Sn/Pb ratio variation in spherical structures deposited on silicon surface using plasma focus.

The deposition of Sn and Pb elements on top of Si surface was realized using plasma focus device. Due to the special characteristic of this type of plasma, the silicon substrate is heated by the bombardment of plasma ions, before the deposition of these elements sputtered from the anode. The deposition of the two elements was found to be influenced by substrate-anode distance as a consequence of surface heating. It was found that the relative amounts between the two deposited elements was not the same as their original ratio in the anode before sputtering. The ratio between Sn and Pb varies with increasing depth into the SnPb deposited on the Si substrate. Additionally, the size of micro spherical structures formed on the surface affected the ratio of the two deposited elements. The variation of the ratio is explained as result of deposition/evaporation competition influenced by the surface heating.

Results of plasma radiative compression investigation in the PF-24 device operated with D2, Ar and (100%-x)D2+x%Ar mixtures obtained using the 5-phase Lee model code.

The article presents new results for plasma radiative compression in high-current discharges in the z-pinch configuration. The results are based on the 113 discharges performed in the plasma-focus PF-24 device operated with D2, Ar and (100%-x)D2+xAr mixtures, with Ar pressure fractions x ≈ 3-60% (mole fractions). The constant initial total pressure is about 2.9 mbar and the constant initial pressure of Ar is 1.2 mbar. Each experimental discharge was simulated individually using the 5-phase Lee model code to carry out the fitting procedure of the total discharge current waveform. The results from these 113 computed discharges fitted to the corresponding 113 experimental discharges show that the increase of the effective atomic number of the gas mixture increases the probability of occurrence of plasma radiative compression phenomenon. Relatively weak radiative compression was found for part of the discharges in 15-60% range of Ar mole fractions and in Ar, while the stronger radiative compression occurred for part of discharges in Ar only. This is because there was too little total x-ray line radiation emission during the equilibrium pinch lifetime related to the very small amount of swept up mass and the low current flow through pinched plasma, represented by the decreasing values of model parameters as the Ar mole fraction increases. The results show that the main pinch parameters influencing the occurrence and strength of radiative compression are: total x-ray line emission yield, effective atomic number, initial pinch radius, initial pinch ion number density and initial pinch ion/electron temperature.

Effect of COVID-19 on mental health among the young population in Lebanon.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has raised worldwide public health concerns. The wide spread of the virus has led to unprecedented disturbance to regular life for people around the globe and impacted their mental health. AIMS: The aims of the current study were to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms related to insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and identify risk factors contributing to psychological stress in Lebanese young population during COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was done on the Lebanese young population. Participants were 4397 males and females aged 18 to 35 years who filled a self-administered online questionnaire. Three validated scales were used to measure the mental health status of the participants during the COVID-19 pandemic: 7-item Insomnia Severity Index for insomnia, the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item depression module for depression, and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale for anxiety. RESULTS: The median interquartile range scores for anxiety, insomnia, and depression, were 8 (4-13), 10 (5-14), and 9 (5-12) respectively. Higher anxiety scores were reported with female gender (P<0.001) and alcohol usage (P=0.04). Moderate to severe insomnia was associated with single (P=0.02) and divorced marital status (P=0.003), university education (P<0.001), consumption of caffeinated beverages (P=0.02) and energy drinks (P=0.03). Higher depression scores were associated with status of being the only person working at home (P=0.01), family income more than 500 USD (P=0.008), multiple insurance plans (P=0.01), and contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study demonstrate the considerable impact of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on Lebanese young population's mental status such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. Further follow-up studies are warranted to assess the long-term mental effects that can be imposed by the pandemic.

Less is more: Detecting clinical deterioration in the hospital with machine learning using only age, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

