Poultry rearing and slaughtering practices in rural Egypt: an exploration of risk factors for H5N1 virus human transmission.

BACKGROUND: Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus continues to cause infections in Egypt. This study describes the practices associated with raising and slaughtering household poultry to identify risk factors for H5N1 infection and reasons for non-compliance with preventive measures. METHODS: An investigation was conducted of 56 households with household flocks (19 households with human H5N1 cases, 19 with poultry H5N1 cases, and 18 with no reported poultry or human H5N1 cases). Data were collected via structured observations and in-depth interviews. RESULTS: Half of the households kept at least some free-range poultry and mixed at least some different species of poultry as it was considered beneficial for the poultry. Feeding and cleaning practices exposed children to contact with poultry; slaughtering contaminated homes; use of personal protective barriers was not a norm; waste management exposed the communities to slaughtering waste and dead chickens; and reporting of sick and dead poultry was not a practice. Only minor changes in poultry-handling took place following H5N1 virus outbreaks. DISCUSSION: H5N1 virus prevention in Egypt represents both an epidemiological and socio-cultural challenge. Traditional poultry-rearing practices that likely increase exposures to H5N1-infected poultry are common throughout Egypt. Despite education campaigns following sporadic H5N1 outbreaks, no differences in these practices could be detected between households with previous H5N1 human or poultry cases and those households with any previous experience with H5N1. Development of H5N1 infection-related education campaign strategies should focus on perceptions underlying traditional practices in order to tailor public awareness messages that are meaningful for communities

Development of an Adaptable and Cost-Effective PET Detection System for Preclinical Imaging

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has long been recognized for its role in both preclinical diagnostics and biomedical research by providing detailed images of metabolic processes at the molecular level. Despite its significant contributions, the widespread adoption of PET technology is constrained by the high costs and inflexibility of traditional systems, particularly in resource-constrained research environments. This thesis’s work proposes the development of an adaptable and cost-effective PET detection system that uses recent advances in electronic and manufacturing technologies to overcome these limitations. The proposed system is designed to meet diverse imaging requirements in preclinical research.A key aspect of improving PET imaging quality involves enhancing the detector system, which impacts sensitivity, spatial resolution, energy resolution, and timing resolution. The shift from analog-based to digital-based hardware in PET development supports the deployment of densely packed PET detectors without cost or architectural constraints. This project implements an individual-channel-based readout method that optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio and timing resolution while maintaining manageable complexity and affordability. The developed PET system integrates 16 signal channels, each equipped with a sigma-delta ADC. The system uses the time-over-threshold method for digitization and a high-frequency clock for sampling. A data acquisition unit, based on an affordable artix-7 FPGA chip, has been developed to process the 16 channels with flexibility to accommodate more channels for future scale-up. The system achieves an energy resolution of 9.3% at the 511 keV photopeak. In addition, a TDC circuit based on a tapped delay line (TDL) was developed and implemented on the Artix-7 FPGA chip.This circuit achieved a coincidence time resolution of 210 ps. We also extended the functionality of the TDL circuit to perform a hybrid energy accumulation (fine and coarse sampling) of events, then compared it to the current coarse sampling method. Further contributions include the digital upgrade of a traditional PSPMT-based detector to enhance their applicability with modern sigma-delta ADC and integrated data acquisition unit. Additionally, a suite of analytical tools has been developed to analyze flood histograms by applying advanced analysis techniques such as weighted spot-deviation, Voronoi diagrams, and Delaunay triangulation to evaluate the performance of the developed detectors. Multiple complete modules with independent readouts have been developed, with a redesign of circuits for improved packing fraction and compactness. The developed modules were used in validation experiments. In addition, certain characterization measurements were performed to evaluate the performance of one of the modules. These included energy resolution, spatial resolution, timing measurement, and other comprehensive geometrical and spatial analyses.Our overall aim was to develop a low-cost detector for a high-performance PET system that researchers can afford within a reasonable budget. The mixed-signal interface of the electronic readout, with the configurability of FPGA that can be adjusted for various settings and functions, makes it easy to use with existing PET hardware. These features make the proposed system highly compatible with the PET toolkit concept patented by our research group. In brief, a PET detection system has been designed that can potentially be used for high-spatial resolution preclinical applications, in the submillimeter range, provided that crystals with 1 mm cross sections can be fully resolved, including applications such as early cancer detection, where small lesions under 5 mm require visualization

Genetic disruption of Ano5 in mice does not recapitulate human ANO5-deficient muscular dystrophy

