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Thermal stress of a continuous rigid frame bridge, based on the temperature gradient in Chinese bridge gauge, using a finite element analysis (FEA) method was investigated. First of all, the temperature effect of the whole bridge was analyzed, and the correlation of the improved amplitude of temperature gradient and temperature effect were studied. It was found that there was a linear relationship with temperature stress and improved temperature. And then, the temperature effect of zero block was analyzed and the details of box girder temperature stress distribution investigated by utilizing the FEA method. It was concluded that temperature stress mainly distributed in the body surface; under the condition of the improvement of temperature field, the center temperature stress of zero block was improved about 60% and the end temperature stress of zero block was improved about 75%.

Background and Purpose: Transverse myelitis (TM) is a rare neurological diagnosis found in 1-4 per million people. Rehabilitation is recommended secondary to steroid treatment. There is limited clinical research on physical therapy (PT) for TM. The purpose of this case report is to present PT examination and management strategies for a patient with TM. Case Description: A 25-year-old female patient diagnosed with TM was referred to PT. She presented foot drop causing ataxic gait, decreased sensation in bilateral lower extremities, significant fatigue, and low back pain. The patient required significant rest time between all tests and measures due to severely increased fatigue. PT plan of care was focused on therapeutic exercises per patient tolerance, passive range of motion (ROM) administered by the therapist, and gait training when activity tolerance was increased. Outcomes: The patient was able to tolerate bouts of exercise as prescribed through home exercise program. She responded very well to passive ROM treatment during breaks between exercises to maintain ROM and decrease rigidity. Active ROM exercise was used to build activity tolerance while being mindful of limited ability due to fatigue. Upon increased activity tolerance, the patient was able to tolerate gait training with multiple breaks and maintain corrected gait when addressed during treatment. Discussion: PT intervention was helpful for this patient with TM. Breaking down functional activities based on patient tolerance is important when treating people with TM. More experimental research is needed to support the benefits of PT for TM.

The strategy of price liberalisation and privatisation had been implemented in Sudan over the last decade, and has had a positive result on government deficit. The investment law approved recently has good statements and rules on the above strategy in particular to pharmacy regulations. Under the pressure of the new privatisation policy, the government introduced radical changes in the pharmacy regulations. To improve the effectiveness of the public pharmacy, resources should be switched towards areas of need, reducing inequalities and promoting better health conditions. Medicines are financed either through cost sharing or full private. The role of the private services is significant. A review of reform of financing medicines in Sudan is given in this study. Also, it highlights the current drug supply system in the public sector, which is currently responsibility of the Central Medical Supplies Public Corporation (CMS). In Sudan, the researchers did not identify any rigorous evaluations or quantitative studies about the impact of drug regulations on the quality of medicines and how to protect public health against counterfeit or low quality medicines, although it is practically possible. However, the regulations must be continually evaluated to ensure the public health is protected against by marketing high quality medicines rather than commercial interests, and the drug companies are held accountable for their conduct.

Introduction: Bronchoscopy could lead to local spread of pre-existing infection, spread of infection from one patient to another if the bronchoscope is disinfected inadequately, or, isolation of microorganisms from bronchoscopic specimens in a patient who is clinically not infected, i.e., pseudo-infection. This study is one such investigation of an outbreak of bronchoscopic pseudo-infections in a tertiary care hospital.Materials and methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were inoculated onto MacConkey Agar and 5% Sheep Blood Agar and incubated at 37 °C overnight. The growths obtained on culture media were processed for identification and antimicrobial susceptibility on Vitek 2 Compact as per manufacturer’s instructions. To investigate the outbreak, 5 mL - 10 mL of sterile water was flushed through the channels of disinfected bronchoscope and collected in a sterile container. The samples were centrifuged and inoculated onto MacConkey Agar and 5% Sheep Blood Agar. The growths obtained were further processed similarly as the BAL samples were processed. Environmental swabs collected from the bronchoscopy unit were also processed as the procedure mentioned above.Results: Bronchoalveolar lavage of 3 patients in a period of 1 week were contaminated with multidrug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two out of five bronchoscope fluid samples were also contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among the swabs collected from bronchoscope unit, Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the detergent box of the endowasher. Conclusion: The risk of propagation of infection via a bronchoscope can be evaded by proper reprocessing and improving the sterilization practices. 

Post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis has emerged as a significant long-term complication among survivors of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review highlights the underlying pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities, and recent advances in the diagnosis and management of post-COVID pulmonary fibrosis. As global cases of COVID-19 continue to evolve, understanding and addressing this emerging chronic respiratory condition is critical for long-term patient care.

