Randomised trials relevant to mental health conducted in low and middle-income countries: protocol for a survey of studies published in 1991, 1995 and 2000 and assessment of their relevance

BACKGROUND A substantial proportion of the psychiatric burden of disease falls on the world's poorest nations. Despite this, relatively little is known about the quality and content of clinical research undertaken in these countries, or the relevance of the interventions evaluated and specifically that of randomised trials. This project aims to survey the content, quality and accessibility of a sample of trials relevant to mental health conducted within low and middle-income countries; to compare these with studies conducted in high-income countries; and to assess their relevance for the needs of low and middle-income countries. METHODS An extensive search for all trials, or possible trials, published in 1991, 1995 and 2000 with participants in low and middle-income countries has already been conducted. Studies evaluating prevention or treatment of a mental health problem within these three years will be identified and further searches conducted to assess completeness of the initial search. Data on study quality and characteristics will be extracted from each report. Accessibility will be estimated based on whether each citation is available on MEDLINE. Trials relevant to schizophrenia will be compared with a random sample of schizophrenia trials from high-income countries in the same years. Topics covered by the trials will be compared with the estimated burden of disease. CONCLUSION Trials and systematic reviews of trials are the gold standard of evaluation of care and increasingly provide the basis for recommendations to clinicians, to providers of care and to policy makers. Results from this study will present the first assessment of the scope, quality and accessibility of mental health trials in low and middle-income countries

Frontiers of molecular biology of cancer

Cancer is rooted in genetic background, with the expression of oncogenesis playing a pivotal role in the early stages of tumor formation. Acquired mutations in somatic cells primarily contribute to the development of most common cancers, while specific germline mutations are responsible for rare hereditary cancer syndromes. Within the realm of cancer-associated genes, oncogenes undergo activation, exhibiting phenotypic dominance, whereas tumor suppressor genes experience inactivation, displaying phenotypic recessiveness. The ongoing effort to improve our knowledge about molecular mechanisms involves defining pathways influencing cancer therapy. Technological advancements have made it possible to identify genes integral to cancer development and have significantly contributed to the growing success of precision medicine in oncology, with targeted therapies directed against tumors and components of the tumor microenvironment. This Special Issue, titled “Molecular Biology of Cancer—Implications for Diagnosis and Treatment”, comprises a total of eight contributions. These include five original articles and three reviews, offering fresh insights into cancer biology, molecular genetics, and innovative therapeutic approaches

Effect of processing on the proximate composition and mineral content of Bambara groundnut (voandezeia subterranean)

The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of processing on the proximate and mineral composition of Bambara groundnut (Voandzeia subterranean). Traditional processing methods namely soaking and cooking were employed. There was substantial recovery of crude protein after processing from 20.27 + 1.41 to 23.63 + 0.78 (g/100g dry weight). Result of the moisture content ranged from 8.70 +2.50 to 9.5 +0.07 (g/100g dry weight), either extract 6.85 +0.43 to 13.11 + 1.94 (g/100g dry weight), nitrogen free extract 51.96 + 1.38 to 44.0 + 3.34 (g/100g dry weight), ash content 5.37 + 0.12 to 2.89 + 0.59 (g/100g dry weight), and crude fibre 6.85 + 0.33 to 4.64 + 0.31 (g/100g dry weight) after processing values of the mineral concentrations show that potassium was significantly (P< 0.05) affected by processing while manganese was not detectable after processing. Other minerals studied were not significantly affected by processing. The results show that the processing improved the nutritional value of the nut which could serve as important component of food

Conditions for collective action: Understanding factors supporting and constraining community-based fish culture in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Vietnam

