COVID-19: Mapping the Peer-Reviewed Research

Novel coronavirus is a new addition in the family of coronaviruses and was first reported in December 2019 in China. SARS and MERS were the earlier forms of viruses in this family of viruses. The outbreak was considered a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. The pandemic moved the health sciences researchers around the world to study various aspects of widespread disease. To know the volume and hotspots of COVID-19 research this study is prepared using the bibliometric method of research evaluation. Scopus and Web of Science; two most widely used indexing databases are used to retrieve the already published research on the COVID-19 pandemic. Two data sources are selected for comprehensive coverage. Health scientists have carried out 1060 research studies on the pandemic until now. These publications have been cited with an average of 1.4 citations per publication. China is leading in producing COVID-19 research followed by the United States of America and the United Kingdom with 32%, 13%, and 6% share respectively. Top-ranked journals categorized in first and second quartiles are publishing most of the research on COVID-19. BMJ, the Lancet, and Journal of Medical Virology are the most preferred journals by the researchers to publish their research on COVID-19

Screening of Arabidopsis mutants for functional genomic studies

Eight photosynthetic Arabidopsis mutants were screened for co-segregation of a photosynthetic phenotype with the T-DNA insertion. These mutants were selected from 80 photosynthetic mutants with genetic background of Columbia-0. Two different screening approaches were used to study the T-DNA insertion in the genome of mutant Arabidopsis lines. The sulphonamide sulfadiazine was found to be an effective selective agent and a single copy of sulfonamide resistant gene was found to be completely resistant to the optimal concentration i.e., 5mg mL-1. The maximum number of Arabidopsis mutant plants had confirmed insertions. Some of the plants did not show any amplification with gene specific primer combination, and it was assumed that either they were wild type plants or they had random T-DNA insertion and the insertion was not found in the gene under study but it could be found in any where in the genome. Some mutant plants were morphologically different from the wild type plants e.g., ALP105. These plants grew as small in size and dark green in color. After PCR screening with gene specific and T-DNA border primers all such mutant plants were confirmed as heterozygous T-DNA insertion plants

Evaluation of Anthropometric Parameters of Central Obesity among Professional Drivers: A Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis

Different anthropometric parameters have been proposed for assessing central obesity. The diagnostic performance of these anthropometric parameters and their ability to correctly measure central obesity for the professional community, like drivers, is questionable and needs to be assessed. The study aimed to examine the diagnostic performance of anthropometric parameters as indicators of central obesity in drivers as measured by waist circumference (WC) and to determine the best cut-off values for these parameters that would identify obese drivers. Anthropometric measurements from a cross-sectional sample of 197 professional drivers were taken under standard protocol. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to examine the diagnostic performance and to determine the optimal cut-off point of each anthropometric parameter to identify centrally obese drivers. It was found that WC had a significant positive correlation with all other obesity indicators. The ROC curve analysis indicated that all the parameters analyzed had a good performance, but the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) had a more predictive value of the area under the curve (AUC). Optimal cut-offs to identify central obesity in drivers were 0.55, 2.06, 0.95, and 25.44 for WHtR, conicity index, waist-to-hip ratio, and body mass index, respectively. These cut-off points for different indicators can be used to detect central obesity for drivers.

HIV/AIDS, health and wellbeing study among International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) seafarer affiliates

Background: Transport workers generally face a higher-than-average risk of HIV as well as other health challenges. In order to improve understanding of health issues in the maritime sector, including but not limited to HIV/AIDS, and to prepare appropriate responses the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) conducted a study of the views and needs of those affiliates. Materials and methods: The ITF carried out two surveys. The first consisted of a questionnaire sent to all ITF seafarer affiliates to establish their concerns about health issues, including the impact of HIV/AIDS, and to assess the extent and nature of existing trade union programmes. The second consisted of a knowledge, attitude and behaviour survey on health, wellbeing and AIDS among a cross-section of individual members administered through anonymous and confidential questionnaires by maritime affiliates in four countries in different regions and an identical online questionnaire through Survey Monkey. Results: For the first survey, replies were received from 35 unions in 30 countries, including major seafarer supplying countries — India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Turkey, Ukraine — and major beneficial ownership countries such as Germany, Italy, Norway, and South Korea. Health issues of concern included HIV and other sexually transmitted infections for over three-quarters of them, and then alcohol use, weight control, and mental health. All said they would welcome ITF support in starting or strengthening a programme on general health and/or HIV. Replies were received to the second survey from 615 individual seafarers. Half to three-quarters said they worried about their weight, lack of exercise and drinking; over half felt depressed sometimes or often. There were serious knowledge gaps in a number of areas, especially HIV transmission and prevention, as well as high levels of stigma towards workmates with HIV. Conclusions: A number of health issues and information gaps remain unaddressed on board and pre-departure. Mental health is especially neglected but the needs emerge clearly. Seafarers believe that companies should provide programmes but also look to their unions for health information and services. The ITF has an important role to play in supporting affiliated unions in developing activities and in providing technical and strategic guidance.

