| 1. |
- Sbarra, AN, et al.
(författare)
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Mapping routine measles vaccination in low- and middle-income countries
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1476-4687 .- 0028-0836. ; 589:7842, s. 415-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The safe, highly effective measles vaccine has been recommended globally since 1974, yet in 2017 there were more than 17 million cases of measles and 83,400 deaths in children under 5 years old, and more than 99% of both occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)1–4. Globally comparable, annual, local estimates of routine first-dose measles-containing vaccine (MCV1) coverage are critical for understanding geographically precise immunity patterns, progress towards the targets of the Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP), and high-risk areas amid disruptions to vaccination programmes caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)5–8. Here we generated annual estimates of routine childhood MCV1 coverage at 5 × 5-km2pixel and second administrative levels from 2000 to 2019 in 101 LMICs, quantified geographical inequality and assessed vaccination status by geographical remoteness. After widespread MCV1 gains from 2000 to 2010, coverage regressed in more than half of the districts between 2010 and 2019, leaving many LMICs far from the GVAP goal of 80% coverage in all districts by 2019. MCV1 coverage was lower in rural than in urban locations, although a larger proportion of unvaccinated children overall lived in urban locations; strategies to provide essential vaccination services should address both geographical contexts. These results provide a tool for decision-makers to strengthen routine MCV1 immunization programmes and provide equitable disease protection for all children.
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| 2. |
- Molassiotis, A., et al.
(författare)
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Use of complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients : a European survey
- 2005
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Ingår i: Annals of Oncology. - : Oxford University Press. - 0923-7534 .- 1569-8041. ; 16:4, s. 655-663
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The aim of this study was to explore the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in cancer patients across a number of European countries.Methods: A descriptive survey design was developed. Fourteen countries participated in the study and data was collected through a descriptive questionnaire from 956 patients.Results: Data suggest that CAM is popular among cancer patients with 35.9% using some form of CAM (range among countries 14.8% to 73.1%). A heterogeneous group of 58 therapies were identified as being used. Herbal medicines and remedies were the most commonly used CAM therapies, together with homeopathy, vitamins/minerals, medicinal teas, spiritual therapies and relaxation techniques. Herbal medicine use tripled from use before diagnosis to use since diagnosis with cancer. Multivariate analysis suggested that the profile of the CAM user was that of younger people, female and with higher educational level. The source of information was mainly from friends/family and the media, while physicians and nurses played a small part in providing CAM-related information. The majority used CAM to increase the body's ability to fight cancer or improve physical and emotional well-being, and many seemed to have benefited from using CAM (even though the benefits were not necessarily related to the initial reason for using CAM). Some 4.4% of patients, however, reported side-effects, mostly transient.Conclusions: It is imperative that health professionals explore the use of CAM with their cancer patients, educate them about potentially beneficial therapies in light of the limited available evidence of effectiveness, and work towards an integrated model of health-care provision.
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| 3. |
- Amjad, M., et al.
(författare)
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Efficacy of Quinapyramine Sulphate, Isometamedium Chloride and Diminazene Aceturate For Treatment of Surra
- 2022
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Ingår i: Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences. - : Pakistan Agricultural Scientists Forum. - 1018-7081. ; 32:3, s. 663-669
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Trypanosomiasis (Surra) is a parasitic and zoonotic disease caused by Trypanosoama evansi, transmitted by insect vectors Tabanus and Stomoxys mechanically. The aim of the present study was to determine the therapeutic efficacy of various trypanosidal drugs against trypanosomiasis in Thoroughbred horses. Horses having clinical signs of trypanosomiasis were diagnosed through blood smear through a microscope were selected for this study. The infected horses were divided into three experimental groups for therapeutic trials. Animals in group A were treated with a single dose of quinapyramine sulphate @ 3000mg/ml per 50/kg body weight; group B was treated with a single dose of isometamedium chloride Hydrochloride@ 0.5 mg/2.5 ml of 1% solution per 50/kg body weight; group C was treated with a single dose of diminazene aceturate@ 2360 mg/15 ml per 100/kg. Results revealed that significant (P<0.0001) de cline in the values of erythrocyte counts (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), platelets (PLT) and a significant (P<0.0001) increase in white blood cells (WBC), granulocytes, and monocytes in infected horses as compared to healthy ones. Therapeutic trials indicated that quinapyramine sulphate that showed 100% efficacy at 21th days had significantly higher than isometamedium chloride and diminazene aceturate (95.83 and 75% efficacy, respectively). The hematological parameters of recovered horses were significantly restored to normal values on day 21 after treatment. It is concluded that quinapyramine sulphate is the drug of choice against trypanosomiasis in Thoroughbred horses.
