I am a Quiet Struggler: Conceptualizing the Identities of Muslim American High School Students within the Context of Islamophobia.

The spread of Islamophobia in the U.S. positioned Muslims as different and inferior to American society and racialized their experiences by subjecting them to narratives of prejudices and stereotypes. This postcolonial interview study examined how Muslim American high school students conceptualized and negotiated their racialized identities within the context of Islamophobia and how the negotiation processes informed their learning in school, particularly the construction of their mathematics identity. The study built on postcolonial theorists, mathematics research, and decolonizing approaches to research to interrogate and (un)settle traditional and predetermined interviewing practices. Participants included six high school students (2 males and four females) ages 15-17 years old who attended public high schools in the city of Windson (pseudonym) in the Mid-Southern region of the U.S. Using critical discourse analysis (CDA), this dissertation interrogated the Eurocentric discursive practices and the dominant socio-political discourses that informed Muslim American students\u27 positionalities and their mathematics identities within the social and the educational contexts they navigated.Findings suggest the broader sociopolitical discourses inform and shape Muslim American students negotiation of their Muslim American identities. Within these negotiation processes, Muslim American youth constructed subcultures to within the spaces they inhabited to foster a sense of belonging and counter discourses of Islamophobia. Furthermore, the dominant Eurocentric educational discourses and practices in public schools that privileges Western knowledge constructed a sense of separation and further othered Muslim American youth. The instruction of Mathematics is constructed within the Western thought as a value and culture-free subject which also aided in marginalizing the Muslim American population as well as other minorities. Dominant discourses such as grading and tracking informed the construction of a fragile mathematics identity and fostered unfavorable views of mathematics

Efficacy of Caltropis procera and Ficus sycomorus extracts in treating MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)-keratitis in rabbit

MRSA-induced keratitis in rabbit was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of F. sycomorus leaves and C. procera latex extracts. Within the 6 rabbit groups tested, group 1 received sterilized saline, while other groups (2 to 6) received 100 μl of intrastromal injections of 1.5×103 colony forming unit (cfu) ml-1 of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). After 12 hours, groups 3 to 6 also received chloramphenicol, aqueous extract of C. procera latex, aqueous and alcoholic extracts of F. sycomorus leaves, respectively 3 times daily for 12 successive days. The tested extracts inhibited MRSA growth in vitro (i.e. on culture medium). Colony counts in cornea discs from groups 3 to 6 were significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.001) compared to group 2 (untreated). Clinical signs of keratitis were observed on group 2 until the end of experiment. In groups 3 to 6, gradual recovery was observed and signs disappeared by the 12th DPI (days post inoculation). Only mild symptoms persisted in group 5 (aqueous extract of leaves). In group 3 and 5, cornea, iris, ciliary body and conjunctiva showed mild leukocytic infiltration and depigmentation of melanin cells while recovery of cornea and iris was observed in groups 4 and 6. In conclusion, the used extracts have potential therapeutic effects on MRSA-induced keratitis in rabbit

Detection of Multi-Drug Resistant Food-borne Bacteria in Ready-to-Eat Meat Products in Luxor City, Egypt

A total of five Escherichia coli and eight Salmonella isolates were recovered from ready-to-eat meat samples obtained from different street vendors in Luxor city, Egypt. Bacterial isolates were assayed for antimicrobial susceptibility, its virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. The total number recovered positive Salmonella spp and E. coli were 8 (6.66%) and 5 (4.16%) respectively. All E. coli isolates were exhibited resistance against streptomycin and cephalothin. While all Salmonella isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid. PCR screening for virulence genes showed that 2 (40%) of the E. coli (O111:H4) serovar were positive for stx1, stx2, and eaeA. While Salmonella enteritidis, typhimurium, and virchow hold invA, hilA and stn genes with percentage of 37.5, 25 and 12.5% respectively. The identified tetracycline resistance gene for E. coli isolates were tetB (60%), tetC (20%) and tetD (20%). The β-lactamase resistance gene blaCTX was identified in 50% of Salmonella isolates represented by S. enteritidis, S. typhimurium and S. Virchow. The blaCMY genes were detected in S. typhimurium and S. infantis (37.5%). These results highlighted the role of ready-to-eat meat as a potential source for multidrug-resistant strains of E. coli and Salmonella. The current results indicate the need for applying hygienic practices in food outlets - especially in street vendors - to reduce the incidence of food-borne bacteria and to prevent future food-borne outbreaks in the studied area

