Hearing loss prevalence and years lived with disability, 1990–2019: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Hearing loss affects access to spoken language, which can affect cognition and development, and can negatively affect social wellbeing. We present updated estimates from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study on the prevalence of hearing loss in 2019, as well as the condition's associated disability. Methods We did systematic reviews of population-representative surveys on hearing loss prevalence from 1990 to 2019. We fitted nested meta-regression models for severity-specific prevalence, accounting for hearing aid coverage, cause, and the presence of tinnitus. We also forecasted the prevalence of hearing loss until 2050. Findings An estimated 1·57 billion (95% uncertainty interval 1·51–1·64) people globally had hearing loss in 2019, accounting for one in five people (20·3% [19·5–21·1]). Of these, 403·3 million (357·3–449·5) people had hearing loss that was moderate or higher in severity after adjusting for hearing aid use, and 430·4 million (381·7–479·6) without adjustment. The largest number of people with moderate-to-complete hearing loss resided in the Western Pacific region (127·1 million people [112·3–142·6]). Of all people with a hearing impairment, 62·1% (60·2–63·9) were older than 50 years. The Healthcare Access and Quality (HAQ) Index explained 65·8% of the variation in national age-standardised rates of years lived with disability, because countries with a low HAQ Index had higher rates of years lived with disability. By 2050, a projected 2·45 billion (2·35–2·56) people will have hearing loss, a 56·1% (47·3–65·2) increase from 2019, despite stable age-standardised prevalence. Interpretation As populations age, the number of people with hearing loss will increase. Interventions such as childhood screening, hearing aids, effective management of otitis media and meningitis, and cochlear implants have the potential to ameliorate this burden. Because the burden of moderate-to-complete hearing loss is concentrated in countries with low health-care quality and access, stronger health-care provision mechanisms are needed to reduce the burden of unaddressed hearing loss in these settings

Recruitment Practice and Corporate Performance of Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria

The studies examine the effect of recruitment practice and corporate performance. The study became necessary, due to the poor implementation of recruitment practice in firms. Specifically, the study was designed to examine the effect of recruitment on corporate performance. Literature review was based on the selected variables for investigation. Two research questions and hypothesis were formulated to guide the study. A cross sectional survey design was used with population size of 3059, the sample size of 354. Taro-Yamene’s estimation formula was used to determine sample size for the study. Questionnaire survey was used as instrument for data collection. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was adopted for data analysis and test of hypothesis at 0.05 significant levels using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. The result of the analysis revealed that there is a significant and positive relationship between recruitment and corporate performance. Based on the findings, it was concluded that the quality of employee hired has determined corporate performance determined organizational performance. In the light of the above it was recommended that managers should adopt quality recruitment practices which will enhance the intensification of the organization and on best fit approach of recruitment

Experimental study on the inhibitive effect of phytic acid as a corrosion inhibitor for Q235 mild steel in 1 M HCl environment

The inhibitive action of phytic acid (PA) on Q235 mild steel corrosion in 1 M HCl environment was investigated using electrochemical techniques. Polarization results revealed PA to be a mixed- type inhibitor in 1 M HCl environment, while impedance results provide evidence of adsorption of the PA species on the corroding metal surface. The adsorption of PA obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies all revealed the formation of a protective film adsorbed on the steel surface

Characterization and Experimental and Computational Assessment of Kola nitida Extract for Corrosion Inhibiting Efficacy

Kola nitida (KN) extract was assessed for its ability to hinder corrosion of mild steel in 0.1 M HCl solution by means of gravimetric and electrochemical tests. KN extract was found to efficiently retard mild steel corrosion in this system, with the effect becoming more pronounced as KN extract concentration increased and slightly subdued as immersion time lengthened. From the polarization and impedance results, KN extract was seen to affect both the cathodic and the anodic reactions following adsorption of organic species from the extract on the metal/solution interface. The presence of such organics was confirmed by UV–visible spectrophotometry and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy analyses. Selected constituents of the extract were modeled in order to assess their adsorbability using the density functional theory (DFT) and revealed remarkably high interaction energies, which corroborate the experimental findings

Arsenic and Chromium in Canned and Non-Canned Beverages in Nigeria: A Potential Public Health Concern

Numerous studies have described environmental exposure of humans to heavy metals in African populations. Little is known about the exposure to heavy metal toxins from processed or unprocessed foods consumed in Africa, and no data exists on the food concentrations of arsenic and chromium, which are potential carcinogens and systemic toxicants. This study determined the concentrations of arsenic and chromium in beverages and fruit drinks commonly sold in Nigeria. Fifty samples of commonly consumed canned and non-canned beverages (imported and locally manufactured) purchased in Nigeria were digested in nitric acid and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). 33.3% of the canned beverages had arsenic levels that exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of 0.01 mg/L set by U.S. EPA while 55.2% of non-canned beverages had their arsenic levels exceeding the MCL. The arsenic concentrations ranged from 0.003 to 0.161 mg/L for the canned and 0.002 to 0.261 mg/l for the non-canned beverages. Whereas 68.9% of the non-canned beverages showed chromium levels that exceeded the US EPA’s MCL of 0.10 mg/L, 76.2% of the canned beverages had chromium levels that were greater than the MCL. The concentration range of total chromium in the canned beverages was 0.04 to 0.59 mg/L and 0.01 to 0.55 mg/L for the non-canned beverages. The sources of arsenic and chromium in the commercially available beverages are unclear and merit further investigation. This preliminary study highlights the need to study the toxicological implications of chronic low-level exposure to heavy metals from African markets

Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil protects against Bisphenol A‐induced testicular mitochondrial damages

Abstract There has been increasing search for the ameliorative properties of seed oils against toxicants. bisphenol A acts as an estrogenic endocrine‐disrupting chemical capable of causing male infertility. This study aimed to explore Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil effects against mitochondrial damage in rats using bisphenol A. Forty‐eight rats were randomly assigned to six groups (n = 6) of eight rats each and fed the same food and water for 6 weeks. The group A rats were given 1 mL olive oil, while the ones in group B were given bisphenol A at 100 mL/kg body weight via oral route. Group C received C. mannii seed oil 7.5 mL/kg body weight C. mannii seed oil, while group D, group E, and group F were pre‐administered bisphenol A at 100 mL/kg body weight, followed by treatment with C. mannii seed oil at 7.5, 5, and 2.5 mL/kg body weight, respectively. Antioxidant enzymes, glutathione, reactive oxygen species, testicular volume, malondialdehyde, body weight, and testicular studies were done using standard methods. The results of the bisphenol A‐administered group showed a significant decrease in the antioxidant enzymes, glutathione, body weight, and testicular volume with elevation in the levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and testicular indices. BPA + CMSO‐treated group showed a significant increase in GPx activity compared with BPA‐exposed rats. CMSO treatment significantly increased catalase activity in comparison with that of rats exposed to BPA. Remarkably, C. mannii seed oil and bisphenol A co‐administration significantly reversed the abnormalities observed in the dysregulated biochemical biomarkers. Our findings suggest that C. mannii seed oil has considerable antioxidant potential which can be explored in therapeutic development against systemic toxicity induced by exposure to bisphenol A. Cucumeropsis mannii seed oil protects against bisphenol A‐induced testicular mitochondria damages