REVIVING THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FESTIVALS AS AN AUTHENTIC TOURISM PRODUCT

إحياء المهرجانات المصرية القديمة كمنتج سياحي أصيل [Ar] تعد المهرجانات من المكونات الأساسية لصناعة السياحة نظرا لأهميتها في الترويج للمقصد السياحي وتعزيز صورته، وأصبحت الأصالة من العناصر الرئيسية التي تؤثر بشكل مباشر على التصنيف العالمي للمنطقة المزارة. و بالرغم من تزايد اعداد الباحتين والدراسين لمفهوم الأصالة في السياحة إلا أن تجربة المهرجانات القديمة لم يتم التطرق إليها. استنادا على تلك الفجوة البحثية، تهدف الدراسة إلى إلقاء الضوء علي الأصالة المتحققة من المهرجانات المصرية القديمة عن طريق دراسة نوعية لتحديد كيفية توظيف تلك الأحداث كوسيلة لترويج السياحة في مصر. وجدير بالذكر أن المهرجانات كانت معروفة في مصر منذ العصور القديمة بل ويمكن القول أن كل معبد كان لديه قائمة من الاحتفالات. ورغم ذلك يلاحظ أن أجندة المناسبات الحالية تكاد تخلو من هذه الأحداث، لذا تسعي هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على العوامل التي تعوق تطور سياحة الأحداث الخاصة من خلال اللقاءات مع عدد من المسؤولين في قطاع السياحة. وطبقا لتصريحاتهم، فإنه بالرغم من إقامة كثير من المناسبات الا أن عدد قليل منها يحقق الهدف المطلوب سواء فيما يتعلق بالتسويق أوالتخطيط الاستراتيجي أوالتمويل وإنه ربما يرجع ذلك إلى إلا افتقاد الإدارة المهنية، فضلا عن أن التقويم الملائم لمابعد الحدث سواء للعوائد الاقتصادية أو الحضور غالبا لايتم. كما سعت الدراسة إلى تحديد مفهوم الأصالة لدى السائحين من خلال دراسة مسحية على عينة من زائرى مهرجان تعامد الشمس بأبوسمبل. وأشارت النتائج إلى أن العينة عبرت عن التجارب الفريدة من نوعها بطرق عديدة، لكن الغالبية اتفقت على أن هذا المهرجان تحديدا كان فريدا. لذا يجب على منظمي الأحداث في مصر الاستفادة من تراثهم العريق وأحياء المناسبات المصرية القديمة لتطوير وتنويع المنتج السياحي. [En] Festivals are one of the essential components of the tourism industry due to their importance in promoting destinations and enhancing the region\u27s image. Authenticity has become one of the main elements that directly affect the classification of the visited country at the global level. Despite the growing number of researchers looking at the concept of authenticity in tourism, the experience of ancient festivals has not yet been investigated.Based on the previously mentioned research gap, the current study aims to shed light on the perceived authenticity of Egyptian ancient festivals via a qualitative study, Ancient festivals could be a conduit to promote tourism in Egypt. Although festivals have been known in Egypt since ancient times, and it can be said that every temple had a list of celebrations, the modern Egyptian calendar is almost devoid of these types of events. This study investigates the factors that hinder the development of special events tourism through interviews with a number of officials in the tourism sector. The study also seeks the perceived authenticity of the Egyptian ancient festivals via a qualitative study about the visitors to the Sun Festival. According to the declarations of tourism officials, despite a large number of festivals very few events were engaged in goal setting, marketing, strategic planning, and structured fund-raising ventures- this may be due to the lack of managerial experience. Moreover, proper evaluations of attendance and economic consequences were frequently unavailable. The results of the study indicated that attendees felt differently about their experiences in many ways, but the majority agreed that the event was authentic. Event Planners in Egypt should take advantage of their ancient historical roots and use them to develop and diversify touristic product offerings

