Patterns of Infertility and Abortion in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Infertility and abortion are significant reproductive health concerns globally, impacting individuals' well-being and healthcare systems. In Saudi Arabia, cultural, social, and religious factors influence perceptions and management of these issues, necessitating research to understand the patterns and associated factors. Study Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the patterns of infertility and abortion among 458 women in Saudi Arabia, focusing on demographic profiles, reproductive histories, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors. Methodology: Participants were recruited from healthcare facilities, and data on age, BMI, reproductive history, medical conditions, assisted reproduction methods, and lifestyle behaviors were collected. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were conducted to examine associations between variables. Results: The majority of participants were aged 30 - 39 years (47.4%), with 76.9% experiencing secondary infertility. Among those with offspring (76.9%), 31% reported using assisted reproduction methods, primarily ovarian stimulators (54.2%). Abortion history was reported by 39.5% of participants. Significant associations were found between age and infertility type (X2 = 5.8, p = 0.054), having offspring and infertility type (X2 = 458.0, p = 0.001), menstrual irregularity and infertility type (X2 = 11.4, p = 0.001), and abortion history and delayed fertility (X2 = 10.4, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study reveals significant associations between demographic, medical, and lifestyle factors with infertility patterns and abortion history among Saudi women. These findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions addressing medical conditions, age-related factors, and access to reproductive healthcare services.

A Natural Language Generation Algorithm for Greek by Using Hole Semantics and a Systemic Grammatical Formalism

This work is about the progress of previous related work based on an experiment to improve the intelligence of robotic systems,with the aim of achieving more linguistic communication capabilities between humans and robots.In this paper,the authors attempt an algorithmic approach to natural language generation through hole semantics and by applying the OMAS-III computational model as a grammatical formalism.In the original work,a technical language is used,while in the later works,this has been replaced by a limited Greek natural language dictionary.This particular effort was made to give the evolving system the ability to ask questions,as well as the authors developed an initial dialogue system using these techniques.The results show that the use of these techniques the authors apply can give us a more sophisticated dialogue system in the future.

Influence of Gender, Race and Generation on College Students’ Exercise Motivation Levels: A Generational Comparison

The purpose of this study was to investigate exercise motivation of a Generation Z sample and to compare exercise motivation between Generation Z and Y. College students from Generation Z (N = 1,457) and Y (N = 2,199) completed the exercise motivation inventory. A two time-point cross sectional quasi-experimental design was implemented for this study. The strongest exercise motivators for Generation Z college students were strength/endurance, ill-health avoidance, and positive health. Generation Z participants scored statistically significantly higher across all subscales of the EMI-2 (exercise motivation inventory-2) when compared to Generation Y. Understanding generational differences in exercise motivation can help in tailoring effective physical activity interventions.

Awareness and Attitudes Toward In Vitro Fertilization in Patients with Infertility:A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective:To investigate the awareness and attitudes of patients with infertility toward in vitro fertilization(IVF).Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with infertility at the Reproductive Medicine Center of Peking University Third Hospital.Data collection was conducted using a questionnaire that consists of patient background information,methods of obtaining relevant IVF information,and patients’awareness of IVF treatment as well as the law and ethics.Results:A total of 198 participants of different backgrounds were enrolled in the study,and IVF information was obtained through different means;however,most of the participants had a lack of awareness and improper attitude toward IVF.The participants had higher estimations of treatment expenses(Pearson λ^(2)=22.132,P<0.05)and time(Pearson λ^(2)=47.992,P<0.05)during the initial consultation,while those with treatment experience expressed fewer concerns about IVF therapy(Pearson λ^(2)=9.467,P<0.05),particularly about the genetic risks of having IVF.Conclusion:Measures should be taken to improve patients’awareness and attitudes toward IVF,and a large-scale and multicenter clinical study should be conducted in the future.

Development of multi-group Monte-Carlo transport and depletion coupling calculation method and verification with metal-fueled fast reactor

The accurate modeling of depletion,intricately tied to the solution of the neutron transport equation,is crucial for the design,analysis,and licensing of nuclear reactors and their fuel cycles.This paper introduces a novel multi-group Monte-Carlo depletion calculation approach.Multi-group cross-sections(MGXS)are derived from both 3D whole-core model and 2D fuel subassembly model using the continuous-energy Monte-Carlo method.Core calculations employ the multi-group Monte-Carlo method,accommodating both homogeneous and specific local heterogeneous geometries.The proposed method has been validated against the MET-1000 metal-fueled fast reactors,using both the OECD/NEA benchmark and a new refueling benchmark introduced in this paper.Our findings suggest that microscopic MGXS,produced via the Monte-Carlo method,are viable for fast reactor depletion analyses.Furthermore,the locally heterogeneous model with angular-dependent MGXS offers robust predictions for core reactivity,control rod value,sodium void value,Doppler constants,power distribution,and concentration levels.

