Pie Charts Research Articles

Prevalence and factors associated with water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities deprivation among children in Nigeria

BackgroundWater, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) remain fundamental public health components for children's survival, growth, and development. In Nigeria, children under 18 years are most deprived of WASH, with about 70 per cent lacking access to facilities. There is paucity of information on factors associated with WASH facilities deprivation in Nigeria, especially in the context of children. Hence, this study examines the household and individual factors related to WASH facility deprivation among children 0–17 years old in Nigeria.MethodA secondary analysis of the 2021 Nigeria Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) was conducted to assess facility deprivations in WASH for children, along with associated determinants. A merged dataset comprising a total of 22,059 weighted observations from both the under-five children and children aged 5–17 years was used for this study. Frequency tables, pie charts and bar graphs were used to examine the prevalence of WASH facility deprivation among children. A Chi-square statistical test was performed to determine associated factors with child WASH facilities deprivation in Nigeria at a p-value of less than 0.05 level of significance.ResultsThis study found that at least one-third of children in Nigeria were deprived of either one or more WASH facilities. Specifically, 32% were deprived of water, 40% were deprived of hygiene facilities and 67% were deprived of sanitation facilities. Children aged 5–9 (37.6%) were the most deprived of WASH facilities in Nigeria. Across all regions of the country, more children were deprived of sanitation when compared to water and hygiene. Overall, the wealth index and geopolitical zone significantly influenced access and availability of WASH facilities for children in Nigeria. Specifically, the education of the household head and wealth index are associated with access to sanitation facilities, place of residence is significantly associated with availability of water while access to hygiene facilities is significantly associated with the sex of the household head.ConclusionThe study concludes that there is a correlation between factors and the increased likelihood of children experiencing WASH facilities deprivation. Although the influence of these factors increases based on determinants and varies by regional dimensions, there are still insufficient implementation practices where deprivation is minimal, and this is influenced by household and other factors.

Histological chorioamnionitis and its predictors among mothers with premature rupture of membranes delivering at tertiary hospitals in Uganda: a multicenter cross-sectional study

BackgroundHistological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a significant global threat to maternal and fetal health, with an increasing prevalence in resource-limited settings. However, data on its burden and predictors remain scarce in Africa, including Uganda. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of HCA among mothers with premature rupture of membranes (PROM) at three tertiary hospitals in Uganda.MethodsThis multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted over a three-month period, from July to October 2023, at three tertiary hospitals in Uganda. A total of 106 women diagnosed with PROM were consecutively enrolled. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that captured routine history-taking and physical examinations. Key information gathered included the history of liquor drainage, clinical signs of chorioamnionitis (fever, uterine tenderness, and foul-smelling liquor), labor history, and placental samples obtained after delivery for histopathological analysis. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were performed using STATA version 14.2. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05, with a 95% confidence interval. Results were presented using bar charts, pie charts, and tables.ResultsAmong the 106 participants with PROM, 44 (41.5%) had histological chorioamnionitis. The most common histological finding was neutrophil infiltration in 22 cases (50.0%), followed by funisitis in 13 cases (29.6%). Referral status (aOR = 4.5, 95% CI: 1.511–13.315, p = 0.007) and lack of prenatal care (PNC) attendance (aOR = 9.8, 95% CI: 2.802–14.504, p = 0.000) were independently associated with histological chorioamnionitis.Conclusions and recommendations.The prevalence of HCA in this study was notably higher than previously reported data from Uganda. Neutrophil infiltration was the most frequently observed histological lesion. Patients with PROM who were referred from other health facilities or had not attended PNC were at a higher risk of developing HCA. These findings highlight the critical need for early detection and management of HCA in mothers with PROM, particularly in resource-limited settings. Routine screening for HCA should be implemented for all women presenting with PROM, with special attention to referred cases and those without PNC. Early initiation of treatment should be considered until the diagnosis is definitively ruled out. Further research is needed to explore the underlying causes of HCA to inform targeted preventive measures.

