Modification of Diesel Engine to Producer Gas Engine

This paper describes considerations and procedure of conversion from diesel engine to producer gas engine. In this paper, the performance of producer gas engine is compared to the original diesel engine and the factors affecting on performance of the producer gas engine are mentioned. After converting the 26.5 kW diesel engines to producer gas engine, the power output of producer gas engine is 40% less than that of original diesel engine. However producer gas engines are used for saving fuel cost and more economic for long time span. The comparison based on 8 kW electricity output that running for 4 hours in a day found that fuel cost for producer gas engine is Ks (Kyats) 2167 and the fuel cost for diesel engine is Ks.(Kyats) 7680, this means save cost of Ks (Kyats) 2008960 along the engine life span

Factors Affecting the Compliance of Myanmar Nurses in Performing Standard Precaution

Introduction: Exposure to pathogens is a serious issue for nurses. The literature explains that standard precaution have not consistently done in nursing. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting the compliance of nurses in Myanmar in performing standard precautions. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design. Samples included 34 nurses in Waibagi Specialist Hospital (SHW), Myanmar. The independent variables were the characteristics of nurses, knowledge of standard precaution, and exposure to blood / body fluids and needle puncture wounds. The dependent variable was the performance of standard prevention. Data analyzed using descriptive analysis and logistic regression. Results: The result showed that almost respondents (91.18%) had a good knowledge about prevention standards and 73.5% of respondents had good adherence in performing standard precaution. However, in practice nurses have not been consistent in closing the needles that have been used correctly. The results showed that nurse characteristics did not significantly affect adherence to standard precaution with statistical test results as follows: age (p = 0.97), gender (p = 1.00), religion (p = 0.72), education (p = 0.85), work experience at SHW (p = 0, 84), education training program (p = 0.71), knowledge (p = 0.76), and needle stick injury (p = 0,17). But, there was a significant influence between adherence to standard precaution on the incidence of injury due to puncture needle with p value = 0.01. Discussion: The barriers to applying standard precautions by Myanmar nurses can be reduced by providing basic training, supervision and improvement of operational standard procedures

Left ventricular trabeculations in cardiac MRI: reference ranges and association with cardiovascular risk factors in UK Biobank

Background The extent of left ventricular (LV) trabeculation and its relationship with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors is unclear. Purpose To apply automated segmentation to UK Biobank cardiac MRI scans to (a) assess the association between individual characteristics and CV risk factors and trabeculated LV mass (LVM) and (b) establish normal reference ranges in a selected group of healthy UK Biobank participants. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional secondary analysis, prospectively collected data from the UK Biobank (2006 to 2010) were retrospectively analyzed. Automated segmentation of trabeculations was performed using a deep learning algorithm. After excluding individuals with known CV diseases, White adults without CV risk factors (reference group) and those with preexisting CV risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, or smoking) (exposed group) were compared. Multivariable regression models, adjusted for potential confounders (age, sex, and height), were fitted to evaluate the associations between individual characteristics and CV risk factors and trabeculated LVM. Results Of 43 038 participants (mean age, 64 years ± 8 [SD]; 22 360 women), 28 672 individuals (mean age, 66 years ± 7; 14 918 men) were included in the exposed group, and 7384 individuals (mean age, 60 years ± 7; 4729 women) were included in the reference group. Higher body mass index (BMI) (β = 0.66 [95% CI: 0.63, 0.68]; P < .001), hypertension (β = 0.42 [95% CI: 0.36, 0.48]; P < .001), and higher physical activity level (β = 0.15 [95% CI: 0.12, 0.17]; P < .001) were associated with higher trabeculated LVM. In the reference group, the median trabeculated LVM was 6.3 g (IQR, 4.7–8.5 g) for men and 4.6 g (IQR, 3.4–6.0 g) for women. Median trabeculated LVM decreased with age for men from 6.5 g (IQR, 4.8–8.7 g) at age 45–50 years to 5.9 g (IQR, 4.3–7.8 g) at age 71–80 years (P = .03). Conclusion Higher trabeculated LVM was observed with hypertension, higher BMI, and higher physical activity level. Age- and sex-specific reference ranges of trabeculated LVM in a healthy middle-aged White population were established

Detection of asymptomatic malaria in Asian countries: a meta-analysis of diagnostic accuracy

