bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Health Care-Associated Infections in Intensive Care Units: Results From the Egypt National Health Care-Associated Infections Surveillance, 2019-2020 (Preprint)
Authors: Roshdy Essam Mostafa , Attia Ehab , Samy Sahar , Afifi Salma , Abuelsood Hanaa , BahaaEldin Hala , Aied Alaa , Abdelfattah Mohammad
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the unexpected influx of patients leading to high rates of hospitalization. Focusing resources to mitigate the pandemic unintentionally reduced attention to health care-associated infections (HAIs) prevention programs. Intensive care units (ICUs) have suffered the most burden due to requirement of ventilation.

OBJECTIVE

In this paper, we aimed to estimate the national HAI rates at ICUs before and during the COVID-19 pandemic to better identify the pandemic’s impact on HAIs.

METHODS

Egypt’s HAI Surveillance was established in 2016 in 177 governmental ICUs. CDC case definitions and questionnaire were used to collect patients’ data. The types of HAIs targeted included bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections. Pathogen identification and antimicrobial resistance were performed at the central laboratory. Surveillance data 2019-2020 were obtained, and a descriptive data analysis was performed. HAI rates per 100 patient days and device-associated infections (DAIs) per 1000 device days were compared between 2019 and 2020.

RESULTS

In 2020, 4028 HAIs were reported, including 777 (19.3%) ICU-acquired reports; however, in 2019, 6242 were reported, including 1084 (17.4%) ICU-acquired ones. Incidence significantly decreased in 2020 compared with 2019 (2.67 vs 2.72, P<.001). The percentages of bloodstream infections, pneumonia, and urinary tract infection in 2020, compared with 2019, were 64.0% versus 61.6%, 10.9% versus 12.1%, and 25.1% versus 23.8%, respectively. DAIs decreased significantly, including CLABSI (2.6 vs 2.5, P<.001), VAP (0.75 vs 0.87, P=.04), and CAUTI (1.5 vs 1.6, P=.02). Klebsiella spp. was the predominant pathogen in both years representing (35.6% and 38.1%), followed by S. aureus (11.2% and 15.4%). The rate of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae insignificantly increased (25% vs 23%, P=0.3), and that of Methicillin-resistant S. aureus decreased (68% vs 70%, P=0.4).

CONCLUSIONS

Egypt’s HAI Surveillance successfully described the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on HAIs. It identified a significant decrease in ICU-acquired HAIs and DAIs at the first pandemic year, which could reflect better the infection control measures. The types of HAIs, causative pathogens, and antimicrobial resistance pattern did not change significantly. Surveillance should be maintained to guide HAIs’ preventive and control measures.
The Health Information to Action Pathway: Framework for Improved Health Communication Material Creation and Dissemination (Preprint)
Authors: Kroma Raymond , Highland Krista , Neilson Gloria , Constantino Ryan , Scott-Richardson Maya , Curell Angela
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Utilization of the internet to obtain health-related information increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ongoing efforts to improve health literacy and health information transfer have underscored deficiencies in online health communication materials. Effective online health communication materials are needed to reduce the impact of misinformation and additional barriers to adequate knowledge translation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate current health communication assessment measures and provide a preliminary evaluation framework for improving patient-centered health information design.

METHODS

Health communication assessments included Brief DISCERN, Modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Clear Communication Index, Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool, Suitability Assessment of Materials, Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool, and several measures assessing readability (e.g., Flesch-Kincaid). Each assessment was completed by six raters for each of the COVID-19 US government webpages from 3/8/2021 to 4/19/2021. Interrater reliability and applicability ratings were used to evaluate the assessments.

RESULTS

Interrater reliability was fair-to-moderate. Assessments with fewer questions, but a higher number of response options (e.g., DISCERN) had lower interrater reliability than those with more questions and a lower number of response options (e.g., CCI). On average, all assessments were rated as moderately to very applicable, aside from the DISCERN with an average rating of moderately applicable.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of consistency in scores for a single website, alludes to the need for a comprehensive approach to identifying all meaningful and distinct constructs for evaluating health communication measures. Improvement efforts could be facilitated by a unified measurement framework.
An Imported Measles Outbreak in Al Buraimi Governorate, Oman, in April 2020 (Preprint)
Authors: Al-Marbouai Hanan
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

On April 16, 2020, the communicable disease department of Al Buraimi Governorate, Oman, was notified about 3 cases of measles. On laboratory confirmation of measles on April 19, 2020, further field investigation was conducted. Oman has had few cases of measles since 1995; however, Al Buraimi Governorate has had imported cases of measles in recent years.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted this study to investigate the epidemiology of imported cases of measles in Al Buraimi, Oman, in April 2020.

METHODS

This case series retrospectively reported measles cases. Epidemiological investigation began by meeting the families of the affected children. The data obtained included clinical symptoms, exposure information, travel history, immunization, and history of contact with others.