AIM: We sought to develop a machine learning analytic (eCART Lite) for predicting clinical deterioration using only age, heart rate, and respiratory data, which can be pulled in real time from patient monitors and updated continuously without need for additional inputs or cumbersome electronic health record integrations. METHODS: We utilized a multicenter dataset of adult admissions from five hospitals. We trained a gradient boosted machine model using only current and 24-hour trended heart rate, respiratory rate, and patient age to predict the probability of intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, death, or the combined outcome of ICU transfer or death. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated in the validation cohort and compared to those for the Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and eCARTv2, a previously-described, 27-variable, cubic spline, logistic regression model without trends. RESULTS: Of the 556,848 included admissions, 19,509 (3.5%) were transferred to an ICU and 5764 (1.0%) died within 24 hours of a ward observation. eCART Lite significantly outperformed the MEWS, NEWS, and eCART v2 for predicting ICU transfer (0.79 vs 0.71, 0.74, and 0.78, respectively; p < 0.01) and the combined outcome (0.80 vs 0.72, 0.76, and 0.79, respectively; p < 0.01). Two of the strongest predictors were respiratory rate and heart rate. CONCLUSION: Using only three inputs, we developed a tool for predicting clinical deterioration that is similarly or more accurate than commonly-used algorithms, with potential for use in inpatient settings with limited resources or in scenarios where low-cost tools are needed.

Differences in the Associations between Body Dissatisfaction and Eating Outcomes by Gender? A Lebanese Population Study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the interaction between body dissatisfaction and gender on eating disorders (restrained eating, binge eating, orthorexia nervosa, and emotional eating) among a sample of Lebanese adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and May 2018, enrolled 811 participants selected randomly from all Lebanese Mohafazat. The mean age of the participants was 27.6±11.8 years. The majority were females (66.5%), had a high level of education (73.2%), and low income (77.9%). This study used the following scales: body dissatisfaction subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory-second version, binge eating scale, Dutch restrained eating scale, orthorexia nervosa scale (ORTHO-15 scale), emotional eating scale, perceived stress scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. RESULTS: Body dissatisfaction was positively correlated to restrained eating (r=0.293, P<0.001), emotional eating (r=0.073, P=0.042) and binge eating (r=0.250, P<0.001). The interaction between body dissatisfaction and gender was significantly associated with more restrained eating (Beta=0.01, P<0.001) and orthorexia nervosa (Beta=-0.09, P<0.001), but not with emotional (Beta=-0.43, P=0.103) and binge eating (Beta=-0.08, P=0.358). When stratifying the analysis by gender, the results revealed that higher body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with more restrained eating in both genders, but particularly among women. Body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with higher emotional eating in men only and with higher orthorexia nervosa tendencies and behaviors in females only. CONCLUSION: The interaction between body dissatisfaction and gender was significantly associated with orthorexia nervosa and restrained eating but not with binge or emotional eating. Higher body dissatisfaction was significantly associated with higher restrained eating, more pronounced in women, while it was significantly associated with higher orthorexia tendencies (lower ORTO-15 scores) in women only. Body dissatisfaction was associated with emotional eating in men only.

Construction and validation of the Lebanese Osteoporosis Knowledge Scale among a representative sample of Lebanese women.

Our study aimed at constructing and validating the Lebanese Osteoporosis Knowledge Scale adapted for use among Lebanese women and to assess factors associated with the poorest knowledge of osteoporosis definition, risk factors, and preventive measures. This scale showed adequate psychometric properties; higher knowledge scores were reached in women who already heard about the disease and had a formal education. As a result, the LOKS-19 can be used to measure knowledge of osteoporosis and help assess osteoporosis-related interventions. INTRODUCTION: The primary objective of this study was to describe the construction of the Lebanese Osteoporosis Knowledge Scale (LOKS) and assess its psychometric properties in a representative sample of Lebanese women aged 40 years and above. Secondary objectives were to explore factors associated with this knowledge score. METHODS: A cross-sectional study carried out between March and June 2018, enrolled 560 women over the age of 40 years living in the community. This proportionate sample was randomly selected from all Lebanese governorates to cover the entire Lebanese area. A survey was developed and adapted to the Lebanese population based on preexisting scales. Personal interviews were conducted to collect data. RESULTS: The items of the LOKS were distributed across seven factors with an Eigenvalue over 1 solution, outlining an overall value of 55.89% of the variance. A high Cronbach's alpha was found for the full scale (0.725). Individuals having a university level of education (beta = 1.62; compared to illiteracy), having heard of osteoporosis (beta = 2.62), taking supplements of calcium and vitamin D compared to none (beta = 0.77), and having had Crohn's disease (beta = 1.71) had significantly higher knowledge scores of osteoporosis; oppositely, having diabetes (beta = - 1.17), currently taking chemotherapy (beta = - 2.25), and ever having had a fracture (beta = - 0.74) were significantly correlated with lower awareness of osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the LOKS-19 can be used to measure knowledge of osteoporosis and help assess osteoporosis-related interventions. A better knowledge seems to be associated with more preventive measures and less risk of fracture.

