American University Of Beirut Research Articles

Association between self-reported METs and other perioperative cardiorespiratory fitness assessment tools in abdominal surgery—a prospective cross-sectional correlation study

Cardiovascular complications represent a significant proportion of adverse events during the perioperative period, necessitating accurate preoperative risk assessment. This study aimed to investigate the association between well-established risk assessment tools and self-reported preoperative physical performance, quantified by metabolic equivalent (MET) equivalents, in high-risk patients scheduled for elective abdominal surgery. A prospective cross-sectional correlation study was conducted, involving 184 patients admitted to a Gastrointestinal Surgery Department. Various risk assessment tools, including the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI), Surgical Mortality Probability Model (S-MPM), American University of Beirut (AUB)-HAS2 Cardiovascular Risk Index, and Surgical Risk Calculator (NSQIP-MICA), were utilized to evaluate perioperative risk. Patients self-reported their physical performance using the MET-REPAIR questionnaire. The findings demonstrated weak or negligible correlations between the risk assessment tools and self-reported MET equivalents (Spearman’s ρ = − 0.1 to − 0.3). However, a statistically significant relationship was observed between the ability to ascend two flights of stairs and the risk assessment scores. Good correlations were identified among ASA-PS, S-MPM, NSQIP-MICA, and AUB-HAS2 scores (Spearman’s ρ = 0.3–0.8). Although risk assessment tools exhibited limited correlation with self-reported MET equivalents, simple questions regarding physical fitness, such as the ability to climb stairs, showed better associations. A comprehensive preoperative risk assessment should incorporate both objective and subjective measures to enhance accuracy. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate these findings and develop a comprehensive screening tool for high-risk patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery.

Hybrid stage 1 palliation for HLHS: the experience of a tertiary center in a developing country.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) accounts for 2.6% of congenital heart disease and is an invariably fatal cardiac anomaly if left untreated. Approximately 33,750 babies are born annually with HLHS in developing countries. Unfortunately, the majority will not survive due to the scarcity of resources and the limited availability of surgical management. To describe and analyze our experience with the hybrid approach in the management of HLHS in a developing country. We performed a retrospective single-center study involving all neonates born with HLHS over five years at the Children's Heart Center at the American University of Beirut. The medical records of patients who underwent the hybrid stage 1 palliation were reviewed, and data related to baseline characteristics, procedure details and outcomes were collected to describe the experience at a tertiary care center in a developing country. A total of 18 patients were diagnosed with HLHS over a five-year period at our institution, with male to female ratio of 1:1. Of those, eight patients underwent the hybrid stage I procedure. The mean weight at the time of the procedure was 3.3 ± 0.3 kg with an average age of 6.4 ± 4 days. The mean hospital length of stay was 27.25 days, with an interquartile range of 33 days. The cohort's follow-up duration averaged 5.9 ± 3.5 years. The surgical mortality was zero. Only one mortality was recorded during the interstage period between stage I and II and was attributed to sepsis. Notably, all surviving patients maintained preserved and satisfactory cardiac function with good clinical status. Our limited experience underscores the potential of developing countries with proper foundations to adopt the hybrid procedure for HLHS, yielding outcomes on par with those observed in developed countries. This demonstrates the viability of establishing a more balanced global landscape for children with congenital heart disease.

Machine-Learning-Based Solution Predicts Fluid Properties for Gas-Injection Data

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 211080, “Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of Pressure/Volume/Temperature Fluid Properties for Gas-Injection Laboratory Data,” by Kassem Ghorayeb, SPE, American University of Beirut and Schlumberger; Kristian Mogensen, SPE, ADNOC; and Nour El Droubi, Schlumberger, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ While machine learning (ML) is used extensively to predict black-oil properties, it is used less often for compositional reservoir properties, including those related to gas injection. Can typically extensive conventional laboratory data be used to help predict the necessary gas-injection parameters? This question is addressed in the complete paper. The authors present an ML-based solution that predicts pertinent gas-injection studies from known fluid properties such as fluid composition and black-oil properties—that is, learning from samples with gas-injection laboratory studies and predicting gas-injection fluid parameters for the remaining, much larger data set. Methodology The objective of the ML component is to predict the results of the swelling test using compositional and black-oil properties. Fig. 1 illustrates the three main steps that make up the work flow. The swelling-test data is processed and analyzed for use in the ML training as the first phase in the data-preparation and -analysis process. The following step is ML training, where features are engineered to examine correlations in the data, followed by the training of ML models using selected features and evaluation of the results. The swelling-test data for each fluid sample will be predicted using the trained ML models in the last stage, which creates a digital-twin database for swelling-test results. The three steps are detailed in the complete paper. Results and Discussion Several approaches were taken while training the ML model. One approach was to either cluster before the ML training, with one ML model trained for each cluster, or train a single ML model using all the data. The other approach was to use the chain method for the prediction of the outputs. In the chain approach, the outputs are given a specific order and, whenever one output is predicted, it is added to the inputs of the following output. The chain approach is particularly useful when the outputs are correlated.

