An Innovative Method for Preserving Privacy in Internet of Things.

Preservation of privacy of users' personal data has always been a critical issue to deal with. This issue in the Internet of Things (IoT), which facilitates millions of applications, has become even more challenging. Currently, several approaches and methods are available to safeguard privacy but each of them suffers from one or more anomalies. In particular, Trusted Third-Party approach relies on the trust of a third-party server, Cooperation needs the trust of other peers, Obfuscation is known to return inaccurate results, and Dummy generates too much overhead. Moreover, these and most of the other well-known approaches deal only with specific types of applications linked to the location-based services. In this paper, we present two new methods, namely: Blind Third Party (BTP) and Blind Peers ( B L P ), and combine them to form a new one to be known as the Blind Approach ( B L A ). With the help of simulation results we shall demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of B L A over the other available methods. The simulation results also exhibit that B L A is free from all the existing problems of the other approaches. However, B L A causes a slight increase in the average (response) time, which we consider to be a minor issue. We shall also discuss the capability and superiority of the Blind Approach in the cases of E-health, Smart Transportation, and Smart Home systems.

A framework for vehicle quality evaluation based on interpretable machine learning.

Ensuring high quality of a vehicle will increase the lifetime and customer experience, in addition to the maintenance problems, and it is important that there are objective scientific methods available, for evaluating the quality of the vehicle. In this paper, we present a computational framework for evaluating the vehicle quality based on interpretable machine learning techniques. The validation of the proposed framework for a publicly available vehicle quality evaluation dataset has shown an objective machine learning based approach with improved interpretability and deep insight, by using several post-hoc model interpretability enhancement techniques.

Paternalistic Leadership and Job Embeddedness With Relation to Innovative Work Behaviors and Employee Job Performance: The Moderating Effect of Environmental Dynamism.

The current study strives to examine the determinants of employee innovative work behavior and job performance. Therefore, an integrated research model is developed with the help of paternalistic leadership style and job embeddedness theory to investigate employee behavior toward innovative work behavior. The research model is extended with the moderating effect of environmental dynamism between the relationship of innovative work behavior and employee job performance. Data were collected from 411 employees working in small medium enterprises. For inferential analysis, the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique is used. Results of the structural equation modeling revealed that altogether paternalistic leadership style and factors underpinning job embeddedness theory have explained 52.1% of the variance in employee innovate work behavior. The findings of this research suggest that managers and policy makers should focus on benevolent leadership, moral leadership, and on-the-job embeddedness to boost employee job performance and innovative work behavior.

A low resource 3D U-Net based deep learning model for medical image analysis.

The success of deep learning, a subfield of Artificial Intelligence technologies in the field of image analysis and computer can be leveraged for building better decision support systems for clinical radiological settings. Detecting and segmenting tumorous tissues in brain region using deep learning and artificial intelligence is one such scenario, where radiologists can benefit from the computer based second opinion or decision support, for detecting the severity of disease, and survival of the subject with an accurate and timely clinical diagnosis. Gliomas are the aggressive form of brain tumors having irregular shape and ambiguous boundaries, making them one of the hardest tumors to detect, and often require a combined analysis of different types of radiological scans to make an accurate detection. In this paper, we present a fully automatic deep learning method for brain tumor segmentation in multimodal multi-contrast magnetic resonance image scans. The proposed approach is based on light weight UNET architecture, consisting of a multimodal CNN encoder-decoder based computational model. Using the publicly available Brain Tumor Segmentation (BraTS) Challenge 2018 dataset, available from the Medical Image Computing and Computer Assisted Intervention (MICCAI) society, our novel approach based on proposed light-weight UNet model, with no data augmentation requirements and without use of heavy computational resources, has resulted in an improved performance, as compared to the previous models in the challenge task that used heavy computational architectures and resources and with different data augmentation approaches. This makes the model proposed in this work more suitable for remote, extreme and low resource health care settings.

Hajj and Umrah management during COVID-19.

