Assessment of Prevalence Group A Streptococci (GAS) Associated with Upper Respiratory Tract Infection among Hajj and Umrah Pilgrims

Background: Respiratory tract infection (RTI) is a prevalent infection across the world and is a major health concern linked to the crowding that occurs during the Hajj season. Objectives: To identify how prevalent Streptococcus pyogenes is among Umrah visitors and pilgrims by comparing its presence before and after the visitors perform Umrah and hajj. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on Umrah visitors/pilgrims, for which their throat swabs were taken for assessing the upper respiratory tract infection’s carriage rate, particularly of Group A streptococci (GAS), after they arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj and Umrah rituals and befor their leaving. After collecting the swabs, they were inoculated on Columbia agar using 5% sheep blood and then incubated at 37&#730C. VITEK 2 systems were used to identify the isolates. Results: Of the 979/613 Umrah visitors/pilgrims involved, before performing Umrah, their Streptococcus pyogenes percentage was 0.2% and it increased to 0.7 after performing Umrah. Further, the Streptococcus pyogenes percentage before and after performing Hajj was 0.3% and 1.1%, respectively. No statistical significance was found in the difference between the positive Streptococcus pyogenes found before and after performing Hajj and Umrah among Umrah visitors/pilgrims (p-value = 0.2). All bacterial isolates were found to be sensitive to Cefotaxime and Ceftriaxone antibiotics (100%). Conclusion: The Streptococcus pyogeneshigh resistance to antibiotics combined with the lack of a vaccine poses a serious risk concerning the resulting infection spread and emphasizes the necessity of ensuring greater global surveillance of such epidemics.

Android/iPhone Mobile Application for Quick Response Pilgrims Campaign Locator

Development and implementation of pilgrims (Hajj) Guide application to be used at Hajj season would facilitate follow-up of campaign supervisors on their campaign’s safety and location. The systems would also allow Hajj and Umrah administration to manage the crowd of the campaigns in an easy manner. In this paper, we propose Android/iPhone application that allows Hajj administration to monitor pilgrims using Quick Response Codes. Using quick response code application allows campaign supervisors and Hajj and Umrah employees to monitor pilgrims and guide them in case of getting lost. The application offers an easier and faster service than traditional approach used at Hajj season by human guidance. It is a very convenient service that would relief stresses of pilgrim’s relatives who worry about their relatives performing Hajj. The results show that the average score of our approach (QR) is 4.72 out of 5 comparing with traditional mobile applications indicating that the users are feeling enjoyable while using the new application features and the system is easy to use. Finally, the systems would assist in achieving the highest degree of pilgrims safety at Hajj season.

Viral respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims in 2013

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus(MERS-Co V) has emerged in the Arabian Gulf region, with its epicentre in Saudi Arabia, the host of the ‘Hajj' which is the world's the largest mass gathering. Transmission of MERS-Co V at such an event could lead to its rapid worldwide dissemination. Therefore, we studied the frequency of viruses causing influenza-like illnesses(ILI) among participants in a randomised controlled trial at the Hajj 2013. We recruited 1038 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, Australia and Qatar during the first day of Hajj and followed them closely for four days. A nasal swab was collected from each pilgrim who developed ILI. Respiratory viruses were detected using multiplex RT-PCR. ILI occurred in 112/1038(11%) pilgrims. Their mean age was 35 years, 49(44%) were male and 35(31%) had received the influenza vaccine pre-Hajj. Forty two(38%) pilgrims had laboratory-confirmed viral infections; 28(25%) rhinovirus, 5(4%) influenza A, 2(2%) adenovirus, 2(2%) human coronavirus OC43/229 E, 2(2%) parainfluenza virus 3, 1(1%) parainfluenza virus 1, and 2(2%) dual infections. No MERS-Co V was detected in any sample. Rhinovirus was the commonest cause of ILI among Hajj pilgrims in 2013. Infection control and appropriate vaccination are necessary to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses at Hajj and other mass gatherings.

The Christian Doctrines of Salvation at the Earlier Stages of The Pilgrim's Progress

John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress has been written to preach the Christian doctrines of salvation.Therefore its allegorical protagonists have gradually gone through four stages of development on the path to salvation.This paper is focused on the earlier two stages,that is,the repentance of sins and the temptations after conversion.

