A New Computational Method Based on Integral Transform for Solving Linear and Nonlinear Fractional Systems

In this article, the Elzaki homotopy perturbation method is applied to solve fractional stiff systems. The Elzaki homotopy perturbation method (EHPM) is a combination of a modified Laplace integral transform called the Elzaki transform and the homotopy perturbation method. The proposed method is applied for some examples of linear and nonlinear fractional stiff systems. The results obtained by the current method were compared with the results obtained by the kernel Hilbert space KHSM method. The obtained result reveals that the Elzaki homotopy perturbation method is an effective and accurate technique to solve the systems of differential equations of fractional order

Formulation development and characterization of quercetin loaded poly caprolactone nanoparticles for tumors

Cancer is a formidable health obstacle, characterized by its bleak outlook. Considerable scientific investigation has shed light on the capacity to modify the dispersion of anticancer medications at various levels within tissues and cells by enclosing them within submicronic colloidal systems, often known as nanoparticles. This approach is based on the goal of enhancing the therapeutic effectiveness of these medications while minimizing adverse effects on the entire body. Moreover, the theragnostic characteristics of these nanoparticles are widely acknowledged, hence enhancing their therapeutic potential. The current study is centered on exploring the potential anti-tumor effects of quercetin by utilizing its antioxidant capabilities. The quercetin nanoparticles are synthesized with great precision utilizing the nanoprecipitation approach, in which poly(caprolactone) is utilized as the polymer matrix. Following synthesis, the nanoparticles are extracted for further analysis. Further attempts are undertaken to enhance the drug loading process, and the resultant nanoparticles undergo a thorough analysis, including the examination of their morphology using scanning electron microscopy, and the evaluation of drug-polymer interactions using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The remarkable efficacy of quercetin's envelopment can be attributed to its lipophilic nature, reaching a maximum of 81%. The utilization of scanning electron microscopy allows for the observation of nanoparticles with varying forms. Conversely, the absence of noticeable interactions in Fourier-transform infrared analysis indicates the stability of poly(caprolactone) nanoparticles loaded with quercetin

Scientific Research Anchors as an Approach to Reinforcement Entrepreneurship: An analytical study of the opinions of a sample of employees in a number of small projects in Nineveh Governorate

سعت الدراسة الحالية إلى تحديد الدور الذي يمكن أن يمارسه البحث العلمي بدلالة مرتكزاته المتمثلة بـ( مواكبة التطورات، مسايرة المستجدات، اليقظة الفكرية، وقبول التغيير) في مجال تعزيز الريادة على مستوى عدد من المشاريع الصغيرة في محافظة نينوى، في إطار انطلاقها من مشكلة رئيسة مفادها "هل تمارس مرتكزات البحث العلمي دورها الايجابي في تعزيز ريادة المشاريع الصغيرة عينة الدراسة"؟ واستندت الدراسة الى عدة فرضيات رئيسة وفرعية نصت على وجود علاقات ارتباط وتأثير معنوية بين المتغير المستقل (البحث العلمي بدلالة مرتكزاته) والمتغير المعتمد (الريادة في المشاريع المبحوثة)، واعتمدت الدراسة المنهج التحليلي باستخدام البرمجية الاحصائية (SPSS V26) في تحليل البيانات المجمعة عن طريق استبانة وزعت على عينة مكونة من (45) عاملا في تلك المشاريع، وتوصلت الدراسة إلى عدة نتائج أبرزها وجود علاقات ارتباط وتأثير معنوية بين المتغيرين، وعلى نحو ترتبت عليه تقديم بعض المقترحات الضرورية للمشاريع الصغيرة المبحوثة .  The study aimed to determine the role that scientific research can play in terms of its anchors represented by (keep up to developments, accommodating updates, intellectual vigilance, and accepting change) in the field of reinforcement entrepreneurship at the level of a number of small projects in Nineveh Governorate, within the framework of its launch from a major problem that states: Do anchors of scientific research practices a positive role in enhancing entrepreneurship of small projects researched ? The study was based on several main and sub-hypotheses that stipulated the existence of significant correlation and influence relationships between the independent variable, scientific research, in terms of its anchors, and the dependent variable, entrepreneurship in the researched projects. From (45) employees in those projects, the study reached several results, the most prominent of which is the existence of significant correlation and influence relationships between the two variables, and in a manner that led to presenting some necessary proposals for entrepreneurial in the researched small projects

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Global investments in pandemic preparedness and COVID-19: development assistance and domestic spending on health between 1990 and 2026