COVID-19 has changed the way crowded events are organised. Every year thousands of crowded events are organised around the globe. Majority of the crowded events are religious in nature, with sensitivities and emotions attached. Organisation of crowded events, especially during a pandemic like COVID-19, poses a considerable challenge. To contain the spread of a human to human contagious disease, several restrictions, including wearing face masks, maintain social distancing, and adhering to regular cleaning and sanitisation, are critical. These restrictions stress the need for the event organisers, including the local or central government, to overhaul policies and practices about crowd management during a pandemic. Some crowded events are regular, whereas the others are occasional, which could be spontaneous such as a protest march, a political rally or a funeral procession. Controlling spontaneous crowded events can be quite difficult, especially during a crisis like COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we shall review several crowded events which have taken place during the ongoing pandemic and investigate their impact and contribution in the spreading or containing COVID-19. We shall also provide a framework for effectively organising crowded events during the ongoing and future pandemics.

A framework for pandemic compliant higher education national system.

Even after 13 months, our world is still battling with global pandemic COVID-19. The pandemic has already infected more than one hundred and three million people, killing about two and a quarter million of them. Recently, several vaccines to inoculate people against the ongoing pandemic have been approved. People in most of the countries are being injected with these vaccines. While the world awaits for the outcome of the ongoing vaccinations, a more aggressive strain of coronavirus is killing many people in several countries, including the UK, the USA, Netherland, South Africa, and Australia. The ongoing pandemic has severely affected almost all aspects of our lives; education being one of them. As a result, majority of students in the world have completely lost access to the traditional way of institutional learning, while others have suffered in different ways and to a lesser degree. Many universities, colleges, and schools were closed during the initial pandemic lockdown during March-May, 2020. Luckily, some higher education institutions were better equipped to switch over to online teaching, either using a Learning Management System (LMS) or use some other online tools to connect with their students. With the help of surveys of students and teachers from several countries, this article aims to analyze the damage caused to the education sector by the pandemic at the global level. Guided by our literature review, and analysis of responses to our two surveys, we also provide a framework for a national education system, which could withstand future global crises like the one created by the COVID-19, and ensure continuity of education to all, especially the poor sections of the society.

COVID-19 compliant and cost effective teaching model for King Abdulaziz University.

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has been going on for over sixteen months. During this period, we have witnessed a colossal loss of life, property, business, and a degradation of social life. Several different variants or strains of SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, have been found in different parts of the world. This pandemic has so far infected more than one hundred and thirty five million people, which has caused significant damage to the education sector. The majority of students around the world have lost access to face-to-face classes. While dealing with the crisis, some higher education institutions are still finding it difficult to adapt to alternative ways of imparting education. Many of them are using learning management systems and other online technologies and tools to facilitate online learning. The aim of this manuscript is to propose a cost-effective hybrid teaching model (CeHTM) for the King Abdulaziz University. The proposed model is designed after analyzing two anonymous online feedback surveys in which nearly four thousand students and more than four hundred instructors have participated. The CeHTM is novel as it is the first framework of its kind for imparting education during pandemic. Given the uniformity of educational system in Saudi Arabian universities, the proposed model can be used by other Saudi Arabian institutions, and adapted elsewhere, especially in the Middle East and North Africa.

Counting the cost of COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the name given by the World Health Organization (WHO) to the highly contagious and infectious disease caused by the Novel Corona Virus or SARS-CoV-2, which was first reported on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan city of the capital of China's Hubei province. Due to the rapid increase in the number of infections worldwide, the WHO in March 2020, declared COVID-19 as a pandemic. Historically, first coronavirus had surfaced in 1965 with symptoms of common cold. Since then five different strands of this virus have emerged, most lethal of them was the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which infected about eight thousand people, killing ten percent of them. The COVID-19 is not the most deadly pandemic world has ever witnessed as the Spanish influenza pandemic, during 1918-19, killed more than fifty million people. Indeed COVID-19 has turned out to be the most lethal of all coronaviruses as it has infected at least three million people killing more than two hundred thousands of them in the first 4 months of its spread. Many politicians and social scientists have dubbed the depression, being caused by COVID-19, worse than that caused by the Second World War. In this article, we shall analyze economic, social, cultural, educational and political impact of the COVID-19.

