Towards the development of a strategy for a national spatial data infrastructure

In today's world of ever advancing technology the time is precisely right for investment in the development and implementation of a national spatial data infrastructure. This implies that all spatial data presently scattered in different departments and organisations are coordinated and shared. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia there are a number of different mapping and Geographic Information System (GIS) activities being implemented within various government organisations, each with its own merits. Certain research and pilot projects have also been carried out aiming to provide help and recommendations with regard to spatial data sharing and to promote awareness of the importance of spatial data to the Kingdom's development. However, there is an urgent need for a consolidation of effort to avoid the costly mistake of duplication of work; hence the need for a unified national spatial data infrastructure. This research aims to develop a conceptual framework for a strategy for a national spatial data infrastructure (SNSDI) including its main components. A proposal is presented for a Saudi national spatial data infrastructure (which happens to have the same abbreviation - SNSDI) to consolidate isolated mapping and spatial data efforts in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in place of the current practice of each agency acting independently. This research project will hopefully provide a leadership role in developing a Kingdom-wide spatial data infrastructure

Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites for Corrosion Protection

Nanoclays have evoked a great deal of attention lately for the preparation of novel nanocomposite materials for several applications. This is attributed to their lamellar structures, which are distinguished by having high in-plane strength and stiffness, as well as a high aspect ratio. Nanocomposites have exhibited an advanced gas and water barrier properties compared to the pristine polymers. Such advancement plays a major role in enhancing the coating industry, specifically for corrosion protection. One main factor attributing to coating failure is its inability to maintain low water and oxygen permeability thought its service life. The penetration of these elements through the coating leads to corrosion initiation under the coating. The addition of clay to polymeric coatings has great potential to improve the corrosion protection performance of the coatings. This chapter will present the recent advancement in the preparation and utilization of clay nanocomposites as enhanced coatings for corrosion protection

Perception of Faculty Members of Regional Medical School Toward Faculty Development Program

Introduction: Any types or process of activities that are performed by a group or an individual to enhance, promote, and improve the performance, competencies or skills of a health professional at an institute level are defined as faculty development which has many other names like staff development, academic development, and educational development. The importance of faculty development stressed by Harden is equivalent to curriculum development, which is a very difficult assignment. Objectives: To determine the pattern of faculty members’ perception toward their weekly faculty development program. Methodology: Enrolling the faculty members of the College of Medicine, University of Bisha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( COM/UB,KSA). COM/UB adopting the innovative curriculum (problem-based learning, team-based learning, interactive lectures, and case-based learning and seminars. Each Tuesday, faculty members gather in the faculty development academic program (FDAP) room to discuss issues related to medical education and quality. Usually, there is a presentation on the selected topic over 25 min, followed by a discussion and workshop, and finally, a recommendation is drawn. The inclusion criterion is those staying in the college for a period of more than one year. New joiners and those staying for a period of less than one year were excluded. Faculty members were enrolled optionally and requested to fill a validated questionnaire. Results: The response rate was 92% of total staff. More than 89%, 87%, 86% and 74% thought that the FDAP is useful to them, helps them in addressing academic issues in the faculty, is an enriching experience, and thought that it helps them in constructing high-quality multiple choice questions (MCQs). Finally, 84% were interested in presenting topics in FDP. Conclusion: FDAP was positively perceived by the faculty members of the University Bisha/College of Medicine, since it enriches their experience and satisfies their academic job. Keywords: faculty, development, academic, program, MCQ

Accuracy of Multiple Pour Cast from Various Elastomer Impression Methods

The accurate duplicate cast obtained from a single impression reduces the profession clinical time, patient inconvenience, and extra material cost. The stainless steel working cast model assembly consisting of two abutments and one pontic area was fabricated. Two sets of six each custom aluminum trays were fabricated, with five mm spacer and two mm spacer. The impression methods evaluated during the study were additional silicone putty reline (two steps), heavy-light body (one step), monophase (one step), and polyether (one step). Type IV gypsum casts were poured at the interval of one hour, 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours. The resultant cast was measured with traveling microscope for the comparative dimensional accuracy. The data obtained were subjected to Analysis of Variance test at significance level <0.05. The die obtained from two-step putty reline impression techniques had the percentage of variation for the height −0.36 to −0.97%, while diameter was increased by 0.40–0.90%. The values for one-step heavy-light body impression dies, additional silicone monophase impressions, and polyether were −0.73 to −1.21%, −1.34%, and −1.46% for the height and 0.50–0.80%, 1.20%, and −1.30% for the width, respectively