Flood-prone ecosystems in South and Southeast Asia are traditionally farmed with deepwater rice followed by post-flood rice culture during the dry season. During the flood season, the same land is inundated, creating an open-access water body subject to multiple uses by multiple users. Fish production in these areas is based on the capture of wild fish. In these seasonal flood plains, fish are trapped in rice fields, reproduce and are harvested by farmerfishers or full-time fishers. These flooded areas cover about 4.5 million hectares in Bangladesh, and 1.2-1.4 million hectares (Catling 1992) is deeply flooded in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam and Cambodia for 4 to 6 months each year. One option to improve access to protein and diversified income for local users and to improve water-use efficiency is to integrate fish culture into this system. A number of studies conducted in the 1980s tested the technical feasibility of culturing fish in seasonally flooded rice fields (Roy et al. 1990, Mukhopadhyay et al. 1992, Rothuis et al. 1998a, Rothuis et al. 1998b, Ali et al. 1998). These studies showed that fish production could be increased by more than 1 ton per hectare per year (t/ha/yr) by stocking fish in flooded rice fields in individual plots. Based on these findings, the WorldFish Center implemented between 1997 and 2000 on-farm experimental trials of community-based fish culture (CBFC) on the Ganges and Meghna floodplains of Bangladesh and the Red River and Mekong deltas in Vietnam (WorldFish 2002). Farms are cultivated individually during the dry season, but during the flood season individual landholding boundaries disappear under the water, and water bodies and flooded rice field resources become common property. The project was based on the premise that production from these water bodies could be enhanced by stocking locally important fish species, providing communities with an additional source of income and an increased supply of affordable fish for sale or consumption (e.g., Dey and Prein 2003, IIRR 2000, Sinhababu et al. 1984). The results showed that fish production can be increased, with an average of 226 kilograms (kg)/ha in Vietnam and 863 kg/ha in Bangladesh, with a significant improvement of the household income (Dey et al. 2005). CBFC was found technically and economically sound and socially acceptable. However, the project concluded that further research was needed to understand how the institutional mechanisms needed to support fish culture differ in a range of different contexts. From 2005 to 2010, the Challenge Program on Water and Food project Communitybased Fish Culture in Seasonal Floodplains developed a series of trials to test this technology under different environmental and socioeconomic conditions. The objective of the project was to test the feasibility of this approach to improve water-use efficiency and provide benefits to the various users of seasonally flooded rice fields. Technical and economic aspects were monitored, and locally appropriate group arrangements for fish culture management, benefit sharing and resource access were tested. Although the technical and environmental aspects of culture-based fisheries in various countries are well documented (De Silva 2003, Nguyen et al. 2001, De Silva etal. 2006), CBFC in seasonal floodplains is a relatively new concept, and the suitability of this approach in different contexts remains under question. The project aimed to address this issue by developing onfarm trials in seasonally flooding areas with otherwise contrasting socioeconomic and natural environments. In this report, we focus on a study designed to understand the factors and conditons that support or constrain the feasibility and uptake of community-based fish culture in seasonal floodplains. The aim of the study is to contribute to knowledge on institutions for collective action, and the feasibility of community-based approaches to resource management, based on lessons learned in this 5-year project. The study also offers useful lessons for project implementation in the field of research-for-development. The report begins with an introduction to the Community-based Fish Culture project and a description of the technical intervention. The second part of the report introduces the study to investigate the conditions for collective action in community-based fish culture, beginning with a presentation of the research approach and methodology. The third section presents the findings of the study. Finally, we present a synthesis of the factors supporing and constraining community-based fish culture, key lessons learned and recommendations

Workplace Happiness and influencing factors: A review of literature

Abstract Research shows that people who are happy at work perform better and productive than those who are not. The concept of happiness is associated with individual’s subjective well-being. Workplace happiness is decisive for improving productivity in any organization. Happy people are productive people while those who are not may not pay full attention to any assignment. It is allied with positive constructs such as pleasure, satisfaction and well-being. The present paper is about in-depth search for influencing factors on workplace happiness based on the review of literature. It is clearly evident that positive work engagement, work environment. Income, freedom and work-life balance plays a major role in workplace happiness

Exploration of Critical Organizational Climate Factors Impacting BPR Implementation: A Survey of Indian Companies

Business Process Reengineering ( BPR) is considered to be one of the most effective techniques  used by  the manufacturing organizations in dealing with turbulent global economy and ever-changing customer’s preferences. Implementation of BPR brings along with it many changes within the organization. This study attempts to understand and validate the organizational climate factors for effective change management Though extensive research has been done  worldwide, very few empirical studies have been carried out in India. The study is based on the various success / failure factors proposed by Al-Mashari. It is hoped that better understanding of the factors will lead to higher success rates of BPR implementation. The primary data  was collected from the various manufacturing industries comprising of Small Scale , Medium scale , Large scale and Multi National Companies across India using structured  self-administered questionnaire. Principal Component Analaysis ( PCA)  with varimax rotation using SPSS19.0 was carried out in order to verify the factors proposed on the basis of literature review with respect to Indian manufacturing Sector. Upon investigation it was observed that the factors were reduced to five without omitting the items and were renamed as Organizational Culture , Educations and training , Empowerment , Equitable Compensation and Team Work. Finally it was concluded that Proper identification and adequate understanding of the organizational climate factors fostering change adaptation becomes key ingredient for successful implementation of BPR effort. Keywords : BPR, Business Process Reengineering, Organizational climate, Indian, Manufacturing Sector, Critical factors, Organizational Cultur

