16 research outputs found
Responses to Dehydration in the One-Humped Camel and Effects of Blocking the Renin-Angiotensin System
Our objectives were to compare the levels of circulating electrolytes, hormones, and renal function during 20 days of dehydration in camels versus the level in non-dehydrated camels and to record the effect of blocking angiotensin II AT1 receptors with losartan during dehydration. Dehydration induced significant increments in serum sodium, creatinine, urea, a substantial fall in body weight, and a doubling in plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) levels. Plasma aldosterone, however, was unaltered compared with time-matched controls. Losartan significantly enhanced the effect of dehydration to reduce body weight and increase serum levels of creatinine and urea, whilst also impairing the rise in plasma AVP and reducing aldosterone levels. We conclude that dehydration in the camel induces substantial increments in serum sodium, creatinine, urea and AVP levels; that aldosterone levels are altered little by dehydration; that blockade of angiotensin II type 1 receptors enhances the dehydration-induced fall in body weight and increase in serum creatinine and urea levels whilst reducing aldosterone and attenuating the rise in plasma AVP
Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study
Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised
EFL Students' Perceptions of Employing Technology Tools in Learning English at King Khalid University
Technology can be employed as a means of boosting FEL student interaction. Due to the universal use of computers and the internet in academic institutions, EFL teachers are motivated to implement this technology in their classes to facilitate language teaching and the learning English language process. This study purports to identify EFL students' perceptions of the utilization of technology tools in learning English at King Khalid University. This research adopts the descriptive analysis technique. Moreover, the theoretical framework of the study was an opinion poll prepared by the two researchers to get information and was applied to fifty-six selected EFL students to get their perceptions of the utilization of technology tools in learning English at King Khalid University. The results demonstrate that most King Khalid University EFL male and female students had positive responses to employing technology tools in learning English. The study findings have pedagogical implications and some recommendations for strategies and instructions for further investigations and facilitating the utilization of technology in teaching and learning at primary and secondary levels
Investigating the Significance and Benefits of Incorporating Innovative Educational Technology in Teaching the English Language to Saudi Learners at the Tertiary Level: The University Faculty's Perspectives
The significance and advantages of utilizing innovative educational technology gadgets in the classroom have become a source of research interest in current years. This study pursues to explore King Khalid University's staff members' perspectives on the significance and benefits of incorporating innovative educational technology in teaching the English language to Saudi learners at the tertiary level. This research arrogates the descriptive-analytical approach. Moreover, the theoretical framework of the study was a questionnaire prepared by the two researchers to get information and was applied to fifty-two selected King Khalid University staff members in the Asir region to get their perspectives on the significance and benefits of incorporating innovative educational technology in teaching the English language to Saudi learners at the tertiary level, their groundwork to integrate technology, the types of technology employed and the challenges they encountered in incorporating technology. The results indicate that most of King Khalid University's staff members had positive perspectives on the significance and benefits of incorporating innovative educational technology in teaching the English language. The study results have pedagogical implications and some recommendations for strategies and instructions for further investigations and facilitating the utilization of technology in teaching and learning
The Effects of Age Factor on Learning English Language: A Case Study of Sudanese Private and Public Secondary Schools in Khartoum State, Sudan
The current paper aims at studying the age factor in Sudanese public schools and private schools where the starting age differs in both. Also, it aims at finding out whether the late or early starting of learning English language influences the learner's acquisition to language. Moreover, the study aims at showing the difference between learners of English language in private schools and learners in public schools. The tools used for data collection were questionnaire for EFL Sudanese teachers and a test for Sudanese secondary school students. The research was conducted with a total of 30 male students attending Sudanese public schools and private schools. By using the mixed-method research approaches, the findings revealed that most respondents agree that the early learners are better than late ones, that is to say that students of private schools who start learning English at an early age had better mastery of English than those of public-school students who start at a late age. Finally, the study recommended that investigating the effects of age factor on learning English language is a very important phenomenon and may apply in other countries such Egypt, Saudi Arabia etc. This study is the first of its kind to investigate the effects of age factor on learning English language, particularly, in the context of Arab countries