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| 4. |
- Murtaza, S., et al.
(författare)
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Effect of exogenous administration of oxytocin on postpartum follicular dynamics, oestrous rate and ovulation in Nili-Ravi buffaloes
- 2021
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Ingår i: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 56:11, s. 1369-1376
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Based on different surveys, dairy farmers are concerned about extensive use of exogenous oxytocin in buffaloes, which is being held responsible for reproductive problems including irregular oestrous cycle and delayed ovulation. For these concerns, effects of oxytocin injection on postpartum follicular dynamics, postpartum oestrous interval (PEI), oestrous length, the interval from onset of ostrus to ovulation and blood progesterone (P4) were studied in Nili-Ravi buffaloes. For this purpose, 23 animals within 1 week after calving were randomly divided into three groups: without oxytocin (CON; n = 7), 10 i.u. oxytocin (LOW; n = 8), 30 i.u. oxytocin – (HIGH; n = 8) and used to record the PEI for the study period of 154 days. At subsequent estrus, three buffaloes from each group (not served) were selected randomly to monitor two cycles for 6 weeks. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed to evaluate follicular and corpus luteum (CL) development, and blood sampling was done for progesterone (P4) analysis. These results revealed that postpartum oestrous interval (PEI) decreased significantly in oxytocin-treated groups. The number of small, medium and total follicles on the left ovary was significantly higher in the HIGH group. However, an overall number of small and total follicles on both right and left ovaries was significantly higher in CON and HIGH groups. On the other hand, there was no difference in the number of follicles on the right ovary among all treatment groups. The same was true for the size of pre-ovulatory follicles, CL, P4 concentrations and oestrous cycle length. The intervals from onset of estrus to ovulation and from standing estrus to ovulation were increased considerably in the HIGH group. It is concluded that exogenous oxytocin administration resulted in the shortening of PEI but triggered a delay in ovulation. Moreover, a higher dose of oxytocin could stimulate the growth of small, medium, and total follicles in postpartum Nili-Ravi buffaloes.
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| 5. |
- Raza, Muhammad Ahmad, et al.
(författare)
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Bayesian logistic regression analysis for spatial patterns of inter-seasonal drought persistence
- 2023
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Ingår i: Geocarto International. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1010-6049 .- 1752-0762. ; 38:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Drought is one of the disastrous natural hazards with complex seasonal and spatial patterns. Understanding the spatial patterns of drought and predicting the likelihood of inter-seasonal drought persistence can provide substantial operational guidelines for water resource management and agricultural production. This study examines drought persistence by identifying the spatial patterns of seasonal drought frequency and inter-seasonal drought persistence in the northeastern region of Pakistan. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) with a three-month time scale is used to examine meteorological drought. Furthermore, Bayesian logistic regression is used to calculate the probability and odds ratios of drought occurrence in the current season, given the previous season's SPI values. For instance, at Balakot station, for the summer-to-autumn season, the value of the odds ratio is significant (6.78). It shows that one unit increase in SPI of the summer season will cause a 5.78 times to increase in odds of autumn drought occurrence. The average drought frequency varies from 37.3 to 89.1%, whereas the average inter-seasonal drought persistence varies from 21.9 to 91.7% in the study region. Results indicate that some areas in the study region, like Kakul and Garhi Dupatta, are more prone to drought and vulnerable to inter-seasonal drought persistence. Furthermore, the Bayesian logistic regression results reveal a negative relationship between spring drought occurrence and winter SPI, demonstrating that the overall study region is more prone to winter-to-spring drought persistence and less vulnerable to summer-to-autumn drought persistence. Overall study has concluded that the region's seasonal drought forecast is challenging due to uncertain drought persistence patterns. However, the Bayesian logistic regression model provides more accurate and precise regional seasonal drought forecasts. The outcome of the present study provides scientific evidence to develop early warning systems and manage seasonal crops in Pakistan.
