How Vulnerable are Bangladesh’s Indigenous People to Climate Change?

This paper compares the vulnerabilities to climate change and climate variability of the indigenous people with the Bengali population of Bangladesh. It distinguishes between (a) individual vulnerabilities that are related to an individual’s capability to adapt to climate change and; (b) spatial vulnerabilities, that is, vulnerabilities that are related to the location of a person (like the exposure to climate change-induced disasters). While an individual’s capability to adapt to climate change is determined by many factors, some relatively simple approximation is to look at poverty, landlessness, and illiteracy. Spatial vulnerabilities are reviewed by looking at drought hazard maps, flood hazard maps, landslide hazard maps, and cyclone hazard maps. Hence, the paper compares levels of poverty, landlessness, illiteracy, and the more direct though also more subjective exposures to increased droughts, floods, landslides, and cyclones across the two population groups. The paper concludes with some broad suggestions on adaptation strategies of indigenous people as well as suggestions for policy interventions to reduce climate change-induced vulnerabilities for indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).Bangladesh, climate change, vulnerability

Meningkatkan Keterampilan Tendangan “T” Pencak Silat melalui Pendekatan Media Tongkat Kelas VIII

Abstak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui keterampilan media tongkat, dalam pembelajaran tendangan “T” pencak silat Siswa/i Kelas VIII A SMP 19 Negeri Pontianak. Metode penelitian dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriftif yaitu suatu metode untuk menjelaskan tentang sesuatu yang diteliti. Sesuai dengan tujuan penelitian, maka penelitian ini menggunakan jenis penelitian “Classroom Action Researh”(Penelitian Tindakan Kelas). Untuk pemecahan rendahnya pembelajaran tendangan “T” pencak silat Kelas VIII A SMP Negeri 19 Pontianak dengan menggunakan media Tongkat, yang berjumlah 40 siswa. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan dua siklus, setiap siklusnya dengan 2x Pertemuan. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang telah dilakukan dapat disimpulkan hal-hal sebagai berikut: Terjadi peningkatan yang dilihat dari observasi awal rata-rata kemampuan siswa melakukan tendangan “T” pencak silat yaitu, 15%. Setelah dilakukan tindakan siklus I terjadi peningkatan sebesar 30% yaitu menjadi 42,5%. Pada siklus II meningkat lagi sebesar 77,5% yaitu menjadi 90%. Dengan demikian rata-rata peningktan dari observasi awal sampai siklus II sebesar 77,5%.Kata kunci: Tendangan “T” Pencak Silat, Pendekatan Media Tongkat.Abstak: This study aims to determine the sticks media skills, learning kicks in "T" martial arts student / i Class VIII A SMP 19 Pontianak. The research method in this research is descriptive method is a method to describe something that is studied. In accordance with the purpose of research, this research using this type of research "Classroom Action Researh" (Classroom Action Research). For solving the low kicks learning "T" martial arts class VIII SMP Negeri A 19 Pontianak using Stick media, which amounts to 40 students. This research was done in two cycles, each cycle with 2x meeting. Based on the research that has been done can be concluded the following: An increase is seen from the initial observation the average ability of students to kick "T" martial arts, namely, 15%. After the first cycle measures an increase of 30% ie to 42.5%. In the second cycle increased again by 77.5% ie to 90%. Thus the average peningktan of observation start to cycle II of 77.5%

Effect of single dose magnesium on arrhythmias in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and role of prophylactic administration of magnesium in preventing arrhythmias. METHOD: This double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted at Aga Khan University Hospital on coronary artery bypass surgery patients. All patients were connected to holter monitor before induction of anaesthesia and this monitoring continued for 24 hours. Study drug containing either 2-grams of magnesium or normal saline was given after intubation. Levels of serum magnesium was checked preoperatively and then in ICU at 0, 6, 12, and 24 hours. Independent t-test and chi square test were used for analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p-value \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients consented to participate in the study, 53 patients were randomly allocated in magnesium (Mg) group and 51 in placebo group. Two (3.77%) patients in magnesium group and five patients (9.8%) in placebo group developed atrial fibrillation. Incidence of ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia was also slightly higher in placebo. Mg level after arrival in CICU (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit) showed mean of 2.1 in magnesium group and 1.6 in placebo group (p = 0.6). CONCLUSION: Low magnesium levels were noticed in the placebo group after cardiopulmonary bypass and although prophylactic administration of magnesium sulphate was relatively safe but significant benefit on prevention of arrhythmias could not be attained