PSYCHOSOCIAL WELL-BEING AND COGNITION AMONG OLDER ADULTS IN A LATE LIFE LEARNING PROGRAM IN LEBANON

Abstract Growing evidence suggests that engaging in cognitively stimulating activities across the lifecourse is associated with improved health. However, very few studies have evaluated the benefits of late life learning (LLL), especially in the low- and middle-income country setting. We designed a prospective cohort study to evaluate whether LLL is associated with better cognition among older Lebanese and related underlying mechanism. The University for Seniors (UfS) is an established and ongoing LLL program at the American University of Beirut, since 2012, providing cognitively and socially enriching activities (e.g., lectures, study groups, social and cultural events) to older adults, aged 50 and above. Our study will select 700 members (both previous longer-term members and new enrollees) and recruit a comparison group composed of 700 age-, sex-, and education-matched non-UfS-participating community residents. Participants will be interviewed on various topics at baseline and at a two-year follow-up visit. Older Lebanese are exposed to a host of lifecourse psychosocial adversities. We developed a questionnaire to capture their life history such as war-related exposures and economic changes due to recent financial crises. We will also measure participants’ psychological well-being including social network and support, ageism, resilience, hopelessness, loneliness. The challenges of adapting psychosocial scales and capturing lifecourse collective and individual adversities in a particularly burdened low-resourced settings and contextual complexity will be presented. With comprehensive data on LLL and lifecourse adversities, we will be able to examine the potential for scalable low-cost LLL programs to mitigate the impacts of earlier and accumulated psychosocial adversities on cognition.

Late life learning, dementia, and overall health in underresourced settings: an investigation of the University for Seniors in Beirut, Lebanon

AbstractBackgroundIdentifying modifiable factors that reduce Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) risk is a global public health priority. Several key social determinants of ADRD, such as years of education, are completed earlier in life, and thus are unamenable to change in older age. Evidence on the protective benefits of engaging in cognitively stimulating activities suggests that late life learning (“LLL”, non‐formal educational activities outside formal credentialed learning) may provide a unique window of opportunity, in older age, to mitigate ADRD risk by providing prospects for intellectual stimulation and social engagement. Yet, studies assessing assessed the benefits of LLL are scarce. Evaluations of cognitive and social benefits for LLL are particularly relevant for low‐resourced settings, where opportunities for engaged aging are limited.MethodWe designed a prospective cohort study (the LLL and Cognition 3LC study), capitalizing on an established and ongoing LLL program at the American University of Beirut, The U niversity f or S eniors (UfS). The UfS has been running for over 11 years, allowing to assess shorter‐ and longer‐term LLL influences on cognitive and overall health. Living in Lebanon, our population of older adults have endured multiple lifecourse and recent adverse psychosocial exposures. Our project will also examine the role of LLL in older age in mitigating the impacts of earlier psychosocial adversities on health.ResultOur project is embedded within a capacity building program and close collaborations between researchers in the US and Lebanon, providing an infrastructure for research on dementia and psychosocial disparities in Lebanon and the region. We aim to recruit 500 previously enrolled UfS participants, 200 newly/prospectively enrolled UfS participants, and 700 age‐ and sex‐matched non‐UfS‐participating community residents (Figure 1). We plan to conduct cognitive assessments at baseline and a follow‐up visit using cognitive batteries designed aligned with the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP). For a formal program evaluation of LLL on cognition and related outcomes, we will implement advanced analytical techniques (e.g., difference‐in‐difference estimation) (Figure 2).ConclusionOur project aims to build a longitudinal cohort study, together with research and infrastructure capacities, to delineate LLL opportunities for dementia prevention in Lebanon and neighboring countries.

Structures and sequences: physical remains from the Beirut souks - R. THORPE 2019. The Insula of the House of the Fountains, Beirut. Berytus Archaeological Studies 57–58 (2017–2018); Archaeology of the Beirut Souks 3, AUB and ACRE Excavations in Beirut 1994–1996. Beirut: American University of Beirut. Pp. 367, figs 264. ISSN 0067-6105.

