Science Health Allied Research Education

While supporting local trade and clothing needs, the global second-hand clothing market in Africa has also been reported to have widespread adverse effects on environmental and socio-economic sustainability. This study provides a pioneering quantitative overview of the second-hand clothing trade in Africa from a circular-economy perspective. It begins with a summary of global trade, then analyses historical trends over 30 years (1990 to 2020) and describes current and representative trade flows within Africa using material flow and network analysis. Results reveal a consistent pattern of 15 times more imports than exports, with countries in West Africa, such as Ghana and Nigeria, and in East Africa, such as Kenya and Tanzania, leading as importers. Meanwhile, the United States, Canada, Germany, France, PR China, and the United Arab Emirates act as main exporters. Additionally, significant intracontinental trade was observed, with regional hubs in Togo, Tanzania, and South Africa. The insights indicate that trade activities are not circular, are characterised by significant trade imbalances, and place the burden on African countries. Due to inadequate policies and infrastructure, this situation undermines the net environmental benefits of circular systems and constrains sustainable waste management, just transition, and global governance agendas.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a common health condition and one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide. CRC is the third most leading cancer by incidence and second most common cause of cancer mortality. Emerging evidence showing that inherited genetic variants in genes coding for DNA repair enzymes have potential role in increasing the risk of CRC. Among these, polymorphisms in the XRCC1 has been widely investigated, although the results have been varied in different populations. The current meta-analysis is aimed to explain the relation between three XRCC1 polymorphisms and the CRC risk. Meta-analysis included a combined analysis of 52 case-controls studies including 23 Arg194Trp studies, 8 Arg280His studies, and 42 Arg399Gln studies. The results of the present study revealed a statistically significant correlation between the Arg399Gln polymorphism and the increased risk of CRC (OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.01-1.20, p = 0.038, random effects model). However, subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed no statistical significance between CRC risk and XRCC1 polymorphisms in Asian and Caucasian populations. In addition, no publication bias was found in the current meta-analysis. Overall, the data suggest that XRCC1 Arg399Gln might be associated with increased CRC susceptibility, while Arg194Trp and Arg280His are not significantly associated.

Using a DNA-based polygenic index, we explored geographical and historical differences in polygenic associations with educational attainment in East and West Germany around the time of reunification. This index was derived from a prior genome-wide association study on educational attainment in democratic countries. In 1,930 individuals aged 25 to 85 years from the SOEP-G[ene] cohort, the magnitude of polygenic associations with educational attainment did not differ between East and West Germany before reunification but increased in East Germany thereafter. This gene–environment interaction remained robust when we probed for variance dispersion. A control analysis using a polygenic index of height suggests that this interaction is unlikely to reflect a general trend toward greater genetic associations in East Germany after reunification. The observed amplification of education-genetic associations aligns with theories suggesting heightened genetic influences on educational attainment during periods of greater social and educational opportunity. We emphasize the need for replication in larger German genetic data sets.

BACKGROUND: The hamstring muscles, positioned at the posterior aspect of the thigh, play a key role in enabling knee flexion. Tightness in these muscles arises when their ability to lengthen is diminished, leading to reduced joint mobility. With a rise in sedentary behavior, the incidence of hamstring tightness is rising among young adults, particularly students. This study aimed to compare the effects of jack knife stretching and active stretching techniques on hamstring tightness in students. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: A comparative research design was adopted with participants selected through convenience sampling. Ethical clearance was secured prior to data collection. Fifty participants were divided into two groups: Group A received Jack Knife stretching, and Group B received Active stretching. Evaluation parameters included Active Knee Extension Test, Finger to Floor Distance Test, and Numerical Pain Rating Scale. RESULTS: The result demonstrated that both stretching interventions produced improvements in hamstring flexibility. Significant progress was observed in both groups after a four-week intervention. While no significant difference was found between the groups in most of the outcome measures, Jack Knife stretching showed a greater improvement in right knee extension post-intervention. CONCLUSION: Both stretching methods are beneficial and can be used in therapeutic settings to enhance hamstring flexibility. Jack Knife stretching may offer additional advantages in improving functional movements, particularly knee extension. Keywords: Hamstring tightness, Jack Knife stretching, Active stretching, Active Knee Extension Test, Finger to Floor Distance Test, Numerical Pain Rating Scale.

