A Geographical Analysis of the Hazardscape of the Wellington Region: Influences on Intra-Regional Response

This thesis defines and explores the hazardscape of the Wellington Region and investigates its influences on variations in the hazard response from local people and administration throughout the region. The research first identifies and argues for a holistic conceptual framework such as 'hazardscape' to study multiple hazards and associated issues at a place. Although the need for a holistic approach has been recognised in the literature, conventional research has generally been compartmentalized into the individual study of hazards, issues and response. Despite the fact that geography has a tradition of using an ecological approach to study natural hazards, the holistic approach has been compromised for various reasons. Behavioural, perception, vulnerability and resilience models, although covering significant aspects of hazards, present only a partial reality. A skewed focus on humans, although a popular emphasis, also detracts from the ability of hazard geography to attain a truly holistic view. Even though it has been recognized that natural hazards result through interaction of human and natural systems, the separation of the two fails to explain many complexities that result through ecosystem functioning. Studies of hazards and disasters are predominantly focused on single hazard assessment of an area, and there is a gap in the literature that deals with multiple hazards and associated issues. With the background of these shortcomings, this thesis explores the concept of 'hazardscape' for a more holistic framework to study various aspects of hazards at a place. The thesis broadly contains three parts. In the first part, it gives the conceptual framework to study the hazardscape. It defines 'hazardscape' as a dynamic scape, which reflects the physical susceptibility of a place and vulnerability of human life and assets to various hazards in a given human ecological system. The research uses the term 'hazardscape' for its geographical connotation, its ability to express the ecological perspective behind hazard creation and its merits over the other related term 'riskscape'. The study also argues the significance of hazardscape in the shifting paradigm of both subject matter and method of evaluation i.e. from descriptive account of individual factors to a holistic analysis. The second part of the thesis examines the hazardscape of the Wellington Region, by assessing its physical susceptibility, human vulnerability and spatio-temporal occurrence of hazards in the region. This investigation is primarily based on the secondary data, and attempts to provide an overall picture of the local hazardscape. It highlights a few distinctive characteristics of the hazardscape of the Wellington Region including its excessive physical susceptibility to a wide range of hazards along with varied human vulnerability and the history of extreme events in the region. The nature and amount of impact from past events differ over space, and is heavily skewed towards the urban areas in the western section of the region. The third section of the thesis assesses the influences of hazardscape on hazard response of local people and administration. The hypothesis used to guide the study is "whereas integrated regional planning is likely to produce a uniform response to hazard, hazardscape introduces variations in the local response throughout the region". It was formulated because the establishment of a Regional Policy Statement and a Regional Civil Defence and Emergency Management Plan could be expected to lead to uniform responses throughout the region. However, the expectation was that aspects of the hazardscape would continue to influence response, despite the existence of the over-arching plan. The analysis is based on both primary and secondary data, and involves both quantitative and qualitative data and methods to present the findings. The primary data is based on the interview schedules and structured questionnaires conducted with local people and administration throughout the region. The sample was selected through a stratified purposive sampling method based on the location of respondents with respect to their hazard exposure. This method, while providing an unsuitable platform for rigorous statistical testing, has been designed to capture the extreme range of conditions and responses. It is also able to reveal trends and indicative relationships that can be matched with expectations and theory. The research finds that various characteristics of the hazardscape including hazards, physical susceptibility and vulnerability have influenced and produced variations in the hazard response over space. It argues that a detailed analysis of a hazardscape can contribute to effective hazard management along with human response to hazards. The thesis therefore has both theoretical significance and a practical validity

English Vocabulary Learning Through Form-Focused Approaches Using Video Podcasts

The objective of this study was to determine whether the lectures given to English students as a foreign language in addition to regular classes, would enable them to grow their language skills and to review and find information on podcasting as a learning or teaching tool, in order to improve comprehension and learning methods. Since the arrivals of the digital era, audio media utilization in teaching language has become easier to use. It goes online through the use of websites, online learning environments, learning management systems and podcast. So, this study focuses on the examination of shape-oriented methods when taking video podcasting into account. The study focuses primarily on Pakistan analyzing English language learning activities in Pakistani universities, as university graduates have been taken as a model. As technical developments affect all other industries, they also affect the education market. However, these developments are not mainly followed in developed countries such as Pakistan and Pakistani universities still adopt the conventional methods of education. As discussed above, studying has become exciting for students around the world as teachers bring some fascinating and advantageous technology such as video podcast into the classroom. This study assesses, thus, the effects of English vocabulary learning by using video podcasts to use form-focused approaches. Keywords: Vocabulary Teaching Approaches, Focus on Form vs Focus on Forms, Usage of Technology, New ways of Learning Vocabulary vs Traditional DOI: 10.7176/JLLL/78-04 Publication date: April 30th 2021