Susceptibility profile and associated factors of urinary tract infections among women with established preterm labor delivering at a tertiary teaching hospital in Eastern Uganda: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundUrinary tract infections have been recognized as a significant health issue since ancient times, but they are particularly concerning during pregnancy due to their potential to cause severe complications like preterm labor and low birth weight leading to significant neonatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility and factors associated with urinary tract infections among women with established preterm labor at Jinja Regional Referral Hospital.MethodsThis was a hospital-based cross-sectional study carried out from 1st January 2024 to 30th April 2024. Using a consecutive sampling method, 385 pregnant women were enrolled until the desired sample size was reached. Data was collected via pretested questionnaires, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were determined via urine culture and sensitivity. Data was analysed using STATA Version 14.2. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine association between the dependent and independent variables, with P < 0.05 as the level of significance at 95% confidence interval. The results were presented in pie charts, bar graphs and tables.ResultsThe prevalence of urinary tract infection was 114 (29.6%). The effectiveness of antibiotics against common Urinary tract Infection (UTI) pathogens varied significantly. E. coli was the most frequently isolated organism in UTIs, accounting for 42.98% of the cases followed by Enterococcus at 24.56%. Ceftriaxone was the most effective agent overall, with 81% of the pathogens showing susceptibility, followed by cefixime (78%) and co-amoxiclav (73%). Nitrofurantoin (64%) and cefuroxime (66%) had moderate effectiveness, whereas ampicillin (50%) was less effective. Azithromycin (34%) and erythromycin (28%) were the least effective. No formal education, being unemployed, monthly income less than 500,000 Ugandan Shillings, a history of urinary tract infection, Parity of one or more, a gestational age ≥ 26 weeks and diabetes (aOR = 8.00; 95% CI = [1.75–36.48]; P = 0.007), (aOR = 2.72; 95% CI = [1.38–5.23]; P = 0.003), (aOR = 2.55; 95% CI = [1.29–5.16]; P = 0.007), (aOR = 4.60; 95% CI = [2.64–8.25]; P < 0.001), (aOR = 1.90; 95% CI = [1.07–3.45]; P = 0.028), (aOR = 2.41; 95% CI = [1.17–4.92]; P = 0.017), (aOR = 3.11; 95% CI = [1.33–7.12]; P = 0.009), respectively, were significantly associated with urinary tract infection.ConclusionsIn this study, the prevalence of urinary tract infection was high compared with the worldwide prevalence. The majority of the isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, followed by co-amoxiclav, cefixime, nitrofurantoin, ampicillin, azithromycin and erythromycin. Primary or no formal education, monthly income ≤ 500,000Ugandan shillings, history of urinary tract infections, gestational age ≥ 26 weeks and diabetes were significantly associated with urinary tract infection.

Asatyajaal Anveshak

The Astayajaal Anveshak Project is a web application and browser extension that aims to boost online safety and address the growing threats of cyber- attacks that puts sensitive user information at risk. This project groups websites into four types based on their web addresses: safe, phishing, defaced, and malware-infected by Uniform Resource Locator(URL) detection and categorization. Along with the use of browser extension for real time website detection and categorization. It pops up a message when you visit a site telling you how safe it is. The system also has a control panel for admins to track and maintain prediction statistics known as centralized admin dashboard. This panel has a pie chart that breaks down the types of websites people visit helping admins keep tabs on safety trends. It also include user awareness module in the form of quiz to teach people about online dangers.

Development and evaluation of patient-centred polygenic risk score reports for glaucoma screening.

Polygenic risk scores (PRS), which provide an individual probabilistic estimate of genetic susceptibility to develop a disease, have shown effective risk stratification for glaucoma onset. However, there is limited best practice evidence for reporting PRS and patient-friendly reports for communicating PRS effectively are lacking. Here we developed patient-centred PRS reports for glaucoma screening based on the literature, and evaluated them with participants using a qualitative research approach. We first reviewed existing PRS reports and literature on probabilistic risk communication. This informed the development of a draft glaucoma screening PRS report for a hypothetical high risk individual from the general population. We designed three versions of the report to illustrate risk using a pictograph, a pie chart and a bell curve. We then conducted semi-structured interviews to assess preference of visual risk communication aids, understanding of risk, content, format and structure of the reports. Participants were invited from an existing study, which aims to evaluate the clinical validity of glaucoma PRS among individuals > 50 years from the general population. Numeracy and literacy levels were assessed. We interviewed 12 individuals. The cohort was highly educated (42% university education), all were European and 50% were female. Numeracy (mean 2.1 ± 0.9, range 0 to 3), graph literacy (mean 2.8 ± 0.8, range 0 to 4) and genetic literacy (mean 24.2 ± 6.2, range - 20 to + 46) showed a range of levels. We analysed the reports under three main themes: visual preferences, understanding risk and reports formatting. The visual component was deemed important to understanding risk, with the pictograph being the preferred visual risk representation, followed by the pie chart and the bell curve. Participants expressed preference for absolute risk in understanding risk, along with the written content explaining the results. The importance of follow-up recommendations and time to glaucoma onset were deemed important. Participants expressed varied opinions in the level of information and the colours used, which informed revisions of the report. Our study revealed preferences for reporting PRS information in the context of glaucoma screening, to support the development of clinical PRS reporting. Further research is needed to assess PRS communication in other groups representative of target populations and with other target audiences (e.g. referring clinicians), and its potential psychosocial impact in the wider community.

