The Negative Impact of the Succession of Crises and the Ineffectiveness of the E-learning System on Tertiary Education in Sudan from (2018) to Present

This study attempts to determine the social, economic, and psychological impacts of the 2018 temporary closure of educational institutions in Sudan amid several internal incidents and the ongoing closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic on students, teachers, and families. Most educational systems worldwide were temporarily closed and negatively affected. Nevertheless, it seemed as if the crises in Sudan extremely damaged the process of the overall educational system simply because the closure of the institutions initially began as a result of several internal incidents by the end of the academic year 2017-2018. The closure lasted until August 2019, when schools were reopened, and within almost six months;again, a decision was made in February 2020 for the entire closure of educational institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and continued for more than one and a half years. The impact of total closures of universities and colleges in Sudan affected students' academic achievement in different ways because the situations in Sudan were primarily different before the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, the negative implications of the long–term closure were greater not only on the students' academic achievement but also on the teachers' sources of income, which resulted in economic issues for many families. To undertake this study, both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies were used. The researchers designed and distributed a questionnaire to a sample of 39 Sudanese university teachers to examine their attitudes towards the impact of the several internal incidents behind the closure of the entire educational institutions on overall academic achievement and online education as an alternative to face-to-face or traditional teaching. Although very few universities launched e-learning units during the last two decades, it seemed as if their purposes were very limited and mainly designed to serve a few students under certain conditions. Additionally, the researchers observed the efficient application of the e-learning educational system during the COVID-19 pandemic, represented by the Blackboard platform at both Qassim University and Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University. The data analysis resulted in some significant findings, among which are the following: First, students were regularly paying the price of the poor infrastructure that contributed to preventing the application of an effective e-learning system in Sudan. Second, the long–term closure throughout 2018 has resulted in the accumulation of several student batches and generally complicated the scene. Third, the long–term closure influenced university students in different ways: academically, socially, economically, and psychologically. © The Author(s) 2023.

Medicinal plants as COVID-19 remedy

COVID-19 (coronavirus) is an infectious disease which disturbs the modern world socially and economically. SARS-CoV-2, a causative agent of COVID-19, is a global pandemic. It is a fast-spreading disease which is largest ever pandemic in human history. The origin of this disease is still not known, and vaccine or medicine for the cure of infection has not been discovered so far. But various medicinal plants are used in different countries as a therapeutic treatment for COVID infection to help the immune system fight against COVID-19 disease. Various plant products contain high amount of vitamin C, boost up human immune system, and help to cure the disease. The medicinal and herbal plants act as effective therapeutic agents against coronavirus infection. The SARS-CoV-2 infection can also be relieved by a combined therapy of medicinal plants based on their properties. As COVID-19 can cause multiple organ disease, the use of natural products and medicinal plants may inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle linked proteins, i.e., papain-like or chymotrypsin-like proteases. In this article, different medicinal plants and herbs and their bioactive components that help in enhancing our immune system and play a role in fighting microbial infections as well as COVID-19 infection are discussed. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.

Academic expectations among international students from North-Western China: A case of technology use during and post COVID-19.

This study examines the influence of the COVID-19 crisis on academic expectations among international students from north-western China. According to past studies, academic expectations are multifaceted, making it critical to test the methods employed to assess this fundamental trait. The outbreak of COVID-19 has resulted in various significant changes in education, which have shifted from traditional to online or mixed formats. As a result, examining international students' academic expectations along with their interactions with adopted technologies is a topic that addresses the current situation and issues. A mixed approach, comprising two different instruments (questionnaire and interview), was followed to achieve this primary objective. While a survey with a questionnaire was undertaken with 551 international students, divided into two groups, ten students were interviewed during and after the lockdowns. The findings revealed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on the academic expectations of students as well as many elements such as training for employment, personal and social development, international student mobility, motivation, social pressure, and social interaction with the help of supporting technologies. In terms of gender, men outperformed women in motivation, social interaction, training for employment, and personal and social development factors. Similarly, as per the grade variable (undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral), the same higher trend was seen in postgraduates. Based on these findings, a set of recommendations was put forward. In the future, technology will be helpful in China's educational sector, such as online group collaboration, open education, managing student retention, and supervising teachers' recruitment.

Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone and Its Nanoformulations in Pulmonary Injury: A Comprehensive Review.

As a crucial organ, the lung is exposed to various harmful agents that may induce inflammation and oxidative stress, which may cause chronic or acute lung injury. Nigella sativa, also known as black seed, has been widely used to treat various diseases and is one of the most extensively researched medicinal plants. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component of black seed volatile oil and has been proven to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic properties. The potential therapeutic properties of TQ against various pulmonary disorders have been studied in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the application of nanotechnology may increase drug solubility, cellular absorption, drug release (sustained or control), and drug delivery to lung tissue target sites. As a result, fabricating TQ as nanoparticles (NPs) is a potential therapeutic approach against a variety of lung diseases. In this current review, we summarize recent findings on the efficacy of TQ and its nanotypes in lung disorders caused by immunocompromised conditions such as cancer, diabetes, gastric ulcers, and other neurodegenerative diseases. It is concluded that TQ nanoparticles with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiasthma, and antitumor activity may be safely applied to treat lung disorders. However, more research is required before TQ nanoparticles can be used as pharmaceutical preparations in human studies.

