Abubakir M Saleh

Viral hepatitis E outbreak in Al-Sadr city, Baghdad, Iraq.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in many developing countries. This study describes an outbreak of HEV infection in Al-Sadr city, Baghdad. Blood samples obtained from patients with jaundice attending 19 primary health care centres in AI-Sadr city during a 6-month period in 2005 were tested for HEV. HEV (IgM) antibodies were detected in 38.1% of 268 patients. The association of HEV infection with unacceptable residual chlorine concentrations and/or bacteriologically unsafe water samples was significant. High rates of HEV infection, low chlorine concentrations and unsafe water were reported in June. Gross isruption of sanitation and water supplies was the most likely contributing factor.

Is student-centred learning a Western concept? Lessons from an academic development programme to support student-centred learning in Iraq

This paper explores the idea that student-centred learning (SCL) is a concept and an approach that is internationally useful and transferable to a range of higher education settings. We present details of a British Council funded collaborative project between Hawler Medical University (HMU), in Erbil in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq and the University of Glasgow (UoG) in Scotland, UK. The aim of this project was to support teachers within HMU to adopt SCL methodologies across the dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy curricula. We use experiences and evaluation from this project to explore the ways in which different teachers interpreted and enacted SCL. The project evaluation findings demonstrate that as a result of the SCL project, most teachers at HMU demonstrated a slight increase in their level of confidence as a teacher, their level of understanding of SCL and confidence in their own skills to undertake SCL. There was a willingness from most participants to try to adapt their teaching practice towards an SCL approach. However, some participants did not fully understand the shift in conceptualisation necessary in adopting a student-centred approach and some were uncomfortable with the need for a shift of power from teacher to student implied within SCL. We conclude by highlighting the key lessons learned from this project related to the translatability of SCL from one global context to another, highlighting the need to re-examine a range of Western educational concepts in the current context of increasing transnational higher education partnerships.

Birth defects in Iraq and the plausibility of environmental exposure: A review

An increased prevalence of birth defects was allegedly reported in Iraq in the post 1991 Gulf War period, which was largely attributed to exposure to depleted uranium used in the war. This has encouraged further research on this particular topic. This paper reviews the published literature and provided evidence concerning birth defects in Iraq to elucidate possible environmental exposure. In addition to published research, this review used some direct observation of birth defects data from Al-Ramadi Maternity and Paediatric Hospital in Al-Anbar Governorate in Iraq from1st July 2000 through 30th June 2002. In addition to depleted uranium other war-related environmental factors have been studied and linked directly or indirectly with the increasing prevalence of birth defects. However, the reviewed studies and the available research evidence do not provide a clear increase in birth defects and a clear indication of a possible environmental exposure including depleted uranium although the country has been facing several environmental challenges since 1980.

Teaching methods in Hawler College of Medicine in Iraq: A qualitative assessment from teachers' perspectives

BackgroundMedical education in Iraq is poorly assessed and there is a general lack of documented knowledge about the challenges facing this field and the needs for its development. This study aimed to assess the existing teaching methods in the Hawler College of Medicine, Iraq from teaching staff perspectives and assess the knowledge of the teaching staff about student-centred learning.MethodsA qualitative study based on a self-administered questionnaire survey of a purposive sample of 83 teaching staff in Hawler Medical University was conducted. The questionnaire addressed the participants’ view on the positive aspects and problems of the current teaching methods and priorities to change it. The qualitative data analysis comprised thematic analysis.ResultsThe study revealed significant problems facing the existing teaching methods including having large number of students in the lecture hall (45.0 %), having focus on teacher-centred teaching (45.0 %) and lack of infrastructures and facilities suitable for proper teaching (26.7 %). The priorities for improving the quality of teaching methods included adoption of small group teaching strategy in all study years (34.6 %), improving the infrastructure and facilities for teaching in the college (34.6 %) and provision of continuous academic development programs for the teaching staff (24.3 %).ConclusionsThe existing medical education system face significant problems and it needs important and comprehensive improvements in different areas. There is a need for further research in this field to explore the identified problems in a more in-depth manner in order to better understand of the problems and needs of this important area of education.

