Dichromacy: Color Vision Impairment and Consanguinity in Heterogenous Population of Pakistan

Background and Objectives: Dichromacy, an X-linked recessive disorder is identified worldwide, more in males than females. In European Caucasians, its incidence is 8% in males and 0.5% in females. In India, it is 8.73% in males and 1.69% in females, and in Iran, it is 8.18% in males and 0.43% in females. Population based epidemiological data about dichromacy in different ethnic groups in Pakistan is not available. The aim of this study was to find out the population prevalence of inherited red-green dichromacy in a heterogenous population of the district of Chiniot, Punjab, Pakistan, and to determine the impact of consanguinity and ethnicity. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, boys and girls of the higher secondary schools were examined in the three tehsils of district Chiniot. Pseudoisochromatic Ishihara Test has been employed for detection of dichromacy in the study population. The sample size was calculated statistically as 260, which was expanded to 705 and divided by population density of the three tehsils. Results: Screening of 359 males and 346 females revealed 19 (5.29%) dichromat males and only 2 (0.58%) females. The study population belonged to 23 castes / isonym groups. The consanguinity found in the district of Chiniot is 84.82% and in the dichromat families, it is 85.71%, of which 52.37% are first cousin. Interpretation & Conclusion: The study has shown that the incidence of dichromacy could be reduced through genetic counselin

Relative Odds of Neck Pain to Helmet Use Among Motorcyclists: a Case-Control Study

Background: Neck pain is a widespread problem among motorcyclists, which is often neglected. There is limited research on the motorcycle's ergonomics, particularly in the context of the interaction between the riders and motorcycle. Motorcycle helmets have proven to increase the weight on the neck, thus causing more burdens which can lead to neck pain. Methodology: Case-Control study design was opted to measure the relative odds of neck pain in relation to the helmet use as an exposure. A total of 260 (mean age of 22.58 ± S.D. 1.95 years) undergraduate students were selected using purposive sampling. The case to control ratio was 1:4 (54 Cases and 206 Controls) where cases were defined as the motorcyclists having neck pain with a riding experience of more than one year. The neck pain and disability scale were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Chi-square and binary logistic regression were used to calculate the significant relationship and odds of neck pain amongst motorcyclists with and without helmet use. Results: The study results showed that out of 260 motorcyclists, 190 (73.1%) were helmet users, and 54 (20.8%) had neck pain, 70 (27.9%) helmet users had a neck pain prevalence of 11 (4.2%). The relative odd to have neck pain was 2.13 times more amongst the motorcyclists using the helmet as compared to that of non-helmet users. The logistic regression results showed significant results (P < 0.05) with regards to the BMI, helmet weight and duration of helmet use but did not show a significant relation with average motorcycle use per day unless it exceeded 70 kilometres. Conclusion: Use of helmet can be a potential cause of neck pain amongst motorcyclist users but the odds to have neck pain enhance with the increase in motorcycle use per day. The protective benefits are multi-fold for helmet use which outreaches the negative impact, including neck pain amongst motorcyclists

Analisis Empirik Multimedia Interaktif Pembelajaran Fisika Menggunakan Lectora Inspire Pada Materi Cahaya Di SMP

This study aims to analize the interactive multimedia in physics learning empirically. The approach used in this study is research and development (R&D) with instructional design model, ADDIE. Data were collected through the questionnaires. Respondents of this research were from teachers and students, teacher as an expert user while student as a user. The data of instrument were analyzed using product moment SPSS and Ms. Excel. The highest validity score of each teacher as expert and student as user is 0,821 & 0,776 while the reliability score each is 0,955 & 0,906. The results of this research indicate that the interactive multimedia is valid and reliable

A noninvasive molecular approach: exploiting species-locus-specific PCR primers in defeating numts and DNA cross-contamination of cercopithecidae

The lack of a standardized, noninvasive molecular approach to studying genetic aspects of primates has made it hard for primatologists to decode the evolutionary history of these species. Researchers must optimize their own techniques to fully exploit the available samples. Lack of species-locus-specific primers also contributes to difficulties in using noninvasive genetic samples. Thus, the objectives of this study were to develop a standardized technique to collecting samples noninvasively, propose newly designed species-locus-specific primers, and optimize conditions for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Macaca fascicularis, M. nemestrina, Trachypithecus cristatus, and T. obscurus. Nine new species-locus-specific primers for three different loci of mitochondrial DNA, namely D-loop, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), and cytochrome b, were successfully designed. These primers proved to be efficient in amplifying larger datasets (up to ~1,000 bp) of the targeted species in the optimized PCR conditions. The species-locus-specific primers are able to anneal to host DNA alone in highly contaminated feces of highlighted species. They can also offer alternatives measures in avoiding contamination related to nuclear insertion of mitochondrial pseudogenes (numts)

Photoassociative ionization of Na inside a storage ring

Motivated by recent interest in low dimensional arrays of atoms, we experimentally investigated the way cold collisional processes are affected by the geometry of the considered atomic sample. More specifically, we studied the case of photoassociative ionization (PAI) both in a storage ring where collision is more unidirectional in character and in a trap with clear undefinition of collision axis. First, creating a ring shaped trap (atomotron) we investigated two-color PAI dependence with intensity and polarization of a probing laser. The intensity dependence of the PAI rate was also measured in a magneto-optical trap presenting equivalent temperature and density conditions. Indeed, the results show that in the ring trap, the value of the PAI rate constant is much lower and does not show evidences of saturation, unlike in the case of the 3D-MOT. Cold atomic collisions in storage ring may represent new possibilities for study.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures; Accepted by Optics Communicatio

Analisis Spasial Perubahan Area Terbangun Kota Gorontalo (Spatial Analysis of Gorontalo City Building Area Changes)

– Pembangunan di wilayah perkotaan terus berkembang yang disertai dengan meningkatnya jumlah penduduk. Peningkatan ini berdampak pada semakin tingginya kebutuhan akan ruang kota. Hal ini menyebabkan kawasan terbangun di wilayah perkotaan semakin meningkat dan berkurangnya ruang terbuka sehingga mendorong penggunaan lahan sawah sebagai area permukiman dan perkantoran. Oleh karena itu perlu dilakukan kajian atau evaluasi melalui analisis spasial untuk mengetahui Perubahan pemanfaatan lahan sawah yang ada di Kota Gorontalo dalam kurun waktu tertentu. Kajian ini merupakan salah satu acuan dalam arahan pembangunan yang berwawasan lingkungan untuk masa mendatang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis Perubahan pemanfaatan lahan sebagai area terbangun dalam kurun waktu 5 tahun dari tahun 2008 hingga 2013 . Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah analisis spasial terdiri dari data citra dan peta digital sebagai data pendukung. Analisis dilakukan dengan teknik overlay peta penggunaan lahan dengan kurun waktu berbeda hasil interpretasi citra satelit digital. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan terdapat dua jenis Perubahan area terbangun di Kota Gorontalo dalam kurun waktu 5 tahun yaitu Perubahan area terbuka menjadi area terbangun dan area terbangun menjadi area terbuka. Kata kunci: Perubahan, lahan, area terbangun, Gorontal