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Background Public health measures taken to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic can potentially impact the mental health of children. We assessed the prevalence and risk factors for childhood depression during the Covid-19 lockdown. Methods After 100 days of lockdown, we sent a survey questionnaire by WhatsApp to parents of school-aged children (5–16 years) in Chennai. The Short Mood and Feelings questionnaire was used as an objective screening tool to assess depression, with a score of 12 as the cut-off. Results There were 874 responses. The prevalence of childhood depression was 13.7%. Girls were more likely to be depressed than boys; 11–16-year-olds were more likely to be depressed than 5–10-year-old children. Children who had more than 4 hours online education had a higher likelihood of depression. Those who used a cell phone for online classes had a higher likelihood of depression compared to other devices, such as tabs or laptops. Children who slept less than 8 hours a day had a higher likelihood of depression while those who either did not sleep in the afternoon or slept less than 1 hour had a lower likelihood of depression. Children who were interacting with family over 1 hour per day had a lower likelihood of depression. Conclusion Overzealous online education, lack of adequate sleep and failure to spend quality time with the family can negatively impact the mental health of children. The impact of Covid-19 on the emotional health of children should be addressed by public health policy-makers and healthcare professionals.

The inception of Internet has caused a dramatic revolution in many fields. Internet, being a global computer network, has made life of people easier, as they could access any information they want, more efficiently. Communication is one of the main fields that Internet has revolutionized. Communication has become so easy due to the integration of communication technologies with the internet. E-mails are considered to be the most reliable way of Internet communication, for sending or receiving some important information. Visually challenged person feels difficulty in using these technologies as it requires visual perception. Around 250 million people in this world, are unaware about the usage of Internet or E-mail. The only way by which a visually impaired person can use the current email application is that, they require the help of a third person who would send mail on the behalf of the them.But this does not guarantee privacy and security for that person. This gave the idea of developing a voice-based email which requires only less training. It makes use of mouse operations and speech recognition. It could be used by both visually impaired and also by a normal person Index Terms: Feature extraction, MFCC, GMM, Speech recognition, Google API

Introduction: As the cases surge in the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, key lessons on the transmission dynamics among health care workers (HCWs) in a hospital setting through effective contact tracing will help strengthen an already overworked healthcare system. Materials & Methodology: All HCWs who were exposed to laboratory confirmed cases of COVID 19 reported in the hospital during the period April 2020 to November 2021 were contacted. History regarding onset of symptoms, high risk and low risk contacts at the workplace from within 48 hours prior to onset of symptoms (symptomatic) or being tested positive (in asymptomatic) were enquired. Subsequently, among high risk contacts, staff turning positive following exposure were examined to ascertain factors associated with COVID 19 transmission Results: A total of 184 staff was quarantined as high risk contacts following exposure to a COVID positive fellow worker or patient. Of this, 29.3% (54) turned positive. Factors associated with acquisition of COVID 19 disease identified were lack of use of goggles/ face shield during an aerosol generating procedure, spending excess time together during coffee breaks or in changing rooms. Vaccination, prompt reporting of symptoms and testing helped to curtail clusters through prompt contact tracing. Conclusion: Judicious use of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) with universal masking, vaccination, hand hygiene and following social distancing helps control of COVID 19 transmission in hospitals. Health Care workers especially of the non clinical sector must be well trained in infection control practices & PPE usage. Active surveillance and dynamic contact tracing effectively identifies as well as increases awareness in high risk areas that curtails COVID 19 clusters within the hospital.

