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The purpose of the present study was to compare the Internet-user and Internet Non-user post-graduate students on their attitude towards research. The sample comprised 600 post graduate students (300 Internet-users and 300 Internet-Non-users) drawn from different faculties of University of Kashmir (J&K), India. Random sampling technique was used. Attitude towards Research Scale by Vishal Sood and Y. K. Sharma used to collect the data. Besides, Information Blank developed by the investigators to find the Internet-users and Non-users. The data was subjected to statistical analysis by computing Mean, S.D. and test of significance. The results concluded that Internet-users and Internet non-users differ significantly on all the four dimensions and on composite score of Attitude towards Research. Internet-users were found to have favourable Attitude towards Research. Gender differences on attitude towords research between the groups under the investigation were also found significantly different.

Background: Acacia nilotica var. cupressiformis is an evergreen multipurpose leguminous tree species which is suitable to agroforestry purposes and mainly distributed in Western parts of Rajasthan in India particularly Pali and its adjoining areas. The species has many advantages, however the natural germination in wild is very limited due to its hard seed coat dormancy. Methods: The experiment was conducted to study the effect of presowing treatment on seed coat of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis seeds with ten treatments in completely randomized block design at ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Pali Marwar. The treatments were replicated thrice. Result: Among the treatments, maximum germination and higher values was obtained in sand paper scarification with water soaking for 12 hrs (T2) followed by mechanical scarification with sand paper (T1), acid scarification (50% for 20 min) (T7) and acid scarification (98% for 10 min) (T5). Further, the present study aims to initiate the research areas for conservation and utilization of A. nilotica var. cupressiformis in Western parts of Rajasthan and other parts of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This advanced review focuses on preventing and managing Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFUs), with a particular emphasis on the Indian context. It explores a range of strategies, including patient education, empirical therapeutics, advanced diagnostics like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and innovative treatments such as maggot therapy, Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT), Proximal Tibial Cortex Transverse Distraction (PTCTD), Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP), Leukocyte-Platelet-rich Fibrin (L-PRF), regenerative stem cell interventions, and novel applications like sucrose octasulfate dressings. The study underscores the critical role of patient education and timely interventions in preventing DFU complications. Advanced therapies, including maggot therapy, NPWT, PTCTD, PRP, and L-PRF, show promising results in expediting wound healing and reducing recurrence rates. Innovative approaches like antibioticloaded nano fibres and electrical stimulation offer new avenues for inhibiting bacterial growth and promoting wound healing. In summary, the prevention of DFU infections hinges on the trifecta of patient education, empirical therapeutics, and scrupulous wound management. Advanced therapeutic modalities offer a frontier of exciting possibilities for refining outcomes, particularly in regions like India with its unique infection profiles. This multidisciplinary tapestry, interwoven with emerging technologies, holds great potential for elevating the management of DFUs and ultimately enhancing the quality of life for those afflicted by this ailment. This advanced study represents the vanguard of DFU research, offering insights into pioneering strategies that warrant further exploration through rigorous research and large-scale clinical trials, thereby guiding the evolution of DFU management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industry 4.0 has revolutionised manufacturing, presenting significant challenges for adoption, particularly in developing countries like India. This study identifies and evaluates challenges specific to the Indian automobile industry's implementation of Industry 4.0 to address this. Leveraging Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), a machine learning-based text analysis algorithm, we discerned challenges from existing literature. Subsequently, employing the Delphi method, we refined these challenges, leading to a questionnaire-based survey and fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (f-DEMATEL) data analysis to prioritise them. Our research framework involved collaboration with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and academic experts who ranked 20 challenges by influence. Findings reveal divergent perspectives: OEM experts highlight concerns regarding outdated infrastructure, high initial costs, financial uncertainty, and a lack of strategy and standards. Supplier industries emphasise the importance of Information Technology and Research & Development departments, the maturity of Industry 4.0 tools, industry-academia collaboration, and addressing strategy and standards gaps. Academia underscores the need for financial support, government assistance, and organisational adjustments. These insights offer crucial guidance for managing Industry 4.0 challenges in the Indian automobile industry, facilitating targeted and practical implementation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bovine babesiosis, a global disease, has not been studied so far in Kashmir valley, which is having temperate type of climate as compared to rest of India having tropical to sub-tropical climate, so we felt the need to investigate it. Methods: To diagnose the babesiosis in clinically suspected cattle (n=450), peripheral blood film examination and PCR tests using generic and species-specific primers targeting Babesia/Theleria genera and B. bigemina, B. bovis as well as B. divergens, respectively were conducted. Four PCR products were sequenced and subjected to BLASTn analysis. Ticks were collected from the clinically suspected animals and identified as per the standard morphological keys. Results: The prevalence of babesiosis among suspected cattle in central Kashmir by peripheral blood film examination and PCR technique was 11.11% and 33.62%, respectively. The 18S rRNA gene of Isolate B1 of Babesia spp. showed 99.0 to 100% nucleotide sequence homology with 18S rRNA gene of different isolates of B. bigemina registered in the GenBank, while as 18S rRNA gene of Isolate Z showed 98.5 to 99.2% and 93.1 to 93.9% nucleotide sequence homology with 18S rRNA gene of different isolates of Babesia spp. and B. bigemina, respectively, registered in the GenBank. Rhipicephalus spp. and Haemaphysalis spp. were the two major tick genera identified in the present study. Conclusion: Bovine Babesiosis in Kashmir is attributed to B. bovis, B. bigemina and some other Babesia spp. or strains which needs further investigation. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Babesia bovis from northern India in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Snake bite is a neglected tropical disease. More than 50% of death due to snake bite in the world occurs in India. