Effect of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise Training Protocol For Pregnant Woman during 3rd Trimester on Labor Duration

Background: Pelvic floor muscles training during pregnancy can produce strong and well controlled muscles that will facilitate labor progress and outcomes. The aim of this quasi-experimental non equivalent control study was to assess the effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise training protocol for pregnant woman during 3rd trimester on labor duration. Sample: A total of 100 pregnant women in 3rd trimester were recruited for this study. Research design: A convenience sample was used & divided into two groups (study & control groups) 50 each; the study group who received pelvic floor muscle training exercise and control group who received standard routine care at El-Manial University Hospital, Cairo University, Egypt. Each group was assigned randomly to the line of management. Tools: Structured interviewing tool, pelvic floor muscles strength assessment, antenatal follow up checklist, partograph. Results: a statistically significantly difference between the study and control groups in relation to duration of 1st, 2nd and 3rd stage of labor. Conclusion: pelvic floor muscle training exercise can be useful to decrease duration of labor. Recommendation: Pelvic floor muscle training exercise should be an essential part of prenatal care. The nurse should be an educator and counselor for mothers during prenatal care. Keywords: pelvic floor muscle training exercise, 3rd trimester of pregnancy, labor duratio

Effect of Casting and Mould Cooling Temperatures on the Warping Phenomenon of Aluminium at High Pressure Die- Casting

Abstract. The effect of molten aluminium pouring temperature and hot oiltemperature for mould heating and cooling on the warping phenomenon ofthick-thin section aluminium high-pressure die-casting process was investigatedon a four cavities hard disk drive mould. Nine combinations of moltenaluminium A380 pouring temperature of 660ºC, 690ºC and 720ºC and hot oiltemperature of 150ºC, 200ºC and 250ºC were being studied. Magmasoftsimulation software was used to simulate the molten aluminium flow in themould and distortion to understand the die-casting cooling pattern in responseto different molten aluminium temperature and mould cooling parameterssettings. Actual casting was carried out to produce the parts according tosimulation settings. Warping data was collected and analysed using Minitab 17.It was found that each mould cavity had different cooling pattern resulting indifferent warping magnitude. Pouring temperature at 660ºC and 720ºC both hadhigher warping distortion then 690ºC. Hot oil temperature at 150ºC had higherwarping distortion than 200ºC and 250ºC. The lowest warping distortion wasestablish at molten aluminium pouring and hot oil temperature of 690ºC and200ºC respectively

Shell mould strength of rice husk ash (RHA) and bentonite clays in investment casting

Investment casting process (IC) plays a major role in the modern manufacturing process in providing an economical means of mass production components with intricate shape and complex geometry as demand in various crucial applications including aerospace, automotive, military, biomedical and others. This casting technique, develop shell mould fabrication by coating the required pattern with a refractory mixture which offers the complex geometrical shape and sizes parts to be cast. However, the modern IC approach in shell mould production suffers from zircon's cost and supply instability as it is the main material to be used. Zircon uses as refractory filler for slurry production, and also in the form of sand used as stucco particles, is favoured by the investment casting facilities and industries as it exhibits the most versatile properties such as low thermal expansion and low reactivity to the metal to be cast. During the period of zircon supply shortage, many facilities introduce several alternatives. Currently, the step taken to reduce the cost of primary slurry material is by using some alternate refractory material like, alumina, silica, to be used with zircon for shell mould production. In relation to that, several researches continue to search for alternatives approach for shell mould materials. This research introduces the alternative method in fabricating investment casting shell mould as recognized from investment casting industry located in Sungai Puar of Bukittingi Padang Indonesia. This industry employs several local resources to fabricate the shell mould. These materials consist of rice husk ash (RHA), and two types of bentonite clays. The bentonite clays were obtained nearly from Kota Payakumbuh in the western provinces. However, this industry suffers from weak shell mould strength and need to be investigated and consulted. In this paper, the investigation on shell mould strength made from rice husk ash (RHA), and bentonite clays were conducted. The strength was measured by its modulus of rupture (MOR) performed in 3 points flexural bending test. The green and fired shell mould strength was determined from five type of slurry composition. The results revealed that the highest green and fired strength obtained were 0.157 MPa and 0.361 MPa from shell mould sample C of RHA (46%) and bentonite (54%) of its composition

Knowledge and perspectives of the public towards the prevalence and harm associated with counterfeit medicines in Lebanon

