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Background We aimed to provide data on the normal blood pressure of haemodynamically stable neonates. Our study uses retrospective, real-life oscillometric blood pressure measurement values to determine the expected blood pressure in different gestational age, chronological age and birth weight groups. We also investigated the effect of antenatal steroid on neonatal blood pressure. Methods Our retrospective study (2019-2021) was carried out in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the University of Szeged, Hungary. We involved 629 haemodynamically stable patients and analysed 134,938 blood pressure values. Data were collected from electronic hospital records of IntelliSpace Critical Care Anesthesia by Phillips. We used the PDAnalyser program for data handling and the IBM SPSS program for statistical analysis. Results We found a significant difference between the blood pressure of each gestational age group in the first 14 days of life. The systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure rise are steeper in the preterm group than in the term group in the first 3 days of life. No significant blood pressure differences were found between the group with a complete antenatal steroid course and those who received incomplete steroid prophylaxis or did not receive antenatal steroids. Conclusion We determined the average blood pressure of stable neonates and obtained normative data by percentiles. Our study provides additional data on how blood pressure varies with gestational age and birth weight. Graphical abstract, Author(s): Judit Klara Kiss [sup.1] , Anna Gajda [sup.1] , Judit Mari [sup.1] , Judit Nemeth [sup.1] , Csaba Bereczki [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.9008.1, 0000 0001 1016 9625, Department [...]

Water scarcity represents a significant challenge in Jordan, exacerbated by increasing domestic, industrial, and agricultural water demands amidst the backdrop of limited available water resources. The current study utilized water consumption per capita per day (PCD) as a productivity measure that aligns with the goals of water utilities to provide safe and enough water to customers. It identified and explained the critical performance indicators (PIs) affecting PCD. The study was conducted based on the time series secondary data of the applied PIs collected from Jordan Water Company (Miyahuna) between 2009 and 2018. To identify the PIs most strongly associated with the PCD variable, a correlation analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics software. Indicators showing significant correlation with the PCD underwent further analysis as potential independent variables. Non-revenue water and water resources use per capita indicators showed pivotal and significant effects on PCD, exhibiting negative and positive impacts, respectively. In pursuit of improved indicators' performance, this research advocates for the implementation of Active Leakage Control methods, the adoption of innovative techniques to desalinate brackish water, the promotion of water harvesting initiatives, enhanced employee training, and the enforcement of more stringent policies to tackle water theft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenya is one of the leading SHC importers in Africa. The aborted import substitution industrialisation, the liberalisation of the economy, and the failure of the domestic textile industry led to the SHC trade surge, which is the direct product of the global (ultra)fast fashion linear business model. SHC industry is beneficial for the economy and the people of Kenya due to job creation, income and revenue generation, and the provision of affordable clothing. However, it has detrimental impact on the environment and the local textile/fashion industry. To maintain the benefits and reduce the negative effects, it is important not to completely eliminate it. In the short run, quantity should be decreased, and the quality should be improved to reduce waste. In the long run, there should be a gradual decrease and eventually elimination of second-hand clothing imports, depending on the revitalization of domestic garment industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contrast to the highly developed countries and some developing regions, Africa highly depends on external resources of financing development. According to the saving-investment gap concept, there is a significant gap between savings and investment rates. As domestic resources are limited and their mobilization is slow, the region should rely on external sources of finance (i.e., aid, export revenues, FDI, loans, and remittances) in order to close the finance gap. Despite the massive inflow of external resources, the 200 billion USD yearly financing gap still prevails. The outflow of financial resources from Africa in the form of profit repatriations, debt service, tax dodging, capital flight and illicit financial flow exceeds the inflow, suggesting that Africa is a bottomless barrel. The long-standing concept about the saving-investment gap does not provide a full explanation for the prevailing financing gap. The main research questions are as follows: (a) Why is there a permanent financing gap in Africa? b) Why does the outflow of financial resources exceed the inflow? c) What should be done to close the financing gap and solve the problem of financing development? The paper is structured as follows: Section 1 is based on the saving-investmentgap concept and explores the validity of this theory in Sub-Saharan Africa. The conclusion of Section 1 is that there is a permanent finance gap in SSA, consequently, the region should rely on external sources of finance. Section 2 introduces the main external sources of finance (aid, FDI and remittances) and reveals the major trends and characteristics of these flows. As the saving-investment gap is smaller than the amount of external financial inflow, two questions arise: Where does the money go? Is Africa suffering from a financial haemorrhage? Section 3 tries to identify those “leaks” which drain Africa’s accumulated domestic and external resources by analysing the main channels of financial outflows such as capital flight and illicit financial flows. In the conclusion we present the financing situation of Africa and answer the question “Who finances whom?” and make recommendations for enhancing development finance. The final conclusion is that not the external world finances Africa, but Africa finances the world. The issue of financing Africa’s development cannot be solved without (a) mobilizing domestic resources (including domestic savings), (b) attracting external resources as well as improving the use and avoiding the misuse of inflowing financial resources, and (c) curbing capital flight and tackling illicit financial outflow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previously, all admitted neonates to our tertiary Neonatal Unit, University of Szeged, had a cranial and abdominal ultrasound performed as part of their care., Objective: To analyze the findings and to evaluate the effectiveness of the universal ultrasound screening., Method: Results of cranial and abdominal ultrasound imaging performed in our Unit between 1st January 2014 and 31st December 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Abnormalities found during the screening scans were studied further and assessed until discharge and during the first 2 years. All imagings were performed by a radiologist., Results: During the examined 2 years, 579 neonates were admitted (gestational age mean 34.2 weeks [23-41, SD ± 4.04]), abdominal ultrasound was performed in 562 (97%) and cranial ultrasound in 560 (97%) babies, on the 3.6th day of life at an average (0-18, SD ± 2.24). Of all abdominal ultrasound scans, 87% (n = 488) was carried out as screening, and the found abnormalities in 140 (29%) of the cases: renal pelvic dilatation (n = 67 [47.9%]), free abdominal fluid (n = 17 [12.1%]), echogenic kidneys (n = 13 [9.3%]), congenital abnormalities of the kidney and urinary tract (n = 9 [6.4%]), abnormalities of the liver, bile system, adrenal gland [n = 14 [10%]). The screening identified 4 (0.8%) neonates with renal abnormilaties requiring surgical correction. In regards of renal abnormalities, we observed male (p = 0.18) and left sided (p = 0.54) predominance. Screening cranial ultrasound was performed in 65% (n = 362) of all neonates, discovering 51 (14%) anomalies: plexus chorioideus cyst (n = 21 [41%]), plexus chorioideus hemorrhage (n = 9 [17.6%]), mild ventricular asymmetry (n = 8 [15.7%]), subependymal hemorrhage (n = 5 [9.8%]), abnormalities of the periventricular area (n = 4 [7.8%]), colpocephaly, hydrocephalus externus, echogenic meninx and thalamic nodule [n = 1-1 (1.9-1.9%)]., Conclusion: Abdominal ultrasound screening discovered renal abnormalities and umbilical line complications as clinically relevant findings. However, a small number of renal abnormalities identified by screening required surgical intervention. Further studies are needed to identify possible risk groups to develop more efficient screening strategy to decrease the number of screened babies for 1 relevant finding (number to screen). Cranial ultrasound screening did not identify any abnormalities that needed intervention. We can not recommend universal cranial ultrasound screening based on our results. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(31): 1222-1230.