Polyaniline/Polystyrene Blends: In-Depth Analysis of the Effect of Sulfonic Acid Dopant Concentration on AC Conductivity Using Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy

This work presents an in-depth analysis of the alternating current (AC) conductivity of polyaniline-polystyrene (PANI-PS) blends doped with camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) and prepared using an in situ dispersion polymerization technique. We prepared the blends using fixed ratios of PS to PANI while varying the concentration of the CSA dopant. The AC conductivity of the blends was investigated using broadband dielectric spectroscopy. Increasing CSA resulted in a decrease in the AC conductivity of the blends. This behaviour was explained in terms of the availability of a lone pair of electrons of the NH groups in the polyaniline, which are typically attacked by the electron-withdrawing sulfonic acid groups of CSA. The conductivity is discussed in terms of changes in the dielectric permittivity storage (??), loss (??), and modulus (M?) of the blends over a wide range of temperatures. This is linked to the glass transition temperature of the PANI. Dielectric spectra at low frequencies indicated the presence of pronounced Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars (MWS) interfacial polarization, especially in samples with a low concentration of CSA. Electrical conduction activation energies for the blends were also calculated using the temperature dependence of the direct current (DC) conductivity at a low frequency (?dc), which exhibit an Arrhenius behaviour with respect to temperature. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a fibrous morphology for the pure PANI, while the blends showed agglomeration with increasing CSA concentrations. 2018 Noora Al-Thani et al.The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the Qatar University Grant no. QUST-CAM-SPR-2017-6.Scopu

Types, Patterns and Outcomes of Personal Watercraft- Related Trauma

Background: Personal watercraft (PWC) - related injuries have increased significantly as well as its popularity.Aim: We aimed to describe types, patterns and outcomes of PWC injuries in Qatar.Subjects and Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify patients admitted and treated for PWC-related injuries between 2008 and 2014. Data included patients demographics, mechanism of injury, Glasgow coma scale, injury severity scoring, Abbreviated Injury Score, location of injuries, hospital length of stay, ventilator days and mortality. Data were analyzed by the type of PWC (Jet Ski and motorboat).Results: A total of 39 patients were identified with PWC-related injuries. The majority of cases (71.8%, 28/39) were young and aged 21 to 40 years. Twenty-six cases were injured in Jet Ski accidents and 13 sustained motorboat-related injuries. Patients injured in Jet Ski accidents were younger than those involved in motorboat accidents (mean age (SD); 25(7.6) vs 32.6(6), p=0.01). Chest injury was the most common type of injury; however, the severity of injury was highest in head trauma as compared with other body regions. The injured anatomical regions, severity of injury and outcomes were comparable in the Jet Ski and motorboat-related injuries. Two fatalities were reported; one in Jet Ski-related accident which occurred due to severe head injury and the other patient died due to drowning following motorboat accident. The small sample size in this cohort is one of the limitations, however, given the small number of Qatar population, rarity of reported PWC-related injuries and the importance of paying attention of healthcare authorities for this mechanism of injury may counteract this limitation.Conclusion: PWC-related injuries are increasing and possess potential risk of severe injuries and disabilities among young population. Strict regulation for training and operation of PWC together with public awareness is needed to improve the safety of recreational injuries.Keywords: Personal watercraft, Jet Ski, Motorboat, Sport, Injury pattern, Outcom

Qatar Health 2022: Preparing for the 2022 World Cup and the response to pandemics in Qatar – a multidisciplinary team approach

