Gender differences in psychological adjustment among spinal cord injured patients

In the present study gender differences in psychological adjustment of Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) patients was studied. The sample of 70 SCI patients (35 male and 35 female) was selected from the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) Islamabad, Bagh and Muzafrabad, (Azad & Jammu Kashmir AJK). Purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. Psychological Adjustment Scale PAS was used. This questionnaire was found to be reliable (Cornbach's Alpha = .78). The findings indicated that there was significant gender difference in psychological adjustments as male SCI patients were more adjusted than female SCI patients.Keywords: Rehabilitation Medicine; Gender differences; Psychological adjustment; Spinal cord Injured patient

Antecedents of Overall E-service Quality and Brand Attachment in the Banking Industry

Purpose – The study aims to examine the impact of website design, e-fulfillment, e-service and e-security on overall e-service quality and its impact on brand attachment. Design/methodology/approach – Data of 425 respondents was collected from the internet banking industry users through an online survey. Further, PLS-SEM was employed to analyze the data. Findings – Results indicate that the impact of e-security, e- customer service, and e-fulfillment on overall e-customer service quality was supported. In contrast, the impact of website design was not supported. Further, overall, e-service quality also has a significant impact on brand attachment. Originality/value – This study suggested and tested a brand attachment framework for the banking industry to support strategy formulation for managers

Quasi Variational Inclusions Involving Three Operators

In this paper, we consider some new classes of the quasi-variational inclusions involving three monotone operators. Some interesting problems such as variational inclusions involving sum of two monotone operators, difference of two monotone operators, system of absolute value equations, hemivariational inequalities and variational inequalities are the special cases of quasi variational inequalities. It is shown that quasi-variational inclusions are equivalent to the implicit fixed point problems. Some new iterative methods for solving quasi-variational inclusions and related optimization problems are suggested by using resolvent methods, resolvent equations and dynamical systems coupled with finite difference technique. Convergence analysis of these methods is investigated under monotonicity. Some special cases are discussed as applications of the main results

Quasi Variational Inclusions Involving Three Operators

In this paper, we consider some new classes of the quasi-variational inclusions involving three monotone operators. Some interesting problems such as variational inclusions involving sum of two monotone operators, difference of two monotone operators, system of absolute value equations, hemivariational inequalities and variational inequalities are the special cases of quasi variational inequalities. It is shown that quasi-variational inclusions are equivalent to the implicit fixed point problems. Some new iterative methods for solving quasi-variational inclusions and related optimization problems are suggested by using resolvent methods, resolvent equations and dynamical systems coupled with finite difference technique. Convergence analysis of these methods is investigated under monotonicity. Some special cases are discussed as applications of the main results

A prospective hospital based study of relation between carotid artery intimal medial thickness in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: The aim of this study was to found association between Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Carotid Arterial Intimal Thickness (CIMT).Methods: Study design: It was a prospective case control hospital-based study. One hundred type 1 diabetes patient between the age group 3-36 years were taken. The association between type 1 diabetes with CIMT was studied. All the measurements were standardized. 50 age and sex matched controls were taken for comparison.Results: There is positive correlation between type 1 diabetes and CIMT (p<0.0001). The correlation further extends between duration of diabetes, glycemic control, age of onset, frequency and severity of diabetic related complication with CIMT.Conclusions: Carotid atherosclerosis as measured by CIMT has definite association with type 1 diabetes

Efficacy of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure versus Heated Humidified High-Flow Nasal Cannula as a Primary Mode of Respiratory Support in Preterm Infants with RDS

Objective: To determine the efficacy of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) versus heated humidified high-flow nasal cannula (HHHFNC) as a primary mode of respiratory support in preterm infants with respiratory distress. Methodology: This randomized controlled trial study was conducted at in-patient department of neonatology (Nursery &amp; NICU) of Pakistan Insitute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) from July 2020 to Dec 2020. A total of 280 neonates randomly divided (140 in each study group) of both genders, with gestational age between 28-34 weeks and having mild-to-moderate respiratory distress within 1st 6 hours of birth requiring non-invasive ventilation were enrolled. Neonates in NCPAP Group (n=140) were given NCPAP whereas neonates in HHHFNC Group (n=140) were given HHHFNC. The efficacy of both groups were compared on the basis of treatment failure within 1st 3 days, total duration (hours) of non-invasive ventilator (NIV) required and total duration (hours) of supplementary oxygen required. Results: Overall, mean gestational age was noted to be 30.0+6.4 weeks. There were 144 (51.4%) neonates with birth weight between 1 to 1.4 kg, 90 (32.1%) between 1.5 to 1.9 kg and 46 (16.4%0 between 2.0 to 2.4 kg. Treatment failure was noted in 67 (47.6%) neonates in NCAP group while HHHFNC group reported 73 (52.4%) neonates with treatment failure (p=0.4733). No significant difference was observed in mean total duration of NIV support required (p=0.2598) or mean total duration of supplementary oxygen (p=0.1946) in between study groups. Conclusion: HHHFNC had similar efficacy when compared to NCPAP among neonates with RDS. In comparison to NCPAP, HHHFNC could be a simple, well-tolerated and effective alternative in terms of respiratory support. No major difference in terms of complication was observed between both treatment approaches