Overview on Epidemiology and Management of Myxedema Coma or Crisis

The most severe type of hypothyroidism is known as myxedema coma, which can quickly lead to death if not identified and treated aggressively. The condition known as hypothyroidism is easily detected and treated. But if ignored, it might eventually progress to myxedema coma, the most serious form of hypothyroidism. Since the majority of patients do not initially appear in a coma, the term "myxedema coma" is usually regarded as misleading. Lethargy usually progresses to stupor, which then becomes a coma with hypothermia and respiratory failure. only clinical criteria are used for diagnosis because thyroid hormone assays are unable to distinguish between simple hyperthyroidism and thyroid storm. Apart from essential medical interventions, the treatment focuses on preventing thyroid hormone production and secretion as antithyroid medications, and preventing the peripheral effects of thyroid hormone as β-blocker, glucocorticoids. The diagnosis of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the blood is the same as that of simple hypothyroidism. As soon as a diagnosis is obtained, treatment should start right away. The majority of hospital and commercial laboratories can turnaround a TSH test in a matter of hours

Adenovirus and RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines’ perceptions and acceptance among healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia: a national survey

Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the perception, confidence, hesitancy and acceptance rate of various COVID-19 vaccine types among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, a nation with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus experience. Design National cross-sectional, pilot-validated questionnaire. Setting Online, self-administered questionnaire among HCWs. Participants A total of 2007 HCWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated; 1512 (75.3%) participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis. Intervention Data were collected through an online survey sent to HCWs during 1–15 November 2020. The main outcome measure was HCW acceptance of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. The associated factors of vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis and via measurement of the level of anxiety, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scale. Results Among the 1512 HCWs who were included, 62.4% were women, 70.3% were between 21 and 40 years of age, and the majority (62.2%) were from tertiary hospitals. In addition, 59.5% reported knowing about at least one vaccine; 24.4% of the participants were sure about their willingness to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and 20.9% were willing to receive the RNA BNT162b2 vaccine. However, 18.3% reported that they would refuse to receive the Ad5-vectored vaccine, and 17.9% would refuse the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine. Factors that influenced the differential readiness of HCWs included their perceptions of the vaccine’s efficiency in preventing the infection (33%), their personal preferences (29%) and the vaccine’s manufacturing country (28.6%). Conclusions Awareness by HCWs of the several COVID-19 candidate vaccines could improve their perceptions and acceptance of vaccination. Reliable sources on vaccine efficiency could improve vaccine uptake, so healthcare authorities should use reliable information to decrease vaccine hesitancy among frontline healthcare providers

Barriers in the Implementation of Clinical Guidelines in Diabetes Management: Physicians’ Experiences in Bisha, Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Currently, the number of people living with diabetes in Saudi Arabia is less than one in every ten individuals and this number is expected to double in the next 20 years, which entails frequent and thorough investigation of implementation and effectiveness of the disease management guidelines. Aim: To explore the knowledge and barriers in implementation of the clinical guidelines in diabetes management among the physicians in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data were collected using structured questionnaire, from a convenient sample of 149 physicians working at several health centers in Bisha, Saudi Arabia from May 2021 to July 2021. The implementation of clinical guidelines according to physician’s gender, years of experience, specialty, workplace, and professional status was statistically assessed using Mann-Whitney test, Chi-square test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman test. The data was imported to an Excel sheet, coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM version 20). Results: The results showed no significant relationship between guideline use and assessed variables except for years of experience, indicating that work experience influences practitioners’ impressions and attitudes towards clinical guidelines (0.001). The study also disclosed some barriers to implementing the clinical guidelines, including lack of familiarity (mean=3.483; median=4) and awareness (mean=3.637; median=4). The results also showed that the minor challenges included a lack of confidence in guideline developers (mean=2.557; median=2), lack of outcome expectancy in patient care (mean=2.7114; median=2) and a lack of agreement with guidelines because they were not up to date (mean=2.591; median=2). Conclusion: The findings concluded that physicians were well aware of the American Diabetes Association standards, demonstrating their popularity and ease of use in Saudi Arabia

Layered silicate nanocomposites

Over the past decade, nanomaterials have been the subject of enormous interest. Notable for their extremely small feature size, they have the potential for wide-ranging industrial applications. Using such materials combined with epoxy resin to synthesise nanocomposite is proposed to enhance the corrosion protection performance of the resin.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo