Abstract:Artificial neural networks are a promising field in medical diagnostic applications. The goal of this study is to propose a neural network for medical diagnosis. A feed-forward back propagation neural network with tan-sigmoid transfer functions is used in this paper. The dataset is obtained from UCI machine learning repository. The results of applying the proposed neural network to distinguish between healthy patients and patients with disease based upon biomedical data in all cases show the ability of the network to learn the patterns corresponding to symptoms of the person. Three cases are studied. In the diagnosis of acute nephritis disease; the percent correctly classified in the simulation sample by the feed-forward back propagation network is 100% while in the diagnosis of heart disease; the percent correctly classified in the simulation sample by the feed-forward back propagation network is approximately 88%. On the other hand, in the diagnosis of disk hernia or spondylolisthesis; the percent correctly classified in the simulation sample is approximately 82%. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) curve are used to evaluate diagnosis for decision support.

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented an opportunity to rethink higher education. This study focused on analysing experiences from three higher education institutions (HEIs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) since the onset of the crisis and explored how university leaders and professors in these institutions imagine post-COVID-19 higher education. The study aimed to find out whether the pandemic has been a factor that has helped to legitimize online teaching and learning as a universal mode of delivery across different fields of studies, or if the Zoom fatigue has shown its limitations. In addition, the research investigated what transformations university experts predict and their vision for the future of higher education. The study found that many lessons learnt during the period of forced adoption of distance education will be used by universities to enhance and expand online learning provisions. This shift will be driven by the investments the universities have made in distance education and the increased familiarity of the students, staff and institutions with e-learning. The study participants foresee that more sophisticated forms of hybrid campuses will be a more appropriate model for the future, if face-to-face (F2F) classrooms do not return.

Purpose This study aims to investigate and assess the first experience of faculty members and students with distance learning implemented at Al Ain University (AAU) to contain the spread of Coronavirus or COVID-19. The paper attempted to understand faculty and students’ satisfaction with institutional readiness for distance learning and perception towards opportunities and challenges of distance learning. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on data collected in March 2020 through an online survey questionnaire from the participants (students = 445, faculty members = 139). The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used in formulating a conceptual framework. The collected data were analysed using several statistical techniques and partial least square structural equation modelling, to test and verify hypotheses. Findings The study found that, although faculty members and students expressed high satisfaction with the institutional readiness for distance learning and believed in its opportunities and advantages, they expressed concerns about the challenges facing distance learning. Findings of the study indicated a relationship between the status or college of the participant and perceived opportunities and advantages of distance learning. Hypotheses testing supported the study framework and UTAUT theory by identifying and confirming the impact of perceived opportunities of distance learning on satisfaction with the institutional readiness for distance learning. Originality/value The study suggested that non-distance learning institutions should keep offering courses through distance learning to prevent any shortcomings in the future.

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Objectives Pharmacy risk factors impose a major threat to general healthcare outcomes. Risks that can directly affect patients are known as clinical risk factors, and other, non-clinical risk factors may also affect a pharmacist's performance and pharmaceutical profession. This study aims to evaluate the risks, which occur in community pharmacies in Abu Dhabi, and to investigate the protective plans followed in such incidence. Methods A self-administrated online questionnaire was distributed to community pharmacists in Abu Dhabi. The questionnaire items were tested by content and face validity in a panel of experts and pilot study. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program was used for the data analysis. Key findings Medication errors and computer system malfunction occur monthly, as reported by 40% of the participants (n = 131). Theft cases were reported by 37.6% (n = 121) of the pharmacists. Violence was categorized as verbal, psychological and physical abuse, and the frequency was 56.8% (n = 183), 30.4% (n = 98) and 14.3% (n = 46) respectively. Almost all the participants belief that communication skills, alertness and experience are the most important internal factors affecting performance. Environmental factors such as the availability of restrooms were cited as important external factors enhancing performance. Chain pharmacies were found to address electrical failure and dealing with look-alike sound-alike/high-alert medication efficiently. Conclusions Different types of clinical and non-clinical risk in pharmacy practice were identified, and risk mitigation techniques were proposed. A positive attitude of community pharmacists was observed towards identifies risks and on the suggested mitigation techniques. It is necessary to publish a universally referenced validated risk factor list for evaluating current risk management plans to maintain safe pharmacy practices and include management courses within pharmacy curriculum.