Spatio-Temporal Analysis for LanduseLandcover in Bethlehem District Using Remote Sensing and GIS

The aim of this project is to make a comprehensive study to find solutions for spatial issues in Bethlehem, such as the situation of natural reserves, the situation of roads, the spatial analysis for schools and facilities locations, the expansion of urban areas. The data was collected from satellite imagery (Landsat from USGS Earth Explorer, Sentinel from ESA Open Access Hup, and municipalities), facilities locations (schools, dumping sites, and hospitals), as well as Aerial photos. The data of satellite imagery were classified according to Corrine classifications, and then analyzed the current facilities of Bethlehem District. Spatial analysis was conducted to suggest new facility locations, and centerlines of roads were digitized from aerial photos and were analyzed to suggest new roads location. In the end, the results showed that there was a big growth of urban areas, shrinkage of the natural reserves areas, and an expansion of the Israeli settlements during the years (1987, 2002, 2013, 2015, 2018). The researchers suggest new places for roads and facilities (such as schools, and dumping sites)

A detailed survey of just-in-time implementation status within Libyan cement industry, and its implication for operations management

This paper investigates in detail the current status of the implementation levels of JIT key-factors and their sub-elements within the cement industry within Libya, and its implication for management within the said industry. A survey methodology has been applied in this detailed investigation using an intensive questionnaire and one-to-one interviews of the correspondent organizations. Based on the analysis of the survey findings, the results show that the implementation status of the JIT key-factors and their sub-elements are found to be in the modest levels across all the surveyed organisations, thereby indicating to opportunities for eliminating waste and improving the value chain. This paper has also pointed to crucial areas where the senior management body within this industry need to take immediate actions in order to achieve an effective and successful implementation of JIT systems. The paper also makes a contribution by providing an insight into what extent the JIT key-factors and their sub-elements are understood and implemented within the key Libyan manufacturing industry

Sulfate-induced stomata closure requires the canonical ABA signal transduction machinery

Phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is the canonical trigger for stomatal closure upon abiotic stresses like drought. Soil-drying is known to facilitate root-to-shoot transport of sulfate. Remarkably, sulfate and sulfide—a downstream product of sulfate assimilation—have been independently shown to promote stomatal closure. For induction of stomatal closure, sulfate must be incorporated into cysteine, which triggers ABA biosynthesis by transcriptional activation of NCED3. Here, we apply reverse genetics to unravel if the canonical ABA signal transduction machinery is required for sulfate-induced stomata closure, and if cysteine biosynthesis is also mandatory for the induction of stomatal closure by the gasotransmitter sulfide. We provide genetic evidence for the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the plasma membrane-localized NADPH oxidases, RBOHD, and RBOHF, during the sulfate-induced stomatal closure. In agreement with the established role of ROS as the second messenger of ABA-signaling, the SnRK2-type kinase OST1 and the protein phosphatase ABI1 are essential for sulfate-induced stomata closure. Finally, we show that sulfide fails to close stomata in a cysteine-biosynthesis depleted mutant. Our data support the hypothesis that the two mobile signals, sulfate and sulfide, induce stomatal closure by stimulating cysteine synthesis to trigger ABA production

Novel mutations in LHX3 are associated with hypopituitarism and sensorineural hearing loss

Homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the transcription factor LHX3 have been associated with hypopituitarism with structural anterior pituitary defects and cervical abnormalities with or without restricted neck rotation. We report two novel recessive mutations in LHX3 in four patients from two unrelated pedigrees. Clinical evaluation revealed that all four patients exhibit varying degrees of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss, which has not been previously reported in association with LHX3 mutations, in addition to hypopituitarism including adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency and an unusual skin and skeletal phenotype in one family. Furthermore, re-evaluation of three patients previously described with LHX3 mutations showed they also exhibit varying degrees of bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. We have investigated a possible role for LHX3 in inner ear development in humans using in situ hybridization of human embryonic and fetal tissue. LHX3 is expressed in defined regions of the sensory epithelium of the developing inner ear in a pattern overlapping that of SOX2, which precedes the onset of LHX3 expression and is known to be required for inner ear and pituitary development in both mice and humans. Moreover, we show that SOX2 is capable of binding to and activating transcription of the LHX3 proximal promoter in vitro. This study therefore extends the phenotypic spectrum associated with LHX3 mutations to encompass variable sensorineural hearing loss and suggests a possible interaction between LHX3 and SOX2 likely to be important for development of both the inner ear and the anterior pituitary in human embryonic development

Contribution of next generation sequencing in pediatric practice in Lebanon. A Study on 213 cases

International audienc

Global variation in postoperative mortality and complications after cancer surgery: a multicentre, prospective cohort study in 82 countries

© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licenseBackground: 80% of individuals with cancer will require a surgical procedure, yet little comparative data exist on early outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared postoperative outcomes in breast, colorectal, and gastric cancer surgery in hospitals worldwide, focusing on the effect of disease stage and complications on postoperative mortality. Methods: This was a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of consecutive adult patients undergoing surgery for primary breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer requiring a skin incision done under general or neuraxial anaesthesia. The primary outcome was death or major complication within 30 days of surgery. Multilevel logistic regression determined relationships within three-level nested models of patients within hospitals and countries. Hospital-level infrastructure effects were explored with three-way mediation analyses. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03471494. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and Jan 31, 2019, we enrolled 15 958 patients from 428 hospitals in 82 countries (high income 9106 patients, 31 countries; upper-middle income 2721 patients, 23 countries; or lower-middle income 4131 patients, 28 countries). Patients in LMICs presented with more advanced disease compared with patients in high-income countries. 30-day mortality was higher for gastric cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (adjusted odds ratio 3·72, 95% CI 1·70–8·16) and for colorectal cancer in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (4·59, 2·39–8·80) and upper-middle-income countries (2·06, 1·11–3·83). No difference in 30-day mortality was seen in breast cancer. The proportion of patients who died after a major complication was greatest in low-income or lower-middle-income countries (6·15, 3·26–11·59) and upper-middle-income countries (3·89, 2·08–7·29). Postoperative death after complications was partly explained by patient factors (60%) and partly by hospital or country (40%). The absence of consistently available postoperative care facilities was associated with seven to 10 more deaths per 100 major complications in LMICs. Cancer stage alone explained little of the early variation in mortality or postoperative complications. Interpretation: Higher levels of mortality after cancer surgery in LMICs was not fully explained by later presentation of disease. The capacity to rescue patients from surgical complications is a tangible opportunity for meaningful intervention. Early death after cancer surgery might be reduced by policies focusing on strengthening perioperative care systems to detect and intervene in common complications. Funding: National Institute for Health Research Global Health Research Unit

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 licenseBackground: Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide. Methods: A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study—a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital. Findings: Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3·85 [95% CI 2·58–5·75]; p<0·0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63·0% vs 82·7%; OR 0·35 [0·23–0·53]; p<0·0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer. Interpretation: Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised. Funding: National Institute for Health and Care Research