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The IAAF’s hyperandrogenism regulations suspended
No full textOn 27 July, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (‘CAS’) delivered a landmark ruling on the regulation of gender in sport. The decision explores how the categorisation of sport on the basis of sex can be best reconciled with the “biological reality” that human sex cannot necessarily be divided so clearly. Dr. Seema Patel, Senior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University, Deputy Director of the Centre for Sports Law and author of ‘Inclusion and Exclusion in Competitive Sport: Socio-Legal and Regulatory Perspectives,’ reviews the case and suggests that sport regulation must be cautious of traditional criteria to determine eligibility in sports
Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) as a molecular target to limit cellular mortality under hypoxia
No full textMany pathological conditions and environmental impacts lead to a decrease in tissue oxygen supply and severe cellular hypoxia. This secondary hypoxia can disturb cellular homeostasis, limiting the efficacy of the prescribed treatment for the primary disease, eventually leading to cellular and organismal death. Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) plays a central role in the development of cellular damage under hypoxia, hypoxia/reoxygenation and ischemia/reperfusion conditions. Therefore, we selected JNK1 protein as a molecular target to limit cellular damage and death during hypoxia. The primary objective of this research was to study the influence of the suppression of JNK1 on the development of cellular hypoxic damage. It was hypothesized that suppression of JNK1 will decrease cellular mortality under hypoxia and may increase the efficacy of traditional treatment of many pathological conditions. The hypothesis was verified under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. Another objective was to develop a non-viral system for intracellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). ASO and siRNA targeted to JNK1 mRNA delivered by neutral and cationic liposomes, respectively, showed high efficiency in suppressing JNK1 protein. Such suppression limited the caspase dependent apoptosis signaling pathway and decreased cellular mortality induced by severe hypoxia. The results suggest that JNK1 protein might be an attractive target for antihypoxic therapy to increase resistance to many pathological conditions and diseases accompanied by cellular hypoxia.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical references (p. 138-153)by Seema S. Betiger
An analytical study investigating noise levels in neonatal intensive care units within the public sector in the eThekwini district.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Noise is a well-documented environmental stressor in the NICU and has emerged as a public health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate noise levels and identify contributing factors to the high noise levels, in NICUs within the public sector in the eThekwini District. The study used an analytical observational research design and a purposive sampling method. Noise measurements were conducted in four hospitals with the sound level meter (CEL 450 C) placed in the centre of each NICU for 48 hours on two consecutive days of the week (Sunday and Monday). A sample of sources of noise and their frequency of occurrence were identified through direct observation in the morning, as well as a frequency analysis using one-third octave bands were conducted. Mean LAeqs were above 45dBA in all hospitals and a marginal difference between LAeqs during the morning, afternoon and night was seen in hospital D (p=0,046). A significant difference between LAeqs on Sunday and Monday was found in hospital C (p=0,028). The majority of the sources of noise were from alarms of devices and human-related noise, with the most frequently occurring sources of noise being staff conversations (30.9%), alarms (21,0%) and closing of metal pedal bins (20,0%). Multiple high frequency alarms increased the LAeq to 74,6dBA and dropping a metal object increased the LZpeak to 116,0dBA. LAeqs higher than 45dBA were seen in the mid and high frequencies (250Hz-6300Hz) specifically during the afternoon in all hospitals. The findings have implications for education and training, as well as for the development of practice and policy guidelines in NICUs
Exploring communication between first language english speaking audiologists and Isizulu patients at public sector hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.