Osteoporosis awareness and health beliefs among Lebanese women aged 40 years and above.

Our study investigated the characteristics of Lebanese women population groups with the poorest knowledge of osteoporosis definition, risk factors, and preventive measures in order to identify categories that should be targeted in future campaigns and educational programs. Higher knowledge scores were reached in women who already heard about the disease and had a formal education. As a result, osteoporosis awareness campaigns and educational programs are mostly needed in populations with lower educational levels. INTRODUCTION: Our study investigated the characteristics of Lebanese women population groups with the poorest knowledge of osteoporosis definition, risk factors, and preventive measures. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, conducted between March and June 2018, enrolled 560 community dwelling women aged 40 years and above. A questionnaire was used to collect data. A proportionate random sample from all Lebanese Mohafazat was used. Data collection was performed through personal interviews. The median was used as a cutoff point for both the Knowledge and Health Belief scales. RESULTS: The study results showed that 47.3% of participants had a poor knowledge score. Women who received no education, compared to a higher education and have not previously heard about the disease, had lower knowledge scores. In addition, women not taking calcium and vitamin D supplements and not exercising or exercising less than 20 min per day compared to those having these characteristics had lower osteoporosis knowledge levels. A lower knowledge score was associated with less recognized benefits of adequate calcium intake and regular physical activity, more perceived barriers towards their practice, and a less important health motivation. A lower level of education correlated to the same results. CONCLUSION: Lower knowledge scores were reached in women who have never heard of osteoporosis and had a lower level of education. As a result, osteoporosis awareness campaigns and educational programs need to target population categories with lower educational levels.

Successful treatment of parathyroid cyst using ethanol sclerotherapy.

Simple parathyroid cysts are rare; only about 200 cases have been reported in the literature. The diagnosis was facilitated recently by parathyroid hormone assay of the cyst fluid. Standard treatment consists of percutaneous aspiration of the cyst and surgical excision for recurrent lesions. Sclerotherapy of recurrent lesions was described in two cases and results were promising. The authors report a new case of recurrent nonfunctioning parathyroid cyst in a 34-year-old female, with complete resolution after ethanol sclerosis and no recurrence for 15 months of follow-up. Ethanol sclerotherapy is recommended as a simple and safe treatment for recurrent parathyroid cysts.

Quality of diabetes care in a university health center in Lebanon.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the quality of care provided to diabetic patients by family physicians in a university health clinic, using measures of glycemic and cardiovascular risk control as well as documentation of and adherence to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for diabetes primary care. DESIGN: Chart review of the previous year's medical notes for all identified diabetics in the practice over 2.5 years. RESULTS: Two-hundred and four diabetic patients were identified, with an estimated prevalence of 4.1%. The majority was type II diabetics, on oral hypoglycemic agents. Glycosylated hemoglobin was documented in 39.7% of patients, fasting plasma glucose in 99%, cholesterol in 93.1%, triglycerides in 91.2% and blood pressure in 85.8%; optimal control of these indicators was noted in 28.4%, 17.8%, 34%, 29.6% and 55.4% respectively. Fifty percent of the diabetics were referred for retinal checks. Physicians documented the presence of nephropathy in 46.8% and neuropathy in 59.6%; however, they documented patient instruction on foot care, diet, exercise and diabetes self-care poorly. CONCLUSION: There is a need for interventions to improve management and documentation in diabetes care in order to achieve early detection and prevention of complications. Developing a protocol for the clinic based on standard guidelines, and the use of flow sheets may be helpful in improving these intermediate indicators of quality of care.

The nature and value of censuses.

PIP: In both developed and developing countries it is necessary and desirable for governments to enumerate their resources and essential characteristics, and to chart change and growth in their populations. These functions, and more, are served by the census. To properly fulfill this function, it is most important that the census relate to a single point in time and cover a clearly defined territory. On a practical level, a timely compilation of the statistics is also necessary for the greatest benefit to be derived from them. The basic resources necessary for its speedy completion should be assured. In general these encompass capital, manpower, and machines. A census may also profitably make use of government records and documents already available at all levels of administration. The quality, reliability, and accuracy of the statistical information should not be taken for granted. Governments would do well to include in their programs an evaluation of the statistics resulting from the census. This could serve as a guide in determining the best interpretation and most suitable use of these statistics.^ieng