Biotreatment of AL-KARAMA Teaching Hospital Wastewater Using Aerobic Packed Bed

This study is aimed to use the aerobic packed bed in biotreatment of the wastewater which is discharge from AL-KARAMA teaching hospital in Baghdad. The performance of packed-bed treatment method was examined for elimination of the organic compounds from wastewater under aerobic conditions. In this research different parameters were studied. They were: inoculums concentration, circulation rate of wastewater through the bed, packing type and the temperature. Results showed that the system efficiently removed about 82% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 80% of the Biological oxygen demand (BOD). Percent reduction in turbidity was about 92% and reduction in nitrate concentration was about 87%. It was found that best performance of the packed bed method was obtained at temperature of 37 oC, circulation rate of 10 L/min and inoculums concentration of 3%

Video assisted minimally invasive mitral valve replacement in rheumatic valve disease.

Objective: Assessment early outcome of video assisted minimally invasive mitral valve replacement, in rheumatic valve disease. Also, to evaluate early postoperative quality of life by SF 36 questionnaire. Methods: This is a prospective single center study which was conducted on 20 rheumatic heart patients, in Egypt; during the period from October 2015 to June 2018. The main pathological lesion was sever mitral regurgitation (MR), mitral stenosis (MS) or both. Patients underwent video assisted minimally invasive mitral valve replacement, through a right mini thoracotomy. 13 patients (65%) were via infra-mammary incision, 4 patients (20%) were via periareolar incision and 3 patients (15%) were via limited right anterolateral mini-thoracotomy. Results: Mean length of surgical incision was (6.60 ± 1.35 cm). Mean duration of operation, cardiopulmonary bypass, and cross clamp times were (4.32 ± 1.08 hr.), (2.85 ± 0.75 hr.) and (1.78 ± 0.47 hr.) respectively. ICU stay was 2.35 ± 1.14 days and Hospital stay was 6.45 ± 1.43 days. The mean amount of blood loss was 398.50 ± 245.79 ml with two patients of bleeding requiring re-opening. At discharge, all patients had normal mitral prosthetic valve function with no or trivial regurgitation, as shown by echocardiographic studies. The postoperative quality of life revealed faster recovery of usual activities. Conclusions: Video assisted minimally invasive mitral valve surgery in the surgically challenging rheumatic valve disease has less surgical trauma, blood loss and pain, which translates into short hospital stay, rapid return to normal activities, less use of resources

Using locally isolated Chlorella vulgaris in Wastewater Treatment

In this study locally isolated microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris Bejerinck) was used in wastewater treatment to reduce the pollutant parameters. Three parameters were studied to determine the efficiency of Chlorella vulgaris in reducing COD, BOD and PO4 concentration. Samples of wastewater were taken from a primary station in Al-Rustomiya wastewater treatment station. Three different dilutions of wastewater were tested; 100% waste, 75%waste 25%waste with distilled water. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) values started with 370mg/l, 270mg/l and 200mg/l for samples A, B and C respectively, and it reached after 14 days to 112 mg/l, 88 mg/l, and 120 mg/l. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) started with 241mg/l, 200mg/l, and 170 mg/l for samples A, B and C respectively, and it declined to 110 mg/l, 61 mg/l, and 112 mg/l. Finally PO4 started with 39.9 mg/l, 30 mg/l, 21 mg/l and it reached to 17.1mg/l, 8mg/l, 11.2mg/l for samples A, B and C respectively. Sample B showed the best removal values for COD, BOD and PO4 which reached to 88 mg/l, 61 mg/l, and 8 mg/l respectively

Brain Stroke Prediction Model Based SMOTE and Machine Learning Algorithms

A brain stroke is a critical medical emergency condition that causes disability and death. The pre-diagnosis of this case can reduce the complications and problems that affect the brain as a result of being affected by the complications that occur during the injury. This study lists an analysis process on a brain stroke dataset using the KNIME tool, which provides a set of different machine learning components such as random forest, Decision Tree Learner, Gradient Boosted Trees Learner, and Logistic Regression algorithms. The problem of imbalanced data will be handled as part of data preprocessing. The factors that affect the brain stroke will be explored based on feature selection approaches such as forward feature selection, backward feature elimination, genetic algorithms, and random. The aim is to build a model that helps doctors diagnose the disease accurately based on the results we obtained from the study and analysis. The results showed that logistic regression outperformed the other algorithms after applying the algorithm with forward feature selection and backward feature elimination

