Pandemic swine influenza virus: Preparedness planning

The novel H1N1 influenza virus that emerged in humans in Mexico in early 2009 and transmitted efficiently in the human population with global spread was declared a pandemic strain. The introduction of different avian and human influenza virus genes into swine influenza viruses often result in viruses of increased fitness for pigs that occasionally transmit to humans.The novel virus affecting humans is derived from a North American swine influenza virus that has acquired two gene segments (Neuraminidase and Matrix ) from the European swine lineages. This reassortant appears to have increased fitness in humans. The potential for increased virulence in humans and of further reassortment between the novel H1N1 influenza virus and oseltamivir resistant seasonal H1N1 or with highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza stresses the need for urgent pandemic planning.Keywords: Pandemic, swine, influenza, virus, preparedness

Implementing health worker training on sepsis in South Eastern Nigeria using innovative digital strategies: an interventional study

Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Training of health workers using digital platforms may improve knowledge and lead to better patient outcomes. Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of a digital health educational module on sepsis in improving the knowledge of medical doctors in Cross River State Nigeria on the diagnosis and management of patients presenting with sepsis. Design: Quasi-experimental analytical study. Methods:: We developed and deployed a sepsis module through an innovative application (Sepsis tutorial app) to doctors in Calabar, Nigeria. We assessed quantitative pre- and post-intervention knowledge scores for those completing the tutorial on sepsis between both assessments. A user satisfaction survey evaluated the content of the tutorial and the usability of the app. Results:: One hundred and two doctors completed the course. There were more males than females (58.8% versus 41.2%). Over half (52%) were junior doctors, a minority were general practitioners and house officers (3% and 5%, respectively), and 72.6% had practiced for periods ranging from 1 to 15 years post-qualification. Gender and age appeared to have no significant association with pre- and post-test scores. The oldest age group (61–70) had the lowest mean pre- and post-test scores, while general practitioners had higher mean pre- and post-test scores than other cadres. The majority (95%) of participants recorded higher post-test than pre-test scores with a significant overall increase in mean scores (25.5 ± 14.7%, p < 0.0001). Participants were satisfied with the content and multimodal delivery of the material and found the app usable. Conclusion:: Digital training using context-responsive platforms is feasible and may be used to close the critical knowledge gap required to respond effectively to medical emergencies such as sepsis in low- to middle-income settings

Advance consent in acute stroke trials: survey of Canadian Research Ethics Board chairs

dvance consent could allow individuals at high risk of stroke to provide consent before they might become eligible for enrollment in acute stroke trials. This survey explores the acceptability of this novel technique to Canadian Research Ethics Board (REB) chairs that review acute stroke trials. Responses from 15 REB chairs showed that majority of respondents expressed comfort approving studies that adopt advance consent. There was no clear preference for advance consent over deferral of consent, although respondents expressed significant concern with broad rather than trial-specific advance consent. These findings shed light on the acceptability of advance consent to Canadian ethics regulators

L'hypothèse Sapir-Whorf et la conceptualisation de la paix en utilisant des adjectifs