An optical tweezer-based microdroplet imaging technology

Microspheres can break the diffraction limit and magnify nano-structure imaging,and with its advantages of low cost and label-free operation,microsphere-assisted imaging has become an irreplaceable tool in the life sciences and for precision measurements.However,the tiny size and limited imaging field of traditional solid microspheres cause difficulties when imaging large sample areas.Alternatively,droplets have similar properties to those of microspheres,with large surface curvature and refractive-index difference from the surrounding environment,and they can also serve as lenses to focus light for observation and imaging.Previous work has shown that droplets with controllable size can be generated using an optical tweezer system and can be driven by optical traps to move precisely like solid microspheres.Here,a novel microdroplet-assisted imaging technology based on optical tweezers is proposed that better integrates the generation,manipulation,and utilization of droplets.

Multicolored sideband generation based on cascaded four-wave mixing with the assistance of spectral broadening in multiple thin plates

The generation of multicolored sidebands with the spectrum from 377 to 970 nm in a 0.5-mm-thick N-WG280 Schott glass based on a cascaded four-wave mixing(CFWM) process is demonstrated. The experimental setup is compact and economical. A pulse with a broadened spectrum from 670 to 900 nm is generated by utilizing two 0.18-mm-thick fused silica glass plates and is used to provide two input beams for the CFWM process.The new frequency components generated from the self-phase modulation effect in the two thin glass plates contribute to the broadening of the total spectral range of the generated multicolored sidebands.

A numerical analysis on different-generation prototypes of ventricular assist device

The ventricular assist device(VAD)assists the patients with heart diseases for limited and prolonged periods.This device synchronizes with normal heart activities to help foster its performance.Consequently,its sensitive design requires high accuracy.The pumps are the essential part of every VAD which should operate in wide ranges of flow and pressure.As there are various types of VAD under different designs,it is neither practical nor plausible to experimentally/clinically investigate their performances.Therefore,in the concurrent study,a numerical study was carried out on four different generation prototypes of VAD pumps for reaching an optimum design.Using computational fluid dynamics(CFD)method,the software derived,showed and streamlined the flow field shear stress both inside the VAD and its blades.Furthermore,the vortices and flow rate-pressure curves were observed.The results showed that the curved blade pumps operate better compared to that of the straight blade types,concerning the provision of enough pressure and less damage to the red blood cells.The results have implications not only for comparing different types of VAD designs but also for understanding the resulted shear stresses and pressures as a result of the blade’s structure.

Amplification assisted difference frequency generation for efficient mid-infrared conversion based on monolithic tandem lithium niobate superlattice

We report the investigation on the performance of an amplification assisted difference frequency generation(AA-DFG) system driven by pulsed pump and continuous-wave primary signal lasers. A monolithic tandem lithium niobate superlattice was employed as the nonlinear crystal with a uniform grating section for the DFG process, followed by a chirp section for the optical parametric amplification process. The impacts of pump pulse shape, primary signal power, input beam diameter, and crystal structure on the pump-to-idler conversion efficiency of the AA-DFG system were comprehensively studied by numerically solving the coupled wave equations. It is concluded that square pump pulse and high primary signal power are beneficial to high pump-to-idler conversion efficiency. In addition, tighter input beam focus and smaller DFG length proportion could redeem the reduction in conversion efficiency resulting from wider acceptance bandwidths for the input lasers. We believe that such systems combining the merits of high stability inherited from cavity-free configuration and high efficiency attributed from the cascaded nonlinear conversion should be of great interest to a wide community,especially when the pulse shaping technique is incorporated.

Analysis of heat flow diagram of small-scale power generation system:Innovative approaches for improving techno-economic and ecological indices

In this paper,the heat flow diagram of steam turbine model K-6-35 has been analyzed for innovative approaches towards improving the techno-economic and ecological indices of the small-scale power generation system.The numerical analysis is performed using IPSEpro process simulation software based on heat balance method under four different cases.It was found that the study of Solar Assisted Power Generation(SAPG)system has important practical significance in power generation with minimum pollutants and maximum efficiency.Both fuel-saving(FS)and power-boosting(PB)operation modes of the SAPG system are considered.Various types of stand-alone solar thermal power plants exhibited very low overall efficiency with many ecological advantages compared to the conventional thermal power plant based on fossil fuels.Besides,SAPG system with FS mode presented higher techno-economic indices and operation performance.An important reduction in fuel consumption and pollutant emissions could be obtained with SAPG system.Considering the hourly,daily,monthly,and yearly amount of saved fuel and reduced pollutants in the whole power plant,the SAPG system with FS mode can largely contribute to high ecological indices power generation.A thermal efficiency increased by 1.31%with specific equivalent fuel consumption decreased by 22.54 g/kWh was obtained with SAPG system.The coal consumption was reduced by 4.75%when SAPG system operates in FS mode.