Influence of Stock Market Dynamics, Renewable Energy Utilization, and Urban Development on Environmental Decline: Novel Insights from G20 Nations

This study's main goal is to objectively investigate how stock market expansion, Urbanization FDI, and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows affect CO2 emissions. This study also explores how the use of renewable energy affects CO2 emissions and economic output in a panel of G20 nations. The whole sample as well as sub-samples of rich and developing economies of the G20 member countries were used in the empirical analysis. The study tells that due to rise in urbanization the carbon dioxide emission reduced. Similarly, THE GDP growth and CO2 emission are positively related and our results shows that FDI and CO2 emission are also directly related. Meanwhile for the trade openness the results are mixed, in start it rises CO2 emission but after sometimes it reduces. Moreover, due to shift of renewable energy consumption from fossil fuel helps to emit less CO2 and MSCI shows directly relation with CO2 emission for these countries. The findings support a notable long-run equilibrium link between the variables in all of the panels. Also, according to the long-run elasticities, FDI considerably lowers CO2 emissions in both the complete sample and emerging economies, while stock market growth declines in developed economies. Similar to how using renewable energy significantly lowers CO2 emissions and boosts economic output globally panels. Our conclusions have significant policy ramifications. In order to meet the rising demand for energy by displacing the usage of conventional energy sources like coal, gas, and oil, policymakers must first implement effective policies to promote renewable energy sources. As a result, both the CO2 emissions and the promotion of sustainable economic growth in the G20 nations will be aided. Also, according to the long-run elasticities, FDI considerably lowers CO2 emissions in both the complete sample and emerging economies, while stock market growth declines in developed economies.&nbsp

Deep-Learning-Based Computer Vision Approach For The Segmentation Of Ball Deliveries And Tracking In Cricket

There has been a significant increase in the adoption of technology in cricket recently. This trend has created the problem of duplicate work being done in similar computer vision-based research works. Our research tries to solve one of these problems by segmenting ball deliveries in a cricket broadcast using deep learning models, MobileNet and YOLO, thus enabling researchers to use our work as a dataset for their research. The output from our research can be used by cricket coaches and players to analyze ball deliveries which are played during the match. This paper presents an approach to segment and extract video shots in which only the ball is being delivered. The video shots are a series of continuous frames that make up the whole scene of the video. Object detection models are applied to reach a high level of accuracy in terms of correctly extracting video shots. The proof of concept for building large datasets of video shots for ball deliveries is proposed which paves the way for further processing on those shots for the extraction of semantics. Ball tracking in these video shots is also done using a separate RetinaNet model as a sample of the usefulness of the proposed dataset. The position on the cricket pitch where the ball lands is also extracted by tracking the ball along the y-axis. The video shot is then classified as a full-pitched, good-length or short-pitched delivery

Gut integrity and duodenal enteropathogen burden in undernourished children with environmental enteric dysfunction

Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is a subclinical condition of intestinal inflammation, barrier dysfunction and malabsorption associated with growth faltering in children living in poverty. This study explores association of altered duodenal permeability (lactulose, rhamnose and their ratio) with higher burden of enteropathogen in the duodenal aspirate, altered histopathological findings and higher morbidity (diarrhea) that is collectively associated with linear growth faltering in children living in EED endemic setting. In a longitudinal birth cohort, 51 controls (WHZ \u3e 0, HAZ \u3e -1.0) and 63 cases (WHZ\u3c -2.0, refractory to nutritional intervention) were recruited. Anthropometry and morbidity were recorded on monthly bases up to 24 months of age. Dual sugar assay of urine collected after oral administration of lactulose and rhamnose was assessed in 96 children from both the groups. Duodenal histopathology (n = 63) and enteropathogen analysis of aspirate via Taqman array card (n = 60) was assessed in only cases. Giardia was the most frequent pathogen and was associated with raised L:R ratio (p = 0.068). Gastric microscopy was more sensitive than duodenal aspirate in H. pylori detection. Microscopically confirmed H. pylori negatively correlated with HAZ at 24 months (r = -0.313, p = 0.013). Regarding histopathological parameters, goblet cell reduction significantly correlated with decline in dual sugar excretion (p\u3c 0.05). Between cases and controls, there were no significant differences in the median (25th, 75th percentile) of urinary concentrations (μg/ml) of lactulose [27.0 (11.50, 59.50) for cases vs. 38.0 (12.0, 61.0) for controls], rhamnose [66.0 (28.0, 178.0) vs. 86.5 (29.5, 190.5)] and L:R ratio [0.47 (0.24, 0.90) vs. 0.51 (0.31, 0.71)] respectively. In multivariable regression model, 31% of variability in HAZ at 24 months of age among cases and controls was explained by final model including dual sugars. In conclusion, enteropathogen burden is associated with altered histopathological features and intestinal permeability. In cases and controls living in settings of endemic enteropathy, intestinal permeability test may predict linear growth. However, for adoption as a screening tool for EED, further validation is required due to its complex intestinal pathophysiology

