Journals
2026 EN
Hamaloğlu İbrahim · Özgün Cihan
This study explores how geographical factors influenced the emergence and persistence of banditry in nineteenth-century Smyrna (İzmir) and its hinterland. Drawing on Eric Hobsbawm’s concept of social banditry and Karen Barkey’s framework of state centralization, it argues that geography acted as an active force shaping social order, economy, and resistance rather than a passive setting. Using archival records, memoirs, and periodicals, the research shows that the rugged terrain of the Bozdağ and Aydın Mountains, combined with fertile plains below, produced a dual environment: mountains provided refuge and strategic advantage for bandits, while prosperous lowlands offered economic incentives for raids. These physical and climatic conditions fostered enduring networks of yataklık (local support), allowing banditry to survive despite repeated suppression. The study also reassesses the Ottoman state’s pragmatic engagement with outlaws—through negotiation, amnesty, and co-optation—as a sign of adaptability rather than weakness. Integrating Braudel’s longue durée perspective, it situates banditry within the enduring interaction between environment, economy, and authority, highlighting the decisive role of landscape in shaping both rebellion and control in Western Anatolia.
Journals
2026 EN
Jalal Omar Jalil · Ibrahim Abdulrahman Smail · Halshoy Hawar
+1 more
Foodborne pathogens pose serious risks to food safety and public health, driving interest in effective antimicrobial strategies. Plant-based extracts have been proposed as sustainable alternatives to synthetic agents. This study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and seed extracts from black seed ( Nigella sativa ), black pepper ( Piper nigrum ), and cardamom ( Elettaria cardamomum ) against Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus subtilis , Escherichia coli , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . Antimicrobial activity was assessed using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), agar well diffusion assays, plant extraction techniques, and dynamic growth monitoring with the bacterial growth kinetics (BioScreen C system). BAC exhibited strong, concentration-dependent antimicrobial activity, with Gram-positive bacteria showing the highest susceptibility (MIC/MBC: 0.00003125–0.0000625%). Gram-negative bacteria were more resistant, requiring higher BAC concentrations for inhibition. Plant extracts showed limited efficacy; only cardamom inhibited S. aureus and partially inhibited E. coli. Overall, BAC demonstrated superior effectiveness, supporting its continued use in food safety control systems.
Journals
2026 EN
Mansour Mohammed A. · Ismail Mohd Hanif · Wan Ibrahim Mohd Haziman
+2 more
The concrete production is under increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact. This study evaluates the durability and microstructure of high-strength concrete (HSC) incorporating metakaolin (MK), palm oil fuel ash (POFA), with coal bottom ash (CBA) as fine aggregate. The strength, water absorption, and resistance of modified HSC to sodium chloride were assessed. The findings indicated that a combined 10-15% MK% and 20% POFA achieved an improvement in the concrete strength. The optimal mixture, containing MK and POFA with CBA as fine aggregate, consists of 15% MK, 20% POFA, and 10% CBA. A power relationship was established between the compressive strength and split tensile strength of MK-based HSC, MK-POFA-based HSC, and MK-POFA-based HSC with CBA as fine aggregate. The established relationships of modified HSC indicate that the Neville equation underestimates the experimental strength, while the ACI 363 and ACI 318 equations overestimate it. Using 10–15% MK and 20–30% POFA reduced the water absorption to 1.28–1.54%. However, incorporating 10–20% CBA into the ternary blend slightly increased it to 1.64–2.01%. The mixture blended with 15% MK and 20% POFA reduced the drop in compressive strength, tensile strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) by 3.8%, 1.2%, and 4.7%, respectively, after 300 days of exposure to 5% NaCl. The incorporation of 10% CBA into the ternary blend slightly decreased the resistance to chlorides. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) illustrated less migration and crystallisation of chloride ions through concrete. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that the incorporation of MK and POFA resulted in a reduction of Ca(OH) 2 , thereby enhancing the concrete durability.
Journals
2026 EN
Ahmed Sharif Hataw · Mohammed Ibrahim · Heilbronner Urs
+3 more
Background: About a decade after the 2014 ISIS genocide in Shingal, Iraq, the effects of mass trauma and displacement continue to be felt among the Yazidi population. In particular, the long-term interplay between psychological distress and biological stress regulation remains poorly understood. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and severity of PTSD, depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and perceived stress among displaced Yazidi participants. It also aimed to explore how these psychological indicators relate to chronic physiological stress, as measured by hair cortisol and cortisone concentrations. Method: A total of 264 Yazidi adults residing in internally displaced person (IDP) camps in Duhok, Iraq, underwent structured interviews by trained psychologists. Standardized Kurdish versions of the PCL-5, HSCL-25, PHQ-15, PSS-14, and War and Adversity Checklist-26 were administered. Hair cortisol and cortisone were analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Data were evaluated using multiple regressions and latent profile analysis (LPA). Result: Severe mental health burden was evident: 93.2% reached the cutoff for PTSD, 83.7% for anxiety, and 87.5% for depression (HSCL-25 subscales). LPA revealed three classes of PTSD symptoms – low, moderate, and high – along with four symptom classes reflecting various distress patterns. Compared to men, women exhibited significantly higher levels of psychological distress and somatic symptoms ( p < .01, d = 0.60–0.70). Hair cortisol related moderately to all symptom scales ( r = .17–.25, p < .01), indicating cumulative HPA axis activation. Cross-class correlations suggest that PTSD, anxiety, and depression represent, at least partly, independent symptom dimensions. Conclusions: Findings stress the long-lasting psychobiological effects of genocide-related trauma among Yazidi IDPs. This finding is further underlined by the integrated psychometric and biological data, which point to the urgent need for long-term, culturally sensitive, and gender-responsive interventions.
