The relationship between physical activity level and obesity among medical students at International University of Africa, Sudan

Background: Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide, with increasing rates in adults and children . Several studies had investigated the relationship between physical activity and obesity but this relationship is still controversial and few attempts were made to study this relationship among medical students especially in Sudan. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity level and obesity among the medical students of the International University of Africa.Methods: This was cross section descriptive facility- based study conducted among 200 medical students at International University of Africa (IUA) selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected by self-administered questionnaire which included sociodemographic data. Anthropometric measurements were done for each participant. Physical activity level was determined by the short form of the international physical activity questionnaire (SF-IPAQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23 program. Descriptive data were presented as means and standard deviations of means or percentages. Correlation analysis and Chi-Square test were used to assess associations/ differences between different variables. P<0.05 was considered statistically significantResults: The mean age of participants was 21.76±2.48 years. The prevalence of obesity among students was 6.5% and most of the students had either low or moderate physical activity level (24.5% and 48.5% respectively). Male students had higher level of physical activity than female students (P<0.001). There was no significant relationship between physical activity level and obesity in both male and female students.Conclusion: The study revealed insignificant relationship between obesity and physical activity level.Keywords: Obesity, physical activity, medical students, Sudanes

Improved bioavailability of timolol maleate via transdermal transfersomal gel: Statistical optimization, characterization, and pharmacokinetic assessment

AbstractTimolol maleate (TiM), a nonselective β-adrenergic blocker, is a potent highly effective agent for management of hypertension. The drug suffers from extensive first pass effect, resulting in a reduction of oral bioavailability (F%) to 50% and a short elimination half-life of 4h; parameters necessitating its frequent administration. The current study was therefore, designed to formulate and optimize the transfersomal TiM gel for transdermal delivery. TiM loaded transfersomal gel was optimized using two 23 full factorial designs; where the effects of egg phosphatidyl choline (PC): surfactant (SAA) molar ratio, solvent volumetric ratio, and the drug amount were evaluated. The formulation variables; including particle size, drug entrapment efficiency (%EE), and release rate were characterized. The optimized transfersomal gel was prepared with 4.65:1 PC:SAA molar ratio, 3:1 solvent volumetric ratio, and 13mg drug amount with particle size of 2.722μm, %EE of 39.96%, and a release rate of 134.49μg/cm2/h. The permeation rate of the optimized formulation through the rat skin was excellent (151.53μg/cm2/h) and showed four times increase in relative bioavailability with prolonged plasma profile up to 72h compared with oral aqueous solution. In conclusion, a potential transfersomal transdermal system was successfully developed and the factorial design was found to be a smart tool, when optimized

Transcendence over Diversity: black women in the academy

Universities, like many major public institutions have embraced the notion of ‘diversity’ virtually uncritically- it is seen as a moral ‘good in itself’. But what happens to those who come to represent ‘diversity’- the black and minority ethnic groups targeted to increase the institutions thirst for global markets and aversion to accusations of institutional racism? Drawing on existing literature which analyses the process of marginalization in higher education, this paper explores the individual costs to black and female academic staff regardless of the discourse on diversity. However despite the exclusion of staff, black and minority ethnic women are also entering higher education in relatively large numbers as students. Such ‘grassroots’ educational urgency transcends the dominant discourse on diversity and challenges presumptions inherent in top down initiatives such as ‘widening participation’. Such a collective movement from the bottom up shows the importance of understanding black female agency when unpacking the complex dynamics of gendered and racialised exclusion. Black women’s desire for education and learning makes possible a reclaiming of higher education from creeping instrumentalism and reinstates it as a radical site of resistance and refutation

Increased left atrial stiffness in patients with atrial fibrillation detected by left atrial speckle tracking echocardiography

AbstractObjectiveThis study was designed to determine the contribution of left atrial (LA) stiffness to atrial fibrillation (AF) progression by comparing AF patients with normal control subjects, and to evaluate whether LA mechanical function is related to the structural changes of LA.BackgroundAbnormalities in the LA structure and function usually develop in patients with AF.Patients and methodsTwenty paroxysmal and 20 persistent AF patients, were included and studied, using standard, tissue Doppler and speckle tracking echocardiography, and were compared with 20 matched controls. LA maximal volume, mitral annular velocities, and global longitudinal LA strain were measured. The ratio of E/e′ to LA strain was used as an index of LA stiffness.ResultsStudy groups were comparable. Paroxysmal and persistent AF patients showed increased LA maximal volume (24.3±3.2, 20.1±5.2 vs. 18.3±1.6, p<0.001) and LV filling pressure (E/e′=9.5±1.1, 7.9±1.2 vs. 6.8±1.1, p<0.001), but decreased mitral annular velocities and LA strain (18.1±2.8, 21.5±4.3 vs. 25.9±2.9, p<0.001). LA stiffness was increased in patients with persistent and paroxysmal AF than in the control subjects (0.55±0.12, 0.36±0.09 vs. 0.26±0.02, p<0.001), and was related with LA diameter and LV filling pressure.ConclusionsPatients with AF have increased LA stiffness in comparison with that of the control subjects and it is higher in persistent than paroxysmal AF. LA volume and LV filling pressure are independent predictors of LA stiffness

