Bad Quality Research Articles

Cross-Cultural Adaptation of The Indonesian Version Functional Assessment of Denture Instrument as a Measuring Tool for Complete Denture Functional Quality.

Making good quality dentures is necessary to avoid patients' discomfort when adapting to new dentures. Several studies regarding the assessment of the quality of dentures have been carried out in many other countries, such as using the Functional Assessment of Dentures (FAD) by Anastassiadou. However, studies have yet to be conducted in Indonesia. This study aims to obtain a valid and reliable instrument to measure the quality of complete dentures (CDs). This study also aims to find out whether the functional quality of a CD measured with the Indonesian version of the FAD Instrument (PFGT) can affect patient satisfaction in receiving CD treatment (measured with Indonesian version of Patient's Denture Assessment [PDA-Id]) and to find contributing factors to the functional quality of a CD. The study was conducted in two stages. The first stage was a qualitative study using cross-cultural adaptation methods and focus group discussions with experts. The second stage was a quantitative test with a total of 40 subjects for statistical analysis in the form of a kappa test, test-retest, Kuder-Richardson (KR) 20, and a correlation test between PDA-Id and PFG. Multivariate analysis was done to analyze contributing factors to the functional quality of CD. The final instrument was obtained from the qualitative test, which was tested for content and face validation. The interrater kappa test result of 0.828 shows an almost perfect agreement. The results of the intrarater test-retest (0.564; p > 0.05; intraclass correlation coefficient 0.889) showed excellent instrument stability. The results of the internal consistency test with Kuder-Richardson 20 (1.08; KR > 1) showed good internal consistency. The correlation test results between PFGT and PDA-Id (0.044; p < 0.05) showed a positive correlation. Multivariate analysis showed a relationship between the quality of the CD, the length of time the CD was used, and the patient's satisfaction with CD treatment. The PFGT instrument is considered a valid and reliable tool to measure the functional quality of a denture that can distinguish between good and bad quality.

Evaluating the effect of using augmented reality (Metaverse) on improving the teaching and academic performance

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of employing the augmented reality (metaverse) on improving the process of teaching and academic performance. An electronic questionnaire containing five questions was distributed to the academic groups that received the lesson using augmented virtual reality (Metaverse). The aim of the questions was to evaluate their experience, and after they answered the questions, the answers were analyzed in the form of percentages and frequencies. The study sample consisted of (97) students from Al-Ain University enrolled in the programs of (special education, nutrition, and applied sociology), to whom the experiment was applied using augmented virtual reality in teaching during their academic course. The results revealed that (83%) of the respondents reported that the augmented virtual reality contributed to understanding the concepts of the lesson well, (79%) felt enjoyment in using this technique, (75%) suggested that the technique enhanced their involvement in the content well, (68%) suggested that augmented virtual reality could be a useful educational instrument in the future, and (77%) confirmed that the lesson's objectives were achieved by using metaverse technique in teaching. However, several challenges were faced by students, including the used language (only English) and the negative effects of bad quality of used glasses. Based on the findings, the study recommended addressing several key areas for optimizing the use of augmented virtual reality (AVR) in teaching. For example, diversifying language options for AVR content is crucial to accommodating the linguistic diversity among students, thereby enhancing accessibility and comprehension. Additionally, we should invest in high-quality equipment and implement regular maintenance protocols to enhance the quality of equipment, specifically addressing issues related to the negative effects of subpar AVR hardware.

Quality of Sleep and Mental Symptoms Contribute to Health-Related Quality of Life after COVID-19 Pneumonia, a Follow-Up Study of More than 2 Years.

A follow-up study was designed to assess correlations among physical signs, quality of sleep, common mental symptoms, and health-related quality of life after moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia. Daily changes in dyspnoea and pulse oximetry were recorded (200 days), and four evaluations (in >2 years) were performed on quality of sleep, mental symptoms, cognitive performance, and health-related quality of life. In a single center, 72 adults participated in the study (52.5 ± 13.7 years old), with no psychiatry/neurology/chronic lung/infectious diseases, chronic use of corticosteroids/immunosuppressive therapy, or pregnancy. Daily agendas showed delayed decreases in dyspnoea scores compared to pulse oximetry and heart rate recordings; however, changes in pulse oximetry were minimal. Slight changes in cognitive performance were related to the general characteristics of the participants (obesity and tobacco use) and with the severity of acute disease (MANCOVA, p < 0.001). Health-related quality of life gradually improved (MANCOVA, p < 0.004). During recovery, bad quality of sleep and mental symptoms (mainly attention/concentration) contributed to the subscores on health perception and vitality in the health-related quality of life assessment. Early mental support services including sleep hygiene could be beneficial during rehabilitation after acute COVID-19.