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the cause of morbidity and mortality in viper bite. The compartment syndrome is a rare manifestation of snake bite. There is paucity of data on the role of fasciotomy in viper bite. Methods: A prospective observational study was done in patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital in south India, with snake bite-associated acute kidney injury, from March 2018 to March 2020. Results: Sixteen % of patients underwent fasciotomy following snake bite. We compared the renal outcome of 21 patients, who had undergone fasciotomy following snake bite, with 65 patients with dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury following snake bite. The patients in the fasciotomy group had a lower peak serum creatinine (5.3 mg/dl), needed less number of dialysis sessions (3.9) and were on lesser number of days (6.1) on dialysis following snake bite, when compared with the group not needing fasciotomy. Conclusion: In snake bite patients presenting with compartment syndrome, fasciotomy should be considered in view of favourable renal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses how Pakistani print news media framed two armed conflict that occurred between India and Pakistan post-Pulwama attack in 2019 using five framing categories; conflict, morality, responsibility human interest, and solution. Using census approach subset of data; 282 opinions and editorials were collected from a population of 1,321 published number of items. Results from content analysis showed that media published a significant amount of content in editorials and opinions regarding armed conflicts. Content analysis disclosed that Pakistani print media placed emphasis on the use of conflict frame, and the use of human-interest frame was seen slightly low in numbers across all the newspapers during framing of Balakot airstrike and Pakistani retaliation after the Pulwama attack. However, there was no significant difference found between framing categories used by print news media. Findings are discussed in the context of journalistic priorities in selecting specific frames during framing of armed conflicts that holds national and international prominence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social intelligence (SI) helps the visually impaired adolescents (VIAs) to adjust in social environment by maintaining healthy interpersonal relationship. The purpose of the study was to explore differences in SI of VIAs and varying demographic factors. For this purpose, sample of 385 VIAs (204 males, 181 females) of age range 11 to 19 years, was taken from two divisions of Punjab, that is, Rawalpindi and Lahore, Pakistan. Translated Urdu version of Tromso Social Intelligence Scale (TSIS) containing 21 items was used to get responses on Likert-type scale from 1 (describes me extremely poorly) to 7 (describes me extremely well). The tool was found to be reliable for the given population as alpha reliability of Urdu-translated TSIS was 0.91 and test–retest reliability was 0.748. Mean, frequencies, and percentages were used to summarize the results. Multiple comparison analysis was computed to assess significant differences regarding gender, socioeconomic status (SES), education, and SI of VIAs. Results revealed that there was no significant difference in SI among VIAs across gender. In addition, significant difference was indicated in SI among VIAs belonging to different SES. VIAs belonging to high SES revealed to have high level of SI. Furthermore, there was significant difference in parents' education and SI of VIAs. It was recommended that social intervention training programs might help to create awareness and development of skills and capabilities related to SI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardized precipitation index prediction and monitoring are essential to mitigating the effect of drought actions on precision farming, environments, climate-smart agriculture, and the water cycle. In this study, four data-driven models, additive regression, random subspace, M5Pruned (M5P), and bagging tree models, were adopted to predict the standardized precipitation index (SPI) at the Upper Godavari Basin for various periods (3 months, 6 months, and 12 months). The data-driven models' input data was pre-processed with machine learning models to increase quality and the model's performance a priori. These four models predicted the SPI-3, SPI-6, and SPI-12 months based on three metrological station data. Based on the statistical performance metrics such as correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), relative absolute error (RAE), and root relative squared error (RRSE), our findings showed that the bagging was the best model for predicting SPI-3 and SPI-6 while the M5P the best for SPI-12 estimation in station 1, while in stations 2 and 3, M5P was superlative in predicting the SPI-3 and SPI-12 months, and the bagging was best in SPI-6. All the best models had acceptable mid-term drought forecasting based on the SPI-3, SPI-6, and SPI-12 months for three stations in the Upper Godavari Basin in India. The machine learning models created in this study produced satisfactory results in short-term and mid-term drought forecasting, and it will be a new strategy for water developers and planners to use for future management and scheduling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The authorities of the world had to take extraordinary containment measures due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spreading across the globe. The only way to stay active during the pandemic was at-home physical activity (PA). The current study evaluates how these preventative measures impacted the PA and well-being of students. Methods: This study is multicentral and was conducted in Malaysia, India, Cambodia, and Saudi Arabia; participants were recruited from four different regions to answer the online questionnaire provided via a link shared using their personal WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and Twitter social media. Results: The means of vigorous, moderate, and light PA (min/day) between the active and inactive groups were significantly different (p = 0.001, 0.007, and 0.001), respectively. In comparison with pre-COVID-19, the participants reported that it became more challenging to engage in regular exercise since the onset of social distance, associated with a lack of motivation followed by "less confidence", "less enjoyment", "less support, and fewer opportunities to engage in exercise"; moreover, it was "difficult to maintain close relationships" and "hard to voice their options on contentious matters" (p = 0.001). Public health measures affected the PA and well-being of active and inactive students; this demonstrates that health promotion strategies aimed at enhancing levels of PA in inactive students may be necessary to improve students' well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Previous studies have established the relationship between service innovation orientation, open innovation and innovation performance in context of manufacturing firms. However, studies explore service innovation orientation, open innovation and innovation performance in context of medium and small private hospitals are scarce. The main objective of the study is to investigate the relationship between service innovation orientation, open innovation and innovation performance in medium and small private hospitals in India. A quantitative study using cross-sectional survey method was performed and the data were collected from 173 medium and small private hospitals in three northern states in India using purposive sampling. The findings suggest that there is a positive relationship between service innovation orientation and open innovation. It also shows that there is a positive relationship between open innovation and innovation performance. The findings also reveal that open innovation mediates the relationship between service innovation orientation and innovation performance. The study contributes to the understanding of health practitioners and policymakers about the usefulness of service innovation and open innovation to improve the innovation performance of medium and small private hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The