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| 6. |
- Ahmed, Waqas, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of PV system orientation angle accuracy on greenhouse gases mitigation
- 2021
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Ingår i: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering. - : Elsevier. - 2214-157X. ; 23
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sun, a free source of energy, has moved the world to consider photovoltaic (PV) system as green renewable energy since fossil fuel power plant accounts for a significant share of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the globe. The output of the PV system is limited to many factors; however, the acute accuracy of orientation (tilt and azimuth) angles exposes the PV surfaces to high doses of solar radiations. Which increases the PV system output; in turn GHG mitigation potential. This paper draws a relationship between accuracy of orientation angles impact on PV system's GHG mitigation potential. For reference, the accuracy of orientation angles in Pakistan's Capital increases the annual average daily solar radiations level from 4.02 (horizontal surface) to 4.39 (-33.6 tilt and 180 azimuth) kWh/m2/d. Accuracy of orientation angles on multiple end energy users (equivalent to 1 MW) PV system has potential to avoid additional 65.1 and 22.6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent and production of 158987.13 and 55,120.1 kW h compared with a same size PV system with horizontal surface and 33.6 tilt angle (equivalent to location's latitude), respectively. PV system orientation angles accuracy has the potential to avoid tonnes of GHG emissions without any investment, operation and maintenance costs.
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| 7. |
- Jabbar, Abdul, et al.
(författare)
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Epidemiology and antibiogram of common mastitis-causing bacteria in Beetal goats
- 2020
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Ingår i: Veterinary World. - : Veterinary World. - 0972-8988 .- 2231-0916. ; 13:12, s. 2596-2607
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background and Aim: Mastitis has been identified as the most prevalent and economically imperative disease among dairy animals. Thus, understanding its common bacterial pathogens and risk factors is necessary to improve udder health at herd, region, or country level. However, scientific research on caprine mastitis, especially on Beetal breed, has remained to be insufficient in Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the epidemiology and antibiogram assay of common mastitis-causing bacterial agents, that is, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Escherichia coli, in dairy goats.Materials and Methods: In total, 500 Beetal goats, irrespective of age and those that were not treated with any kind of antimicrobial agents during the past 120 h, were screened using California Mastitis Test in Pattoki, Kasur District, whereas epidemiological factors were recorded. The milk samples of mastitic goats were then collected and processed using standard methods. Each sample was primarily cultured on nutrient agar. Using a specific medium, each bacterial colony was separated using several streak methods. Six antibiotic disks belonging to different antibiotic groups were used for antibiogram profiling of bacterial isolates. Chi-square test was used to assess the association of baseline characteristics and mastitis occurrence. Meanwhile, multivariable logistic regression (p<0.001) was utilized to determine the risk factors associated with positive and negative dichotomous outcome of mastitis.Results: The results revealed that the overall prevalence of goat mastitis was 309 (61.8%), in which 260 (52%) and 49 (9.8%) cases were positive for subclinical mastitis (SCM) and clinical mastitis (CM), respectively. Streptococcus and E. coli were found to be the predominant isolates causing SCM and CM, respectively (p<0.001). It was observed that amoxicillin+clavulanic acid was highly sensitive to isolates of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus and ceftiofur sodium to isolates of Streptococcus and E. coli, while enrofloxacin was found to be sensitive to isolates of Streptococcus and E. coli. Risk factors such as herd structure, deworming, vaccination, presence of ticks, use of teat dip and mineral supplements, feeding type, age, parity, housing, blood in the milk, milk leakage, milk taste, and milk yield were found to have the strongest association with mastitis occurrence, while ease of milking has moderate association.Conclusion: In the area examined, cases of SCM were found to be higher compared with that of CM, and ceftiofur sodium has been identified as the preferred treatment in both clinical and subclinical forms of caprine mastitis in Beetal goats. Risk factors for mastitis that was identified in this study can form the basis for the creation of an udder health control program specific for dairy goats. We hope our findings could raise awareness of the risk factors and treatment approaches for common mastitis-causing bacterial agents.
