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The concept of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) is virtually nonexistent in India. Suboptimally organized prehospital services substantially hinder the evaluation, management, and subsequent transport of the acutely ill and/or injured child to an appropriate facility. Furthermore, the management of the ill child at the hospital level is often provided by overburdened providers who, by virtue of their training, lack experience in the skills required to effectively manage pediatric emergencies. Finally, the care of the traumatized child often requires the involvement of providers trained in different specialities, which further impedes timely access to appropriate care. The recent recognition of Doctor of Medicine in Emergency Medicine as an approved discipline of study as per the Indian Medical Council Act provides an unprecedented opportunity to introduce PEM as a formal academic program in India. PEM has to be developed as a 3 year superspeciality course after completion of MD Diplomate of National Board (DNB) Pediatrics or MD DNB in EM. The National Board of Examinations that accredits and administers postgraduate and postdoctoral programs in India also needs to develop an academic program DNB in PEM. The goals of such a program would be to impart theoretical knowledge, training in the appropriate skills and procedures, development of communication and counseling techniques, and research. In this paper, the Joint Working Group of the Academic College of Emergency Experts in India (JWG ACEE India) gives its recommendations for starting 3 year DM DNB in PEM, including the curriculum, infrastructure, staffing, and training in India. This is an attempt to provide an uniform framework and a set of guiding principles to start PEM as a structured superspeciality to enhance emergency care for Indian children.

Background: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a complex, chronic inflammatory skin disorder whose pathophysiology is poorly understood. Genetic studies have shown that HS is predisposed by mutations in the γ-secretase gene, but only a proportion of familial and partial sporadic cases have been shown to possess such mutations. HS has high genetic heterogeneity and is thought to be triggered by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. Aims: The study aimed to investigate the genetic causes of HS in a large cohort of patients and to update the mutation spectrum of γ-secretase complex genes. Methods: We conducted mutational screening of 95 sporadic HS cases and one large family with both HS and acne conglobata (AC) to identify mutations in the coding and splice junction region of γ-secretase complex genes (nicastrin (NCSTN), presenilin 1 (PSEN1), presenilin enhancer 2 (PSENEN), and aph-1 homolog B, gamma-secretase subunit (APH1B)). Results: Our study identified a nucleotide substitution of 1876C>T in the NCSTN gene, which caused a stop codon (p. Arg626X) in the affected members of a large family with HS and AC. No pathogenic variants were detected in 95 sporadic cases of HS, indicating there is possible genetic heterogeneity. Conclusion: We report a new family with a nonsense mutation in the NCSTN gene that supports the role of the γ-secretase complex genes in HS with AC. The updated γ-secretase mutation spectrum for HS now includes 78 mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: Dried blood spotted on to filter paper has been found suitable for a large number of studies. In tropical countries with varying temperature conditions the use of dried blood needs to be validated. We carried out this study to assess the use of blood spotted filter paper as a transport system to study genotyping ofApo E gene. Methods: Fifty five patients visiting Cardiothoracic Neuroscience Centre (CNC) OPD at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and referred for lipid investigations to Cardiac Biochemistry Laboratory were selected at random. Blood was spotted on to Whatman 3 MM filter paper, dried and stored at room temperature. Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyping was carried out at the end of 0, 3 and 12 months. The study was further validated using samples collected on to filter paper from four centres and stored for eight years at room temperature. The temperature and humidity conditions of the centre varied widely. Results: Fifty five samples collected on to filter paper showed exact match of the genotyping when compared to fresh blood. In dried blood samples collected and stored for 1 yr at room temperature DNA extraction and apo E genotyping was done successfully. Interpretation & conclusions: The present results showed the feasibility of using dried blood samples on filter paper for apo E genotyping in tropical temperature. The findings need to be validated on a large sample before being recommended for use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is closely associated with metabolic syndrome. Prevalence of metabolic risk factors including diabetes mellitus, obesity, etc. is rapidly increasing in India putting this population at risk for NAFLD. Patients with NAFLD are at increased risk for liver-related morbidity and mortality and also cardiovascular disease risk and increased incidence of diabetes mellitus on long-term follow-up. Management of patients with NAFLD may require a multi-disciplinary approach involving not only the hepatologists but also the internists, cardiologists, and endocrinologists. This position paper which is a combined effort of the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL), Endocrine Society of India (ESI), Indian College of Cardiology (ICC) and the Indian Society of Gastroenterology (ISG) defines the spectrum of NAFLD and the association of NAFLD with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome besides suggesting preferred approaches for the diagnosis and management of patients with NAFLD in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal diseases are a serious threat to Eucalyptus spp., which are cultivated worldwide for pulp and paper. Robust and timely detection of Eucalyptus pathogens is thus a crucial step in disease prevention and control. In 2022 , leaf spots were observed on Eucalyptus trees in Karnal, northern India. Fungal isolates displaying morphological characteristics similar to Neofusicoccum mangiferae were consistently recovered from the infected leaves. The morphological identification was validated by phylogenetic analysis employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) and partial β-tubulin (tub2) regions. Finally, Koch's postulates for N. mangiferae as a foliar pathogen of Eucalyptus were fulfilled. This is the first confirmed report of N. mangiferae affecting Eucalyptus trees in India. [Display omitted] • This study first time reports Neofusicoccum mangiferae as a foliar pathogen of Eucalyptus in India. • The pathogen was identified based on microscopic features, multilocus phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity tests. • This is a new taxonomic addition to the diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae affecting Eucalyptus in India. • This study provides future directions to decipher the diversity of Neofusicoccum spp., their host range and testing of Eucalyptus germplasm for disease-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nagaon Pulp and Paper Mill (Assam, India) produces 100,000 tonnes of paper annually from bamboo. The mill is surrounded by a vast spread of agricultural land on all sides excepting the southern side, which is covered with hills and deep forests. The present study was undertaken with a view to assess the impact of the paper mill operations on the quality of the surrounding soil. Surface soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected in both dry and wet seasons over a four-year period from 19 points at different distances from the mill. The soil quality was determined with respect to a large number of representative physico-chemical properties. Estimation of the major oxides, e.g., SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, and TiO2 showed a preferential accumulation of Al2O3, Fe2O3, and MnO in soil near the mill due to the dumping of fly ash and other solid wastes in the surrounding low lying land. Definite directional trends were observed not only with respect to these oxides, but also with the metals Ca, Mg, Na, and Pb, which decreased away from the mill. The soil pH had a tendency to turn alkaline near the mill owing to the discharge of highly alkaline effluent by the mill. The physical characteristics of the soil, viz., water holding capacity and bulk density increased with distance from the mill while the hydraulic conductivity had an opposite trend. N, P, K, B, Cl-, and organic C contents of the soil had shown a rapid decreasing trend away from the mill indicating that the dumping of solid waste and discharge of nutrient-rich treated effluent had contributed to raised levels of these constituents near the mill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neurocognitive tests are routinely used to assess cognitive domains in the adolescents for assessing cognitive deficits and for therapeutic interventions. Now they are being used to assess their mental abilities in athletics too. Aim: To study the effect of age and gender differences on routinely used common paper and pencil neuro-cognitive tests in adolescents and present the trends of normative data of Indian adolescent population. Settings and Design: Present study was conducted as a joint collaboration between Department of Physiology and Jawahar Navodaya school, Puducherry, India. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and thirty nine adolescents in the age group of 12 to 17 y (M = 250, F= 189) were selected in the present study after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects were administered commonly used paper and pencil neuropsychological tests in the following order: Two Target Letter Cancellation test, Trail Making test A and B, Ruff Figural Fluency test (RFFT). Statistical Analysis: We divided the students based on their age into six groups - from age 12-17. Neurocognitive parameters were compared between these age groups using one-way- ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test. Only the p-values for one, two and three year difference were considered. The same analysis was repeated for each gender separately. We compared males and females from the entire sample using unpaired t test. We then repeated the same test to compare males and females in each age group separately. Pearsons correlation was done to find correlation between the neurocognitive test parameters using the entire sample size. Then the correlation was done again after adjusting for age. All the statistical analysis was done using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results: Year wise normative data has been presented for all the age groups from 12 y onwards to 17 y. The results showed a consistent improvement in performance on the tested neuro-psychological tests with increasing age in adolescents. Overall gender comparison showed significantly better RFFT performance in males than females, with a non-significant difference in other tested parameters. However, no such difference was observed when the comparison was made within each age group. Conclusion: Improvement in the tests as a function of age may represent ongoing neuro-maturational process. Overall gender comparison from 12 to 17 y demonstrates that males performed better on nonverbal fluency task and strategic analysis suggesting difference in cognitive growth patterns but changes are so slow and gradual that no significant difference was observed at each intra-age group gender comparison. Baseline testing should be at least repeated once in two years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Justification: Mumps, despite being a widely prevalent disease in the country, is considered as an insignificant public health problem mainly because of poor documentation of clinical cases and lack of published studies. In the absence of adequate published data on disease burden, Government of India has recently decided to introduce measles-rubella (MR) vaccine in its National Immunization Program and neglected mumps component., Process: Following an IAP ACVIP meeting on December 6 and 7, 2014, a detailed review of burden of mumps in India along with vaccination strategies to control the disease was prepared. The draft was circulated amongst the members of the committee for review and approval. Revised final draft was later approved by IAP executive board in January 2015., Objectives: To provide a review of community burden of mumps in India; and to discuss the vaccination strategies to impress upon policymakers to include mumps vaccination in National immunization program., Recommendations: A total of 14 studies and two media reports on mumps outbreak were retrieved. The outbreaks were reported from all the regions of the country. Mumps meningoencephalitis was responsible for 2.3% to 14.6% of all investigated hospitalized acute encephalitis syndrome or viral encephalitis cases in different studies. Data from Infectious Disease Surveillance (ID Surv) portal of IAP and Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDSP) of Government of India (GoI) were also reviewed. While a total of 1052 cases were reported by the IDSurv, IDSP had investigated 72 outbreaks with 1564 cases in 14 states during different time periods. Genotypes G (subtype G2) and C were found to be main genotypes of the mumps virus circulating in the country. Three studies studied serological status of young children and adolescents against mumps, and found susceptibility rates ranging from 32% to 80% in different age groups., Conclusions: Mumps poses a significant disease burden in India. This calls for inclusion of mumps vaccine in the National immunization program.