No full textMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Effective communication between health professionals and patients is central in providing quality health care. A cultural and linguistic mismatch between audiologists and their patients may create a barrier in communication. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to explore communication between First Language English speaking (FLES) audiologists and isiZulu patients, based on isiZulu being dominant in KZN. A concurrent triangulation mixed design was used. The study consisted of three phases. The first phase included a survey of 31 FLES audiologists. The second phase included the Photovoice narratives and interviews with two FLES audiologists. The final phase included a survey of 98 isiZulu patients. The results revealed that overall FLES audiologists showed poor cultural (71%) and linguistic (97%) competency in isiZulu. Inferential statistics revealed significant associations between cultural competency and FLES audiologists years of experience (p value=0,021), gender (p value=0.042) and type of institution based in terms of rural or urban (p value=0.038).The above competency levels of FLES audiologists coincided with the perspectives of isiZulu patients. Furthermore, it was revealed that factors such as consent, trust, collaboration, empathy, attitude and professional superiority influenced cross cultural and cross linguistic communication between FLES audiologists and isiZulu patients. The use of informal interpreters emerged as the most common communication strategy employed by FLES audiologists. The implementation of isiZulu courses, formally-trained interpreters and isiZulu audiology resources emerged as strong recommendations. In addition, FLES audiologists identified initiative as important to improving cross cultural/linguistic communication. The results from this study may inform changes to University curricular as well as policy at public sector hospitals
The Post Office Horizon system and Seema Misra
No full textThe author highlights the significance of the Seema Misra case in raising questions about the reliablity of the Post Office Horizon system and more widely suggesting that all digital systems have the possibility of latent defects, and these can never be discounted. He argues that when the efficacy of digital systems is called into question in legal proceedings, the onus of proof must be placed on the supplier of these systems and not the accuser.Index words: Post Office; Horizon; prosecutions; software errors; disclosure Full transcript of the trial Regina v Seema Misra, T2009007 (England & Wales; theft; electronic evidence; Post Office Horizon System; ‘reliability’ of computers) with case commentary and index to original papers held in the Documents Supplement of Volume 12: 2015
The feasibility of including Distortion Product Otoacoustic Emissions (DPOAEs) in the annual medical surveillance test battery for the identification of noise-induced hearing loss in a group of workers in a beverage manufacturing industry.
No full textThesis (M.Comm.Path.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville, 2013.The study investigated the feasibility of including DPOAEs in the annual medical surveillance test battery for the identification of NIHL in a group of employees in a manufacturing industry in KwaZulu-Natal. Feasibility was investigated by exploring the sensitivity, specificity and predictive efficiency of DPOAEs, the ability of DPOAEs to detect subtle noise-induced cochlea
changes, the test-retest reliability of DPOAEs and lastly, the duration of time taken to conduct the DPOAE test bilaterally. A cross-sectional and repeated measures within-in participant design was utilized in the study. A purposive convenience sampling technique was used, as well as a
stratified sampling approach in order to realize objective two of the study. The study consisted of 60 participants, which were further stratified into four test groups, i.e. Group A: 0-3 years, Group B: 3.1-6 years and Group C: 6.1-9 years and Group D: 9.1-13 years of working within the beverage manufacturing industry. A high sensitivity and negative predictive value was reported in the current study, suggesting that DPOAEs may be able to identify those who present with subtle cochlea changes as a result of exposure to occupational noise. The sensitivity of DPOAEs was 100% at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8kHz in the right ear and at 4 and 6kHz in the left ear. The specificity of DPOAEs in the current study ranged between 55%-97% across the frequency range in the right ear and 49%-88% in the left ear. A negative predictive value of 100% was obtained bilaterally across the frequency range, except at 8kHz in the left ear. Visual inspection of the DPgram in the current study revealed a bilateral reduction in DPOAE amplitudes for all test groups in the high frequency region of the DP-Gram, namely, 5477Hz and 7303Hz, in the absence of a statistically significant difference (p>0.05). A greater frequency range appears to be affected in