BACKGROUND: Anoctamin 5 (ANO5) is a member of a conserved gene family (TMEM16), which codes for proteins predicted to have eight transmembrane domains and putative Ca(2+)-activated chloride channel (CaCC) activity. It was recently reported that mutations in this gene result in the development of limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2L (LGMD2L), Miyoshi myopathy type 3 (MMD3), or gnathodiaphyseal dysplasia 1 (GDD1). Currently, there is a lack of animal models for the study of the physiological function of Ano5 and the disease pathology in its absence. RESULTS: Here, we report the generation and characterization of the first Ano5-knockout (KO) mice. Our data demonstrate that the KO mice did not present overt skeletal or cardiac muscle pathology at rest conditions from birth up to 18 months of age. There were no significant differences in force production or force deficit following repeated eccentric contractions between wild type (WT) and KO mice. Although cardiac hypertrophy developed similarly in both KO and WT mice after daily isoproterenol (ISO, 100 mg/kg) treatment via intraperitoneal injection for 2 weeks, they were functionally indiscernible. However, microarray analysis identified the genes involved in lipid metabolism, and complement pathways were altered in the KO skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data provide the evidence to show that genetic ablation of Ano5 in C57BL/6J mice does not cause overt pathology in skeletal and cardiac muscles, but Ano5 deficiency may lead to altered lipid metabolism and inflammation signaling. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13395-015-0069-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Study of the synergistic effect of 2-methoxy-4-formylphenol and sodium molybdenum oxide on the corrosion inhibition of 3CR12 ferritic steel in dilute sulphuric acid

The synergistic effect of the corrosion inhibition properties of 2-methoxy-4-formylphenol and sodium molybdenum oxide on the electrochemical property of 3CR12 ferritic stainless steel in 2M H2SO4 acid solution was assessed through coupon analysis, potentiodynamic polarization technique, IR spectroscopy and micro-analytical technique. Experimental data showed the combined admixture effectively inhibited the steel corrosion at the concentrations analyzed with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 94.47% and 89.71% from coupon analysis and potentiodynamic polarization due to the electrochemical action and inhibition of the steel by the ionized molecules of the inhibiting compound which influenced the mechanism of the redox reactions responsible to corrosion and surface deterioration. Results from corrosion thermodynamic calculations showed chemisorption adsorption mechanism. Infrared spectroscopic images exposed the functional groups of the molecules involved for the corrosion inhibition reaction. Micro-analytical images showed sharp contrast in surface morphology between the inhibited and corroded test specimens under study. Cracks, intergranular and pitting corrosion in addition to severe surface deterioration was observed in the uninhibited samples. Inhibitor adsorption fits the Langmuir isotherm mode

Life after divorce is not a bed of roses: experience of upper middle class Egyptians

Around the world, in both developed and developing countries equally, divorce rates have increased tremendously during the twentieth century, regardless of the world\u27s diversified cultures, religions, value systems, etc, making divorce a universal modern phenomenon. With older generations, women would have rather maintained a miserable marriage than endure the tragedies of dissolving one. This thesis investigates the changing attitudes towards divorce along with the underlying causes for its skyrocketing rates in the world generally and in Egypt, specifically. I frame a comparison between older and younger generations who have experienced both marriage and divorce. I used two theoretical approaches to explain that generational gap in divorce rates: modernization theory and feminism theory. In light of Modernization theory, those changes are due to change in certain social variables from the past until now. These are the changes in family values and gender roles, the rise of the level of education for women, the increase in employment opportunities for women and hence economic independence, sexual openness versus sexual repression, the exposure to the West and its media, and the wide expansion and use of the internet. Feminism emphasizes the change in women\u27s perception to themselves due to economic empowerment and the reduced stigma associated with divorce as the main factors for the increasing divorce rates. Qualitative research methods are what I used mainly, interviewing sixty respondents on the subjects, who were mostly divorcees, and hearing their narratives. I initiated this research with mainly one question on my mind about the causes of the generational gap in divorce and it ended with many more questions; some I explored in my thesis and some are still left for future research. My findings shed light on the role of changing gender roles and partners expectations of marriage, women new empowered status due to education and employment, the double standards in marriage choices, marrying for all the wrong reasons including to just have sexual relations, sexual dissatisfaction resulting, and exposure to the internet and the media, with the internet being responsible for over 60% of the demise of the marital union. With a divorce taking place in Egypt every six minutes, the incompatible marriage choices and using the internet later on as a quick fix to problems resulting from that incompatibility are major contributions of my research. The role of education, counseling, NGOs and positively using the media are my suggestions to reduce divorce rates

