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Background: As we grow older, food insecurity (FI) may have an impact on our cognitive abilities. The study examines the association of FI with the cognitive function of older adults in India., Methods: We have used the data from the first wave of the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), with a sample of 27,032 older adults aged 60 years and older. Bivariate analysis and linear regression models with clusters were applied to show the association. The cognitive performance tests include episodic memory, orientation, arithmetic function, executive function, and object naming., Results: The mean cognition was 24.2 (range 0-43), while 36.4%, 2.1%, and 6.4% experienced mild, moderate, and severe FI, respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, mild (β = -0.18, 95% CI: -0.32, - 0.04) and severe (β = -0.52, 95% CI: -0.82, - 0.22) food insecurity was associated with poor overall cognitive performance. Domain-specific differences in cognition, such as memory, orientation, arithmetic function, executive function, and object naming, were also validated by the level of FI., Conclusion: The finding suggests that FI is associated with a poor level of cognition among older adults, highlighting the need for increasing the coverage and intervention strategies to address FI in India., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Neurocognitive tests are routinely used to assess cognitive domains in the adolescents for assessing cognitive deficits and for therapeutic interventions. Now they are being used to assess their mental abilities in athletics too. Aim: To study the effect of age and gender differences on routinely used common paper and pencil neuro-cognitive tests in adolescents and present the trends of normative data of Indian adolescent population. Settings and Design: Present study was conducted as a joint collaboration between Department of Physiology and Jawahar Navodaya school, Puducherry, India. Materials and Methods: Four hundred and thirty nine adolescents in the age group of 12 to 17 y (M = 250, F= 189) were selected in the present study after meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subjects were administered commonly used paper and pencil neuropsychological tests in the following order: Two Target Letter Cancellation test, Trail Making test A and B, Ruff Figural Fluency test (RFFT). Statistical Analysis: We divided the students based on their age into six groups - from age 12-17. Neurocognitive parameters were compared between these age groups using one-way- ANOVA with Bonferroni post-hoc test. Only the p-values for one, two and three year difference were considered. The same analysis was repeated for each gender separately. We compared males and females from the entire sample using unpaired t test. We then repeated the same test to compare males and females in each age group separately. Pearsons correlation was done to find correlation between the neurocognitive test parameters using the entire sample size. Then the correlation was done again after adjusting for age. All the statistical analysis was done using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 19. Results: Year wise normative data has been presented for all the age groups from 12 y onwards to 17 y. The results showed a consistent improvement in performance on the tested neuro-psychological tests with increasing age in adolescents. Overall gender comparison showed significantly better RFFT performance in males than females, with a non-significant difference in other tested parameters. However, no such difference was observed when the comparison was made within each age group. Conclusion: Improvement in the tests as a function of age may represent ongoing neuro-maturational process. Overall gender comparison from 12 to 17 y demonstrates that males performed better on nonverbal fluency task and strategic analysis suggesting difference in cognitive growth patterns but changes are so slow and gradual that no significant difference was observed at each intra-age group gender comparison. Baseline testing should be at least repeated once in two years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India has a high prevalence of micronutrient deficiency-related health risks, which can be improved by food fortification. Objectives: To identify and analyze single or multiple micronutrient (MMN) food-fortification studies for their efficacy and effectiveness in India. Methods: Papers from searching 10 databases were independently screened by two researchers. Data were abstracted to summarize food fortification results on biological markers, anthropometry, clinical, morbidity, cognition, dietary intake, and physical performance. Results: Forty-seven papers, of which 25 were randomized controlled trials, were included for analysis. Children ≤ 12 y were the main population (n=38). Food vehicles were cereals (n=6), oils and salts (n=18), and other (e.g., school meals (n=23)). Improvements in ≥ 1 biological markers were reported in all 35 papers (22 MMN, 9 Iron, 4 Iodine) with interpretable results. More specifically, iron or hemoglobin improvements were noted in all papers fortifying with MMN or solely iron. Iodine nutriture was improved in all salt iodization papers. Eight of 14, 6 of 7, 2 of 6, 4 of 6, 1 of 4, and 1 of 1 papers with interpretable results showed ≥ 1 positive result of fortification in anthropometry, clinical signs, morbidity, cognition, dietary intake, and physical performance, respectively. Conclusion: