Arabic text summarization using pre-processing methodologies and techniques

Recently, one of the problems that has arisen due to the amount of information and its availability on the web, is the increased need for effective and powerful tools to automatically summarize text. For English and European languages an intensive works has been done with high performance and nowadays they look forward to multi-document and multi-language summarization. However, Arabic language still suffers from the little attention and research done in this field. In our research we propose a model to automatically summarize Arabic text using text extraction. Various steps are involved in the approach: preprocessing text, extract set of features from sentences, classify sentence based on scoring method, ranking sentences and finally generate an extract summary. The main difference between our proposed system and other Arabic summarization systems are the consideration of semantics, entity objects such as names and places, and similarity factors in our proposed system. In recent years, text summarization has seen renewed interest, and has been experiencing an increasing number of research and products especially in English language. However, in Arabic language, little work and limited research have been done in this field. will be adopted Recall-Oriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation (ROUGE) as an evaluation measure to examine our proposed technique and compare it with state-of-the-art methods. Finally, an experiment on the Essex Arabic Summaries Corpus (EASC) using the ROUGE-1 and ROUGE-2 metrics showed promising results in comparison with existing methods

Sex difference and intra-operative tidal volume: Insights from the LAS VEGAS study

BACKGROUND: One key element of lung-protective ventilation is the use of a low tidal volume (VT). A sex difference in use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) has been described in critically ill ICU patients.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in use of LTVV also exists in operating room patients, and if present what factors drive this difference.DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: This is a posthoc analysis of LAS VEGAS, a 1-week worldwide observational study in adults requiring intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals in 29 countries.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women and men were compared with respect to use of LTVV, defined as VT of 8 ml kg-1 or less predicted bodyweight (PBW). A VT was deemed 'default' if the set VT was a round number. A mediation analysis assessed which factors may explain the sex difference in use of LTVV during intra-operative ventilation.RESULTS: This analysis includes 9864 patients, of whom 5425 (55%) were women. A default VT was often set, both in women and men; mode VT was 500 ml. Median [IQR] VT was higher in women than in men (8.6 [7.7 to 9.6] vs. 7.6 [6.8 to 8.4] ml kg-1 PBW, P < 0.001). Compared with men, women were twice as likely not to receive LTVV [68.8 vs. 36.0%; relative risk ratio 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.1), P < 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, patients' height and actual body weight (ABW) explained 81 and 18% of the sex difference in use of LTVV, respectively; it was not explained by the use of a default VT.CONCLUSION: In this worldwide cohort of patients receiving intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery, women received a higher VT than men during intra-operative ventilation. The risk for a female not to receive LTVV during surgery was double that of males. Height and ABW were the two mediators of the sex difference in use of LTVV.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01601223

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mitigation of Chilling Stress by Ozone Pretreatment and Acclimation of Sweet Pepper Grown under Unheated Greenhouse Conditions

Ozone is an important air pollutant that causes many challenges for human health, such as lung diseases. The negative impacts of exogenous ozone on cultivated plants have been discussed in several publications, but the positive impacts are less investigated. The current study is an attempt to answer the following question: is there any positive contribution of ozone pretreatment in growing plants under stress? Plants grown in unheated plastic greenhouses suffer from cold stress during the winter when the temperature drops to 5–10 °C. This stress can also be enhanced under saline soil conditions in arid regions. Treatments involving different ozone application methods (seed priming and seedling foliar application) and cold pretreatment (4 °C for 36 h) were compared with untreated controls of two sweet pepper hybrids (Zidenka and Lirica) in an unheated plastic greenhouse. In general, the Lirica hybrid outperformed the Zidenka hybrid in growth and fruit yield and showed good adaptation to cold stress resulting from ozone treatment through foliar application on seedlings. Moreover, cold treatment was associated with higher values of the studied parameters compared to the control (untreated). A concentration of 20 ppm of ozone in the first season and as 30 ppm of ozone in the second season increased plant leaf area, proline content, and APX activity, all of which improved the plant’s defense mechanisms against cold stress. These benefits contributed to high fruit sets; early, total, and marketable fruit yields; and fruit quality under cold stress. The highest yield (16.52 kg m−2) was attained with 30 ppm ozone applied as a seedling spray, compared with 10.07 kg m−2 in the control. Therefore, the foliar application of ozone up to 30 ppm can be recommended for sweet pepper hybrids of Lirica under unheated plastic greenhouse conditions. Further investigations are needed to study the interaction of combined ozone and cold stress, as well as various levels of soil salinity

