Enhancing information retrieval in folksonomies using ontology of place constructed from Gazetteer information

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial TechnologiesFolksonomy (from folk and taxonomy) is an approach to user metadata creation where users describe information objects with a free-form list of keywords (‘tags’). Folksonomy has have proved to be a useful information retrieval tool that support the emergence of “collective intelligence” or “bottom-up” light weight semantics. Since there are no guiding rules or restrictions on the users, folksonomy has some drawbacks and problems as lack of hierarchy, synonym control, and semantic precision. This research aims at enhancing information retrieval in folksonomy, particularly that of location information, by establishing explicit relationships between place name tags. To accomplish this, an automated approach is developed. The approach starts by retrieving tags from Flickr. The tags are then filtered to identify those that represent place names. Next, the gazetteer service that is a knowledge organization system for spatial information is used to query for the place names. The result of the search from the gazetteer and the feature types are used to construct an ontology of place. The ontology of place is formalized from place name concepts, where each place has a “Part-Of” relationship with its direct parent. The ontology is then formalized in OWL (Web Ontology Language). A search tool prototype is developed that extracts a place name and its parent name from the ontology and use them for searching in Flickr. The semantic richness added to Flickr search engine using our approach is tested and the results are evaluated

Comparative study of two different designs of partial over denture supported with distal implant for the treatment of mandibular Kennedy class II cases

AbstractThe objective of the present study was to compare between two mandibular implant overdentures of class II Kennedy classification. Material and methods: Fourteen male patients (30–45 years) were selected and divided into two equal groups. Group I received a mandibular removable partial over denture retained with implant abutment at the first molar region and with extra coronal attachment to the first premolar. Cross arch stabilization was made by using double Aker clasp on the first and second molars of the opposite side. Group II received a unilateral mandibular removable partial over denture retained with implant abutment at the first molar region and with extra coronal attachment to a splinted first premolar and canine. Patient satisfaction, clinical and radiographic evaluations were carried out at regular recall appointments up to one year from implant loading. Results: There was insignificant increase in the pocket depth and gingival recession and insignificant decrease in the perio test values and plaque index around implants and abutments. There was insignificant increase in the marginal bone loss around implants and abutments in both groups. All patients strongly disagreed the high cost of the treatment. Group II patients were more satisfied regarding aspects of the patients' comfort and phonetics. Conclusion: It is concluded that unilateral removable partial denture was more comfortable and better with speech. The use of dental implant as a distal abutment in class II Kennedy classification reduces all the movements of denture base and results in better healthy condition for the gingival and periodontium of the abutment tooth than when using conventional partial denture

La fouille du Boubasteion d’Alexandrie : présentation préliminaire

Rescue excavations conducted in 2009-2010 by the Supreme Council of antiquities under the supervision of Dr. Abd El Maksoud, have produced surprising results of great importance by revealing the existence of a sanctuary dedicated to Boubastis and by underlining the popularity of this goddess in Alexandria over the long term (from the first wave of immigration to the Roman period). Prior to this discovery, no-one had supposed the existence of a sanctuary dedicated to Boubastis in Alexandria. Furthermore, the offerings to the goddess shed new light on the population of Alexandria at the beginning of its existence

Bacterial translocation markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus: their association with glycemic control and diabetic kidney disease in Egyptian patients

Background. The involvement of bacterial translocation in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has been highlighted in recent years. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the potential impact of lipopolysaccaride-binding protein (LBP) and DNA translocation on glycemic control and progression to diabetic kidney disease in T2DM patients. Material and methods. A total of 30 T2DM patients as well as 30 controls were included in a cross-sectional observational study. Plasma LBP levels were deter­mined using an enzyme linked immunoassay. DNA translocation was assessed using polymerase chain reaction targeting 16SrNA gene. Results. Plasma levels of LBP were significantly elevated in T2DM patients than in controls (p = 0.02). LBP level was significantly and positively correlated with fasting glucose level, glycated hemoglobin, C-reactive protein, albumin-creatinine ratio and negatively correlated with glomerular filtration rate. Receiver operating curve revealed that LBP with a cut off of 15.17 μg/mL succeeded to predict both glycemic control and dia­betic kidney disease in T2DM patients. The bacterial 16SrRNA was detected in almost all blood samples of T2DM patients (28/30) and in about half (16/30) of the control group (p < 0.001). Conclusion. Translocation products could trigger diabe­tes related complications. Future interventional work should target these products to reverse their effects

