Real Time Vehicle License Plate Recognition on Mobile Devices

Automatic license plate recognition is useful in many contexts such as parking control, law enforcement and vehicle background checking. The high cost and low portability of commercial systems makes them inaccessible to the majority of end users. However, current mobile devices now have processors and cameras that make image processing and recognition applications feasible on them. This thesis investigates high accuracy real-time license plate recognition on a smartphone, taking into account device limitations. It first explores how, using the minimal image processing and simple configurable heuristics based on plate geometry, license plates and their characters can be detected in an image. Then, using minimal training data, it shows that a character recognition package can achieve high levels of accuracy. This approach accurately recognized 99 percent of plates appearing in a test set of videos of vehicles with New Zealand license plates

Acute Appendicitis among Saudi and Non-Saudi Patients: A Cross-Sectional Based Study

Objective: We conduct this study to discuss the differences between Saudi and non- Saudi patients with acute appendicitis.Background: Acute appendicitis is one of emergency surgeries in developing and developed countries. Its symptoms are vomiting, lower abdominal pain and decreased appetite. Appendicitis needs urgent surgical prouder to avoid its perforation and associated complications which may lead to death. Method: We conduct cross-sectional based study in one of khamis Mushayt, Saudi Araba. 136 patients diagnosed with acute appendicitis were included and their medical records were reviewed after getting their informed consent.Results: We included 136 patients, 90 were non-Saudi and 46 were Saudi. There were no statistically differences in their diagnosis but the distribution of the diagnosis was different.Conclusion: Acute appendicitis was more prevalent among non-Saudi patients, the diagnosis between both was with no significant differences. Keywords: acute appendicitis, Saudi, non-Saudi, diagnosis, cross-sectional, Saudi Arabia and khamis Mushayt

Optimal deep learning driven intrusion detection in SDN-Enabled IoT environment

In recent years, wireless networks are widely used in different domains. This phenomenon has increased the number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and their applications. Though IoT has numerous advantages, the commonly-used IoT devices are exposed to cyber-attacks periodically. This scenario necessitates real-time automated detection and the mitigation of different types of attacks in high-traffic networks. The Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technique and the Machine Learning (ML)-based intrusion detection technique are effective tools that can quickly respond to different types of attacks in the IoT networks. The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) models can be employed to secure the SDN-enabled IoT environment in this scenario. The current study devises a Harmony Search algorithm-based Feature Selection with Optimal Convolutional Autoencoder (HSAFS-OCAE) for intrusion detection in the SDN-enabled IoT environment. The presented HSAFS-OCAE method follows a three-stage process in which the Harmony Search Algorithm-based FS (HSAFS) technique is exploited at first for feature selection. Next, the CAE method is leveraged to recognize and classify intrusions in the SDN-enabled IoT environment. Finally, the Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm (AFSA) is used to fine-tune the hyperparameters. This process improves the outcomes of the intrusion detection process executed by the CAE algorithm and shows the work’s novelty. The proposed HSAFS-OCAE technique was experimentally validated under different aspects, and the comparative analysis results established the supremacy of the proposed model

Assessment and Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Primary Care Settings

An increasingly common chronic inflammatory skin condition is atopic dermatitis (AD). It exhibits severe itching as well as recurring eczematous lesions. New difficulties for treatment selection and approach occur with the expansion of available therapy alternatives for healthcare professionals and patients.  The article highlights recent developments in scientific research on atopic dermatitis diagnosis and assessment that have led to the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the development of targeted therapies, both of which have the potential to completely change the way AD is treated, particularly in a primary care setting

In Vitro Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Ethanolic Leaf Extract of Adenium obesum

