Significant Relationship Research Articles

Remediation of cationic dye from aqueous solution through adsorption utilizing natural Haloxylon salicornicum: An integrated experimental, physical statistics and molecular modeling investigation

Wastewater emanating from declining industrial processes often presents a vexing challenge due to its intricate composition replete with hazardous chemicals. The quest for environmentally sustainable methods to remediate such wastewater has led to the exploration of biomaterials as adsorbents and co-substrates within diverse treatment systems. In this study, we harnessed the abundant and cost-effective adsorbent, Haloxylon salicornicum (HS), as a potent agent for the removal of the pernicious triphenylmethane dye, crystal violet, from aqueous mediums. The adsorbent was characterised using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis yielded a specific surface area (SBET) of 85.23 m2 g−1, highlighting its advantageous mesoporous structure for adsorption. Comprehensive investigations were conducted across various operational parameters, encompassing initial dye concentration, contact time, HS adsorbent dosage, initial pH, and temperature, with a keen focus on their influence on dye removal efficiency. The results unveiled several key trends, demonstrating that elevated initial dye concentration, prolonged contact time, and higher initial pH levels substantially enhanced the efficiency of dye removal, while ionic strength and temperature exhibited comparatively modest impacts. The kinetics of dye adsorption were rigorously examined, revealing a closer adherence to the pseudo-second-order model in comparison to the PFO model, thereby offering deeper insights into the adsorption dynamics. To further unravel the intricate mechanism underpinning the adsorption of CV on HS, we employed a single-layer model linked to SLMRG. In conjunction, DFT calculations, encompassing COSMO-RS, NCI, Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations and QTAIM calculations, were applied to probe the interactions between adsorbed CV and the adsorbent-molecules, providing compelling evidence of robust binding interactions. These theoretical insights were subsequently aligned with empirical observations, affirming a significant relation between the theoretical and experimental data. This multifaceted study not only advances our understanding of CV removal using HS but also underscores the robustness of this adsorbent within the context of wastewater treatment. Furthermore, it demonstrates the synergy of empirical investigations and theoretical modeling in unraveling the intricacies of adsorption processes.

Spatial mapping of dengue fever prevalence and its association with geo-climatic factors in Lahore, Pakistan.

A vector-borne disease of concern for global public health, dengue fever has been spreading its endemicity and several cases in recent years, particularly in Lahore Pakistan. Dengue transmission is influenced by geo-climatic conditions. This study aimed to map the spatial prevalence of dengue fever in Lahore and its association with geo-climatic factors during the epidemic of the year 2021. In this study, geo-climatic factors that could potentially encourage the growth of the virus are chosen for this study, and their temporal and spatial changeability relate to dengue cases. The objective of this study is to use meteorological, satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to map dengue outbreaks and identify the risk-prone areas by relating geo-climatic factors with dengue outbreaks. The dengue patients and their locations data were collected from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Lahore. This study uses Google Earth and Landsat-8 OLI/TIRs images to extract geo-climatic and land use parameters. The dot density maps technique was used to represent the spatiotemporal distribution of dengue cases. The hotspot analysis was applied to show the hotspots of dengue cases in district Lahore at the Union Council (UC) level. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalised Difference Water Index (NDWI), built-up area, population density, precipitation, and Land Surface Temperature (LST) are the factors employed. In this study, correlation was performed to test the significance between precipitation and the prevalence of dengue fever in Lahore. The results show that the incidence and prevalence of dengue fever month-wise at the UC level in Lahore. The distribution pattern of dengue outbreaks in the Lahore area and its demographic factors were found to be associated. It concludes that the increase in the spread of dengue fever is associated with the monsoon rains. The prevalence of dengue is associated with water bodies and high land surface temperature, but it does not represent any significant relation with vegetation cover and land use in Lahore during the year 2021. The study pinpointed the locations that are most susceptible and require care to prevent such outbreaks in the future.

