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The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of corporate social responsibility on employees' promotive voice behavior through the mediation-moderation mechanism within the framework of a developing country. This is an empirical study, administered through two self-reported questionnaires. Employees of 25 manufacturing units of Pakistan are the source of data collection for this research. Data analysis was performed using SEM through SMART PLS 3. The results show a positive role of CSR for the development of employees' promotive voice behavior through indirect mechanism. The employees get psychologically empowered through organizational trust developed as a result of corporate CSR activities. Further, the employees were found to be inclined more towards the activities of personal care, concern and safety (through organizational justice used as moderator) for the development and enhancement of psychological empowerment leading towards voice behavior. The findings of the study contribute to the literature on corporate social responsibility and provide practical implications. Further, the study persuades practitioners to practice new ways of conveying the feelings of care, concern and safety, which, in turn, increase employees' psychological empowerment.

The purpose of this article is to investigate the impact of internal CSR on Employee Engagement through a mediation-moderation mechanism in a developing country, using social exchange theory. In this empirical study, 300 self-reported questionnaires were randomly distributed among the employees of 25 companies, from the FMCG and Telecom sectors of Pakistan. Data collected from these employees were further analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis using the structural equation modeling technique, using the latest available version of software Smart PLS 3. The results of confirmatory factor analysis prove the hypothesized direct effects of corporate social responsibility on employee engagement. The findings also indicate the positive mediating role of trust in the relationship between internal corporate social responsibility and employee engagement. However, the moderator Leader-Member exchange did not demonstrate any effect. The study encourages practitioners to focus on building trust in employees for improved participation in the firm's processes, use new ways of conveying the concerns to employees through various human resource interventions and leader-member exchange mechanisms. However, since the research has been conducted in a single country, i.e. Pakistan, with a limited number of respondents, therefore, it cannot be generalized, whereas research in different countries with a larger sample may bring interesting/contrasting results.

Background: Several investigations suggested correlation between microscopic colitis (MC) and celiac disease (CD). This study aimed to examine this relationship using large-sized, population-based data with adequate control for confounding factors. Methods: This study employed the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database over 4 years (2016–2019). Patients with/without MC in the presence/absence of CD were identified through ICD-10 codes. Univariate and multi-variate analyses involving odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were performed. Results: Overall, 26,836,118 patients were analyzed. Of whom, 6,836 patients had MC (n = 179 with CD and n = 6,657 without CD). The mean hospital stay was not significantly different between both groups (5.42 ± 5.44 days vs. 4.95 ± 4.66 days, P = 0.202). The univariate analysis revealed a significant association between MC and CD (OR = 22.69, 95% [19.55, 26.33], P < 0.0001). In the multi-variate analysis, which adjusted for potential confounders including age, race, hospital region, hospital teaching status, ZIP income, smoking status, alcohol overuse, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, lipidemia-related disorders, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and selected auto-immune diseases, the association remained significant (OR = 15.71, 95% CI [13.52, 18.25], P < 0.0001). Moreover, in patients with MC, the presence of CD emerged as a significant, independent variable of in-hospital mortality in univariate (OR = 2.87, 95% [1.14, 7.21], P = 0.025) and multi-variate (OR = 3.37, 95% CI [1.32, 8.60], P = 0.011) analyses. Conclusion: This study establishes a probable link between MC and CD, backed by both univariate and multi-variate analyses, while also identifying CD as an independent risk factor for increased mortality among MC patients. These findings need to be validated in real-world clinical studies.