REVIVING THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN FESTIVALS AS AN AUTHENTIC TOURISM PRODUCT

إحياء المهرجانات المصرية القديمة كمنتج سياحي أصيل [AR] تعد المهرجانات من المكونات الأساسية لصناعة السياحة نظرا لأهميتها في الترويج للمقصد السياحي وتعزيز صورته، وأصبحت الأصالة من العناصر الرئيسية التي تؤثر بشكل مباشر على التصنيف العالمي للمنطقة المزارة. وبالرغم من تزايد أعداد الباحتين والدراسين لمفهوم الأصالة في السياحة إلا أن تجربة المهرجانات القديمة لم يتم التطرق إليها. استنادا على تلك الفجوة البحثية، تهدف الدراسة إلى إلقاء الضوء علي الأصالة المتحققة من المهرجانات المصرية القديمة عن طريق دراسة نوعية لتحديد كيفية توظيف تلك الأحداث كوسيلة لترويج السياحة في مصر. وجدير بالذكر أن المهرجانات كانت معروفة في مصر منذ العصور القديمة بل ويمكن القول أن كل معبد كان لديه قائمة من الاحتفالات. ورغم ذلك يلاحظ أن أجندة المناسبات الحالية تكاد تخلو من هذه الأحداث، لذا تسعي هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على العوامل التي تعوق تطور سياحة الأحداث الخاصة من خلال اللقاءات مع عدد من المسؤولين في قطاع السياحة. وطبقا لتصريحاتهم، فإنه بالرغم من إقامة كثير من المناسبات إلا أن عدد قليل منها يحقق الهدف المطلوب سواء فيما يتعلق بالتسويق أوالتخطيط الاستراتيجي أوالتمويل وإنه ربما يرجع ذلك إلى إلا افتقاد الإدارة المهنية، فضلا عن أن التقويم الملائم لمابعد الحدث سواء للعوائد الاقتصادية أو الحضور غالبا لايتم. كما سعت الدراسة إلى تحديد مفهوم الأصالة لدى السائحين من خلال دراسة مسحية على عينة من زائرى مهرجان تعامد الشمس بأبوسمبل. وأشارت النتائج إلى أن العينة عبرت عن التجارب الفريدة من نوعها بطرق عديدة، لكن الغالبية اتفقت على أن هذا المهرجان تحديدا كان فريدا. لذا يجب على منظمي الأحداث في مصر الاستفادة من تراثهم العريق وأحياء المناسبات المصرية القديمة لتطوير وتنويع المنتج السياحي. [EN] Festivals are one of the essential components of the tourism industry due to their importance in promoting destinations and enhancing the region's image. Authenticity has become one of the main elements that directly affect the classification of the visited country at the global level. Despite the growing number of researchers looking at the concept of authenticity in tourism, the experience of ancient festivals has not yet been investigated.Based on the previously mentioned research gap, the current study aims to shed light on the perceived authenticity of Egyptian ancient festivals via a qualitative study, Ancient festivals could be a conduit to promote tourism in Egypt. Although festivals have been known in Egypt since ancient times, and it can be said that every temple had a list of celebrations, the modern Egyptian calendar is almost devoid of these types of events. This study investigates the factors that hinder the development of special events tourism through interviews with a number of officials in the tourism sector. The study also seeks the perceived authenticity of the Egyptian ancient festivals via a qualitative study about the visitors to the Sun Festival. According to the declarations of tourism officials, despite a large number of festivals very few events were engaged in goal setting, marketing, strategic planning, and structured fund-raising ventures- this may be due to the lack of managerial experience. Moreover, proper evaluations of attendance and economic consequences were frequently unavailable. The results of the study indicated that attendees felt differently about their experiences in many ways, but the majority agreed that the event was authentic. Event Planners in Egypt should take advantage of their ancient historical roots and use them to develop and diversify touristic product offerings

Implantable slot antenna with substrate integrated waveguide for biomedical applications

This work presents a new design of capsule slot antenna with substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) for wireless body area networks (WBANs) operating at the range of (2.5-4 GHz) which is located in the body area networks (BAN) standard in IEEE802.15.6. The proposed antenna was designed for WBANs. The substrate is assumed to be from Rogers 5880 with relative permittivity of 2.2, and thickness of 0.787 mm. The ground and the patch are created from annealed copper while the capsule is assumed to be a plastic material of medical grade polycarbonate. The antenna designed and summited using computer simulation technology (CST) software. A CST voxel model was used to study the performance of SIW capsule antenna and the ability of the band (2.5-4 GHz). Results indicated a wide bandwidth of 1.5 GHz between the range of (2.5-4) GHz at 3.3 GHz as center frequency, with return loss with more than -24.52 dB, a gain of -18.2 dB, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.17, and front-to-back ratio (FBR) of 10.07 dB. Through simulation, all considerable parameters associated with the proposed antenna including return loss, bandwidth, operating frequency, VSWR less than 2, radiation pattern were examined. Regarding size, gain, and frequency band, the proposed antenna is located with the standards of implantable medical devices (IMDs)

Comparative Hepatotoxicity of Aflatoxin B1 among Workers Exposed to Different Organic Dust with Emphasis on Polymorphism Role of Glutathione S-Transferase Gene

AIM: The study aimed to investigate effects of organic dust exposure from different sources on aflatoxin B1-albumin adducts (AFB1/Alb), and role of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphism in hepatotoxicity of (AFB1) among exposed workers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Liver enzymes, AFB1/Alb, and GST polymorphism were estimated in 132 wheat flour dust and 87 woods sawmill workers, and 156 controls.RESULTS: Results revealed that AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls, and were significantly higher in sawmill workers compared to flour workers. AFB1/Alb in flour and sawmill workers with GSTT1 and GSTM1&GSTT1 null genotypes were significantly higher than controls, and in sawmill workers with GSTM1&GSTT1 null than flour workers. Liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in sawmill workers were significantly higher than flour workers and controls in all GST polymorphism; except in GSTT1 polymorphism, where these enzymes were significantly higher in the two exposed groups than controls.CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, organic dust exposure may cause elevation in AFB1/Alb and liver enzymes of exposed workers, and GST gene polymorphism plays an important role in susceptibility to hepatic parenchymal cell injury; except in workers with GSTT1&GSTM1 null genotype, gene susceptibility seemed to have little role and the main role was for environmental exposures

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century