Adsorption of some Metal Ions from Aqueous Solution on Iraqi Rice Bran and Its Relation to the Physical Properties of these Metal Ions

Adsorption studies were carried out to test the ability of the Iraqi rice bran (Amber type) to adsorb some metals divalent cations (Cd2+, Co2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+) as an alternative tool to remove these pollutants from water. The Concentrations of these ions in water were measured using flame and flamless atomic absorption spectrophotometry techniques. The applicability of the adsorption isotherm on Langmuir or Freundlisch equation were tested and found to be dependent on the type of ions. The results showed different adsorptive behavior and different capacities of the adsorption of the ions on the surface of the bran. The correlation between the amounts adsorbed and different cation parameters including (electronegativity, ionic radius, and the second ionization potential) were tested. This study showed the applicability of bran, as a cheap and available waste materials, to remove different cations from solution

Design and implementation of a secured SDN system based on hybrid encrypted algorithms

Software defined network suggests centralizing network knowledge in one network portion by separating the routing (control plane) mechanism from the transmission network packet operation (data plane). The control plane is composed of one, two or more controllers which are considered as software-defined networking (SDN) network brain where the real intelligence is incorporated. The process of separating the control unit from the data unit led to a problem related to poor security of data sent in the network, so solutions to these problems had to be found. In this paper, address this problem by implementing robust algorithms to encrypt information, based on advanced encryption standard (AES), Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA), and hybrid encryption algorithms to guarantee data protection and authenticity. The results showed that the hybrid coding method is better in terms of security and improved time (faster than RSA alone) by applying several scenarios in the SDN network to a set of encrypted files

Stress-induced behavioral changes in Iraqi dentistry academics during the COVID-19 outbreak

Introduction: Studies of dental practitioners performed around the world demonstrate that COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts their daily activities lives, social functions, and health-care providing duties. The aim of the study is to evaluate the pandemic-induced psychological stress and associated factors on dental academics in Iraq.Methods: We conduct an observational study using a self-administered survey to obtain data from dental academics in many colleges of dentistry within Baghdad city. A closed-ended questionnaire was utilized, to assess post-traumatic responses to particular events. The Impact of Event Scale was used to assess the level of stress in the first of two outcomes. The second depicts the effects of COVID-19 on behavioral changes.Results: A total of 108 participants from seven colleges in Bagdad responded. About 38% reported a state of severe stress, 46.3% showed moderate stress, and 13.9% complained of mild states of stress. Stress levels were found to be substantially linked to fear of infection, worries about professional responsibilities, and limited mobility.Conclusion: The pandemic stress induces psychological and behavioral changes on the Iraqi dental educators, which can never be eliminated

Frondoside A suppressive effects on lung cancer survival, tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis

A major challenge for oncologists and pharmacologists is to develop less toxic drugs that will improve the survival of lung cancer patients. Frondoside A is a triterpenoid glycoside isolated from the sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa and was shown to be a highly safe compound. We investigated the impact of Frondoside A on survival, migration and invasion in vitro, and on tumor growth, metastasis and angiogenesis in vivo alone and in combination with cisplatin. Frondoside A caused concentration-dependent reduction in viability of LNM35, A549, NCI-H460-Luc2, MDA-MB-435, MCF-7, and HepG2 over 24 hours through a caspase 3/7-dependent cell death pathway. The IC50 concentrations (producing half-maximal inhibition) at 24 h were between 1.7 and 2.5 mu M of Frondoside A. In addition, Frondoside A induced a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration, invasion and angiogenesis in vitro. Frondoside A (0.01 and 1 mg/kg/day i.p. for 25 days) significantly decreased the growth, the angiogenesis and lymph node metastasis of LNM35 tumor xenografts in athymic mice, without obvious toxic side-effects. Frondoside A (0.1-0.5 mu M) also significantly prevented basal and bFGF induced angiogenesis in the CAM angiogenesis assay. Moreover, Frondoside A enhanced the inhibition of lung tumor growth induced by the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. These findings identify Frondoside A as a promising novel therapeutic agent for lung cancer

ENHANCING HYBRID SECURITY APPROACH USING AES AND RSA ALGORITHMS

Network safety has become an important issue in recent years. Encryption has been developed as a solution and plays an important role in the security of information systems. Many methods are required to secure the shared data. The advanced internet, networking firms, health information and the cloud applications have significantly increased our data every minute. The current work focuses on cryptography to provide the protection for sensitive data that exchanged between personal users, companies, organizations, or in the cloud applications and others during the transfer of data across the network. Firstly, Data sent from sender to network receiver must be encrypted using the cryptographic algorithm. Secondly, the recipient shows the original data using the decryption technique. This paper presents three encrypting algorithms such as AES, RSA and hybrid algorithms, and their efficiency is compared based on the analysis of the time. Results of the experiments show that the hybrid algorithm is better in term of security

The Nrf2 Activator (DMF) and Covid-19: Is there a Possible Role?

