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Prevalence and determinants of anxiety and stress in the general population during COVID-19 pandemic in Iraq: A cross-sectional study
Get PDFBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic and its prevention and control measures, such as social distancing, self-isolation, and quarantine, have a negative impact on the population’s mental health. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anxiety and stress among the general population during the outbreak of COVID-19 and assess their associated factors.
Methods
We carried out a cross-sectional study in Erbil governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan Region, from July 18 to September 12, 2020. We used an online survey questionnaire to collect data from a sample of Erbil population. The 10-items Perceived Stress Scale and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale were used to measure the levels of stress and anxiety.
Results
A total of 851 persons responded to the survey. The prevalence of moderate and high perceived stress was 59.6% and 16.6%, respectively. The prevalence of moderate and severe anxiety was 24.7% and 22.7%, respectively. Age, gender, economic level, having contact with COVID-19 patients, and following COVID-19 news were independent variables significantly associated with stress levels. Age, gender, economic level, employment status, having symptoms of COVID-19, having contact with COVID-19 patients, and following COVID-19 news were independent variables significantly associated with anxiety levels.
Conclusion
A high proportion of people experienced stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 outbreak in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Females, younger age, poor, and unemployed reported significantly higher stress and anxiety levels. There is a need to establish mechanisms at the population level to decrease the stress and anxiety risks and provide mental health coping measures in times of crisis, such as education about positive thinking, stress management programs, and the role of social support
FACTORS AFFECTING THE MOTIVATION OF STUDENTS SPEAKING SKILLS’ PROGRESS
Get PDFSpeaking skill is of great importance to English language learners. As is known, motivation plays an important role in the development of speaking skills. Motivation, in turn, is also affected by other variables. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence learners’ motivation. The analysis was carried out using five variables, namely, motivation, personality, attitudes towards English language teachers, classroom environment and instructional media, and attitudes towards English language. Data collection method included a questionnaire distributed to the participant of this study which included 92 participants from Tishk International University (TIU) studying in education, pharmacy, nursing, and medical analysis faculties. From this research, it is concluded that the variables that have the most influence on learners’ motivation are attitudes towards English language teachers, classroom environment and instructional media, and attitudes towards English language, where these variables have a positive effect on learners’ motivation
Anticancer of genus Syzygium: a systematic review
Get PDFAim: One in eight fatalities globally are considered cancer-related. The need for cancer therapy is growing. Natural products continue to play a role in drug development, as up to 50% of authorized drugs in the last 30 years have been isolated from natural sources.
Methods: Anticancer, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and other actions have all been reported in research papers using plants from the Syzygium genus in the treatment and prevention of disease.
Results: Results from the anticancer test showed that the genus, especially Syzygium aqueum, Syzygium samarangense, and Syzygium cumini had significant promise as an anticancer agent in vitro against several cancer cell lines. Numerous factors, including phytochemical composition, increased apoptotic activity, decreased cell proliferation, stopped angiogenesis, and reduced inflammation.