Impact of Prolonged use of Video Gaming on Grip and Pinch Strength in Young Adult

Background Video gaming has become an increasingly popular and globally recognized phenomenon in recent years While playing there are multi repetitive movements of the fingers which may lead to significant hand grip or pinch grip problems Purposes The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of prolonged use of video games on the grip and pinch strength Materials and Methods Forty male students from King Abdulaziz University participated in this study their age ranged from 18-24 years They were divided into two groups prolonged user and non- user group The hand grip and pinch strength for all participants were measured by a handheld dynamometer and the level of video game addiction was assessed by Game Addiction Test Results There was a significant decrease in hand grip strength of the prolonged user group compared with non-user group while there was a non-significant difference between both groups in the pinch strength The result showed a nonsignificant correlation between hours of playing and Video game addiction Teat VAT with hand grip strength and pinch strength Conclusion There was a significant decrease in hand grip strength of the prolonged users of video games while there was a non-significant decrease in the pinch strength in the prolonged user group compared with non- user grou

Vardenafil Oral Dispersible Films (ODFs) with advanced dissolution, palatability, and bioavailability

Oral, quick response, and on demand, also known as a spontaneous oral treatment for erectile dysfunction, is highly needed by both patients and physicians. Vardenafil is selective (fewer side effects) and more effective in difficult-to-treat conditions than sildenafil. This study aims at fostering the dual objectives of using biomolecules such as artificial sweetening agents to solubilize and mask the bitterness of vardenafil loaded on biodegradable polymeric materials (PVA, MC, SA, and PVP K30) to fabricate oral, fast-dissolving films (vardenafil ODFs) in the mouth without the need for water to ingest the dosage form. Furthermore, coprecipitated-dispersed mixtures of vardenafil and three sweeteners (sorbitol, acesulfame K, and sucralose) were prepared and characterized using FTIR, DSC, and solubility studies. Moreover, eight different vardenafil ODFs were prepared using the solvent-casting method. Modified gustatory sensation test, in vitro disintegration, and release studies were performed. In addition, the optimized ODF (F8) was compared with the commercial film-coated tablets pharmacokinetically (relative bioavailability, onset, and duration of actions were estimated). The results indicated that the three sweetening agents had comparable solubilizing capacity. However, both sucralose- and acesulfame K-based ODFs have a more enhanced sweet and palatable taste than sorbitol-sweetened ODF. The SA- and PVP K30-based ODFs showed significantly faster disintegration times and release rates than MC. In conclusion, PVA has good film-forming properties, but a higher ratio of PVA adversely affected the disintegration and release characteristics. The % relative bioavailability for ODF was 126.5%, with a superior absorption rate constant (Ka) of 1.2-fold. The C(max) and estimated T(max) were compared to conventional film-coated tablets