this group of workers, indicating that the type of noise, namely, impulse noise, may result in cochlea changes. Corresponding changes on the pure tone audiogram were not observed, however, noise notch configurations were observed for the groups with a longer history of noise exposure. This was not seen bilaterally as is typically expected with NIHL. Good test-retest
reliability across the frequency range obtained in the current study further indicates the feasibility of including DPOAEs in the annual medical surveillance test battery. Additionally, the current study calculated an average of 86 seconds (1 minute 26 seconds) to conduct the DPOAE
test bilaterally, confirming that DPOAEs are a quick test to administer. The findings of this study suggest that DPOAEs may be used to monitor early subtle noise-induced cochlea changes for workers exposed to noise in the beverage manufacturing industry as part of the annual medical
surveillance test battery
Development of novel zein-cellulose nanocomposite films
No full textZein is a hydrophobic biopolymer, which naturally forms biodegradable films. These films are rigid, brittle, and lack good mechanical and barrier properties for packaging applications. This study aims at improving the mechanical and barrier properties of zein films by the development of zein-cellulose nanocomposites. A ‘nanocomposite’ is a mixture of polymer matrix, which forms the continuous phase and the filler (having at least one dimension less than 100nm), which forms the dispersed phase. Zein-cellulose nanocomposites have zein as the matrix and cellulose as the filler. Nano-sized cellulose was prepared using wet-media milling machine and mass ratios of 1%, 3%, 5% and 10% of both, naked (not stabilized) nano-cellulose and GA - stabilized nano-cellulose were used in the film formulation. Tributyl citrate (TBC) was used as the plasticizer. The films were prepared using solvent-cast technique and characterized to test their mechanical and barrier properties. The controls were pure zein films and films with only plasticizer. Texture Analysis showed that filler loading of 5% was most effective in increasing the elongation-at-break to about 16 to 20 times of the controls. However, the tensile strength did not change. Water vapor permeability of the nanocomposites was minimum at 1% by wt. of naked cellulose (~4 times less than control) or at 5% by wt. of stabilized cellulose (~6 times less than control). Water absorption results showed that the rate of water uptake decreased as the filler loading increased. DSC and FTIR suggested that there is no interaction between the zein and the nano-cellulose in the films. The AFM results showed that the films’ surface is flat, but the thickness of the films increased with filler loading. Therefore, incorporation of nano-cellulose improved the flexibility and water barrier properties of the films. Gum Arabic, which was used as a stabilizer for nano-cellulose, seemed to have aided the even distribution of cellulose in the zein matrix. Thus, these films can be a good starting point to further study the arrangement of cellulose within the zein matrix and test its potential applications on food systems and as edible films.M.S.Includes bibliographical referencesby Seema Lakshmana Ra
Not Available
No full textVersion: 1.0.0
Imports: utils, minimalRSD, stats
Published:2017-03-21
Author: Shwetank Lall [aut, cre], Arpan Bhowmik [ctb], Eldho Varghese [aut], Seema Jaggi [ctb], Cini Varghese [ctb]
Maintainer: Shwetank Lall
License: GPL-2 | GPL-3 [expanded from: GPL (≥ 2)]
NeedsCompilation: no
Citation: FMC citation info
In views: ExperimentalDesignAn R package to generate cost effective minimally changed run sequences for symmetrical as well as asymmetrical factorial designsNot Availabl
FUZZY ROUGH INFORMATION MEASURES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
No full textFUZZY ROUGH INFORMATION MEASURES AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
Seema Singh1, D.S. Hooda2, S.C. Malik3
1&3Department of Statistics, M.D. University, Rohtak-124001, Haryana, India
2Honorary Professor of Mathematics, G.J. University of Science and
Technology, Hisar- 125001, Haryana, India
Corresponding Author – D.S. Hooda
ABSTRACT
The degree of roughness characterizes the uncertainty contained in a rough set. The rough entropy was
defined to measure the roughness of a rough set. Though, it was effective and useful, but not accurate
enough. Some authors use information measure in place of entropy for better understanding which
measures the amount of uncertainty contained in fuzzy rough set .In this paper three new fuzzy rough
information measures are proposed and their validity is verified. The application of these proposed
information measures in decision making problems is studied and also compared with other existing
information measures.
