Bacterial Isolates and Antibiotic Susceptibility of Ear Infections in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq

Background: Ear infections can manifest in many forms depending on site of infection whether external, middle or internal ear and the culprit pathogen whether viral, bacterial or fungal. Acute middle ear infections are usually accompanied by aural discharge. Objective: 1. To get an overview on the bacterial pathogens involved in ear infections. 2. To assess the antibiotic resistance of bacterial pathogens. Methods: A cross sectional study conducted in Al-Kindy Teaching Hospital / Baghdad /Iraq. Swabs taken from 225 patients suffering from aural discharge were tested for culture and sensitivity for the duration of two years 2018-2019. Aural discharge is cultured by inoculating it into blood, MacConkey agar, chocolate agars and Sabouraud agar (for fungi). Then the antibiotic susceptibility and resistance is assessed by (Kirby-Bauer Method). Results: Then, by analyzing the percentage of pathogens involved in ear infections we have found that the highest percentage is for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (51%), followed by Staph, aureus (20%), Proteus vulgaris (11%). Discussion: Cefotaxime, which was known to be an efficient antibiotic against pseudomonas previously, has lost its effectiveness. Similarly, gentamycin is no longer effective against E.coli. Conclusion: Choosing the proper antibiotic in any bacterial infection is of tremendous importance. However, reassessment of antibiotic resistance profiles is vital and should be regarded as a routine task on regular intervals.

IUPAC Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry 2021

IUPAC thrives to boost the impact of chemistry around the world. Recently, it established a new initiative—the Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry—to showcase the tremendous importance of the chemical sciences by highlighting developments on the verge of becoming game-changing commercial breakthroughs [1]. Some have been truly transformational for our society, such as RNA vaccines and rapid tests, both key technologies to enable a smooth transition to the new normal after the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the Top Ten efforts continue—featuring a brand-new logo and further actions to disseminate and promote the project beyond this publication. The new selection of emerging technologies gathers both well-established, high-technology readiness level (TRL) applications and ground-breaking opportunities for the chemical industry. Of course, many of them still address the ongoing coronavirus crisis, focusing on new pharmaceutical solutions to prevent the spread of pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, many tackle the climate crisis and provide new roadmaps to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [2]. The consequences of global warming are here—heatwaves, floods, and wildfires devastate our planet constantly. Chemistry will provide pivotal tools towards a sustainable future [3], many included in this singular selection. IUPAC experts have selected the Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry 2021—ten ideas to catalyse industrial innovations and transform our world.

Individual differences in need satisfaction and intentions to vote for specific political parties – results from Germany

Understanding the psychological basis of individuals' voting intentions is of tremendous importance because voting for specific parties and politicians can influence political developments. In the present study associations of individuals’ satisfaction of each of Maslow’s five basic need categories with voting intentions were investigated in a German sample and these results were compared to results on associations between personality and voting intentions. An online survey was completed by N = 2593 (n = 1035 men) individuals. Participants provided information on socio-demographic characteristics, filled in the Need Satisfaction Inventory, the Big Five Inventory, and stated which of the major German parties they would vote for if general elections were held the following Sunday. Data were analyzed using the statistical software R and RStudio. Among others, it was found that higher satisfaction of physiological needs and higher satisfaction of safety and security needs were associated with intentions to vote for the currently governing party alliance, the CDU/CSU, versus for the right-wing AfD. Regarding personality, among others Openness was positively associated with intentions to vote for nearly every party (except the CDU/CSU) versus for the AfD. Effect sizes of associations were overall rather small; generally speaking, those related to the Need Satisfaction Inventory were even slightly smaller than those found for personality traits. The present results indicate that other factors aside from needs and personality must be considered to understand voting. Therefore, this study sets a starting point for further investigations to replicate and expand the present findings.

To the clinic distrophiae adiposo-genitalis in children

There is no need to prove in detail what a tremendous importance it is for a pediatrician who deals mainly with a growing, developing child's body, acquaintance with the physiology of the endocrine glands.

Molecular docking of secondary metabolites from Indonesian marine and terrestrial organisms targeting SARS-CoV-2 ACE-2, M pro, and PL pro receptors

With the uncontrolled spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), development and distribution of antiviral drugs and vaccines have gained tremendous importance. This study focused on two viral proteases namely main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE-2) to identify which of these are essential for viral replication. We screened 102 secondary metabolites against SARS-CoV-2 isolated from 36 terrestrial plants and 36 marine organisms from Indonesian biodiversity. These organisms are typically presumed to have antiviral effects, and some of them have been used as an immunomodulatory activity in traditional medicine. For the molecular docking procedure to obtain Gibbs free energy value (∆G), toxicity, ADME and Lipinski, AutoDock Vina was used. In this study, five secondary metabolites, namely corilagin, dieckol, phlorofucofuroeckol A, proanthocyanidins, and isovitexin, were found to inhibit ACE-2, Mpro, and PLpro receptors in SARS-CoV-2, with a high affinity to the same sites of ptilidepsin, remdesivir, and chloroquine as the control molecules. This study was delimited to molecular docking without any validation by simulations concerned with molecular dynamics. The interactions with two viral proteases and human ACE-2 may play a key role in developing antiviral drugs for five active compounds. In future, we intend to investigate antiviral drugs and the mechanisms of action by in vitro study.

