The “Crisis and Concerns: A cross-sectional study on Junior Doctors during COVID-19 pandemic”.

Introduction: Doctors committed to the care of patients are trying to fulfill their duty in a difficult situation, but the consequential impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on Junior Doctors mental health are far too complex. Objective: The objective of this study was to gain insight into Junior Doctors’levels of concerns during a global pandemic of COVID-19. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study, utilizing a 23-item validated questionnaire was conducted on two hundred and fifty doctors of various disciplines and nationalities working on training and non-training posts. Results: The response rate was (77 %) and the levels of concern score among Junior doctors during COVID-19 pandemic in the NHS was found to be (41.35±4.9). With regard to gender differences, 32.5% of males and 27.5% females had a moderate concern score of 40 to 47. In regard to safety at work (85%) agreed that they are not safe, (100%) agreed that they are at risk to contract a COVID-19 infection at work and (100%) felt that they will transmit COVID-19 to their families but (95%) agreed that were obliged to take care of patients. In addition, (97.5%) doctors were not confident with the current infection control measures and (77.5%) felt frustrated with poor infection control training offered to them. Conclusion: Therefore, measures to strengthen personal protection and adequate support to Junior Doctors should be addressed urgently by the Healthcare system. KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Doctors, PPE, Concerns, Psychological impact.  

Effect of Zinc Fertilization in Integration With Organic and Mineral Nitrogen Sources on Maize Production under Rainfed Conditions

In Pakistan, per hectare crop yields of rain-fed areas are relatively lower than obtained from irrigated areas. It is mainly due to less water availability and poor soil fertility. Lower soil organic matter limits micronutrients replenishment to soil solution. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the zinc (Zn) requirement of maize, as well as to find out the interactive effect of organic and mineral fertilizer sources of nitrogen (N) on maize growth, yield and nutrient uptake. Experiments were conducted at National Agricultural Research Centre, (NARC) Islamabad, having latitude 33o 43 ́ N, longitude 73o 04 ́ E, and altitude 490 m. Soil of the study area is coarse loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Udic Ustochrept and belongs to Nabipur soil series. It is alkaline, calcareous, low in organic matter content, and deficient in N, P, K and Zn contents. Initially, an incubation study was conducted to investigate the pattern of Zn retention, release and equilibrium of added Zn fertilizer in soil,. Four levels of zinc viz. 0, 2, 4 and 8 mg kg -1 were applied to soil weighing 300 g, and incubated by maintaining field capacity moisture at 30±1 °C for 15 days. Soil samples were drawn after 1, 5, 10 and 15 days for the determination of extractable Zn concentrations. Zinc availability / release were enhanced with increasing Zn rate, rendering the highest Zn concentration of 7.8 mg kg -1 in soil extract with 8 mg kg -1 Zn application. In the beginning, release rate was rapid and decreased gradually up to 15 days. 1 2 In the field experiment, main plots had four combinations of N sources viz. control; 100 % recommended dose of N from chemical fertilizer (CF); 75 % N from CF + 25 % N from farm yard manure (FYM), and 50 % N from CF + 50 % N from FYM. In the sub-plots, there were three levels of zinc fertilizer viz. 0, 4, 8 kg Zn ha -1 . This experiment with the same treatments was conducted in both spring and summer seasons of 2008 on maize. Crop growth, yield parameters, photosynthesis rate, activity of nitrate reductase and superoxide dismutase enzymes, and nutrients uptake were measured. After the crop harvest, status of organic matter, N, P and Zn in soil was determined. Data on crop and soil parameters were subjected to statistical analysis of variance, and treatment means were compared by lsd test at P ≤ 0.05 to obtain statistical difference among them. Maize grain yield was at the highest with 75 + 25 % (CF + FYM) with 4 kg Zn ha -1 , although it was statistically at par with that from 50 % + 50 % (CF + FYM) with 4 kg Zn ha -1 and 75 % + 25 % with 8 kg Zn ha –1 . Zinc application showed a significant increase of grain and straw yield. Zinc uptake increased with the application of Zn fertilizer. Enzyme activities were enhanced with the application of Zn and FYM. The Study revealed that substitution of 25 or 50 % N with organic manure + 4 kg Zn ha -1 perform better than 100 % N fertilizer alone, with respect to improvement of crop growth, yield and soil fertility, and activities of superoxide dismutase and nitrate reductase. It reflects that integrated plant nutrient management ensures balanced supply of nutrients to the crop and improves stress tolerance as well