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Background: Generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in research and education. However, there is a mixed perception about its use. This study assessed the use, perception, prospect, and challenges of Gen-AI use in higher education. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional survey of university students in the United Kingdom (UK) distributed online between January and April 2024. Demography of participants and their perception of Gen-AI and other AI tools were collected and statistically analyzed to assess the difference in perception between various subgroups. Results: A total of 136 students responded to the survey of which 59% (80) were male. The majority were aware of Gen-AI and other AI use in academia (61%) with 52% having personal experience of the tools. Grammar correction and idea generation were the two most common tasks of use, with 37% being regular users. Fifty-six percent of respondents agreed that AI gives an academic edge with 40% holding a positive overall perception about the use in academia. Comparatively, there was a statistically significant difference in overall perception between different age ranges (I2 = 27.39; p = 0.002) and levels of education (I2 = 20.07; p < 0.001). Also, 83% of students believe AI use will increase in academia with over half agreeing it should be integrated into learning. Plagiarism (33%), privacy issues (14%), and lack of clarity by the university (13%) remain the top concerns regarding the use of Gen-AI and other AI tools in academia. Conclusion: Gen-AI and other AI tools are being used and their use will continue to grow in higher education. While current use is challenging due mainly to plagiarism fear and lack of clarity by the university, most users believe AI should be integrated into the university curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decompensated liver disease is complicated by multi‐organ failure and poor prognosis. The prognosis of patients with liver failure often dictates clinical management. Current prognostic models have focused on biomarkers considered as individual isolated units. Network physiology assesses the interactions among multiple physiological systems in health and disease irrespective of anatomical connectivity and defines the influence or dependence of one organ system on another. Indeed, recent applications of network mapping methods to patient data have shown improved prediction of response to therapy or prognosis in cirrhosis. Initially, different physical markers have been used to assess physiological coupling in cirrhosis including heart rate variability, heart rate turbulence, and skin temperature variability measures. Further, the parenclitic network analysis was recently applied showing that organ systems connectivity is impaired in patients with decompensated cirrhosis and can predict mortality in cirrhosis independent of current prognostic models while also providing valuable insights into the associated pathological pathways. Moreover, network mapping also predicts response to intravenous albumin in patients hospitalized with decompensated cirrhosis. Thus, this review highlights the importance of evaluating decompensated cirrhosis through the network physiologic prism. It emphasizes the limitations of current prognostic models and the values of network physiologic techniques in cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Every year, over 2 million people gather together to observe the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. This presents a public health risk to both Saudi and the pilgrims' country of origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk perception and the source of health advice by the pilgrims. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey among internal and external pilgrims performing the Hajj. The survey evaluates the general safety and preventative measures applied, factors influencing public health safety at Hajj, source of pre-travel health advice, recommended preventative health measures, and the effective preventative measures. Results: A total of 280 pilgrims from 28 different countries were approached of which 233 completed the survey with response rate of 83%. The majority (219 [94%]) of the respondents considered the Hajj as safe while 205 (88%) sought pretravel health advice. The most popular source of pre-travel health advice among the pilgrims were from medical professionals (83 [25.6%]) and other pilgrims (44 [18.9%]). Diversity and carelessness were believed to be the main factors influencing public health safety in the Hajj by 184 (79%) and 181 (78%) of the respondents respectively. Yellow fever (117 [50%]) and wearing of face masks (56 [24%]) were the most and least adopted recommended public health measures respectively while most pilgrims believed handwashing (137 [59%]) and wearing of face mask (119 [51%]) are the most effective preventative health measures. Conclusion: Our study shows a reduced perception by pilgrims of the health risk of the Hajj and highlights the need to improve how information is channelled to prospective pilgrims about preventative health measures. The discordance between recommended preventative health measures and adherences by pilgrims shows a need for a comprehensive enforcement program underpinned by the Saudi Ministry of Health (MoH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with COPD are at higher risk of severe disease and mortality if they contract COVID-19. Shielding and social distancing have negatively impacted the delivery of routine care for COPD patients, which should be maintained to avoid further deterioration. We aimed to review the literature about the key toolkits of non-pharmacological treatments of COPD patients before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we focused on smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, and telehealth delivery approaches during the COVID-19 crisis. Smoking cessation services are important to mitigate the spread of the virus, especially in people with chronic lung disease; the pandemic, in one way or another, has helped to enhance people's motivation to quit smoking. Also, tele-rehabilitation is considered as effective as conventional pulmonary rehabilitation in controlling symptoms of disease, promoting physical activity, and enhancing self-management of COPD. Tele-rehabilitation offers flexibility and it could be the dominant mode for providing a pulmonary rehabilitation programme. Finally, the use of telehealth (TH) modes has trended during the pandemic. Consensus about the effectiveness of TH in reducing exacerbation events is still inconclusive. In the context of COPD, further clinical research must concentrate on understanding attitudes, behaviours, and motivations towards smoking cessation. Further recommendations include gauging the feasibility of a long-term tele-rehabilitation programme in large COPD populations, designing more COPD-related mobile apps, and evaluating the feasibility of tele-rehabilitation in clinical practice., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by BRI.)