Will the high acceptance rate of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine in Morocco accelerate the recovery of neurosurgical practice?

Background: In developing countries, where there is a chronic shortage of neurosurgeons and medical infrastructures, the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on neurosurgical activities. In the absence of a curative treatment, reaching herd immunity through mass vaccination campaigns is the best hope we have of ending this pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of our study was first to assess the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on neurosurgical services of a Moroccan tertiary hospital. Secondarily, we aimed to describe current vaccination compliance rate in our country, and its impact on the recovery of neurosurgical practice. Methods: To examine how COVID-19 challenged the neurosurgical delivery of care in our unit, we compared emergency and elective admissions during COVID-19 and pre-COVID-19 period using the registry of neurosurgery department. Second, after evaluating vaccine acceptance rates among 1463 healthcare workers and patients admitted to our hospital, we compared the number of surgeries performed in our department after implementation of a mass vaccination campaign. Results: The overall number of procedures dropped from n = 197 (pre-COVID-19) to n = 150 during COVID-19. The number of elective surgeries declined from an average of 10.5 operations per week before COVID-19 to four surgeries per week during the COVID-19 pandemic. Conversely, an average of 3.5 emergency operations was performed each week before COVID-19 compared to 5.6 per week during the pandemic. On the other hand, our results showed that willingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine among the participants was high (81.7%) with significantly less hesitant individuals among healthcare workers (P = 0.001). This successful vaccine rollout helped resuming gradually elective surgeries in our department. Conclusion: Our study found a high acceptance rate of COVID-19 vaccines among Moroccans, which gives a glimmer of hope of restoring all our neurosurgical services. However, despite the high acceptance rate, the authorities must address concerns among hesitant individuals and raise awareness on the importance of COVID-19 immunization.

Using a Commercial Gut-Loading Diet to Create a Positive Calcium to Phosphorus Ratio in Mealworms (Tenebrio molitor)

Mealworms ( Tenebrio molitor ) are one of the most common feeder insects fed to exotic animals due to their high acceptance rate, larval longevity, and ease of care. Unfortunately, in their natural commercial state, they are severely deficient in calcium and can predispose exotic animals to hypocalcemia and related metabolic disorders. Gut loading insects with calcium-rich diets is recommended to improve the insects’ nutrient content and to achieve a calcium to phosphorus (Ca:P) ratio of at least 1:1; however, there are few commercial gut loading diets specifically made for mealworms. In this study, mealworms were gut loaded with a newly developed high calcium mealworm diet for 0, 24, or 48 hours. All mealworms were analyzed for dry matter (DM), moisture, calcium, and phosphorus at each time point. Due to the dry nature of the diet, moisture content decreased over time (mean moisture content= 75%, 70%, and 66% at time 0, 24, and 48 hrs, respectively). Calcium content was significantly increased by 24 hrs (p=0.011) and remained elevated at 48 hrs for both the as fed and DM measurements (median calcium DM: 0.07%, 3.5%, and 3.7% at 0, 24, and 48 hrs, respectively). Ca:P ratios were also significantly increased for both the 24 hr (p=0.028) and 48 hr (p= 0.028) periods (median Ca:P DM:1:20, 3.2:1, and 3.6:1 at 0, 24, and 48 hrs, respectively). This data supports the diet’s claim to provide a positive Ca:P ratio in mealworms fed the diet for 48 hours.

Diseño e Implementación de Kits para la Experimentación de Biotecnología en el Hogar (HomeLab)

With the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, professors had to accelerate their adaptation to the use of digital and remote media to continue with the education of students. Online teaching lab courses present great challenges, as many lab courses are designed to learn from hands-on and real-world exploration. Laboratory courses generally focus on deepening understanding of content and developing skills in experimental techniques. Added to this, the possibility of providing the experience of executing protocols and manipulating equipment, can hardly be achieved with a completely digital model. To promote better learning of laboratory subjects, kits were developed by professors to conduct laboratory practices at home. The students had the opportunity to execute biotechnology protocols following instructions and remote guidance from their professors. Conducting experiments at home,had a high acceptance rate as an efficient tool to learn various skills compared to digital tools.

Mechanical evaluation of the “Hüfner hand” prosthesis

Background: Current body-powered hands have very low acceptance rates. They also require high activation forces. In the past, a high acceptance rate was reported for the then-available Hüfner hand, a hand which could be controlled by relatively low activation forces. Objective: The aim of this study was to measure and quantify the mechanical performance of the Hüfner hand. Study design: Mechanical evaluation. Methods: Two versions of the Hüfner hand were tested using a mechanical test bench. Forces and displacements were measured under four different glove conditions (no glove, leather, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), silicone). The measured results were compared to data from currently available voluntary-closing hands. Results: The Hüfner hand required 132–170 Nmm of work and 78–104 N cable force to pinch 15 N. The overall mechanical performance of the Hüfner hands is better than currently available body-powered hands. Conclusion: The mechanical performance of the Hüfner hand was measured and quantified. Mechanical testing results show that the Hüfner hand has better mechanical performance than current body-powered hands. This may have contributed to its reported high acceptance rates. The design of the Hüfner hand, combined with data presented in this study, can serve as guidelines for the design of a new generation of body-powered hands.

