<em>Toxoplasma</em> Immunomodulation Related to Neuropsychiatric Diseases

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) causes toxoplasmic encephalitis resulting from reactivation of latent toxoplasmosis. It is the most frequent clinical manifestation, characterized by multiple necrotizing brain lesions. Bradyzoite tissue cysts activate an immune response that has a major impact on controlling parasite persistence in the brain. The immune mechanisms stimulated in the brain cause a local inflammatory mediated by Th1 immune reaction cytokines. Several studies have linked this process to that active during different neuropsychiatric disorders, such as Schizophrenia. In addition to the immune reaction activated in the brain, this latter has the capacity to stimulate neurotransmitter production. T. gondii induces high concentrations of dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase in the central nervous system and has also been shown to increase kynurenine/tryptophan ratio and elevated Kynurenic acid level, mainly in astrocyte cells. This imbalance plays a role in the pathophysiology of Schizophrenia. Results of different studies explain in this chapter support the idea that Toxoplasma is an etiological factor in Schizophrenia

INVESTIGATION OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL FLEXURAL BEHAVIOR OF INNOVATIVE TOTALLY ENCASED COMPOSITE BEAMS

Composite steel-concrete beams have been widely used in long span construction and high rise buildings due to their favorable behavior in terms of high strength, stiffness, and ductility. In this research, the flexural behavior of an innovative steel-concrete composite section is investigated experimentally and verified numerically using ABAQUS software. The studied section is composed of steel tubular specimen or steel hollow pipe totally encased in concrete in the absence of any flexural or shear reinforcement. Instead, steel mesh wraps are used around the tubular steel specimen to provide sufficient steel-concrete bond. All of the studied beams have the same 3m length and T-section dimensions to provide adequate comparison of results. The influence of using different percentages of steel mesh wraps around the steel specimen and the structural steel shape effect on the failure mode and ultimate flexural capacity were investigated. It was found that the ABAQUS model has provided excellent simulation of the flexural response of the studied beams with acceptable difference in results as compared to those obtained from experimental testing. Besides, the presence of steel mesh wraps at highly compressive damaged locations have prevented concrete spalling and crushing in these zones by ensuring sufficient steel-concrete bond

A Review of Resourcing Approaches in Post Disaster Housing Reconstruction

In recent years, the occurrence of disasters is on increase and causes heavy human losses and massive destruction especially on housing sector. Post disaster housing reconstruction (PDHR) is a part of the cycle of four disaster management stages: mitigation, preparedness, response; and recovery and reconstruction. Availability of resources is a key factor to a successful PDHR project. This study systematically reviews 94 articles during the period of 2003 and 2019 on different experiences of PDHR. The study reports the various resourcing approaches of PDHR, their strategies, and their advantages and disadvantages. It identifies the critical success factors that led to a successful resourcing approach. The most cited factors reported in this study can be used as a guide to reconstruction practitioner to choose the most appropriate resourcing approach to reconstruct houses after disasters

Examining criticism of WHO’s COVID-19 response: a scoping review

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed significant weaknesses in global health governance, with the World Health Organization (WHO) facing widespread criticism. This scoping review aims to systematically examine and categorize critiques of WHO’s pandemic response across multiple stakeholders. Using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, a systematic search of six databases (CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and PubMed) was conducted. Peer-reviewed research studies were screened using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and thematic synthesis categorized the findings across six key themes: delays in response, communication failures, vaccine equity, global coordination, governance limitations, and trust and transparency. Included studies reported that the WHO’s effectiveness was limited by delayed emergency declarations, inconsistent public health messaging, inequitable vaccine distribution, and constrained authority over global health measures. Additionally, geopolitical tensions, donor-driven funding structures, and the exclusion of key stakeholders (e.g., Taiwan) further challenged global coordination. These issues affected public trust and highlighted structural inefficiencies in international health governance. The findings point to calls for reforms, including enhanced autonomy in crisis response, more transparent communication strategies, equitable resource distribution, and strengthened mechanisms for global collaboration. This review contributes to the understanding of how health governance, public trust, and equity are interrelated, providing a foundation to inform efforts to enhance WHO’s leadership in future health crises.publishedVersio

