NATURAL ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF LAWSONIA INERMIS AND INDIGO TINCTORIA AGAINST CLINICALLY ISOLATED MICROORGANISMS

Objective: The present study aimed at evaluating the natural antimicrobial activity of Lawsonia inermis (L. inermis) and Indigofera tinctoria (I. tinctoria) against a reference and pathogenic clinically isolated strains compare with some antibiotics.Methods: The antimicrobial activity of Lawsonia inermis (red henna) and Indigo tinctoria (black henna) was evaluated against clinically isolated strains from urinary tract and wounds infected patients. The six tested strains namely were Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus fecalis, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by agar diffusion method and microplate dilution for measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). An American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) of bacteria was used as a control for confirming the type of the isolated bacteria.Results: Both red and black henna showed variable antimicrobial activity against tested bacteria and C. albicans. Alcoholic and oily extracts were more effective than water. Staphylococcus epidermis was significantly affected with water extract of black henna (20±1.1) and red henna (11±0.5). Nigella sativa oil extract with black henna had showed significant synergism effects against some microorganisms as Enterococcus fecalis (40±1.5), P. aeruginosa (15±0.9) and Candida albicans (18±0.6).Conclusion: Black and red henna had antibacterial and antifungal activities. They exhibited synergistic effects when mixed with black seed oil

Syrian Refugees and the Digital Passage to Europe: Smartphone Infrastructures and Affordances

This research examines the role of smartphones in refugees’ journeys. It traces the risks and possibilities afforded by smartphones for facilitating information, communication, and migration flows in the digital passage to Europe. For the Syrian and Iraqi refugee respondents in this France-based qualitative study, smartphones are lifelines, as important as water and food. They afford the planning, navigation, and documentation of journeys, enabling regular contact with family, friends, smugglers, and those who help them. However, refugees are simultaneously exposed to new forms of exploitation and surveillance with smartphones as migrations are financialised by smugglers and criminalized by European policies, and the digital passage is dependent on a contingent range of sociotechnical and material assemblages. Through an infrastructural lens, we capture the dialectical dynamics of opportunity and vulnerability, and the forms of resilience and solidarity, that arise as forced migration and digital connectivity coincide

Statistical Analysis of Stone Mastic Asphalt Incorporating Kenaf Fibre

Stone mastic asphalt consists of two components of coarse aggregate and bitumen-filled mortar (bituminous blend, filler, and stabilizing additives like cellulosic or mineral fibers). Such a form of hot mix asphalt (SMA) was first developed in Germany in the mid-1960s to cope with corrosion and ribbed wheel destruction. The mixture was then known as stone mastic asphalt, which was not only immune to ribbed wheels but also has strong resistance against rutting. One of the most significant problems when constructing the stone mastic asphalt pavement is permanent deformation. By a load of traffic and the strain of the tires, much of the irreversible deformation happens in the ground. According to a previous study, researchers have stated that the kenaf fiber's physical strength and thermal characteristics are superior compared to other forms of natural fiber polymer composites, and therefore deemed a desirable applicant for elevated-performance natural fiber composite materials. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the mechanical performance of stone mastic asphalt incorporating kenaf fiber by developing a regression model. A set of data of SMA mixture incorporating various percentages of kenaf fiber were assessed through statistical analysis in Minitab 19 by using the resilient modulus as the dependant variable in the first model and the accumulated strain from the dynamic creep test as the dependant variable in the second model. The regression models showed a positive impact of kenaf fiber as an additive in the SMA mixture. For more future studies, it is recommended to analyze the effect of the various proportions of kenaf fiber with bitumen modification towards stone mastic asphalt performance that will render the satisfactory performance of SMA during service

Utilization Potential of Glass Fiber and Crumbled Rubber as Subgrade Reinforcement for Expansive Soil

Due to its high potential for volume change, expansive soil is a problematic building material that can cause harm to road infrastructure. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of glass fiber and rubber on the properties of expansive soil and their suitability as subgrade reinforcement in road applications. For different percentages of glass fiber and rubber in the soil, the Maximum Dry Density (MDD), Optimum Moisture Content (OMC), and CBR were measured. The results demonstrated that the incorporation of glass fiber and rubber improved the soil's properties. With increasing fiber and rubber content, the MDD and CBR increased, while the OMC decreased. In addition, the strength of the reinforced soil was significantly greater than that of the unreinforced soil. The research indicates that the addition of glass fiber and rubber can improve the efficacy of expansive soil as subgrade reinforcement in road applications.   Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2023-04-03-06 Full Text: PD

Predication of nano-silica modified porous asphalt under dynamic creep by using finite element analysis

