Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Thymoquinone Against Pseudomonas Aeruginosa In Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: A Potential Therapeutic Approach, Hadeel S. Alsufyani, Faez M. Zagzoug, Karem Ibrahem

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa presents a significant challenge in clinical microbiology. This study investigates the antimicrobial efficacy of thymoquinone (TQ) against both resistant and sensitive strains of P. aeruginosa, comparing their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to assess the potential of TQ as a therapeutic agent.

Methods: A total of 40 P. aeruginosa isolates, consisting of 20 resistant and 20 sensitive strains, were obtained from the Microbiology Culture in Clinical and Molecular Microbiology Laboratories at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The MIC of TQ was determined using the broth microdilution method. Data were analyzed …

Mortality Rate And Prognostic Factors In Patients With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: A Retrospective Study, Heidi Al-Wassia, Mazen Kurdi, Maha Bamehriz, Amani Al-Haddad, Maidah Algarni, Nasir M. Bustangi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a rare anomaly associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension of the newborn.

Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate factors associated with in-hospital mortality in neonates and young children with CDH.

Patients and Methods: All neonates and children up to five years with delayed diagnosis of CDH born at or transferred to our tertiary training and research hospital in Saudi Arabia from January 2015 to December 2022 were included. Patients above five years of age, those with post-surgical CDH recurrence, and those with diaphragmatic events were excluded.

Results: 36 patients were included with an …

Impact Of Lifestyle Factors On Breast Cancer Risk And Outcomes: A Scoping Review, Nada Alhazmi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Aim: This scoping review summarizes evidence on the impact of environmental factors on breast cancer risks and outcomes.

Methodology: A systematic search was performed on PubMed, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect to identify peer-reviewed, English-only sources published between 2020 and 2025 on the impact of lifestyle factors on breast cancer risk and outcomes.

Results: A total of 15 studies (three cohort studies, two cross-sectional studies, five systematic reviews, four narrative reviews, and one case-controlled study) met the inclusion criteria. Evidence from the sources identified physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, obesity, alcoholism, tobacco smoking, menopause, and delayed first-first as lifestyle factors that impact breast …

Incidental Finding Of Extra Parathyroid And Cardiac Pathologies Detected On Parathyroid And Myocardial Perfusion Scans With Technetium-99m Methoxyisobutylisonitrile: A Retrospective Study, Afnan M.F. Darwesh, Leen Albalbeesi, Adnan A.S. Alahmadi, Rawan Abdeen, Duaa Banaja, Hamzah H. Ahmed, Nadia Batawil

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: 99^mTc-MIBI is a lipophilic cation that can accumulate within the mitochondria of metabolically active tumor cells and is routinely used for parathyroid and myocardial perfusion imaging. Cases of incidental findings during parathyroid scintigraphy and myocardial perfusion scans using 99^mTc-MIBI have been reported previously. However, retrospective studies with more extensive sample data are lacking.

Objectives: This observational study retrospectively analyzed 99^mTc- MIBI parathyroid and myocardial perfusion images to describe incidental extra-parathyroid and cardiac uptake.

Methods: A retrospective review of 308 parathyroid and myocardial perfusion 99^mTc-MIBI scans was performed between January 2019 and …

Dietary Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids And Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors Among Adults In Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study, Sarah N. Alsharif, Doaa A. Alyoubi, Wadyan R. Alzahrani, Sali M. Alamoudi, Abeer A. Aljahdali

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are a potential modifiable factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. There is a dearth in the knowledge on PUFA knowledge and dietary intake among Saudis.

Objectives: The study aimed to assess PUFA knowledge and dietary intakes among Saudi Arabian adults with CVD risk factors. Furthermore, the sociodemographic and lifestyle factors related to PUFAs knowledge were investigated, shedding light on the factors associated with PUFAs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 211 adults. The level of PUFAs knowledge was assessed using six close-ended questions, and a correct answer was worth one point. PUFAs intake was …

Relationship Of Prolonged Exclusive Breastfeeding To Infant Anemia, Maryam A. Ahmed, Aveen S. Shareef, Farhad S. Armishty, Dunya P. Nizar, Ronahi Y. Ibrahim, Lina Y. Mohammed, Snor H. Husain, Berivan R. Rajab, Omar Khatab, Dalal A. Jameel, Amna A. Omar, Iman H. Yaseen, Hevy A. Ahmad

