Investigation and development of a framework for medical waste management

This thesis was submitted for the award of Doctor of Philosophy and was awarded by Brunel University London.The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the golf states and one of the richest oil producing countries. Saudi population is nearly 27million; in addition, Saudi Arabia receives millions of people from around the world for Islamic pilgrimages. Moreover, Saudi is hosting hundreds of thousands of international professionals and labourers. Hence, the country infrastructure and services have been in the top agenda to be modernized in order to cope with new demand for better quality of life for a rich country. The healthcare sector is one of the key sectors which requires a special on going attention, particularly medically generated waste. Therefore, this research work has been conducted to investigate the status of medical waste management in the capital city; Riyadh. The prime aim of this research work is to propose a strategic framework which can be used as a roadmap for the different stakeholders. This will contribute to the enforcement of better handling and treatment of medical waste and more importantly prevent and control the spread of diseases or harm might be caused by poor handling of medical waste. The aim of the research has been achieved through; the critical review and analysis of the relevant literature, which has revealed the noticeable gap and lack of scientific studies of the proposed field. Appropriately, the findings of the research has contributed to filling the gap of the knowledge as well as serving as a milestone for further research work in this very important field. By surveying Riyadh’s hospitals and other national and international reports has. This allowed the presentation of the facts and indications of the current status of medical waste in Riyadh City. To obtain in-depth knowledge and gather the important findings concerning the medical waste management, focused; interviews of different medical professionals from various hospitals were conducted. This research has revealed more important factors that need to be addressed. These findings were used to propose the framework, which has been formed to enable resolving the challenges of the integration, of the awareness element though Islamic principles, within the Saudi system. The proposed framework has been evaluated by committee of medical professionals and has been accepted as good roadmap and appropriate solution that address the main aim of this research work. Finally, the research work is just a step towards the establishment of a proper biomedical waste management system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Some recommendations for future implementation are suggested at the end of this thesis

Designing for STEM E-Mentoring for Young Women: the Saudi Context

PhD ThesisThe underrepresentation of women in the STEM workforce is a global issue. In Saudi Arabia, women constitute 48% of undergraduates in STEM. This is in large part a result of the unique cultural context, gender segregation in educational institutions and the perceived prestige associated with studying a STEM subject for both women and men. However, these high levels of educational participation have not translated into a significant increase in the number of women in the STEM workforce. The exposing of girls to female role models and mentors in STEM, and raising awareness of their achievements and successes, is an approach that has been developed by previous research to address perceptions that girls are less likely to succeed in a STEM field than boys. In Saudi Arabia, the lack of female role models and the absence of mentoring and support programmes are likely some of the factors that have contributed to the low levels of progression of female graduates into STEM professions. In this research, I explore the current state of e-mentoring, seek to understand the requirements in designing STEM e-mentoring platforms for teenagers and young women in the Saudi context and understand how mentors and mentees interact within an e-mentoring relationship. I conducted four studies that aimed to understand, design and evaluate e-mentoring in the Saudi context. First, I deployed a structured STEM e-mentoring program, with the aims of understanding the applicability of e-mentoring in Saudi Arabia. The findings from this study led to carrying out two co-design studies to explore the perceived barriers to, and opportunities for, alternative and more flexible forms of e-mentoring. The findings from the three studies have led to the design of Qudwa based on four design requirements: 1) flexibility and control; 2) visibility; 3) integration of e-mentoring with daily internet activity; and 4) a trusted connection between mentors and mentees. Finally, I discuss the deployment and evaluation of Qudwa. This research makes three contributions, first it is the first systematic investigation of e-mentoring in Saudi Arabia. While I aimed to understand the role of cultural norms, the studies show that the findings are affected less by cultural norms and more by the traits of the participants’ age group. The second novel contribution of this research is the application of co-design methods to help address the gap in understanding the needs and opportunities in designing e-mentoring for young people. The results point to a need for a shift in the design of e-mentoring models for younger generations into less committed and more flexible relationships. Finally, it presents the design and evaluation of Qudwa, which facilitates e-mentoring through existing social media technologies and practices (un-platforming)