Effect of Calcium Ionophore on the Embryonic Outcome of the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Female Patients with Good &amp; Bad Quality Oocytes: Histomorphometric Study

Abstract Introduction Fertilization failure is the most common problem in assisted reproductive technology . In incident of ovum and/or spermatozoa correlated fertilization difficulties after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, approaches of modified ICSI techniques, which can be done using Ca 2+ ionophores. The objective of the research Effectiveness of Ca 2+ ionophores was studied on the embryonic outcome in female patients with bad quality oocytes while her partner has normal semen analysis. Materials and Methods Thirty-eight couples have undergone ICSI, with female age ranging between 40 to 45 years old. The retrieved oocytes were subdivided into 4 groups; good quality oocytes, good quality ovums with adding Ca 2+ ionophore treatment, bad quality ovums in addition, bad quality ovums with adding Ca 2+ ionophore treatment, all were inserted by the corresponding sperms. Examination of the embryos was done on day two after fertilization, cleavage stage, and blastulation stage. Results Treated good quality oocytes showed fertilization of (92%) of the oocytes compared to (68%) of the untreated good quality oocytes. Treated bad quality oocytes showed fertilization of (85%) of the oocytes compared to (65%) of the untreated bad quality oocytes. The quality of embryos was enhanced on day two after fertilization, day three (cleavage stage), and day five (blastulation stage) in both treated groups than in the untreated ones. Conclusion The activated oocytes resulted in better fertilization and embryonic development. Therefore, ICSI combined with artificial oocyte activation using Ca 2+ ionophore is useful in mid-age female patients with good and bad quality oocytes regardless the cause.

Studying Provider’s Satisfaction on Video Consultation by Ain Shams University Virtual Hospital

Abstract Background Video consultations were developed to allow long-distance patient and clinician contact, care, advice and monitoring which has been shown to improve patient health status. When rural settings, lack of transport, a lack of mobility, decreased funding, or a lack of staff restrict access to care, video consultation may bridge the gap. Objective To measure satisfaction of physicians involved in video consultations services provided at Ain Shams Virtual Hospitals (AVH). To identify the main factors affecting satisfaction of physicians involved in such video consultations services provided at AVH. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to measure satisfaction of a sample of providers of video consultations at AVH from December 2020 to March 2021. Results Total 37 physicians were included in the study, 29 physicians responded (78.3%). The mean age ±SD is 37.97 ±6.3 and their main specialties were neuropsychiatry (40.7%), internal medicine subspecialties (40.7%), and surgical specialties (18.5%). About 83% were confident with their diagnoses in video consultations and (13.8%, 75.9%) of the physicians reported that they always/sometimes suffered from bad quality of image/sound respectively. More than half of the physicians (53.5%) thought that lack of physical examination would affect the accuracy of the diagnoses and 53.5% of the physicians thought that video consultation would be suitable for follow-up patients post operatively. Conclusion Two thirds of the physicians had a positive experience and were satisfied with using video consultations in their clinical practices. Recommendations It is recommended to use video consultations in following-up of patients. It is also recommended to monitor provider`s satisfaction over time.

Development and initial validation of a data quality evaluation tool in obstetrics real-world data through HL7-FHIR interoperable Bayesian networks and expert rules.