Anorexic behaviour and attitudes among female medical and nursing students at a private university hospital

Objective: To study the anorexic behaviour and attitude among female medical and nursing students in a tertiary care hospital.SUBJECTS AND Methods: A cross-sectional survey to determine the proportion of anorexic behaviour among female medical and nursing students at The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi was conducted. A multistaged sampling technique was utilized in which our study population was first divided according to field of enrollment (medical or nursing school) and then stratified by class. Within each stratum, we used convenience sampling due to time and availability constraints. We utilized a modified Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) to collect data. The Eating Attitude Test is probably the most widely used standardized measure of symptoms characteristic of eating disorders, including anorexia nervosa.Results: A total of 180 female students were interviewed. Ninety-four (52.2%) were medical students and 86 (47.8%) were nursing students. Among the 94 medical students, 26 (27.7%) were from first year, 14 (14.9%) from second year, 15 (16.0%) from third year, 20 (21.3%) from fourth year and 19 (20.2%) from the final year of medical college. Among the 86 nursing students 34 (39.5%) were from first year, 23 (26.7%) from second year, 27 (31.4%) from third year and 2 (2.4%) from fourth year. The proportion of anorexic behaviour among medical students was 8.0%, 7.1% and 20.0% in first, third and fourth years respectively. No individuals with anorexic behaviour were found in second and fifth years. The total proportion of anorexic behaviour among female health care students was 21.7%.CONCLUSION: Results showed a 21.7% prevalence of anorexic behaviour, a figure much higher than that reported in similar studies conducted in Asia. We also found that the proportion was much higher among female nursing students as compared to female medical students. A previous visit to a psychiatrist for reasons other than eating disorders was found to be associated with anorexic behaviour

A clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interaction between cyclosporine and imatinib

Purpose: Cyclosporine A (CsA) and imatinib are both CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein substrates. Concomitant use after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) or Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) acute lymphatic leukemia (ALL) may therefore result in a pharmacokinetic interaction. Although case reports and a recent small study in children indeed suggested there is a relevant pharmacokinetic interaction, a larger study in adults is lacking. In this study, we assessed the presence and extent of this interaction in patients with CML or Ph+ ALL undergoing HSCT. Methods: From a large database containing data of all patients receiving HSCT in our center between 2005 and 2015, we selected 16 patients using this drug combination. The average dose-corrected CsA concentration was calculated before and after initiation of imatinib. Results: The average dose-corrected CsA concentration increased during imatinib use in all patients, on average by 94 % (p < 0.001). Based on measured drug con

Advancing dielectric and ferroelectric properties of piezoelectric polymers by combining graphene and ferroelectric ceramic additives for energy storage applications