A qualitative assessment of faculty perspectives of small group teaching experience in Iraq

BackgroundAlthough medical colleges in Iraq started recently to increasingly use small group teaching approach, there is limited research on the challenges, opportunities and needs of small group teaching in Iraq particularly in Kurdistan Region. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess the small group teaching experience in the 4th and 5th year of study in Hawler College of Medicine with a focus on characterizing the impressions of faculty members about how small group teaching is proceeding in the college.MethodsA qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 20 purposively selected faculty members was conducted. An interview guide was used for data collection that was around different issues related to small group teaching in medical education including planning, preparation, positive aspects, problems facing its implementation, factors related to it and recommendations for improvement. Qualitative data analysis comprised identifying themes that emerged from the review of transcribed interviews.ResultsParticipants reported some positive experience and a number of positive outcomes related to this experience including better controlling the class, enhancing students’ understanding of the subject, increasing interaction in the class, increasing the students’ confidence, enhancing more contact between teachers and students, improving the presentation skills of the students and improving the teacher performance. The participants emphasized poor preparation and planning for application of this system and highlighted a number of problems and challenges facing this experience particularly in terms of poor infrastructure and teaching facilities, poor orientation of students and teachers, inadequate course time for some subjects and shortage of faculty members in a number of departments. The main suggestions to improve this experience included improving the infrastructure and teaching facilities, using more interactive teaching methods and better organization and management of the system.ConclusionsDespite what the faculty perceived as the college’s failure to provide physical settings or training for small group learning to the faculty and the students, the faculty members were able to articulate positive experiences and outcomes associated with their college’s efforts to introduce teaching in smaller group sessions.