Environmental enteropathy in undernourished Pakistani children: Clinical and histomorphometric analyses

Despite nutrition interventions, stunting thought to be secondary to underlying environmental enteropathy (EE) remains pervasive among infants residing in resource-poor countries and remains poorly characterized. From a birth cohort of 380 children, 65 malnourished infants received 12 weeks of nutritional supplementation with ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). Eleven children with insufficient response to RUTF underwent upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsies, which were compared with U.S., age-matched specimens for healthy, celiac disease, non-celiac villous atrophy, non-celiac intraepithelial lymphocytosis, and graft-versus-host disease patients. Of the 11 children biopsied, EE was found in 10 (91%) with one subject with celiac disease. Morphometry demonstrated decreased villus-to-crypt (V:C) ratios in EE relative to healthy and non-celiac lymphocytosis patients. Environmental enteropathy villus volumes were significantly decreased relative to healthy controls. In EE, average CD3+ cells per 100 epithelial cells and per 1,000 µm2 of lamina propria and the number of lamina propria CD20+ B-cell aggregates were increased relative to all other groups. Our results indicate that V:C ratios are reduced in EE but are less severe than in celiac disease. Environmental enteropathy intraepithelial and lamina propria T lymphocytosis is of greater magnitude than that in celiac disease. The increases in lamina propria B and T lymphocytes suggest that non-cytolytic lymphocytic activation may be a more prominent feature of EE relative to celiac disease. These results provide new insights into shared yet distinct histological and immunological features of EE and celiac disease in children

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

The role of microbiome in preterm labor: Recent advances and future challenges

Background: Our current understanding of preterm labor is limited in the context of dysbiosis of microbiome. Human microbiome is comprised of trillions of microorganisms, residing on and within our bodies that are associated with the vital function of organs and systems. Few studies have highlighted the role of maternal gut microbiome dysbiosis as a contributing factor for metabolic syndrome and may be associated with risk of preterm labor. A clear understanding of dysbiosis in placenta or vagina with early ripening of cervix for initiation of preterm labor is not fully elucidated.Aim: Our aim is to contextualize the alteration in microbial community structure in maternal and fetal organs in association with risk of preterm labor.Methods: In this review, we summarized the studies published from 2000 to 2016 in the field of microbiome in association with preterm labor.Findings & Discussion: Evidence suggest that placental microbiome has promising correlation with preterm labor, while findings are equivocal for maternal gut and vaginal microbiome in inducing preterm labor. Similar alteration in fetal intestinal microbiome of meconium is supposed to evoke an inflammatory response that may lead to preterm labor.Conclusion: To understand the relationship of microbiome and preterm labor, both maternal and fetal microbiome should be studied in parallel to determine the causality. Dysregulation of immune response due to disturbance in normal or commensal flora might be an underlying cause of preterm labor

BCG activation of trained immunity is associated with induction of cross reactive COVID-19 antibodies in a BCG vaccinated population