Published: 28 August 2018To address the limitations of piezoelectric polymers which have a low dielectric constant andto improve their dielectric and ferroelectric efficiency for energy storage applications, we designed and characterized a new hybrid composite that contains polyvinylidene fluoride as a dielectric polymer matrix combined with graphene platelets as a conductive and barium titanite as ceramic ferroelectric fillers. Different graphene/barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite films were synthesized by changing the concentration of graphene and barium titanate to explore the impact of each component and their potential synergetic effect on dielectric and ferroelectric properties of the composite. Results showed that with an increase in the barium titanate fraction, dielectric efficiency ofthe nanocomposite was improved. Among all synthesized nanocomposite films, graphene/barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite in the weight ratio of 0.15:0.5:1 exhibited thehighest dielectric constant of 199 at 40 Hz, i.e., 15 fold greater than that of neat polyvinylidene fluoride film at the same frequency, and possessed a low loss tangent of 0.6. However, AC conductivity and ferroelectric properties of graphene/barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite films were enhanced with an increase in the graphene weight fraction. Graphene/barium titanate/polyvinylidene fluoride nanocomposite films with a weight ratio of 0.2:0.1:1 possessed a high AC conductivity of 1.2 × 10-4 S/m at 40 Hz. While remanent polarization, coercive field, and loop area of the same sample were 0.9 μC/cm², 9.78 kV/cm, and 24.5 μC/cm²·V, respectively. Our results showed that a combination of graphene and ferroelectric ceramic additives are an excellent approach to significantly advance the performance of dielectric and ferroelectric properties of piezoelectric polymers for broad applications including energy storage.Saira Ishaq, Farah Kanwal, Shahid Atiq, Mahmoud Moussa, Umar Azhar, Muhammad Imran and Dusan Losi

Dielectric and impedance spectroscopic studies of three phase graphene/titania/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films

Flexible dielectric polymer composites with high dielectric permittivity and low dielectric loss have many applications in different areas of electronic industry. In this paper, we propose synthesis of flexible dielectric materials with efficient dielectric properties. We increased dielectric efficiency of poly(vinyl alcohol) by reinforcement of conducting graphene and rutile titania fillers in different weight fractions. The superiority of this method is that synthesized three phase graphene/titania/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films have high dielectric permittivity, low dielectric loss and are flexible. Our results show that graphene/titania/poly(vinyl alcohol) with weight/weight fraction of 3:20:100 bears dielectric permittivity of 330 at 20 Hz that is about 36 times larger than that of neat PVA at same frequency. At this frequency above mentioned graphene/titania/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite has loss tangent of 4.39 acceptable for dielectrics in embedded capacitors and AC conductivity of 1.6 × 10⁻⁶ Sm⁻¹ that is much greater than that of neat PVA i.e; 6.5 × 10⁻⁹ Sm⁻¹. Complex impedance spectroscopy, complex electric modulus and Cole-Cole plots of synthesized graphene/titania/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposite films further confirm its better capacitive performance.Saira Ishaq, Farah Kanwal Shahid Atiq, Mahmoud Moussa, Umar Azhar, Iffrah Gul, Dusan Losi

Converting cyclosporine A from intravenous to oral administration in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients and the role of azole antifungals

Purpose: Cyclosporine A (CsA) is the most widely used immunosuppressive agent after a hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Although recommendations for CsA dose conversion from intravenous to oral administration differ from 1:1 to 1:3, most studies did not consider the role of azole antifungals as an important confounder. Therefore, we assess the optimal conversion rate of CsA from intravenous to oral administration in HSCT recipients, taking into account the concomitant use of azole antifungals. Methods: We retrospectively included patients from a large database of 483 patients who underwent a HSCT and received intravenous CsA as part of the conditioning regimen and peritransplant immunosuppression. All patients were converted from intravenous to oral administration in a 1:1 conversion rate. We collected for each patient three CsA trough concentrations during intravenous and oral administration, directly before and after conversion to oral administration. Results: We included 71 patients; 50 patients co-treated with fluconazole, 10 with voriconazole, and 11 without azole co-medication. In patients with voriconazole, the dose-corrected CsA concentration (CsA concentration divided by CsA dosage) was not different between intravenous and oral administration (2.6% difference, p = 0.754), suggesting a CsA oral bioavailability of nearly 100%. In patients with fluconazole and without azole co-medication, the dose-corrected CsA concentration was respectively 21.5% (p < 0.001) and 25.2% (p = 0.069) lower during oral administration. Conclusions: In patients with voriconazole, CsA should be converted 1:1 from intravenous to oral administration. In patients with fluconazole and without azole co-medication, a 1:1.3 substitution is advised to prevent subtherapeutic CsA concentrations