Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in Incarcerated Populations

Alarming disparities in population health and wellness in the United States have led to multi-disciplinary research efforts to create health equity. Identifying disparities, elucidating the etiological bases of disparities, and implementing solutions to eliminate disparities are part of the U.S. national health agenda. Racial and ethnic disparities have been identified throughout the cancer control continuum, in cardiovascular disease, diabetes and a multitude of other conditions. The causes of disparities are complex, condition specific, and conjectured to result from combinations of biological and socio-behavioral factors. Racial and ethnic health disparities within the vast incarcerated communities have been excluded from most studies, yet are of significant ethical and fiscal concern to inmates, governing bodies, and non-incarcerated communities into which inmates return. Importantly, research on racial and ethnic disparities in this unique population may shed light on the relative etiologies of health disparities and solutions for creating health equity throughout the general population in the United States

Assessment of Curing Exposures Effect on the Long-term Engineering Properties of Novel Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

At present, most of the generated waste expanded polystyrene (EPS) in developed countries are transported to landfill and in some developing and/or less-developed countries such as Iraq are sent to open landscapes; consequently, this inadequate waste disposal can be very dangerous to our health and environment. This study describes engineering properties of sustainable lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) incorporating novel aggregates of waste EPS produced by a unique recycling technique of densifying. The new recycling technique significantly improved the segregation resistance of EPS beads in concrete as these beads are ultra-light material. The novel LWA of densified EPS (DEPS) was used as partial natural aggregate replacement in the mixes. Three water/cement (W/C) ratios were used. Three different types of curing conditions of indoor full water curing, outdoor weathering exposure, and heating exposure were employed during this study to represent different conditions which concrete may be subject to. The engineering properties of concrete investigated were consistency, dry density, compressive strength, and ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) for long-term performance of more than one-year age. It was indicated that the properties of concrete were not only primarily influenced by the employed curing conditions but the content of DEPS in the mixtures and additionally the W/C ratio had effect on the properties of concrete. However, adequate engineering properties can be achieved using an appropriate amount of DEPS with proper W/C and curing conditions

Analysis and Design of a Box Culvert Using Bentley Culvert Master Software: Qoshtapa Culvert as a Case Study

Box culverts are utilized in situations where natural stream flow intersects with roads and railway lines. This research utilizes a digital elevation model and the water Modeling System software to assess the catchment area of the primary valley and identify the factors contributing to flooding in Qoshtapa City. The study involves an analysis of the existing culvert and generated the necessary data for the design of a new culvert. Despite the presence of the existing culvert, floodwater levels rose to over 1 m above the roadway elevation of Erbil-Kirkuk during the last flood event in 2021–2022. The research collected hydrological and climatic data for the study area, conducted soil type analysis using the Harmonized World Soil Database software, and performed hydraulic calculations to estimate the maximum flood discharge of the valley using the Hydrological Engineering Center-Hydrological Modeling System software for flood return periods of 50, 100, and 200 years, for design, to select the best economic alternative. The new culvert design was executed using Bentley Culvert Master software to ensure that floodwaters can flow through the culvert without rising to street level. The results indicated that the new culvert design surpasses the capacity of the existing one. The results show that the best economic alternative hydraulic design is the first alternative capacity of 201 m3/s of a 100-year return period; the new design cross-section area of the culvert is 52.5 m2

Preparation and Comparative Evaluation of Fe+2/Fe+3 and Mg+2/Fe+3 LDHs as Promising Nanocarriers for Class II and Class IV Drugs

Application of NPs is a promising nanocarriers strategy for development of new drug delivery system. To accomplish such strategy, two types of NPs of layered double hydroxides (Fe+2/Fe+3) and (Mg+2/Fe+3) were synthesized, each one was separately loaded with two types of drugs, montelukast sodium (class II) and cefdinir (class IV) by application of two methods of drug loading (ion-exchange and intercalation methods). The final dried powder were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Thermal analysis (TGA), Zeta Potential analyzer, Powder X-ray diffraction pattern (PXRD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and evaluated by measuring solubility, percentage yield and drug loading capacity, in vitro dissolution, in vitro diffusion and biological activity. The results indicated that Fe+2/Fe+3 LDHs NPs is more suitable nanocarrier for class IV as well as class II drugs since it gave smaller particle size, improved permeability, higher loading capacity and improved biological activity therefore, it could be used to give sustained release pattern that can prolong the action of the drug in the body. Keywords: Fe+2/Fe+3-LDHs, Mg+2/Fe+3-LDHs, drug loading, cefdinir, montelukas

Spectrophotometric method for the determination of Captopril in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple, rapid and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of captopril in aqueous solution. The method is based on reaction of captopril with 2,3-dichloro 1,4- naphthoquinon(Dichlone) in neutral medium to form a stable yellow colored product which shows maximum absorption at 347 nm with molar absorptivity of 5.6 ×103 L.mole-1. cm-1. The proposed method is applied successfully for determination of captopril in commercial pharmaceutical tablets

FitnessGram Assessment Results in Five Rural Counties of Georgia

Background: Childhood obesity continues to be more prevalent in the United States (US) than ever before. Youth who reside in rural areas tend to experience higher risks of obesity and overweight status, mainly due to barriers to physical activity. Even though the US federal government has mandated a daily requirement of physical activity for all school-age children, the majority of youth from rural communities tend to not achieve the recommended Health Fitness Zone (HFZ) goals. Methods: The FITNESSGRAM is the instrument that has been used to measure and report students’ physical activity and body mass index (BMI) based on the Georgia Student Health and Physical Education Partnership (SHAPE) program recommendations. We examined BMI and aerobic activity measurements for students in 8 schools located in rural middle Georgia to determine their HFZ participation rates and achievement. The total students who participated in the aerobic capacity assessment was 1,068 (from 6 middle schools and 2 high schools) and the total who participated in the BMI assessment was 1,097 (from 5 middle schools and 2 high schools). Results: Overall, the majority of the schools were below 50% of the recommended goals. Conclusions: Additional initiatives are needed to address rural school compliance with federal and state policy recommendations and the low levels of physical activity among rural school-age children

