Software Version Research Articles

The Role of Recruitment Practises in Enabling Workforce Diversity in County Governments in Kenya

Workforce diversity in public sector organizations in sub-Saharan Africa is supported by legal statutes and mandates as opposed to organizational policy initiatives. HR audits indicate a skewed distribution of specific ethnic groups and an aged workforce with redundant skills due to recruitment practices. Due to the dearth of studies on workforce diversity in sub-national governments in Sub-Saharan Africa, the study examined the role of recruitment practices in enabling workforce diversity in the County Government of Trans- Nzoia. The study was guided by the social identity theory and adopted a descriptive design that was cross-sectional in the time dimension. The study censused senior employees of the County Government and employed a questionnaire as the main research instrument The study carried out data analysis through descriptive analysis and used regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 and the output presented in the form of graphs, Charts, and tables. The descriptive statistics indicated the county government values employee qualifications and uses both internal and external job advertisements, with a skewed but consistent selection process. Use of interviews with little application of the psychometric test of candidates as a screening criteria. Workforce diversity significantly correlated with the recruitment practices; with job advertisements (r = 0.781, p< 0.05), and screening process (r = 0.679, p< 0.05), The study concluded that the recruitment practices have a positive effect on workforce diversity. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the county government support competitive recruitment procedures to improve workforce diversity. The study implications are that sector organizations can promote workforce diversity through efficient practices. The study calls for the HR professional to critically examine the different aspects of HRM in public sector organizations. The study findings are beneficial to sub-national governments, policymakers/legislators, and other scholars in Kenya

Exploring the Integration of Industry 4.0 Technologies in Agriculture: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Review

While it is essential to increase agricultural production to meet the needs of a growing global population, this task is becoming increasingly difficult due to the environmental challenges faced in recent decades. A promising solution to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production is the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as IoT, UAVs, AI, and Blockchain. However, despite their potential, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that cover the full range of these technologies in agriculture. This gap limits understanding of their integration and impact. This study aims to provide a holistic bibliometric analysis of the integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in agriculture, identifying key research trends and gaps. We analyzed relevant literature using the Scopus database and VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20, Centre for Science and Technology Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands)and identified five major thematic clusters within Agriculture 4.0. These clusters were examined to understand the included technologies and their roles in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. The study also identified unexplored technologies that present opportunities for future research. This paper offers a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape in Agriculture 4.0, highlighting areas for innovation and development, and serves as a valuable resource for enhancing sustainable agricultural practices through technological integration.

Numerical Study on the Explosion Reaction Mechanism of Multicomponent Combustible Gas in Coal Mines

Combustible gases, such as CO, CH4, and H2, are produced during spontaneous coal combustion in goaf, which may cause an explosion under the stimulation of an external fire source. It is of great significance to study the influence of combustible gases, such as CO and H2, on the characteristics of a gas explosion. In this study, CHEMKIN software (Version 17.0) and the GRI-Mech 3.0 reaction mechanism were used to study the influences of different concentration ratios between CO and H2 on the ignition delay time, free radical concentration, and key reaction step of a gas explosion. The results show that the increase in the initial CH4 and CO concentrations prolonged the ignition delay time, while the increase in the H2 concentration shortened the time and accelerated the explosion reaction. The addition of H2 promoted the generation of free radicals (H⸱, O⸱, ⸱OH) and accelerated the occurrence of the gas explosion. CO generated ⸱OH free radicals and dominated the methane consumption through the R119 and R156 reactions. As the concentrations of CO and H2 increased, the R38 reaction gradually became the main driving factor of the gas explosion.

An Ecological Survey of Chiggers (Acariformes: Trombiculidae) Associated with Small Mammals in an Epidemic Focus of Scrub Typhus on the China-Myanmar Border in Southwest China.