Intervention for reducing human performance gaps at work place caused by apparent and non-apparent indicators.

The human performance in the organizational perspective describes about performance improvement and beyond. The performance improvement aims at enhancing workplace culture. The Intervention for reducing human performance gaps may be discussed with the major focus on the human technology initiatives Establishing a place where people strive for continuous development. Building organizational structures where people can communicate clearly. Creating the work place culture where people can share the ideas freely. Creating the workplace environments where the unique identity of the people is recognized and individual differences are respected. Envisioning a place where the work life is rewarded. Fostering a work place where the quality time is created towards the development of better working environment with fun, pride and intellectual development every day. Nurturing the workable organizational structures where people can share the rewards both financially and emotionally based on their contribution. The present study is dedicated to examine the performance gaps among the women teachers at schools and colleges in the state. The possible intervention mechanism may be developed so that the performance gaps are bridged at the respective work places. The research study is designed with 100 women teachers of 50 each of school and college

An Investigation of Perception of Business Process Reengineering in Indian Manufacturing Industry

The progress of manufacturing industry still sets the tone for the overall business cycle and the health of this sector is very much at the core of India's socio-economic fabric and hence the Government of India is erecting a pentagon of corridor to boost manufacturing sector and to project India as a Global Manufacturing hub of the world. To compete globally Indian manufacturing sector needs to undergo radical change and Business Process Reengineering (BPR) is one such tool  for competing in the dynamic business environment. Although BPR as change initiative has various methodologies, techniques and tools for implementation, but these methodologies fail to demonstrate  their effectiveness in the absence of clear understanding and the perceptions of the employees  towards the initiative. Based on the perception, the organization will identify the right approach towards the BPR implementation and develop relevant appropriate plans for smooth and successful BPR effort.This study aims at investigating the several understandings of BPR in  various manufacturing sectors across India by  gaging the perception of the internal customers towards  BPR effort . The primary data  was collected from the various manufacturing industries comprising of Small Scale , Medium scale , Large scale, Very Large scale and Multi National Companies across India using structured  self-administered questionnaire. Upon investigation using One-way ANOVA , it is observed that the Indian manufacturing industry has positive approach towards BPR effort across different scales of the organizations and hence makes it fertile for change initiatives. Keywords: BPR, Business Process Reengineering, Perception, Indian, Manufacturing Sector, Make In India, ANOV

Examining the Impacts of Covid-19 on Refugees and IDPS

The Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) which started out in Wuhan China and from there spread out to other parts of the world is leaving some devastating effects in its trail. Like the rest of the world, the humanitarian setting is not left out but, those in the humanitarian setting, refugees and IDPs, are amongst the most vulnerable groups in the world. As a result, this study examines the impact the on-going global pandemic has had, and is having on the humanitarian setting with focus on the refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The qualitative research method was employed in achieving this, and data was derived from secondary sources like organisational reports, journal papers, and publications on credible websites. Findings of the study show that the state of lack of facilities, congestion, and poverty that characterises many refugee and IDP camps, makes them more susceptible to the effects of the crisis. The health, education, and basic day to day living of these refugees have been affected. Also, some refugees have had their rights violated by countries under the guise of covid-19 preventive measures. The lockdown adopted as a preventive measure and the testing requirements by governments of some refugees have prevented those who want to return home from doing that. Additionally, the humanitarian sector needs more than ever, all the donations it can get at a time when donor countries are experiencing reducing donating power. The study concludes that in the face of a global pandemic, the refugees and IDPs are plunged into deeper humanitarian needs. Among the recommendations put forward by this study, while prevention and treatment facilities are being made available to address the outbreak of the virus among these groups, host countries should be given more support than ever by various humanitarian organisations