Mid-upper-arm circumference as a screening measure for identifying children with elevated body mass index: a study for Pakistan

PurposeMid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) is considered an alternative screening method for obesity. The aims of this investigation were to examine the ability of MUAC to correctly identify children with elevated body mass index (BMI) and to determine the best MUAC cutoff point for identification of children with high BMI.MethodsAnthropometric measurements (height, weight, and MUAC) from a cross-sectional sample of 7,921 Pakistani children aged 5–14 years were analyzed. Pearson correlation coefficients between MUAC and other anthropometric measurements were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal MUAC cutoff point for identifying children with high BMI.ResultsAmong 7,921 children, the mean (±standard deviation) age, BMI, and MUAC were 10.00 (±2.86 years), 16.16 (±2.66 kg/m2), and 17.73 (±2.59 cm), respectively. The MUAC had a strong positive correlation with BMI. The optimal MUAC cutoff points indicating elevated BMI in boys ranged from 16.76 to 22.73, while the corresponding values in girls ranged from 16.38 to 20.57.ConclusionMUAC may be used as a simple indicator of overweight/obesity in children, with reasonable accuracy in clinical settings

Use of Social Media in Libraries: A Perspective of a Developing Country

Social Media (SM) provides a range of possibilities for libraries to provide services out from traditional ways and means as modern life has been influenced greatly and massively by the internet. Owing to the amazing advancement of services given through the internet, libraries and information centers have to change and perform efficiently to convene the information needs of modern users. Libraries must use modern SM tools to enhance and thrive in this age of the internet. Currently, libraries are adopting these tools in their services to satisfy the information and research needs of the users. SM applications in libraries drive to convene the growing and varying prospects of library clients. This paper aims to investigate the use of SM to enhance library effectiveness in Pakistani libraries. The study is based on a survey that was administered through survey monkey. The data of 71 filled questionnaires were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Results show that 73.2% of respondents started using social media after 2008, and the top users are university libraries (53.52%). 76.1 % using Facebook, but 56.3 % believe in the usefulness of blogs/blogging. Professional networking (74.6%) is the main purpose of using SM, followed by the promotion of library services (69%). Three main challenges in using SM at libraries are 1) technical problems, 2) restrictions on using social media at the office; and 3) low internet connection

The emergence of scholarly literature on physical/social distancing related to Coronavirus: A bibliometric analysis

Background: The world is witnessing new public health crises due to the emergence of the novel coronavirus. This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of research on coronavirus-related physical/social distancing.Design and Methods: In this study, a bibliometric analysis was applied to see the research productivity and its impact on coronavirus-related physical/social distancing. For this purpose, Scopus was used to retrieve the data for the analysis. A total of 2900 records was downloaded from the database for analysis.Results: The findings revealed that the top four authors published their research in the year 2020. The study ranked the British Medical Journal (BMJ) at the top position on publishing the research on the topic. Similarly, the USA took the lead in all countries in producing research on the topic. The researchers preferred the document type ‘Article’ for sharing their research, and a single authorship pattern was dominated on all other patterns.Conclusion: Plenty of bibliometric studies are available on coronavirus, but not a single study is found on coronavirus-related physical/social distancing. This study will be valuable in identifying different bibliometric dimensions on the topic

