Geospatial Clustering and Hot Spot Detection of COVID-19 Incidence in 2020: A Global Analysis

Emergence and spread of Covid-19 initiated diversified researches based on spatial analysis in visualization, exploration, and modelling of this infection. This short communication is an attempt to comprehend the geographic distribution and spatial clustering of Covid-19 in year 2020. Main objective is to spatially analyze Covid-19 incidence rates, identification of hotspots and clusters outliers at global level. Monthly data of reported cases were taken from World Health Organization dashboard and situation reports. Incidence rate was calculated for each country for each month. Spatial autocorrelation techniques of Global Moran are I and Anselian Local Moran’s I were used to examine the spatial clustering and outlier’s detection of Covid-19 incidence in all months of the year. Hotspots and Coldspots variations are examined by using Getis-Ord G*. Mapping was executed in ArcGIS Pro environment. Results reveal significant spatial variation of Covid-19 incidence in WHO regions in different months of pandemic year 2020. Hotspots and high clustering of the disease incidence shows a shift from Western pacific towards Europe and Americas from January to April. Eastern Mediterranean countries also became a part of disease hotspots from the month of July leaving Africa as coldspot during whole year. Highest Moran’s I value of 0.32 with highest z-score of 14 reflects the highly clustered pattern of this pandemic incidence in the month of December in contrary to least clustering of the disease with lowest Moran’s I of 0.02 and z-score of 1.8 in June. Statistically significant variations in disease clustering pattern provides an opportunity for epidemiologists to further explore the disease incidence from ecological perspective

Pakistan’s poverty puzzle: role of foreign aid, democracy & media

In theory, poverty reduction is associated with economic growth and equal access to opportunities for all citizens, regardless of their age, gender and income. Pakistan has reduced its poverty headcount by nearly 66% between 2002–2016, despite poor governance, weak institutions, mediocre economic growth, and poor social indicators. Using ADL/VAR and Granger causality tests, the paper empirically proves that change in political regimes, openness of media and foreign aid have contributed to alleviation of poverty in the country. The paper finds that the shift towards a stable democratic regime has facilitated the delivery of social services, regardless of the motive. Furthermore, it finds that free flow of information through the media has created an awareness among the masses about their rights; the access to information has led to a more equitable distribution of social services. Foreign aid has also contributed to alleviating poverty by focusing on targeted programs towards different groups with the help of various international organizations. These finding have important implications for interactions between the developed and underdeveloped economies as well as the economic and social benefits of democratic regimes

Conditional vs unconditional cash transfers: a study of poverty demographics in Pakistan

This paper aims to provide a detailed demographic description of poverty in Pakistan with an attempt to highlight those segments of the poor who can be aided to transition out of extreme poverty through appropriate policy measures. Data are collected from the Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES) for the years 1985–2016 and captures falling poverty, gender-wise division of the employed and unemployed, type of employment (self-employed, unpaid workers, employers, employees) by gender, labour participation of vulnerable age groups, as well as unemployed widows. The paper discusses the effectiveness of conditional (CCT) and unconditional (UCT) cash transfer programs across the world and using data indicators, highlights the appropriate target groups in need of such intervention in Pakistan. The existing components of BISP are discussed, with policy recommendations targeted to enhance its impact by focusing UCTs on the most vulnerable segments. CCTs can be used to improve health and education outcomes; given Pakistan’s lagging performance, illiteracy among youth, infant and maternal health are of particular consideration. Cash transfers can be made conditional, subject to regular health checkups for mothers and children and mandatory school attendance to improve these outcomes. The paper further suggests an extension of the program to provide short-term financial relief to the temporarily unemployed

Comparison of Post-operative Mean Opioids Consumption in Patient given Preoperative Gabapentin and Placebo Undergoing Major Laparotomies for Lower Abdomen and Pelvis

Objective:- To compare the efficacy of lignocain with lignocain and magnesium sulfate for intravenous regional anesthesia. Material and methods:- This Ranodomized controlled trial was conducted at Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur and Nishtar Hospital Multan. The patients were divided in two equal groups. In group L, 55 patients received Lignocain alone and in group M, 55 patients received lignocaine with magnesium sulfate. The two groups were compared for the efficacy. Results:- Mean VAS was 4.36 + 2.40 in group L and 3.55+ 2.47 in group M (p>0.05). The efficacy of lignocaine alone was observed in 21 (38.2%) patients while efficacy of lignocaine with magnesium was seen among in 32 (58.2%) patients. p-value > 0.05. Conclusions:- The use of magnesium along with lignocaine is found to be more effective than lignocaine alone for IVRA.   Key words:- Intravenous regional anesthesia; lignocaine; magnesium sulfat

FREQUENCY AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSMISSION OF HEPATITIS B AND HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION IN PREGNANT WOMEN OF SOUTH PUNJAB.