RESULTS

Among the positive cases of measles, 75% were in girls and 25% were in boys. In addition, 6 patients were Afghani nationals and 2 were Pakistani nationals. A detailed investigation that included virus isolation and genotyping identified the B3 genotype in all measles cases and traced the virus to Pakistan as the country of origin. Despite Pakistan being the place of origin of the virus, most cases of measles (75%) were reported in Afghani nationals because of low vaccination coverage. We also found that most of the children affected were 10 to 19 years old (75%). All children who did not have vaccination records or were unvaccinated, regardless of whether they had contracted the virus, were given the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. This was done to prevent future outbreaks and to increase measles vaccination coverage.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that the greatest challenge in eliminating measles in Oman is imported cases among non-Omani expatriates and unvaccinated children. It should therefore be a priority to vaccinate all expatriate children. Only when everyone is vaccinated in Oman can the goal of creating a measles-free country be realized.

CLINICALTRIAL
Use of social media data to diagnose and monitor schizophrenia: systematic review and perspectives (Preprint)
Authors: Lejeune Alban , ROBAGLIA Benoit , WALTER Michel , Berrouiguet Sofian , LEMEY Christophe
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Schizophrenia is a disease associated with a high burden. Improvement in care is necessary.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study is to analyse the current capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) to use social media data as a diagnostic tool for schizophrenia.

METHODS

A systematic review of the literature was conducted on several databases, using relevant keywords.

RESULTS

93 studies were identified, among which 7 studies were included. The included studies have shown encouraging results. Social media data could be used in several ways in care of patients with schizophrenia, including the monitoring of patients after a first episode of psychosis. Several studies had major limitations. The studies were heterogeneous in quality and in their objective. Most studies did not have access to health data for the training of the algorithm. We tried to identify several limitations in the methodology of the included studies. We made recommendation for future studies.

CONCLUSIONS

AI could be used to analyse social media data in order to bring new tools in the care of patients with schizophrenia.
Development and Usage of a Health Recommendation Web Tool (HeaRT) Designed to Inform Women of Personalized Preventive Health Recommendations (Preprint)
Authors: Greenberg Keren L , Poupko Tamar , Sorotzkin Devorah , Keidar Osnat , Zwas Donna R
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Implementation of guidelines for evidence-based screening and disease prevention remains a core challenge in health care. The lack of access to accurate and personalized health recommendations may contribute to sub-optimal performance of relevant medical screening, and ultimately increased risk for communicable and non-communicable disease. Many women do not monitor their cardiovascular disease risk or receive regular medical screenings and tests. A health recommendation tool (HeaRT) that provides women with profiled, individually tailored information about recommended tests and screening was designed to improve women's engagement in preventive health. This study characterized utilization of the tool in a real world setting.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the development and usage patterns of HeaRT, a novel health web tool that provides personalized health recommendations for women.

METHODS

Extracted web tool data including user input (age, BMI, smoking status and family history of heart disease) and time spent in the results screen were analysed. Engagement was assessed by time spent in each results category, number of clicks and whether the user emailed or printed the recommendations. Usage patterns were analysed using multivariate analyses, logistic regression and cluster analyses

RESULTS

HeaRT was used 13,749 times in the years between its launch and data extraction three years later. Web tool analysis found that 68.6% of users accessed results and approximately 15% printed or emailed the list of health recommendations. Further analysis found that almost all the users entered the nutrition category (78%), followed by the risk factor category (69.5%) and Physical activity category (61.9%). Three usage patterns were identified by cluster analysis, including a nutrition/physical activity cluster, a risk factor cluster and a pan-user cluster. A cluster affiliation analysis found BMI and smoking status were not predictors of cluster affiliation (usage pattern), whereas users over the age of 65 were more likely to solely enter the risk factor tab (P<.001) and users with a family history of heart disease were more likely to either enter only the risk factor tab (P=.04) or to enter all tabs (P=.006).

CONCLUSIONS

HeaRT users looked at health recommendations on a variety of health topics, and 15% printed or emailed the recommendations.
A tailored health recommendation web tool may empower women to seek preventive care and health maintenance, and help them interact with health care providers from a position of shared responsibility. This tool and similar programs may enable health care consumers to actively participate in directing their own health maintenance.
Opioid Use Disorder Education for Students and the Future of Opioid Overdose Treatment (Preprint)
Authors: Balapal Neha , Ankem Amala , Shyamsundar Saishravan , He Shuhan
Published: February 2022

UNSTRUCTURED

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health concern in the United States. The opioid crisis has taken hundreds of thousands of lives in the past 20 years, and it is predicted to take millions more. With the rising death tolls, it is essential that health care providers are able to use proper tools to treat OUD efficiently and effectively through medication-assisted treatment (MAT), particularly buprenorphine. Despite changes to buprenorphine regulations making it more accessible, clinicians have been slow to use buprenorphine to treat OUD. We believe that training student clinicians in evidence-based MAT and buprenorphine practices will address the training and competence barriers that hinder clinicians from prescribing buprenorphine to treat OUD. Students are in an ideal position to receive and benefit from this training and influence the medical community to better treat OUD.
Long-Term Postoperative Pain Prediction from Intraoperative Physiological Responses (Preprint)
Authors: Baharloo Raheleh , Principe Jose , Rashidi Parisa , Tighe Patrick
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Long-term pain conditions after surgery and patient responses to pain relief medications are not yet fully understood. Although recent studies have developed an index for the nociception level of patients under general anesthesia based on multiple physiological parameters, it remains unclear whether and how dynamic of these parameters indicate long-term postoperative pain.

