Social Media Role in Relieving the Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis

This research explores the possibilities and limitations associated with utilizing new media technologies in relieving humanitarian crises by focusing on the Rohingyan case. The main interest is to approach a conceptual communication framework based on the current Rohingya refugees’ perceptions about social media networks and mobile apps and the potential suggestions to optimize its usefulness in relieving their crisis. Addressing the obstructive challenges that interrupt the new media technologies functionality is another objective of the study. The mixed methodology interlaces the qualitative findings of the questionnaire with the qualitative outcomes of the semi-structured interviews to reach an inclusive investigation to the research questions. An examination to the significance of relationships between Rohingya demographic attributes and their preferences and perceptions toward social media platforms and mobile apps is substantial to explore the dominant factors that may influence the relationship between the Rohingya and different media platforms. Keywords: social media, mixed methods, Rohingya, humanitarian crises DOI: 10.7176/NMMC/87-04 Publication date: January 31st 202

Biodegradation of paracetamol and its intermediate metabolite hydroquinone by bacterial strains isolated from two mines of the iberian pyrite belt

The main objective of the current study was to isolate bacterial strains able to biodegrade the emerging pollutants paracetamol (APAP) and hydroquinone (HQ), amongst the most worldwide prescribed drugs, also frequently detected in wastewater treatment plants influents and effluents and the environment. The most promising microbial consortia of Poderosa and Lousal mines for APAP removal were selected based on the previous reports of PROBIOMA project (European Regional Development Fund ERDF - Interreg V-A Spain-Portugal program (POCTEP)). The ability of the selected microbial consortia to remove APAP from the Mineral Salt Medium (MSM) at an initial concentration of about 500 mgL-1 (MSM-APAP (500 mgL-1)), under dark shaking conditions of 160 rpm at 25 °C, was confirmed using UV-vis molecular spectroscopy. Subsequently, the isolation step from selected samples proceeded from three successive enrichment cultures using MSM-drug (500 mgL-1) under the aforementioned conditions by spreading first on LB-drug and then on MSM-drug (500 mgL-1) agar plates and resulted in seven isolates able to utilize APAP as sole carbon source, and identified according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as members of genera Aeromonas, Bacillus (two isolates), Niallia, Paraburkholderia, Rhizobium, and Variovorax, as well as one HQ utilizing isolate (Mycolicibacterium sp.). The HPLC analysis of APAP removal, in MSM-APAP (500 mgL-1) under the same culture conditions, by the two putative APAP biodegrading Bacillus sp. isolates revealed that Bacillus sp. (PDE3.1) showed maximal APAP %removal of 63+3 after 18 days, while Bacillus. sp. (PLC2.1) showed %removal of only 8+1 at the end of the experiment after 21 days. The key metabolites of APAP degradation (4-aminophenol and HQ) were detected through GC-MS analysis in the experiment with Bacillus sp. (PDE3.1) at very low concentrations. Then, the seven potential APAP biodegrading bacterial isolates were tested for APAP removal in MSM at a lower concentration of 50 mgL-1. Rhizobium sp. (PDE3.3) and Paraburkholderia sp. (PLA3.3) seemed the most promising where APAP %removal was 49±4 and 47.9±0.9, respectively. Later, the co-culture of the three most promising isolates (Rhizobium sp. (PDE3.3), Paraburkholderia sp. (PLA3.3), and Bacillus sp. (PDE3.1) didn’t improve the %removal compared with the pure cultures, while the co-culture with the seven potential APAP biodegrading isolates did not show removal capacity. Mycolicibacterium sp. (HPB1.1) showed at least 88% removal of HQ from MSM-HQ (50 mgL-1) after four days; hence, was checked for APAP removal in MSM-APAP (50 mgL-1) and showed APAP %removal of 41.6±0.1. Overall, some bacterial strains isolated from Poderosa and Lousal mines showed removal capacity; hence, more efforts should be directed at investigating if biodegradation is the main removal mechanism involved, and at exploring the biodegradation potentials of The Iberian Pyrite Belt mines associated bacteria.As crescentes preocupações ambientais sobre a incapacidade das estações de tratamento de águas residuais (ETARs) para remover completamente os produtos farmacêuticos e outros poluentes das águas residuais, são apoiadas por estudos que reportam as ETAR como a principal fonte de poluentes emergentes no ambiente aquático. Desde a década de 80 que a aplicação da tecnologia de bioaumentação em sistemas de ETAR convencionais usando estirpes bacterianas com as capacidades de biodegradação desejadas tem recebido atenção com o objetivo da remoção completa dos medicamentos contaminantes das águas residuais antes da liberação no meio ambiente. Por outro lado, ambientes extremos sempre foram considerados como uma fonte valiosa de estirpes microbianos com extraordinários potenciais metabólicos considerados como mecanismos de adaptação às condições circundantes de habitats tão extremos, permitindo que esses micróbios extremófilos dominem e se sobreponham a outras comunidades microbianas. O principal objetivo do presente estudo foi isolar e identificar estirpes