Development of e-commerce and reconstruction of regional value chain

This paper examines the impact of e-commerce on regional value chain reconstruction by combining the dynamic panel data of 31 provinces in China from 2009 to 2021. The study finds a significant positive relation between China's e-commerce development and regional value chain reconstruction speed. From a dynamic perspective, there is an inverted ‘U-shaped’ structure between China's e-commerce development and regional value chain reconstruction.

Cognitive assessment of a sample of Egyptian patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BackgroundCognitive and behavioral changes in ALS are featured as an integral part of the disease. A noticeable proportion of ALS patients present with a full-blown picture of frontotemporal dementia, which is considered the most common form of cognitive impairment in ALS.ResultsA total of 30 ALS cases and 30 sex, age and education matched healthy controls were enrolled; their sociodemographic data were statistically insignificant as regards (age, sex, education). Regarding cognitive and behavioral assessment using the ECAS-EG, both ECAS mean total score and subdomains mean scores were significantly lower in ALS patients compared to controls (p-value < 0.001), with statistically significant relation between ALS clinical staging and ECAS total scores (p-value < 0.001). Furthermore, it was found that mean scores of nearly all ECAS domains are lower in early-onset group with longer duration of illness than late onset with short duration of illness but with a non-statistically significant difference.ConclusionALS causes significant cognitive impairment, with relation between functional status and clinical staging of the disease with the severity of cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions and although early-onset cases had lower score on ECAS compared to those with late onset, but it was non-significant.

Nitrogen isotope characteristics and importance of NOx from biomass burning in China

Biomass burning is a primary source of atmospheric nitrogen oxide (NOx), however, the lack of isotopic fingerprints from biomass burning limits their use in tracing atmospheric nitrate (NO3−) and NOx. A total of 25 biomass fuels from 10 provinces and regions in China were collected, and the δ15N values of biomass fuels (δ15N-biomass) and δ15N-NOx values of biomass burning (δ15N-NOx values of BB, open burning, and rural cooking stove burning) were determined. The δ15N-NOx values of open burning and rural cooking stove burning ranged from −0.8 ‰ to 11.6 ‰ and 0.8 ‰ to 9.5 ‰, respectively, indicating a significant linear relation with δ15N-biomass. Based on the measured δ15N-NOx values of BB and biomass burning emission inventory data, the δ15N-NOx values of BB in different provinces and regions of China were calculated using the δ15N-NOx model, with a mean value of 5.0 ± 1.8 ‰. The spatial variations in the estimated δ15N-NOx values of BB in China were mainly controlled by the differences in the δ15N-NOx values and the proportions of NOx emissions from various straw burning activities in provinces and regions of China. Furthermore, by using the combined local emissions of biomass burning with regional transportations of NOx based on air-mass backward trajectories, we established an improved δ15N-NOx model and obtained more accurate δ15N-NOx values of BB in regions (2.3 ‰ to 8.4 ‰). By utilising the reported δ15N-NOx values of precipitation and particulate matter from 21 cities in China and the more accurate δ15N-NOx values of BB, the NOx contributions from four sources (mobile sources, coal combustion, biomass burning, and microbial N cycle) at the national scale were estimated using a Bayesian model. The significant contributions of biomass burning (20.9 % to 44.3 %) to NOx emissions were revealed, which is vital for controlling NOx emissions in China.

Stress-induced increase in heart-rate during sleep as an indicator of PTSD risk among combat soldiers.

Discerning the differential contribution of sleep behavior and sleep physiology to the subsequent development of posttraumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) symptoms following military operational service among combat soldiers. Longitudinal design with three measurement time points: during basic training week (T1), during intensive stressed training week (T2), and following military operational service (T3). Participating soldiers were all from the same unit, ensuring equivalent training schedules and stress exposures. During measurement weeks soldiers completed the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Sleep physiology (sleep heart-rate) and sleep behavior (duration, efficiency) were monitored continuously in natural settings during T1 and T2 weeks using wearable sensors. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a progressive increase in PCL-5 scores from T1 and T2 to T3, suggesting an escalation in PTSD symptom severity following operational service. Hierarchical linear regression analysis uncovered a significant relation between the change in DASS stress scores from T1 to T2 and subsequent PCL-5 scores at T3. Incorporating participants' sleep heart-rate markedly enhanced the predictive accuracy of the model, with increased sleep heart-rate from T1 to T2 emerging as a significant predictor of elevated PTSD symptoms at T3, above and beyond the contribution of DASS stress scores. Sleep behavior did not add to the accuracy of the model. Findings underscore the critical role of sleep physiology, specifically elevated sleep heart-rate following stressful military training, in indicating subsequent PTSD risk following operational service among combat soldiers. These findings may contribute to PTSD prediction and prevention efforts.