OBJECTIVE Despite the availability of effective medications, only a minority of asthma patients achieve guideline defined asthma control. Treatment success depends on patient concurrence to the prescribed drug and adherence to treatment. It is therefore crucial to identify the patient preferences as well as attitudes towards asthma medications. Omalizumab is recommended as a preferred option in step 5 of asthma therapy. There have been few studies to address patient perspectives on omalizumab therapy in India. METHODS This was a retrospective study. Patients with inadequate asthma control were considered for the study. Systematic evaluation was done to identify and correct modifiable factors that can worsen asthma control. Patients with persisting poor asthma control who were deemed suitable to receive this agent were evaluated with their attitudes toward acceptance or refusal and the reasons for opting out were noted. The patients who received omalizumab were followed up to determine the results of treatment and duration of adherence to therapy. RESULTS Thirty-five patients out of 51 patients chose to avoid this drug. The reasons for opting out included erroneous perception of optimal asthma control, cost of therapy, and concern about adverse effects. Patients took omalizumab for a median duration of 6 months. Improved asthma control and decreased frequency of exacerbation was noted in all patients which persisted during the 6-month follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The majority of patients needing step 5 therapy opt out of omalizumab. Cost of drug, duration of therapy and erroneous perception of good asthma control account for refusing treatment. Omalizumab affords excellent clinical benefits to patients who receive it, and the benefits extend beyond the duration of therapy.

Background: Preferential publication of studies with positive findings can lead to overestimation of diagnostic test accuracy (i.e. publication bias). Understanding the contribution of the editorial process to publication bias could inform interventions to optimize the evidence guiding clinical decisions. Purpose/Hypothesis: To evaluate whether accuracy estimates, abstract conclusion positivity, and completeness of abstract reporting are associated with acceptance to radiology conferences and journals. Study Type: Meta-research. Population: Abstracts submitted to radiology conferences (European Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology (ESGAR) and International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM)) from 2008 to 2018 and manuscripts submitted to radiology journals (Radiology, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging [JMRI]) from 2017 to 2018. Primary clinical studies evaluating sensitivity and specificity of a diagnostic imaging test in humans with available editorial decisions were included. Assessment: Primary variables (Youden's index [YI > 0.8 vs. 0.8; CI = 0.70–1.35), conclusion positivity (OR = 1.21 for positive conclusions; CI = 0.75–1.90) or STARD for Abstracts adherence (OR = 0.96 per unit increase in reported items; CI = 0.82–1.18). Manuscripts with positive abstract conclusions were less likely to be accepted by radiology journals (OR = 0.45; CI = 0.24–0.86), while YI (OR = 0.85; CI = 0.56–1.29) and STARD for Abstracts adherence (OR = 1.06; CI = 0.87–1.30) showed no significant association. Positive conclusions were present in 86.7% of submitted conference abstracts and 90.2% of journal manuscripts. Data Conclusion: Diagnostic test accuracy studies with positive findings were not preferentially accepted by the evaluated radiology conferences or journals. Evidence Level: 3. Technical Efficacy: Stage 2.

An approximately 2-day-old neonate was brought with a fleshy intraoral mass and an inability to suckle adequately, without a preceding history of trauma. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a fat density mass-like lesion occupying and partially filling the oral cavity. Following detection of a defect in the buccinator muscle with associated herniation of the buccal pad of fat into the mouth, a surgical approach was adopted to tackle the condition. Intraoperatively, the defects in the buccinator muscle and buccal mucosa were repaired after excision of the prolapsed fat pad. Age-appropriate feeding practices were initiated following surgery without residual anatomical or functional limitation. Early radiological diagnosis directing surgical intervention was helpful in management of a benign but functionally impeding lesion.