Research in India suggests food fortification improves biological markers, particularly iron and hemoglobin when fortifying with MMN or iron. MMN fortification saw more health impacts than using single fortificants. Iodine status was improved through salt iodization. Existing government nutrition programs, especially those that target children, are good avenues for food fortification implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper explores the role of depressive symptoms (mediator/moderator) in the association between physical multimorbidity (exposure) and cognitive function (outcome) among older adults in the three most populous middle-income countries., Methods: This study used cross-sectional data from China (2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study), India (2017/2018 Longitudinal Ageing Study in India), and Indonesia (2014/2015 Indonesian Family Life Survey), with a total sample of 73,199 respondents aged ≥ 45 years. Three domains of cognitive tests were harmonised across surveys, including time orientation, word recall, and numeracy. The four-way decomposition analysis assessed the mediation and interaction effects between exposure, mediator/moderator, and outcome, adjusted for covariates., Results: The mean age of the respondents (in years) was slightly younger in Indonesia (56.0, SD = 8.8) than in China (59.5, SD = 9.3) and India (60.0, SD = 10.5). The proportion of male respondents was 49.3 % in China, 47.3 % in India, and 47.5 % in Indonesia. Respondents in China had the highest mean cognitive function z scores (54.7, SD = 19.9), followed by India (51.1, SD = 20.0) and Indonesia (51.0, SD = 18.4). Physical multimorbidity was associated with lower cognitive function in China and India (p < 0.0001), with 48.4 % and 40.0 % of the association explained by the mediating effect of depressive symptoms ('overall proportion due to mediation'). The association was not found in Indonesia., Conclusion: Cognitive functions were lower among individuals with physical multimorbidity, and depressive symptoms mainly explained the association. Addressing depressive symptoms among persons with physical multimorbidity is likely to have not only an impact on their mental health but could prevent cognitive decline., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The role of memory in one's cognition of sentential meaning is a pivotal topic in Indian philosophical debates on the nature of language. The Bhāṭṭa Mīmāṃsakas claim in their doctrine of abhihitānvaya that words denote word-meanings which in turn lead one to sentential meaning, with memory playing only a limited role in this process. The Prābhākara Mīmāṃsakas however assign memory a central role and assert that each word in a sentence denotes the connected sentential meaning. This paper is a philosophical and philological study of the arguments presented by the influential Prābhākara thinker Śālikanātha in his Vākyārthamātṛkā-I (VM-I) in order to substantiate the role of memory as part of the doctrine of anvitābhidhāna. The VM-I commences these discussions with an objection of the Bhāṭṭa pūrvapakṣin against this Prābhākara doctrine (often quoted even in recent scholarship), and thereafter proceeds to refute this objection by demonstrating the role of memory, specifically in regard to word-meaning. Śālikanātha lays out his refutation by means of several layers of intricate argumentation, and this paper attempts to follow the text closely and present cogently his philosophical reasoning. The aim of this paper is thus to not only demonstrate the early pre-empting of this Bhāṭṭa objection by Śālikanātha himself but also his own responses to this, thereby enabling one to understand with greater clarity a cornerstone of the elaborate doctrine of anvitābhidhāna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational technology designs in developing countries mostly focus on making knowledge resources widely available, through MOOCs, repositories and computer‐based tutoring. The use of digital media for cognitive augmentation, particularly interactive designs that help learners understand modelling topics in STEM, is underexplored. We report a 3‐year design study examining this potential in the Indian context, testing two iterations of an interactive system, Touchy‐Feely Vectors (TFV). The design supports learning vectors, a modelling topic pre‐university students struggle with. Virtual lesson‐plans were co‐designed with teachers to augment — but not replace — their existing practices, and to address classroom and resource constraints. Pre‐post testing of TFV‐1 (a computer‐based prototype) showed that it helped students develop a more integrated vector concept, and improved their reasoning. Field‐implementation of TFV‐2 (a textbook‐linked touch‐screen based design) in 6‐classrooms (3‐Control, N=135; 3‐Experimental, N=131) showed that it fostered cognitive engagement in average‐students and geometry‐algebra integration (model‐based reasoning) in good‐students. These results, along with a requirements analysis based on textbooks, indicate that the interaction possibilities supported by different representational media critically shape student reasoning. The study also illustrates a systematic approach to design and test digital media systems that support cognitive augmentation in developing countries. Lay description: What is already known about this topic: Computational modelling is central to model‐based reasoning (MBR) in contemporary scientific practice. Education needs to change to support this new way of