Dynamic Hand Gesture Recognition of Arabic Sign Language using Hand Motion Trajectory Features

In this paper we propose a system for dynamic hand gesture recognition of Arabic Sign Language The proposed system takes the dynamic gesture video stream as input extracts hand area and computes hand motion features then uses these features to recognize the gesture The system identifies the hand blob using YCbCr color space to detect skin color of hand The system classifies the input pattern based on correlation coefficients matching technique The significance of the system is its simplicity and ability to recognize the gestures independent of skin color and physical structure of the performers The experiment results show that the gesture recognition rate of 20 different signs performed by 8 different signers is 85 6

Predictive analytics of Churn Customers Calling Details Records using Classification by Clustering (CBC) dealing with Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms

Telecom companies generate enormous amounts of data regularly. The telecom Decision makers that obtaining new customers is more challenging than sustaining existing ones. Furthermore, data from existing churn customers may be utilized to detect churn clients and their patterns of behavior. This research develops a model of churn prediction for the telecommunication business, which uses NB, SVM, DT, and RDF to detect churn clients. The proposed model churns customers' data using classification techniques, with the Random Forest (RDF) method performing well (95.94 % correctly categorized instances), the Decision Tree (DTs) providing classification accuracy (95.40 %), the Naïve Bayes (NB) provided classification accuracy (89.58 %), and the Support Vector Machine (SVMs) provided classification accuracy (71.08 %). The four different classification algorithms' predictions and observations are compared, with a percentage of 71 percent equality and 29 percent variation

Watershed Management, A Tool for Sustainable Safe Reuse Practice, Case Study: El-Salam Canal

In Egypt, drainage and irrigation network receives a complex mixture of industrial and domestic effluent. Therefore, water quality was subjected to rapid deterioration over the past decades. A need for using marginal quality water in agriculture for new expansion projects is becoming a great necessity. Good quality water is no longer available for new irrigation projects. One strategy to increase available water resources is to reuse agriculture drainage water for irrigation. Surface water of low quality along with limitation of current water resources was found to be the largest current environmental threat to the drainage reuse practice in Egypt. The detrimental effects of drainage water reuse can be minimized by adopting appropriate pollution sources management. Although domestic diffuse sources represent very small portion of the total discharge in drains, they contribute to a high percentage of organic load to the water system. Lack of investment and time required to execute proper wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), become a constrain impeding the improvement in surface water quality. The proper water quality management system along with good planning for constructing, upgrading and upscaling of WWTPs within a certain watershed can positively improve the water quality at the mixing point with fresh water for reuse. In this study, a practical management tool based on watershed as one of the primer water system unit has been introduced. The tool works under GIS environment to help water managers and planners concerned in irrigation system to incorporate the reuse of drainage water to set best prioritization scenario of WWTPs implementation, upgrading or upscaling within the sub-watershed of El-Serw and Bahr-Hadous drains that feed El-Salam canal. The study is based on analyzing the transport and decay of pollutants expressed as BOD load through network analysis of drains network within El-Salam canal watershed as a case study. Keywords: Water quality management, Watershed, Drainage water reuse, GIS, Point source pollution (PSP), BOD. DOI: 10.7176/CER/11-4-06 Publication date:May 31st 2019

The implementation of social accountability in medical schools in Eastern Mediterranean region:A scoping review

Objectives: Social Accountability is a relatively new approach in medical education, Information about its implementation is scarce in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. The objective of this scoping review was to investigate the patterns and trends in reporting the social accountability (SA) of medical schools in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR). Methods: Using the Arksey and O'Malley approach, we conducted literature searches between 1995 and 2022 in the following databases: Scopus, Web of Sciences, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google Scholar using the search terms social accountability, medical school, faculty of medicine, Eastern Mediterranean Region, EMRO region. Using qualitative theme analysis, the extracted, coded, and analyzed data were reported. Results: The screening of various databases revealed 164 articles, 26 articles were finally included in the review. The 26 included articles originated from only seven out of the 22 EMR countries: Iran, Sudan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Morocco, and Pakistan. The articles included were categorized under six themes: defining the SA and compliance with SA values and concepts, accreditation, educational program, perceptions of faculty and students, admission of students, and measurement of social accountability. Conclusions: The publications related to SA from the EM regions countries revealed similarities with other parts of the world in that the SA concept is not effectively translated into real day-to-day activities in medical schools. More work is needed from leaders in education and health systems to examine SA enablers and improve the uptake of the concept.</p

