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Food addiction and associated factors in newly diagnosed patients with schizophrenia: a cross-sectional comparison with siblings and healthy controls.
No full textDespite the potential clinical and treatment relevance of food addiction (FA) among individuals with schizophrenia, the scientific literature on its characteristics and correlates within this population is sparse. Limited knowledge on FA in patients with schizophrenia may impede progress in developing effective treatments for pathological eating patterns and the common obesity and metabolic syndrome problems in this population. Considering these research gaps, the present study aimed to compare the nature and prevalence of FA symptoms among patients with first-episode schizophrenia, their siblings, and healthy controls. As a secondary objective, this study sought to examine the psychopathological correlates of FA in the patients' group.A cross-sectional study was conducted in Razi Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia, from January to June 2024. A total of 112 newly diagnosed, clinically stabilized patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 77 of their unaffected siblings and 78 healthy controls were included. FA was assessed using the modified version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (mYFAS 2.0). The Metacognitions Questionnaire (MCQ-30) and the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire were administered to the patients' group.Findings showed a higher prevalence of FA in the patient group (32.1%) compared to both siblings (13.0%) and controls (9.0%). Siblings had higher FA scores compared to controls (16.12 ± 4.95 versus 15.00 ± 6.09; p < 0.001). After Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, higher FA scores were significantly associated with less cognitive self-consciousness (Beta = - 0.54), older age (Beta = 0.45), and higher psychological distress (Beta = 0.63).Our findings suggest that people with first-episode schizophrenia are likely to present with co-occurring FA, and experience associated distress. Findings also provide initial support for a possible connection between dysfunctional metacognitive beliefs and FA in patients with schizophrenia, suggesting that cognitive self-consciousness may be a fundamental cognitive process in FA in this population. This may lend some theoretical and clinical implications for alleviating FA symptoms in schizophrenia
Sports and Suicidal Behavior
No full textSuicidal behavior has become one of the most important global concerns for professionals in various industries including sports. This chapter has outlined several antecedents of suicidal behavior recognizing the increasing suicidal tendencies among sports professionals. These antecedents of suicidal behaviors can be categorized as physical, psychological, social, individual, and organizational level factors. The physical suicidal antecedents include injuries, mental health, and physical and substance abuse. The psychological antecedents include performance pressure and anxiety, identity and self-worth perceptions, and isolation and stigma. The social factors include cultural expectations and masculinity, media influence, and community support and resources. The individual-level antecedents of suicidal behavior include personality, coping strategies, and trauma and adverse experiences. Organizational factors include effective coaching, economic support, psychological counseling, health facilities, food, and dietary support, transparent hiring mechanisms, grievance handling platforms, and infrastructure. At the end, this chapter outlines some preventive measures which can be taken to overcome the issue of suicidal tendencies among athletes. This chapter concludes with the need for policy reforms and future research to overcome the issue of suicidal tendencies of sports professionals
Cultural Influences on Mental Health Stigma: How Society Views Mental Health
No full textA study examined how a psychoeducational video adjusted for cultural and religious elements
influenced the reduction of mental health stigma among Saudi Arabian adult populations. The
investigation focused on two key dimensions of stigma, which were social stigma and self-
stigma. The research analyzed 71 individuals through both pre-intervention and post-
intervention assessments using established stigma measurement tools. The video intervention
succeeded in lowering the avoidance of help-seeking along with religious-related stigma, but
statistical evidence did not support changes in either social stigma (p = .168) or self-stigma (p
= .158) levels. The practical effect appeared to be limited based on the small effect sizes. The
analysis of reliability demonstrated that the self-stigma scale achieved satisfactory internal
consistency (α = 0.776), whereas the social stigma scale obtained only questionable reliability
(α = 0.655). Short-term interventions cannot effectively address deeply rooted cultural stigmas,
according to the study results, which demonstrate the need for enduring multi-level solutions
that incorporate education and clinical support together with community engagement to combat
mental health stigma in Arab and Muslim communities
Al-Mamlakah Stadium