Conclusions: These results, despite preliminary, show promise for further purification and investigation of bioactive compounds and extracts within the genus Syzygium for their anticancer properties
Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) adsorption onto the surfaces of C60, C59Si, and C59Ge: Insight from DFT, QTAIM, and NCI
Get PDFSeveral reports have shown that nanomaterials have been found to be effective for gas sensing application and the adsorption of hazardous organochloride. Herein, dispersion corrected density functionals; D3-B3LYP-D3, ωB97XD, M06-2X and PBE0 all at the 6-311G (d) basis set was used to study the interactions of metal-doped fullerenes (silicon (C59Si) and germanium (C59Ge)) with Hexachlorobenzene (C6Cl6) gas molecule. The adsorption properties of the adsorbents viz; the pure fullerene nanocage (C60) and the doped system; Silicon (C59Si) and Germanium (C59Ge) were all investigated in terms of reactivity, stability, bond order, intermolecular interaction, van der waals, and weak interaction as well as adsorption energy. The reactivity levels of the examined surfaces were observed within the same range at the B3LYP-D3/6-311G (d) level of theory to be 5.996 eV, 5.309 eV, and 5.188 eV for C60, C59Si and C59Ge adsorbents respectively. From our calculation for adsorption energies; the high negative value -1.010 eV of for the C59Ge nanocage suggests that the doped surface adsorbs hexachlorobenzene better in comparison to the other surfaces and adsorption is thermodynamically favored. The results for natural bond orbitals (NBO), quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM), and non-covalent interaction (NCI) were consistent across all systems and favored physical adsorption
GC/MS and LC-MS/MS phytochemical evaluation of the essential oil and selected secondary metabolites of Ajuga orientalis from Jordan and its antioxidant activity
Get PDFThe current investigation aimed to shed light in the volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites of Ajuga orientalis L. from Jordan. GC/MS and GC/FID analysis of the hydrodistilled essential oil obtained from aerial parts of the plant revealed tiglic acid (18.90 %) as main constituent. Each of the methanol and butanol fractions of A. orientalis were screened for their total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity determined by DDPH and ABTS methods. The extracts were then analyzed by LC-ESI-MS/MS to unveil their chemical constituents, especially phenols and flavonoids. Results showed that the AO-B extract had the highest TPC (217.63 ± 2.65 mg gallic acid/g dry extract), TFC (944.41 ± 4.77 mg quercetin /g dry extract), highest DPPH and ABTS antioxidant activity ((4.00 ± 0.20) × 10-2; (3.00 ± 0.20) × 10-2 mg/mL, respectively) as compared to the AO-M extract. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of both extracts revealed the presence of several phenolics, flavonoids and nonphenolic acids
Cross-cultural diversity analysis: traditional knowledge and uses of freshwater fish species by indigenous peoples of southern Punjab, Pakistan
Get PDFBackground
Fisheries have tremendous cultural and educational importance in human societies. The world is undergoing fast environmental and cultural changes, and local knowledge is being lost. Understanding how people interpret environmental change and develop practices in response to such change is essential to comprehend human resource use. This study was planned with the intent to document and conserve the knowledge about the uses of the freshwater fish fauna among the residents in South Punjab, Pakistan.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews and questionnaires were conducted to collect data from informers (N = 88). Principal component analysis, relative frequency citation, fidelity level, relative popularity level, rank-order priority, and similarity index were used to analyze the fish data.
Results
Overall, a total of 43 species of fishes were utilized in the study region, but only 26 species were utilized ethnomedicinally to treat a variety of illnesses such as asthma, body weakness, burn, chicken pox, cold, cough, eyesight, hepatitis, impotence, joint pain, night blindness, skin burn, spleen treatment, stomach infection, and weakness. The uses of fishes were analyzed employing various indices. The highest use value (UV) of 0.86 was calculated for spotted snakehead (Channa punctata), whereas the lowest UV of 0.05 was attained by karail fish (Securicula gora). Moreover, Channa punctata, Cyprinus carpio, Labeo rohita, Oreochromis niloticus, Wallago attu, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Rita rita, Sperata seenghala, Notopterus notopterus, Labeo dyocheilus, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Securicula gora, Ompok bimaculatus, and Ompok pabda were the most popular species with RPL = 1.0. Out of the total, 20 species had a “zero” similarity index, while the ethnomedicinal use of 12 species (i.e., Labeo dyocheilus, Labeo boggut, Systomus sarana, Puntius punjabensis, Aspidoparia morar, Securicula gora, Crossocheilus diplochilus, Mastacembelus armatus, Ompok bimaculatus, Ompok pabda, Labeo gonius, and Sperata seenghala) was documented for the first time for a variety of diseases (i.e., body weakness, stomach infection, skin burn, joint pain, impotence, asthma, spleen treatment, and chicken pox).