This research offers an advanced investigation into the examination of squeezed flow and heat mass transfer mechanisms of non-Newtonian Carreau dissipative nanofluids across a sensor surface. This analysis takes into consideration both variable thermal conductivity and variable viscosity aspects. It is widely accepted that the phenomenon of viscous dissipation has a significant impact on both the temperature distribution and heat transfer characteristics within nanofluids. Hence, it is being considered here. The governing equations of the problem are formulated using the Carreau model for the non-Newtonian fluid for the nanofluid. The thermal conductivity of the sensor surface is assumed to vary linearly with the temperature. The resulting nonlinear ordinary differential equations are solved numerically using the shooting method. The effects of various parameters such as suction parameter and magnetic parameter on the flow, the solutal characteristics, and thermal characteristics are analyzed. The results show that the slip parameter, the magnetic parameter, and the suction parameter have a significant effect on the flow and thermal fields. The heat transfer rate is improved by the squeezed flow index parameter and the Weissenberg number, but reduced by the power law index parameter and the Eckert number. Ultimately, the precision and reliability of the proposed approach are confirmed by benchmarking our data against previous findings. Understanding how variable viscosity impacts flow characteristics, heat transfer efficiency, and the performance of heat exchangers and cooling systems optimizes the design of nanofluids for efficient thermal systems in practical applications.

Hospital construction projects require the integration of innovative technologies, making them complex and challenging to estimate accurately. Without reliable guidelines, lists of considerations, or predictive models, decision-makers may choose an unsuitable contractor, leading to cost overruns and project delays. This research used quantitative and qualitative methods, including expert opinions and focus groups, to address this issue and identify critical factors affecting cost estimation in hospital construction. Using multi-regression analysis, historical data was analyzed to establish a cost-predictive model. The study identified 24 factors that determine the most critical criteria affecting the cost estimation of hospital construction. This model can evaluate the estimated direct cost provided to decision-makers in the early stages of the project with over 95% accuracy. The research results can assist professionals in the construction industry in better estimating and managing the costs of hospital construction projects, reducing risks, and improving project outcomes. Key findings indicate that specific components such as site and electrical works show average percentage errors of 8.02% and 5.11%, respectively, highlighting areas prone to cost estimation inaccuracies. This insight directs focus on improving accuracy in these critical sectors, thus further refining cost management strategies for hospital construction projects.

Objective Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent spinal deformity affecting healthy children. Although AIS typically lacks symptomatic manifestations, its resultant deformities can affect patients' quality of life (QoL). Evaluating QoL and stress levels is crucial in determining the optimal brace type for AIS patients; however, research comparing the effectiveness of different brace types in this regard is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of Boston versus Chêneau braces on QoL and stress levels in AIS patients. Methods This cross‐sectional study was conducted at a medical institution in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, involving 52 eligible patients selected through stratified random sampling based on type of brace as the main stratum. The inclusion criteria were idiopathic scoliosis, age ≥ 10 years, bracing for at least 3 months, and no history of cancer. QoL was evaluated according to the revised Scoliosis Research Society 22‐item questionnaire (SRS‐22r) and stress levels according to the eight‐item Bad Sobernheim stress questionnaire (BSSQ‐Brace). Independent‐sample t‐tests were used to compare brace‐related QoL and stress level according to participants' sex and brace type. Results Overall, 32 participants were treated with Boston braces (seven men and 25 women), with a median (IQR) age of 11.00 years (10.00–13.00), and 20 participants were treated with Chêneau braces (three men, 17 women), with a median (IQR) age of 12.50 years (10.00–14.25). The total SRS‐22 score was not significantly different between the brace groups (p = 0.158). However, patients in the Boston brace group reported significantly higher satisfaction levels (median = 4.00, IQR = 3.50–4.50) than did those in the Chêneau brace group (median = 3.25, IQR = 2.38–4.13, p = 0.013, moderate effect size = 0.345, 95% CI = 0.060 to 0.590). Furthermore, the BSSQ‐brace total score was significantly higher in the Boston brace group (median = 9.00, IQR = 8.00–12.00) than in the Chêneau brace group (median = 7.50, IQR = 4.75–10.00, p = 0.007, moderate effect size = 0.376, 95% CI = 0.130 to 0.590), indicating higher stress levels in the Chêneau brace group. Conclusion The QoL in AIS patients undergoing brace treatment was comparable across groups. Nonetheless, patients who used Chêneau braces experienced higher stress levels and lower treatment satisfaction rates than did those who used Boston braces. These findings can inform clinical decisions regarding prescription of bracing types and highlight the need for further in‐depth research.