Nutrient uptake in the biomass of healthy and root (wilt) disease affected coconut palms are different. Root (wilt) is a predominant phytoplasmal disease affecting coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) palms and to sustain the palm health and productivity, better nutrient management practices are required. The objective of this research was to understand the uptake pattern and the partitioning of nutrients in the total biomass of healthy and root (wilt) diseased palms grown in humid tropical Entisol of Kerala. 5 coconut palms each were selected from diseased palms viz., Early (DE), Middle (DM) and Advanced (DA) category along with the control, which is Apparently Healthy palm (AH), without any diseases. The total biomass component with respect to each part viz., leaf (L), petiole (P), spadix (S), spathe (Sp), stem (St), leaf sheath fiber (LSF), husk (H) and nuts (copra:C + shell (Sh)) (N) were estimated. Nutrient uptake by the entire biomass uptake is classified as 1. Recyclable portion (L, P, S, Sp, H, LSF and Sh) 2. Removable portion (C) 3. Reserve biomass (St) and then computed the nutrient partitioning by standard analytical procedures. For all nutrients except Mg, reserve biomass had the greatest nutrient uptake followed by recyclable biomass and removable biomass components. Among the nutrients, potassium recorded the highest total uptake. In AH palm, the total uptake of potassium was 1075 g per palm, whereas it was 407.3 g per palm in the diseased palms. The total uptake of nutrients which showed a significant relation with disease index followed the order K > N > Ca > S > P > Mg in apparently healthy palms and N > K > Ca > S > P > Mg in diseased palms. The percentage reduction in total uptake of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S and B by diseased palms in comparison with healthy palms was 36.5, 37.6, 57.5, 44.1 23.3, 43.7 and 48.9. The results of the study indicated that the pattern of nutrient uptake in the different biomass components of apparently healthy and root (wilt) disease affected palms are significantly different. This can instigate the formulation of appropriate nutrient management strategies in coconut with emphasis on its residue recycling potential.

One of the major issue faced by the construction industry is the degradation of structures due to different loads acting on the structure. So retrofitting and rehabilitation has become quite inevitable and it can help in regaining the original strength of the structure. Use of ferrocement is an effective method and it is used in developed countries as it is considerably cheap and materials of construction are easily available. Ferrocement is a system of construction using reinforced mortar or plaster applied over an armature of metal mesh, woven expanded-metal or metal-fibers and closely spaced thin steel rods such as rebar. The skill required is of low level and it has superior strength properties as compared to conventional reinforced concrete. The main drawback of ferrocement is corrosion. Thus to avoid corrosion stainless steel jacketing is employed for rehabilitation within the study that opens the scope for a new jacketing methodology.

Background: Establishing the etiology of exudative pleural effusions in the setting of an unrewarding pleural fluid analysis often requires biopsies from the parietal pleura. However, it may be noted that diagnosis such as pulmonary embolism and connective tissue diseases can result in an exudative pleural effusion where a pleural biopsy can yield nonspecific results. Medical thoracoscopy (MT) is a minimally invasive procedure performed under local anesthesia or moderate sedation with excellent yield and favorable safety profile. We analyzed the diagnostic yield of MT for exudative pleural effusions after employing a rigid diagnostic algorithm. The study was undertaken to ascertain the yield of MT in establishing the diagnosis in diagnosis of exudative pleural effusions, to find out the relative contribution of pleural tuberculosis (TB) as a cause of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion, to describe the etiology of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion in patients undergoing MT and to determine the correlation between pleural fluid adenosine deaminase (ADA) levels and TB pleuritis in patients undergoing MT. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion were included in the study. MT was performed with semirigid thoracoscope (Olympus LTF 160) under local anesthesia and conscious sedation. Gross appearance and ADA level of pleural fluid were noted. Pleural biopsy material was subjected to histopathology examination and culture for mycobacteria along with cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test for TB. The yield of MT for establishing the etiology of pleural effusion and the relative contribution of tuberculous pleuritis as a cause of undiagnosed pleural effusion was ascertained. Correlation of pleural fluid ADA levels was done with a final diagnosis of TB pleuritis in patients undergoing MT. Results: Twenty-five patients with undiagnosed exudative pleural effusion underwent thoracoscopy of which 16 were male and 9 were female. MT was able to establish the diagnosis in all cases, providing a diagnostic yield of 100%. Histopathological examination of biopsy specimens yielded a diagnosis of malignant involvement of pleura in 10 patients and granulomatous pleuritis consistent with TB in 14 patients. Pleural TB contributed to 60% of undiagnosed pleural effusions in the present study. The mean ADA value among those who turned positive was 56.338 and 35.300 among those who turned negative using genexpert, which was found to be statistically significant. A value of 31 IU/L showed a sensitivity of 93.3% and specificity of 99.8% and hence can be taken as a cut off value for the diagnosis of pleural TB based on receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Conclusion: TB contributed to 60% of undiagnosed exudative pleural effusions in the present study. MT had 100% yield in the diagnosis of undiagnosed exudative effusions. Pleural fluid ADA levels may help in differentiating TB versus malignant effusion.

Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina accounts for less than 0.3% of all melanomas and approximately 4% of vaginal malignancies. We present a case of a 61-year-old female who presented with complaints of difficulty in urination and a polyp arising from the vagina. Local examination showed a polyp arising from the lateral vaginal wall and a hymenal tag. Histopathological examination of the polyp showed a neoplasm simulating a leomorphic sarcoma. The hymenal tag showed classical features of malignant melanoma. Immunohistochemistry with S100 and HMB45 confirmed malignant melanoma in the vaginal polyp. We report this case, on account of its rarity and unusual phenotypic profile, which may lead to a delayed or alternate diagnosis. Primary malignant melanoma of the vagina needs early accurate diagnosis and management due to its aggressive nature. Keywords: Vaginal melanoma, Mucosal melanoma, Vaginal polyp, Sarcomatous polyp.

Purpose: This paper aims to analyze the portrayal and presentation of memory, gender, and identity in selected psychological thrillers. Approach/Methodology/Design: The selected films are Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound and James Mangold’s Identity. For the analysis of these films, the researcher employs both narrative and structural approaches; thematic analysis, psychoanalysis, and also feminist film theory. Findings: The results of the analysis show that apart from building suspense and mysteries with the identity issue, these thrillers question the stereotypes and inequality in society through the female characters for the consumerist audience. Hence, these films attempt to break the chains of legitimated stereotypes in the society which create binaries in the lives of people. Practical Implications: The portrayal of illness in psychological thrillers has attracted a lot more audience to seats. Dissociative elements such as memory and identity of the mind perhaps have permeated the film-going experience. The paper showcases these aspects in the selected films. Originality/value: The picturization of the fading identity and the double personality of the characters are central to the interior experience. The capturing of Amnesia and its related themes of memory, identity, and distributed consciousness are common materials in recent films because they can stretch to basic humanistic concerns and contemporary psycho-social issues.

To determine whether additional dedicated observations by a doctor would increase the pickup rate of phlebitis and related complications due to intravenous cannulation. Also, to identify the common demographic and clinical factors predisposing to phlebitis in children. This prospective study was conducted from January 2019 through December 2019. A total of 184 children with 341 cannulations were enrolled. The authors added dedicated inspection of cannula by the physician during rounds in attempt to increase the detection of phlebitis. The difference in detection rates of thrombophlebitis by physician and routine observation along with the demographic and clinical variables contributing to thrombophlebitis in hospitalized children were studied. Total incidence of thrombophlebitis was 35/341 (10.3%), which included 2 extravasations. Nineteen events (55%) were picked up by routine nursing observations and an additional 16 (45%) by the physician. Among the factors contributing to phlebitis, maternal education status

Among the tropical tuber crops, cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) deserves special attention as regards to its higher biological efficiency in terms of dry matter production which incidentally implies to the higher amount of nutrient extraction from the soil resulting in better response to the application of manures and fertilizers. Among the major nutrients, Potassium (K) is considered as the key nutrient for cassava owing to its influence both in tuber yield and tuber quality. The above facts as well as the availability of sufficient cassava genotypes in the germplasm collection of ICAR-CTCRI made us to initiate research work to screen cassava germplasm including the pre breeding lines. The objective being to identify K efficient genotypes which can yield well under limited availability of K so that the external application of K can be reduced. This paper describes the wide variation noticed during the pre evaluation of 83 elite genotypes which was done as a prelude in the screening and identification of K efficient genotypes. The characters studied were tuber yield, tuber characters, plant dry matter percentage, plant K content, tuber quality (starch, cyanogenic glucosides) attributes, physiological efficiency and plant biometric characters. The variation among the genotypes for the above traits was assessed by making some yardstick for classification which in turn helped in determining the percent distribution of genotypes in each category. The variation among the genotypes were further affirmed through principal component analysis, wherein the first five components explained more than 77% of variability and the cluster analysis performed grouped these genotypes into five clusters. The biplot showed the traits which are closely linked to the genotypes. The dendrogram constructed indicated similar genotypes to that of the clusters to the extent of more than 50% revealing the association of members with similar traits in clusters and dendrograms. The study helped in establishing the drastic variation among the genotypes along with identification of six genotypes viz., Aniyoor, 7 Sahya (2), 7 III E3-5, W-19, CR 43-8, 6-6 for further detailed experimentation to identify K efficient genotypes.