Tuberculosis (TB) is still the second causative agent of death worldwide after COVID-19. It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The aim of the current study was to compare the performance of GeneNAT real-time polymerase chain reaction analyzer and pre-loaded chip-based MTB screening and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) detection kit (Smart SureTM MTB & MDR-TB, Genetix Biotech Asia Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, India) against the established WHO-approved GeneXpert Ultra (MTB/rifampicin (RIF)), line probe assay (LPA), and mycobacteriagrowthindicatortube(MGIT) culture at point of care (POC) level. A total of 450 pulmonary TB (PTB) suspect patients were enrolled from October 2023 to March 2024 at the Intermediate Reference Laboratory, Department of Medicine, All India Instituteof Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. GeneXpert and GeneNAT tests were done directly from sputum specimens. However, processed sputum specimens were used for both LPA (GenoType MTBDRplus) and liquid culture and drug susceptibility testing (MGIT culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST)). On comparing with GeneXpert, for the detection of MTB and rifampicin (RIF), Smart SureTM showed a sensitivity of 98.18% and 97.5% with a specificity of 100% and 98.92%, respectively. While comparing mutations in therpoB gene with LPA, the Smart SureTM MDR-TB kit exhibited sensitivity and specificity of 96.77% and 99.12%, respectively. For katG and inhA genes, sensitivity and specificity were 97.6% & 85.71% and 98.66% & 98.01%, respectively, for both genes. Smart SureTM MDR-TB showed comparable results with MGIT-DST with sensitivity and specificity of 96.88% & 96.15% and 98.99%& 99.02%, respectively, for both RIF and isoniazid (INH) drugs. The GeneNAT system test may provide the status of RIF and INH resistance in PTB cases in a short time with the use of minimal specimens. It required very little infrastructurewith less skilled laboratory staffin comparison with other WHO-approved diagnostics used in resource-limited countries with TB and drug-resistant TB burdens.

Introduction: Pressure ulcers, also known as bedsores, pose a significant concern in critically ill patients due to prolonged immobility and complex medical conditions. Objective: This review examines the evidence supporting various nursing interventions to prevent pressure ulcers in critically ill patients. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies published between 2010 and 2023. Key interventions included regular repositioning, specialized mattresses and cushions, skin care protocols, nutritional support, and patient and staff education. Results: The evidence supports a multifaceted approach, including regular repositioning, specialized support surfaces, comprehensive skin care, nutritional support, and education, in reducing the incidence of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients. Conclusion: Implementing evidence-based nursing interventions can significantly reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers in critically ill patients, emphasizing the importance of a coordinated approach to prevention.

In order to support the recent explosive growth in the applications of Internet of Things (IoT), networking technologies are evolving, resulting in high data throughput, low-latency data transfer, and improved lifetime of Internet of Things Devices (IoDs). These technologies work fairly for static conditions as the devices have fixed locations. However, in several practical IoT networks, including intelligent transportation networks and mobile health monitoring systems, the devices change their locations with time, resulting in time-varying network topologies. Dynamic networks generally operate on multi-hop data transmission schemes. However, due to its dynamic nature, these networks are susceptible to poor performance as a consequence of the inaccurate selection of relay IoD. In this context, the selection of optimal relay IoD towards data transfer is an important problem in time-varying IoT networks. To address such a critical issue, in this work, we consider a dynamic IoT network in which the devices select an optimal relay IoD at various discrete time instants to improve network performance. Thereafter, a novel reinforcement learning-based data routing algorithm in the time-varying multi-hop IoT network is proposed for optimum data routing. The proposed algorithm, Optimal Relay IoD Selection Using Q-Learning (OptRISQL), selects the optimum relay IoD for data routing using Q-learning. The proposed method maximizes the aggregate reward value between specified device-gateway pairs by adjusting the network’s Q-matrix at discrete time instants to identify optimal relay IoD. The proposed method’s applicability and effectiveness are demonstrated using a simulated IoT testbed and real-field datasets. Moreover, when compared to various existing methods, the acquired findings indicate the proposed method’s improved network performance in terms of Energy-Efficiency (EE) and Quality-of-Service (QoS).

This manuscript explores the profound impact of social media on society, with a focus on social behavior, politics, and cultural norms. Employing a systematic literature review, including diverse sources, case studies, and real-world examples, the study provides a nuanced and comprehensive analysis. The brevity enforced by character limits on platforms like Twitter has shaped concise and direct communication, with emojis, memes, and hashtags becoming integral to online discourse. The rapid spread of information on social media has, however, led to the dissemination of misinformation, influencing public opinion and potentially affecting political outcomes. Collaboration among individuals, policymakers, and technology developers is crucial to shape the future of social media responsibly. This necessitates cultivating a culture of responsible use, promoting digital literacy, and advocating for policies that safeguard user rights and well-being. Striking a balance between innovation and ethical considerations is paramount to ensure the continued positive contribution of social media to society.