Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children

Rhinosinusitis is a very common disease worldwide and specifically in the US population. It is a common disease in children but may be underdiagnosed. Several reasons may account to the disease being missed in children. The symptoms in children are limited and can be very similar to the common cold or allergic symptoms. Cough and nasal discharge may be the only symptoms present in children. A high index of suspicion is necessary to make the diagnosis of rhinosinusitis in these children. The majority of those children are treated medically. Only a few number will require surgical intervention when medical treatment fails. Complications of rhinosinusitis, even though rare, can carry a high morbidity and mortality rate

Can Symptoms Differentiate Between Chronic Adenoiditis and Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Pediatric Patients

The purpose of this article is to differentiate pediatric patients with chronic adenoiditis from those with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) based on presenting symptoms. A chart review from a tertiary care facility with pediatric patients who presented with suspected CRS from 2006 to 2014 was identified. We compared patient characteristics, clinical symptoms, duration of symptoms, and past medial history using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Based on recent literature, utilizing the computed tomography (CT) score, we identified those children with CRS versus those with chronic adenoiditis. Of the 99 pediatric patients included, 22 patients had diagnosis of adenoiditis and 77 had diagnosis of CRS. When purulent rhinorrhea was present with facial pain, CRS was statistically more prevalent than chronic adenoiditis (P = .017). Symptoms including cough (P = .022), rhinorrhea (P = .27), and facial pressure (P = .98) were not predictive of one diagnosis over the other. Past medical history of asthma or allergy was similar in both groups. Smoke exposure was associated with CT scores \u3e5 (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval, 0.799-7.182). We conclude that purulent rhinorrhea in the presence of facial pain is more indicative of CRS versus chronic adenoiditis. For all other children, an adenoidectomy without the need for a CT scan can be entertained

An Overview on Evaluation of E-Learning/Training Response Time Considering Artificial Neural Networks Modeling

The objective of this piece of research is to interpret and investigate systematically an observed brain functional phenomenon which associated with proceeding of e-learning processes. More specifically, this work addresses an interesting and challenging educational issue concerned with dynamical evaluation of e-learning performance considering convergence (response) time. That's based on an interdisciplinary recent approach named as Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) modeling. Which incorporate Nero-physiology, educational psychology, cognitive, and learning sciences. Herein, adopted application of neural modeling results in realistic dynamical measurements of e-learners' response time performance parameter. Initially, it considers time evolution of learners' experienced acquired intelligence level during proceeding of learning / training process. In the context of neurobiological details, the state of synaptic connectivity pattern (weight vector) inside e-learner's brain-at any time instant-supposed to be presented as timely varying dependent parameter. The varying modified synaptic state expected to lead to obtain stored experience spontaneously as learner's output (answer). Obviously, obtained responsive learner's output is a resulting action to any arbitrary external input stimulus (question). So, as the initial brain state of synaptic connectivity pattern (vector) considered as pre-intelligence level measured parameter. Actually, obtained e-learner’s answer is compatibly consistent with modified state of internal / stored experienced level of intelligence. In other words, dynamical changes of brain synaptic pattern (weight vector) modify adaptively convergence time of learning processes, so as to reach desired answer. Additionally, introduced research work is motivated by some obtained results for performance evaluation of some neural system models concerned with convergence time of learning process. Moreover, this paper considers interpretation of interrelations among some other interesting results obtained by a set of previously published educational models. The interpretational evaluation and analysis for introduced models results in some applicable studies at educational field as well as medically promising treatment of learning disabilities. Finally, an interesting comparative analogy between performances of ANNs modeling versus Ant Colony System (ACS) optimization presented at the end of this paper

Zur Landeskunde des deutschsprachigen Raumes in Ägypten

On Regional Studies of German-Speaking Areas in Egypt In Egypt — and in many other Arab countries — German as a foreign language plays a significant role both in education and in higher education. In the German departments of the various universities, there is a main course of study in German studies, and the departments also oversee German lessons and German courses in other departments and faculties. Foreign language didactics have almost never been used in Germany. Since the modern language reform, which has advocated a pragmatic, fact-oriented, real history, "regional studies" has been regarded as unnecessarily abbreviating, merely geographical knowledge. This narrow meaning of regional studies lats in travel guides, in which natural regional studies, which can hardly be influenced by humans, a versatile communication module for written and oral communication, an electronic corrector for free text input by the learners, and a presentation module for synchronized lectures. The conception of the platform is based on media didactic aspects, i.e. with the aim of achieving added media didactic value. Empirical studies (e.g. in the area of learning efficiency of grammar animations) show that this added value is actually achieved with the platform and its implementation in uni-deutsch.d

Knowledge of the risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among pharmacy students: findings from a Malaysian university