world has been suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic (officially declared by WHO in March 2020), caused by the severe acute respiratory β-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) since the last week of December 2019. The disease was initially designated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020. In order to protect the health of mass public, an array of research on drugs and vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 has been conducted globally. However, the emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, i.e., Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), and Delta (B.1.617.2) variants which evolved in late 2020 and the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) which emerged in November 2021 along with its subvariant BA.2 which was first identified in India and South Africa in late December 2021, have raised the doubt about the efficiency of the currently used vaccines especially in terms of the consistent potential to produce neutralizing antibodies targeting the viral spike (S) protein. The present review discussed the functional details of major vaccines regarding their efficiency against such variants during the pandemic. Overall, the mRNA vaccines have shown around 94% effectiveness; the adenovector vaccine showed approximately 70% efficacy, whereas Sputnik V vaccines showed around 92% effectiveness; the inactivated whole-virus vaccine CoronaVac/PiCoVacc and BBIBP-CorV showed a varying effectiveness of 65–86% according to the geographic locations; the subunit vaccine NVX-CoV2373 has shown 60–89% effectiveness along with the global regions against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strain. However, reduced effectiveness of these vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 variants was noticed which is suggestive for the further administration of booster dose. Short conclusion: Maximum variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerged during the second wave of COVID-19; and extensive studies on the viral genomic sequences from all geographical locations around the world have been conducted by an array of groups to assess the possible occurrence of mutations(s) specially within the receptor binding domain of the viral spike (S) protein. Mutational similarities and the new or critical mutations within all variants have been clearly identified so far. The study of effectiveness of the currently used vaccines is also ongoing. The persistence of memory B cell action and the other immune components as well as the administration of booster dose is expected to mitigate the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirrhosis of liver is associated with loss of liver function, portal hypertension, and pancreatic β-cell dysfunction leading to hepatogenous diabetes (HD). Often HD is an underestimated and understudied problem, particularly in the Indian subcontinent, where the prevalence of both Chronic liver disease (CLD) and diabetes is high. Hence this study was planned to highlight the prevalence of HD and its association with the severity of cirrhosis. A total of 121 cirrhotic patients without a history of diabetes were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. Seventy five g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was done in all patients. Fasting serum insulin levels were done to calculate insulin resistance (IR) using homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was done to detect varices. Patients were divided into HD group and non-HD group for comparison of results. HD was seen in 52 (42.98%) patients; among them, 63.4% did not show evidence of HD by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) was seen in 58 (47.93%) patients. Compared with the non-HD group, the HD group had significantly higher model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score (P = 0.038), HOMA-IR (P < 0.001), incidence of large varices (P < 0.001) and variceal bleeding (P < 0.001). A statistically significant association was noted between HD and Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (P < 0.001). Patients with cirrhosis had a high prevalence of IGT, IR, and HD. The presence of HD is well associated with the severity of cirrhosis in the form of higher MELD score (>15), CTP score (>10), higher bilirubin levels, large varices, bleeding varices, and HCC. FPG levels and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) cannot be relied upon, and OGTT aids in the unmasking of HD in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic factor, family structure has impact on the various facets of economy as well as individual's life, specifically after retirement. In the past, primarily India had joint family structure or a compound family structure, which was a great source of support after retirement. Today India's population is growing but average family size is reducing. This phenomenon translates into more retired people per working individual. If pretired individuals are financially secure, their hardships of old age can be reduced to a large extent. Per capita income today, is far greater as compared to past with many more investment avenues to suit ones requirement. Financial plan is required to satisfy financial needs at various stages of life. Income after retirement is consequence of the investments made during work life, which is the result of the financial plan for retirement. The census data indicates life expectancy for women is higher than men. Hence, it is important that women make financial planning for their financial needs after retirement. Financial literacy, savings and clarity of objectives are positively related to financial planning by the individuals. The data for the study is collected using Google Forms from the individuals employed in ITES sector in the city of Bengaluru. Logistic regression model is used to evaluate variance in the financial planning for retirement due to explanatory factors, 'clarity of financial goal', 'attitude towards savings' and 'financial literacy' on 'financial planning for retirement. Independent t test is used to evaluate difference between men and women. The study revealed that explanatory variables had influence on the financial planning for retirement and t test revealed that men and women do not differ in their behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronavirus is an emerging respiratory pathogen that causes coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), as per the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Objective: This study aimed to assess the state of awareness and extent of knowledge about COVID-19 among dental students from India, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: The present descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 872 participants from December 2020 to January 2021. Random sampling was performed using an electronic questionnaire. One-way analysis of variance and independent sample t-test were performed to assess and compare the mean knowledge score between different demographic data. Results: Approximately 60% (n = 520) of the responders were women and 40% responders were men (n = 352). The responders were from Saudi Arabia (36.9%; n = 322), India (34.2%; n = 298), and Pakistan (28.8%; n = 252). The difference within the subgroups was statistically nonsignificant (P > 0.05), indicating that dental students of all subparameters possessed equal knowledge on COVID-19. Conclusions: Dental students possess sufficient knowledge about COVID-19, qualifying them at least to work in a medical ward. However, more emphasis must be placed on infection prevention and control policies such as hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, and pre- and postexposure prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to develop a holistic understanding of the state of implementation of the Basel