OBJECTIVE

To extract unbiased and interpretable descriptions of how the dynamics of physiological parameters change over time and across patients in response to surgical procedures and intraoperative medications, we used a multivariate-temporal analysis. We demonstrate that the main features of intraoperative physiological responses can be used to predict long-term postoperative pain.

METHODS

We propose to use a complex higher-order singular-value decomposition (complex-HOSVD) method to accurately decompose patients’ physiological responses into multivariate structures evolving over time. We used intraoperative vital signs of 175 patients from a mixed surgical cohort to extract three interconnected, low-dimensional, complex-valued descriptions of patients’ physiological responses: multivariate factors, reflecting subphysiological parameters; temporal factors, reflecting common intrasurgery temporal dynamics; and patients’ factors, describing interpatient changes in physiological responses.

RESULTS

Adoption of the complex-HOSVD allowed us to clarify the dynamic correlation structure included in intraoperative physiological responses. Instantaneous phases of the complex-valued physiological responses within the subspace of principal descriptors enabled us to discriminate between “mild” and “severe” levels of pain at postoperative days 30 and 90.

CONCLUSIONS

By abstracting patients into different surgical groups, we identified significant surgery-related principal descriptors. Each of them potentially encodes different surgical stimulation. The dynamics of patients’ physiological responses to these surgical events were linked to long-term postoperative pain development.
Emotional and Physical Health Impact in Children and Adolescents and Their Caregivers Using Open-source Automated Insulin Delivery: Qualitative Analysis of Lived Experiences (Preprint)
Authors: Braune Katarina , Krug Niklas , Knoll Christine , Ballhausen Hanne , Thieffry Axel , Chen Yanbing , O'Donnell Shane , Raile Klemens , Cleal Bryan
Published: February 2022

BACKGROUND

Given the limitations in the access and license status of commercially developed automated insulin delivery (AID) systems, open-source AID systems are becoming increasingly popular among people with diabetes, including children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the lived experiences and physical and emotional health implications of children and their caregivers following the initiation of open-source AID, their perceived challenges, and sources of support, which have not been explored in the existing literature.

METHODS

Data were collected through 2 sets of open-ended questions from a web-based multinational survey of 60 families from 16 countries. The narratives were thematically analyzed, and a coding framework was identified through iterative alignment.

RESULTS

A range of emotions and improvements in quality of life and physical health were reported, as open-source AID enabled families to shift their focus away from diabetes therapy. Caregivers were less worried about hypoglycemia at night and outside their family homes, leading to increased autonomy for the child. Simultaneously, the glycemic outcomes and sleep quality of both the children and caregivers improved. Nonetheless, the acquisition of suitable hardware and technical setup could be challenging. The #WeAreNotWaiting community was the primary source of practical and emotional support.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show the benefits and transformative impact of open-source AID and peer support on children with diabetes and their caregivers and families, where commercial AID systems are not available or suitable. Further efforts are required to improve the effectiveness and usability and facilitate access for children with diabetes, worldwide, to benefit from this innovative treatment.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

RR2-10.2196/15368
Wine Plant Disease Analysis using Machine Learning
Authors: Kumar Deepak
Published: February 2022

Abstract: Powdery mildew and other plant illnesses are a big problem in agriculture specially Wine. Every year farmers from all over the world loses many plants and money. Due to the climate change this will enlarge continuously. The fight against these diseases is expensive and time-consuming. In this paper I will talk about especially Wine related diseases like powdery mildew how it can be reduced by using Drone and machine learning as a helpful tool. Keywords: Machine learning, Drone, Tensor Flow, Annotation, AZURE, Powdery mildew, CNN (Convolution neural network).
De la culebra sagrada de la laguna a la Loma de la Cruz. La primera misa solemne en Antioquia (18 de diciembre de 1541)
Authors: Caicedo Luis Javier
Published: February 2022

Una estrategia importante en la campaña de conquista de Antioquia consistió en que los españoles conjugaron la lucha militar con la simbólica, siendo el sitio de la laguna, lugar donde se dieron las grandes batallas, el escenario donde empezaron a mudar las creencias nativas (el Diablo) por las cristianas (la Cruz).
Correa Ramírez, Jhon Jaime, Natalia Agudelo Castañeda, Edwin Mauricio López García, Wilton Holguín Rotavista Y Anderson Andrés López Urrea. Botas militares para salvar la democracia: miradas a las acciones de pacificación en la gobernación de Caldas 1953-
Authors: Agudelo Velásquez Leonardo
Published: February 2022

Reseña del libro Botas militares para salvar la democracia: miradas a las acciones de pacificación en la gobernación de Caldas 1954-1963 de los autores Jhon Jaime Correa Ramírez, Natalia Agudelo Castañeda, Edwin Mauricio López Garcia, Wilton Holguín Rotavista y Anderson López Urrea, publicado en el año 2021 por la Editorial Universidad Tecnológica de Pereira.
Entrevista a María Teresa Calderón
Authors: Contreras Valdés Caín , Martínez Botero Sebastián
Published: February 2022