Markers of inflammation and risk for AKI and need for dialysis in patients with COVID-19

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a reported manifestation of COVID-19 (CoV-AKI). Release of inflammatory cytokines has been recognized as a characteristic feature of COVID-19 and is linked to severity of illness. However, it has not been clearly determined if levels of serum markers of inflammation are associated with risk for development of AKI or its severity. Methods: We conducted an observational study in patients hospitalized at Ochsner Medical Center over 1-month period with COVID-19 and diagnosis of AKI. We examined the relationship between the blood level of ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (proCal), D-dimer and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the incidence of AKI, as well as AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (AKI-RRT), by assessing comparison of means and proportions and by logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 644 patients with COVID-19, we compared 161 (26%) with AKI vs 414 (64%) without AKI. Median serum creatinine on admission was higher in the AKI group (1.8 vs 1.1 mg/dL, p<0.0001). Preexisting chronic kidney disease rates were comparable (35% vs 28%, for AKI and no AKI groups). The median value of inflammatory markers on admission were higher in the AKI group [ferritin 1016 (516-2534) vs 680 (315-1416) ng/mL, p<0.0001;CRP 163 (93-243) vs 93 (46-165) mg/L, p<0.0001;proCal 0.37 (0.2-1.6) vs 0.12 (0.06-0.32) ng/mL, p<0.0001;D-dimer 1.57 (0.96-5.14) vs 1.13(0.68-2.57) mcg/mL, p=0.0004;and LDH 532 (365-804) vs 428 (309-548), p=0.0004]. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, CRP (p=0.003) and ferritin (p<0.035) were associated with greater risk for AKI. In addition, ferritin ≥ 1200 ng/mL and CRP ≥ 300 mg/L were independently associated with AKI [adjusted odds ratio: 2.3 (1.3-4), p=0.003, and 2.5 (1.0-6.3), p=0.05;respectively]. Furthermore, ferritin, CRP, proCal and LDH levels were significantly higher in those with AKI-RRT compared to those not requiring RRT (p=0.022 to p=0.009). Conclusions: Higher level of inflammatory markers were associated with CoV-AKI, and levels were even higher for those with CoV-AKI-RRT. In patients with COVID-19, magnitude of ferritin and CRP on admission could be used for AKI risk stratification.

Morbid obesity, hypertension, and male sex are associated with greater risk for AKI in patients with COVID-19

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a reported manifestation of COVID-19 (CoV-AKI). However, there is paucity of data regarding risk factors for CoV-AKI. We examined the association of demographics and comorbidities with CoV-AKI risk and its severity at an academic hospital in New Orleans. Methods: We conducted an observational study in patients hospitalized at Ochsner Medical Center over 1-month period with COVID-19 and diagnosis of AKI. We assessed the relationship between baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and the incidence of AKI, as well as AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (AKI-RRT), by assessing comparison of means and proportions and by logistic regression analysis. Results: Among 644 patients with COVID-19, we compared 161 (26%) with AKI vs 414 (64%) without AKI. Male sex (62% vs 51%, p=0.02) and essential hypertension (HTN) (83% vs 70%, p=0.002) were more common in the AKI group. Median body mass index (BMI) was higher among those with AKI (34 vs 31 kg/m2, p<0.0001). No difference was found in age, race, presence of diabetes, chronic kidney disease or heart disease respect to AKI rate. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, HTN was strongly associated with greater risk for AKI [OR 1.96 (CI 1.2-3.2), p=0.009]. Male sex [OR 1.72 (CI 1.1-1.9), p=0.005] and higher BMI [OR 1.04 (CI 1.02-1.07), p<0.001] were also associated with AKI. RRT was required in 89 (55%) of the patients with AKI. Those with AKI requiring RRT (AKI-RRT) had higher median BMI (35 vs 33 kg/m2, p=0.048) and younger age (61 vs. 68, p=0.0003) compared to those with AKI not requiring RRT. Of note, higher BMI correlated with younger age (R=-0.53, p<0.0001). Conclusions: HTN, male sex and higher BMI were associated with greater incidence of AKI in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Higher BMI was further associated with AKI-RRT. Hypertensive, male and obese patients are at higher risk for CoV-AKI and should be more closely monitored during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biodegradation Role of Saccharomyces cerevisiae against Harmful Effects of Mycotoxin Contaminated Diets on Broiler Performance, Immunity Status, and Carcass characteristics.

A feeding trial (35 days) was carried out to investigate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall as a mycotoxin biodegradation agent on the performance, feed efficiency, carcass traits, and immunity response against diseases in broilers fed aflatoxin B1 contaminated diets. For this purpose, 200 one day old broilers were randomly allotted into four groups, each with five replicates (10 birds per replicate). Four starter and finisher experimental rations were formulated by using (A) 0, (B) 1.25, (C) 2.5, and (D) 3.75 g kg-1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Experimental diets were contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (100 ppb kg-1 diet). The experimental chicks were kept under standard managerial conditions, and the vaccination program was followed against infectious bursal disease (IBD), infectious bronchitis (IB), and Newcastle disease (ND) diseases. At the end of the feeding trial, carcass, organ weight, and blood samples were collected randomly to determine the carcass traits and antibody titer against ND and IBD viruses. Throughout the experiment, the addition of 3.75 g kg-1 of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall (Group-D) in feed resulted in the highest weight gain, final weight, feed intake, and the lowest FCR values followed by C group compared with the other groups. All carcass traits were significantly (p > 0.05) improved by increasing the inclusion levels of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in broiler diets. It could be concluded that the broiler diet supplemented with 2.5 or 3.75 g kg-1 of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a biodegrading agent resulted in improved growth performance, immunity activity and carcass traits, and supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae at these levels can be used effectively in broiler diets without negatively affecting bird health status.