Effect of Graft Ratio PVA-Urea and Different Concentration Blend Polymers on Swelling Ratio

The polymeric materials still important parameters for drug delivery research.In the present work two graft polymers PVA-U were prepared from reaction  polyvinyl alcohol PVA  and urea by using two ratio concentration from urea. Were blending 8% PVA-U and 5% Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC  in different ratio 100:0, 75:25 and 50:50  with using glutaraldehyde as crosslinked agent 0.75 ml/dl. The structure of PVA-U and blend PVA-U/HPMC hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, differential scanning colorimeter DSC and scanning electron microscopy SEM. Studies are made on swelling behavior for all prepared samples in different media of PH (neutral, acidic and alkaline) and deionised water.. It is found that swelling ratio depends on media and proportion of substitutes in graft polymers, in high graft polyvinyl alcohol the swelling ratio increased with pH increased from pH2 < dionized water ≤ PH7 < PH10, But in low graft polyvinyl alcohol the swelling ratio increased with pH increased from pH2 < PH10 < dionized water ≤ PH7. Swelling ratio of polymeric hydrogels was affected by composition blend polymers and it was increased by increasing the concentration of HPMC and decrease time for complete swelling. Keywords: Blend polymers, Hydrogel polymers, PVA, HPMC, Glutaraldehyd

Effect of Crosslinking Agent Ratio and Temperature on Degree of Swelling in Polymer Hydrogels

In the present work graft polymers PVA-U were prepared from reaction polyvinyl alcohol PVA  and urea. Were blending 8% PVA-U and 5% Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose HPMC  in different ratio 100:0, 75:25 and 50:50  with using glutaraldehyde as crosslinked agent in different ratio 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.25 ml/dl. The structure of PVA-U and blend PVA-U/HPMC hydrogel was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR, differential scanning colorimeter DSC and scanning electron microscopy SEM. Studies are made on swelling behavior for all prepared samples in different media of PH (neutral, acidic and alkaline) and deionised water.. It was observed that swelling ratio of hydrogel decreased by increasing the concentration of glutaraldehyde. The swelling ratio was measured for some hydrogel in pH7 at three different temperatures (25, 37, 50) as function of time, it was observed that swelling ratio increased with increased temperatures.. Keywords: Blend polymers, Hydrogel polymers, PVA, HPMC, Glutaraldehyd

The use of mobile mental health apps among Moroccan medical students and its relation with environmental protection: A descriptive study

Medical students report a growing prevalence of mental health illnesses due to the medical school curriculum being considered challenging, lengthy, and leaving little time for leisure. Currently, several mental health apps are available and hold promise in terms of the diagnosis, monitoring, and management of mental health disorders. This study aimed to investigate medical students’ habits, attitudes, and intentions about using mental health applications. A survey questionnaire given to one hundred and thirty-three Moroccan medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Casablanca and answered by one hundred and eleven of them was used to collect primary data. Improvements in the management and monitoring of mental health illnesses as well as a reduction in environmental costs as a result of a decrease in patient travel to mental healthcare facilities are the most obvious reasons why medical students perceive mental health applications to be useful. The findings also indicate that medical students are less familiar with mental health apps and use them less frequently than other mobile health apps. Furthermore, downloading a mental health app, being diagnosed with mental health issues, and perceiving mobile mental health apps to be useful don’t ensure their active use among medical students. Therefore, more research on the determinants of the use of mobile mental health apps is needed. Those related to environmental protection must also be considered

A psychological insight of Moroccan adults’ immunisation behaviour towards emergency vaccines

Background: The psychology of vaccination behaviour explains how thoughts and feelings influence people’s willingness to receive vaccines. Understanding vaccination behaviour is crucial to successfully managing vaccination campaigns. Aim: Investigating factors associated with immunisation stress among students at Mohammed First University. Setting: This study was conducted on students at Mohammed First University institutions. Methods: This study is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. It was conducted on 305 students at Mohammed First University institutions using a 90-item questionnaire. Results: Three hundred and five participants have been included in this survey. Overall, 65.5% of the students in our sample had a positive perception towards COVID-19 vaccines. Nevertheless, 34.5% had a negative opinion regarding immunisation. According to the analysis of perceived stress scale, 40% (n = 122) of students expressed moderate to high stress regarding vaccination. Students with a negative perception of vaccine showed a higher level of stress than those with a positive one. Stressed students tended to be older than others, coming from other institutions, other than the medical faculty, and were renting alone. Vaccine accessibility was the less significant reason associated with stress regarding vaccination. Moreover, participants with high levels of confidence in social media, exhibited higher stress. Nevertheless, those who believed in scientific journals were significantly less stressed. Conclusion: These results reflect a positive perception and acceptance of vaccines, with a considerable level of stress regarding vaccination. Contribution: This study suggests emphasising the mental health of Moroccan young adults, to better sensitise and inform them about immunisation

Physical volcanology and emplacement mechanism of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) lava flows from the Central High Atlas, Morocco