Background The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in health surveillance systems, disease prevention, and treatment globally. Among the many factors that might have led to these gaps is the issue of the financing of national health systems, especially in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), as well as a robust global system for pandemic preparedness. We aimed to provide a comparative assessment of global health spending at the onset of the pandemic; characterise the amount of development assistance for pandemic preparedness and response disbursed in the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic; and examine expectations for future health spending and put into context the expected need for investment in pandemic preparedness. Methods In this analysis of global health spending between 1990 and 2021, and prediction from 2021 to 2026, we estimated four sources of health spending: development assistance for health (DAH), government spending, out-of-pocket spending, and prepaid private spending across 204 countries and territories. We used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Creditor Reporting System (CRS) and the WHO Global Health Expenditure Database (GHED) to estimate spending. We estimated development assistance for general health, COVID-19 response, and pandemic preparedness and response using a keyword search. Health spending estimates were combined with estimates of resources needed for pandemic prevention and preparedness to analyse future health spending patterns, relative to need. Findings In 2019, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, US$9·2 trillion (95$7·3 trillion (95% UI 7·2–7·4) in 2019; 293·7 times the $24·8 billion (95$43·1 billion in development assistance was provided to maintain or improve health. The pandemic led to an unprecedented increase in development assistance targeted towards health; in 2020 and 2021, $1·8 billion in DAH contributions was provided towards pandemic preparedness in LMICs, and$37·8 billion was provided for the health-related COVID-19 response. Although the support for pandemic preparedness is 12·2% of the recommended target by the High-Level Independent Panel (HLIP), the support provided for the health-related COVID-19 response is 252·2% of the recommended target. Additionally, projected spending estimates suggest that between 2022 and 2026, governments in 17 (95% UI 11–21) of the 137 LMICs will observe an increase in national government health spending equivalent to an addition of 1% of GDP, as recommended by the HLIP. Interpretation There was an unprecedented scale-up in DAH in 2020 and 2021. We have a unique opportunity at this time to sustain funding for crucial global health functions, including pandemic preparedness. However, historical patterns of underfunding of pandemic preparedness suggest that deliberate effort must be made to ensure funding is maintained

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Effectiveness of psycho-education intervention program on quality of life, coping strategies and psychological distress among jordanian women diagnosed with breast cancer

The diagnosis of breast cancer is distressing and devastating events that may befall women. It is considered a major stressful event that threats all aspects of woman's' life and can regarded as a challenge to women’s basic values, beliefs and goals, life functions and threatening their sense of identity. At the time of diagnosis, the patients face unmet knowledge needs and they express the greatest need to speak with someone who has experienced and overcame the same disease. In this study, related to knowledge and sharing experience that will be provided to the breast cancer patients with aim of enhance the reappraisal of stressful situation that reduce the psychological distress, and promote quality of life through enhance coping strategy. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of psycho-education intervention program on quality of life, coping strategies, psychological distress among Jordanian women diagnosed with breast cancer.A randomized controlled trial, double-blind study was conducted with 200 participants from Al-Bashir Hospital in Amman city. The participants include all Jordanian women in aged 20-65 years and had diagnosis of breast cancer in stage 0, I, II or III. The participants who met the eligibility criteria was selected randomly after which they were evenly randomized using randomly generated permuted blocks of equal sizes into one of either the intervention or control group. The intervention group then underwent two-day health education session on breast cancer, which was strictly guided by the Fawzy Fawzy module. This comprised of four components: 1) health education; 2) coping skills training; 3) stress management; and 4) psychosocial support. The outcomes were measured by using EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 questionnaires to assess the quality of life, Brief COPE scale to assess coping strategy, and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) to assess the anxiety and depression among Jordanian breast cancer women. Generalised Linear Mixed Models was conducted to evaluate the effect of the intervention adjusted for confounding variables. The results showed that the intervention group was significant in increasing the quality of life: QLQ-C30 (=0.137, P=0.006), QLQ-BR23 (=0.190, P=0.001); adaptive coping skills (=0.921, P<0.001), and decreasing anxiety score (=-0.378, P<0.001) and depression score (=-0.525, P<0.001) compared to the control group. The intervention was effective in positively affecting the QOL, adaptive coping strategies and psychological distress. It is recommended for adoption as part of routine health education given at oncology clinics in Jordan

Lifetime optimization of wireless sensor network by a better nodes positioning and energy distribution

International audienc

Analytical Method Development for Sodium Valproate through Chemical Derivatization

Background. Sodium valproate has anticonvulsant activity and is structurally different to conventional antiepileptic drugs. The problem with valproic acid is the lack of a chromophore, which means that gas chromatography is the sole assay methodology. The introduction of benzoyl and phenyl groups to the molecule is a useful derivatisation, which enables the creation of detectable chromophores for HPLC analysis for pharmaceutical dosages as well as biological systems. Methodology. Sodium valproate was derivatised by the addition of a chromophore to its structure by introducing a methyl benzoyl or a phenyl group. Trichlorophenol and 2-hydroxyacetophenone were used to introduce phenyl and benzoyl groups to valproic acid, respectively. The reaction used was estrification reaction using coupling agents. An analytical method was then developed and validated using reverse-phase HPLC. The method was validated for parameters like linearity, range, accuracy precision, and robustness. Results. The developed method was easy and feasible and can be applied to both routine analysis and bioanalysis. The method was very sensitive and could quantify valproic acid at a very low concentration of 0.75 × 10−5 mg/ml. The developed method was found to be linear (R2 = 0.997), accurate, precise, and robust. Conclusion. The proposed chemical derivatisation and the developed analytical method are novel. The developed analytical procedure is the first of its kind; it is easy and feasible and can be used to quantify and detect sodium valproate at very low concentrations compared to other available methods in the literature