Modified the optical and electrical properties of CR-39 by gamma ray irradiation

The radiation technique is a useful technology technique to induce suitable modifications of the polymeric materials. In the present work, poly allyl diglycol carbonate (CR-39) solid state nuclear track detector samples were irradiated using different doses (150–950 kGy) of gamma ray irradiations. The effect of gamma ray irradiations on the optical and electrical, properties of CR-39 was investigated. The obtained results showed a decrease in the optical energy gap with increasing the gamma dose. Increase in the numbers of carbon atoms (N) in a formed cluster with increasing the irradiation dose was observed. Meanwhile, an increase in the Ac conductivity was obtained with increasing the gamma dose. Also, the variation in the dielectric constant and loss with irradiation dose was studied at the room temperature. The results indicate that the gamma ray irradiations in the dose range 150–950 kGy enhance the optical and electrical properties of the CR-39 polymer samples

(Re)mapping indigenous 'race'/place in postcolonial Peninsular Malaysia

10.1111/j.1468-0459.2006.00222.xGeografiska Annaler, Series B: Human Geography883285-29

Impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)’s multidimensional approach on rates of ventilator-associated pneumonia in intensive care units in 22 hospitals of 14 cities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

To analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Multidimensional Approach (IMA) and use of INICC Surveillance Online System (ISOS) on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in Saudi Arabia from September 2013 to February 2017. A multicenter, prospective, before–after surveillance study on 14,961 patients in 37 intensive care units (ICUs) of 22 hospitals. During baseline, we performed outcome surveillance of VAP applying the definitions of the CDC/NHSN. During intervention, we implemented the IMA and the ISOS, which included: (1) a bundle of infection prevention practice interventions, (2) education, (3) outcome surveillance, (4) process surveillance, (5) feedback on VAP rates and consequences and (6) performance feedback of process surveillance. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed using generalized linear mixed models to estimate the effect of intervention. The baseline rate of 7.84 VAPs per 1000 mechanical-ventilator (MV)-days―with 20,927 MV-days and 164 VAPs―, was reduced to 4.74 VAPs per 1000 MV-days―with 118,929 MV-days and 771 VAPs―, accounting for a 39% rate reduction (IDR 0.61; 95% CI 0.5–0.7; P 0.001). Implementing the IMA was associated with significant reductions in VAP rates in ICUs of Saudi Arabia