Consolidating Medical Education in Sudan During War

Background: Providing quality medical education in Sudan faces challenges due to armed conflicts. This short communication explores practical solutions for ensuring the continuity of medical education during the conflict in the Sudanese context. Methods: A comprehensive literature review covered relevant articles published from 1915 to 2023. Four major databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) were searched using keywords related to medical education, war, armed conflict, and affected countries. Data synthesis identified common themes, challenges, and trends and suggested solutions for medical education in conflict zones. Case studies from Ukraine, Liberia, and Iraq were included for a comprehensive understanding. Results: Collaborative alliances among medical schools facilitate resource sharing and support. Engaging the Sudanese diaspora through virtual collaborations, mentorship programs, and faculty exchanges enhance educational experiences. Stable regions as educational hubs ensure uninterrupted academic progress for students from conflict-affected areas. Online and remote education, including asynchronous learning and social media platforms, overcome access barriers and fosters knowledge sharing. Ambulatory teaching provides practical experience and adaptability. Prioritizing faculty well-being and professional development through training and support is crucial. Emphasizing resilience and adaptability in student education prepare them for healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. Research and innovation contribute to evidence-based strategies. International collaboration and support offer opportunities for knowledge exchange and infrastructure improvement. Conclusion: Implementing collaborative strategies and innovative approaches helps Sudanese medical schools overcome challenges during armed conflicts and maintain quality medical education. These solutions empower students and faculty, enhance resilience, and contribute to improving healthcare systems in post-war Sudan

Effect of a Radiant Panel Cooling System on Indoor Air Quality of a Conditioned Space

This paper discusses the effect of a radiant cooling panel system on an indoor air quality (IAQ) of a conditioned space. In this study, ceiling radiant cooling panel, mechanical ventilation with fan coil unit (FCU) and 100% fresh air are used. Temperature sensors are located at different locations inside the conditioned space in order to sense dry bulb temperatures, relative humidity to compare it with standard ASHRAE comfort values. The present investigation indicates that the radiant cooling system not only improves the indoor air quality but also reduces the building energy consumption in the conditioned space

Mesalamine-Induced Myopericarditis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis) or both (myopericarditis) as side effects of mesalamine, a drug widely used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, is a rare, but potentially lethal complication. We report a case of myopericarditis occurring in a young Caucasian woman 14 days following initiation of mesalamine therapy for treatment of a newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis (UC). She presented with pleuritic chest pain, elevated troponin levels and pre-syncope. The diagnosis of myopericarditis was made based on the clinical features, electrocardiogram (EKG) and cardiac magnetic resonance, which showed trace pericardial effusion. The patient's symptom and condition were dramatically improved upon discontinuing mesalamine, and a full recovery was achieved. Mesalamine-induced inflammation of the myocardium (myocarditis) or pericardium (pericarditis) or both (myopericarditis) is rare, but has fatal side effects. Early recognition of these side effects by clinicians and patients is important to prevent progression of the inflammation. Furthermore, patients should be educated to seek urgent medical attention if cardiac symptoms arise

Calibration and validation of the DNDC model to estimate nitrous oxide emissions and crop productivity for a summer maize-winter wheat double cropping system in Hebei, China

We thank Dr. Min Liu for providing the field measurement data and Prof. Xinping Chen for providing the data of crop yields. We acknowledge the financial supported from the N Circle - a BBSRC-Newton Funded project (BB/N013484/1), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41830751) and EU Horizon 2020 programme (SuperG).Peer reviewedPostprin

Hepatoprotective effect of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile leaves against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in rats

Methanolic extract of Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile (leaves), was evaluated for its hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in Wistar rats; by measuring levels of serum marker enzymes like serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin. Histological studies were also carried out to support our hypothesis. Administration of the extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) orally markedly prevented CCl4-induced elevation of serum GPT, GOT, ALP and total bilirubin levels. A comparative histopathological study of liver in treated groups exhibited similarity to normal tissue architecture, compared to CCl4-treated group