KNOWLEDGE ABOUT HEPATITIS B INFECTION AMONG MEDICAL STUDENTS IN ERBIL CITY, IRAQ

The study determined the frequency of practice of the health care waste management practices on segregation, minimization, collection, storage, transport, disposal and treatment in the hospitals in Tabuk City. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. Interviews and ocular surveys/on-site observation, and the interviewer-administered questionnaire were utilized to gather data from the head nurse, waste handler during collection, waste handler during transport and waste manager. Data collected were treated using a five point Likert scale, and quantified using the frequency count, ranking, percentage and the Weighted Mean. The revealed that the health care wastes management practices are sometimes implemented in the hospitals in Tabuk City; segregation of wastes was generally often practiced, however, the use of plastic bags/plastic-lined cardboard boxes/leak-proof as containers of infectious and pathological wastes was seldom practiced. Waste minimization was often practiced, but composting was seldom practiced. Waste collection was sometimes practiced, but the collection of general wastes every shift and collection of biohazard wastes every shift was seldom practiced by the respondents. Waste storage and waste transport were sometimes practiced by the hospitals; but labeling properly all bags/containers with basic information of content, written or attached on the bag, and using transport vehicles exclusively for HCW were never practiced. Waste disposal was sometimes practiced, but offsite disposal exclusively for HCW was never practiced. Waste treatment was seldom practiced. Treating HCW before disposal, onsite treatment and using chemical disinfection as a type of treatment were seldom practiced while categorizing HCW when treating and treating wastewater prior to discharge off-site” were never practiced. From the conclusive results, the following recommendations were formulated: There is a need for the DOH to monitor regularly the management of health care wastes in each hospital 1. For waste segregation, in the use of labels and color coding scheme, all body fluids and excreta should be disposed in the infectious category. 2. Waste minimization through source reduction and recycling not only of plastics but also other recyclable materials such as papers 3. Strengthen the practice of composting 4. Due to the lack of appropriate storage area, collection and transport of biohazard waste should be done daily. 5. The city government should propose a separate disposal site for all healthcare wastes and set limit to public access to decrease the risk of infectious diseases 6. Burial pits should be lined with material of low permeability, such as clay, to prevent groundwater contamination. However, burial pits are recommended if they are located within the premises of the establishment. Encapsulation is the best method for disposal of sharps and should be practiced. 7. Waste treatment should be done to all infectious wastes. 8. The KASC Midwifery Department can initiate and conduct education and information campaign (IEC) for the hospital personnel, patients and guests at least once a yearMICROMEGAS (MICROMEsh GAs Structure) detector which is among the major families of position detectors in High Energy Physics, introduced in the late sixties, detects and localizes energy deposit by charged particles over large areas, is widely used in particle physics. This detector is in a sealed in which mixture gas circulates. This mixture usually based, on a noble gas and a few proportions a “quencher”. In this paper, we use 55Fe source that produces X-ray photons of 5.9 keV and a mixture gas on Argon (Ar) with quencher as isobutane (iC4H10) and dimethyl-Ether. We will present the results of the MATLAB simulations of MICROMEGAS performance taking into account all the processes from the primary ionization, the distribution of charges in the electrodes and the electron avalanche amplification (first Townsend coefficient and amplification gain). All the simulated results obtained indicate that the performances of the detector depend on many parameters. The simulation results are nearly consistent with the data that are published in other references, and provide important information in the MICROMEGAS design, making and operating. Our simulation predicts that further improvements are still possible for give a best spatial and temporal resolution for a MICROMEGAS detector.At the beginning the article focuses on general thematic considerations und explains why the implementation of approaches towards innovation management of public administrations into the private sector can be regarded as a reasonable aim. Furthermore, the underlying basic hypotheses are being established. Afterwards, the individual steps of a generally applicable implementation model will be described in detail and additional considerations on implementations and instructions on the course of action will be provided. At the end of each process that has been realized this way, a structured evaluation of the implemented methods and actions will be conducted. On the basis of a specific instruction on the course of action the article describes a generally usable model with the necessary work stages, instruments and required accompanying measures.The aim of this paper is to give a general view of the history of “Llaiko Vima” newspaper of the Ethnic Greek Minority in Albania from the year 1945-2012 in which will be mentioned the general characteristics of “Llaiko Vima” newspaper and mainly its purpose, its publishing team, its circulation, its personality and its ideology, the ideological action frame of its correspodents, its economics and circulation.Insurance, which was created in the early centuries, is of great interest even today. As a result, private insurance had to be distinguished. A great