The use of the Bayesian approach in the formation of the student's competence in the ICT direction

The theory of Bayesian networks has recently become very popular in solving various applied problems in various areas of science and production. To effectively use the Bayesian approach, a high-quality software product is needed that implements the mathematical ideas of Bayesian networks in practice. Such software products currently developed quite a large number. This paper presents the most common ones. The paper gives a small introduction about the competence of students and explores the possibility of using Bayesian networks in the formation of the competence of an IT trainer. Developed an integrated algorithm for the formation of the competence of training in the direction of IT

Molecular characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from various clinical specimens in Khartoum/Sudan: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a pathogenic organism responsible for frequent wound and nosocomial infections worldwide. Its infections are difficult to control since the organism is known to rapidly develop antibiotic resistance and becomes multidrug-resistant (MDR) during treatment of patients. Aim of the study: This study was intended to investigate the occurrence of certain important types of (ESBL) and (MBL) enzymes in association with important specific virulence factors  associated with P. aeruginosa clinical isolates from Khartoum, Sudan. Methods: This study investigated 70 P. aeruginosa isolates which were collected from patients admitted to four major hospitals in Khartoum  (Fedail, Ribat, Ibn Sina and Soba hospitals). These isolates were recovered from 40 wound swabs (57.1%), 27 urine samples (38.6%), and 3 pleural fluid samples (4.3%) of patients. Higher numbers of isolates were recovered from males 42 (60%) than in females 28 (40%). All P. aeruginosa isolates were first confirmed by conventional biochemical and second using molecular PCR tests.   PCR methods were also used for detecting the presence of the virulence genes ToxA, AlgD, LasB, exoS, exoU, CTX, GES-1, and genes of VIM, IMP, KPC, CTX, VEB-1 and SHV-1. Results:   Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of P. aeruginosa isolates showed a high resistance to azetronam 49 (70%), followed by ceftazidime 32 (45.7%), 16 ciprofloxacin (22.9%), gentamicin 13 (18.6 %), piperacillin-tazobactam 11 (15.7%), amikacin 9 (12.9 %), and imipenem 6 (8.6%) showed the least resistance. All isolates were positive for algD and lasB (100%), followed by toxA (90%), exoS (34.3), exoU (24.3%), respectively. The rates of detected ESBL genes blaTEM, blaCTX-m, blaSHV-1,GES-1, were 3.3%, 6.6%, 10%, 3.3%,10%, respectively, but all isolates were negative for bla-KPC and bla- VIM and IMP . The percentages of pigment production were 61.4% for pyocyanin, 37.1% for pyoverdin and 1.4% for pyorubin. Conclusion: The study demonstrated high rates of antimicrobial resistance markers to most commonly used antibiotics in treatment of P. aeruginosa infections. The majority of the isolates from urine and wound samples carried at least three potential virulence factor genes of algD, lasB and toxA and without any significant relation to their antimicrobial resistance markers. &nbsp

Impact of misuse of antimicrobial agents on egg bitterness

A hundred raw eggs samples randomly selected from Aswan university residence restaurant due to students' complain of bitter taste presence in the table eggs served to them during breakfast. The samples were examined physically and chemically for antibiotic residues and vitamins A, D3 levels concentration by Spectrophotometer. The result showed that all interior egg quality traits were normal except the presence of small blood spots in 5 eggs yolk, bitter taste were present in 18 eggs yolk, antimicrobial residues were detected in 19  eggs yolk and 4 eggs white. Antimicrobial residues positive samples were examined quantitatively by HPLC for Doxycycline (DC) residues presence. The results showed that 100% of examined samples having DC residues with means concentrations of 35±1.46 and 97±4.46 ppb for eggs white and yolk respectively. The mean levels of vitamin A and D3 in eggs yolk were 447±5.49 µg/100g and11±1.35 µg/100g respectively. The paper concludes that the high concentrations of Vitamins and Doxycycline may be the cause of bitter taste of egg

Sequential parameterizing affine projection (SPAP) windowing length for acoustic echo cancellation on speech accents identification