Chiggers (chigger mites) are a group of tiny arthropods, and they are the exclusive vector of Orientia tsutsugamushi (Ot), the causative agent of scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease). Dehong Prefecture in Yunnan Province of southwest China is located on the China-Myanmar border and is an important focus of scrub typhus. Based on the field surveys in Dehong between 2008 and 2022, the present paper reports the infestation and ecological distribution of chiggers on the body surface of rodents and other sympatric small mammals (shrews, tree shrews, etc.) in the region for the first time. The constituent ratio (Cr), prevalence (PM), mean abundance (MA), and mean intensity (MI) were routinely calculated to reflect the infestation of small-mammal hosts with chiggers. Additionally, the species richness (S), Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H), Simpson dominance index (D), and Pielou's evenness index (E) were calculated to illustrate the chigger community structure. Preston's log-normal model was used to fit the theoretical curve of species abundance distribution, and the Chao 1 formula was used to roughly estimate the expected total species. The "corrplot" package in R software (Version 4.3.1) was used to analyze interspecific relationships, and the online drawing software was used to create a chord diagram to visualize the host-chigger associations. From 1760 small-mammal hosts, a total of 9309 chiggers were identified as belonging to 1 family, 16 genera, and 117 species, with high species diversity. The dominant chigger species were Leptotrombidium deliense, Walchia ewingi, and Gahrliepia longipedalis, with a total Cr = 47.65% (4436/9309), among which L. deliense is the most important vector of Ot in China. The overall infestation indexes (PM, MA, and MI) and community parameters (S, H, and E) of chiggers in the mountainous areas and outdoors were higher than those in the flatland areas and indoors, with an obvious environmental heterogeneity. Leptotrombidium deliense was the dominant species in the flatland and indoors, while G. longipedalis was the prevalent species in the mountainous and outdoor areas. The species abundance distribution of the chigger community conformed to log-normal distribution with the theoretical curve equation: S(R)'=28e-[0.23(R-0)]2, indicating the existence of many rare species and only a few dominant species in the community. The expected total number of chigger species was roughly estimated to be 147 species, 30 more than the 117 species actually collected, suggesting that some uncommon species may have been missed in the sampling survey. The host-parasite association analysis revealed that one host species can harbor different chigger species, and one chigger species can parasitize different host species with low host specificity. A positive or negative correlation existed among different chigger species, indicating a cooperative or competitive interspecific relationship. The species diversity of chiggers is high in Dehong on the China-Myanmar border, and a large host sample is recommended to find more uncommon species. There is an obvious environmental heterogeneity of the chigger community, with different species diversity and dominant species in different environments. The low host specificity of chiggers and the occurrence of a large number of L. deliense in Dehong, especially in flatland areas and indoors, would increase the risk of persistent transmission of scrub typhus in the region.

Uncovering Hidden Risks in IoT devices: A Post-Pandemic National Study of SOHO Wi-Fi Router Security

This study thoroughly analyzes the cybersecurity status of Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) Wi-Fi routers. These routers are crucial but frequently overlooked elements in network infrastructure, particularly in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on network security. The pandemic has led to shifts in network usage patterns, blurring traditional security perimeters and extending them into private residences, creating additional points of vulnerability in urban environments. Our nationwide research evaluated an extensive dataset of router brands and models currently used at scale. We measured the prevalence of known vulnerabilities, assessed the currency of userspace and kernel software versions, and compared the security robustness of proprietary firmware against open-source alternatives. Our findings reveal a concerning landscape of widespread vulnerabilities and outdated software components, posing latent risks to end-users. The results indicate a predominance of Linux on MIPS and ARM architectures, with an average delay of 5 to 10 years between the release of the kernel and the implementation of the most recent firmware versions. As a result, we observed an average of 1344 and 72 vulnerabilities in the kernel and applications. One significant discovery from our research is that replacing the manufacturer's original firmware with open-source alternatives, such as DD-WRT, OpenWrt, and Tomato, can substantially enhance the security of the software stack. This enhancement results in improvements of up to 97% in the case of binaries and 98.42% in the kernel. Our research helps increase cybersecurity awareness by pinpointing critical home network environment weaknesses and alerting the need for more rigorous security practices in producing and maintaining SOHO routers. This investigation also allowed the report of a new remote code execution vulnerability (disclosed in CVE-2022-46552).

Association between self-reported napping and risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality: A meta-analysis of cohort studies.

