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Background: Several observational studies have reported the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and their risk factors in an elderly population. Any information in this regard is currently lacking from India. Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of CMBs, and association with cognition in an Indian urban population aged 50 years and above. Methods: Household surveys were conducted as part of ongoing Longitudinal Cognition and Aging Research on Population of the National Capital Region (LoCARPoN) study in areas of urban Delhi. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed in 2599 participants. Using standard neuropsychological battery, mean Z-scores for each domain (memory, executive, information) were derived. Binary and stepwise logistic regression models were used to determine associated risk factors for the presence of CMB and its association with cognitive domains. Results: The prevalence of CMBs was 14.42% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.06-15.73). Of these, 203 (7.81%) participants had single CMBs and 172 (6.61%) had multiple microbleeds (≥2). Higher prevalence was observed in older age (6070 years: odds ratio [OR]: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.93-1.67]; 70-80 years: OR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.48-2.84]; ≥80 years: OR: 3.27 [95% CI: 1.97-5.44]) compared to individuals in the age group 50-60 years. History of stroke (OR: 2.97 [95% CI: 1.56-5.66]), hypertension (OR: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.05-1.75]), and smoking (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.11-1.85]) was associated with at least one CMB. Multiple CMBs were associated with worse scores in memory and executive domains. Conclusion: Older age, hypertension, history of stroke, and history of smoking emerged as important risk factors for the presence of multiple CMBs. Follow-up study is required to determine implications of CMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diurnal variation of atmospheric CO2 and its driving factors are studied using high‐precision in situ mixing ratio measurements and stable carbon isotopic CO2 (δ13C‐CO2) for the first time over Shadnagar, a suburban site in India, from November 2018 to October 2019. The annual mean mixing ratios of atmospheric CO2 and δ13C‐CO2 are observed to be 414.76 ± 4.26 ppm and −11.19 ‰ ± 1.63 ‰. Maximum diurnal variability of atmospheric CO2 was observed in summer monsoon (17.30 ± 9.29 ppm), and the minimum was noticed in winter (7.19 ± 0.11 ppm), indicating strong seasonality in diurnal variability of amplitude. To characterize the atmospheric CO2 sources, the Miller‐Tans model was implemented separately using the CO2 and its δ13C‐CO2 isotopic data during day and night. However, a strong source signature of δ13C‐CO2 was observed during the night‐time of summer monsoon with a slope of −37.42‰ ± 0.73‰, obtained using a reduced major axis regression. The identified source indicates possible emissions from fossil fuel combustion. Further, a Lagrangian back trajectory analysis was performed to study the influence of transport on the observed CO2 mixing ratios. The model trajectory confirms the influence of the Indian summer monsoon on the variations of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratios. Our study shows that fossil fuel emissions are one of the major contributors of CO2 in the study location (about ∼2 to 4 ppm) with biogenic fluxes adding a clear seasonality ranging from −8 to 4 ppm. Plain Language Summary: At a suburban site in India, the present study looked at the diurnal variation of seasonal atmospheric CO2 and its stable isotopes, 13C‐CO2. We used the Miller‐Tans model on seasonal data to capture the driving processes of atmospheric CO2 during day and night hours. A high source/sink signature of 13C was identified during the night of the summer monsoon. The presence of C3 ecosystem respiration and combustion is attributed as the source. Our research provided clear evidence that, in addition to short‐ and long‐range anthropogenic impacts, changes in the isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 during photosynthesis and biogenic respiration are related to changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration. Key Points: The study focused on the diurnal variability of atmospheric CO2 mixing ratio and δ13C‐CO2 on a seasonal basisDetermination of δ13C signature of atmospheric CO2 sources using Miller‐Tans modelInvestigated the influence of transport on seasonal variability of atmospheric CO2 using the Lagrangian transport model and inventory fluxes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Government of India has formulated the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA) to implement measures to ensure that effective protection is provided to nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke. Bhubaneswar is the capital city of Odisha, India, was declared as "Tobacco Smoke Free City" in 2010. For strengthening the implementation of the COTPA Act, an effective regular assessment is needed, and hence, an observational study was planned to assess the current violations of Tobacco Smoking in Bhubaneswar. Materials and Methods: In this observational study, 416 different places were chosen from four different zones of Bhubaneswar. Data were collected with the help of Mobile enabled global positioning system (GPS) technology and pretested structured questionnaire. Results: In this study, 52.88% places were found to be having smoking violations. The study shows maximum violations have occurred in public places (90.89%) followed by transit places (75%). Violations were found to be very low in government buildings, educational, medical institutes, and hotel/restaurants. The average number of smokers in the city was found to be 4.90/place and the average number of smokers was found to be 