Creep and morphological evaluation of polypropylene waste modified asphalt for pavement applications

Synoptic findings by researchers have revealed tremendous physic-chemical improvements of polymer modified mixes over the conventional asphalt. Traditionally, laboratory mechanical properties were carried out for asphalt testing, but cannot calibrate simple performance test (SPTs) criteria for fatigue and field performance. Marshall test-sized specimens of polymer asphalt mixtures were engineered with arbitrary contents of 0 to 3.0% polypropylene waste admixed with 4.5 to 6.5% bitumen contents based on relevant literature. Creep deformation involves uniaxial static creep (USC) test using BS 598-111. Morphological examinations were test with Hitachi S-4700 field-emission scan-electron-microscope (FE-SEM). Thirdly, thermal degradation was determined using Shimadzu TGA-50 thermo-gravimetric analyzer. The results showed creep resistivity with fatigue recovery of 23.2% and 28.9% strain reduction at 10oC and 60oC respectively from the optimal 2.0% polypropylene and 6.0% bitumen compared to the control mix. Also, the same mix produced well dispersed and better enhanced pore packaging micro-structure capable of resisting ageing volatization under severe traffic and environmental loading conditions considered. Keywords: Asphalt pavement, polypropylene, creep deformation, age volatization and microstructur

Pre-bcc: a novel integrated machine learning framework for predicting mechanical and durability properties of blended cement concrete

Partially replacing ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with low-carbon supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in blended cement concrete (BCC) is perceived as the most promising route for sustainable concrete production. Despite having a lower environmental impact, BCC could exhibit performance inferior to OPC in design-governing functional properties. Hence, concrete manufacturers and scientists have been seeking methods to predict the performance of BCC mixes in order to reduce the cost and time of experimentally testing all alternatives. Machine learning algorithms have been proven in other fields for treating large amounts of data drawing meaningful relationships between data accurately. However, the existing prediction models in the literature come short in covering a wide range of SCMs and/or functional properties. Considering this, in this study, a non-linear multi-layered machine learning regression model was created to predict the performance of a BCC mix for slump, strength, and resistance to carbonation and chloride ingress based on any of five prominent SCMs: fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag, silica fume, lime powder and calcined clay. A database from>150 peer-reviewed sources containing>1650 data points was created to train and test the model. The statistical performance was found to be comparable to that of existing models (R = 0.94–0.97). For the first time, the model, Pre-bcc, was also made available online for users to conduct their own prediction studies.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Technology Adoption Factors For Oldera Adults: An Exploratory Gerontechnology Study

This study aims to explore the underlying factors of older adults’ technology resistance through qualitative exploratory method. A total of 139 older adults in Malaysia have been interviewed. The findings of this study shed light into these older adults’ experiences with new technology and factors affecting their technology adoption. The preliminary findings are reported and discussed

A review of biochemical structures of Urtica dioica metabolites and their pharmaceutical effects

Phytochemicals are chemical compounds produced by plants during the natural metabolic processes to resisting them fungi, bacteria and plant virus infections, and also consumption by insects and other animals. Phytochemicals is generally used to describe plant compounds that are under research and are often referred to as secondary metabolites. Some phytochemicals have been used as poisons and some others as traditional medicine and Nutrition. The aim of present study was to update a comprehensive review published on Urtica dioica which includes phytochemical and pharmacological synthesis. Urtica dioica or stinging nettle which is Urticaceae family herbaceous perennial, usually grows in temperate regions such as Europe, some places of Asia and western North Africa, New Zealand and North America. Its stem and leaves covered with hairs called trichomes which act like hypodermic needles and inject histamine and some other chemicals. Burning sensation during contact and contact urticaria (contact dermatitis) is visible because of it. A lot of bioactive phytochemical compounds have been identified in the methanolic extract of it

Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Iris Persica L. (Flowers, Leaves, Bulbs and Rhizomes) Collected in Kurdistan Region-Iraq.

The curative properties of medicinal plants are perhaps due to the presence of various secondary metabolites. This paper reports the first investigation of phytochemical constituents present in the methanolic extracts of flowers, leaves, bulbs and rhizomes of Iris persica L. (Iridaceae), collected in Korek Mountain (Rawanduz) in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq, which is used by local people for the treatment of wound inflammation and tumor. The phytochemical analysis was performed to detect the presence of flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenoids, protiens and reducing sugar in all extracts of Iris persica. While tannins and saponins were found in bulb and rhizome extracts only, alkaloids, steroids, aminoacids and anthraquinons were found to be absent in all extracts

Facile electrodeposition of high-density CuCo2O4 nanosheets as a high-performance Li-ion battery anode material

High-density CuCo2O4 nanosheets are grown on Ni foam using electrodeposition followed by air annealing for a Li-ion battery anode. The anode exhibits a high discharge capacity of 1244 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g (82% coulombic efficiency) and excellent high-rate performance with 95% capacity retention (1100 mAh/g after 200 cycles at 1 A/g). The outstanding battery performance of the CuCo2O4 anode is attributed to its binder-free direct contact to the current collector and high-density nanosheet morphology. The present experimental findings demonstrate that the electrodeposited binder-free CuCo2O4 material may serve as a safe, low-cost, long-cycle life anode for Li-ion batteries