Peer reviewedThe importance of peace to human civilisation has raised peace to a somewhat universally essential condition. Since peace means different things to different people, there is a void in the debate on the conceptualisation of peace. Galtung (1969, 1990) views peace as being either negative or positive and Richmond (2007) adopts a liberal standpoint, arguing that the concept of peace itself is ontologically unstable and essentially contested. The issue of conceptualisation has been met with much hesitation on the part of the research community. Explanations giving reasons for the increasing use of adjectives to qualify peace are lacking in previous research. This article contributes to filling this gap in the peace research literature by attempting to use linguistic theory to provide reasons why there are many variations in the usage of the peace concept constructed mostly through the help and use of adjectives. It is argued that the idea behind the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis can assist our understanding of the reasons for this growing use of adjectives in the context of present day globalisation of the peace concept.La importància de la pau per a la civilització humana ha tendit a erigir la pau com una mena de condició universalment essencial. Com que la pau significa coses diferents per a persones diferents, hi ha un buit en el debat sobre la conceptualització de la pau. Galtung (1969, 1990) veu la pau com quelcom "negatiu" o bé "positiu" i Richmond (2007) adopta un punt de vista liberal, tot argumentant que el concepte de la pau en si mateix és ontològicament inestable i essencialment discutit. La qüestió de la conceptualització s'ha hagut d'enfrontar a molts dubtes per part de la comunitat investigadora. Les explicacions que recullen raons a favor d'un ús cada vegada més gran d'adjectius per a qualificar la pau es troben amb el problema de la manca de recerca prèvia. Aquest article vol omplir aquest buit en la literatura de recerca sobre la pau tot intentant utilitzar la teoria lingüística per a aportar raons que expliquin per què hi ha tantes variacions en l'ús del concepte de la pau construït principalment mitjançant l'ajuda i l'ús d'adjectius. Es manté que la idea que hi ha darrere la hipòtesi de Sapir-Whorf ens pot ajudar a entendre les raons que hi ha darrere l'ús creixent d'adjectius per a conceptualitzar la pau en el context de la globalització actual d'aquest concepte.La importancia de la paz para la civilización humana ha tendido a aumentar la paz hasta algo esencial en sentido universal. La paz significa cosas distintas para gente distinta y por eso existe un vacío en el debate sobre la conceptualización de la paz. Galtung (1969, 1990) ve la paz como "negativa" o "positiva" y Richmond (2007) adopta un punto de vista liberal, arguyendo que el concepto de paz en sí mismo es inestable en sentido ontológico y básicamente contestado. El asunto de la conceptualización ha topado con mucha indecisión por parte de la comunidad investigadora. Hay falta de motivos para obtener explicaciones sobre el aumento progresivo de adjetivos para calificar la paz en las investigaciones previas. Este artículo contribuye a rellenar ese vacío en la bibliografía sobre la búsqueda de la paz intentando usar la teoría lingüística para ofrecer motivos de por qué hay muchas variantes en el uso del concepto de paz, creadas principalmente gracias a la ayuda y el uso de adjetivos. Se comenta que lo que hay detrás de las hipótesis de Sapir-Whorf puede contribuir a nuestro conocimiento del motivo del uso creciente de adjetivos para conceptualizar la paz en el contexto de globalización actual del concepto de paz.L'importance de la paix pour la civilisation humaine a eu tendance à augmenter la paix jusqu'à quelque chose d'essentiel dans le sens universel. La paix signifie des choses différentes pour des gens différents et c'est pour cette raison qu'il y a un vide dans le débat sur la conceptualisation de la paix. Galtung (1969, 1990) voit la paix comme ¿négative' ou 'positive' et Richmond ( 2007) adopte un point de vue libéral, en argumentant que la notion de paix en soi est instable dans le sens ontologique et fondamentalement contestée. Le sujet de la conceptualisation a trouvé beaucoup d'indécision par la communauté d'investigation. Il y a un manque de motifs pour obtenir des explications sur l'augmentation progressive d'adjectifs pour qualifier la paix dans les investigations préalables. Cet article contribue à combler ce vide dans la bibliographie sur la recherche de la paix en essayant d'utiliser la théorie linguistique pour donner des raisons sur les nombreuses variantes dans l'utilisation de la notion de paix, créées principalement grâce à l'aide et à l'utilisation des adjectifs. On dit que ce qu'il y a derrière les hypothèses de Sapir-Whorf peut contribuer à notre connaissance de la raison de l'utilisation croissante d'adjectifs pour conceptualiser la paix dans le contexte de globalisation actuelle de la notion de paix