Echo cancellation has always in the preprocessing steps before the signals are converted to feature vectors and pattern classification. This is always the correct flow of speech identification. Therefore, in order to get the best cleaned signal, the usage of adaptive echo cancellation removed the echo and also the noise which deteriorates the signals and final results during classification process. The concepts of windowing length may improve the cleaned signals acquired after the noise or echo cancellation process is done. By proposing the preconfigured windowing length through sequential technique, the results is giving improvement from normal length of 200ms to 400ms whereby the results of Word Error Rate (WER), Equal Error Rate (EER) and accuracies can be viewed with increases around 5-10% of percentage values compared with echoed signal and reduced the WER and EER too with applying of the sequential parameterization (SPAP) technique

Denosing of natural image based on non-linear threshold filtering using discrete wavelet transformation

The denoising (noise reduction) of a natural image contaminated with Additive and white noise of Gaussian model is an important preprocessing step for many visualization techniques and still a challenging problem for researchers. This paper treats with threshold estimation technique to reduce the noise in natural images by using on discrete wavelet transformation. Calculating the value of thresholding, the way it works in the algorithm (derivation of thresholding function) and the type of wavelet mother functions, are pivotal issues in the field of denoising based wavelet approach. In this study the result shows that the proposed denoising algorithm based on semi-soft threshold algorithm outperforms the traditional wavelet denoising techniques in terms of visual quality and subjective scales, where it preserved the edges, ridges details of the reconstructed image and the quality of visualization shape as well. The execution time was taken into consideration as well; it shows that the new algorithm presents competitive results compared with the standard methods such as Wiener filter, SureShrink, Oracle Shrink, BM3D and BayesShrink. To accomplish the denoising process, our algorithm was compared with the various the standard denoising algorithms that were mentioned earlier

The Value of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Expression in Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an inhibitory molecule expressed by cancer cells to supress T-cell activity and escape anti-tumour immunity. The role of PD-L1 in cancer has been studied extensively as it is considered an important immune checkpoint against immune over-activation through its interaction with Programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) expressed on activated lymphocytes. PD-L1 expression was found to be enhanced by chemotherapy through different proliferation pathways. However, the predictive and prognostic value for PD-L1 expression in cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is not yet established. This review focused on the potential effects of chemotherapy on PD-L1 expression and the role of PD-L1 as a prognostic and predictive marker in NAC-treated cancer patients. In addition, the potential use of this marker in clinical practice is discussed.Keywords: Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Cancer

The role of liver in leptin metabolism in experimental nephrotic syndrome

Leptin is a hormone influencing food intake, energy expenditure and body weight. It is pro-duced by adipocytes, exerts its effects on brain, endocrine pancreas and other organs by acti-vating trans-membrane receptors and is cleared from plasma mainly by the kidneys. Several studies have suggested that leptin's effects on metabolism are mediated by the liver. Our aim was to evaluate the role of the liver in the metabolism of leptin by comparing the serum leptin level in the portal vein with that in inferior vena cava and to study the relationship between leptin and lipoprotein levels in healthy and nephrotic rats. Experimental nephrotic syndrome was conducted in rats by intraperitoneal injection of the supernatant from the kidney suspen-sion obtained by previous unilateral nephrectomy of the same rat and complete Freund's adju-vant. There was a highly significant rise in leptin and lipid profile levels in the nephrotic rats compared with the normal rats. A highly significant increase in leptin in the inferior vena cava was detected compared with the level in the portal veins of nephrotic rats, while insignificant difference was observed in normal rats. This work has stressed the role of liver in leptin and lipid metabolism in nephrotic rats

Comparative study of efficacy of prepartum injection of multivitamins and selenium- vitamin E (ά-tocopherol)-combination on post-partum clinical findings, serum steroids, calf and placental weights, and milk antioxidant biomarkers changes in female dromed

Background: All concentrates given to camels were enriched in selenium (Se) in selenite form. The impacts of Se supplementation on lactating female health, milk, and Se/antioxidant statuses received no research interest. Aim: The current study aimed to compare the efficacy of long-term prepartum injection of Se-vitamin E combination and multivitamins on maternal post-calving clinical findings, serum steroid hormones, milk antioxidants, milk somatic cell count (SCC) status, calf body weight, placental weight (PW), and vaginal wash isolates. Methods: From three equal groups of postpartum she-camels (n = 45), one group received no treatment and served as control group (Cont.; n = 15). For 3 months prepartum, one group had received a combination of vitamin E (ά-tocopherol) and Se (VitE-Se-; n = 15), and the third one received multivitamins (Multi-; n = 15). All dams were subjected to clinical and laboratory assays including milk total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Se, vitamin E, and milk SCC on Days 14, 21, and 28 post-calving. Steroid hormones and calf and PW were estimated at birth (Day 0). Results: The study reported higher efficacy of Se-vitamin E combination comparing with that of multivitamins as a long-term prepartum injection in recently calved she-camels that was reflected through significant changes in steroids hormones (Drop), i.e., progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2), the milk antioxidant biomarkers (Elevation), i.e., TAC, Se, vitamin E, and milk SCCs (Reduction). Both two therapeutic regimens had a more powerful effect that the control one. Conclusion: The applied therapeutic supplements had no significant effect on clinical and hematological changes as well as calves’ body weights and PWs. Body weights were significantly higher in male camel calves than those of female calves either in Cont., VitE-Se-, or Multi-