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: Anemia can adversely affect cognitive development in infants and children, potentially leading to challenges in cognition, motor control, social interaction, and neurophysiological functioning. Full-term infants do not develop iron deficiency anemia within the first four months of life, as they are born with sufficient iron stores accumulated during their intrauterine life. These stores are usually adequate for four to six months of postnatal life. However, exclusive breastfeeding beyond six months without iron supplementation can increase the risk of iron deficiency anemia, as breast milk does not provide enough iron to meet the growing infant’s demand. The American Academy of …

Vocal Hygiene Practices Among Primary School Teachers In Jeddah City, Ghadah G. Alharbi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Background: Hygiene practices among primary school teachers in Jeddah City, focusing on their academic qualifications, teaching experience, and knowledge of vocal hygiene.

Methods: A digital questionnaire prepared using Google Forms was posted online with a description and distributed electronically to primary school teachers in Jeddah City. It consisted of 14 items, which were developed to achieve the study’s objectives.

Results: The results show high averages for "Reducing the noise in the classroom" (3.48), while "I use the microphone in large classes" is ranked last, with an average of 1.28. In addition, the results show that 38% know where to seek …

Medicinal Plants In Preventing And Treating Thrombosis, Mohannad S. Hazzazi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Thrombosis refers to the formation of blood clots within the blood vessels. It represents a major health and economic burden in most regions worldwide, being associated with heart attack, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Since traditional treatments for thrombosis are not always effective and are accompanied by various side effects, other treatments are urgently needed. Some plants, such as garlic (Allium sativum), ginger (Zingiber officinale), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), turmeric (Curcuma longa), and grape seed (Vitis vinifera), offer potential remedies as they contain bioactive molecules with thrombolytic effects. These plants have various pharmacological effects, such as antiplatelet activity, increasing the fibrinolysis rate, …

Regional Anesthesia For Postoperative Pain Management In Cardiac Surgery: A Narrative Review, Lujain Bukhari

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Postoperative pain following cardiac surgery can be severe and debilitating, often hindering functional recovery and worsening patient outcomes. Recent advancements have shifted toward opioid- sparing techniques, which aim to reduce reliance on opioids for pain relief, with regional anesthesia emerging as a key approach. Regional anesthesia numbs specific nerves or nerve groups to provide targeted pain relief. Several practices have been developed, leading to rapid advancements in this field. This article reviews the different regional anesthesia techniques, their clinical implications, advantages, and disadvantages, and the evidence from the literature supporting their use.

The Importance Of Measuring Quality Of Life For Orthognathic Patients, Shoroog H. Agou, Salma H. Ghoneim

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Medical Sciences

Orthognathic surgery is increasingly recognized for its dual role in correcting jaw and facial deformities and significantly enhancing patients' quality of life (QoL). Historically, the evaluation of orthognathic surgery has focused on clinical outcomes such as occlusion and aesthetics. However, recent research emphasizes the broader impact on psychosocial and functional aspects of well-being. This literature review explores the QoL outcomes following orthognathic surgery, highlighting both short- and long-term improvements in domains such as self-esteem, social confidence, and oral function. The Orthognathic Quality of Life Questionnaire (OQLQ) and other validated patient- reported outcome measures (PROMs) are discussed as essential tools for …

Antibiofilm Activity Of Amylases Isolated From The Bacteria Associated With The Soft Coral Sarcophyton Trocheliophorum, Asmaa Marshoud Al Harbi, Mamdoh T Jamal, Sathianeson Satheesh

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

Amylases are one of the important enzymes with tremendous biotechnological applications. In this study, the amylase enzyme producing bacterial strains associated with the soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum was isolated and identified. The amylases were produced in a specific growth medium and the stability was tested under different pH and temperature conditions. The crude amylases were tested for the antibiofilm activity against two biofilm-forming bacterial strains. The amylase enzyme extracted from two bacterial strains (KAU-AS1 and KAU-AS3) showed good activity in the antibiofilm activity assays. The amylases reduced the growth and attachment of the biofilm bacteria. Also, the amylase enzymes degraded …

Isolation And Importance Of Endophytic Actinomycetes Of Some Red Sea Algae And Their Biological Activities, Najla Ali Alburae

