Faulty Practices Research Articles

Animal Experiments and Laboratory Safety within the Scope of Occupational Health and Biosafety

Occupational health and biosecurity terms include scientific approaches regarding ethical values, reliable methods, and a series of precautions to be taken against risks and hazards for employees and the living material being studied. Research and development activities carried out within the scope of biotechnology involve many risks under laboratory conditions, which are their own physical area. Many precautions and practices have been defined to analyze these risks and take precautions before they occur, and laboratory guides have been created in line with these definitions. During studies carried out with experimental animals under laboratory conditions, safe working rules may be violated due to physical conditions, equipment and materials, treatments applied to the subjects, negligence, or faulty practices caused by the researcher or expert. Biosafety in animal experiments consists of a set of ethical conditions and practices declared in the guidelines of specialized laboratories at their own level, protecting employees, subjects, and life outside the laboratory. In this review, possible risks and dangers that may arise at different biosafety levels and the precautions and practices that can be taken against them are evaluated. In this way, it was aimed to contribute to the development of laboratory and biosafety criteria in animal experiments.

Consultation Proposal on Alpha College’s operations management – Investigative study

Purpose This research project examines the faulty practices adopted by Alpha college which is a distance learning center providing higher education in the UAE. The first step includes identifying the operational malpractices, the second step includes providing a consultation on how to resolve the current issues faced by the college. The college will be named under the pseudonym or alias “Alpha College” and the orthonym will not be mentioned throughout the research to protect the organization’s identity. Methodology Interviews were conducted with students. 9 students are chosen to provide primary data regarding the issues they encountered throughout their program. Implications The recommendations are proposed to solve malpractices in the field of operations management only. Findings We found out that Alpha college didn’t prioritize their capacity management function causing loss of IT resources and disturbance to their students as they used the partner college’s applications. Secondly, the college failed to forecast the programs that will be demanded in the future and ended up partnering with subpar universities. Quality wasn’t delivered to their students throughout the program. Originality: This research applies the operations management functions in the higher education scope, specifically in distance learning centers that offer undergraduate and post graduate education. To our knowledge this is the first study in the region that has examined this issue to ascertain the effectiveness of this approach.

Monitoring and estimating spatial-temporary land use changes of the Aegean region with remotely sensed data.

Natural resources are affected by parameters such as natural events, global warming, or irregular urbanization, and land use classes are changing. Faulty practices or wrong approaches to land uses can also lead to deterioration and destruction in the structure of land use classes. For this reason, it should be monitored regularly, and plans for the future should be made. Aegean region, covering 12% of Turkey, is one of the most important regions in terms of tourism, agriculture, and industry. Based on the previous research results, although the spatial change on the basis of cities has been examined, the spatial change of the entire Aegean region has not been examined so far and predictions for the future have not been made. This study aims to examine the change in land use classes of the Aegean Region between 2001 and 2019 using MCD12Q1.006 MODIS Land Cover Type Yearly Global 500m data. In addition, an estimation study was made using these data for the year 2030. The results showed an increase in the urban area, forest, savannas, wetlands, and ice/snow between 2001 and 2019. On the other hand, a decrease was detected in agricultural areas, water bodies, grasslands, bare lands, and shrubs. Using the cellular automata (CA) method for estimation, first of all, the accuracy of the model was determined by estimating the year 2019. Then, using the same model, an estimation study was carried out for the year 2030. When the estimation results for 2030 are examined, an increase is detected in urban areas; it has been determined that there is a decrease in agricultural areas. This study has demonstrated the successful usability of MODIS data in spatial change estimation. In addition, the results obtained have revealed a comprehensive foresight that can be used in urban planning in order to ensure the sustainable development of the Aegean region in the future.

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine27th Annual International MeetingBaltimore, MarylandSeptember 15–18, 2022

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine27^th Annual International MeetingBaltimore, MarylandSeptember 15–18, 2022

Conservation Agriculture in Maize-based Cropping System of Nepal: A Review

Maize-based cropping system followed by intensive tillage and faulty practices often associated with many negative implications such as the decline of soil organic matter, increase soil erosion by wind/water, lower nutrient-use efficiency, field burning of crop residue, air pollution mainly attributed to the monoculture of intensive conventional production systems leading to global warming and decline in factor productivity. Conservation Agriculture (CA) underlying principles of minimal soil disturbance, soil cover and crop rotation are increasingly recognized as an essential for the sustainability of this cropping system. Therefore, a brief review was done to find out the results its constraints and the possible interventions under a maize-based system of Nepal. Very few works under CA is done so far under maize-based cropping system of Nepal, however, the results are encouraging. There are some constraints in CA technologies promotion, such as scale-neutral agri-machineries, crop residues competition between CA use and livestock feeding, skilled and scientific manpower availability and overcoming the bias or mindset about tillage. CA provide opportunities to reduce the cost of production, improve resource use efficiency, saves water and nutrients and increase yield. There is a need to develop and promote low-cost technologies of CA that can be used effectively in maize based system of hills and Terai.

Livelihood Activities, Climate Change and Water Resources Availability in the Lower Cross River State, Nigeria

This study aims to assess how human livelihood activities influence climate change and water resource availability in the Northern part of Cross River State, Nigeria. Majorly, the paper looked at how human livelihoods activities like deforestation for agricultural expansion, carving, and timber, exploitation of non-timber forest products, sand mining, and faulty agricultural practices among others had influenced the removal of forest vegetation cover, how these activities also influenced the reduction in rainfall and subsequent paving of ways for climate change. These activities contributed greatly to increasing ambient temperature orchestrating carbon accumulation in the surrounding environment and reduction in the amount of rainfall within the study area. Using both soft and hardware computer applications including German 12 handheld GPS, and Integrated Land and Water Information System (ILWIS), were used for data collection. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected for the study. The GIS information software package was used to manipulate and perform feature identification, recognition, classification, calculation, and ground-truthing. A structured questionnaire was also used to collect data on some livelihood activities, the influence of livelihoods activities on water availability, and climate change among others. Secondary data set include the use of satellite imageries of Bekwarra, this was acquired from the Nigeria Center for Remote Sensing and Nigerian Meteorological Center, Jos for 1987- 2017. After analysis, it was found that the forest vegetation cover is fast disappearing, the built-up area had increased and the forest and water bodies are shrunken. Ambient temperature and carbon accumulation had seriously increased, while rainfall has reduced seriously leading to climate change and reduced water availability. It was recommended among others that tree planting and afforestation, alternative sources of livelihood that are feasible, sustainable, cheap, and practicable should be introduced to reduce pressure on the natural ecosystem.

Employee Grievances Impacts and Institution Performances: Case Study of Juba City Council, South Sudan

The overall objective of the study is to assess the Impact of employee grievances Impact and Institution performance in Juba City Council, Juba, Central Equatoria State. Data was collected from 50 respondents using Questionnaires. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitative data was summarized and analyze manually using content analysis. The findings from the study showed that employee grievances exist in different forms with 84% of the respondents indicating that low and imbalance salary create grievances among employee, 88% of respondents indicated that lack of attractive work incentives create employee grievances and 74% indicated that ineffective communication between management and employees causes grievances among employee while 10% declined. 86% of respondents indicated that lack of supervision and management skills among supervisors and managers result to grievances among employee. Furthermore, 64.6% of respondents indicated that unfair treatment of employees by the management. In addition to that 86% of respondents indicated that management failure to pay attention to employee personal problems risk employee's grievances. 70% of respondents indicated that ineffective of delegation of authority to employees by the management causes employee grievances. The findings of the study showed that 92% of respondents indicated that grievances reduce the employee commitment in performance organization's task, 76% of respondents indicated that grievances lead to high turnover of employee in an organization, 88% of respondents indicated that grievances lead to poor quality of produce in an organization. 86% of respondents indicated that recruitment of professional HRM can helps in effective handling of grievances among employees, 86% of respondents indicated that review available remuneration schemes contribute in handling grievances, 78% of participants indicated that reduce bureaucratic procedures in managing employee grievances helps in quick resolution of employee grievances.In conclusion, effective management of employee grievance help management understands the feelings and attitude of the workers concerning the organizations polices practices and rules. In addition, employee grievance management practice helps managers to identify questionable practices and areas of discontents in the organization and provides measures of correcting the questionable or faulty practices or policies. Since most grievances in workplaces are related to performance appraisal, rewards and incentives, salary, and general working conditions, the study recommended that management should ensure that it improves working conditions of her employees.

Sustainable Water Allocation in Umarkhed Taluka through Optimization of Reservoir Operation in the Wardha Sub-Basin, India

Climate change is causing shifts in seasonal weather patterns and variation in seasonal time scales in India. Factors including uneven distribution of water, faulty agricultural practices and water policies, low prices of farm products, and debt are leading farmers to commit suicide in Umarkhed Taluka of the Yavatmal District. This study aimed to develop a sustainable solution to water scarcity in the surrounding watershed by introducing optimization modeling in reservoir operation. Past studies have conducted different hydrologic analyses to address the water scarcity issue in this region. However, none of the studies incorporated optimization in their models. This study developed an integrated hydrologic and optimization model that can predict the daily reservoir releases for climate change scenarios from 2020 to 2069 based upon Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP-4.5 and RCP-8.5) climate change scenarios from 2020 to 2069. The integrated simulations were able to deliver around 19% more water than the historical discharge at the most downstream station of the Wardha Watershed. The simulated approaches store less water than the actual unoptimized scenario and deliver water when there is a need at the downstream locations. Finally, because the downstream locations of the Wardha Watershed receive more water, a localized storage system can be developed and a transfer method can be utilized to deliver sufficient water to the Umarkhed Taluka.

Coronavirus Disease 2019: Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Perceived Barriers among Health care Workers at Cairo University Children Hospital, Egypt

BACKGROUND: Insufficient knowledge and negative attitude toward coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among health care workers (HCWs) could lead to faulty practices resulting in delayed diagnosis and spread of the disease.
 AIM: this study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and perceived barriers to infection control toward COVID-19 among Egyptian HCWs.
 METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Cairo University Children Hospital, with 537 HCWs (doctors and nurses) enrolled.
 RESULTS: HCWs had an overall good knowledge level about COVID-19 where 61% had a knowledge score of ≥18 points (out of 23). Doctors were more knowledgeable than nurses. About 64% of HCWs were considered as having positive attitude (scored ≥10 out of 13 points), with a significantly higher positive attitude among nurses. The mean practice score of HCWs was 1.0 ± 2.0 with a significantly higher good practice among nurses. Younger age, being a doctor, and higher qualification were the significant positive predictors of acquiring knowledge about the disease. The most commonly perceived barriers for applying infection control measures in hospitals were overcrowdings in health-care facilities (78.2%) and insufficient infection control policies (62.6%).
 CONCLUSION: HCWs in general expressed good knowledge, positive attitude, and good practice toward COVID-19 despite some gaps that were detected in specific items. Proper planning of educational programs that are directed according to the needs of different groups of HCWs is crucial. Effective policies should be established to overcome the barriers for applying infection control in health facilities.

Assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of using hair-smoothing products among women in Saudi Arabia

Background: Hair-smoothing products have been developed by the cosmetic industry, targeting the popular desire among women for beautification. The products are also used as a treatment for hair. All hair-smoothing products contain different levels of formaldehyde, which is classified as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization. Purpose: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of using hair-smoothing products among women in Saudi Arabia, as well as identifying common side effects of their use. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 in Saudi Arabia. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to more than 1600 women, administered in the Arabic language using paper and an online survey. Results: Only 35% of the participants had previously used hair treatments, whereas 24% of the participants identified formaldehyde as a carcinogen. Close to two-thirds (59%) of the participants used hair treatments to facilitate management of their hair. About one-third (35%) of participants read the instructions for hair treatments before their use. The main symptom participants mentioned related to formaldehyde exposure was hair loss (34%). The majority of users (71%) use personal protective equipment during their use of hair-smoothing products. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated low levels of knowledge, a number of misconceptions, and faulty practices. Women must be made aware of the risks of some hair-straightening products that contain large concentrations of formaldehyde exceeding the recommended exposure levels. Therefore, we recommend raising the overall general public knowledge and awareness of hair-straightening products by establishing marketing campaigns and spreading knowledge through social media.

Data Breaches and Potemkin Privacy: How FTC Regulation Can Restore Authority and Agency to Online Users and Destroy the Data Oligarchy

Data Breaches and Potemkin Privacy: How FTC Regulation Can Restore Authority and Agency to Online Users and Destroy the Data Oligarchy

