Background: Dexamethasone is crucial in palliative care for advanced cancer, improving symptoms like appetite loss and fatigue. However, guidelines are lacking, and side effects require close monitoring. The indications for corticosteroid use in this patient group are diverse, including the treatment of specific conditions such as spinal cord compression, elevated intracranial pressure, and loss of appetite. Due to the challenges in prescribing these medications for palliative care patients, there is evidence of suboptimal practices in the literature. This study aimed to examine the current patterns of corticosteroid prescribing in healthcare settings across Saudi Arabia and determine whether these practices align with international guidelines. Aim(s) of the Study: The objective of this study was to analyse current dexamethasone prescribing patterns in palliative care settings in Saudi Arabia and assess their alignment with international standards. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted on inpatient palliative care patients who received dexamethasone at KFSHRC, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024. All available charts of patients under the care of the Palliative Care team who had a cancer diagnosis and received dexamethasone during that timeframe were included. Data collection focused on the number of patients prescribed dexamethasone, indications for use, choice of agent, dosages and adjustments, duration of treatment, occurrence of adverse effects, method of discontinuation, adherence to guidelines, and monitoring and review processes. Exclusion criteria: patients prescribed dexamethasone by other primary services will be excluded. Results: A total of 78 patients were included (median age 55.6 years), with the majority being female (56.4%) and having metastatic disease (89.7%). Gastrointestinal cancers were the most common diagnosis (33.3%), and 70.5% of patients were not receiving disease-modifying therapy at the time of dexamethasone initiation. The most frequent indications for dexamethasone were raised intracranial pressure/cerebral oedema (16.7%) and nausea/vomiting (15.4%), with a median daily dose of 4 mg; the IV route was most used (78.2%). Overall, 29.5% of patients demonstrated a documented clinical response, most commonly improvement in dyspnoea. Response was more frequent in patients treated for dyspnoea/airway obstruction (70.0%, p = 0.006) and in those receiving higher doses (p = 0.029). Adverse effects were rare (2.6%), limited to hyperglycemia. Median time to response was 2 days (IQR 2–3), with most responses occurring within 72 hours. Conclusion: This study showed that corticosteroids are widely prescribed in palliative care settings, both for specific and non-specific indications. These findings are generally consistent with international literature in this field, supporting the role of dexamethasone in targeted symptom palliation, especially in patients with respiratory compromise, while also highlighting the need for ongoing discussion about the role of corticosteroids in palliative care, as well as the need for clear documentation of indication and response in routine practice.

A fish may be defined as a poikilothermic, aquatic chordate whose appendages, when present, are developed as fins, whose chief respiratory organs are gills and whose body is usually covered with scales. The present study was undertaken to document the fish diversity of River Panjkora in District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Samples were collected from March to August 2024 using gill nets, cast nets, hooks and automatic rods at five sites along the river, namely Talash, Shagokas, Balambat, Rani and Khall. A total of 81 specimens were captured and identified, representing six species distributed across two orders (Cypriniformes and Perciformes) and two families (Cyprinidae and Channidae). Cyprinidae was the richest family, comprising five species Schizothorax esocinus, Puntius ticto, Tor macrolepis, Carassius auratus and Crossocheilus diplocheilus whereas Channidae was represented by a single species, Channa gachua. Crossocheilus diplocheilus was the most abundant taxon (35 individuals; 43.20%), while Carassius auratus was the least abundant (3 individuals; 3.70%). Morphometric measurements and fin formulae were recorded for every species; the smallest species was Puntius ticto (total length 8.2 cm) and the largest was Tor macrolepis (total length 19.5 cm). Simpson's index of dominance was 0.255 and the reciprocal Simpson's index was 3.92, indicating a moderately diverse assemblage dominated by cyprinids. Fishes were identified using standard taxonomic keys, including Fishes of the Punjab (Mirza and Sandhu, 2007) and the Urdu key of Mirza (1990). The findings indicate that the river can potentially harbour additional species and could serve as a resource for conserving threatened taxa. Regular monitoring of the fish fauna, periodic assessment of water quality, stocking of native fish and control of illegal fishing are recommended to safeguard the ichthyofauna.