En el momento de la entrevista la Dra. María Teresa Calderón se desempeñaba como directora del Centro de Estudios en Historia de la Universidad Externado de Colombia.
CarSaaf - A Case Study from Karachi
Authors: Saeed Syed Amir
Published: February 2022

CarSaaf is an entrepreneurial venture in Karachi that can be called a Blue Ocean venture on the basis of Create and not compete, that is the true spirit of Blue Ocean Strategy. It differentiated itself with the low cost and created a new market avoiding competing with the run of a mill car wash ventures in Karachi. The value proposition of CarSaaf in comparison to typical car wash ventures are compared through the tool of Buyer Utility Map. The Buyer Utility map is used to study the car wash sector in Karachi, and to identify the consumer pain points of a particular sector. This case, therefore, tends to identify the pain points of consumers in the typical car wash sector of Pakistan, that are addressed by the CarSaaf to introduce a new venture based on providing the solutions through addressing the pain points and to understand the differentiation strategy of CarSaaf, through Buyer Utility Map tool. Utilizing the Buyer Utility Map tool eight pain points of consumers were identified in the car wash industry, that was addressed by CarSaaf for Value Innovation.
IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF CD133 IN OVARIAN SURFACE EPITHELIAL TUMORS
Authors:   Dept. of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Shami Samar , Qasim Ban ,   Dept. of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Alzubaidi Sahira ,   Dept. of Pathology, Teaching laboratories of Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: The identification of antigenic profile of the cancer stem cells might have relevant clinical implication as they're able to proliferate and self-renew, in turn sustaining tumor growth. CD133 is one of robust surface marker for cancer stem cells in various neoplastic human tissues, including ovaries. It is associated with the clinical outcome of patients. Objective: To assess the immunohistochemichal expression of cancer stem cell marker (CD133) in ovarian surface epithelial tumors. Methods: This study included a total of 100 ovarian tissue paraffin blocks, 70 tissue paraffin blocks included ovarian tumors obtained from patient who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, while 30 tissue paraffin blocks assigned as the control group included normal ovarian tissue and fallopian tubes tissue. From each paraffin block, 2 sections were taken, one was stained with hematoxylin and eosin stain and the other section was stained immunohistochemically for CD133. Results: CD133 showed a high significant difference in its immunohistochemical expression between the control group and the case groups with the highest expression seen in malignant ovarian surface epithelial tumors (P < 0.001). CD133 expression was highly significantly associated with histopathological type (P < 0.001). CD133 also showed a significant relation to age (r = 0.254, P= 0.034), tumor grade (r = 0.794, P < 0.001), tumor stage (r = 0.543, P= 0.013) and presence of ascites (P < 0.001). Conclusion: CD133 expression revealed a highly significant differences in the ovarian surface epithelial tumors tissues compared to control group, which reflect its important role in ovarian carcinogenesis. Keywords: Ovarian surface epithelial tumors, ovarian carcinoma, cancer stem cells, cancer stem cell marker, CD133, immunohistochemistry Citation: Al-Shami SA, Qasim BJ, Hassan AM. Immunohistochemical expression of CD133 in ovarian surface epithelial tumors. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(3): 308-318. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.3.10
MOLECULAR DETECTION OF CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IN A SAMPLE OF IRAQI PATIENTS WITH ACUTE LEUKEMIA AND STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION
Authors: Al-Toban Hussein , Al-Marsomy Huda ,   Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Obaidi Asmaa ,   Dept. of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Al Tameemi Waseem ,   Dept. of Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Mohammed Mazen ,   Dept.Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The Medical Complex, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Saeed Raghad ,   Dept.Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, The Medical Complex, Baghdad, Iraq, Al-Shemary Ibrahim ,   Dept. Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein Medical City, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: Acute leukemia and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are risk factors for opportunistic infection and reactivation of many latent infection like cytomegalovirus. Objective: Detection and quantification of cytomegalovirus viremia in patients with acute leukemia after induction chemotherapy and post allogeneic stem cell transplantation patients. Methods: A prospective study enrolled 61 patients with acute leukemia. Forty-eight of them evaluated while induction chemotherapy (group I), while the other 13 within 1-year post bone marrow transplantation (BMT) (group II). In addition, 30 apparently healthy individuals were recruited as (control group), blood samples were collected from all groups. Viral DNA was extracted from 1 ml plasma samples, and then, cytomegalovirus DNA was detected and quantitatively assessed by Taqman quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Twelve (25%) out of 48 patients in group I, 2 (15.4%) out of the 13 patients in group II, and 2 (6.7%) out of 30 in the control group had positive cytomegalovirus viremia. The mean cytomegalovirus viremia was 5.192x102, 2.71x102 and 1.60x102 copies/ml for group I, group II and controls respectively, p=0.056. Conclusion: There is a relatively high prevalence of cytomegalovirus viremia in Iraqi patients with acute leukemia after chemotherapy and post BMT. Real-time PCR assay is helpful for early diagnosis of cytomegalovirus viremia in leukemic patients and used to monitor post BMT patients at risk for cytomegalovirus disease. Keywords: HCMV, acute leukemia, stem cell transplantation, real-time PCR Citation: Al-Toban HA, Al-Marsomy HD, Al-Obaidi AB, Al Tameemi WF, Mohammed MA, Al-Saeed RM, Al-Shemary IK. Molecular detection of cytomegalovirus in a sample of iraqi patients with acute leukemia and stem cell transplantation. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(3): 344-352. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.3.14
THE COMPARISON BETWEEN THE EFFECT OF TWO HOURS ATROPINIZATION VERSUS THREE DAYS ATROPINIZATION ON THE CYCLOPLEGIC OUTCOME IN CHILDREN
Authors:   Dept. of Surgery, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq, Mohamad Abeer , Mahdi Hind ,   Dept. of Surgery, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq, Younis Majid ,   Dept. of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: Cycloplegia abolishes the accommodative power by causing paralysis of ciliary muscle by anticholinergic drugs, which will inhibit stimulation of both ciliary muscle and sphincter pupillae causing cycloplegia and mydriasis. Atropine is widely used in cycloplegic refraction despite its potential toxicity. Objective:To evaluate the possible role of two hours atropinization versus three days atropinization on the cycloplegic outcome in children. Methods: This is a clinical interventional study that included fifty children aged two to seven years' old who attended Ibn Alhaitham Teaching Hospital from October 2012 to March 2013; manual refraction was done for each child after 120 minutes of two drops atropine 1% five minutes apart and refraction was repeated after three days of twice daily atropine 1% administration by the parents. T-test was used for means comparison. Results: Fifty patients (26 males, mean age 3.89 ± 1.3) were included in the study. Spherical equivalent results obtained after three days atropinization (M = 4.2, SD = 1.85) were significantly higher than those obtained after two hours atropinization (M = 3.84, SD = 1.64) (t(49) = - 6.60, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Two hour atropinization was inferior to the standard three days atropinization as it has less cycloplegic effect and so it cannot be recommended based on the current evidence. Keywords: Atropine, cycloplegia, atropinization, refraction Citation: Mohamad AA, Mahdi HA, Younis MS. The comparison between the effect of two hours atropinization versus three days atropinization on the cycloplegic outcome in children. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(4): 372-377. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.4.3
EFFECTS OF CIPROFLOXACIN ON MALE FERTILITY PARAMETERS AND SPERM DNA INTEGRITY IN RATS
Authors:   Dept. of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq, Abd AbdulKareem , Al-Dujaily Saad ,   Dept. Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad-Iraq, Al-Saray Dalia ,   Dept. of Pharmacology, College of Dentistry, Babylon University, Babil, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: The administration of antibiotics is of great value in the therapy of infections of male genital tract, which may have an effect on fertility. Antibiotics are generally prescribed for a variety of infections. A number of patients requiring assisted conception occasionally show evidence of reproductive tract infections. While fluoroquinolones being excessively prescribed in the treatment of male genital tract infections, too little information concerning their outcome on fertility are present. Objective: To estimate ciprofloxacin effects on sperm function parameters in addition to inspect whether ciprofloxacin can affect the integrity of sperm DNA. Methods: In the present study, 48 male adult rats were enrolled. The animals were randomly allocated into six groups; four ciprofloxacin treated groups, which were treated with either (40 mg/kg/day) or (80 mg/kg/day) of ciprofloxacin and 2 control groups. For each dose, the treatment maintained for either 14 days or 28 days. At the end of each duration of treatment, certain epididymal sperm function parameters: sperm morphological normality, sperm concentration and sperm motility were analyzed together with sperm DNA integrity analysis. Results: A significant reduction in sperm concentration, motility and percentage of morphologically normal sperm (in a dose dependent manner) was observed when ciprofloxacin administered for 28 days. The level of DNA fragmentation was significantly elevated with a significant reduction in sperm chromatin quality in ciprofloxacin treated groups whereas serum testosterone level was not significantly affected. Conclusion: Ciprofloxacin can adversely influence fertility parameters in male rat. Keywords: Fertility, Ciprofloxacin, Sperm DNA Citation: Abd AH, Al-Dujaily SS, Al-Saray DA. Effects of ciprofloxacin on male fertility parameters and sperm DNA integrity in rats. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(4): 378-384. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.4.4
EXTRACTION, PURIFICATION AND THERAPEUTIC USE OF BACTERIOPHAGE ENDOLYSIN AGAINST MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT PSEUDOMONAS AERUGINOSA: AN IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO STUDY
Authors:   Dep.t of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq, Ali Mohammed , Kadhim Shurooq ,   Dept. of Microbiology, College of Pharmacy, Al-Mustansiriya University, Baghdad, Iraq, Abdulamir Ahmed ,   Dep.t of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Published: February 2022