Adoption of telemedicine applications among Saudi citizens during COVID-19 pandemic: An alternative health delivery system.

This study aims to investigate individual behavior towards adoption of telemedicine application based on wireless sensor network applications (WSN) during COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the research model extends the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with the task technology fit model, awareness and self-efficacy to determine user intention to adopt wireless sensor network application for medical assistance. A research survey was conducted towards Saudi citizens in voluntary setting. In response, 348 valid responses were retrieved. Sample size was computed with prior-power analysis using G-power software. The research model is empirically tested with latest statistical approach namely structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings of the structural model indicate that wireless sensor network application was jointly predicted by performance expectancy, social influence, effort expectancy, facilitating condition, task technology fit, awareness and self-efficacy and explained substantial variance R2 79.5% in individual behavior to adopt wireless sensor network application. The effect size analysis (f2) revealed that task technology fit and facilitating condition were the most important factors to determine user intention to adopt wireless sensor network application. The current study contributes to theory by extending the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology with task technology fit model, self-efficacy and awareness and enrich information system literature in the context of user intention to adopt wireless sensor network application. Practically, this study suggest that health consultant should focus on technology fitness including wireless devices and the number of facilities to operate wireless sensor network which in turn boost user confidence towards adoption of wireless sensor network application for health consultation. This study develops a unique research model that inspects user behavior towards adoption of wireless sensor network technology for better health care system. The findings of this study answer how to monitor COVID-19 while using of wireless sensor network applications. Moreover, this study is useful for clinical management through virtual environment and guides health advisors, software developers and physicians to design user friendly telemedicine application by using wireless sensor network technology.

Managing crowds with technology: cases of Hajj and Kumbh Mela.

During the first 15 years of this century, seven thousand people have been crushed to death in stampedes. Many would argue that these fatalities could have been prevented by better control and management. Crowd management today needs to minimise the chances of occurrence of stampedes, fires and other disasters and also to deal with the ongoing threat of terrorism and outbreak of communicable diseases like EBOLA, HIV Aids, Swine Influenza H1N1, H1N2, various strands of flu, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). These challenges have created a need for using all available resources, especially modern tools and technology, when dealing with crowds. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), which is already benefiting many industrial and government organisations around the world, may be useful for scanning crowded locations and hence in helping to prevent overcrowding. Other wireless technologies should also be considered for possible use in crowded events. Ideally, some of the regular crowded event locations should be transformed into smart cities. In this article we shall discuss different kinds of crowds and technologies for their management. In particular, we shall analyse cases where wireless and mobile technologies can be utilised effectively. The Hajj, which has witnessed several stampedes, is chosen as the case study but most of our findings would be applicable in other events like the Kumbh Mela.

Information technologies of 21st century and their impact on the society.

Twenty first century has witnessed emergence of some ground breaking information technologies that have revolutionised our way of life. The revolution began late in 20th century with the arrival of internet in 1995, which has given rise to methods, tools and gadgets having astonishing applications in all academic disciplines and business sectors. In this article we shall provide a design of a 'spider robot' which may be used for efficient cleaning of deadly viruses. In addition, we shall examine some of the emerging technologies which are causing remarkable breakthroughs and improvements which were inconceivable earlier. In particular we shall look at the technologies and tools associated with the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Sensor Networks and Social Media. We shall analyse capabilities and business value of these technologies and tools. As we recognise, most technologies, after completing their commercial journey, are utilised by the business world in physical as well as in the virtual marketing environments. We shall also look at the social impact of some of these technologies and tools.

IT applications in healthcare management: a survey.

Healthcare management is currently undergoing substantial changes, and reshaping our perception of the medical field. One spectrum is that of the considerable changes that we see in surgical machines and equipment, and the way the procedures are performed. Computing power, Internet and associated technologies are transforming surgical operations into model based procedures. The other spectrum is the management side of healthcare, which is equally critical to the medical profession. In particular, recent advances in the field of Information Technology (IT) is assisting in better management of health appointments and record management. With the proliferation of IT and management, data is now playing a vital role in diagnostics, drug administration and management of healthcare services. With the advancement in data processing, large amounts of medical data collected by medical centres and providers, can now be mined and analysed to assist in planning and making appropriate decisions. In this article, we shall provide an overview of the role of IT that have been reshaping the healthcare management, hospital, health profession and industry.