No full textThis project centers on the creation of a Cricket Stadium (Al-Mamlakah Stadium) in Jeddah, envisioned as a dynamic hub for sports, community events, cultural exchange, and family gathering. Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s ambitions for sports development and urban revitalization, the design explores how architecture can foster athletic excellence, public engagement, and a sense of local identity. The stadium aims to address a growing need for world-class sports infrastructure in the region, offering a venue where cricket and other athletes, fans, along with the wider community can connect, celebrate, and grow. The thesis is organized the two Capstone semesters and further into five main sections. The first chapter introduces the project’s objectives, vision, and rationale, highlighting the current absence of a dedicated major cricket facility in Jeddah. The second chapter examines precedents—such as Tucheng Sports Center in Taiwan, Maidstone Sports Hub in New Zealand, and Lord’s Cricket Ground in London — analyzing their planning, circulation, user experience, and environmental strategies. Insights from these case studies inform the project’s own design approach. Chapter three establishes the functional program, mapping out required spaces such as player facilities, spectator seating, hospitality suites, and community areas. This section includes spatial standards, flow diagrams, and stacking analysis to ensure efficient and engaging circulation throughout the stadium. Chapter four focuses on site selection and analysis, considering factors like climate, accessibility, regulatory requirements, and the surrounding urban context. Environmental studies address temperature, sun path, wind patterns, and daylighting, guiding the integration of passive design strategies. Chapter five presents the design outcome, detailing the stadium’s architectural development from initial concept to final proposal. This includes schematic design, zoning, spatial organization, and the development of an architectural language that reflects both local culture and global best practices. The chapter features technical drawings (floor plans, sections, elevations), structural and HVAC systems, as well as 3D modeling, massing studies, and visual renders that capture the stadium’s atmosphere and spatial quality. Ultimately, this project delivers a stadium that merges innovation, functionality, and cultural relevance into a vibrant public space. It sets a new benchmark for sports facilities in Saudi Arabia—a place that is not only a venue for cricket but also a welcoming, inclusive, and inspiring environment for the entire community
Signal processing and artificial intelligence for the non-invasive estimation of blood glucose level by processing the PPG signals
No full textThe authors are thankful to Effat University for the financial support provided under the grant number UC#9/3June2024/7.1-22(4)6.The global prevalence of diabetes, affecting more than 500 million individuals. It underscores the urgent need for frequent blood glucose monitoring. Traditional invasive methods cause discomfort and pose challenges such as slow wound healing for diabetic patients. Therefore, precise non-invasive diabetes identification is becoming essential. The aim of this paper is to develop an intelligent Photoplethysmography (PPG) signal based non-invasive automated identification of diabetes. The considered raw PPG signals are pre-processed. The pre-processing is composed of the smoothening window application to avoid any spectral leakage during segmentation. Then digital band-pass filtering is applied for noise removal and base line-restoration. Afterward, the Z-score normalization is used to diminish the impact of multi-subject data. The class imbalance problem is tackled using a uniform distribution random up-sampling approach. Afterward, the pre-processed PPG signals are analyzed and decomposed in sub-bands using the wavelet decomposition (WD). The pertinent features are extracted from sub-bands by performing the statistical analysis of sub-band coefficients. The importance of features is verified performing the analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and selecting the features with p-value<0.05. The automated categorization is carried out using robust machine learning (ML) and ensemble learning (EL) classifiers. The applicability is tested for the case of a real multi-class and multi-subjects PPG dataset. The devised solution achieves the highest average classification accuracy of 96.60%.Effat Universit
Academic procrastination by design: an exploration of challenges and coping strategies for educators and design students