对两种不同取样方法Pilgrim&Cordery设计雨型的比较研究

选取北京市观象台1941—2013年共73 a的逐分钟降雨量资料,以60 min和120 min两个历时一年一遇的降雨量作为临界阈值,提取降水场次样本,采用Pilgrim&Cordery法推求北京市短历时设计暴雨雨型。各历时的雨型样本选样分别采用自然降雨过程(方法一)和最大历时过程(方法二)。结果表明:两种方法的60 min和120 min雨型分布形状一致,均为单峰型,雨峰位置靠前;但在降雨量分配比例上,两种方法存在差异,自然降雨过程的60 min和120 min雨型雨峰所在时刻降雨量占总雨量的比例比最大历时过程的分别高3.79%和5.83%。

The Christian Doctrines of Salvation in John Bunyan's"Doubting Castle"and"Enchanted Ground"

John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress has been written to preach the glad tidings of salvation.Therefore its allegorical protagonists have gradually gone through many tests and trials on the path to salvation.This paper is focused on the doctrinal instruction of the later two episodes,Doubting Castle and Enchanted Ground.

Pilgrim's Progress, Progress of Salvation

Through a comparative analysis of The Pilgrim's Progress and The Journey to the West, the paper aims to reveal what common ground is shared by the two novels and what light is thrown on the theme of spiritual salvation. The fruit of the study leads to a conclusion that both novels have employed religious doctrines and social criticisms to make the theme of spiritual salvation more palatable for their readers.

新暴雨形势下上海市设计暴雨雨型研究

雨型是描述降雨过程的概念,是降雨强度在时间尺度上的分配过程,是获取雨水径流过程线的基础.设计暴雨雨型是当地在大量暴雨资料统计规律基础上选定的最有代表性的雨型.本研究利用上海市多年（1985~2012）降雨资料,建立了具有典型性、代表性的上海市设计暴雨雨型.

Early Practice of Chinese Europeanized Grammar-Take the Plural of the First-Person Pronoun in The Pilgrim’s Progress in Mandarin as an Example

The Pilgrim’s Progress in Mandarin translated by the British missionary William Chalmers Burns in the 1860s is regarded as one of the typical representatives of the early Europeanized vernacular texts.Compared with the ancient vernacular,the frequency of the inclusive usage of“wǒmen”has increased significantly,which is directly influenced by the plural usage of first-person pronoun in English.Tracking back the origin of Chinese Europeanized grammar is an important part of the study of modern Chinese grammar,which not only is helpful to have a clear understanding of the characteristic of Europeanized grammar in the pre-development stage of modern Chinese,but also can lay a certain foundation for the comparative study of Europeanized grammar in different periods.In addition,this study can also provide linguistic basis for investigating the influence of western missionaries’Chinese translation on the formation of new literature.

主机转子联轴器联接螺栓改为PILGRIM径向紧固螺栓

介绍引进使用新型PILGRIM径向紧固螺栓的过程及其操作方法。在消除主机轴瓦振动大缺陷过程中 ,发现转子联轴器同心度偏差大是其主要原因之一 ,而造成这种现状是应用了刚性联接的螺栓及其检修工艺 ,现探索使用一种新型PILGRIM径向紧固螺栓 ,可避免以上缺陷的产生。

Study on Design Rainstorm Profile in Liuzhou City Based on Pilgrim &Cordery Method

Liuzhou City is located in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. It has a warm and rainy climate and belongs to the middle subtropical monsoon climate. It is a rainstorm and flood-prone area. The work of flood drainage and waterlogging prevention is very important. The “minute to minute” rainfall process data of Liuzhou National Meteorological Observation Station from 1975 to 2014 and the Pilgrim & Cordery method were used to estimate the short-time design rainstorm profile of Liuzhou City, and the profiles of the rainfall lasting for 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 min were obtained. The research shows that the same rain duration and different recurrence period conditions are consistent with the rainstorm profile. The rainfall duration of 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min generally shows single-peak rainstorm profile, and the rainfall duration of 150 min shows double-peak rainstorm profile. Most peaks of each short-time design rainstorm profile are at or ahead of the 1/3 part of the entire rainfall process. During the same recurrence period, the rainfall in peak period fluctuated with the increase of the duration, and the intensity of rainfall increased with the prolonging of the recurrence period.

Hypothetical Earlier Dating for The Passionate Pilgrim and First Folio

Did part or all of Shakespeare＇s The Passionate Pilgrim （TPP） actually predate 1593 Venus ＆ Adonis （V＆A） and 1594 Rape ofLuereee （RofL）？ Oddly enough, that may be the case, because the sole extant copy of its first edition has no title page, thus no date. Copies of its second edition do have a title page and are clearly dated 1599, plus a 1612 augmented project was marked ＂third edition＂. Thus, it should be significant that some of TPP＇s poetry have been found in manuscript or early publications back to the early 1590s, and in one case perhaps as early as 1585. But TPP may be a relic of a much larger anthology of poetry which possibly existed in manuscript circa 1589-94, was revised circa 1610-12 to accompany an intended publication of all of Shakespeare＇s works （poetry and drama）, but was not fully published until nearly three decades later. It is also notable that the 1640 anthology attributed to Shakespeare contained TPP plus lengthy poetic paraphrases from Ovid in much the same mold as V＆A and RofL. Moreover, the 1640 anthology may hold a key to radically earlier dating of the 1623 First Folio （F1）. We will briefly delve into the murky world of the Elizabethan publishing world of the 1580s and beyond, wherein the 17th Earl of Oxford＇s former servant, Anthony Munday, may have had an important role in the disposition of each ＂Shake-speare＂ work.