part of society is interested in protecting property. The basic of insurance must be juridical connection of subjects and people that was called insurance title. In the conditions of modern life, it is necessary for a person to be insured.Egypt has witnessed several waves of Armenian immigration through history particularly during the Ottoman era in Egypt and Arab world from the sixteenth century until the nineteenth century. After years of settlement and immigration, the Armenian minority became part and parcel of the multi-ethic/multi-cultural Egyptian society. Due to their commitment and dedication, the Armenians gained a reputation as experts in the fields of business and commerce244. This paper investigates the effect of this immigration on Egypt in the 19th century and the participation of the Armenian people in Mohamed Aly’s civilizational project which put Egypt on the map of the modern world. The paper will explore the significant role, played by Boghos Yosefyan, the central political and economic advisor of Mohamed Ali, in the development of the Egypt Renaissance. Based on the mutual correspondences (and letters) between the two parties (Mohamed Ali and Boghos) in addition to other historical documents, pursued in the Egyptian historical Archive, this study traces the nature of the role played by Boghoss Yosefyan in the construction of the Egyptian Renaissance during the first half of the nineteenth- century.The article considers the problems of conducting women nature research. The author offers to study women social behavior by reading fiction by Kazakh women writers. The author of the paper supposes that by analyzing Kazakh authors’ literature it is possible to find out problems that Kazakh women faced in the families, society, business, etc.Ten years have passed since the resources of the second tier- Mandatory State Funded Pension Scheme- have been transferred to the private fund managers. The second tier has started to pay accumulated capitals to the participants of pension schemes in 2013; therefore the aim of this paper is to assess the contribution of the private fund managers to the accumulation of the above-mentioned capitals.The amount of money accumulated on the second tier account depends on the amount of shares and their value. The last factor is the most considerable and it depends on the performance of investments made by the private fund manager. Profitability is one of the main indices for assessing the gain derived from the participation in the Mandatory State Funded Pension Scheme. For the analysis of profitability 26 pension plans have been divided into different groups. Then the authors have analyzed the following indices: profitability of 26 pension plans in different years and during the whole existence period; profitability depending on the declared risk of pension plan, its assets value and operation duration; deviation of profitability for all plans and for different groups of plans with similar declared risks, assets value and operation duration.The conclusions about the distinctions between the profitability of plans with different risks, assets and existence duration have been drawn. On the basis of conclusions the authors have estimated the contribution of the private fund managers to the accumulation of pension capital in the second tier of Latvian pension system.In the concluding remarks of the paper the authors have made proposals for increasing the contribution of private fund managers to the accumulation of capital in the Mandatory State Funded Pension Scheme.The subject of a surrogate motherhood in Georgia is no longer banned in Georgia at present. There are a lot of discussions currently occurring in the society. Moreover, medical technologies have gone even further and become more efficient in this respect. Therefore, these programs have become more popular all over country. People, who formerly tried to adopt children, now think of acquiring children through this particular method, which they would be genetically bound to.The article is devoted to the political and legal aspects of international cooperation against spectator violence and misbehavior at sports. The measures taken by the states and international intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations to maintain public order to prevent the acts of violence and misbehavior at sports is reviewed, as well as cooperation coordination problem on these issues at the national (the level of ministries, governmental agencies and sports organizations) and international levelsDefining demand at a national level is problematic in terms of the total volume of the structure, as to the performance of transnational corporations. Reviving of unemployment can not only be assessed at the national level, but an important aspect affecting national labor market is the revival of global economy which leads to the growth of the global labor needs. Currently, the focus of new jobs is shifting from partial professions towards cross-cutting and systemic professions, which must give a comprehensive response to developments in a particular industry. Slovakia is a small market economy significantly tied to major European economies, dominated by linkage to the German economy. Due to the high openness of the economy, the crisis has significantly affected the rate of growth of countrys performance and caused a drop in demand, a decrease in both production and unemployment. High unemployment in this period was related to revenue shortfalls in the state budget and deepening of the budget deficit.The compiling of Greek - Albanian and Albanian - Greek dictionaries after the 90’s has been a necessity due to the contacts which were established between the Greek and Albanian people after the fall of Communism in Albania and after the Albanian people came out of the half- century isolation. The efforts for compiling bilingual dictionaries during this