RESUMO
Air pollution is a major factor affecting human life and living quality in arid and semiarid regions. This study was conducted in the Al-Ahsa district in the Eastern part of Saudi Arabia to measure carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration over different land-use types. Initially, the study's land use/land cover (LULC) was classified using the spectral characteristics of Landsat-8 data. Then, sensors were placed in five sites of different LULC types to detect CO2, air temperature, and relative humidity. The Friedman test was used to compare CO2 concentration among the five sites. Five LULC types were identified over the study area: date palm, cropland, bare land, urban land, and water. The results indicated that CO2 concentration showed a maximum mean value of 577 ppm recorded from a site dominated by urban lands. During the peak time of human transportation, a maximum value of 659 ppm was detected. The CO2 concentration mean values detected for the other LULC types showed 535, 515, and 484 ppm for the bare land, cropland, and date palm, respectively. This study's sensors and procedures helped provide information over relatively small areas. However, modelling CO2 fluctuations with time for LULC changes might improve management and sustainability.
RESUMO
The assessment and assurance of the quality attributes of dates is a key factor in increasing the competitiveness and consumer acceptance of this fruit. The increasing demand for date fruits requires a rapid and automated method for monitoring and analyzing the quality attributes of date fruits to replace the conventional methods used by inspection which limits the production and involves human errors. Moisture content (MC), dry matter content (DMC), and firmness (F) are three important quality attributes for two date cultivars (Khalas and Sukkari) that have been inspected using the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique based on the reflectance mode. Images of intact date fruits at the maturity stage Tamr were obtained within the wavelength range of 950-1750 nm. Monitoring and assessment of MC, DMC, and F [first maximum rupture force (MF, N)] were performed using a partial least squares regression model. Accurate prediction models were attained. The results highlight that the coefficients of determination (R2 Prediction) are estimated to be 0.91 and 0.89 for MC, DMC, and F (N) with the lowest values of the standard error of prediction (SEP) equal to 0.82, 0.81 (%), and 4.12 (N), respectively, and the residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were 3.65, 3.69, and 3.42 for MC, DMC, and F (N), respectively. The results obtained from this preliminary study indicate the great potential of applying HSI for the assessment of physical, chemical, and sensory quality attributes of date fruits overall in the five maturity stages.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Congenital heart defected (CHD) children are often predisposed to numerous conditions ranging from arrythmias, infections, to heart failure. Proper implementation of vaccination plan and multidisciplinary acts are mandatory for maintaining such cases to reduce the mortality and morbidity. Furthermore, CHD are also at risk of vaccine adverse reaction and several blooddisseminated pathogens infections, and at risk of death if such events where to occur. Perception and Interpretation of the knowledge and experience of general pediatricians towards vaccination of patients with congenital heart diseases is a crucial element to understand, and to improve healthcare practice in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. AIMS: To clarify, our aim is to investigate views of different pediatricians in vaccination plans, to perceive junior and senior pediatricians, and to identify extra vaccines given to children with a congenital heart defect. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This study is a cross-sectional study that includes the distribution of 246 questionnaires through personal interview focusing on pediatric cardiologists and general pediatricians with varying years of practice and degrees. Study was conducted by six medical interns: Mohammed O. Alfakhri, Meshal F. Alhajji, Abdulrahman M. Alyani, Yahya Z. Murad, Abdulrahman E. Alghannam, Alwaleed H. Algahtani, in six different teritiary hospitals, King Abdulaziz Medical City (KAMC), King Fahad Medical City (KFMC), King Faisal Specialist Hospital (KFSH), King Salman Hospital, and Alyamamah Hospital, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. METHODS AND MATERIAL: Data was collected through a convenient sampling technique and was analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and rearranged to observe the most frequent information obtained from the questionnaire. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Categorical study was described in frequencies and bar charts. Chi-Square test of significance was used after the data entry to assess the significance of the values obtained. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between the six hospitals. In the following study, 81.7% of the participants believe that patients with congenital heart diseases are combined immunodeficient, and 84.6% agreed on giving special\extra vaccine with no preference over live and\or killed vaccine. On top of that, participants believe that the extra vaccines given to congenital heart disease patients with combined immunodeficiency are meningococcal and pneumococcal vaccines, and the special vaccine given to them are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza vaccine. To conclude, congenitally heart defected children are widespread worldwide. Children suffering from the disease are having a serious problem that affects their lives from its earliest. For that, our research mainly focuses on improving their lives by trying to reduce the effect of several other preventable diseases using vaccines as and when they need. Several other studies believed in giving extra/special vaccines that vary depending on the location of the study. However, in Riyadh, we found that most pediatricians agree on giving extra vaccines as meningococcal and pneumococcal, and RSV and influenza as special vaccines to children with congenital heart defects.