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| 8. |
- Khan, M., et al.
(författare)
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Monitoring and assessment of heavy metal contamination in surface water of selected rivers
- 2023
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Ingår i: Geocarto International. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1010-6049 .- 1752-0762. ; 38:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The current research aimed to monitor and assess the heavy metal contamination in the surface water of 53 sampling sites along the selected rivers using principal component analysis and cluster analysis. For this purpose, both physiochemical parameters such as the temperature (T), the potential of hydrogen (pH), total dissolved solids (TDS) and electroconductivity (EC), and heavy metals such as iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb) and arsenic (As) are analyzed as potential water contaminants. The average values of pH, TDS, EC and T are found at 7.75, 70.89 mg/L, 139.11 µs/cm and 20.29 °C, respectively, and heavy metals including Cr, Ni, Cd, Pb, As and Fe are observed at 0.04, 0.04, 0.04, 0.03, 0.001 and 0.04 mg/L, respectively. Moreover, it is found that in both rivers hazardous metals, including Cr (100%), Cd (92.30%), Pb (100%), Ni (100%) and Fe (91%), exceed the permissible limits of the WHO.
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| 9. |
- Yasin, M., et al.
(författare)
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Climate change impact uncertainty assessment and adaptations for sustainable maize production using multi-crop and climate models
- 2022
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Ingår i: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. - : Springer. - 0944-1344 .- 1614-7499. ; 29, s. 18967-18988
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Future climate scenarios are predicting considerable threats to sustainable maize production in arid and semi-arid regions. These adverse impacts can be minimized by adopting modern agricultural tools to assess and develop successful adaptation practices. A multi-model approach (climate and crop) was used to assess the impacts and uncertainties of climate change on maize crop. An extensive field study was conducted to explore the temporal thermal variations on maize hybrids grown at farmer’s fields for ten sowing dates during two consecutive growing years. Data about phenology, morphology, biomass development, and yield were recorded by adopting standard procedures and protocols. The CSM-CERES, APSIM, and CSM-IXIM-Maize models were calibrated and evaluated. Five GCMs among 29 were selected based on classification into different groups and uncertainty to predict climatic changes in the future. The results predicted that there would be a rise in temperature (1.57–3.29 °C) during the maize growing season in five General Circulation Models (GCMs) by using RCP 8.5 scenarios for the mid-century (2040–2069) as compared with the baseline (1980–2015). The CERES-Maize and APSIM-Maize model showed lower root mean square error values (2.78 and 5.41), higher d-index (0.85 and 0.87) along reliable R2 (0.89 and 0.89), respectively for days to anthesis and maturity, while the CSM-IXIM-Maize model performed well for growth parameters (leaf area index, total dry matter) and yield with reasonably good statistical indices. The CSM-IXIM-Maize model performed well for all hybrids during both years whereas climate models, NorESM1-M and IPSL-CM5A-MR, showed less uncertain results for climate change impacts. Maize models along GCMs predicted a reduction in yield (8–55%) than baseline. Maize crop may face a high yield decline that could be overcome by modifying the sowing dates and fertilizer (fertigation) and heat and drought-tolerant hybrids.
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