Determining rockfall volumes in three sites along Habs mountain road in southwestern Saudi Arabia, using LiDAR technology

The rugged elevated topography is a characteristic feature of the western and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia. Few arterial roads connect the scattered villages of these regions to major cities, such as Habs Road in Jazan region. Rock fall poses a serious hazard to people, property and animals along the rock cuts of this road. Although no traditional Rockfall studies have previously been applied to this road, accessibility and rock formation shape and structure variability influenced the choice of using Terrestrial Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) technology to calculate the volume of rockfall at selected sites along this road. Software has been developed at the Geological Engineering Program of Missouri University of Science and Technology to calculate the volume of rockfall from a sequence of scans conducted at the selected sites (A1, A2 and A3), at the exact locations, during different time periods, extended for over two months. The pre and post processing of the point cloud data gathered using ScanStation II, measured the real and virtual gain and real and virtual loss of rockfall material due to rainfall, weathering factors, animal and human disturbance, degree of slope-face, and the effect of minor or major earthquakes occur in the region. The results of the study showed that the site (A1) is more hazardous compared to the site (A2) and site (A3) is the most stable compared to the site (A1) and (A2). The compact rock formation of site A3, the disintegrated rocks of site A2 and the relative loose rocks of upper site A1 (possible valley deposits), were suggested by the study of the determining factors of road safety. The study also found that using terrestrial LiDAR technology and new software reduced time, effort and increased accessibility, despite the limited number of scans conducted. --Abstract, page iii

Non-viral microbial keratitis in children

AbstractMicrobial (non-viral) keratitis is a serious vision-threatening condition. The management of microbial keratitis in children is particularly complicated by the children’s inability to cooperate during examinations and the lack of information prior to presentation. Predisposing factors vary according to geographical location and age. Corneal trauma is the leading cause for microbial keratitis in children, followed by systemic and ocular disease. Etiologic agents are most frequently Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria commonly found in contact lens-related microbial keratitis. Mycotic keratitis is a major risk factor in tropical weather conditions, particularly when associated with agricultural trauma. Early diagnosis, intensive drug treatment, and timely planned surgical intervention may effectively improve the outcome of pediatric microbial keratitis

Long term visual outcomes in laser treated threshold retinopathy of prematurity in Central Saudi Arabia

AbstractPurposeTo assess the long term visual outcomes and refractive status of patients who underwent diode laser for threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and to investigate the risk factors leading to poor visual outcomes.MethodsFifty-seven patients (114 eyes) with threshold ROP who underwent laser therapy were contacted for reassessment. A chart review was performed for all patients to collect data on visual acuity, retinal status and strabismus. A favorable visual outcome was defined as ⩾20/160 (Snellen acuity) for young adults (cooperative patients), and ⩾CSM for children (uncooperative patients) while unfavorable visual outcome was defined as <20/160 or <CSM. Vision in uncooperative children was graded as central, steady, maintain. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted. Chi2 and odds ratios were calculated whenever appropriate. A P value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant.ResultsThe mean age at reassessment was 5.2±2.5years (range, 1–10years) where 36 (63.2%) patients were males and 21 (36.8%) were females. Out Of the 114 laser treated eyes, 73 (64%) were myopic, with mean spherical equivalent (SE) of −6.69 (5.9), range (−0.25 to −21) diaopters, 8 (7%) were emmetrope, while other 33 (29%) were hyperopic with mean SE of +2.43 (3.04), range (+0.25 to +17) diaopters. Strabismus was present in 31 patients (54.4%) of whom 81% (25/31) were esotropic. Retina was found to be normal in 77.1% of the examined eyes, while the remaining eyes had either macular dragging or retinal detachment. Almost 70% of the eyes with a normal retinal examination had favorable visual outcome. Thirteen (11.4%) eyes had zone 1 retinopathy, 83 (72.8%) eyes had zone 2 retinopathy and 2 (1.8%) eyes had zone 3 retinopathy. Vitreous hemorrhage was present in 7 (6.1%) eyes prior to laser treatment. The relationship between final retinal status and visual outcome was statistically significant (P<0.0001). There was no statistically significant correlation between visual outcome and the zone of the retinopathy (P=0.448).ConclusionThe majority of patients who underwent diode laser therapy for threshold ROP had favorable anatomical and visual outcomes. However, high refractive error and strabismus may be clinically the pertinent causes of visual impairment