Feasibility of a mobility programme for people with dementia in the respite care setting: results of the DESKK study

Background Caring for people with dementia (PwD) is often challenging for caregiving relatives. Respite care (RC) is a commonly used short-term inpatient service. The provision of RC can serve as a link between home care and institutional care and can help to stabilize the care provided at home. During RC, the everyday functional skills of PwD can be improved or stabilized through systematic mobility training. However, no specific mobility programme exists for this setting. The aim of the DESKK study was to develop and test a mobility training programme for PwD in the RC setting in Germany. Methods A quasi-experimental pilot study was conducted in a specialized RC centre for PwD. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected and analysed using a mixed methods design. Results The DESKK mobility programme may be introduced in the RC setting depending on the required time and professional resources. The mobility programme had a high acceptance rate among the staff involved. Ongoing documentation of the mobility exercises were challenging. During their stay (2–4 weeks), the physical function level of the included PwD (n = 20) increased regarding leg strength, gross motor coordination, fine coordination of the fingers and hand strength. Conclusions The DESKK mobility programme showed a high acceptance rate by the staff and was usable in daily care routine for the most part. These aspects indicate that the programme has the potential to be successfully implemented in the RC setting. The DESKK concept is described in the form of a practice-friendly website to facilitate its use in clinical practice after its successful evaluation.

Manufacturing and Sensorial Acceptance of Cereal Bars Enriched with Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) Flour

There is increasing demand from consumers for foods with functional properties. These foods, in addition to presenting adequate nutrient levels, provide beneficial health effects thus helping to prevent numerous diseases. Among the functional foods, the flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), belonging to the family Linaceae, is of great nutritional value. This oleaginous is rich in proteins, lipids, lignans and fibers. Consumers have preference on cereal bars for being practical, healthy and with low calorie density when proper combinations of ingredients are used. This work had as objective the production and sensorial evaluation of cereal bars enriched with flaxseed flour. Two formulations, denominated S.01 and S.02, respectively added with corresponding 5% and 10% flaxseed flour, respectively, were prepared. The physico-chemical analyzes comprised moisture and ash contents. The cereal bars were sensorially evaluated by 50 untrained testers by using the nine-point hedonic scale including attributes of flavor, texture and overall acceptance, besides intention of purchase. The averages from the sensorial evaluation were between 7 and 8, indicating, with purchasing preference of about 90%, which was considered a high acceptance rate.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO E AVALIAÇÃO SENSORIAL DE SORVETE COM EXTRATO AQUOSO DE YACON

<p align="justify">O yacon está sendo considerado um alimento nutracêutico em decorrência dos estudos sobre a diminuição dos níveis de açúcar no sangue após seu consumo repetido por de ser rico em fibras alimentares, especialmente as solúveis ou viscosas, dentre elas inulina e Frutoligossacarídeos (FOS). O crescente aumento da busca no mercado por produtos que apresentem, além de qualidade sensorial e nutricional, benefícios associados à saúde faz com que as pesquisas nesse ramo cresçam. Com isso, o objetivo do trabalho foi elaborar e avaliar um sorvete com extrato aquoso de yacon em diferentes concentrações. Foram elaboradas duas amostras (F1 com adição de 5% de extrato de yacon e F2 com 10%) e realizaram-se análises de composição centesimal (umidade, cinzas, proteínas, lipídeos e carboidratos) e sensoriais (escala hedônica para cor, sabor, textura, aroma e aspecto global), cor e textura instrumental. A composição centesimal não apresentou diferença significativa (p&gt;0,05) para umidade, cinzas e carboidratos. O teor de proteína foi menor para F2 e o teor de lipídeo foi maior para F2. As amostras apresentaram a cor amarela clara com alta luminosidade e não diferiram significativamente na textura expressa em força de compressão. As duas formulações foram sensorialmente aceitas, não apresentando diferença significativa entre si e conferindo um alto índice de aceitação.</p><p align="justify">Abstract</p><p align="justify">Yacon is being considered a nutraceutical food due to studies about the decrease of sugar levels in blood after its repeated consumption, and also for being rich in food fibers, specially the soluble or viscous, among them fructooligosaccharides and inulin. The increasing search in the market for products presenting beyond sensory qualities, nutritional and health benefits, makes the researches in this field grows. The goal of this task was to develop an ice cream with aqueous extract of yacon, in different concentrations. It were prepared two samples, (F1 with addition of 5% of yacon extract, and F2 with 10% of it) and were performed centesimal composition analysis (humidity, ashes, protein, lipids, carbohydrates) and sensory analysis (Hedonic scale for color, taste, texture, flavor and global aspect), beyond color and instrumental texture. The centesimal composition showed no significant difference (p&gt; 0.05) for moisture, ash and carbohydrates. The protein content was lower for F2 and lipid content was higher for F2.Samples displayed a clear yellow coloration, with high luminosity and didn’t differ significantly in texture, expressed in compression force. The two formulations were sensory acceptable, showing no significant difference between it and confirming a high acceptance rate.</p>