period have been very important although there didn’t exist models which could be used to compile such dictionariesThe searches for solution to overcome the problems of prevention and deviant behavior in teenagers have focused our attention on the concept of personality-oriented approach in learner - centered education. In the psycho-pedagogical science it is established to be quite clear criteria that reveal the essence of deviant behavior of juveniles (teacher isolation, maladjusted, delinquency, instability of values, psychological aggression, social passivity, increased anxiety, conflictprone). The study of the etiology of deviant behavior allows the scientists to isolate the multiplicity of factors that produce such behavior. Causes of deviant behavior of teenagers is a pedagogical isolation, indocileness, tortfeasor, instability of value orientations, psychological aggression, social passivity, increased anxiety, conflict potential.The given article deals with the interests towards fit of passion of murder in the Science of Criminal Law of Georgia which already exists for a long time. It is stipulated by two causes: firstly, by permanent necessity towards investigation – judiciary practice which demands precise criteria of qualification of the act; secondly, by essential changes of criminal law doctrine in Georgia which caused working out of the new approach towards the problem of guilt. Consequently, Georgian scientists had to review a whole range of conceptions which did not answer demands of the present day. It is clear that due to complexity of the issue, it is hard to discuss approach of all conceptions in one article. We shall light briefly peculiarities of approach of Georgian scientists towards some conceptions. We should single out only so called argumentations of estimation for criminal and subject conceptions of psychological crime of guilt.Thу article describes one of the modern problems – political condition of international relations, relations between nations and inter-ethnical consent. The authors analyze the experience of Kazakhstan and Germany in ethnic politics, explore the importance of these issues in the world today.In modern conditions of oil and gas functioning there is exigency in search of field reserves of development at the expense of rational use of investment resources and efficient realization of investment projects. In the present situation such tasks solution is possible only in the framework of strategy development of component parts of the complex, including efficient attraction of foreign investment and mechanisms formation of its use.The availability of solar energy and its use for heating sanitary water is a resource that has been used since ancient times. However, current technologies allow optimization and its widespread use. In the project carried out by the National University of General Sarmiento (UNGS), it has designed an experimental system hybrid solar concentrator unit for heating water for sanitary use. This project was intended as a complement to traditional water heating for domestic use , based on a parabolic concentrator . The system was designed so that it can be used in existing conventional facilities or be installed as the primary system for heating water.All components are within the structure of the base parabolic concentrator, which allows transport and fixation. The proposed project conserves the energy consumption of a traditional water heater, develop applications and combine existing technologies in a solar tracking parabolic concentrator, so to optimize its operation. Not used the traditional flat panel, but experimented with a heat exchanger mounted in the focal zone of the concentrator. One of the main objectives of this project was to arrive at a design of an integrated product that contains all the necessary elements for operation in a single platform. This adjusted the designs and location of components achieving optimal layout of the facility, giving greater freedom in the design development and implementation of design concepts. This system will allow conventional energy saving which is normally used for purposes of domestic water heating, but plans to integrate these conventional systems. That is why we speak of a hybrid system, which uses solar energy and conventional energy (electricity or gas). Considering the average consumption that occur in a house with four people, this system can replace between 45% and 91% of the energy used for water heating use , depending on time of year and considering its application in the Argentina northwestern area. The components were sized according to the proposed operating conditions. In the case of solar energy utilization, the analysis was extended to different geographic locations of the country, analyzing performance and selecting different areas favorable for the implementation of the system. This project will lay the foundation for the future development of associated projects conducted by researchers and students of the university, such as the study of the control loops, the solar tracker system development and the possible construction of a prototype, for academic use.For nearly a decade, a significant amount of research, investigations, and scandals in mass media has produced a new understanding about the threat of violence in penitentiaries and the changing the international approaches to this phenomenon. Experience has shown that almost no country is immune from practices that amount to torture and ill-treatment. In the article author explores the reasons and scope of torture in the law enforcement and penitentiary systems of Georgia. Particularly author analyzed: reasons for the torture of the accused offenders on the stage of preliminary investigation; violence as a result of overcrowding in closed correctional facilities public policy and investigation of torture; and reasons for the use of force in prisons.

