Search

Aim and Objectives: Although inclusive education of children with intellectual disability is currently an accepted practice, it is often challenged by negative attitude of schoolteachers. We undertook two surveillance studies aimed at Study A - identifying knowledge and teachers' attitudes towards children with intellectual disability and practices of inclusive education in a semi-urban school of South India. Study B -Determining the effect of educational intervention towards attitudes on inclusive education. Method: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice surveillance questionnaires (KAP and ATPD) were given to ninety-six consenting schoolteachers in Study A and twenty schoolteachers in Study B and analyzed. Results: In Study A, the overall attitude mean indicated a favorable attitude towards the children with intellectual disability. The mean overall attitude score was 77.1 (SD: 9.58), with a normal distribution. Forty to fifty percent were aware of intellectual disability and attributed them to biological causes. Ninety-two percent agreed on the need for education and stepwise training for a child with an intellectual disability. In real-life practice, results of classroom management were inaccurate. In Study B, knowledge, attitudes and practices towards inclusive education improved with educational intervention with a positive change of 7.19% on the ATDP scale. Conclusion: These findings suggest a generally positive attitude towards intellectual disability and inclusive education. Comprehensive training programs improve knowledge and attitudes towards inclusive education.

The study aimed to find out the relationship between cognitive styles, YouTube learning and Skype learning performance of secondary school students. For that purpose, the researchers randomly selected 20 students from two 9th standards of two English medium secondary schools of Silchar Town, Assam, India to conduct the experiment. Quasi Experimental Design based on Regression Analysis used to assess and relate the effects of variables. 10 class IX students of school 1 was counted as the YouTube learning Group, and 10 class IX students of school 2 was assigned for Skype learning. It resulted that perceiving, feeling, introversion and intuition has the hierarchical significant relationship with YouTube learning performance, however,extroversion, sensing, thinking, judging, has no significant relationship with YouTube learning performance. It also resulted that judging, thinking, sensing, extroversion has no hierarchical relationship with Skype learning performance.

The study aimed to assess the effect of ICT assisted real and virtual learning performance over the traditional approach of secondary school students. Non-Equivalent Pretest-Posttest Quasi Experimental Design used to assess and relate the effects of independent variables virtual learning on dependent variables (i.e. learning performance). Extraneous variables minimized through ANCOVA, and in fact, the findings generalized on the whole population. Class IX of school 1 (n = 55) assigned to traditional approach, Class IX of school 2 (n = 60) assigned for real learning approach (youtube and wiki), and Class IX of school 2 (n = 55) assigned for virtual learning approach (i.e. Skype, Video Conferencing, & Recorded Audio-Video lecture) among the secondary school students (e.g. Class- IX) of two selected schools. It resulted that there was statistically significant difference among the pretest and posttest mean of the learning performance of ICT assisted Real learning (YouTube & Wikipedia) Group, ICT assisted Virtual learning (Skype & video lecture) Group over Traditional learning Group of students.

Introduction: A major challenge in stroke rehabilitation is the paresis of the Upper Extremity (UE), resulting in limited functional performance. Recently, motor imagery and Mirror Therapy (MT) have been recommended as an additional rehabilitation strategies that could be beneficial for motor rehabilitation after a stroke. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of mirror visual feedback through Telerehabilitation (TR) on UE functional performance in hemiparetic stroke patients. Materials and Methods: An experimental pretest, post-test study design was conducted at SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRMIST, Kattankulathur, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India from January 2021 to June 2021. Total of 60 patients diagnosed with hemiparetic stroke were included in the study through convenience sampling and divided into two groups. The experimental group (n=30) received TR, and the control group (n=30) received face-to-face MT for 12 weeks. A pretest and post-test evaluation were administered using the Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT) and Fugl-Meyer Assessment for the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE). Within-group analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test, while intergroup analysis was conducted using the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results: The study revealed statistical significance between the pretest and post-test scores of the WMFT-FAS (Functional Ability Score), WMFT-Time (Performance Time), and FMA-UE in the control and experimental groups. The results showed no statistically significant difference between the post-test scores of the control and experimental groups in the FMA and WMFTFAS. However, there was a statistically significant distinction in the post-test scores between the control and experimental groups in WMFT-Time. Conclusion: The study concluded that mirror visual feedback through TR was an effective treatment method to improve UE functional performance among hemiparetic stroke patients by offering an alternative service delivery model for occupational therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Malaria continues to be a significant public health concern in India, with several regions experiencing endemicity and sporadic outbreaks. The prevalence of malaria in blood donors, in India, varies between 0.02% and 0.07%. Common techniques to screen for malaria, in blood donors and patients, include microscopic smear examination and rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) based on antigen detection. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new fully automated analyser, XN‐31, for malaria detection, as compared with current practice of using RDT. Materials and Methods: Cross‐sectional analytical study was conducted to evaluate clinical sensitivity and specificity of new automated analyser XN‐31 among blood donors' samples and clinical samples (patients with suspicion of malaria) from outpatient clinic collected over between July 2021 and October 2022. No additional sample was drawn from blood donor or patient. All blood donors and patients' samples were processed by malaria rapid diagnostic test, thick‐smear microscopy (MIC) and the haematology analyser XN‐31. Any donor blood unit incriminated for malaria was discarded. Laboratory diagnosis using MIC was considered the 'gold standard' in the present study. Clinical sensitivity and specificity of XN‐31 were compared with the gold standard. Results: Fife thousand and five donor samples and 82 diagnostic samples were evaluated. While the clinical sensitivity and specificity for donor samples were 100%, they were 72.7% and 100% for diagnostic samples. Conclusion: Automated haematology analysers represent a promising solution, as they can deliver speedy and sensitive donor malaria screening assessments. This method also has the potential to be used for pre‐transfusion malaria screening along with haemoglobin estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin D (VitD) is a naturally occurring, fat-soluble vitamin which regulates calcium and phosphate homeostasis in the human body and is also known to have a neuroprotective role. VitD deficiency has often been associated with impaired cognition and a higher risk of dementia. In this study, we aimed to explore the relationship between levels of VitD and cognitive functioning in adult individuals. 982 cognitively healthy adults (≥ 45 years) were recruited as part of the CBR-Tata Longitudinal Study for Aging (TLSA). Addenbrooke's cognitive examination-III (ACE-III) and Hindi mental status examination (HMSE) were used to measure cognitive functioning. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels were measured from the collected serum sample and classified into three groups— deficient (< 20 ng/ml), insufficient (20–29 ng/ml) and normal (≥ 30 ng/ml). Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS software, version 28.0.1.1(15). The mean age of the participants was 61.24 ± 9 years. Among 982 participants, 572 (58%) were deficient, 224 (23%) insufficient and only 186 (19%) had normal levels of VitD. Kruskal–Wallis H test revealed a significant difference in age (p = 0.015) and education (p = 0.021) across VitD levels and the Chi-square test revealed a significant association between gender (p = 0.001) and dyslipidemia status (p = 0.045) with VitD levels. After adjusting for age, education, gender and dyslipidemia status, GLM revealed that individuals with deficient (p = 0.038) levels of VitD had lower scores in ACE-III verbal fluency as compared to normal. Additionally, we also found that 91.2% individuals who had VitD deficiency were also having dyslipidemia. It is concerning that VitD deficiency impacts lipid metabolism. Lower levels of VitD also negatively impacts verbal fluency in adult individuals. Verbal fluency involves higher order cognitive functions and this result provides us with a scope to further investigate the different domains of cognition in relation to VitD deficiency and other associated disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knowledge of basic life support (BLS) is one of the life-saving measures that every medical undergraduate student must possess. Aims and Objectives: This study focused on knowing the level of knowledge in fresh medical undergraduate entrants (knowledge A [KA]) and 3rdyear students with clinical exposure but no BLS training (knowledge B [KB]). We also assessed the knowledge in 1st-year students (retention A [RA]) soon after foundation course and compared it with retained knowledge after 6 months (retention B [RB]). Materials and Methods: This non-randomized multigroup cross-sectional study was done on medical undergraduate students in a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical school in South India. A validated questionnaire with 25 questions assessing knowledge of BLS was formulated and administered to 508 medical students. Results: After analyzing data in SPSS V24, the mean scores in KA and KB were 11.03±4.33 and 13.95±5.43, respectively, with a P<0.001 which was significant. Although both the scores were >50%, clinical exposure had some effect on mean scores in medical undergraduates. Mean scores in RA and RB were 23.16±5.09 and 16.17±6.97, respectively, with P<0.001 which was significant, implying less retention of knowledge in RB 6 months after BLS training. Conclusion: A foundation course introduced into the medical curriculum is essential and refresher courses should be conducted frequently to retain the knowledge of BLS as daily academic commitments can prevent retention of BLS knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An estimated 200 million Indians have mental health conditions -- a sizeable proportion of them requiring psychiatric rehabilitation services. The numbers of mental health professionals are abysmally low. Early psycho-social rehabilitation interventions can improve functional outcomes, reducing disability. Psycho-social interventions have been made possible with the shift away from medical and charity models of disability to the establishment of social protections for vulnerable groups. Materials and Methods: The authors have undertaken a narrative review of all the social protection measures that can be explained to persons affected by mental health conditions and their family members. A larger tabulation is provided as an appendix to this article that has details of all the social protection measures across the states and union territories of India. This tabulation can be useful as a one-stop reference for every mental health practitioner in India toward informing persons affected by mental health conditions and their family members about how recovery journeys can be advanced. The data have been compiled after extensive searches of official government websites, information brochures, and even relevant legal provisions. Conclusion: For almost all the social protection measures provided by the central or state government, a disability certificate is a prerequisite. Rehabilitation today is a collaborative process aimed at community re-integration. In the absence of specialized services like those of clinical psychologists, vocational trainers, and psychiatric social workers, the psychiatrist becomes the sole point of contact. Motivated community members, recovered services users, and family members can aid mental health professionals by disseminating this knowledge further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preeclampsia, a condition very frequently linked to maternal and fetal deaths worldwide, remains a pressing concern due to delays in recognition and response. Effective screening tests for early detection of high-risk cases and appropriate preventive measures are currently lacking. Well planned prenatal care, timely detection, monitoring, and appropriate management are vital to prevent preeclampsia-related fatalities. Methods: This prospective study evaluated the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) in identifying placental structural issues caused by preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies. A total of 143 high-risk pregnant women with singleton pregnancies and an anterior placental position were included in the study. Results: Women with preeclampsia exhibited significantly elevated SWE values in both center (27.98 ± 16.12 vs. 4.57 ± 6.57 kPa) and peripheral areas of the placenta (29.14 ± 16.12 vs. 4.80 ± 7.70 kPa) when compared to non-preeclampsia women (p = 0.000). Cutoff values of 8.70 kPa and 8.15 kPa at the Center and edge of the placenta respectively, accurately predicted preeclampsia in second-trimester pregnancies, with 84.62% sensitivity and 94% specificity. However no significant difference was observed between elastography values obtained from the center and edge of the placenta. Conclusions: In conclusion, shear wave elastography can help diagnose preeclampsia early by assessing placental stiffness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a highly contagious seasonal virus that is the leading cause of acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (LRTI) in the paediatric age group and is one of the leading causes of death in children under five in developing countries. There is evidence that severe RSV infection and hospitalisation in early life increase the risk of recurrent wheezing, childhood asthma, and allergic sensitisation. Even though RSV being a major global health concern, very few papers concentrate on the neonatal period in India. The present case series presents four cases (three females and one male baby) highlighting the impact of RSV in neonatal and post-neonatal infants in India. The cases highlight the diversity of presentation; one infant required prolonged High-flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) support, while two needed just symptomatic care. The importance of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in resource-constrained situations is highlighted as diagnostic issues are examined. Treatment focuses on supportive care; oxygen and respiratory support are provided in more severe cases. The present study emphasises the need for early detection and preventative measures, such as using novel treatments like nirsevimab. The present case series advocates for focused therapies and additional research in the Indian paediatric environment, adding insightful perspectives to the expanding body of knowledge on RSV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Memory deficits are one of the common indications of cognitive aging, and they are an essential component for completing day-to-day activities in an effective, timely, and safe manner. Disturbances in memory can have a major impact on an individual's performance in all areas of occupation. Memory alterations have a substantial influence on numerous elements of everyday living, including sentiments and conceptions of self, connections with others, participation in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), and engagement in leisure activities. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of an occupational therapy Memory Strategy Education Group (MSEG) intervention on memory difficulties and its impact on ADL performance among the geriatric population. Materials and Methods: The present quasi-experimental pre-post-test pilot study was conducted at Department of Occupational Therapy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 10 participants aged 60 years and above were recruited from a community setting through convenience sampling and were divided into an experimental group (n=5) and a control group (n=5). The experimental group participants received MSEG intervention, while the control group participants received conventional occupational therapy memory intervention for three weeks. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), Contextual Memory Test (CMT), and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) were used to measure occupational performance, memory, and ADL. The outcome measure scores within groups were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and the comparison of outcome measures between the groups was analysed using the Mann- Whitney U test. An alpha level of p=0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 24.0 version was used to analyse the data. Results: In the present study, a total of 10 participants from the age group of 60-75 years (mean age=67.4 years) were included, and each group (control and experimental) consisted of five participants (3 males and 2 females). The results showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in COPM-Performance and CMT (p=0.032; p=0.018, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups in FIM (p=0.347). Further analysis revealed a clinically significant difference between the control and experimental groups in post-test scores. Conclusion: The results of the study concluded that the MSEG intervention is effective in improving memory difficulties in the geriatric population but had a lesser effect on improving ADL performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Challenging behaviours are frequently observed in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), potentially hindering their daily functioning. As the prevalence of autism continues to rise, the array of challenging behaviours, including repetitive patterns, stereotypes, and self-harm, emphasizes the importance of developing effective interventions in occupational therapy. These interventions aim to manage these challenging behaviours and enhance the overall wellbeing and functionality of these children. Aim: To compare the effectiveness of Functional Communication Training (FCT), Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT), and Behavioural Interventions (BI) on challenging behaviours in children with ASD. Materials and Methods: An experimental study with prepost test design was conducted in the Paediatric Unit of the Department of Occupational Therapy, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The duration of the study was nine months, from September 2020 to May 2021. A total of six (N=6) children selected through convenience sampling. The SIT took place at the paediatric unit of the occupational therapy department at SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Due to Coronavirus Disaese-2019 (COVID-19) restrictions, FCT and BI were conducted simultaneously at the participants’ homes. Outcomes were measured using Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) and the Repetitive Behaviour Scale-Revised (RBS-R). Within-group analysis involved utilising the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, while between-group analysis entailed the application of the Kruskal-Wallis and one way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 7.83±1.83 years. A significant reduction in challenging behaviours was seen in all six children in the three intervention groups when outcomes were measured using FBA (p<0.05). Among these interventions, BI proved to be the most effective in reducing the frequency of challenging behaviours in children with ASD, as evidenced by a mean post-test score of RBS-R (19.50±12.02 for BI, compared to 20±1.41 for SI and 23±11.31 for FCT, p=0.047). Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that all three interventions - SIT, FCT, and BI successfully decreased the occurrence of challenging behaviours in children with ASD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives To assess the change in Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) following orthodontic treatment using the Malocclusion Impact Questionnaire (MIQ) and to test the responsiveness of MIQ to treatment-associated changes. Methods A longitudinal prospective cohort study, in an orthodontic postgraduate centre, Kerala, India. Patients under 18 years were invited to complete the MIQ before the start of treatment (T0) and 1 month after treatment completion (T1). TheIndex of Orthodontic Treatment Need and Peer Assessment Rating (PAR) scores were assessed at both time periods as well as a global transition judgement at T1. Results Two hundred and ten participants were recruited and 162 completed both questionnaires (45.1% males; 54.9% females; age = 12–18 years, mean = 16.8; SD = 1.7). There was large reduction in MIQ scores from T0 (mean = 28.1, SD = 6.1) to T1 (mean = 3.7, SD = 2.6). 53% reported a large improvement in oral health and related life quality after treatment, 32% minimal change, and 15% no change. None reported worsening in OHRQoL at T1. There was a significant positive correlation between change in MIQ score and change in PAR score (r = 0.358), pretreatment aesthetic component (rho = 0.467) and dental health component (rho = 0.491) of the index of orthodontic treatment (IOTN-DHC), and treatment time (rho = 0.502). Regression analysis revealed the change in PAR score and pretreatment IOTN-DHC to be independent predictors of change in MIQ score. Standardized effect size (4.0) and standardized response mean (2.9) were large and the minimal important difference was 7.7. Receiver operating characteristic analysis reported a high diagnostic accuracy of MIQ. Conclusions There was a significant improvement in OHRQoL following orthodontic treatment when assessed using a condition-specific measure for malocclusion. MIQ was found to be responsive to changes associated with orthodontic treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The goal of this study is to identify drug-related problems (DRPs) for elderly cancer patients receiving chemotherapy by implementing pharmaceutical care services. Methods: In this interventional study, patients were followed after each cycle till 12 weeks. The MOATT-MASCC teaching tool was used to educate patients about their therapy. The outcome measures included the occurrences of any DRPs such as inappropriate medication dose, dosage form, route of administration, therapeutic duplication, failure of the patient to adhere to the medication regimen, adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and drug–drug interactions (DDIs) and to resolve it. Results: On 186 patients, there were 38% ADRs, 16% DDIs, 6% non-adherence to therapy, 4% medical conditions for which no medication was prescribed, and 1% therapeutic duplication and transcribing error was identified. A total of 226 ADRs were documented. Nausea and vomiting were the most frequently occurring ADRs (24%) and platinum compounds caused the highest number of ADRs. Assessments of causality showed that the majority of cases are 'probable' (50%). In evaluating the severity of ADRs, 53% of ADRs were 'moderate' and 51% of ADRs were 'probably' preventable. Upon assessing the DDIs, 35% of the prescriptions had 'monitor therapy'. All of the DRPs, that were identified were notified to the treating oncologists and resolved without any disagreement. Conclusions: Pharmaceutical care is essential for elderly cancer patients. Oncologists and pharmacists should work together to identify and manage DRPs as well as educate patients about their disease. This will help in improved patient care and a better therapeutic outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores "pedagogies of resistance"--or critical and democratic educational models utilized by social movements--and how global examples of engaged educational praxis may inform peace education. The central inquiry of this article is "How can educational projects that resist larger social, political and economic inequalities offer understandings about how we learn, teach, and act for peace in diverse settings?" Drawing upon literature from various fields, ideas and insights are offered about how the field of peace education can better respond to multiple and diverse realities, particularly those facing marginalized communities. The article provides an overview of key tenets of peace education and ideas central to "critical peace education;" offers a framing of "pedagogies of resistance;" and, lastly, details what directions emerge by putting these two educational forms in conversation.

In India, where malaria is endemic, the prompt and accurate detection of infections is crucial for disease management and vector control. Our study aimed to evaluate the "iRBC" flag, a novel parameter developed for routine hematology analyzers, for its sensitivity and specificity in detecting Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) infections. We used residual blood samples from patients with suspected malaria and compared the iRBC flag results with microscopy, which serves as the gold standard. Additionally, we compared the results with rapid immuno-chromatographic tests (RDTs) commonly used in the field. Our study included 575 samples, of which 187 were positive for P. vivax. The iRBC flag demonstrated a high sensitivity of 88.7% and 86.1% on the XN and XN-L hematology analyzers, respectively, and a clinical specificity of 100% on both analyzers. Furthermore, the scattergram derived from each positive dataset exhibited distinct patterns, which facilitated rapid confirmation by laboratory specialists. Notably, the iRBC flag remained effective even in the presence of interfering conditions. Overall, our results indicate that the iRBC flag is a reliable and rapid screening tool for identifying P. vivax in routine blood testing. Our findings have significant implications for malaria detection and control in endemic regions like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pigeon pea is an important dietary protein source for humans but the production was constrained by various biotic and abiotic factors. Breeding strategies were followed to improve yield and developing high yielding varieties but at the same time utilization of genetic resources have declined. Pigeon pea is native to India with huge natural genetic variability in the local germplasm and its wild relatives. So it is necessary to identify and select breeding material from germplasm with considerable genetic and morphological variability to utilize in breeding programmes. As an initial study, 200 pre-breeding lines developed were evaluated for morphological variability patterns. Methods: A total of two hundred lines selected from F4 generation of pigeon pea developed at ICAR-NBPGR were evaluated in randomized block design (RBD) during 2014-2015 kharif season under Indo-Swiss collaboration in Biotechnology at Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai (TNAU). The accessions found to be superior in seed yield than the local check APK1 were forwarded to the next generation (2015-2016) for assessment of genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and association studies. Result: Qualitative traits were evaluated and variation in leaflet shape, stem colour, pattern of streaks and base seed colour were observed. All tested lines expressed greater variability for most of the traits. Maximum coefficient of variation was observed for number of pods per plant followed by number of primary branches per plant. Selection of traits with moderate heritability coupled with high genetic advance like number of pods per plant, number of primary branches per plant could help in crop improvement program. Seed yield was positively correlated with number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plant and hundred seed weight. Potential genetic stocks and donors for high yield were selected based on hundred seed weight and seeds per pod. The accessions superior in number of pods and seed yield than check were forwarded to next generation for assessment. The identified trait-specific accessions will help in future breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder among women between the ages of 18 and 44 years. The signs and symptoms of polycystic ovarian syndrome include menstrual irregularities, excess body and facial hair, acne, pelvic pain, difficulty getting pregnant, and patches of thicker, darker, velvety skin. The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of information, education, and communication on awareness regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome among undergraduates. Methods: A quantitative pre-experimental approach was adopted and the research design used was a one-group pre-test-post-test design. The study was conducted at a selected nursing college in South Kerala. A total of 104 samples were selected by total enumerative sampling. The socio-demographic variables were gathered by selfreporting. The awareness was assessed by a structured questionnaire. The sample was provided with an education session using video and leaflets, and the post-test was conducted 45 days after the pretest. Results: The pretest mean + SD score of awareness was 12.91 + 3.16, the posttest mean score was 14.79 + 2.74. The mean difference was statistically highly significant (p 0.001). It showed there was a significant difference in awareness among undergraduates after the implementation of Information, Education and Communication. Conclusions: Information, education and communication had a significant effect in improving the awareness regarding polycystic ovarian syndrome among undergraduates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents data collected at the level of practice to highlight one non-governmental organization's approach to human rights education and how household-, school-, and community-level factors mediated student impact. Findings suggest that a variety of factors at the three levels contribute to the program's successful implementation in government schools serving marginalized students (where most HRE programs are in operation in India today). These responses emerge along a continuum from "time pass"--a commonly used term in India for anything that does not directly contribute to greater performance on high-stakes exams--to "transformative force", wherein students internalize knowledge and values related to human rights and take action based on it. Responses to HRE were characterized in four areas and representative examples are provided of each: (1) personal changes; (2) attempts to intervene in situations of abuse; (3) reporting (or threatening to report) abuse; and (4) spreading awareness about human rights. (Contains 2 figures.)

