Age and growth studies of oceanic squid, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis using statoliths in the South China Sea, Area III, Western Philippines

Studies on age and growth using statolith of oceanic squids, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis collected from Western Philippines, South China Sea, Area III have been conducted from 7 April - 19 May, 1998 by MV SEAFDEC Cruise No. 50-4/1998. A total of 1,707 squids were sampled and measured onboard. 74 statoliths which consist of 53 statoliths from female specimens and 21 from male specimens were extracted and processed using statolith ageing techniques with the body mantle length range from 107 - 217 mm and 115 - 167 mm, respectively. The male is small than the female where the male does not exceed 180 mm and the female can grow up to 260 mm. There is slightly a different dimension of growth at the statolith microstructure between the male and female specimens. In the ground statolith, growth increments were examined and grouped into four growth zones distinguished mainly by the width of the increments. It was found that the male exhibit slower growth and maturation occur at the same time with the female but at smaller size. The age of the male and female ranged from 135 - 259 days and 95 - 275 days, respectively. The life span of the species was considered within one year. It was also observed that the putative microcohort of the female could be explained from the length frequency distribution of the immature and mature female and a pool data of length frequency distribution from all stations

Formal Specification for Spatial Information Databases Integration Framework (SIDIF)

This paper discusses the formal validation for spatial information databases integration framework (SIDIF). A SIDIF database is a large, organized body of persistent data, usually associated with computerized software designed to update, query, and retrieve components of the data stored within the system. One of the common difficulties faced by the developer is in designing a robust database system. Even so, in order to solve this matter, developers have to focus their efforts on the formal specifications. The formal specification is supposed to reduce the overall development time. Formal specifications can be used to provide an unambiguous and precise supplement to natural language descriptions. Besides, it can be rigorously validated and verified leading to the early detection of specification errors. Consequently, to validate this problem formally, we specify the SIDIF database framework using Z language and prove by using Z/EVES theorem proven tool. By using this kind of tools, it may help to reduce time, energy and mistake compared to manual theorem proving which can be error task and tedious

Does malaria during pregnancy affect the newborn?

Objective: To investigate the effect of malarial infection during pregnancy on the newborn.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), Karachi, using in-patient hospital records over an 11-year period from 1988 to 1999. The incidence of preterm delivery, low birth weight (LBW) and intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in 29 pregnant women with malaria, was compared with that in 66 selected pregnant women without malaria, who delivered at the AKUH during the same time period.Results: Pregnant women with malaria had a 3.1 times greater risk of preterm labor (p=0.14). They were more likely to be anaemic compared to women without malaria (RR=2.9, 95% CI=1.6-5.4) and had a significantly lower mean haemoglobin level (p=0.0001). Maternal malaria was significantly associated with LBW babies (p=0.001). The mean birth weight of infants born to pregnant women with malaria was 461 g less (p=0.0005). No significant association was, however, found between malarial infection during pregnancy and IUGR (p=0.33).CONCLUSION: Malarial infection during pregnancy is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. It is significantly associated with maternal anaemia and LBW infants. Appropriate measures must, therefore, be taken to prevent malaria during pregnancy, especially in endemic areas

Polymorphism in the Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha promoter region and its Influence on Colorectal Cancer Predispositiom risk in Malaysian Population

Objective: A case control study was designed to investigate the TNF-,1 -308 G>A polymorphism allele frequencies and to determine the influence of the polymorphic gcnot.ype on sporadic CRC susceptibility risk in Malaysian population. Material. and Method!: Peripheral blood samples of 164 normal controls and 161 clinically and histopathologically con­firmed CRC patients were genotyped for TNF-u -308 G>A polymorphism employing allele specific PCR. The relative associa­tions of various genotypes with CRC susceptibility risk was determined by calculating Odds Ratios. Corresponding chi-square tests on the CRC patients and controls were carried out and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were determined using Fisher e,acts tests. Results: On comparing the frequencies of genotypes of patients and controls, the homozygous ,·ariant AA was significantly higher in CRC patients (p = 0.030) compared to controls. On investigating the association of the polymorphic genotypes with CRC susceptibility risk, the homozygous variant TNF-a -308 AA showed significantly increased risk with OR 2.5842. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, pol) morphic genotJpe of inflammation response gene TNF-a is significantly associat­ed with CRC susceptibility risk and could be considered as a high risk variant for CRC predisposition

Burnout among surgeons before and during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: an international survey

Background: SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had many significant impacts within the surgical realm, and surgeons have been obligated to reconsider almost every aspect of daily clinical practice. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study reported in compliance with the CHERRIES guidelines and conducted through an online platform from June 14th to July 15th, 2020. The primary outcome was the burden of burnout during the pandemic indicated by the validated Shirom-Melamed Burnout Measure. Results: Nine hundred fifty-four surgeons completed the survey. The median length of practice was 10 years; 78.2% included were male with a median age of 37 years old, 39.5% were consultants, 68.9% were general surgeons, and 55.7% were affiliated with an academic institution. Overall, there was a significant increase in the mean burnout score during the pandemic; longer years of practice and older age were significantly associated with less burnout. There were significant reductions in the median number of outpatient visits, operated cases, on-call hours, emergency visits, and research work, so, 48.2% of respondents felt that the training resources were insufficient. The majority (81.3%) of respondents reported that their hospitals were included in the management of COVID-19, 66.5% felt their roles had been minimized; 41% were asked to assist in non-surgical medical practices, and 37.6% of respondents were included in COVID-19 management. Conclusions: There was a significant burnout among trainees. Almost all aspects of clinical and research activities were affected with a significant reduction in the volume of research, outpatient clinic visits, surgical procedures, on-call hours, and emergency cases hindering the training. Trial registration: The study was registered on clicaltrials.gov "NCT04433286" on 16/06/2020

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Potentials and benefits of recreational fisheries development in Malaysia

This paper examines the potentials for the development of recreational fisheries. The extent of human resources and natural resources available was highlighted. At present any resemblance of recreational fisheries in Malaysia is in the few 'fishing spot' such as the National Parks when the visitors are allowed to fish, in Lake Gardens of some cities and around some of the Islands (during 'fishing competition seasons'). Otherwise the enthusiastic recreationist or sport fisherman takes his own initiatives to fish in the unmanaged waters in the country. Emphasis was also given on the economic, health and tourism related benefits. In essence, our fishery resources can be managed and utilised for their recreational and aesthetic values. Recreational fishing development can be planned so as to pay back financially for its upkeep. In the near future, it can be developed countries such as the United States of America

Designing multiple types of spatial and non spatial databases integration model using formal specification approach

Most developer prefers not to use formal specification (FS) approach in designing a database system. In recent years, these approaches have been seen as rivals, a new consensus has been developed in which software developers are agreed it as complementary. Theoretically this approach can reduce the overall development time, use to provide an unambiguous and precise supplement to natural language descriptions. Focus to this point, it can be rigorously validated and verified leading to the early detection of specification errors or debugs during software development process. Correcting errors at the early development stage is cheaper than modifying a delivered system. A FS could be verified in order to explore the consequences of this specification and potentially find mistakes. After it was done, we have greater confidence that the testing of such system against the actual user requirement specification. This paper discusses the FS of spatial and non spatial Information Databases Integration (SIDIF) model as a case study