P-2178. Can serum ferritin be used as a marker of severity in dengue fever?: a prospective observational study from North India

Abstract Background Dengue has a variable clinical course and there is no standardised marker for predicting dengue severity. Studies have shown higher ferritin levels in dengue compared to other febrile illnesses. Prospective studies to show correlation of ferritin with dengue severity are lacking. Demographic profile and workflow From 134 patients 99 were selected for the study , 35 were excluded as per the exclusion criteria (figure 1 flowchart). Majority of the patients were young (figure 3) with male predominance (figure 2), the male female percentages and age did not vary significantly across different grades of severity (table1 and figure 4). Methods Single centre prospective observational study conducted over 2 years. Patients of chronic inflammatory diseases, thalassemia, haematological malignancy or severe anemia (Hb &amp;lt; 7gm/dl) were excluded. Two ferritin samples 3 days apart measured by automated BECKMAN COULTER DxI.800 immunoassay analyzer. Clinical features and median ferritin value across different dengue severties In Figure 5 the pie chart shows that majority of the patients were dengue without warning signs , approximately 1/5th were severe dengue. Figure 6 shows that initial clinical features were more or less similar in the three groups of severities , however bleeding, pain abdomen , vomiting were more common in severe dengue group. Table 2 showing median ferritin values of day 0 and day 3 ferritin in different severity groups and whether their differences are statistically significant between each groups or not. The Box and whisker plots in figure 7, 8 and 9 shows the same with corresponding p values and Median ferritin level annotated. Results Total study population was 99 patients with median age of 28 years (24.5-34.5) and male predominance (68%). 2009 WHO classification wise 43% were dengue without warning signs 36% dengue with warning signs and 21% were severe dengue patients. Both day 0 and day 3 ferritin median value were higher across all three groups and the difference were statistically significant (p=0.00002 and p=0.045 respectively). Day 0 ferritin median value difference was statistically significant between severe dengue and dengue without warning sign (0.00001) and warning sign group (p=0.0003). In case of early ferritin sample (within day 7 of illness) it was significantly different between all groups. Serum ferritin also showed strong positive correlation with AST, ALT and negative correlation with Albumin levels. ROC curve analysis showed that a ferritin cut off of 9185 ng/ml with AUC 0.811, standard error 0.06 and 95% CI of 0.69-0.92 could differentiate severe from non severe dengue with 52.4% sensitivity and 97.4% specificity. For early ferritin sample cut off becomes 2132 ng/ml with a 70% sensitivity and 82.4% specificity with AUC 0.821, standard error 0.085 and 95% CI of 0.65-0.98. Multivariate logistic regression shows baseline platelet counts &amp;lt; 50000 cells/uL [OR 4.7, p=0.02, 95% CI 1.19-18.54] and Albumin &amp;lt; 3.5 gm/dL [OR 6.33 p=0.007 95% CI 1.67-24.06] to be independent predictors of severe dengue. Day 0 ferritin level &amp;gt; 9185ng/mL gave an Odd’s ratio of 10.47 with p=0.052 and 95% CI [0.98-112]. Correlation of ferritin with various biochemical parameters and Ferritin cutoff value to differentiate Severe from Non severe dengue by ROC curve Table 3 and Figure 10 Scatter plot showing strong positive correlation between serum ferritin and SGOT/ SGPT levels, and negative correlation with serum albumin level .Figure 11 ROC curve analysis showing the ferritin cutoff being 9185ng/ml to differentiate between severe and non severe dengue. If sample taken within day 7 of illness the cut off becomes 2132 ng/ml (Figure 12) Conclusion Ferritin can be a useful biomarker for differentiating different grades of dengue severity especially if sample taken in the 1st week of illness. Serum ferritin cut off values can be used to predict severe dengue. Multivariate Logistic regression to find independant predictor of severe Dengue Table 4 showing Multivariate logistic regression result, which reveals baseline platelet count &amp;lt;50000 and Albumin level &amp;lt;3.5gm/dL to be independent predictor of severe dengue.Day 0 Ferritin cutoff of 9185 ng/dL as per the ROC curve analysis shows that the Odds of prediction of severe dengue is 10.47 (p=0.052 and 95% CI 0.98-112). Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Strategic Competency and Growth of Aquaculture-Based Small Enterprises in Kenya

