The world is currently facing a pandemic crisis due to a novel coronavirus. For this purpose, acquiring updated knowledge regarding prevention and disinfection during the current pandemic is necessary for every dental practitioner. In our study, we aimed to evaluate globally the level of knowledge and the attitude of dental practitioners related to disinfection. A total of 385 participants out of 401 participants from 23 different countries across the world were included in the final analysis after the exclusion of incomplete responses. The majority of the dentists who responded were females (53.8%) and were practicing at private health institutes (36.4%). The mean knowledge score of the participants was estimated to be 4.19 ± 1.88 out of 12, reflecting insufficient knowledge, and the mean attitude score of the participants was estimated to be 12.24 ± 3.23 out of 15, which shows a positive attitude toward disinfection practices during coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19). Thus, the current study indicated a lack of knowledge in fundamental aspects of disinfection protocols with a significant and positive attitude from dental health professionals toward disinfection regarding the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

No abstract

BACKGROUND In arid and semi‐arid countries there are often large areas where groundwater is brackish and where people have to obtain water from irrigation canals for all uses, including domestic ones. An alternative to drawing drinking water directly from irrigation canals or village water reservoirs is to use the water that has seeped from the irrigation canals and irrigated fields and that has formed a small layer of fresh water on top of the brackish groundwater. The objective of this study was to assess whether use of irrigation seepage water for drinking results in less diarrhoea than direct use of irrigation water and how irrigation water management would impact on health. METHODS The study was undertaken in an irrigated area in the southern Punjab, Pakistan. Over a one‐year period, drinking water sources used and diarrhoea episodes were recorded each day for all individuals of 200 households in 10 villages. Separate surveys were undertaken to collect information on hygiene behaviour, sanitary facilities, and socio‐economic status. RESULTS Seepage water was of much better quality than surface water, but this did not translate into less diarrhoea. This could only be partially explained by the generally poor quality of water in the in‐house storage vessels, reflecting considerable in‐house contamination of drinking water. Risk factors for diarrhoea were absence of a water connection and water storage facility, lack of a toilet, low standard of hygiene, and low socio‐economic status. The association between water quality and diarrhoea varied by the level of water availability and the presence or absence of a toilet. Among people having a high quantity of water available and a toilet, the incidence rate of diarrhoea was higher when surface water was used for drinking than when seepage water was used (relative risk 1.68; 95% CI 1.31–2.15). For people with less water available the direction of the association between water quality and diarrhoea was different (relative risk 0.80; 95% CI 0.69–0.93). This indicates that good quality drinking water provides additional health benefits only when sufficient quantities of water and a toilet are available. In a multivariate analysis no association was found between water quality and diarrhoea but there was a significant effect of water quantity on diarrhoea which was to a large extent mediated through sanitation and hygiene behaviour. CONCLUSIONS Increasing the availability of water in the house by having a household connection and a storage facility is the most important factor associated with reduced diarrhoea in this area. Safe use of canal irrigation water seems possible if households can pump seepage water to a large storage tank in their house and have a continuous water supply for sanitation and hygiene. Irrigation water management clearly has an impact on health and bridging the gap between the irrigation and drinking water supply sectors could provide important health benefits by taking into account the domestic water availability when managing irrigation wat...

Increasing water scarcity, degradation of land and water resources, continuing low agricultural productivity, and increasing populations are posing the largest ever challenges for development of agricultural economies in many developing countries including Pakistan. Using panel data from irrigated settings in Chaj sub-basin of the Indus basin in Pakistani Punjab, we attempt to: (a) analyze the causes of low productivity; (b) disentangle factors (both land, water and other factors) contributing to productivity variations; and (c) identify limits and opportunities for narrowing productivity gaps and increasing overall wheat production, with a view to enhance food security for the poor. The results of the study indicate that locational inequities in distribution of canal water, use of groundwater of varying quality, differences in use of seed varieties, and other inputs lead to significant variations in wheat productivity. Key implications are that large gains in wheat productivity are possible by (a) improving the production environment at the tail-end through integrated water management practices; (b) adjusting the mix of canal and groundwater use; and (c) using technological interventions to improve the adoption of modern wheat varieties and dissemination of knowledge on planting dates and timings and application rates of inputs, especially water and fertilizer. Not only such interventions are economically, financially, and environmentally desirable, they are also pro-poor. What is needed is a strong political will and commitment.

a b s t r a c tThe impacts of a recently launched community feed-in tariff (COMFIT) scheme on renewable energy production, with energy prices differentiated by renewable energy technology type, have not been adequately understood. The knowledge gap is addressed by applying the Hybrid Optimization Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER) decision tool to investigate the economic feasibility and effects of selected energy policy schemes on windebiogas hybrid energy production, by taking into consideration geographic location (Greenwood, Sydney, Caribou Point), and wind turbine capacity (including 20, 35, and 50 kW). The biogas energy production component reflected a representative Nova Scotia, Canada dairy farm with 100 cows. Windebiogas hybrid energy systems were generally not economically feasible without COMFIT scheme financial incentives. Locating the hybrid energy system one km away from a utility grid increased cost of energy produced by about $0.06 per kWh. Under current government COMFIT scheme with guaranteed energy prices, economic feasibility improved relative to a base scenario, with NPV per kWh increasing from -$0.51 to $0.83 for a system with the 50 kW turbine at Caribou Point, compared with -$0.51 to -$0.14 for a similar 50 kW turbine at Sydney. Windebiogas power production was economically viable under COMFIT scheme prices only for Caribou Point.

No abstract

Objectives Due to the constant battle regarding the controversial topic of orthodontic extraction, this study aims to assess the changes in vertical dimensions of patients treated with premolar extractions compared with nonextraction orthodontic patients. Materials and Methods A sample of 60 borderline patients were recruited and divided into extraction and nonextraction groups. Eleven pretreatment cephalometric measurements were recorded using WebCeph and patients were followed-up until the completion of treatment. Statistical Analysis Intragroup and intergroup comparisons were made using paired t-test and two-sample independent t-test, respectively. The joint significance of differences was measured using F-tests. Results The intragroup comparison revealed that in the extraction group, the vertical dimension was significantly increased posttreatment for four cephalometric measurements, that is, mandibular plane angle (p < 0.05), palatal plane angle (p < 0.05), Frankfort mandibular plane angle (p < 0.05), and y-axis (p < 0.05). In the comparison of the posttreatment values of both groups, the mean differences of the posttreatment values for sella nasion (SN)-gonion (Go)-gnathion (Gn) angle (p = 0.008), the total anterior (p = 0.050), and lower anterior facial heights (AFH; p = 0.011) were significantly higher. At the same time, the Jarabak ratio was significantly (p = 0.006) lower in the extraction group than in the nonextraction group. Conclusion The increase in vertical dimension is significantly higher in the extraction group than in the nonextraction group which indicates a significant impact of orthodontic extraction on the vertical dimensions.

IWMI receives its principal funding from 58 governments, private foundations, and international and regional organizations known as the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Support is also given by the Government of Ghana,