This meta-analysis aims to assess the association between adult nap duration and risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched to identify eligible studies. The quality of observational studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We performed all statistical analyses using Stata software version 14.0. For the meta-analysis, we calculated hazard ratio (HR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). To assess publication bias, we used a funnel plot and Egger's test. A total of 21 studies involving 371,306 participants revealed varying methodological quality, from moderate to high. Those who indulged in daytime naps faced a significantly higher mortality risk than non-nappers (HR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.18-1.38; I2 = 38.8%; P<0.001). Napping for less than 1 hour showed no significant association with mortality (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.90-1.11; I2 = 62.6%; P = 0.971). However, napping for 1 hour or more correlated with a 1.22-fold increased risk of mortality (HR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.12-1.33; I2 = 40.0%; P<0.001). The risk of CVD associated with napping was 1.18 times higher than that of non-nappers (HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.38; I2 = 87.9%; P = 0.031). Napping for less than 1 hour did not significantly impact CVD risk (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.87-1.12; I2 = 86.4%; P = 0.721). However, napping for 1 hour or more was linked to a 1.37-fold increased risk of CVD (HR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.09-1.71; I2 = 68.3%; P = 0.007). Our meta-analysis indicates that taking a nap increases the risk of overall mortality and CVD mortality. It highlights that the long duration time of the nap can serve as a risk factor for evaluating both overall mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

The Effects of Concentrate Supplement Levels on Feed Utilization and Red Meat Production of Blackhead Somali Sheep Fed Natural Pasture Grass Hay as a Basal Diet.

In recent years, consumers have become aware of their health, and their preference has been rapidly changing to consume less fatty meat. Therefore, devising a strategy to produce lean meat is a concern in this study. One of the strategies, among others, for lean meat production is controlling the amount of supplements given to sheep. Hence, muscle (lean) and adipose tissue (fat) require different amounts of energy to lie down. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of concentrate supplementation levels on feed utilization and red meat production in Blackhead Somali sheep (BHS) fed natural pasture grass hay as a basal diet. A total of 16 BHS sheep weighing 19.5±0.2kg (mean±SE) at the beginning of the experiment were kept for 90 days by feeding two levels (1% [T1] and 1.75% [T2] body weight [BW] of sheep) of supplement. The sheep were blocked according to their initial BW (IBW), and the supplements were randomly assigned within a block. At the end of the feeding period, all sheep were slaughtered, and carcass and non-carcass data were recorded. Data were analysed using the SAS software version 9.1 of PROC GLM programme. Sheep fed T1 and T2 consumed 6.1 and 8.2MJ/day metabolizable energy (ME), respectively, and 73.1 and 93.6g/day crude protein (CP), in that order. Consequently, sheep fed T2 produced 1.37kg extra BW by growing an average rate of 15g/day greater (p<0.0001) over their counterpart fed T1. They also produced 0.9kg, 0.8 cm2 and 2.64% heavier carcasses, a wider rib eye area and a higher intramuscular fat content (p<0.0001), respectively, over the sheep fed T1. On the other hand, the lean-to-fat ratio was significantly lower in sheep fed T2 than T1. In most parameters considered in this study, sheep fed T2 (1.75% BW) were superior, but its intramuscular fat (IMF) content was much higher than the limit that the consumers needed. Therefore, it can be concluded that 1% BW supplementation is enough for BHS to produce lean meat containing the optimal fat content in stall feeding condition.

Immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in esophageal carcinoma and its correlation with histopathological features

Background: Carcinoma of the esophagus poses a considerable medical and public health challenge in many parts of the world. Despite advances in screening and multimodal management of this disease, overall survival remains poor. There is an utmost need to find a marker for the establishment of targeted immunotherapy. One immunohistochemical marker that has surfaced with the advent of anti-PDL1 immunotherapy is PD-L1 which has been proven to be advantageous. This study aimed to determine PD-L1 expression and its correlation with the grade of tumor and other histopathological parameters in 50 patients. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 cases of histopathologically proven esophageal carcinoma. Antibody used for PD-L1 was rabbit monoclonal (CAL10) Biocare. PD-L1 expression was considered positive when a complete or partial membranous or cytoplasmic staining pattern was noted in more than 5% of tumor cells. Correlation between PD-L1 expression and clinicopathological parameters was calculated. Proper consent was taken. The findings of the study were statistically analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0, a statistical program for Microsoft Windows. Results: This study revealed that PD-L1 positivity increases as the histopathological grade of esophageal squamous cells increases. Conclusions: The expression of PD-L1 increases with grade and shows more positive expression in poorly differentiated tumors. This indicates that PD-L1 overexpression is associated with aggressive disease. Targeted therapy against PD-L1 may prove to be beneficial in such patients.