Adequacy of iodisation of salt at the household level and its associated factors in a rural sub-centre area of Bangalore Urban District, Karnataka, India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Consumption of iodised salt is a simple, effective and inexpensive preventive measure to prevent iodine deficiency disorders. Lack of awareness, faulty practices in storage as well as poor production quality lead to decreased availability of iodine at consumer level. The objective of the study was to estimate the proportion of households using adequately iodised salt and to assess their awareness and practices regarding iodised salt consumption in a subcentre region of Sarjapur PHC area in Bangalore Urban District.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done in 382 households selected by two stage method involving proportional allocation based on village size followed by systematic random sampling at village level. MBI salt testing kit was used to check for iodisation level.Results: Of the 382 households, 22.3% used inadequately iodised salt. Out of the 382 individuals interviewed, 72% were females and only 21% were aware about iodised salt. Majority of the households purchased salt from a general store, was stored in tightly closed plastic containers and kept on shelves. Only 5% looked for the iodine logo on the packets before purchase of salt. Individuals with poor awareness, purchase of salt at public distribution system store, storage of salt on the floor, use of crystal salt were significantly associated with presence of inadequately iodised salt at the household.Conclusions: Nearly 30% of the salt packets used by households were inadequately iodised. Awareness regarding iodised salt was poor which contributed to the presence of inadequately iodised salt at household level.

Infant feeding practices among mothers in rural Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh

Background: Maternal and child under nutrition remain extensive in low and middle-income population groups. Safe delivery practices and adequate nutrition during infancy is essential to ensure health, growth, and development of a child. Early under nutrition has a long-lasting effect on physical and cognitive growth. So it is essential to assess and promote the healthy child feeding & caring practices in the vulnerable groups.Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to enrol 160 mothers of infants by probability proportional to size (PPS) sampling procedure for 5 months in the field practicing areas of GSL Medical College. Primary data was collected through a validated questionnaire with variables of socio-demography, intra-natal, and infant feeding practices. Secondary data was obtained from MCP cards. The analysis was done using SPSS trial version 18, results were expressed as percentages and proportions and Chi-square test was used to assess the association.Results: Majorities (90%) of the deliveries are institutional and the proportion of low birth weight was found to be 12.5%. Breastfeeding was initiated within 1st hour after delivery among 75.6% infants and 79.1% of the infants of 6-11m were reportedly exclusively breast fed. Working status and literacy status of mother are significantly associated with infant feeding practices.Conclusions: In spite of many programmes targeted for promoting safe intra natal and infant feeding practices this study finds a relatively high proportion of faulty practices prevalent in rural areas.

Seeking strategic narrative alignment: the case of BRICS and Brazil on the issue of infrastructural development

Abstract This article explores the challenges of multilateral forums to form coherent ‘strategic narratives’ that align positively with foreign policy narratives of member states in a multi-stakeholder society. Specifically, it focuses on whether and how BRICS’s communication on the issue of infrastructural development is strategically aligned with Brazil’s foreign policy narrative towards Africa. The case study involves interview data from 2016 with non-state actors in Brazil. This empirical case highlights how narrative misalignment on the national and multilateral level results from a high degree of ambiguity in the narratives, their problematic relation to actual events, and faulty practices of ‘inclusive’ participation.

Seismic vulnerability of non-ductile RC buildings in Pakistan through stochastic analysis of design/construction deficiencies

Reinforced concrete frame structures constitute a major portion of the building stock of Pakistan. In 2005, Kashmir earthquake exposed the current deficient local design and construction practices in Pakistan. It is hypothesized that inhomogeneity of concrete in general and faulty construction practices in Pakistan cause huge uncertainties in parameters affecting strength, serviceability and seismic assessment results for structures in this country. The aim of this study is to assess the vulnerability of existing reinforced concrete (RC) building stock of Pakistan with respect to a stochastic analysis of the parameters affecting the built infrastructure. For this purpose, typical building characteristics with uncertainties are identified. The probability density functions of material and geometric parameters are defined for these building characteristics. These functions are then used to account for the uncertainty in modelling of structural configurations. Structural response is evaluated through static pushover analysis and vulnerability curves for different structural configurations are derived using the framework developed for deficient RC buildings. The performance of buildings is evaluated in different seismic zones as classified in the new Building Code of Pakistan (BCP-SP 2007). Selected buildings performed satisfactorily in Zones 1, 2A and 2B. Buildings in Zones 3 and 4 are found to be more vulnerable.

A cross-sectional study on knowledge, attitude and practice of infant feeding practices among reproductive age women attending outpatient department of obstetrics and gynecology in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College and Hospital, Bengaluru-45

Background: Adequate nutrition during infancy and early childhood is essential to ensure the growth, health, and development of children to their full potential. Lack of knowledge, wrong attitude and faulty practices among mothers in some aspects of infant feeding can lead to infant mortality. Thus, appropriate infant feeding practices and following recommended practice of exclusive breastfeeding could help in improvement of health of child and mother and also improve IMR. The objective of the study was assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice of infant feeding practices among reproductive age women.Methods: An institutional based, descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among reproductive age group (15 to 49 years) women attending OPD of OBGY department for various reasons. A semi structured questionnaire along with software tools like EpiInfo7, MS Excel and SPSS version 23 are used for data analysis.Results: A total of 98.5% of women consider breast milk as best nutrition and 77% were aware regarding exclusive breastfeeding. Weaning was most commonly started with mashed cereals (68.5%) with other food items at lower percentage. Participants are aware that breastfeeding is beneficial to both mother and child, and should not be avoided in any condition unless advised by treating doctor.Conclusions: Through the mothers under study had adequate knowledge regarding feeding practice but in this study it was observed that the appropriate practice worsens with increasing parity of mother.