Objective:- To see the frequency of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C virus infection and associated risk factors  in pregnant women. Study design:- Cross-sectional study. Setting:- Outpatient departments of Gynaecology and obstetrics, Nishtar hospital Multan and Bahawal Victoria Hospital (BVH) Bahawalpur. Patients and methods:- A total of 500 pregnant women attending outpatient departments of Gynaecology and Obstetrics were included in this study. Informed consent was taken. A specially designed proforma was filled in. HBsAg and Anti-HCV were tested by device method. Data were analyzed on SPSS-20. Results:- Out of 500 pregnant women 35(7.00%) were found to have Anti-HCV positive and 23(4.60%) were positive for HBsAg. Mean age of the study cases was 26.7± 4.8 years. Majority of the patients 263(52.60%) were from age group 26-35 years. In this study 138 (27.60%) of women were nulliparous and 282 (56.40%) were para 1-4 and Hepatitis B and C were common in this parity group. Only 80 (16.00%) women were para 5 or more. All Hepatitis B and C positive women were house-wives. Most of them were belonging to rural areas and with poor socio-economic status.  Among 35 anti-HCV positive women, 20 (57.14%) had history of previous surgery while 13 (37.14%) had history of multiple injections, 5 (14.28%) received blood transfusion, 4 (11.42%) had ear/nose piercing while tattooing was seen in only 2 (5.71%). Among 23 HBsAg positive women, 10 (43.47%) had history of previous surgery. History of Multiple injections was present in 6 (26.08%) patients, 4 (17.39%) patients had history of blood transfusion, Tattooing, Ear/nose piercing, history of dental procedure, history of sharing needles was observed in 1 each. Conclusion:- HCV infection is more common than HBV infection in our study population. Previous History of surgery, multiple injection therapy and blood transfusion are major risk factors. Keywords:- Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Risk factors,  Pregnancy

Nonsurgical Maxillary Expansion in Adults: Report of Two Cases

Correction of maxillary transverse discrepancy requires expansion of palate by combination of orthopedic and orthodontic movements. Isolated maxillary transverse deficiency can be treated either orthodontically or surgically with assisted rapid maxillary expansion (RME). Nonsurgical expansion modalities include rapid maxillary expansion and slow maxillary expansion. Haas popularized the idea of orthodontic palatal expansion in the 1960s, and since then transverse deficiencies have been treated successfully  in children and adolescents. The use of palatal expanders in adults was widely frowned upon and was generally considered to be unsuccessful. Handelman published a clinical review in 1997, proving a nonsurgical expansion in adults was possible

Cognitive and brain plasticity by performing Small scale brain activities in youth

Is playing video game really a waste of time? No…!!! It’s merely a simple way of making the brain physiology better, smarter and faster. Great quality games, which are testing, enlightening, and retaining, can make learning charming and compelling. Studies have shown that people who are engaged in playing video games have more grey matter in their brains which results in boosting up their cognitive skills

Market Efficiency, Market Anomalies, Causes, Evidences, and Some Behavioral Aspects of Market Anomalies

Market efficiency hypothesis suggests that markets are rational and their prices fully reflect all available information. Due to the timely actions of investors prices of stocks quickly adjust to the new information, and reflect all the available information. So no investor can beat the market by generating abnormal returns. But it is found in many stock exchanges of the world that these markets are not following the rules of EMH. The functioning of these stock markets deviate from the rules of EMH. These deviations are called anomalies. Anomalies could occur once and disappear, or could occur repeatedly. This literature survey is of its own type that discusses the occurrence of different type of calendar anomalies, technical anomalies and fundamental anomalies with their evidences in different stock markets around the world. The paper also discusses the opinion of different researchers about the possible causes of anomalies, how anomalies should be dealt, and what ere the behavioral aspects of anomalies. This issue is still a grey area for research. Key Words: EMH, CAPM, Calender Anomalies, Technical Anomalies, Fundamental Anomalies