Effect of High-Density Packing Recycled Aggregate on Concrete Strength Properties

As many residential homes and structures were destroyed or badly damaged because of the military battle in Iraq, it is critical to recycle construction debris widely in the rebuilding and decoration of buildings and infrastructure. This battle resulted in the buildup of massive construction debris, and recycling this waste allows for a cleaner environment. Recycling the construction waste of various installations is an urgent need to decrease the consumption of natural materials and landfills of construction waste, and as a result reduce the environmental pollution. Therefore, this study is a local focus on using concrete debris to obtain high packing density recycled coarse and fine aggregates in various fractions of (0.16 mm - 10 mm) by selecting high-density packing materials that was developed by Kharkhadin A.N in laboratories of Belgorod State Technical University in Russia to preparing of reference mix from ordinary density recycled aggregate. The new concrete samples for two concrete mixtures were prepared, to identify and study the important specifications. Models of cubes and standard prisms were prepared to evaluate the compressive strength and the splitting tensile strength. Also, the modulus of rupture and the unit weight were conducted. The results indicated an increase in the concrete’s mechanical properties using the high-packing density recycled aggregate. The obtained compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and modulus of rupture were (49) MPa, (3.6) MPa, and (7.1) MPa compared with a reference mix (39) MPa, (3.3) MPa and (6.3) MPa, respectively. The reference mix corresponding properties were (39) MPa, (3.3) MPa, and (6.3) MPa, respectively. Also the values of an oven-dry density were (2340) kg/m3 compared with the reference mix (2260kg/m³). These results proved that increasing the packing density of recycled aggregate enhanced the concrete’s strength properties

Plasmodium falciparum isolate with histidine-rich protein 2 gene deletion from Nyala City, Western Sudan.

In remote areas of malaria-endemic countries, rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have dramatically improved parasitological confirmation of suspected malaria cases, especially when skilled microscopists are not available. This study was designed to determine the frequency of Plasmodium falciparum isolates with histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) gene deletion as one of the possible factors contributing to the failure of PfHRP2-based RDTs in detecting malaria. A total of 300 blood samples were collected from several health centres in Nyala City, Western Sudan. The performance of PfHRP2-based RDTs in relation to microscopy was examined and the PCR-confirmed samples were investigated for the presence of pfhrp2 gene. A total of 113 out of 300 patients were P. falciparum positive by microscopy. Among them, 93.81% (106 out of 113) were positives by the PfHRP2 RDTs. Seven isolates were identified as false negative on the basis of the RDTs results. Only one isolate (0.9%; 1/113) potentially has pfhrp2 gene deletion. The sensitivity and specificity of PfHRP2-based RDTs were 93.81% and 100%, respectively. The results provide insights into the pfhrp2 gene deletion amongst P. falciparum population from Sudan. However, further studies with a large and systematic collection from different geographical settings across the country are needed

Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocols In General Surgery: A Review Of Implementation And Outcomes

ERAS is a group of protocols that aim at affecting positively patients & surrounding lives. surgeons, nurses, physiotherapists, anesthetists, and even healthcare centers hospitals, labs, and pharmacies. Reducing the cost for both hospitals &patients, decreasing the duration of residency in hospitals, and improving patient compliance, developing performance & increasing teamwork between medical staff and patients all fall under the advantages of ERAS. Since it affects the 3 stages of any operation (preoperative-intraoperative-perioperative) it was necessary to implement a suitable protocol for each patient to achieve the best results mostly quitting smoking, fasting for a period before surgery, maintaining body temperature, pressure, and glucose level and the postoperative instructions , care & nutrition to guarantee success and avoidance to recurrence or complications

Land use change in Baghdad City and assessment of the Jadriyah and Umm Al- Khanazeer Island Important Bird Area (IBA) from 1984 to 2020

Land use change, particularly the expansion of urban areas and associated human activities at the expense of natural and semi-natural areas, is a major ecological issue in urban areas around the world. Climate change being a very strong additional driver for changing the temperature and habitat in the cities. This also applies to Baghdad, Iraq, where urbanisation and climate change exerts a major pressure on the natural habitats of the city, and thus may affect the ability of city planners to adapt to future climate change scenarios. Here we present evidence of substantial growth in urban areas, increases in temperature, and degradation of natural vegetation within Baghdad city by using Remote Sensing techniques and an assessment for the Jadriyah and Umm Al-Khanazeer site (JUKI). These changes were associated with loss of bird species richness within the area, which was previously the only Important Bird Area (IBA) within the city. A standardised scoring system (following Birdlife International global framework) was used to assess Pressure-State-Response:  JUKI site scored 3-5 for pressure (Medium), two for the state (Moderate), and two for the response (Low). Despite the degradation highlighted in Baghdad city, the JUKI site still has 88% intact habitat to support bird trigger species. We conclude that the site urgently needs a detailed management plan to ensure the protection of its habitats and avian fauna, and that the area should be declared as a protected area according to the “IUCN Category IV: Habitat/Species Management Area; to provide a means by which the urban residents may obtain regular contact with nature”, and re-designated JUKI as an IBA site. The study also identifies the most affected areas in the city of Baghdad, which should take the priority of the afforestation efforts and any future restoration campaigns

The Importance of Preventive Medicine in Family Practice: A Review of Current Guidelines and Recommendations