Structures and sequences: physical remains from the Beirut souks - R. THORPE 2019. The Insula of the House of the Fountains, Beirut. Berytus Archaeological Studies 57–58 (2017–2018); Archaeology of the Beirut Souks 3, AUB and ACRE Excavations in Beirut 1994–1996. Beirut: American University of Beirut. Pp. 367, figs 264. ISSN 0067-6105.

2340. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among Faculty Members, College Students and Health Care Workers in Lebanon

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant morbidity, mortality, and economic losses worldwide. Despite the efficacy of several vaccines in reducing SARS-CoV-2 infections, vaccination hesitancy remains a challenge. This study aimed to examine COVID-19 vaccination perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge in Lebanon and identify unique predictors of vaccine hesitancy. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional online survey between March and June 2021 at the American University of Beirut and its Medical Center targeting faculty members, students, and healthcare workers. The survey included four sections, covering socio-demographics, COVID-19 perceptions, attitudes, and knowledge, with a primary focus on vaccination intent. We used a multivariate logistic regression model to investigate potential determinants of vaccine hesitancy. Results We had 422 respondents with an overall response rate of 94%. A large proportion of the study population were females (69%) and individuals with at least undergraduate college education (93%). Healthcare workers comprised 29.4% of all survey respondents. Of the respondents, 368 (87%) were definitely willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine, and 13% expressed various forms of vaccine hesitancy (1% definitely not willing; 8% undecided likely; 4% undecided unlikely). The most important independent predictors of vaccine hesitancy were the perception that the COVID-19 vaccine is more dangerous that the COVID-19 infection, that the vaccine development was rushed, and being a healthcare worker. Knowledge about COVID-19 infection, level of education, age, and recommendation from the respondent’s healthcare provider were negatively correlated with vaccine hesitancy. The multivariable analysis is shown in the Table. Conclusion We found a high COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and some of the factors associated with hesitancy were modifiable, including knowledge and perceptions about the disease and the vaccine, and healthcare provider recommendation. Addressing these factors is crucial for successful vaccination programs, as combatting vaccine hesitancy may be as crucial as developing a safe and effective vaccine. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Blood Stream Infections in COVID-19 Patients From a Tertiary Care Center in Lebanon: Causative Pathogens and Rates of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms

ObjectiveTo report the microbiological profile of the pathogens implicated in blood stream infections (BSI) in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and to examine the risk factors associated with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) causing BSI. Patients and MethodsBetween March 2020 and September 2021, 1647 patients were hospitalized with COVID-19 at the American University of Beirut. From 85 patients, 299 positive blood cultures were reported to the Infection Control and Prevention Program. The BSI was defined as 1 positive blood culture for bacterial or fungal pathogens. The following organisms were considered MDROs: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales spp., carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, MDR Acinetobacter baumannii only susceptible to colistin or tigecycline, and Candida auris. ResultsWe identified 99 true positive BSI events. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 38.4 %, followed by Gram-positive bacteria (37.4%), and fungi (24.2%). The most isolated species were Candida spp. (23%), 3 of which were C. auris, followed by Enterobacterales spp. (13%), Enterococcus spp. (12%), S. aureus (9%), P. aeruginosa (9%), and A. baumannii (3%). The MDROs represented 26% of the events. The overall mortality rate was 78%. The time to acquisition of BSI in patients with MDROs was significantly longer compared with that of non-MDROs (20.2 days vs 11.2 days). And there was a significantly shorter time from acquisition of BSI to mortality between MDROs and non-MDROs (1.5 vs 8.3 days). ConclusionRigorous infection prevention and control measures and antimicrobial stewardship are important to prevent antimicrobial resistance progression, especially in low-resource settings.

Characteristics and management of patients with substance use disorders referred to a consultation-liaison psychiatry service in Lebanon

BackgroundThis study explores the characteristics and management of individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) who were referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry (CLP) service in a tertiary care center in Lebanon. As part of the Consultation-Liaison at the American University of Beirut (CLAUB) analysis, we conducted a retrospective record review of patients referred to our CLP service between February 2019 and May 2020. We assessed differences between SUD and non-SUD consults using chi-square analysis, Fisher’s exact test, or Mann–Whitney U test, as appropriate.ResultsOf 1475 patients, 278 (18.8%) received a diagnosis of SUD. They were mostly males (73.7%) with an average age of 38.8 years. The most used substances were alcohol (60%) and cannabis (28.4%). Compared to non-SUD consults, patients with SUDs were more likely to be males (odds ratio OR = 3.18, p < 0.001) and to get intubated during admission (OR = 1.81, p = 0.048). Predictors of intensive care unit admission in patients with alcohol use disorder included pulmonary or endocrinological disease, benzodiazepine use disorder, and days until CLP referral.ConclusionsThe results of this study highlight the high prevalence of alcohol use among individuals with SUD referred to the CLP service. Additionally, they underscore the limited treatment avenues available in this part of the world. The institution of a comprehensive CLP service is crucial to address the unmet needs of patients with SUDs who present to a general hospital setting.