Women’s perspectives of female genital cutting: Q-methodology

BackgroundUnderstanding women’s perspectives of female genital cutting is particularly critical for understanding the roots of the problem and enhancing effectiveness of any prevention program. Very limited research has examined how people in Iraqi Kurdistan Region think about this practice. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of women of female genital cutting with the aim of uncovering discrepancies and commonalities between women of different socio-educational groups.MethodsAn explorative study using Q-methodology was conducted with 29 women from different educational and socio-economic statuses in Erbil, the main city of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Participants were asked to rank-order a set of 39 statements about different aspects of female genital cutting into a distribution on a scale of nine from “disagree most” to “agree most”. By-person factor analysis was performed with factors or latent viewpoints extracted through centroid method and varimax rotation.ResultsA four-factor solution and one consensus perspective provided the best conceptual fit for the women’s perspectives about female genital cutting. Factor 1, entitled “positive cultural tradition”, centers on recognizing female genital cutting as a positive cultural aspect and an essential part of the Kurdish culture. Factor 2, “active opponents”, positions around actively opposing the practice of female genital cutting and considering the practice a violation of human rights. Factor 3, “role of law”, stresses the importance of developing and enforcing law for combating female genital cutting. Factor 4, “health concerns and passive opposition”, represents the perspectives of recognizing the importance of health concerns resulting from female genital cutting and opposition of the practice but not in an active manner. A consensus perspective, “marital role”, centers primarily on lack of effect of female genital cutting on women’s marital role.ConclusionsFemale genital cutting is still a contentious issue among women in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. By identifying disagreement and consensus among women, four different perspectives on female genital cutting were uncovered with having perspectives at both extremes of accepting the practice and actively opposing it. The study highlighted the typical characterizations that are associated with each perspective.

Risky Driving Behaviours among Medical Students in Erbil, Iraq

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to assess risky driving behaviours among medical students in Erbil, Iraq, and to explore the relationship between risky driving behaviours and perceptions of risky driving. METHODS This self-administered questionnaire-based survey was conducted from January to May 2014 among a random sample of 400 medical students at Hawler Medical University in Erbil. The questionnaire was designed to assess the frequency of engagement in 21 risky driving behaviours, the perceived risk of each behaviour and the preference for each behaviour as ranked on a 5-point scale. RESULTS A total of 386 students responded to the survey (response rate: 96.5%). Of these, 211 reported that they currently drove a vehicle (54.7%). Drivers most frequently engaged in the following behaviours: playing loud music (35.9%), speeding (30.4%), allowing front seat passengers to not wear seat belts (27.9%) and using mobile phones (27.7%). Least frequent driving behaviours included not stopping at a red light (3.9%), driving while sleepy (4.4%), driving after a mild to moderate intake of alcohol (4.5%) and drunk driving (6.4%). Mean risky driving behaviour scores were significantly higher among males (P <0.001) and those who owned a car (P = 0.002). The mean risk perception score was higher among >20-year-olds (P = 0.028). There was a significant positive relationship between the preference for risky behaviours and risky driving behaviours (beta = 0.44; P <0.001). CONCLUSION Medical students in Erbil reported high frequencies of several serious risky driving behaviours. The preference for risky behaviours was found to be an important predictor of risky driving behaviours among medical students in Erbil.

Faculty Development Program in Hawler Medical University, Iraq: A Qualitative Assessment from Participants’ Perspectives

Aims: The aim of this study was to provide a general description of a newly developed faculty development program in medical education field and assess the program from the participants’ perspectives and experiences. Study Design: Qualitative study. Place and Duration of Study: Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq in April 2013. Methodology: At the end of the faculty development program, the perspectives of 24 participants were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included three open questions; the positive aspects of the program, the negative aspects of the program and suggestions to improve future programs. Thematic analysis was applied for the qualitative data analysis. Results: The program syllabus and the included topics were positively emphasized by Original Research Article British Journal of Education, Society & Behavioural Science, 4(4): , 2014 486 majority of participants. Other positive aspects of the program included the information technology and computer skills part of the program and the role of the program in improving teaching skills. The participants identified a number of negative aspects of the program including having long lectures that sometimes contained extra information that were not directly related to this particular program’s objectives, having some poorly qualified instructors, inconvenience of time schedule to the participants and poor satisfaction with the assessment methods. The participants made a number of suggestions for improving the program with the main emphasis being on revising of the syllabus of the program, training the instructors on advanced teaching methods, changing the time schedule of the program and decreasing the duration of the program to make it brief and informative. Conclusion: The faculty development program was generally positively received by the participants particularly in terms of its syllabus and contents. However, a number of important concerns were raised that need to be considered by program organizers to make the program more effective and responsive to the needs of the faculty members.