A Model for Exchanging Secure Information between Ophthalmologists

With a wide variety of eye problems and diseases, the need for discussion between ophthalmologists increasing day by day. Especially when ophthalmologist wants to communicate with each other's and discusses unclear conditions and symptoms remotely. It is difficult to share patient information and images which related to his condition with another ophthalmologist who works in another place securely. As we know there is a huge growth in data exchange technologies for medical data. In data exchange, security is one of the most important and essential issues for healthcare systems to protect patients' related information. We will facilitate the communication between ophthalmologists by enabling them to share patient information remotely and securely. Therefore, we developed a model by using peer-to-peer architecture to exchange patient information. Also we address the security which is the most important issue by applying three techniques: permission, encryption, and logs

Transurethral Resection for the Treatment of an Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor of the Urinary Bladder: A Case Report

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) of the urinary bladder is a remarkably rare bladder tumor. To this day, no standardized treatment protocol has been recognized. Here we report a case of bladder IMT in a 14-year-old girl presenting with urgency, frequency, and gross painless hematuria for a week. Complete excision of the bladder IMT was amenable with transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). Follow-up cystoscopy did not detect any recurrence. Minimally invasive bladder-sparing treatments are a valid option for treating IMT of the bladder

Comparison between Test-Driven Development and Conventional Development: A Case Study

In Software Engineering, different techniques andapproaches are being used nowadays to produce reliablesoftware. The software quality relies heavily on the softwaretesting. However, not all developers are concerned with thetesting stage of a software. This has affected the software qualityand has increased the cost as well. To avoid these issues,researchers paid a lot of effort on finding the best technique thatguarantee the software quality. In this paper we aim to explorethe effectiveness of building test cases using Test-DrivenDevelopment (TDD) technique compared with the conventionaltechnique (Test-last). The comparison measures the effectivenessof test cases with regard to number of defects, code coverage andtest cases development duration between TDD and Test-Last.The results has been analyzes and presented to support the besttechnique. On an average, the effectiveness of test cases withregards to the selected quality factors in Test-DrivenDevelopment (TDD) was better than the conventional technique(Test-last). TDD and conventional testing had nearly the samepercentage as result in code coverage. Moreover, the number ofdefects found and the test cases development duration spent inTDD are high compared with Test-Last. The results led tosuggest some contributions and achievement that could be gainedfrom applying TDD technique in software industry. As usingTDD as development technique in young companies can producehigh quality software in less time

Simulation Use in Respiratory Therapy Programs in Saudi Arabia: Results of a National Survey

Hajed M Al-Otaibi,1,2 Nabeela Abdullah Al-Abdullah,3 Abdulrahman A Naqru,4 Mohammed A Boukhari,5 Ahmed M Almohaimeed,2 Abdulaziz J Alzhrani6 1Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 2Respiratory Therapy Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Public Health, Faculty of Nursing, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 4Respiratory Therapy Department, Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 5Respiratory Therapy Department, Andalusia Group Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 6Respiratory Therapy Department, Bugshan Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Hajed M Al-Otaibi, Department of Respiratory Therapy, Faculty of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80200, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: The use of simulation-based methods for teaching and learning in the education of health professions is increasing, but its prevalence in Saudi Arabia among respiratory therapy programs has yet to be investigated. The purpose of this study is to identify the use of simulation-based learning (SBL) in respiratory therapy programs in Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed by sending Google forms survey via Email to directors of respiratory therapy programs in Saudi Arabia (N=16) to evaluate how each one used simulations as an educational tool.Results: The survey was returned with a total response of 12 out of all 16 program that were initially contacted (75% response rate). Among the respondents, approximately 75% of the programs are using SBL, while high-fidelity simulation is used by all programs. The present data show that 67% of the respiratory therapy programs has a space for simulation within the department, while 33% utilizes institutional simulation centers. For short simulation scenarios, debriefing is not conducted in 67% of the programs. There is acceptance by program directors that simulation hours should be counted towards clinical hours. About 67% of respondent programs have mandatory simulation learning activities, and 100% agree that simulations should be used more. However, lack of training and shortage of staff are among barriers to increase the use of SBL.Conclusion: SBL is commonly used and relatively varied among respiratory therapy programs. However, it requires some improvements in several aspects, including the use of debriefing and increasing the number of properly trained staff.Keywords: respiratory therapy, simulation, debriefing, medical education, Saudi Arabi

An Overview of Sickle Cell Disease Vaso Occlusive Crisis and Approaches to Management

Early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) are critical to the management of patients with sickle cell disease. Literature search conducted through electronic databases, such as PUBMED, EMBASE. We aimed to discuss the proper management of VOC, after emphasizing the mechanism and complications of VOC in SCD. Vaso- occlusive crisis in people with SCD is a multifactorial process identified by inflammation, attachment, and multicellular aggregation of sickled RBCs, endothelial cells, platelets, and also other blood cells, resulting in vaso-occlusion and acute extreme pain