CMOS operational amplifiers with continuous-time capacitive common mode feedback

A simple and power efficient approach for the implementation of continuous-time common mode feedback networks using a capacitive averaging network is introduced. It is shown that low voltage, continuous-time, fully differential rail to rail operation can be achieved using the proposed technique. This at the expense of very small additional hardware and no additional power dissipation One stage, two stage, telescopic and folded cascode op-amps are discussed as application examples

Comparative Neurological and Behavioral Assessment of Central and Peripheral Stimulation Technologies for Induced Pain and Cognitive Tasks

Pain is a multifaceted, multisystem disorder that adversely affects neuro-psychological processes. This study compares the effectiveness of central stimulation (transcranial direct current stimulation—tDCS over F3/F4) and peripheral stimulation (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation—TENS over the median nerve) in pain inhibition during a cognitive task in healthy volunteers and to observe potential neuro-cognitive improvements. Eighty healthy participants underwent a comprehensive experimental protocol, including cognitive assessments, the Cold Pressor Test (CPT) for pain induction, and tDCS/TENS administration. EEG recordings were conducted pre- and post-intervention across all conditions. The protocol for this study was categorized into four groups: G1 (control), G2 (TENS), G3 (anodal-tDCS), and G4 (cathodal-tDCS). Paired t-tests (p < 0.05) were conducted to compare Pre-Stage, Post-Stage, and neuromodulation conditions, with t-values providing insights into effect magnitudes. The result showed a reduction in pain intensity with TENS (p = 0.002, t-value = −5.34) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.023, t-value = −5.08) and increased pain tolerance with TENS (p = 0.009, t-value = 4.98) and cathodal-tDCS (p = 0.001, t-value = 5.78). Anodal-tDCS (p = 0.041, t-value = 4.86) improved cognitive performance. The EEG analysis revealed distinct neural oscillatory patterns across the groups. Specifically, G2 and G4 showed delta-power reductions, while G3 observed an increase. Moreover, G2 exhibited increased theta-power in the occipital region during CPT and Post-Stages. In the alpha-band, G2, G3, and G4 had reductions Post-Stage, while G1 and G3 increased. Additionally, beta-power increased in the frontal region for G2 and G3, contrasting with a reduction in G4. Furthermore, gamma-power globally increased during CPT1, with G1, G2, and G3 showing reductions Post-Stage, while G4 displayed a global decrease. The findings confirm the efficacy of TENS and tDCS as possible non-drug therapeutic alternatives for cognition with alleviation from pain

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Mediating Role of Affective Organizational Commitment on the Relationship between Training and Employee’s Performance: a Case of Civil Society Organizations

In a competitive business environment, organizational performance depends upon employees’ performance and their capabilities which can be enhanced through effectual tools like, training to boost knowledge, behaviour and skills of employees. This research aims to investigate the effect of training on employees’ performance directly and indirectly mediated through affective organizational commitment in the civil society organizations of Pakistan. Convenient sampling technique was used and the sample of 219 employees was selected out of 569 total employees from different CSOs Offices of Punjab by using Krejcie and Morgan table. Descriptive statistics, correlation and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyse the data. The results demonstrated that training has a positive and significant impact on employees’ performance. Further, an effective organizational commitment was found to have significant mediation in the relationship between employees’ performance and training. Thus, the study suggested that training should be the part of civil society organization to boost the organizational commitment which will affect the employee performance

Training and Employee Performance: Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction in Civil Society Organizations of Pakistan

In the advanced business world, training is an indispensable tool used to build the new abilities, skills and enhance the employee’ knowledge which in result boost the employee performance. The current research aims to investigate how training influences employees’ performance in the presence of job satisfaction as a mediator in civil society organizations of Pakistan. The quantitative survey research design was used. A sample of two hundred and nineteen employees was drawn from civil society organizations of Punjab, using the Krijchi and Morgan Table. A questionnaire was adopted as a tool to collect the data. Hierarchical regression was run to analyze the mediating impact of job satisfaction on the relationship between training and employee performance. The results indicated that training has a direct positive relationship with the performance of the employee. Further, job satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between training and employee performance. It is suggested that need base and interactive trainings should be provided to enhance employee’s performance

Mediating Effect of It Tools Usage on the Relationship Between Academic Self-efficacy, Learning Attitude and Academic Performance

Information technology has a powerful impact on our daily doings in all walks of life. Particularly in educational settings, the pyramid of learning attitude has been altered by the usage of technological tools in learning process and thus the performance of the students. However, comprehensive integration of information technology tools to enhance the learning is a deemed necessity of information age where adolescents are seemed as digital natives. Therefore, this study focused on measuring the mediating effect of information technology usage on the relationship of Academic efficacy &learning attitude and academic performance of the students in secondary schools. Multi stage sampling technique was used; 10% of secondary public schools were randomly selected from four randomly selected Tehsils of Sargodha as sample; at second stage, 20% of the 10th graders were selected from each school through stratified random sampling. Data was collected through questionnaire by using quantitative survey method. Path analysis was applied to study the mediating effect of IT usage on the relationship between academic self-efficacy and academic performance. Findings revealed that academic self-efficacy exert significant positive in direct effect on the academic performance mediated through IT usage. Similarly, academic attitude also found to have significant direct and indirect effect on the academic performance. Therefore, it is suggested that teachers should integrate the technology embedded activities in their teaching

Role of Higher Education in the Development of Generic Competencies for Job Market: Perception of University Graduates

The quantity of higher education is rapidly increasing, but the quality is still questioned about provision of generic competencies among graduates. In order to increase employability of graduates the universities are making efforts to equip graduates with skills and capabilities to integrate them in the job market. The principle objective of the current study is to investigate the perceptions of university graduates about the role of higher education in the development of generic competencies for job market. A quantitative survey research design was used. The total 510 graduates were selected through convenient sampling technique from three public universities. The collected data were analyzed with the help PSL-SEM. The results showed the higher education developed generic competencies among graduates partially, hence not fulfilling the need to actual extent which is required in the job market