A unifying approach to measuring climate change impacts and adaptation

We develop a unifying approach to estimating climate impacts and adaptation, and apply it to study the impact of climate change on local air pollution. Economic agents are usually constrained when responding to daily weather shocks, but may adjust to long-run climatic changes. By simultaneously exploiting variation in weather and climate, we identify both the short- and long-run impacts on economic outcomes, and measure adaptation directly as the difference between those responses. As a result, we identify adaptation without making extrapolations of weather responses over time or space, and overcome omitted variable bias concerns from prior approaches

ORGANIZATIONAL ISSUES IN THE FIELD OF SPORTS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL LEVEL

Background: Schools, colleges, and universities are the foundations of a successful sports program of a nation. A well-planned, school sports program is important for the success of every athlete. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the organizational issues (administrative responsibilities, communication with parents, political involvement, training time, human resources, technical resources, and material resources (equipment and facilities)) in the government girls’ high school of district Layyah. Methods and Materials: The population of this research study contained all the female Principals and all the female PETs (Physical Education Teachers) during the academic year 2017 in the government girl high school of district Layyah, Punjab, Pakistan. The entire population was 134 (67 Principals and 67 PETs) which is finite for the researcher and no need to take a sample. Results and Conclusion: The main finding of the study was that there is a significant effect of organizational issues upon sports programs at the government girls’ high school level. Recommendation: The researcher recommended based on finding that organizational issues which affect the government girls high school sport should be minimized and the administration, parents, and politician may support the school sport and in addition to the politician may support the school sports not only financially but also provide skillful coaches who are cognizant with latest technologies and techniques

Incidental Adaptation: The Role of Non-climate Regulations

When a non-climate institution, policy, or regulation corrects a pre-existing market failure that would be exacerbated by climate change, it may also incidentally induce climate adaptation. This regulation-induced adaptation can have large positive welfare effects. We develop a tractable analytical framework of a corrective regulation where the market failure interacts with climate, highlighting the mechanism of regulation-induced adaptation: reductions in the climate-exacerbated effects of pre-existing market failures. We demonstrate this empirically for the US from 1980 to 2013, showing that ambient ozone concentrations increase with rising temperatures, but that such increase is attenuated in counties that are out of attainment with the Clean Air Act’s ozone standards. Adaptation in nonattainment counties reduced the impact of a 1 °C increase in climate normal temperature on ozone concentration by 0.64 parts per billion, or about one-third of the total impact. Over half of that effect was induced by the standard, implying a regulation-induced welfare benefit of $412–471 million per year by mid-century under current warming projections

Breeding performance of sustainable fish Ctenopharyngodon idella through single intramuscular injection of Ovaprim-C at Bahawalpur, Pakistan

Effect of intramuscular injection of Ovaprim–C on the number of eggs/kg,  fertilization rate and hatching percentage were studied at a private Fish Hatchery at Bahawalpur, Pakistan, during April to June 2008, on Ctenopharyngodon idella (Grass carp). Studied fish specimens were spawned successfully following a single dose of injection of Ovaprim-C (LH-RH analogue) with 0.6 ml kg-1 for female and 0.2 ml kg-1 for male brooders. Ova and milt were stripped simultaneously and mixture was stirred for 15 to 30 s during which fertilization occurred. Hatching occurred within 18 to 30 h after fertilization. The experiment was conducted in circular spawning tank with 2 m diameter. It was observed that body weight has positive influence on absolute fecundity (r = 0.967), while relative fecundity remained constant with increasing body weight. If it is impossible to determine the absolute and relative fecundity then these parameters can be determined from the body weight.Key words: Induced spawning, Ovaprim-C, fecundity, Ctenopharyngodon idella

Carotid artery Disease Assessed by Color Doppler Flow Imaging: Comparison Between Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients

Background: Carotid artery disease is most often seen in hypertensive patients and in patients with diabetes mellitus. More than 50% stenosis of extra cranial internal carotid arteries is linked with about 8–15% of ischemic strokes. The incidence of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) among diabetic patients is rising as compared to non-diabetic patients.  Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 120 patients, out of whom 60 were diabetic and 60 non-diabetics with clinically suspected carotid artery disease.  The study was conducted at the university ultrasound clinic in Green Town by Doppler ultrasonography using the Toshiba XARIO XG, which features a linear probe of 5-7.5 MHz frequency. The data was analyzed with the help of SPSS version 25.0. Variables like age, gender, diabetes, and Intima-media thickness (IMT) were reported and the mean ± standard deviation of Pulsatility Index, Resistive Index, Peak Systolic Velocity, and End Diastolic Velocity were calculated with a significant p-value, which is less than 0.05. An independent t-test was applied to compare Doppler indices in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.Results: Data was collected from 120 patients. IMT of right and left carotid artery, PI and RI of right carotid were observed to be statistically significant in diabetic and non-diabetic.Conclusions: This study concluded that there is a significant correlation found between carotid artery disease and diabetes. Through ultrasonography, the presence of plaque and stenosis was found in more diabetic patients than in non-diabetic patients.Keywords: Ultrasonography; Carotid artery disease; Carotid artery stenosis; Carotid plaque; Vascular ultrasound; Diabetes   