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a global health burden that affects a broad scope of individuals worldwide. Pharmacists, as members of the multidisciplinary team, play a significant role in promoting public awareness towards potential risk factors for NCDs. This study aims to gauge the knowledge of NCDs risk factors among pharmacy students of a Malaysian public university. This paper also outlines perspectives of pharmacy students on the strategies to raise the awareness of NCDs risk factors. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Faculty of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Malaysia. Self-administered questionnaires were pretested and validated before being distributed to pharmacy students across different years of study. The data indicated an average level of knowledge towards risk factors of NCDs among study participants with no significant differences in knowledge between male and female genders (p = 0.583). However, there is a significant difference in knowledge concerning the year of study (p < 0.001); as positive correlation can be seen between the level of education and the knowledge of NCDs risk factor. Most of the students (75%) were unaware of the planning by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to control NCDs. Reinforcement of NCDs-related education activities is imperative in order to increase the overall awareness concerning the risk factors of NCDs among future pharmacy practitioners. Further collaborations between educational institutions and the MOH were proposed to help raise awareness of NCDs risk factors among the younger population

Long-Term Effectiveness of Balloon Catheter Sinuplasty in Pediatric Chronic Maxillary Sinusitis

The objective of our study was to assess the long-term effectiveness of balloon catheter sinuplasty in the treatment of pediatric chronic maxillary sinusitis following failed first-line medical and surgical management with adenoidectomy. Pediatric patients younger than 12 years were reviewed for having failed previous adenoidectomy and undergone a balloon catheter sinuplasty between August 2006 and March 2011 for chronic rhinosinusitis. Demographic data and clinical characteristics were recorded in patients who met inclusion criteria. Outcomes were assessed by need for functional endoscopic sinus surgery and persistence of chronic infection within at least 5 years of follow-up. Failure was defined by any child who was rediagnosed with chronic sinus disease after balloon catheter sinuplasty or who required endoscopic sinus surgery within 5 years. Sixty-two children were reviewed, with 38 patients meeting inclusion criteria (prior adenoidectomy, a preoperative Lund-Mackay score of ≥5, and balloon catheter sinuplasty). The mean age (standard deviation) was 6.76 (2.27) years with an age range of 2 to 11 years. Eight children (21.1%, P \u3c .01) continued to have chronic sinus complaints following balloon procedure, with 5 (13.1%) individuals requiring eventual endoscopic surgery within 5 years. Age, asthma, allergy, and gender did not have any statistically significant impact on outcome. Balloon catheter sinuplasty is an effective long-term alternative for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis in pediatric patients, hoping to avoid further infections and eventual endoscopic surgery

EFFECT OF HOT WEATHER CONCRETING ON THE MECHANICAL AND DURABILITY PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE-A REVIEW

Nowadays, hot weather is an essential motivator that leads concrete to lose its special characteristics. The high loss of moisture by evaporation and rapid hardening encourage the cracking potential and placement operations. The fresh mixed and hardened concrete tend to be damaged due to several conditions such as: high concrete temperature, High ambient temperature, low relative humidity, and high wind speed. These circumstances accelerate the rate of moisture loss and cement hydration. This article briefly reviews hot weather concreting problems precautions, and curing methods and also discusses the role of incorporation SCMs in reducing the temperature of concrete and enhancing its mechanical and durability performance

تمكين العاملين وتأثره على التزامهم التنظيمي )دراسة تحليلية لآراء عينة من العاملين في المديرية العامة للتربية في محافظة صلاح الدين(

تمثل هدف البحث في معرفة دور تمكين العاملين بأبعاده (المعنى، الكفاءة، تقرير المصير والتأثير) في مستوى الالتزام التنظيمي بأبعاده لديهم بالاعتماد على تسلسل أبعاده من الالتزام العاطفي والالتزام المعياري والالتزام المستمر (الاستمراري)، وتماشياً مع أهداف البحث وبالتناغم مع مشكلة البحث الرئيسية (ما هو دور تمكين العاملين في التزامهم التنظيمي)، فقد اختيرت المديرية العامة للتربية في محافظة صلاح الدين ميداناً للبحث، وتمثل مجتمع البحث بالعاملين العاملين في الأقسام في مقر ديوان المديرية بوصفهم المحور الرئيسي في تسيير عمل المديرية بكافة اقسامها الرئيسية والفرعية والبالغ عددهم (175)، وقد كانت عدد الافراد الذين اجابوا على الاستبانة (99) فردا، استعملت الاستبانة بوصفها الأداة الرئيسية للبحث لجمع البيانات وباستخدام المنهج الوصفي والتحليلي، توصل البحث إلى نتيجة أساسية هي ان زيادة مستويات تمكين العاملين سوف ينعكس بصورة إيجابية في شعور وتعزيز التزامهم التنظيمي تجاه المنظمة العاملين فيها اعتماداً على بعد التأثير، في حين لم يظهر تأثر للأبعاد الثلاثة الأخرى، وبالتالي قدم الباحث عدد من التوصيات كان من أبرزها عمل المنظمة على زرع روح التمكين لدى العاملين من خلال اظهار الاهتمام بجوانب المهارة والكفاءة التي تمتع بها العاملين وتمكنهم بصورة أكثر وضوحاً بما يتعلق بمهامهم الوظيفية