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

Endophytic Actinomycetes attract scientist's attention and in particular, endophytes from marine algae were documented and showed many biological activities that maintain ecological balance in various habitats that solve many health problems. This research aimed at the development of antimicrobial and antioxidant agent from endophytic Actinomycetes. Three seaweed algal samples were collected from the Red Sea Umluj corniche, nestled in northwestern of Saudi Arabia and identified as Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyta), Dictyota dichotoma (Phyaephyta) and Gelidium sp. (Rhodophyta). The collected algal samples were washed, surface sterilized, cut into small squares for Endophytic Actinomycete isolation on Starch nitrate medium containing 10% NaCl. Twelve …

Accumulation And Distribution Of Microplastic Particles In Recent Coastal Sediments From Specific Areas Of The Syrian Coast And Determination Of Medium Energy, Samer Ghadeer, Yousef Rslan

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Marine Science

Despite the numerous benefits plastics have brought to our daily lives, they have also introduced many unexpected and serious environmental challenges, particularly for marine environments, their ecosystems, and sediments. This research holds significant importance as it addresses microplastic pollution, a pressing contemporary issue that demands solutions. It marks the first study of its kind on the Syrian coast, utilizing sediments to identify and quantify microplastics, as well as to determine their sizes and the primary human activities contributing to their spread. A comprehensive study was conducted on sediment samples from specific areas along the Syrian coast-Wadi Qandel, Banias, and Al-Mantar-to …

Strategies It Managers Use To Manage Remote Teams In The Medical Industry, Sonia Raj Gandham

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Healthcare IT managers experience significant challenges while leading remote teams, as they must maintain secure communication practices and regulatory compliance while achieving high-performance standards. Organizations without proper strategies face data breaches and productivity losses that harm operational performance and patient care, leading to legal troubles and reputational harm. Grounded in adaptive structuration theory (AST), this qualitative pragmatic study explored successful remote team management strategies among U.S. healthcare IT managers with five or more years of experience. AST provided the theoretical lens to examine how technology and organizational structures interact in distributed work environments. Interviews with six participants were analyzed thematically …

The Lived Mental Health Experiences Of African American/Black Mothers With An Infant In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit During Covid-19, Dr. Shewonyui S. Lurker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

African American/Black (AA/B) women are more likely than other women in the United States to give birth prematurely. Experiencing premature birth and infant hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) during the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively affected AA/B mothers’ mental health and led them to experience elevated rates of increased posttraumatic stress disorders, depression, anxiety, and postpartum depression. The purpose of this study was to understand the lived mental health experiences of AA/B mothers of infants in the NICU during COVID-19. Feminist theory provided a lens for understanding intersectionality in the experiences of AA/B mothers. Semistructured interviews were …

Havana To Port-Au-Prince: Cuba’S Medical Internationalism Aid To Haiti, Wilner Saint Cyr

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Haiti ranks among the lowest in healthcare quality in the Americas, according to the health indicators used by the World Health Organization. Despite national and international efforts to improve health service delivery, access to primary medical care and preventive services is limited, especially in rural areas. In response to a request from the Haitian government following the devastating Hurricane Georges, the arrival of the first Cuban doctors to support ongoing public health needs commenced in December 1998. Recognizing an opportunity for international cooperation, the Haitian president sought assistance from Cuba by signing a bilateral cooperation agreement for initial and ongoing …

Analyzing Focus Groups Through Poetic Dialogues: Enhancing Participant Engagement And Representation In Program Evaluation, Catherine E. Sanders, Alexa J. Lamm, Jori N. Hall, Abigail Borron, Maria Navarro, James C. Anderson Ii

The Qualitative Report

Evaluating programs in rural communities can present challenges when large, observable successes, such as infrastructure additions, are limited due to resource challenges. These successes are often quantifiable and easily identified by external stakeholders. However, there are often intangible and social impacts that should be captured as successes of rural community-focused programs that may not fit the more quantitative methodology. Arts-based methodologies, like poetic analysis, can help capture the diverse impacts of a program, while also centering the voices of program participants in the evaluation itself. This study examined the use of poetic dialogues, an application of poetic transcriptions for focus …

Leveraging Lime For Trustworthy Apple Quality Assessment, İsmail Kırbaş, Ahmet Çifci

Platform: A Journal of Engineering (PAJE)