Mathematical model to analyze the heat transfer in tunnel kilns for burning of ceramics

von Hassanein Abdel Mohsen Hassanein Refae

TRADITIONAL TO RECENT APPROACHES IN HERBAL MEDICINE THERAPY OF COVID-19

Coronavirus pneumonia disease (COVID-19) is a newly identified coronavirus strain that causes symptoms ranging from cold-like signs to deaths that reached millions around the world. Until this time, there is no approved vaccine has been invented for clinical use, therefore, developing an effective program for therapy is of high priority to save the lives of patients and protect others from being infected. Nature resembles a huge reservoir of anti-infectious compounds, from which innovative ideas, therapies, and products can be deduced. Chinese herbal medicine had succeeded in the treatment of other coronavirus pneumonia such as SARS, MERS and, H7N9 avian influenza which gives us hope to find the targeted remedy in the traditionally used natural herbs consumed by natives from different regions. This work aims to highlight the use of natural traditional remedies to treat viral pneumonia. This systematic review will include studies of the effects of traditional herbal medicine and its role in the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia. Although promising results were obtained in many cases, but, only a few studies reported the fractional characterization of bioactive principles and/or mechanisms of action. It is requested that pharmaceutical industries, government agencies, and the scientific community will have a gaze at some of these plants for future research and, to find a potential drug candidates for the development of anti-SARSCoV-2 therapeutics in the near future.                          Peer Review History: Received: 6 September 2020; Revised: 10 October; Accepted: 25 October, Available online: 15 November 2020 Academic Editor: Dr. Sally A. El-Zahaby, Pharos University in Alexandria, Egypt, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 5.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.0/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Prof. Dr. Ali Gamal Ahmed Al-kaf, Sana'a university, Yemen, [email protected] Prof. Dr. Amani S. Awaad, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj. KSA. [email protected] Similar Articles: EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL; AN OFF-LABEL USE TO PROTECT THE WORLD FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC: REVIEW-BASED HYPOTHESES THE RISKS AND ADVANTAGES OF ANTI-DIABETES THERAPY IN THE POSITIVE COVID-19 PATIEN

Unified Pandemic Tracking System Based on Open Geospatial Consortium SensorThings API

With the current nations struggling to track the pandemic's trajectories. There has been a lack of transparency or real-live data streaming for pandemic cases and symptoms. This phenomenon has led to a rapid and uncontrolled spread of these deadly pandemics. One of the main issues in creating a global pandemic tracking system is the lack of standardization of communications protocols and the deployment of Internet-of-Things (IoT) device sensors. The Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) has developed several sensor web Enablement standards that allow the expeditious deployment of communications protocols within IoT devices and other sensor devices like the OGC SensorThings application programming interface (API). In this paper, to address this issue, we outline the interoperability challenge and provide a qualitative and quantitative study of the OGC SensorThings API's deployment and its respective server. The OGC SensorThings API is developed to provide data exchange services between sensors and their observations. The OGC SensorThings API would play a primary and essential role in creating an automated pandemic tracking system. This API would reduce the deployment of any set of sensors and provide real-time data tracking. Accordingly, global health organizations would react expeditiously and concentrate their efforts on high infection rates

Effect of Coping Strategies Program on Quality of Life among Emergency Clinic Nurses Working at Night Shift

Context: The night shift work can have a negative impact on job performance, sleep, physical and emotional health, social life, family life, and level of job-related stress for nurses.Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of coping strategies program on quality of life among emergency clinic nurses working at night shift. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. The study was conducted at Emergency Clinic affiliated to Benha University Hospital. A convenience sample was used to achieve the aim of this study. It includes all nurses (60 nurses) who worked at night shift at Emergency Clinic. Three tools utilized in this study: Three tools were utilized in this study: Structured interviewing questionnaire to assess nurses' data, ways of coping scale for measuring coping abilities of nurses working at night shift. It included 45 items comprising eight subscales. The quality of life scale, which was designed for measuring the quality of life for nurses, consisted of 34 items categorized based on the quality of life in three domains. Results: A result reveals a significant difference between nurses' quality of life and their coping abilities post-program implementation (P= 0.001) compared to the pre-intervention level. A positive significant correlation coefficient between nurses coping strategies and their quality-of-life post-program implementation (r= 0.40, p=<0.05).Conclusion: This study concluded that the coping strategies program was effective, and its results had a drastic improvement in coping abilities and quality of life for nurses working at night shift. The study suggested establishing continuous educational programs for nurses working on the night shift at the emergency clinic unit about coping strategies & their effect on their quality of life