In areas with heavy rainfall, the conventional pavement may not be suitable due to low drainage capability. This will cause to a storm failure. To solve this, Porous asphalt (PA) is one of the innovative asphalts that can significantly overcome the issue of storm-water problem. The high air voids content characteristic of PA compares with conventional pavement in Malaysia is very suitable in managing the storm-water. However, PA suffers a few problems such as decrement of strength and tensile strength due to high air voids content which lead to permanent deformation. In order to enhance the performance of PA against the permanent deformation an additive material used to increase the strength of the PA called Nano-silica particles. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the dynamic creep of Nano-silica modified PA by developing a finite element analysis (FEA) model. Moreover, this study the dynamic creep performance of porous asphalt with different proportion of Nano-silica particles 0%, 2% and 4% was predicted. A finite element model will be simulated by using ABAQUS 6.14 software for the PA sample in order to achieve the objectives of the study. From this study it was concluded that, the develop model was reliable use to predict the performance of PA in terms of dynamic creep and the utilizing of Nano-silica in PA mixture result changes in the rheological properties of the asphalt binder which lead to an enhancement of its performance against the permanent deformation

Resilient modulus prediction of nano-silica modified porous asphalt using Finite Element Analysis

Repetitive traffic load is the most important factor influencing porous asphalt (PA) performance. The performance of asphalt is mostly influenced by the loading magnitude of heavy vehicles. In order to improve the service performance of PA under heavy traffic conditions. the decrement of stiffness is one of the failures that occur on the PA which mainly caused by the repeated load from a large number of different types of vehicles which leads to reduce the characteristic of PA in terms of stiffness and durability. Moreover, to enhance the performance of PA against the stiffness reduction an additive material used to increase the strength of the PA called Nano-silica particles. Thus, the aim of the study to investigate the resilient modulus of Nano-silica modified PA and develop a finite element analysis FEA model to predicate the resilient modulus. In this study, three different Nano-silica contents 0%, 2% and 4% by weight of PA mixture were investigated. To achieve this, a finite element model was developed and simulated by using ABAQUS 6.14 software for the PA samples to predict the resilient modulus performance. A comparative study was done among the unmodified and modified PA mixtures considering the resilient modules value. The result showed that Nano-silica is recommended as an additive in PA mixture, as the result of the modified PA mixture with 2% of NS was 4357Mpa while the unmodified was 3001Mpa. Thus, the addition of NS to PA mixture Capable in increasing the strength and quality of asphalt mixture

Characteristics and comparative clinical outcomes of prisoner versus non-prisoner populations hospitalized with COVID-19

Prisons in the United States have become a hotbed for spreading COVID-19 among incarcerated individuals. COVID-19 cases among prisoners are on the rise, with more than 143,000 confirmed cases to date. However, there is paucity of data addressing clinical outcomes and mortality in prisoners hospitalized with COVID-19. An observational study of all patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 10 and May 10, 2020 at two Henry Ford Health System hospitals in Michigan. Clinical outcomes were compared amongst hospitalized prisoners and non-prisoner patients. The primary outcomes were intubation rates, in-hospital mortality, and 30-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox-regression models were used to investigate primary outcomes. Of the 706 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (mean age 66.7 ± 16.1 years, 57% males, and 44% black), 108 were prisoners and 598 were non-prisoners. Compared to non-prisoners, prisoners were more likely to present with fever, tachypnea, hypoxemia, and markedly elevated inflammatory markers. Prisoners were more commonly admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (26.9% vs. 18.7%), required vasopressors (24.1% vs. 9.9%), and intubated (25.0% vs. 15.2%). Prisoners had higher unadjusted inpatient mortality (29.6% vs. 20.1%) and 30-day mortality (34.3% vs. 24.6%). In the adjusted models, prisoner status was associated with higher in-hospital death (odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.33 to 4.05) and 30-day mortality (hazard ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.33 to 3.00). In this cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients, prisoner status was associated with more severe clinical presentation, higher rates of ICU admissions, vasopressors requirement, intubation, in-hospital mortality, and 30-day mortality

Refurbishment of public housing villas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE): energy and economic impact

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. This study aims at assessing the technical and economic benefits of refurbishing existing public housing villas in the UAE. Four representative federal public housing villas built between 1980s and 2010s were modeled and analyzed. The Integrated Environmental Solutions-Virtual Environment (IES-VE) energy modeling software was used to estimate the energy consumption and savings due to different refurbishment configurations applied to the villas. The refurbishment technical configurations were based on the UAE’s Estidama green buildings sustainability assessment system. The refurbishment configurations include upgrading three elements: the wall and roof insulation as well as replacing the glazing. The annual electricity savings results indicated that the most cost-efficient refurbishment strategy is upgrading of wall insulation (savings up to 20.8 %) followed by upgrading the roof’s insulation (savings up to 11.6 %) and lastly replacing the glazing (savings up to 3.2 %). When all three elements were refurbished simultaneously, savings up to 36.7 % were achieved (villa model 670). The savings translated to CO2 emission reduction of 22.6 t/year. The simple and discounted payback periods for the different configurations tested ranged between 8 and 28 and 10 and 50 years, respectively

Online teacher training in a context for forced immobility: the Case of Gaza, Palestine

This article discusses an action research study that involved the design and delivery of an online training course for teachers of Arabic to speakers of other languages in the Gaza Strip (Palestine). Grounded in Freirean pedagogy, the course aimed to respond to the employment needs of university graduates by creating opportunities for online language teaching. The action research study explored the dynamics at play within the online educational environment, to evidence elements that challenged and/or facilitated effective collaboration between trainers and trainees. This article retraces and discusses the processes through which the course moved from didacticism to engaged critical pedagogy