Purpose: This study evaluated the role of strategic competency on growth of aquaculture based small enterprises in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design using mixed methods approach. The target population was 600 fish farmers in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study utilized purposive sampling to select fish farmers within Nyeri County, then cluster sampling to identify fish farmers in their various sub-counties. Simple random sampling was then utilized to select respondents for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. A pilot study was conducted to test validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Regression analysis and chi-square were used to test for significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. The findings were presented in frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and scatter diagrams in the final report. Findings: The findings indicated a positive statistically significant relationship on strategic competency and its effect on growth. Further, regression analysis of the results established that strategic competency was found to account for 5.8% of the variation in the growth of aquaculture-based small enterprises in Kenya. 94.2% of variation in the growth of aquaculture based small enterprises in Kenya is explained by other factors outside the model. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on the study findings, the sector should sustain government and NGO support by subsidizing input costs, promoting cottage industries, and employing trained extension officers. In addition, the management should facilitate knowledge sharing through farmer excursions and disseminate information on region-specific fish farming techniques. Lastly, it should develop public-private partnerships to coordinate markets and reduce post-harvest losses through a demand-driven approach.

Commitment Competency and Growth of Aquaculture-Based Small Enterprises in Kenya

Purpose: This study evaluated the influence of commitment competency on growth of small enterprises in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive research design using mixed methods approach. The target population was 600 fish farmers in Nyeri County, Kenya. The study utilized purposive sampling to select fish farmers within Nyeri County, then cluster sampling to identify fish farmers in their various sub-counties. Simple random sampling was then utilized to select respondents for the study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. A pilot study was conducted to test validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Data analysis was done using Statistical package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Regression analysis and chi-square were used to test for significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. The findings were presented in frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and scatter diagrams in the final report. Findings: The findings indicated that commitment competency and growth had weak inverse linear statistical relationship. The study concluded that fish farmers are already aware of the many hurdles involved in fish farming but they remain resilient in doing what it takes to achieve the goals set for their fish farms. It is not the lack of commitment on their part that contributes to the stagnating or declining of their businesses. Instead, other challenges such as lack of crucial inputs such as reliable and quality feeds, quality fingerlings, adequate water, lack of business management knowledge, lack of market accessibility and capital contribute to the dismal performance of their businesses. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The government and NGOs should provide subsidized inputs and promote cottage industries to enhance aquaculture value chains. In addition, extension officers should be equipped with resources like water testing kits, and water harvesting should be encouraged in water-scarce areas.

Efficacy of County Government Authorities in Managing Municipal Solid Waste: A Case Study of Kitui Municipality, Kitui County, Kenya

Municipal solid waste management in Kenya has remained a challenge despite being devolved to forty-seven regional Counties in 2010 resulting in ongoing negative impacts on human health and environment. The study sought to investigate the success of Kitui County government in managing municipal solid waste with an aim of producing recommendations for its improvement. The research adopted mixed method approach and the research data was obtained through key informant interviews and issuance of survey questionnaires. Kitui municipality manager, Kitui municipality environment, recreation and social services director, municipal solid waste management supervisor, Kitui County National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) director, and Kitui County environment director were purposively selected as key informants for this study. The interview data obtained was descriptively analysed by looking at common themes arising from the interview narratives. Insights from the interview data revealed that financial constraints, and limited knowledge on sustainable municipal solid waste management practices, policies and regulations among Kitui municipality residents were some of the factors contributing to unsustainable municipal solid waste management practices in Kitui County. Randomly sampled (399) Kitui municipality residents were enrolled in a questionnaire survey on their experiences with Kitui County waste management operation. Of the 399 questionnaires issued 390 were completed and returned. Data obtained from the survey questionnaires was descriptively analysed by determining variable frequencies and presented in pie charts, bar graphs and frequency tables. The study findings revealed that, 42.8 % of the respondents were not satisfied with how Kitui County government undertakes waste collection exercise. Additionally, 23.8% of the respondents lacked waste collection services with 61% of them undertaking open burning of their generated waste. Waste from 31.2 % ...