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SNAGS AND MAITLAND’S MOBILIZATION IN CHRONIC LOW BACK PAIN

Objectives: Comparative Study of Snags and Maitland’s Mobilization in Chronic Low Back Pain. Design: Randomized Control Trial. Methodology: A total of 60 patients were included as per pre define inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned into two groups each having 30 patients. Group A was given SNAG consisted of stretching strengthening and postural correction exercises while Group B was given Maitland’s mobilization consisted of stretching strengthening and postural correction exercises for 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week one session per day. The patient’s outcome measures were assessed by visual analog scale, ODI and Goniometry of Lumbar Range of Motion. Measurements were recorded before and after the end of the treatment period. Results: Results revealed that means and S.D of both group were significant (p=.000 ) statically but clinically the Group of patients treated with SNAGS along with stretching strengthening and postural correction exercises managed pain (pre=7.81±1.16, post=0.35±0.37), ODI(pre= 40±19.18 ,post= 9±4.39)and range of motion (flexion pre=30±6.05,post=51±10.15,extension pre=16±2.33,post=30±5.21 Rt side flexion pre=10±2.15,post=20±4.15 and lt. side flexion pre=10±2.75, post=20±4.53, Rt side rotation pre= 9±1.57,post=18±2.35) lt. side rotation pre=8±2.09,post=17±2.45 better than group of patient treated with Maitland’s mobilization along with stretching strengthening and postural correction exercises in terms of pain (pre=6.27±1.31, post=2.73±1.19), ODI (pre=42±20.52, post=24±11.7) and range of motion (flexion pre=24±5.85, post=36±10.66, extension pre=14±2.35, post=20±5.42, Rt side flexion pre=10±2.45 post=16±2.48, lt Side flexion pre=12±2.85, post=18±2.46, Rt side rotation pre=9±1.80 post=15.±2.81, lt Side rotation pre=8±1.75, post=16±3.27. Conclusion: The result of study suggests that both SNAG and Maitland’s improves the symptoms of chronic low back pain. Better improvement was shown by SNAG group than Maitland’s group. Based on these results SNAG and Exercise should be the treatment of choice for chronic Low back pain rather than Maitland’s with Exercise.  Article visualizations

Inhibition of iNOS induction and nf-κΒ activation by taste compounds from the edible mushroom tricholoma caligatum (Viv.) ricken

© 2019 ACG Publications. All rights reserved. Tricholoma caligatum (Viv.) Ricken is an edible mushroom that belongs to matsutake group. The first chemical investigation of the three different extracts of Tricholoma caligatum resulted in two new compounds, 8-demethoxylascivol (1) and 8-epi-lascivol (2) and six known compounds, lascivol (3), trametenolic acid (4), ergosterol (5), ergosterol peroxide (6), 5α, 6α-epoxyergosterol (7), and cerebroside B (8). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR data. The biological activities of all the compounds were evaluated toward multiple targets related to inflammation and metabolic disorder such as NF-κΒ, iNOS and ROS. The findings of this study reveal that the edible mushroom Tricholoma caligatum could be a potential source for anti-inflammatory bioactive metabolites

Study of pregnancy induced hypertension in relation to placental and fetal birth weight

Background: A healthy placenta is the most important factor in producing a healthy baby. Placenta which is the most important organ for maintaining and continuing healthy pregnancy and fetal growth. Study aimed to evaluate Pregnancy induced hypertension in relation to placental and fetal birth weight.Methods: Total 200 mothers participated in the study, various parameters related with placental and fetal weight were calculated and analysed.Results: This study observed the reduction of placental weight in the hypertensive disorders. Placental weight shows marked variation in all the groups and coefficient of variation was higher in severe PIH group, but mean weight was less with increased severity of PIH. Baby weight shows marked variation in all the groups and coefficient of variation was increased with severity of PIH and mean weight was less with increased severity of PIH. Placental weight was significantly reduced in pre-eclamptic pregnancies and it was directly correlated with fetal birth weight.Conclusions: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy adversely influence the placental weight, which ultimately, adversely influence the maternal and perinatal outcomes