Social network analysis approach to identify agricultural key communicators

Aim: This paper employed Social Network Analysis approach to visualize and calculate different social network metrics. It identifies key communicators who play pivotal roles in information flow. Methodology: Research was conducted at Jammulapalem and Perali villages of Bapatla district, Andhra Pradesh, India, during 2022-23 using an exploratory research design. A total of 120 farmers Eigen vector were selected using simple random technique, and data was collected using a well-developed interview schedule. Network metrics such as Degree centrality, betweenness centrality, and eigen vector centrality were computed to evaluate the network structure using R software (version 4.3.1). R packages, namely igraph, statnet and network D3, were used for network creation, analysis and visualization to identify the influential nodes. Results: The study revealed a complex web of relationships among various stakeholders within the agricultural network through a network graph, identifying key communicators with the highest Degree centrality. Interpretation: The focal points identified through Social Network Analysis represent a specific demographic and socio-economic group, typically aged between 35 and 55, primarily medium-scale farmers,with landholdings spanning 10 to 25 acres and high annual income, with educational backgrounds ranging from high school to pre-university college, and wield significant influence within their local communities. They require sensitization, training, practical demonstrations, and personalized support to effectively disseminate agricultural information. Key words: Agricultural Information System Network, Centrality measures, Information Sources, Key Communicators, Network visualization, Social Network Analysis

Leadership Empathy and Employee Retention in Health Sector NGOs in Kenya

Employee turnover undermines the achievement of organizational goals. Retaining talented employees is a significant challenge for many health sector non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and it threatens their sustainability. Previous studies have been conducted to determine the causes of employee turnover in Kenya; however, there is inadequate empirical evidence regarding the correlation between emotional intelligence competencies and employee retention. This study aimed to determine the impact of leadership empathy on employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. The study was conducted based on Bar-On’s Emotional Intelligence Competencies Model. Positivism was the philosophical foundation of this descriptive design study. The analysis unit included 30 health sector NGOs in Kenya, while the observation unit included 1,500 management-level employees. The Yamane formula was used to determine the study sample size, which consisted of 316 respondents. A stratified random sampling technique was implemented to determine the sample. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the study data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (version 26) was used for data analysis, where descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. The findings are presented in tables and figures and prose form. We found a positive influence, indicating that increased empathy enhanced employee retention. Therefore, we concluded that leadership empathy is positively and significantly correlated with employee retention in health sector NGOs in Kenya. Managers and supervisors in health sector NGOs should receive training and development programs to enhance their empathy skills. Additionally, health sector NGOs should provide workshops, seminars, and coaching sessions that emphasize developing leadership empathy skills through active listening, perspective-taking, and genuine concern for others

In silico analysis of the melamine structural analogues interaction with calcium-sensing receptor: A potential for nephrotoxicity

In recent years, melamine, and its structural analogues, as adulterants in various food products including protein supplements,have been widely studied for their nephrotoxic effects. Previous research has presented evidence that certain small molecules can alter the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) function, contributing to nephrotoxicity. Melamine, for example, has been observed in in vitro settings to interact with the allosteric binding site of CaSR, resulting in uncontrolled CaSR activation. This activation results in the production of reactive oxygen species, which eventually causes kidney cell apoptosis and/or necrosis. The present research used the in silico molecular modelling to evaluate the CaSR binding profilesof four common adulterants in protein supplements: melamine, cyanuric acid, uric acid, and melamine cyanurate. Using Schrödinger’s Maestro docking software (version 13.2.128), the docking studies coupled a noncovalent extra precision mode with the molecular mechanics-generalized born surface area (MM-GBSA) simulation for enhanced binding affinity prediction accuracy. This study identified that cyanuric acid, uric acid, and melamine cyanurate have greater CaSR binding affinities than melamine. Interestingly, melamine cyanurate had the highest binding potential to CaSR. Previous animal studies have reported high concentrations of melamine cyanurate complex in rat kidneys following melamine administration. These findings demonstrate a molecular explanation melamine cyanurate complex-induced nephrotoxicity. This research offers new insight regarding the probable mechanism through which melamine, its analogues, and complexes may cause nephrotoxicity.

Validation of a Remote Sampling Sensor for Measuring Urine Volume and Nitrogen Concentration in Grazing Dairy Cattle.

