Biologically-based strategies to reduce postharvest losses of tomato

The preharvest employment of Bacillus subtilis was highly effective in an augmentation of fruit set and improves general apperance of tomato at harvest. Cooling technology supported the poential of B. subtilis, in particularly prevention of postharvest losses of tomato fruits within marketing context. Furthermore, the resultant inhibition of color development and improvement of sensory traits of tomato fruits due to the preharvest application of our formulated B. subtilis with the help of cooling technology were indicative of general inhibition of senescence and ripening. This biologically-based strategy deserves further development and application under commercial requirements especially in developing countries like Egypt, where refrigeration is inadequate.Key words: Biological control, general appearance, Bacillus subtilis

What is the Status of Omani Parents on their Children’s Healthy Lifestyle?

The purpose of this study was to document the significance of the practices employed by parents that contribute to children’s healthy lifestyle in Oman. Those practices encompassed the physical activity and inactivity, sedentary behaviour, nutritional knowledge, and its reflection on their children at early childhood class. Subjects consisted of 237 male and female parents of kindergarten children in the Sultanate of Oman. The researchers developed a twenty-three and a twenty-item questionnaire intended to measure the degree of parent involvement in their children's impact at acceptable levels of validity and reliability. (Amazingly, it was found that parents’ healthy lifestyle were low in their habit practices (low in engagement to physical activity, sports and daily life activity) which showed a trend of sedentary lifestyle. Meanwhile, they did not encourage their children to participate in physical activity nor control them from staying away from being in front of TV screen and video games, too. In addition, their nutritional knowledge also scored low which affected their children’s health negatively. It is, therefore, suggested that lifestyle concept should be inculcated in the learning process for children, and further analysis be made as to what extent the demographic category may influence parents’ involvement towards their children’s healthy lifestyle.

Towards Customer's Emotion Management in Marketing: The Role of customers' Emotions on Their Experience

This research study aims at understanding the role of the customers' emotion towards a certain product/service in their experience. In another word, this research aims at finding the relationship between the customers' emotions and the way it influences their experience in a certain purchasing process. A questionnaire was distributed on a random sample of mall visitors through a period of 30 days (month) and it was based on variables including; A) shop clerk's sex, uniform and emotional behavior B) shop's environment C) clerks' friendliness. The results show that positive emotions of the customers which are connected to a positive shopping experience is influential and hence can lead to a positive purchasing decision, in addition to that, it was found out that the shop clerk's positive emotions is very important in supporting the client with a good shopping experience in the store. The gender was also a notion that worth to be noted based on the idea that the results supported that concept of the opposites meet. Finally, the uniform and dress codes for the shopping assistants appeared to be the least influential factor of all. Keywords: Customer emotions, customer experience, in-store customer emotions, provider/buyer encounte

Lip and oral lesions in children with Down syndrome: a controlled study

Background: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality affecting numerous organs, including the orofacial region. The objective of the present study was to assess the prevalence of lip and oral soft tissue lesions, with particular emphasize on the incidence of fissured tongue, lip fissures and angular cheilitis, among individuals with DS in Yemen. Material and Methods: This controlled cross-sectional study included 50 children with DS (6-18 years), and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. The prevalence of orofacial soft tissue lesions was evaluated in both groups. Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher tests, and p <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: Ten orolabial lesions were identified among the subjects. The most frequently seen lesions were: Fissured tongue (78.0%), lip fissures (64.0%), angular cheilitis (38.0%) and Cheilitis (14.0%). The frequencies of these lesions were significantly higher in children with DS than healthy controls ( P < 0.001). Most of lip fissures were in the lower lip, and 80% of the fissures were in the midline. Conclusions: The prevalence of lip and oral lesions among individuals with DS is remarkably high. Hence, oral physicians should be more aware of the orofacial findings seen more frequently in this genetic disorder

The effect of radiotherapy on survival of dental implants in head and neck cancer patients