Soft tissue complications in distal tibial fractures managed with medial locking plates: A myth or reality?

BACKGROUND: Distal tibial fractures are common injuries that are prone to complications and require careful management. The use of medial periarticular locking plates is an established modality in the treatment if these fractures. These plates are inserted using the minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) or open technique. Our study looks at the soft tissue complications associated with the use of medial locking plates in the management of these fractures. METHODS: This was a retrospective study carried out at a tertiary care university hospital in an urban setting. Forty four patients with distal tibia fractures treated with periarticular locking plates during a three year period were included in the study. Both closed and open fractures were included while those with an established non-union were excluded. Patient data related to inpatient stay, outpatient visits as well as readmissions was extracted from hospital records and analysed. Spanning external fixation was done if necessary and definitive fixation was done using medial locking plates with either MIPO technique or open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with biological technique. The sub cohort of patients with soft tissue complications was compared to the parent group. RESULTS: The study group included 44 patients (28M:16F) with 45 fractures with a median age of 42.6 years (range 18-65 years) followed up for a mean of 9.2 months (range 5-20 months). Domestic falls were the cause of injury in 61.4% (n = 27) of the fractures. The average time to union was 26.2 weeks (range 12-66 weeks). Out of these 45 fractures, soft tissue complications were seen in 22.2% of cases (n = 10) with road side accidents seen in 60% (n = 6) of cases. In four patients, there was difficulty in achieving primary wound closure and in five other cases wound dehiscence with exposure of implant was seen within 12 to 30 days of surgery. One patient required secondary suturing after readjustment for malreduction. No statistically significant difference was found in the parent cohort and the sub cohort with soft tissue complications with respect to the use of spanning external fixator, MIPO/ORIF technique or fibular fixation. CONCLUSION: The incidence of soft tissue complications with the use of medial locking plates in distal tibial fractures may be more than what is currently reported in literature and further studies are required to shed more light on this subject.

Endovascular management of traumatic pseudoaneurysm: Short & long term outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Pseudoaneurysms as result of orthopaedic injuries are a known clinical entity. But with increase in operative interventions and use of implants, its incidence is bound to increase. It is important to detect this complication at the earliest to avoid any limb or life threatening problems. Selective angiography is a minimally invasive technique to pin point the diagnosis and at the same time allow for therapeutic embolization/stenting of the pseudo aneurysm. METHODS: A retrospective review of inpatients from January 2007 to January 2013 requiring transarterial embolization/stenting for pseudoaneurysm in the limbs. All patients had evidence of pseudoaneurysm as proved by radiological findings. Angiographic intervention in a cath lab was performed, following which patients were monitored for morbidity and mortality benefits on short and long term follow up. RESULTS: Out of the total 13 patients; 7 adults and 1 child underwent embolisation with polyvinyl alcohol particle/soft metal coil, whereas the remaining 5 adults underwent revascularisation with covered stent. The mean age of patients in our case series was 41.92 ± 18.89 years. The mean follow up period of the group was 14.61 ± 12.21 months. All but one patients showed significant clinical improvement with endovascular management with no procedure related mortality. CONCLUSION: Endovascular management is the modality of choice in comparison to other procedures for traumatic pseudoaneurysms in both paediatric and adult patients.

Outcome of anatomic locking plate in extraarticular distal humeral shaft fractures.

