Early Miocene quantitative calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy from the tropical Atlantic

A quantitative analysis of calcareous nannofossils was conducted on lower Miocene sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Hole 959A on the West African margin. Combined with data from previous investigations of the lower Miocene from the tropical Atlantic, this research identifies and tests the viability of markers used in current zonation schemes, identifies alternative markers for age boundaries, and examines statistically the most probable order of events in the lower Miocene with the use of the ranking and scaling method (RASC)

The role of education in filling the gender gap in financial inclusion in low-income economies

This study aims to investigate whether gender predicts financial inclusion and whether education can fill the gender gap in financial inclusion when controlling for the effects of supply side factors of financial inclusion in low-income economies. This study aims to investigate whether gender predicts financial inclusion and whether education can fill the gender gap in financial inclusion when controlling for the effects of supply side factors of financial inclusion in low-income economies. The findings provided support for the gender gap in financial inclusion using the most basic measure of financial inclusion. However, using formal savings and access to credit, the gender gap hypothesis is not supported. Moreover, the results revealed that education reduces the gender gap in the basic form of financial inclusion. However, this study could not find any significant difference between men and women’s financial inclusion in terms of saving at a bank or borrowing from a bank though men tend to save more than women informally. The current study contributes to the literature by examining the role of education in the relationship between gender gap and financial inclusion when controlling for the effects of heterogeneous infrastructure and the supply side factors of financial inclusion among the selected countries

Continuous quality assessment; development of a simple computer based model for audit

Objective: Accurate assessment of quality of care is a fundamental first step in the process of quality improvement. The vast amount of data generated in a hospital mandates some form of computerization for management of information. We describe a locally developed simple computer based program to access relevant information from a hospital patient management network. The objective was to reduce the amount of manual work involved for busy clinicians attempting to audit quality of care.Methods: A single surgical procedure, Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy was chosen. Quality indicators were identified by literature review as conversion rate from laparoscopic to open cholecystectomy and length of hospital stay (LOS). A simple query was developed to extract the required information from hospital database. Commercially available spreadsheet software (Microsoft Excel) was used to calculate the rates. Outliers were defined as LOS more than 1 standard deviation from the mean. The second part of the study involved a manual review of case notes to validate the program and determine the causes for deviation from the mean.Results: The program was able to access and process data as planned. In a one-year period from March 1997 to February 1998, two hundred and thirty one laparoscopic cholecystectomies were attempted. Twenty-three were converted to open procedures given a conversion rate of 9.96%. On manual review of case notes no false positives or false negatives were found. The reasons for conversion were similar to those described in the literature. The mean length of stay for laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 3.39 days and 7.17 days for converted cases. The commonest reason for delay in discharge was noted to be non-availability of elective operating time.CONCLUSION: We have successfully developed and used a simple computer based program to access information stored in hospital patient management systems. Quality of care indicators identified from literature were used as standards. Outliers with respect to these were reviewed in detail to identify causes for deviation. The program was validated by manual review

OCT Angiography-based Evaluation of the Choriocapillaris in Neovascular Age Related Macular Degeneration

Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can lead to rapid, irreversible vision loss in untreated eyes. While the pathogenesis of neovascular AMD remains incompletely understood, the choriocapillaris has been hypothesized as the initial site of injury. Due to limitations of dye-based angiography, in vivo imaging of the choriocapillaris has been a longstanding challenge. However, the clinical introduction of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) has enabled researchers and clinicians to noninvasively image the choriocapillaris vasculature, allowing the evaluation of the choriocapillaris in eyes with a variety of pathologies. In this perspective, we review important OCTA-based findings regarding choriocapillaris impairment in neovascular AMD and discuss limitations and future directions of OCTA technologies in the context of this disease

Role of Potash Alum in Hepatitis C virus Transmission at Barber's Shop

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the main cause of severe liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and end stage liver disease. In Pakistan most of HCV positive patients have history of facial/armpit shaving from barbers. 79% of barbers are rubbing Potash Alum stone on facial shaving cuts. Dark blood spots are analyzed on Potash Alum stones being used at different barber shops. The aim of the study was to check the viability of hepatitis C virus on potash alum stone being used at barber shops. Blood samples from HCV positive patients were taken and treated with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 molar concentrations of Potash Alum for different periods of time. Blood was centrifuged to isolate the serum; HCV RNA was extracted from serum and subjected to first strand synthesis and PCR. PCR fragments were confirmed by sequencing. PCR amplification was observed in all the samples, treated with different concentrations of Potash Alum, indicated that the virus remains alive on Potash Alum stone for a long period of time. Potash Alum being used by barbers on facial shaving cuts has definite role in HCV transmission in Pakistani population. Therefore use of Potash Alum stone should be banned on facial shaving cuts at barber shops

Caught in the Web: A Meta-analysis of Internet Addiction, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents

Purpose In response to growing concerns over the negative consequences of Internet addiction on adolescents’ mental health, coupled with conflicting results in this literature stream, this meta-analysis sought to (1) examine the association between Internet addiction and depressive symptoms in adolescents, (2) examine the moderating role of Internet freedom across countries, and (3) examine the mediating role of excessive daytime sleepiness. Design/methodology/approach In total, 52 studies were analyzed using robust variance estimation and meta-analytic structural equation modeling. Findings There was a significant and moderate association between Internet addiction and depressive symptoms. Furthermore, Internet freedom did not explain heterogeneity in this literature stream before and after controlling for study quality and the percentage of female participants. In support of the displacement hypothesis, this study found that Internet addiction contributes to depressive symptoms through excessive daytime sleepiness (proportion mediated = 17.48%). As the evidence suggests, excessive daytime sleepiness displaces a host of activities beneficial for maintaining mental health. The results were subjected to a battery of robustness checks and the conclusions remain unchanged. Practical implications The results underscore the negative consequences of Internet addiction in adolescents. Addressing this issue would involve interventions that promote sleep hygiene and greater offline engagement with peers to alleviate depressive symptoms. Originality/value This study utilizes robust meta-analytic techniques to provide the most comprehensive examination of the association between Internet addiction and depressive symptoms in adolescents. The implications intersect with the shared interests of social scientists, health practitioners, and policy makers

Cotton bud: usage, presentation, complications, and management among otorhinolaryngology patients

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: Cotton bud usage is a common bad health practice among many patients despite associated complications. This study aimed at determining the cotton bud: usage, presentation, complications, and management among otorhinolaryngology patients in developing country. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective hospital-based study of cotton bud usage. The study was carried out over a period 6 months between June and November 2017. Verbal consent was obtained from consented patients. Interview-assisted questionnaire was administered to obtain data. Data obtained were collated and statistically analyzed by using SPSS version 16. RESULTS: Prevalence of cotton bud usage was 83.4%. There were 45.7% male respondents and male to female ratio of 1:1. Common reasons for cotton bud usage were personal hygiene in 25.5%, itching in 23.9%, water in ear in 11.7%, and dirty/earwax in 11.3%. Cotton bud usage for ear cleaning was by self in 54.6%, parent in 32.8%, friend in 6.7%, and spouse in 5.8%. Bilateral ears were most commonly cleaned by cotton bud in 57.1%. The right ear in 25.2% was more common than left ear in 17.8%. No complications were in 37.7%. There were 28.2% injury to external ear, 23.9% impacted cotton bud, and 10.1% traumatic perforated tympanic membrane. On patients’ understanding on danger of cotton bud usage, dangerous, not dangerous, and not sure were 28.5, 60.4, and 11.1%, respectively. Common clinical features were earache, itching, hearing loss, and dirty/earwax 33.7, 19.6, 19.0, and 18.7%, respectively. Long-time (chronic) cotton bud usage accounted for 63.8% while short-time (acute) ear cleaning accounted for 36.2%. Frequency of cotton bud usage in these patients was daily in 54.9%, weekly in 20.9%, monthly in 4.9%, and occasionally in 19.3%. The most common diagnosis of cotton bud usage was personal hygiene in 25.5%. Other diagnosis of cotton bud usage was allergy in 18.7%, otitis externa in 18.1%, earwax impaction in 13.2% foreign body impaction in 11.3%, and hearing impairment in 8.3%. No information, information from family, and information from neighborhood were 31.6, 43.6, and 24.8%, respectively. Treatments offered were health education in all the patients, conservative/medical treatment in 88.7%, and cotton bud removal in 11.3%

Study of Corrosion Behavior of Metal Matrix Composite Based on Al-Alloy (7020) Prepared by Atomization

An experimental procedure has been fully formulated and carried out toprepare composite material of an aluminum (alloy 7020) matrix reinforced by Al2O3 particles with weight percentages of 5%, 7% and 10% and its particle size of (+53-75)μm using molten metal atomization technique. These experiments involve the preparation of aluminum matrix composite (AMCS) materials and study their Corrosion resistance in 3.5% solution of NaCl at temperature degrees 30˚C, 38˚C and 45˚C using various testing techniques. These include electrochemical corrosion and optical microscopy .The corrosion rate was found to increase as the temperature was nominally raised from 30˚C to 38˚C and 45˚C for the 10%wt of alumina in atomized AMCS samples in 3.5% NaCl solution. At a temperature of 30˚C the corrosion rate was found to rise with increasing percentages of Al2O3 particles for 5%, 7% and 10% atomized samples. This is due to galvanic corrosion between the matrix and the second phases (MgAl2O4) and (MgO) in microstructure of AMCS. Optical microscope showed a profound appearance of general corrosion in all microstructural area and grain boundaries

A nonsense mutation in S-antigen (p.Glu306*) causes Oguchi disease

Contains fulltext : 110974.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)PURPOSE: Genetic studies were performed to identify the causative mutation in a 15-year-old girl diagnosed with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) presenting Mizuo-Nakamura phenomenon, a typical Oguchi disease symptom. The patient also had dural sinus thrombosis (DST), thrombocytopenia, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Mutation analysis was done by sequencing two candidate genes, S-antigen (SAG; arrestin 1), associated with Oguchi type 1, and rhodopsin kinase (GRK1), associated with Oguchi type 2. In addition, the C677T variation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene was also screened in the family, to determine its probable association with hyperhomocysteinemia in the patient. RESULTS: Sequencing of the SAG and GRK1 resulted in identifying a novel homozygous nonsense mutation (c.916G>T; p.Glu306*) in SAG, which in unaffected siblings either was present in a heterozygous state or absent. The C677T heterozygous allele in the MTHFR gene was found to be associated with hyperhomocysteinemia in the patient and other family members. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of Oguchi type 1 in a Pakistani patient due to a nonsense mutation (c.916G>T; p.Glu306*) in SAG. The neurologic and hematological abnormalities likely are not associated with the SAG variant