Human rights defender Noof Al-Madeed disappeared after releasing a series of videos in March providing evidence of violations of her civil and human rights by the Qatari State security apparatus.
The current energy scenario of Pakistan requires the adoption of a proper energy consumption framework to meet the demands of the Pakistani society. This paper compares the energy codes developed by ASHRAE (United States) and Bureau of Energy Efficiency (India) to suggest improvements in development of the energy conservation building codes for Pakistan. It has been realized that taking all relevant stakeholders on board is vital for the development, adoption and compliance of energy conservation building codes at provincial level. It is also evident that energy conservation culture has to be developed in all segments of the society to lessen energy consumption, reduce carbon emissions and create a sustainable future. The energy codes of Pakistan lack adoption mechanism and climatic zoning needed for building thermal performance. The comparative analysis shows that the thermal building code of Pakistan is the key instrument to reduce energy pressure while providing occupants comfortable living space. It has been concluded that the government should develop code adoption and compliance system for the reduction of energy demand in buildings.
Primary amenorrhea is one of common gynecological diseases among adolescent girls in community which is characterized by absence of menstrual cycles and normal sexual characteristics. Chromosomal abnormalities and hormonal disturbance play a crucial role in developing this disease. However, due to social stigma, many people with sex-related abnormalities even in certain provincial regions of Iraq do not ask for medical help resulting in an unclear true incidence of sex abnormalities among amenorrhea patients. Thirty-four patients were referred to Genetic Consultation Clinic in the Medical city of Baghdad to determine the possible causes of primary amenorrhea. Ultrasound findings of the current study revealed that 5 (14.72%) patients had normal internal genital organs, 18 (52.94%) patients had hypoplastic uterus and ovaries, 4 (11.76%) patients had infantile uterus, 3 (8.82) patients suffered from rudimentary organs, and 4 (11.76%) patients had no visualized organs (absent). There was a substantial increase in the serum levels of hormones in the patients' group (p-value <0.05) particularly follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), when compared to the control group.Results also revealed that 26 patients had normal karyotype, 4 patients had Turner syndrome (TS) (45, XO, mosaic 45, XO/ 46XX, 46,XX/isoXq , 46 XO, ring Xq), two cases had (46, XX/isoXq and 46 xx, t (15q; 11q)), one case had 46 xx, t (1p;13q), and one case had 46 xx, t (1p;13q). It can be said in the end that each of these clinical examinations was crucial for making a correct diagnosis of the patient's condition and for identifying the important causes of primary amenorrhea in female patients from Iraq.
Economic corridors unlock new economic opportunities and tourism development in the region to achieve sustainable development goals. Green economic growth is conducive to environmental sustainability. Economic mega-projects of CPEC promote tourism that leads to communities' well-being and better quality of life. Modern infrastructure development contributes significantly to economic growth and tourism activities. This study's objectives emphasize exploring tourism and sustainable development pursuits under OBOR economic projects that open doors to improving residents' quality of life. The growing world is an eyewitness to a continuous rise in emissions and its severe consequences for humankind. It is necessary to show off the leading factors that result in tourism and economic activities causing environmental pollution rather than blame policymakers. Undoubtedly, many studies previously focused on demonstrating the influence of socio-economic factors that lead to better environmental quality. However, the empirical literature on tourism, social well-being, foreign direct investment, and the Environment in Belt and Road developed economies needed improvement. This research applied a series of advanced estimators that help demonstrate the study's probable results. This study explores the role of Social well-being (HDI), tourism development, FDI, renewable energy, information & communication technology (ICT), and urbanization on CO2 emissions in Belt and Road (BRI) developed economies.Estimated results exhibited the significant contribution of ICT and renewable energy to sustainability. Besides, FDI contributes to emissions reduction after its threshold level. Conversely, urbanization and tourism activities contribute to environmental pollution. The study outcomes stated inverted/EKC U-shaped hypotheses related to specified economies. Finally, the analysis based on the D-H panel causality test constructs exciting results.The present study concludes that economic corridor plays a vital role in tourism development, the community's well-being, and SDGs goals (sustainable development) impact on environmental safety. The findings suggest essential and applicable policies to attain the desired sustainability level. Findings contribute to the literature on tourism, well-being, and sustainability. Further studies can use insights using this methodology.
