Qur’anic search tool based on ontology of concepts

The Holy Quran is the most important resource for the Islamic sciences and Arabic Language (Iqbal et al., 2013). Additionally, this holy book contains knowledge on diverse topics such as life and history of humanity, and scientific knowledge (Alrehaili and Atwell, 2014). As a consequence, many Qur’anic search applications have been built to facilitate the retrieval of knowledge from the Quran. Examples of these web applications are Qurany (Abbas, 2009), Quran Explorer (Explorer, 2005), Tanzil (Zarrabi-Zadeh, 2007), and Qur’anic Arabic corpus (Dukes, 2013). The techniques used to retrieve information from Qur’an can be classified as semantic-based and text-based. The existing semantic search techniques are: ontology-based (concepts) (Yauri et al., 2013), Synonyms-set (Shoaib et al., 2009), and Cross Language Information retrieval (CLIR) (Yunus et al., 2010). On the other hand, text-based techniques are Keyword matching, and Morphological-based (Al Gharaibeh et al., 2011). The majority of Qur’anic search tools employ a keyword search technique while minority of tools use a semantic technique. There are several deficiencies with the verses (Aya’at) retrieved for a query using existing search tools. These problems are: some irrelevant verses are retrieved, some relevant verses are not retrieved, or the sequence of retrieved verses is not in the right order (Shoaib et al., 2009) . The significant reasons for unsatisfactory searching results are: absence of an accurate and comprehensive resource for Islamic ontology (Alrehaili and Atwell, 2014), and neglecting some theories of information retrieval . This project aims to construct a useful Qur’anic search tool by employing both text-based techniques, and semantic search techniques. The research will answer two questions: Is it possible to implement a useful search tool based on Qur’anic ontology, and Qur’anic datasets? And How to assess the efficiency and accuracy of an existing Qur’anic ontology? Furthermore, the main project objectives are to understand the problem by evaluating existing Qur’anic semantic search, assess the current Islamic ontologies and find out how these ontologies can be developed, and find the latest search techniques to employ in a Qur’anic search engine

Fundamental investigation into tool wear and surface quality in high-speed machining of Ti6Al4V alloy

This paper reports a fundamental investigation consisting of systematic trials into the response of Ti6Al4V alloy to high-speed machining using carbide inserts. It is a useful extension to work previously published, and aims at assessing the impact of the process parameters, depth of cut, cutting speed and feed rate in addition to cutting length, and their interrelations, on observed crater and flank wear and roughness of the machined surface. The results showed that abrasion was the most important flank wear mechanism at high speed. It also showed that increased cutting length accelerated crater wear more than exhibited flank wear and had considerable effect on surface roughness. In particular, crater wear increased by over 150% (on average), and flank wear increased by 40% (on average) when increasing cutting length from 40 to 120 mm. However, cutting the same length increased surface roughness by 50%, which helps explain how progression of tool wear leads to deteriorated surface quality. ANOVA was used to perform statistical analyses of the measured data and revealed that cutting length and depth of cut had the greatest effect on both crater and flank wear of the cutting tool. These results confirm that high-speed machining of Ti6Al4V alloy is a reliable process, with cutting speed identified as having a relatively small influence on the tool wear and resultant roughness of the machined surface relative to other parameters

Digital Citizenship among Saudi Community Colleges’ Undergraduates: Reality and Requirements for Enablement

This mixed mode study aims at examining digital citizenship among Saudi university undergraduates at the community college at the University of Tabuk. The objective of the study is manifested in three main axes; first, measuring the Saudi university undergraduates' perceptions of four categories of digital citizenship: Ethics, Media and Information Literacy, Engagement, and Critical Resistance. Second, investigate points of similarities and differences between male and female participants concerning the aforementioned categories. Lastly, the study explores the potential avenues for digital citizenship enablement within the selected context. 560 (280 females & 280 males) undergraduates participated in the study. Their age varied from 21 to 24 years old. The researchers designed a scale based on Ribble’s (2015) and Siemens’ (2005) theory of connectivism theoretical framework of digital citizenship. Two research instruments were used to collect data from participants in this study including an online questionnaire survey and an interview for 10 undergraduates (5 males & 5 females). Conducting exploratory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire had discriminant and convergent validity. 72.50% total variance was discussed by the nine applied digital citizenship factors. The findings of the study showed no statistical differences between undergraduates’ digital citizenship uses related to gender, educational level, and age. In addition, the results indicated there was a statistical difference between undergraduates’ digital citizenship uses credited to their regular practices with electronic devices

Digital Citizenship among Saudi Community Colleges’ Undergraduates: Reality and Requirements for Enablement

This mixed mode study aims at examining digital citizenship among Saudi university undergraduates at the community college at the University of Tabuk. The objective of the study is manifested in three main axes; first, measuring the Saudi university undergraduates' perceptions of four categories of digital citizenship: Ethics, Media and Information Literacy, Engagement, and Critical Resistance. Second, investigate points of similarities and differences between male and female participants concerning the aforementioned categories. Lastly, the study explores the potential avenues for digital citizenship enablement within the selected context. 560 (280 females & 280 males) undergraduates participated in the study. Their age varied from 21 to 24 years old. The researchers designed a scale based on Ribble’s (2015) and Siemens’ (2005) theory of connectivism theoretical framework of digital citizenship. Two research instruments were used to collect data from participants in this study including an online questionnaire survey and an interview for 10 undergraduates (5 males & 5 females). Conducting exploratory factor analysis showed that the questionnaire had discriminant and convergent validity. 72.50% total variance was discussed by the nine applied digital citizenship factors. The findings of the study showed no statistical differences between undergraduates’ digital citizenship uses related to gender, educational level, and age. In addition, the results indicated there was a statistical difference between undergraduates’ digital citizenship uses credited to their regular practices with electronic devices

