36 research outputs found
Developing and Validating Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) for Rheumatology Fellowship Training Programs in Saudi Arabia: A Delphi Study
No full textLaila A Alharbi,1 Mohamed Cheikh,2 Manal E Alotaibi,1 Amal A Alkhotani,1 Hussam M Alim,1 Fahd Almalki,1 Mohammed S Samannodi,1 Hadeel A Khadawardi,1 Ahmad A Imam,1 Yosra A Turkistani,1 Fozya B Bashal,1 Abdullah Tawakul,1 Adeeb A Bulkhi,1 Mohammad S Dairi,1 Rania Zaini,3 Hani M Almoallim1 1Department of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medicine, Al Salama Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Community Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Makkah, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Hani M Almoallim, Department of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Entrustable professional activities (EPAs) define the core tasks that a graduating rheumatologist needs to perform independently in practice. The objective of this study was to develop and validate EPAs for rheumatology fellowship training programs in Saudi Arabia.Methods: Experts met to develop an initial set of potential end-of-training EPAs by conducting a comprehensive literature review of EPAs and studying the Saudi rheumatology fellowship curriculum. Then, to validate the EPAs, we conducted two rounds of the modified Delphi technique among rheumatology experts in Saudi Arabia. A response rate of 80% was considered and the minimum number of experts needed to be 25 to 30. Descriptive statistics were utilized to describe participants’ demographic characteristics and group responses to each statement in all rounds. The experts were asked to rate the relevancy of each EPA using a 5-point Likert scale in both Delphi rounds.Results: In the preliminary phase, four rheumatologists developed an initial set of 36 core EPAs for rheumatology training program in Saudi Arabia. For the two-rounds Delphi techniques, 32 experts were invited to complete the study. The response rate of the first and second round were, 78.12% (25) and 93.75% (30), respectively. The first-round Delphi resulted in a robust consensus on 31 EPAs for rheumatology training. Five EPAs were excluded, and one new EPA was proposed. In the subsequent round, all 32 EPAs achieved strong consensus. The eliminated EPAs likely fell short in one or more of the following areas: relevance to rheumatology practice in Saudi Arabia, overlapping with other EPAs, or practical challenges in the implementation.Conclusion: We have developed and validated a core set of EPAs for rheumatology fellowship training programs in Saudi Arabia. Mapping and identifying milestones for these EPAs are essential steps to follow to enhance workplace curriculum development.Keywords: entrustable professional activities, EPAs, rheumatology, training programs, fellowship, Saudi Arabia, curriculum, workplac
An enhanced design of a 5G MIMO antenna for fixed wireless aerial access
No full text© The Author(s) 2021. A recent market prediction is that 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) will more than double over the next five years and trials at the same period in London suggest promising results. However, the shift to 5G FWA has raised a new set of research challenges in relation to speed of deployment and re-deployment, coverage, power consumption, end user mobility and last mile connectivity, to name just a few, because of the much higher expectations. A recent review reveals that key 5G Physical Layer technologies that will enable wide mobile and FWA have not kept up pace. In response to some of those research challenges, this paper presents the design of a 5G Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) Antenna that is mounted on a tethered aerostat, and the combination of which serves as a 5G FWA aerial station. The antenna design features several novelties and the aerial station can provide last mile connectivity to a wide coverage footprint, with moderate power consumption and operating at high speeds. Both the evaluation of the antenna performance using several key performance indicators and the validation of the aerial station as a 5G FWA in a wireless sensor network (WSN) proof-of-concept application reveal efficiency gains.Taif University research project TURSP-2020/265
A serious gaming approach for optimization of energy allocation in CubeSats
No full textData availability: All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this article.Copyright © The Author(s) 2023. Energy consumption remains an open challenge in aerial systems such as CubeSats and therefore optimization of its allocation is a top priority for maximizing operational capacity. Our research review reveals a plethora of approaches for optimization of energy allocation and all achieving varying degrees of success and not without any compromises. In this paper, we exploit the use of serious gaming in a novel energy allocation algorithm that aims at minimizing energy consumption to maximize the utilities of both CubeSats and terrestrial sensors. To demonstrate this, we use Stackelberg for serious gaming and standalone topology for CubeSat configuration. The experimental results show that the use of a Stackelberg game approach for optimization has led to reduction in the required transmission energy in sensors, an improved link performance between the CubeSat and ground sensors, and an increase in network lifetime and performance without resorting into sensor power enhancements or other external power sources. The overall average operational capacity improvement predictions range between 22 to 27% across all performance indicators of energy efficiency across RF chains of link budgets