Nitric Oxide Gene Polymorphism is a Risk Factor for Diabetic Nephropathy and Atherosclerosis in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

AIM: To assess the risk factor for diabetic atherosclerosis nephropathy and diabetic nephropathy in type 1 diabetic patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers age and sex-matched and Sixty-five type 1 diabetic patient were in rolled in the study. The mean age of patients was 17.99 ± 2.59 years, mean age of onset of diabetes was 7.00 ± 3.28 years, mean duration of diabetes was 10.91 ± 3.54 years. Glycosylated sex-matched (HbA1c) was assessed in blood samples, serum lipid profile was determined, and serum level of oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), and nitric oxide was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Nitric oxide 894G > T genotype was analysed by (PCR-RFLP) method and confirmed by Sequencing. Assessment of the albumin / creatinine ratio was done in urine samples. Renal Doppler and Carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) via ultrasound was also performed. RESULTS: OxLDL, lipid profile, albumin/creatinine ratio, cIMT and resistivity index were significantly higher in diabetic patients while nitric oxide was significantly lower. Nitric oxide genotype shows no significant difference between diabetic’s patients and controls. Diabetic patients with homozygous NO had a significantly lower serum level of Nitric oxide, a significantly higher OxLDL, albumin / creatinine ratio and lipid profile. CONCLUSION: diabetic patients are liable for the occurrence of early diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis as a result of the presence of low level of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide gene polymorphism 894G > T in diabetic patients is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy and atherosclerosis

Synthesis and reactions of (Z)-2-imino-5-(3,4,5-trimethoxy benzylidene)thiazolidin-4(H)one

5-Arylmethylene-2-imino-4-oxo-2-thiazolidine 3 was obtained as the sole product from the reaction of α-cyano-3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamonitrile and/or ethyl-α-cyano-3,4,5-trimethoxy cinnamate (1a,b) with 2-imino-4-oxo-2-thiazolidine 2. The reaction of 3 with benzyl amine gave the imidazolidin-4(H)one derivative 4 while with hydrazine hydrate afforded the dimeric product 5. Also, reaction of thiazolidinone derivative 3 with piperidine gave thiazol-4(5H)one derivative 6 which on treatment with Grignard reagent and active methylene compounds afforded thiazolidin-4-one derivatives 7-9, respectively. Compound 6 was converted to the potassium salt 10 which treated with acetic acid, ethyl chloroacetate and furoyl chloride to give the compounds 11-13, respectively. The structures of all new compounds were evidenced by microanalytical data and spectral data

Expressed and Silent Carbapenemase Genes Detected by Multiplex PCR in both Carbapenem- Resistant and Phenotypically-Susceptible Gram Negative Bacilli

Introduction: Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli have been major culprits in hospital-associated infections (HAIs), particularly in critically ill patients suffering device-associated infections (DAIs). The current study aimed to investigate the performance of the modified Hodge test (MHT) as a phenotypic confirmatory method for the detection of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli and to compare it to the gold standard PCR for the detection of carbapenemase production in both non-susceptible and phenotypically susceptible isolates. The latter were expected to harbor silent carbapenemase genes, as suspected from the inappropriate response to carbapenem therapy. Methods: Ninety-five bacterial isolates from 75 critically ill patients were collected over 6 months from several ICUs at Cairo University Hospitals. The isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) for carbapenems and were further screened by MHT, followed by genotypic analysis via multiplex PCR. Results: Enterobacteriaceae were the most commonly isolated pathogens (55.8% of the total isolates), followed by Acinetobacter spp. (24%). Lower respiratory tract infections were the most common HAIs (42.11%), followed by surgical site infections (27.37%). All isolates demonstrating carbapenem resistance by AST were found to harbor at least one of the following carbapenemase genes: blaKPC, blaOXA-48, blaIPM, blaVIM, and blaNDM-1. Alarmingly, 97.8% of the isolates which exhibited carbapenem-susceptible profile and negative MHT were harboring carbapenemase genes as confirmed by multiplex PCR. With the exception of one isolate (E. coli) which was not harboring any carbapenemase gene, the remaining 94 bacterial isolates were found to carry either a single or multiple carbapenemase genes. Conclusion: The silent dissemination of different classes of carbapenemases even in isolates with negative MHT is a daunting challenge. It necessitates the implementation of strict antibiotic stewardship along with updated and actionable approach to detect non-expressed carbapenemase genes in phenotypically susceptible isolates