BEHAVIOR OF CONCRETE MIXES USING RECYCLED AGGREGATE CONFINED WITH STEEL SECTIONS

Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RAC) is a form of recycled concrete that has been studied for green building for the past 50 years. It can be used to create strong structures, such as seismic retrofitting of earthquake-prone structures. Studies have attempted to experimentally study the effect of using recycled aggregate in concrete, but the literature lacks the use of recycled concrete aggregate rapped with steel rings. This study examines the behavior of circular concrete columns with different percentages of recycled aggregate. It examines the behavior of a column with different percentages of recycled aggregate, one without jacketing, one with partial jacketing, and one with full jacketing. The suggested approach is stimulated, and the samples are modeled using ABAQUS software to demonstrate a comparison between experimental and numerical analysis. The study on Behavior of Concrete Mixes Using Recycled Aggregate Confined with Steel Sections is pivotal for sustainable construction, conserving resources, and lowering carbon emissions. It also aligns with circular economy principles and compliance with sustainability regulations, fostering eco-friendly, cost-effective practices. Furthermore, the incorporation of jacketing and steel sections not only supports sustainability but also strengthens communities by enhancing earthquake and heavy load resistance, ensuring both environmental responsibility and the safety of structures in vulnerable regions. These results have to be adopted for their clear sustainability benefits, including resource conservation and waste reduction. Furthermore, the cost savings associated with using recycled aggregates make it economically attractive. Lastly, the enhanced mechanical properties of concrete contribute to more durable and resilient construction materials, aligning with both environmental, safety, and economic objectives

EFFECT OF GOAT'S MILK ON KIDNEY FUNCTION IN ALBINO RATS EXPOSED TO CADMIUM CHLORIDE AND LEAD POISONING

The study aimed to know the effect of goat milk as a functional food to get rid of chemical toxins that laboratory animals are exposed to, the compound CdCl2 and the element Pd, by examining creatinine, urea and histological.This study was the use of 36 white male albino rats, which were randomly divided into 6 equal groups and the experience lasted six weeks , the control group (C) and the rest of the groups were injected with the compound CdCl2 or the element Pd and dosed with goat milk in specific quantities to know the effect of milk on the levels of creatinine and urea in the kidneys, as well as their histological.The results were that the animals exposed to CdCl2 and Pb poisoning, where Creatinine reached 0.4412, 0.4057 mg/dl respectively compared to the control treatment, which reached 0.2059 mg/dl, while the urea level reached 65.32, 66.68 mg/dl respectively compared to the control treatment, which reached 39.72 mg/dl. The protective role of goat milk in improving kidney functio

Sustainability and Quality Management: How Strategic Plans Reduce Environmental and Social Risks

The study aimed to clarify the role played by Total Quality Management (TQM) and its impact on sustainable development. This study sought to explain the most important theoretical and practical foundations of TQM, which focuses on achieving precision in work, managing sustainable quality within the organization, and highlighting the importance of TQM in the higher education system. The study also aimed to demonstrate the significance of TQM in promoting sustainable development. To achieve the study\u27s objectives, a questionnaire was developed by reviewing several previous studies related to the current research, as well as articles and peer-reviewed scientific research. Data were analyzed using the SPSS program through the following measures: simple regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. The study population consisted of 844 individuals, including faculty members, supporting staff, and administrators at the new facilities of Al Qadisiyah university. The study relied on an analytical approach, given its suitability to the study\u27s objectives and questions. One of the key findings of the study was the presence of a statistically significant positive impact of TQM on sustainable development when applied to the new facilities at Al Qadisiyah university. There was also a positive impact of TQM on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The study found no differences in the impact of TQM on sustainable development due to demographic factors. The study recommended the involvement of senior management and employees in implementing TQM dimensions in the new facilities, linking the university\u27s outputs to the labor market, serving the community, and promoting the use of modern technologies to ensure continuous development and improvement