Evaluation of the Rock1 and microRNA-148a expression in biopsies collected from patients with Helicobacter pylori induced gastritis

BackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection is one of the most common chronic bacterial infections, especially in developing countries. MicroRNA-148a is involved in the regulation of various genes, including Rock1, which is altered in gastric cancer. Decreased expression of mir-148a leads to tumor metastasis and increased Rock1 gene expression in gastric cancer. This study aimed to investigate the expression of these genes in biopsies collected from patients with H. pylori induced gastritis.MethodsInformed consent forms were gotten from the studied patients with gastritis who needed endoscopy. Gastric biopsies were taken by a gastroenterologist from patients with inflammation. Rapid urease test, stool antigen detection, and histopathological staining were used to determine the H. pylori infected patients. Real time PCR was used to evaluate the miRNA and Rock1 expression levels.ResultsThe Rock1 expression level in biopsies that were positive for H. pylori was significantly increased compared to our control gastritis group that were H. pylori-negative, but the results were not statistically significant. Moreover, the mir-148a expression level in H. pylori-positive patients with gastritis was increased compared to our control group. However, the results were not statistically significant. We did not find a significant relation between the expression levels of Rock1 and mir-148a in samples with gastritis infected or uninfected by H. pylori. This result may be due to the small sample size.ConclusionWe suggest that this test should be carried out with more samples, and the comparison should be done between biopsies with inflammation and no inflammation in a patient.

Healthcare workers' safety compliance behavior in times of COVID-19: The interaction model.

Strengthening safety compliance behaviour can reduce the organizations' unexpected financial losses and prevent employees from continuous COVID-19. It drives this study to create a research framework involved by organizational, individual and social factors to predict employees' safety compliance behaviour. This study examines how risk perceptions of COVID-19, employee well-being, workplace health and safety training, safety motivation and safety related stigma impact safety compliance behavior in times COVID-19 pandemic. A self-administered questionnaire was disseminated to healthcare workers. In all, 344 acceptable questionnaires were derived for further analysis. The results revealed that the risk perception of COVID-19 and employee well-being has no significant relationship with safety compliance behavior. Similarly, safety related stigma also has no moderating effect on safety motivation and safety compliance behavior. However, workplace health and safety training and safety motivation have significant relationships with safety compliance behavior. This study contributes to the literature by illuminating on the importance of organizational, individual, social factors and how they can interact with safety compliance behaviour. Additionally, knowing the unique function of safety related stigma in building safety compliance behaviour may help guide future efforts and training initiatives to enhance workplace safety.

A study on the professional attention and career commitment of health management students.

The education process is based on leading the choice of profession in line with the interests and abilities of the individual and helping them with their career plans in these professions. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of the occupational interest levels of the Health Management Department students on their career commitment. In the study, descriptive findings were included by using a quantitative research design. In the research, data were collected from 282 students studying Department of Health Management. SPSS 26.0 package program was used for statistical analysis of research data. Parametric tests (t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis, normal linear regression analysis) were utilized since the data fit the normal distribution. 57.1% of the individuals participating in the research are female, 47.8% have the age range of 21 to 22. There is a positive, moderate (r = 0.677 p < 0.01) significant relationship between professional interest and career commitment scales. The level of professional interest and career dedication varies according to gender, age, income status and the class of the student. It is very important that health management students have an interest in their profession. Because this interest will guide them in what kind of a career they should make in their business life after graduation.

Clinicopathological Evaluation of Postpancreaticoduonenectomy Hemorrhage with Endovascular Treatment.

