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Fulltext An insight on the relationship between food compressibility and microbial inactivation during high pressure processing

Fauzi NA, Farid MM, Silva F

J Food Sci Technol, 2017 Mar;54(3):802-809.
PMID: 28298695 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-2526-7

This paper investigates the effect of high pressure liquid food compressibility onS. cerevisaeinactivation. Honey with various adjusted sugar with different values of compressibility was selected as a model food.S. cerevisiaecells in different honey concentrations (0-80°Brix), 600 MPa (at ambient temperature) showed an increasing resistance to inactivation with increasing °Brix.D-values ofS. cerevisiaeat 200, 400 and 600 MPa, for 20 min/80°Brix were 136.99 ± 7.97, 29.24 ± 6.44 and 23.47 ± 0.86 min, respectively. TheseD-values resulted the Z
p
-value of 526 ± 39 MPa. A significant correlation (p
Synthesis and thermo-physical properties of deep eutectic solvent-based graphene nanofluids

Fang YK, Osama M, Rashmi W, Shahbaz K, Khalid M, Mjalli FS, et al.

Nanotechnology, 2016 Feb 19;27(7):075702.
PMID: 26766874 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/27/7/075702

This study introduces a new class of heat transfer fluids by dispersing functionalised graphene oxide nanoparticles (GNPs) in ammonium and phosphonium-based deep eutectic solvents (DESs) without the aid of a surfactant. Different molar ratios of salts and hydrogen bond donors (HBD) were used to synthesise DESs for the preparation of different concentrations of graphene nanofluids (GNFs). The concentrations of GNPs were 0.01 wt%, 0.02 wt% and 0.05 wt %. Homogeneous and stable suspensions of nanofluids were obtained by high speed homogenisation and an ultrasonication process. The stability of the GNFs was determined through visual observation for 4 weeks followed by a centrifugal process (5000-20,000 rpm) for 30 min in addition to zeta potential studies. Dispersion of the GNPs in DES was observed using an optical microscope. The synthesised DES-based GNFs showed no particle agglomeration and formation of sediments in the nanofluids. Thermo-physical properties such as thermal conductivity and specific heat of the nanofluids were also investigated in this research. The highest thermal conductivity enhancement of 177% was observed. The findings of this research provide a new class of engineered fluid for heat transfer applications as a function of temperature, type and composition DESs as well as the GNPs concentration.
Fulltext Sleep Quality Among Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Medical Errors: Kuwait Experience

Abbas A, Al-Otaibi T, Gheith OA, Nagib AM, Farid MM, Walaa M

Turk Thorac J, 2021 Mar;22(2):142-148.
PMID: 33871338 DOI: 10.5152/TurkThoracJ.2021.20245

OBJECTIVE: Millions of people suffer from sleep disturbances. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created several new challenges-particularly for frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). This study assessed the sleep quality (SQ) among HCWs.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an English-language online survey. The participants were invited via a web link sent using social network platforms. It included sociodemographic- and profession-related characteristics. COVID-19-associated risks were assessed (e.g., being on the front line, doing swabs, satisfaction about protective equipment, and management protocols). Assessment of SQ was done using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and various medical errors were recorded.
RESULTS: A total of 217 HCWs completed the survey with mean (±standard deviation) age of 35.8 (±7.3) years; 56.2% were male, 18.43% had comorbidities, and 61.75% experienced sleep difficulties before the COVID-19 crisis. This work reports a 78.8% prevalence of poor SQ, with the mean (standard deviation) global PSQI score of 9.36 (±4.4). HCWs with poor sleep experienced more positive comorbid profile (23.64% versus 6.52%, p=0.01). Working on the front lines of COVID-19 was associated with poor sleep (69.59% versus 47.83%, p=0.006). Among the participants, 77.42% performed medical errors, particularly not checking for drug allergies (17.97%), dispensing medication with incomplete instructions (20.74%), providing incorrect doses or overdosing (14.75%), incorrectly explaining the use of medication (9.22%), and prescribing a drug to the wrong patient (10.14%).
CONCLUSION: This nationwide survey reported high prevalence of poor SQ among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Being an HCW on the front lines of COVID-19 and doing swabs with a positive comorbidity was associated with poor sleep.
Fulltext Determinants, predictors and negative impacts of burnout among health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic

Al-Otaibi T, Abbas A, Ashry Gheith O, Nair P, Zahab MA, Hammouda MAA, et al.

J King Saud Univ Sci, 2023 Jan;35(1):102441.
PMID: 36405649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2022.102441

The first defense line of the battle, healthcare workers (HCWs), faces a significant challenge in managing the current COVID-19 pandemic. An online electronic survey was sent to HCWs via email and social media networks. Socio-demographic data and work environment-related variables were assessed. Consequences of burnout (BO) were reported, e.g., elicited medical errors. Maslach burnout inventory was used to diagnose BO. Two hundred and eighty-four participants were included with a mean age of 39.83 ± 7.34 years, 70.8% worked in the COVID-19 frontline, 91.9% were followed daily updates about COVID-19, 63.7% were not satisfied with the coordination between triage and isolation, 64.4% got COVID-19 infection, 91.9% had a colleague or family member developed COVID-19 infection, and 21.5% experienced a colleague /a family member died due to COVID-19. Multivariate analysis by linear regression revealed that; working as a frontline HCW (OR 1.28, CI = 0.14-2.55) and sleep deprivation (OR 3.93, CI = 1.88-8.22) were the predictors of burnout.