Nicotine flux as a powerful tool for regulating nicotine delivery from e-cigarettes: Protocol of two complimentary randomized crossover clinical trials.

Electronic cigarette (EC) use has increased rapidly in the last decade, especially among youth. Regulating nicotine delivery from ECs could help curb youth uptake and leverage EC use in harm reduction yet is complicated by varying device and liquid variables that affect nicotine delivery. Nicotine flux, the nicotine emission rate, is a parameter that incorporates these variables and focuses on the performance rather than the design of an EC. Nicotine flux therefore could be a powerful regulatory tool if it is shown empirically to predict nicotine delivery and subjective effects related to dependence. This project consists of two complementary clinical trials. In Trial I, we will examine the relationship between nicotine flux and the rate and dose of nicotine delivery from ECs, hence, impacting abuse liability. It will also examine the extent to which this relationship is mediated by nicotine form (i.e., freebase versus protonated). At Yale School of Medicine (YSM), study participants will puff EC devices under conditions that differ by flux and form, while arterial blood is sampled in high time resolution. In Trial II, we will assess the relationship between nicotine flux, form, and subjective effects. At the American University of Beirut (AUB), participants will use EC devices with varying nicotine fluxes and forms, while dependency measures, such as the urge to use ECs, nicotine craving, and withdrawal symptoms, will be assessed. We will also monitor puffing intensity and real-time exposure to toxicants. The protocol of Trial I and Trial II was approved by YSM and AUB IRBs, respectively. We will disseminate study results through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. NCT05706701 for Trial I and NCT05430334 for Trial II.

Shattered glass of Beirut: collaboration between the Archaeological Museum (American University of Beirut) and international partners following the 2020 port explosion

The Archaeological Museum at the American University of Beirut (AUB) lies approximately 3 km west of the main port of Beirut, the site of the massive explosion that sent a catastrophic shockwave through the city on 4 August 2020. A display case containing Classical and early Islamic period glass vessels was smashed against the museum’s stone floor, shattering 72 vessels into thousands of shards. This paper overviews how the Archaeological Museum (AM) responded to the situation with international partners to document, collect, identify, study, conserve and restore the broken pieces, and how this process of recovery would ultimately imbue the vessels with new historical resonance. In particular, the paper presents a collaborative project with the British Museum (BM) that developed from broader international-AM efforts. The partnership had three objectives: (i) to reconstruct eight of the shattered vessels in conservation laboratories at the BM; (ii) to provide training for a museum professional from the AM as part of the restoration programme in London; and (iii) to conduct scientific analyses of the broken shards before conservation. A fourth objective was realized August–October 2022, when the reconstructed vessels were featured in a single-room exhibition at the BM titled Shattered Glass of Beirut, jointly developed by AM and BM curators, in which the vessels helped tell a broader story about the port explosion and its effects on the people of Lebanon.

Biospecimen Repositories in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Insights From an American University of Beirut and Memorial Sloan Kettering Collaboration.

Biobanking helps source tissue and blood for studying cancer genomics. Access to biorepository resources in low- and middle-income countries is lacking. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and the American University of Beirut (AUB) established a joint tissue biorepository at AUB in Beirut, Lebanon. The undertaking encountered key challenges that were unanticipated. Patients age 18 years or older were eligible for enrollment at AUB. After consent, biospecimens were obtained at the time of routine diagnostic and/or therapeutic interventions. Both normal and abnormal tissue and solid and/or liquid specimens were collected from varied body sites. Early on, declining consent was frequently observed, and this was highlighted for investigation to understand potential participants reasoning. Of 850 patients approached, 704 (70.8%) elected to consent and 293 (29.5%) declined participation. The number of declined consents led to an amendment permitting the documentation of reasons for same. Of 100 potential participants who declined to consent and to whom outreach was undertaken, 63% indicated lack of research awareness and 27% deferral to their primary physician or family member. A financial gain for AUB was cited as concern by 5%, cultural boundaries in 4%, and 1% expressed concern about confidentiality. Of the patients who elected to consent, 682 biospecimens were procured. The AUB-MSK biospecimen repository has provided a unique resource for interrogation. Patient participation rate was high, and analyses of those who elected not to consent (29%) provide important insights into educational need and the local and cultural awareness and norms.