Influence of Seed Soaking and Foliar Application Using Ozonated Water on Two Sweet Pepper Hybrids under Cold Stress

The harmful impacts of ozone (O3) on plant development and productivity have been excessively studied. Furthermore, the positive influences of its low concentrations still need to be explored further. The present study was performed to assess the impact of low concentrations of O3 on two sweet pepper hybrids under cold stress. The ozonated water was utilized for seed soaking or foliar application at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppm. Seed soaking using ozonated water for 1 h was compared to soaking in distilled water as a control. Moreover, exogenously ozonated water was sprayed thrice at three-day intervals compared with untreated control. The differences between the applied methods (seed soaking and foliar application using ozonated water) were not statistically detected in most of the evaluated parameters. On the other hand, the evaluated hybrids displayed significant differences in the studied parameters, with the superiority of the Lirica evident in most germination and seedling growth parameters. Both applied methods significantly improved germination and seedling growth parameters. In particular, the concentration of 40 ppm displayed the highest enhancement of the germination index, coefficient velocity, and seedling quality. In addition, it promoted the seedling maintenance of high relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, proline, and ascorbate peroxidase activity under cold stress conditions. Moreover, it protected the cell wall from damage by decreasing membrane permeability (MP). Generally, the best results were obtained from 40 ppm followed by 30 ppm of O3 as seed soaking or foliar spray. The results pointed out the possible use of O3 in a low concentration to protect the plants from cold stress during germination and early plant growth

Influence of Seed Soaking and Foliar Application Using Ozonated Water on Two Sweet Pepper Hybrids under Cold Stress

The harmful impacts of ozone (O3) on plant development and productivity have been excessively studied. Furthermore, the positive influences of its low concentrations still need to be explored further. The present study was performed to assess the impact of low concentrations of O3 on two sweet pepper hybrids under cold stress. The ozonated water was utilized for seed soaking or foliar application at concentrations of 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ppm. Seed soaking using ozonated water for 1 h was compared to soaking in distilled water as a control. Moreover, exogenously ozonated water was sprayed thrice at three-day intervals compared with untreated control. The differences between the applied methods (seed soaking and foliar application using ozonated water) were not statistically detected in most of the evaluated parameters. On the other hand, the evaluated hybrids displayed significant differences in the studied parameters, with the superiority of the Lirica evident in most germination and seedling growth parameters. Both applied methods significantly improved germination and seedling growth parameters. In particular, the concentration of 40 ppm displayed the highest enhancement of the germination index, coefficient velocity, and seedling quality. In addition, it promoted the seedling maintenance of high relative water content (RWC), chlorophyll, proline, and ascorbate peroxidase activity under cold stress conditions. Moreover, it protected the cell wall from damage by decreasing membrane permeability (MP). Generally, the best results were obtained from 40 ppm followed by 30 ppm of O3 as seed soaking or foliar spray. The results pointed out the possible use of O3 in a low concentration to protect the plants from cold stress during germination and early plant growth

Intraoperative ventilator settings and their association with postoperative pulmonary complications in neurosurgical patients: post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study

