Batuh Narit Arur Bilit of Pa’ Umor : A Visual Analysis onto a Carved Stone from the Megalithic Monuments of the Kelabit Highlands

This paper seeks to investigate on the Kelabit’s material culture based on a visual archaeological study of the megalithic stone, particularly the carved stone known as Batuh Narit Arur Bilit, from the district of Pa’ Umor in Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia. The primary focus of this paper is to advance knowledge within the practice, especially in visual art research, and how it can be used as digital content to promote eco-tourism in the rural area. Previously, there was a lack of techniques that can be used as an example of how visual art can be used to explore other disciplines such as anthropology. Thus, this study will highlight several issues pertaining to the visual documentation process of the megalith, notably on the relation of the symbol and drawing carved on the surface of the stone. By using empirical research, the biography of the monument will be explored via experiential learning and visual analysis, especially in considering our sensory with practical experience. These findings are the result of visual recording practices such as drawing, photography, and video as well as site observations, with the highlight of the discovery of the long-lost stone carvings. What started as an unintentional discovery has evolved into a rich visual study of the cultural narratives and has developed as an identity that also has a historical impact and cultural content for the eco-tourism sector in the Kelabit society

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

P-doped TiO2 Nanofibers Decorated with Ag Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity under Simulated Solar Light

We report the synthesis of titania nanofibers (TNF) of ?195 nm mean diameter doped with phosphorus through one-pot electrospinning followed by decoration of Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The Ag NPs of ?8 nm size on 2 % P-doped TNFs (Ag-PTNFs) showed excellent photocatalytic activity for the reduction of Cr(VI), under simulated solar light, with ?100 % conversion to Cr(III) in 90 min at pH 3 with a pseudo-first order rate constant of 0.085 min?1 that is 96.5 % higher than TNFs. The Ag-PTNFs also exhibited excellent photodegradation of methylene blue with pseudo-first order rate constant of 0.052 min?1 which is 82.7 % better than TNFs. The enhanced photocatalytic performance of Ag-PTNFs is attributed to the reduced band-gap, increased charge separation and reduced recombination rates. A proposed photocatalytic mechanism based on the synergistic effect of both Ag and P doping is presented which highlights the potential of these composite materials for water remediation. © 2020 Wiley-VCH Gmb

Batuh Narit Arur Bilit of Pa’ Umor: A Visual Analysis onto a Carved Stone from the Megalithic Monuments of the Kelabit Highlands

This paper seeks to investigate on the Kelabit’s material culture based on a visual archaeological study of the megalithic stone, particularly the carved stone known as Batuh Narit Arur Bilit, from the district of Pa’ Umor in Bario, Sarawak, Malaysia. The primary focus of this paper is to advance knowledge within the practice, especially in the visual art research, and how it can be used as a digital content to promote eco-tourism in the rural area. Previously, there were lack of techniques that can be used as an example on how visual art can be used to explore other disciplines such as anthropology. Thus, this study will highlight several issues pertaining to the visual documentation process of the megalith, notably on the relation of the symbol and drawing carved on the surface of the stone. By using empirical research, the biography of the monument will be explored via experiential learning and visual analysis, especially in considering our sensory with practical experience. These findings are the result of visual recording practices such as drawing, photography and video as well as site observations, with the highlight of the discovery of the long-lost stone carvings. What started as an unintentional discovery has evolved into a rich visual study of the cultural narratives and has developed as an identity that also has a historical impact and cultural content for the eco-tourism sector in the Kelabit society

Does pet ownership in infancy lead to asthma or allergy at school age? Pooled analysis of individual participant data from 11 European birth cohorts.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between pet keeping in early childhood and asthma and allergies in children aged 6-10 years. DESIGN: Pooled analysis of individual participant data of 11 prospective European birth cohorts that recruited a total of over 22,000 children in the 1990s. EXPOSURE DEFINITION: Ownership of only cats, dogs, birds, rodents, or cats/dogs combined during the first 2 years of life. OUTCOME DEFINITION: Current asthma (primary outcome), allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and allergic sensitization during 6-10 years of age. DATA SYNTHESIS: Three-step approach: (i) Common definition of outcome and exposure variables across cohorts; (ii) calculation of adjusted effect estimates for each cohort; (iii) pooling of effect estimates by using random effects meta-analysis models. RESULTS: We found no association between furry and feathered pet keeping early in life and asthma in school age. For example, the odds ratio for asthma comparing cat ownership with "no pets" (10 studies, 11489 participants) was 1.00 (95% confidence interval 0.78 to 1.28) (I(2) = 9%; p = 0.36). The odds ratio for asthma comparing dog ownership with "no pets" (9 studies, 11433 participants) was 0.77 (0.58 to 1.03) (I(2) = 0%, p = 0.89). Owning both cat(s) and dog(s) compared to "no pets" resulted in an odds ratio of 1.04 (0.59 to 1.84) (I(2) = 33%, p = 0.18). Similarly, for allergic asthma and for allergic rhinitis we did not find associations regarding any type of pet ownership early in life. However, we found some evidence for an association between ownership of furry pets during the first 2 years of life and reduced likelihood of becoming sensitized to aero-allergens. CONCLUSIONS: Pet ownership in early life did not appear to either increase or reduce the risk of asthma or allergic rhinitis symptoms in children aged 6-10. Advice from health care practitioners to avoid or to specifically acquire pets for primary prevention of asthma or allergic rhinitis in children should not be given