This article examines approaches to environmental education in Bhopal, India. It is an attempt to understand how much environmental education as a topic has been incorporated into formal curricula. An analysis of state and national syllabi indicates a focus on conventional, natural sciences approaches to the environment, thus neglecting the social science aspects of education for sustainable development across all grade levels. Environmental disasters are given a very general treatment with no contextual link to incidents like the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984. Social dimensions like environmental citizenship are also minimally mentioned. Finally, the article highlights the large gap between national educational policy frameworks and the actual incorporation of environmental education in state and national textbooks. (Contains 11 footnotes, 3 figures, and 8 tables.)

Background: Human rights education initiatives have proliferated in the past three decades and can be found in policy discussions, textbook reforms and grassroots initiatives across the globe. This article specifically explores the role of teachers in human rights education (HRE) by focusing on a case study of one non-governmental organisation's (NGO) programme operating across India. Purpose: This article argues that teachers' "own" transformation should be central to discussions of the educational reform, and presents data from an NGO-run HRE initiative in India. Additionally, while HRE teachers may be encouraged to equalise power relations within the classroom, many semi-literate communities hold teachers (and textbooks) in high regard, suggesting that their advocacy of human rights may prove instrumental for HRE to go beyond the school walls, the ultimate aim of the educational project. Evidence from India contributes to the discussion of HRE by presenting teachers' experiences with training and their use of existing hierarchies to effect change in primarily rural, semi-literate communities. Sample: Participants in this study included 118 HRE teachers, 625 students, 80 staff and policy makers of HRE, and eight parents. Observations of teacher trainings included hundreds more participants. The majority of student respondents came from "tribal" (indigenous) or Dalit (previously called "untouchable") communities, both comprising the most marginalised sections of Indian society. Design and methods: This study was primarily qualitative and was carried out from August 2008 to January 2010. Methods included semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations of teacher trainings in human rights and human rights camps for students. Results: The study found the following: (1) teacher training that is appropriate, contextualised and engaging incentivises participation and legitimises both the message and messengers of human rights; (2) teachers' own transformation and interest in human rights can benefit their households, schools and communities in multiple ways; and (3) teachers and textbooks can provide legitimacy for human rights and be vital community resources for intervening in abuses. Conclusions: Further attention to the role of teachers in HRE can illuminate how HRE overlays and is mediated by existing community realities and societal structures. (Contains 1 figure and 11 notes.)

This article examines the similarities and differences of the fields of Gandhian studies and peace education through an exploration of their content, institutional development, and globalization since the mid-twentieth century. The methods utilized include document review of syllabi and course descriptions in Gandhian studies and peace education, as well as interviews with individuals involved in both fields. Through an examination of the history, emergence and core concepts in each field, this article argues that both fields have the potential to offer each other important lessons based in their own unique trajectories. Specifically, it was found that educational movements, and structural analyses of power and inequality that are often integral to them, in the global South can inform peace education by diversifying the voices deemed canonical in the field. Similarly, Gandhian studies, in responding to the unique dilemma of expanding resources and institutionalization amidst "decreasing" student demand, may do well to broaden its foci and further integrate contemporary social issues related to peace and social justice. (Contains 4 tables and 11 notes.)

Introduction: Propofol and isoflurane are commonly used in general anaesthesia. Both the drugs are neither neuroprotective nor neurotoxic. In clinical settings, inhaled anaesthetics like isoflurane are frequently used. But, it has been claimed that isoflurane anaesthesia would be a factor inducing cognitive impairment. Propofol is metabolised quickly, primarily in the liver, and its by products are inert. After the initial dose, the half-life of propofol is 2 to 8 minutes, and even with prolonged infusions, propofol promotes quick recovery. Aim: To evaluate the effects of propofol and isoflurane on postoperative recovery patterns in patients receiving general anaesthesia and to determine how they affect cognitive function and memory. Materials and Methods: A double-blinded randomised clinical study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia, RL Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre, Tamaka, Kolar, Karnataka, India, during the period from January 2022 to March 2022. In the present study, 60 patients of between age 50-90 years were included. Patients were split into two groups: group A received an intravenous infusion of propofol, and group B received isoflurane. Patients in both groups had their cognitive ability and memory tested before surgery. In the present study, baseline Mean Atrial Pressure (MAP), Heart Rate (HR), Pulse Oximetry (SpO2) and Ramsay Sedation score were comparable in both groups. The novel variables, such as surgery types, duration, and medications were evaluated in both groups. Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were assessed one hour before and four hours after surgery. Comparison of a continuous variable across the groups was performed using the Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test, depending on the normality of the distribution. A comparison of categorical variables across the two study groups was made using the Chi-square test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Age group of 50-60 years were more in both group A (66.7%), and group B (70%). In Group A, most participants were females (56.7%), and in group B, majority were males (60%). In group A, the postoperative assessment showed a mean MoCA score of 25.6±1.52; in group B postoperative assessment showed a mean MoCA score of 24.17±1.46 with a p-value of 0.001, which was statistically significant. The postoperative assessment showed a mean MMSE score of 26.3±1.58 in group A and in group B, the postoperative assessment showed a mean MMSE score of 24.9±1.4 with a p-value of 0.001, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: The current results imply that postoperative delirium is more frequently present after isoflurane anaesthesia than after propofol anaesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid industrialization and population expansion increased the demand for petroleum-based fuels, resulting in price hike and creates serious environmental issues. Biodiesel, a clean, renewable and long-lasting alternative and for large scale production needs readily available and sustainable feedstocks. Edible and non-edible plants are abundant in Southern India, particularly Ceiba penandra (CP), Mahua longifolia (ML), and Azadirachta indica (AI), which were employed in this study in combination. An efficient heterogeneous nano-catalyst CaO-TiO2 was synthesized and employed in the transesterification process due to its recoverability and insensitivity to FFA. The catalyst was subjected to characterize by FTIR, XRD and SEM with EDX mapping. Response surface approach is engaged in this study for cost-effective production. More than 95% biodiesel yield was achieved for Ceiba penandra oil (CPO), Mahua longifolia oil (MLO), Azadirachta indica oil (AIO) and their mixture (MIO) by optimization of significant reaction parameters and the best combination was obtained as methanol oil ratio (0.32, 0.46, 0.34 and 0.42 v/v), catalyst usage (5, 6.5, 6 and 4 wt.%), mixing intensity (750, 840, 700 and 540 rpm) and duration (80, 105, 85 and 85 min) respectively with constant temperature of 70°C. Fatty acid profile was characterized by chromatograph also established the properties by ASTM and EN guidelines to confirm its compatibility in the IC engine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paratyphoid fever caused by S. Paratyphi A is endemic in parts of South Asia and Southeast Asia. The proportion of enteric fever cases caused by S. Paratyphi A has substantially increased, yet only limited data is available on the population structure and genetic diversity of this serovar. We examined the phylogenetic distribution and evolutionary trajectory of S. Paratyphi A isolates collected as part of the Indian enteric fever surveillance study "Surveillance of Enteric Fever in India (SEFI)." In the study period (2017–2020), S. Paratyphi A comprised 17.6% (441/2503) of total enteric fever cases in India, with the isolates highly susceptible to all the major antibiotics used for treatment except fluoroquinolones. Phylogenetic analysis clustered the global S. Paratyphi A collection into seven lineages (A-G), and the present study isolates were distributed in lineages A, C and F. Our analysis highlights that the genome degradation events and gene acquisitions or losses are key molecular events in the evolution of new S. Paratyphi A lineages/sub-lineages. A total of 10 hypothetically disrupted coding sequences (HDCS) or pseudogenes-forming mutations possibly associated with the emergence of