bacterianas com potencial metabólico para biodegradar o poluente emergente paracetamol (APAP) e seu metabólito hidroquinona (HQ) em ETARs. A escolha do APAP como modelo de estudo deve-se à sua classificação entre os medicamentos mais prescritos no mundo, à sua deteção frequente em afluentes e efluentes de ETARs e no meio ambiente, bem como sua inclusão na Lista Modelo da Organização Mundial da Saúde de Medicamentos Essenciais. Para monitorização da remoção de APAP e HQ foram utilizados diferentes métodos de análise em diferentes fases do trabalho: absorvância de UV-vis em leitor de placas, HPLC com detetor de UV-vis e GC-MS. A análise espectral de UV-vis em leitor de placas foi usada para monitorizar APAP e HQ nas culturas de enriquecimento dos consórcios microbianos utilizados para os isolamentos, o HPLC foi utilizado nos estudos de remoção com os isolados selecionados e o GC-MS para detetar produtos da degradação do APAP. Para a construção de retas de calibração a usar nas análises das amostras fizeram-se os seguintes testes e/ou afinações: no leitor de placas foram selecionados comprimentos de onda com picos de absorbância em soluções padrão dos compostos APAP e HQ; no HPLC determinaram-se os tempos de retenção destes compostos e também do metabolito 4-aminofenol com um método previamente utilizado para estes compostos em trabalhos anteriores já publicados pelo grupo onde o trabalho foi efetuado, no GC-MS testou-se um método previamente utilizado pelo grupo para análises de outro fármaco (17α-etinilestradiol) e determinaram-se os tempos de retenção dos compostos em estudo neste trabalho. Os consórcios microbianos mais promissores das minas Poderosa e do Lousal para biodegradação de APAP foram selecionados com base nos relatórios anteriores do projeto PROMIOMA. A capacidade dos consórcios microbianos selecionados de biodegradar APAP em meio mineral MSM suplementado com uma concentração de 500 mgL-1 (MSM-APAP (500 mgL-1)), no escuro sob condições de agitação de 160 rpm a 25 °C, foi confirmada por análise de absorbância de UV-vis. Subsequentemente, a etapa de isolamento fez-se a partir de três culturas de enriquecimento sucessivas em MSM-APAP (500 mgL-1) nas condições descritas, por espalhando primeiro em placas de LB-agar e depois em placas de MSM-agar-APAP (500 mgL-1), e resultou em sete isolados potencialmente degradadores de APAP identificados de acordo com análises das sequências do gene ARNr 16S como membros dos géneros Aeromonas, Bacillus (dois isolados), Niallia, Paraburkholderia, Rhizobium e Variovorax. Foi também selecionado um isolado degradador de HQ identificado como Mycolicibacterium sp.. Estes géneros, exceto o Bacillus, são relatados pela primeira vez para a biodegradação de APAP. As análises por HPLC da biodegradação do APAP, em MSM-APAP (500 mgL-1) nas mesmas condições de cultivo, pelos dois Bacillus sp. revelaram que o isolado Bacillus sp. (PDE3.1) mostrou uma percentagem máxima de remoção de APAP de 63±3 após 18 dias, enquanto o isolado Bacillus. sp. (PLC2.1) mostrou apenas 8±1% de remoção no final da experiência. Nenhum dos principais metabólitos da degradação do APAP (HQ e 4-aminofenol) foi detetado por análise de HPLC, no entanto eles foram detetados na análise por GC-MS, ainda que em concentrações baixas, na experiência com o Bacillus sp. PDE3.1, sugerindo que a biodegradação do APAP pode ter ocorrido através da descarboxilação inicial do APAP em 4-aminofenol no qual o grupo amina é depois substituído pelo grupo hidroxilo produzindo-se HQ. Os sete isolados bacterianos potencialmente biodegradadores de APAP foram também testados quanto à biodegradação de APAP em MSM numa concentração mais baixa: 50 mgL-1. Nestes testes, os isolados Rhizobium sp. (PDE3.3) e Paraburkholderia sp.(PLA3.3) pareceram os mais promissores, com com % de remoção de APAP de 49±4 and 47,9±0,9, respectivamente. Posteriormente, uma co-cultura dos três isolados mais promissores (Rhizobium sp. (PDE3.3), Paraburkholderia sp. (PLA3.3) e Bacillus sp. PDE3.1) não melhorou a remoção de APAP em comparação com as culturas de isolados puros, enquanto uma co-cultura com todos os sete isolados potencialmente biodegradadores de APAP não apresentou capacidade degradadora. Por outro lado, o isolado Mycolicbacterium sp. (HPB1.1) revelou pelos menos 88% de remoção de HQ após quatro dias numa experiência em MSM-HQ (50 mgL-1). Portanto, este promissor isolado foi também testado para biodegradação em MSM-APAP (50 mgL-1), tendo sido comprovada a remoção de 41,6±0,1% do APAP inicial com uma concentração residual de 29,34±0,05 mgL-1. Por fim, o isolado Mycolicibacterium sp. (HPB1.1) foi selecionado para trabalhos futuros e foi cultivado em meio LB (pH 7) a 25°C sob condições de agitação (160 rpm) para estudo da cinética de crescimento da cultura ao longo de 68 h, com base na densidade ótica a 600 nm (OD600) de amostras em intervalo de 2 h. As células cresceram exponencialmente sem fase lag visível e o crescimento exponencial, associado ao crescimento mais rápido com coeficiente de determinação R2 de 0,99, estendeu-se até 36 h onde foi alcançado uma OD600 máxima de 1,27. A taxa de crescimento específico μ durante o crescimento exponencial foi calculada como 0,047 h-1. Depois, uma fase de desaceleração ou aceleração negativa de crescimento parece seguir-se ao crescimento exponencial e estender-se das 36 h até às 42 h, onde a fase estacionária parece começar e durar até às 68 h, havendo depois uma diminuição da OD600

