Distinct cytokine patterns in Occult Hepatitis C and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Background & Aim: 
The immunopathogenesis of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a matter of great controversy. The imbalance of T-helper lymphocyte cell cytokine production was believed to play an important pathogenic role in chronic viral hepatitis. Occult hepatitis C infection is regarded as a new entity that should be considered when diagnosing patients with a liver disease of unknown origin. The aim of this study was to determine serum T-helper 1 and T-helper 2 cytokine production in patients with occult HCV infection and its role in pathogenesis versus chronic viral hepatitis C infection.

Methods: 
Serum levels of cytokines of T-helper 1 (IL-2, IFN-[gamma]) and T-helper 2 (IL-4) were measured in 27 patients with occult HCV infection and 50 patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

Results: 
The levels of the T-helper 1 cytokines, IL-2 and IFN-[gamma], were highly and significantly increased in patients with chronic HCV infection as compared with occult HCV infection (p<0.001). The T-helper 2 cytokine IL-4 was highly and significantly increased in occult HCV infection as compared with chronic HCV infection (p<0.001). Necroinflammation (P<0.001) fibrosis (P<0.001) and cirrhosis (P =0.03) were significantly increased in chronic HCV than occult HCV. 

Conclusion: 
Patients with occult HCV infection exhibited distinct immunoregulatory cytokine patterns, favoring viral persistence in the liver in spite of its absence from peripheral blood and explaining the less aggressive course of this disease entity than chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Prevalence, Clinical Presentation, and Associated Sociodemographic Characteristics of Molar Hypomineralization in Indiana, USA

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)Molar Hypomineralization (MH) of the first permanent molars (FPMs) and the second primary molars (SPMs) is a common developmental defect of enamel, with global prevalence of 14% and 5% respectively. Children with MH represent a special pediatric population because their affected molars have extreme susceptibility to enamel breakdown, decay and tooth sensitivity. Although the problem of MH has been described almost twenty years ago mainly through reports from Europe, there is very little information about the problem from the USA. In this dissertation, MH was explored both from the perspectives of pediatric dentists’ (PDs) and at population level. The majority of the survey respondents perceived MH prevalence to be <10% in their clinical practice (62%). The most cited clinical challenge in managing MH teeth was “long-term success of restorations” (79%). When analyzed individually, responses differed significantly for different demographics and educational characteristics of the respondents (p<0.05). At population level, MH of the FPMs (Molar Incisor Hypomineralization (MIH) cohort: 337 schoolchildren, average age 9 years) and of the SPMs (Hypomineralized Second Primary Molar (HSPM) cohort: 423 schoolchildren, average age 7 years) had prevalence estimates of 13% and 6% respectively. In the MIH cohort, water fluoridation or non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity was significantly associated with higher collective prevalence of enamel defect (EDs) (P<0.05), but not with the prevalence of MH of the FPMs. In the HSPM cohort, race/ethnicity was significantly associated with higher overall prevalence of EDs of SPMs, but not with the HSPM prevalence. Older age group (>10 years), living in central Indiana, and water fluoridation were significantly associated with higher overall prevalence of EDs (P<0.01), but not with the HSPM prevalence. Caries experience was significantly higher in children with MH of FPMs and/or SPMs than in the group without MH. We concluded that USA pediatric dentists’ respondents were well aware of the MH problem, but demonstrated discrepancies in different aspects of the MH problem. At population level, MIH and HSPM were common presentation with prevalence estimates similar to the global figures. Certain demographic characteristics were significantly associated with the overall prevalence of the enamel defects of the examined teeth

Online Privacy Concerns Among Social Networks’ Users

The study investigates how online social networks’ users in two Arab countries are concerned about their online privacy. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample (N=325) of Arab respondents in Emirates and Egypt. The results reveal a negative correlation between online privacy concerns and respondents' likelihood of providing personal information. Females are found to be more concerned about their privacy than males. Also, they tend to be more concerned than males in taking actions that protect their privacy. Emiratis use less online social networks than Egyptians and Arab residents in the UAE, while Egyptians have greater trust in online social networks. Key words: Online privacy concerns; Online social networks; Trust in online social networks; Privacy protection and Communication Privacy Management theoryResumé: L'étude examine comment les utilisateurs des réseaux sociaux en ligne dans deux pays arabes sont préoccupés par leurs affaires personnelles en ligne. Un questionnaire structuré a été utilisé pour recueillir des données auprès d'un échantillon (N = 325) des répondants dans les Émirats arabes et l'Egypte. Les résultats révèlent une corrélation négative entre la préoccupation sur la vie privée et la probabilité des répondants de fournir des renseignements personnels en ligne. Les femmes sont plus préoccupées par leur vie privée que les hommes. En outre, elles ont plus de tendance que les hommes à prendre des mesures qui protègent leur vie privée. Les Emiratis utilisent moins les réseaux sociaux en ligne que les Egyptiens et les résidents arabes des Emirats Arabes Unis, tandis que les Egyptiens ont une plus grande confiance en réseaux sociaux en ligne.Mots-clés: problèmes concernant la vie privée en ligne; réseaux sociaux en ligne; confiance en réseaux sociaux; protection de la vie privée et la théorie de la gestion des affaires personnelles dans la communicatio

Impact of us drama binge-watching in the emirates third-person effect and cultural self-conceptual

The study investigates respondents’ perception of the negative effects of US drama binge-watching on their cultural values as compared with its perceived effects on the cultural values of others. The study helps in understanding the extent to which Arab residents in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) perceive media’s imperialist influence upon themselves as compared with others. It examines the perceptual and behavioral components of the third-person effect (TPE) in relation to binge-watching TV. Cultural background traits (individualism and collectivism) are studied as an intervening variable. The results showed that binge-watchers of US drama tend to perceive the potential negative influences of US drama to exist more for others than for themselves. The presence of individualist vs collectivist cultural tendency did not have a significant impact on the workings of TPE. The perceptual component of TPE was proved, while the behavioral component was not significant

