The Effectiveness of Using E-learning, Blended Learning and Traditional Learning on Students' Achievement and Attitudes in a Course on Islamic Culture: an Experimental study

This study is mainly concerned with establishing the benefits of e-learning (studying through an asynchronous classroom only) and blended learning (studying through an asynchronous virtual classroom in addition to a traditional learning) as compared to traditional learning (attending classroom lectures) in terms of their effects on students’ attitudes and achievement featuring the Islamic Culture course (101) at Umm Al-Qura University in Saudi Arabia. However, to reach that end the researcher had to find out as to whether there is a statistically significant difference between the above three methods of teaching. For this purpose an ethics unit drawn from an Islamic culture course (101) has been electronically designed using a learning and content management system programme known as Moodle, based on the ADDIE model. Two experimental groups together with a control group have been involved. The three groups have been randomly selected and assigned with the first and second experimental groups consisting of 43 and 55 participants respectively, and the control group consisting of 50 participants. After verifying their reliability and validity pre-achievement and post-achievement tests as well as attitude scale supported by interviews have been used as instruments for assessing students’ achievement and attitudes in the different groups. The results of the study have revealed that there is a statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) between the three methods in terms of students’ achievement favouring blended learning method, while no statistically significant differences exist (at the 0.05 level) between e-learning and traditional learning in terms of students’ achievement. Yet, in terms of attitude, the results of this study have indicated that there is a statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) between the two experimental groups on the one hand and control group on the other hand favouring the former, while no statistically significant difference (at the 0.05 level) exist between blended learning and e-learning in terms of students’ attitude. However, based on these results the researcher has managed to put forward a number of recommendations and suggestions

Revisional Bariatric Surgery

Metabolic surgery is considered a valuable tool in treating obesity compared to the non-surgical approach. Its effectiveness is evident in the form of weight loss, eliminating obesity-related comorbidities, and improving quality of life. Hence, the rate of metabolic surgery conducted worldwide has risen dramatically, parallel to the increasing rates of obesity. Unfortunately, there are drawbacks to metabolic surgeries. Weight regain/insufficient weight loss is feared by the patient and bariatric surgeon and can occur with nonadherence to a healthy lifestyle and dietary habits. Long-term complications related to metabolic surgery are possible following any metabolic surgery (e.g., chronic reflux, malnutrition, and fistula). Revisional surgery is the most effective approach to combat these drawbacks, and therefore a bariatric surgeon should be familiar with it. This chapter will discuss the indication of revisional surgery, the preoperative workup, the surgical techniques, and the outcome of revisional surgery. The chapter will focus on the most commonly performed metabolic surgery, that is, laparoscopic adjustable gastric band, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and laparoscopic one anastomosis gastric bypass. By the end of this chapter, the reader will be able to: (1) Define metabolic surgery failure and indications of the revision. (2) Be able to approach the patient preoperatively and formulate a plan. (3) Be knowledgeable about the main operative steps. (4) Be aware of the predicted outcome of revisional surgery

Preeclampsia: A Possible Complication of Primary Hyperparathyroidism

Background. Primary hyperparathyroidism is rare in pregnancy. An association between primary hyperparathyroidism and preeclampsia has been reported in few cases worldwide. Case. A 28-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 0, and abortus 1) in her 27th week of gestation was hospitalized due to a high reading of blood pressure (194/115 mmHg) that was not accompanied by any symptoms or signs of preeclampsia. Incidentally, she was found to have a high adjusted calcium and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level during admission. Ultrasonographic examination of the neck revealed the presence of parathyroid adenoma. She was scheduled for surgical excision after receiving an intravenous hydration. Fetal ultrasonography revealed a growth restricted fetus with normal biophysical profile. On the sixth day of hospitalization, the patient complained of headache and epigastric pain, with elevated BP and proteinuria. The fetal nonstress test was “nonreassuring.” Subsequently, she had an emergency cesarean delivery and surgical removal of the adenoma. The mother and her newborn were then transferred to intensive care, where their clinical course was unremarkable. The mother was discharged after 3 days, while the neonate stayed for close observation for 60 days. Conclusion. Early recognition of primary hyperparathyroidism among women with preeclampsia is important to prevent maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality

Measuring and Preventing COVID-19 Using the SIR Model and Machine Learning in Smart Health Care

COVID-19 presents an urgent global challenge because of its contagious nature, frequently changing characteristics, and the lack of a vaccine or effective medicines. A model for measuring and preventing the continued spread of COVID-19 is urgently required to provide smart health care services. This requires using advanced intelligent computing such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, cognitive computing, cloud computing, fog computing, and edge computing. This paper proposes a model for predicting COVID-19 using the SIR and machine learning for smart health care and the well-being of the citizens of KSA. Knowing the number of susceptible, infected, and recovered cases each day is critical for mathematical modeling to be able to identify the behavioral effects of the pandemic. It forecasts the situation for the upcoming 700 days. The proposed system predicts whether COVID-19 will spread in the population or die out in the long run. Mathematical analysis and simulation results are presented here as a means to forecast the progress of the outbreak and its possible end for three types of scenarios: “no actions,” “lockdown,” and “new medicines.” The effect of interventions like lockdown and new medicines is compared with the “no actions” scenario. The lockdown case delays the peak point by decreasing the infection and affects the area equality rule of the infected curves. On the other side, new medicines have a significant impact on infected curve by decreasing the number of infected people about time. Available forecast data on COVID-19 using simulations predict that the highest level of cases might occur between 15 and 30 November 2020. Simulation data suggest that the virus might be fully under control only after June 2021. The reproductive rate shows that measures such as government lockdowns and isolation of individuals are not enough to stop the pandemic. This study recommends that authorities should, as soon as possible, apply a strict long-term containment strategy to reduce the epidemic size successfully

Factors Affecting Weight Reduction after Intragastric Balloon Insertion: A Retrospective Study

Background and Objectives: Intragastric balloon (IGB) is a safe option for obesity management. However, studies determining the factors influencing the procedure’s outcomes are scarce. Therefore, our goal was to determine the factors affecting weight reduction after IGB insertion. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included 126 obese patients who underwent IGB treatment using the ORBERA® Intragastric Balloon System. Patients’ records were retrieved; and demographic data, initial body mass index (BMI), complications, compliance with both diet and exercise programs, and percentage of excess weight reduction were recorded. Results: The study included 108 female (85.7%) and 18 male (14.3%) patients. The mean age was 31.7 ± 8.1 years. The percentage of excess weight loss (EWL) was 55.8 ± 35.7%. The mean weight loss was 13.01 ± 7.51 kg. A significant association was found between EWL and age, initial weight, initial body mass index, and the number of pregnancies. No major complications were observed. However, the balloon had to be removed early in two patients (1.59%) due to its rupture and in two other patients (1.59%) due to severe gastritis. Conclusions: IGB therapy is a safe and effective option for obesity management, associated with low rates of complications. The EWL after IGB insertion is significantly higher among older patients, those with a relatively low initial body mass index, those with a longer duration of IGB insertion, and female patients with less parity. Larger prospective studies are needed to support our results

Human Lung Cancer (A549) Cell Line Cytotoxicity and Anti-Leishmania major Activity of Carissa macrocarpa Leaves: A Study Supported by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS Metabolites Profiling and Molecular Docking

Lung cancer and cutaneous leishmaniasis are critical diseases with a relatively higher incidence in developing countries. In this research, the activity of Carissa macrocarpa leaf hydromethanolic extract and its solvent-fractions (n-hexane, EtOAc, n-butanol, and MeOH) against the lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) and Leishmania major was investigated. The MeOH fraction exhibited higher cytotoxic activity (IC50 1.57 ± 0.04 μg/mL) than the standard drug, etoposide (IC50 50.8 ± 3.16 μg/mL). The anti-L. major results revealed strong growth inhibitory effects of the EtOAc fraction against L. major promastigotes (IC50 27.52 ± 0.7 μg/mL) and axenic amastigotes (29.33 ± 4.86% growth inhibition at 100 μg/mL), while the butanol fraction exerted moderate activity against promastigotes (IC50 73.17 ± 1.62), as compared with miltefosine against promastigotes (IC50 6.39 ± 0.29 μg/mL) and sodium stibogluconate against axenic amastigotes (IC50 22.45 ± 2.22 μg/mL). A total of 102 compounds were tentatively identified using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of the total extract and its fractions. The MeOH fraction was found to contain several flavonoids and flavan-3-ol derivatives with known cytotoxic properties, whereas the EtOAc fractions contained triterpene, hydroxycinnamoyl, sterol, and flavanol derivatives with known antileishmanial activity. Molecular docking of various polyphenolics of the MeOH fraction with HDAC6 and PDK3 enzymes demonstrates high binding affinity of the epicatechin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and catechin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside toward HDAC6, and procyanidin C2, procyanidin B5 toward PDK3. These results are promising and encourage the pursuit of preclinical research using C. macrocarpa’s MeOH fraction as anti-lung cancer and the EtOAc fraction as an anti-L. major drug candidates