Intravitreal aflibercept following treat and extend protocol versus fixed protocol for treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration

Background To assess the morphological and functional outcome of intravitreal aflibercept following the treat and extend protocol compared to the fixed protocol for treatment of eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods This retrospective study included 126 eyes of 113 patients with primary onset neovascular age-related macular degeneration who were followed for 12 months. All eyes were treated with 2 mg/0.05 mL aflibercept. All eyes received an upload with three monthly aflibercept injections. We subsequently studied two groups of eyes. For group 1, 54 eyes were treated following the treat and extend protocol. For group 2, 72 eyes were treated following the fixed protocol (fixed 2-monthly interval). Main outcome measures included: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT) and number of injections. Results BCVA (logMAR) in group 1 vs group 2 was (0.61 ± 0.3 vs 0.72 ± 0.3, p = 0.09) before treatment and (0.48 ± 0.3 vs 0.51 ± 0.3, p = 0.6) after one year of treatment. CMT in group 1 vs group 2 was (371 ± 101 μm vs 393 ± 116 μm, p = 0.5) before treatment and (284 ± 60 μm vs 290 ± 67 μm, p = 0.1) after one year of treatment. Number of injections/eye in group 1 vs group 2 was (8.5 ± 2.2 vs 7.0 ± 0, p < 0.001). Conclusions Significant differences regarding BCVA and central macular thickness were not found between both treatment protocols during the first year of treatment using aflibercept. However, a significantly higher number of injections was needed for eyes in the treat and extend group during the first year of treatment. This might suggest that aflibercept should better not be extended past an 8 weeks interval during the first year of treatment. Study registration This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Medical Association of Saarland, Germany (Nr. 123/20, Date: 16.06.2020). All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. This article does not contain any studies with animals performed by any of the authors

Effect of Counteracting Lifestyle Barriers through Health Education in Egyptian Type 2 Diabetic Patients

BACKGROUND: Egypt is among the world top 10 countries in diabetes prevalence. It is the first country among the MENA region. Healthy lifestyle education and support help people with diabetes to improve health outcomes. Many physical and psychological barriers can hinder patients from following a healthy lifestyle. AIM: This study aimed to examine the effect of lifestyle modification educational sessions in helping Egyptian patients to overcome main barriers of diabetes self-management through improving nutritional behaviours, physical activity, medication compliance, and blood glucose monitoring. METHODS: A cohort study included 205 patients with type 2 diabetes. Baseline assessment of patients' lifestyle behaviours and barriers using personal diabetes questionnaire of Louisville University, with both anthropometric and blood glucose assessment. Interventional lifestyle health education was provided weekly through multiple integrated techniques, followed by a post-intervention assessment to evaluate the effect of the health education sessions. Statistical analysis was done to identify any statistically significant difference before and after the health education intervention. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of the post-education mean scores of the studied behaviours when compared with the pre-education scores of the participants’ behaviours (p &lt; 0.001). There was also a significant reduction in the barriers facing patients to diabetes self-management including nutritional barriers (P &lt; 0.001), medication compliance barriers (P &lt; 0.001) with a percent change (43%), physical activity barriers (p &lt; 0.001), and blood glucose monitoring (p &lt; 0.001) with a percent change (44%).There was a statistically significant positive correlation between improvement of medication compliance (P = 0.027), blood glucose monitoring(P = 0.045), and glycated haemoglobin of the study participants CONCLUSION: lifestyle modification education of type 2 diabetic patients can overcome the main barriers of following a healthy lifestyle and improve their anthropometric measures and blood glucose level