The efficacy of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor as primary treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: Experience from a tertiary hospital

Background. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease affecting premature babies and a major cause of blindness in childhood. Appropriate screening and treatment can prevent blindness.Objective. To report on the efficacy of using antivascular endothelial growth factor (bevacizumab) as first-line therapy in ROP.Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of patients with ROP treated at St John Eye Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, over a 3-year period. Outcome measures were the clinical response to intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) as well as the economic impact of IVB therapy.Results. Twenty-three patients were treated for active ROP or type 1 disease, in 44 eyes. Two patients required treatment in one eye only. The mean birth weight of these patients was 1 074 g (range 810 - 1 480). Response to treatment outcome was available for 22 patients (43 eyes). The mean follow-up period was 9 months (range 1 - 18). Forty-one eyes (95.3%) showed complete regression or non-progression of the disease. Two eyes (one eye each in two patients) progressed to advanced disease. There were no short-term adverse events. A cost-effective model showed that IVB treatment was much more economical than laser therapy.Conclusion. IVB is a safe and effective first-line treatment for ROP and should be considered in resource-limited centres

Flood Modeling on Koya Catchment Area Using Hyfran, Web Map Service, and HEC-RAS Software

In this research, The boundaries of the Koya catchment area have been delineated, and valley paths in the region were drawn by using the Water Modeling System (WMS) software, Analysis of the morphometric information indicated that the morphometric characteristics of watersheds contribute to the floods. The average surface runoff depth depends on the curve number values that are determined based on the types of soil cover and soil class according to Harmonized World Soil Database HWSD software that indicates the soil class in the study area are Group B silt loam,  The results obtained also show that the potential for surface runoff varies with land use and soil characteristics. Also, the value of the curve number (CN) was determined to be 71. The hydrological modeling was performed by the HEC-HMS program that simulates the process of rainfall to runoff using the SCS curve number model. A flood hydrograph was constructed at the catchment area outlet and the floodplain delineation was verified by the HEC-RAS software. The results indicated that the 100-year return period flood could Reach critical areas such as the urban area, agricultural area, residential areas. the results of this study indicate that there are suitable sites in the catchment areas for constructing small dams and ponds for water harvesting.&nbsp

LOADING OF CLARITHROMYCIN AND PACLITAXEL ON SYNTHESIZED CdS/NiO NANOPARTICLES AS PROMISING NANOCARRIERS

Objective: In this study cadmium sulfide (CdS) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were synthesized and applied as novel nanocarriers for antibacterial drug clarithromycin (CLA) and anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) to improve their physical properties and biological activities.Methods: Cadmium sulfide (CdS) and nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were synthesized by chemical co-precipitation and thermochemical processing techniques respectively and loaded with clarithromycin (CLA) and paclitaxel (PTX) by simple new one-step reaction. Analytical measures including FTIR, PXRD, SEM, AFM, TGA, DSC and zeta potential where used for characterization. The in vitro release, antibacterial as well as anticancer activities were evaluated.Results: Analytical measures revealed that the loading involved physical complex formation rather than chemical modification with the high percent surface loading of the drugs on the nanoparticles. Solubility/dissolution study revealed higher significant* improvement in the solubility of CLA from NiO nanoparticles than that from CdS nanoparticles while the antibacterial activity of CLA was non-significantly improved. For PTX loaded on CdS and NiO nanoparticles showed non-significant change in its solubility, but remarkable significant* increase in its antitumor activity on MCF-7 cell line accompanied with significant* reduction in its cytotoxicity on normal mammary cell line (MCF-10A) indicating the selectivity and targeting of PTX-CdS/NiO nanocarriers with reduced side effects of the drug and the used metal nanocarriers.Conclusion: This work provided most selective and safe delivery system for PTX and best method for enhancement of CLA solubility.Keywords: Clarithromycin (CLA), Paclitaxel (PTX), Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanoparticles, Nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticlesÂ

The efficacy of intravitreal antivascular endothelial growth factor as primary treatment of retinopathy of prematurity: Experience from a tertiary hospital

Background. Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a vasoproliferative disease affecting premature babies and a major cause of blindness in childhood. Appropriate screening and treatment can prevent blindness.Objective. To report on the efficacy of using antivascular endothelial growth factor (bevacizumab) as first-line therapy in ROP.Methods. This was a retrospective analysis of patients with ROP treated at St John Eye Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa, over a 3-year period. Outcome measures were the clinical response to intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) as well as the economic impact of IVB therapy.Results. Twenty-three patients were treated for active ROP or type 1 disease, in 44 eyes. Two patients required treatment in one eye only. The mean birth weight of these patients was 1 074 g (range 810 - 1 480). Response to treatment outcome was available for 22 patients (43 eyes). The mean follow-up period was 9 months (range 1 - 18). Forty-one eyes (95.3%) showed complete regression or non-progression of the disease. Two eyes (one eye each in two patients) progressed to advanced disease. There were no short-term adverse events. A cost-effective model showed that IVB treatment was much more economical than laser therapy.Conclusion. IVB is a safe and effective first-line treatment for ROP and should be considered in resource-limited centres