Relationship between Work Environment and Employee Performance among Public Servants Attending Senior Management Course in Kenya

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish the relationship between work environment and work performance of employees in public service in Kenya. This was necessitated by the numerous challenges faced by public servants amidst the budgetary constraints and increased taxes making the work environment laced with high stress levels that are either work-related or personal. The study therefore sort to determine the factors within the work environment and how they influence an employee’s work performance. Methodology: The research design adapted was use of cross-sectional research survey, the target population was Public Servants represented by KSG Senior Management Course class 409/2023. The sample was 76 of the 112 public servants in the SMC 409/2023 class selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using structured questionnaires, data analysis done descriptively and inferentially using Microsoft Excel and SPSS version 27. The results were presented through use of pie charts and tables. Findings: 96.1% percent of the respondents believed that the work environment positively affected their job performance, which is 72 respondents, while 1.3% believed that it does not, which is only one respondent. Two respondents were unsure if the work environment affects their job performance. In the measurement of the extent of the work environment influencing their performance, 59.7% of them (46) agreed that it has very strong effects. 24.7% (19) respondents believed that work environment has a strong impact on their performance, 7.8% were not sure if it has or doesn't, 5.2% (4) respondents disagreed that each has an effect on the performance, while two people strongly disagreed if it has which is 2.6 percent. 46.8%, that is 36 people, were satisfied with their current work environment. 6.5%, which is five people, were very satisfied with their current work environment. 23.4%, 18 respondents, were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied with their current work environment, 16.7% (13) respondents were dissatisfied with their current work environment, and 5, 6.5%, were very dissatisfied with their current work environment. Unique contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study findings were important for theory because they brought forth new information about the levels of work performance among public servants. For practice, the study will guide on measures that can be done as recommendations to improve work performance and In Policy, the public service can utilize data from this study to improve on their work place policies to inculcate the unique needs of public servants thus hoping implementation will promote work performance.

Proportion of Poor Sleep Quality and Sleep Hygiene Implementation in Medical Students of Udayana University

Background: A good night's sleep is sleep with a sufficient duration, namely seven to eight hours a day. Sleep quality can be determined by sleep hygiene. People who practice sleep hygiene have better energy and cognitive function. Poor sleep quality due to poor sleep hygiene can affect person's mental and physical health. This often occurs in productive ages, such as students, due to demands and pressures regarding work. Objective: To determine the proportion of sleep quality and poor sleep hygiene implementation in Udayana University Medical Students. Method: This study is a quantitative descriptive study with a cross-sectional approach. The sample came from 245 students of the Undergraduate Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Udayana University, Class of 2021. Data were obtained using a questionnaire and presented in the form of a pie chart. Sleep quality assessment was based on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and sleep hygiene was based on the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI). Results: A total of 211 (86.1%) medical students of Udayana University Class of 2021 had poor sleep quality and 34 (13.9%) had good quality. Even so, the majority of students have good sleep hygiene, which is 229 people (93.5%), while 10 people (4%) are in the moderate category, and 6 people (2%) are in the poor category. Conclusion: A total of 211 people (86.1%) of medical students at Udayana University have poor sleep quality and 6 people (2%) of all students have poor sleep hygiene. Keywords: Sleep Quality, Sleep Hygiene, Medical Students, Udayana University

Towards responsible AI: an implementable blueprint for integrating explainability and social-cognitive frameworks in AI systems