Annually the list of pesticides is replenished by new ones. One of the main criteria for their registration is toxicological and hygienic assessment and its impact on the environment. In order to register the new soy herbicide Damu - Safen, EC (fomesafen, 250 g/l) it was necessary to assess its toxicological and hygienic impact on the environment and humans. Therefore, for the first time we conducted studies of the environmental objects under the influence of Damu-Safen, EC (fomesafen, 250 g/l) and the risk assessment of the active substance fomesafen and pesticide Damu - Safen, EC on the workers. According to the results of the assessment of working conditions for the workers of the tanker and the tractor operator, an acceptable risk was obtained that meets regulatory and hygienic requirements. Residual amounts of fomesafen not exceeding the normative levels were found during conducted studies on environmental objects. Consequently, the results of the risk assessment in the application of pesticide Damu-Safen, EC (fomesafen, 250 g/l) and its impact on the working people and environmental objects indicate the possibility of its application in compliance with optimal environmental conditions and compliance with regulations for appliances and personal protective equipment.

Objectives: Hospitalization following a head injury is associated with high rates of disability that have a strong correlation with depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Well-being is related to life satisfaction, quality of life, happiness, personal growth and flourishing, competence, self-acceptance, positive relationships, and autonomy. The well-being of patients and their primary caregivers is important when a patient is left with impaired mobility after neurosurgery. The aim of this study is to examine whether the well-being of patients and their primary caregivers will differ before and after neurosurgery, and whether well-being differs between patients with motor disability (WMD group) and those without, compared to those who are not - NMD group (non-motor disability).Methodology: 123 patients and their main caregivers were recruited. Of these, 62 were in the before neurosurgical group, 31 Patients and 31 caregivers. 61 in the after neurosurgical group, 30 Patients and 31 caregivers, of which there are 16 from WMD group and 15 from NMD. Main outcome measures: Two analyses of Variance (ANOVA) were conducted: for WMD and NMD separately. The results reveal a significant decrease in wellbeing for both, patient and main caregivers, but a stronger decline in well-being was observed among WMD, as indicated by a larger effect size (η² = 0.74) compared to the NMD (η² = 0.38). In addition, no significant effect between group and time of measurement was found, indicating that the decrease in wellbeing was not different among patients compared to their main caregivers. Conclusion: The findings highlight the multifaceted impact of neurosurgery on well-being, particularly for patients who remain with motor disabilities and their primary caregivers.The decline in well-being after neurosurgery highlights the need for improved social support and the importance of developing treatment programs that can help ease the process of coping with these phenomena and provide appropriate support for both patients and their primary caregivers.

This study presents a comprehensive simulation and analysis of photonic band gaps in one-dimensional (1D) photonic crystals using the open-source software MEEP. Photonic crystals, with their periodic structures, exhibit photonic bandgaps that prevent the propagation of specific wavelengths of light, making them crucial for various optical applications. Unlike previous studies that primarily focused on theoretical and experimental methods, this research introduces a novel computational approach that enhances the accuracy and flexibility of modeling these bandgaps. Through detailed simulations, we explore the impact of different structural parameters on the photonic bandgap properties, providing valuable insights into optimizing these crystals for practical use. Our findings demonstrate significant improvements in the design and understanding of 1D photonic crystals, particularly in tailoring bandgaps for specific applications in optical devices. This work contributes to the advancement of photonic crystal technology by offering a robust framework for their analysis and application.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are common opportunistic diseases, primarily caused by Escherichia coli, which utilizes various virulence factors, including the hlyA gene encoding hemolysin. Phenolic compounds in fruits and vegetables, known for their antimicrobial properties, were examined for their effects on E. coli. This study involved 60 E. coli isolates from Aleppo University Hospital, identified via biochemical and molecular tests. The hemolytic ability was assessed phenotypically, and the hlyA gene was detected using PCR. The impact of pyrogallol and catechol on these isolates was also evaluated. Results showed a 54.6% isolation rate of E. coli, with a higher rate in females (71.7%) than males (28.3%). The 20-40 age group was most affected, comprising 38.4% of cases. Hemolytic activity was observed in 45% of isolates, and the hlyA gene was present in 41.6% of cases. Pyrogallol exhibited a bactericidal effect at high concentrations and mild growth at lower levels, while catechol showed no antibacterial effects. These experimental investigations were validated by docking those polyphenols to the hlyA predicted, validated 3D structure where pyrogallol exhibited stronger binding affinity than catechol (-5.2 vs. -4.8 kcal/mol). The study underscores the significance of the hlyA gene in E. coli virulence and highlights the potential antibacterial properties of phenolic compounds at specific concentrations.

Depressive disorders are so frequent and disabling health conditions which have been inarguably accepted to be a public health concern [1]. Many drugs have been developed to treat depression, however the efficacy of the antidepressants are inadequate particularly for mild or moderate depression [2-4]. It is also mentioned that when considering the trials about the treatment effect of the antidepressants, you should be careful about the results because of reflecting a small proportion of the society [4]. Despite the methodological issues related to the controversial results about the antidepressant efficacy, a recent review showed that the antidepressant effects of the drugs persist in a six month period [5,6].