Background: Persistent infection with multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) represents a real problem for health care providers. Bacteriophage lytic enzymes or lysins are highly evolved molecules that have been specifically developed by phages to quickly and efficiently allow their progeny to be released from the host bacterium while destructing that bacterium. Objective: Isolation of endolysin from P. aeruginosa bacteriophages, and administering them systematically in vivo lab animal and measuring their therapeutic efficacy as well as evaluation of their biosafety. Methods: This study was performed from March 2015 – August 2017, during which 50 bacteriological samples of P. aeruginosa were collected, and examined for their antibiogram, then bacteriophage cocktails were done for 5 resistant strains of them. Endolysins were extracted from their corresponding bacteriophages and characterized. The enzymatic and antibacterial activities as well in vivo therapeutic efficiency of these enzymes were investigated. Results: This study showed that the extracted endolysin from these bacteriophages was effective in treating laboratory mice from bacteremia with P. aeruginosa and saving their lives when injected intraperitoneal. Conclusion: Endolysin can be extracted directly from their bacteriophages and used effectively in proper doses to treat bacteremia in mice. Keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, bacteriophage, endolysin, MDR Citation: Ali MR, Kadhim SR, Abdulamir AS. Extraction, purification and therapeutic use of bacteriophage endolysin against multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa: An in-vitro and in-vivo study. Iraqi JMS. 2018; 16(4): 405-412. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.16.4.8
Remodelling and Rehabilitation of Irrigation Outlets in Water Distribution of Canals in Punjab, Pakistan
Authors:   National Agriculture Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan., Ahmed Talat Farid , Hashimi Hashim Nisar ,   Department of Civil Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila., Sheikh Ashfaq Ahmed ,   Pakistan Engineering Council, Islamabad, Pakistan, Khan Muhammad Attiqullah ,   National Agriculture Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan., Afzal Muhammad Azeem ,   National Agriculture Research Centre, Park Road, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Published: February 2022

