Search

The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a valuable longitudinal cohort study that tracks the health and demographic changes of a geographically defined population, serving as a platform for research and evidence-based policymaking. In India, there are nearly 20 HDSS sites covering diverse areas and populations totaling around two million. To foster collaboration, the Indian HDSS Network (IHN) was formed, comprising 19 sites from 16 institutes, covering a population of 1.5 million. The IHN aims to standardize data collection processes while allowing site-specific autonomy, generating high-quality longitudinal health, and demographic data. To ensure effective coordination, a governance structure with a rotating secretariat and working committee was proposed. The IHN envisions conducting robust multicentric research, supporting data-driven efforts to improve population health, and promoting research-policy synergy. The network’s outcomes have the potential to optimize health research funding, generate epidemiological data, and provide evidence for public health policy. Collaboration within the IHN strengthens HDSS sites in newer technologies and community-based research, fostering capacity building. Seed funding is being sought to formalize and support the day-to-day functioning of the network, which holds promise for advancing population health and informing policymaking in India.

Background: The leaves of Phlogacanthus thyrsiflorusare used as an anthelmintic remedy by the tribes of upper Assam. This study evaluates its toxic effects in laboratory bred mice and rats. Mice were orally dosed for 5 days, whereas rats were dosed for 28 days and variations in behaviour, feeding habits and blood parameters were recorded. The vital organs were processed for histopathology to observe any alternations from normal architecture. Results: No mortality or adverse toxic effects were manifested in this assessment. Evaluated parameters, namely feeding behaviour, body weights and relative organ weights, appeared to be similar to the control animals. Also, the haematological and serum biochemical parameters and histopathological studies revealed normal results. Conclusions: The study indicates that P. thyrsiflorusmay not be capable of causing toxic effects in mice and rats, and hence, its traditional use as an anthelmintic could be continued. However, other studies to further validate this may be carried out.

ABSTRACTOnly four species of freshwater Nematomorpha (Gordiida) and one undetermined Gordiussp. are known from New Zealand. During recent surveys in the South Island we discovered a new species belonging to the genus Gordionus, a genus new to New Zealand. Scanning electron microscopic observations of seven collected specimens revealed that the species is clearly morphologically distinct from all other members of the genus and is characterised by the presence of an extensive row of large bristles on the ventral side of the posterior end in males. This row is much larger than in any known Gordionusspecies. Analysis of the mitochondrial CO1 gene and of the nuclear 18S rRNA gene showed that the new Gordionusspecimens form a monophyletic clade, but with partly extensive internal genetic difference. This indicates that cryptic species might be present, for although there are minor variations in cuticular areoles, other morphological characters indicate little difference between specimens.LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E6E436C0-9032-4D4B-B08C-1C7B6948291A

In today’s world automotive industries are still putting efforts towards more autonomous vehicles (AVs). The main concern of introducing the autonomous technology is safety of driver. According to a survey 90% of accidents happen due to mistake of driver. The adaptive cruise control system (ACC) is a system which combines cruise control with a collision avoidance system. The ACC system is based on laser and radar technologies. This system is capable of controlling the velocity of vehicle automatically to match the velocity of car, bus or truck in front of vehicle. If the lead vehicle gets slow down or accelerate, than ACC system automatically matches that velocity. The proposed paper is focusing on more accurate methods of detecting the preceding vehicle by using a radar and lidar sensors by considering the vehicle side slip and by controlling the distance between two vehicles. By using this approach i.e. logic for calculation of former vehicle distance and controlling the throttle valve of ACC equipped vehicle, an improvement in driving stability was achieved. The own contribution results with fuel efficient driving and with more safer and reliable driving system, but still some improvements are going on to make it more safe and reliable.

Background: The leaves of Caesalpinia bonducellaand Croton joufraare traditionally used anthelmintics by the Mishing tribe in Assam, India. In vitro studies have shown them to be effective as anthelmintics. This study evaluates their effects on the tegument of Hymenolepis diminuta(Cestoda) and the cuticle of Syphacia obvelata(Nematoda) using scanning electron microscopy. The effects were compared with negative control parasites and the one exposed to reference drugs (positive control). Parasites were collected from freshly necropsied animals and were exposed to 30 mg/ml of the methanolic leaf extract of the two plants. Paralysed worms were then processed for ultrastructural studies as per standard methods. Results: Adult and juvenile H. diminutaexposed to extracts of both the test plants showed damaged scolex, suckers and altered tegument. S. obvelatatreated with C. bonducellashowed damaged apical region, closed mouth, and a damaged cuticle. Worms exposed to C. joufrashowed deformations in the apical region with closed mouth, loss of cephalic papillae, distorted lips and damaged cuticle. Conclusions: In conclusion, the findings of this study demonstrate that the extract of these plants acts via a tegumental/cuticular mode. This study also validates the traditional knowledge system of the Mishing tribe in Assam, India.

AbstractThe leaves of Gynura angulosaDC (Compositae) have been widely used in the indigenous system of medicine of Naga tribes in India for curing intestinal-helminth infections. In this study, the anthelmintic effects of G. angulosaleaf extract were investigated in-vitroand in-vivoagainst Hymenolepis diminuta, a zoonotic tapeworm species. In in-vitrostudy, the anthelmintic effects of extract were judged on the basis of paralysis and mortality of test worms, at 5, 10, 20 and 40 mg/ml concentrations, while in in-vivostudy, the leaf extract was tested at 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg doses against experimentally induced H. diminutainfections in rats. The results revealed that G. angulosaleaf extract possesses dose-dependent anthelmintic effects. In in-vitrostudy, at 40 mg/kg concentration, the leaf extract showed mortality of test worms in as early as 2.92 h. In in-vivostudy, the effects of extract were found to be more prominent against the adult stage than the larval stage of test parasite. Against the adult worm, the 800 mg/kg dose of extract, given for 5 days, resulted into 78.60 % reduction in eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) counts and 70.75 % reduction in worm counts of treated animals. In both the assays, the effects of extract were found to be quite comparable with that of a reference anthelmintic drug, praziquantel. These results prove that G. angulosaleaves possesses significant anthelmintic properties. Therefore, this plant may be useful in the treatment of intestinal helminth infections and could also be a potential source of new anthelmintic compound.