Role of Social Work in Responding To Urgent Social Needs for Senior Citizens -Field Study

Social work plays a vital role in containing the corona crisis that has affected millions of people during the last years. This study aims to identify how social work services respond to the urgent social needs of senior citizens. The descriptive-analytical approach was adopted with 50 social workers who work at senior citizens centers at Ajman & Al Sharjah Emirates. The study results reveal modifications in senior citizens’ policies and strategic partnerships. Introduction of new high technology instruments for implementing online social work interventions. Health Care mobile unit was suspended, and more emphasis is placed on using sustainable and high-quality medical and social services. Social workers roles have accommodated participation in the implementation and supervision of new initiatives of online club models-Assala, receiving and responding to requests, supervising subsidies, home nursing, and providing social and psychological care. Also, coordination with relevant institutions, executing research work, reports writing, and adopting WhatsApp group, telephone, Zoom, and other intelligent devices

Aerobic bacteria in safe type chronic suppurative otitis media in Gezira State, Sudan

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a challenging disease with a high burden on society in developing countries. Information regarding CSOM in Sudanese patients is scarce. This study aimed to identify aerobic bacteria involved in CSOM and to determine their sensitivity towards commonly prescribed antibiotics. A multi-center prospective cross sectional study was conducted between June 2012 and October 2013 in private and public ENT clinics in Gezira State, Sudan. The study included 217 CSOM patients most of whom were males or had unilateral disease. The most common isolates were Staphylococcus aureus (42.6%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (14.7%), Pseudomonas aeroginosa (12.5%) and Proteus mirabilis (10.2%). The sensitivity of all isolates was highest towards gentamicin and ciprofloxacin while multiple drug resistance was prominent towards amoxyclav, cotrimoxazole, cefuroxime, cefaclor and ceftriaxone. Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin appear to be the best choices for empiric therapy in patients with CSOM. In contrast, the use of amoxyclav, cotrimoxazole, cefuroxime, cefaclor and ceftriaxone should be discouraged.Keywords: Aerobic bacteria, Chronic suppurative otitis media, Gezira State, Sudan

Improved Refractory Aluminosilicate Bricks Through Nano Zirconia Additions

The physico-mechanical and refractory properties of refractory bricks, prepared from 50 wt.% kaolin and 50 wt.% alumina, were improved through the addition of different contents (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 wt. %) of nano zirconia powder. The densification parameters (bulk density and apparent porosity), mechanical properties (cold crushing strength) and refractory properties (thermal shock resistance) were tested for the prepared refractory bricks fired at 1500 oC. The mineralogical composition of the prepared zirconia and the refractory bricks were followed by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) whereas while their microstructure and chemical constituents were depicted using scanning electron microscope attached with energy dispersive x-ray unit (SEM + EDAX). The refractory brick samples containing 8 wt. % of nano zirconia was considered as the optimum among the investigated samples as it shows the best sintering, mechanical and refractory properties, these were correlated with their recognized assemblage of minerals; mullite-cristobalite-zirconia

The effect of pedunculopontine nucleus deep brain stimulation on postural sway and vestibular perception

© 2016 The Authors. European Journal of Neurology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Europe an Academy of Neurology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and re production in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) reduces the number of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). It was hypothesized that enhanced sensory processing contributes to this PPN-mediated gait improvement. METHODS: Four PD patients (and eight matched controls) with implanted bilateral PPN and subthalamic nucleus DBS electrodes were assessed on postural (with/without vision) and vestibular perceptual threshold tasks. RESULTS: Pedunculopontine nucleus ON stimulation (compared to OFF) lowered vestibular perceptual thresholds but there was a disproportionate increase in the normal sway increase on going from light to dark. CONCLUSIONS: The disproportionate increased sway with PPN stimulation in the dark may paradoxically improve balance function since mechanoreceptor signals rapidly adapt to continuous pressure stimulation from postural akinesia. Additionally, the PPN-mediated vestibular signal enhancement also improves the monitoring of postural sway. Overall, PPN stimulation may improve sensory feedback and hence balance performance.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF OPTICAL CDMA SYSTEM USING VC CODE FAMILY UNDER VARIOUS OPTICAL PARAMETERS