What's in a Name? Archives and Special Collections at American Research Institutions in the Middle East: Repositories at the American University of Beirut, the American University in Cairo, the American Center of Research in Jordan, and New York University Abu Dhabi

ABSTRACT In today's Middle East, a number of institutions of research and higher education have American origins, and several maintain archives and special collections. This article offers case studies of repositories at four of these institutions: the American University of Beirut (AUB), the American University in Cairo (AUC), the American Center of Research (ACOR) in Jordan, and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD). The article traces the origins of these archives and how those were shaped by the development of each one's parent organization as an American-inspired institution, as well as by the historical, social, and cultural framework of their host countries. The authors also consider the landscape of archives in the nations where these institutions are based: Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. The evolution of the collecting program of each repository is outlined, with strategies and key acquisitions and collections mentioned. Access and dissemination methods, including digitization initiatives, are also covered. In presenting such activities, the ways in which American traditions and standards of archival practice contrast with or complement those of local archival traditions are examined. A central theme is the way that the archives at AUB, AUC, ACOR, and NYUAD go about documenting not only institutional history but also the heritage of their host countries and the challenges and opportunities inherent in that work.

Developing an integrated model of care for vulnerable populations living with non-communicable diseases in Lebanon: an online theory of change workshop

IntroductionThe Syrian crisis, followed by a financial crisis, port explosion, and COVID-19, have put enormous strain on Lebanon’s health system. Syrian refugees and the vulnerable host population have a high burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) morbidity and unmet mental health, psychosocial and rehabilitation needs. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) recently introduced integrated NCD services within its package of primary care in Lebanon, which includes NCD primary health care, rehabilitation, and mental health and psychosocial support services. We aimed to identify relevant outcomes for people living with NCDs from refugee and host communities in northern Lebanon, as well as to define the processes needed to achieve them through an integrated model of care. Given the complexity of the health system in which the interventions are delivered, and the limited practical guidance on integration, we considered systems thinking to be the most appropriate methodological approach.MethodsA Theory of Change (ToC) workshop and follow-up meetings were held online by the ICRC, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the American University of Beirut in 2021. ToC is a participatory and iterative planning process involving key stakeholders, and seeks to understand a process of change by mapping out intermediate and long-term outcomes along hypothesised causal pathways. Participants included academics, and ICRC regional, coordination, and headquarters staff.ResultsWe identified two distinct pathways to integrated NCD primary care: a multidisciplinary service pathway and a patient and family support pathway. These were interdependent and linked via an essential social worker role and a robust information system. We also defined a list of key assumptions and interventions to achieve integration, and developed a list of monitoring indicators.DiscussionToC is a useful tool to deconstruct the complexity of integrating NCD services. We highlight that integrated care rests on multidisciplinary and patient-centred approaches, which depend on a well-trained and resourced team, strong leadership, and adequate information systems. This paper provides the first theory-driven road map of implementation pathways, to help support the integration of NCD care for crises-affected populations in Lebanon and globally.

Artificial Intelligence Unleashes Potential of Relative Permeability

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 207855, “Unleashing the Potential of Relative Permeability Using Artificial Intelligence,” by Abdur Rahman Shah, SPE, Schlumberger; Kassem Ghorayeb, SPE, American University of Beirut; and Hussein Mustapha, Schlumberger, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ To unlock the potential of large relative permeability (Kr) databases, the work flow proposed in the complete paper integrates data analysis, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI). The work flow allows for the automated generation of a clean database and a digital twin of Kr data, using AI to identify analog data from nearby fields by extending the rock-typing scheme across multiple fields for the same formation. Introduction Accurate Kr curves are critical because they can improve reservoir characterization, reduce uncertainty in history matching and production forecasting, and provide robust and reliable field development plans. However, preparing special core analysis (SCAL) data, particularly Kr curves, as an input for reservoir simulation traditionally has been a highly manual, time-consuming, labor-intensive process. Furthermore, no automated tools are available currently that perform a full quality review of Kr data using analytical or numerical methods. As a result, the quality and representativeness of Kr data used in reservoir simulation models is frequently inadequately checked. Furthermore, no tools exist to generate Kr curves based on analog field data in fields where Kr data is either missing or scarce. Integrated Work Flow The solution discussed in this paper aims to address challenges and automate processes using a combination of conventional algorithms and ML. It begins with a thorough quality check and cleanup of Kr laboratory data before using analog data to build Kr curves for a specific field or reservoir. The latter is especially important considering the challenges that arise when attempting to build on analog field data in the presence of large, corporate, regional, or country-scale databases. The approach classifies rocks using ML-proxy rock typing, which is subsequently used to find Kr equivalents. After that, these analogs can be used to fill up any data gaps for reservoir simulation in any discipline.