The purpose of this research was to validate a urine sensor (Lincoln University PEETER V2.0, Canterbury, New Zealand) that records the time and volume of urination events for dairy cows in addition to collecting a proportional urine sample from all urination events. Sixteen multiparous Holstein × Jersey mid-lactating cows (101 ± 5 days in milk, 498 ± 24.2 kg body weight, 26.2 ± 3.07 kg/d milk yield; mean ± standard deviation) were allocated herbage diets ranging in protein and sodium content to generate a range of urine volumes and urine nitrogen (UN) concentrations. Total collection of individual urination events occurred during a 72-h measurement period where PEETER V2.0 sensors were attached to cows. A mixed model ANOVA using lme4 package (version 1.1-35.5) in R (version 4.3.3) were used to compare the means. The average urine event size was 2.65 ± 1.1 L for total collection by observers and 2.68 ± 1.1 L as recorded by the sensor (mean ± standard deviation; p = 0.730). The urine nitrogen concentration was 5.76 ± 1.2 g N/L for samples collected by observers and 5.85 ± 1.3 g N/L for the samples collected by the sensor (p = 0.583). The calculated UN excretion was 156 ± 45.1 g/day for direct measurements and 162 ± 40.0 g/day for the sensor (p = 0.539. Contrasts with simultaneously measured data were undertaken using Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and a Pearson correlation coefficient (r). Correlations between the actual values and sensor values were strong, with little to moderate variability in the urine volume (CCC = 0.936, r = 0.937; n = 222), UN concentration (CCC = 0.840, r = 0.837, n = 48) and total UN excretion (CCC = 0.827, r = 0.836, n = 24). Considering the findings, the PEETER V2.0 urine sensor has the potential to reliably measure urine volumes and UN concentrations for estimations of the UN excretion of dairy cattle under grazing systems.

Clinical spectrum and prevalence of temporomandibular joint disorder: A hospital-basedanalysis

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine frequency of temporomandibular joint disorders and its severity among patients presenting with complaints of pain at tempo mandibular joint. Materials and methods: A total of 205 patients were selected in this study, the research has been done in unit of oral and maxillofacial surgery at darul-sehat hospital, Karachi. Patients, age 18 to 40 years, with history of diabetes, hypertension, habits of pan/chalia and smoking presented with complain of pain at temporomandibular joint for a period of two weeks were recruited in study. Patients with history of bone &amp; neurological disorder, taking immunosuppressant drug, trauma or surgery of temporomandibular joint were excluded from study. Examinations were carried out by single researcher to ensure the continuity and reliability of answers and interpretation of results. This will also help to eliminate inter-observer biases. Data gathered using a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Results: A total of 205 patients which fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study, including 99(48.3%) males and 106(51.7%) females. The age ranged from 18-40 years were included, belonging to age 15-20 years n=73(35.3%), 21-25 years n=65(31.4%), 26-30 years n=2(1%), 31-35 years n=60 (29%), and 36-40% years n=5 (2.4%). Around 42 (20.5%) patients had history of hypertension while 40 (19.5%) had diabetes, for which they were taking their medicines. History of smoking was seen among 38 (18.5%) patients.Disease was categorized as mild in 98 (47.8%) patients, moderate in 88 (42.9%) patients and severe in 19 (9.3%) patients. Around 158 (77.1%) had unilateral and 47 (22.9%) had bilateral disorder. Out of 205 patients most of them had temporomandibular joint disorder 192(93.7%). Conclusion: temporomandibular joint disorder is most common cause of orofacial pain and requires thorough knowledge and adequate examination to diagnose the disorder.

Calretinin Staining Pattern is Variable in Hirschsprung Disease Occurring in Patients with Down Syndrome