This paper highlights the problems associated with the outlets in the irrigation system of Pakistan, leading to the design of outlets, to trace the gradual evolution of various outlets types and to describe most of the types that have been evolved so far. The advantages and limitations of each type have been examined critically so that the selection of a type for any particular set of conditions may be rendered easy. An outlet is a flow measuring and controlling device between farmer’s land and an irrigation system. In Punjab about fifty thousand outlets irrigate an area of approximately 25.5 million acres annually. Improperly designed outlets may cause a number of problems such as variation in their coefficients of discharge, inequitable distribution of water, silting of canals, inadequate availability water at the lowest outlets, lack of incentives for saving of water and poor drainage. Field calibration of the irrigation outlets proved that their calibrated Cd. vary from the designed Cd. (0.6 for OF & 0.9 for AOSM), as outlets were not designed according to their designed parameters. Defective outlets were also the main cause of silting in canals. The pipe-cum-semi module was very helpful to draw silt from the bed of the parent channel in a case if we want a higher setting of outlet. 20% of canal water in Rabi season and 40% water in Kharif season were snatched by illegally Theft problem. In order to prevent theft, the outlets should be tamper proof and the irrigation department should adopt the legal procedure strictly. All over the world, the engineers and farmers designed and installed various kinds of farm outlets suiting their local conditions. Work is being carried out to make them structurally, hydraulically and economically fit. An attempt is made to bring all the information together leading to economical and efficient design of outlets and to look upon their possibility of adaptability in Pakistan.
Peningkatan Kapasitas Kader Dalam Pemanfaatan Buku Kesehatan Ibu dan Anak (KIA)
Authors: Wijhati Ellyda Rizki
Published: February 2022

Posyandu Kuncup Mekar merupakan salah satu Posyandu Aktif di Wilayah Kecamatan Gamping yang sudah berdiri sejak 15 tahun silam, dan masuk dalam kategori Posyandu Madya. Hingga saat ini terdapat 14 kader yang aktif melakukan tugasnya yaitu melakukan deteksi dini  komplikasi sejak kehamilan hingga nifas serta deteksi dini tumbuh kembang balita. Pemerintah menganjurkan setiap kader menggunakan buku KIA sebagai alat deteksi komplikasi Kesehatan ibu dan anak (KIA), namun 92% kader belum pernah mendapatkan pelatihan terkait deteksi dini tumbuh kembang dengan menggunakan buku KIA. Tujuan Kegiatan ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kemampuan kader dalam Pemanfaatan buku KIA sebagai alat deteksi dini komplikasi KIA. Metode yang lakukan dalam kegiatan ini berupa pelatihan pemanfaatan buku KIA baik secara teori maupun praktik. Sebelum dan sesudah pelatihan dilakukan uji pre dan post pelatihan untuk mengetahui keefektifan pelatihan yang dberikan. Dari hasil evaluasi kegiatan terdapat perbedaan yang signifikan berdasarkan uji t (p<0,05) terhadap pengetahuan sebelum dan sesudah pelatihan dibuktikan dengan kenaikan skor post test peserta. Kader mampu menggunakan buku KIA sebagai alat deteksi dini kesehatan ibu dan anak. Dibuktikan dengan kemampuannya menggunakan buku KIA sebagai alat skrining dan media pendidikan kesehatan.
Preparation and Purification of a Flame-Retardant Polyphenylphosphonate Containing 4,4'-Dihydroxybenzophenone
Authors:   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina (IFSC), campus Criciúma, Rodovia SC 443 km1, nº 845, Vila Rica, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88813-600, Possenti Graziele Vefago Boaventura , de Souza Aline Vieira ,   Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), campus Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88040-900, Battisti Rodrigo ,   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina (IFSC), campus Criciúma, Rodovia SC 443 km1, nº 845, Vila Rica, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88813-600, Dominguini Juliani Conti Martins ,   Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), campus Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88040-900, Dominguini Lucas ,   Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina (IFSC), campus Criciúma, Rodovia SC 443 km1, nº 845, Vila Rica, Criciúma, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88813-600, Soares Cintia ,   Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), campus Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88040-900, Riella Humberto Gracher ,   Chemical Engineering Department, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), campus Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil, 88040-900
Published: February 2022

