Institutional Research Evaluation Model (IREM): A framework for measuring organizational research trends and impact and its application in medical academia in Saudi Arabia

AbstractIncreased financial and human resource constraints for research and development (R&D) imply rigorous research evaluation to guide the research policy for wise allocation of resources. In this study, we developed a conceptual framework called the “Institutional Research Evaluation Model” (IREM) to evaluate the quality of research and its determinants. The IREM was then applied to a medical institution to study its applicability in Saudi Arabia. The IREM consists of five levels: duration decision; choice of research quality indicators [impact factor (IF), article influence scores (AIS), citations per paper (CPP), and publication in indexed journal]; trend indicators (numbers of publications, study design, subject); data extraction; and statistical techniques to determine the factors affecting impact of research. Application of the IREM to the College of Medicine, King Saud University (CMKSU) for research evaluation from 2003 to 2013 revealed that during this duration, 1722 studies were published, the highest in 2013 (n=314) and 85.5% (n=1472) in indexed journals (p<0.001). The mean IF was 2.6, mean AIS 1.16, and mean CPP 10.06. IF was positively associated with duration, indexation, CPP, and subject being human genetics at multivariable linear regression. The IREM is an applicable basic tool for institutional research evaluation which can guide the research policy

Experimental and numerical investigations of the flexural behaviour ?of Green - Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete ?beams under repeated loads

There are various benefits to ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete ??(UHPFRC). However, using a lot of cement in this type of concrete has a severe disadvantage since it causes pollution and several environmental concerns. Therefore, another type of concrete that achieves the same superior properties as UHPFRC while using less cement in the mixture should be considered. This research examined replacing cement with fly ash to produce environmentally friendly concrete called Green-UHPFRC. The impact of utilizing G-UHPFRC on the flexural behaviour of thirteen beams was investigated experimentally and numerically under repeated loads. The major parameters of the study were fly ash replacement ratios of 15%, 30%, and 45% and adding steel fiber to mixes with ratios of 1, 2, 3, and 4%. The tested beams were compared to the control beam in their backbone and hysteresis curves, failure load, crack propagation and failure modes, energy dissipation, stiffness degradation, and ductility index. From the results obtained, environmentally friendly concrete (G-UHPFRC) can be produced by replacing cement with fly ash up to 45% and adding 2% steel fiber without affecting the bending performance of beams made of G-UHPFRC compared to those made of UHPFRC

The impact of utilizing ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete in beam-column joints with different patterns of transverse reinforcement

This research studies and assesses the possibility of employing ultra-high performance fiber reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) in exterior beam-column joints (BCJs). Eight specimens with various concrete material characteristics and steel reinforcing details are cast and examined under repeated loads. Normal concrete with seismic reinforcing details is used as a control specimen. For certain specimens, UHPC, UHPFRC with 1% steel fiber, and UHPFRC with 2% steel fiber are poured into all BCJs, and others are poured into the critical zone only. The consequences of removing stirrups from the joint were studied. All specimens' crack patterns, hysteresis and envelope curves, ductility factor, stiffness degradation?, and energy dissipation are assessed and corresponded to the control sample. The results demonstrate that UHPFRC strengthened the joint, prevented crack development and extension and the shear failure in the joint, and formed the plastic hinge in the beams. UHPFRC outperforms normal concrete with seismic reinforcing details and UHPC without steel fiber in bearing capacity, ductility, stiffness, and energy dissipation. UHPFRC with 1% steel fiber enhanced joint behavior, while UHPFRC with 2% steel fiber was better. Casting the whole sample with UHPFRC achieved very little improvement. The presence of stirrups in the UHPFRC beam-column joint has little effect on its properties. It is more economical to cast UHPFRC in the joint zone only and reduce or eliminate these stirrups in the case of UHPFRC

A Comprehensive Overview of Organ Inflammatory Responses: Genesis, Possible Mechanisms, and Mediators of Inflammation

An immune system response known as inflammation can be carried on by a variety of things, such as infections, damaged cells, and noxious substances. These factors may cause acute or chronic inflammatory responses in the heart, pancreas, liver, kidney, lungs, brain, colon, and reproductive system, which may cause disease or tissue damage. Inflammatory cells and signaling pathways are activated by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic agents, cell injury, and infectious agents. The most ubiquitous types of these include tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP1), interleukin 1 beta (IL1β), and Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT). Severe inflammation has the potential to cause systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The most severe forms of this condition are characterized by hyperinflammation and can cause organ damage, shock, and even death. We concentrate on the origin of inflammation, all conceivable inflammatory mechanisms, and organ-specific inflammatory responses in this study on inflammatory reactions inside organs

Correction: Ameliorative Effect of Heat-Killed Lactobacillus plantarum L.137 and/or Aloe vera against Colitis in Mice (Processes, (2020), 8, 2, (225), 10.3390/pr8020225)