lineages were identified. The pan-genome analysis identified the insertion of P2/PSP3 phage and acquisition of IncX1 plasmid during the selection in 2.3.2/2.3.3 and 1.2.2 genotypes, respectively. We have identified six characteristic missense mutations associated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) biosynthesis genes of S. Paratyphi A, however, these mutations confer only a low structural impact and possibly have minimal impact on vaccine effectiveness. Since S. Paratyphi A is human-restricted, high levels of genetic drift are not expected unless these bacteria transmit to naive hosts. However, public-health investigation and monitoring by means of genomic surveillance would be constantly needed to avoid S. Paratyphi A serovar becoming a public health threat similar to the S. Typhi of today. Author summary: Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A remains one of the most common causes of enteric fever in the endemic regions of Asia. Within-host evolution of this human-restricted pathogen has led to the emergence of multiple lineages and sub-lineages through significant genomic rearrangement and pseudogene formation. Our study provides a snapshot overview of the gene flux and genome degradation events that shaped the evolution of S. Paratyphi A over the last 300 years. We leveraged the ongoing enteric fever surveillance program in India to collect 441 S. Paratyphi A clinical isolates, of which 152 were whole-genome sequenced. We carefully screened every internal node and cataloged mutations and gene flux at every stage of divergence/lineages throughout the phylogeny, revealing the role of key genetic changes in the evolutionary adaptation of S. Paratyphi A. Though several studies have previously reported the evolutionary trajectory of S. Paratyphi A, our study provides additional signatures with the most plausible evidence to date, backed by a molecular basis of adaptive mutations. The data from this study would merit further attention and interest in validating vaccines and developing novel diagnostics against S. Paratyphi A infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prolonged COVID-19 pandemic accelerates the emergence and transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants through the accumulation of adaptive mutations. Particularly, adaptive mutations in spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 leads to increased viral infectivity, severe morbidity and mortality, and immune evasion. This study focuses on the phylodynamic distribution of SARS-CoV-2 variants during the year 2021 in India besides analyzing the functional significance of mutations in S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Methods: Whole genome of SARS-CoV-2 sequences (n = 87957) from the various parts of India over the period of January to December 2021 was retrieved from Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data. All the S-protein sequences were subjected to clade analysis, variant calling, protein stability, immune escape potential, structural divergence, Furin cleavage efficiency, and phylogenetic analysis using various in silico tools. Results: Delta variant belonging to 21A, 21I, and 21J clades was found to be predominant throughout the year 2021 though many variants were also present. A total of4639 amino acid mutations were found in S-protein. D614G was the most predominant mutation in the S-protein followed by P681R, L452R, T19R, T478K, and D950N. The highest number of mutations was found in the N-terminal domain of S-protein. Mutations in the crucial sites of S-protein impacting pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and fusogenicity were identified. Intralineage diversity analysis showed that certain variants of SARS-CoV-2 possess high diversification. Conclusions: The study has disclosed the distribution of various variants including the Delta, the predominant variant, in India throughout the year 2021. The study has identified mutations in S-protein of each SARS-CoV-2 variant that can significantly impact the virulence, immune evasion, increased transmissibility, high morbidity, and mortality. In addition, it is found that mutations acquired during each viral replication cycle introduce new sub-lineages as studied by intralineage diversity analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis is rising globally and in India. Allergens are agents that trigger allergic rhinitis. Skin prick test is used to identify allergens causing allergic rhinitis. This study was done to know the skin sensitivity to different allergens in allergic rhinitis patients and to assess the percentage of positive skin prick tests which correlate well with history. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 patients with allergic rhinitis. Detailed history related allergic rhinitis and ear, nose, throat examination was done for all patients. Skin prick test was done with 11 allergens in allergic rhinitis patients and their sensitivity to allergens was studied. Results: In all, 85 patients were female and 65 patients were male. Dust mite had the highest number of positive responses (65.3%) followed by Cassia occidentalis (34.6%). Of the patients, 13 were positive for 1 allergen, 74 were positive for 2 allergens, and 63 were positive for 3 allergens. Conclusions: Skin prick test is a standard, rapid, sensitive, and inexpensive test used to detect allergens. Dust mite was the commonest allergen (65.3%). This study helps in educating the patients on the allergens to avoid and plan effective preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Labor pain is one of the most agonizing pains experienced by all delivered women. Many pharmacological agents used in labor analgesia require intense monitoring facilities, which are not available in routine obstetric practice in low-resource settings. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of intravenous (IV) paracetamol and intramuscular (IM) tramadol on labor pain relief, labor progression, and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods: This randomized drug trial was carried out on 110 women divided into two groups. Group A women received 1000 mg of IV paracetamol, and Group B women received 100 mg of IM tramadol during the active phase of labor. Pain intensity was assessed by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at intervals till 120 min of delivery. The maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results: There was a statistically significant fall in pain score till 180 min of drug administration in the paracetamol group and 120 min in the tramadol group. At 180 min and 240 min, paracetamol is more effective than tramadol (p value 0.004 at 180 min and 0.0119 at 240 min). There were significantly low pain score levels at 60 min of delivery in the paracetamol group (p value—0.004). Nausea and vomiting were significantly higher in the tramadol group (p value 0.000013). Conclusion: Compared to IM tramadol, IV paracetamol has a longer duration of action and fewer maternal side effects, making it suitable for parenteral analgesia in labor. Due to a better safety profile, there is no need for intense maternal and fetal monitoring with IV paracetamol. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry—India (CTRI registration number—CTRI /2019/05/019244). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although well known in clinical practice, research in lichen planus pigmentosus and related dermal pigmentary diseases is restricted due to lack of consensus on nomenclature and disease definition. Aims and Objectives: Delphi exercise to define and categorise acquired dermal pigmentary diseases. Methods: Core areas were identified including disease definition, etiopathogenesis, risk factors, clinical features, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities and outcome measures. The Delphi exercise was conducted in three rounds. Results: Sixteen researchers representing 12 different universities across India and Australia agreed to be part of this Delphi exercise. At the end of three rounds, a consensus of >80% was reached on usage of the umbrella term ‘acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation’. It was agreed that there were minimal differences, if any, among the disorders previously defined as ashy dermatosis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, Riehl’s melanosis and pigmented contact dermatitis. It was also agreed that lichen planus pigmentosus, erythema dyschromicum perstans and ashy dermatosis did not differ significantly apart from the sites of involvement, as historically described in the literature. Exposure to hair colours, sunlight and cosmetics was associated with these disorders in a significant proportion of patients. Participants agreed that both histopathology and dermatoscopy could diagnose dermal pigmentation characteristic of acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation but could not differentiate the individual entities of ashy dermatosis, erythema dyschromicum perstans, Riehl’s melanosis, lichen planus pigmentosus and pigmented contact dermatitis. Limitations: A wider consensus involving representatives from East Asian, European and Latin American countries is required. Conclusion: Acquired dermal macular hyperpigmentation could be an appropriate conglomerate terminology for acquired dermatoses characterised by idiopathic or multifactorial non-inflammatory macular dermal hyperpigmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal-induced toxicity contributes to the progression of various metabolic disorders and possible mechanisms involved in disease progression are not well established. In this study, the correlation of heavy metal exposure and hypertension have been demonstrated. The results showed that in hypertensive subjects, the lipid profiles (triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C, and total cholesterol) and cardiac markers (CK-MB and LDH) were altered abruptly. As a consequence