Iron deficiency anaemia is the most common form of malnutrition in the world. The global prevalence of anaemia mainly in South East Asia is 65.5 percent, in India 56 percent among adolescent girls. A study conducted to assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls in prevention of iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia at a selected corporation school. It adopted one group pre-test post-test design with 60 samples selected by employing stratified random sampling technique. The study revealed that during pre-test 90 percent of them had inadequate knowledge and 65 percent of them had unfavourable attitude towards iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia. After the structured teaching programme the knowledge and attitude was improved (73% had adequate knowledge and 79% had most favourable attitude). Overall the structured teaching programme was found effective in improving the knowledge and attitude of adolescent girls in prevention of iron and folic acid deficiency anaemia.

Eucalyptus spp. and their hybrids are frequently cloned and mass planted across farmland tracts and commercial plantations in northern India. It is a viable feeder species to the paper and pulp industries in this region. In 2018 and 2019, during field surveys conducted in northern India, a serious leaf blight disease was frequently observed in E. tereticornis plantations. Isolation from the blighted leaf samples consistently yielded fungal isolates having Calonectria‐like morphology. Morphological features coupled with sequence analysis of partial β‐tubulin (TUB2) and partial translation elongation factor‐alpha (TEF1) gene regions of two fungal isolates confirmed the species as Ca. cerciana. In detached leaf assays and glasshouse inoculation experiments, both isolates produced symptoms similar to those observed on the naturally infected leaves. Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating Ca. cerciana from the inoculated leaves. This work is the first to confirm that Ca. cerciana is associated with a serious leaf blight disease of Eucalyptus in northern India and is an important addition to the taxonomy of Calonectria fungi in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial sector is the largest user of energy in India and many parts of the world. More than half of the total energy is used in industries to operate various energy-using machineries. Energy conservation is a cost-effective approach in any energy optimization program that can be implemented in industrial activities. Energy-intensive industries in developing economies offer significant energy-saving potential owing to the technology gap as well as lower operating efficiency. A detailed energy flow analysis was conducted in a paper carton manufacturing unit in India to quantify the energy-saving potential. The study revealed that the compressed air leakage is responsible for about 50% of the total energy loss. The specific electrical and thermal energy consumption was estimated and found to be 91.85 kWh/ton and 1,619 MJ/ton of biomass, respectively. Annual energy saving potential was found to be 5.9% of the total annual energy consumption. The cost of DG power is found to be 389% higher than the grid power. The share of self-generated DG power is estimated to be 41% of the total power consumed. Electrical energy intensity of the plant could be reduced by 6.36% implementing energy conservation measures proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to explain online different tools for Teaching Learning Philosophy to design additional courses in engineering education to fill the gap in academia and industry by practicing of Survey done for Faculty Members as well as Students. Continuous learning is key for excellence of human kind and education is foundation of a successful nation. Hence India's National Education Policy (NEP-2020) focuses on designing multidisciplinary higher education and improvising current teaching approach by emphasizing on use of blended Teaching-Learning Philosophy (TLP). Due to COVID-19 situation around, in this crisis educators and students moved towards contactless approach of learning without physical interaction. Hence various different tools come into the picture to provide online education. We are studying all the tools so that we will design add-on and bridge courses for students which will help to increase their chance at getting placed in good companies. This paper will highlight such tools which are being used by Vikrant Institute of Technology and Management for conduction of TLP smoothly as well as further actions on how to conduct add-on and bridge course in institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This essay contextualises the emergence of a document regime which regulated routine travel through the deployment of the India–Pakistan Passport and Visa Scheme in 1952. It suggests that such travel documents were useful for the new Indian state to delineate citizenship and the nationality of migrants and individual travellers from Pakistan. The bureaucratic and legal mediations under the Scheme helped the Indian state to frame itself before its new citizens as the sole certifier of some of their rights as Indians. In contrast, applicants for these documents viewed them as utilitarian, meant to facilitate their travel across the new borders. The contrast and contestation between such different perceptions helps us to understand the continued significance of documentary identities in contemporary India. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Emergency medicine services and training in Emergency Medicine (EM) has developed to a large extent in developed countries but its establishment is far from optimal in developing countries. In India, Medical Council of India (MCI) has taken great steps by notifying EM as a separate specialty and so far 20 medical colleges have already initiated 3-year training program in EM. However, there has been shortage of trained faculty, and ambiguity regarding curriculum, rotation policy, infrastructure, teachers' eligibility qualifications and scheme of examination. Academic College of Emergency Experts in India (ACEE-India) has been a powerful advocate for developing Academic EM in India. The ACEE's Education Development Committee (EDC) was created to chalk out guidelines for staffing, infrastructure, resources, curriculum, and training which may be of help to the MCI and the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to set standards for starting 3-year training