.2%. The factors of mathematics motivation and mathematics self-concept explain the majority of variance in the dataset. The findings of validity and reliability tests show that 35 items measure mathematics motivation through four subscales which include importance and necessity of mathematics; perception of success in mathematics; enjoyment of mathematics; and expectations of future career and income. The other 20 items measure mathematics self-concept through two subscales which include cognitive mathematics self-concept and affective mathematics self-concept.

The environment constitutes the natural setting where humans reside, secure food sources, and utilize natural resources to fulfill their material and life necessities. Unlike other creatures, humans have not adapted to nature and the surrounding environment; instead, they have manipulated it to their advantage, disrupting the ecological balance. The primary catalyst for this disruption was the Industrial Revolution, which significantly increased pollution rates, harmful emissions, and the extraction of raw materials, thereby intensifying the exploitation of natural resources. The gravest concern is that the damage inflicted upon nature may reach a point of no return, with catastrophic and enduring consequences, such as global warming, ice melting, rising sea levels, and escalation in greenhouse gases, along with severe repercussions of these events, including an increase in mortality rates due to natural disasters. Effective responses necessitate actions at various levels, including cultural and educational initiatives and international measures, particularly in legislation. Such laws must enforce stringent controls on emissions from industrial and automotive sources. Individuals are called upon to conserve electricity and water, and adopting renewable energy sources, such as solar, hydro, wind, and tidal energy, that do not rely on fuel combustion is encouraged. Planting trees, which absorb carbon dioxide as a primary contributor to global warming, is among the most critical measures we can undertake. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is essential in combating climate change in this arena, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is leading in this. This paper elaborates on the impact of climate change in Middle Eastern countries using a brief case study of the Saudi Green Initiatives. The paper also presents the policy recommendations to the concerned stakeholders of the GCC and the government of Saidi Arabia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the study is to examine whether there is a significant relationship between students' motivation to succeed in introductory mathematics courses offered by universities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as the dependent variable of the research and another five independent variables including cognitive mathematics self-concept, affective mathematics self-concept, extrinsic motivation as expectations of future career and income, students' age and the number of mathematics courses taken by students. The rationale of the study is based on the significance of mathematics achievements for students and academic institutions in particular, as well as for the society in general. The study is designed based on a quantitative research methodology and a sample of 685 students participated in completing a survey questionnaire. The sample is drawn from students who were registered in different introductory mathematics courses at four academic institutions of higher education in the UAE. The quantitative correlation analysis among students' motivation, cognitive mathematics self-concept, affective mathematics self-concept, extrinsic motivation, students' age and the number of mathematics courses taken by students reveals theoretically consistent interrelationships. The quantitative multiple regression analysis indicates that the five independent variables explain 71.3% of the variation in students' motivation to succeed in introductory mathematics courses.

This study investigates the factors influencing the implementation of blockchain in logistics in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including security, privacy, end-user benefits, quality control, technology infrastructure, and lack of general awareness. A mixed-methods approach was used, with data collected through survey questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. The research targeted logisticians in the UAE's supply chain department, using random probability sampling and a sample size of 151 for surveys and using purposive sampling for recruiting 10 experts. Using SPSS 24.0, the Pearson Correlation analysis revealed a strong association between blockchain in logistics and IT infrastructure and awareness of blockchain in the UAE logistics sector. Exploratory factor analysis showed a significant difference towards the security of data in the implementation of blockchain in the logistics sector in the UAE. This research suggests that implementing blockchain technology in UAE logistics companies can enhance data security and quality control, influencing managers' decisions positively and recommends prioritizing data security and quality control. The study's geographical context emphasizes its contribution in the research area showing the importance of considering cost, benefits, security, IT infrastructure ownership, and awareness aspects in the adoption of blockchain technology in supply chain management. [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]

Background: Substantial evidence embraced the nutrition competence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) as a healthy model for decreasing the risk of chronic diseases and increasing longevity, with the bonus of ensuring environmental sustainability. Measuring adherence to this diet is marginally investigated in the Arabian Gulf region, an area away from the Mediterranean region. The current study aimed to assess the MD adherence among adults in Sharjah/the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to identify the most influential predictors for MD adherence among the study participants. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed using a self-reported, web-based electronic questionnaire that questioned sociodemographics, lifestyle factors, and familiarity with the MD. The MD adherence was assessed by the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener validated questionnaire. The adherence level was classified as low for a total score of [0–5], medium [score 6–7], and high (8–13). Results: The study included 1314 participants (age 25–52 years) comprised 822 (62.6%) females and 492 (37.4%) males. There was a moderate adherence score (5.9 ± 1.9) among the study participants. The food constituent expressed the lowest contribution to the MD was fish (9.3%), followed by fruits (12.3%), and legumes (18.3%). The multivariable linear regression analysis showed an overall significant linear trend for the association between the MD adherence score and physical activity, while nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the most two strongly related predictors for the higher adherence (β = 0.747; 95% CI 0.51–0.98, and β 0.60; 95% CI 0.269–0.93; p < 0.001, respectively). On the other side, being a smoker and from a non-Mediterranean country was associated with lower adherence scores (β = 0.538; 95% CI 0.252–0.82, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of the current study showed a moderate adherence, low proportion for high adherence, and a gap in the familiarity with the diet name. Being married, physically active, non-smoker, and getting nutrition information from dietitians and social media were the strongest predictors for higher adherence. It is warranted that public health and nutrition specialists/dietitians to tailor new modern approaches for promoting healthy dietary behaviours consistent with the MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conventional merit-based criteria, including standardized test scores and grade point averages, have become less available to residency programs to help distinguish applicants, making other components of the application, including letters of recommendation (LORs), important surrogate markers for performance. Despite their impact on applications, there is limited published data on LORs in the international setting. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of academic faculty was conducted between 9 January 2023 and 12 March 2023 at two large academic medical centers in the United Arab Emirates. Descriptive statistics were used to tabulate variable frequencies. Results: Of the 98 respondents, the majority were male (n = 67; 68.4%), Western-trained (n = 66; 67.3%), mid-career physicians (n = 46; 46.9%). Most respondents (n = 77; 78.6%) believed that the purpose of an LOR was to help an applicant match into their desired program. Letters rarely included important skills, such as leadership (n = 37; 37.8%), applicant involvement in research (n = 43; 43.9%), education (n = 38; 38.8%), or patient advocacy (n = 30; 30.6%). Most faculty (n = 81; 82.7%) were not familiar with standardized letters of recommendation. Only 7.3% (n = 7) of respondents previously received training in writing LORs, but 87.7% (n = 86) expressed an interest in this professional development opportunity. Conclusion: There is variability in perceptions and practices related to LOR writing in our international setting, with several areas for improvement. Given the increasing importance of LORs to a candidate's application, faculty development is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the challenges faced by women in scientific research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It reports on the advancements made in education, employment, and leadership roles. It highlights the efforts towards gender equality in science through initiatives like the L'Oréal—the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) For Women in Science International Awards.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated increased workload, stress, and burnout on healthcare providers on the frontlines of the pandemic, dieticians were no exception. Such unprecedented occupational risks and stressors contributed to a higher intention to quit, potentially leading to workforce shortages, and hindering the delivery of quality care, especially for patients with chronic conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence factors associated with the intention to quit among dieticians in the United Arab Emirates during a public health emergency. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional design with an online survey sent to dieticians between January and May 2021. The final version of the questionnaire included four sections: A sociodemographic section, intention to quit, work-related practices and challenges, as well as the resilience scale using the 25 items- Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale© (CD-RISC). Descriptive statistics as well as simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were carried out to explore factors associated with the intention to quit among dieticians. Results: Study results revealed that a quarter of dieticians intend to quit their jobs. Higher odds of intention to quit among dieticians were significantly associated with male gender, younger age, having a chronic condition, being non-resilient, feeling unappreciated, using online platforms for dietary counseling, reporting increased workload, and working from home or in a blended format during the pandemic. Conclusion: This study revealed a high intention to quit among dieticians during the COVID-19 pandemic and identified a few correlates for the intention to quit that could support the development of evidence-based interventions. Such interventions should address through targeted programs the challenges faced by male dieticians, younger dieticians, as well as dieticians with Chronic health conditions. Furthermore, the findings of this study showed that promoting resilience among dieticians is crucial in reducing their intention to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proactive policy for tackling the global water crisis involves the application of artificial groundwater recharge (AGR). AGR site selection is a complex challenge, particularly in large study areas. Considerable research attempted to locate AGR sites using field data collection or conventional decision modeling techniques, such as analytic hierarchy process (AHP). However, the present study utilizes machine learning (ML) techniques with geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing images to develop a high-efficiency AGR map for the United Arab Emirates. In this study, nine thematic layers were considered: precipitation, drainage density, total dissolved solids, groundwater level, geology, geomorphology, lineament density, elevation and distance from residences. The study applied three ML models, namely support vector machine, multilayer perceptron and random forest (RF), to estimate the relative importance of each thematic layer through feature importance analysis. The AHP approach was also used for comparison. The weights for each thematic layer were determined through a literature review and expert opinions. Results showed that the RF model performed best, with an overall prediction accuracy of 99%. The developed AGR maps were categorized according to their suitability for AGR potential, with approximately 10% of the study area categorized as high. The results of the AHP and RF approaches were relatively similar, indicating that the qualitative approach of AHP was validated by the data-driven approach of RF. The present study presents a framework that can be applied in other climate regions with data availability. This framework can also help environmental agencies and practitioners understand the role of ML in AGR site selection. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of combining GIS, remote sensing and ML techniques to produce high-efficiency AGR maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The relationship between obesity and satiation is complex and bidirectional. Understanding differences in reasons for meal termination may enhance our understanding of overeating risks and susceptibility to overconsumption. This study aimed to investigate the reasons why individuals in the UAE stop eating. A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted among adults ≥18 years in the UAE (n = 1482). Using a self-administered online questionnaire, we collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, and eating behavior using the Reasons Individuals Stop Eating—Questionnaire (RISE-Q-15) used twice for breakfast/main meal. The items were categorized into five scales; decreased food appeal (DFA), physical satisfaction (PS), planned amount (PA), self-consciousness (SC), and decreased priority of eating (DPE). All items were scored from 1 to 7 ranging between 3 to 21 on each scale. A paired t-test was used to evaluate the difference between the RISE-Q scores on each scale concerning the two meals. The main reason why participants stopped eating breakfast was under the PS scale (14.91 ± 3.72), followed by the PA scale (14.58 ± 3.00). The main reason why participants stopped eating main meals was under the PS scale (14.78 ± 3.56), followed by the PA scale (14.77 ± 43.81). The mean score of the DPE scale was significantly higher for breakfast than the main meal (p = 0.038). More than half of the participants reported an average eating rate (58.7%). Pearson's chi-square analysis revealed that the eating rate was dependent on BMI (p<0.001). Considering individual mealtimes and addressing factors related to PS and PA of food is crucial when designing nutrition interventions aiming to promote healthy eating habits among adults in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restaurant menu calorie labeling is regarded as a promising, cost-effective, and innovative method that will have an impact on the food environment, raise awareness among consumers, and aid in global efforts to prevent obesity. This study aimed to assess the public's calorie literacy, dining practices, and perceived effectiveness of restaurant menu labeling implementation in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A descriptive, web-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1279 adults in the UAE. Socio-demographic characteristics, calorie literacy, and perceived effectiveness of restaurant menu labeling among participants were investigated. Chi-square analysis was used to compare indicators across demographic characteristics. More females than males completed the online survey, (56.1% and 43.9%). Most of the participants aged < 30 years old (54.8%), The majority of participants reported eating away from home at least once per week (89.6%). 