Attitudes and practices of postgraduate medical trainees towards research--a snapshot from Faisalabad

Objective: To assess the attitudes and practices of postgraduate medical trainees towards research.Methods: It was a self-administered questionnaire based cross-sectional survey conducted on 55 conveniently selected trainees in Allied Hospital, Faisalabad.Results: Only 11 trainees read journals monthly, seven had written an article for a journal, 51 regarded reading literature important, 39 intended to engage in future research and 37 said they received inappropriate research training. The major reasons cited for poor research activity in Pakistan were poor research training and awareness.CONCLUSION: Though the attitudes towards research were positive, they were deficient practically in terms of reading and writing literature. There is an immediate need to improve research training in our educational institutes to facilitate the development of the local literature both in terms of research utilization and productio

Analysis of Marketing Efficiency and Spatial Co-Integration of Rohu (Labeo Rohita) Fish in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

The study was undertaken to examine the value chain, value addition, marketing cost & margin, marketing efficiency and market integration of rohu fish in selected areas of Bangladesh during the month of July-August 2012. The objectives of the study were to estimate costs and margins, seasonal price variation and to test market integration of rohu fish. Primary and secondary data were used for this study. The higher marketing cost was incurred by paiker and the lowest by retailer. On the other hand, retailers earned the highest net marketing margins. Chain II was found the most efficient chain. Analysis of market integration shows that rohu fish market in Bangladesh was well integrated. The findings of the study revealed that the marketing of rohu fish was a profitable business and some recommendations were provided for the improvement of rohu fish marketing in the country. Keywords: Value addition, marketing cost & margin, marketing efficiency and spatial co-integratio

Analysis of Marketing Function, Marketing Efficiency and Spatial Co-Integration of Rohu (Labeo rohita) Fish in Some Selected Areas of Bangladesh

The study was undertaken to examine the value chain, value addition, marketing cost & margin, marketing efficiency and market integration of rohu fish in selected areas of Bangladesh during the month of July-August 2013. The objectives of the study were to estimate costs and margins, seasonal price variation and to test market integration of rohu fish. Primary and secondary data were used for this study. The higher marketing cost was incurred by paiker and the lowest by retailer. On the other hand, retailers earned the highest net marketing margins. Chain II was found the most efficient chain. Analysis of market integration shows that rohu fish market in Bangladesh was well integrated. The findings of the study revealed that the marketing of rohu fish was a profitable business and some recommendations were provided for the improvement of rohu fish marketing in the country. Keywords: Value addition, marketing cost & margin, marketing efficiency and spatial co-integratio

Real-time PCR assay and rapid diagnostic tests for the diagnosis of clinically suspected malaria patients in Bangladesh

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>More than 95% of total malaria cases in Bangladesh are reported from the 13 high endemic districts. <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>and <it>Plasmodium vivax </it>are the two most abundant malaria parasites in the country. To improve the detection and management of malaria patients, the National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) has been using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in the endemic areas. A study was conducted to establish a SYBR Green-based modified real-time PCR assay as a gold standard to evaluate the performance of four commercially-available malaria RDTs, along with the classical gold standard- microscopy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Blood samples were collected from 338 febrile patients referred for the diagnosis of malaria by the attending physician at Matiranga</p> <p>Upazila Health Complex (UHC) from May 2009 to August 2010. Paracheck RDT and microscopy were performed at the UHC. The blood samples were preserved in EDTA tubes. A SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay was performed and evaluated. The performances of the remaining three RDTs (Falcivax, Onsite Pf and Onsite Pf/Pv) were also evaluated against microscopy and real-time PCR using the stored blood samples.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>In total, 338 febrile patients were enrolled in the study. Malaria parasites were detected in 189 (55.9%) and 188 (55.6%) patients by microscopy and real-time PCR respectively. Among the RDTs, the highest sensitivity for the detection of <it>P. falciparum </it>(including mixed infection) was obtained by Paracheck [98.8%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 95.8-99.9] and Falcivax (97.6%, 95% CI 94.1-99.4) compared to microscopy and real-time PCR respectively. Paracheck and Onsite Pf/Pv gave the highest specificity (98.8%, 95% CI 95.7-99.9) compared to microscopy and Onsite Pf/Pv (98.8, 95% CI 95.8-99.9) compared to real-time PCR respectively for the detection of <it>P. falciparum</it>. On the other hand Falcivax and Onsite Pf/Pv had equal sensitivity (90.5%, 95% CI 69.6-98.8) and almost 100% specificity compared to microscopy for the detection of <it>P. vivax</it>. However, compared to real-time PCR assay RDTs and microscopy gave low sensitivity (76.9%, 95% CI 56.4-91) in detecting of <it>P. vivax </it>although a very high specificity was obtained (99- 100%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study suggest that the SYBR Green-based real-time PCR assay could be used as an alternative gold standard method in a reference setting. Commercially-available RDTs used in the study are quite sensitive and specific in detecting <it>P. falciparum</it>, although their sensitivity in detecting <it>P. vivax </it>was not satisfactory compared to the real-time PCR assay.</p

Challenges for String Cosmology

We critically assess the twin prospects of describing the observed universe in string theory, and using cosmological experiments to probe string theory. For the purposes of this short review, we focus on the limitations imposed by our incomplete understanding of string theory. After presenting an array of significant obstacles, we indicate a few areas that may admit theoretical progress in the near future.Comment: 18 pages; contribution to a focus issue on string cosmology for Classical and Quantum Gravit

Automated inter-rater reliability assessment and electronic data collection in a multi-center breast cancer study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The choice between paper data collection methods and electronic data collection (EDC) methods has become a key question for clinical researchers. There remains a need to examine potential benefits, efficiencies, and innovations associated with an EDC system in a multi-center medical record review study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A computer-based automated menu-driven system with 658 data fields was developed for a cohort study of women aged 65 years or older, diagnosed with invasive histologically confirmed primary breast cancer (N = 1859), at 6 Cancer Research Network sites. Medical record review with direct data entry into the EDC system was implemented. An inter-rater and intra-rater reliability (IRR) system was developed using a modified version of the EDC.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Automation of EDC accelerated the flow of study information and resulted in an efficient data collection process. Data collection time was reduced by approximately four months compared to the project schedule and funded time available for manuscript preparation increased by 12 months. In addition, an innovative modified version of the EDC permitted an automated evaluation of inter-rater and intra-rater reliability across six data collection sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Automated EDC is a powerful tool for research efficiency and innovation, especially when multiple data collection sites are involved.</p

The Study of Quantum Interference in Metallic Photonic Crystals Doped with Four-Level Quantum Dots

In this work, the absorption coefficient of a metallic photonic crystal doped with nanoparticles has been obtained using numerical simulation techniques. The effects of quantum interference and the concentration of doped particles on the absorption coefficient of the system have been investigated. The nanoparticles have been considered as semiconductor quantum dots which behave as a four-level quantum system and are driven by a single coherent laser field. The results show that changing the position of the photonic band gap about the resonant energy of the two lower levels directly affects the decay rate, and the system can be switched between transparent and opaque states if the probe laser field is tuned to the resonance frequency. These results provide an application for metallic nanostructures in the fabrication of new optical switches and photonic devices