This study explores the integration of machine learning (ML) models and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques to enhance the accuracy and transparency of apple quality assessment. Leveraging the Apple Quality dataset from Kaggle, we evaluated the performance of random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), and eXtreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) across accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score metrics. Among these models, RF demonstrated superior performance, achieving an accuracy of 87.6%, underscoring its robustness in managing complex feature interactions. A novel contribution of this study lies in employing the local interpretable model-agnostic explanations (LIME) method to elucidate model predictions, …

Idling Vehicles: Practices And Perceptions Among Malaysian Drivers, Paul Ting Hock King, Shaharin Anwar Sulaiman

Platform: A Journal of Engineering (PAJE)

Although modern cars may not require long warming up, the practice of long engine idling has long been accepted by drivers as vital for various reasons, usually by old traditions. The practice, which can shorten the life of engines, in addition to wasting fuel and causing harm to the environment, is commonly found in Malaysia. However, no statistics are available on this detrimental practice, rendering it challenging to determine the essential corrective measures for society. This study aimed to examine the habits of Malaysian drivers concerning car warming-up and idling practices, with the goal of identifying potential strategies to promote …

Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Powder Injection Moulded 316l Stainless Steel Titanium-Copper Alloy, Lucas Lim Sheng Onn, Faiz Ahmad, Saad Ali

Platform: A Journal of Engineering (PAJE)

316L-Ti-Cu alloy was developed with two variations of copper at 1 vol% and 3 vol% through powder injection moulding to investigate the influence of copper on the alloy. This alloy has not been researched before and is expected to serve as an alternative for implants that possess beneficial antibacterial effects from copper, which can mitigate infection-related issues that occur during orthopaedic surgery. Two sintering environments will be conducted which are under vacuum and under argon-5% hydrogen, to ascertain the optimal properties of the alloy. The main reason behind the different sintering atmospheres is to prevent the oxidation of copper, which …

The Royal Academy Of Engineering, Uk And The Enriching Of Engineering Education Training And Practice Programme In Sub-Saharan Africa, Bavo B. Nyichomba

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This paper elucidates initiatives taken by the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK, to overcome barriers in education and training in Sub-Sahara African higher learning engineering institutions. The said barriers include mismatches of curriculum, ineffectual teaching and learning and little exposure of academic staff to engineering practice. In order to overcome such barriers, the Royal Academy of Engineering established the two programmes in the region. The first one, Enriching Engineering Education Programme (EEEP) from 2014/15 to 2015/16 where the University of Dar es Salaam coordinated this programme as a hub for East African universities namely; Makerere University (Uganda), Moi University (Kenya), …

Performance Dynamics Of Activated Carbon-Methanol Pair In Adsorption Refrigeration Systems, Ibrahim J. Mwasubila

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Adsorption refrigeration systems have shown potential for addressing the adverse effects of traditional compressor-based refrigeration systems. Adsorption refrigeration systems that utilise activated carbon and methanol demonstrate good performance, especially at temperatures below 0 °C. This combination significantly improves the cooling performance of the system, making it a dependable option for freezing applications. Despite having the potential to meet cooling demand and be eco-friendly, the adsorption refrigeration system has several drawbacks that hinder its commercialisation. This paper discusses the properties of the activated carbon methanol pair in the adsorption refrigeration system. The focus is on the desorption temperature, thermal stress, repeatability …

Analysis Of The Development Potential And Strategy Of The Kauman Batik Village In Surakarta Using Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (Qspm) Approach, Fauzi Syani Prananto, Edi Kurniawan, Satya Budi Nugraha

Jurnal Pendidikan Geografi: Kajian, Teori, dan Praktek dalam Bidang Pendidikan dan Ilmu Geografi

The increasing development of other leading destinations in Surakarta City, there are many challenges that must be faced by Kauman Surakarta Batik Village. The activation of tourism potential that has not been fully managed optimally shows that the existence of the village is starting to be threatened. The purpose of this research is to identify tourism potential that needs to be developed and to analyze the development strategy of Kampung Batik Kauman Surakarta tourist attraction by looking at the potential it has. The method used in this research is quantitative with data collection techniques, namely observation, interviews and questionnaires. Data …

Lifecycle Of Greater Wax Moth Galleria Mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) And Its Control By Natural Products, Tahani A. Alzahrani, Hanan S. Alyahya, Shatha I. Alqurashi, Jazem A. Mahyoub