BACKGROUND: Extraarticular fractures of distal humerus are challenging injuries to treat because of complex anatomy and fracture patterns. Functional bracing may not provide adequate stability in these injuries and operative treatment with intramedullary nails or conventional plates also has the limitation of inadequate fixation in the short distal fragment. The 3.5 mm precontoured single column locking plate (extraarticular distal humerus plate [EADHP]) has been introduced to overcome this problem. We evaluated the clinical and functional outcomes of treating these fractures with the EADHP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 26 patients with extraarticular fractures of distal humerus presenting within 3 weeks of injury between January 2012 and June 2015, were included in this prospective study. Open IIIB and IIIC fractures, nonunions, or those with a history of previous infection in the arm were excluded. Operative fixation was done using the EADHP in all the cases. The time for union, range of motion at shoulder and elbow and secondary procedures were recorded in followup. The shoulder and elbow function was assessed using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scale and Mayo Elbow Performance Score (MEPS) respectively. RESULTS: There were 21 males and 5 females with mean age of 37.3 years (range 18-72 years). Twenty two (84.6%) cases had complex fracture patterns (AO/OTA Type 12-B and C). The mean time to fracture union was 22.4 weeks (range 16-28 weeks). The mean followup time was 11.6 months, (range 4-24 months). Four patients (15.4%) had failure of cortical screws in the proximal fracture fragment, of which two required revision fixation with bone grafting. Another nonunion was seen following a surgical site infection, which healed after wound lavage and bone grafting. The MEPS (average: 96.1; range 80-100) was excellent in 81% cases (n = 21) and good in 19% cases (n = 5). UCLA score (average: 33.5; range 25-35) was good/excellent in 88.5% cases (n = 23) and fair in 11.5% cases (n = 3). CONCLUSION: EADHP is a reliable option in treating extraarticular distal humeral fractures as it provides stable fixation with an early return to function.

Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma, Corticosteroid, and Placebo.

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It is a disabling disease in its chronic form. It is a degenerative tissue condition of the plantar fascia rather than an inflammation. Various treatment options are available, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid injections, orthosis, and physiotherapy. This study compared the effects of local platelet-rich plasma, corticosteroid, and placebo injections in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. In this double-blind study, patients were divided randomly into 3 groups. Local injections of platelet-rich plasma, corticosteroid, or normal saline were given. Patients were assessed with the visual analog scale for pain and with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle and Hindfoot score before injection, at 3 weeks, and at 3-month follow-up. Mean visual analog scale score in the platelet-rich plasma and corticosteroid groups decreased from 7.44 and 7.72 preinjection to 2.52 and 3.64 at final follow-up, respectively. Mean AOFAS score in the platelet-rich plasma and corticosteroid groups improved from 51.56 and 55.72 preinjection to 88.24 and 81.32 at final follow-up, respectively. There was a significant improvement in visual analog scale score and AOFAS score in the platelet-rich plasma and corticosteroid groups at 3 weeks and at 3-month follow-up. There was no significant improvement in visual analog scale score or AOFAS score in the placebo group at any stage of the study. The authors concluded that local injection of platelet-rich plasma or corticosteroid is an effective treatment option for chronic plantar fasciitis. Platelet-rich plasma injection is as effective as or more effective than corticosteroid injection in treating chronic plantar fasciitis.

Reconstructive surgery of extensive face and neck burn scars using tissue expanders.

BACKGROUND: Neck reconstruction is considered as one of the most important surgeries in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. The present study aimed to assess the results of reconstructive surgery of extensive face and neck burning scars using tissue expanders. METHODS: This descriptive prospective study was conducted on 36 patients with extensive burning scars on the neck and face. Operation for tissue expander insertion was performed and tissue distension started two or three weeks later, depending on the patients' incisions. After sufficient time for tissue expansion, while removing the expander and excision of the lesion, the expanded flap was used to cover the lesion. Overall, 43 cosmetic surgeries were done. RESULTS: Rectangular expanders were employed in most patients (73.81%) and were located in the neck in most of them (60.78%). Complications were detected in five patients (13.89%), with exposure of the prosthesis being the most common one. Scar tissues at the reconstruction site and the flap donor site were acceptable in 94.44% and 98.18% of the cases, respectively. Overall, most of the patients (77.78%) were satisfied with the operation results.  CONCLUSION: Using tissue expanders in tissue reconstruction of extensive neck and facial burning scars results in highly desirable outcomes.