Green synthesis of nickle oxide nanoparticles for adsorption of dyes

The green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NP) was investigated using Ni(NO3)2 as a precursor, olive tree leaves as a reducing agent, and D-sorbitol as a capping agent. The structural, optical, and morphology of the synthesized NiO-NP have been characterized using ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), X-ray crystallography (XRD) pattern, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis. The SEM analysis showed that the nanoparticles have a spherical shape and highly crystalline as well as highly agglomerated and appear as cluster of nanoparticles with a size range of (30 to 65 nm). The Scherrer relation has been used to estimate the crystallite size of NiO-NP which has been found about 42 nm. The NiO-NPs have subsequently used as adsorbents for adsorption of two types of dyes; methylene blue (MB) as cation dye and methyl orange (MO) as anion dye. The removal efficiency of dyes from contaminated water was investigated during various key parameters at room temperature; initial dye concentration (Co), pH, contact time (t), agitation speed, and adsorbent dosage. The maximum removal of MB dye was found to be 96% (Co=25 mg/l, pH=10, contact time=100 min, agitation speed=300 rpm and adsorbent dosage=6 g/l), while for MO the maximum removal reached 88% at (Co=20 mg/L, pH=2, t =160 min, agitation speed=300 rpm and adsorbent dosage=6 g/L). The experimental adsorption data were found to well obey Freundlich isotherm. The kinetic investigation showed that the adsorption process for both dyes followed a pseudo-second-order model with rate constants 0.0109 and 0.0079 (mg/g min) for MB and MO, respectively

Preparation, Characterization, and Tetracycline Adsorption Efficiency of Tea Residue-Derived Activated Carbon

The process for preparing activated carbon (AC) made from tea residue was described in this paper. Investigated were the physicochemical characteristics and adsorption efficiency of the produced AC. Activation with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and carbonization at 350 °C are the two key steps in the manufacturing of AC. The activated carbon was used to adsorb Tetracycline (TC). Different parameters were studied at room temperature to show their effects on the adsorption efficiency of TC. These parameters are the initial concentration of adsorbate TC, solution acidity pH, time of adsorption, and adsorbent dosage. The prepared active carbon was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The equilibrium of TC adsorption on the tea-activated carbon TAC is effectively represented by the Langmuir model. Tetracycline could be adsorbed onto the prepared activated carbon with a maximum capacity of 45.662 mg g-1. Adsorption kinetics are well represented by pseudo-second-order. The investigation of adsorption thermodynamics demonstrates that TC adsorption on TAC is endothermic and spontaneou

Lipid Profile Changes in Pregnant Women with Pre-Eclampsia and Their Correlation with Severety of Pre-Eclampsia

Objectives: To find out whether there is a lipid profile changes in pregnant women with preeclampsia and if we can use these lipid profile changes as markers of the severity of preeclampsia (for follow up to avoid leaving the patient reaching ecplamptic stage).   Design: A prospective case-control study. Setting: AL- Kadhimiya Teaching hospital/department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Materials and Methods: The study included 120 pregnant women in the third trimester. They were divided into three groups. The study group consists of 60 preeclamptic and eclamptic women, 25 women had mild pre-eclampsia and 35 women with severe preeclampsia. The control group consists of 60 normotensive pregnant women. Blood sample was drown after 8-10 hours fasting. Triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were measured. Results: Triglyceride and VLDL-C level of severe Preeclampsia group and mild Preeclampsia group was higher than the control group, but the difference between the severe PE group and the control group was statistically significant (p0.05). A highly significant positive correlation between the level of proteinuria and serum cholesterol levels, LDL-C, TG and VLDL-C levels. While there was significantly negative correlation between proteinuria and HDL-C levels. Also, a significant positive correlation between the systolic-tension and serum cholesterol levels, TG, VLDL-C levels and among the diastolic-tension and with LDL-C, TG, VLDL-C levels. Conclusion: Changes in levels of lipid profile are related with preeclampsia, especially with severe preeclampsia

Ternary glycerol-based deep eutectic solvents: physicochemical properties and enzymatic activity

The present study investigates deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as potential media for enzymatic hydrolysis. A series of ternary ammonium and phosphonium-based DESs were prepared at different molar ratios by mixing with aqueous glycerol (85%). The physicochemical properties including surface tension, conductivity, density, and viscosity were measured at a temperature range of 298.15 K – 363.15 K. The eutectic points were highly influenced by the variation of temperature. The eutectic point of the choline chloride: glycerol: water (ratio of 1: 2.55: 2.28) and methyl triphenylphosphonium bromide:glycerol: water (ratio of 1: 4.25:3.75) is 213.4 K and 255.8 K, respectively. The stability of the lipase enzyme isolated from the porcine pancreas (PPL) and Rhizopus niveus (RNL) toward hydrolysis in ternary DESs medium was investigated. The PPL showed higher activity compared to the RNL in DESs. Molecular docking simulation of the selected DES with the substrate (p-nitrophenyl palmitate) towardPPL was also reported. It is worth noting that ternary DES systems would be viable lipaseactivators in hydrolysis reactions

The fight against the COVID-19 pandemic: Vaccination challenges in Sudan.

The first COVID-19 case in Sudan was announced on March 13th, 2020. 1835 deaths were recorded as of February 7th, 2021. 800,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine were allocated to Sudan through COVAX in March 2021. However, multiple challenges exist in vaccinating the Sudanese population, ranging from an inadequate cold chain system to low acceptance rates of COVID-19 vaccination among the Sudanese population. Economic crises, high inflation rates and long-standing economic sanctions have also negatively impacted the healthcare system in Sudan as a result of deprivation of access to research and development funding

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020