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Background: Lifelong intervention is the mainstay of rehabilitation for individuals on the autism spectrum. The Lancet Commission on care and clinical research on autism has noted the prohibitive cost of intervention services in Low Middle Income Countries and has recommended active involvement of parents in the intervention process. However, there appear to be limited resources for parents to train themselves. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the state of Parent Mediated Interventions across India. Method: The study was carried out in two phases. In the first phase, professionals from centers across India were interviewed to understand the methods followed in their centers. In the second phase, focus group discussions were conducted with parents of children on the autism spectrum to understand their needs and challenges in working with their children. The findings from these two phases were then presented to an experienced professionals to corroborate the results. Results: Parent-mediated interventions were found to be limited and relying on manuals published in the West. Parents of children above the age of six continued to face challenges in teaching communication and managing difficult behaviors. Conclusion: Empowering parents by educating them right from the time of diagnosis of the child will ensure better adult outcomes among individuals with autism spectrum disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vitamin B12 is essential for the normal functioning of the nervous system and for the formation of red blood cells. Vegetarian diet, low socioeconomic status, and social and religious reasons are known risk factors of its deficiency. Pregnant women, children, and the elderly are vulnerable groups. Indians have the highest prevalence, but the data among pregnant women in the rural setting is lacking. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency and its associated factors among pregnant women of rural South India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit consecutive 120 multigravida women with ≤20 weeks of gestation, attending the mobile doctor run clinic of Kaniyambadi block, Vellore. A structured questionnaire was administered, and blood samples were collected. Results: The prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency (<200 pgm/ml) and anemia (Hb ≤10.5 g/dL) was 55% and 17.5%, respectively. Only 11.7% were B12 deficient and anemic. Past history of abortion (odds ratio [OR] = 0.5), fatigue (OR = 0.4), and low B12 intake (OR = 2) was associated only in the bivariate analysis. First trimester (OR = 3.9) and obesity (OR = 9.6) were found to be independent risk factors of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Conclusion: Our study showed a high prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy in rural India. Some risk factors were identified. However, studies with a higher sample size will be beneficial to study the associated risk factors better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Total vegetable exports from India were around US$464 million in 2010–2011, including 2.12% of agricultural exports and 12.8% of horticultural exports. India is the second largest producer of vegetables in the world and 24th in export of vegetables. Major destinations of India’s fresh vegetable exports are the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Nepal, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, and Saudi Arabia, together accounting for 55% of total vegetable exports from India. This study was undertaken to determine export competitiveness, comparative advantage in exports, and market share of selected Indian-grown fresh vegetables. India has a comparative advantage in exporting onion (Allium cepaL.) and peas (Pisum sativumL.) compared to other vegetables. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.), onion, and potato (S. tuberosumL.) formed the major portion of exported vegetables, constituting 45% of total area under vegetable cultivation and 50% of total vegetable production in India. Bangladesh was the most stable market for export of tomatoes from India. Maldives, Nepal, and Mauritius were stable markets for export of potato. The UAE and Bangladesh were stable markets for onion exports from India. India still has a huge potential to be utilized in fresh vegetable exports, particularly for cabbage (Brassica oleraceaL. var.capitata), cauliflower (B. oleraceaL. var.botrytis), tomato, and eggplant (S. melongenaL.). New emerging markets can be encouraged and existing markets in Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Mauritius strengthened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politics in Tamil Nadu has a very brief history. Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) (Dravidian Association) is the grandparent of all the political and non-political Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu (parties that have the phrase Dravida in their names). Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) emerged as giants to dominate Tamil Nadu politics since the mid-1960s. Either DMK or AIADMKformed Tamil Nadu State Government ever since the 1967 election. Their political dominance is such that, since the 1990s, no other political party was able to win more than a few seats in the Indian parliament or state legislative assembly from Tamilnadu unless it makes electoral alliance with either DMK or AIADMK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to analyze the extent of repayment and overdues and also the causes for overdues at the farm-household level, identify the factors which discriminated the borrowers into non-defaulters and defaulters, and assess the probability of willful and non-willful defaulting. One hundred sample borrowers of commercial and cooperative banks were selected for the present study. To identify the factors which discriminated the borrowers into non-defaulters and defaulters, discriminant analysis was carried out. Logistic regression analysis was applied to find out the probability of the farmers becoming willful and non-willful defaulters. Utilization of credit and non-farm income were the dominant factors in classifying the borrowers into defaulters and non-defaulters. Farm income and consumption expenditure were the significant factors to determine willful defaulting. One unit of increase in the factors such as farm income and consumption expenditure would lead to one unit increase in willful defaulting. The sources of credit availed and interest rate were the significant factors to determine the amount of non-willful defaulting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was designed to investigate the antinociceptive effects of methanolic leaf extract of Swietenia mahagoni (MESM) on acrylamide-induced painful neuropathy in rats. The intraperitoneal administration of acrylamide (30 mg/kg; for 24 consecutive days) has been employed for the induction of painful neuropathy. Acrylamide induced nociceptive pain sensitive changes, which have been assessed by hot plate, Von Frey Hair, and tail immersion tests at different time intervals, that is, 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24th day. Furthermore, the biochemical changes, that is, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, reduced glutathione, and total calcium levels have been estimated in sciatic nerve tissue on 24th day and histopathological changes have been observed in sciatic nerve tissue sample. MESM and pregabalin have been administered for 14 consecutive days before 1 h of the each acrylamide injection. Administration of acrylamide resulted in significant changes in behavioral and biochemical parameters. Pretreatment of MESM ameliorated acrylamide-induced behavioral, biochemical, and histopathological changes in a dose-dependent manner, which is similar to that of pregabalin-pretreated group. These findings suggested that the neuroprotective effect of S. mahagoni may be due to its potential of antioxidative, calcium channel modulatory, and neuroprotective action., (© The Author(s) 2012.)