66.0% of participants were knowledgeable about calorie definition, but only 37.1% knew about average daily energy requirements. Younger participants, with a normal BMI, and higher education levels reported a significantly higher likelihood of eating at a chain restaurant with caloric information on the menu (p <0.05). The majority of participants (76.0%) preferred to see calorie information and other nutrition information on menus. To conclude, menu labeling is a welcomed policy to be implemented in food outlets. Further investigation is necessary to ascertain the most efficacious method of presenting nutrition information to consumers to facilitate informed purchasing decisions considering the potential benefits of mandating calorie declaration in obesity prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Eptinezumab is a humanized IgG1 immunoglobulin monoclonal antibody administered intravenously as a preventative migraine treatment. Previously conducted randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials exhibited significant reductions in monthly migraine frequency among adults experiencing episodic and chronic migraine. The present study seeks to expand upon the current findings and to evaluate eptinezumab's efficacy as a preventative treatment for chronic and episodic migraine patients in the United Arab Emirates. This study is intended to represent the first real-world evidence and will hopefully serve as a valuable complement to the existing literature on the subject. Methods: This was a retrospective exploratory study. The participants included within the study were adult (≥ 18 years) patients diagnosed with either episodic or chronic migraine. Patients were categorized according to their history of previous preventative treatment failure. For the final assessment of treatment efficacy, we included only patients with a minimum of 6 months of clinical follow-up data. Patients were assessed at baseline for their monthly migraine frequency and assessed again at months 3 and 6. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of eptinezumab in reducing migraine frequency among chronic and episodic migraine patients. Results: A total of 100 participants were identified, of whom 53 completed the study protocol at month 6. Of the total, 40 (75.47%) were female, 46 (86.79%) were Emirati locals, and 16 (30.19%) were pharmaceutically naïve, having never tried any prior preventative therapy. Additionally, 25 (47.17%) patients met the criteria for chronic migraine (CM), whereas the remaining 28 (52.83%) were diagnosed with episodic migraine (EM). The baseline monthly migraine frequency (MMD) was 12.23 (4.97) days across all participants, 15.56 (3.97) for CM patients, and 9.25 (3.76) for EM patients; by month 6, these frequencies reduced to 3.66 (4.21), 4.76 (5.32), and 2.68 (2.61), respectively. Overall, 58.49% of those enrolled experienced > 75% reduction in MMD frequency by month 6. Conclusion: Patients enrolled in this trial experienced clinically significant reductions in MMD by month 6. Eptinezumab was well tolerated and with one AE of significance that led to discontinuation from the study. [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]

Servant leadership influences the behaviors of human resources by increasing the happiness of employees and fostering their performance. Moreover, this leadership style focuses on the needs of individuals and serves followers to fulfill these needs. People who accept servant leadership experience higher levels of satisfaction, trust, creativity, recognition, and independence in their work. Today, many organizations in the healthcare sector are facing various challenges associated with human resources. One of these challenges is the absence of a strategy to make employees happy in the workplace. Another challenge is finding the appropriate leadership style, which enhances job performance. Hence, the issue of happiness in the workplace needs to be properly conceptualized so that to understand the role of leadership from a different perspective. Accordingly, this study developed a conceptual framework that constructs employee happiness as a mediator between servant leadership and job performance. The methodology adopted in this study is quantitative, whereas the survey has been conducted in Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA). The Population represents the employees and administrative staff. The results reveal that the empirical data has a satisfactory degree of fit with the conceptual framework. The findings of this study contributed to the body of knowledge on servant leadership and happiness in the workplace. Moreover, it shows that the performance of human resources in healthcare institutions can be improved if the organizations adopted a servant leadership style. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is one of the most important challenges of the modern era. The aims of this study were assessed (1) the climatological analysis for two periods: far-past (1979-1998) and near past (1999-2018) over the United Arab Emirates, (2) statistical evaluation of ERA5-reanalysis dataset against climatic historical reference period, and (3) investigate heatwave indices and their characteristics over the UAE from 1979 to 2050 using CORDEX model at RCP4.5 scenarios. Results showed that the effects of climatic changes appeared to be clear on the temperature and precipitation within the UAE. Temperature increased by 1.15 °C between 1979 and 2018, and therefore the annual average rainfall decreased by -81.5 mm within the same time period. Slight difference in temperature between observation and ERA5 clearly shown a strong positive correlation, on the contrary, precipitation is shown significantly high error values because of the plurality of climate and its variability between tropical semi-arid and desert climate. The number, frequency, duration, magnitude and amplitude of heat waves accelerates from the beginning of the study period in 1979 and continues to increase until the end of study at year 2050 in UAE. By studying thermal comfort, it was found that most of the population suffers from thermal discomfort and reaches severe stress in July and August. Two main types of heat wave impacts have so far been underlined: divorce cases and road accidents. However, this list is not exhaustive, as wider social impacts may occur during heat wave events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The COVID‐19 pandemic had a major impact on people of all ages. Adolescents' exposure to online learning is linked to excessive screen time on digital devices, which leads to poor sleep quality. This study aimed to investigate the association between screen time on different electronic devices and sleep quality among adolescents in the United Arab Emirates. This study was based on a self‐reported questionnaire, which was administered online to school‐aged adolescents (aged 12–19 years). The multicomponent questionnaire collected information on sociodemographic characteristics, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and screen time (minutes) on TV, TV‐connected devices, laptops, smartphones, and tablets on weekdays, weeknight, and weekends using the Screen Time Questionnaire (STQ). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors correlated with poor sleep quality. A total of 1720 adolescents were recruited from private and public schools (mean age 14.6 ± 1.97 years). The mean PSQI score was 8.09 ± 3.37, and 74.3% of participants reported poor sleep (cutoff score >5). Mean scores were highest for the sleep latency (1.85 ± 0.97) and sleep disturbance (1.56 ± 0.62) domains. The highest STQ score was observed for smartphones, with a median screen time of 420 min on weekdays and 300 min on weekends. Screen time related to smartphones on weekends (p = 0.003) and increased screen time in bed (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with poor sleep. Our results confirmed the correlation between sleep and screen time in adolescents. The results may inform educational polices that target screen time and sleep among adolescents during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Patients frequently use gastric acid-reducing agents (ARAs) to treat symptoms affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, the risk for drug–drug interactions (DDI) is a serious concern. This potentially makes the community pharmacist (CP) act as a primary intervention by providing the appropriate counseling and dispensing practice. Objective: To evaluate CPs' counseling and dispensing practices regarding complaints of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), including recommending an appropriate course of action to prevent possible DDIs. Materials and methods: A simulated patient (SP) methodology was used in this study. The community pharmacies in Ajman and Sharjah were visited by SP who's responsible for acting as a patient, and by an observer who's responsible for focusing on the interaction between the SP and the CPs without engagement. Data were recorded using a preprepared data collection form. Performance feedback was sent to the CPs after concluding all visits. Counseling and dispensing scores were classified based on the total scores to poor, inadequate, and complete. Appropriateness of the pharmacist's decision was defined as dispensing antacid and advising of separating doses apart in time. Results: A total of 150 community pharmacies was included in the data analysis. The findings of the current study demonstrated poor counseling and dispensing for the vast majority of the participants (81.3% and 67.3% of respondents, respectively). Only 4% of the CPs advised the SP to have a time