Artificial Intelligence Investing in Academic Libraries: Reality and Challenges

This study deals with the changes that occur because of the artificial intelligence techniques in academic libraries, using the survey method (descriptive and analytical) in describing and analyzing the reality of employing and using artificial intelligence technology in Saudi academic libraries, and the extent of the libraries\u27 readiness to invest this technology and the challenges they face. The study concludes that there is a lack of physical equipment that is available inside the headquarters of academic libraries for technological development, and this explains the result related to the weak awareness of the concept of artificial intelligence among the majority of workers in those libraries by 69%

Risk factors of progression of chronic kidney disease patients under conservative treatment

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is recognized as a major health problem affecting approximately 13% of the US population. Early identification and treatment of risk factors of progression of chronic kidney disease can provide marked benefits later in the term of delaying progression to renal replacement therapy.Methods: The medical chart for 92 CKD patients on regular follow up in low clearance clinic with GFR below 20 ml/min were retrospectively reviewed annually for 4 years regular follow up period. The following variables were recorded for each patient: non-modifiable variables (Age, sex, nationality, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, smoking status, causes of kidney disease, diabetes status, hepatitis status, medication used (like ACEi/ARBs and Sodium bicarbonate) and modifiable variables which includes: Serum albumin, potassium level, serum bicarbonate level, level of proteinuria, rate of GFR decline (Delta GFR) /year, total cholesterol level and hemoglobin level. Then they were divided into 2 groups according to the endpoint during the follow up period. Group 1 include patients did not start dialysis yet and group 2 which include patients who started dialysis during their regular follow up period.Results: There is no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding Age , sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and Body Mass Index( BMI), serum albumin and haemoglobin levels (p 0.295, 0.317, 0.220, 0.181,0.805, 0.884 and 0.451 respectively). There is no statistically a difference between the two groups regarding serum potassium level and serum total cholesterol level (p 0.515 and 0.517 respectively). Diabetic patients started dialysis earlier than non-diabetics with statistically significant difference between the two groups (p 0.029). The patients who weren’t taking ACEi or ARBs started dialysis earlier than those who were taking (p 0.005), while there was no significant differences between the two groups regarding sodium bicarbonate intake (p 0.256). Low sodium bicarbonate level and severity of proteinuria are of significantly important risk factors for progression of CKD disease (p 0.006 and 0.029 respectively).Conclusions: The most important risk factors for rapid progression are presence of diabetes, severity of proteinuria and low serum bicarbonate level in advanced stages of chronic kidney disease. Early recognition of these risk factors and their correction may retard the progression of CKD, which will delay the need for renal replacement therapy. In addition, ACEI or ARBs intake are almost renoprotective and may delay the rapid progression of chronic kidney disease especially in proteinuric patients.

Evaluation of hepatitis B vaccine responsiveness in ‎hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients

Background: Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is considered as a major cause of liver ‎cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) are a risk group for HBV infection. The vaccine of hepatitis B has ‎been recommended for prevention of HBV infection in ESRD patient ‎especially on renal replacement therapy.  Methods: Eighty seven patients with ESRD on peritoneal ‎dialysis and hemodialysis requiring primary hepatitis B vaccination were ‎enrolled in the study. Each of them received 40 µg of recombinant hepatitis B ‎vaccine in a four-dose schedule. Antibody response was determined by the ‎levels of antibodies to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) after last ‎doses of the vaccination schedule.  Results: We observed three response patterns to the ‎immunizations in all patients after vaccination, the nonresponders (24.7%) ‎never reached the minimum protective titer of 10 mIU/mL, the poor responders (18.5%) had titers between 10 and 100 mIU/mL, and the good responders (56.8%) had antibody titers above 100 mIU/mL. Despite a reduction in anti-‎HBs over time, the good responders did not become unprotected during the ‎observation period, especially those participants who had titers above 1000 ‎mIU/mL after the initial immunization.  Conclusions: We concluded that the immune ‎response of the HBV vaccine was reduced in the HD and PD patients, which ‎need yearly re-evaluation of seroconversion with booster doses of HBV ‎vaccination if needed‎.

Effect of energy window width on planer and SPECT image uniformity

AbstractTo detect radiopharmaceutical distribution in patient organs and avoid interpretation mistakes, due to the protocol errors, a gamma camera must work in optimum conditions. One such error is camera non-uniformity. Baron and Chouraqui[Baron, J.M., Chouraqui, P., 1996. Myocardial single-photon emission computed tomographic quality assurance. J. Nucl. Cordial. 3(2), 157–166] have reported the need to ensure consistently high image quality and accuracy using an optimally chosen standardized protocol. It has been reported that single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) significantly improved contrast over the planer image and has the ability to separate overlapping structures[Critchly, M., 1993. Nuclear Medicine Pocket Handbook, Amersham International Plc, pp. 6–7]. Window width of energy is considered as one of the most important physical parameters affecting the quality of planer and SPECT images. Thus, the effect of widow widths of energy 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% on planer and SPECT images were investigated using a Tc-99m source at 140keV. Tc-99m is the most common isotope in nuclear medicine and has one well-defined peakT in comparison with thallium, which has three peaks. In the present study, it was evident that energy window width played a prominent role in flood images uniformity using the Tc-99m source. The calculated integral uniformity percentage (IU%) and differential uniformity percentage (DU%) values of center field of view (CFOV) and useful field of view (UFOV) were markedly changed with a change of energy window width. The optimum energy window width was in the range from 15% to 20%. Moreover, the effect of window widths of energy 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 25% on SPECT image on a heart phantom with an artificial defect performed at the anterior wall of the heart was investigated. The SPECT images were clinically examined by a physician who reported a different diagnosis for each energy window width due to vertical long axis cuts, which, in turn, were due to the change in the collected counts. We concluded that the optimum energy window width was also in the range 15–20% for the Tc-99m isotope, which confirmed previous planer results

