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Bilinguals are individuals who are exposed to two or more languages. Based on the second language proficiency, bilinguals can be classified as low proficient and high proficient bilinguals. Although, high proficient bilinguals exhibit better language control, any relationship between higher cognitive control and high proficient bilinguals is still debatable. The current study aimed to test the language and cognitive control in bilinguals. Convenient sampling was followed for the recruitment of participants. Comparative group design was used to compare the performance of low and high proficient bilinguals. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group comprised of 22 high proficient bilinguals while the second group comprised of 18 low proficient bilinguals. The division of participants as high and low proficient bilinguals was based on the participants self-rating on LEAP Q. Two different tasks tapping cognitive and linguistic control was administered on the participants. The first task required the participants to name the shape of the common objects regardless of the linguistic label. While the second task required the participants to carry out a conditioned naming task. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare the performance of the two groups. Statistically significant difference between the two groups was found on task 2 (task that tapped linguistic control) only. The theoretical premise suggests that high proficient bilinguals exhibit superior cognitive and linguistic control over the low proficient bilinguals. However, the current study emphasized that the advantage was confined over the language control domain and not on general cognitive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the neutralisation of Sri Lankan Russell's viper (Daboia russelii) and Australian mulga snake (Pseudechis australis) venom-induced myotoxicity by Indian (Vins and Bharat) and Australian (Seqirus) polyvalent antivenoms, using the in vitro chick biventer skeletal muscle preparation. Prior addition of Bharat or Vins antivenoms abolished D. russelii venom (30 µg/mL)-mediated inhibition of direct twitches, while Australian polyvalent antivenom was not protective. Bharat antivenom prevented, while Vins and Australian polyvalent antivenoms partially prevented, the inhibition of responses to exogenous KCl. Myotoxicity of Mulga venom (10 µg/mL) was fully neutralised by the prior addition of Australian polyvalent antivenom, partially neutralised by Vins antivenom but not by Bharat antivenom. Although the myotoxicity of both venoms was partially prevented by homologous antivenoms when added 5 min after the venom, with an increasing time delay between venom and antivenom, the reversal of myotoxicity gradually decreased. However, antivenoms partially prevented myotoxicity even 60 min after venom. The effect of antivenoms on already initiated myotoxicity was comparable to physical removal of the toxins by washing the bath at similar time points, indicating that the action of the antivenoms on myotoxicity is likely to be due to trapping the toxins or steric hindrance within the circulation, not allowing the toxins to reach target sites in muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anemia is a global public health problem that undermines childhood development. India provides government-sponsored integrated nutrition/child development preschools.Objectives: This double-masked, cluster-randomized controlled trial examines whether point-of-use multiple micronutrient powder (MNP) compared with placebo fortification of preschool meals impacts child development and whether effects vary by preschool quality (primary outcome) and biomarkers of anemia and micronutrients (secondary outcomes). We also measured growth and morbidity.Methods: We randomly assigned 22 preschools in rural India to receive MNP/placebo fortification. We administered baseline and endline blood sampling and measures of childhood development (Mullen Scales of Early Learning, inhibitory control, social-emotional), anthropometry, and morbidity to preschoolers (aged 29-49 mo). Preschools added MNP/placebo to meals 6 d/wk for 8 mo. We conducted linear mixed-effects regression models accounting for preschool clustering and repeated measures. We evaluated child development, examining effects in high- compared with low-quality preschools using the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised and the Home Observation for the Measurement of the Environment Inventory, modified for preschools.Results: At baseline, mean age ± SD was 36.6 ± 5.7 mo, with 47.8% anemic, 41.9% stunted, and 20.0% wasted. Baseline expressive/receptive language scores were higher in high-quality compared with low-quality preschools (P = 0.02 and P = 0.03, respectively). At endline (91% retention, n = 293/321), we found MNP compared with placebo effects in expressive language (Cohen's standardized effect d = 0.4), inhibitory control (d = 0.2), and social-emotional (d = 0.3) in low-quality, not high-quality, preschools. MNP had significantly greater reduction of anemia and iron deficiency compared with placebo (37% compared with 13.5% and 41% compared with 1.2%, respectively). There were no effects on growth or morbidity.Conclusions: Providing multiple micronutrient-fortified meals in government-sponsored preschools is feasible; reduced anemia and iron deficiency; and, in low-quality preschools, increased preschoolers' expressive language and inhibitory control and reduced developmental disparities. Improving overall preschool quality by incorporating multiple components of nurturing care (responsive care, learning, and nutrition) may be necessary to enhance preschoolers' development. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01660958. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Besides presence of heavy metals, especially arsenic in water bodies, northern India is striving to obliterate crop residue, which is otherwise burnt to make the fields ready for subsequent crop, causing acute air pollution. Through this study, an effort has been made to utilize wheat-straw cellulose to develop inexpensive and efficacious sensing cum annihilation system for deleterious arsenite ions As(III) in water by grafting a novel fluorophore, 3-bromofluoranthene on cellulose (BF@CFs). BF@CFs were characterized for structural, morphological and thermal properties using FTIR, XRD, TGA, FESEM, EDS and TEM, which confirmed the successful insertion of fluoranthene molecule on cellulose while preserving its crystalline nanofibrous structure. Fluorescent studies indicated strong affinity of BF@CFs towards arsenite ions exhibiting "turn on" fluorescence response attributed to inhibition of photo induced electron transfer (PET) and metal ion chelation with a limit of detection of 2.8 ng L−1, lower than WHO prescribed limit of 10 μg L−1. Besides sensing, the porous fibrous network of BF@CFs exhibited good adsorption of As(III) ions with maximum adsorption of 171.2 μg g−1 at 35 min under optimized conditions. BF@CFs displayed 95.2% removal efficiency with 2 μg L−1 concentration of As (III) ions at room temperature and neutral pH observed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer coupled with hydride generation assembly (HG-AAS) measurements. BF@CFs retained adsorption 97.3% efficiency after five adsorption/ desorption cycles displaying excellent reusability and stability, strengthening its potential as dual functional sensor and adsorbent. [Display omitted] • Selective probe was prepared for As(III) by grafting 3-bromofluoranthene on CNFs. • BF@CFs exhibited good fluorescence in water for As(III) with low LOD of 2.8 ng L−1. • Adsorption efficiency of BF@CFs for As(III) ions was evaluated using HG-AAS. • Maximum adsorption of 171.2 μg g-1 was achieved with pseudo-second order kinetics. • Reusability of BF@CFs up to 5 cycles established chemical and mechanical robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which demonstrated the benefits of experiential learning method (ELM) for English as second language students in India. An overview of the role of mental inhibition in the challenges of acquisition of English as a second language for students in India is provided. It explains how ELM helps students overcome mental inhibition in learning the English language.

The study explored the economic cultivation of tree species having least allelopathic effects and are useful for agricultural combination in agroforestry. In both studies the tree species were, in general, toxic to the growth of agricultural crops. It was found that trees in order of suitability to crops were Anthocephallus chinensis > Albizzia procera > Aporosa octandra and in order of crop resistance to trees were Oryza sativa > Glycine max and Brassica campestris. However, another study concluded that the most suitable tree for crops was Artocarpus heterophyllus followed by Alnus nepalensis and Emblica officinalis and the most toxic crop for trees was Phaseolus vulgaris followed by O. saliva and Pisum sativum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence is endemic in Indian public life. India stands in the middle range among nations in respect to rates of murder in proportion to population. But violence, including deadly acts, may have increased in India. Be that it may, political and social turbulence is an outstanding characteristic of India. The inclination of physical violence is facilitated by the lack of inhibition in Indian culture, except in the caste untouchability, against physical contact. The bars against contact are group prohibitions rather than individual ones. On the other hand, tactile deprivation is widespread in the U.S.

Bioassay-guided isolation of methanolic extract of the leaves of Origanum vulgare Linn., yielded two protocatechuic acid ester derivatives, origanol A (1) and origanol B (2) along with ursolic acid (3), oleanolic acid (4), β-sitosterol (5), and triacontanol (6). Structures of the compound were established based on physical and spectral data (UV, IR, ¹H and 13C NMR and mass). Origanol A (1) showed significant mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stunting has been negatively associated with children's development. We examined the range of height by testing hypotheses: (a) height is positively associated with children's development, with associations moderated by inflammation and (b) home environments characterized by nurturance and early learning opportunities is positively associated with children's development over time and attenuate associations with height. Data included 513 infants (mean age 8.6 months) and 316 preschoolers (mean age 36.6 months) in rural India from a randomized controlled trial of multiple micronutrient powders (MNPs). Measures included height (height‐for‐age z‐scores based on WHO standards), inflammation (C‐reactive protein concentration >5 mg/L), nurturance (HOME Inventory), child development (Mullens Scales of Early Learning), and inhibitory control (preschoolers). Linear mixed effects models accounting for repeated measures, clustering, and confounders were used to assess associations between height and child development over time (infants: enrollment, 6 and 12 months; preschoolers: enrollment and 8 months). Moderating effects of inflammation and nurturance were tested with interaction terms. Among infants and preschoolers, height and nurturance were positively associated with all domains of child development over time, with the exception of inhibitory control. Among preschoolers, in the presence of inflammation, height was not associated with child development. Among infants, but not preschoolers, a nurturant home environment attenuated significant associations between height with fine motor and receptive language development. The mechanisms associated with children's development over time are multifactorial and include direct and indirect associations among nutrition, health, and the home environment, as supported by the Nurturing Care Framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]