Journals
2026 EN
Elazzazy Shereen · Hisham Al-Ziftawi Nour · Shafei Laila
+3 more
Several trials demonstrated improvements in clinical outcomes associated with cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors in breast cancer patients. The challenge remains regarding their high costs. Ribociclib and Abemaciclib are cost-effective in Qatar. Yet, their affordability was not studied. This budget impact analysis (BIA) is to assess the affordability of adopting CDK4/6 inhibitors in Qatar over five years duration (2024-2028). We ran a BIA to evaluate two scenarios: (1) Increasing abemaciclib's market share from 20% to 60%, replacing both palbociclib and ribociclib. (2) Assuming equal market share for both ribociclib and abemaciclib up to 80%, reducing palbociclib's share. The analysis considered treatment costs, patient population, and disease prevalence. All data were retrieved from the National Center for Cancer Care and Research, and costs were presented in Qatari Riyals (QAR). Sensitivity analyses were run to ensure the robustness of the conclusion. All results were compared to Qatar's budget threshold, which is QAR 453,822. Based on a total of 173 patients using CDK4/6 inhibitors, increasing abemaciclib's market share to 60% yielded cumulative savings of QAR 14 million over five years, which is around QAR 14,613 per patient per year. However, equally increasing ribociclib's and abemaciclib's market share to 80% resulted in a modest budget increase, remaining within acceptable thresholds. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of these findings, showing that cost reductions and higher uptake rates further enhanced savings. Abemaciclib is a budget-saving option for HR+/HER2- breast cancer in Qatar, should it replace the market share by up to 60% over five years. In addition, ribociclib and abemaciclib are affordable treatment options if they equally contributes to up to 80% of the market share for the eligible advanced breast cancer patients. The results supported the concept of allocating CDK4/6 inhibitors as they were found to be affordable to the Qatari healthcare system.
Journals
2026 EN
Alzahrani Musa Fares · Albacker Abdulaziz · Alshabanat Abdulmajeed
+14 more
Sickle cell disease (SCD) leads to recurrent vaso-occlusive crises (VOC) and hospitalizations, imposing a substantial healthcare burden. Hydroxyurea (HU) is known to reduce VOC frequency and hospitalization rates in SCD; however, data comparing the impact of different HU doses on length of stay (LOS) and clinical outcomes in adults are limited. This retrospective study assessed the effect of high- versus low-dose HU on LOS among adults with SCD admitted to medical wards. Secondary endpoints included VOC frequency and hemoglobin electrophoresis findings. Pearson’s chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests were used, with significance set at p < 0.05. A total of 141 patients were analyzed (26 on low-dose, 115 on high-dose HU), with a median age of 31 years; 52.5% were female. The overall median LOS was 3 days (IQR 1–10). The low-dose group had a significantly longer median LOS (7 days [IQR 7–9]) compared with the high-dose group (2 days [IQR 2–3]; p < 0.001). Higher HU doses were also associated with improved Hgb F% and Hgb S% ( p < 0.001), while annual VOC rates showed no significant difference ( p = 0.132). High-dose HU was linked to shorter hospital stays and favorable hematologic outcomes in adults with SCD.
Resource
2026 EN
Almaghthawi Mohammed Marzouq · Alotaibi Eman Abdullah · Alotaibi Mohammed Saad
+9 more
Alpha-blockers are widely used in medical expulsive therapy (MET) for ureteral stones; however, the current evidence regarding their comparative effectiveness remains inconsistent. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different alpha-blockers in facilitating ureteral stone passage and identify factors influencing treatment outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between 2010 and 2025. We searched multiple databases for studies comparing alpha-blockers with control interventions or other alpha-blockers for ureteral stones ≤10 mm. Primary outcome was stone expulsion rate; secondary outcomes included time to expulsion, pain episodes, analgesic use, and adverse events. We performed subgroup analyses by alpha-blocker type, stone size, location, and treatment duration. Network meta-analysis assessed comparative effectiveness between agents. Twenty-nine RCTs with a total of 4,256 patients were included. Alpha-blockers significantly increased stone expulsion rates compared to controls (70.9% vs. 56.5%; RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.20–1.32; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 7) and reduced expulsion time by approximately three-days. Efficacy was greatest for distal ureteral stones (RR 1.52; Number Needed to Treat (NNT) = 4) and stones 5–10 mm (RR 1.35; NNT = 6). Network meta-analysis revealed efficacy ranking favoring at first terazosin, followed by doxazosin then, silodosin then, tamsulosin then, alfuzosin and last the least effective was naftopidil. Alpha-blockers significantly reduced pain episodes and analgesic requirements. Adverse events were infrequent (Number Needed to Harm (NNH) = 38), with retrograde ejaculation being most common with silodosin. Alpha-blockers significantly improve the stone expulsion rates and reduce expulsion time, especially for distal ureteral stones 5–10 mm in size. While tamsulosin remains the most studied agent, our network meta-analysis suggests terazosin and doxazosin may offer superior efficacy. The favorable risk-benefit profile supports routine use of alpha-blockers for appropriately selected patients with ureteral stones.