Postpancreaticoduodenectomy hemorrhage (PPH) is a serious complication. Fatty or nonfibrous pancreas, or both, is a risk factor for pancreatic fistula. This study assessed various prognostic factors for interventional procedures for PPH, also focusing on the degree of pancreatic fatty infiltration/fibrosis evaluated histopathologically. The participants were 29 patients with PPH who underwent endovascular treatment from September 2001 to March 2020. Univariate analysis was performed to determine whether the histopathological degree of pancreatic fatty infiltration/fibrosis and other factors were associated with complications and mortality after endovascular treatment for PPH. Of 39 treatment sessions overall, 38 (97%) achieved technical success and 34 (87%) had clinical success. In-hospital mortality occurred in five patients (17%). No association was found between the pancreatic fistula and the histopathological degree of pancreatic fatty infiltration/fibrosis. Fourteen patients with hemorrhagic shock before endovascular treatment included all five patients with in-hospital mortality, while the 15 patients without hemorrhagic shock survived (P = 0.017). A bleeding tendency was associated with complications after endovascular treatment for PPH (P = 0.033). Although our results revealed no significant relation between the histopathological degree of pancreatic fatty infiltration/fibrosis and clinical success, including prognosis, endovascular treatment may be effective for PPH.

Safety and efficacy of lasers compared to cold knife in direct visual internal urethrotomy: a systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Cold knife urethrotome was introduced in 1971 and it had an 80% success rate. New advancements in this field have shed light on the use of various lasers such as carbon dioxide, Nd: YAG, KTP, Argon, Ho: YAG, and excimer lasers. It has been observed that cold knife urethrotomy has a higher recurrence rate than laser urethrotomy, but the superiority of either treatment modality has not been established yet. Data were thoroughly searched through PubMed, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov. We also used clinicaltrials.gov for ongoing and published research. The data was analyzed via R studio version 2023.12.1 (oceanstorm). For dichotomous variables, Odds Ratio (OR) were used to pool data and standardized mean difference was used for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 14 studies including 1114 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The results of the combined analysis revealed significant relation with a mean difference of 0.99 (95% CI: 0.37; 1.62), and favored laser group. The overall results have shown the laser to have a significant favorable profile demonstrating a recurrence, Odds Ratio of 0.42 (95% CI:0.27;0.65). Patients with laser therapy had a lower risk of complication rate (OR 0.49, 95% Cl: 0.35; 0.67). All the findings obtained by the analysis in this study favour lasers significantly over the cold knife technique especially when mean Qmax, with recurrence and complications taken into account.

Concurrent Validity of the Anxiety Disorders Section of the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule- Autism Spectrum Addendum (ADIS-ASA) in Autistic Youth.

Examine the concurrent validity of specific Anxiety Disorders Section of the Anxiety Disorder Interview Schedule for DSM-IV-Autism Spectrum Addendum (ADIS-ASA)-Parent Interview in a sample of 167 autistic youth who met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety-related disorder (Mage = 9.91; 78.4% male; 82% non-Hispanic; 77.67% White). Concurrent validity of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-defined ADIS-ASA anxiety disorder diagnostic caseness was examined via relations with (a) parent-reported dimensions of youth anxiety symptomology and (b) dimensional measures of youth anxiety-related functional impairment, respectively, using logistic regression models and point-biserial correlations. Significant relations were found between separation anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder (but not generalized anxiety disorder nor obsessive-compulsive disorder) caseness, respectively, and theoretically consistent facets of dimensional youth anxiety symptomology. Relations between ADIS-ASA diagnostic caseness and youth functional impairment-related variables revealed that only separation anxiety disorder demonstrated robust evidence of convergent validity. Despite mixed findings concerning relations between ADIS-ASA anxiety disorder diagnostic caseness and dimensional measures of anxiety severity and anxiety-related impairment, the present findings provide further support for the status of the ADIS-ASA as a gold standard for assessment of anxiety in autistic youth. This work also highlights the importance of continuing to improve precision in measurement of anxiety symptomology in autistic youth, with implications for clinical assessment.