Welcome to this special issue of JEMTAC dedicated to the selection of 74 abstracts submitted to the Qatar Health 2022 online conference. The years are passing and the COVID-19 pandemic situation has not changed much globally. Although new vaccines have been developed and several restrictive measures have been rolled out in most countries to protect people, thousands are still succumbing to the effects of COVID-19 1,2 . Similar to the Qatar Health 2021 conference 3 , among the abstract submissions, there is still much emphasis on how healthcare systems and services are dealing with the situation to mitigate the spread of the disease among patients and healthcare professionals, while still trying to deliver physical or mental care to those in need 4–6 . It is also important to point out that the same needs and concerns apply to both the general public as well as the healthcare workforce 7,8 . From a preparedness point of view, continuing professional development and testing of new processes and facilities are key to ensuring clinicians are ready to take on new roles in new environments, and that technology can play a significant role in a pandemic context 9–11 . This is not only true in relation to clinical facilities, but as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 World Cup, it is also highly relevant to sporting events, during which multiple agencies need to work together collaboratively and as a multidisciplinary team as per the theme of Qatar Health 2022 and the 2nd Qatar Public Health Conference 12–13

Qatar Health 2021: An online conference to prepare for a mass gathering sporting event while still addressing the pandemic

It feels like yesterday that we wrote the editorial related to the previous issue of the Qatar Health 2020 Conference! 1 . 2020 is clearly a year to remember globally as a challenging one and this probably contributed to time passing so rapidly, keeping everyone so busy caring for patients and conducting research 2 . COVID-19 has had a big impact on all aspects of our lives, from the way we deliver patient care and work, to how we socialize and plan for the future in general. The past year has certainly provided an opportunity for the State of Qatar to demonstrate its resilience, its ability to rapidly adapt to new circumstances, and to find effective solutions to new problems 3,4 . Although very concerned by the current pandemic, our focus needs to also concentrate on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup in 2022 and every possible health related aspects, to ensure the event is safely hosted for everyone’s enjoyment. This has been clearly reflected in the Qatar Health 2021 conference program and call for abstracts (Table 1) which was organized into four parallel tracks fully hosted online for everyone’s safety. This issue of the Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care contains an extensive selection of 38 out of the 94 abstracts that have been accepted for oral or poster presentation during the conference. The abstract themes are summarized in Table 2 and range from the impact of the pandemic on delivering primary care to Qatar’s preparedness to dealing with hazardous and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents 5,6 . Notably 48 (51.06%) of the abstract titles contained the word COVID-19 or pandemic while only 4 abstracts (4.25%) were related to mass gatherings and sporting events. The later topics were primarily covered by multiple invited speakers with the relevant experience and proved to be the most attended conference sessions. It is worth noticing that the event attracted just over of 5,400 delegates and speakers from a total of 40 countries and has received highly positive feedback. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year as we come closer to the FIFA World Cup 2022, with many more topics, partner organizations, and attendees

Clinical Study Implications of Foot Ulceration in Hemodialysis Patients: A 5-Year Observational Study

Foot ulceration (FU) remains a serious concern for patients worldwide. We analyzed the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of FU in hemodialysis (HD) patients. A retrospective cohort study was conducted for 252 HD patients who were followed up for 5 years. Patients were categorized according to whether they developed FU or not. The FU group (17%) was older and had significantly higher incidence of nephropathy, retinopathy, peripheral (PAD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and diabetes mellitus (DM) as compared to no-FU group. FU group had higher frequency of major amputation ( = 0.001) and HD vascular access ( = 0.01). Patients with combined DM and PAD had a 10-fold increased risk of FU in comparison to those who had DM alone. Presence of PAD was the main independent predictor for development of FU in HD with an adjusted odd ratio (aOR) of 16.0 (95% CI: 4.41-62.18; = 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and CAD, predictors for mortality were PAD (aOR 4.3), FU (aOR 3.6), and DM (aOR 2.6). FU is common in HD patients regardless of DM. However, the presence of PAD is significantly associated with more FU and mortality in HD. HD patients need intensive foot care and warrant progressive modification of vascular risk factors

In-vitro application of a qatari burkholderia cepacia strain (QBC03) in the biocontrol of mycotoxigenic fungi and in the reduction of ochratoxin a biosynthesis by aspergillus carbonarius

