ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF NEWLY DEVELOPED SILICA NANOPARTICLES AGAINST LEAD AND PHOSPHATE ION REMOVAL FROM CONTAMINATED SOLUTIONS USING ADSORPTION ISOTHERM

This study investigates the removal of Lead and Phosphate ion from aqueous solution using new silica nanoparticles doped with europium (H1) which was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The aim of this research is to develop a novel adsorbent material that can efficiently remove contaminated ions from wastewater or aqueous solutions. The adsorption of lead and phosphate ion onto the silica nanoparticles is investigated, and the efficiency of this removal is evaluated. Equilibrium data analysis reveals linear fitting with Langmuir isotherm with 24.76 mg/g Lead ion uptake, while for phosphate the uptake capacity is around 55.62 mg/g at 298.15 K. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the development of silica nanoparticles doped with europium as a potential adsorbent for the removal of lead and phosphate ion from solution. The findings contribute to the advancement of water purification and environmental remediation technologie

Carbapenemase typing and resistance profile of enteric bacteria isolate with reduced sensitivity to carbapenems in a Lebanese tertiary care center

Objective: nowadays resistant bacteria represent worldwide a public health problem leading in some cases to a stalemate without any possible treatment. Therefore early detection and identification of carbapenemase producing gram-negative bacteria (GNB) is of crucial importance. Consequently we conducted a study in a tertiary care hospital to analyze the resistance phenotype of the carbapenem resistant GNB (CRGNB). Methods: we collected all the CRGNB from September 2014 till January 2016, we took randomly 40/126 strains and performed a sensitivity test in addition to a real time multiplex PCR to detect the exact carbapenemase coding genes (bla SPC , bla IMP1, bla VIM , bla NDM , bla KPC , et bla OXA-48). The studied strains were: Escherichia coli (70%), Klebsiella pneumonia (20%), Enterobacter aerogenes (2,5%), Enterobacter cloacae (2.5%) et Klebsiella oxytoca (2.5%). Results: 100% of the studied strains were intermediate or resistant to ertapenem, 85% intermediate or resistant to imipenem and/or meropenem. 33 / 40 strains (82.5%) are bla OXA-48 positive et one strain (2.5%) is bla NDM positive. the OXA-48 were urinary strains of E coli. 6 / 40 strains (15%) did not express carbapenemase genes in molecular studies. Conclusion: we note a marked emergence of CPGNB especially bla OXA-48 with high resistance pattern leading to narrow therapeutic options. This requires a rapid detection of such strains of GNB so that to initiate quickly the right preventive and therapeutic measures to avoid hospital epidemics with disastrous consequences

The association between living conditions and health among Syrian refugee children in informal tented settlements in Lebanon

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study explores the relationship between housing, social wellbeing, access to services and health among a population of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon. METHODS: We surveyed 1902 Syrian refugee households living in informal tented settlements in Lebanon in 2017. Logistic regressions assessed relationships between housing problems, socioeconomic deprivation, social environment and health. RESULTS: Of the 8284 children in the study, 33.0% had at least one health problem. A considerable number of households (43.1%) had > 8 housing problems. Children in these households had higher odds to have three or more health problems compared to children in households with < 6 housing problems (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 2.39; confidence interval [CI], 1.50-3.81). Nearly three-quarters (74.3%) of households were severely food insecure. Children in these households had higher odds to have one health problem than those in food secure households (AOR, 1.75; CI, 1.11-2.76). There was a significant positive association between households that reported being unhappy with their neighbourhood and the number of children with health problems in those households. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the association between the physical and social living conditions and refugee children's health. Without multidimensional interventions that consider improvements to living conditions, the health of young Syrian refugees will continue to worsen

MOLYBDENUM VERSUS TUNGSTEN BASED POLYOXOMETALATES FOR HIGHLY EFFECTIVE METHYLENE BLUE REMOVAL

[SiW12O40]4-(SiW12) and [Mo8O26]4- (Mo8) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The prepared polyoxometalates were studied as potential adsorbents for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution. Various operational parameters—contact time, adsorbent dose, initial dye concentration, pH, and temperature— were meticulously assessed by UV/Vis spectrophotometry to study its impact on the adsorption efficacy. An inverse relationship was observed between the percentage dye removal and the initial dye concentration, highlighting the complexes\u27 superior adsorption capabilities under lower dye loads. The studied complexes displayed significantly better efficiency under acidic conditions. Both SiW12 and Mo8 exhibited high percentages of removal for methylene blue within only 10 min for MO8 and 5 min for SiW12. These results not only underline the proficiency of SiW12 and Mo8 as adsorbents, but also position them as promising candidates for fast and effective water purification strategies in the face of escalating environmental pollution challenges