Spatio-temporal occurrence and habitat characteristics of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae in Southern Afar region, Ethiopia

BackgroundDescribing spatio-temporal occurrence and habitat characteristics of Aedes mosquito larvae is crucial for the control of Aedes borne viral diseases. This study assessed spatio-temporal abundance and habitat characteristics of Aedes larvae in the Southern Afar Region, Ethiopia.MethodsImmature mosquitoes were surveyed in Awash Sebat, Awash Arba, and Werer towns of the Southern Afar Region once per month from May 2022 to April 2023. Larvae and pupae surveys were carried out along the available water-holding containers. The collected larvae/pupae were reared to adults and identified by species/genus morphologically. The physical and chemical properties of the habitats were also characterized.ResultsA total of 9099 Aedes larvae/pupae were collected, of which 53.6% (4875) were from Awash Sebat, 29.5% (2687) from Awash Arba and 16.9% (1537) from Werer. Water-holding tyres harboured the highest number of Aedes larvae/pupae followed by water-storage drums. All the Aedes larvae/pupae reared to adults were morphologically identified as Aedes aegypti. The overall Container Index was 47.28%, House Index 18.19%, Breteau Index 59.94% and Pupal Index 171.94. Significant positive relations were observed in the occurrences of Ae. aegypti larvae/pupae with water-holding tyre (AOR = 15.89, CI = 3.55–71.09, p < 0.001), water storage drums (AOR = 19.84, CI = 4.64–84.89, p < 0.001), domestic habitat (AOR = 3.76, CI = 1.27–11.12, p = 0.017), and significant negative relations were observed with Ae. aegypti larvae/pupae occurrence and tap water source (AOR = 0.08, CI = 0.02–0.31, p = 0.001). Ae. aegypti larvae/pupae densities showed positive relations with dissolved oxygen (β = 0.523, p < 0.001) and total hardness (β = 0.475, p = 0.034) of water.ConclusionsDiverse types of artificial water-holding containers were positive for Ae. aegypti larvae/pupae. Ae. aegypti larvae/pupae were abundant in used water-holding tyres, water storage drums, and cement tanks in Awash Sebat, Awash Arba, and Werer towns. This could put the residents of the towns at high risk of infections with Ae. aegypti transmitted viral diseases such as chikungunya and dengue outbreaks. Thus, we recommend artificial water-holding container management as a strategy to control Ae. aegypti and hence the arboviral diseases transmission.

Abstract Tu030: High-density Lipoprotein Induces Arginase I Expression in M1 Macrophages

Macrophages play a central role in atherosclerosis. While M1 macrophages contribute to atherosclerosis progression, M2 macrophages are primarily associated with its regression. Increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in mice with atherosclerosis have been demonstrated to cause plaque regression; however, the underlying mechanism is poorly characterized. Our objective is to examine whether HDL would ameliorate plaque formation by counteracting M1 phenotypes. Monocyte-derived macrophages were polarized into M1 (interferon-γ plus lipopolysaccharide) and M2 (interleukin-4 plus interleukin-13), followed by treatment with HDL. The phenotype changes, including gene expression and cytokine secretion, in M1 and M2 under HDL treatment were assessed. The results demonstrated that HDL induces the expression of arginase 1 (Arg1), the anti-inflammatory M2 marker facilitating tissue repair, exclusively in M1 macrophages. Reciprocal downregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-α was observed, suggesting a reduction of inflammation. Interleukin-6, the downstream cytokine triggered by Arg1, was elevated upon HDL treatment. Gene expression of L-arginine transporters, SLC7A1, was dominantly expressed in M1 macrophages, but its levels were not altered by HDL. Moreover, we analyzed the concentration of L-arginine, a substrate of Arg1, in human serum and revealed a positive correlation with low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol levels, but no significant relation to HDL. Subcellular groups analysis in ascending aorta from mice identified that Arg1 expression was higher in normal diet-fed than in high-fat diet-fed. The present study demonstrated that HDL reduces the inflammatory phenotypes of M1 macrophages by increasing Arg1 expression, which may contribute to atherosclerosis plaque regression.