interval between antacid and cefuroxime axetil. A significant difference in counseling scores was found between pharmacies located in Ajman and Sharjah (p = 0.01). Also, there was a significant difference in dispensing scores between independent and chain pharmacies (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The findings revealed inadequate counseling and dispensing practice by CPs. This study highlighted the need for continuous professional training programs to endow the CPs with the knowledge necessary for improving the CPs' counseling and dispensing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to investigate the nutritional constituents of common market available spices in the United Arab Emirates. Seven commonly consumed spices namely, ginger (Zingiber officinale), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), black seed (Nigella sativa), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum), cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) and saffron (Crocus sativus) were obtained from local markets. Proximate analyses were performed according to AOAC procedures. Assessment of major (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P and S) and minor (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) elements was conducted using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Findings revealed varying macronutrient, micronutrient and mineral contents which are highly valuable for dietary purposes. The present study demonstrates that these edible spices could be used for nutritional support, due to their micro and macronutrient contents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have indicated shortcomings in food safety knowledge and practices among pregnant women in the Arab region. A high-risk group for having severe outcomes from foodborne illnesses. This study aimed to assess self-reported food safety knowledge and practices among pregnant women in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 354 pregnant women residing in the UAE completed an online survey between October 2021 and January 2022. The questionnaire included socio-demographic information, food safety knowledge, and food practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Correct answers for food safety knowledge were scored out of 50 and the total score was compared by sociodemographic characteristics. The total mean score for the study population was 26.7 ± 4.6 out of 50. Participants had good knowledge about foodborne diseases (81.3%) and personal hygiene practices (61.8%). While they were least knowledgeable about cross-contamination (43.3%) and temperature control practices (35.8%). Significantly higher knowledge scores were observed with higher levels of education and primigravida women (p<0.05). Knowledge about the COVID-19 virus and its relation to food safety was adequate for most participants. This study infers the need for food safety-related education and training programs to reduce the risk of foodborne disease among this vulnerable group. It also highlights the need to enhance the role of healthcare professionals as trusted sources of information in improving food safety during pregnancy. [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]

Background: Nurses make up the majority of the healthcare workforce. They contribute to the development of healthcare systems and the provision of high‐quality, effective, and patient‐centered healthcare services. However, nurses need good mental and emotional well‐being to provide adequate care and the necessary physical and mental health support for their clients. This study aimed to determine the level of generalized psychological distress among nurses in the United Arab Emirates. As this study was initiated before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, we were able to compare data gathered before and during the pandemic. Method: This study used a cross‐sectional correlational design. The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) was used to measure generalized psychological distress. Nurses' distress levels were measured and compared before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Results: In total, 988 participants completed the questionnaire. The majority (n = 629, 63.7%) were employed in hospitals and the remainder worked in primary healthcare settings (n = 359, 36.3%). The mean distress score was 27.1 ± 13.7; 42.1% (n = 416) of participants had a severe level of distress, and only 36.4% (n = 360) reported no distress. More participants had severe stress levels before COVID‐19 (59.5%, n = 386) compared with during COVID‐19 (10.9%, n = 30). Conclusions: Participants' K10 scores suggest that nurses experience significant distress, which may compromise their ability to care for their clients. This study emphasizes the importance of supporting nurses as a preliminary step to improving patient care. Despite the pressure of working during the COVID‐19 pandemic, participants' general distress scores were lower during than before the pandemic. Organizational, governmental, and global support and appreciation may have contributed to relieving the distress nurses experienced. This may be a useful ongoing approach for enhancing healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study investigated stress levels and coping strategies among working and nonworking women in the United Arab Emirates. Background: Stress levels in working and nonworking women have previously been studied, but few studies used cortisol to measure stress or examined how coping strategies affect stress levels. Methods: We employed a cross‐sectional design with a convenience sample of women aged 20–65 years. Information on women's sociodemographic characteristics, perceived stress (using the Perceived Stress Scale) and coping strategies (using the Brief‐COPE) was collected. Participants' morning (07:00–08:00) and evening (19:00–20:00) cortisol levels were measured using unstimulated saliva samples. Results: In total, 417 working and 403 nonworking women participated in this study. More nonworking women reported high stress levels than working women (14.1% vs. 4.1%, p =.001). Working women reported more use of informational support and venting to cope with stress compared with nonworking women (94.0% vs. 88.1%, p =.001). More nonworking women had impaired morning (<0.094 mg/dl) and evening (>0.359 mg/dl) cortisol compared with working women (58.1% vs. 28.5% and 41.7% vs. 18.0%, respectively). Compared with working women, nonworking women had 3.25 (95%CI: 2.38, 4.47) and 3.78 (95%CI: 2.65, 5.43) times the odds of impaired morning and evening cortisol, respectively. Conclusion: Nonworking women exhibited higher levels of stress than working women. There is an urgent need to support nonworking women to manage stress through appropriate awareness campaigns and public health policies. Implications for Management: Policymakers and community leaders should consider the mental health of nonworking women as a priority in planning public health policies and programmes. Nurse managers must have a voice in reforming public health policy to support early assessment and management of stress among nonworking women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To provide an effective energy transition, hydrogen is required to decarbonize the hard-to-abate industries. As a case study, this paper provides a holistic view of the hydrogen energy transition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). By utilizing the directional distance function undesirable data envelopment analysis model, the energy, economic, and environmental efficiency of UAE sectors are estimated from 2001 to 2020 to prioritize hydrogen sector coupling. Green hydrogen production efficiency is analyzed from 2020 to 2050. The UAE should prioritize the industry and transportation sectors, with average efficiency scores of 0.7 and 0.74. The decomposition of efficiency into pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency suggests policies and strategies should target upscaling the UAE's low-carbon hydrogen production capacity to expedite short-term and overall production efficiency. The findings of this study can guide strategies and policies for the UAE's low-carbon hydrogen transition. A framework is developed based on the findings of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeolianites with a mixed clastic and carbonate detrital mineralogy are typical deposits of tropical coastal desert environments. These deposits are genetically related to transgressive–regressive cycles, with the shallow‐marine carbonate detrital component being deflated from the exposed seafloor during episodes of glacial sea‐level lowstands, transported and later accumulated onto more continental areas. A detailed investigation of the granulometric and petrographic properties of the Late Pleistocene to Holocene Ghayathi