The increasing prevalence of electronic health records (EHRs) in healthcare systems globally has underscored the importance of data quality for clinical decision-making and research, particularly in obstetrics. High-quality data is vital for an accurate representation of patient populations and to avoid erroneous healthcare decisions. However, existing studies have highlighted significant challenges in EHR data quality, necessitating innovative tools and methodologies for effective data quality assessment and improvement. This article addresses the critical need for data quality evaluation in obstetrics by developing a novel tool. The tool utilizes Health Level 7 (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperable Resources (FHIR) standards in conjunction with Bayesian Networks and expert rules, offering a novel approach to assessing data quality in real-world obstetrics data. A harmonized framework focusing on completeness, plausibility, and conformance underpins our methodology. We employed Bayesian networks for advanced probabilistic modeling, integrated outlier detection methods, and a rule-based system grounded in domain-specific knowledge. The development and validation of the tool were based on obstetrics data from 9 Portuguese hospitals, spanning the years 2019-2020. The developed tool demonstrated strong potential for identifying data quality issues in obstetrics EHRs. Bayesian networks used in the tool showed high performance for various features with area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) between 75% and 97%. The tool's infrastructure and interoperable format as a FHIR Application Programming Interface (API) enables a possible deployment of a real-time data quality assessment in obstetrics settings. Our initial assessments show promised, even when compared with physicians' assessment of real records, the tool can reach AUROC of 88%, depending on the threshold defined. Our results also show that obstetrics clinical records are difficult to assess in terms of quality and assessments like ours could benefit from more categorical approaches of ranking between bad and good quality. This study contributes significantly to the field of EHR data quality assessment, with a specific focus on obstetrics. The combination of HL7-FHIR interoperability, machine learning techniques, and expert knowledge presents a robust, adaptable solution to the challenges of healthcare data quality. Future research should explore tailored data quality evaluations for different healthcare contexts, as well as further validation of the tool capabilities, enhancing the tool's utility across diverse medical domains.

Psychosocial Determinants of Bad Quality of Life Among People Living with HIV/AIDS on Antiretroviral Drugs in Kinshasa /DR Congo

Context and Objective: The search for psychosocial determinants of bad quality of life (Qol) in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLWHA) under Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) constitutes a real public health problem in Kinshasa. Determine the psychosocial factors of bad Qol among PLWHA on antiretrovirals in Kinshasa. Methods: This was a case control study carried out in Kinshasa from January 15 to April 15, 2021, which included 1082 subjects divided into two groups including 541 PLWHA patients and 541 no-PLWHA. Sampling was non-probability based on matching patients from case to control. Recruitment was carried out first among PLWHA, then matching was done by age and sex considering the sample of PLWHA. The variables of interest were sociodemographic, condom use, psychoactive substance abuse, perceived stress, anxiety-depression, and bad Qol. Results: The average age of PLWHA was 50.4±10.7 years with a sex ratio of 2.81. A third of PLWHA (32.9%) were married (p&lt;0,001), 9.2% used condoms (p&lt;0,001), 68% had a secondary education (p=0,006), 54.3% had an occupation (p=0,005), 54.2% attended independent churches (p=0,033), 52.1% had an average socioeconomic level (p&lt;0,001), 12.2% consumed alcohol (p&lt;0,001), 15.3% had a bad Qol. The main determinants of bad quality of life were stage 4 (ORa : 3,06 IC95% : 1,47-7,79), side effects due to HAART (ORa : 1,90 IC95% : 1,04-3,60), perceived stress (ORa : 4,14 IC95% : 1,32-12,94) and anxiety-depression (ORa : 6,88 IC95% : 1,60-9,43). Conclusion: Bad quality of life is present among PLWHA in Kinshasa. It was linked to stage 4, side effects due to Highly active antiretroviral therapy, perceived stress, anxiety-depression in HIV-positive people.

Analysis of influential factors on surgical outcomes in pediatric femur neck fractures: a single-institution retrospective study.

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate surgical outcomes and identify influential factors in pediatric femoral neck fractures. A total of 25 hips from 23 pediatric patients who underwent surgical intervention for femoral neck fractures were included. Data encompassing patient demographics, fracture types, surgical techniques, complications, and follow-up outcomes were analyzed retrospectively. Factors such as fracture displacement, timing of surgery, fixation methods, and reduction quality were assessed concerning postoperative complications. Falling from a height accounted for 48% of the trauma mechanisms, and avascular necrosis (AVN) was the most prevalent complication (4 hips). Although fracture displacement, bad reduction quality, and delayed surgery were more common among complicated cases, statistical significance was not attained. The study noted an association between presence of avascular necrosis and worse clinical results(rho: 0.428, p: 0.05, CI: 95%). Surgical treatment yielded favorable clinical outcomes; however, limitations due to the study's retrospective design, limited sample size, and single-center approach underscore the necessity for larger multicenter studies. Our findings emphasize the need for comprehensive investigations to better understand and manage pediatric femoral neck fractures, especially regarding factors influencing AVN and long-term outcomes.