Mapping the base of sand dunes using a new design of land-streamer for static correction applications
No full textThe complex near-surface structure is a major problem in land seismic data. This is more critical when data acquisition takes place over sand dune surfaces, where the base of the sand acts as a trap for energy and, depending on its shape, can considerably distort conventionally acquired seismic data. Estimating the base of the sand dune surface can help model the sand dune and reduce its harmful influence on conventional seismic data. Among the current methods to do so are drilling upholes and using conventional seismic data to apply static correction. Both methods have costs and limitations. For upholes, the cost factor and their inability to provide a continuous model is well realized. Meanwhile, conventional seismic data lack the resolution necessary to obtain accurate modeling of the sand basement. We developed a method to estimate the sand base from land-streamer seismic acquisition that is developed and geared to sand surfaces. Seismic data acquisition took place over a sand surface in the Al-Thumamah area, where an uphole is located, using the developed land-streamer and conventional spiked geophone systems. Land-streamer acquisition not only provides a more efficient data acquisition system than the conventional spiked geophone approach, but also in our case, the land-streamer provided better quality data with a broader frequency bandwidth. Such data enabled us to do accurate near-surface velocity estimation that resulted in velocities that are very close to those measured using uphole methods. This fact is demonstrated on multiple lines acquired near upholes, and agreement between the seismic velocities and the upholes is high. The stacked depth seismic section shows three layers. The interface between the first and second layers is located at 7 m depth, while the interface between second and third layers is located at 68 m depth, which agrees with the uphole result. 2012 The Author(s)
Modifying and Translating the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement for Use in Saudi Arabia: The Difficulty of Validation
No full textStudent engagement in the first year of university plays a vital role on retention, learning, and persistence in STEM fields. The Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) measures student engagement during their first year of university and was constructed and validated for use in the English language. In Saudi Arabia, the first year of university aims to smooth students’ transition from secondary to higher education. However, many students struggle with this transition and experience challenges to adjust. Therefore, a similar questionnaire to the BCSSE is needed to implement an exploratory study that measures student engagement during their first year of university in Saudi Arabia. To do so, some items of the BCSSE were modified and translated into the Arabic language. The process of providing evidence for validity, utilizing a forward-backward translation technique, is outlined here. Initial translation was done by the author. Face validity was obtained using multiple Arabic and English speakers. A total of 71 Saudi students completed the survey, and the internal consistency was tested using a Cronbach’s α -coefficient. Eight Saudi students participated in cognitive interviews to provide additional information regarding validity of the survey items. This paper discusses some of the problems encountered in each stage of validation. The translated survey was revised to a final Arabic version based on students’ suggestions and will be tested for reliability with a future sample. Keywords: Cultural adaptation of instruments, Validity, Student engagement scales, First-year students. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/12-17-07 Publication date:June 30th 2021
Update on Vitamin B12 Deficiency
No full textAbstract: Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency is a common cause of megaloblastic anemia, a variety of neuropsychiatric symptoms and elevated serum homocysteine levels, particularly in the elderly. There are a number of risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency, including long-term use of metformin and proton pump inhibitors. No major medical organization, including the U. Preventive Services Task Force, has published guidance on screening for vitamin B12 deficiency in asymptomatic or low-risk adults, but high-risk patients, such as B. those with malabsorption disorders, can order a detection.
