Inequality and Health: Is Housing Crowding the Link?

In this study we extend the literature (e.g. Deaton, 2002a; Kennedy and Kawachi, 1996; Wilkinson, 1996) by proposing a new mechanism through which income inequality can influence health. We argue that increased income inequality induces household crowding, which in turn leads to increased rates of infectious diseases. We use data from New Zealand that links hospital discharge rates with community-level characteristics to explore this hypothesis. Our results provide support for a differential effect of income inequality and housing crowding on rates of hospital admissions for infectious diseases among children. Importantly, we find that genetic and non-communicable diseases do not show these joint crowding and inequality effects. The effect of housing on communicable diseases provides a biological foundation for an income inequality gradient.Housing crowding, child health outcomes, income inequality

Inequality and Health: Is Housing Crowding the Link?

The authors propose a new mechanism through which income inequality can influence health. They argue that increased income inequality induces household crowding, which in turn leads to increased rates of infectious diseases

Health and nutritional performance of young common carp Cyprinus carpio L. feeding diets with added bakery yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The current research was carried out to investigate the health and nutritional efficiency of the using bakery yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a dietary additive at rates of 0.5, 1 and 1.5% and observe the extent of its affect on the growth of common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings by following the parameters of growth, feeding efficiency and feed conversion rate. The results showed that T3 in total weight gain ratios of 232.12g/fish was significantly different from other treatments T0, T1 and T2 with no significant difference between them. The daily weight gain of T3 was 3.22g/fish with significant difference from the rest of the treatments which were 2.15, 2.39 and 2.26 for T0, T1 and T2, respectively, T3 by 175.75% with no significant difference between T0, T1 and T2. Growth rate results showed two higher values; 5.27% in T3 and lower in T0 with no significant difference (0.05<P) between T0, T1 and T2, respectively. The best result for feed conversion rate was shown by T3 at 1.79 with a significant difference with T0. The higher value of feed conversion efficiency was 55.97% in T3, with no significant difference in all treatments in the amount of protein intake.&nbsp

Examining rivalry and out group derogation among underrepresented college students

As little is known about how fans other than European American males react to rivalry, the current study investigated rivalry among college students who identified as African American, Latinx or Asian American. To analyse how these three underrepresented groups reacted to rival teams and schools, the study authors identified both male and female students from Power Five or Group of Five institutions in attendance at various National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition events who self-identified as meeting this demographic. The results show that male African American and Asian American students reported significantly higher identification and more negativity toward their rival schools than did their female counterparts. Additionally, attending a Power Five school influenced identification and reactions to rival schools for all three underrepresented groups. The paper goes on to discuss the implications of the study and potential avenues for future research

Examining rivalry and out group derogation among underrepresented college students

As little is known about how fans other than European American males react to rivalry, the current study investigated rivalry among college students who identified as African American, Latinx or Asian American. To analyse how these three underrepresented groups reacted to rival teams and schools, the study authors identified both male and female students from Power Five or Group of Five institutions in attendance at various National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition events who self-identified as meeting this demographic. The results show that male African American and Asian American students reported significantly higher identification and more negativity toward their rival schools than did their female counterparts. Additionally, attending a Power Five school influenced identification and reactions to rival schools for all three underrepresented groups. The paper goes on to discuss the implications of the study and potential avenues for future research

Parallel private health insurance in Australia: a cautionary tale and lessons for Canada

Canada’s restrictions on the role of private health insurance for publicly insured physician and hospital services are unique among countries with universal, publicly funded health care systems. Pressure is mounting in Canada, however to loosen these restrictions and create a parallel system of private finance. Advocates argue that creation of a parallel system of private finance will ensure the sustainability of the public system (by reducing public cost pressures), improve access to the public system (e.g. by reducing wait times), and improve quality in the public system (through competition). Opponents of parallel private finance argue that it will create “two-tiered” medicine, increase costs, compromise equity and reduce quality and access to publicly financed health care as those with the financial means (and often the strongest voice) exit to private insurance. Australia provides a particularly promising case study for Canada regarding the dynamics of parallel systems of public and private finance. This paper examines Australia’s experience with parallel finance for inpatient hospital services to provide insight regarding: (a) the effectiveness of a parallel system of private finance in reducing costs and wait times in the public system; (b) risk selection between the parallel public and private insurance sectors; (c) the financial redistribution associated with the introduction and maintenance of a parallel system of finance; and (d) the dynamics of the broader political economy associated with parallel systems of finance. Australia’s experience provides a number of lessons for Canada, including: (1) the potential for cost savings through introduction or expansion of a parallel private sector is very limited; (2) the introduction or expansion of a parallel private finance is unlikely to reduce wait times in the publicly financed system; (3) there is no simple way to regulate private insurers to pursue public objectives; (4) it is impossible to create an independent, isolated parallel system of private finance – interactions between the public and private insurance sectors are complex and unavoidable; (5) quality plays a key role in driving the dynamics between the public and privately financed sectors; and (6) it is essential to articulate clear policy objectives for health care financing and to design public and private roles consistent with these objectives. Our overall conclusion is that the Australian experience provides a cautionary tale regarding the risks, costs and benefits of a parallel system of health care finance

The effect of chemical activation of biochar on biogas purification

Biogas become one of many alternative energies that are claimed to contribute to greenhouse gas mitigation. The improved technology to gain good quality biogas has been developed over many years such as carbon dioxide adsorption and methane enrichment. Implementing biochar-based renewable sources can replace activated carbon-based fossil fuels. This study is developing activated biochar-based rice husk by chemical activation to replace 25 volume of natural zeolite to adsorb carbon dioxide in biogas purification. Three treatments of adsorption time variation were used in this study: 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The results showed that activation of biochar repaired the capability of biochar to adsorb carbon dioxide and methane levels in biogas. The best result was shown by biogas purification for 30 minutes with a methane enrichment of 24 compared to biogas before purification. Our results highlight the activated biochar based-rice husk becomes a candidate for an adsorbent in biogas purification and the chemical activation process as a strategy to improve the capability of the adsorbent. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Rare Occurrence of Herpes Zoster of Trigeminal Nerve following Extraction of Tooth

Herpes Zoster also known as Shingles is an acute viral infection which is an extremely painful and incapacitating ailment. It results from the reactivation of the varicella zoster virus. The triggering factors for the onset of an attack of Herpes Zoster include some form of immunosuppression. The diagnosis of Herpes Zoster can be made on proper medical history and a thorough clinical examination. Here is the report of a male patient affected by Herpes Zoster infection which followed after extraction of a lower first molar