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Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of cerebral visual impairment (CVI) among children of the health-care workers in our hospital. Methodology: The questionnaire having 25 questions was used to screen all the participants. Participants who answered yes to

AIM The aim of the study was to correlate the optic nerve dimensions at various locations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the visual acuity of children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS A 1-year cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital involving 60 children aged 1 to 12 years diagnosed with CVI but without ocular pathologies. Visual acuity was evaluated using teller acuity cards (TACs). MRI of the brain and orbit was performed using three-dimensional high-resolution, volumetric heavily T2-weighted sequences to screen for brain pathologies and measure optic nerve dimensions at two locations. The correlation between visual acuity and optic nerve dimensions was analyzed. The Chi-square test was employed to assess significance using SPSS software. RESULTS In our study, 64% (n = 38) of the participants were children under 3 years of age. The severity and characteristics of CVI influenced visual functioning at different ages. As children with CVI grew older and moved from Phase I to Phase III, the proportion with very low visual acuity significantly decreased from 85.2% in Phase I to 22.2% in Phase III and from 63.2% in the

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals contain important information about the inner functioning of the brain. Effective extraction of this information will help in the detection of brain-related health conditions and emotions of a person or it can also be used as a communication medium between humans and machines. In our proposed system, we introduced Adaptive DWT by combining the temporal resolution capability of DWT, with the special capability of Fourier transform to remove the artefacts in the signal. This is achieved by using an adaptive thresholding function rather than hard or soft thresholding to improve the quality parameters of the signal. The proposed filtering model has improved the Signal to Noise ratio when compared to traditional filtering techniques. EEG features are extracted with the help of Heuristic-Independent Component Analysis (ICA) by applying covariance to equalize or improve the data. The main drawback with the existing CNN algorithm is gradient vanishing during training, this reduces the overall performance of the algorithm during classification. Therefore, using the memory function to store the previous value of iteration improves the classification accuracy and reduces the gradient vanishing problem. The proposed technique is found to have better accuracy of about 98% in classifying autism and epilepsy datasets.

Context: Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is an overarching term, defined as a brain-based visual impairment with onset in childhood, unexplained by an ocular disorder and associated with unique visual and behavioral characteristics. Good vision and awareness of visual function in a child are highly essential as neuroplasticity is maximum in the first three years of life and response to intervention is utmost in this period. Awareness is lacking regarding CVI, and the diagnosis is largely missed. This can be easily addressed if a structured approach is employed. Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the etiology and radiological correlation with the severity of CVI and outcome after structured intervention in children with CVI. Settings and Design: Prospective—interventional study. Methods and Material: Children attending the Child Development Centre (CDC) of a tertiary care hospital in North Karnataka and diagnosed with CVI in the age group of six months to 12 years and meeting the sampling criteria were screened and enrolled consecutively after obtaining parental consent/assent. Statistical analysis used is nonparametric test with SPSS software. Results: Age showed a significant association with the phase of CVI. Perinatal insult was associated significantly with the severity of CVI. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings did not hamper the recovery of CVI. Conclusions: Enrolment in early intervention programs tailored according to child's specific needs should be encouraged, with stress on ophthalmic screening of preterm and high-risk babies with perinatal hypoxia and history of convulsions, as early as six months.

In recent years, there has been a consistent development in the introduction of novel corrosion inhibitors due to their potential to reduce the dissolution of metal surfaces under various corrosive environments. The current study investigates the inhibitory effect of the surfactant 1-butylpyridin-1-ium bromide (BPB) on mild steel (MS) in 0.1 M sulphamic acid. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarisation (PDP) studies were used to analyse the inhibition investigations. In addition, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contact angle (CA) measurements were also used to analyse the inhibition investigations. The PDP studies showed a maximum inhibition efficiency of 63.3% at 400 ppm concentration, demonstrating the inhibitor's efficacy. The investigated compound was found to comply with the Temkin adsorption isotherm with an R2 value of 0.99954. The results of PDP tests firmly suggest that the inhibitor is of mixed type. ΔGads values of −9.659 kJ mol−1 suggested that the inhibitor adhered to the metal surface by physical adsorption. Based on the findings it appears that the molecules adhere to the surface of MS forming partial hydrophobic films that act as a barrier for the metal surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work focuses on the compact design of a self-standing electric scooter, specifically engineered to require minimal parking space. The paper details the design and modelling of an innovative electric scooter that possesses the unique ability to stand on its own, utilizing a footprint smaller than that of a typical umbrella stand when parked. Employing a minimalist design approach, the scooter achieves an aesthetically appealing, simple, and futuristic appearance. The primary objective of this project is to propose a practical and compact electric scooter design by utilizing CATIA V5 software for modelling and ANSYS for required calculations and SolidWorks for visualization,A design that not only enhances efficiency for short-distance travels but also effectively mitigates issues related to traffic congestion and limited parking space.

