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Abstract In this study, we combined state-of-the-art data modelling techniques (machine learning [ML] methods) and data from state-of-the-art low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors (LCSs) to improve the accuracy of LCS-measured PM2.5 (PM with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 microns) mass concentrations. We collocated nine LCSs and a reference PM2.5 instrument for 9 months, covering all local seasons, in Bengaluru, India. Using the collocation data, we evaluated the performance of the LCSs and trained around 170 ML models to reduce the observed bias in the LCS-measured PM2.5. The ML models included (i) Decision Tree, (ii) Random Forest (RF), (iii) eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and (iv) Support Vector Regression (SVR). A hold-out validation was performed to assess the model performance. Model performance metrics included (i) coefficient of determination (R2), (ii) root mean square error (RMSE), (iii) normalised RMSE, and (iv) mean absolute error. We found that the bias in the LCS PM2.5 measurements varied across different LCS types (RMSE = 8–29 µg m−3) and that SVR models performed best in correcting the LCS PM2.5 measurements. Hyperparameter tuning improved the performance of the ML models (except for RF). The performance of ML models trained with significant predictors (fewer in number than the number of all predictors, chosen based on recursive feature elimination algorithm) was comparable to that of the ‘all predictors’ trained models (except for RF). The performance of most ML models was better than that of the linear models. Finally, as a research objective, we introduced the collocated black carbon mass concentration measurements into the ML models but found no significant improvement in the model performance.

Introduction: Heart failure is one of the leading causes of hospitalization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemio-clinical profile and short-term outcome of hospitalized heart failure patients in a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences, Kaski, Nepal from October 1, 2021 to January 31, 2022. All the hospitalized heart failure patients aged 18 years or above were included. Relevant history, examination, laboratory, and pertinent findings were noted. Descriptive statistics were used for qualitative and quantitative data. Paired t-test was used for the comparison of pre-and post-hospitalization data. A p-value

Abstract Many environmental flow (e-flow) studies and applications have predominantly used state—(i.e., at a single time point) and rate—(i.e., temporal change) based demographic characteristics of species representing lower trophic levels (e.g., fish communities) to build flow-ecology relationships, rather than using a process that incorporates population dynamics. Recent studies have revealed the importance of incorporating data on species traits when building flow-ecology relationships. The effects of flow on keystone megafauna species (i.e., body mass ≥ 30 kg) reverberate through entire food webs; however, the relationships between flow and these species are not well understood, limiting the scope of the relationships used in flow management. Here, we fill this gap by incorporating the habitat selection traits at different flows of a freshwater apex predator, Ganges River dolphin (GRD, Platanista gangetica gangetica), which plays a significant role in maintaining the structure, functions and integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Using temporally and spatially measured GRD habitat selection traits, we quantified flow-ecology responses in the Karnali River of Nepal during the low-flow season when habitat was heavily reduced and water demand was highest. We define ecological responses as suitable habitat templates with enough usable surface area to support GRD fitness by improving reproduction and survival. We measured the available and occupied habitats to develop flow-ecology responses. Variation in flow resulted in substantial differences in the ecological response across time and space, suggesting that aquatic species adjusted in a variety of habitats to support their life histories and maintain viable populations. The limited availability of suitable habitats combined with uninformed water regulations by humans likely places GRDs under severe physiological stress during low-water seasons (i.e., January–April), suggesting that reduced flows contribute to the process of endangering and extirpating highly sensitive endemic aquatic biodiversity. Our study reveals that ad hoc or experience-based flow management is no longer tenable to maintain the integrity and functionality of aquatic ecosystems. We stress that quantifying the flow-ecology relationships of foundational species, particularly megafauna, in response to flow variation is crucial for monitoring the effects of water alterations and determining the minimum flows needed for maintaining healthy and functional freshwater ecosystems in the Anthropocene.

Background: Headache is a pain that occurs above the eyes or the ears, behind the head in the occiput or the cervical region of neck. A primary headache is a type of headache that is caused by overactivity of the problems with pain-sensitive structures in your head and is not a symptom of an underlying disease condition in a patient. This study highlights on the association of Primary Headaches with psychiatric morbidities and stressful life events that may cause or increase the severity of Primary Headache and its psychiatric co-morbidities.Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Hospital Based study was done in 75 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for Primary Headache. Results: Patients presenting with primary headache were of the age group 26-30(26.7%) followed by 21-25 and 31-35. 57.3% were female patients and 69.3% were married. 29.3% of the patients were housewives, 25.3% were into service and 21.4% were students. Majority of the patients had literacy upto Bachelors degree (32%). Anxiety and depression were the major diagnosis with 22.3 and 17.4 % respectively, they were also the major co-morbid conditions. Illness in the family and self or family member unemployment were the major stressful life events. There was a significant relation of Psychiatric Morbidity with Primary Headache. Conclusion: Anxiety disorder was the major morbid and comorbid psychiatric condition found in patient with Primary Headache followed by depression. This was seen majorly in female and of the age group 26-30 years of age and the patients who were married. Thus is it is necessary to screen Primary Headaches and reduce the stressful life events in these patients and limit the consequences and outcome of Primary Headache to prosper the health and living standard of the patients and the population as a whole.