Assessment of surface water quality in the Siversky Donets river within Kharkiv region in 2023

Purpose. Provide an assessment of the quality of the massif of surface waters of the Siverskyi Donets River within the Kharkiv region in 2023 based on the determination of water quality indices. Methods. The methods of the modified water pollution index (WPI) and the combinatorial water pollution index (CWPI). Results. State of the river water at the observation point of the v. Pechenigy according to the method of the modified water pollution index WPIF is estimated as II class characterized as "clean", WPIH - I class, "very clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III a, "dirty", CWPIH - class I, "slightly polluted". State of the river water at the observation point of the v. Eschar according to the method of the modified water pollution index of WPIF is estimated as III class characterized as "moderately polluted", WPIH - II class, "clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III b, "dirty", CWPIH - class II, "polluted". State of the river water at the observation point of the v/ Zadonetskyi according to the method of the modified index of water pollution, WPIF is estimated as III class characterized as "moderately polluted", WPIH is II class, "clean"; according to the method of the combinatorial index of water pollution CWPIF - class III b, "dirty", CWPIH - class I, "slightly polluted". Conclusions. It was determined that there are changes in water quality along the watercourse of the Siverskyi Donets River within the Kharkiv Region in 2023. There is a deterioration of water quality after the confluence of the Uda River, by 1.69 times the magnitude of the index change, then the state of water quality improves by 1.25 times the magnitude index changes, probably due to self-cleaning processes and lower anthropogenic load. The quality of water according to WPI indicators varies from 0.25 to 1.47 (from "very clean" to "moderately polluted"). The quality of water according to the CWPI indicators varies from 1.0 to 3.83 (from "slightly polluted" to "dirty"). It was established that according to both assessment methods and both standards, the quality of water in the Pechenigy reservoir, p. Pechenegs the best, and the worst water quality in the Siverskyi Donets River below the mouth of the Uda River, village Eschar.

Identification of Risks Associated with Strategic Road Network Construction in Karnali Province from the Perspective of Employer and Contractor

Completion on time, within the allocated budget, according to the specifications, and with stakeholder satisfaction is a key to a successful project. Stakeholders, including the contractor, consultant, and employer, in almost all construction projects including highways, fail to give the risk assessment due consideration in Nepal. The purpose of this study was to determine the risks related to the key road network construction in Karnali province. Using purposive sampling, a questionnaire survey was administered to the stakeholders. The opinions of the participants were evaluated under five distinct categories: public sector management risk, engineering risk, construction risk, resource procurement risk, and social risk. Based on its RII value, each heading was rated after undergoing a distinct study. Authorization to use the forest land and remove or cut down trees (RII value: 0.90) was the highest risk that was obtained. This was followed by approval to move the electric pole from within the right-of-way (RII value: 0.88), "Lack of coordination between different related organizational parties (water supply, irrigation, building department, etc.)" (RII value: 0.87), "Unavailability of material" (RII value: 0.86), and, finally, "Land acquisition and bad quality of workmanship with RII value 0.85."

Automated MRI Quality Assessment of Brain T1-weighted MRI in Clinical Data Warehouses: A Transfer Learning Approach Relying on Artefact Simulation

The emergence of clinical data warehouses (CDWs), which contain the medical data of millions of patients, has paved the way for vast data sharing for research. The quality of MRIs gathered in CDWs differs greatly from what is observed in research settings and reflects a certain clinical reality. Consequently, a significant proportion of these images turns out to be unusable due to their poor quality. Given the massive volume of MRIs contained in CDWs, the manual rating of image quality is impossible. Thus, it is necessary to develop an automated solution capable of effectively identifying corrupted images in CDWs. This study presents an innovative transfer learning method for automated quality con- trol of 3D gradient echo T1-weighted brain MRIs within a CDW, leveraging artefact sim- ulation. We first intentionally corrupt images from research datasets by inducing poorer contrast, adding noise and introducing motion artefacts. Subsequently, three artefact- specific models are pre-trained using these corrupted images to detect distinct types of artefacts. Finally, the models are generalised to routine clinical data through a transfer learning technique, utilising 3660 manually annotated images. The overall image quality is inferred from the results of the three models, each designed to detect a specific type of artefact. Our method was validated on an independent test set of 385 3D gradient echo T1-weighted MRIs. Our proposed approach achieved excellent results for the detection of bad quality MRIs, with a balanced accuracy of over 87%, surpassing our previous approach by 3.5 percent points. Additionally, we achieved a satisfactory balanced accuracy of 79% for the detection of moderate quality MRIs, outperforming our previous performance by 5 percent points. Our framework provides a valuable tool for exploiting the potential of MRIs in CDWs.

