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Association of Intrinsic Factors with Non-contact Injury Prevalence of Front Foot Knee Pain Among First Class Fast Bowlers in Colombo Division
Get PDFBackground: Cricket is one of the most popular sports in Sri Lanka. Both intrinsic and extrinsic injury prevention and increase performance are of cardinal importance to a fast bowler to reach optimal performance. Intrinsic prevention methods may protect the fast bowler against too high level of stress experienced during bowling. In this study we aimed to assess the incidence of front foot knee pain and the associated intrinsic risk factors among first class cricket fast bowlers, to come up with recommendations to improve training regimes to prevent non-contact injury.
Method: Descriptive Cross-Sectional study was conducted with 30 fast bowlers with front foot knee pain. Severity of knee pain was measured by using knee evaluation form. Q angle, Hip internal rotation were measured using a modified goniometer. Quadricep and hamstring muscle strength were measured by cuff adapted sphygmomanometer. Ankle dorsiflexion was measured by Lunge Test.
Results: An insignificant, positive correlation in Ankle dorsiflexion (p=0.780, r=0.053), hip internal rotation (p=0.194, r=0.244), and quadriceps hamstring muscle strength ratio (p=0.952, r=0.012) of the fast bowlers with front foot knee pain was observed. Also, there was an insignificant negative correlation between quadriceps angle (p=0.827, r=-0.042) and front foot knee pain
PTSD Prevalence Rates of US Funeral Directors during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Brief Report
Get PDFThe COVID-19 pandemic has created physical and mental health concerns for funeral directors. Past literature notes that high job demands, occupational death exposure, and heightened numbers of funerals have negative impacts on the mental health of funeral workers. Additionally, previous studies have found prevalence rates of PTSD to be more than three times higher in funeral directors than the general population. The present study sought to evaluate PTSD rates of funeral directors in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic given the increased job demands, high rates of burnout, and heightened death exposure they have faced. A convenience sample was used, and 10 participants completed an online survey containing the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) and questions regarding awareness of mental health resources. Findings indicate that 50% of participants met criteria for a provisional PTSD diagnosis (n = 5), and 30% of participants had little to no awareness of mental health resources for funeral directors (n = 3). The results highlight the need for increased research and awareness regarding the mental health of funeral directors, particularly during times of increased stress, and the need for mental health services for funeral workers
Applying a COVID-19 Sample-pooling Technique to Forensics Identification of Illicit Drugs
Get PDFThis paper presents a method for materially speeding up the identification process of suspect illicit drugs by pooling samples that require GC-MS analysis. This method can be applied to samples seized from a single suspect that are similar in appearance and therefore meet the Israeli Dangerous Drug Ordinance requirements for sampling. A complementary test (GC, TLC, or FTIR) conducted separately on each of the sampled units can prove conclusively that all units contain the same drug. This study shows that even with large differences in relative weight of mixes in a pool, each drug is easily identifiable by GC-MS and dominant peaks do not overshadow minority substances. By using this method, a narcotics lab can improve its throughput of expert opinions in narcotics cases, and at the same time save resources, extend instrument life, and be more environment-friendly
Calibration Ratio Estimators of Population Mean Using Median of Auxiliary Variable
Get PDFIn this study we propose a calibration ratio estimator and a calibration separate ratio-product estimator of population mean of study variable under stratified sampling using the median of auxiliary variable. The calibration estimator used calibrated weight determined to minimize a chi-square distance measure subject to a set of constraint related to the auxiliary variable in other to increase precision of the estimators. The median of the auxiliary variable was used in defining the calibration constraints. The variances of the proposed estimators were also obtained. An empirical study to ascertain the performance of these estimators using simulated data under underlying distribution assumption of Student-T distribution, Cauchy distribution, Lognormal distribution, and Standard normal distribution with varying sample sizes of 10%, 20%, and 25% were carried out. The result of simulation reveals that when the underlying distribution is Student-T, at 10% sample size, the efficiency performance of the proposed calibration separate ratio-product estimator is better than other competing estimators. As the sample size is increased to 20% and 25%, the efficiency performance of the existing stratified ratio estimator and existing calibration ratio estimator respectively become better than the other estimators. Under the skewed distributions (Cauchy and Lognormal) and the standard normal distribution, it is observed that the proposed calibration ratio estimator is better than other competing estimators in terms of efficiency, consistency and reliability. The result also reveals that under the lognormal distribution, the conventional stratified ratio estimator and the conventional calibration ratio estimator give the same result