III regulation in India. It offers essential insights related to its impact on the macroeconomy, non-performing assets, capital flows and modifications required for the Indian banking sector. Another central aspect of this study is the identification of challenges faced by bankers in implementing Basel III in India. Design/methodology/approach: A survey was conducted with the help of a well-structured close-ended questionnaire. It was based on six themes identified after a comprehensive review of the literature. Seven experts validated the construction of the questionnaire. A total of 18 responses (42.8%) were received. Findings: The findings substantiate the importance of Basel III regulations. Although high costs and roadblocks are involved in its implementation, yet, the benefits are notable. Banking experts sense the necessity to modify the Tier 1 ratio, risk-weights and ratings. It is felt that credit ratings will impact the capital and investment flows received by India. Research limitations/implications: The number of responses limits the ability to conduct several statistical tests. Practical implications: The findings support the industry's view that Basel III focuses more on industrialized countries and that many emerging countries lack the technology and infrastructure to implement it. Originality/value: Since the implementation of Basel, the norm is a continuous process; the findings provide vital insights to regulators and academicians focusing on the Indian banking sector about its current state to aid in developing a future roadmap. This paper delivers important values as follows: a holistic view of banking experts on Basel III in India, required modifications, its impact and future scope of research in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To study urinary stone composition patterns in different populations around Materials and methods: Data were collected by reviewing charts of 1204 adult patients of 10 countries with renal or ureteral stones (> 18 years) in whom a stone analysis was done and available. Any method of stone analysis was accepted, but the methodology had to be registered. Results: In total, we observed 710 (59%) patients with calcium oxalate, 31 (1%) with calcium phosphate, 161 (13%) with mixed calcium oxalate/calcium phosphate, 15 (1%) with carbapatite, 110 (9%) with uric acid, 7 (< 1%) with urate (ammonium or sodium), 100 (9%) with mixed with uric acid/ calcium oxalate, 56 (5%) with struvite and 14 (1 %) with cystine stones. Calcium-containing stones were the most common in all countries ranging from 43 to 91%. Oxalate stones were more common than phosphate or mixed phosphate/oxalate stones in most countries except Egypt and India. The rate of uric acid containing stones ranged from 4 to 34%, being higher in Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Poland and Bulgaria. Struvite stones occurred in less than 5% in all countries except India (23%) and Pakistan (16%). Cystine stones occurred in 1% of cases. Conclusions: The frequency of different types of urinary stones varies from country to country. Calcium-containing stones are prevalent in all countries. The frequency of uric acid containing stones seems to depend mainly on climatic factors, being higher in countries with desert or tropical climates. Dietary patterns can also lead to an increase in the frequency of uric acid containing stones in association with high obesity rates. Struvite stones are decreasing in most countries due to improved health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Al-Adab / Al-ādāb is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the present study is to identify the vital indicators of environmental sustainability (EN) that are utilised in the manufacturing sector. Identifying vital indicators of environmental sustainability in manufacturing becomes important due to the large uneven number of indicators for sustainability assessment. The research work identifies and proposes a list of vital indicators of environmental sustainability (EN) through exhaustive review of the literature using statistical technique of decision-making 'Pareto Analysis'. Further, these indicators were prioritised and ranked with the help of the Best-Worst method, which is a new multi-criteria decision-making technique. This technique is implemented to rank and arrange the ENs in accordance with their criticality by assigning them a weight. This work will be helpful in successful implementation and/or evaluation of sustainability assessment particularly in manufacturing industries in India. This research work may be helpful to the academicians, researchers and other concerned stakeholders, in order to understand the severity, importance, implementation, and success of sustainability practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suicide by pesticide poisoning consumption among young and old is preventable. More so in India, since larger population are involved in agriculture and its rampant usage for their cultivation. Also, due to weaker India’s public health infrastructure and prevailing folk medicine practices, makes all the more difficult to save victims and it seems add in to huge burden. Objectives: To estimate pattern of self-poisoning, first AID usage and folk medicine practices influenced by their standard of living. Method: Four primary health centre (PHCs) villages of Hassan taluk were selected by simple random sampling and every fifth houses were considered as study subjects (159). To assess their socio-economic situation, standard of living index (SLI) comprising of their basic amenities was adopted to understand its influence on self-poisoning practices. Results: The mean age of males were 44.23 (95 % CI 39.53 to 48.94) with SD (17.57) and females were 37.40 (95% CI 34.78 to 40.02) with SD (13.41). Traditional medicine (folk medicine) (125/78.6%) was practicing for their immediate self-harm (poison) relief. More than 98% respondents told that they do not have any idea or training towards first AID. 23% in higher living index said victim must be put on their back (p<0.05) for recovery. In logit model, predictors showed odds ratio that favoured an increase of risk for poison consumption for every one unit of increase of their education status and family members respectively- (OR 1.182, 95% CI 0.795-1.956; OR 1.081, 95% CI 0.438-2.666). Conclusion: Neither first AID techniques were taught or put into practice which is imperative for life saving. Middle level study subjects were willing to involve themselves in first AID compared to higher class. Many people do not recognize colour marked symbols on pesticide bottle labels as an indicator of poison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We assumed that the parents of children who are undergoing treatment for leukaemia experience practical challenges in taking care of the side effects of chemotherapy. In this study, the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge about home management of chemotherapy side effects among parents is determined. Furthermore, the study also aimed at finding an association between the pre-test knowledge score of parents and selected baseline information of subjects as well as children. Methods: A quantitative, experimental research approach was used to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on enhancement of mothers' knowledge about childcare for leukaemic children in the Cancer Research Institute, Sri Raghvendra Hospital, India. A teaching intervention was given, and in the post-test period the same structured knowledge questionnaire was used. Practise was assessed using the interview method by direct observation. Results: Post-intervention, the education of the mother and sex of the child were significantly associated with the knowledge and practise of mothers regarding their care of children with leukaemia. Before the intervention, many more mothers had