The best preserved and most complete lava flow sequences of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) in Morocco are exposed in the Central High Atlas and can reach up to 300 m in thickness. Four distinct formations, emplaced in subaerial environments, are classically recognized: the Lower, Intermediate, Upper and Recurrent formations. These formations are separated by paleosoils and sedimentary sequences (mudstones, siltstones, sandstones, limestones), that are in general less than two meter-thick and may exceptionally reach a thickness of 80 m, representing minor periods of volcanic quiescence. CAMP lava flows of the Central High Atlas can be grouped into two main categories: subaerial compound pahoehoe flows and simple flows. The former type is exclusively confined to the Lower and Intermediate Formations, while simple flows occur in the Upper and Recurrent Formations. The dominance of compound flows in the two lowermost units of the CAMP suggests a slow emplacement during successive sustained eruptive episodes. Instead the thick single flows characterizing the Upper and Recurrent units indicate higher effusive rates. Basaltic pillow lavas (always of short lateral extent: 10 to 100 m), showing radial jointing and vitreous rinds, identical to those found in the Western Meseta, are occasionally associated with hyaloclastites in the base of the Intermediate Formation, immediately above clastic sediments, or in the Upper Formation. The occurrence of pillow lavas does not imply a generalized subaqueous environment at the time of the lava emission. Instead, they represent subaerial flows that entered small lakes occupying depressions on the volcanic topography of the Lower and Intermediate Formations. The short lateral extent of the pillow lavas and their constant stratigraphic position, the existence of lava flows with unequivocal subaerial characteristics associated to sediments containing fossilized wood, clearly indicate onshore emplacement.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Integrating a reproductive health framework within primary care services: The experience of the Reproductive Health Intervention Study [Arabic]

This paper is part of the Policy Series in Reproductive Health, which shares research undertaken by the Reproductive Health Working Group (RHWG). It describes the Reproductive Health Intervention Study, which designed and tested a model of essential reproductive health (RH) services. RHWG was established in 1988 as part of a special program on the health of women and children within the context of the family and community initiated by the Population Council’s Regional Office for the West Asia and North Africa region. The paper identifies a framework of basic service components that address RH and shows that their delivery is possible at the primary level. It gives an overview of this experience, which illustrates how the RH approach can be translated into actual service delivery at the primary care level in a developing country setting. The paper outlines the framework that was developed and tested in three rural primary care clinics in Giza, Egypt; presents the main achievements as well as challenges; and discusses the most salient policy implications

Insecticide resistance in the sand fly, Phlebotomus papatasi from Khartoum State, Sudan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Phlebotomus papatasi </it>the vector of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is the most widely spread sand fly in Sudan. No data has previously been collected on insecticide susceptibility and/or resistance of this vector, and a first study to establish a baseline data is reported here.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sand flies were collected from Surogia village, (Khartoum State), Rahad Game Reserve (eastern Sudan) and White Nile area (Central Sudan) using light traps. Sand flies were reared in the Tropical Medicine Research Institute laboratory. The insecticide susceptibility status of first progeny (F1) of <it>P. papatasi </it>of each population was tested using WHO insecticide kits. Also, <it>P. papatasi </it>specimens from Surogia village and Rahad Game Reserve were assayed for activities of enzyme systems involved in insecticide resistance (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), non-specific carboxylesterases (EST), glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome p450 monooxygenases (Cyt p450).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Populations of <it>P. papatasi </it>from White Nile and Rahad Game Reserve were sensitive to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), permethrin, malathion, and propoxur. However, the <it>P. papatasi </it>population from Surogia village was sensitive to DDT and permethrin but highly resistant to malathion and propoxur. Furthermore, <it>P. papatasi </it>of Surogia village had significantly higher insecticide detoxification enzyme activity than of those of Rahad Game Reserve. The sand fly population in Surogia displayed high AChE activity and only three specimens had elevated levels for EST and GST.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provided evidence for malathion and propoxur resistance in the sand fly population of Surogia village, which probably resulted from anti-malarial control activities carried out in the area during the past 50 years.</p

Placemaking from Interstitial Spaces: Participatory planning and collaborative community design as strategies to revitalize a service alleyway in Montreal (Bishop/Mackay)

This project explores participatory planning and community design methodologies (i.e. pattern language design, placemaking, community planning charrettes, planning-in-situ, open planning and peer to peer urbanism) to revitalize a service alleyway in downtown Montreal. The objective of this project is to democratize planning and urban design practices and to engage ordinary citizens in the planning of their own spaces. After a series of visioning workshops, brainstorming sessions and a community planning charrette, this project incorporates inputs from stakeholders, students and ordinary citizens into a collaborative urban design project. The project proposes interventions such as a woonerf, a planning committee, a cubic/fractal scaffolding structure, art murals and wall projections (among others). With the objective of encouraging future adaptations and transformations, this project is published under a Creative Commons license. Adopt and adapt these ideas (but cite and acknowledge accordingly)