A polyphenylphosphonate containing 4,4'-dihydroxybenzophenone was synthesized as a flame retardant. However, impurities were detected and may compromise its properties and thermal stability. Thus, a purification route based on water and hexane extraction with reflux was proposed. Results showed success in removing impurities, especially P–Cl groups, without damaging the polymer.
The Full Factorial Design Approach to Determine the Attitude of University Lecturers towards e-Learning and Online Teaching due to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mahmood Nozad H , Kadir Dler H. , Birdawod Hawkar Q.
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this study was to determine faculty members' attitudes toward online learning in Kurdistan region universities. The study examined the biographic and personal characteristics of the lecturer towards e-learning. The data was collected among faculty members at Cihan University-Sulaimaniya, and to analyze the data, a full factorial design with five main factors at two levels and no central points was applied for this specific purpose. The study's findings indicated that there was no significant relationship between gender and lecturer attitude towards e-learning. In comparison to teachers with an MSc degree, those with a PhD have a more negative attitude toward e-learning. Furthermore, full-time faculty members have a greater positive effect on teachers' attitudes than part-time lecturers. Likewise, the results indicate that lecturers who earned their most recent education degrees outside of Iraq have a more favorable attitude. Similarly, lecturers in the sciences are more favorable to e-learning than those in the arts and social sciences. In addition, the findings demonstrated that the interaction factors (Gender) and (Education Degree) have a negative effect on lecturers' attitudes when they are combined. Besides that, the interaction of factors (Country of Last Education Degree) and (Faculty Member Types) improves attitudes toward e-learning. Based on the results, it is suggested that academic staff receive e-learning training to deepen their knowledge and understanding of such a modern teaching system. There is also a need to enhance factors related to positive attitudes towards e-learning among university lecturers. The findings of this study are necessarily significant to both teachers and educational organizations in Kurdistan Region universities.
ANALISIS KONTEKS WILAYAH TERHADAP PERCERAIAN DI PROVINSI JAWA TIMUR
Authors: Rofi Abdur , Salsabila Ghina
Published: February 2022

Kajian terhadap terjadinya perceraian lebih banyak dilihat dari  faktor individual dan rumah tangga dan kurang banyak dikaji dari aspek konteks wilayah.  Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk  menganalisis konteks wilayah dengan menganalisis kecenderungan dan sebaran spasial tingkat perceraian di Jawa Timur tahun 2012-2020 dan menganalisis hubungan antara faktor sosial ekonomi wilayah dengan tingkat perceraian di Jawa Timur. Data yang digunakan dalam penelitian adalah data sekunder dari publikasi Badan Pusat Statistik. Analisis kecenderungan dan persebaran tingkat perceraian di Jawa Timur dilakukan secara deskriptif dan menggunakan indeks Hoover. Sementara itu, analisis hubungan antara tingkat perceraian dengan faktor sosial ekonomi wilayah menggunakan uji korelasi Pearson. Penelitian ini menemukan adanya peningkatan tingkat perceraian di Jawa Timur dari tahun 2012-2020 dengan persebaran tingkat perceraian yang tidak merata dan cenderung terkonsentrasi di wilayah tertentu. Hal tersebut tercermin dari semakin meningkatnya indeks Hoover. Faktor konteks wilayah di Jawa Timur yang berhubungan signifikan dengan tingkat perceraian adalah rata-rata lama sekolah dan persentase penduduk miskin. Perceraian memiliki korelasi positif dengan rata-rata lama sekolah dan sementara memiliki korelasi negatif dengan persentase penduduk miskin. Penelitian ini merekomendasikan cara mengurangi  tingkat perceraian di Jawa Timur, yaitu tidak hanya dilakukan dengan memperbaiki tingkat pendidikan dan kemakmuran penduduk, tetapi juga memperbaiki kualitas pendidikan dan mendorong dekonsentrasi pendidikan dan kemakmuran.
TEKANAN EKONOMI, COPING EKONOMI, DUKUNGAN SOSIAL, DAN KESEJAHTERAAN PEREMPUAN KEPALA KELUARGA
Authors: Yulfa Rahmi , Puspitawati Herien , Muflikhati Istiqlaliyah
Published: February 2022