Swarm robotics epitomizes a frontier in cooperative control within multi-agent systems, where the emulation of biological swarms offers a paradigm shift in robotics. This paper delves into the mechanisms of decentralized decision-making and the emergent behaviors that arise from local interactions among autonomous robotic agents without the need for a central controller. It explores the synthesis of simple control rules that yield complex, adaptive, and scalable group behaviors, akin to those found in natural swarms. A critical examination of communication protocols elucidates how information-sharing among agents leads to the robust execution of collective tasks. The research further investigates the dynamics of role allocation, task partitioning, and redundancy, which are crucial for the resilience of swarm robotic systems. Through simulation and empirical analysis, the efficacy of swarm algorithms in various applications, including search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and collective construction, is demonstrated. The study's findings underscore the significance of bio-inspired algorithms and the potential of swarm robotic systems to adapt and thrive in unpredictable environments. The implications for the future of autonomous systems are profound, as swarm robotics paves the way for innovations in distributed artificial intelligence and robotic.

To promote the better utilization of genetic resources of cashew, 91 accessions maintained at Cashew Research Station, Madakkathara were assessed for 38 phenotypic traits. Frequencies of the phenotypic classes of each character were calculated. The Shannon diversity index (H ') was used to estimate the magnitude of diversity. Polymorphism was high for tree habit (0.96), tree height (0.89), branching pattern (0.89), colour (0.80), ridges (0.93), apex (0.95), cavity (0.90) and weight (0.84) of cashew apple, attachment of nut to apple (0.85), flanks of nut (0.95) and cotyledonary grooves (0.99). The cluster analysis using the squared Euclidean distance method classified the accessions into 13 clusters at a 55 per cent similarity level. More than 50 per cent of the accessions were high yielding with moderate quality kernels. Grouping of the genotypes into agronomic groups revealed the existence of highly prolific accessions with high quality kernels that can be exploited for crop improvement programmes.

Introduction: Anaesthesiologists should have the ability to recognize the risk of difficult endotracheal intubation even in patients who have apparently normal airways. Though there is no one best test for preoperative prediction of difficult airway, ongoing research takes place to device an easy bedside test that is highly specific and sensitive. In this study we evaluate the ability of the parameter "Ratio of Neck circumference to Thyromental Distance (RNCTMD)" for predicting ease or difficulty in intubation. Materials and Methods: An Observational study done prospectively in 100 patients of ASA grade I and II. They were assessed and graded for Ratio of Neck Circumference to thyromental distance (RNCTMD), Thyromental distance (TMD), Neck circumference (NC), Modified mallampatti test(MMT), Inter incisor gap(IIG), Hyomental Distance (HMD), Sternomental Distance (SMD), Body Mass Index(BMI) using standard techniques and correlated with Intubation difficulty scale(IDS). Results: RNCTMD showed high sensitivity and NPV, IIG with high specificity and PPV. RNCTMD with a p value of 0.000 has been found to have higher statistical significance. ROC curve in this study for RNCTMD showed that cut off 4.85cm can predict difficulty in intubation more accurately. Conclusion: Ratio of neck circumference to thyromental distance is found to be a better predictor of difficulty intubation compared to the other independent airway assessment parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Rural population is highly underprivileged in terms of access to tertiary eye care facilities. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and associated risk factors among known diabetics in the rural population of Belgaum district. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A cross-sectional population-based study was carried out from January 2018 to December 2018. METHODOLOGY: Three hundred and forty patients underwent a detailed ocular examination. Clinical grading was based on early treatment of DR study guidelines. Random blood sugar, blood pressure, height, weight, hemoglobin, serum creatinine, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were measured. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Chi-square and analysis of variance tests were used to assess risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of DR was found to be 23.82%. Of this, 19.11% had nonproliferative DR (PDR) and 3.53% had PDR. Nearly 1.18% had clinically significant macular edema. A statistically significant association was found between DR and duration of diabetes, HbA1c, smoking, and family history of diabetes. CONCLUSION: The significant prevalence of DR as per this study signifies the need for regular structured screening camps and the availability of basic vitreoretinal facilities at the primary level.