Formation in the United Arab Emirates provides a comprehensive numerical dataset that reveals the complex spatio‐temporal depositional and diagenetic evolution of a mixed siliciclastic–carbonate continental aeolianite. Fifty‐one thin sections and forty‐four rock samples of three sedimentary units (Madinat‐Zayed, Ghayathi and Fuwayrit formations) from the United Arab Emirates were analyzed for their grain‐size distribution, mineralogy and the bulk stable‐carbon and oxygen isotopic composition. Sorting, skewness and kurtosis of the grain‐size distributions provide evidence for a divergent aerodynamic behaviour between the carbonate and siliciclastic particles. The different grain‐size distributions between the inland and coastal sections of the Ghayathi Formation indicate that continental mixed clastic−carbonate aeolianites are affected by density‐driven selective transport and consequent traction sorting due to the nature of carbonate detritus. The transport decoupling of the different detrital components resulted in a 'continental sorting' effect, with the inland sections yielding layers characterized by a better sorted detritus than the coastal areas. All detritus originally composed of aragonite has been removed by dissolution during early meteoric diagenesis, with its shapes frequently preserved by micritic envelopes. The bulk stable‐isotope composition of the carbonate fraction reflects a decreasing degree of meteoric cementation from coastal to inland areas. The high complexity of the lateral and vertical distribution of the sedimentary, diagenetic and isotopic properties of continental mixed aeolianites, such as the Ghayathi Formation, highlights the problem of recognizing such deposits in the pre‐Quaternary sedimentary record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The transition from a predominantly milk-based diet to a diverse family diet is a window of opportunity for optimal child growth and development. Objectives The study aims to examine the nutritional status and food-consumption patterns of children under 4 y of age in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and their adherence to nutrient and dietary recommendations. Methods A population-based cross-sectional survey of 525 children aged 0–47.9 mo was conducted in 3 major emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and dietary assessment was conducted using the 24-h dietary recall approach. Usual intakes of energy, macronutrient, and micronutrients, including from supplements, were assessed using PC-SIDE software. Adherence to food-group recommendations was evaluated based on the American Heart Association/American Academy of Pediatrics dietary guidelines. Results Among 0–4-y-old children, 10% were stunted, 6% were wasted, 17% were at risk of overweight, 5% were overweight, and 3% were obese. The contribution of sweets and sugar sweetened beverages to energy intake increased from 5% in 6–11.9-mo-old children to 17% in 36–47.9-mo-old children. Compared with dietary guidelines, the lowest adherence was for fruit (13–18%) and vegetables (7–12%), while protein was within the recommendations, and 92% and 89% of children (aged 24 to 35.9 mo and 36 to 47.9 mo, respectively) had high intakes of saturated fat. Almost all toddlers failed to meet the Adequate Intake for fiber. The proportions of children exceeding the free-sugar upper limit increased from 10.6% in infants (0–5.9 mo) to 56.7% in toddlers (12– 23.9 mo). Micronutrient inadequacies were observed, particularly for calcium, zinc, folate, and vitamins A and D. Conclusions This study suggests a triple burden of malnutrition among infants and young children in the UAE. Results call for national nutrition intervention strategies aimed at improving dietary quality in the pediatric population. [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]

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the practices and resilience of most healthcare workers, including dieticians. In addition to offering critical care to COVID-19 patients, dieticians play a major role in preventing and managing conditions known to affect COVID-19, such as obesity and metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to examine the conditions and changes in the work environment as well as resilience and its correlates among dieticians during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Methods: A cross-sectional national survey was conducted among dieticians practicing in the UAE (n = 371), using a web-based questionnaire. The questionnaire addressed, in addition to the sociodemographic information, the practice-related characteristics and resilience of participants. For the latter the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale© was used. Descriptive statistics as well as simple and multiple linear regressions were used in the statistical analysis.Results: Of participants, 26.4% reported not having access to personal protective equipment and 50% indicated being concerned for their safety and health. Furthermore, considerable proportions of participants were not satisfied (45%) with the support nor with the appreciation (37.7%) they received during the pandemic. One in four dieticians considered quitting his/her job. While 65.8% of participants reported counseling COVID-19 patients, a third did not use any online platform for counseling. The most cited challenge to dietetic practice during the pandemic was 'maintaining work-life balance' (43.1%). The mean CD-RISC score was 72.0 ± 14.0. After adjustment, working in a hospital or public clinic (as opposed to private clinic), having a condition preventing face-to-face counseling, considering quitting job and feeling neutral or dissatisfied with the appreciation were associated with lower resilience scores, while counseling COVID-19 patients was associated with higher scores.Conclusions: Despite the fairly high resilience among dieticians practicing in the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings of this study highlighted a few challenges, mainly related to safe practice environment, support for online counseling, and maintaining work-life balance. Concerted efforts of policy and decision makers ought to develop targeted programs for dieticians to ensure their retention and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore factors contributing to the theory‐practice gap in nursing education in the United Arab Emirates. Background: The gap between what is taught in nursing classrooms and what is practised in clinical settings creates challenges for nursing students, practitioners, managers and educators. This has important implications for the United Arab Emirates and other developing countries as their healthcare systems require a permanent nursing taskforce that is well supplied with ready to practice graduates. Methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was used, whereby 25 senior student nurses were interviewed about their perceptions of the theory‐practice gap. Results: The major theme that emerged in this study was the 'tripod of clinical practice', with three subthemes: prepared students, aware and supportive preceptors and qualified clinical faculty. The other theme that emerged was 'real life outside the simulated lab', with two subthemes: various and unfamiliar psychomotor skills and communication with real patients. Conclusion: The tripod of clinical practice must be achieved for quality clinical practice. Further, attention should be directed to development of skills (e.g., communicating with real patients) that are difficult to acquire while dealing with simulated patients. Implications for Nursing Management: Nursing students need longer immersion in simulated clinical settings, coupled with experienced clinical faculty and supportive, aware and prepared preceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity is the single most burdensome lifestyle disease, which has reached epidemic proportions. This study aimed to examine the eating behavior patterns and beliefs in a group of adolescents living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Procedure: A questionnaire was administered to adolescents (aged 11 and 18 years) attending outpatients' clinics at governmental health facilities. Informed consent was obtained, and the questionnaire was available in English or Arabic languages. Results: In all, 36 adolescent subjects participated in our study with 12 males and 24 females. UAE nationals constituted 72% of our participants and 28% were of other ethnic backgrounds; 75% were overweight to obese with 17% normal and 8% underweight. The majority of patients were healthy with only 6 patients suffering chronic medical diseases. We uncovered that in less than half of our cohort, the decision to eat came directly from the individuals themselves, but it was more influenced by their families. Food consumption was largely in response