A Bibliometric Review of Research Trends on Kenaf Fiber Reinforced Concrete

To prevent the excessive depletion of natural resources, sustainable development requires using alternate sustainable materials. Researchers in the field of advanced construction materials are increasingly paying attention to kenaf fibers as a "green" material because of their possible application in composites to advance sustainable development. However, there has been no attempt of scientometric analysis to investigate the comprehensive understanding of the present state of applications of kenaf fibers in reinforced concrete. The study aims to perform a bibliometric analysis of the existing kenaf fibers reinforced concrete literature and to provide a picture of the research status during the last ten years from 2013 to September 2022. There were 303 articles extracted from the Scopus database. The “VOSviewer” tool was employed to visualize the literature containing the most active scientific journals, countries, and highly used keywords in the field of fibers reinforced concrete. The outcomes showed that “Hybrid Composites”, “Impact Strength”, “Water Absorption”, “Scanning Electron Microscopy”, “Polypropylenes” and “Polymer Composite” have recently emerged as themes related to the applications of KFRC, and grabbed the interest of academics, may also offer future research opportunities. Additionally, according to the frequency of the keywords used, three important research domains associated with kenaf fibers within the concrete in the construction materials field have been identified, including “Mechanical Properties”, “Fiber Reinforced Plastics”, and “Tensile Strength”. Furthermore, the recent studies on the impact of kenaf fiber utilization on the structural performance of reinforced concrete are reviewed. Accordingly, the explanations related to research findings, suggestions for future studies have been provided on the incorporation of kenaf fibers reinforced concrete in civil engineering applications

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

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

(Un)settling Methodology: Walking the City of Memphis with Transcorporeality in a More-than-Human World

In this paper, I explain how I engaged with walking as a sensory and relational inquiry that provoked thinking differently and intra-actively of research, and the entanglement (Barad, 2007) of our bodies with the space and matter. As I walked the city of Memphis, assemblages of my emplaced body movement, subjectivities, senses, feelings, and interactions with the materiality of the space deconstructed and interrogated the neoliberal normalized narratives of othering and belonging. Situating the walks within transcorporeality (Alaimo, 2012), transmateriality (Springgay & Truman, 2017a), and the spactimematter entanglement (Haraway, 2015), I share how these walks generated three lines of flight (Deleuze & Guattari,1987) that transformed my thinking of research methods and opened up spaces for new ways of knowing beyond the linear and the prescribed. The three lines of flight, I discuss in this paper, informed and shaped my thinking of: my research methods with respect to interviewing Muslim American youth, the embodied experience of walking within the entanglement of space time matter in a more-than-human world, and the concept of (dis)placed bodies within the postcolonial thought

Optimizing and purifying extracellular amylase from soil bacteria to inhibit clinical biofilm-forming bacteria

Background Bacterial biofilms have become a major threat to human health. The objective of this study was to isolate amylase-producing bacteria from soil to determine the overall inhibition of certain pathogenic bacterial biofilms. Methods We used serial dilution and the streaking method to obtain a total of 75 positive amylase isolates. The starch-agar plate method was used to screen the amylolytic activities of these isolates, and we used morphological and biochemical methods to characterize the isolates. Optimal conditions for amylase production and purification using Sephadex G-200 and SDS-PAGE were monitored. We screened these isolates’ antagonistic activities and the purified amylase against pathogenic and multi-drug-resistant human bacteria using the agar disk diffusion method. Some standard antibiotics were controlled according to their degree of sensitivity. Finally, we used spectrophotometric methods to screen the antibiofilm 24 and 48 h after application of filtering and purifying enzymes in order to determine its efficacy at human pathogenic bacteria. Results The isolated Bacillus species were Bacillus megaterium (26.7%), Bacillus subtilis (16%), Bacillus cereus (13.3%), Bacillus thuringiesis (10.7%), Bacillus lentus (10.7%), Bacillus mycoides (5.3%), Bacillus alvei (5.3%), Bacillus polymyxa (4%), Bacillus circulans (4%), and Micrococcus roseus (4%). Interestingly, all isolates showed a high antagonism to target pathogens. B. alevi had the highest recorded activity (48 mm) and B. polymyxa had the lowest recorded activity (12 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli, respectively. On the other hand, we detected no antibacterial activity for purified amylase. The supernatant of the isolated amylase-producing bacteria and its purified amylase showed significant inhibition for biofilm: 93.7% and 78.8%, respectively. This suggests that supernatant and purified amylase may be effective for clinical and environmental biofilm control. Discussion Our results showed that soil bacterial isolates such as Bacillus sp. supernatant and its purified amylase are good antibiofilm tools that can inhibit multidrug-resistant former strains. They could be beneficial for pharmaceutical use. While purified amylase was effective as an antibiofilm, the isolated supernatant showed better results