The development of the engineering profession in colonial Madras did not originate from metropolitan models or indigenous precedents, but it was the result of the exigencies of running the empire. The Civil Engineering College, Guindy, was established in the year 1859 to supply the wants of the Public Works Department. Unlike the professions of law and medicine, the students of engineering completely relied on the state for their job, and the prospect of employment was not optimistic. By the 1930s, the problem of unemployment was apparent among engineering graduates, and a Madras Unemployment Committee was formed to examine the matter. However, the writings on the engineering profession have mainly dealt with the origin and growth of the institutes. The historiography is silent on the question of unemployment among emerging graduates. Viewed in this context, the article explores the progress of the profession of engineering and tries to locate the issue of unemployment among engineering students in colonial Madras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of alcohol has been one of the major source of recreation and stress relievers to date and it is one of the most abused substances in the world due to its free availability. The cost that a spouses incur in terms of economic hardships, social isolation and physical strain can be referred to as Spouse Burden. Spouses play an important role inpatient’s support and treatment and with a study like this there might be a better understanding of the problem. A descriptive, cross-Sectional hospital based study was done in 62 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for Alcohol Dependence Syndrome (ICD-10 DCR) and consents were taken from required personnel. Most of the patients examined were in the age group 40 to 60 years of age (72.6%) followed by the age group up to 40 (22.6%). 72.5% of the spouses were up to 40 years of age, followed by spouses of the age group 40-60 (27.5%).Males were the primary alcohol abusers(87%).51.6% of the patients were unemployed and the rest 48.4% was still employed whereas 51.6%of the spouses were employed and the rest48.4% unemployed. 51.6% of the patients were illiterate whereas majority of the spouses were literate(67.7%). There is a significant severity of burden of alcohol dependence syndrome in spouses and these verity of dependence is positively correlated with spouse burden. Financial, spouse routine, spouse interaction, physical and mental health of other members of the family were significantly affected with increase in dependence.

Introduction: Psychoactive substance use among medical students is common. This may not only pose a threat to their health and academic performance but may have medico-legal and ethical ramifications. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of six psychoactive substances (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, opioids) among second year and third year medical students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional was done in a medical college. Whole sampling was done and ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference Number: 54-074/075). The study was conducted from May 2018 to June 2018. A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire modified and adapted from World Health Organization's guidelines for student substance use survey was used to collect data from second year and third year medical students. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 16.0 was used for analysis. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and proportion for binary data. Results: Out of 226 total respondents, 95 (42.0%) (35.55- 48.45 at 95% Confidence Interval) reported current use of one or more psychoactive substances. Most frequently used substance was alcohol with current use prevalence of 87 (38.5%), followed by smoking 39 (17.3%) and cannabis 27 (11.9%). Cocaine, benzodiazepines and opioids were the least consumed substances with current use prevalence of 2 (0.9%) each. Conclusions: Almost half of the students were currently using one or more psychoactive substances which is concerning, and therefore strategies must be adopted to alleviate such use.

In light of the focus placed on English education by the colonial government, and the petition signed by 70,000 local inhabitants of the Madras Presidency, Lord John Elphinstone, the Governor, made efforts to disseminate English education during his governorship (1837-1842). Spurred on by the petition, Elphinstone wrote two fundamental educational minutes, in 1839 and 1841, and established Madras High School. Later, the School was transformed into Presidency College and became the first home of the University of Madras. Elphinstone's planning led to the first systematic effort by the Madras government to impart English education. Subsequently, Elphinstone emphasised the dissemination of secular education and inclusion of native people in educational administration. Against this background, this paper discusses the contribution of Elphinstone to the educational development of Madras. It also questions the historiographical neglect of Elphinstone and challenges the established post-colonial discourse that the establishment of English institutions was a 'colonialist' imposition.

The Kashmir's intellectual tradition, philosophical system, and the tradition of literature have been eternal and it has progressed through dialectical and antinomical system of epistemological creation. It has also developed continuously from one acharya to another and they have contributed in continuing the ontological, epistemological, and metaphysical discourses on the knowledge system. The historiography on intellectual tradition of Kashmir have generally focused on highlighting the tradition of tantra, sakti, sakta, mantra and meditation. Subsequently, Hindu concept of vac, kaul tradition, heart of Siva, Kashmiri pandits and others have also been the subject of discussion. However, the other aspects of literary tradition like poetics, nature, history have not been adequately discussed. Viewed in this context, the present paper deals with Kashmir's literary contribution to the field of poetics and History. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]