Objectives: To explore the current literature of the survival of dental implants in irradiated head and neck cancer patients considering the role of implant location, bone augmentation, dose of radiation and timing of implant placement. Study Design: Pubmed search was conducted to identify articles published between January 2000 and December 2014 and presenting data of dental implant survival with radiotherapy in head and neck cancer patients. Studies on animal subjects and craniofacial implants were excluded. Results: 18 articles out of 27 were eligible for inclusion in this systematic review. 12 out of 18 studies reported favorable outcome of dental implants and radiotherapy with survival rates between 74.4% and 97%. Seven out of ten studies comparing the survival rates according to site of implant placement reported that implants were found to osseointegrate with greater success in the irradiated mandible than irradiated maxilla. 5 studies which compared implant survival in irradiated native bone versus irradiated grafted bone reported that irradiated grafted bone showed a significantly reduced dental implant survival rate in comparison to irradiated native bone. 6 out of 18studies in which radiation doses exceeded 70 Gy reported lower survival rates of dental implants in comparison to the studies in which radiation doses were ≤70Gy. Higher survival rates were reported in 2 studies in which implants placement was before radiotherapy in comparison to the remaining 16 studies in which implants placement was after radiotherapy. Conclusions: Dental implants may be affected by radiotherapy especially when they are placed in maxilla, in grafted bone, or after radiation, however, they remain a functional option for rehabilitation of head and cancer patients. More prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trails are still needed to draw more evidence based conclusion

The Duration Between Traffic Accidents in the Taxi Sector: An Empirical Inquiry

The taxi, as a supplier of urban passenger transport, is often sidelined in travel demand studies, yet its role in the overall transport task is far from marginal. Taxis are the most intensively used automobile transportation and consequently have a very high exposure rate in respect of potential accident. Very little empirical research has been undertaken into the risks associated with using a taxi. Drivers of taxis are usually assumed to be experienced drivers with a safety history appropriate for the responsibility of transporting the public. Yet this is not always the case. To provide some understanding of the exposure to risk which passengers place themselves in when hiring a taxi, we explore the safety record of drivers over time. Of particular interest is the frequency of accidents over a given time period, and in particular the elapsed time between a taxi drivers initial accident and subsequent accidents. To what extent is the duration between accidents a positive or negative function of experience, personal attributes, temporary impairment, fatigue etc? A set of proportional hazards models are developed to explain the time interval (duration) between traffic accidents of taxi drivers in Amman, Jordan. Three econometric models are developed to predict the duration between the date when a taxi driver begins to drive and the date when the first, second, and third accidents occur respectively. Estimation results show that driving-related capabilities, socioeconomic characteristics, and temporary impairments significantly influence the duration between traffic accidents. The duration to the first traffic accident is lower than the duration between the firs

Successful management of severe refractory acquired immune bleeding disorder: Prior to insisting surgery

AbstractINTRODUCTIONAcquired bleeding disorders are rare and may be missed before surgery. Additionally, they may be refractory to conventional treatments.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 50-year-old patient experienced prolonged post-operative bleeding when his bleeding disorder was missed prior to his undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy. Post-operative investigations revealed severe acquired von Willebrand syndrome associated with a monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance. A few months later, he required umbilical herniorrhaphy, but he did not respond to attempts to raise his von Willebrand factor antigen and activity levels using conventional therapies, including desmopressin, cryoprecipitate, intravenous immunoglobulin, and Von Willebrand factor concentrate. A triple therapy combination of dexamethasone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and mycophenolate mofetil was administered, with a successful and sustained response, lasting about 2 months. The surgery was performed safely, without any complications.DISCUSSIONConventional acquired von Willebrand syndrome treatment is usually aimed at replacing von Willebrand factor or stimulating its secretion from storage in endothelial cells. In the present case, the alternative treatment was directed against both the humoral and cell-mediated immune mechanisms.CONCLUSIONThis case of acquired bleeding disorder showed that more attention must be given to a patient's coagulation profile, even if only very minor laboratory coagulation derangements are detected prior to surgery, to avoid missing such rare disorders. The described triple therapy demonstrated good effects and may be considered for inclusion in a controlled randomized study to determine its usefulness for other surgeries delayed due to severe acquired bleeding disorders. To the best of our knowledge, this triple combination treatment has not been previously used for the treatment of severe acquired bleeding disorders that are refractory to conventional therapies