Statistical characterization of reliability indices in medium voltage networks using a Monte Carlo-based method

Distribution companies are compelled to provide high-quality services to their customers in compliance with existing regulations. Key performance indicators such as system average interruption duration index and system average interruption frequency index are commonly employed to assess the quality of service provided by these utilities. In certain countries, distribution system operators may face penalties or receive bonuses based on their performance within specified thresholds in their reliability indices. This paper introduces a novel, integrated algorithm, based on Monte Carlo simulations, for conducting a risk assessment in real MV networks using local data from the distribution system operator. The proposed technique is tested in a real MV network, and the obtained results are analyzed both at feeder level and for the entire network. The feeder-level results might be used to identify the sections of the network with the worst quality of power supply, based on the estimated KPIs. The overall results of the study offer valuable insights into the likelihood of specific KPI values using probability density function. The Weibull distribution and log-logistic distribution are found to be those with the best-fitting probability density functions for the two indices evaluated in this work. Furthermore, a penalty-based rate approach is presented as an application of the proposed method to assess the economic risk of the MV network. The findings reveal that the test system is expected to incur penalties amounting to 7.55 million dollars per year.

Applicability of Oculomics for Individual Risk Prediction: Repeatability and Robustness of Retinal Fractal Dimension Using DART and AutoMorph.

To investigate whether fractal dimension (FD)-based oculomics could be used for individual risk prediction by evaluating repeatability and robustness. We used two datasets: "Caledonia," healthy adults imaged multiple times in quick succession for research (26 subjects, 39 eyes, 377 color fundus images), and GRAPE, glaucoma patients with baseline and follow-up visits (106 subjects, 196 eyes, 392 images). Mean follow-up time was 18.3 months in GRAPE; thus it provides a pessimistic lower bound because vasculature could change. FD was computed with DART and AutoMorph. Image quality was assessed with QuickQual, but no images were initially excluded. Pearson, Spearman, and intraclass correlation (ICC) were used for population-level repeatability. For individual-level repeatability, we introduce measurement noise parameter λ, which is within-eye standard deviation (SD) of FD measurements in units of between-eyes SD. In Caledonia, ICC was 0.8153 for DART and 0.5779 for AutoMorph, Pearson/Spearman correlation (first and last image) 0.7857/0.7824 for DART, and 0.3933/0.6253 for AutoMorph. In GRAPE, Pearson/Spearman correlation (first and next visit) was 0.7479/0.7474 for DART, and 0.7109/0.7208 for AutoMorph (all P < 0.0001). Median λ in Caledonia without exclusions was 3.55% for DART and 12.65% for AutoMorph and improved to up to 1.67% and 6.64% with quality-based exclusions, respectively. Quality exclusions primarily mitigated large outliers. Worst quality in an eye correlated strongly with λ (Pearson 0.5350-0.7550, depending on dataset and method, all P < 0.0001). Repeatability was sufficient for individual-level predictions in heterogeneous populations. DART performed better on all metrics and might be able to detect small, longitudinal changes, highlighting the potential of robust methods.

Quality and microstructure of tilapia fillets (Oreochromis niloticus) subjected to different freezing methods

The Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets were frozen with static air (SA) at -20 °C, air blast freezing (AF) at -25 °C, combined method (CM - immersion in liquid nitrogen followed by AF) and cryogenic freezing (CF - immersion in liquid nitrogen). The effects of different freezing methods and of storage time at -18 °C (0, 30, 60 and 90 days) on fillet quality were evaluated. The temperature records were obtained, and the freezing times were determined by monitoring the temperatures of the geometric centers of the fillets. For CF, CM, AF and SA, the freezing times were 5.32, 127, 146 and 268 min, respectively. The quality of the frozen fillets was evaluated by measuring pH, volatile nitrogenous bases (TBV-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and fatty acids and by obtaining a texture profile and performing scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The samples frozen by CF, after storage, had the highest levels of TBV-N because the high freezing rate produced superficial cracks that negatively affected the quality of the fillets. Freezing the samples with SA produced the worst quality indices and the microstructure was visibly damaged, with greater spaces between the fibers left by ice crystals. For all parameters evaluated, freezing with AF and CM resulted in fast freezing rates and better-quality tilapia fillets for 90 days of storage.