Protective effects of Sm-p80 in the presence of resiquimod as an adjuvant against challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni in mice

SummaryObjectivesTo determine the prophylactic efficacy of an Sm-p80-based vaccine formulation against challenge infection with Schistosoma mansoni in mice using an approach comprising of initial priming with DNA and boosting with recombinant protein in the presence of resiquimod (R848) as an adjuvant.MethodsIn the first experiment (prime–boost approach), mice were primed with Sm-p80–pcDNA3 (week 0) and boosted at weeks 4 and 8 with recombinant Sm-p80 formulated in resiquimod (R848). Each mouse in the control group first received only pcDNA3 and was boosted with R848. In the second set of experiments (recombinant protein approach), mice were immunized (week 0) and boosted (weeks 4 and 8) with rSm-p80 formulated in R848. Animals of the control group in this series of experiments received only R848 at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. All of the animals from both the ‘prime–boost’ and ‘recombinant protein’ groups were challenged with cercariae of S. mansoni, 4 weeks after the last immunization. The mice were sacrificed 6 weeks post-challenge and the reductions in worm burden and egg production were determined. Sm-p80-specific antibody titers were estimated in the mice sera by ELISA. Cytokine mRNA and protein production by proliferating splenocytes in response to in vitro stimulation with Sm-p80, were estimated via RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively.ResultsVaccination with Sm-p80 (prime–boost approach) showed 49% reduction in worm burden; with the recombinant protein approach the protection was found to be 50%. The protection levels were correlated with antibody production. Upon antigenic stimulation with recombinant Sm-p80, splenocytes secreted significant levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-2, indicating that the immune responses were Th1-biased and this was further supported in terms of distribution of antibody isotypes and mRNA expression of cytokines.ConclusionsIn conclusion the present study clearly demonstrates that Sm-p80 consistently maintained its protective nature, and resiquimod as an immunopotentiating agent slightly boosted the protective effects of Sm-p80 in both ‘DNA prime–protein boost’ and ‘recombinant protein’ immunization approaches in a murine model

Impact of E-service quality on brand attachment and willingness to spend more

E-service quality is important in current business practices. This concept is yet to be explored in context of influencing other important variables. This paper aims to conceptualize e-service quality relationship with brand attachment and willingness to spend more. Understanding the relationship between these constructs is important for service providers in order to enhance superior online customer service experience. Suggested linkages amongst variables further need empirical support. Theoretical implications and future research directions are also proposed

Catalytic degradation of carbamazepine by surface modified zerovalent copper via activation of peroxymonosulfate: Mechanism, degradation pathways and ecotoxicity.

ABSTRACTIn this research work, surface modified nano zerovalent copper (nZVC) was prepared using simple borohydride reduction method. The spectroscopic and crystallographic results revealed the successful synthesis of surface modified nano zerovalent copper (nZVC) using solvents i.e., ethanol (ETOH), ethylene glycol (EG) and tween80 (T80). The as-synthesized material was fully characterized for morphological surface and crystal structural properties. The results indicated that EG provides excellent synthesis environment to nZVC compared to ETOH and T80 in terms of good dispersion, high surface area and excellent catalytic properties. The catalytic efficiency of nZVC/EG was investigated alone as well as with the addition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in the absence of light. The degradation results demonstrated that the involvement of PMS synergistically boosted the catalytic efficiency of synthesized nZVC/EG material. Furthermore, the degradation products (DPs) of CBZ were determined by GC-MS and subsequently the degradation pathways were proposed. The ecotoxicity analysis of the DPs was also explored. The proposed (nZVC/EG/PMS) system is economical and efficient and thus could be applied for the degradation of CBZ from aquatic system after altering the degradation pathways in such a way that results in harmless products formation