Detection of equid herpesviruses among different Arabian horse populations in Egypt

Equid herpesviruses (EHVs) threaten equine health and can cause significant economic losses to the equine industry worldwide. Different equid herpesviruses, EHV‐1, EHV‐2, EHV‐4 and EHV5 are regularly detected among horse populations. In Egypt, monitoring is sporadic but EHV‐1 or EHV‐4 have been reported to circulate in the horse population. However, there is a lack of reports related to infection and health status of horses, likely due to the absence of regular diagnostic procedures. In the current study, the circulation of four infectious equid herpesviruses (EHV‐1, EHV‐2, EHV‐4 and EHV‐5) among different Arabian horse populations and donkeys residing the same farm was monitored. Different samples were collected and DNA was extracted and subjected to quantitative (q)‐PCR to detect the four equid herpesviruses using specific primers and probes. Antibody titres against EHV‐1 and EHV‐4 were tested using virus neutralization test and type‐specific ELISA. The results showed that EHV‐1, EHV‐2, EHV‐4 and EHV‐5 are endemic and can be a continuous threat for horses in the absence of vaccination programs and frequent virus reactivation. There is an urgent need for introduction of active regular surveillance measures to investigate the presence of different equid herpesviruses, and other equine viral pathogens, in various horse populations around Egypt and to establish a standardized cataloguing of equine health status

Development of Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention as a National Reperfusion Strategy for Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Assessment of Its Use in Egypt

Objective: Early treatment of acute ischemia of the heart by performing immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to restore blood flow in patients with the clinical presentation of an acute coronary syndrome and more specifically with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) can save lives. This study aims to identify the mean time (door to balloon time and first contact to balloon time) to primary PCI for STEMI patients and to assess the percentage of primary PCI and its success rate in Egypt. Methods: A registry study of patients presenting to cardiac centers in Egypt was designed, where patients’ basic characteristics, the treatment strategy, and the door to balloon time and the first contact to balloon time were assessed. Results: One thousand six hundred fifty STEMI patients with a mean age of 57 years were included in the study. Immediate transfer for primary PCI was the most used treatment strategy, representing 74.6% of all treatment strategies used. The door to balloon time and the first contact to balloon time were 50 and 60 minutes, respectively, with a primary PCI success rate of 65.1%. Conclusion: The registry study results showed a marked improvement by implementation of the best treatment strategy with respect to the time factor to achieve a better outcome for STEMI patients in Egypt

A Comprehensive Review of the Composition, Nutritional Value, and Functional Properties of Camel Milk Fat

From MDPI via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: accepted 2021-09-06, pub-electronic 2021-09-13Publication status: PublishedFunder: National Natural Science Foundation of China; Grant(s): 31701558Funder: Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities; Grant(s): JUSRP12004Funder: China Postdoctoral Science Foundation; Grant(s): 2021M691291Recently, camel milk (CM) has been considered as a health-promoting icon due to its medicinal and nutritional benefits. CM fat globule membrane has numerous health-promoting properties, such as anti-adhesion and anti-bacterial properties, which are suitable for people who are allergic to cow’s milk. CM contains milk fat globules with a small size, which accounts for their rapid digestion. Moreover, it also comprises lower amounts of cholesterol and saturated fatty acids concurrent with higher levels of essential fatty acids than cow milk, with an improved lipid profile manifested by reducing cholesterol levels in the blood. In addition, it is rich in phospholipids, especially plasmalogens and sphingomyelin, suggesting that CM fat may meet the daily nutritional requirements of adults and infants. Thus, CM and its dairy products have become more attractive for consumers. In view of this, we performed a comprehensive review of CM fat’s composition and nutritional properties. The overall goal is to increase knowledge related to CM fat characteristics and modify its unfavorable perception. Future studies are expected to be directed toward a better understanding of CM fat, which appears to be promising in the design and formulation of new products with significant health-promoting benefits

Unveiling the therapeutic potential of exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate for chronic colitis in rats: novel insights on autophagy, apoptosis, and pyroptosis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic relapsing inflammatory disease of the colorectal area that demonstrates a dramatically increasing incidence worldwide. This study provides novel insights into the capacity of the exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate and ketogenic diet (KD) consumption to alleviate dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced UC in rats. Remarkably, both interventions attenuated disease activity and colon weight-to-length ratio, and improved macro and microstructures of the damaged colon. Importantly, both β-hydroxybutyrate and KD curbed the DSS-induced aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation as observed in mRNA and protein expression analysis. Additionally, inhibition of the NLRP3/NGSDMD-mediated pyroptosis was detected in response to both regimens. In parallel, these modalities attenuated caspase-1 and its associated consequences of IL-1β and IL-18 overproduction. They also mitigated apoptosis as indicated by the inactivation of caspase-3. The anti-inflammatory effects of BHB and KD were confirmed by the reported decline in the levels of inflammatory markers including MPO, NFκB, IL-6, and TNF-α. Moreover, these interventions exhibited antioxidative properties by reducing ROS production and improving antioxidative enzymes. Their effectiveness in mitigating UC was also evident in the renovation of normal intestinal epithelial barrier function, as shown by correcting the discrepancies in the levels of tight junction proteins ZO-1, OCLN, and CLDN5. Furthermore, their effects on the intestinal microbiota homeostasis were investigated. In terms of autophagy, exogenous β-hydroxybutyrate upregulated BECN-1 and downregulated p62, which may account for its superiority over KD in attenuating colonic damage. In conclusion, this study provides experimental evidence supporting the potential therapeutic use of β-hydroxybutyrate or β-hydroxybutyrate-boosting regimens in UC

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020