Family violence and its relationship between Coping strategies and Psychological hardness among female students of king Abdul Aziz University and Omm Al-Qura University

This study aims to identifying the relationship between family violence and all of coping strategies and Psychological hardness to University students, identifying  the differences between high of family violence university students and low of  family violence university students in coping strategies and Psychological hardness, and identifying  the differences between students  of king Abdul Aziz University and Omm Al-Qura University in family violence, coping strategies and  Psychological hardness, and  identifying  the differences between students in  Scand level semester and  eighth level semester in  family violence,   coping strategies, and Psychological hardness,  participants sample of  university students (females)(N=500)(250 of king Abdul Aziz University and 250 Omm Al-Qura University). The apparatus are family violence scale prepared by Ghanema, H.A (2011),  coping strategy scale prepared  by Elsayed, F. KH, (2011)and Psychological hardness prepared  by Elsayed ,F.KH(2007) . Results revealed that there is a relationship between family violence and all of coping strategies and Psychological hardness to University students, there is a differences between high of family violence university students and low of  family violence university students in coping strategies and Psychological hardness, but on differences between students  of king Abdul Aziz University and Omm Al-Qura University in family violence, coping strategies and  Psychological hardness, and no differences between students in  Scand level semester and  eighth level semester in  family violence,   coping strategies, and Psychological hardness. Key words:- Family violence - Coping strategies- Psychological hardness - University students