inadequate and moderate knowledge than had adequate knowledge. The study found that the total number of mothers with moderate and adequate knowledge increased significantly. Overall, the mean knowledge score increased significantly to 18.75 after the intervention. Conclusion: From the study results, it can be concluded that a structured teaching programme on knowledge about home management of chemotherapy side effects was found to be effective in increasing the knowledge among parents of children who receive chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's participation and representation in politics at the state level is considered important for gender equality and women's empowerment, but their participation in politics on equal footing with men, remains a distant dream. In this research, an effort has been made to combine gender and politics in terms of a cross-national study to explore the status of women in politics and explore the factors that led them to raise voice against patriarchal society. It is difficult for women to survive with equal rights in that society where religious, economic, and patriarchal mindsets are the main factors that hinder women from actively participating in politics. Women are facing violence and discrimination in politics because maledominated societies have institutionalized and created a mechanism that is against women's rights such as structural, ideological, and functional in politics which have strengthened gender inequality. The descriptive method has been used in this paper to find out women's low participation in the politics of India and Pakistan. The facilitator model is used to identify the patterns of societal as well as structural factors in politics, which prevent and restrict the full participation of women in politics. Findings suggest that the patriarchal and gender-stratified structures govern the society and the women of both countries face violence, but the nature of violence is different in each case. In India, there has been political discrimination against women based on the caste system, and in Pakistan, feudal structures are the main causes of women's low participation in politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread conversion of the biodiversity rich habitats into land for cultivation and human habitation has resulted in extensive habitat loss for wildlife including leopard. In order to prioritize investments and assess conservation intervention and effectiveness reliable estimates of population density are required. We carried out camera-trapping and line-transect surveys to estimate the predator and prey densities in moist-temperate forest of Dachigam National Park, north-western Himalaya. Density estimate for leopard (Panthera pardus) obtained from programme CAPTURE was 2.8 ± SE 1.18/100 km2 and the SECR density obtained from software SPACECAP was 0.744 ± SE 0.18/100 km2. Density estimate obtained using software DISTANCE for the two principal prey species was 5.11 ± 0.51/km2 and 16.32 ± 1.87/km2 for hangul (Cervus hanglu ssp. hanglu) and langur (Semnopithecus ajax), respectively. The leopard density estimates, which are a first record from the study area, turned out to be the lowest in the country. The low densities of prey represent an alarming status of the species as well as of forest ecosystems of the study area. Our baseline estimates for the leopard and prey species will help future research, conservation and management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify and determine the frequency of different food allergens among subjects having symptoms of food allergy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Immunology department, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, from Jan 2015 to Dec 2015. Methodology: A total number of 149 patients, who were referred to department of Immunology with different symptoms of food allergy were included in this study. Food allergen specific IgE antibodies were done by immunoblot assay using kit from Euroimmun Medizinischelabor diagnostika AG Germany (India panel). Results: Out of total 149 patients, 72 (48.3%) were males and 77 (51.7%) females. The age of patients was in the range of 5 years to 82 years. Total 56 (37.6%) patients [31 males (43%) and 25 (32%) females] showed positive reactions to 18 food allergens out of 20 in the test panel. Most common food allergens in our patients were related to seafood, crab 39 (70%), prawns 26 (46%), followed by potato 14 (25%) and ginger 9 (16%) respectively. Other common allergens were cow milk 6 (10%), peanut 5 (9%), apple 5 (9%), egg yolk 4 (7%), mustard 4 (7%) and soya bean 4 (7%). Our study showed no reaction to rice and coconut food allergens. Conclusion: Our study focused on the frequency of food allergens in our population. In this study crab and prawns were the commonest food allergens whereas rice, coconut, Peanut and tree nut allergies are rare in our population whereas in western world, Peanut and tree nut allergies are more common. Efforts must be made to increase the availability of tests for food allergy and standardization of the procedures along with identification of risk and protective factors within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a review of Muslim education in India between the years 1008 and 1757. Generates seven conclusions about education in this period. Among them, that education was inseparable from religion, that almost all rulers were authors who encouraged mass education, and that problem solving, discovery, and other "modern" educational methods were advocated and practiced. (JDH)

Purpose: To investigate the association between dental caries, obesity and socioeconomic status (SES) in 6-and 13-year-old school children in Davangere city, Karnataka, India. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from a cohort of 1,550 children. Dental caries detection was performed according to the World Health Organization criteria and the medical evaluation assessed the body mass index (BMI). With appropriate sample weighting, relationships between dmft/DMFT , obesity and socioeconomic status were assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis H test and multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of dental caries was 28.9%. The mean dmft and DMFT scores for 6-year-olds were 2.1 ± 3.75 and 0.16 ± 0.59, respectively, and corresponding values for 13-year-olds were 0.03 ± 0.19 and 0.91 ± 2.04. Of the total sample, the mean BMI was 16.56 ± 2.8. Approximately 63.4% of the children were classiied as normal weight, 18.1% as overweight and 7.5% as obese. When adjusted for covariates, the logistic regression model showed that there was a significant association between overweight children (P<0.001), obese children (P<0.05) and caries prevalence. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a signiicant association between caries frequency and obesity in school children. In future preventive programmes, the importance of obesity should not only be emphasised with respect to general diseases but also with regard to carious lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of interethnic bridging social capital in societies with ethnic diversity is quite challenging when ethnicity is considered an obstacle. Individuals in Malaysian "ethnocratic state" may have their own exclusive ways of interpreting other ethnics. These attitudes may prevent them from effective interaction with people of different ethnic groups. This study examines the relationship between ethnocentrism and interethnic bridging social capital, the mediating role of online interethnic interactions, and also the moderating effect of ethnicity on this relationship. A total of 343 Malaysian undergraduates (200 Malays, 105 Chinese, and 38 Indians) from two public universities participated in a self-administered survey. Using structural equation modeling analysis, a negative relationship between ethnocentrism and interethnic bridging social capital was found. Also, the results supported the mediating role of online interethnic interactions and the moderating effect of ethnicity on this relationship. The study revealed that in a diverse community, ethnocentrism prevents online interethnic interactions; while virtual interethnic interactions contributes to interethnic bridging social capital. Moreover, minority Indians showed higher interest to be part of multiethnic environments compared with the Malays and Chinese ethnic groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Indian electricity production mix, technology level, and local production conditions vary across the states and union territories. This variability is obscured in existing national-level life cycle inventories of Indian power producing technologies and power systems, which potentially leads to inaccurate results from LCA studies that include Indian activities. This study aims to create a consistent regionalized inventory model of Indian power system parameters and to evaluate how that influences life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) calculations. Methods: Data collection covers state-specific key parameters of domestic power production and distribution, and inter-exchanges among the regional grids and with other countries in 2012–2013. However, such regionalization work faces some data availability challenges. Power plant parameter data (e.g., efficiency, fuel quality, exact technology used) are mostly unavailable on plant level for India; if at all, relevant data are available on a state level. Moreover, local emission data are also mostly unavailable except emissions of CO2. Quantities of other important emissions (NOx, SOx, CH4, CO, PM) are, therefore, calculated based on emission factors from literature. Results and discussion: Variation in electricity production volumes among the states and regional grids are found notably high. Six states contribute 55% of the national power supply, whereas ten states contribute only 2.1% to the total. Moreover, the five regional electricity grids—Eastern, Western, Southern, Northern, and North-eastern grids—show high variation in production mixes. These differences have a considerable impact on LCIA results. For instance, the contribution to the global warming potential per 1 kWh of electricity supplied to the grid is nearly twice as high in the Eastern grid as in the North-eastern grid. Furthermore, transformation and transmission losses are found to be high in the Indian electricity grids with an average of 17% technical losses along the transmission chain from high voltage to the low voltage. Conclusions: Hence, we conclude that the inventory data produced in this study on Indian electricity production and distribution at grid level, taking local variations in technology mix and key parameters into account, enables higher accuracy in life cycle assessment studies compared to using average national-level data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney transplantation is the preferred mode of renal replacement therapy for the endstage renal disease, with dramatic improvements in patient and graft survival over the last 50 years. In the modern era of immunosuppression, 1-year patient survival is close to 98%, and 1-year allograft survival rates have improved to 90% for deceased donor kidney transplants and 95 % for living donor kidney transplants with some inter-center variability. The aim of the study: To elucidate the etiology of graft dysfunction among renal transplant recipients. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 155 patients who underwent both cadavers and live donor transplant from October 2009 to March 2011 at a tertiary care center in Chennai, South India. All the transplant recipients were regularly followed with serum urea and creatinine, urine routine, calcineurin inhibitor drug levels in the serum, USG Abdomen, urine culture depending on the graft status. Graft dysfunction defined by a rise in the creatinine more than 25% or 0.3 to 0.5 mg per dl from the baseline. Those who developed graft dysfunction were presented for graft biopsy and managed based on the report accordingly. Results: Among the 155 transplant recipient patients, 66 (44%) patients developed graft dysfunction and underwent renal biopsy. The graft dysfunction was due to chronic allograft dysfunction (interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy) in 24 (15.4%) patients, acute cellular rejection in 13 (8.4%) patients, acute antibody-mediated rejection in 2 (1.3%) patients, acute tubular necrosis in 9 (5.8%) patients, calcineurin toxicity in 6 (3.9%) patients, thrombotic microangiopathy in 6 (3.9%) patients, IgA nephropathy in 3 (1.9%) patients and transplant renal artery stenosis in 1(0.6%) patient. Conclusion: Among the various causes, acute cellular, acute antibody rejection and chronic allograft nephropathy holds nearly 25% of the incidence of graft dysfunction. It indicates appropriate immunological evaluation, appropriate immunosuppression, use of induction agents in high-risk patients and protocol renal biopsy to identify early rejection in high-risk patient and appropriate early intervention is important to improve long-term term graft and patient survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. John Martin Honigberger (1795-1869), a native of Romania was a very charismatic, energetic and devoted physician, scientist as well as traveller who spent more than thirty years of his life in the East. He was able to speak several languages fluently. He travelled to Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Central Asia and India etc. and devotedly practiced his profession there. He excelled in treating in various kinds of diseases through allopathic, homeopathic and other types of medical systems. He is the man who introduced homeopathy for the first time in India. During his journey, he suffered from critical diseases several times, but he remained safe and sound through his own treatment. Having latest knowledge regarding medical systems, he successfully treated various rare diseases and effectively performed many types of surgeries. During travelling he did not miss any opportunities to obtain information concerning medicine. He practiced in the regions of the Ottoman Empire and served as a royal physician in the Sikh Empire. A number of health centres, dispensaries and a gunpowder mill of the Sikh army were under his charge. His travelogue is certainly a remarkable account and every paragraph of it consists of significant lore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to develop diabetic retinopathy (DR) risk scores and compute prevalence and incidence probabilities of DR in Indian type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. A double sample of size 388 was collected from the R.G. Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology, J.N.M.C., A.M.U., Aligarh, India, randomly distributed among training and test sets. DR risk scores of Iran and China were administered on Indian training set. Since prevalence probabilities of DR calculated by Logit model were unacceptable, thus actual data of Iranian and Chinese studies were simulated from their variable characteristics. Ridge regression was selected as optimal by regularization and cross-validation techniques. The yearly incidences of DR from ridge probabilities were determined using absorbing Markov chain. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Hosmer Lemeshow test were exerted for model discrimination and calibration. Furthermore, these outcomes were implemented on the test sample. Out of 284 training sample patients, 23 had DR currently. Iranian score with an area of 0.815 (95% CI 0.765-0.859) was the better fit. Ridge coefficients acquired from Chinese simulated data contented the Indian data, providing accurate probabilities and an area of 0.784 (95% CI 0.731-0.830). Validating on test data, ROC curves for current, 1 year and 2 years prediction resulted in areas of 0.819, 0.811 and 0.686. Iranian score and simulated Chinese ridge coefficients for prevalence of DR were the best fit on Indian type 2 diabetes patients. Markov two-state model can be applied to forecast yearly incidence of DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyses administrative reforms in India to identify the philosophical, cultural and ideological underpinnings of these reforms and their impacts. The study hypothesizes that despite differences in state ideologies, Indian leaders have followed the ‘democratic incremental approach of reform’, which has contributed significantly in achieving the continuity of the bureaucracy and ongoing development in India. There has been continuity in diverse administrative legacies in India. Muslim and British rulers modernized the ancient Indian district administration to serve their purposes while independent India takes pride in the revival of its ancient legacy. Before British rule, Indian rulers—Muslims and Hindus—maintained a semi-retainer bureaucracy; whereas the British adopted the philosophy of a mandarin bureaucracy. After independence, India replaced the British administrative philosophy of a mandarin bureaucracy with ‘the democratic philosophy of a semi-retainer bureaucracy’. Influenced by this philosophy, Indian leaders retained the inherited steel frame and made only incremental changes. As a result, Indian bureaucracy remains almost as strong as it was during the British era in terms of structural and procedural perspectives. Overall, the bureaucracy is still performing reasonably well in maintaining continuity of administration and, in the process, cultural integration of society, ongoing economic development and political stability in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pregnant women form one of the high risk groups facing hypovitaminosis D. Low level of vitamin D will affect directly or indirectly both mother and fetus. Screening vitamin D in the first trimester of pregnancy is important to determine the necessary preventive action. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and its risk factors among pregnant women in the first trimester.Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among first trimester pregnant women during their first antenatal visit. Samples were taken from different ethnicities in an urban district in Malaysia. A total of 396 respondents (99 % response rate) aged 18-40 years completed self-administered and guided questionnaire (characteristics and risk factors), validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire for vitamin D in Malaysia (FFQ vitamin D/My), anthropometric measures (weight and height), blood test for serum 25(OH)D, skin measurement using Mexameter (MX 18) and Fitzpatrick Skin Type Chart Measurement (FSTCM). Data were analyzed to determine the association between risk factors and hypovitaminosis D.Results: The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D (serum 25(OH)D < 50 nmol/L) was 90.4 % (358). The mean age of respondents was 28.06 ± 4.09 years old. The independent predictors of hypovitaminosis D were Malay ethnicity (OR 33.68; 95 % CI: 12.81, 88.56), Indian ethnicity (OR 16.86; 95 % CI: 3.78,75.20), secondary education (OR 12.12; 95 % CI: 2.71, 54.16) and tertiary education (OR 14.38; 95 % Cl: 3.31, 62.45).Conclusion: Awareness should be raised among Malay and Indian pregnant women with secondary and tertiary education who consumed vitamin D (especially milk) poorly in order to prevent adverse health outcomes. Further studies need to be conducted among health care workers to determine their level of knowledge related to vitamin D, as they are front liner in detecting the hypovitaminosis D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To ascertain the level of awareness and the preliminary understanding about the importance and the practice of immunization of children among the mothers hailing from an adjoining slum area while visiting a nearby tertiary care hospital at Lahore. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: The respondents of this study were the mothers coming from an urban slum area and visiting the pediatrics outpatient department of a nearby tertiary care hospital in Lahore city. Period: May 2016 to July 2016. Methods: 60 mothers of reproductive age and all having children in the ages needing routine immunization coverage through expanded programme on immunization. Convenient sampling technique was adopted to select the respondents. Data was collected through a questionnaire which was filled during face-to-face interview of each voluntary participant. Results: 34.3% respondents had general awareness about immunization of children, and out of them, only 6% mothers had additional understanding of the rationale for the immunization. 45% mothers had only partial awareness about immunization with no understanding of its rationale. 20% respondents had no significant awareness. Overall 10% of all the respondents had the knowledge about the need of booster doses of certain vaccines administered in expanded programme on immunization. The awareness about the names of diseases prevented through the routine and free vaccination programme was associated with the literacy level and socio-economic status of the responding mothers. Conclusion: Inadequate awareness and basic understanding about immunization was found by this small study conducted among the mothers coming from an adjoining slum area of a tertiary care hospital in Lahore city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium hospitals account for 70 percent of private hospitals in India. They account for some 40 percent of the total number of beds and cater to both rural and urban populations. However, despite its prevalence, the performance of small private hospitals is sub-standard leading to many questions regarding the efficiency of its operations. Despite having operated for a long time, there is a dearth of literature regarding the performance of small and medium hospitals in India. Recent innovation practices like open innovation have been used successfully in small and medium enterprises in the manufacturing and service industries and are regarded as a useful tool for improving firm performance. However, after a thorough review of the literature, and upon considering the uniqueness of the medical care industry, the authors argue that closed innovation practices would also play an important role in improving the performance of small and medium hospitals. This research conceptualized a model based on principles of open and closed innovation that could be used to enhance the performance of small and medium hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health challenge especially in low- and middle-income countries reflects improper, delayed or missed diagnosis. Contact screening should be utilized both as an efficient and effective targeted approach to intensify TB case finding. Methods Through a comprehensive systematic literature review of online database, this paper aims at providing an insight into the current practice of TB contact screening and to provide evidence based practice for formulation of appropriate policies in low- and middle-income countries. There are 24 articles included in this review from studies published from 2005 to 2014. Results Findings in literature varies substantially. Generally, contact screening is better intensified with clear operational guidelines, adequate training, include close contact outside household as appropriate and follow up at least for 1 year. Prioritizing high risk close contacts is helpful in resource limited setting. Tuberculin skin test is still of value as screening tool and intensified case finding must be accompanied with effective management protocol. Prophylaxis