Mediators of steatosis in HepG2 cells

Hepatic lipid accumulation or steatosis has become nowadays a major public health problem. The disease can progress into serious liver damage that can lead eventually to hepatic failure and cancer. Fatty liver may result from an increase in lipid acquisition or a decrease in lipid disposal, or both. Although lipid metabolism is known to be under the control of multiple enzymes and signaling molecules, the ones dysregulated in steatosis are still ill defined. The aim of this study was to identify the key molecules altered during hepatic lipid accumulation. Steatosis was induced by incubating HepG2 cells for 24 hrs with 1 mM Oleic and Palmitic acid. Cellular lipid content was quantified using a lipid extraction kit in which lipids were stained with Oil red O, then extracted and quantified colorimetrically. The fatty acids, which are known to activate Gq-linked fatty acid receptors, increased significantly lipid accumulation. This increase was not maintained in presence of specific inhibitors of Gq, PI3K, mTOR, SREBP, and PPARϒ. Gq was found to be upstream of all the other intermediates. It was concluded that saturated fatty acids activate a Gq signaling pathway involving kinases and transcription factors implicated in lipogenesis. The location of the different intermediates with respect to each other needs still to be determined. University Research Board- American University of Beirut This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

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University students' intentions to seek psychological counseling, attitudes toward seeking psychological help, and stigma.

Mental health problems are prevalent among university students worldwide. Studies have shown that most students do not disclose and do not get the psychological help and support they need. This survey aims to investigate the intentions to seek psychological counseling (ISC) among university students, their attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH), and the predictors of those intentions and attitudes including stigma. a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 420 students at the American University of Beirut (AUB). Depression, test anxiety, and difficulty sleeping are the three main reasons students would seek psychological help. The source the students most preferred to ask for help was one's family followed by psychologists and psychiatrists. Students' ATSPPH is a positive predictor of their ISC, while students' self-stigma of seeking help (SSOSH) is a negative predictor of their ATSPPH. Moreover, students' awareness of the psychological help system available on campus, free of charge, is a positive predictor for both ISC and ATSPPH. Different interventions are needed to reduce stigma and enhance students' mental health literacy and awareness of the available professional psychological help on campus.

Ethnic political socialization and university elections

Foundational studies of political behavior find that university education facilitates the development of political attitudes and shapes socialization outcomes. But in unconsolidated democracies where identity is politically salient and ethnic political parties dominate, education may play a different role in shaping mass politics. In this paper, we develop a framework for understanding the consequences of political party intervention in annual university elections, a common feature of university life in the Middle East and the Global South. We draw on pre- and post-election surveys at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon to argue that ethnic political parties rely on partisan students to act as “party agents” who mobilize unaffiliated students through intensive peer-to-peer contact. Using a conjoint experiment embedded in both survey waves, we show that the university elections increase support in hypothetical national elections for in-group political elites and, to a lesser extent, ethnic political parties. By locating the university as an understudied site of competitive and contentious politics, our findings contribute new insights regarding the role of education in shaping political attitudes. We show that the persistence of ethnic political power can be attributed in part to party activity in less obviously political arenas that have not been systematically studied.

Popular politics and the path to durable democracy. By KadivarM. A, Princeton University Press. 2022. pp. 174. Cloth $120.00; Paper $35.00; E‐book $17.75

The British Journal of SociologyEarly View BOOK REVIEW Popular politics and the path to durable democracy. By Kadivar, M. A, Princeton University Press. 2022. pp. 174. Cloth $120.00; Paper $35.00; E-book $17.75 Rima Majed, Corresponding Author Rima Majed rima.majed@aub.edu.lb orcid.org/0000-0002-5651-1120 American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon CorrespondenceSearch for more papers by this author Rima Majed, Corresponding Author Rima Majed rima.majed@aub.edu.lb orcid.org/0000-0002-5651-1120 American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon CorrespondenceSearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-4446.13017Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue RelatedInformation