to physical hunger with the sensation perceived in the upper abdomen by one-third and the remainder localizing it to various other areas. Excessive caloric intake with frequent meals and snacks was also reported. Our study subjects decided what to consume mainly based on what appeared appetizing, followed by availability and cravings and to a lesser extent based on health recommendations. Excessive speed of food ingestion was self-reported in the majority of participants. Moreover, almost half of the adolescents were unable to turn down food offerings from their close family members and over one-fourth were unable to refuse food from other persons. Common symptoms reported included dysphoric mood, disordered sleep, decreased energy and concentration difficulties as well as low self-esteem. Conclusion: Our study uncovered certain eating behaviors in the cohort of adolescents, which may be important in promoting weight gain. These included misconceived hunger signals, excessive frequency, amount and speed of food consumption as well as more focus on food taste, inattentiveness to cravings and a strong social influence on food intake decisions. The findings of our study aim to shed some light on the eating patterns among adolescents and encourage research to investigate eating behaviors on an expanded scale evaluating ethnic, gender and age-related differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes using FPG and HbA1c and to examine their relationships with obesity and other risk factors in young female Emirati college students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study we recruited 555 female college students aged 17–25, enrolled at United Arab Emirates University in Al Ain, UAE. Anthropometric analysis, blood pressure, and various biochemical markers were measured using standard methods. Type 2 Diabetes, impaired fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and elevated HbA1c levels were examined in the study population as per the standards of medical care in diabetes, set out by the American Diabetes Association in 2020. Results: Based on the HbA1c test, the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes were 24% and 8.6%, respectively. Based on the FPG test, the prevalence of pre-diabetes and diabetes were 9.2% and 0.5%, respectively. The kappa statistic of concordance between HbA1c and FPG was 0.287, P < 0.001. Abnormal glycemic status was significantly associated with decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level (< 50 mg/dl) (p = 0.002) and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) level (≥ 2.0 mg/L) (P < 0.001). Conclusions: Using FPG to evaluate glycemic control seems to underestimate the burden of undiagnosed diabetes which could have a significant impact on clinical practice. Our data indicates an association between abnormal glycemic status with HDL and Hs-CRP. Further evaluation is needed to assess the impact of using HbA1c as a diagnostic test for diabetes in the UAE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The psychosocial impact of previous infectious disease outbreaks in adults has been well documented, however, there is limited information on the mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults and children in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) community. The aim of this study was to explore anxiety levels among adults and children in the UAE and to identify potential risk and protective factors for well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using a web-based cross-sectional survey we collected data from 2200 self-selected, assessed volunteers and their children. Demographic information, knowledge and beliefs about COVID-19, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) using the (GAD-7) scale, emotional problems in children using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ), worry and fear about COVID-19, coping mechanisms and general health information were collected. Descriptive analysis was carried out to summarize demographic and participant characteristics, Chi-square analysis to explore associations between categorical variables and anxiety levels and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis to determine predictors of anxiety levels in adults and emotional problems in children. Results: The overall prevalence of GAD in the general population was 71% with younger people (59.8%) and females (51.7%) reporting highest levels of anxiety. Parents who were teachers reported the highest percentage of emotional problems in children (26.7%). Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for GAD-7 scores showed that being female, high levels of worry associated with COVID-19, intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and smoking were associated with higher levels of anxiety. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression for SDQ showed that higher emotional problems were reported for children in lower and higher secondary education, and parents who had severe anxiety were seven times more likely to report emotional problems in their children. Conclusions: This study reports the psychological impact of COVID-19 among adults and children in the UAE and highlights the significant association between parental and child anxiety. Findings suggest the urgency for policy makers to develop effective screening and coping strategies for parents and especially children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

United Arab Emirates (UAE) has taken unprecedented precautionary measures including complete lockdowns against COVID-19 to control its spread and ensure the well-being of individuals. This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 and societal lockdown measures on the mental health of adults in the UAE. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English and Arabic online questionnaire between May and June 2020. The psychological impact was assessed by the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), and the social and family support impact was evaluated using questions from the Perceived Support Scale (PSS). A total of 4,426 participants (3,325 females and 1,101 males) completed the questionnaire. The mean IES-R score was 28.0 ± 14.6, reflecting a mild stressful impact with 27.3% reporting severe psychological impact. Over 36% reported increased stress from work, home and financial matters. Also, 43–63% of the participants felt horrified, apprehensive or helpless due to COVID-19. Females, younger participants, part-timers, and college or University graduates were more likely to have a high IES-R score (p < 0.05). The majority of participants reported receiving increased support from family members, paying more attention to their mental health, and spending more time to rest and relax. The results of this study demonstrate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health among the UAE residents and highlight the need to adopt culturally appropriate interventions for the general population and vulnerable groups, such as females and younger adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate perceptions of United Arab Emirates (UAE) real estate investors' behaviour and the factors that most influence their investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach: This study used a modified questionnaire that was divided into two parts. The first part covered demographic and socioeconomic variables. The second part identified 36 factors that affect the perceptions of real estate investors in the UAE regarding their investment decisions. These factors were placed in eight different categories that correspond to non-personal factors such as, profit, market conditions, risk, transparency, credit facilities (loans), infrastructure and services. Findings: The findings confirm that there is a significant and positive relationship between three factors; namely, profitability, risk and service quality regarding investments in the real estate sector. The findings also confirm a positive but statistically insignificant relationship between transparency, market conditions, credit facilities, infrastructure and investment in the UAE's real estate sector. Research limitations/implications: The sample size represents one of the limitations of this study. In addition, the gender of the sample is another limitation as, in general, men are more involved in investment than women are. Furthermore, there are no previous studies regarding the behaviour of UAE real estate investors; thus, the findings of this study cannot be directly compared with other empirical studies. Practical implications: It might be helpful to create separate units under the name "Real Estate Information Unit" in every municipality of each of the seven emirates. In addition, it is recommended that decision makers should consider ensuring that modern high-quality real estate infrastructure