The Prevalence, Severity and the Contributive Organizational Factors of Burnout Syndrome among Pakistani Physiotherapists

Background: This is fast age where many underlying health issues go unaddressed in race of progress such as Burnout. This state of mental illness due to chronic stress that may be comprised of emotional exhaustion, personal accomplishment and depersonalization. This is thought to be associated with occupation and organizational parameters. This can put physiotherapist compromised health, social and family life, dealing with patients and low performance at work. Objective: To determine burnout level and its severity among physical therapists and associated organizational factors Material and method: Cross sectional survey was conducted in sample of convenience comprising 120 physiotherapists. The participants were of both gender and age above 25 years. The data was collected by using Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale and data analysis was executed using SPSS version 20. Continuous variables including age, total scores were analyzed for mean and standard deviation, while frequency percentages were calculated against categorical variables. Results: Results of the study demonstrated that mean+SD score for emotional exhaustion was 16.55+ 5.07, mean+SD score for personal accomplishment was 44.73+1.54 and mean+SD score for depersonalization was 0.75+0.93. Conclusion: The study concluded that physiotherapists demonstrated mild to moderate level of burnout. Burnout symptoms apparently found significantly associated with high working hours, private sector, female gender and less physical activity.           &nbsp

Finite-Time Fast Dynamic Terminal Sliding Mode Maximum Power Point Tracking Control Paradigm for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator-Based Wind Energy Conversion System

Due to the intermittent nature of wind, there exists a major disparity between the power generation from the wind and the demand of electricity. Hence, a sophisticated maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control paradigm must be formulated for maximizing the power extraction from the wind. This research article focuses on the formulation of a nonlinear fast dynamic terminal sliding mode control (FDTSMC)-based MPPT strategy for optimizing the power extraction from a 3kW, variable speed, fixed-pitch wind energy conversion system equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous generator. The proposed MPPT strategy is compared with the benchmark fast terminal sliding mode control, conventional sliding mode control, feedback linearization control and proportional integral derivative control-based MPPT strategies under a stochastic wind speed profile. The proposed paradigm has been found superior in its tracking performance by converging the output tracking error to zero in a finite time, realizing a high precision performance, offering fast dynamic response, reducing the chattering to a minute level and guaranteeing global robustness. The superior performance and effectiveness of the proposed FDTSMC-based MPPT control paradigm is tested and validated through extensive MATLAB/Simulink simulations

A Correlation among the COVID-19 Spread, Particulate Matters, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2: A Review

Air pollution (AP) is one of the leading causes of health risks because it causes widespread morbidity and mortality every year. Its impact on the environment includes acid rain and decreased visibility, but more importantly, it also has an impact on human health. The rise of COVID-19 demonstrates the cost of failing to manage AP. COVID-19 can be spread through the air, and atmospheric particulate matters (PMs) can create a good atmosphere for the long-distance spread of the virus. Moreover, these PMs can cause lung cell inflammation, thereby increasing sensitivity and the severity of symptoms in COVID-19 patients. In this study, we emphasized the potential role of PMs in the spread of COVID-19. The relationship among COVID-19, PMs, and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) (receptor involved in virus entry into lung cells and inflammation) was also summarized

ICT Enabled TVET Education: A Systematic Literature Review

Economies of the world and workforce level of skills are changing rapidly. Industrial revaluations and knowledge economies have raised the demand for a knowledgeable and digitally equipped skilled workforce. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is an educational stream that provides vocational skills to youth and produces a skilled workforce for the industry. The role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the TVET pedagogy, training delivery, teachers training, curriculum, and labs is need of the day to meet current era challenges. In the TVET education training cycle, the level of ICT enablement is required to be reviewed. This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) evaluates literature for innovation of ICT in TVET education for the last ten years. This study aims to identify and present ICT-based technology innovations, research, and applications used in TVET training cycle system components/functional areas to identify gaps for future research directions/agenda. This gap identification will help (i) TVET training institutes to upgrade their teachers, curriculum, labs and, equipment, (ii) policymakers to devise technology-oriented skilled workforce development policies, (iii) to provide guidelines to industry, researchers, and academics to focus on gaps to address future challenges of workforce development. Based on the search string, we found 2,445 relevant documents and after applying quality assurance and inclusion/exclusion criteria, finally, 134 documents were selected for the study and analyzed. The result of this systematic literature review identifies that ICT technologies and application dispersion into TVET training cycle system components/functional areas is very low particularly in monitoring and evaluation, career guidance and job placement, trainee’s assessment, and teacher’s training. TVET Technology index suggests that much focus is needed on IoT, Robotics, Data Science, Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other similar technology induction to all TVET training

Nano-Biochar Suspension Mediated Alterations in Yield and Juice Quality of Kinnow (Citrus reticulata L.)