The intent of this paper is to study the performance of spectral-amplitude coding optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) systems using Vector Combinatorial (VC) code under various optical parameters. This code can be constructed by an algebraic way based on Euclidian vectors for any positive integer number. One of the important properties of this code is that the maximum cross-correlation is always one which means that multi-user interference (MUI) and phase induced intensity noise are reduced. Transmitter and receiver structures based on unchirped fiber Bragg grating (FBGs) using VC code and taking into account effects of the intensity, shot and thermal noise sources is demonstrated. The impact of the fiber distance effects on bit error rate (BER) is reported using a commercial optical systems simulator, virtual photonic instrument, VPITM. The VC code is compared mathematically with reported codes which use similar techniques. We analyzed and characterized the fiber link, received power, BER and channel spacing. The performance and optimization of VC code in SAC-OCDMA system is reported. By comparing the theoretical and simulation results taken from VPITM, we have demonstrated that, for a high number of users, even if data rate is higher, the effective power source is adequate when the VC is used. Also it is found that as the channel spacing width goes from very narrow to wider, the BER decreases, best performance occurs at a spacing bandwidth between 0.8 and 1 nm. We have shown that the SAC system utilizing VC code significantly improves the performance compared with the reported codes

ANTIOXIDANT EFFECT OF VITAMINS COMBINED A, C, AND E DOSE ON TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS

Objectives: This study is to investigate the effect of oral Vitamins combined (A, C, and E) with metformin on the levels of fasting blood sugar (FBS), postprandial blood sugar (PPBS), hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in Type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: A total of 32 patients with Type 2 diabetes were divided randomly into A and B groups, i.e., 16 per each group. Group A received metformin only twice a day while Group B received one tablet of Antox and metformin twice a day for 3 months. FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, and HDL were measured before and after the dose, and the results were analyzed statistically. Results: A significant decreases in FBS, PPBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, and LDL whereas results showed increasing significance in HDL level that seen in the patients of Group B which received Antox and metformin compared to the group which received metformin only. In conclusion, the results indicate that daily consumption of supplementary vitamins with metformin leads to improving blood glucose and lipids in patients with Type 2 diabetes and reducing the risk of complications. Hence, the dose can be used combined Vitamins A, C, and E with metformin in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes by maintaining good glycemic control

Enhancing Teaching Skills Through Short Courses: A Quantitative Review of Public Health Education in Sudan

This evaluation draws evidence on the effectiveness and outcome of learning and teaching courses that were offered to a number of teaching staff of the Academies of Health Sciences, Midwifery Schools and Centres for Continuous Professional Development in Sudan. It is based on a cross-sectional study consisting of self-administered questionnaires conducted from October 2017 to January 2018. The questionnaires were used to measure the extent to which the participants of the training courses acquired knowledge and skills and applied these skills in their jobs. Data was analysed using Excel sheets and SPSS version 21 and significant tests performed. The response rate for the self-administered questionnaire was 80%. Most of participants were females, early middle-aged, bachelor’s degree holders with more than 9 years of experience in the area of teaching health care professionals. The results are presented following the Kirkpatrick framework for evaluation of training, which was used to measure participants' reactions, learning and change of behaviour. Most of the participants were satisfied with the design and content of the course but expressed concerns regarding its duration and lack of residential facilities for course participants. Pre and post tests were used to measure learning. Comparison of the two results showed that participants gained knowledge in writing learning outcomes, although presentation skills showed no improvement following the training and the use of technology remained a challenge even after the course. In terms of application of the newly gained knowledge and skills, the findings illustrated that over 90% of the participants were satisfied with what they had learned after 3 months or more following the training course, and over 65% of the participants stated that the knowledge gained from the training remained useful. In conclusion, short courses on teaching and learning can be a valuable investment to both instructors and students. The evaluation has shown that course participants were satisfied with the training courses, gained new knowledge, and were able to apply the acquired knowledge and skills without any difficulties. It is therefore suggested to cascade these training courses to all remaining States in Sudan in order to improve the skills and capabilities of teaching staff