Conclusion
Our findings showed that the local people of the study area hold noteworthy traditional knowledge about the medicinal and cultural uses of fish species. Furthermore, a comprehensive analysis of active chemicals and in vivo and/or in vitro activities of chemicals derived from ichthyofauna with the highest FC as well as UVs could be interesting for research on new drugs
Boundaries Are Blurred: Wild Food Plant Knowledge Circulation across the Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian Borderland
Get PDFThe circulation of local ecological knowledge (LEK) is a promising avenue of research for wild plant studies. To encourage the acceptance, celebration, and appreciation of biocultural diversity, which is rapidly disappearing nowadays, we need to estimate and assess multifaceted local ecological knowledge. It has direct application for local communities in informing effective policies for improving food security and building community-specific responses to environmental and social transitions. The present study draws on data collected among two ethnic groups—Lithuanians and Poles—via 200 semi-structured in-depth interviews and participant observation conducted in 2018 and 2019 in Podlasie Voivodeship (Poland), the Vilnius Region (Lithuania), and the Hrodna Region (Belarus). We aimed to observe LEK circulation in the border area through cross-ethnic and cross-country comparisons. A total of 2812 detailed use reports of wild plants were recorded. In total, 72 wild plant taxa belonging to 33 plant families were used across the food domain. Our findings show that cross-country differences were minimal, while there was some variation between the ethnic groups selected as case studies. We emphasize the need, in future studies, to combine quantitative research with qualitative approaches in order to more thoroughly identify peculiarities of cross-border circulation as a reservoir for community food resilience and biocultural diversity
Cobra Venom Neutralization Effect by Hemidesmus indicus Root Extract
Get PDFHemidesmus indicus (Apocynaceae) has been utilized traditionally in the Indian subcontinent for the treatment of snakebites and scorpion stings. It has also several beneficial bioactivities in human beings such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and skin diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the anti-venom capability of Hemidesmus indicus root extract against cobra venom (Naja nigricollis). Albino mice were utilized to test the plant’s efficacy using the venom of N. nigricollis. H. indicus root extract (600 mg/kg) neutralized cobra venom and generated 100 % survival, suggesting its antivenom potential. H. indicus showed a substantial antivenom effect (p0.05) against the venom of N. nigricollis, indicating that it might be a useful drug for treating snake venom. The present study provides scientific basis for use of root extract of H. indicus against N. nigricollis venom
Correlation Between ABO Blood Group System And COVID-19 Severity In Erbil
Get PDFThe incidence of SARS-CoV-2, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, can differ considerably, implying that personal characteristics affect how a disease grows. The aims to demonstrate a relationship between Kurdish patients' ABO blood groups and the severity of COVID-19. The study evaluated 300 COVID-19 patients who visited Rzgary Hospital and Zheen International Hospital in Erbil between April 2020 and December 2020, and collected data on age, gender, disease severity, and ABO blood groups. The chi-square statistic applied to examine the frequency and correlation of blood groups, and It was determined the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). for severe and non-severe cases. The study included 186 males and 114 females aged 10 to 87 years old, and the blood groups frequencies A, O, B, and AB were 33.7%, 32.3%, 21.7%, and 12.3%, respectively. The study found no significant difference in COVID-19 severity for ABO blood groups A, O, B, and AB. Although there was a minor to moderate correlation between ABO blood group and COVID-19 severity, the chi-square analysis found that it was not statistically significant (p-value = 0.304). The odds ratios and 95% CIs for A, O, B, and AB blood types were 0.560 (0.256-1.224), 0.520 (0.236-1.114), 0.934 (0.436-2.00), and 0.768 (0.337-1.749), respectively
Optimum Location And Bracing System As Alternative To Shear Walls For Retrofitting Of RC Buildings Against Seismic Loading
Get PDFThe defective structures must be retrofitted to resist the effects of earthquakes due to the potential risks connected with reinforced concrete structures designed in many parts of the world in accordance with codes that are now proven to guarantee insufficient safety against seismic loads. Typically, shear walls or steel bracing are utilized to boost the seismic strength of framed structures. This paper discusses the possibility of using braces in two different conditions, the first one is in retrofitting already constructed structures that don’t have sufficient strength against seismic loading, and the second one is the possibility of using braces instead of shear walls in designing non constructed reinforced concrete structures for economical purposes. Different bracing systems in different locations compared with reinforced concrete shear walls in affecting the structural properties of the 10-story square building. Using bracing in the interior frames of buildings was also considered. The results show that different bracing systems have different responses for structural properties such as story displacement, base shear and fundamental time period. The results are significant for detecting the best bracing system to use instead of shear walls reflecting for the two mentioned scenarios as well as considering their locations on the building