Automation increasingly shapes modern society, requiring artificial intelligence (AI) systems to not only perform complex tasks but also provide clear, actionable explanations of their decisions, especially in high-stakes domains. However, most contemporary AI systems struggle to explain their runtime operations in specific instances, limiting their applicability in contexts demanding stringent outcome justification. Existing approaches have attempted to address this challenge but often fall short in terms of contextual relevance, human cognitive alignment, or scalability. This paper introduces System-of-Systems Machine Learning (SoS-ML) as a novel framework to advance explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) by addressing the limitations of current methods. Drawing from insights in philosophy, cognitive science, and social sciences, SoS-ML seeks to integrate human-like reasoning processes into AI, framing explanations as contextual inferences and justifications. The research demonstrates how SoS-ML addresses key challenges in XAI, such as enhancing explanation accuracy and aligning AI reasoning with human cognition. By leveraging a multi-agent, modular design, SoS-ML encourages collaboration among machine learning models, leading to more transparent, context-aware systems. The framework’s ability to generalize across domains is demonstrated through experiments on the Pima Indian Diabetes dataset and pie chart image-to-text interpretation, showcasing its transformative potential in improving both model accuracy and explainability. The findings emphasize SoS-ML’s role in advancing responsible AI, particularly in high-stakes environments where interpretability and social accountability are paramount.

Should dry spinal tuberculosis be managed differently than wet spinal tuberculosis?

On radiopathological examination of spinal tuberculosis (TB), two predominant forms are known: dry and wet types. Wet TB, as the name suggests, has abscess formation as its predominant presenting feature and is the exudative form; dry TB includes caseation and sequestration with minimal exudate. Dry TB often exhibits poorer recovery patterns than the wet counterparts, which can be possibly ascribed to vasculitis, ischemia, or tubercular myelitis, rather than isolated mechanical compression. These pathologic processes may lead to neurological deficit which is less responsive to treatment. To quantify the recovery and prognosis, and test for the significance of difference between neurological recovery pattern and prognosis of the two forms of spinal TB. A retrospective analytical observational study design in the form of a cohort study was performed. Single-center patient data over 6 years was analyzed. Of 217 patients with spinal TB, 18 had dry TB (Group 1). Two patients were excluded because they presented very late after the onset of neurological deficit, which could have played a role in the non-recovering nature of motor weakness. The remaining patients had wet TB, of which 22 patients were selected for propensity score matching to form a comparison group. Radiological measures included vertebral body height loss, deformity, canal encroachment, cord diameter, altered cord signal intensity and loss of CSF space. Functional measures were ambulatory status of the patient at final follow-up and neurologic status measured by ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) and LEMS (Lower Extremity Motor Score) scoring. The criteria for dry TB were imaging suggestive of granulation tissue (heterogenous hypo- or hyper-intensity on T2WI sequence), with at least one of the two factors (1) absence of anterior or posterior epidural abscess formation within the spinal canal (2) a canal encroachment of <30%. The groups were compared with respect to their differences in demographic distribution, symptom complex, mycobacterial drug sensitivity and presence of history of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body. Analysis was done by various tests of significance depending on the type of variable. Bar charts and Pie charts were used for visual representation of the analyzed data. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Dry TB showed partial or no return to ambulation (75%,versus 31.5% in wet, p=0.01) at 12-months and took more time to reach final ambulatory level (9.16 months versus 2.9 months in wet), despite having a lower average Cobb angle (16.5 degrees versus 20.95 in wet (p=0.132), lower mean canal-encroachment (24.9% versus 50.09% in wet, p<0.01) and preserved posterior-CSF flow as compared to wet TB (p=0.02). At final follow-up, 4/16 (25%) of dry and 0% of wet TB were ASIA A, and 9/16 (56.25%) dry and 18/22 (72.7%) of wet TB were ASIA E (p=0.04). Dry TB of the spine has poorer functional outcome in terms of time to ambulation and final ambulatory status despite having minimal destruction and abscess formation causing mechanical cord compression.

Satisfaction Level of SSY Account Holders

SSA the small saving scheme has proved to be a relief to an extend for the parent’s/ guardians of the girl child. The policy of "Beti bachao, beti Padhao," which aims to strengthen the nation by eliminating prejudice against girl children and shattering outdated beliefs about the birth of a girl child in the family, has drawn increased attention since the SSA was introduced. This scheme is guaranteed to draw in more savers with its consistent and higher return rate. This program contributes to the nation's economic growth by elevating the status of girls and increasing their access to education. As a result, the Indian government must continue to take such actions to improve the lot of the underprivileged and marginalized groups in society as well as others like the jobless. They must take the required actions to live up to the public's expectations for these kinds of programs. The unit comprised parents of the girl child of Chavakkad thaluk of Thrissur district. The sample size taken for the survey was 40 SSY account holders. The sampling technique used in this research is Snowball Sampling. Snowball sampling is a non- probability sampling techniques which is used in reaching the samples that are difficult to find. The objective of the study has been accomplished with the help of primary data collected from 40 respondents. A Google Form was used to send the questionnaire and gather responses. The collected data has been analysed by using various statistical tools pie charts, column chart, weighted average mean and multiple regression..