Women seafarers’ health and welfare survey

Background: This is a collaborative study from the International Maritime Health Association, International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network, International Transport Workers’ Federation and the Seafarers Hospital Society. The aim of the study was to look at the health and welfare needs of women seafarers and how organisations can best make or campaign for improvements to the health information and services available to women seafarers. Materials and methods: A pilot study was conducted in July 2014 and following review of the data and revision of the questionnaire the study was launched in December 2014, running until the middle of March 2015. Results collected from the survey are also supported by qualitative data obtained from two focus groups run during February and March. Results: 595 responses were received from a range of nationalities, ages and positions on board ships. The findings suggest that joint/back pain, stress/depression/anxiety and headache seem to be the most common symptoms reported by women seafarers and that 55% felt that they are related to their work. 48% state that they have problems with seeking medical care and offer suggestions to improve this. Routine wellness checks, nutrition and information on joint and back pain are the main areas that women seafarers stated health screening/services/information would be most useful to improve their health and wellbeing. They suggested this could best be received directly from health professionals, or alternatively by reading leaflets or from online websites/an app. Significantly 37% of women seafarers also stated that they do not have access to sanitary bins within the toilet and 18% say that sexual harassment is an issue. Conclusions: The responses received highlight a small number of areas where relatively simple and low-cost interventions might improve the health and welfare of women seafarers. Specifically these include the production and appropriate, distribution of gender — specific information on back pain, mental health and nutrition in addition to gynaecological complaints, to all women seafarers; the introduction of means for disposing of sanitary waste for all female crew on all ships and the improved availability of female specific products e.g. sanitary products in port shops and welfare centres worldwide. Additional work is needed to investigate these areas more fully and to look at the issue of confidence in medically trained staff, medical confidentiality and sexual harassment. Any further work and interventions will require the support of all of the main stakeholders and we plan a briefing meeting to publicise the findings to date and to identify support for further work in this area

Management of Postoperative Pseudomeningocele following Posterior Cranial Fossa Surgery

Objective: Pseudomeningoceles are common complications after posterior fossa surgery. Management guide-lines are lacking, and radically different suggested treatments varying from observation to immediate surgical intervention are encountered in literature. The purpose of our study was to detail our experience in the manage-ment of pseudomeningocele following posterior fossa surgery.Methods: A retrospective, single-center study was conducted on 137 patients who underwent elective posterior fossa surgery for a variety of diseases. Patients with post operative pseudomeningocele formation were initially treated with conservative measures including bed rest, head elevation, pressure dressing and CSF lumbar drain-age. Surgical re-exploration and repair of the dural rent was done in case the pseudomeningocele didn’t settle with these conservative measures. In patients having gross hydrocephalus on post-operative CT scan a VP (ventriculo-peritoneal) shunt was done in case the conservative measures failed.Results: There were 8 (5.8%) cases of pseudomeningocele formation after posterior fossa surgery. The pseudomeningocele didn’t settle with conservative measures in any case. Surgical re-exploration and repair of the dural rent lead to the settlement of pseudomeingocele in four cases. VP shunting for gross hydrocephalus on post operative CT lead to the settlement of the pseudomeningocele in the other four cases. Conclusion: Although it has been stated in literature that most cases of pseudomeningocele settle with conser-vative treatment with only a few requiring surgical intervention, our findings were different with conservative measures failing to resolve the pseudomeningocele in all the cases. We believe that it would be beneficial to take an aggressive attitude toward this condition and to consider the possibility of early surgical intervention more seriously

Mišljenja pakistanske djece o TV oglašavanju

This qualitative study explores Pakistani children’s views regarding TV advertising and outlines the factors impacting their choice of snack brands. Thirty-six children from three schools were selected purposefully and qualitative dana was collected through focus group sessions held in schools. Findings suggest that children understand the intended message of snack brand advertisers. Different variants of brands focusing on some product- and non-product related elements are considered imperative, contributing towards purchase. Children identify brandsn through jingles and cartoon characters and are well-aware of the logic behind TV advertising. This study highlighted children as knowledgeable, straightforward, fun-loving and rational consumers, all of which have some important implications for food marketers. The research is an original contribution to the work in the field of consumer socialization; it is intended to help the readers understand children’s attitude with regard to TV advertising, and identify some of the elements contributing to the choice of snack brands among children.Ova kvalitativna studija istražuje mišljenja pakistanske djece o televizijskom oglašavanju te navodi čimbenike utjecaja na izbor marke tzv. snack proizvoda. Namjernim uzorkovanjem odabrano je tridesetšestero djece iz triju škola, u kojima su putem fokus grupa prikupljeni kvalitativni podaci. Nalazi istraživanja upućuju na to da djeca razumiju namjere sadržane u porukama oglašivača snack proizvoda. Različiti oblici pojedinih maraka usmjereni na elemente vezane i nevezane uz proizvod smatraju se nužnima i pridonose namjeri kupovine. Djeca identificiraju marke kroz jinglove i crtane likove te su svjesna logike TV oglašavanja. Istraživanje je pokazalo da su ona dobro obaviještena, iskrena, da vole zabavu i racionalni su potrošači, što ima važne implikacije za marketinške stručnjake u prehrambenoj industriji. Ovaj je rad izvoran doprinos u području socijalizacije potrošača i nastoji pomoći čitateljima pri razumijevanju stavova djece prema TV oglašavanju putem identifikaciju nekih elemenata koji pridonose izboru marke snack proizvoda među djecom