Early Results of a Geriatric Hip Fracture Program in India for Femoral Neck Fracture.

Geriatric hip fractures are a challenging clinical problem throughout the world. Hip fracture services have been shown to shorten time to surgery, decrease the cost of admissions, and improve the outcomes. We instituted a geriatric hip fracture program for comanagement of these injuries by orthopedic and internal medicine teams at our hospital in India. From January 2010 till December 2011, 119 patients with a femoral neck fracture were treated with cemented modular hemiarthroplasty under this program using a cost-effective Indian implant. The cohort included 63 males and 56 females with a mean age of 70.7 years (range 55-98 years). Hypertension (n = 42) and diabetes mellitus (n = 29) were the most common comorbidities. The follow-up period ranged from 12 to 37 months with an average of 24 months. The surgery was performed within 24 hours of admission in 60.5% (n = 72) patients. The use of antiplatelet drugs was the most common reason for delay of surgery. The mean length of hospital stay was 10.4 days (range 3-24 days) with 77% (n = 92) of patients discharged within 1 week of admission. On follow-up, good to excellent Harris hip scores were seen in 88% of patients with 76% of patients returning to the preinjury ambulatory status. The mortality rate was 6% at 6 months follow-up and 10.9% at 2 years. Our study shows that a hip fracture program can be instituted in India. The program helped us in achieving the goal of early surgery, mobilization, and discharge from hospital with decreased mortality.

Ulnar styloid fracture in distal radius fractures managed with volar locking plates: to fix or not?

Distal radius fracture is usually associated with ulnar styloid fracture. Whether to fix the ulnar styloid or not remains a surgical dilemma as some surgeons believe that their repair is imperative while others feel that they should be managed conservatively. This prospective study involved 47 patients with unilateral fracture of the distal radius who met the inclusion criterion and underwent open reduction and internal fixation with volar locking plates; 28 patients (12 males and females = 16) had an associated ulnar styloid fracture (Group A) while 19 (7 males; 12 females) did not have any ulnar styloid fracture (Group B). At the time of final evaluation both the groups were compared clinically by measuring the grip strength and range of motion around the wrist and the radiologically by measuring radial angle, radial length, volar angle and ulnar variance. Subjective assessment was done using DASH score and final assessment using Demerit point system of Saito. In Group A, average time for consolidation was 9.4 weeks, 17 patients developed non-union of the ulnar styloid, average DASH scores was 4.4 and according to Demerit point system of Saito, there were 78.5 % excellent, 17.9 % good and 3.6 % fair results; there were 2 cases of loss of reduction out of which one had persistent ulnar sided wrist pain. In Group B the average time for consolidation was 10.2 weeks, average DASH score was 3.8.and Demerit point system of Saito yielded 78.9 % excellent, 15.8 % good and 5.3 % fair results. There was one case of loss of reduction and one case of carpal tunnel syndrome which was managed conservatively. Both groups attained excellent range of motion, grip strength and well maintained the post operative radiological parameters. The comparison of clinico-radiological parameters in both groups was found to be statistically insignificant. To conclude, ulnar styloid fracture or its non union does not affect the outcome of an adequately fixed distal end radius fracture. We urge caution in electing operative treatment of non-united fracture of the ulnar styloid until better scientific report for treatment of pain associated with these fracture is available.

Information analytics for healthcare service discovery.

The concept of being 'patient-centric' is a challenge to many existing healthcare service provision practices. This paper focuses on the issue of referrals, where multiple stakeholders, such as General Practitioners (GPs) and patients, are encouraged to make a consensual decision based on patients' needs. In this paper, we present an ontology-enabled healthcare service provision, which facilitates both patients and GPs in jointly deciding upon the referral decision. In the healthcare service provision model, we define three types of profiles which represent different stakeholders' requirements. This model also comprises a set of healthcare service discovery processes: articulating a service need, matching the need with the healthcare service offerings, and deciding on a best-fit service for acceptance. As a result, the healthcare service provision can carry out coherent analysis using personalised information and iterative processes that deal with requirements which change over time.