BACKGROUND: Potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and polypharmacy constitute increasing healthcare costs and significant risk for adverse outcomes in older adults. The American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria form a screening tool for the identification of PIMs and guidance for healthcare providers in prescribing appropriate medications. However, primary care physicians’ knowledge of screening tools, of Beers Criteria, in particular, is not known. Therefore, this study was to investigate primary care physicians in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and their awareness of Beers Criteria and knowledge of PIMs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among primary care physicians working in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire that consisted of sections on the general characteristics of respondents and their knowledge of Beers Criteria as a screening tool. Eight clinical-based vignettes concerning different therapeutic areas of medication use in the elderly were included, with a score of 1 and 0 for correct and wrong answers, respectively. Data presented as frequency and percentage. Chi-square test was used to determine the association between duration of practice and the level of awareness about Beers criteria. RESULTS: Of the 121 physicians who returned completed questionnaires, 41.3% of respondents knew about Beers Criteria. Most respondents (52.9%) were confident in prescribing appropriately for elderly patients. The association between the duration of practice and confidence level was statistically significant (P = 0.040). Respondents showed an above-average knowledge of the clinical vignettes with a correct answer rate >50% in all clinical scenarios. Online search (84.2%) and physician colleagues’ knowledge and experiences (39.2%) were the primary source of information reported by the respondents. CONCLUSION: Awareness of Beers Criteria of primary care physicians in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province is low. Therefore, our results will educate healthcare workers on the importance of Beers Criteria in Geriatric patients’ prescriptions, in order to significantly improve the well-being of the elderly.

Abstract Sugarcane smut is the most damaging disease that is present almost across the globe, causing mild to severe yield losses depending upon the cultivar types, pathogen races and climatic conditions. Cultivation of smut-resistant cultivars is the most feasible and economical option to mitigate its damages. Previous investigations revealed that there is a scarcity of information on early detection and effective strategies to suppress etiological agents of smut disease due to the characteristics overlapping within species complexes. In this study, 104 sugarcane cultivars were screened by artificial inoculation with homogenate of all possible pathogen races of Sporisorium scitamineum during two consecutive growing seasons. The logistic smut growth pattern and the disease intrinsic rate were recorded by disease growth curve. Variable levels of disease incidence i.e., ranging from 0 to 54.10% were observed among these sugarcane cultivars. Besides, pathogen DNA in plant shoots of all the cultivars was successfully amplified by PCR method using smut-specific primers except 26 cultivars which showed an immune reaction in the field trial. Furthermore, the plant germination and tillering of susceptible sugarcane cultivars were greatly influenced by pathogen inoculation. In susceptible cultivars, S. scitamineum caused a significant reduction in setts germination, coupled with profuse tillering, resulting in fewer millable canes. Correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a positive relationship between reduction in setts germination and increase in the number of tillers. The present study would be helpful for the evaluation of smut resistance in a wide range of sugarcane germplasm, especially from the aspects of setts germination and tillers formation, and it also screened out several excellent germplasm for potential application in sugarcane breeding.

This study explores Saudi students' perceptions of their motivation to learn Mathematics using metacognitive strategies. Data were collected using a qualitative case study design among 13 Saudi secondary school students. The findings from the data collected through semi-structured interviews show that several motives encourage the participants to learn metacognitively. For instance, the findings demonstrate that the desire to experiment with a new concept helped to capture the interest of the learners and stimulate their curiosity to learn. Likewise, the desire to improve methods of thought which can meet the personal needs and goals of the learner may foster a positive attitude in learners and therefore contribute to their motivation. In addition, it is argued that students' confidence in their skills may help them feel they can successfully control their learning. Finally, it was shown that the desire of students to improve their thinking strategies in their lives reinforced their achievements with internal rewards and therefore helped them to be satisfied with their learning.