Nutrient deficiency negatively affects the yield and quality of citrus fruit. The present experiment was carried out to investigate the improvement in fruit yield and juice quality of Kinnow (Citrus reticulata L.) by foliar application of nano-biochar suspension (NBS). The experiment was carried out in a citrus farmer’s orchard with a history of low fruit yield, using a randomized complete block design. Four NBS treatments, i.e., 0% (control), 1, 3, and 5%, were applied through foliar application at the flowering stage. Foliar application of NBS at 5% and 3% significantly (p < 0.05) improved flowering, fruit retention, fruit set, fruit size, length, weight, diameter, juice volume levels, and minimized fruit dropping. The electrical conductivity of the juice was significantly decreased by increases in NBS concentration. Total dissolved solids increased slightly with treatments as compared to control. However, NBS foliar application did not show significant effects on nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) leaf contents, but had some effect on phosphorus (P) content. Principal component analysis and a correlation matrix revealed significant (p < 0.05) positive and negative associations among the studied traits. The results of the current experiment showed that all parameters were significantly improved with the application of NBS at 3 and 5%, except that N, K, and Na levels were unaffected. The most encouraging results were achieved at a concentration of 5% NBS. In conclusions, the foliar application of NBS had a significant positive impact on fruit yield and juice quality

Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Induced Growth and Physio-Biochemical Changes in Maize (Zea mays L.) in Saline Soil

Research on nanoparticles (NPs) is gaining great attention in modulating abiotic stress tolerance and improving crop productivity. Therefore, this investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) on growth and biochemical characteristics in two maize hybrids (YH-5427 and FH-1046) grown under normal conditions or subjected to saline stress. A pot-culture experiment was carried out in the Botanical Research Area of “the University of Lahore”, Lahore, Pakistan, in a completely randomized design. At two phenological stages, both maize hybrids were irrigated with the same amount of distilled water or NaCl solution (EC = 5 dS m−1) and subjected or not to foliar treatment with a suspension of CuO-NPs. The salt stress significantly reduced the photosynthetic parameters (photosynthetic rate, transpiration, stomatal conductance), while the sodium content in the shoot and root increased. The foliar spray with CuO-NPs improved the growth and photosynthetic attributes, along with the N, P, K, Ca, and Mg content in the roots and shoots. However, the maize hybrid YH-5427 responded better than the other hybrid to the saline stress when sprayed with CuO-NPs. Overall, the findings of the current investigation demonstrated that CuO-NPs can help to reduce the adverse effects of salinity stress on maize plants by improving growth and physio-biochemical attributes

Análise do tratamento da tuberculose pulmonar em idosos de um hospital universitário do Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil Analysis of the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in elderly patients at a university hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJETIVOS: Descrever os aspectos clínicos e terapêuticos da tuberculose pulmonar e comparar os efeitos adversos e resultados do tratamento entre idosos e não idosos. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo caso-controle com 117 indivíduos idosos (acima de 60 anos) e 464 não idosos (15-49 anos) portadores de tuberculose pulmonar atendidos no Instituto de Doenças do Tórax da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro no período de 1980 a 1996. RESULTADOS: No grupo de idosos, houve associação entre diabetes mellitus (OR = 3,98; IC95% = 2,07-7,65; p = 0,001), doenças pulmonares (OR = 7,24; IC95% = 3,64-14,46; p = 0,001) e cardiovasculares (OR = 5,86; IC95% = 2.88-11.95; p = 0,001). O tabagismo (OR = 2,07; IC95% = 1,26-3,42; p = 0,002) e o etilismo (OR = 1,63; IC95% = 1,01-2,68; p = 0,041) também foram mais freqüentes neste grupo. O tratamento levou a freqüentes reações adversas nos idosos (OR = 1,62; IC95% = 1,04-2,54; p = 0,024), principalmente de origem gastrintestinal (OR = 1,64; IC95% = 1,01-2,77; p = 0,047), e sua eficácia foi menor neste grupo: apenas 51% de cura e 24% de óbitos. O abandono do tratamento foi elevado nos dois grupos, em torno de 23%. CONCLUSÕES: As reações adversas e o resultado do tratamento foram piores nos idosos, com maior freqüência de complicações e letalidade, devido a uma maior toxicidade farmacológica e a uma maior prevalência de doenças associadas neste grupo etário.<br>OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and therapeutic aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis and compare the adverse effects of the treatment and its outcome in elderly and nonelderly patients. METHODS: This was a case-control study of 117 elderly individuals (over the age of 60 years) and 464 nonelderly individuals (aged 15-49 years). All subjects presented pulmonary tuberculosis that had been diagnosed and treated at the Thoracic Diseases Institute of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro between 1980 and 1996. RESULTS: In the elderly group, pulmonary tuberculosis was found to be correlated with diabetes (OR = 3.98; 95% CI = 2.07-7.65; p = 0.001), lung disease (OR = 7.24; 95% CI = 3.64-14.46; p = 0.001) and heart disease (OR = 5.86; 95% CI = 2.88-11.95; p = 0.001). Smoking (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.26-3.42; p = 0.002) and alcohol abuse (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.01-2.68; p = 0.041) were also more common in the elderly group. In the elderly group, the treatment more frequently resulted in adverse reactions (OR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.04-2.54; p = 0.024), especially gastrointestinal reactions (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 1.01-2.77; p = 0.047), and treatment efficacy was lower: cure rate, 51%; mortality rate, 24%. Treatment adherence was low (approximately 77%) in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: In the elderly group, adverse reactions were more common, treatment outcomes were less favorable, there was a greater frequency of clinical complications and deaths related to drug toxicity, and the prevalence of concomitant diseases was higher