The initial laboratory evaluation of a patient suspected of having vitamin B12 deficiency should include a complete blood count and serum vitamin B12 level. can be used to confirm deficiency in asymptomatic, high-risk patients with low normal vitamin B12 levels. Because crystalline formulations are better absorbed than natural vitamin B12, patients over the age of 50 and strict vegetarians should consume vitamin B12-fortified foods and vitamin B12 supplements rather than attempting to obtain vitamin B12 from dietary sources only
Administering vitamin B12 to patients with elevated serum homocysteine levels has not been shown to decrease cardiovascular outcomes in high-risk patients or alter cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Keywords: vitamin B12 deficiency, medical organization, decrease cardiovascular, moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Title: Update on Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Author: Mohammed Saleh AlQahtani, Sami saleh almalki, MOHAMMED ALI AL MUJRI, FAISAL FAHAD ALMOTAIRI, Mohammed shatwi alqahtani,Thabit Ehsan Arnous, Mohammed Shaye alqhtani, Bader Ali Hazazi, Kholoud Rabah Alrashedi, Ghadeer Mohd alonazi
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
Vol. 10, Issue 4, October 2022 - December 2022
Page No: 97-103
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 29-December-2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7492164
Paper Download Link (Source)
https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/update-on-vitamin-b12-deficiencyInternational Journal of Life Sciences Research, ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online), Research Publish Journals, Website: www.researchpublish.co
Investigation of feeding and nutritional problems related to long-term enteral nutrition support among children with disabilities: a pilot study
No full textBackgroundEnteral Nutrition (EN) is considered a standard intervention for patients with disabilities who cannot meet their nutritional requirements orally and are at risk for malnutrition secondary to eating difficulties. The current study examined common feeding and nutritional problems related to prolonged EN among disabled children.MethodsA cross-sectional, pilot study was conducted in Saudi Arabia between December 2023 and March 2024. Caregivers of children with disabilities were invited to complete an online questionnaire that gathered demographic data and explored feeding difficulties and challenges related to enteral nutrition.ResultsA total of 41 caregivers completed the survey regarding their children. The median age (IQR) of disabled children was 3.2 (1.7–6.6) years. The most frequently reported feeding and nutritional problems in this cohort were constipation [median = 3.0, IQR: 2.0–4.0], weight loss [median = 3.0, IQR: 1.0–4.0], and gastroesophageal reflux [median = 2.0, IQR: 1.0–3.0].The regression analysis showed a statistical association between the indication for nutrition support and the subsequent detected feeding/nutritional problem, p-value<0.05. It also showed that the primary diagnosis (r = 0.459, p-value = 0.003) and health status (r = 0.458, p-value = 0.003) were statistically significant predictors of the frequency of reported feeding and nutritional problems among this children group. Additionally, the challenges experienced by the caregivers were statistically related to the type of EN provided (r = 0.491, p-value = 0.001).ConclusionThe study provided insight into the typical feeding and nutritional problems associated with long-term EN among children with disabilities. Identifying these issues can support early diagnosis and the implementation of appropriate nutritional interventions, ultimately helping to optimize growth and improve quality of life for these children
Performance optimization of tethered balloon technology for public safety and emergency communications
No full textThe original version of this article was revised: The co-author name “M. C. Angelides” and email address has been updated. A correction to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11235-019-00589-1 and at: https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/19704
Rayleigh wave propagation in a modified couple stress visco-thermoelastic diffusion medium
No full textThe present investigation is devoted to Rayleigh wave propagation in modified couple stress visco-thermoelastic medium with mass diffusion under Lord-Shulman (L-S), Green-Lindsay (G-L) theories of thermoelasticity. After formulating the problem mathematically, the secular equation is derived for stress free, insulated and impermeable boundary. The wave characteristics like phase velocity, attenuation coefficient have been obtained numerically by developing numerical algorithm. For a particular material, the numerically simulated results are shown graphically to display the physical meaning of the phenomenon. The current inquiry also leads to several specific cases of interest. A comparison has been conducted with the earlier findings that suggested how the additional parameters might affect the phenomena of Rayleigh waves propagating. The results obtained indicate to the strong impact for the diffusivity and viscosity of Rayleigh thermoelastic waves propagation and applicable on the related phenomenon in geology, geophysics, acoustics, astronomy, and geophysics and agreement with the physical meaning of the phenomenon.The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the pdf file of the accepted manuscript may differ slightly from what is displayed on the item page. The information in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript reflects the original submission by the author