Background and Aim: Drug-induced nephrotoxicity is extensively documented as the initial stage of kidney disease that particularly results in acute renal injury and chronic renal dysfunction. The single and combined effect of grape peel extract (GPE), grape seed extracts (GSE) and selenium (Sel) were investigated in current study for controlling of renal injury induced by Ochratoxin-A (OTA) in male rats. Methods: Forty nine male Wistar rats weighing 200 ± 10 g were injected with OTA (0.5 mg/kg bw) to induce nephrotoxicity, then treated with singleand combined applications of GSE, GPE and Sel. In addition, the OTA induced nephrotoxicity rats were screened for various biological and physiological parameters like food ingestion, body weight gain, liver weight, serum kidney biomarkers, serum lipid fractions, enzymatic and non-enzymatic lipid peroxidation indicators and histopathological studies. Results: Our findings suggested that the combination of GSE 2 % and Sel (50–50) treatment reduced renal dysfunction in OTA-induced rats by significantly lowering lipid peroxidation indicators, lipid and kidneys profiles and enhancing enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants biomarkers followed by GSE 2 % then Selenium (0.4 mg/kg) in OTA. Histological analysis of the kidney revealed more severe renal tubule degeneration in OTA-induced rats, While GSE and GPE combonation showed only moderate glomerular tuft enlargement and minimal renal tubule deterioration. Furthermore, the combination of GSE 2 %+Sel (50–50) revealed normal histological structure. Conclusions: Grape seed extracts along with selenium mightbe used as dietary supplements to reduce renal toxicity induced by chemicals or compounds that cause nephrotoxicity.

Objectives: Investigate the ameliorating effects of Pumpkin flowers (Cucurbita maxima) 10% and 20% fortified cake on cellular damage caused by alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty adult male albino rats of approximately weigh about 180 ± 5 g were obtained and divided into five distinct groups to determine the effect of C. maxima flowers enriched (CMFP) cake two different concentrations (10 % and 20 %) had any beneficial impacts on rats with a single dose of 40 mg/kg alloxan to induce diabetes. Results: The observations on the blood insulin, blood sugar, lipid profile, serum liver biomarkers, lipid peroxidation enzyme markers, and pro-oxidative mediators showed that oral administration of 10% and 20% CMFP cake lowers the blood sugar, Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Very Low-Density lipoprotein (VLDL) and Triglyceride (TG). In rat treated with alloxan, the levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), thiobarbituric acid reactive compounds (TBARS), conjugated dienes (CD) and lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) were significantly reduced. Moreover, blood serum insulin, high density lipoprotein (HDL), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) increased simultaneously; These results verified that the 20% CMFP cake was the best treatment specially in decreasing hepatic lipid peroxidation with levels between 54%, 49.5% and 75.2 % for LOOH, CD and TBARS consequently. Conclusion: Since, pumpkin blossoms contains a wide range of phytonutrients, pumpkin blossom has the potential to be a functional food source to incorporate into diabetics’ diets to manage the disease.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly raised public health concerns and efforts to limit its spread, impacting societies and health systems worldwide. As challenges persist, the emergence of Long COVID (LC) marks a turning point in understanding the pandemic’s long-term effects.AimThis study aimed to determine the prevalence of LC in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and explore factors contributing to its persistence.MethodsThis descriptive, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was carried out between December 1, 2023, and March 1, 2024, involving 1,355 patients who recovered from COVID-19. Participants were conveniently chosen and information was gathered through in-person interviews in public settings after obtaining consent.ResultsA majority of the patients (N = 1,355; 47.5% female; 93.8% Saudis; mean Age ± SD 33.13 ± 12.60 years) had received three COVID-19 vaccine doses (89.5%). Women experienced 17.4% more LC symptoms than men (p 0.05).ConclusionSociodemographic and clinical factors contribute differently to the chances of having LC and the count of symptoms. Awareness of such factors could provide insight into improving management, leading to better health outcomes.

IntroductionThis research aims to explore the molecular composition, antioxidant capabilities, and antibacterial effects of the essential oils from Tetraclinis articulateata and Juniperus phoenicea.MethodsEssential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation. Gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry was used to determine the chemical makeup of essential oils. Two methods are used to assess the antioxidant activity of essential oils: the reduction of iron (ferric reducing antioxidant power or frap) and the trapping of the free radical 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The antimicrobial potential of essential oils was assessed using the diffusion method on a solid-state disk in comparison to nine bacterial and seven fungal souches.Results and DiscussionThe essential oil yields from Tetraclinis articulata and Juniperus phoenicea are 0.46% ± 0.02% and 0.83% ± 0.05%, respectively. According to CG/SM’s chromatographic analyses, the predominant constituent in the essential oil of J. Phoenicea is α-pinène (59.51%), while the main constituents in the essential oil of T. Articulata? are Bornyle acetate (18.91%) and camphor (28.48%). The assessment of antioxidant activities reveals intriguing antioxidant qualities in the essential oils of the species under investigation. T. Articulata essential oils yield the greatest results in the DPPH and FRAP tests, with CI50 values of around 266.9 ± 5.4 μg/mL and EC50 values of 433.16 ± 4.13 μg/mL, respectively. Except for Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus BLACT, and Pseudomonas aeroginosa, the two essential oils have demonstrated significant bactericidal activity against all bacterial and fungal souches (MIC

Zubia Jamil,1 Samreen Khalid,1 Hafiz Muhammad Manan Haider Khan,2 Ikram Waheed,1,3 Amna Ehsan,1,3 Mohammed Alissa,4 Khalid Muhammad,5 Nayla Munawar,6 Yasir Waheed7,8 1Department of Medicine, Foundation University School of Health Sciences, Foundation University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan; 2Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shifa Tameer-E-Millat University, Islamabad, 44000, Pakistan; 3Department of Medicine, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi, 43600, Pakistan; 4Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Biology, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 6Department of Chemistry, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates; 7Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon; 8MEU Research Unit, Middle East University, Amman, 11831, JordanCorrespondence: Yasir Waheed, Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, 1401, Lebanon, Email yasir_waheed_199@hotmail.com Nayla Munawar, Department of Chemistry, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, 15551, United Arab Emirates, Email nmunawar@uaeu.ac.aeIntroduction: The occurrence of dengue fever presents a considerable burden for public health care in developing countries. This study aims to validate APRI as predictor score for severity of dengue fever so that catastrophic events could be prevented, and early triage can save lives.Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was done on dengue positive patients from August to November 2023. APRI score was calculated for every patient at the time of admission. The primary end-point was non-complicated disease (Simple dengue fever) vs complicated disease (dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome). ROC curve was used to identify the role of APRI in prediction of dengue complication. Youden index was used to find the cut-off value of APRI along with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios. To further evaluate the role of APRI score, patients were divided into two groups, patients with APRI score greater and lesser than cut-off value. The qualitative variables among two groups were compared by chi-square testing. The predictors of complicated dengue were first determined by univariate regression analysis and then confirmed by multivariate regression analysis.Results: The mean APRI score of 135 patients was 20.06 ± 6.31. AUC for APRI score was 0.93 (p < 0.0001) indicating that APRI score calculated at the time of admission is an excellent marker in determining the complicated dengue. The cut-off value for APRI score was 9.04 (sensitivity 84.91%, specificity 89.02%, p < 0.0001). The patients with APRI < 9.04 mostly developed simple dengue fever (54.1%) vs DHF (4.4%) and DSS (1.5%), while patients with APRI > 9.04 had more DHF (20.7%) and DSS (12.6%) vs simple dengue fever (6.7%). None of the patient died with APRI < 9.04 while the mortality rate was 3.7% in patients with APRI > 9.04.Conclusion: The APRI score, calculated at the time of admission, is an excellent marker in determining the severe dengue.Keywords: dengue, severe dengue, dengue hemorrhagic fever, aspartate aminotransferase, ROC curve, area under curve

Thermal comfort in openair situations is a difficult industrial task. In literature there were insufficient studies on how to control the external microclimate in a region, and there are many activities outside the house in open areas that require temperature control, such as the stadiums in hot humid countries, and tourism, and recreational areas in humid and hot climates. Openair conditioning requires huge amount of energy, that negatively affects the Global warming of the earth. To reduce energy consumption microclimate control is proposed. Isolation of the controlled area is performed to reduce the amount of air-conditioned load. In this project the air conditioning of an external open area will be studied. Wind tunnel with two air flows at different temperatures, relative humilities, angle of attach and velocities will be constructed. The two flows will be allowed to intersect to gather at different conditions (different wind speeds ranging from 1 to 7 m/s, as well as a jet flow about 1 m/s and angles 60 to 90 degrees) to construct an isolation Dom for the targeted outside open area. An open area with the use of cross flow that stops the local wind speed in the targeted area and allows to keep the conditioned air for a long time in the open space. This method allows to save huge energy used continuously for the air-conditioning purpose.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive decline affects the quality of life, and dementia affects independence in daily life activities. Multimorbidity in older adults is associated with a higher risk of cognitive impairment. This research aims to study the relationship between cognitive decline and multimorbidity in the elderly population in the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional research was conducted from July to October 2022 among adults over 60 years. All patients with two or more comorbidities were contacted for a face-to-face interview and cognitive testing to estimate cognitive function by trained family physicians using St. Louis University Mental State Examination. ANOVA and Chi-square test were used to test for statistical significance. Binary logistic regression was used to show the odds of having cognitive impairment and multimorbidity. All tests were performed at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: The study involved 343 individuals; majority (74.1%) aged 60-75 years and were males (67.9%). Hypertension, diabetes, and chronic pain were reported by 56%, 48%, and 44% participants, respectively. Thirty percent participants had 3 or more comorbidities. About 36% had mild neurocognitive disorder and 31.2% had dementia. The results showed that age, gender (female), diabetes, stroke, chronic pain, and multimorbidity were significantly associated with cognitive impairment. In our study, hypertension, coronary artery diseases, depression, and anxiety were not significantly associated with risk of cognitive decline. CONCLUSION: Our study found that multimorbidity is significantly associated with cognitive decline. Controlling comorbidities and preventing risk factors in midlife could help in delaying the progression of the disease.

BACKGROUND: Primary care physicians play an essential role in the health of older adults as they are frequently the first point of contact. Their positive attitude and knowledge influence the quality of care provided to patients with dementia and their caregivers. This study examined the attitudes of primary care physicians towards dementia care and their confidence in their own dementia-care skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 316 primary care physicians working in Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that included questions related to demographic characteristics, Dementia Care Attitude Scale (DCAS) to assess attitudes towards dementia, and Confidence in Dementia Care Skills (CDCS) Scale to measure confidence. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 29; mean and standard deviation (SD) were computed for continuous and categorical variables were described using frequencies and percentages. Mann Whitney U test and Kruskal Wallis test were used to compare attitude and confidence scores by categorical variables. RESULTS: The mean DCAS score was 36.4 ± 5.41 out of 50. On a scale ranging from 15 to 75, the mean CDCS was 51.89 ± 10.20. A statistically significant (P < 0.05) relation was found between confidence and professional rank, knowing close relatives with dementia, and number of dementia and elderly patients treated. Overall, 78.9% of physicians lacked confidence to prescribe memory medications; 32% felt that dementia management was generally more frustrating than rewarding. CONCLUSION: Primary care physicians had a positive attitude toward caring for patients with dementia. However, they lacked confidence in their dementia care skills in several areas. The confidence in their diagnostic skills was higher than their management skills. Most challenging skills were recognizing and managing behavioral symptoms of dementia. Need to develop educational and training interventions that target healthcare providers to help improving dementia care in primary care settings.