Abstract Introduction/Objective Hirschsprung disease (HD), a congenital absence of enteric ganglion cells, affects 2-10% of patients with Down syndrome (DS). Submucosal nerve hypertrophy (SNH) and abnormal calretinin immunohistochemistry (IHC) support a diagnosis of HD, but the concordance of these findings can be variable in DS. Recognizing differences in HD occuring in DS can provide insight into the disease and help to improve outcomes and reduce delays in diagnosis for these patients. We sought to describe the histologic and calretinin staining patterns in HD occurring in patients with DS. Methods/Case Report From 2017-2023, 22 rectal biopsies from 20 patients with DS were retrospectively collected and reviewed. Subsequent pull-through (PT) resections were evaluated from 8 patients. Biopsies were evaluated for ganglion cells and SNH. Calretinin IHC was qualitatively evaluated for intensity (strong, weak) and density (many, partial, rare). Quantitative analysis used a calculation of the percent area above threshold (%AAT) function of the NIH ImageJ software version 2.1.0. Representative areas of the PT resections were also evaluated by ImageJ %AAT analysis. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) HD biopsies (12/22, 54.5%) were from male patients (age 3 days-6 weeks) and showed SNH in 11/12 (91.7%) with a mean nerve diameter of 57.3 microns (range 25-89 microns). Ganglionated biopsies (10/22, 45.5%) were collected from patients 3 days to 12 years old (M:F ratio 1:1.5) and showed SNH in 6/10 (60%) with a mean nerve diameter of 44.4 microns (range 10-70 microns). Strong normal calretinin staining was only seen in ganglionated biopsies (7/10 non-HD versus 0/12 HD). Negative calretinin staining was only seen in HD (0/10 non-HD vs 7/12 HD). Abnormal staining was seen in both non-HD (3/10, 30%) and HD (5/12, 41.7%) as partial strong positivity and rare weak positivity, respectively. ImageJ %AAT quantitative analysis revealed an average of 1.71 in biopsies with strong calretinin expression, 0.130 with weak staining, and 0.033 with negative staining. Evaluation of 8 PT resections (mean length of aganglionosis 7.1 cm) showed a mean nerve diameter in the aganglionic segment of 88.3 microns, 49.6 microns in the TZ, and 32.7 microns in the ganglionated segment. ImageJ %AAT quantitative analysis of calretinin revealed a mean of 0.044 in the aganglionic area, 0.66 in the TZ, and 1.56 in the ganglionated segment. Conclusion Recognition of the variable calretinin patterns seen in rectal biopsies from patients with DS can assist in accurate and timely diagnosis of HD.

UTILITY OF AUTOMATED HEMATOLOGY ANALYZER IN THE DETECTION OF MALIGNANT CELLS IN SEROUS EFFUSIONS

Abstract Introduction/Objective Although microscopic examination is the gold standard for body fluid malignant cytology, it has a higher turnaround time and inter observed variability. Screening of serous effusions for malignant cells using haematology methods of automated analysis provides a rapid and objective result to the clinicians for initiating necessary treatment. Automated haematology analysers are equipped with body fluid (BF) mode that can detect high fluorescence cells body fluid (HF-BF) cells, mononuclear and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells using flowcytometry laser scatter principles. The high fluorescence parameters useful for identifying malignant cells in the effusions Methods/Case Report The study was performed between February 2023to Februart 2024 at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad after obtaining approval from the medical ethics committee of thehospital. Body fluidswere collected in K2 EDTA vaccutainer. Simultaneous preparation of smears for microscopic examination and morphometry wasdone and the smears were stained using Romanowsky stain (Leishmann &amp; Giemsa). Cytospin smears were prepared by cyto- centrifugation (Sakura cyto- tix). The slides were stained by Hematoxylin and eosin, May Grunwald Giemsa (MGG) and Papanicolaou (PAP) stains for morphological differentiation and detection of malignant cells. Cell blocks were prepared after through mixing of the fluid using direct sedimentation method and the slides were stained by haematoxylin and eosin stain. IHC was performed where ever necessary. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) A total of 258 fluid samples comprising of 223 ascitic and 35 pleural fluids. Medical statistical software version 20.2 was used for statistical analysisof the results. Considering fluid cell block analysis as the gold standard the patient population was divided into 2 groups, malignant (8 samples) and non- malignant cell group(250 samples). Cytological examination of cytospins smears has shown to have the highest specificity, PPV and NPV in the detection of malignant effusions. Conclusion Our study shows that cytology and histopathological examination of body fluids remains the gold standard for the detection of malignant cells. The HF-BF parameter acts as a rapid, useful tool to predict the presence of malignant cells in serous effusions and select samples for microscopic reviewing that would have otherwise gone undiagnosed. We believe that with defining cut off values for the HF-BF parameter may be used as an adjunct diagnostic tool.