Infant and young child feeding practices among mothers in Hyderabad, Telangana

Background: The objective of the study was to assess Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practices using World Health Organization indicators in infants and young children attending immunization clinics. Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was designed in a tertiary care hospital in an urban setup. Infant and young children from birth to 24 months attending immunization clinics were included. Main outcome measures were to assess IYCF Practices (8 Core and 7 Optional Indicators) and possible reasons for not practicing the same. Results: A total of 520 mothers attending immunization clinics were interviewed from June to July 2014. Mean age of the children was 32.5 weeks. 50.1% and 47.6% belonged to Hindu and Muslim religion respectively. Only 33.78% children were breastfed within one hour of birth. Among those who had not initiated breastfeeding within one hour of birth, 60.6% were not aware and the most common reason was caesarean section. In children older than 6 months, only 80% of children were exclusively breast fed for six months and the most common reason was insufficient breast milk. Only 72.5% of mothers introduced complementary foods from 6 to 9 months. Conclusions: The study shows poor IYCF practices in children attending immunization clinic at an urban tertiary care hospital. There is a clear knowledge gap among mothers. These faulty practices need to be addressed to improve feeding practices so as to maximize their benefits to the child. The study did not assess nutritional status of children. This would have been useful to see how inadequate IYCF practices were associated with nutritional status of the children.

Statistical Modeling in Health Research: Purpose Drives Approach.

ABSTRACT Statistical modeling is commonly used in both predictive and explanatory studies in health research. Its use in Cuba continues to grow, although it is sometimes employed inappropriately, which can lead to errors that imperil validity. This article attempts to shed light on faulty practices in statistical modeling by examining and discussing the main differences between explanatory and predictive models, with reference to the following: study objectives, theoretical considerations in model-building, aspects requiring assessment, variable and algorithm selection, analysis of confounders, treatment of multicollinearity, and reporting results.

Frequent Occurrence of Faulty Practices, Misconceptions and Lack of Knowledge among Hypothyroid Patients.

Hypothyroidism is a common endocrine disorder with a reported prevalence of 4%-10%. Previous studies have reported significant gaps in the basic knowledge about the condition in hypothyroid patients. It has also been observed that faulty practices prevail among these patients. There is paucity of data on the assessment of knowledge and practices among treated hypothyroid patients. The present study was aims to assess the knowledge, awareness and practices in treated hypothyroid patients. The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 244 consecutive hypothyroid patients, attending the Endocrinology Outpatient Department (OPD). The patients were asked to fill a structured questionnaire pertaining to knowledge and practices about various aspects of hypothyroidism. Only two-thirds of the participants correctly identified thyroid as a gland and 41% were aware that hypothyroidism is caused due to decreased function of the thyroid gland. The most common symptom attributed to hypothyroidism was weight gain (139 responses). Nearly 45% of the patients believed alternative forms of medicine can be used for treatment of hypothyroidism. It was believed by 42% of the patients that hypothyroidism runs in the family and about 10% believed it could be transferred to their spouses. Only 33% of the patients gave one hour gap between levothyroxine and food intake. The study demonstrates the lack of knowledge about basic aspects of hypothyroidism among the patients. In addition, there is a high prevalence of misconceptions and faulty practices. The study highlights the need for comprehensive patient education to improve therapeutic outcomes and compliance among hypothyroid patients.

Statistical Modeling in Health Research: Purpose Drives Approach.

Statistical modeling is commonly used in both predictive and explanatory studies in health research. Its use in Cuba continues to grow, although it is sometimes employed inappropriately, which can lead to errors that imperil validity. This article attempts to shed light on faulty practices in statistical modeling by examining and discussing the main differences between explanatory and predictive models, with reference to the following: study objectives, theoretical considerations in model-building, aspects requiring assessment, variable and algorithm selection, analysis of confounders, treatment of multicollinearity, and reporting results.