program in EM and develop the departments of EM as centers of quality education, research, and treatment across India. This paper has made an attempt to give recommendations so as to provide a uniform framework to the institutions, thus guiding them towards establishing an academic Department of EM for starting the 3-year training program in the specialty of EM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is encouraging to see the much needed shift in the understanding and recognition of the concept of "burden of disease" in the context of traumatic injury. Equally important is understanding that the impact of trauma burden rivals that of nontraumatic morbidities. Subsequently, this paradigm shift reinstates the appeal for timely interventions as the standard for management of traumatic emergencies. Emergency trauma care in India has been disorganized due to inadequate sensitivity toward patients affected by trauma as well as the haphazard, nonuniform acceptance of standardization as the norm. Some of the major hospitals across various regions in the country do have trauma care units, but even those lack protocols to ensure that all trauma cases are handled by those units, largely owing to lack of structured referral system. As a first step to reform the state of trauma care in the country, a detailed overview is needed to gain insight into the prevailing reality. The objectives of this paper are to thus weave a foundation based on the statistical and qualitative burden of trauma in the country; the available infrastructure of trauma care centers equipped to deal with trauma; the need and scope of standardized protocols for intervention; and most importantly, the application of these in shaping educational initiatives in advancing emergency trauma care in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sugarcane industry has assumed an increasingly important role at a global level, with countries such as Brazil and India dominating the field. However, this causes environmental problems, since the industry produces large amounts of waste, such as sugarcane bagasse. This by-product, which is energetically partially recovered in sugar mills and in the pulp and paper industry, can make a significant contribution to the general use of biomass energy, if the usual disadvantages associated with products with low density and a high moisture content are overcome. From this perspective, thermochemical conversion technologies, especially torrefaction, are assumed to be capable of improving the fuel properties of this material, making it more appealing for potential export and use in far-off destinations. In this work, sugarcane samples were acquired, and the process of obtaining bagasse was simulated. Subsequently, the bagasse was dried and heat-treated at 200 and 300 °C to simulate the over-drying and torrefaction process. Afterward, product characterization was performed, including thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis, calorimetry, and energy densification. The results showed significant improvements in the energy content, from 18.17 to 33.36 MJ·kg−1 from dried bagasse to torrefied bagasse at 300 °C, showing that despite high mass loss, there is potential for a future value added chain for this waste form, since the increment in energy density could enhance its transportation and use in locations far off the production site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Anemia is a major public health problem amongst elderly population in India. Anemia in old age further worsens the age-related decline in functional ability, mobility, fatigue, bone density, and skeletal muscle mass. There is lack of evidence on the prevalence and risk factors of anemia among elderly population. Hence, this study was undertaken. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during the year 2015–2016 in District Nainital, Uttarakhand state, India. A total of 958 subjects were selected from 30 clusters (villages) identified using population proportional to size methodology. Information on sociodemographic profile, nutritional status, body mass index, and dietary intake was obtained. Blood sample was collected from each subject on the filter paper for estimation of hemoglobin (Hb) level using cyanmethemoglobin method. Results: We found that 92.1% of the elderly subjects were anemic. Moderate and severe anemia was found to be significantly higher among female subjects, unemployed, illiterates, subjects using smoke-producing fuel, subjects belonging to lower socioeconomic status, malnourished and underweight subjects, subjects with self-reported hyperacidity, and subjects who had not utilized health facility and had lower iron and vitamin C intake when compared with subjects with mild anemia and normal hemoglobin levels. Conclusion: High prevalence of anemia exists amongst elderly subjects living at high-altitude region of rural Uttarakhand State, India. There is a need to educate the elderly population about the importance of adequate intake of foods rich in iron and vitamin C to reduce the prevalence of anemia among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of 15 heavy metal resistant bacteria were isolated from Barak River contaminated with paper and pulp effluents. These isolates displayed different degrees of chromium tolerance. Four isolates showed 34 %-49 % of growth at a concentration of 4.0 mM of Cr and subjected to chromium reduction assay under aerobic condition. The isolate E (4) showed highest reduction (34.38 %) followed by E (3) and K(6)PA6, both showed 28.75 % reduction and then D (2) (27.5 %) after 72 h of incubation. These 4 isolates also showed different degrees of resistance to other heavy metals like Ni, Cu, Co and Cd. Antibiotic sensitivity profile of these selected bacterial strains was determined against 10 different antibiotics. Isolate E (4) appeared to be most susceptible being inhibited by eight antibiotics and resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin. The isolate E (3) was resistant to as many as five antibiotics and showed susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. Both the isolates K(6)PA6 and D (2) were resistant to four antibiotics and showed intermediate to susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historiography of education in South Asia has been held back by a semantic focus on institutions and policy. This article aims to widen the definition of ‘education’ by examining the transition pre-colonial forms of learning underwent during the period of state formation in early modern India. It explores particular communities of learning which straddled the Mughal and early British periods, the educational economy of pen and paper, and the role subordinate pensmen played in supporting both the late Mughal and early East India Company's empires in their agrarian reach into the Indian economy. Lowly, clerical castes served as pillars for the Company in enacting revenue settlements as they had under a wider Mughal political culture. The importance of the skills of paper management and accountancy were accelerated by British interests and provided the seeds for the emergence of not only the structures of north Indian education, but also some of the mid-nineteenth century colonial state's own forms of modern state organization. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article describes the study of the eco-impact of plastic and paper bags using the life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) technique under three different options: usage and disposal criteria with the existing usage behavior to reuse and governmental policies to recycle (option1), usage and disposal criteria as per consumers' perceptions if systems are in place (option2) and usage and disposal criteria in case of absence of recycling systems (option3). The first stage, which was the baseline for other options, comprised of the study of the eco-impact of plastic and paper bags in the manufacturing phase, without considering the usage and disposal phases. LCIA was performed by the Eco-indicator 99, a damage oriented method for LCIA in SIMAPRO 7.1. The single score values calculated by the Eco-indicator '99 were considered as a directive to compare the environmental impact made by plastic and paper bags and a detailed explanation of the results is provided in this article. The next stage was the study of the eco-impact of these bags including their usage and disposal phases. This was undertaken with the three different options as stated above and the results derived were compared with the results derived from the baseline study, which is the main focus of the study under discussion. The values for usage and end-of-life phases were obtained from the questionnaire survey of different user groups of shopping bags in China, Hong Kong and India. The results of this study show that the eco-impact of plastic and paper bags was very high if there were no usage and disposal options provided. When the eco- impact values from options of existing possibilities and consumers' perception were compared, the eco- impact value was lower in option 1 in all the three countries for both types of bags, which is mainly attributed to the fact that in option 1, a higher percentage of reuse is preferred to recycle and disposal to landfill categories. Also the eco-impact of these two types of bags was studied with and without the presence of recycling systems in China, India and Hong Kong, where the eco-impact was lower due to the presence of recycling systems. The results indicate that a higher percentage of reuse could significantly trim down the eco-impact of plastic and paper bags. Consumers' perceptions and usage behaviors in connection with respective government's policies and implementation of recycling systems could be highly decisive in reducing the eco-impact of plastic and paper shopping bags. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microorganisms are known to spread via air, water, food etc. an important mechanism of the spread of pathogens by formites. Food, water and soil borne infection are estimated to be affecting almost half of the world population. Paper currency notes which are transferred from one individual to other are known to carry bacteria on their surface and are responsible for transmitting them. These notes are susceptible to bacterial contamination during contaminate handing from person to person. An individual living in unhygienic conditions having unhygienic habits will contaminate the notes with bacteria e.g. habits such as using soling to count the paper notes also leads to the contamination and these notes will act as a vehicle delivering bacteria to contaminate the hands of the next user. Diseases continue to be a cause of major concern to human health in several part of the globe including in India, causing high morbidity, mortality and economic losses. Diseases that are transmittable contribute to paper currency this statistics by affecting human health and causing heavy looses directly or indirectly to economy. The aim of the present study was to ascertain the incidence and transmittance of microbes analysis from the paper currency collected from different regions of Ajmer and the presence of Escherichiacoli, Enterobacter spp. has been observed in the studied samples thereby highlighting the role of paper currency in spread of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined how farmers viewed the use of treated paper mill effluent for irrigation in Tamil Nadu, India using a well-structured interview. The study revealed that about 54% of respondents considered the effluent was appropriate for sugarcane cultivation. It was noted that most water intensive industries have applied treated effluent irrigation technology to the disposal of wastewater. Factors linked to such perception are cited including farmers' characteristics such as educational status and mass media exposure.

A 90 day study was conducted to evaluate the efficiency of an exotic earthworm species (Eudrilus eugeniae) for decomposition of different types of organic substrates (mixed liquor suspended solids, cow dung and leaf litter) into valuable vermicompost. Mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and leaf litter (LL) were mixed with cow dung (CD) in eight different ratios with three replicates for each treatment. All vermibeds expressed a significant decrease in pH, organic carbon, C:N ratio and an increase in total nitrogen, phosphorus and potash. Overall, earthworms could maximize decomposition and mineralization efficiency in bedding with lower proportions of MLSS. Maximum value for earth worm zoo mass and higher concentration of nutrient content was observed in CD + MLSS + LL in 1:1:2 ratios. Earthworm mortality tended to increase with increasing proportion of MLSS and maximum mortality in E. eugeniae was recorded for MLSS treatment alone. Results indicate that vermicomposting might be useful for managing the energy and nutrient of MLSS on a low-input basis. Products of this process can be used for sustainable land restoration practices.