Plagiarism Perceptions and Attitudes Among Medical Students in Saudi Arabia

Objectives: This study aimed to determine attitudes towards and perceptions of plagiarism among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional, multicentre study was conducted between April and May 2018 and involved medical students enrolled in three medical schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The previously validated Attitude Towards Plagiarism questionnaire was used to evaluate approval (i.e. a positive attitude) and disapproval of plagiarism (i.e. a negative attitude) among medical students. Furthermore, this study evaluated whether attending medical writing courses or courses in medical ethics influenced medical students’ attitudes towards plagiarism. Results: A total of 551 students participated in the study (response rate = 73.5%). A significant association was found between mean negative and positive attitude scores and grade point average (GPA; P = 0.004 and 0.007, respectively). Students attending medical ethics courses had higher mean negative attitude scores compared to students who did not attend such courses (odds ratio = 2.369, 95% confidence interval: 1.540–3.645; P <0.001). Attending medical ethics courses was associated with a significantly more negative attitude towards plagiarism (P <0.001, each). Conclusion: The majority of medical students in Saudi Arabia included in this study indicated a highly negative attitude towards plagiarism. A higher GPA, the authoring of a published manuscript and attending courses in medical ethics were associated with negative attitudes towards plagiarism among medical students.Keywords: Plagiarism; Attitude; Cross-Sectional Study; Medicine; Medical Students; Saudi Arabia

Elucidation of the effects of a high fat diet on trace elements in rabbit tissues using atomic absorption spectroscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mechanism of atherogenesis is not yet fully understood despite intense study in this area. The effects of high fat diet (HFD) on the changes of trace elements [iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn)] in several tissues of rabbits have not been documented before. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate the changes in trace elements in several tissues of rabbits fed on HFD for a period of feeding of 10 weeks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The HFD group was fed a NOR rabbit chow supplemented with 1.0% cholesterol plus 1.0% olive oil. Fe, Cu and Zn concentrations were measured in four types of tissue from control and HFD rabbits using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Comparing HFD rabbits to control rabbits, we found that the highest percentage change of increase of Fe was 95% in lung tissue, while the lowest percentage change of increase of Fe was 7% in kidney tissue; the highest percentage change of decrease of Cu was 16% in aortic tissue, while the lowest percentage change of decrease of Cu was 6% in kidney tissue; and the highest percentage change of decrease of Zn was 71% in kidney tissue, while the lowest percentage change of decrease of Zn was 8% in lung tissue.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that Fe plays a major role in atherogenesis; it may accelerate the process of atherosclerosis probably through the production of free radicals, deposition and absorption of intracellular and extracellular lipids in the intima, connective tissue formation, smooth muscle proliferation, lower matrix degradation capacity and increased plaque stability. Furthermore, inducing anemia in HFD rabbits may delay or inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis. Cu plays a minor role in atherogenesis and Cu supplements may inhibit the progression of atherogenesis, perhaps by reducing the migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to the intima. Zn plays a major role in atherogenesis and that it may act as an endogenous protective factor against atherosclerosis perhaps by reducing lesion Fe content, intracellular and extracellular lipids in the intima, connective tissue formation, and smooth muscle proliferation. These results suggest that it may be possible to use the measurement of changes in trace elements in different tissues of rabbits as an important risk factor during the progression of atherosclerosis.</p

Making on-line science course materials easily translatable and accessible worldwide: Challenges and solutions

The PhET Interactive Simulations Project recently partnered with the Excellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University with the joint goal of making simulations available worldwide. One of the main challenges of this partnership is to make PhET simulations easily translatable so that truly anyone with a computer can use them in their classroom. The PhET project team has created the Translation Utility that allows a person, who is fluent in both English and another language, to easily translate any of the PhET simulations. This can be done with minimal computer expertise, making the translation process accessible to faculty and teachers. In this presentation we will share solutions to many of the unexpected problems we encountered that would apply in general to on-line scientific course materials including working with a language that is written right-to-left, different character sets, possible misconceptions and various conventions for expressing equations, variables, units and scientific notation