Measurement of normal optic nerve for Sudanese pediatric using magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Much congenital and intracranial pathology may affect optic nerve (ON) and caused increased or decreased in size, so the measurement is crucial and aiding in diagnosed of some neurogenic and endocrine disorders. The aim of this study was to measure the normal ON length and diameter by magnetic resonance imaging among pediatric at Khartoum state Sudan.Methods: This was descriptive, cross section study,  done in 100 Sudanese pediatrics with age from 1 month to 15 years came to Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) department for MRI brain at three hospitals in Khartoum state  (Al-Amal national hospital, Al-Zaitona hospital and Modern Medical Center) during the period from December 2019 to March 2020, all of patients had no pathological or medical condition that may affect the orbits and optic nerve (OON), any child with and medical condition or pathology related to orbits excluded from study sampling. The data were collected by data collection sheet designed especially for this study then analyzed.Results: The study found that the mean diameter of ON was 2.06±0.44 mm, the mean length of right ON was 31.54±4.11 mm, there is no significant different in measurement between males and females (p>0.05), there was strong significant correlation between ON length and diameter with children age (r=0.592**, 0.654**, p<0.001 respectively).Conclusions: The study concluded that there was strong correlation between right and left ON diameter and length with age

Multiphoton radiative recombination of electron assisted by laser field

In the presence of an intensive laser field the radiative recombination of the continuum electron into an atomic bound state generally is accompanied by absorption or emission of several laser quanta. The spectrum of emitted photons represents an equidistant pattern with the spacing equal to the laser frequency. The distribution of intensities in this spectrum is studied employing the Keldysh-type approximation, i.e. neglecting interaction of the impact electron with the atomic core in the initial continuum state. Within the adiabatic approximation the scale of emitted photon frequencies is subdivided into classically allowed and classically forbidden domains. The highest intensities correspond to emission frequencies close to the edges of classically allowed domain. The total cross section of electron recombination summed over all emitted photon channels exhibits negligible dependence on the laser field intensity.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures (Figs.2-5 have "a" and "b" parts), Phys.Rev.A accepted for publication. Fig.2b is presented correctl

Whole-genome analysis of a daptomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium strain and its daptomycin-resistant variant arising during therapy

Development of daptomycin (DAP) resistance in Enterococcus faecalis has recently been associated with mutations in genes encoding proteins with two main functions: (i) control of the cell envelope stress response to antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides (LiaFSR system) and (ii) cell membrane phospholipid metabolism (glycerophosphoryl diester phosphodiesterase and cardiolipin synthase [cls]). However, the genetic bases for DAP resistance in Enterococcus faecium are unclear. We performed whole-genome comparative analysis of a clinical strain pair, DAP-susceptible E. faecium S447 and its DAP-resistant derivative R446, which was recovered from a single patient during DAP therapy. By comparative whole-genome sequencing, DAP resistance in R446 was associated with changes in 8 genes. Two of these genes encoded proteins involved in phospholipid metabolism: (i) an R218Q substitution in Cls and (ii) an A292G reversion in a putative cyclopropane fatty acid synthase enzyme. The DAP-resistant derivative R446 also exhibited an S333L substitution in the putative histidine kinase YycG, a member of the YycFG system, which, similar to LiaFSR, has been involved in cell envelope homeostasis and DAP resistance in other Gram-positive cocci. Additional changes identified in E. faecium R446 (DAP resistant) included two putative proteins involved in transport (one for carbohydrate and one for sulfate) and three enzymes predicted to play a role in general metabolism. Exchange of the “susceptible” cls allele from S447 for the “resistant” one belonging to R446 did not affect DAP susceptibility. Our results suggest that, apart from the LiaFSR system, the essential YycFG system is likely to be an important mediator of DAP resistance in some E. faecium strains