Adenium obesum commonly known as “desert rose” belongs to the family Apopcynaceae and has previously been reported for its anti-influenza, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic efficacies and well-known for their ethno-medicinal applications. In the present study, ethanolic extracts of A. obesum (AOE) were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to identify the important phytochemical compounds. The GC–MS analysis of AOE detected the presence of 26 phytochemical compounds. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases. In this report, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of ethanolic leaf extract from A. obesum (AOE) were studied. The antioxidant potential of ethanolic extract of AOE was examined by different antioxidant assays, such as antioxidant capacity by the DPPH, ABTS, superoxide, hydroxyl radical scavenging, and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. The antioxidant activities of various reaction mixtures of AOE were compared with a reference or standard antioxidant (ascorbic acid). In addition, we also evaluated the anticancer activity of AOE, and it was observed that AOE was found to be cytotoxic against A549 lung cancer cells. It was found that AOE inhibited the viability of A549 lung cancer cells by inducing nuclear condensation and fragmentation. Furthermore, ethanolic AOE demonstrated the anti-inflammatory potential of AOE in murine alveolar macrophages (J774A.1) as an in vitro model system. AOE showed its potential in reducing the levels of inflammatory mediators including the proinflammatory cytokines and TNF-α. The results obtained in the present investigation established the antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory potency of AOE, which may account for subsequent studies in the formulation of herbal-based medicine

COVID-19 Delta Variant: Perceptions, Worries, and Vaccine-Booster Acceptability among Healthcare Workers

Background: As the COVID-19 Delta variant has spread across the globe, healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, worries, and vaccine booster acceptance should be assessed. Methods: Online questionnaires aimed at HCWs in Saudi Arabia were distributed between 9 and 12 August 2021, aiming to evaluate HCWs’ perceptions and worries about the Delta variant as well as their feelings about receiving a booster-vaccine. Results: A total of 1279 HCWs participated, with 51.1% being physicians and 41.7% nurses. 92.5% were aware of the emergence of the Delta variant. Still, only 28.7% were found to have sufficient knowledge of the variant, and their level of worry about it was higher than their level of worry about the Alpha variant (2.32/5 versus 1.79/5). The main information sources cited by the participants were social media (50.5%), while 30.5% used scientific journals. Overall, 55.3% were willing to receive a vaccine booster, while one third would have preferred to receive a new mRNA vaccine specifically developed for the Delta variant. Factors associated with vaccine booster acceptance were receiving both vaccination doses (p = 0.008), believing that the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against variants (p < 0.001), and agreement that mixing/matching vaccines is effective against variants (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A high percentage of HCWs were aware of the Delta variant, but only a small fraction had decent quality of knowledge about it. The participants exhibited high worry levels and showed a modest acceptance of receiving a vaccine booster dose. These results should encourage public health officials to scale up educational efforts to disseminate reliable information about the different variants and provide recommendations about receiving a vaccine booster. Further research on methods to alleviate HCWs’ worries about emerging variants is warranted

Global prevalence of Colistin resistance in Klebsiella Pneumoniae from bloodstream infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Among gram-negative bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of healthcare-related infection. Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae are notorious for being difficult to treat due to resistance to commonly used antimicrobials. Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from bloodstream infections are becoming increasingly resistant to carbapenems. In the fight against carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, colistin [polymyxin E] is the antimicrobial of choice and is thus widely used.Objective: This study aimed to determine the global prevalence of colistin resistance amongst Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from bloodstream infections. Methods: PubMed, Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were searched for published articles without restricting the search period. Studies meeting the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria were included, and quality was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist. We used a statistical random effect model to analyze data with substantial heterogeneity (I2 > 50%) in the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 10 studies out of 2873 search results that met the inclusion criteria were included in the final synthesis for this study. A pooled prevalence of colistin resistance was 3.1%, 95% CI (1.5–4.7%). The highest colistin resistance pooled prevalence was recorded in isolates studied in 2020 and beyond 12.90% (4/31), while Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates studied in 2015 and before and in 2016–2019 showed a pooled colistin resistance rate of 2.89% (48/1661) and 2.95% (28/948), respectively. The highest colistin resistance was found in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from Thailand (19.2%), while the least pooled resistance was in Klebsiella pneumoniae from South Korea (0.8%). The pooled prevalence of the multidrug-resistant (MDR) of Klebsiella pneumoniae from bloodstream infection ranged from 80.1%, 95% CI (65.0–95.2%), and the resistance prevalence of other antibiotics by Klebsiella pneumoniae from bloodstream infections were as follows; ciprofloxacin (45.3%), ertapenem (44.4%), meropenem (36.1%), imipenem (35.2%), gentamicin (33.3%), amikacin (25.4%) and tigecycline (5.1%). Klebsiella pneumoniae recovered from the intensive care unit (ICU) showed higher colistin resistance, 11.5% (9/781%), while non-ICU patients showed 3.03% (80/2604) pooled colistin resistance. Conclusion: This study showed low colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from global bloodstream infections. However, significant colistin resistance was observed in isolates collected from 2020 and beyond. Significant colistin resistance was also observed in Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in bloodstream infections from the intensive care unit (ICU) compared to those from non-ICUs. As a result, there is a need to institute colistin administration stewardship in the ICU in clinical settings