Enhancing construction management outcomes through the mitigation of robotics implementation barriers: A sustainable practice model

Incorporating technology into construction projects is highly important to achieve success. One of the critical technologies is robotics, but it faces significant barriers in terms of implementing it in the construction sector. Existing research focuses on the benefits of robotics in terms of construction management. Besides this, there is limited known study that simultaneously focuses on overcoming the barriers and their impact on success in construction projects. This research was aimed at evaluating the barriers faced in the implementation of robotics in construction and determining their impact on success. A quantitative research design was followed, starting with the identification of possible challenges from the literature, performing the pilot survey, conducting the exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and performing structural equation modeling (SEM). The results produced a structural model involving barriers and their relation to construction success with a significant positive relation value of B = 0.87. Positive implications are formulated in relation to managerial and theoretical expectations of future robotics implementation in construction projects.

U.S. parents’ scientific literacy and efficacy: Associations with children’s STEM media engagement

ABSTRACT Promoting science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM) skills for young children provides foundation for and interest in later STEM learning, making early childhood an important time to develop these competencies. Young children also spend increasing amounts of time with media, and thus it is important to understand if children are accessing STEM content and what factors may determine this access. The current survey study of parents of three- to seven-year olds assesses how parents’ science self-efficacy and parents’ scientific literacy relate to children’s STEM media use. Results demonstrate positive relations between parent self-efficacy and child STEM media use (aligned with self-efficacy theory), but results also demonstrate no significant relation between parent scientific literacy and child STEM media use. We conclude that parent self-efficacy is an important social susceptibility for young children’s STEM media use and that future research should continue exploring potential interventions for promoting parents’ self-efficacy related to teaching their children science.

Emotional challenges in the retail industry Uncovering the role of emotional exhaustion in shop attendants' performance

Background: Within the scope of the organization, performance is an important topic to be researched because of the facts that are crucial for the future and sustainability of the organization. To salesperson task performance are considered the most important and influential aspect in assessing their performance. In addition, emotional labor is known to be a display rule that is often found in front-line workers such as salesperson. So this study seeks to examine the relationship between emotional labor and task performance, through the mediating role of emotional exhaustion. Method: This study collected data from 58 participants who work as salesperson in the retail industry. The three instruments used in this study were the Emotional Labor Scale (ELS), the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and the Individual Work Performance Scale (IWPS). Result: The results showed that emotional exhaustion did not mediate the relationship between emotional labor (surface acting and deep acting) and task performance. Conclusion: However, the use of surface acting strategy is able to make retail salesperson experience higher exhaustion due to significant and positive relations. Novelty/Originality in this article: This study offers a new perspective in understanding the complex dynamics between emotional labor, emotional exhaustion, and task performance among retail salespeople. This study provides important insights into how psychological factors may influence job effectiveness in an industry that relies heavily on customer interactions.

Quality and content analysis of tarsal tunnel syndrome videos on YouTube

Aims: In this study, we aimed to evaluate the quality and reliability of the first 50 videos on YouTube, which is a reliable source for sharing medical information, about tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS), which is difficult to diagnose with low prevalence and which prompts patients to look for information. Methods: To evaluate the first 50 TTS videos on YouTube, the source, upload date, number of views, and like-dislike parameters were selected for analysis. The content was assessed following the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, the Global Quality Score (GQS), and the DISCERN scale. Results: In the parameters used in the quality and relevance analysis of the videos, the GQS mean score was 3.70, the JAMA mean score was 1.12, and the DISCERN mean score was 45.82. There was no significant relation between the number of views, the days since the video was uploaded to the internet until the review, the number of likes and dislikes, the like rates, the video power index, JAMA, DISCERN, and GQS. There was a positive correlation between GQS, JAMA, and DISCERN. Conclusion: This study revealed that the quality, content, and reliability of available videos in the tarsal tunnel are moderate. We have emphasized the importance of improving the content and quality of the videos so that patients can access more beneficial information.