Arwa Ahmed Aldeeri,1 Khaled Abdullah Alhababi,2 Fahad Abdullah Algahtani,3 Abrar Abdullah Tounsi,4 Khalid Ibrahim Albadr5 1Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Dental Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 5Orthodontic Department, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Arwa Ahmed Aldeeri Tel +966-53-900-4403Email ArwaAldeeri@gmail.comBackground: Mini-esthetics is an important concept in orthodontics concerned with relatedness of dentition to the face.Purpose: We compared the perception of altered smile esthetics between orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: A total of 216 participants (orthodontists, dentists, and laypeople) were conveniently surveyed. An image representing the ideal smile was altered in terms of buccal corridor, gingival display, and midline diastema. Using Likert scale, participants were asked to rate the attractiveness of the altered images.Results: The three surveyed groups preferred wide rather than narrow buccal corridors. Also, as the amount of gingival display and midline diastema increased, the smile was rated less attractive. Age of participants was significantly associated with more precise recognition of gingival display and midline diastema, P< 0.05 and P< 0.001, respectively.Conclusion: The concept of an ideal smile holds true across the heterogenous groups we studied despite gender and professional background.Keywords: dentistry, orthodontics, smile, beauty
Background Whatman™ FTA (Flinders Technology Associates) is a form of card soaked in chemicals that denatures proteins while protecting DNA and ensuring the safe handling of dried body fluid spots (blood, semen, and saliva) and buccal cells. To this day, these cards are still infrequently used in forensic science. Therefore, reference samples including biological material may be collected on FTA cards for genetic analysis that have been widely used for DNA preservation and analysis, particularly in forensic sciences and genetic studies. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of cryopreservation on DNA quantitative and short tandem repeats (STR) profiling by comparing the yield and quality of DNA extracted before and after cryopreservation using FTA card and swabs in the forensic analysis. The mean total DNA concentration and the purity of seminal fluid from FTA-cards and swabs before and after sperm cryopreservation were measured by using nano-drop spectrophotometer (93.688 ± 12.5) (90.94 ± 13.9) ng/ µl; ( 221.07 ± 20.97)( 135.47 ± 19.6) ng/ µl respectively. Also a highly significant difference (p<0.001) was detected when the results of concentration DNA on FTA card were compared with dilution using wash media before and after sperm cryopreservation. Whereas significant difference (p<0.05) was observed between DNA concentration on FTA card with and without dilution after sperm cryopreservation. STR loci were present in the majority of data, particularly in FTA-card and swab samples where results explained that 100% of STR profiles were present in all 15 loci, both before and after sperm cryopreservation. In contrast to the conventional method of storing and analyzing STR profiling, it can be concluded that seminal fluid samples taken by FTA card and swabs can be taken and stored for a time by cryopreservation, leads to maintaining DNA integration in the field of criminal research.
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited genetic disorder in sub-Saharan Africa, and it is associated with early mortality and lifelong morbidity. Early diagnosis is essential for instituting appropriate care and preventive therapy. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To compare parental knowledge or perception of their offspring's hemoglobin phenotype prior to testing and actual validated laboratory test results. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In a prospective community-based survey, we assessed parental knowledge of their children's hemoglobin phenotype and corroborated this with the results from a laboratory confirmatory test determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. <b><i>Results:</i></b> We screened 10,126 children aged less than 5 years. A total of 163 (1.6%) parents indicated that their offspring had been previously tested and had knowledge of the child's hemoglobin genotype. However, 51 (31.2%) of 163 parents of children who had been previously tested did not know the result of their offspring's test, and 18 (35.3%) of these 51 children were found to have SCD. Of those who claimed previous knowledge, 25 (15.3%) of 163 reported incorrect results. Overall, we identified 272 (2.76%) new cases from 9,963 children who had not been previously tested. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> There is the need to promote public awareness about SCD and the benefit of early diagnosis, quality assurance in laboratory diagnosis and institution of sustainable patient care pathways.