Journals
2026 EN
Taha Diaa-Eldin · Ibrahim Ali · Hashim Abdelwahab
+4 more
The long (original) form of neurogenic bladder symptoms score (NBSS) entails full assessment of the neurogenic status of the patient that is not included in the short form. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric qualities of the Arabic NBSS among those suffering from neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTS). The Arabic-language study included patients with NLUTS. Among the psychometric attributes that were looked at were construct validity, content validity, internal consistency, and test–retest dependability. Cronbach’s alpha and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) were used, respectively, to assess internal consistency and test–retest reliability. In order to evaluate construct validity, the Qualiveen questionnaire was compared to the NBSS. The study included 255 NLUTS patients. The internal consistency of the NBSS overall score was found to be variable, with Cronbach’s α of 0.82 for both the overall score and each of its subdomains (urinary incontinence: 0.94, storage/voiding: 0.86, consequences: 0.88). Thirty days (±3.6 days) after the baseline version, 233/247 (84%) patients completed and returned their questionnaires for test–retest reliability. The overall score had an ICC of 0.92, while the subdomains of storage/voiding, urine incontinence, and repercussions had ICCs of 0.92, 0.83, and 0.80, respectively. The correlation study demonstrated the strong construct validity of the Arabic NBSS-SF version. Relevant psychometric characteristics, including content, construct test–retest reliability, internal consistency, and validity, can be found in the Arabic version of the NBSS. The NBSS in Arabic is appropriate for usage in study and clinical contexts. H1R1-27-Dec22-01-MKSU 51-1-16.
Journals
2026 EN
Gaber Ibrahim Manar Fouli · Abdel-Hakeem Elshymaa A. · Shawky Heba A.
+2 more
Exosomes , (EXs) competence in reproductive medicine has been proven, particularly in cases of ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury models. Testicular torsion is a major clinical concern affecting male fertility and results in ischemic reperfusion injury. To the best of our knowledge, up to date, comparative studies using different routes of EXs application have not been investigated. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of local versus systemic EXs administration on both testes; ipsilaterally and contralaterally and to explore the involved underlying mechanisms. Rats were allocated into four groups; the control, the ischemia reperfusion group (IR group) in which unilateral testicular IR was performed, then rats were subdivided equally into two subgroups; IR-ipsi group; in which the ipsilateral testes were investigated and the IR-contra group in which the contralateral testes were examined. Group III and group IV in which unilateral IR was performed, then injected intravenously or intratesticularly consequently with EXs and finally divided in to two subgroups IR-ipsi and IR-contra. The results revealed that testicular IR resulted in functional and structural disorders with reduction in serum testosterone and sperm indices. Interestingly, both testes showed structural histopathological changes and defects in blood testis barrier. There was also an increase in oxidative stress, inflammatory, and apoptosis markers. EXs administration improved the affected parameters probably via modulation of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, EXs defended against testicular IR injury. Intratesticular administration had better effects on the ipsilateral testes, whereas Intravenous route had more obvious better effects on the contralateral ones.
Journals
2026 EN
Abdullah Nor Fadzilah · Heidary Sahar · Zulkifli Ili Hazwani
+6 more
The Fourth Industrial Revolution [Industry 4.0 (IR4.0)] transforms industries with intelligent machines, automation and data-driven decision-making. This paradigm shift demands a workforce equipped with both advanced technical know-how and strong soft skills. Traditional curriculum struggles to keep up, creating a skills gap. Targeted micro-credentials can close this gap by offering flexible, bite-sized training aligned to real-world needs. Unlike existing micro-credentials that focus on either hard or soft skills in isolation, this work presents Boosting Engineering Safety and Reliability for IR 4.0: Integrated Approach of Soft and Hard Skills (BESTARI 4.0), as a practical framework that links the macro-drivers of the IR4.0 competency requirements, such as cyber-physical automation, pervasive data and human–machine collaboration. It translates those requirements into micro-credential modules that weave together resource-constrained tiny machine learning‐based engineering techniques with essential soft-skill development, such as critical thinking, communication and team problem-solving. The BESTARI 4.0 micro-credential, delivered on an open online platform, specifies clear learning objectives and experiential tasks, such as video labs, annotated notes, formative quizzes and real-world safety case studies. The ultimate outcome is the development of a proficient workforce in deploying machine learning solutions that enhance productivity while simultaneously improving safety and reliability within next-generation industrial settings.