Sensorless Indirect Stator Field Orientation Speed Control for Single-Phase Induction Motor Drive

10International audienceThe industrial requirements for the control of an induction machine without a mechanical sensor continue to be of interest, as evidenced by the most recent publications. The focus is on improvements of control without a mechanical sensor. A new method for the implementation of a sensorless indirect stator-fluxoriented control (ISFOC) of a single-phase induction motor (SPIM) drive is proposed in this paper. The proposed method of rotor speed estimation is based only on themeasurement of themain and auxiliary windings stator currents and that of a reference q-axis current generated by the control algorithm. The error of the measured qaxis current from its reference value feeds the proportional plus integral controller, the output of which is the estimated slip angular frequency. Experimental results for sensorless ISFOC speed control of a SPIM drive are presented and analyzed using a dSPACE system with DS1104 controller board based on the digital signal processor TMS320F240. Digital simulation and experimental results are presented to show the improvement in performance of the proposed sensorless algorithm

Assessment of Sexual Functions among Infertile Women

Context: Sexual function plays a vital role in the quality of life and is determined by both biological and psychosocial factors. Infertile couples report poor sexual functions suggesting a causal relationship between infertility and sexual functions. Infertility caused sexual problems such as loss of sexual desire, decrease in the frequency of sexual intercourse, pain during sexual intercourse, and orgasmic difficulties in women and influences their interpersonal and marital relationships and satisfaction. Aim: The study aimed to assess sexual functions among infertile women.Methods: A descriptive research design was selected to achieve the aim of this study. The study was conducted at the infertility clinic of Ain Shams Maternity University Hospital on 135 women attending the previous settings. A Structured interviewing questionnaire sheet was used to collect data concerning socio-demographic characteristics, female sexual history&amp; infertility-related characteristics, and the current condition of women. The second tool was the Female Sexual Functions Index (FSFI) used to measure the sexual functions among infertile women.Results: The study revealed an intermediate level of sexual function with a mean of 23.49±7.82, with the highest mean was for the pain domain (4.09±1.45), with the lowest mean is for desire (3.78±1.51). In addition to near two-thirds of the infertile women displayed poor sexual function. The study also revealed a significant association between sexual functioning, and age, residence, duration of the marriage, educational level, husbands' age, husbands' educational level, husbands' occupation, household income, history of miscarriage, life stressors, coitus count, and frequency of sexual intercourse.Conclusion: The assessment of sexual function among infertile women revealed a pattern of intermediate function according to the female sexual function index. An association was revealed between female sexual functioning as other socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric history, sexual history, and psychological status. The study recommended the establishment of sexuality disorder clinics and sexual counseling clinics in healthcare centers that involve a multidisciplinary team — further researches to study the issues of sexual function as part of prenatal care and reproductive health programs. Developments of practical strategies in order to provide cultural intervention to improve couples' awareness of their sexual relationship, as well as training in communication skills, are essential

Green entrepreneurship in the Algerian renewable energy sector : opportunities and challenges

نتيجة الدور الذي تضطلع به المقاولاتية في تحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية والاجتماعية، وفي ظل زيادة أهمية حماية البيئة وظهور التنمية المستدامة، زادت أهمية المقاولاتية الخضراء في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة منذ تسعينيات القرن العشرين. وتهدف هذه الدراسة الى ابراز دور هذه الأخيرة في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة في قطاع الطاقة لاسيما في الجزائر، وذلك من خلال توجهها للاستثمار المسؤول بيئيا في الطاقات المتجددة والتي تزخر الجزائر بمخزونات كبيرة منها. وقد تم اعتماد المنهج الوصفي التحليلي في هذه الدراسة من خلال تحليل واقع المقاولاتية الخضراء في قطاع الطاقة في الجزائر باستخدام بيانات مأخوذة من منظمة التعاون والتنمية الاقتصادية، البنك الدولي وشركة النفط البريطانية –بريتش بتروليوم-. وقد تم التوصل الى أن الجزائر تحاول تقليل التبعية لقطاع النفط والغاز وبالتالي فانها تسعى إلى توسيع نشاط المؤسسات الصغيرة والمتوسطة ؛ هذة الأخيرة عرفت تطورا ملحوظا خلال الفترة (2001-2015) من حيث العدد ومساهمتها في التوظيف. وبالرغم من الجهود التي تبذلها الجزائر لتشجيع المقاولاتية الخضراء في قطاع الطاقة، الا أن مساهمتها تبقى ضعيفة مقارنة مع الإمكانيات المتاحة.As a result of the role of entrepreneurship in achieving economic and social development, and under the increasing importance of environmental protection and the emergence of sustainable development, the importance&nbsp;of Green&nbsp;entrepreneurship&nbsp;increased in achieving sustainable development&nbsp;since the&nbsp;1990s.&nbsp;This study aims to highlight the role of this latter in achieving sustainable development in the energy sector, particularly in Algeria through its orientation to responsible investment in renewable energies which are available in large stocks. The descriptive/analytical method has been adopted in this study through the analysis of the status of green entrepreneurship in the energy sector in Algeria using data from OCDE, World Bank and British Petroleum Company. It was proved that Algeria attempts to escape its oil and gas dependent economy&nbsp;; thus,it is striving to expand its smes; this latter have known a remarkable development during the last 15 years (2001-2015) both in terms of number and its contribution in employment. Finaly, despite the efforts made by Algeria to promote green entrepreneurship in the energy sector, its contribution remains weak compared to the available possibilities