Pattern of ocular injuries in stone pelters in Kashmir valley

AbstractPurposeTo describe the pattern and types of ocular injuries in stone pelters in Kashmir valley during recent turmoil.DesignCross sectional study.MethodsSixty patients with different types of eye injuries were assessed between June–September 2010 and initial visual acuity was recorded. The injuries were classified according to Systems for Classifying Ocular Injuries (OTCS) and Ocular Trauma Score (OTS) was calculated in order to estimate the probability of follow-up visual acuity range.ResultsMost of the victims (75%) were young boys between 16–26years with a mean age of 20.95, 95% of cases were males. The main cause of injury was stones (48.3%) and pellets (30%) besides rubber bullets, sling shots and tear gas shells.Most of the open-globe injuries due to stones were of Type B and A, Grade E, Zone II and III with Afferent Pupillary Defect (APD) in 30% of the cases. Closed-globe injuries were mostly of Type A, Grade C and D and Zone II and III.Most of the open-globe injuries due to pellets were of Type D, Grade D, Zone II and APD in 33.3%. Pellets Intra Ocular Foreign Body (IOFB) was in 41.6%. Most of the closed-globe injuries were of Type A, Grade D and E and of Zone III.Overall OTS of 1 was calculated in 16.6% and 3 in 53.3% of the cases.ConclusionIn stone pelting demonstrations eye injuries can result in visually significant trauma. Injuries due to pellets are mostly perforating and pellet IOFB, and both tend to have a very poor prognosis. OTS can be used to estimate visual prognosis

Schottiin, a New Prenylated Isoflavone from Psorothamnus schottii and Antibacterial Synergism Studies between Methicillin and Fremontone against MRSA

Presenter: Mallika Kumarihamyhttps://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2021/1001/thumbnail.jp

Neo-clerodanes from Teucrium divaricatum and their potential antiinflammatory and antimicrobial activities

Corresponding author (NCNPR): Fadime Aydoğan, [email protected]://egrove.olemiss.edu/pharm_annual_posters_2022/1000/thumbnail.jp

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF MULLIGAN (SNAGS) AND MAITLAND MOBILIZATION IN NECK PAIN

Objectives: Comparative Study of Mulligan (SNAGs) and Maitland’s Mobilization in Neck Pain. Design: Randomized Control Trial. Methodology: A total of 50 patients were included as per pre define inclusion and exclusion criteria and randomly assigned into two groups each having 25 patients. Group A was given conventional therapy (Active, Isometrics exercises, moist hot packs) plus SNAG while Group B was given conventional therapy (Active, Isometrics exercises, moist hot packs) plus Maitland’s mobilization for 4 weeks, 3 sessions per week one session per day. The patient’s outcome measures were assessed by visual analog scale, NDI (Neck disability Index) and Goniometry for Cervical Range of Motion. Pre and post treatment values were recorded for comparison of results. Results: Results revealed that means and S.D of both group were clinically significant but statically the Group of patients treated with conventional therapy plus SNAGS managed pain (pre=4.25±1.6, post=2.35±0.3), NDI (pre= 15.81±2.5, post= 8.18±1.7) and range of motion (flexion pre=48.9±8.9, post=53.9±4.9, extension pre=55±4.1, post=63.9±3.1, Rt side flexion pre=38.5±2.1, post=43.1±2.0 and lt. side flexion pre=38.5±2.1, post=43.6±1.8, Rt side rotation pre= 61.7±6.3, post=65.7±5.5) lt. side rotation pre=60.5±3.01, post=67.6±3.5) is not better than group of patient treated with conventional therapy plus Maitland’s mobilization in terms of pain (pre=4.27±1.5, post=1.73±0.19), NDI (pre=17.1±3.31, post=8.10±1.10) and range of motion (flexion pre=48.5±4.7, post=56.7±6.5,extension pre=57.1±4.8, post=67.9±3.9, Rt side flexion pre=35.6±2.9 post=43.1±2.2, lt Side flexion pre=38.1±2.1, post=42.5±2.0, Rt side rotation pre=58.5±5.5 post=67.1.±5.4, lt Side rotation pre=59.6±5.6, post=67.7±4.3. Conclusion: The result of study suggests that both SNAG and Maitland’s improves the symptoms of Neck pain. Better improvement was shown by Maitland’s group than SNAGs group. Based on these results Maitland mobilization with conventional therapy should be the treatment of choice for Neck pain rather than SNAGs with conventional therapy.  Article visualizations