Evaluation of aqueous Ozone as a method to combat multidrugresistant Staphylococcus aureus tainting cattle meat sold in Wasit marketplaces

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of ozonation treatment (1/2 ppm for up to 30 min at 3-7 centigrade) on the persistence of multidrug-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MDR S. aureus) tainting cattle meat.Design: Descriptive studyProcedures: Nine testers of cattle's meat including imported (n = 3) and locally slaughtered (n = 6), which were stored at -18 centigrade and accepted positive for MDR S. aureus were subjected to aqueous ozone (O3) as 1/2 ppm for 15 and 30 min. Results: The results presented that after ozonation treatment (1/2 ppm at 3-7 centigrade), the whole testers which free from MDR S. aureus were 22.2% & 55.6% for 15 & 30 min, respectively. Additionally, the antimicrobial effectiveness of aqueous O3 as 1/2 ppm on the decline of MDR S. aureus level (log10CFU/ml) was measured against three contaminated testers of cattle's meat. The outcomes publicized that afterward handlings, the total decline of bacterial counts was 2-3 log10 (CFU/ml) after 30 min at 3-7 centigrade, this decline is extremely noteworthy from the opinion of public health. The effectiveness of aqueous O3 (0.5 ppm/3-7 centigrade) with carcass drip to MDR S. aureus was assessed and the results displayed that 77.8% and 100% of the testers of aqueous O3 were negative after ozonation treatments for 15 and 30 min, respectively.Conclusion and clinical relevance: O3 as 1/2 ppm is exceedingly active in dropping the amount of MDR S. aureus contaminated testers and this decline augmented as prolonged experience time to ozonation treatment. On the other hand, O3 was highly effective in eradicating MDR S. aureus even in the presence of high levels of organic materials. These outcomes designated O3 as a substitute promising approach to decline meat contagion with foodborne microorganisms for instance MDR S. aureus

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice related to visceral leishmaniasis among residents of Al-Suwaira city, Wasit Governorate, Middle East of Iraq

Introduction: It is important to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) towards visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to implement an effective control program. Hence, this study aimed to shed light in KAP among residents at Al-Suwaira city, Wasit Governorate, Middle East of Iraq. Methods: During March to May 2021, a cross-sectional study was done on 121 randomly selected residents. A normal self-administered questionnaire was used to measure the KAP. The results were expressed using descriptive analysis. Results: Overall, participants indicated average knowledge towards VL. However, the incubation period of VL (23.9%), the symptoms of VL (57.9%), and the diseases' transmission ways (54.5%) were recognized as knowledge gaps. The participants had favorable attitude towards VL, as majority of them (more than 70.0%) agreed that VL causes health problems in the local populations and local communities should be actively involved in the fight against VL. Also, majority of the participants agreed that VL is a treatable. Regarding practice towards VL, 110 (90.9%) participants had used preventive measures against sand fly bites. The majority of people (44.6%) chose cleanliness as a disease-prevention technique. The main sources of information used by participants to educate themselves about the condition were the internet (57.0%) and television (19.8%). Conclusion: Overall, the participants had good knowledge, positive attitudes, and good practice when it came to VL prevention. However, there were some gaps. Hence, it is recommended that knowledge-based strategies be strengthened and rigorously rolled out in order to raise awareness among the residents of the region

Student’s perspectives, satisfaction and experiences with online and classroom learning during the COVID-19 pandemic : findings and implications on blended learning

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted classroom-based learning, necessitating the adoption of online learning in most universities. However, there has been a lack of information on university students' perspectives regarding online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study assessed the perspectives, satisfaction, and experiences with online and classroom learning among human health students at the University of Zambia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 737 students at the University of Zambia from October 2022 to April 2023. Data were analysed using Stata version 16.1. Results: Of the 737 participants, 51.6% were female and 56.5% agreed that blended learning should continue even after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, 78.4% of the students believed that group discussions were more suitable in the classroom than online learning. Most students (67.1%) disagreed that they preferred online learning to classroom learning. Further, 77.6% of the students disagreed that online learning gave more satisfaction than classroom learning. Conclusions: This study found that most students recommended the continuation of blended learning after the pandemic. However, they believed that follow-up tutorials and assessments were better undertaken in physical classrooms than online learning. These findings are important in sensitising stakeholders in the education sector and governments to consider blended learning as a teaching strategy in the future. There is a need to develop and implement curricula that offer blended learning to students as well as ensure the students have the necessary facilities and equipment to support such learning

Numerical Modeling of Steel Column for its Response to Large Explosive Loading using CEL-FEM Approach

In the past few decades, there has been a growing public concern regarding the protection of infrastructures against extreme events, specifically explosive detonations. Traditional structural design has predominantly focused on accounting for gravity, seismic, and wind loads as the primary factors to consider. The rise in subversive attacks has led to a heightened focus on blast load and its impact on infrastructures. Unconfined, surface explosions are a common type of terrorist attack that occurs outside of buildings. This has necessitated a greater understanding of the effects these explosions can have on structures. A comprehensive numerical model was created in Abaqus for a steel column measuring 2.41m in length and having a W150x24 cross-section. The model was then subjected to a powerful explosion equivalent to 100kg-TNT, with a standoff distance of 10.30m. To achieve this, an Eulerian-Lagrangian approach coupled with the Finite-element method (CEL-FEM) was employed. A thorough investigation was conducted by modifying the explosion's altitude (i.e., blast height), and the subsequent dynamic responses were analyzed and discussed. The outcomes of this investigation significantly enhance our comprehension of how steel columns respond when subjected to intense explosive forces

Numerical Analysis of Compound Walls of Brick Masonry, Strengthened with C-FRP Laminate under Explosive Detonations - Afghanistan Scenario

Afghanistan, a nation plagued by wars, terrorism, and counter-terrorism, has borne the brunt of these conflicts. The common people of Afghanistan are weary of the continuous cycle of attacks and counter-attacks by warlords. Even places of worship and those who gather there are not spared from these acts of violence. For years, explosive blasts have targeted the compound walls surrounding these religious structures. In this research, we investigate the impact of such blasts on free-standing URM walls commonly used in Afghanistan. Using ABAQUS/Explicit code, we conduct nonlinear analysis to examine the blast performance of these walls. Additionally, we retrofit the walls with a high-strength C-FRP laminate. To optimize computational time, we employ a macro strategy. The results show that the strengthened walls exhibit comparable blast performance. Importantly, when the laminate is applied to both faces, there is no longer a need for increased wall thickness in the masonry construction