Effect of multi-cancer early detection screening on late-stage cancers: A modeling study.

11076 Background: Emerging blood-based multi-cancer early detection (MCED) tests can revolutionize early cancer detection. We evaluated the potential impact of MCED screening in reducing risk of late-stage diagnosis of 12 specific cancers which represent 70% of all cancer incidence in the US. Methods: We developed Simulation Model for MCED (SiMCED), a microsimulation model of 12 solid tumor cancer types: breast, colorectal, endometrial, esophageal, gastric, kidney, liver, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, and urinary bladder. Transitions between cancer stages (I-IV) were driven by cancer type- and stage-specific dwell times, which were synthesized from published literature and empirical estimates. MCED test sensitivity was derived from the PRE-ASCEND study on average-risk American adults. The model was calibrated to reproduce yearly observed cancer incidence diagnosed symptomatically or through screening as captured in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, while accounting for unobserved cancer incidence by age, sex, and cancer type and stage. Using a 50-year time horizon, we simulated 100,000 individuals aged 50 to 84 years. Diagnosis of cancer could arise from usual care (UC) or annual MCED screening. Results: Over the 50-year horizon, MCED screening of 100,000 individuals resulted in 1,323 fewer Stage IV (24%) diagnoses relative to UC, with 38% of Stage IV reductions attributed to non-screening-detectable cancer types (i.e., those without recommended screening guidelines). The table displays absolute and percentage reductions in Stage IV diagnoses for the 8 cancer types with the highest absolute reduction in Stage IV diagnoses. The percentage of Stage IV reduction was 21% for screening-detectable cancers and 29% for non-screening-detectable cancers. Conclusions: Our study suggests that MCED screening could be effective for reducing the incidence of Stage IV cancer, which is associated with the worst survival and quality of life. Of note, MCED has the potential to reduce Stage IV cancer incidence for cancers without recommended screening guidelines. However, the real-world impact of MCED tests and their cost-effectiveness require further investigation. [Table: see text]

Cover Picture: Geomechanics and Tunnelling 3/2024

AbstractIn Stockholm, Implenia builds of one of the world's deepest metro stations. This new metro station is an extension of the Blue Line to Södermalm. Beside the station single‐track tunnels for the subway, lift shafts, and a collateral service tunnel are constructed. Due to the difficult geological conditions and the bad quality rock, the AT – Pipe Umbrella System with squeeze connections were used to reinforce excavations and bolster safety during construction (photo: DSI Underground).

Effect of watery extract of Curcuma longa powder (Turmeric) on multidrug- resistant Bacillus cereus recovered from fresh soft cheeses in Kirkuk

Bacterial contamination is an important cause of foodborne diseases. Herbal medicine is known as botanical medicine or phytomedicine, which means a plant or any part of the plant, is used to prepare medicine to assist in the healing process during illness and disease. Medicinal plants contain natural chemicals, which are acceptable to human and animal systems. Curcumin Is extensively used as an aromatic medicinal cosmetic .It has been in traditional use and it is mentioned as a remedy for various diseases. These findings indicated that action of curcumin had significant inactivation effect on foodborne bacteria, the present study investigate action of curcumin on foodborne bacteria Bacillus cereus (B. cereus). The frequency and distribution pattern of Bacillus cereus in cow soft cheese were investigated indifferent regions in Kirkuk. 50 Pooled soft cheeses samples from different regions in Kirkuk were collected during February until June (2020), ten samples collected monthly from different supermarkets as same as proportion above. Modified procedures for isolation and identification were dependent, Gram stain, oxidase &amp;catalase reaction aid in segregation. Modified Congo red assay used to detect biofilm and Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used for determination sensitivity of isolates to ampicillin (AM 10µg),cephalexin (CLX, 30µg), azithromycin (AZM, 15µ) and vancomycin (VA 30µg). The results confirmed recovery of In conclusions. cheese production in Kirkuk are encountered by the problems of bacterial contamination and presence of multidrug resist strain of Bacillus cereus that considered a risk to public health, may be due both insufficient and misuse treatment with antibiotics or in somewhat due to bad quality and/or poor hygiene of processing involved in milk production. Thus recommended monitoring these products for better hygienic status.