The Knowledge about the use of counterfeit medicines in Lebanon is still very limited. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of awareness of counterfeit medicines among the Lebanese population and the harm associated with their consumption. A cross-sectional study based on a questionnaire survey has been applied where a semi-structured survey questionnaire was distributed, between June 2017 and May 2018, among 750 participants from 98 Lebanese areas to assess their awareness regarding counterfeit medicines. Seven hundred and four participants completed the questionnaire. 55.4% purchased medicines regularly. The main sources of medicines were pharmacies (52.6%), government clinics (16.3%) and private clinics (8.7%). The most common purchased medicines were lifesaving ones (80%). In the majority of cases (71.9%), participants could not identify the manufacturer country. Overall, 46.2% of the participants were aware of counterfeit medicines. 5.4% of the participants experienced self-reporting adverse effects, among which 89.5% of cases were reported to pharmacists or other authorities. Despite the risk, 4.7% of participants were willing to buy a potential counterfeit medicine. In fact, 56. 4% of the participants associated low harm level with the use of counterfeit medicines. Despite their awareness of counterfeit drugs-associated risks, the majority of participants tend to buy them again. Informative public health campaign and health professionals training, to prevent counterfeit medicines-associated harms, should be implemented

Electrical and Thermal Conductivity of Cyclic Natural Rubber/Graphene Nanocomposite Prepared by Solution Mixing Technique

Thermal and electrical conductivity studies of Cyclic Natural Rubber nanocomposite with graphene 1 and 2 phr (G1 and G2) and modified 1 and 2 graphenes (mG1 and mG2) have been carried out. Graphene was activated with cetrimonium bromide (CTAB), was isolated from Sawahlunto coal (Bb) by the Hummer modification method. The nanocomposite was fabricated through the mixing solution method using Xylena as a solvent. The characterizations of nanocomposites which were performed by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) reveals an interaction between graphene, CTAB and the CNR matrix. Furthermore, Scanning Electron Magnetic (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) indicate the particle size to be smaller and particle distribution is more in accordance with CTAB. Thermal analysis of nanocomposites using Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) showed an increase in thermal conductivity from 3.0084 W/mK to 3.5569 W/mK. Analysis of electrical conductivity using the Two-Point Probe shows 2 phr mG (mG2) capable of increasing electrical conductivity from 0.1170 × 10–4 S/cm to 0.2994 × 10-4 S/cm

Adaptive Coping During Protracted Political Conflict, War and Military Blockade in Gaza

Identifying culturally-relevant concepts and coping mechanisms can help protect civilian wellbeing. This study explores how seven professional Palestinian university graduates in the Gaza Strip (occupied Palestinian territories) cope with war, military occupation, military blockade and the challenges of living in a conflict-affected area. Participants were interviewed to determine whether culturally specific modes of coping were used. Thematic analysis was applied. The use of resistance and more specifically, sumud , being steadfast and persevering, were identified alongside the motivation to persevere and other adaptive responses to living conditions. Coping strategies identified in this study include adapting, problem-solving, accepting reality, exercising patience, utilising social support, and faith in God (iman) and religion. The implications of this study and the relevance of the findings to mental health and disaster relief are considered

Risk factors for suicide in Bangladesh: case–control psychological autopsy study

Background: Suicide is an important, understudied public health problem in Bangladesh, where risk factors for suicide have not been investigated by case–control psychological autopsy study. Aims: To identify the major risk factors for suicide in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Methods: We designed a matched case–control psychological autopsy study. We conducted a semi-structured interview with the next-of-kin of 100 individuals who died by suicide and 100 living controls, matched for age, gender and area of residence. The study was conducted from July 2019 to July 2020. Results: The odds ratios for the risk factors were 15.33 (95% CI, 4.76–49.30) for the presence of a psychiatric disorder, 17.75 (95% CI, 6.48–48.59) for life events, 65.28 (95% CI, 0.75–5644.48) for previous attempts and 12 (95% CI, 1.56–92.29) for sexual abuse. Conclusions: The presence of a psychiatric disorder, immediate life events, previous suicidal attempts and sexual abuse were found as significant risk factors for suicide in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Quantifying the improvement of surrogate indices of hepatic insulin resistance using complex measurement techniques

We evaluated the ability of simple and complex surrogate-indices to identify individuals from an overweight/obese cohort with hepatic insulin-resistance (HEP-IR). Five indices, one previously defined and four newly generated through step-wise linear regression, were created against a single-cohort sample of 77 extensively characterised participants with the metabolic syndrome (age 55.6±1.0 years, BMI 31.5±0.4 kg/m2; 30 males). HEP-IR was defined by measuring endogenous-glucose-production (EGP) with [6–62H2] glucose during fasting and euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamps and expressed as EGP*fasting plasma insulin. Complex measures were incorporated into the model, including various non-standard biomarkers and the measurement of body-fat distribution and liver-fat, to further improve the predictive capability of the index. Validation was performed against a data set of the same subjects after an isoenergetic dietary intervention (4 arms, diets varying in protein and fiber content versus control). All five indices produced comparable prediction of HEP-IR, explaining 39–56% of the variance, depending on regression variable combination. The validation of the regression equations showed little variation between the different proposed indices (r2 = 27–32%) on a matched dataset. New complex indices encompassing advanced measurement techniques offered an improved correlation (r = 0.75, P<0.001). However, when validated against the alternative dataset all indices performed comparably with the standard homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (r = 0.54, P<0.001). Thus, simple estimates of HEP-IR performed comparable to more complex indices and could be an efficient and cost effective approach in large epidemiological investigations