How Palestinians in diaspora responded to the conflict in Gaza: The moderating role of contextual and psychological factors

In the aftermath of the recent conflict in Gaza (October 2023), understanding how Palestinians across the globe responded is crucial. This online survey is designed to investigate possible associations and moderations of different psychosocial factors like coping flexibility, psychosocial safety climate, optimism, trauma-related guilt, demographics, Palestinians' identity, and political perception on mental health outcomes (anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder)

Illuminance and ultra violet emissions radiated from white compact fluorescent lamps

During recent years, white compact fluorescent lamps (WCFLs) have played a key role in energy efficient campaigns worldwide. As the use of WCFLs becomes increasingly widespread so also increases the concerns relating to their mercury content and the associated hazards. While the risk associated with individual WCFLs is generally concerned negligible, the cumulative impact of millions of WCFLs does however becomes a more significant issue and could represent a potential risk to the environment. The present study aimed to focus on the most useable lamps in the Egyptian markets; white compact fluorescent lamps (WCFLs) and to evaluate relationships between UV emissions radiated and illuminance compact fluorescent lamps (WCFLs). Various parameters such as ultra violet irradiance (UVA), ratio of UVA irradiance to electrical power (η) and ratio of UVA power to luminous flux (K), for two groups of CFLs are studied to dedicate their performance. A set up based on NIS-Spectroradiometer ocean optics HR 2000 has been used for measuring the spectral power distribution white WCFLs with different Egyptian market. Second set up for NIS-UVA silicon detector for absolute irradiance measurements and relative spectral power distribution based on Spectroradiometer are used. The absolute irradiance in W/m2 in UVA region of the lamps and their accompanied standard uncertainty are evaluated. Third set up based on NIS Luxmeter are used for measuring illuminance for these lamps. For all two groups under study, K parameter remains less than the safe limit for human health. Elios 32 watt WCFLs have smaller ratio (η) than Tiger 26 watt WCFLs. So, we recommended using Elios 32 watt WCFLs than Tiger 26 watt WCFLs at short distance in table lamps or other application and the distance more than 0.5 m. Uncertainty model includes all parameters accompanied with the measurements are calculated

Public Perceptions and Attitudes Toward Vitiligo

Background: Previous studies have discussed attitudes of vitiligo patients toward their disease. However, no studies have addressed this issue from the public's point of view. Objective: To explore the perceptions, attitudes, and misconceptions of the public toward vitiligo. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to attendees of primary health care centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January and August 2010. Results: Overall, 924 of the 1,000 distributed questionnaires were returned, and 429 were males (46.8%). Moreover, 33.1% (303 of 916) believed that vitiligo is contagious or did not know that it is not. The cause of vitiligo was thought to be infectious by 20.4% of respondents (182 of 894), inherited by 40.5% (365 of 902), autoimmune by 41.2% (370 of 899), and due to a lack of hygiene by 22.5% (199 of 883). Unmarried individuals and those with less education were more likely to state that vitiligo is caused by an infection ( p = .02, p = .03, respectively). Younger individuals and those with less education were more likely to think that vitiligo is caused by a lack of hygiene ( p = .01, p = .001, respectively). More than half of the participants (56.1%, 504 of 898) would be unwilling to marry a vitiligo patient. Younger individuals and males were less likely to marry a vitiligo patient ( p = .01, p = .05, respectively), whereas those of lower income were more likely to accept it ( p = .002). Conclusions: Various misconceptions and negative attitudes about vitiligo among the public are prevalent. Educating the public about vitiligo could ultimately lead to better psychosocial well-being of vitiligo patients. Contexte: Des études ont déjà porté sur la perception des personnes atteintes de vitiligo à l'égard de leur propre maladie, mais aucune étude n'a porté sur la perception du public à l'égard de cette maladie. Objectif: L'étude visait à analyser les perceptions, les attitudes, et les idées fausses du public à l'égard du vitiligo. Méthodes: Un questionnaire autoadministré a été remis à des personnes présentes dans des centres de soins primaires à Riyad, en Arabie saoudite, entre janvier et août 2010. Résultats: En tout, 924 questionnaires sur 1,000 ont été remis. Sur ce nombre, 429 avaient été remplis par des hommes (46.8%). De plus, 33.1% (303 sur 916) des répondants croyaient que le vitiligo était contagieux ou ne savaient pas qu'il ne l'était pas. Quant à la cause du vitiligo, 20.4% des participants (182 sur 894) croyaient que c'était une maladie contagieuse; 40.5% (365 sur 902), que c'était une maladie héréditaire; 41.2% (370 sur 899), que c'était une maladie auto-immune; et 22.5% (199 sur 883), que c'était une maladie due à un manque d'hygiène. Les personnes célibataires et celles moins instruites étaient plus portées à croire que le vitiligo était causé par une infection ( p = .02 et p = .03, respectivement). Les jeunes et les personnes moins instruites étaient plus susceptibles de croire que le vitiligo était causé par un manque d'hygiène ( p = .01 et p = .001, respectivement). Plus de la moitié des participants (56.1%, 504 sur 898) ne voulaient pas se marier avec une personne atteinte de vitiligo. Les jeunes et les hommes étaient moins disposés à se marier avec une personne atteinte de vitiligo ( p = .01 et p = .05, respectivement), tandis que ceux à faible revenu étaient plus susceptibles d'accepter le fait ( p = .002). Conclusions: Il existe plusieurs idées fausses sur le vitiligo au sein de la population, et la maladie suscite des réactions négatives. L'éducation du public sur le vitiligo pourrait peut-être améliorer le bien-être psychosocial des personnes atteintes de vitiligo. </jats:sec

Long-Term Mortality Rates in Acute De Novo Versus Acute-on-Chronic Heart Failure

Aim: The heart function assessment registry trial in Saudi Arabia (HEARTS) is a national multicenter project that compared de novo versus acute-on-chronic heart failure (ACHF). Methods and Results: This is a prospective registry in 18 hospitals in Saudi Arabia between October 2009 and December 2010. The study enrolled 2610 patients: 940 (36%) de novo and 1670 (64%) ACHF. Patients with ACHF were significantly older (62.2 vs 60 years), less likely to be males (64% vs 69%) or smokers (31.6% vs 36.7%), and more likely to have history of diabetes mellitus (65.7% vs 61.3%), hypertension (74% vs 65%), and severe left ventricular dysfunction (52% vs 40%). The ACHF group had a higher adjusted 3-year mortality rate (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-2.0; P &lt; .001). Conclusion: Patients with ACHF had significantly higher long-term mortality rates than those with de novo acute heart failure (HF). Multidisciplinary HF disease management programs are highly needed for such high-risk populations. </jats:sec