Global mortality associated with 33 bacterial pathogens in 2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Reducing the burden of death due to infection is an urgent global public health priority. Previous studies have estimated the number of deaths associated with drug-resistant infections and sepsis and found that infections remain a leading cause of death globally. Understanding the global burden of common bacterial pathogens (both susceptible and resistant to antimicrobials) is essential to identify the greatest threats to public health. To our knowledge, this is the first study to present global comprehensive estimates of deaths associated with 33 bacterial pathogens across 11 major infectious syndromes.Methods We estimated deaths associated with 33 bacterial genera or species across 11 infectious syndromes in 2019 using methods from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019, in addition to a subset of the input data described in the Global Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance 2019 study. This study included 343 million individual records or isolates covering 11 361 study-location-years. We used three modelling steps to estimate the number of deaths associated with each pathogen: deaths in which infection had a role, the fraction of deaths due to infection that are attributable to a given infectious syndrome, and the fraction of deaths due to an infectious syndrome that are attributable to a given pathogen. Estimates were produced for all ages and for males and females across 204 countries and territories in 2019. 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for final estimates of deaths and infections associated with the 33 bacterial pathogens following standard GBD methods by taking the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles across 1000 posterior draws for each quantity of interest.Findings From an estimated 13.7 million (95% UI 10.9-17.1) infection-related deaths in 2019, there were 7.7 million deaths (5.7-10.2) associated with the 33 bacterial pathogens (both resistant and susceptible to antimicrobials) across the 11 infectious syndromes estimated in this study. We estimated deaths associated with the 33 bacterial pathogens to comprise 13.6% (10.2-18.1) of all global deaths and 56.2% (52.1-60.1) of all sepsis-related deaths in 2019. Five leading pathogens-Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa-were responsible for 54.9% (52.9-56.9) of deaths among the investigated bacteria. The deadliest infectious syndromes and pathogens varied by location and age. The age-standardised mortality rate associated with these bacterial pathogens was highest in the sub-Saharan Africa super-region, with 230 deaths (185-285) per 100 000 population, and lowest in the high-income super-region, with 52.2 deaths (37.4-71.5) per 100 000 population. S aureus was the leading bacterial cause of death in 135 countries and was also associated with the most deaths in individuals older than 15 years, globally. Among children younger than 5 years, S pneumoniae was the pathogen associated with the most deaths. In 2019, more than 6 million deaths occurred as a result of three bacterial infectious syndromes, with lower respiratory infections and bloodstream infections each causing more than 2 million deaths and peritoneal and intra-abdominal infections causing more than 1 million deaths.Interpretation The 33 bacterial pathogens that we investigated in this study are a substantial source of health loss globally, with considerable variation in their distribution across infectious syndromes and locations. Compared with GBD Level 3 underlying causes of death, deaths associated with these bacteria would rank as the second leading cause of death globally in 2019; hence, they should be considered an urgent priority for intervention within the global health community. Strategies to address the burden of bacterial infections include infection prevention, optimised use of antibiotics, improved capacity for microbiological analysis, vaccine development, and improved and more pervasive use of available vaccines. These estimates can be used to help set priorities for vaccine need, demand, and development. Copyright (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license

Assessing disparities in medical students’ knowledge and attitude about monkeypox: a cross-sectional study of 27 countries across three continents

Background and aimsThe recent monkeypox (Mpox) outbreak confirmed by the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the importance of evaluating the knowledge and attitude of medical students toward emerging diseases, given their potential roles as healthcare professionals and sources of public information during outbreaks. This study aimed to assess medical students’ knowledge and attitude about Mpox and to identify factors affecting their level of knowledge and attitude in low-income and high-income countries.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 11,919 medical students from 27 countries. A newly-developed validated questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge (14 items), attitude (12 items), and baseline criteria. The relationship between a range of factors with knowledge and attitude was studied using univariate and multivariate analyses.Results46% of the study participants were males; 10.7% were in their sixth year; 54.6% knew about smallpox; 84% received the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine; and 12.5% had training on Mpox. 55.3% had good knowledge of Mpox and 51.7% had a positive attitude towards it. Medical students in their third, fifth, or sixth year high- income countries who obtained information on Mpox from friends, research articles, social media and scientific websites were positive predictors for good knowledge. Conversely, being male or coming from high-income countries showed a negative relation with good knowledge about Mpox. Additionally, a positive attitude was directly influenced by residing in urban areas, being in the fifth year of medical education, having knowledge about smallpox and a history of receiving the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine. Receiving information about Mpox from social media or scientific websites and possessing good knowledge about Mpox were also predictors of a positive attitude. On the other hand, being male, employed, or receiving a training program about Mpox were inversely predicting positive attitude about Mpox.ConclusionThere were differences in knowledge and attitude towards Mpox between medical students in low and high-income countries, emphasizing the need for incorporating epidemiology of re-emerging diseases like Mpox into the medical curriculum to improve disease prevention and control