4.37/public place. Conclusion: In this study, GPS-enabled Mobile App can be used to identify the different locations, where a violation of law occurs. This may help administrators to properly plan and implement the law. Even though Bhubaneswar was declared "Tobacco Smoke free city" in 2010, it is still lacking behind in fulfilling the implementation of law, to reduce Second Hand Smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimal network design, for ground-based monitoring of atmospheric mole fractions of carbon dioxide (CO 2) over India to better constrain the Indian terrestrial surface fluxes, is proposed here using a Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model FLEXPART and Bayesian inversion methods. Potential emission sensitivity from FLEXPART, prior flux uncertainties from CASA-GFED biosphere fluxes and CDIAC fossil fuel fluxes, and assumed uniform observational uncertainty of 2 ppm are used to calculate prior and posterior cost functions. A total of 73 grid cells are identified over the Indian region in 2°x2° latitude by longitude resolution assuming each cell as a potential site, ' a-priori'. Further, the effectiveness of CO 2 observations from these locations to reduce the Indian terrestrial flux uncertainty is quantified using an incremental optimization method. Based on the above objective, we have (a) ranked the existing nine stations, (b) devised a methodology to design an extended network by adding a few more potential stations to the existing stations, and (c) identified a completely new set of optimal stations for measuring atmospheric CO 2 over India. The study shows that the base network of existing stations scattered over India could reduce the uncertainty of Indian terrestrial surface flux estimation in an inversion framework, at this resolution, by more than 30% during post-monsoon and winter season, and by more than 15% during other parts of the year. Addition of five new stations to the base network could reduce the uncertainty by an additional 15% for all the seasons reaching up to 45%. In the 'new network', twelve stations are able to achieve an equivalent flux uncertainty reduction of fourteen stations achieved by the 'extended network' during each season. Locations of stations are more important than the magnitude of reduction since it depends on the values of the prior and observational uncertainties. The most important and essential 'new' stations in the extended network are over the northeastern region and Indo-Gangetic plain, during most of the year. Only during the post-monsoon season, additional stations are required in the western peninsular region. Finally, a consolidated set for all seasons comprising seventeen members is proposed. The study highlights a major zone of CO 2 'observational void' that exists in potential locations near east and northeast parts of India. Immediate requirement of CO 2 monitoring initiative in these areas is highly recommended. • Designed an optimal network for monitoring CO2 fluxes over India. • Existing CO2 monitoring stations over India could reduce flux uncertainty by 30%. • The most required stations are over the northeastern and Indo-Gangetic region. • New optimal network highlights 'observational void' over east and northeast India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fall is an important cause of injury morbidity in older adults. However, epidemiological information on fall is limited in low- and middle-income countries. We investigated the extent, pattern, characteristics, and context of falls in Chandigarh., Methods: A cross sectional survey was carried out among 300 persons (≥60 years), sampled from urban, rural and slums areas of Chandigarh, India from March 2011 to October 2012 using multistage cluster sampling. A pre-tested interview schedule was used and relevant medical examinations were conducted. Multivariable logistic regression was carried out to estimate Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI)., Results: In the past one year, 31% (92/300) respondents reported one or more falls. On an average 0.67 fall episodes occurred/person/year (202/300). Most (68%; 63/92) falls occurred at home; 75% (47/63) occurred while carrying out activities such as toileting, bathing, sleeping and eating etc. Injuries due to falls were reported by 67% (62/92). In these cases, lower extremities, 37% (23/62) were the most common site of injury. Eight percent (5/62) reported fractures. A general physician was consulted by 44% (27/62), and 11% (7/62) utilized emergency services whilst another 11% (7/62) of fall injuries required hospital admission. Risk of fall was higher among females (OR 1.6, 95%CI 1.0-2.8, p 0.068), those taking four or more medicines (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.2-3.5, p 0.009) and having poor body balance (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.0-3.4, p 0.037)., Conclusion: Fall injuries were common in older adults of Chandigarh. Large cohort studies are needed to identify risk factors particularly those related to home environment., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Seventy two infertile men were studied. History of small pox and mumps infection was noted in 4 and 3 patients respectively. Seven patients had varicocele (9.2%), and small atrophic testes were found in 9 (12.5%). Azoospermia was reported in 41 (58.3%) and oligospermia in 17 (23.6%), and 14 patients (19.4%) had normal sperm counts. Mycoplasma were grown from urethral swabs in 25 (35%) patients. Mean LH and FSH were elevated in azoospermics (p less than 0.001), E2-17B in oligospermics (p less than 0.001) and FSH in normospermic (p less than 0.01) patients. Hypergonadotropism suggestive of primary testicular failure was recorded in 43 (59.7%) patients. Hypogonadotropism was noted in 3 (4%) and hyperprolactinemia due to pituitary microadenoma induced infertility in only one patient. No aetiology could be determined in 11 (16%) patients.