Semantic and Stylistic Problems Encountered in Translating Qur'anic Digression “Iltifât” into English: A Contrastive Linguistic Study
This research paper aims to explore the digression ''Iltifât'' as one of the effective rhetorical devices used generally in the language of the Holy Quran. The purposive sample of the study was selected randomly from Qur’anic verses containing Iltifāt or digression and their renditions by three translators, namely, Abdel Haleem, Khan Hilali, and Pickthall. The study's findings revealed that the translations of the three translators adopted several translation strategies such as literal translation, couplet translation to render the Qur'anic digression, or shifting (Iltifat) expressions into English. Moreover, the study also indicated that both literal translation and couplet translation are not always adequate for translating the Qur’anic digression or shifting (Iltifat) expressions because they have not successfully maintained the meaning of the Qur’anic Arabic digression ''Iltifât'' (ST) into the Qur’anic digression ''Iltifât'' English version (TT)
Classification of Atypical White Blood Cells in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Using a Two-Stage Hybrid Model Based on Deep Convolutional Autoencoder and Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have led to numerous medical discoveries. The field of computer vision (CV) for medical diagnosis has received particular attention. Using images of peripheral blood (PB) smears, CV has been utilized in hematology to detect acute leukemia (AL). Significant research has been undertaken in the area of AL diagnosis automation in order to deliver an accurate diagnosis. This study addresses the morphological classification of atypical white blood cells (WBCs), including immature WBCs and atypical lymphocytes, in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), as observed in peripheral blood (PB) smear images. The purpose of this work is to build a classification model for atypical AML WBCs based on their distinctive features. Using a hybrid model based on geometric transformation (GT) and a deep convolutional autoencoder (DCAE), this work provides a novel technique in the field of AI for resolving the issue of imbalanced distribution of WBCs in blood samples, nicknamed the “GT-DCAE WBC augmentation model”. In addition, to extract context-free atypical WBC features, this study develops a stable learning paradigm by incorporating WBC segmentation into deep learning. In order to classify atypical WBCs into eight distinct subgroups, a hybrid multiclassification model termed the “two-stage DCAE-CNN atypical WBC classification model” (DCAE-CNN) was developed. The model achieved an average accuracy of 97%, a sensitivity of 97%, and a precision of 98%. Overall and by class, the model’s discriminating abilities were exceptional, with an AUC of 99.7% and a class-wise range of 80% to 100%
Analysis of Microstructure Evolution of Co-Cr-Mo Alloy during Isothermal Forging
The article analyzes the microstructure evolution of Co-Cr-Mo alloy during isothermal forging. The process of isothermal forging can be a technological solution to produce a semi-finished product for subsequent deformation processing and obtain a high-quality microstructure that excludes casting defects. Based on analysis of microstructure and phase composition and calculations, the required modes of ingot homogenization are determined. Finite element method simulation of the forging has shown that temperature and deformation conditions make deformation in the single-phase γ-region possible. However, at lower temperatures, σ-phase particles may precipitate at the last steps of deformation. After isothermal forging and water quenching, a mixture of recrystallized and polygonized structures with an average grain size of 5–10 μm and precipitation of ultra-fine dispersed particles of σ-phase (~0.13 μm) at grain boundaries are formed. Isothermal forging in the temperature range of 1100–1200 °C and at low strain rates of up to 1 s−1 allows obtaining a microstructure without pores, cracks, and large inclusions. Thus, it makes it possible to use the forging billet for further deformation by different metal forming methods
Plasma arginine-vasopressin in non-dehydrated (“control”, n = 6), Losartan treated (n = 6), and dehydrated camels (n = 18) on day 20 of dehydration.
<p>Data are shown as mean±SEM. Significant difference from control is denoted by **p<0.01 and ***p<0.01.</p
Plasma aldosterone in non-dehydrated (“control”, n = 6), Losartan treated (n = 6), and dehydrated camels (n = 18) on day 20 of dehydration.
<p>Data are shown as mean±SEM. Changes in aldosterone level in dehydrated camels is not statistically significant compared to control camels.</p