of heavy- induced oxidative stress, the oxidants (TBARS and protein carbonyls) and antioxidants (SOD, GSH, and TAC) were significantly increased and decreased, respectively in hypertension subjects. The concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, and As) exceeded the permissible limits in hypertensive subjects. The Nrf-2 genotyping indicated that heavy metals may induce mutations at molecular level. The results of correlation analysis revealed that the heavy metals interact with cellular components and interfere with metabolic processes which then results in disturbed lipid profile, enhanced oxidative stress, and reduced antioxidant status. The current study systematically estimated the association of hair and nail heavy metal concentrations with hypertension among the population residing in the Malwa region of Punjab. The proposed study highlighted that heavy metals act as a silent risk factor in the hypertension progression in the population of Malwa region. Future studies are required to confirm current findings and further scrutinize the effect of heavy metals exposure in early adulthood, early, and late mid-life to develop metabolic complications such as hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we objectively focus on the relationship between the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and key climate variables. We found that the risk of COVID-19 was approximately doubled during warm summer months when the aerosol molecules are likely stimulated by temperature and rainfall. Given that India is currently emerging as the new epicenter for the third and fourth outbreaks of COVID-19, we selected four key hotspot states-Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu - to closely look into the impact of climate variables on the spread of COVID-19 infected cases during 2020 and 2021. We found that COVID-19 is most active in temperature between 27°C and 32°C, while it is active in monthly average rainfall between 250 mm and 350 mm. This study further confirms that, although temperature and rainfall are not the initial triggers of COVID-19, both variables seem to play significant roles in spreading COVID-19 in India, especially during the summer season of 2020 and 2021, when the Indian summer monsoon was stronger in these four states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The initial case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in India was reported on January 30, 2020, and subsequently, the number of COVID-19-infected patients surged during the first wave of April 2020 and the second wave in the same month of 2021. The government of India imposed a strict nationwide lockdown in April 2020 and extended it until May 2020. The second wave of COVID-19 in India overwhelmed the country's health facilities and exhausted its medical and paramedical workforce. This narrative review was conducted with the aim of summarizing the evidence drawn from policy documents of governmental and nongovernmental organizations, as well as capturing India's COVID-19 vaccination efforts. The findings from this review cover the Indian government's vaccination initiatives, which ranged from steps taken to combat vaccine hesitancy to vaccination roadmaps, deployment plans, the use of digital health technology, vaccination monitoring, adverse effects, and innovative strategies such as Har Ghar Dastak and Jan Bhagidari Andolan (people's participation). These efforts collectively culminated in the successful administration of more than 1.8 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines in India. This review also provides insights into other countries' responses to COVID-19 and guidance for future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dermatophytosis is a common dermatological condition in children. Recent trends indicate increasing occurrence of dermatophytic infection in the paediatric age group and with growing anti-fungal resistance; however, more studies describing clinic-epidemiological and mycological pattern in paediatric population are needed. Aims and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to assess the clinical pattern and mycological isolates from the lesions of dermatophytosis involving the glabrous skin and to assess the association of fixed dose combinations creams with clinical and mycological pattern of cutaneous dermatophytosis. Materials and Methods: Paediatric patients (ages 1 -14) with suspected tinea infections presenting in the Department of Dermatology at a tertiary care medical college hospital in South India for a duration of four months, in 2020, were included in this study. Samples were collected and tested for potassium hydroxide (KOH) positivity. Additionally, the scales were also sent for fungal culture. Results: Out of 45 patients, 29 (64.4%) were male and 16 (35.6%) were female. The groin was the most common site affected in 89.65% patients. Around 57% of the study participants (21/45) have used corticosteroid-containing creams. Out of the 45 study participants, KOH mount was positive in 39(86.7%). Fungal Culture revealed Trichophyton mentagrophytes (55.6%) as the most common species isolated. Conclusion: Our study illustrates a major epidemiological shift of dermatophytosis causing species from Trichophyton rubrum to Trichophyton mentagrophytes among paediatric patients akin to that observed in adults. It is also observed that there is an increase in an atypical presentation owing to topical steroid use. The present study provides evidence that a high index of suspicion in needed to effectively curb the rising incidence of dermatophytosis in paediatric patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this research is on antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli on different surfaces. 37 E.coli isolates were obtained from K.A.P. Viswanatham Government Medical College, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India. Biochemical assays were used to re-confirm all the isolates. Ampicillin, Cefepime, Cefotaxime, Co-trimoxazole, Tetracycline and Levofloxacin showed substantial levels of resistance. Meropenem, Tigecycline, and Colistin showed the least amount of resistance. 75.6% of the E.coli strains were multidrug resistant (MDR). Biofilm formation of E.coli was higher in TS BG than in TS B in all (polystyrene, polypropylene, glass and stainless steel) surfaces. It is evident that the presence of glucose or any sugar substrate promotes biofilm development, resulting in notable antibiotic resistance. This situation is hazardous to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Context: Human rights education has proliferated in the past four decades and can be found in policy discussions, textbook reforms, and grassroots initiatives across the globe. This article specifically explores the role of creativity and imagination in human rights education (HRE) by focusing on a case study of one non-governmental (NGO) organization's program operating across India. Purpose/Objective: This article argues that human rights education can and should be creative and innovative in its approaches to ensure access and sustainability of programs that seek to transform the learning experiences of marginalized students. Evidence from India contributes to the discussion of HRE by presenting teachers' and students' experiences with one particular human rights education program in India that incorporates an array of strategies to secure support and contextually-relevant curricula and pedagogy for poor children. Research questions that guided the larger study from which data are presented here included (a) How have differentiated motivations for, conceptualizations of, and initiatives towards HRE operated at the levels of policy, curriculum and pedagogy, and practice in India? (b) What impact has HRE had on Indian teachers and youth from diverse backgrounds who have participated in one NGO program? Research Design: The larger study from which the data are drawn is a vertical case study utilizing primarily qualitative methods. Participants in the larger study included 118 human rights education teachers, 625 students, 80 staff and policy makers of human rights education, and 8 parents. Observations of teacher trainings included hundreds more participants. The majority of student respondents came from "tribal" (indigenous) or Dalit (previously called "untouchable") communities, both comprising the most marginalized sections of Indian society. Design and Methods: This study was primarily qualitative and was carried out from August 2008 to August 2010 (13 months of fieldwork during that period). Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 118 teachers, 25 students, 8 parents, and 80 staff and officials of human rights education in India. 59 focus groups were carried out with an additional 600 students. Observations were also carried out of teacher trainings in human rights and human rights camps for students. Follow up data were collected on subsequent, but shorter, field visits from 2011-2013. Conclusions/Recommendations: The study found the following: (a) Human rights education that is creative, contextualized, and engaging offers a meaningful opportunity for educators, families and students to critique and interrogate social inequalities. (b) Non-governmental organizations can provide a unique perspective on human rights education by drawing on diverse creative approaches if they are able to engage effectively with students, communities, educators and schools. (c) Research on human rights education must attend to how local communities, activists, artists and educators make meaning of normative frameworks (like human rights) in order to understand how creativity, imagination and innovation are engaged and "indigenized" in productive and transformative ways. Further attention to creativity and imagination in human rights education can illuminate how HRE influences--and is mediated by--existing community realities and societal structures.