Factors affecting decision making among nurse managers working in government hospitals.

Effective nursing management and leadership are essential for the provision of desired patient care that will contribute to the improvement of any country's health indicators. However, nurses' views and experiences on the multitude of personal and organizational factors which may impact their decision-making abilities are often neglected in the literature. The study aimed to assess magnitude of poor decision making and its associated factors among nurse managers in South Wollo Zone Governmental Hospitals, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia, 2023. Non experimental cross-sectional study was conducted among 168 nurse managers in South Wollo Zone Public Hospitals from April 01 2023 to May 15/2023. Participants were selected by using a simple random sampling technique. The data were collected by using structured questionnaire from the study participants. Data were entered using EPI data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. The bi-variable logistic regression analysis model was used to identify the potential predictor variable, with p-value <0.25 was fitted into the multivariable logistic regression analysis model; p-value less than 0.05 and an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to declare, factors associated with the outcome variable. The model fitness was checked by using the Hosmer and Lemeshow test. Data were presented with frequency tables, graphs, and pie charts. The study found that the overall magnitude of poor decision-making among nurse managers was 35.7%. Being self-confident [AOR = 0.01, 95% CI: (00.002, 0.05)], receiving feedback [AOR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.76], and getting managerial support [AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: (0.06, 0.81)] were negatively associated with poor decision-making among nurse managers. Self-confidence, receiving feedback, and getting managerial support were variables significantly associated with poor decision-making. Authors strongly emphasize providing managerial support for nurse managers, increasing their habit of receiving feedback from colleagues, and encouraging them to build their self-confidence.

Examining the Carbon Footprint of Conferences with an Emphasis on Energy Consumption and Catering

This research study presents a comparison of an in-person and an online conference in terms of environmental impact and energy efficiency. The main goal of our research was to prepare a complete life cycle assessment of a two-day (15-h), 200-participant in-person and online conference based on different impact assessment methods. Life cycle assessments focus on the numerical determination of the decarbonization of conference consumption (lunch, dinner, food and beverage consumption during breaks), conference organization (discussions, correspondence, abstract booklet, registration package), travel, and infrastructure. The meals were examined by connecting the stages of preparation, cooking, consumption and end-of-life cycle as a cradle-to-grave analysis. We paid particular attention to the calculation of energy consumption. After carbon footprint comparisons, the areas with the highest impacts with pie diagrams were identified. Lastly, a SWOT chart and an SAP-LAP analysis diagram summarize the achievable objectives and challenges. In conclusion, there is no outstanding difference between the impact assessment methods for the carbon footprint investigation. Travel contributes 57% of the overall carbon footprint at in-person conferences, while the environmental impact of meals holds the second largest share, at 8.41 kg CO2 equivalent/person/hour. Excluding meals and travel, the calculated carbon footprint is 0.362 kg CO2 equivalent/person/hour (only considering the effect of preparation, organization, administration and registration package). Our initial hypothesis was that an online conference reduces decarbonization, which the results confirm.

Prevalence of the Utilization of Dietary Supplements Among Female Adults in ACCRA, Ghana

Objective: The utilization of dietary supplements has spiked in Sub-Saharan Africa despite no statistical evidence of their safety and effectiveness in disease protection, prevention and promotion. This study was conducted to investigate the prevalence rate of the utilization of dietary supplements among female adults in Accra, Ghana. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was carried out with a sample size of 392 female adults in Accra, Ghana. Participants completed a valid and reliable online questionnaire (Cronbach's alpha = 0.776 and valid at 2-tailed significant value). Pie Chart and Chi-square analyses were used to determine the significant difference between variables. Results: According to the study findings, 84% of female adults in Accra, Ghana, take some form of dietary supplements. 91% of female adults between the ages of 21-40 years old in Accra, Ghana, consume vitamins as a form of dietary supplement. In addition, there is a statistically significant association between age and the utilization of dietary supplements. Younger female adults utilize dietary supplements more than older female adults. Conclusion: Health promotion and education are needed to provide knowledge and awareness on dietary supplements to ensure the safety and efficacy of dietary supplement consumption.

