Posts in category: Uncategorized

A team of medical specialists and computer scientists at Miami University has found that walking patients through an upcoming surgical procedure using augmented reality (AR) reduces anxiety levels. In their study, reported in JAMA Network Open, the group outfitted patients with AR gear prior to an orthopedic procedure and compared their anxiety levels against a control group.

Various medical circumstances, including heart attacks and extreme cases of COVID-19, necessitate the use of anticoagulants, medicines that prevent blood clots. But the most commonly used, heparin, can induce potentially fatal side effects by making the blood clots worse rather than better. This only happens in a minority of patients so effective treatments are not commonly explored.

COVID-19 vaccines are effective against severe cases of the disease in children and adolescents, according to a review. However, with most children now having caught the SARS-CoV-2 virus and building up a natural immunity, the additional benefit of vaccination in healthy children is minimal.

Immediately after the infection of a cell in the throat or lungs, the SARS-CoV-2 virus works very hard to replicate, using the human cell’s metabolic pathways to produce its proteins and make sure that its genetic material (the RNA genome) is copied. The RNA genome is then packaged very compactly into new virus particles that are released from the cell to infect more cells.

By NATION REPORTER 

PROTESTS have erupted after hundreds of Zambia Army recruits were left out of the selection process in Ndola.

According to a video circulating on social media, the recruits complained that they were removed at night and that there was too much corruption in the selection process.

The recruits said they  were shocked that they were let go at night and most of them did not have relatives and were stranded.

Some of the affected recruits said their names were even published in the papers but were shocked that they were left out due to corruption.

“We have been chased at night and some of us are from Lusaka how do they expect us to survive like this,” one of the affected individuals said.

They called on President Hakainde Hichilema to intervene because people with connections were using their positions to squeeze in their relatives.

The disgruntled youths said only the head of state could make a stop to this because qualified youths were being left out due to nepotism.

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IN an effort to enhance communication, the National Assembly of Zambia has pledged commitment to work hand in hand with the media. National Assembly speaker Nelly Mutti says the media are the fourth estate who ensure that communication is rolled down to members of the public as well as parliamentarians. Speaking during a media breakfast […]

By NATION REPORTER

MINISTER of Education Douglas Syakalima has called for strong linkages between learning institutions and industries.

Mr Syakalima said linkages between tertiary Institutions and industries would enable students acquire practical knowledge through attachments to various industries.

The minister was speaking after touring Chenguang Biotech Zambia Agri-Dev Limited, a farm in Chibombo that is cultivating, harvesting and processing marigold.

He said Chenguang Biotech Zambia Agri-Dev Limited was in the process of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mulungushi University that would allow students at the university to be attached at the farm for their practical experiences.

“We want to develop a cadre of graduates with expertise in both theory and practical aspects of their respective studies. 

This is why this MoU must succeed so that students at Mulungushi University have an opportunity to learn practical side of their studies in real industries. For that reason, we would be happy to see the MoU signed as quickly as possible.” Mr Syakalima said.

And Mulungushi University Acting Vice Chancellor, Dr. Kawunga Nyirenda said the university has reached an advanced stage in the process of signing an MoU with Chenguang Biotech Zambia Agri-Dev Limited.

He said the MoU would see 50 students from the university be attached to chenguang Biotech Zambia Agri-Dev Limited annually to have a feel of practical work.

And Chenguang Biotech Zambia Agri-Dev Limited Assistant to General Manager Wang Jinhu said the company is ready to partner with the university and impart practical skills in students.

He said the company has so far invested US$80 million in the farm and is desperately looking for labour as the cultivating, harvesting and processing of marigold in labour intensive.

“We have a field of 6, 800 hecteres and we currently need between 4, 000 and 5, 000 workers daily but we are only managing 1, 500. 

This means we desperately need human resources for our farm to work effectively and efficiently.” Mr Wang said. 

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People who have recovered from a major depressive episode, when compared with individuals who have never experienced one, tend to spend more time processing negative information and less time processing positive information, putting them at risk for a relapse, according to research published in the Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science.

Research conducted by Revolution Medicines, California, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer, New York, has developed a method to bypass the undruggable nature of a common oncogene mutation that drives cancer development and resistance to existing therapies.

By SHERRY CHABALA

THE Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has challenged Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) to demonstrate high levels of innovation in key sectors of the economy to promote economic growth.

CTPD executive director, Isaac Mwaipopo has told Millennium TV in an interview that SMEs should package their products in way that will help to attract private financing.

He said access to finance alone is insufficient to address the challenges related to financing that have for a long time negatively affected the growth of SMEs.

“The support towards SMEs is needed and SMEs are key drivers towards contributing to job creation and poverty alleviation. Our appeal from the Centre for Trade Policy and Development is that there should be continued efforts towards working to address some of the challenges that they have faced.

“Some of the challenges are legacy challenges related to access to cheaper finance. With regards to other financing options that have been provided such as the Citizens’ Economic Empowerment Commission, we have seen that the demand with regard to access to finance has increase actually even outstripping the available resources,” Mr Mwaipopo said. 

Mr. Mwaipopo added that attracting private sector financing was one way that SMEs could access sustainable financing.

He said the SME sector was growing at a fast rate, which required cooperation between Government and the private sector to explore ways of addressing the challenges affecting SMEs for a better economy.

“Beyond that, it is also important for our SMEs to demonstrate the innovations and to ultimately put out some of their products in a manner that would equally attract private finance because Government alone might not even be in a position to provide all the much-needed resources but if we activate private sector private finance, it might be a more sustainable way of ensuring that resources are provided and ultimately used for their intended purpose,” Mr Mwaipopo said.

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