Process design and capability analysis using penthagorean fuzzy sets: surgical mask production machines comparison

Process capability analysis (PCA) is a tool for measuring a process’s ability to meet specification limits (SLs), which the customers define. Process capability indices (PCIs) are used for establishing a relationship between SLs and the considered process’s ability to meet these limits as an index. PCA compares the output of a process with the SLs through these capability indices. If the customers’ needs contain vague or imprecise terms, the classical methods are inadequate to solve the problem. In such cases, the information can be processed by the fuzzy set theory. Recently, ordinary fuzzy sets have been extended to several new types of fuzzy sets such as intuitionistic fuzzy sets, Pythagorean fuzzy sets, picture fuzzy sets, and spherical fuzzy sets. In this paper, a new extension of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, which is called penthagorean fuzzy sets, is proposed, and penthagorean fuzzy PCIs are developed. The design of production processes for COVID-19 has gained tremendous importance today. Surgical mask production and design have been chosen as the application area of the penthagorean fuzzy PCIs developed in this paper. PCA of the two machines used in surgical mask production has been handled under the penthagorean fuzzy environment.

Optimizing Visualization in Endoscopic Spine Surgery

Given the inherent limitations of spinal endoscopic surgery, proper lighting and visualization are of tremendous importance. These limitations include a small field of view, significant potential for disorientation, and small working cannulas. While modern endoscopic surgery has evolved in spite of these shortcomings, further progress in improving and enhancing visualization must be made to improve the safety and efficacy of endoscopic surgery. However, in order to understand potential avenues for improvement, a strong basis in the physical principles behind modern endoscopic surgery is first required. Having established these principles, novel techniques for enhanced visualization can be considered. Most compelling are technologies that leverage the concepts of light transformation, tissue manipulation, and image processing. These broad categories of enhanced visualization are well established in other surgical subspecialties and include techniques such as optical chromoendoscopy, fluorescence imaging, and 3-dimensional endoscopy. These techniques have clear applications to spinal endoscopy and represent important avenues for future research.

A review on synthesis, functionalization, processing and applications of graphene based high performance polymer nanocomposites

: Graphene as a nanofiller has gained tremendous importance in polymer nanocomposites for many applications. The attractive properties of graphene related to mechanical, electrical, and thermal domains pose a lucrative means of reinforcing the polymers to obtain the needed properties. The rise in the use of polymers supports this trend and urges the researchers to excavate the hidden plethora of nanocomposite materials for multifunctional applications. In this review, an overview is provided on graphene-based materials which have been used extensively in various fields, such as batteries, aerospace, automobile and biomedical fields. An increasing trend of graphene usage by many researchers as a nanofiller in polymer composites, its types, processing methods are highlighted with suitable applications to assimilate the updates in the development of graphene nanocomposites.

Anatomical study of the teres major muscle: description of an additional distal muscle slip

Background Understanding muscle and tendon anatomy is of tremendous importance to achieve optimal surgical execution and results in tendon transfers around the shoulder. The aim of this study was to introduce and describe an additional distal muscle slip of the teres major (TM). Methods Sixteen fresh-frozen cadaver shoulders were dissected with the deltopectoral approach. The ventral latissimus dorsi (LD) tendon was harvested, and the shoulders were analyzed for the presence/absence of a distal teres major slip (dTMs) and its dimensions and relationship with the TM and LD tendons. Results The dTMs was identified in 12 shoulders (75%). It was always distal to the TM tendon and visible during the deltopectoral approach. There was a clear separation between the TM proximally and dTMs tendon distally. At the humeral insertion, both tendons had a common epimyseal sheet around the teres major and inserted continuously at the humerus. The mean width of the dTMs tendon at the insertion was 13 ± 4 mm (range, 7–22 mm). The total lengths of the dTMs tendon and LD tendon were 40 ± 7 mm (range, 25–57 mm) and 69 ± 7 mm (range, 57–79 mm), respectively (p < 0.001). The dTMs muscle showed direct adhesions in ten shoulders (83%) with the LD muscle. Conclusions This is the first macroscopic description of an additional distal slip of the teres major muscle. The dTMs has a separate (distal) but continuous (mediolateral) insertion at the humerus within a common epimyseal sheet around the TM. The dTMs tendon is visible during the deltopectoral approach and can therefore provide a lead structure, particularly in ventral LD transfers with the deltopectoral approach.

Synthesis of Medicinally Relevant Scaffolds-Triazoles and Pyrazoles in Green Solvent Ionic Liquids

: The use of natural and environment friendly energy sources for betterment of the living society has become an active concern in both government and public sector. Due to this, responsible use of global resources has become a growing concern among people. Similarly, in chemical industry especially in pharmaceutical fields, there is constant pressure in reducing hazardous organic solvents and environmentally detrimental laboratory materials. The use of ionic liquids in efficient synthesis of a wide array of fundamentally important structural motifs has gained tremendous importance in the scientific era. In this review, synthesis of two such medicinally relevant moieties, namely, triazole and pyrazole, in green and sustainable ionic liquid have been discussed.