Exploring barriers to and facilitators of preventive measures against infectious diseases among Australian Hajj pilgrims: cross-sectional studies before and after Hajj

Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).Objective For reasons that have yet to be elucidated, the uptake of preventive measures against infectious diseases by Hajj pilgrims is variable. The aim of this study was to identify the preventive advice and interventions received by Australian pilgrims before Hajj, and the barriers to and facilitators of their use during Hajj. Methods Two cross-sectional surveys of Australians pilgrims aged ≥18 years were undertaken, one before and one after the Hajj 2014. Results Of 356 pilgrims who completed the survey (response rate 94%), 80% had the influenza vaccine, 30% the pneumococcal vaccine, and 30% the pertussis vaccine. Concern about contracting disease at Hajj was the most cited reason for vaccination (73.4%), and not being aware of vaccine availability was the main reason for non-receipt (56%). Those who obtained pre-travel advice were twice as likely to be vaccinated as those who did not seek advice. Of 150 pilgrims surveyed upon return, 94% reported practicing hand hygiene during Hajj, citing ease of use (67%) and belief in its effectiveness (62.4%) as the main reasons for compliance; university education was a significant predictor of hand hygiene adherence. Fifty-three percent used facemasks, with breathing discomfort (76%) and a feeling of suffocation (40%) being the main obstacles to compliance. Conclusion This study indicates that there are significant opportunities to improve awareness among Australian Hajj pilgrims about the importance of using preventive health measures

Once Daily Versus Overnight and Symptom Versus Physiological Monitoring to Detect Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Earlier detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations may facilitate more rapid treatment with reduced risk of hospitalization. Changes in pulse oximetry may permit early detection of exacerbations. We hypothesized that overnight pulse oximetry would be superior to once-daily monitoring for the early detection of exacerbations. / Objective: This study aims to evaluate whether measuring changes in heart rate and oxygen saturation overnight is superior to once-daily monitoring of both parameters and to assess symptom changes in facilitating earlier detection of COPD exacerbations. / Methods: A total of 83 patients with COPD were randomized to once-daily or overnight pulse oximetry. Both groups completed the COPD assessment test questionnaire daily. The baseline mean and SD for each pulse oximetry variable were calculated from 14 days of stable monitoring. Changes in exacerbation were expressed as Z scores from this baseline. / Results: The mean age of the patients was 70.6 (SD 8.1) years, 52% (43/83) were female, and the mean FEV1 was 53.0% (SD 18.5%) predicted. Of the 83 patients, 27 experienced an exacerbation. Symptoms were significantly elevated above baseline from 5 days before to 12 days after treatment initiation. Day-to-day variation in pulse oximetry during the stable state was significantly less in the overnight group than in the once-daily group. There were greater relative changes at exacerbation in heart rate than oxygen saturation. An overnight composite score of change in heart rate and oxygen saturation changed significantly from 7 days before initiation of treatment for exacerbation and had a positive predictive value for exacerbation of 91.2%. However, this was not statistically better than examining changes in symptoms alone. / Conclusions: Overnight pulse oximetry permits earlier detection of COPD exacerbations compared with once-daily monitoring. Monitoring physiological variables was not superior to monitoring symptoms, and the latter would be a simpler approach, except where there is a need for objective verification of exacerbations. / Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03003702; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0300370

Physicians’ perception and barriers to cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for heart failure patients in Saudi Arabia: a cross-sectional study

Background: Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (CR) serves as a core component of the management strategy for patients with heart failure (HF). CR is administered by multidisciplinary healthcare providers, but their perceptions toward delivering CR to HF patients, and the factors and barriers that might influence referral, have not been studied. This study aims to assess physicians’ perceptions toward delivering CR programs to HF patients and identify factors and barriers that might influence their referral decisions. Methods: Between 15 February and 5 June 2022, a cross-sectional online survey with ten multiple-choice items was distributed to all general and cardiac physicians in Saudi Arabia. The characteristics of the respondents were described using descriptive statistics. Percentages and frequencies were used to report categorical variables. The statistical significance of the difference between categorical variables was determined using the chi-square (2) test. Logistic regression was used to identify referral factors. Results: Overall, 513 physicians (general physicians (78%) and cardiac doctors (22%)) completed the online survey, of which 65.0% (n = 332) were male. Of the general physicians, 236 (59%) had referred patients with HF to CR. Sixty-six (58%) of the cardiac doctors had referred patients with HF to CR. A hospital-supervised program was the preferred mode of delivering CR programs among 315 (79%) general physicians, while 84 (74%) cardiac doctors preferred to deliver CR programs at home. Apart from the exercise component, information about HF disease was perceived by 321 (80%) general physicians as the essential component of a CR program, while symptom management was perceived by 108 (95%) cardiac doctors as the essential component of a CR program. The most common patient-related factor that strongly influenced referral decisions was “fatigue related to disease” (63.40%). The availability of CR centers (48%) was the most common barrier preventing the referral of patients to CR. Conclusions: CR is an effective management strategy for HF patients, but the lack of CR centers is a major barrier to the referral of patients. A hospital-supervised program is the preferred method of delivering CR from the general physicians’ perspective, while cardiac doctors prefer home-based CR programs. Apart from the exercise component, information about HF disease and symptom management is essential components of CR programs from general physicians’ and cardiac doctors’ perspectives, respectively