To checkpoint or not to checkpoint : that is the question

One of the major shortcomings in IoT/sensor networks is the finite energy supply available for computation and communication. To circumvent this issue, energy harvesting has been proposed to enable embedded devices to mitigate their dependency on traditional battery-driven power source. However, energy supply due to energy harvesting often varies, leading to nodes crashing due to energy exhaustion, with application(s) losing their state. Efficient state checkpointing in non-volatile memory (NVM) has been pro- posed to enable forward progress, albeit at the expense of significant overhead (viz., energy and time). In this paper, we show that, for a certain class of applications, state check- pointing may adversely affect the performance of the applications. This is different to checkpointing in traditional distributed system where network topology is generally assumed to be stable

The Saudi Critical Care Society practice guidelines on the management of COVID-19 in the ICU: Therapy section

BACKGROUND: The rapid increase in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases during the subsequent waves in Saudi Arabia and other countries prompted the Saudi Critical Care Society (SCCS) to put together a panel of experts to issue evidence-based recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: The SCCS COVID-19 panel included 51 experts with expertise in critical care, respirology, infectious disease, epidemiology, emergency medicine, clinical pharmacy, nursing, respiratory therapy, methodology, and health policy. All members completed an electronic conflict of interest disclosure form. The panel addressed 9 questions that are related to the therapy of COVID-19 in the ICU. We identified relevant systematic reviews and clinical trials, then used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach as well as the evidence-to-decision framework (EtD) to assess the quality of evidence and generate recommendations. RESULTS: The SCCS COVID-19 panel issued 12 recommendations on pharmacotherapeutic interventions (immunomodulators, antiviral agents, and anticoagulants) for severe and critical COVID-19, of which 3 were strong recommendations and 9 were weak recommendations. CONCLUSION: The SCCS COVID-19 panel used the GRADE approach to formulate recommendations on therapy for COVID-19 in the ICU. The EtD framework allows adaptation of these recommendations in different contexts. The SCCS guideline committee will update recommendations as new evidence becomes available

Checkpointing in transiently powered IoT networks

One of the major shortcomings in IoT/sensor networks is the finite energy supply available for computation and communication. To circumvent this issue, energy harvesting has been proposed to enable embedded devices to mitigate their dependency on traditional battery-driven power source. However, energy supply due to energy harvesting often varies, leading to nodes crashing due to energy exhaustion, with application(s) losing their state. Efficient state checkpointing in non-volatile memory (NMV) has been proposed to enable forward progress, albeit at the expense of significant overhead (viz., energy and time). In this poster, we show preliminary results that, for a certain class of applications, state checkpointing may adversely affect the performance of the applications. This is different from checkpointing in traditional distributed systems, where the network topology is generally assumed to be stable

The Impact of Using Blackboard on Student’s Grades

The Learning Management System (LMS) is a core system that contributes to support e-learning, managing content, provide learning tools, and facilitate communication between students and teachers. This project aims to measure the impact of Blackboard-based e-learning use. We measure the effect of blackboard use on male students by comparing male and female students ’degrees of online learning (online class preparation) and traditional (face-to-face) learning at Qassim University, using statistical methods and data mining algorithms. We also develop A supportive tool that helps teachers manage some important tasks such as (student attendance, interaction, grades ... etc.). This tool will take student information and push automatic notifications to all concerned people via SMS

Toward Sustainable Environmental Management of Healthcare Waste: A Holistic Perspective

The management of healthcare waste requires a sustained and holistic approach involving a range of parties. This is challenging for governments, especially in developing countries, where waste management systems have limited capacities for addressing the issue. Using Saudi Arabia as a case study, this paper followed a multi-method approach, including policy analysis, observation, semi-structured interviews, and a focus group, to explore the country’s healthcare waste management system. The study estimated that Saudi government hospitals across the country, every year, throw away in landfills paper (27,000 tons), plastic (15,000 tons), food (10,000 tons), glass (8000 tons), and metal (7000 tons). Regrettably, all these tons of materials end up in landfills without any form of recycling. A number of challenges were identified, reflecting mainly the lack of a legal framework, waste training, coordination among stakeholders, and social responsibility. This study generated new knowledge about waste management systems by exploring how their performance is shaped by the processes occurring at the policy, organization, and individual levels

Experience with ceftazidime–avibactam treatment in a tertiary care center in Saudi Arabia

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant organisms have become major healthcare-associated pathogens and are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cases and managements: This case-series describes our experience with ceftazidime–avibactam in the treatment of six cases with carbapenem-resistant organisms in King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After trying various combinations of antibiotic therapies without improvement, cases were treated with ceftazidime–avibactam. Outcomes: Five of the six achieved complete cure, both clinically and microbiologically. Keywords: MDR-infections, Ceftazidime–avibactam, Saudi Arabi

Table1_Identification of compelling inhibitors of human norovirus 3CL protease to combat gastroenteritis: A structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics study.docx

Human noroviruses (NV) are the most prevalent cause of sporadic and pandemic acute gastroenteritis. NV infections cause substantial morbidity and death globally, especially amongst the aged, immunocompromised individuals, and children. There are presently no authorized NV vaccines, small-molecule therapies, or prophylactics for humans. NV 3 C L protease (3CLP) has been identified as a promising therapeutic target for anti-NV drug development. Herein, we employed a structure-based virtual screening method to screen a library of 700 antiviral compounds against the active site residues of 3CLP. We report three compounds, Sorafenib, YM201636, and LDC4297, that were revealed to have a higher binding energy (BE) value with 3CLP than the control (Dipeptidyl inhibitor 7) following a sequential screening, in-depth molecular docking and visualization, physicochemical and pharmacological property analysis, and molecular dynamics (MD) study. Sorafenib, YM201636, and LDC4297 had BEs of -11.67, -10.34, and -9.78 kcal/mol with 3CLP, respectively, while control had a BE of -6.38 kcal/mol. Furthermore, MD simulations of the two best compounds and control were used to further optimize the interactions, and a 100 ns MD simulation revealed that they form stable complexes with 3CLP. The estimated physicochemical, drug-like, and ADMET properties of these hits suggest that they might be employed as 3CLP inhibitors in the management of gastroenteritis. However, wet lab tests are a prerequisite to optimize them as NV 3CLP inhibitors.</p