No full textThe paper “Academic Procrastination by Design: An Exploration of Challenges and Coping Strategies for Educators and Design Students” investigates the prevalence, causes, and effects of procrastination among design students and educators. Using a survey of 146 students and 9 staff at a UK design school, the study reveals that over 80% of students procrastinate, with more than 45% engaging in chronic avoidance behaviors like “walking away” from tasks. Key drivers include lack of confidence, task overload, and distractions, with literature review and report writing being the most procrastinated activities. The authors propose coping strategies such as task prioritization, simplification, goal setting, self-confidence building, and group-based study routines. They emphasize the need for educators to acknowledge procrastination explicitly, provide tailored support for neurodiverse students, and develop resources that foster resilience, self-regulation, and well-being in design education.The nature of designing and the professional characteristics of many student designers leave them vulnerable to the delay of tasks and decisions, known as procrastination, which is not addressed in literature. Procrastination is defined as the voluntary delay or inability to complete a task or make a decision that will knowingly lead to a detrimental outcome. A questionnaire about the frequency, form of procrastination, and influences on behaviour when trying to undertake stages of a design process was completed by 146 students and 9 staff within a UK design and creative arts school. Over 45% of students indicated they would ‘walk away’ from tasks, chronic procrastination, due to lack of confidence or too
many tasks to complete at the same time, with over 75% being distracted from a design task every week. The 80% total of the student group who indicated they procrastinated matched with similar student-based surveys, but the level of chronic procrastination was higher in this survey. Student respondents highlighted the lack of discussion about procrastination nor advice on coping strategies. Activities to reduce the effects of procrastination were: 1) prioritise tasks; and 2) reduce complexity of each task. Additional support included: development of professional self-confidence; ensuring students understand a given task, how to address and complete it; realistic goal planning; minimising external distraction; working in study groups; developing virtuous routines at optimal times during the day for themselves; and use of technology to optimise self-regulation. Online resources were produced to support students and educators address these challenges
توظيف الذكاء الاصطناعي في تصميم وترويج المحتوى التربوي للأطفال المسلمين: دراسة تحليلية وتطبيقية على منشورات شركة مسلم ليدر (2019-2024)
No full textThis study presents a practical model for leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in designing and promoting educational content tailored to Muslim children. The primary aim is to enhance cultural identity and Islamic values while addressing challenges such as capturing children's attention and achieving a balance between authenticity and innovation. The model highlights the potential of technology to serve educational objectives, develop sustainable strategies aligned with contemporary cultural and religious contexts, and integrate effective design with impactful promotion. The research is based on an analysis of data collected from Moslim Leader Company Facebook page, encompassing all posts published between July 2019 and September 2024, totaling 480 posts. These posts were analyzed using key performance indicators (KPIs) to evaluate the impact of different content styles on reach and interactions. Detailed performance data were obtained from the Meta Business Suite platform, providing precise insights into each post's effectiveness. The study classified the visuals into four main categories: real photos, semi-realistic images, AI-designed images, and human-designed images. The results indicate that AI-designed images excelled in achieving widespread reach due to their innovative and appealing nature. However, they ranked third in direct audience engagement, trailing behind real photos, which recorded the highest levels of interaction. This research represents a step forward in utilizing modern technology to develop educational content for Muslim children. It offers a practical vision that combines technological innovation with educational goals, emphasizing precise analytical data to understand the most effective design and promotional patterns. Ultimately, this contributes to reinforcing Islamic identity through innovative methods that align with children's aspirations in the digital age
Investigating factors influencing CO2 emissions in selected G20 countries
No full textThis study aims at identifying the factors that influence CO2 emissions in some G20 countries. It examines various possibilities such as electricity consumption, foreign investments, fuel and metal exports, economic growth, population growth, renewable energy consumption, trade, urbanization, and even the effects of the global economic crisis of 2008. The results show that increased electricity consumption, economic growth, and population increase result in higher levels of CO2 emissions which demonstrates the environmental impact of industrialization and urbanization. Conversely, the use of renewable energy and foreign investment are correlated with lower emissions which proves that a shift towards cleaner energy and sustainable investments can be effective. The findings of the study also point towards the fact that the G20 countries need to shift towards the use of renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency, and encourage the development of sustainable urban environments. It provides a practical approach for the policymakers to follow for emission reduction along with promoting economic growth in a sustainable manner