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by certain filamentous fungi, causing human and animal health issues upon the ingestion of contaminated food and feed. Among the safest approaches to the control of mycotoxigenic fungi and mycotoxin detoxification is the application of microbial biocontrol agents. Burkholderia cepacia is known for producing metabolites active against a broad number of pathogenic fungi. In this study, the antifungal potential of a Qatari strain of Burkholderia cepacia (QBC03) was explored. QBC03 exhibited antifungal activity against a wide range of mycotoxigenic, as well as phytopathogenic, fungal genera and species. The QBC03 culture supernatant significantly inhibited the growth of Aspergillus carbonarius, Fusarium culmorum and Penicillium verrucosum in PDA medium, as well as A. carbonarius and P. verrucosum biomass in PDB medium. The QBC03 culture supernatant was found to dramatically reduce the synthesis of ochratoxin A (OTA) by A. carbonarius, in addition to inducing mycelia malformation. The antifungal activity of QBC03’s culture extract was retained following thermal treatment at 100 °C for 30 min. The findings of the present study advocate that QBC03 is a suitable biocontrol agent against toxigenic fungi, due to the inhibitory activity of its thermostable metabolites. View Full-TextFunding: Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) under National Priorities Research Program (NPRP) grant #NPRP8-392-4-003.Scopu

Delayed bile leak in a patient with grade IV blunt liver trauma: A case report and review of the literature

AbstractIntroductionDelayed bile leak following blunt liver trauma is not common.Presentation of caseWe presented a case report and literature review of delayed bile leak in a young male patient who presented with grade IV blunt liver injury following a motor vehicle collision; he was a restrained driver who hit a fixed object. Physical examination was unremarkable except for revelaed tachycardia, right upper quadrant abdominal tenderness, and open left knee fracture. A diagnosis of grade IV multiple liver lacerations with large hemo-peritoneum was made and urgent exploratory laparotomy was performed. The patient developed a biloma collection post- operatively. He underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and common bile duct stenting. His recovery was uneventful, and he was discharged home after 1 month.DiscussionThis is a rare case with no intra or extra hepatic biliary radicle injury seen on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) and no evidence of leak by ERCP. A review of the literature to highlight the incidence of delayed bile leak revealed only few reported cases.ConclusionOur findings demonstrate the need for prompt diagnosis and treatment of delayed bile leak in blunt liver injuries. When these principles are followed, a successful outcome is possible

Prevalence of toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in Arabic coffee (Coffea arabica): Protective role of traditional coffee roasting, brewing and bacterial volatiles

Fungal infection and synthesis of mycotoxins in coffee leads to significant economic losses. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of toxigenic fungi, their metabolites, and the effect of traditional roasting and brewing on ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AFs) contents of naturally contaminated coffee samples. In addition, in vivo biocontrol assays were performed to explore the antagonistic activities of Bacillus simplex 350–3 (BS350-3) on the growth and mycotoxins synthesis of Aspergillus ochraceus and A. flavus. The relative density of A. niger, A. flavus, Penicillium verrucosum and A. carbonarius on green coffee bean was 60.82%, 7.21%, 3.09% and 1.03%, respectively. OTA contents were lowest in green coffee beans (2.15 μg/kg), followed by roasted (2.76 μg/kg) and soluble coffee (8.95 μg/kg). Likewise, AFs levels were highest in soluble coffee (90.58 μg/kg) followed by roasted (33.61 μg/kg) and green coffee (9.07 μg/kg). Roasting naturally contaminated coffee beans at three traditional methods; low, medium and high, followed by brewing resulted in reduction of 58.74% (3.50 μg/kg), 60.88% (3.72 μg/kg) and 64.70% (4.11 μg/kg) in OTA and 40.18% (34.65 μg/kg), 47.86% (41.17 μg/kg) and 62.38% (53.73 μg/kg) AFs contents, respectively. Significant inhibitions of AFs and OTA synthesis by A. flavus and A. carbonarius, respectively, on infected coffee beans were observed in presence of Bacillus simplex BS350-3 volatiles. Gas chromatography mass spectrochemistry (GC-MS/MS) analysis of head-space BS350-3 volatiles showed quinoline, benzenemethanamine and 1-Octadecene as bioactive antifungal molecules. These findings suggest that marketed coffee samples are generally contaminated with OTA and AFs, with a significant level of roasted and soluble coffee contaminated above EU permissible limits for OTA. Further, along with coffee roasting and brewing; microbial volatiles can be optimized to minimize the dietary exposure to mycotoxins.Scopu

