Tissue-equivalent proportional counters (TEPC) can potentially be used as a portable and personal dosemeter in mixed neutron and gamma-ray fields, but what hinders this use is their typically large physical size. To formulate compact TEPC designs, the use of a Monte Carlo transport code is necessary to predict the performance of compact designs in these fields. To perform this modelling, three candidate codes were assessed: MCNPX 2.7.E, FLUKA 2011.2 and PHITS 2.24. In each code, benchmark simulations were performed involving the irradiation of a 5-in. TEPC with monoenergetic neutron fields and a 4-in. wall-less TEPC with monoenergetic gamma-ray fields. The frequency and dose mean lineal energies and dose distributions calculated from each code were compared with experimentally determined data. For the neutron benchmark simulations, PHITS produces data closest to the experimental values and for the gamma-ray benchmark simulations, FLUKA yields data closest to the experimentally determined quantities.

Uropathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered the most important causes of urinary tract infection, and recently the antibiotic resistance of this pathogen has increased dramatically. The study aims at investigating the prevalence and antibiotic sensitivity of uropathogenic K. pneumoniae among different ages of groups at both genders. 1737 urine specimens were collected from individuals admitted to Zakho emergency hospital from January 2016 until December 2018. K. pneumoniae was identified based on Gram stain, colony characteristics and biochemical tests, and then it was tested for their antibiotic sensitivity. Out of all samples, 1076 (61.9%) showed significant bacterial yield. The UTIs among females (64.3%) were statistically higher than males (46.5%) (P < 0.001). The age group of 20-29 years was highly susceptible to UTIs (43%). Among the total UTIs, K. pneumoniae represented 16.2%. K. pneumoniae in males (23.4%) was significantly higher than females (15.4%) (P=0.03). The age group 40-49 years (32.2%) was the highest group that at risk for K. pneumoniae infection. K. pneumoniae was highly susceptible to imipenem (100%) and was highly resistant against cephalothin (90.8%). A high prevalence of UTIs were observed among the age group of 20-29 years and the females had more risk of having UTIs. The males were more susceptible to K. pneumoniae with higher prevalence in the age group of 40-49 years. K. pneumoniae showed high sensitivity toward imipenem and high resistance to cephalothin. More awareness is required in all healthcare sectors for regular surveillance of the use of antimicrobial agents to reduce the resistance rates and to eradicate the pathogens.

The cross sections of the electron scattering from atoms and spin polarization has been calculated for the scattering of electrons from Mg and Ca atoms at different energies using the relativistic Dirac equation. The interest of these calculations is to obtain an information about the scattering process. The incident electron- target  interaction is represented by an a  potential, which is consist of a sum of real model potentials used in the solution of  relativistic Dirac equation. The comparison of the results obtained by this method are  very good agreement with the other available results.

There are numerous scenarios where radioactive particulates can be displaced by external forces. For example, the detonation of a radiological dispersal device in an urban environment will result in the release of radioactive particulates that in turn can be resuspended into the breathing space by external forces such as wind flow in the vicinity of the detonation. A need exists to quantify the internal (due to inhalation) and external radiation doses that are delivered to bystanders; however, current state-of-the-art codes are unable to calculate accurately radiation doses that arise from the resuspension of radioactive particulates in complex topographies. To address this gap, a coupled computational fluid dynamics and Monte Carlo radiation transport approach has been developed. With the aid of particulate injections, the computational fluid dynamics simulation models characterize the resuspension of particulates in a complex urban geometry due to air-flow. The spatial and temporal distributions of these particulates are then used by the Monte Carlo radiation transport simulation to calculate the radiation doses delivered to various points within the simulated domain. A particular resuspension scenario has been modeled using this coupled framework, and the calculated internal (due to inhalation) and external radiation doses have been deemed reasonable. GAMBIT and FLUENT comprise the software suite used to perform the Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations, and Monte Carlo N-Particle eXtended is used to perform the Monte Carlo Radiation Transport simulations.

Intermittent high-dose methylprednisolone therapy is widely used for various autoimmune conditions treatment. Common side effects are well known and monitored carefully during therapy. Although cardiovascular adverse events are uncommon, they have been increasingly reported in the literature. This is a case of a 30-year-old female who developed symptomatic sinus bradycardia after receiving three grams of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy for multiple sclerosis flare-ups. Her pulse rate reached 40bpm, together with lightheadedness and chest tightness. An electrocardiogram confirmed sinus bradycardia, for which she was initially managed by splitting the methylprednisolone dose in half; however, 12 hours later, the heart rate decreased further to 35bpm, and her symptoms worsened.Subsequently, the medicine was omitted, and the patient shifted to the intensive care unit for close observation and monitoring. She was treated conservatively with close observation resulted in a gradual normalization of the heart rate. The diagnosis of methylprednisolone pulse-induced bradycardia was made after excluding other common etiologies of sinus bradycardia. This case report aims for careful cardiovascular monitoring in patients receiving high doses of methylprednisolone due to the dosedependent cardiovascular risks.