Phenotypical variability affecting the commercial value of the stalked barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes: No evidence for epigenetic variation

The stalked barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes is an important economic resource in Portugal and Spain. Two extreme phenotypes can be identified, based on their morphology. More elongated barnacles are associated with bad quality and have a lower commercial value.The fishers perception about the existence, definition and causes for this phenotypical/quality variation was evaluated through a survey performed in Portugal and Galicia, Spain. The existence of two extreme commercial qualities was validated. Good quality barnacles were mainly defined as thick and short in both countries. In Spain (Galicia), the definition of bad quality animals corresponded mainly to the terms long and thin, while in Portugal, fishers used a wider variety of terms including watery, thin and soft. The characteristics of the rock and the hydrodynamics were the causes most referred by the fishers for this variation.The morphological variation of P. pollicipes was described by the ratio between maximal rostro-carinal length (RC) and total height (TH): RC/TH values > 0.4 indicate good quality barnacles; and values < 0.4 indicate bad quality barnacles.Although morphological variation between the two extreme qualities/phenotypes was found, no genetic (amplified fragment length polymorphism - AFLP) or epigenetic (methylation sensitive amplification polymorphism - MSAP) differences were detected.

Comparison between anterior-to-posterior screw fixation versus posterolateral approach plate fixation for posterior malleous fracture: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThere are two main surgical fixation methods for the posterior malleolar fractures (PMFs), the anterior-to-posterior (AP) screws or via the posterolateral (PL) approach utilizing a buttress plate. This review aims to compare the clinical outcome between the AP screw fixation and the PL plate fixation for treating PMFs. MethodsWe searched all relevant publications about PMFs treated with AP screws or PL plates through electronic databases including the PubMed, the Cochrane Library, the Embase, the Wiley online library and the Web of Science. The meta-analysis was conducted to evaluated clinical outcomes including reduction quality, post-operative function and complications. ResultsSix studies (one single randomized controlled trial and five retrospective cohort studies) were enrolled. 172 patients underwent AP screw fixation and 214 patients underwent PL plate fixation with a total of 386 patients (169 males and 217 females). The PL plating group yielded better AOFAS scores(MD = 6.97, 95 % CI=[4.68, 9.27], P＜0.00001, I2 =0 %) and was more likely to achieve excellent anatomical reduction(OR=5.49, 95 % CI=[1.06, 28.42], P = 0.04, I2 =80 %). No differences were found in the bad reduction quality, incidences of complications (arthritis, neuralgia, superficial wound healing problems and implant failure), the walking VAS scores and the dorsiflexion restriction degrees. ConclusionWe suggest that the PL plate fixation method has the clinical benefit of achieving anatomical reduction and better AOFAS scores over the AP screw fixation for treating PMFs. No differences were found in the incidences of complications ( arthritis, neuralgia, superficial wound healing problems and implant failure), the walking VAS scores and the dorsiflexion restriction degrees. The posterior approach and the direct reduction are recommended for the treatment of the PMFs. Level of ConfidenceⅡb

Relationship between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Quality of Sleep

Background. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder caused by reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus, as a result, it causes various symptoms or complications . GERD is a commonly prevalent gastrointestinal disorder in medical students. Based on data from the 2006 US National Health and Wellness survey observing respondents who experienced heartburn at least twice a month, 89% of respondents experiencing nightime GERD symptoms, it showed that the presence of nighttime GERD was associated with decrease quality of sleep. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between GERD and students’ sleep quality in Faculty of Medicine USU 2020-2022. Method. Cross sectional design with total sampling method. Data collection was carried out using an online questionnaire in the form of a google form. The questionnaires used were GERD-Q, FSSG, PSQI, and ISI. The analysis used was univariate and bivariate analysis with Chi-square. Results. This study involved 378 respondents, 114 people (30.2%) with GERD, 67 people (58.8%) with severe of GERD, 286 people (75.7%) had a bad quality of sleep, and 43 people (15%) with moderate and severe of insomnia. The results of statistical analysis showed an association between GERD and quality of sleep. Conclusion. There was a correlation between GERD and quality of sleep of USU Faculty of Medicine students class 2020-2022