Contrast sensitivity before and after refractive error correction among refractive error patients in Hawassa, Sidama, Ethiopia 2023

BackgroundContrast sensitivity is an important measure of vision quality. Risk of falling injury is strongly associated with poor contrast sensitivity compared with poor near- and distance visual acuity. Since good visual acuity is not necessarily associated with good visual performance in the “real world” it is important to consider contrast sensitivity when prescribing corrective lenses. There is limited evidence on how refractive error and its correction affect contrast sensitivity in the study area. Therefore, this study is important to understand how refractive correction affects contrast sensitivity, which is important baseline information for prescribing refractive error correction.Objective of this studyThis study aimed to measure the mean difference in contrast sensitivity with and without corrective lenses in patients with refractive error.MethodsObjective and subjective refractions were done for each patient, then Pelli- Robson contrast sensitivity was measured for them using computer based Pelli-Robson chart at 1 m. Pelli- Robson contrast sensitivity value (Log CS) with and without corrective lenses were recorded for each study participant. The collected data were checked for completeness and analyzed using SPSS 26. Descriptive analyses, independent sample t-tests, and one-way ANOVA were performed to compare CS means; the findings are presented using tables and pie charts. A P-value of ≤ 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance.ResultsOne hundred sixty-two patients attending refraction clinics participated in this study with response rate 98.19% of which 51.9% were male. The mean age of the participants was 34.28 ± 12.79 (SD). The mean contrast sensitivity increased from 1.29 ± 0.35 (SD) to1.51 ± 0.28 (SD) LogCS units with refractive correction (p = 0.000). There is no significant difference in contrast sensitivity between the types of refractive errors.Conclusion and recommendationUncorrected refractive can affect contrast sensitivity; therefore, proper refractive correction is essential to improve visual acuity and contrast sensitivity.

Path-based Design Model for Constructing and Exploring Alternative Visualisations.

We present a path-based design model and system for designing and creating visualisations. Our model represents a systematic approach to constructing visual representations of data or concepts following a predefined sequence of steps. The initial step involves outlining the overall appearance of the visualisation by creating a skeleton structure, referred to as a flowpath. Subsequently, we specify objects, visual marks, properties, and appearance, storing them in a gene. Lastly, we map data onto the flowpath, ensuring suitable morphisms. Alternative designs are created by exchanging values in the gene. For example, designs that share similar traits, are created by making small incremental changes to the gene. Our design methodology fosters the generation of diverse creative concepts, space-filling visualisations, and traditional formats like bar charts, circular plots and pie charts. Through our implementation we showcase the model in action. As an example application, we integrate the output visualisations onto a smartwatch and visualisation dashboards. In this article we (1) introduce, define and explain the path model and discuss possibilities for its use, (2) present our implementation, results, and evaluation, and (3) demonstrate and evaluate an application of its use on a mobile watch.

PROJECT EXECUTION AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED AREA COUNCILS IN NIGERIA

Local government administration has been described as a vital vehicle to achieving sustainable development at the grassroots. This study seeks to examine project execution and rural development in Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The core objectives of the study to examine the perception of the rural dwellers on developmental project execution in FCT-Abuja, impact of projects execution on rural development in FCT-Abuja and factors influencing project execution and rural development in FCT-Abuja. The study adopted survey research whereby questionnaire was administered to residents in selected area councils in FCT-Abuja. Taro Yamane formula was used to arrive at a sample size of 400 out of a total population of 3,067,500. Data gotten through questionnaire were arranged in tables, pie chart and analyzed using simple percentage and mean average. Secondary data elicited from journal articles, books and official documents were analyzed using desktop research method. The study found out that majority of the respondents in the selected area councils were dissatisfied about projects executed by area councils where they reside. Also, poor project conception, planning, misappropriation of funds, financial corruption and inadequate project management experts were significant factors affecting project execution and rural development in area councils in FCT-Abuja. The study recommended that social media and other media platforms can be used by area councils’ authorities to disseminate the progress reports of area councils’ developmental projects so that the local peoples’ perception can be changed positively. Lastly, wellarticulated projects conception, planning, involvement of professional project managers, adequate monitoring and evaluation of project expenditure can improve execution of projects and rural development in FCT-Abuja.