La hipótesis Sapir-Whorf y la conceptualización de la paz usando adjetivos

La importància de la pau per a la civilització humana ha tendit a erigir la pau com una mena de condició universalment essencial. Com que la pau significa coses diferents per a persones diferents, hi ha un buit en el debat sobre la conceptualització de la pau. Galtung (1969, 1990) veu la pau com quelcom "negatiu" o bé "positiu" i Richmond (2007) adopta un punt de vista liberal, tot argumentant que el concepte de la pau en si mateix és ontològicament inestable i essencialment discutit. La qüestió de la conceptualització s'ha hagut d'enfrontar a molts dubtes per part de la comunitat investigadora. Les explicacions que recullen raons a favor d'un ús cada vegada més gran d'adjectius per a qualificar la pau es troben amb el problema de la manca de recerca prèvia. Aquest article vol omplir aquest buit en la literatura de recerca sobre la pau tot intentant utilitzar la teoria lingüística per a aportar raons que expliquin per què hi ha tantes variacions en l'ús del concepte de la pau construït principalment mitjançant l'ajuda i l'ús d'adjectius. Es manté que la idea que hi ha darrere la hipòtesi de Sapir-Whorf ens pot ajudar a entendre les raons que hi ha darrere l'ús creixent d'adjectius per a conceptualitzar la pau en el context de la globalització actual d'aquest concepte.The importance of peace to human civilisation has raised peace to a somewhat universally essential condition. Since peace means different things to different people, there is a void in the debate on the conceptualisation of peace. Galtung (1969, 1990) views peace as being either negative or positive and Richmond (2007) adopts a liberal standpoint, arguing that the concept of peace itself is ontologically unstable and essentially contested. The issue of conceptualisation has been met with much hesitation on the part of the research community. Explanations giving reasons for the increasing use of adjectives to qualify peace are lacking in previous research. This article contributes to filling this gap in the peace research literature by attempting to use linguistic theory to provide reasons why there are many variations in the usage of the peace concept constructed mostly through the help and use of adjectives. It is argued that the idea behind the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis can assist our understanding of the reasons for this growing use of adjectives in the context of present day globalisation of the peace concept.La importancia de la paz para la civilización humana ha tendido a aumentar la paz hasta algo esencial en sentido universal. La paz significa cosas distintas para gente distinta y por eso existe un vacío en el debate sobre la conceptualización de la paz. Galtung (1969, 1990) ve la paz como "negativa" o "positiva" y Richmond (2007) adopta un punto de vista liberal, arguyendo que el concepto de paz en sí mismo es inestable en sentido ontológico y básicamente contestado. El asunto de la conceptualización ha topado con mucha indecisión por parte de la comunidad investigadora. Hay falta de motivos para obtener explicaciones sobre el aumento progresivo de adjetivos para calificar la paz en las investigaciones previas. Este artículo contribuye a rellenar ese vacío en la bibliografía sobre la búsqueda de la paz intentando usar la teoría lingüística para ofrecer motivos de por qué hay muchas variantes en el uso del concepto de paz, creadas principalmente gracias a la ayuda y el uso de adjetivos. Se comenta que lo que hay detrás de las hipótesis de Sapir-Whorf puede contribuir a nuestro conocimiento del motivo del uso creciente de adjetivos para conceptualizar la paz en el contexto de globalización actual del concepto de paz

The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis and the Conceptualisation of Peace Using Adjectives

La importància de la pau per a la civilització humana ha tendit a erigir la pau com una mena de condició universalment essencial. Com que la pau significa coses diferents per a persones diferents, hi ha un buit en el debat sobre la conceptualització de la pau. Galtung (1969, 1990) veu la pau com quelcom "negatiu" o bé "positiu" i Richmond (2007) adopta un punt de vista liberal, tot argumentant que el concepte de la pau en si mateix és ontològicament inestable i essencialment discutit. La qüestió de la conceptualització s'ha hagut d'enfrontar a molts dubtes per part de la comunitat investigadora. Les explicacions que recullen raons a favor d'un ús cada vegada més gran d'adjectius per a qualificar la pau es troben amb el problema de la manca de recerca prèvia. Aquest article vol omplir aquest buit en la literatura de recerca sobre la pau tot intentant utilitzar la teoria lingüística per a aportar raons que expliquin per què hi ha tantes variacions en l'ús del concepte de la pau construït principalment mitjançant l'ajuda i l'ús d'adjectius. Es manté que la idea que hi ha darrere la hipòtesi de Sapir-Whorf ens pot ajudar a entendre les raons que hi ha darrere l'ús creixent d'adjectius per a conceptualitzar la pau en el context de la globalització actual d'aquest concepte.The importance of peace to human civilisation has raised peace to a somewhat universally essential condition. Since peace means different things to different people, there is a void in the debate on the conceptualisation of peace. Galtung (1969, 1990) views peace as being either negative or positive and Richmond (2007) adopts a liberal standpoint, arguing that the concept of peace itself is ontologically unstable and essentially contested. The issue of conceptualisation has been met with much hesitation on the part of the research community. Explanations giving reasons for the increasing use of adjectives to qualify peace are lacking in previous research. This article contributes to filling this gap in the peace research literature by attempting to use linguistic theory to provide reasons why there are many variations in the usage of the peace concept constructed mostly through the help and use of adjectives. It is argued that the idea behind the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis can assist our understanding of the reasons for this growing use of adjectives in the context of present day globalisation of the peace concept.La importancia de la paz para la civilización humana ha tendido a aumentar la paz hasta algo esencial en sentido universal. La paz significa cosas distintas para gente distinta y por eso existe un vacío en el debate sobre la conceptualización de la paz. Galtung (1969, 1990) ve la paz como "negativa" o "positiva" y Richmond (2007) adopta un punto de vista liberal, arguyendo que el concepto de paz en sí mismo es inestable en sentido ontológico y básicamente contestado. El asunto de la conceptualización ha topado con mucha indecisión por parte de la comunidad investigadora. Hay falta de motivos para obtener explicaciones sobre el aumento progresivo de adjetivos para calificar la paz en las investigaciones previas. Este artículo contribuye a rellenar ese vacío en la bibliografía sobre la búsqueda de la paz intentando usar la teoría lingüística para ofrecer motivos de por qué hay muchas variantes en el uso del concepto de paz, creadas principalmente gracias a la ayuda y el uso de adjetivos. Se comenta que lo que hay detrás de las hipótesis de Sapir-Whorf puede contribuir a nuestro conocimiento del motivo del uso creciente de adjetivos para conceptualizar la paz en el contexto de globalización actual del concepto de paz