Background: Limited information is available regarding intraoperative ventilator settings and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this post-hoc analysis of the 'Multicentre Local ASsessment of VEntilatory management during General Anaesthesia for Surgery' (LAS VEGAS) study was to examine the ventilator settings of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, and to explore the association between perioperative variables and the development of PPCs in neurosurgical patients. Methods: Post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study, restricted to patients undergoing neurosurgery. Patients were stratified into groups based on the type of surgery (brain and spine), the occurrence of PPCs and the assess respiratory risk in surgical patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) score risk for PPCs. Results: Seven hundred eighty-four patients were included in the analysis; 408 patients (52%) underwent spine surgery and 376 patients (48%) brain surgery. Median tidal volume (VT) was 8 ml [Interquartile Range, IQR = 7.3-9] per predicted body weight; median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 5 [3 to 5] cmH20. Planned recruitment manoeuvres were used in the 6.9% of patients. No differences in ventilator settings were found among the sub-groups. PPCs occurred in 81 patients (10.3%). Duration of anaesthesia (odds ratio, 1.295 [95% confidence interval 1.067 to 1.572]; p = 0.009) and higher age for the brain group (odds ratio, 0.000 [0.000 to 0.189]; p = 0.031), but not intraoperative ventilator settings were independently associated with development of PPCs. Conclusions: Neurosurgical patients are ventilated with low VT and low PEEP, while recruitment manoeuvres are seldom applied. Intraoperative ventilator settings are not associated with PPCs

Association between night-time surgery and occurrence of intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications

Background: The aim of this post hoc analysis of a large cohort study was to evaluate the association between night-time surgery and the occurrence of intraoperative adverse events (AEs) and postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs). Methods: LAS VEGAS (Local Assessment of Ventilatory Management During General Anesthesia for Surgery) was a prospective international 1-week study that enrolled adult patients undergoing surgical procedures with general anaesthesia and mechanical ventilation in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. Surgeries were defined as occurring during 'daytime' when induction of anaesthesia was between 8: 00 AM and 7: 59 PM, and as 'night-time' when induction was between 8: 00 PM and 7: 59 AM. Results: Of 9861 included patients, 555 (5.6%) underwent surgery during night-time. The proportion of patients who developed intraoperative AEs was higher during night-time surgery in unmatched (43.6% vs 34.1%; P<0.001) and propensity-matched analyses (43.7% vs 36.8%; P = 0.029). PPCs also occurred more often in patients who underwent night-time surgery (14% vs 10%; P = 0.004) in an unmatched cohort analysis, although not in a propensity-matched analysis (13.8% vs 11.8%; P = 0.39). In a multivariable regression model, including patient characteristics and types of surgery and anaesthesia, night-time surgery was independently associated with a higher incidence of intraoperative AEs (odds ratio: 1.44; 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.90; P = 0.01), but not with a higher incidence of PPCs (odds ratio: 1.32; 95% confidence interval: 0.89-1.90; P = 0.15). Conclusions: Intraoperative adverse events and postoperative pulmonary complications occurred more often in patients undergoing night-time surgery. Imbalances in patients' clinical characteristics, types of surgery, and intraoperative management at night-time partially explained the higher incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications, but not the higher incidence of adverse events

Intraoperative ventilator settings and their association with postoperative pulmonary complications in neurosurgical patients: Post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study

Background: Limited information is available regarding intraoperative ventilator settings and the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. The aim of this post-hoc analysis of the 'Multicentre Local ASsessment of VEntilatory management during General Anaesthesia for Surgery' (LAS VEGAS) study was to examine the ventilator settings of patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures, and to explore the association between perioperative variables and the development of PPCs in neurosurgical patients. Methods: Post-hoc analysis of LAS VEGAS study, restricted to patients undergoing neurosurgery. Patients were stratified into groups based on the type of surgery (brain and spine), the occurrence of PPCs and the assess respiratory risk in surgical patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) score risk for PPCs. Results: Seven hundred eighty-four patients were included in the analysis; 408 patients (52%) underwent spine surgery and 376 patients (48%) brain surgery. Median tidal volume (VT) was 8 ml [Interquartile Range, IQR = 7.3-9] per predicted body weight; median positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 5 [3 to 5] cmH20. Planned recruitment manoeuvres were used in the 6.9% of patients. No differences in ventilator settings were found among the sub-groups. PPCs occurred in 81 patients (10.3%). Duration of anaesthesia (odds ratio, 1.295 [95% confidence interval 1.067 to 1.572]; p = 0.009) and higher age for the brain group (odds ratio, 0.000 [0.000 to 0.189]; p = 0.031), but not intraoperative ventilator settings were independently associated with development of PPCs. Conclusions: Neurosurgical patients are ventilated with low VT and low PEEP, while recruitment manoeuvres are seldom applied. Intraoperative ventilator settings are not associated with PPCs