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Background: Airborne biological agentsmaterials in hospitals, such as fungal i micro-colonies, play a significant role in life-threatening airborne infections in immunocompromised individuals. Thus, it is crucial to reduce airborne contamination and address the related several of its influencing factors. This study aimeds to evaluate indoor air quality (IAQ) in terms ofrelated to fungal contamination, the fungal genera contaminating the  hospital rooms' air, and several factors that could influence IAQ in hospital rooms.
Materials & Methods: This environmental surveillance study was conducted in two rooms for onea year, andwith 288 air specimens were collected using thean active air sampling method equipped with chloramphenicol-supplemented Sabouraud Ddextrose Aagar. In addition to air samples, tTemperature, relative humidity, and occupants’ number were also recorded. The fFungal colony counts wereas recorded and converted using the Feller table. Furthermore, the fungi were identified based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics.
Findings: The mean difference of isolated fungi between the twoboth rooms was statistically significant (p< 0.0001). Yeast, Penicillium spp, and Aspergillus spp. were the most predominant fungi. Both rooms hadwere observed to have room temperature and relative humidity above the national recommended levels (above 23 ˚C and 60%). However, the number of oOccupants' number in the room without HEPA filter was significantly correlated with airborne fungal contamination level in the room without a HEPA filter.
Conclusion: The level of airborne fungal contamination wasis significantly higher in the room without a HEPA filter. Yeast, Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp. were the most predominant fungi isolated fromin both rooms. Room temperature and relative humidity haddid not effect oninfluence the level of airborne fungal contamination level. The oOccupants' number in the room without a HEPA filter influenced airborne fungal contamination level.

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Background: Assessment of rubella immunity coverage relies on regular updates. This study aimed to determine the age-specific seropositivity rates among a large cohort of pregnant women approximately 12 years after vaccine introduction in Tunisia, where serosurveys are both old and scarce.
Materials & Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on pregnant women referring to the Maternity and Neonatology Center of Tunis in 2017. Eligible and consenting participants underwent blood sampling twice with a 15-day interval to detect and measure rubella-specific IgG and IgM antibodies. Demographic and obstetric data were also gathered.
Findings: A total of 800 participants with a mean age of 30.6±5 years (range: 17-48) were enrolled in this study. The overall seropositivity rate was 90.4% (n=723) (95%CI: 88.3-92.4). Also, 77 (9.6%) (95%CI: 7.6-11.7) participants were seronegative, among them 36 cases were in the first trimester of their pregnancy. The WHO minimum rubella immunization threshold of 95% was achieved for the first time in the 12-year-old vaccination program target population (96%) (95%CI: 92-99.8). No significant association was found between seropositivity rates and age, geographic origin, occupation, gestational age at the time of enrollment, parity, and abortion history (p> .05), but a significant association was found with educational levels.
Conclusion: Pregnant women vaccinated at the age of 12 showed a high immunization rate. Next decades would witness the elimination of rubella virus circulation as well as congenital rubella syndrome.
 

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Polymeric Due to high strength to weight ratio of polymeric composites and their directional properties, they are extensively used in engineering, particularly in aerospace industry. However, the difference in material properties of composites makes their failure prediction complicated especially under cyclic loading. Present study is carried out to develop a new method for estimation of the intralaminar fatigue damage of fibrous composites based on continuum damage mechanics. In order to include the influence of microscopic defects in three material orientations, three internal material state variables namely damage variables are defined in thermodynamics framework. By considering a 3-directional damage propagation, suggested model is able to make a good prediction of laminated composites fatigue life. To achieve this, a closed form solution by energy method in framework of thermodynamics is presented. The solution is in a way to include the differences in damages of various directions yet maintaining the independency on the layup. The model is implemented in ANSYS software by using a user material code (Usermat). This method gives us an advantage to estimate the fatigue life of any laminate with arbitrary layup under different loading conditions only by having static and fatigue properties of a unidirectional ply. Characterization of constants of model is presented and they are also determined for a certain composite material. Comparison between the predicted results of proposed model and the available experimental data verifies the great precision of the model.