This study investigates the extent of publication output and functional areas of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals. The research has been undertaken based on the primary data collected from the LIS professionals working in the various eight-state universities in Kerala, India. The population of the study consists of two hundred and sixty-six regular LIS professionals. The Census method was used for the collection of data. A questionnaire was designed and used as the instrument for extracting publication output and the relevant data. Based on the data analysis, the results show that the highest mean score for the publications of LIS professionals is in the conference papers followed by journal articles. It was also observed that the main primary functional area of most LIS professionals is in the circulation section, followed by the maintenance section and reference section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood development (ECD) refers to the physical, motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development of a young child. The 'Countdown to 2030' global distribution of 'children at risk of poor development' indicates the need for urgent action and investment in ECD. Nurturing care enhances ECD, even in the presence of adversities. Strategic actions should exist at multiple levels: the family, community, health care providers and government. Previously, child health related policies and programs of the Government of India functioned in isolation, but have recently started demonstrating multi-sectoral collaboration. Nonetheless, the status of ECD in India is far from optimal. There is strong evidence that parenting programs improve outcomes related to ECD. This is dependent on key programmatic areas (timing, duration, frequency, intensity, modality, content, etc.), in addition to political will, funding, partnership, and plans for scaling up. Each country must implement its unique ECD program that is need-based and customized to their stakeholder community. Barriers like inadequate sensitization of the community and low competency of health care providers need to be overcome. IAP firmly believes that responsive parenting interventions revolving around nurturing care should be incorporated in office practice. This paper outlines IAP's position on ECD, and its recommendations for pediatricians and policy makers. It also presents the roadmap in partnership with other stakeholders in maternal, neonatal, and child health; Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), National Neonatology Forum (NNF), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the extent of publication output and functional areas of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals. The research has been undertaken based on the primary data collected from the LIS professionals working in the various eight-state universities in Kerala, India. The population of the study consists of two hundred and sixty-six regular LIS professionals. The Census method was used for the collection of data. A questionnaire was designed and used as the instrument for extracting publication output and the relevant data. Based on the data analysis, the results show that the highest mean score for the publications of LIS professionals is in the conference papers followed by journal articles. It was also observed that the main primary functional area of most LIS professionals is in the circulation section, followed by the maintenance section and reference section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the world tries to grapple with the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are concerns about the revivals of economies across the globe. The world is also trying to make sense of global restructuring trade, which is expected in the post-COVID-19 world. This paper attempts to analyze the emerging trade scenario between India and China. Atlas of Economic Complexity theory (ACE) by Ricardo Hausmann, Cesar A. Hidalgo has been taken as a base for this research. This study propagates that the countries with products that require more know-how have more potential to grow. Taking the Atlas map giving details of Indian exports as a base, the researchers have compared the data from the last two years. The purpose is to identify whether the complexity of Indian exports is increasing or not. A particular case study has been done on Indian exports to China. There has been little progress in this field as India is exporting more complex products slightly to China. There is an urgent need to formulate a strategy to enhance the complexity of Indian exports. The policymakers need to give impetus to the industries which have a cross-cultural demand in China and leverage this opportunity. This will open the path for consolidating India's position in the global trade as well as improving its strategic position vis-a-vis China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part I. Lists various abstracts of research papers related to pharmacology presented during the XXXVI Annual Conference of the Indian Pharmacological Society held on December 5 to 7, 2003 in New Delhi. Title of paper; Research author; Affiliation; E-mail address; Objectives; Methods; Results; Conclusions; Possible anorectic case effect of methanol extract of Benincasa hispida by Kumar A.; Study of ulcerogenic potential of methylene blue by Shah H.; Role of potassium channel agonist and antagonist in ouabain induced arrhythmias by Dhasmana D.C.

The article discusses the airway pressure for infants with meconium aspiration syndrome which includes mechanical ventilation and medical care .