In the field of precision agriculture, appropriate crop recommendation systems play a critical role in maximizing crop production and optimizing resource utilization. Weather condition depends on a novel approach to crop identification introduced by this research using an Internet of Things (IoT) framework with convolutional autoencoder network multi instance attention network (CAN-MIAN). This requires detailed preprocessing which also includes noise filtering, removal of missing values and duplicated data from the recommended crop dataset that includes information about rainfall, weather, agriculture, soil and fertilizers in India. Using Hybrid Crested Porcupine Zebra optimization Algorithm for feature selection will improve model accuracy. The Enhanced Sparrow Search Algorithm tuned CAN-MIAN is then used for training to enable the system predict the best crops for specific cases based on environmental parameters. As such, it provides an accurate and reliable forecast generating tools useful in agricultural decision making processes. Also, it facilitates ease in data processing flow while embedding advanced optimization algorithms into weather driven cropping pattern design through minimizing energy wastages inherent in broad acre practices. The proposed method attains higher accuracy as 97.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Koebner phenomenon (KP) or isomorphic phenomenon often helps in diagnosis of certain conditions and often reflects disease activity. Although commonly reported with psoriasis, vitiligo, and lichen planus, KP has been occasional reported with other conditions. Bullous pemphigoid has a rare association with this and we report a case with scratching being the inciting factor. A 50-year-old female with no comorbidities presented with itchy fluid-filled lesions all over the body for 15 days. Examination showed generalized distribution of bullae and vesicles with linear bulla on the forearms. Histopathology and immunofluorescence studies were conclusive of bullous pemphigoid. KP has been reported in general due to mechanical trauma, therapy, dermatoses, or reactions. KP in bullous pemphigoid is rarely reported and it is mentioned in the category IV of Boyd and Nelder classification. The linear nature of bulla in our patient was suggestive of scratching being the inciting factor for KP, which has not been reported to the best of our knowledge.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate visual acuity and refractive status in children with global developmental delay (GDD) and to study the effect of early correction of refractive errors on vision and developmental quotient (DQ). METHODS: In this case series data with pre–post design, 100 consecutive children from 1 to 5 years of age diagnosed with GDD attending the child development clinic and referred to ophthalmology were evaluated for ocular complaints, status of visual acuity, and type of refractive error. Glasses were prescribed on the basis of cycloplegic retinoscopy. Etiological diagnosis and DQ were documented. Follow-up was done after 6 months for visual acuity, DQ, and qualitative questionnaire administered for the caretaker. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi-square test. RESULTS: Fifty-six children were 2.5 years. Severe GDD prevalence was more in children 2.5 (50%). Of 47 who showed improvement in vision, 39 (71%) showed improvement in social behavior also, which was statistically significant. In children

Acute acalculous cholecystitis is usually seen in association with systemic medical illness, or after surgery, trauma or burn and is considered as a more severe disease than acute calculous cholecystitis. We recently had the opportunity of observing a patient who was admitted in a surgical emergency with clinical features of acute cholecystitis and was found to have Orientia tsutsugamushi infection after a strong clinical suspicion of acute tropical fever illness.

The Green Lacewing Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is the common chrysopid in tea plantations of the Anamallais (southern India). Guava trees dispersed in tea plantations accommodate a large population of this predator. Seasonality and intraguild predation of this chrysopid was investigated between December 2014 and November 2015. Spider eggs and spiderlings were important prey for this predator. Mallada desjardinsi preferred 22% eggs of Chrysso nigra, 20% of Neoscona mukerjei, 11% of Chrysso argyrodiformis and Cyrtarachne sp. and below 10% of the other spider species recorded. This is the first intraguild predation studies of M. desjardinsi on tea.

The study investigates the economics of rearing goats for short period under different rearing system viz. rearing on PVC slatted floor, concrete slatted floor and wooden slatted floor. The net income and benefit cost ratio was high when the returns was calculated from the sale of kids. Rearing of animals up to six months for meat is also economic but the profit margin is less compared to sale of kids. In the current study, it was observed that animals reared on PVC floor fetched the highest benefit cost ratio in terms of sale of kids or meat. The net income from a single kid in the current study varied from Rs. 893.81 (PVC floor), followed by (760.03) wooden floor and 703.41(concrete floor) when the animals were reared for meat. While when the kids were sold, the net income from PVC floor was Rs. 2118.31, that of concrete floor was\ Rs.1999.41 and wooden floor was Rs.1653.03. The benefit cost ratio was highest when the animals were reared for meat ie., in PVC group it was 1.40 followed by wooden group (1.35) and finally the concrete group (1.32). When the animal were sold at six months the benefit cost ratio varied from 1.96 in PVC floor, 1.91 in concrete floor and 1.75 in wooden floor.