A game player expertise level classification system using electroencephalography (EEG)

The success and wider adaptability of smart phones has given a new dimension to the gaming industry. Due to the wide spectrum of video games, the success of a particular game depends on how efficiently it is able to capture the end users' attention. This leads to the need to analyse the cognitive aspects of the end user, that is the game player, during game play. A direct window to see how an end user responds to a stimuli is to look at their brain activity. In this study, electroencephalography (EEG) is used to record human brain activity during game play. A commercially available EEG headset is used for this purpose giving fourteen channels of recorded EEG brain activity. The aim is to classify a player as expert or novice using the brain activity as the player indulges in the game play. Three different machine learning classifiers have been used to train and test the system. Among the classifiers, naive Bayes has outperformed others with an accuracy of 88%, when data from all fourteen EEG channels are used. Furthermore, the activity observed on electrodes is statistically analysed and mapped for brain visualizations. The analysis has shown that out of the available fourteen channels, only four channels in the frontal and occipital brain regions show significant activity. Features of these four channels are then used, and the performance parameters of the four-channel classification are compared to the results of the fourteen-channel classification. It has been observed that support vector machine and the naive Bayes give good classification accuracy and processing time, well suited for real-time applications

Awareness of sleep hygiene in medical students of Kara-chi: A cross sectional study.

Introduction: Sleep, a neurobiological phenomenon, is very essential component for the behaviours of human beings. Sleep Hygiene is essentially a term which is used to understand lifestyle and environmental factors that influence sleep. A stu-dent when get admission in a university, it’s a turning point in his/her life as previ-ous routine is dramatically altered. This is more so if a student enters a medical college or university. While studying medicine the syllabus, timetables, duties, shifts are all manifold and hence it changes the complete environment and lifestyle of nearly all students. This in turn leads to drastic change in the pattern of sleep hygiene.Objective: This study was conducted to assess the awareness of sleep hygiene among medical students.Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March –August 2019. The approval of study sought from Ethical Review committee of Isra University. A self- administered questionnaire used to collect data after student’s verbal consent and ensuring their anonymity. Using convenient sampling technique 467 medical students were studied including those from 1st year to 5th year students. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0.Results: Showed that 59.5% of the students have not heard about sleep hygiene, 31.5% have heard it and 9% of them were not sure about it.77% of participants use social media, 72% takes shower and 63% of the students wash their face before going to the bed.Conclusion: We concluded that majority of the medical students are unaware of Sleep Hygiene and a large portion of them uses social media before going to bed.Key Words: Sleep Hygiene, medical students, awareness

Molecular characterization and disease control of stem canker on Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) caused by Neoscytalidium dimidiatum in the United Arab Emirates

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), royal poinciana (Delonix regia) trees suffer from stem canker disease. Symptoms of stem canker can be characterized by branch and leaf dryness, bark lesions, discoloration of xylem tissues, longitudinal wood necrosis and extensive gumming. General dieback signs were also observed leading to complete defoliation of leaves and ultimately death of trees in advanced stages. The fungus, Neoscytalidium dimidiatum DSM 109897, was consistently recovered from diseased royal poinciana tissues; this was confirmed by the molecular, structural and morphological studies. Phylogenetic analyses of the translation elongation factor 1-a (TEF1-α) of N. dimidiatum from the UAE with reference specimens of Botryosphaeriaceae family validated the identity of the pathogen. To manage the disease, the chemical fungicides, Protifert®, Cidely® Top and Amistrar® Top, significantly inhibited mycelial growth and reduced conidial numbers of N. dimidiatum in laboratory and greenhouse experiments. The described “apple bioassay” is an innovative approach that can be useful when performing fungicide treatment studies. Under field conditions, Cidely® Top proved to be the most effective fungicide against N. dimidiatum among all tested treatments. Our data suggest that the causal agent of stem canker disease on royal poinciana in the UAE is N. dimidiatum

Androgenic profiles in HIV-infected male patients on highly active anti-retroviral therapy: could this be a threat to fertility?

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the Serum Androgenic Profiles of HIV-infected Male Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and those not on Active Antiretroviral Therapy in Specialist Hospital Sokoto, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: One hundred and thirty-five HIV-infected male patients were evaluated in the Department of Medicine, Specialist Hospital Sokoto Nigeria from July 2017 to March 2018 using history, baseline investigations, and CD4counts. Free testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were measured using an overnight fasting serum sample. Patients were divided into three groups (n=45); Group A= HIV-infected male patients on HAART, Group B = HIV-infected male treatment naive patients, and Group C= HIV-negative control subjects. Data were analysed using ANOVA and Chi-square tests and p≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant Results: The serum testosterone and CD4 counts were reduced in HIV-infected male patients on HAART and HAART naive compared to the negative control. The reduced testicular functions were substantiated by raised serum LH and FSH in HIV-infected male patients on HAART (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control. Conclusions: HIV-infections associated with low CD4 counts even among patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy may pose threat to male fertility. Keywords: HIV-infected Males; Hypogonadisms; Sokoto Nigeri

Herbal treatment of secretory diarrhea

The research study is conducted to understand interaction of illness, symptoms, context, patients response and the clinical skill vis a vis better management of secretory diarrhea. Specific aim of this study is to determine the impact of intensive medical intervention with herbal drug “Dirasif” (Test) and allopathic drug “Furoxone” (Control) to treat secretory diarrhea. This is randomized controlled clinical trial in primary care with an open intervention. All patients judged by the physician to need either herbal or allopathic medicine for secretory diarrhea are randomized in treatment therapy. Clinical trial was conducted on hundred patients from both groups i.e.50 patient from control and 50 from experimental group having age between 12-40 year.Comparison of data recorded by participants relating to these variables showed significant differences between test and control groups (p < 0.05) despite the fact that no side effects were recorded in test group. Overall clinical success was observed in both treatment groups however the efficacy of the test treated medication (Dirasif) was superior as p=0.03. Dirasif is more effective than the Furoxone in the treatment of secretory diarrhea in Gadap community Karachi, Pakistan.Keywords: Secretory diarrhea, efficacy, dirasif, furoxon