Factors Associated with Family Consent to Organ Donation in Qatar: Results from a Household Survey

Background: Family consent and organ donors rates are colinear to each other. The low consent rate can be influenced by socioeconomic and behavioral factors in the population. This study aimed to assess the influence of sociodemographic and behavioral factors on family consent for organ donation in the household population.Subjects dan Method: This is a secondary data analysis of the cross-sectional research design of 1044 household participants conducted in Qatar on organ donation between October and November 2016. A two-stage systematic random sampling was applied to collect data. The dependent variable was family consent. The independent variables were demographic and behavioral factors such as knowledge, attitude, intention, and beliefs about organ donation. Data were collected using household survey Questionnaire and analyzed using Student t-tests (unpaired), chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression analysis. C-statistics were applied to see discriminate accuracy of the developed regression model for family consent.Results: Knowledge (aOR= 1.63; 95%CI= 0.55 to 4.80; p= 0.380), behavioral belief (aOR= 1.11; 95%CI= 0.77 to 1.61; p= 0.580), heard organ donation (aOR= 1.12; 95%CI= 0.71 to 1.76; p= 0.630), registered for organ donation (aOR= 1.11; 95%CI= 0.50 to 2.46; p= 0.800), donated any organ/ blood/tissue (aOR= 1.63; 95%CI= 0.55 to 4.80; p= 0.380) can increased with family consent for organ donation registration. But, it’s not significantly statistic. Attitude (aOR= 1.73; 95%CI= 1.28 to 2.34; p= 0.001), control belief (aOR= 0.74; 95%CI= 0.55 to 0.99; p= 0.050), and Intention (aOR= 7.50; 95%CI= 4.04 to 13.92; p= 0.001) can increased with family consent for organ donation registration and the results were statistically significant.Conclusion: Attitude, control belief, and intention can increase family consent for organ donation registration. Keywords: Family consent, intention, attitude, knowledge, organ donation. Correspondence:Rajvir Singh. Cardiology Research Center, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Doha, Qatar, Post Box: 3050; email: [email protected]. Mobile: 97455897044

Emergency medical services (Ems) transportation of trauma patients by geographic locations and in-hospital outcomes: Experience from qatar

Background: Prehospital care provided by emergency medical services (EMS) plays an important role in improving patient outcomes. Globally, prehospital care varies across countries and even within the same country by the geographic location and access to medical services. We aimed to explore the prehospital trauma care and in-hospital outcomes within the urban and rural areas in the state of Qatar. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing data from the Qatar National Trauma Registry for trauma patients who were transported by EMS to a level 1 trauma center between 2017 and 2018. Data were analyzed and compared between urban and rural areas and among the different municipalities in which the incidents occurred. Results: Across the study duration, 1761 patients were transported by EMS. Of that, 59% were transported from an urban area and 41% from rural areas. There were significant differences in the on-scene time and total prehospital time as a function of urban and rural areas and municipalities; however, the response time across the study groups was comparable. There were no significant differences in blood transfusion, intubation, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Conclusion: Within different areas in Qatar, the EMS response time and in-hospital outcomes were comparable. This indicates that the provision of prehospital care across the country is similar. The prehospital and acute in-hospital care are accessible for everyone in the country at no cost. Understanding the differences in EMS utilization and prehospital times contributes to the policy development in terms of equitable distribution of healthcare resources