treatment is recommended especially for children especially less than 5 years old, unvaccinated, malnourished, living with person having HIV and close contact with MDR-TB. Conclusions Policy recommendations in improving TB management must incorporate complementary strategies to enhance case finding, effective management protocol for follow up or prophylaxis treatment, training for public health capacity and concerted dedication from various stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Women who innovate initiate or adopt business actively are called women entrepreneurs." J. Schumpeter. According to a new National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) study published in a recent Forbes article, over half of all new small business jobs created in the next five years will come from businesses started by women. Self-employment is regarded as a cure to generate income. The Planning commission as well as the Indian government recognizes the need for women to be part of the mainstream of economic development. Women entrepreneurship is seen as an effective strategy to solve the problems of rural and urban poverty. Entrepreneurship development for women is an important factor in economic development of India. It is estimated that women entrepreneurs presently comprise about 10% of the total number of entrepreneurs in India, with the percentage growing every year. This conceptual paper give emphasis on the problems, issues, challenges faced by women entrepreneurs especially in India and the remedies to overcome them in the light of Indian government policies for women entrepreneurs. The primary objective of this paper is to find out the status of women entrepreneurs in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the study to determine the cytosine adenine guanine (CAG) triple repeat in Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) 12 gene in Indian population. Topics discussed include the use of patients at Kamineni Hospitals with neurodegenrative diseases that has triplet repeat expansions, the result showed the prevalence of SCA that are correlated with large normal alleles (LNA) percentage, and the importance of repeats that are above the normal range in disease pathogenesis.

Developing nations increasingly seek mega-events in the pursuit of globalization. India has recently renewed such aspirations by hosting the XIX Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010. The purpose of the paper is to assess Delhi's urban transport development through a sporting mega-event as a globalization strategy for a developing country. Therefore, the authors comparatively analyse the transport plans pre-bid (2003) and transport legacies (2013). The authors argue that the alignment of the mega-event needs with Delhi's urban master plan was partially fulfilled as many infrastructural projects were catalysed. However, the Games also compelled the city to invest in developments that were required for the successful delivery of the Games. This paper contributes to the discussion on how mega-events influence urban planning and points out significant challenges and opportunities developing cities face when preparing for a sporting mega-event. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The role and importance of English language has grown enormously over the years but the teachers of English in India have been monotonously following the age old syllabus, texts, and teaching methodology borrowed from the native speakers of English who are alien to the English Language Teaching scenario in India. English language has been taught as a second language in the multilingual context prevailing in India. The objectives of teaching English as a second language are many. However, in the present context the focus has been on developing communicative competence and thus the ability to be a proficient user of language by becoming fluent, accurate and appropriate in the choice of language elements that includes vocabulary, structures, intelligibility and tone appropriate to the context. Further, the objective of English language teaching is also to develop the four skills namely LSRW and thus the ability to be cohesive and coherent in both speech and writing. The shift now is from teacher-centeredness to learner-centeredness and now to learning-centeredness. Thus the need to look at language learning as a process-centered in other words, the role of the teacher has been to facilitate the use of effective strategies for processing learning and make learning an active process. This article attempts to study the changing role of the English Language teachers over the years and also discuss the need for innovative role of the teacher of English in relation to the second language theories and the modern classroom practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Dysmenorrhea is a common gynecological condition with painful menstrual cramps of uterine origin. Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea is not yet clearly studied in central India. Objective: To study prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in young girls and to evaluate associated clinical markers of dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, data was collected among 310 girls (18-25 years) on age at menarche, presence and absence of dysmenorrhea, dysmenorrhea duration, pre-menstrual symptoms (PMS), family history, menses irregularities, menstrual history, severity grading using visual analogue scale (VAS) using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Dysmenorrhea was reported in 84.2% (261) girls and 15.8% (49) reported no dysmenorrhea. Using VAS, 34.2% of girls experienced severe pain, 36.6% moderate and 29.2% had mild pain. Bleeding duration was found to be significantly associated with dysmenorrhea (χ² = 10.5; P < 0.05), girls with bleeding duration more than 5 days had 1.9 times more chance of getting dysmenorrhea (OR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.7-3). Moreover, girls with the presence of clots had 2.07 times higher chance of having dysmenorrhea (OR: 2.07; 95% CI: 1.04-4.1) (P < 0.05). Almost 53.7% girls who had some family history of dysmenorrhea, 90.9% experience the condition themselves (χ² = 11.5; P < 0.001). Girls with family history of dysmenorrhea had three times greater chance of having the same problem (OR: 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5-5.8; P = 0.001). Conclusion: Dysmenorrhea is found to be highly prevalent among college going girls. Family history, bleeding duration and presence of clots were significant risk factors for dysmenorrhea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score is one of the scores used by many pediatricians for prediction of the mortality risk in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Herein, we intend to evaluate the efficacy of PRISM score in prediction of mortality rate in PICU. Methods: In this cohort study, 221 children admitted during an 18-month period to PICU, were enrolled. PRISM score and mortality risk were calculated. Follow up was noted as death or discharge. Results were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve, ROC curve, Log Rank (Mantel-Cox), Logistic regression model using SPSS 15. Findings: Totally, 57% of the patients were males. Forty seven patients died during the study period. The PRISM score was 0-10 in 71%, 11-20 in 20.4% and 21-30 in 8.6%. PRISM score showed an increase of mortality from 10.2% in 0-10 score patients to 73.8% in 21-30 score ones. The survival time significantly decreased as PRISM score increased (P≤0.001). A 7.2 fold mortality risk was present in patients with score 21-30 compared with score 0-10. ROC curve analysis for mortality according to PRISM score showed an under curve area of 80.3%. Conclusion: PRISM score is a good predictor for evaluation of mortality risk in PICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]