Experiences of COVID-19 Recovered Patients: A Qualitative Case Study from a Hotspot in Saudi Arabia

It is difficult to maintain social distancing in highly populated areas where people live in proximity. This study aimed to qualitatively explore experiences of COVID-19 recovered patients residing in one such area. We employed semi-structured face-to-face interviews. An interview guide was developed, validated, piloted, and minor changes were made. People living in this area, above 18 years of age, and recovered from COVID-19 were approached for the interviews, 11 of them were recruited to be interviewed, and their verbal informed consent was audio recorded. The interviews were conducted in the Arabic language in a semi-private area of the community center, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analyzed later. Thematic analysis generated 30 subthemes, which were categorized into seven overarching themes: information about COVID-19; life during COVID-19 illness; spreading of COVID-19; precautionary measures; interventions that helped in recovery; impact of COVID-19 on life; support received during COVID-19 illness. Experiences of people from the hotspot who had recovered from COVID-19 highlighted what life had been like in the hotspot under lockdown, especially with having been afflicted with the infection, factors that facilitated their recovery, and the way their lives were and have been affected due to COVID-19

Computer assisted Planning and template based intraoperative insertion of dental implants: An evaluation of current technical concepts

In dieser Dissertation, die im Rahmen des N090-Doktoratsstudiums an der Medizinischen Universität Wien entstanden ist, werden unterschiedliche Ansätze zur computerunterstützten Dentalimplantologie vorgestellt und diskutiert. Die Grundidee besteht darin, die Merkmale der computerbasierten präoperativen Implantatplanung exakt auf den Patienten zu übertragen. Herkömmliche intraoperative Navigation mit Trackingsystemen bietet hohe Genauigkeit und Verlässlichkeit, konnte sich bisher aber aufgrund des erheblichen technischen Aufwandes nicht durchsetzen. Der aktuelle Trend sind daher Konzepte, die eine Planung wie bei herkömmlichen Navigationssystemen mit der einfachen intraoperativen Handhabung von chirurgischen Bohrschablonen verbinden. In dieser Kategorie sind zahlreiche Lösungen von kommerziellen Anbietern am Markt. Diese unterscheiden sich prinzipiell vor allem hinsichtlich des Arbeitsablaufes. Die Genauigkeiten sind bei allen System hoch und bei korrekter Handhabung und regelmäßigem Training des Operateurs ausreichend für eine sichere Anwendung. Aufgrund der hohen erzielbaren Genauigkeiten ist auch (bei sorgfältiger Auswahl der Patienten) eine implantologische Sofortversorgung mit einer vorbereiteten Prothese möglich. Den Schwerpunkt der Arbeit bildet die Präsentation und Evaluierung des Camlog Guide Systems im klinischen Einsatz. Für weitere Benchtests von Implantatlokalisationssystemen sowie für Aus- und Weiterbildung in der Implantologie sind realistische Kiefermodelle erforderlich. Zu diesem Zweck wurde im Rahmen dieser Dissertation auch eine experimentelle Studie zur Biomechanik der Gingiva durchgeführt.In this thesis, which was done in the course of the N090 Doctoral Program of Medical Science at Medical University of Vienna, different concepts of computer assisted dental implantology are presented and discussed. The central idea is to utilize the features known from conventional computer assisted preoperative implant planning and transfer them to the patient precisely. Conventional intraoperative navigation using tracking technology provides high accuracy and reliability, but could not yet become well established due to the mentionable technical expenditure. Consequently, the current trend are concepts which combine a planning phase similar to conventional navigation software with the easy intraoperative handling of surgical templates. In this category numerous solutions provided by several commercial companies are available on the market. The main differences between them refer to the workflow. Accuracies are high with all of the systems and - correct handling and continuous training of the surgeon provided - their performance is sufficient for safe application. Due to the attainable accuracies (and only for thoroughly selected patients) an immediate implantological restoration with a prefabricated prosthesis becomes possible. The central focus of this work is the presentation and evaluation of the Camlog Guide System in the clinical application. For further bench tests on implant locating systems as well as for continuous training and education in implantology realistic jaw models are mandatory. For this purpose an experimental study on the biomechanics of the gingival has been performed in the course of this thesis, too.eingereicht von Ayman Omar KurdiZsfassung in engl. SpracheWien, Med. Univ., Diss., 2008OeBB(VLID)171517

Understanding the Impact of Culture in Assessing Helpfulness of Online Reviews

Online reviews have become essential for users to make informed decisions in everyday tasks ranging from planning summer vacations to purchasing groceries and making financial investments. A key problem in using online reviews is the overabundance of online that overwhelms the users. As a result, recommendation systems for providing helpfulness of reviews are being developed. This paper argues that cultural background is an important feature that impacts the nature of a review written by the user, and must be considered as a feature in assessing the helpfulness of online reviews. The paper provides an in-depth study of differences in online reviews written by users from different cultural backgrounds and how incorporating culture as a feature can lead to better review helpfulness recommendations. In particular, we analyze online reviews originating from two distinct cultural spheres, namely Arabic and Western cultures, for two different products, hotels and books. Our analysis demonstrates that the nature of reviews written by users differs based on their cultural backgrounds and that this difference varies based on the specific product being reviewed. Finally, we have developed six different review helpfulness recommendation models that demonstrate that taking culture into account leads to better recommendations