Herbal treatment of secretory diarrhea

The research study is conducted to understand interaction of illness, symptoms, context, patients response and the clinical skill vis a vis better management of secretory diarrhea. Specific aim of this study is to determine the impact of intensive medical intervention with herbal drug “Dirasif” (Test) and allopathic drug “Furoxone” (Control) to treat secretory diarrhea. This is randomized controlled clinical trial in primary care with an open intervention. All patients judged by the physician to need either herbal or allopathic medicine for secretory diarrhea are randomized in treatment therapy. Clinical trial was conducted on hundred patients from both groups i.e.50 patient from control and 50 from experimental group having age between 12-40 year.Comparison of data recorded by participants relating to these variables showed significant differences between test and control groups (p < 0.05) despite the fact that no side effects were recorded in test group. Overall clinical success was observed in both treatment groups however the efficacy of the test treated medication (Dirasif) was superior as p=0.03. Dirasif is more effective than the Furoxone in the treatment of secretory diarrhea in Gadap community Karachi, Pakistan.Keywords: Secretory diarrhea, efficacy, dirasif, furoxon

Utilization of Palm Oil Mill Residue as Sustainable Pavement Materials: A Review

The advances in industrial technology have led to a major rise in the amount and forms of residue, especially during the processing of agricultural products. With the paradigm shift towards renewable energy and sustainability, there is much emphasis on biomass energy around the world which generates an immense volume of residues yearly. These residues are burgeoning issues because they are not effectively managed and utilized. Hence, one solution is utilizing them in the pavement industry. This article focuses on palm oil mill residues that are abundantly available and discarded in Malaysia. This study evaluates published works of literature relating to the utilization of these residues like the Palm Oil Fiber (POF), Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), and Palm Oil Clinker (POC) and Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) in the pavement industry. The outcome of the review acknowledges the greater sustainability potential of these residues with affirmative and satisfactory performance via the result of numerous research work. Also, with a reduction in CO2-emission, low radioactivity, and heavy metal leaching level. Therefore, the review suggests more exploration and utilization of the residue in the pavement industry since it promotes safety and harness sustainability

The burden of unintentional drowning: Global, regional and national estimates of mortality from the Global Burden of Disease 2017 Study

__Background:__ Drowning is a leading cause of injury-related mortality globally. Unintentional drowning (International Classification of Diseases (ICD) 10 codes W65-74 and ICD9 E910) is one of the 30 mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive causes of injury-related mortality in the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. This study's objective is to describe unintentional drowning using GBD estimates from 1990 to 2017. __Methods:__ Unintentional drowning from GBD 2017 was estimated for cause-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs), age, sex, country, region, Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile, and trends from 1990 to 2017. GBD 2017 used standard GBD methods for estimating mortality from drowning. __Results:__ Globally, unintentional drowning mortality decreased by 44.5% between 1990 and 2017, from 531 956 (uncertainty interval (UI): 484 107 to 572 854) to 295 210 (284 493 to 306 187) deaths. Global age-standardised mortality rates decreased 57.4%, from 9.3 (8.5 to 10.0) in 1990 to 4.0 (3.8 to 4.1) per 100 000 per annum in 2017. Unintentional drowning-associated mortality was generally higher in children, males and in low-SDI to middle-SDI countries. China, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh accounted for 51.2% of all drowning deaths in 2017. Oceania was the region with the highest rate of age-standardised YLLs in 2017, with 45 434 (40 850 to 50 539) YLLs per 100 000 across both sexes. __Conclusions:__ There has been a decline in global drowning rates. This study shows that the decline was not consistent across countries. The results reinforce the need for continued and improved policy, prevention and research efforts, with a focus on low-and middle-income countries

Epidemiology, practice of ventilation and outcome for patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications

BACKGROUND Limited information exists about the epidemiology and outcome of surgical patients at increased risk of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), and how intraoperative ventilation was managed in these patients. OBJECTIVES To determine the incidence of surgical patients at increased risk of PPCs, and to compare the intraoperative ventilation management and postoperative outcomes with patients at low risk of PPCs. DESIGN This was a prospective international 1-week observational study using the ‘Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia risk score’ (ARISCAT score) for PPC for risk stratification. PATIENTS AND SETTING Adult patients requiring intraoperative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals across 29 countries. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of patients at increased risk of PPCs based on the ARISCAT score. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative ventilatory management and clinical outcomes. RESULTS A total of 9864 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of patients at increased risk was 28.4%. The most frequently chosen tidal volume (VT) size was 500 ml, or 7 to 9 ml kg1 predicted body weight, slightly lower in patients at increased risk of PPCs. Levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were slightly higher in patients at increased risk of PPCs, with 14.3% receiving more than 5 cmH2O PEEP compared with 7.6% in patients at low risk of PPCs (P < 0.001). Patients with a predicted preoperative increased risk of PPCs developed PPCs more frequently: 19 versus 7%, relative risk (RR) 3.16 (95% confidence interval 2.76 to 3.61), P < 0.001) and had longer hospital stays. The only ventilatory factor associated with the occurrence of PPCs was the peak pressure. CONCLUSION The incidence of patients with a predicted increased risk of PPCs is high. A large proportion of patients receive high VT and low PEEP levels. PPCs occur frequently in patients at increased risk, with worse clinical outcome