Identification, phylogenetic analysis and expression profile of an anionic insect defensin gene, with antibacterial activity, from bacterial-challenged cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Defensins are a well known family of cationic antibacterial peptides (AMPs) isolated from fungi, plants, insects, mussels, birds, and various mammals. They are predominantly active against gram (+) bacteria, and a few of them are also active against gram (-) bacteria and fungi. All insect defensins belonging to the invertebrate class have a consensus motif, C-X_5-16-C-X₃-C-X_9-10-C-X_4-7-CX₁-C. Only seven AMPs have already been found in different lepidopteran species. No report was published on the isolation of defensin from the Egyptian cotton leafworm, <it>Spodoptera littoralis</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>An anionic defensin, termed <it>Spli</it>Def, was isolated from the haemolymph of the cotton leafworm, <it>S. littoralis</it>, after bacterial challenge using differential display technique. Based on sequence analyses of the data, specific primers for full length and mature peptide of defensin were designed and successfully amplified 471 and 150 bp amplicons. The integration of the results revealed that the 471 bp-PCR product has one open reading frame (<it>orf</it>) of 303 bp long, including both start codon (AUG) and stop codon (UGA). The deduced peptide consists of a 23-residues signal peptide, a 27-residues propeptide and a 50-residues mature peptide with the conserved six-cysteine motif of insect defensins. Both haemolymph and expressed protein exhibited antibacterial activities comparable to positive control. The RT-qPCR indicated that it was more than 41-folds up-regulated at 48 h p.i.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results highlight an important immune role of the defensin gene in <it>Spodoptera littoralis </it>by cooperating with other AMPs to control bacterial infection.</p

Effect of Sickle Cell Crises Prevention Guide for Children on Parents Knowledge and Reported Practices

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a global health concern associated with high childhood morbidity and mortality. The major associated complication is sickle cell crisis which cause frequent hospital admission. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effect of sickle cell crises prevention guide for children on parents’ knowledge and reported practices. The study was conducted at Hematology &amp; oncology unit of Pediatric department at Menoufia University Hospital and Health insurance hospital for children.  A quazi experimental design was used. A convenient sample of parents with sickle cell children in the above mentioned settings were selected (34 parents) from January to November 2018. One tool was used for data collection consists of 4-sections questionnaire to assess parents' knowledge and practice. The results of this study revealed that there were knowledge deficit between parents' about sickle cell disease, approximately two thirds of parents (64.7%) had improved on post intervention for reported practices of crisis prevention than pre intervention. Also, 79.4% of parents didn’t use social and cultural practices in prevention of sickle cell crises post intervention. Therefore, there was a highly statistical significance differences between pre and post intervention. Conclusion, implementing sickle cell prevention guide improve parents’ knowledge and reported practices for prevention of crises to promote children recovery. Recommendation, ensure that sickle cell booklets are made available to hospitals for parents in order to remind themselves on treatment and prevention of sickle cell crises. Keywords: Sickle cell crisis, knowledge, Practice DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/64-07 Publication date:July 31st 201

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED EXTRACT ON CISPLATIN INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN RATS

Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and nephroprotective efficacy of moringa oleifera seed extract (MOSE) against cisplatin which induced acute renal injury. Methods: Forty male Wister rats were equally segregated into 4 groups (10 rats per group): group I (0.5 ml of sterile saline orally), group II (200 mg MOSE/kg b. wt orally for 10 consecutive days), group III (7.5 mg cisplatin/kg b. wt/intraperitonially as a single dose on the 5th day of the experiment) and group IV (200 mg moringa oleifera seed extract (MOSE)/kg orally for 10 d followed by 7.5 mg cisplatin/kg body weight/intraperitonially once as a single dose on the 5th day of the experiment. Serum biochemical analysis of renal biomarkers (urea, uric acid, and creatinine), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA]), a crucial antioxidant enzyme (catalase) and the expression of renal activity interleukin (IL)-6, (IL)-10 and Tumer necrotic factor (TNF-α) mRNA were determined. Histopathological examination of renal tissue was done. Results: Cisplatin induced renal damage, increased renal biomarkers (urea, creatinine and uric acid)(375.87±1.65, 5.238±0.25, 4.47±0.25). Tissue concentrations of malondialdehyde, IL-6 and TNF-α.(387.56±0.97, 2.188±0.20, 3.06±0.27)compared to control group(140.58±1.25,0.938±0.017, 1.24±0.17), (163.99±1.34, 1.008±0.05, 0.982±0.026) Moreover, cisplatin induced significantly down-regulation of anti-inflammatory (IL-10) and catalase (0.780±0.47, 1.62±0.06) compared to control one (1.010±0.02, 3.12±0.11),. The histopathological examination showed renal tissue damage and degeneration of tubules in the cortical portion in cisplatin group. However, interestingly concurrent adminsteration of the MOSE with cisplatin can alleviated the renal damage, oxidative stress and renal toxicity caused by cisplatin. Conclusion: These results suggest that the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory effects of MOSE alleviate the cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity

Mobile Learning: Solutions & Challenges

In this session, Marguerite Koole, Fatma Elsayed Meawad, and Inge de Waard will describe two mobile learning projects: 1. A project piloting a Java-based system called “MobiGlam”. Through MobiGlam, students accessed Moodle course modules on their mobile devices. Evaluations from this 2008 project highlighted some interesting challenges in the Canadian context. 2. A mobile learning project of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium and the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt, Lima, Peru. Twenty physicians, deployed in urban peripheral HIV/AIDS clinics in Peru, used Smartphones with portable solar chargers to access 3D simulations of interactive clinical cases, discussion forums, and quizzes.Elluminat

Evaluation of a Novel Water Treatment Residual Nanoparticles as a Sorbent for Arsenic Removal

A novel sorbent, water treatment residual nanoparticles (nWTR), was synthesized and used to remove As(V) from water solutions. The kinetics and equilibrium of As(V) adsorption by nWTR were evaluated. The kinetic data for nWTR at 3 different pH values indicate that As(V) sorption is biphasic, is favored at low pH values, and followed the power function and first-order kinetics models fit. The results of the batch adsorption study showed that nWTR was effective in As(V) removal and its removal capability was 16 times higher than that of bulk WTR. Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR), SEM-EDX spectra, and As fractionation results indicate the crucial role of surface hydroxyl groups in As retention onto nWTR and the high capability of nWTR to immobilize As(V). The stability of As-nWTR surface complexes is suggested as less than 2% of adsorbed As(V) was released from nWTR after 4 consecutive desorption cycles

Competitive Adsorption of Cadmium (II) from Aqueous Solutions onto Nanoparticles of Water Treatment Residual

There is increasing interest in using water treatment residuals (WTRs) for heavy metals removal from wastewater due to their low cost, availability, and high efficiency in removing various pollutants. In this study, novel water treatment residuals nanoparticles (nWTRs) were prepared using high energy ball milling and used for efficient removal of Cd(II) in single-and multi-ion systems. The WTR nanoparticles demonstrated high removal efficiency for Cd from aqueous solution as the adsorption capacities of nWTR were 17 and 10 times higher than those of bulk WTR in single-and multielement systems, respectively. Noticeably, Cd(II) adsorption was clearly suppressed in the multi-ion system as Cu and Pb form the most stable monohydroxo complexes. Fourier transmission infrared (FTIR) analyses suggested the participation of OH − , O-Al-O, FeOH, and FeOOH entities in the adsorption process. The stability of Cd-nWTR surface complexes is evident as less than 0. 2% of adsorbed Cd(ll) was released at the highest Cd(II) concentration load after 4 consecutive desorption cycles. Moreover, the real efficiency of nWTR for Cd(II) removal from wastewater samples studied was calculated to be 98.35%. These results highlight the potential of nWTR for heavy metals removal from wastewater