Shear stress induces osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

Aim: To determine whether fluid flow-induced shear stress affects the differentiation of bone marrow-derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into osteogenic cells. Materials & methods: hMSCs cultured with or without osteogenic differentiation medium were exposed to fluid flow-induced shear stress and analyzed for alkaline phosphatase activity and expression of osteogenic genes. Results: Immediately following shear stress, alkaline phosphatase activity in osteogenic medium was significantly increased. At days 4 and 8 of culture the mRNA expression of bone morphogenetic protein-2 and osteopontin was significantly higher in hMSCs subjected to shear stress than those cultured in static conditions. However, hMSCs cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium were less responsive in gene expression of alkaline phosphatase and bone morphogenetic protein-2. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that shear stress stimulates hMSCs towards an osteoblastic phenotype in the absence of chemical induction, suggesting that certain mechanical stresses may serve as an alternative to chemical stimulation of stem cell differentiation

Medical student’s attitudes and perceptions toward artificial intelligence applications

To evaluate medical students' perceptions in radiology and medical applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Students at 10 prestigious medical schools were issued an online survey that was created using Survey Monkey. It was divided into many parts with the goal of assessing the students' past understanding of AI in radiology and beyond as well as their attitudes about AI in medicine more generally. Anonymity of the respondents was protected. A total of 263 students—166 female and 94 male—with a median age of 23—replied to the survey. Concerning 52 percent of respondents were aware of the current debate about AI in radiology, while 68 percent said they were ignorant of the underlying technology. abnormalities in radiological scans, but they believed that AI would not be able to provide a definitive diagnosis (56 percent). In contrast to claims that human radiologists would be displaced, the majority (77 percent and 86 percent) believed that AI would revolutionize and enhance radiology (83 percent). Over two-thirds of respondents felt that medical education must include AI (71 percent). Male and tech-savvy respondents had higher levels of confidence in the advantages of AI and lower levels of fear of these technologies in sub-group analyses. In conclusion, Contrary to what has been mentioned in the media, medical students are aware of the possible applications and effects of AI on radiology and medicine and do not worry that it will replace human radiologists. The situations in which artificial intelligence has reportedly substituted human radiologists are known to medical students. Since it is their duty, the field of radiology must take the initiative in teaching students about these freshly developed tools

Medical Student’s Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Artificial Intelligence Applications

To evaluate medical students' perceptions in radiology and medical applications of artificial intelligence (AI). Students at 10 prestigious medical schools were issued an online survey that was created using Survey Monkey. It was divided into many parts with the goal of assessing the students' past understanding of AI in radiology and beyond as well as their attitudes about AI in medicine more generally. Anonymity of the respondents was protected. A total of 263 students—166 female and 94 male—with a median age of 23—replied to the survey. Concerning 52 percent of respondents were aware of the current debate about AI in radiology, while 68 percent said they were ignorant of the underlying technology. abnormalities in radiological scans, but they believed that AI would not be able to provide a definitive diagnosis (56 percent). In contrast to claims that human radiologists would be displaced, the majority (77 percent and 86 percent) believed that AI would revolutionize and enhance radiology (83 percent). Over two-thirds of respondents felt that medical education must include AI (71 percent). Male and tech-savvy respondents had higher levels of confidence in the advantages of AI and lower levels of fear of these technologies in sub-group analyses. In conclusion, Contrary to what has been mentioned in the media, medical students are aware of the possible applications and effects of AI on radiology and medicine and do not worry that it will replace human radiologists. The situations in which artificial intelligence has reportedly substituted human radiologists are known to medical students. Since it is their duty, the field of radiology must take the initiative in teaching students about these freshly developed tools

Chemical visualization of individual chondrocytes in articular cartilage by attenuated-total-reflection Fourier Transform Infrared Microimaging

Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) and the attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared microimaging (ATR-FTIRM) were used to study the chemical and structural distributions of cellular components surrounding individual chondrocytes in canine humeral cartilage, at 6.25µm pixel resolution in FTIRI and 1.56µm pixel resolution in ATR-FTIRM. The chemical and structural distributions of the cellular components in chondrocytes and tissue can be successfully imaged in high resolution ATR-FTIRM. One can also study the territorial matrix of fine collagen fibrils surrounding the individual chondrocytes by the polarization experiments using the absorption ratio of amide I to amide II bands