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

The great wax moth (Galleria mellonella) is a major pest that affects honeybee colonies, causing serious damage to the honeycomb and disrupting beekeeping operations. This paper aims to review the life cycle of this insect and the natural control strategies used to manage its populations. This paper examines the different stages of growth of the great wax moth, including the stages of eggs, larva, pupae, and adults. The life cycle of this insect depends largely on environmental conditions, especially temperature, humidity and food quality, in addition, this paper focuses on natural control strategies, such as the use of plant extracts …

Banana Postharvest Quality: Current Technologies And Future Perspectives, Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

Banana (Musa spp.) is a main economic crop. Several pre and postharvest factors are controlling fruit quality. Oweing to its climacteric nature numerous biological and metabolic changes occur rapidly within fruits and accelerate their ripening and senescence. These changes cause considerable postharvest losses that reduce supply chain efficiency. There is always a pressing and persistent necessity to minimize these losses and develop the current postharvest technologies. Nanoparticle technology has shown promising potential in fruit postharvest including banana. Further research is needed to provide more comprehensive knowledge of these promising materials.

The Impact Of The European Excellence Model (Efqm 2020) On Organizational Sustainability (A Field Study On Saudi Aramco Refinery Management Employees In Yanbu), Aeshah Hamed Alsulami, Suzan Mohammed Alqurashi

Journal of King Abdulaziz University: Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture

This study was carried out aimed to identify the impact of applying the European Excellence Model (EFQM) (orientation, implementation, results) in the management of the Saudi Aramco Refinery at Yanbu on the level of organizational sustainability in its dimensions (economic, environmental, sociality). The descriptive analytical approach was used in describing the phenomenon and analyzing its data and the relationship between its components. The data was collected using a questionnaire from a sample of (257) employees, out of a total study population of (759) employees in the management of the Saudi Aramco Yanbu Refinery. The results showed that the level of …

Assessment Of Digital Solutions For Conformity Assessment Of Legally Controlled Measuring Instruments In Tanzania, Faraja Nyoni

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The advent of state-of-the-art digital technologies since 2011 has led to the digital transformation of legal metrology practices to ensure the trustworthiness of software-controlled measuring instruments globally. Despite the digital transformation in legal metrological practices, the conformity assessment of legally controlled measuring instruments is manually done (i.e., paper-based) in Tanzania. The paper-based conformity assessment of legally controlled measuring instruments is prone to error and lacks efficiency and effectiveness. This study aimed to assess digital solutions for improving conformity assessment through a comprehensive survey conducted across various regions in Tanzania, targeting a stratified sample of 51 respondents from organizations involved in …

Optimizing The Processing Temperature For Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles Within Cellulose-Wool Keratin Supramolecular Matrix Using Butylmethylimmidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquid, Ngesa E. Mushi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

To date, the synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the surface of cellulose and wool keratin biopolymer, while dissolved in ionic liquid, is attractive because of its biomedical potential. However, the optimal processing temperature for the nanoparticle formation is unclear. The previously reported temperature of approximately 120°C gives unpredictable results. The current study employs a combination of 50% cellulose and 50% keratin, along with 69 mg of silver chloride, in Butylmethylimidazolium Chloride BMImCl ionic liquid, using a single-pot process to produce a supramolecular film via non-derivatized mechanochemical interactions. The primary objective is to experimentally establish the processing temperature to achieve stable …

The Effect Of Computer-Mediated Communication On Occupational Positive Mental Health Mediated By Work-Family Enrichment In Workers In Remote Areas: Analysis Using Structural Equation Modelling, Herlando Junanta, Suryo Wibowo, Herqutanto ., Dewi Yunia Fitriani, Titis Mariyamah, Dewi Sumaryani Soemarko

Occupational and Environmental Medicine Journal of Indonesia

Objective: This study aims to examine the effect of computer-mediated communication (CMC) on occupational positive mental health (OPMH) mediated by work-family enrichment (WFE) in workers in remote areas using the CMC, OPMH-40, and WFE questionnaires. Method: The latent variables in this study are CMC, OPMH, and WFE. The observed variables include all items from CMC, OPMH, and WFE. The sample technique used was total sampling, revealing that 349 workers in the project department of an oil and gas company located in the West Papua Province of Indonesia expressed their willingness to participate as research participants. To test research hypotheses using …

Building Confidence In The Value Of Undergraduate Nursing, Midwifery And Allied Health Professional (Nmahp) Research Placements, Rebecca Fox, Nia Tippins, Niamh Ryan

South West Clinical School Journal

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