In the original publication [1], there was a mistake in Figure 5 where subfigure 5E was accidentally replaced by an incorrect image. The corrected Figure 5 appears below. The authors state that the scientific conclusions are unaffected. This correction was approved by the Academic Editor. The original publication has also been updated

Ameliorative effect of heat-killed lactobacillus plantarum L.137 and/or Aloe vera against colitis in mice

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the predominant intestinal diseases associated with chronic inflammation and ulceration of the colon. This study explored the ameliorative effect of Aloe vera extract (Aloe) and/or heat-killed Lactobacillus plantarum L.137 (HK L.137) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. Aloe and/or HK L.137 were supplied for 9 days and the mice were challenged with DSS for 7 days. The DSS group demonstrated bloody diarrhea, colitis of high histologic grade, increased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and decreased IL-10 expression. These alterations were dwindled in DSS-induced mice treated with Aloe and HK L.137 separately. Aloe and HK L.137 together have augmented the therapeutic e_ect of each other. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that Aloe and/or HK L.137 ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by promoting the secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines and suppressing pro-inflammatory mediators. This study indicated that A. vera may function synergistically with HK L.137 to confer an e_ective strategy to prevent colitis

The Association of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Polymorphism with Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Saudi Arabian Patients

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single stranded RNA virus. It affects millions of people worldwide and is considered as a leading cause of liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A recent study reported that TLR4 gene polymorphisms are good prognostic predictors and are associated with protection from liver fibrosis among Caucasians. This study aims to investigate the implication of genetic polymorphisms of TLR4 gene on the HCV infection in Saudi Arabian patients. Two SNPs in the TLR4 gene, rs4986790 (A/G) and rs4986791 (C/T), were genotyped in 450 HCV patients and 600 uninfected controls. The association analysis confirmed that both SNPs showed a significant difference in their distribution between HCV-infected patients and uninfected control subjects ( &lt; 0.0001; OR = 0.404, 95% CI = 0.281-0.581) and ( &lt; 0.0001; OR = 0.298, 95% CI = 0.201-0.443), respectively. More importantly, haplotype analysis revealed that four haplotypes, AC, GT, GC, and AT (rs4986790, rs4986791), were significantly associated with HCV infection when compared with control subjects. One haplotype AC was more prominently found when chronic HCV-infected patients were compared with cirrhosis/HCC patients (frequency = 94.7% and = 0.04). Both TLR4 SNPs under investigation were found to be significantly implicated with HCV-infection among Saudi Arabian population

The Correlation Between Hepatitis B Virus Precore/Core Mutations and the Progression of Severe Liver Disease

Viral mutations acquired during the course of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are known to be associated with the progression and severity of HBV-related liver disease. This study of HBV-infected Saudi Arabian patients aimed to identify amino acid substitutions within the precore/core (preC/C) region of HBV, and investigate their impact on disease progression toward hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Patients were categorized according to the severity of their disease, and were divided into the following groups: inactive HBV carriers, active HBV carriers, liver cirrhosis patients, and HCC patients. Two precore mutations, W28* and G29D, and six core mutations, F24Y, E64D, E77Q, A80I/T/V, L116I, and E180A were significantly associated with the development of cirrhosis and HCC. Six of the seven significant core mutations that were identified in this study were located within immuno-active epitopes; E77Q, A80I/T/V, and L116I were located within B-cell epitopes, and F24Y, E64D, and V91S/T were located within T-cell epitopes. Multivariate risk analysis confirmed that the core mutations A80V and L116I were both independent predictors of HBV-associated liver disease progression. In conclusion, our data show that mutations within the preC/C region, particularly within the immuno-active epitopes, may contribute to the severity of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, we have identified several distinct preC/C mutations within the study population that affect the clinical manifestation and progression of HBV-related disease. The specific identity of HBV mutations that are associated with severe disease varies between different ethnic populations, and so the specific preC/C mutations identified here will be useful for predicting clinical outcomes and identifying the HBV-infected patients within the Saudi population that are at high risk of developing HCC

Management of hepatitis C virus genotype 4: recommendations of an international expert panel.

HCV has been classified into no fewer than six major genotypes and a series of subtypes. Each HCV genotype is unique with respect to its nucleotide sequence, geographic distribution, and response to therapy. Genotypes 1, 2, and 3 are common throughout North America and Europe. HCV genotype 4 (HCV-4) is common in the Middle East and in Africa, where it is responsible for more than 80% of HCV infections. It has recently spread to several European countries. HCV-4 is considered a major cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver transplantation in these regions. Although HCV-4 is the cause of approximately 20% of the 170 million cases of chronic hepatitis C in the world, it has not been the subject of widespread research. Therefore, this document, drafted by a panel of international experts, aimed to review current knowledge on the epidemiology, natural history, clinical, histological features, and treatment of HCV-4 infections