The Bible＇s Influence on The Pilgrim＇s Progress

The Bible and The Pilgrim＇s Progress are two both well-known and influential religious literary works worldwide. Although the two great works were released in different periods of history and from different authors, there was still somehow resemblance and relevance between them. The motif of the thesis is to compare the two works, and try to discover the influence of the Bible on The Pilgrim＇s Progress f^om two dimensions, plot designs and features of women image---so that we can get a better understanding of The Pilgrim＇s Progress as an excellent representative and be aware of profoundly clout of the Bible. Through comparison and contrast, the imitation and creativity of The Pilgrim＇s Progress compared to the Bible on some issues can be clearly unfolded. By criticizing the female images in the Bible and complimenting them in The Pilgrim＇s Progress, the paper hopes to raise the public awareness to women＇s equal rights and social status.

从《胜旅景程》的小说评点看传教士“耶儒会通”的策略

约翰·班杨(John Bunyan,1628-1688)的寓言小说《天路历程》(The Pilgrim’s Progress)是基督教文学经典之一,至今已被翻译成二百多种外国文字。《天路历程》的首部汉译本于1851年面世,直至20世纪初,由传教士汉译并在中国出版的《天路历程》

长春市降雨特征及雨型分析研究

随着城市建设的快速发展、排水排涝设计要求的提高,对城市降雨特征及雨型的研究越来越重要。对长春市降雨时空变化及短历时年最大降雨量变化趋势进行了分析。同时针对城市雨水系统的设计应用,采用芝加哥雨型及Pilgrim&Cordery雨型设计方法,设计暴雨历时选取60、120、180 min,进行了设计暴雨时程分配雨型的分析。结果表明:长春市1953年—2012年60、120 min短历时降雨增加趋势平缓,180 min短历时降雨增加趋势明显。2007年—2011年长春局部地区年降雨距平百分比的均值均为正值,中心城区的吉林大路及南湖气象站地区都位于城市降雨中心区,年降雨量远高于其他地区,城市雨岛效应明显,且雨峰位置出现均较靠前。

Generalized Ghost Pilgrim Scalar Field Models of Dark Energy

We assume generalized ghost Pilgrim dark energy(GGPDE) model in the presence of cold dark matter in flat FRW universe.With suitable choice of interaction term between GGPDE and cold dark matter,we investigate the nature of equation of state parameter for GGPDE.Also,we investigate the natures of dynamical scalar field models(such as quintessence,tachyon,k-essence,and dilaton dark energy) and concerned potentials through the correspondence phenomenon between GGPDE and these models.

New Agegraphic Pilgrim Dark Energy in f(T, T_G) Gravity

In this work, we briefly discuss a novel class of modified gravity like f(T, TG) gravity. In this background,we assume the new agegraphic version of pilgrim dark energy and reconstruct f(T, TG) models for two specific values of s. We also discuss the equation of state parameter, squared speed of sound and wDE-w DEplane for these reconstructed f(T, TG) models. The equation of state parameter provides phantom-like behavior of the universe. The wDE-w DEplane also corresponds to ΛCDM limit, thawing and freezing regions for both models.

Translated Illustration and the Indigenization of Christianity in Late Qing Chinese Christian Novels

＂Intersemiotic translation＂ is categorized by Roman Jakobson as one of three types of translation. Translation of illustrations in the late Qing novels, either directly from verbal signs or visual signs, can also be regarded as a typical kind of ＂intersemiotic translation.＂ The present article studies illustrations in Chinese Christian literature in the late Qing period, especially those in the Chinese translations of John Bunyan＇s works, The Pilgrim＇s Progress and The Holy War. Questions to ponder are how inter-semiotic translation occurs between these illustrations--in either transferring or transplanting the meanings from one sign system to another--and how it establishes its legitimacy through religious negotiation, ideological conflict, and cultural integration. The illustrations in the Chinese translation versions of The Pilgrim ＂s Progress manifest the translators＇ and illustrators＇ manipulation of repertoires of Chinese religious signs, thereby indigenizing a foreign religion. These illustrations, nevertheless, are not only associated with Christianity, but also with the long-lasting visual signs of Chinese culture. Hence these translated illustrations could be considered as a type of ＂Translated Christianity.＂