is available to attract more investors. Finally, minimizing any restrictions on access financing facilities may encourage investors to invest more in the UAE real estate sector. Originality/value: This study is the first of its kind to be conducted in the context of the behaviour of UAE real estate investors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to investigate the differences in patronage factors influencing "retail customers" and "institutional clients" to bank Islamically and to identify the reasons bankers perceive that their customers' bank with them in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Design/methodology/approach: A total of 237; 416; and 70 balanced responses were collected from Islamic bankers, retail customers and institutional clients of UAE, respectively. Weighted average scores were computed for ranking the selection criteria factors across the data set and paired comparison analysis was conducted to analyse the variation of selection criteria between the data sets. Findings: Empirical results indicate that Islamic banking practitioners maintain an identical perception with retail customers in relation to the selection criteria of Islamic banking products and services, with the "Sharīʿah-compliance" factor dominating other factors under examination. With respect to the perception regarding institutional/corporate clients, Islamic bankers exhibited a divergent perception in connection with selection criteria of Islamic banking products and services and the factor "cost and affordability" and "rates and return" are prioritized above factor "Sharīʿah-compliance". Research limitations/implications: The scope of the study is limited to a single country. Hence, the finding of this study cannot be generalized to the other regions. Although the study covers a considerable sample from each segment, still there is an avenue for improvement by covering more respondents into the survey. Consequently, the results of this study should be read with these limitations. Further, analysis of the variation among intra divisions of each segment such as Muslim and non-Muslim with respect to retail customers; the different level of management at the banks and focusing the specific sector of the industry is beyond the scope of this study. These directions provide avenues for future research. Practical implications: The study provides useful insights for bankers to revisit their marketing strategies to attract and retain more clients. Hence, the findings also suggest policy recommendations for nascent Islamic banking markets to move to the next stages of maturity. The findings of this study have implications for firms' strategic directions and future investments of organizations, especially when the competition in the industry is intense. Future studies are recommended in other countries where the Islamic financial market share is significant. Originality/value: While ample perception studies have carried out in the Islamic banking industry of the UAE, studies that focus on institutional clients, especially with reference to the factors that determine the selection criteria; studies examining banker's perception towards Islamic banks and their clients (retail and institutional); studies that reconcile the perception of bankers and customers (retail and institutional) are all inadequately covered in existing literatures. This study attempts to fill some of these significant gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to increase anxiety levels within the community and in particular medical students who are already considered psychologically vulnerable groups. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, no study has yet estimated the effect of this pandemic on university students in the UAE or its impact on the psychological well-being of medical students. Methods and Materials: We surveyed 1485 medical (comprising medical and dental) and non-medical university students across 4 emirates within the UAE. We used an online platform to assess knowledge, sources of information, changes in hygienic behavior, perceptions of fear and worry and anxiety levels using the generalized anxiety disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale. The GAD-7 score was measured at three time points: during hospital visits for medical/dental students, before the introduction of online learning and after online learning for all students. Results: The majority of students demonstrated high levels of knowledge and utilized reliable sources of information. Non-medical students exercised higher compliance with social restrictions, while medical students practiced better hand hygiene. Almost half of students reported anxiety levels ranging from mild to severe with females reporting higher anxiety scores during hospital visits (OR=2.02, 95% CI, 1.41 to 2.91) and medical students reporting lower anxiety levels in comparison to dental students (OR=0.61, 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.84). Medical students reported higher levels of anxiety during their clinical rotations which decreased with the introduction of online learning, yet, non-medical students' anxiety levels increased with online learning. Conclusion: This study provides important information on the initial response and anxiety levels in university students across the UAE during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings from our study can be used to support the development of effective screening strategies and interventions to build psychological resilience among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic or any other public health emergencies in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Estimating groundwater recharge rate is essential for water sustainability of the arid region of the United Arab Emirates that receives most groundwater recharge from the bordering mountain ranges in Oman. Analyses of major ions, stable isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) and the radioactive isotope (14C) and the HydroGeoSphere (HGS) three-dimensional numerical model approach were applied here to investigate groundwater residence time in the aquifers and the recharge rates in the region. Estimate of groundwater recharge ranges from 1.03 to 36.6 mm/year with an average of 5.8 mm/year based on groundwater ages and ranges from 0.23 to 35.3 mm/year with an average of 6.5 mm/year based on HGS modelling. The data provide vital information for making sustainable plans for natural water resources with expected future reduction in rainfall in this region and other arid areas of the Middle East and the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart waste collection strategies have been developed to replace conventional fixed routes with dynamic systems that respond to the actual fill-level of waste bins. The variation in waste generation patterns, which is the main driver for the profit of smart systems, is exacerbated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to a high expatriate ratio. This leads to significant changes in waste generation during breaks and seasonal occasions. The present study aimed to evaluate a geographic information system (GIS)-based smart collection system (SCS) compared to conventional practices in terms of time, pollution, and cost. Different scenarios were tested on a local residential district based on variable bin filling rates. The input data were obtained from a field survey on different types of households. A knowledge-based decision-making algorithm was developed to select the bins that require collection based on historical data. The simulation included a regular SCS scenario based on actual filling rates, as well as sub-scenarios to study the impact of reducing the waste generation rates. An operation cost reduction of 19% was achieved with SCS compared to the conventional scenario. Moreover, SCS outperformed the conventional system by lowering carbon-dioxide emissions by between 5 and 22% for various scenarios. The operation costs were non-linearly reduced with the incremental drops in waste generation. Furthermore, the smart system was validated using actual waste generation data of the study area, and it lowered collection trip times by 18 to 42% compared to the conventional service. The present study proposes an integrated SCS architecture, and explores critical considerations of smart systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is the most prevalent type of diabetes among adults and constitutes around 90% of all cases. Substantial evidence demonstrates that depression in the context of diabetes is associated with a wide range of adverse consequences such as reduced adherence to the prescribed treatment regimen, lower quality of life, higher fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, and higher health expenditures. Methods: This study was conducted to assess the