Background: Pakistan is endemic to a diverse set of parasitic, mycobacterial and viral diseases. The recognition of BCG Trained Immunity (TI) led us to postulate that the continued presence of BCG-TI may play a protective role, previously reported for both infectious and noninfectious conditions. Most of the previous studies have addressed the issue of BCG-TI in the paediatric populations. This study addressed the key issue of maintenance of BCG-TI in a wider age range (adolescent and adults) to identify the strength and quality of the immune responses.Objective: To assess the BCG-induced recall responses in healthy individuals by cytokines secreted from the TI network and its potential role in providing cross-protection against COVID-19 and other viral infections.Study design: In this cross-sectional study, healthy young adults and adolescents (n = 20) were recruited from 16-40 years of age, with no prior history of TB treatment, autoimmune, or chronic inflammatory condition.Methods: BCG-induced cytokine responses were assessed using prototypic markers for cells of the TI network [macrophages [M1 (TNFα, IFNγ), M2 (IL10)], NK (IL2), Gamma delta (γδ) T (IL17, IL4)] and SARS CoV2 IgG antibodies against RBD using short-term (12 hrs.) cultures assay.Results: Significant differences were observed in the magnitude of recall responses to BCG with macrophage cytokines showing the highest mean levels of TNFα (9148 pg/ml) followed by IL10 (488 pg/ml) and IFNγ (355 pg/ml). The ratio of unstimulated vs.BCG-stimulated cytokines was 132 fold higher for TNFα, 40 fold fo r IL10, and 27 fold for IFNγ. Furthermore, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were also detected in unstimulated plasma which showed cross reactivity with BCG.Conclusion: The presence of cross reactive antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 and the relative ratio of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines secreted by activated TI cellular network may play a pivotal role in protection in the early stages of infection as observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in the younger age groups resulting in lower morbidity and mortality

Determinants of faculty performance of business schools: empirical evidence from Pakistan

Research Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants of faculty performance of Business Schools. The study is to observe the overall determinants of employee performance, which increases employees’ motivation and performance in Business Schools of Pakistan. Research Methodology: Data of 199 respondents were collected through closed ended questionnaire; it was floated online through Emails and hard copies to the active faculty members of 15 Business Schools across Pakistan. We gage employees’ performance as a dependent variable, through compensation, Training & development and career growth as independent variables. The study was quantitative and results were obtained through Correlation and Regression analysis. Conclusion: The results of this research clearly demonstrated that the independent variables Compensation and career growth have a significant affect on Business Faculty performance. It further determined that compensation has a positive impact on motivation, which directly enhance the performance of employees. Moreover, the third variable i.e. training and development has a moderate impact on employees’ performance. So, it is finally determined that the faculty in Business Schools give more value to compensation and career growth as compared to training and development. Recommendations: On the basis of results we recommend to the management and HR departments of Business Schools, since compensation and career growth have a significant impact on employee performance, therefore, they should more focused on monetary benefits and career growth for Business faculty. HR department can introduce LFA, incentives, and medical allowance apart from salary package in order to boost up the motivation and performance of faculty. Moreover, Business schools should provide ample opportunities of training and development, which will enhance the skills of the faculty, and it would ultimately be helpful in their career growthVadybos katedraVytauto Didžiojo universiteta

Omicron spike function and neutralizing activity elicited by a comprehensive panel of vaccines

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant of concern comprises several sublineages, with BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 having replaced the previously dominant BA.1 and with BA.4 and BA.5 increasing in prevalence worldwide. We show that the large number of Omicron sublineage spike mutations leads to enhanced angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding, reduced fusogenicity, and severe dampening of plasma neutralizing activity elicited by infection or seven clinical vaccines relative to the ancestral virus. Administration of a homologous or heterologous booster based on the Wuhan-Hu-1 spike sequence markedly increased neutralizing antibody titers and breadth against BA.1, BA.2, BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 across all vaccines evaluated. Our data suggest that although Omicron sublineages evade polyclonal neutralizing antibody responses elicited by primary vaccine series, vaccine boosters may provide sufficient protection against Omicron-induced severe disease