When and What: Family Physicians' Perspective on Clinical Communication Skills and Professionalism Education during the Medical Training Program in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Background: Effective communication skills are crucial for health professionals in order to build a favorable rapport with their patients, so enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life. From this standpoint, the implementation of communication skills training may serve as effective techniques to enhance the care delivered by healthcare personnel and the overall quality of healthcare services. Aim: To investigate the perspectives of family physicians, on the necessary communication and professionalism skills for medical students, as well as the best time during medical training programs to attain these competencies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey-based study was conducted among family medicine physicians in different hospitals, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Participants responded to inquiries on the communication abilities and professionalism competencies while discussing the timing of competency achievement. An online questionnaire was sent to all the physicians. The questionnaire consisted of three sections: Gathering demographic information, Questionnaire on professional engagements, and a timeline estimation of each doctor's acquisition of communication skills and professionalism competencies. The data analysis was performed using SPSS, Version 26.0. Prior to analysis, data cleaning and entering were conducted. A test is considered significant if the P-value is below 0.05. Results: A total of 301 participants, aged between 30 and 41 years old, took part in the current research. Approximately 51.5% of the participants were family physician specialists, whereas around 25.9% were residents and 4% were students. A majority of FM respondents (56.5%) said that FM residency is the most opportune period in the medical training program to include the bio-psycho-social context. Respondents (50.5%) felt that it is during this time that they get a better understanding of the patient's viewpoint and that of their family. Approximately 48.5% of FM participants believe that the FM residency is the most favorable period of medical training to take into account the beliefs, needs, and perspectives of patients and their families. However, 58.5% of participants feel that this residency provides an opportunity to develop strong critical thinking skills. Furthermore, 50.2% of participants believe that the FM residency equips them with the ability to handle uncertainty effectively and adapt to various situations and contexts. The majority of FM participants were doing clinical activities at different stages; After Residency (93.8%), Residency (80.8%), or Undergraduate (86.8%). In addition, teaching practice was significantly related to the stages of communication training (P&lt;0.001); most of FM participants practice teaching after Residency (90.6%), and 53% of them practice teaching in their Residency. there is a significant relation between the clinical activity done and the stage of professionalism training (P=0.005), the majority of FM participants were doing clinical activities at different stages; After Residency (93.9%), Residency (83.6%), or Undergraduate (76.3%). In addition, the preceptor was significantly related to the stages of professionalismtraining (P=0.010); 45.5% of FM participants after residency were preceptors. Conclusion: The perspectives of these family doctors' medical educators may aid in formulating the necessary objectives for medical training, which might influence the structure of medical curricula and promote lifelong learning initiatives. Future research should focus on certifying these key competencies and enhancing evaluation methodologies, with a particular emphasis on evaluating their effect on healthcare. Keywords: Family Physicians, Perspectives, Clinical Communication Skills, Professionalism, Medical Training

The nexus between board audit committee attributes and financial performance of firms in Africa

This research aims to study the connection between the features of board audit committee of a firm and its financial performance in Africa, by looking at the board audit committees’ characteristics of publicly traded companies in the four (4) biggest African financial markets. This research conducted an empirical analysis of the committee features in the years following the global financial crisis and before the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. The data covered the period between 2013 and 2019. We analyzed the data using correlation analysis, GLS (Fixed and Random Effect Models), and GMM. We used features of the committee as explanatory variables. These include an independent outside director as the chairperson of the committee, whether the committee guards the integrity of the financial reporting of a firm, whether the committee regularly meets and hears the recommendations and complaints of the firm’s external auditor, and whether the committee effectively monitors the management of the firm. Furthermore, for the dependent variable; ROE and ROA were utilized as the metrics of the financial performance of a firm. The results exhibit positive and significant relations between the board audit committee features such as; effective monitoring of management, guarding the integrity of financial reporting, an independent director as chairperson of the committee, regularly meeting and hearing the recommendations and complaints of the external auditor, and the firm’s financial performance measures. The findings are useful to corporate governance regulators who are seeking to improve corporate governance guidelines and minimize the corporate insolvency of firms in Africa.