Assessment of Quality of the Electronic Education System in the Corona Crisis Period: Applied Study on Al al-Bayt University

In response to the coronavirus crisis, higher education institutions have partially or fully transformed into electronic education systems (EESs). This paper presents the results of a student survey conducted at  AL al-Bayt University to assess the quality of the electronic educational system (EES) during the coronavirus pandemic. The study variables addressed by the questionnaire were tangible physical features (TPFs), flexibility (FEES), examination construction and management (ECM); admission, storage, and registration management (ASRM), security and privacy (S&P), learning site content (LSC); and students’ level of satisfaction (LoS). The exploratory study methodology was applied to 324 students at AABU, where the research data were collected using a Google Docs questionnaire and distributed to students. The results highlighted that students were satisfied with the quality of EES implemented by  AABU during the lockdown period in terms of tangible physical features (TPF) and learning site content (LSC) and there was a statistically significant relationship between TPF and LSC. However, some undesirable features were reported, such as a lack of adequate infrastructure for students, which enabled them to interact effectively with their teachers to gain the target of applying EES.  Consequently, AABU needs to implement effective measures to improve and increase the quality and level of satisfaction with EES. Finally, electronic education is a more adapted, smooth, and affordable alternative than traditional face-to-face education

Crowd Formal Modelling and Simulation: The Sa'yee Ritual

Abstract-There is an increasing interest in modelling of agents interacting as crowd and a simulation of such scenarios that map to real-life situations. This paper presents a generic state-based abstract model for crowd behaviour that can be mapped onto different agent-based systems. In particular, the abstract model is mapped into the simulation framework NetLogo. We have used the model to simulate a real-life case study of high density diverse crowd such as the Hajj ritual at the mosque in Mecca (Makkah). The computational model is based on real data extracted from videos of the ritual. We also present a methodology for extracting significant data, parameters, and patterns of behaviour from real-world videos that has been used as an early stage validation to demonstrate that the obtained simulations are realistic

Complementary and alternative medicine use and its association with medication adherence in inflammatory bowel disease and other gastrointestinal diseases

Background: The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) has been embedded in populations for decades. In this study, we aimed to determine the rate of their usage among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients and their association with adherence to conventional therapies. Methods: In this cross sectional, survey-based study, IBD patients' (n=226) adherence and compliance were evaluated using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8. A control sample of 227 patients with other gastrointestinal diseases was included to compare trends of CAM use. Results: Crohn's disease represented 66.4% of those with IBD, with a mean age of 35 ± 13.0 years (54% males). The control group had either chronic viral hepatitis B, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Celiac disease, or other non-IBD diseases, with a mean age of 43.5 ± 16.8 years (55% males). Overall, 49% of patients reported using CAMs (54% in IBD group and 43% in the non-IBD group, P =0.024). Across both groups, the most used CAMs were honey (28%) and Zamzam water (19%). There was no significant association between the severity of the illness and use of CAMs. Patients who used CAMs had a lower adherence to conventional therapies vs. those who did not use CAMs (39% vs. 23%, P =0.038). Using the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8, low adherence to medications was reported in 35% of the IBD group vs. 11% of non-IBD group (P = 0.01). Conclusion: In our population, patients with IBD are more likely to use CAMs and are less adherent to medications. Furthermore, the use of CAMs was associated with a lower adherence rate to conventional therapies. Consequently, further studies assessing the causes associated with the use of CAMs and nonadherence to conventional therapies should be explored and interventions designed to mitigate nonadherence

Inversion dimers dominate the crystal packing in the structure of trimethyl citrate (trimethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate).

Trimethyl citrate, C9H14O7 (systematic name: trimethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate), 2, was prepared by the esterification of citric acid and methanol in the presence of thionyl chloride at 273 K. The bond lengths and angles in 2 compare closely with those observed in citric acid. The C—C bonds adjacent to the terminal carboxyl groups are significantly shorter than those around the central C atom. The central carboxylate group and the hydroxy group occur in the normal planar arrangement with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0171 Å from the mean plane involving all six atoms in the central unit. The crystal structure is almost completely dominated by the formation of inversion dimers through an O—H...O hydrogen bond, together with an extensive array of weaker C—H...O contacts. These generate a three-dimensional network structure with molecules stacked along the c-axis direction

Inversion dimers dominate the crystal packing in the structure of trimethyl citrate (trimethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1, 2, 3-tricarboxylate)

Trimethyl citrate, C9H14O7 (systematic name: trimethyl 2-hydroxypropane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate), 2, was prepared by the esterification of citric acid and methanol in the presence of thionyl chloride at 273 K. The bond lengths and angles in 2 compare closely with those observed in citric acid. The C—C bonds adjacent to the terminal carboxyl groups are significantly shorter than those around the central C atom. The central carboxylate group and the hydroxy group occur in the normal planar arrangement with an r.m.s. deviation of 0.0171 Å from the mean plane involving all six atoms in the central unit. The crystal structure is almost completely dominated by the formation of inversion dimers through an O—H⋯O hydrogen bond, together with an extensive array of weaker C—H⋯O contacts. These generate a three-dimensional network structure with molecules stacked along the c-axis direction