This scoping review aimed to investigate the role of lifestyle changes during Ramadan in controlling metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults. The lifestyle factors investigated were diet, physical activity (PA) and sleep. The review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, and Joanna Briggs Institute methodological frameworks. The Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCO), and Scopus databases were searched using the following terms: “diet”, “physical activity”, “sleep” and/or “lifestyle” with “Ramadan”, “Ramadan month” or “the month of Ramadan”. The selection included all research articles published from January 1998 until the end of June 2023. Only full-text studies that met the selection criteria were reviewed. A lack of robust evidence exists on the impact of lifestyle changes during Ramadan on MetS components. The scarcity of cohort studies in this area is likely because they could only be conducted during a particular month each year. However, the available evidence shows that lifestyle changes during Ramadan, including PA, diet and sleep, may be significant in MetS control. The evidence suggests that diet is the most influential factor on MetS components during Ramadan month, whereas sleep is the least influential. Ramadan represents an opportunity for patients to enhance their control of MetS components by combining a healthy diet with PA and good sleep hygiene. Further robust studies are required to develop an in-depth understanding of the impact of lifestyle changes during Ramadan on MetS components.

Previous studies developed models to predict final construction cost (FCC) values based on many inputs, which makes them difficult to use. However, relying on models with relatively few inputs will reduce the accuracy of the prediction results. This paper aims to develop an artificial neural network (ANN) model to predict the FCC based on contract cost (CC), contract duration, and project sector at an early stage of a project. The data collected and used for the ANN model was 135 Saudi Arabian construction projects. The Zavadskas and Turskis logarithmic approaches, and the Pasini method were utilized to overcome the limited data. Then, the ANN model was developed through two stages. The purpose of the first stage was to enhance the data by identifying the abnormal data using absolute percentage errors (APE). The enhanced data was used to develop the ANN in the second stage. The finding showed that the ANN model provided an average MAPE (mean absolute percentage error) of 18.7%. The MAPE of the ANN model is decreased to 8.7% on average by deleting data with an APE higher than 35%. The model allows stakeholders to evaluate the financial importance of potential risks and develop appropriate risk management strategies.

Poaceous weeds are prolific and competitive in winter crops, but they are more insidious in wheat due to their similar morphology and growing requirements. Herbicides are effective and efficient tools of weed management, however, they are vulnerable to resistance, and herbicides with different modes of action might check the dominance of a particular weed flora. The current study was undertaken to see the response of three poaceous weeds viz., Phalaris minor, Avena fatua and Lolium temulentum, to herbicides Isoproturon, Topik (Clodinafop-p) and Puma Super (Fenoxaprop-p). Completely randomized design with two factor treatments (weeds, herbicides) and eight replications was employed. Data were recorded on chlorotic and necrotic effects of herbicides on weeds, and percent mortality at the time interval of 14, 21 and 28 days after the application of herbicides. Dry biomass weight of weeds was recorded at 30 days after the treatments. Results indicated that all the parameters were affected significantly over the period of time. Maximum counts of chlorotic (2.16) and necrotic (2.97) weeds were observed at the 21st day of treatment. The highest mortality (31.1 %) was recorded at 21st day after the application of herbicides. Phalaris minor was the most resistant weed to herbicides showing the lowest mortality (only 17.7 %) compared to other two weeds. Maximum dry weight of weeds was recorded in control while a minimum of 0.456 g dry weight was observed where Topik (Clodinafop-p) was applied. For the effective control of P. minor, A. fatua and L. temulentum weeds in wheat crop, Topik (15 WP) @ 0.37 kg a.i. ha-1 was proved to be the most suitable herbicide applied at 3-4 foliar stage.