Tamizhi (Tamil-Brahmi) script is one of the oldest scripts in India from which most of the modern Indian scripts are evolved. The ancient historical documents are generally preserved as digitised texts using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technique. But the development of OCR for Tamizhi documents is highly challenging as many characters have similar shapes and structures with very small variations. In specific, for Tamizhi script it is very difficult to build an OCR as many characters are combined characters. This can be a single character formed by a single vowel/consonant or compound characters formed by combining vowels and consonants. This paper deals with the development of Tamizhi OCR for printed Tamizhi documents which is anticipated to perform efficiently irrespective of poor quality, noises and various input formats of Tamizhi documents. This is a preliminary study towards developing an OCR for handwritten Tamizhi inscription images that recognises text captured from onsite inscriptions. The developed Tamizhi OCR for printed text can produce an accuracy of about 91.12 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have assessed the impact of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) and their interaction on susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus in geriatric population from northern India. We genotyped three SNPs (rs2721068, rs17446614, and rs4581585) of FOXO1 gene in 190 elderly individuals with diabetes and 182 unrelated healthy controls of similar ethnicity by using TaqMan SNP assays. SNP-SNP and SNP-environment interactions among polymorphic loci were studied by the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method. The AA genotype carriers of rs17446614 was associated with the increased susceptibility of diabetes in both adjusted and unadjusted model, whereas rs4581585 was associated with the risk in unadjusted model only. Genotype and minor allele interaction with quantitative parameters revealed that AA genotype of rs17446614 had significantly higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in diabetic subjects, also minor allele (A) in patients was positively associated with FPG and glycated hemoglobin. Haplotype Trs2721068Grs17446614Trs4581585 increases the risk of diabetes, whereas carrier of haplotypes Crs2721068Grs17446614Crs4581585 and Crs2721068 Grs17446614Trs4581585 were protective. The MDR analysis revealed that interaction of rs17446614 with body mass index (BMI) increased the susceptibility of diabetes. Therefore presence of rs17446614 variant and its interaction with BMI and haplotype Trs2721068Grs17446614Trs4581585 modulates the risk of diabetes and can be used as a promising tool for identifying high-risk individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently no standardized tools are available in the Indian languages to assess changes in cognition. Our objectives are to culturally adapt the Alzheimer's disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog) for use in India and to validate the Tamil version in an urban Tamil-speaking older adult population. Two panels of key stakeholders and a series of qualitative interviews informed the cultural and linguistic adaptation of the ADAS-Cog-Tamil. Issues related to levels of literacy were considered during the adaptation. Validation of the ADAS-Cog-Tamil was completed with 107 participants − 54 cases with a confirmed diagnosis of mild-moderate dementia, and 53 age, gender and education matched controls. Concurrent validity was examined with the Vellore Screening Instrument for Dementia (VSID) in Tamil. Internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, sensitivity and specificity data using the Area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUROC) curve values were computed. Inter-rater reliability was established in a subsample. The ADAS-Cog-Tamil shows good internal consistency (α = 0.91), inter-rater reliability and concurrent validity (with VSID-Patient version: r = –0.84 and with VSID-Caregiver version: r = –0.79). A cut-off score of 13, has a specificity of 89% and sensitivity of 90% for the diagnosis of dementia. ADAS-Cog-Tamil, derived from a rigorous, replicable linguistic and cultural adaptation process involving service users and experts, shows good psychometric properties despite the limitations of the study. It shows potential for use in clinical settings with urban Tamil speaking populations. The English version of the tool derived from the cultural adaptation process could be used for further linguistic adaptation across South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper, a part of author's doctoral research, examines the various e-resources to which the users of Agricultural Universities in India have access and how frequently these resources are being used by the agricultural scientists, researchers, students. Data collected through a structured questionnaire from 242 users and 20 Librarians from 20 State run Agricultural Universities in India constitute the database for the present investigation. Additionally, the study also investigates the membership of various consortiums availed by the users and whether the respondents have access to some of the key e-resources of other institutions including frequency of usage of subject gateways, blogs and wikis in the domain of Agricultural Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of the study is to study the utility of various inflammatory markers in predicting outcomes of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19) pneumonia. Primary Objective: The primary objective of the study is to analyze the correlation between various inflammatory markers and in‑hospital mortality. Secondary Objectives: The secondary objective of the study is to assess the correlation between the inflammatory markers and clinical category of patients, and other outcomes such as length of hospital stay and need for invasive ventilation. Methods: A retrospective cross‑sectional observational study was done in 221 hospitalized patients who were diagnosed with COVID‑19 pneumonia in a tertiary care hospital in South India from May 2020 to July 2020. Clinical and laboratory data of patients diagnosed with COVID‑19 pneumonia were collected. This included epidemiological data, clinical data, laboratory parameter (neutrophil: lymphocyte [N: L] ratio, C‑reactive protein [CRP], ferritin, interleukin‑6 [IL‑6], lactate dehydrogenase, D‑dimer, and procalcitonin), treatment details, and outcomes. Results: IL‑6 levels >60.5 pg/ mL and D‑dimer levels >0.5 mcg/mL predicted in‑hospital mortality with sensitivities of 80% and 76.7%, respectively. N: L ratio and CRP levels had good correlation with the need for oxygen supplementation and/or invasive ventilation. Conclusions: Judicious use of COVID‑19 biomarkers could help in disease prognostication and thereby provide guidance to devise appropriate management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health projects carried out by non-government organisations (NGOs) are considered a critical contributor in the provision of health services to rural population in India. But there is clear lack of documented evidence that describes the capacity and competency of the NGO project managers to successfully design and implement a new project. This article presents findings of an exploratory case study using outreach model of family planning service delivery as an example to understand the steps and actions taken by senior managers throughout the project's life cycle and competencies required by them to execute the project. Focus group discussion followed by paper-based survey using sections of Management Competency Assessment Tool was conducted with senior managers of the chosen NGO. The results indicate that the strategies developed by the NGO managers are consistent with the existing literature on project management. However, not all managers have the same level of confidence in demonstrating the competencies of (a) knowledge of healthcare environment; (b) evidence informed decision making; and (c) interpersonal, communication qualities and relationship management. The organisation needs to invest in human resource development using mixed approach of providing training, team building activities, mentoring, and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In a normal healthy adult, sympathetic and parasympathetic system should be in synergy. Measuring resting heart rate is a one of the methods to assess health condition. It can be affected by different factors such as exercise, mental health, any disease, etc. Normal subjects with reduced heart rate are associated with better cardiovascular health. Physical inactivity is associated with high level of inflammatory markers. Increased inflammatory markers are related to inflammation and chronic diseases. C-Reactive Protein (CRP) is a biomarker of inflammatory diseases. High CRP level is a potent risk factor for obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc. Aim: To study the effect of short-term endurance and resistance exercises in healthy young adults on resting heart rate, CRP body mass index and also to compare the changes between two exercise groups. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2019 to May 2020 in the Department of Physiology at King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study included 60 healthy young subjects with normal Body Mass Index (BMI) (18.5-24.9 kg/m2) and age between 18-25 years participated. Subjects were equally divided into endurance (group I) and resistance exercise (group II) groups. Subjects did moderate intensity exercise (based on maximum heart rate) for five days in a week for eight weeks. Endurance group did jogging. Resistance group did pushup, pull-up and squats. Target heart rate during moderate intensity of activities is 64-76% of maximum heart rate. Heart rate measurement was done before the start of exercise and after five to seven minutes of exercise when it reached 64-76% of maximum heart rate. It was measured by pulse oximeter. Follow-up was done after eight weeks of exercise training in both the groups. Evaluation was done by comparing resting heart rate and CRP level before the start of training and after the completion of training programme. Statistical analysis was done using student t-test and paired t-test. Results: Mean age of subjects of group I was found to be higher (19.98±1.26 years) as compared to group II (19.97±0.98 years). Mean pre-intervention BMI of both the groups was found to be similar (21.97±1.78 kg/m2). No statistically significant change in resting heart rate was found in both resistance group (p-value=0.096) and endurance group (p-value=0.326) after exercise training. Statistically significant increase in CRP was found in resistance group (p-value<0.001) and endurance group (p-value<0.001). The increment in CRP was more in endurance group (55.04%) than resistance group (35.34%). Conclusion: Short duration of exercises increase inflammation but no significant effect on resting heart rate was seen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A caregiver support group was initiated at the Schizophrenia Research Foundation, Chennai, India. The study aimed to evaluate this service for 100 caregivers of persons with dementia, identify the needs met and explore the facilitating factors and barriers for participation. The support group met the information, emotional and counselling needs of caregivers. Trust between members was a key facilitating factor. Lack of help at home to support the person with dementia, distance from the venue and work commitments were barriers to caregiver participation. The study found that support groups fulfil an important need for caregivers by providing information and peer support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dengue fever is one of the common viral illnesses linked with significant morbidity and mortality. Of late, there is rapid increase in dengue cases in India. The present study aimed to known dengue seropositivity in different seasons of a year, other laboratory parameters and its geographical distribution. During the study period of 15 months 4172 patients hospitalized with probable dengue fever were included. Dengue serology was done for all cases by ELISA(J. Mitra & Co). Demographic details were taken to create geographical maps of the disease. Of the 4172 suspected dengue cases, 817 had confirmed dengue illness. Of these 817 cases, 584 showed Ns1 antigen (71.4%), 150 IgM antibody (18.3%), and 38 had both Ns1 and Ig M (4.6%). Platelet count less than 1,00,000 were seen in 566 (69.27%) patients. Dengue was noticeably more during monsoon time (June to September) of a year. Through geographical maps major clusters were noticed urban areas of Mysuru and Krishnaraja Nagara, while few clusters were also observed in Periyapatna and T Narsipura taluks of Mysuru district. To minimize the load of dengue cases and its death rate better community awareness and vector control measures need to be strengthened during monsoon especially in areas where burden of the disease is more. This study helps in early preparedness of the authorities concerned in controlling possible epidemics in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prime concern for an individual with disability is independence. Self-help groups (SHGs) provide opportunities for those with such needs. Objectives: The objectives of the study were (i) to assess the impact of SHGs on the livelihood, social inclusion, and community participation of those with disability and (ii) to evaluate the self-esteem and assess the role of such SHGs among those with disability. Materials and Methods: This was a community-based, cross-sectional study. An interview schedule captured responses to standardized questionnaires (community-based rehabilitation assessment tool, Rosenberg's self-esteem score, and Social Inclusion Scale). Responses were scored and compared among the two groups of those with disability (member or nonmember of SHGs). Results: The median scores for all our outcome variables were found to be more among those with disabilities enrolled in SHGs than those who were not with a significant association in the component of empowerment, sociocommunity participation, social inclusion, and self-esteem. Conclusion: SHGs improve social and community participation of individuals with disability. It empowers them to lead independent lives and also contributes to social inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The menace of COVID-19 has put a huge burden on health care system predisposing health care workers engaged in management to COVID-19 infections. The nonavailability of effective drug against COVID-19 warrants extra cover as prophylactic therapy for health care workers, especially against transmission from asymptomatic patients. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for prophylaxis of COVID-19 had been advocated by some researchers. Hence, in this project, evaluation of HCQ as preventive strategy for healthcare workers against COVID-19 infection was studied. Materials and Methods: HCQ was prescribed as a prophylactic therapy as per the advisory of National Task Force of Indian Council of Medical Research, India. The data regarding consumption profile, COVID-19 infection and adverse drug reaction profile of HCQ in healthcare workers was collected. Results: Record of 4,239 health workers with hydroxychloroquine consumed was available till date. 139 subjects were dropped out of study as they did not consume the HCQ tablets. 93 heath workers (2.19%) were infected with COVID-19 infection but in early weeks of prophylactic therapy and were asymptomatic. A few of them (08 patients) had mild symptomatic manifestation with RT- PCR reported positive for SARS-CoV-2. No mortality was reported as among healthcare workers, engaged in management of COVID-19 patients at the tertiary care institute in Jaipur, India. HCQ prophylaxis in standard doses produced predominantly gastrointestinal side effects in 20 subject and headache in 10 health workers. Conclusion: The present study showed that HCQ prophylaxis is safe and effective in standard doses against COVID-19 infection. The frontline workers engaged in management of COVID-19 may be given HCQ prophylaxis as an extra cover. However, it's broadening usage as preventive strategy, in general for people especially in cardiovascular incidences; require enhanced research and further validation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being one of the notorious weed P. hysterophorus has invaded almost every part India and is the lead cause of skin allergies and severe dermatitis among farmers and rural population. It is an invasive obnoxious weed capable of surviving extreme environmental conditions and various parts of this plant are reported to cause severe contact allergies in humans due to the presence of high concentrations of toxic sesquiterpene lactones viz. parthenin. It can stimulate numerous cellular and immune responses that may translate into Oxidative stress, allergies, and inflammation. The effect of P. hysterophorus flower extract was evaluated on cell viability, oxidative stress and inflammation in A549 lung cancer cell line by spectrophotometric and reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction methods. Schrodinger software based docking was performed for possible interactions studies. The A549 cells treated with P. hysterophorus flower extract favors increase in cell viability, reactive oxygen species generation. The mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β was significantly increased whereas no change in IL‐18 expression was observed. Significant increase in protein expression of NF‐κB was observed, suggesting the role of NF‐κB signalling in allergic responses. The docking studies demonstrated the potential interaction between Parthenin and NF‐κB/IL‐1β/IL‐18 suggesting their activation leading to inflammation. The current study emphasize that P. hysterophorus mediates oxidative stress, and inflammatory process via alterations in expression of proinflammatory cytokines such as IL‐1β, IFN‐γ through NF‐κB activation which was also confirmed in docking studies. Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in pathogenesis of allergic/chronic inflammation and severe dermatitis need to be further investigated to identify specific binding partners responsible for severe inflammation which can provide some leads in developing effective targets against severe dermatitis and skin allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ADHD is having increased recognition and it is a common psychiatric disorder which has its onset in childhood. However there is wide variation in prevalence percentage globally, the estimated prevalence quoted by the researchers is in the range of 5% to 7%. In Indian, the scenario of prevalence of ADHD falls around 5% to 20%. The aim of the current study is to examine the prevalence of ADHD in primary school children in Mudichur, India. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 children aged between 5 to 10 years (Grade 1 to 5). Prevalence estimate was collected using Swanson, Nolan and Pelham-IV rating scale (SNAP-IV). After obtaining informed consent signed from the parents and caregivers of children, the study was initiated. Results of the study prove that the prevalence rate of ADHD was 5%. These findings highlight the higher number of children had incidence of ADHD and it highlights' the significance of screening the ADHD children at primary schools at an early age to plan interventions to rehabilitation children with ADHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]