Panel Data Analysis of Institutional Quality and Population Health Outcomes

This study investigates the institutional quality effect on population health outcomes. Explanatory variables are government stability, corruption, law and order, democratic accountability and bureaucracy quality. Whereas for the population health proxies are infant mortality rate and life expectancy. The sample of this study consist of 105 countries. Five years’ average data from 1984 to 2012 is taken from the Political Risk Services Group and World Development Indicators 2015. This study considers econometric techniques like Fixed Effects, Random Effects and GMM. Study findings indicate that population health is positively affected by the institutional quality that is increasing life expectancy and dropping infant mortality rate. Furthermore, GDP per capita, physician, and population density display a positive influence on life expectancy. The results propose that to achieve population better health outcomes, authorities must cautiously contemplate the quality of institutions

Multi-group Analysis of Consumer’s Food Waste Behavior at Household Level

Purpose: Multifaceted food waste behavior attracted the researchers from diversity of disciplines. Scholars have studied this subject from two primary sociological ontologies: behavioral and socio-psychological. There are several interrelating activities due to which behaviors and practices related with waste reductions are intricate. Methodology: This study contributed to an important extension of Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM) route modelling: the comparison of PLS estimates across subpopulations, often known as multi-group analysis. Applying PLS-based multi-group analysis approaches have the drawback of relying on distributional assumptions. This work proposes PLS-MGA, a non-parametric PLS-based approach to multi-group analysis. Findings: The study has revealed that psychographic factors (attitude, Intentions) and routine related factors (household skill, leftover reuse routine, planning) play a crucial role to predict the food wastage behavior. In addition, it is also revealed that injunctive norms are direct predictor of food wastage behavior. Implications: Policy makers need to implement such measures and policies that can motivate consumers to reduce food waste by raising awareness toward environmental issues. The implications and recommendations presented in this study to prevent food waste may pave the path to success in reaching the national sustainability agenda

Role of Anterior Cervical Decompression Fusion (ACDF) and Plating in Patients with Lower Cervical Caries Spine

Objective:  We assessed the neurologic status of patients with cervical spine caries after anterior cervical decompression fusion and plating in terms of muscle power measured by MRC (medical research council) grade and functional status measured by Nurick grade. Materials and Methods:  A descriptive case series study was conducted and 36 subjects with lower cervical spine (C3 – C7) were included with cervical spine caries who needed anterior cervical decompression and plating operated by the department of Neurosurgery, KEMU/Mayo Hospital. The cervical spine TB was confirmed using an MRI plain and contrasted cervical spine. Post-surgical neurological examinations were performed on the 1st, 7th, 21st, and 42nd days and the 3rd and 6th months after surgery. The neurological state was measured in terms of muscle power measured by MRC grades and functional outcome was assessed from Nurick grades. Results:  The mean age of the patients was 37.0 ± 14.4 years. The majority of patients had C5 caries spine (28%) and the least had C7 caries spine (14%). Most of the patients had pre-operative MRC grade 3 (41.7%). The majority had Nurick’s grade 5 (55.6%). 17% of patients had post-operative hoarseness of voice. 31% of the patients had post-operative dysphasia which improved by 3 weeks. 3% developed a new neurological deficit in the form of deterioration of muscle power measured by MRC grade during 6 months’ follow-up time. Conclusion:  All follow-up improvements were statistically significant in terms of pre-operative status

Inferring Therapeutic Targets in <i>Candida albicans</i> and Possible Inhibition through Natural Products: A Binding and Physiological Based Pharmacokinetics Snapshot

Despite being responsible for invasive infections, fungal pathogens have been underrepresented in computer aided therapeutic target mining and drug design. Excess of Candida albicans causes candidiasis, causative of thrush and vaginal infection due to off-balance. In this study, we attempted to mine drug targets (n = 46) using a subtractive proteomic approach in this pathogenic yeast and screen natural products with inhibition potential against fructose-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) of the C. albicans. The top compound selected on the basis of best docking score from traditional Indian medicine/Ayurvedic library was (4-Hydroxybenzyl)thiocarbamic acid, from the ZINC FBA inhibitor library was ZINC13507461 (IUPAC name: [(2R)-2-hydroxy-3-phosphonooxypropyl] (9E,12E)-octadeca-9,12-dienoate), and from traditional Tibetan medicine/Sowa rigpa was Chelerythrine (IUPAC name: 1,2-Dimethoxy-12-methyl-9H-[1,3]benzodioxolo[5,6-c]phenanthridin-12-ium), compared to the control (2E)-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-[(4-nitrophenyl)methylidene]hydrazine. No Ames toxicity was predicted for prioritized compounds while control depicted this toxicity. (4-Hydroxybenzyl)thiocarbamic acid showed hepatotoxicity, while Chelerythrine depicted hERG inhibition, which can lead to QT syndrome, so we recommend ZINC13507461 for further testing in lab. Pharmacological based pharmacokinetic modeling revealed that it has low bioavailability and hence, absorption in healthy state. In cirrhosis and renal impairment, absorption and plasma accumulation increased so we recommend further investigation into this occurrence and recommend high dosage in further tests to increase bioavailability