Performance training in India, and more specifically, my training in dance, has been shaped by multiple, overlapping systems of power that created a very specific notion of what counts as dance. In this position paper I examine these systems of power, and what they mean to performance training, through the prism of personal experience. I then articulate what the core aims of my pedagogy is and provide some concrete possibilities to disrupt power structures within performance pedagogy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass media including television, internet, and newspapers influences public views about various issues by means of how it covers an issue. Newspapers have a wider reach and may affect the impact that a news story has on the reader by factors such as placement of the story within the different pages. We did a pilot study to see how two English newspapers from Mumbai, India were covering psychiatry related news stories. The study was done over a period of 3 months. We found a total of 870 psychiatry related news stories in the two newspapers over 3 months with the majority of them being covered in the main body of the newspapers. Sex‑related crime stories and/or sexual dysfunction stories received the highest coverage among all the news while treatment and/or recovery related stories received very little coverage. It is crucial that the print media takes more efforts in improving reporting of psychiatry‑related stories and help in de‑stigmatizing psychiatry as a discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Understanding factors while selecting an analgesic and its usage pattern by Indian healthcare practitioners (HCPs). Methods. Questionnaire-based survey was conducted among six healthcare specialties. Results. Total 448 HCPs participated. Patient’s age (72.8%, 74.4%, 87.5%, and 78.9%) and duration of therapy (70.8%, 66.2%, 69.6%, and 73.6%) were main attributes for selecting an opioid according to general practitioners (GPs), dentists, consulting physicians (CPs), and surgeons, respectively. Patient’s age was important factor while selecting NSAID according to 77.60%, 66.91%, and 84.20% of GPs, dentists, surgeons, respectively. For mild pain, paracetamol was the choice according to 77%, 78.57% and 74% of GPs, CPs, and surgeons, respectively. For moderate pain, 77%, 87.50%, 68%, and 80.30% of GPs, CPs, surgeons and orthopedicians, respectively, preferred the use of paracetamol + tramadol combination. For moderate pain, NSAID + paracetamol and paracetamol+diclofenac were used by 68.94% and 47.73% of orthopedicians, respectively. Lack of pain clinic (38.8%) in city was commonly cited reason for not referring patients to pain clinics. Conclusion. Patient’s age, duration of therapy, comorbid conditions, frequency of dosing, and severity of pain are important parameters while selecting analgesics. Paracetamol and its combinations are commonly used for mild and moderate pain, respectively. Pain clinics currently have limited presence in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasts the continued growth in pulp and paper industry in India. Increase in the number of paper machine projects, expansions and conversions; Investment of Ballapur Industries in a new uncoated freesheet machine; Reconstruction of two coated duple paper machines by Khanna Paper Mills.

This paper analyzes the work of two Indian sociologists who defined the contours of sociology in India in the immediate post-independence decades, M. N. Srinivas and A. R. Desai. It argues that their scholarship can be linked to sociology's legacy as anthropology in India and its embeddedness in the episteme of colonial modernity. It contends that Srinivas's methodology, the field view, attempted to make a break with earlier methods, such as book view. However, his three concepts, that of dominant caste, Sanskritization and Westernization were perceived as civilizational attributes and which had organized social change in India. A. R. Desai, a Marxist historical sociologist, made an incisive critique of capitalist exploitation and elaborated the material conditions that led to peasant and working-class revolts. However, his sociology could not unravel the caste-class linkages that organized the Indian 'social' which was embedded in Indian nationalism. This paper suggests that a definitive understanding of modernity emerges in Indian sociology in the late 70s when the feminist, dalit and tribal movements interrogated the material basis of contemporary India's developmentalism and its capitalist and exploitative character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The proposal for an integrated national emergency number for India is garnering a lot of enthusiasm and stimulating debate. This ambitious project has a two-part paradigm shift to set in; the first being the integration into a single number and the infrastructure required for setting up and operating this number such that a call can be received and identified. The second is the submerged part of the iceberg: That of the ability to respond to a call and deliver the appropriate emergency service. The first part is more technical and has potential precedents like the 911 phone hotline, for example, to emulate. The main premise of this paper is that the second part is a rather subjective exercise largely determined by the realities of existing public infrastructure in a specific geographical area with respect to emergency services management, especially medical care. Consequently, we highlight the key areas of both precall preparedness and postcall execution that need to be reviewed prior to going live with an integrated number on a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is our pleasure to present this special issue of Heat Transfer Engineering with a selection of papers presented at the 20th National and 9th ISHMT-ASME Heat and Mass Transfer Conference, held January 4–6, 2010 in Mumbai, India. The conference was jointly sponsored by the Indian Society of Heat and Mass Transfer (ISHMT) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and was held at the auditorium of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd., at Anushakthi Nagar, Mumbai, India. The conference local organizer was Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Learning is an innate and natural process of exploration that children engage in from birth. 2-5 year olds are the most capable learners who require a quality early childhood educational setting. Recent research in the field of neuroscience, particularly on the brain, has provided convincing evidence of the 'critical periods' located within these early years for the forming of synaptic connections in the brain and for the full development of the brain's potential. Research has also indicated that if these early years are not supported by or embedded in a stimulating and enriching physical and psychosocial environment, the chances of the child's brain developing to its full potential are considerably, and often irreversibly, reduced. This stage in life is also important as a foundation for the inculcation of social values and personal habits, which are known to last a lifetime. Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) drive its importance from this rationale. Against this rationale, it can be said that the need of the hour today in India is an enriched cost effective learner centric model of early learning environment to motivate children and prepare them for formal school readiness and also motivate parents to keep their children at early learning centres. In India, early childhood educational setting falls in a dual track mode, where the ICDS is a public sponsored initiative which caters to the disadvantaged group and private initiatives targeted for the higher socio-economic families. India does not have a regulatory body to evaluate the early learning centres, to develop curriculum and to assess children. This scenario has led to many other problems such as, children not being school ready, dropping out of school, variation in the cognitive and academic development between the same age group. In the present day set-up, children attend preschool or a kindergarten before schooling and it has become an integral part of the education system. As there are no regulatory body in assessing the early learning centres, the early learning centres are being started in garages and other inappropriate settings, with limited spaces for children. This concept paper highlights the need for designing need based quality early learning centres which are welcoming, vibrant and flexible, responsive to children and their changing needs, interests and abilities. This would in turn foster holistic development of the child and ensure formal school readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial describes the aims of the conferences reuniting the papers presented in "Urbanism Architecture Constructions" for several successive editions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pertussis continues to be a major public health problem in both developing and developed countries. Data on exact burden and incidence of pertussis in the developing countries including India is sparse. However, the disease is widespread, even if not adequately measurable. Pertussis incidence has been increasing steadily in the last decade especially in industrialized countries. Outbreaks are reported from many developed countries in recent years despite widespread use of acellular pertussis vaccines with high coverage. The current status of coverage with pertussis vaccines is still sub-optimal in many states of the country. There is scarcity of data on vaccine efficacies of both whole-cell and acellular pertussis vaccines from India and other developing countries. Most of the recommendations on pertussis vaccination are based on the experience gained from the use of them in industrialized countries. Taking in to the consideration the recent evidence of faster waning of acellular pertussis vaccines in comparison to whole-cell vaccines and superior priming with whole-cell than acellular pertussis vaccines, Indian Academy of Pediatrics has now revised its recommendations pertaining to pertussis immunization in office practice. The Academy has now proposed whole-cell pertussis vaccines for the primary series of infant vaccination. Guidelines are also now issued on the preference of a particular acellular product. The Academy has also recommended use of Tdap during each pregnancy to provide protection to the very young infants. It urges the Government of India to initiate studies on the quality of available pertussis vaccines in India and to set indigenous national guidelines for the manufacturers to produce and market different pertussis vaccines in the country.

Burden of Influenza is significantly higher in developing countries as compared to developed countries, but the data on the disease burden is less well defined in most of the developing countries including India, and consequently, constraints evolving strategies for prioritization of measures to prevent and control it. The swine flu or A(H1N1) pandemic is on the wane but the virus continues to circulate causing sporadic outbreaks even in 2013. The A(H1N1)pdm09 has replaced the previous circulating seasonal A (H1N1) virus and acquired the status of a seasonal virus. Limited influenza activity is usually seen throughout the year in India with a clear peaking during the rainy season. The rainy season in the country lasts from June to August in all the regions except Tamil Nadu where it occurs from October to December. IAP recommends the ideal time for offering influenza vaccines is just before the onset of rainy season. The efficacy/effectiveness data of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines are also presented in different age groups and different categories of individuals. The IAP maintains its earlier recommendations of using the current trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine in all children with risk factors but not as a universal measure. IAP has now prioritized different target groups for influenza vaccination based on contribution of the group to the overall influenza burden, disease severity, and vaccine effectiveness in different age groups and categories. The current trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines incorporate the 2009 pandemic strain also, hence avert the need of a separate A (H1N1) vaccine. IAP stresses the need of more refined surveillance; large scale studies on effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines in Indian children, and more effective, properly matched, higher-valent influenza vaccines.

Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) is a critical component of immunization program. The risk of AEFI with vaccination is always weighed against the risk of not immunizing a child. There is an evolving AEFI surveillance system in India for the vaccines delivered through universal immunization program (UIP) of government sector, but the reporting remained suboptimal for long in the country, and there is almost no participation from private sector. The AEFI reporting from private sector will provide vital information on the safety of new and underutilized vaccines, not part of the UIP in India. The national guidelines are recently revised and updated. The Indian Academy of Pediatrics believes that pediatricians, especially in private sector have a crucial role to play with reporting of AEFI with newer/underutilized vaccines. Programmatic error, vaccine reaction, injection reactions, coincidental and unknown are the five broad categories of AEFI for programmatic purposes. The serious AEFIs (death, disability, cluster and hospitalization) need to be reported immediately and investigated in detail as per the laid down procedures. Once a serious AEFI happens, primary or urban health centre should be immediately informed by the pediatricians practicing in rural or urban areas, respectively. This advocacy paper from the academy provides guidelines to practitioners on how to report cases, and suggests ways for IAP members to help in ongoing efforts of the government in improving AEFI surveillance in the country. The details about the diagnosis and management of known/expected AEFI with UIP and newer vaccines shall be published later.