Appraisal of Some Existing Technology on Water Quality: Appraisal and Design

Communication in Physical Sciences, 2021, 7(4): 494-504 Authors: Sunday Emmanson Udoh and Ubong Isaac Nelson Received: 18 September 2021/Accepted 08 October 2021 Water is essential for the maintenance of life, domestic, industrial, and agricultural purposes. However, the current global challenge is to find solutions to problems arising from the employment of contaminated water for the listed purposes. It is known that there is more contaminated or polluted water than potable water. Therefore, since the water resources is fixed by nature, efforts towards the provision of potable water must significantly be directed towards water treatment protocols. This review identified various water treatment methods, their comparative advantages as well as disadvantages. The comparison reveals that there is no specific method that can give 100% purity of water. Hence for best results, we recommended the engineering approach for the provision of a purification bed as the best option

Evaluation of rifampicin resistance and 81-bp rifampicin resistant determinant region of rpoB gene mutations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis detected with XpertMTB/Rif in Cross River State, Nigeria

AbstractObjective/backgroundWorld Health Organization tuberculosis (TB) indices from 2014 to 2016 showed that Nigeria had the 6th highest prevalence, 4th highest incidence, and the highest mortality rate globally. In efforts to improve TB care, the XpertMTB/Rif (GeneXpert) technology, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, USA, which has revolutionized TB detection with concomitant rifampicin-resistance molecular detection, was introduced in Cross River State, South–South Nigeria, in 2014. The GeneXpert uses molecular beacons to detect five overlapping 81-bp regions in the rpoB gene known as the Rifampicin Resistant Determinant Region (RRDR). These probes are represented as Probe A (507–511), Probe B (512–518), Probe C (518–523), Probe D (523–529), and Probe E (529–533). Mutations in this region have been shown to account for about 93% of resistance to rifampicin, which is the most important drug in tuberculosis treatment. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of rifampicin resistance and the commonly associated probes for various rpoB gene mutations within the 81-bp RRDR of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Cross River State, Nigeria.MethodWe collated and analyzed data from the 10 Xpert MTB/Rif sites in Cross River State from June 2014 to June 2016 and determined the frequency of mutations associated with different probes designated A–E, which represent the RRDR of rpoB gene. All centers use XpertMTB/Rif version G4.ResultIn total, 973 tuberculosis cases were detected from 4671 cases tested. Rif resistance was detected in 6.0% (58/973) of cases. Probe E mutations were the most common, seen in 60.3% (35/58); followed by Probe D, 17.2% (10/58); and Probe B, 13.8% (8/58). Probe A occurred in 3.4% (2/58). No Probe C mutation was seen. Multiple mutation combinations involving probes B and D occurred in 3.4% (2/58), while one isolate had triple site mutations involving A, D, and E. One isolate that at initial testing showed a Probe A mutation displayed a Probe D mutation when tested in another site prior to treatment enrollment.ConclusionIn our setting, 6.0% of tuberculosis isolates are rifampicin resistant. Mutations associated with probe E commonly due to codon 531 are the most predominant cause of rifampicin resistance. Mutations at probe C (codons 518–523) were uncommon. A change in mutation may have occurred in one of the patients

Advance consent in acute stroke trials: survey of canadian stroke physicians

Advance consent presents a potential solution to the challenge of obtaining informed consent for participation in acute stroke trials. Clinicians in stroke prevention clinics are uniquely positioned to identify and seek consent from potential stroke trial participants. To assess the acceptability of advance consent to Canadian stroke clinic physicians, we performed an online survey. We obtained 58 respondents (response rate 35%): the vast majority (82%) expressed comfort with obtaining advance consent and 92% felt that doing so would not be a significant disruption to clinic workflow. These results support further study of advance consent for acute stroke trials