Application of Nondestructive Techniques to Investigate Dissolvable Amorphous Metal Tungsten Nitride for Transient Electronics and Devices

Transient electronics can be gradually dissolved in a variety of liquids over time. The short-lived nature of such electronics has promoted their implementation in prospective applications, such as implantable electronics, dissolvable devices for secure systems, and environmentally biodegradable electronics. The amorphous metal tungsten nitride (WNx) has the remarkable ability to scale down to the nano-scale, allowing the fabrication of sub-1 volt nano-electromechanical (NEM) switches. When compared to silicon, amorphous WNx has a greater density and electrical conductivity, making it an even more appealing material for the design of accelerometers and resistive temperature detectors. Kinetic hydrolysis is observed by the dissolution of amorphous WNx in ground water. To better understand the kinetics of hydrolysis, in this paper, samples are dissolved in different solutions under different conditions over time. NEM switches immersed in ground water, de-ionized (DI) water, and salty water are subjected to temperatures of 0 °C (degrees Celsius), 25 °C (room temperature, RT), and 60 °C. Sonicated samples are tested at both room temperature (RT) and at 60 °C. During the course of dissolving, the resistivity of amorphous WNx is measured, and an increase in resistance is noted when the thickness of the amorphous WNx is reduced. The wettability of a solid can be easily determined by measuring its contact angle, which indicates either the hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature of the surface. The contact angle of the amorphous WNx is measured to be about 30.8°, indicating hydrophilicity. For the temperature sensor characterization, a probe station with a thermal chuck is used to apply heat from the bottom of the sensor. The actual real-time temperature of the amorphous WNx sensor is measured using a thermocouple tip on the surface of the sensor

Nutritional, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anticholinesterase Properties of <i>Phyllanthus emblica</i>: A Study Supported by Spectroscopic and Computational Investigations

Dietary fruits and vegetables play a vital role as food and drugs and are the main sources of antioxidant defences against degenerative diseases, such as brain dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases, immune system deteriorations, and cancers, brought on by oxidative damage. Phyllanthus emblica is a significant herbal remedy used in conventional medicine to recover lost strength and power. In this research, the potential value of Phyllanthus emblica as a food and drug is researched. The total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total tannin contents as well as the nutritional value, vitamin C, vitamin E, and mineral contents of different organs of P. emblica were evaluated. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of extracts and fractions of different organs of P. emblica were determined. A total of eleven flavonoids, simple phenolic, tannin-related phenolic, and tannin molecules were isolated from a hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves and fruits. The structures were identified by spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature values as gallic acid (1), naringenin 7-O-(6″-O-galloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 3,3′-di-O-methyl ellagic acid-4′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), 1-O-galloyl glycerol (4), 1,6-di-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (5), flavogallonic acid bislactone (6), corilagin (7), ethyl gallate (8), urolithin M5 (9), (E)-p-coumaroyl-1-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (10), and 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (11). Among them, compounds 3 and 10 are first isolated from the plant. Molecular docking was performed to investigate the comparative interactions between positive controls (galantamine and donepezil) and selected compounds utilizing acetylcholinesterase (4EY7) as a target receptor. Results exhibited the potency of these compounds against the target receptor. In summary, P. emblica has a wealth of minerals, vitamins C and E, and polyphenolic phytochemicals that may work together to treat infectious disease, prevent and/or treat oxidative-damage-related illnesses including Alzheimer’s disease