Evaluation of some biological activities of Abelia triflora R Br (Caprifoliaceae) constituents

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic,  cardiovascular and cytotoxic activities of the leaf extract and major compounds isolated from Abelia triflora R. Br. (Caprifoliaceae)Methods: The chloroform soluble fraction of A. triflora leaves was subjected to several column chromatographic separations to isolate its constituents.  Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities were determined in terms of the ability to inhibit NF-kB, iNOS activity and lipoxygenase enzyme, and to decrease oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Antidiabetic and cardiovascular activities were determined by screening for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and PPARɣ agonistic activities. In vitro cytotoxic activity was determined against a set of four human cancer cell lines (SK-MEL, KB, BT-549, SK-OV-3) and two  non-cancerous kidney cell lines (LLC-PK1 and VERO). Cell viability was measured by neutral red assay.Results: Three triterpene acids were isolated from the chloroform fraction namely; ursolic acid (4), 2, 3-dihydroxy ursolic acid (5) and 2, 3, 21-trihydroxy ursolic acid (6). The results showed that ursolic acid exhibited potent inhibition of lipoxygenase enzyme and iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) activity with IC50 (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) value of 13.0 μg/mL, compared to parthenolide positive standard (IC50, 0.3μg/mL); furthermore, it inhibited NF-kB (nuclear factor-kappa B) with IC50 of 25.0 μg/mL, compared to parthenolide (positive standard, (IC50, 0.5 μg/mL). Also, ursolic acid possessed the highest cytotoxic effect against the three cell lines, SK-MEL (IC50, 14.5 μg/mL), BT-549 (IC50, 16.0 μg/mL) and SK-OV-3 (IC50, 12.5 μg/mL). Only 2,3-dihydroxy ursolic acid activated PPARɣ (1.5-fold at 25 μM), compared to rosiglitazone (positive standard, 3.7 fold at 10 μM)Conclusion: Among the investigated compounds, ursolic acid exhibited the highest anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities, while 2,3-dihydroxy ursolic acid demonstrated antidiabetic activity via activation of PPARɣ.Keywords: Abelia triflora, Anti-inflammatory, Antidiabetic, Cardiovascular activity, Antioxidant, Cytotoxi

Assessment of changes in quality of life among patients in the SAVE Study - Sirolimus as therapeutic Approach to uVEitis: a randomized study to assess the safety and bioactivity of intravitreal and subconjunctival injections of sirolimus in patients with non-infectious uveitis.

BACKGROUND: The National Eye Institute 39-Question Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-39) is an indicator of vision-related quality of life (QoL). The NEI VFQ-39 is used to assess the QoL in patients with non-infectious posterior uveitis, intermediate uveitis, or panuveitis, treated with subconjunctival (SCJ) or intravitreal (IVT) sirolimus as an immunomodulatory therapeutic (IMT) agent, delivered subconjunctivally (SCJ) or intravitreally (IVT) (the SAVE Study). Thirty subjects with non-infectious uveitis were randomized (SCJ:IVT, 1:1) for a prospective clinical trial. The 39-Question Visual Function Questionnaire (VFQ-39) was administered at baseline (BL), month 6 (M6), and month 12 (M12) visits. The survey measures self-reported vision health status for patients with chronic eye disease and assesses the effects of visual impairment on both task-oriented visual function and general health domains. In accordance to the NEI-VFQ Manual, each patient\u27s questionnaire was converted to a scaled score between 0 (worst) and 100 (best), and median scores were calculated for each of the subcategories and overall composite score at BL, M6, and M12. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients completed the VFQ-39 at BL and M6, whereas 23 patients completed it at M12. Patients showed a significant improvement in pooled composite scores from BL to M6 and BL to M12. Analysis by treatment groups showed that intravitreal injection of sirolimus is better tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: Sirolimus has demonstrated bioactivity as an IMT and corticosteroid-sparing agent to treat non-infectious uveitis. Patients receiving intravitreal injection of sirolimus showed overall improvement of vision-related health while those receiving subconjunctival injections did not. Larger randomized control trials with sirolimus are indicated to validate these results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00908466

The Spread of HIV in Pakistan: Bridging of the Epidemic between Populations

In the last two decades, ‘concentrated epidemics’ of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have established in several high risk groups in Pakistan, including Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) and among men who have sex with men (MSM). To explore the transmission patterns of HIV infection in these major high-risk groups of Pakistan, 76 HIV samples were analyzed from MSM, their female spouses and children, along with 26 samples from a previously studied cohort of IDUs. Phylogenetic analysis of HIV gag gene sequences obtained from these samples indicated a substantial degree of intermixing between the IDU and MSM populations, suggesting a bridging of HIV infection from IDUs, via MSM, to the MSM spouses and children. HIV epidemic in Pakistan is now spreading to the female spouses and offspring of bisexual MSM. HIV control and awareness programs must be refocused to include IDUs, MSM, as well as bisexual MSM, and their spouses and children