Simultaneous pressure-volume measurements using optical sensors and MRI 1 for left ventricle function assessment during animal experiment 2

International audienceSimultaneous pressure and volume measurements enable the extraction of valuable parameters for left ventricle function assessment. Cardiac MR has proven to be the most accurate method for volume estimation. Nonetheless, measuring pressure simultaneously during MRI acquisitions remains a challenge given the magnetic nature of the widely used pressure transducers. In this study we show the feasibility of simultaneous in vivo pressure-volume acquisitions with MRI using optical pressure sensors. Pressure-volume loops were calculated while inducing three inotropic states in a sheep and functional indices were extracted, using single beat loops, to characterize systolic and diastolic performance. Functional indices evolved as expected in response to positive inotropic stimuli. The end-systolic elastance, representing the contractility index, the diastolic myocardium compliance, and the cardiac work efficiency all increased when inducing inotropic state enhancement. The association of MRI and optical pressure sensors within the left ventricle successfully enabled pressure-volume loop analysis after having respective data simultaneously recorded during the experimentation without the need to move the animal between each inotropic state

Advancing Evidence-Based Policy in Crisis Management: The Case of Lebanon

This study offers an evidence-based assessment of the cross-sectoral effects of Lebanon’s protracted economic crisis on the employment, incomes, energy poverty, livelihood and food-based coping strategies, and attitudes towards immigration in seven economic sectors. The study’s findings are based on the field survey responses of 931 households earning a livelihood from the agriculture, construction, education, food and beverage, health, manufacturing, and retail sectors drawn from all of Lebanon’s governorates. The statistical analysis is complemented, sharpened, and enhanced using the input of high-profile experts who participated in five group Key Informant Interviews. The findings suggest that Lebanon’s economic crisis had pervasive and profound effects on the livelihoods and employment conditions of the respondents across the seven sectors. First, the findings bring to light the extreme energy burden that households face amid the severe rationing of the power supply. More than two thirds of households, across the seven sectors, spend more than 50 percent of their income on energy. The findings also uncover the harsh livelihood and food-based coping strategies that were adopted by the respondents. The bulk of households across the seven sectors have reduced the quantity of basic food staples such milk, fruits, vegetables, and bread and switched to cheaper alternatives for basic food items. In addition, with the exception of respondents from the manufacturing and food and beverage sectors, 30 percent or more of the respondents across sectors report having to skip a meal during the week, while 32.87 percent of the households across sectors are not able to afford a meal with chicken, fish or meat at least once a week

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Phase Two Key Informant Interviews Report of Findings

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 650 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 50 experts in the field

For Inclusive and Fair Covid-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Measures in Lebanon: Key Informant Interviews Report of Findings

In many countries, early, large, and sustained policy responses to the pandemic were successful in protecting families. However, the Government of Lebanon’s (GoL) response to COVID-19 and the simultaneous crises the country is experiencing, in terms of socio-economic recovery measures, has been very limited if not absent. This research aims to analyze the impact of the lack of government actions and policies on the urban informal labor sector in Lebanon. The informal sector, which makes up a significant portion of the Lebanese economy (estimated to be at least 30% of GDP), is of interest to us as very few of the measures taken by GoL such as tax grace periods, were targeted at the formal sector. Led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and funded by Oxfam, the project “For Inclusive and Fair Covid-19 Socio-Economic Recovery Measures in Lebanon,” aims to assess the GoL decisions related to the pandemic and to influence the orientation of government decisions such that they take into consideration the impact on the most vulnerable population groups, especially those working in the informal sector

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Synthesis Report

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 250 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 25 experts in the field

Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon: Key Informant Interviews Report of Findings

The project aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency of humanitarian aid and reconstructions efforts, particularly for those most affected by the Beirut port explosion. It will do so by better equipping local civil society and journalist networks in their roles as watchdogs, by supporting state actors to improve government reforms and manage crisis in transparency, and by equipping citizens to monitor and report corruption, particularly in areas of Beirut most affected by the explosion. Several recent reports and documentaries have questioned the transparency and accountability of international assistance related to the Port of Beirut (PoB) explosion. There are claims that millions of dollars have been misused or wasted to corruption. “Ensuring Accountability in Reconstruction and Reform Efforts in Lebanon (EARREL)” intends to fill this information gap. EARREL is led by the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Lebanese Transparency Association (LTA) and funded by Transparency International. This report builds on an exhaustive literature review conducted by the team as well as a data collection exercise that included (1) field surveys of 250 aid beneficiaries in the PoB area, and (2) Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with 25 experts in the field