Background: Achieving malaria elimination requires the targeting of the human reservoir of infection, including those patients with asymptomatic infection. The objective was to synthesise evidence on the accuracy of the rapid- onsite diagnostic tests (RDTs) and microscopy for the detection of asymptomatic malaria as part of the surveillance activities in Asian countries. Methods: This was a meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy. Relevant studies that evaluated the diagnostic per- formance of RDTs and microscopy for detection of asymptomatic malaria were searched in health-related electronic databases. The methodological quality of the studies included was assessed using the QUADAS-2 tool. Results: Ten studies assessing RDT and/or microscopy were identified. The diagnostic accuracies in all these stud- ies were verified by PCR. Overall, the pooled sensitivities of RDT, as well as microscopy for detection of any malaria parasites in asymptomatic participants, were low, while their pooled specificities were almost ideal. For the detection of Plasmodium falciparum, pooled sensitivity by RDT (59%, 95%CI:16-91%) or microscopy (55%, 95%CI: 25-82%) were almost comparable. For detection of Plasmodium vivax, pooled sensitivity of RDT (51%, 95% CI:7-94%) had also the comparable accuracy of microscopy (54%, 95%CI,11-92%). Of note are the wide range of sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that RDTs and microscopy have limited sensitivity and are inappropriate for the detection of asymptomatic Plasmodium infections. Other methods including a combination of PCR-based strategies, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technique must be considered to target these infections, in order to achieve malaria elimination. However, more data is needed for the wide acceptance and feasi- bility of these approaches. Studies to explore the role of asymptomatic and sub-patent infections in the transmission of malaria are of critical importance and are recommend

Language in tuberculosis services: can we change to patient-centred terminology and stop the paradigm of blaming the patients?

The words 'defaulter', 'suspect' and 'control' have been part of the language of tuberculosis (TB) services for many decades, and they continue to be used in international guidelines and in published literature. From a patient perspective, it is our opinion that these terms are at best inappropriate, coercive and disempowering, and at worst they could be perceived as judgmental and criminalising, tending to place the blame of the disease or responsibility for adverse treatment outcomes on one side-that of the patients. In this article, which brings together a wide range of authors and institutions from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Pacific, we discuss the use of the words 'defaulter', 'suspect' and 'control' and argue why it is detrimental to continue using them in the context of TB. We propose that 'defaulter' be replaced with 'person lost to follow-up'; that 'TB suspect' be replaced by 'person with presumptive TB' or 'person to be evaluated for TB'; and that the term 'control' be replaced with 'prevention and care' or simply deleted. These terms are non-judgmental and patient-centred. We appeal to the global Stop TB Partnership to lead discussions on this issue and to make concrete steps towards changing the current paradigm

Investigating the Finnish Elderly People’s Attitudes and Motivation towards Digital Game-Based Physical Exercises

Attitudes and motivation towards physical exercises play a vital role for elderly people’s adherence to exercise. In recent years, digital games have been used to enhance elderly people’s experiences in physical exercises. However, there is a limited number of studies regarding elderly people’s attitudes and motivation towards digital game-based exercises. In this study, we aim at investigating the Finnish elderly people’s attitudes towards physical and digital game-based exercises, as well as their motivation in the gameplay. Furthermore, we intend to investigate if digital games can be an alternative way of exercising for elderly people. We conducted a user experience test of the “Skiing Game” with 21 elderly participants in Finland. We applied both qualitative (e.g. interview) and quantitative (e.g. questionnaires) methods to collect data from the participants. Then, we analyzed the data by using SPSS and Nvivo. The findings show that the Finnish elderly people’s attitudes towards physical exercises are more positive than digital game-based exercises. However, their attitudes towards digital games have become more positive after the gameplay. Their in-game and post-game user experiences were moderately positive. Their motivation to play digital game-based exercises was moderately high after the gameplay. Their feedback towards the Skiing game was positive. They recommend that digital game-based exercises can be an effective way of exercising. Based on these findings, we recommend that digital games are promising to be used as an alternative way of exercising for the Finnish elderly people. The discussion in this study can help researchers gain insights about using digital games for promoting elderly people’s participation in physical exercises

Genetic Architecture of Quantitative Cardiovascular Traits: Blood Pressure, ECG and Imaging Phenotypes

Background: We provide an overview of the genetic architecture of quantitative cardiovascular phenotypes such as blood pressure (BP), electrocardiogram (ECG) and cardiac imaging measurements which play a critical and prognostic role in the management of numerous diseases. Methods: The genetics of BP, ECG and cardiac imaging traits have been studied in large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs). Results: To-date more than 1,400 BP loci have been discovered. These genetic loci harbouring known and novel BP-regulating genes, several of which are linked to existing drugs, that can be repurposed for BP treatment. Regarding the ECG indices, 437 independent signals have been reported for resting heart rate (n 400,000), mainly modulating the autonomic nervous system, as well as 202 loci for PR interval, 29 loci for QRS duration and 35 loci for QT interval. The LV GWASs (n 17,000) identified 14 loci harbouring genes regulating the cardiac developmental pathways. Conclusion: Large-scale genetic analyses of quantitative cardiovascular traits have yielded hundreds of susceptibility loci, candidate genes and key biological pathways, which significantly advance our understanding of their genetic architecture and shed lights on potential novel therapeutic targets