Associations of the built environment with type 2 diabetes in Asia: a systematic review

Objectives Our study aimed to systematically review the literature and synthesise findings on potential associations of built environment characteristics with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Asia. Design Systematic review of the literature. Data sources Online databases Medline, Embase and Global Health were used to identify peer-reviewed journal articles published from inception to 23 January 2023. Eligibility criteria Eligible studies included cohort, cross-sectional and case–control studies that explored associations of built environment characteristics with T2D among adults 18 years and older in Asia. Data extraction and synthesis Covidence online was used to remove duplicates and perform title, abstract and full-text screening. Data extraction was carried out by two independent reviewers using the OVID database and data were imported into MS Excel. Out of 5208 identified studies, 28 studies were included in this systematic review. Due to heterogeneity in study design, built environment and outcome definitions, a semiqualitative analysis was conducted, which synthesised results using weighted z-scores. Results Five broad categories of built environment characteristics were associated with T2D in Asia. These included urban green space, walkability, food environment, availability and accessibility of services such as recreational and healthcare facilities and air pollution. We found very strong evidence of a positive association of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide (p<0.001) with T2D risk. Conclusion Several built environment attributes were significantly related to T2D in Asia. When compared with Western countries, very few studies have been conducted in Asia. Further research is, therefore, warranted to establish the importance of the built environment on T2D. Such evidence is essential for public health and planning policies to (re)design neighbourhoods and help improve public health across Asian countries

Safety and efficacy of malaria vaccine candidate R21/Matrix-M in African children: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial

Background Recently, we found that a new malaria vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, had over 75% efficacy against clinical malaria with seasonal administration in a phase 2b trial in Burkina Faso. Here, we report on safety and efficacy of the vaccine in a phase 3 trial enrolling over 4800 children across four countries followed for up to 18 months at seasonal sites and 12 months at standard sites. Methods We did a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine across five sites in four African countries with differing malaria transmission intensities and seasonality. Children (aged 5–36 months) were enrolled and randomly assigned (2:1) to receive 5 μg R21 plus 50 μg Matrix-M or a control vaccine (licensed rabies vaccine [Abhayrab]). Participants, their families, investigators, laboratory teams, and the local study team were masked to treatment. Vaccines were administered as three doses, 4 weeks apart, with a booster administered 12 months after the third dose. Half of the children were recruited at two sites with seasonal malaria transmission and the remainder at standard sites with perennial malaria transmission using age-based immunisation. The primary objective was protective efficacy of R21/Matrix-M from 14 days after third vaccination to 12 months after completion of the primary series at seasonal and standard sites separately as co-primary endpoints. Vaccine efficacy against multiple malaria episodes and severe malaria, as well as safety and immunogenicity, were also assessed. This trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04704830, and is ongoing. Findings From April 26, 2021, to Jan 12, 2022, 5477 children consented to be screened, of whom 1705 were randomly assigned to control vaccine and 3434 to R21/Matrix-M; 4878 participants received the first dose of vaccine. 3103 participants in the R21/Matrix-M group and 1541 participants in the control group were included in the modified per-protocol analysis (2412 [51·9%] male and 2232 [48·1%] female). R21/Matrix-M vaccine was well tolerated, with injection site pain (301 [18·6%] of 1615 participants) and fever (754 [46·7%] of 1615 participants) as the most frequent adverse events. Number of adverse events of special interest and serious adverse events did not significantly differ between the vaccine groups. There were no treatment-related deaths. 12-month vaccine efficacy was 75% (95% CI 71–79; p<0·0001) at the seasonal sites and 68% (61–74; p<0·0001) at the standard sites for time to first clinical malaria episode. Similarly, vaccine efficacy against multiple clinical malaria episodes was 75% (71–78; p<0·0001) at the seasonal sites and 67% (59–73; p<0·0001) at standard sites. A modest reduction in vaccine efficacy was observed over the first 12 months of follow-up, of similar size at seasonal and standard sites. A rate reduction of 868 (95% CI 762–974) cases per 1000 children-years at seasonal sites and 296 (231–362) at standard sites occurred over 12 months. Vaccine-induced antibodies against the conserved central Asn-Ala-Asn-Pro (NANP) repeat sequence of circumsporozoite protein correlated with vaccine efficacy. Higher NANP-specific antibody titres were observed in the 5–17 month age group compared with 18–36 month age group, and the younger age group had the highest 12-month vaccine efficacy on time to first clinical malaria episode at seasonal (79% [95% CI 73–84]; p<0·001) and standard (75% [65–83]; p<0·001) sites. Interpretation R21/Matrix-M was well tolerated and offered high efficacy against clinical malaria in African children. This low-cost, high-efficacy vaccine is already licensed by several African countries, and recently received a WHO policy recommendation and prequalification, offering large-scale supply to help reduce the great burden of malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Funding The Serum Institute of India, the Wellcome Trust, the UK National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, and Open Philanthropy