A Study to Assess Anti-TB Treatment Compliance, Factors Predictive for Poor Adherence and Perpetual Defaulting among Patient Living with TB in Namuseche Chipata Eastern Province–Zambia

Background of the Study: Tuberculosis (TB) is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. According to WHO at least 1.5 million people each year succumb to TB, thus making it the world's top infectious killer as well as the leading cause from a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS. Zambia is one of the top 30 high TB burden countries. People with active TB can infect 5– 15 other people through close contact over the course of a year. TB patients with compromised immune systems, such as people living with HIV, malnutrition or diabetes, or people who use tobacco, have a higher risk of falling ill. Without proper treatment, 45% of HIV-negative people with TB on average and nearly all HIV-positive people with TB will die. Defaulting on TB medication is a major barrier to both local and global TB control. Defaulting increases, the risk of drug resistance, treatment failure, relapse and death, and may prolong infectiousness. Poor adherence to treatment means that patients remain infectious for longer and are more likely to relapse or succumb to tuberculosis. The rate of anti-TB treatment compliance, adherence and perpetual defaulting TB treatment was and is still high during the intensive phase of treatment. Most people who are called “lost to follow up” don’t have adequate information as to why they should continue and finish their TB medication.  Methodology: A qualitative, phenomenological cross-sectional research design was used. Namuseche Prison Clinic and surrounding compounds of Chipata Township in Eastern Province Zambia. A total of 141 participants was recruited through purposive sampling. In-depth interviews were conducted. The SPSS package version 23 was applied to conduct quantitative analysis. The proposal was approved by the Chreso University Ethics Clearance Committee and National Health Research Authority. Researcher ensured confidentially and voluntary participation with informed consent.  Results: The age of the respondents in this study ranged from 18 years to 50 years. Knowledge on TB related questions was very high in this study and stood at 87.3%. TB treatment default was found in 34 (32.7%) respondents and was associated with distance to the facility and transport costs, feeling unwell and the drug side effects.  Conclusion: TB treatment default was found in 34 (32.7%) respondents and was associated with distance to the facility and transport costs, feeling unwell and the drug side effects.

Analysis of Prescribing Patterns of Drugs Used in Osteoarthritis in Tertiary Care Center

Background: Osteoarthritis (O.A.) is a common degenerative lesion of the articular cartilage that corresponds to hypertrophy deterioration of bone structure is osteoarthritis. The treatment is mainly focused on the management of pain. Methods: An Observational study was conducted among 163 patients visiting Orthopedics Out Patient Department at GMC Hospital. The duration of study was for 6 months from Jan 2024-Jun 2024. The analysis of collected data was done by SPSS version Software. Descriptive Statistics tools like frequency, Percentage were used to express the findings. Results: We found that female was (68.7%) in comparison to male (31.3%). Oral route (79%) was most commonly preferred route of drugs administration than topical route (21%). Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) (41.78%), Vitamins and minerals (22.5%), Antiulcers (19.5%), Symptomatic Slow-acting Drugs in Osteoarthritis (SYSODA) (6.82%), Muscle Relaxants (5.02%) and Others (4.07%) were Prescribed groups of drugs. Diclofenac (19.52%) was most commonly prescribed Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs followed by Aceclofenac (11.37%). Average no. of drugs prescribed was 5.12, % of drugs Prescribed from National List of Essential Medicine (NLEM) was 79.88%, % of drugs prescribed by generic name was 0% and Average dispensing time was 225.13 sec. Conclusion: Osteoarthritis (O.A) was mostly common in female than male. Lumbar was most commonly affected site of Osteoarthritis. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs was most commonly prescribed groups of drugs. Keywords: Osteoarthritis, Prescribing Pattern, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, Diclofenac, Symptomatic Slow-acting Drugs in Osteoarthritis.