Among tropical tuber crops, elephant foot yam ( Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) is a highly potential and ideal intercrop in the coconut gardens of Kerala, especially in agro-ecological unit (AEU) 3 and AEU 9 with laterite and sandy soil types, respectively. This paper narrates the protocols developed for evolving customized fertilizer (CF) formulations for elephant foot yam (EFY) under intercropping in coconut gardens of Kerala including their testing and validation in different parts of the State to arrive at the best grade and rate of application. The methodology included, arriving at the weighted average data of each chemical parameter of the two AEUs and the theoretical optimum of the nutrient recommendation evolved for N, P, K, Mg, Zn, B, dolomite based on the weighted average data was 71: 12.5: 106.5: 12.8: 4.2: 1.31: 1000 kg ha-1 for AEU 3 and 78: 12.5: 90: 12.8: 4.2: 1.31: 1000 kg ha-1 for AEU 9, respectively. The actual optimum nutrient doses evolved based on nutrient omission plot (NOP) and nutrient level (NL) experiments for N, P, K, Mg, Zn, B and dolomite was 140: 20: 225: 19.2: 4.2: 1.575: 1500 kg ha-1 for AEU 3 and 160: 12.5: 180: 19.2: 6.3: 1.975: 1500 kg ha-1 for AEU 9, respectively. Based on the nutrient use parameters computed for an yield target of 45 t ha-1, as per soil test crop response (STCR), quantity of nutrients to be supplied through CF formulation was arrived as 203 and 185, 58 and 63, 145 and 175 kg N, P2O5 and K2O, respectively for AEU 3 and AEU 9. In the case of secondary and micronutrients, the level at which the highest tuber yield obtained as 19.2, 4.2 and 1.575 kg ha-1 Mg, Zn, B, respectively for AEU 3 and 19.2, 6.3 and 1.975 kg ha-1 for AEU 9 was taken. Considering the nutrient content in the CF as 20% N and 70% K, for an application rate of 500 kg ha-1, the grades of the CF based on STCR approach was arrived as N: P2O5: K2O: Mg: Zn: B is 8: 11: 21: 3.5: 1: 0.3 for AEU 3 (CF1) and 7: 12: 24: 3.5: 1.25: 0.4 for AEU 9 (CF2). In the response curve (RC), the nutrient levels at the highest tuber yield obtained under NOP and NL was taken and the grades of N: P2O5: K2O: Mg: Zn: B arrived was 7: 3: 25: 4: 1.25: 0.4 for AEU 9 (CF3) and 6: 3: 30: 3.5: 1: 0.3 for AEU 3 (CF4). Among these four grades, the first three grades tested at two doses viz. 500 and 625 kg ha-1 in three farmers’ fields of the two AEUs indicated better performance of all the three grades @ 625 kg ha-1. The three grades @ 625 kg ha-1 tried in large plots of the five major EFY growing districts of Kerala viz. Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Ernakulam for profitability, soil health and tuber quality revealed CF2 with grade as N: P2O5: K2O: Mg: Zn: B @ 7: 12: 24: 3.5: 1.25: 0.4 as the best in terms of tuber yield, BC ratio, soil quality indices and biochemical attributes of the tuber.