KEYWORDS AND PHRASES
Fuzzy Rough Set, Similarity Information Measure, Logarithmic Information Measure, Weighted
Information Measure and Decision Making Proble
The reliability and validity of an isiZulu speech reception Threshold test in quiet for hearing and hearing-impaired individuals in KwaZulu-Natal
No full textSpeech reception threshold testing is part of the initial audiological test battery, and should be in the first language of the individual being tested. A newly developed isiZulu Speech Reception Threshold (SRT) test in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, required further reliability and validity evidence before it can be used for clinical practice. The aim of this study was therefore twofold: to determine the reliability and the validity of the newly developed isiZulu Speech reception threshold (zSRT) test for individuals with and without hearing loss. Methods: This study utilised an observational, analytical, repeated measures research design and had two phases. Phase 1 consisted of the reliability, as well as content, convergent, and divergent validity testing components, while Phase 2 consisted of the concurrent validity aspect. These five components were identified for inclusion in a newly developed unified validation framework for this study. Of the 176 participants who were selected through non-probability sampling, 100 had normal hearing and 76 had hearing loss (mild and moderate conductive, moderately severe and severe sensorineural hearing loss). Results: For the reliability study, the zSRT test was found to have high internal and external consistency (reliability) [ICC values ranged from 0.69 to 0.79]; Bland and Altman analyses showed that the isiZulu SRT test scores differed by no more than 7.5 to 8.7 dB HL between original and repeat assessments. Regarding the content validity, more than 20% of participants rated three of the word recordings below ‘strongly agree' in the categories of pitch or tone, and for one word recording i.e. /cinga/ below strongly agree in the categories of pitch or tone, clarity or articulation and naturalness or dialect. First language raters proved useful in identifying problematic word recordings that other methods of assessment would have missed. Intraclass correlation coefficient analyses showed zSRT scores were in substantial to very high agreement with the Pure Tone Average (PTA) scores for the normal hearing and hearing loss groups (NH– right ear ICCconsistency = 0.78, left ear ICC = 0.67; HL – right ear ICCconsistency = 0.97, left ear ICCconsistency = 0.95), thereby confirming the convergent validity of the isiZulu SRT test. A mixed model analysis indicated a significant difference between the zSRT and PTA (p < 0.001), despite there being no clinical significance (2.9 to 3.0 dB for those with normal hearing, and an average of 2.0 to 3.0 dB for those with hearing loss). For divergent validity, there was a significant difference between the PTA and zSRT and eSRT (p < 0.001). However, clinically, there was a 0 – 3dB difference between the PTA and zSRT and a 5dB difference between the eSRT and PTA for both ears. The mean psychometric slope (%/dB) at 50% correct perception for all words in the zSRT test was 4.92%/dB for the mild conductive hearing loss group, 5.26%/dB for the moderate group, 2.85%/dB for the moderately severe sensorineural group, and 2.47%/dB for the severe sensorineural hearing loss group. These slopes were appropriate for the degree of hearing loss observed in each group, confirming the concurrent validity of the zSRT test. Discussion: The collective examination of each measurement-related element, according to the unified validation framework (reliability; content, convergent, divergent, and concurrent validity), was used to confirm the reliability and validity of the zSRT. The findings suggest the need for multiple levels and methods to be considered to validate speech reception threshold tests to ensure that the test can be used in clinical practice. There is value in including first language community members as raters to establish the content validity of the test, with a broader scientific lens being required when interpreting the SRT and PTA correlation for tonal languages. Contextual factors may impact the overall validation of new speech audiometry tests. Conclusion: The zSRT test was found to be reliable and valid and can be considered for clinical practice in KwaZulu-Natal Province (notwithstanding the study limitations). The study also offers a new framework for validating speech audiometry tests, which includes both reliability and validity elements, and considers the contextual factors
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