Acquired air-filled lung cysts in childhood: pathogenesis of cysts of diverse etiologies; nuances of management

Background Air-filled pulmonary parenchymal cysts (pneumatoceles/PCs) – a pathological condition – involving the lung parenchyma may be congenital or acquired. In children, acquired cases are often caused by staphylococcal pneumonias, but other etiologies may also cause PCs and lead to diagnostic confusion.Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the natural history and clinicopathologic features of noncongenital, nonstaphylococcal PCs in children.Patients and methods Four children with nonstaphylococcal PCs were included in this study. A full history, clinical examination, relevant radiological and pathological findings, surgical intervention where relevant, and follow-up were analyzed.Results The cases described represent acquired PCs: one occurred after infarction following cardiac surgery, another was a subpleural pulmonary bleb of inflammatory origin, and the remaining two were post-traumatic pseudocysts. The inflammatory-process bleb and the postinfarction cysts presented with pneumothorax. The postinfarction and post-traumatic PCs responded to observation. The pulmonary bleb was excised.Conclusion Our understanding of the clinicopathologic features and pathogenesis of many types of acquired PCs is incomplete. We propose that PC formation has a basis in destruction of the distal airways of the lung. Damaged tissue may act as a valve, and cause air-trapping, which leads to PC formation. Cysts arising after infarction or after trauma usually resolve on observation. Subpleural blebs may require excision because of nonresolution and recurrence of pneumothorax

Is Khat (Catha edulis) chewing a risk factor for periodontal diseases? : a systematic review

Background: Khat (Catha edulis) chewing is a highly prevalent habit in the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, and has recently spread to Western countries. The association between khat chewing and oral mucosal lesions is well documented in the literature. However, there is no concrete evidence on the association between khat chewing and periodontal disease. The purpose of this systematic review was to analyze the influence of khat chewing on periodontal health. Material and methods: A literature search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Sciences databases was carried out to identify relevant articles published from 1990 to May 2017. The inclusion criteria were all clinical studies that assessed the relationship between khat chewing and periodontal disease. Results: The search yielded 122 articles, of which 10 were included in this systematic review. Most of the studies exhibited a positive correlation between khat chewing and periodontal disease. Conclusions: Altogether, the analysis of the current evidence reveals that khat chewing is destructive to the periodontium and enhances the risk of periodontal disease progression. However, due to variability of studies, more longitudinal case-controlled studies are highly warranted to establish a causal relation between khat chewing and periodontal disease

What is the Status of Omani Parents on their Children’s Healthy Lifestyle?

The purpose of this study was to document the significance of the practices employed by parents that contribute to children’s healthy lifestyle in Oman. Those practices encompassed the physical activity and inactivity, sedentary behaviour, nutritional knowledge, and its reflection on their children at early childhood class. Subjects consisted of 237 male and female parents of kindergarten children in the Sultanate of Oman. The researchers developed a twenty-three and a twenty-item questionnaire intended to measure the degree of parent involvement in their children's impact at acceptable levels of validity and reliability. (Amazingly, it was found that parents’ healthy lifestyle were low in their habit practices (low in engagement to physical activity, sports and daily life activity) which showed a trend of sedentary lifestyle. Meanwhile, they did not encourage their children to participate in physical activity nor control them from staying away from being in front of TV screen and video games, too. In addition, their nutritional knowledge also scored low which affected their children’s health negatively. It is, therefore, suggested that lifestyle concept should be inculcated in the learning process for children, and further analysis be made as to what extent the demographic category may influence parents’ involvement towards their children’s healthy lifestyle