Objectives: Acute invasive fungal sinusitis (AIFS) is a rapidly progressive disease, whose delayed identification results in poor outcomes, especially in immunocompromised individuals. A surge in of AIFS in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic has lent additional morbidity and mortality to an already precarious clinical scenario. Early detection of AIFS in individuals who are symptomatic/ at risk can allow early therapy, enabling better patient outcomes. Our study aims to determine optimal soft-tissue markers on CT for the early detection of AIFS. Methods: In this case–control study, 142 patients with equal distribution of subjects were chosen based on histopathological diagnosis of AIFS; and their non-contrast CT scans were retrospectively assessed to determine the diagnostic utility of specific soft-tissue markers that would enable diagnosis of AIFS. Results: A total of nine markers with adequate sensitivity and specificity were identified, including pterygopalatine and sphenopalatine fossae, inferior orbital fissure and nasolacrimal duct involvement, premaxillary thickening, retro-antral and orbital stranding, and infratemporal muscle oedema. It was determined that the combined occurrence of any three out of nine markers was 91.5% sensitive and 95.9% specific for diagnosis of AIFS (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Early, accurate detection of AIFS in predisposed individuals is possible with identification of soft-tissue markers on NECT, enabling early intervention. Advances in knowledge: Being the aggressive disease that it is, AIFS may be managed early if the index of suspicion is held high via CT imaging; which our diagnostic checklist aims at enabling.

Background: Medical education is considered to be the most stressful learning process globally. Stress can have a negative impact on the academic performance and psychosocial well-being of the students. Perceived stress scale-10 (PSS-10) is a useful tool to assess mental stress. Being involved in the neurotransmitter systems in the brain; vitamin D may have a role in the perception of stress. Hence, finding any association between stress and vitamin D will help us to address stress suitably. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives were to assess the prevalence of stress in medical undergraduates and to find its association with vitamin D levels in the body. Materials and Methods: The perception of stress was assessed in 79 students of age between 18 and 21 years using the PSS-10. A total score above 14 is considered moderate to high stress. The serum vitamin D was measured by the chemiluminescent immunoassay technique. Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between stress and vitamin D. Results: About 86% of the students showed moderate to high stress with females having a significantly high stress (P = 0.002) compared to males. About 87% of females and 91% of males were having hypovitaminosis D with no gender association. Even though vitamin D was negatively correlated with stress, the association was not statistically significant with P = 0.5. Conclusion: The study shows a high prevalence of stress and hypovitaminosis in medical students. However, vitamin D is not associated with the perception of stress.

The nonlinear optical (NLO) material, 2-methyl-5-nitroaniline (M5NA), is synthesized and the crystals are grown by slow evaporation technique. The theoretical vibrational spectral analyses are done for the first time for M5NA using B3LYP computational method with the basis set cc-pVTZ. Natural Bond Orbital (NBO) and Atoms In Molecules (AIM) analyses are carried out for obtaining the charge transfer interactions and the Hirshfeld surface analysis with the fingerprint plot is performed for finding out the intermolecular interaction sites of the molecule. Using the theoretical and experimental IR and Raman spectra, the vibrations of M5NA are estimated. Changes in the linear and nonlinear optical properties with the addition of silver nanoparticles are studied from the UV–vis absorption spectra and the Z-Scan curves. A comparison of the hyperpolarizability values is done with pure and silver-added M5NA.

Background: The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the major stabilisers of the knee and is the most frequently involved ligament in knee injuries and related functional instability. The objective of the study was to compare the lateral posterior tibial slope (LPTS) and medial posterior tibial slope (MPTS) among those with ACL injury and those with the intact ligament.Methods: MRI of 65 (male-43, female-22) ACL injured and 65 (male-58, female-7) ACL intact knees were studied. Using RadiAnt DICOM viewer software, the slopes of both medial and LPTS s were measured. The statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS 25. Associations between various factors were assessed using the Chi square test for categorical variables and independent t test were done for quantitative variables. PResults: Among cases the mean LPTS was 10.230±3.930 and mean MPTS was 6.610±3.490. Among controls, mean LPTS was 8.460±3.630, mean MPTS was 5.510±2.910. Case had a statistically significant (p=0.009) steeper LPTS than control population. MPTS of cases were steeper than the control population with no statistical significance (p=0.055).Conclusions: In this study, the LPTS was significantly increased among patients with ACL injury as compared with ligament-intact controls. LPTS measurements should be considered as a significant independent modifiable risk factor for ACL injury.