This article examines Leila Aboulela's The Translator through the analytical lens of Serge Moscovici's Social Representation Theory, exploring how the novel portrays the experiences of a Sudanese Muslim woman negotiating the hostland politics of contemporary Scotland. Drawing on close textual analysis, the article argues that racial discrimination, Islamophobia, identity crisis, destitution, frustration, and social alienation experienced by the protagonist, Sammar, are not merely individual psychological conditions but manifestations of hegemonic social representations through which the Scottish host society denies the African Muslim migrant full humanity, dignity, and equal rights. The study further demonstrates how Sammar develops emancipated and polemical counter-representations of herself through her Islamic faith, spiritual self-realisation, and a gradual re-evaluation of homeland, thereby affirming her inherent human dignity in the face of dehumanising social constructions. By relating the novel's literary representations to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the article argues that The Translator functions as a sustained literary critique of the hegemonic representations underpinning contemporary Western host societies while asserting the humanity, agency, and rights of the African Muslim migrant.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a progressive disorder that causes mucosal stiffness, pain, burning sensation, and restricted mouth opening. Intralesional corticosteroids are commonly used, while platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a regenerative treatment. Aim: To compare intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and PRP in improving mouth opening and relieving symptoms in patients with OSMF. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 20 patients with Grade II or III OSMF. Patients were equally allocated to receive weekly intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide or autologous PRP for two months. Mouth opening, pain, and burning sensation were assessed at baseline, one week, three weeks, and two months. Data were analysed using the independent-samples t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Both treatments significantly improved mouth opening, pain, and burning sensation over time (p < 0.001). At two months, mouth opening was greater in the triamcinolone group than in the PRP group (29.50 ± 1.08 versus 27.50 ± 1.08 mm; p = 0.001). PRP produced greater reductions in pain (1.20 ± 0.42 versus 4.20 ± 0.63) and burning sensation (1.50 ± 0.53 versus 4.30 ± 0.48) at two months (both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Triamcinolone was more effective in improving mouth opening, whereas PRP provided greater relief from pain and burning sensation.

This paper critically examines differences in nomenclature within Theatre for Development (TfD), arguing that naming functions not merely as description but as praxis. Drawing on liberation pedagogy, applied theatre theory, and critical development discourse, the study analyzes how TfD terminologies emerge from specific historical, ideological, and institutional contexts. The findings demonstrate that early labels such as Popular Theatre and People’s Theatre reflect anti-colonial struggle and collective resistance, while later terms such as Theatre for Development and Applied Theatre align with processes of institutionalization and professional accountability. The analysis further reveals that nomenclature structures ideological orientation, participatory methodology, ethical responsibility, and epistemic authority. The paper contends that terminological multiplicity should not be viewed as a conceptual deficiency; instead, it posits that productive tension is essential to the vitality of TfD, contingent upon reflexive engagement. By reframing nomenclature as praxis, the study advances theoretical coherence in TfD scholarship and points out the moral value of naming in participatory performance practice.

The convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) has strengthened smart greenhouse management by enabling continuous environmental monitoring, automated control, and more informed use of agricultural resources. This review examines and synthesises research on IoT- and WSN-enabled greenhouse systems published between 2015 and 2026. Peer-reviewed studies retrieved mainly from IEEE Xplore and Google Scholar were analysed across sensing technologies, system architecture, communication methods, network topology, control approaches, cloud–edge computing, energy management, and performance assessment. The reviewed studies show that achieving strong performance in one area often requires compromises elsewhere, particularly among communication range, energy demand, reliability, scalability, latency, computational capacity, and cost. ZigBee is particularly suitable for low-power, short-range mesh networks, whereas LoRa better supports wider-area deployments. Clustered and hybrid network structures offer favourable scalability and reliability, while cloud–edge architectures combine scalable analytics with rapid local processing. Intelligent control improves prediction, adaptability, and resource use, whereas renewable energy and intelligent energy management can reduce reliance on conventional power sources. Practical deployment, however, remains constrained by sensor reliability, energy limitations, communication instability, interoperability, cybersecurity risks, and limited long-term validation. Future studies should place greater emphasis on energy-autonomous systems, edge intelligence, secure and interoperable architectures, digital twins, adaptive autonomous control, and realistic evaluation of emerging communication technologies for greenhouse applications. Overall, future smart greenhouses are likely to depend increasingly on integrated architectures that combine energy efficiency, adaptive control, reliable connectivity, and security to support sustainable operation.

Service quality has become an essential aspect for customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hospitality and tourism sector. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the service quality and level of satisfaction of Bryztoff Camp Resort in Dulag, Leyte. The study was carried out using the SERVQUAL framework to determine the profile of the respondents, measure the guests’ perception of service quality provided by the resort, and assess the relationship between the aspect of service quality and customer satisfaction. The researchers utilized a descriptive-correlational research design involving 80 randomly selected guests of the resort. Data were gathered using a SERVQUAL instrument and analyzed using descriptive and correlation analysis. The study revealed that customers who availed services at Bryztoff Camp Resort were generally satisfied with the services provided by the establishment (3.94). Results of the descriptive analysis indicate that guests gave the highest mean score on tangibility (4.00) and the lowest score on reliability (3.15). Findings further show that among the five dimensions of service quality, responsiveness was significantly related to customer satisfaction (r = 0.2721, p = 0.0146). Overall, the study suggests that the resort should prioritize improving guest satisfaction with its responsiveness to guests’ needs and requests. In doing so, the resort could provide superior service quality, satisfy customers, promote positive word of mouth, and gain competitive advantage over other resorts.