Keluarga yang dikepalai perempuan rentan terhadap kemiskinan yang tak lain disebabkan oleh faktor pendapatan yang rendah dan lingkungan yang tidak mendukung. Penelitian ini menggunakan desain cross-sectional dan diteliti secara kuantitatif yang bertujuan untuk menganalisis pengaruh tekanan ekonomi, coping ekonomi, dan dukungan sosial terhadap kesejahteraan perempuan kepala keluarga. Penelitian ini melibatkan 100 perempuan yang bercerai dan memiliki anak di Jawa Barat dengan menggunakan non-probability voluntary sampling. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian, rata-rata usia responden adalah 39 tahun dan lama menjanda adalah 4 tahun. Sebagian besar responden memiliki pekerjaan tidak tetap dengan pendapatan di bawah garis upah minimum provinsi. Lebih dari setengah (66,0%) responden memiliki rasio aset lebih sedikit daripada utang dan semua (100,0%) responden memiliki utang. Variabel tekanan ekonomi, coping ekonomi, dukungan sosial, dan kesejahteraan berada pada kategori sedang. Karakteristik seperti pekerjaan dan lama menjanda berpengaruh positif dan negatif signifikan terhadap kesejahteraan subjektif. Coping ekonomi berpengaruh negatif signifikan terhadap kesejahteraan subjektif. Dukungan sosial juga berpengaruh positif siginifikan terhadap kesejahteraan subjektif. Pekerjaan dan rentang lama menjanda menjadi faktor yang dapat memengaruhi tingkat kesejahteraan keluarga. Kesejahteraan pun dapat diperoleh jika perempuan kepala keluarga tidak memiliki utang. Semakin sedikit coping ekonomi yang dilakukan oleh perempuan kepala keluarga, serta semakin banyak dukungan sosial yang didapatkan akan meningkatkan tingkat kesejahteraannya.
Preguntas retóricas, gramaticalización y marcadores de modalidad
Authors: Kornfeld Laura Malena
Published: February 2022

El presente artículo se propone analizar conjuntamente una serie de fenómenos de gramaticalización del español originados en preguntas retóricas y que expresan diversos significados ligados con la modalidad y con la periferia izquierda de la oración. Así, nos ocuparemos primero de las “verdaderas” preguntas retóricas, tanto totales (¿Tiene algún sentido que vayas?) como parciales (¿A quién no le gusta el fútbol?), que, si bien se procesan en la sintaxis como verdaderas preguntas, no se decodifican pragmáticamente como pedidos de información, sino como afirmaciones que implican una inversión sistemática en la interpretación de la modalidad, la polaridad y los cuantificadores involucrados (cfr. Escandell Vidal 1984, 1999). Partiendo de las preguntas retóricas, entonces, encontraremos diferentes construcciones gramaticalizadas, tales como el qué “de réplica” reconocido por Di Tullio (2011) (¿Qué vas a ser bueno?), al que sumamos el qué exhortativo (¿Qué mentís?). En ambos casos, se da un rechazo rotundo sea de una hipótesis ajena previa, sea de alguna situación pragmática determinada. También nos centraremos en estructuras derivadas de preguntas totales indirectas (¿Mirá si la voy a dejar?), con un significado epistémico semejante al del “de réplica”, y de preguntas totales directas (¿No va y le miente?, ¿No va que lo encuentra?), que dan lugar a una modalidad evaluativa ligada con la sorpresa enfática. Todas estas construcciones tienen en com n que suponen una compleja interacción entre aspectos de la periferia izquierda (incluidos la interrogación y el foco), la modalidad y la polaridad. Luego de describir sus propiedades gramaticales básicas, proponemos un análisis desde la gramática generativa y, en particular, desde la cartografía sintáctica (Rizzi 1997, Cinque 1999).
Pengaruh Bi 7 Day (Reverse) Repo Rate, Dana Pihak Ketiga, Capital Adequacy Ratio Dan Financing To Deposit Ratio Terhadap Pembiayaan Murabahah Di Bank Syariah (Studi Pada Pt. Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tbk)
Authors: Nurjannah Nurjannah , Maguni Wahyuddin
Published: February 2022

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana pengaruh Suku  Bunga, Dana Pihak Ketiga, dan Capital Adequacy Ratio terhadap Pembiaayan Murabahah di Bank Syariah khususnya pada PT Bank Muamalat Indonesia Tbk tahun 2012 sampai 2019 secara parsial maupun simultan. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah laporan keungan Bank Muamalat. Sehingga sampel yang diambil adalah laporan keuangan triwulanan Bank Muamalat periode 2012-2019. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data yaitu dokumentasi. Analisis data yang dilakukan yaitu teknik analisis regresi linear berganda. Dengan patokan pengambilan keputusan adalah 0,05. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa variabel Suku Bunga tidak berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap Pembiayaan Murabahah, dilihat dari output olah data analisis regresi linear berganda diperoleh nilai koefisien regresi sebesar 0,015. Selanjutnya dilakukan Uji Parsial (Uji t) diperoleh nilai statistik uji t sebesar 0,127 dengan nilai signifikan sebesar 0,900 yang dimana 0,900 lebih lemah dari 0,05. Variabel Dana Pihak Ketiga berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap Pembiayaan Murabahah, dilihat dari output olah data analisis regresi linear berganda diperoleh nilai koefisien regresi sebesar 0,763. Selanjutnya dilakukan uji persial yakni nilai statistik uji t sebesar 6,867 dengan nilai signifikan sebesar 0,000 yang dimana 0,000 lebih kuat dari 0,05. Sedangkan pada variabel Capital Adequacy Ratio tidak berpengaruh secara signifikan terhadap Pembiayaan Murabahah, dilihat dari output olah data analisis regresi linear berganda diperoleh nilai koefisien regresi sebesar 0,223. Selanjutnya dilakukan uji persial yakni nilai statistik uji t sebesar 1,898 dengan nilai signifikan 0,068 yang dimana 0,068 lebih lemah 0,05.