Parental Attitudes and Hesitancy About COVID-19 vs. Routine Childhood Vaccinations: A National Survey

Objectives: To quantify parental acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine and assess the vaccine hesitancy (VH) for COVID-19 vs. childhood vaccines. Methods: Eight vaccine hesitancy scale (VHS) items, adopted from WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Immunization (SAGE), were used to assess VH for COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines. We distributed the online survey to parents with the commence of the national childhood COVID-19 vaccination program in Saudi Arabia. Results: Among 3,167 parents, 47.6% are decided to vaccinate their children against COVID-19. The most common reasons for refusal were inadequate safety information (69%) and worry about side effects (60.6%). Parents have a significantly greater positive attitudes toward children's routine vaccines vs. the COVID-19 vaccine, with higher mean VHS (±SD) = 2.98 ± 0.58 vs. 2.63 ± 0.73, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Parents agreed more that routine childhood vaccines are more essential and effective as compared to the COVID-19 vaccine (Cohen's D: 0.946, and 0.826, consecutively; T-test p-value < 0.00). There is more parental anxiety about serious side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine vs. routine childhood vaccines (Cohen's D = 0.706, p-value < 0.001). Parents who relied on the Ministry of Health information were more predicted (OR = 1.28, p-value = 0.035) to intend to vaccinate as opposed to those who used the WHO website (OR = 0.47, −53%, p-value < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the factors associated with intention to vaccinate children were parents who received COVID-19 vaccine, older parents, having children aged 12–18, and parents with lower education levels. Conclusions: Significant proportion of parents are hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine because they are less confident in its effectiveness, safety, and whether it is essential for their children. Relying on the national official healthcare authority's website for the source of information was associated with increased acceptance of childhood COVID-19 vaccination. As parental intention to vaccinate children against COVID-19 is suboptimal, healthcare authorities could boost vaccine uptake by campaigns targeting hesitant parents

SPARC 2018 Internationalisation and collaboration : Salford postgraduate annual research conference book of abstracts

Welcome to the Book of Abstracts for the 2018 SPARC conference. This year we not only celebrate the work of our PGRs but also the launch of our Doctoral School, which makes this year’s conference extra special. Once again we have received a tremendous contribution from our postgraduate research community; with over 100 presenters, the conference truly showcases a vibrant PGR community at Salford. These abstracts provide a taster of the research strengths of their works, and provide delegates with a reference point for networking and initiating critical debate. With such wide-ranging topics being showcased, we encourage you to take up this great opportunity to engage with researchers working in different subject areas from your own. To meet global challenges, high impact research inevitably requires interdisciplinary collaboration. This is recognised by all major research funders. Therefore engaging with the work of others and forging collaborations across subject areas is an essential skill for the next generation of researchers

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