Effect of Board Characteristics on Financial Performance of Non-financial Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange
Get PDFThe incongruence between corporate governance and financial performance has resulted in the collapse, liquidation, and diminished profitability of several corporations in Kenya. Instructively, companies have been delisted from the Kenyan bourse as a result of irregularities and failures that curtail their profitability. Specifically, audits have pointed to failures in corporate governance, which highlight the lethargy of directors in addressing agency theory conflicts. In this regard, there is a need for evaluating the impact of board characteristics on corporations listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Board characteristics such as size, independence, and diversity have a significant influence on a firm’s strategic direction. Globally, numerous studies have investigated the relationship between corporate governance and financial performance. However, there is limited scholarly research to ascertain the role of individual board characteristics on listed firms’ financial performance. Thus, this study’s main objective was to determine the effect of board characteristics on the financial performance of non-financial firms listed at the NSE. A quantitative research was conducted using 26 randomly selected non-financial firms listed on the NSE. Using historical financial data from companies’ financial statements, a correlational and regression analysis was conducted using Return on Equity (ROE) as the dependent variable. Notably, diagnostic tests such as the test for multicollinearity, autocorrelation, normality tests were conducted before the Pearson’s correlation test. Importantly, the Panel Data Model was use to determine the goodness of fit, while the Panel Least Square model was used to select the appropriate model for regression analysis. The Fixed Effect Model was the most suitable model. As a result, the findings showed that board size and independence had statistically insignificant effects on the dependent variable, while board diversity (gender diversity) had a statistically significant influence on the financial performance of non-financial firms listed on the NSE
Composition of Mangroves and Mangrove Associates in Barangay Ata Atahon, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, Philippines
Get PDFMangroves are essential components of the coastal biome and have an extremely productive ecosystem. It provides benefits for both the environment and humans. Valuation of the diversity and species composition plays a crucial role in the conservation and protection. This study aimed to assess the composition of mangroves and mangrove associates in Barangay Ata-Atahon, Nasipit, Agusan del Norte, Philippines. Three sampling stations were established with a 50-meter interval in every station. Transect lines of 50 meters were laid perpendicular to the shoreline. The results show that 19 species of mangroves and 5 mangrove associates were recorded. Ceriops decandra was found to be the dominant species with 303 individuals and constituting 36% of the entire mangroves population. While Camptostemon philippinensis, Rhizophora apiculata, Rhizophora mucronata had the lowest number of individuals and made up a combination of 5%. In mangrove associates, Avicennia rumphiana made up 47% of the population and was followed by Avicennia marina (40%). This implied that the study area is less diverse based on the observed species when compared to the 46-mangrove species found in the Philippines alone. Necessarily, reforestation and conservation efforts must be attained to fill the gaps between the community and mangrove sustainability. Thus, determining the species diversity and composition measures ecological status. Mitigations and ecological management must be enacted by the locality to further conserve the mangrove ecosystem
The Struggle for Control or Survival: A Study on the Theme of Gravity's Rainbow