Prevention is seen as a critical topic in family practice. Primordial prevention, primary prevention, secondary prevention, tertiary prevention, and quaternary prevention are all part of this strategy to disease prevention. To avoid the formation and development of risk factors, primary prevention focuses on addressing the fundamental causes and social determinants of disease. Primary prevention is the practice of preventing illnesses before they arise via the use of treatments such as immunizations and health education. Secondary prevention focuses on illness identification and intervention as early as possible to avoid disease development. Tertiary prevention addresses illness outcomes by restoring health and offering rehabilitation. Finally, quaternary prevention seeks to safeguard patients against needless medical treatments and the harm caused by over-medicating. Risks frequently rise in tandem with frailty and comorbidities. In contrast, advantages frequently drop as life expectancy increases. Preventive management strategies should consider the patient's viewpoint and be mutually agreed upon. Healthcare providers must prioritize the deployment of preventive care services, even when clinical treatments are required, in order to overcome preventive care hurdles. Healthcare practitioners may play a critical role in illness prevention and contribute to family well-being by investing in preventive care and executing these measures

Dermatological Emergencies in Family Medicine: Recognition, Management, and Referral Considerations

Numerous people with skin disorders who have real dermatologic crises show up at the emergency room. Family doctors need to be able to identify potentially fatal dermatological disorders quickly since they could be the first to encounter patients with these illnesses. The purpose of this review is to provide guidance for early recognition, help identify distinct symptoms, and enable early diagnosis of emerging dermatological conditions. Necrotizing fasciitis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other possible emergencies that might manifest as dermatological symptoms are examples of these conditions. In this article we will be discussing the dermatological emergencies present at primary care settings and encountered by family physician, recognition and management of those emergencies, referral considerations, role of family medicine in dermatological emergencies and other topics

High prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in two communities in South Darfur: implication for interventions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There are few data on the prevalence of schistosomiasis in Darfur. We conducted this study in response to reports of 15 laboratory confirmed cases of schistosomiasis and visible haematuria among children from two communities in South Darfur. The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of schistosomiasis in the area and to decide on modalities of intervention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey involving 811 children and adults from schools and health facilities was conducted in two communities of South Darfur in March 2010. Urine samples were collected and examined for ova of <it>Schistosoma haematobium </it>using a sedimentation technique. A semi-structured format was used to collect socio-demographic characteristics of the participants.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eight hundred eleven (811) urine samples were collected, 415 from Alsafia and 396 from Abuselala. Of the collected samples in 56.0% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 52.6-59.4) <it>Schistosoma </it>eggs were found. The prevalence was high in both Abuselala 73.3% (95% CI; 68.9-77.6) and Alsafia 39.5% (95% CI; 34.8-44.2). More males (61.7%, 95%CI; 56.5-64.9) were infected than females (52.1%, 95%CI; 48.2-56.0). Children in the age group 10-14 has the highest (73.0%, 95%CI; 68.7-77.2) infection rate. School age children (6-15 years) are more likely to be infected than those >15 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.70, 95% CI; 1.80-4.06). Individuals in Abuselala are more likely to be infected than those who live in Alsafia (AOR = 4.3, 95% CI; 3.2-5.9).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings of this study indicate that <it>S. hematobium </it>is endemic in Alsafia and Abuselala South Darfur in Sudan with a high prevalence of infection among older children. This signifies the importance of urgent intervention through Mass Drug Administration (MDA) to halt the infection cycle and tailored health messages to targeted groups. Based on the findings MDA was conducted in the villages.</p

A novel inertia moment estimation algorithm collaborated with active force control scheme for wheeled mobile robot control in constrained environments

This paper presents a novel inertia moment estimation algorithm to enable the Active Force Control Scheme for tracking a wheeled mobile robot (WMR) effectively in a specific trajectory within constrained environments such as on roads or in factories. This algorithm, also known as laser simulator logic, has the capability to estimate the inertia moment of the AFC-controller when the robot is moving in a pre-planned path with the presence of noisy measurements. The estimation is accomplished by calculating the membership function based on the experts’ views in any form (symmetric or non-symmetric) with lowly or highly overlapped linguistic variables. A new Proportional-Derivative Active Force Controller (PD-AFC-LS-QC), employing the use of laser simulator logic and quick compensation loop, has been developed in this paper to robustly reject the noise and disturbances. This controller has three feedback control loops, namely, internal, external and quick compensation loops to compensate effectively the disturbances in the constrained environments. A simulation and experimental studies on WMR path control in two kinds of environments; namely, zigzag and highly curved terrains, were conducted to verify the proposed algorithm and controller which was then compared with other existed control schemes. The results of the simulation and experimental works show the capability of the proposed algorithms and the controller to robustly move the WMR in the constrained environments

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Public Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice towards COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Survey

(1) Background: COVID-19 has become a worldwide public health problem. No previous study has investigated factors associated with COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) after completely lifting the curfew in all Saudi Arabia regions and cities. Therefore, adequate knowledge, a positive attitude, and correct control of COVID-19 are essential to eradicate the disease. Hence, this study aims to assess factors associated with KAP of COVID-19; (2) Methods: This cross-sectional web-based survey was performed with the participation of 4305 individuals aged over 15 years living in Saudi Arabia from 11 to 19 August 2020. They were included using the snowball sampling method; (3) Results: Of the 4305 participants, 94.9% were Saudis, 60% females, and 45.4% were in the age group of 20–34 years, 61.7% married, and 49.3% from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Most of the participants demonstrated good KAP levels (89.6%, 87.2%, and 87.2%) towards the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. In addition, most of the participants (85.8%) used the internet and social media as a source for COVID-19 information (4) Conclusions: The finding showed that most of the participants demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19, positive attitudes, and demonstrated good practices for preventing the spread of disease infection