The validity and reliability properties of a Persian version of the evidence-based practice profile (EBP2) questionnaire among Iranian students of health-related fields

BackgroundEvidence-based medicine is defined as searching for medical information, reviewing and comparing it to each patient’s situation, and then judging the optimal decision. We aimed to measure the psychometric properties of the Evidence-Based Performance Profile (EBP2) Questionnaire among the students of health-related fields at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2021. The EBP2 questionnaire, which includes 74 five-Likert-scale items, was translated into the Persian language using the forward-backward translation method. A panel of five experts approved the face, content, and structural validity of the questionnaire. The Cronbach’s alpha and McDonald’s Omega coefficients were utilized to assess the questionnaire’s internal consistency. Furthermore, both confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were used to assess the questionnaire’s construct validity. SPSS software version 25 and LISREL software version 8.8 were used for statistical analysis.ResultsOverall, 339 students participated in this study. The cultural adaptability, linguistic equivalence, and content validity of the Persian version of the EBP2 questionnaire were approved by a five-member team of medical experts. In addition, the results showed excellent internal consistency of the Persian version of the EBP2 questionnaire (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.962, McDonald’s Omega (ML) = 0.963). Moreover, all domains had acceptable reliability (> 0.7), except the Practice domain which had a marginally acceptable Cronbach’s alpha coefficient equal to 0.686. Exploratory factor analysis discovered six domains for the questionnaire. Moreover, the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that all indices except the comparative fit index (CFI) and adjusted goodness of fit (AGFI) confirmed the validity of the EBP2 questionnaire.ConclusionThe study’s findings indicate that the Persian translated of the EBP2 questionnaire exhibited satisfactory validity and reliability for assessing students’ evidence-based performance in health-related fields.

Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) in Iranian Older Adults

Objectives: To investigate the psychometric properties of the persian version of the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS-P) among older adults in Tabriz. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting(s): Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan province, Iran. Participants: A representative sample of 1362 (768 females and 594 males) community-dwelling people aged≥60 participated in the current study. Outcome measures: The psychometric properties of the SWLS-P were evaluated. The standard translate/back-translate procedure was applied. Then, using an expert panel, the face and content validities were assessed. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA and CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to investigate the factorial structure, and data were analyzed using SPSS software version 23 and AMOS version 18. Results: Cronbach’s alpha calculated for the SWLS-P was 0.883, showing desirable internal consistency and reliability for the SWLS. Furthermore, CFA confirmed the single-factor structure of the Persian version of the scale and indicated an appropriate fit, with a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.049, a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.997, a Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.991, and a Chi-square to degrees of freedom (DF) ratio of 4.289. Conclusions: The results supported the validity and reliability of the SWLS-P for use with Iranian older adults.

Detecting spatial clusters of human scabies in Tigray, Ethiopia from 2018 to 2023

BackgroundScabies is one of public health concerns among communicable disease in Ethiopia, especially among disadvantaged and the poor. This current study aims to detect the spatiotemporal patterns of scabies in Tigray from 2018 to 2023 using scabies data aggregated at the zonal level. The study also examined the persistent patterns in the spatial variation of scabies incidence across the administrative regions during the study period.MethodWe collected scabies data using a weekly disease surveillance reporting format of the country from 2018 to 2023 across all accessible district health facilities in Tigray region, Ethiopia. We conducted retrospective analyses using both purely spatial and spatiotemporal scan statistic approaches, employing a discrete Poisson probability model to identify statistically significant clusters of high scabies rates throughout the Tigray regional zones in Ethiopia. Our methodology involved the use of Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic software (SaTScan v10.1.3), R programming software version 4.3.1, and ArcGIS Pro for all analyses.ResultsA total of 101,116 cases of scabies were reported from 2018 to 2023. Our study indicated a spatial heterogeneity in the pattern of scabies across Tigray region as well as its localization among geographically contiguous zones across space, except for the Western zone of Tigray where no data was collected. The detected statistically significant spatial clusters \\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:p-value<0.05$$\\end{document} persisted mainly in the Central, Eastern and Northwestern zones of Tigray over the six years of the study period. The highest relative risk (RR) was recorded in year 2021 (\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\:RR=8.49,\\:LLR=6860.34,p-value=0.01)$$\\end{document}. The central zone had the major clusters of scabies at district level from 2018 to 2023. The heterogeneous distribution of scabies across Tigray could be due to the spatial variations in the determinants of scabies (such as socioeconomic status, demographics, and material deprivation) across the region.ConclusionAn enormous burden of scabies was reported over a period of six years. The present study found localized clusters of high scabies rates at district and zonal levels in Tigray, Ethiopia, possibly due to differences in various determinants of scabies such as access to WASH services. The findings could help the government and health authorities to develop and implement scabies control strategies in Tigray, with a focus on high-risk districts and zones to ensure optimal resource allocation.