Get PDFThomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow, with sprawling, encyclopedic narrative and penetrating analysis of the impact of technology on society, is a postmodern epic. In portraying an entropic world, Pynchon reintroduces his perennial themes of Preterite and Elect, Conspiracy and Counterforce, Apocalypse and Alienation, making it an intellectual tour de force. The book picturesquely presents the resistance against the technology fetishism totalitarian societies, controlled by the elite/Elect, of the jilted imperial subaltern/Preterite who are in pursuit of self and history. The pervasive sexual intercourse descriptions and the linguistic extremes of equitation and obscenity, which voice the desires of Elect and Preterite respectively in their struggle for control or survival in the totalitarian societies. The paradoxical dichotomy of despair and hope, survival and death are closely interdependent in the novel, which is the portrayal of the plight of human beings. The stories happen around the rocket show the absurdity of human life in the modern high-tech society and people's resistance and expectation to the absurdity of life and reflects Pynchon's implied meaning and deep humanistic concern for the status quo of human society. Gravity, rocket, and rainbow as a whole signifies both an elegy and longing on humanness out of the ruins and waste land after the war
Rethinking Brain Death: A Physiological, Philosophical and Ethical Approach
Get PDFThe term ‘brain death’ is a rather untenable description to be defended ethically. This needs to be sorted out to ‘cortical brain death’, ‘whole brain death’ and WBD should include the brainstem. Organ transplants confound the difference between WBD and ‘biological death’, that is, the complete cessation of body function. It is clearly an ethical issue of taking a life, however, I argue for the greater good, IF it is clearly documented that irreversibility presents itself through multiple criteria (apnea, brainstem function, lack of long onset EEG, etc.). If meeting these criteria, we can have medical, physiological and moral standards and it is ethical to declare brain death, thus allowing organ transplants, and by definition, create biological death by doing so. This is a very consequentialist approach, but it does appease the dualistic ethics by separating the brain, or, more to the point, the concept of the ‘conscience’, and the possibility of defining ‘personhood’ or lack thereof. I believe the 1968 Harvard ‘declaration of death’ doesn’t fit the above criteria and the AMA declaration (formally adopted in 2003) states that: “a determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards”, however, those medical standards were not described. This paper addresses those standards
The Effects of Moisture Content on the Temperature of Some Selected Soil Samples in the Presence of Internal Heat
Get PDFThe effect of moisture content on the temperature of some selected soil samples in the presence of internal heat was studied. The governing equation was modeled using Bosenneque’s approximation base on some necessary assumptions by which the transfer occurred. These equations were non-dimensionalized by employing some standard dimensionless parameters and later reduced to ordinary differential equations using perturbation method. This was then solved analytically. The various effects of the physical parameters that materialized were examined on the unsaturated and saturated forms of some selected soil samples. With the aid of Matlab software, the numerical results were graphed for visual examination. It was observed that the presence of moisture content in these soils helped in boosting their temperatures as the solar radiation and internal heat increase
Investigating the Factors That Influence Early Retirement of Private Sector Workers in the Center Region of Cameroon
Get PDFPurpose: This study seeks to investigate the factors that influence early retirement of private sector workers in the center region of Cameroon.
Methodology: The grounded theory approach was used with a target population being workers of private sector organizations in the center region of Cameroon. A purposive sampling was used, where the population was selected from private organization, mainly; the multinational private companies, the transnational private companies and sole proprietor companies operating in the center region of Cameroon. Primary data was got through interviews to capture private sector workers’ opinions on aspects related to early retirements.
Research questions: The first research question was aimed at finding out the factors that influence early retirement of the private sector workers in the center region of Cameroon. The research continued with a second question to find out the most prominent factors presumed to affect early retirement. Finally, the research continued to find out to what extent these factors influence early retirement.
Findings: The findings revealed the overarching theme of work stress as the major factor that influence early retirement of the private sector workers in the center region of Cameroon. It also showed that low salaries and therefore weak financial strength of workers emerged as the overarching theme to explain the most prominent factors presumed to affect early retirement. Finally, the study showed that tough hierarchy decisions that do not take the views of employees into consideration and unclear work descriptions contributed to the quest for workers to retire early from the private sector in the center region of Cameroon