depression among T2DM patients attending diabetic clinics, primary healthcare centers (PHC), Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Depressive symptoms were assessed by using both Arabic and English version of the Beck Depression Inventory. Results: Out of 1,050 diabetic patients approached, 559 were within our inclusion criteria and agreed to participate in this study (Response rate of 53%). The mainstream of the participants had T2DM for <10 years (393, 70%), were under oral hypoglycemic treatment only (479, 86%), and had good medication adherence (526, 94%). The overall depression prevalence using a cutoff of 16 was 17%. When we assessed the level of depression amongst participants in association with their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, there was a significant difference between age groups (p < 0.00001); gender (p < 0.0001); nationality (p < 0.00001); educational level (p < 0.00001); and employment status (p < 0.0001). The type of clinic in which the T2DM patients were attending (e.g., diabetes mini-clinic vs. General Family Clinic) was also significantly associated with depression (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the intensive service being given in a diabetes mini-clinic compared to routine PHC clinics appears to benefit the psychological aspects of T2DM patients in the UAE population resulting in a lower incidence of depression than commonly seen in a diabetic population. We have identified a need for the establishment of these mini-clinics in each PHC clinics; and the development of campaigns and educational programs, both for health care providers and the public to decrease depression in T2DM patients in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Recently, sleeping disorders and snoring are being recognized as a public health concern with various risk factors and health consequences. The main objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of snoring and sleep apnea among adults (20-60 years) in Sharjah (United Arab Emirates, UAE) and assess the major risk factors as well as the general knowledge among the population. METHODS: A self-administrated Questionnaire of five sections including both Berlin questionnaire (BQ) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scales (ESS) were given to a randomly selected population in Sharjah between the ages of 20-60 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22.0. RESULTS: Nearly 34.2% of the study population reported to be snorers, and 43.2% of snorers were at high risk of sleep apnea based on the BQ. Gender was significantly associated with snoring (P = 0.038), as 40.8% of males reported snoring compared to 28.7% of females. Elderlies (50-60 years) were at a higher risk, and obesity (body mass index >30) was considered to be a powerful risk factor as 46.8% of the obese participants reported snoring. Those who scored higher on the ESS were more likely to be snorers (P = 0.001) and were likely to fall into the high-risk category in the BQ (P = 0.007). In addition, smoking (P = 0.005), hypertension (P = 0.005), and nasal septal deviation (P = 0.024) were also considered as risk factors. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and major risk factors within the UAE are similar to those in other countries. Sleeping disorders and snoring campaigns and management facilities should be considered to raise the awareness about these issues and manage their risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and resource depletion pose significant challenges to global sustainable development. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the industrial sector contributes to over half of the total final energy consumption, resulting in substantial carbon emissions. This study addresses how hydrogen, as an energy carrier, can facilitate the integration of renewable energy in hard-to-abate industries. We explore the energy landscape by analyzing energy flow diagrams, emission trends, and the social cost of carbon in the UAE. We propose a Green-to-Green system framework that promotes sustainability and incorporates the Power-to-X (PtX) concept, with hydrogen playing a central role. Our findings indicate that decarbonizing industries solely through renewable energy encounter challenges. However, domestically adopting solar PV for green hydrogen production presents an opportunity to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of a national hydrogen strategy to advance hydrogen utilization in the industrial sector. • Decarbonizing the industrial sector using renewable energy is a challenging process. • Using hydrogen in UAE's industrial sector is investigated. • Applying Green-to-Green approach to industrial sectors is a promising solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zika virus (ZIKV) disease has become a major public health concern. Although there are no reported cases of ZIKV disease in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there is a potential risk of transmission due to large expatriate population and high influx of international travelers. This cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge of ZIKV disease among the students of a medical and health sciences university in the UAE. Their knowledge of ZIKV disease was assessed using a specially designed, pretested, and validated questionnaire. Of the 500 respondents included in the final analysis, 314 (62.8%) respondents presented with poor knowledge of ZIKV disease. The mean knowledge score of the study population was 10.48 ± 2.48 out of a maximum of 17. Gender, college and year of study, nationality and attendance in lecture/conference/ workshop on Zika were significantly associated with the level of knowledge. The males possessed significantly (P = 0.046) better knowledge as compared to the females. Students of medical college had significantly (P = 0.005) better knowledge as compared to students of other colleges. The level of knowledge improved significantly (P = 0.026) as the year of study progressed. There is a need for medical and paramedical students to update their knowledge of ZIKV disease as they are the future health-care providers who will be responsible for creating awareness about such outbreaks and their preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Retail format hypermarkets are emerging in numbers and contributing $2.5 billion a year to the economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Despite their importance and to the best of the authors' knowledge, no other studies specifically explore the service quality of such markets in the UAE. To fill this gap, this empirical study employs the SERVQUAL model to examine the antecedents of hypermarkets service quality in the UAE using structural equation modeling. The study sample included 1,248 respondents from different hypermarkets across the UAE. The research findings demonstrate that reliability, assurance, and empathy are the key determinants of hypermarkets service quality in the UAE, while tangibility and responsiveness are not significant. The authors' research contributes to the literature on hypermarket service quality in an understudied region and provides information for administrators to make informed decisions. Study limitations and directions for future research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) values of some commonly consumed foods in the United Arab Emirates were determined with an aim of adding these values to the existing international table of GI and GL values. In all, eighteen test foods categorised into breads (n 5), entrée dishes (n 3), main dishes (n 5) and sweet dishes (n 5) were tested. For each test food, at least fifteen healthy participants consumed 25 or 50 g available carbohydrate portions of a reference food (glucose), which was tested three times, and a test food after an overnight fast, was tested once, on separate occasions. Capillary blood samples were obtained by finger-prick and blood glucose was measured using clinical chemistry analyser. A fasting blood sample was obtained at baseline and before consumption of test foods. Additional blood samples were obtained at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min after the consumption of each test food. The GI value of each test food was calculated as the percentage of the incremental area under the blood glucose curve (IAUC) for the test food of each participant divided by the average IAUC for the reference food of the same participant. The GI values of tested foods ranged from low (55 or less) to high (70 or more). The GI values of various breads and rice-containing dishes were comparable with previously published values. This study provides GI and GL values of previously untested traditional Emirati foods which could provide a useful guide on dietary recommendations for the Emirati population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]