COVID-19 is a new viral illness that can affect the lungs and airways with lethal consequences leading to the death of the patients. The ACE2 receptors were widely disturbed among body tissues such as lung, kidney, small intestine, heart, and others in different percent and considered a target for the nCOVID-19 virus. S-protein of the virus was binding to ACE2 receptors caused downregulation of endogenous anti-viral mediators, upregulation of NF-κB pathway, ROS and pro-apoptotic protein. Nrf2 was a transcription factor that's play a role in generation of anti-oxidant enzymes. To describe and establish role of Nrf2 activators for treatment COVID-19 positive patients. We used method of analysis of the published papers with described studies about COVID-19 connected with pharmacological issues and aspects which are included in global fighting against COVID-19 infection, and how using DMF (Nrf2 activator) in clinical trial for nCOVID-19 produce positive effects in patients for reduce lung alveolar cells damage. we are found that Nrf2 activators an important medication that's have a role in reduce viral pathogenesis via inhibit virus entry through induce SPLI gene expression as well as inhibit TRMPSS2, upregulation of ACE2 that's make a competition with the virus on binding site, induce gene expression of anti-viral mediators such as RIG-1 and INFs, induce anti-oxidant enzymes, also they have a role in inhibit NF-κB pathway, inhibit both apoptosis proteins and gene expression of TLRs. We are concluded that use DMF (Nrf2 activator) in clinical trial for nCOVID-19 positive patients to reduce lung alveolar cells damage. [Abstract copyright: © 2020 Saif M Hassan, Mahmood J Jawad, Salam W. Ahjel, Ram B. Singh, Jaipaul Singh4, Samir Mohamed Awad, Najah R Hadi.

Public health stakeholders' perceived status of health communication activities for the prevention and control of communicable diseases across the EU and EEA/EFTA countries

Executive summary: Health communication activities to inform and influence individual and community decisions are increasingly being used to support the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Research shows that properly designed media campaigns can have a significant positive impact on health-related attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour. However, the extent and nature of the use of health communication activities for the prevention and control of communicable diseases across Europe is currently unknown. To address this knowledge gap, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) commissioned a Research Consortium of universities to map current use and application of health communication activities, and to identify perceived needs for efficacious use of health communication, in particular in relation to the prevention and control of communicable diseases across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA)/European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries. The purpose of this report is to present the findings from the mapping exercise and needs assessment gathered across the 30 EU and EEA/EFTA countries. The information is derived from data collection via telephone interviews and an e-survey, as well as an expert consultation. Questions sought to identify and map the following: what is currently being done in health communication; how are activities used; who is involved; which specific disease groups are being addressed; what are the key target audiences and the channels used to reach them; what education and training programmes for health communication are available; and how health communication activities are being evaluated. Furthermore, the data collection also identified priority areas to improve health communication in the EU and the perceived needs of public health bodies in order to be able to practice health communication effectively. The report presents the methodology used for the data collection followed by the aggregated information gathered. The discussion considers some of the main results and observations from the data collected and assesses their relevance and implication in relation to published literature, best practice and areas for improvement. The report's annexes include specific health communication plans and policies identified by study participants, as well as examples of health communication initiatives for the prevention and control of communicable diseases. Specific health communication education and training courses identified by participants are also included, as well as identified stakeholder organisations in the area of health communication and communicable diseases

Public views of different sources of health advice : pharmacists, social media and mobile health applications

Abstract Objectives Investigating public perceptions of community pharmacists (CP) in public health and their use of social media (SM) and mobile health applications (MH apps) in that regard. Methods Two surveys were created. One sought public perceptions of SM and the other of MH apps for health advice. Both included a section on perceptions of the role of CPs in public health. A convenience sampling strategy, based on proximity, was used.The study population was the public (n = 8 500 000) living in Greater London. The general public were recruited face-to-face in public spaces. A minimum sample (95% confidence interval/5% margin of error) of 385 was needed. Ethical approval was obtained from the university ethics committee. Responses were analysed in SPSS. Key findings About 820/1800 (45.6%) completed one/both surveys. Respondents seek health advice primarily from GPs, followed by digital mediums and then CPs. Under 35s use digital mediums more frequently (P = 0.039). Those who had used SM (41.7%) or MH apps (61.8%) for health information did not confirm its accuracy with a healthcare professional (HCP). Of those that did (MH apps = 39.2%; SM = 58.3%), the HCP disagreed with the information on MH apps and SM on 19.6% and 36.7% of occasions, respectively. Nevertheless, 64.5% stated that if a SM page was maintained by an HCP they would use it. Conclusions The public are using digital mediums for health advice instead of speaking to an HCP. If CPs want to have an impact on public health they must start imbedding digital mediums into their services. </jats:sec