thinking. However, it is not clear how this could be done systematically in developing countries.Textbooks are thus not replaceable in developing nation contexts, and any digital media designed to help develop model‐based reasoning in students would need to work with textbooks and existing teaching/learning practice. It is unclear how this could be done.When learning basic model‐based reasoning using static textbook media, students struggle with core MBR topics like vectors. What this paper adds: The paper reports a 3‐year design‐based study, where a vector simulation system was developed (Touchy‐Feely Vectors), which addressed the following issues. Addressing 2 above, the study illustrates a design that builds on static textbook media and associated practices.Addressing 3 above, a 2‐phase field test of the design (N = 266) showed that the system changes student reasoning, towards better integration of algebra and geometry, while reasoning with vectors.Addressing 1 above, the study provides a new model to implement the learning of modelling using interactive simulations, in developing country classrooms.Addressing 1 above, the study offers a clear model for designing such interventions in developing country contexts.More broadly, the study reveals how the nature of the medium used to present science content changes student cognition and reasoning. Implications for practice and/or policy: For curricula: The design we present can be extended easily, to develop similar systems for other topics. The design also illustrates how teachers adopt technology when they participate in the design.For policy: This design provides a workable policy alternative to the costly model of the digital medium replacing current media and its teaching/learning practices.For Research and Pedagogy: Our results suggest that researchers and teachers need to examine the capabilities and constraints of different media while analysing learning difficulties, and develop ways to address these issues [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using panel data from India, this paper investigates the effect of early maternal age on offspring human capital, contributing to the scarce evidence on this phenomenon, especially in the context of a developing country. The analysis relies on mother fixed effects to allow for unobserved differences between mothers and employs a variety of empirical strategies to address remaining sibling-specific concerns. Our results indicate that children born to young mothers are shorter for their age, with stronger effects for girls born to very young mothers. We also find some evidence suggesting that children born to very young mothers perform worse in math. By exploring the evolution of effects over time for the first time in the literature, we find that the height effect weakens as children age. Further analysis suggests both biological and behavioral factors as transmission channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recent studies highlight the negative impact of social isolation and involvement in leisure activities on enhanced well‐being of individuals. However, there is dearth of evidence on relationship between social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive abilities and depression of older adults in the Indian context. The paper reports the impact of social isolation and leisure activities on cognitive functioning and depression of older adults. Methods: Data were collected from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India (LASI), and 63,806 participants aged 45 years or above were considered for the study with adherence to the exclusion criteria. Multivariate analysis was carried out to analyse the group‐based differences. Results: Social isolation (F = 102.09, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.09) and leisure (F = 224.54, p < 0.01; η2 = 0.07) had a statistically significant impact on the cognition and depressive symptoms of participants. Socially isolated older adults with little involvement in leisure activities had the worst cognitive functioning (M = 32.76, SD = 4.41), whereas middle‐aged adults who were actively involved in leisure activities and experienced the least social isolation exhibited the best cognitive functioning (M = 32.76, SD = 4.41). However, leisure and age as independent factors did not have a significant impact on depression. Conclusion: Socially isolated participants, irrespective of age, and involvement in leisure activities exhibit poor cognitive functioning and are more likely to suffer from depression as compared to their counterparts. The findings of the study can be used to design intervention strategies aimed at reducing social isolation by incorporating leisure activities to ensure the optimal functioning of middle‐aged and older adults. Key points: Socially isolated older adults with least involvement in leisure activities reported the worst cognitive functioning.Socially isolated participants reported a positive association with depressive symptomatology.Both middle‐aged and older adults who engaged in leisure activities reported better cognitive functioning as compared to their counterparts who did not engage in any form of leisure activities.Leisure as an independent factor is not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Speech–language pathologists are often involved in the assessment and management of communication, cognition and swallowing deficits in people with Parkinson's. However, speech–language pathologists' self‐perceived competency levels in serving people with Parkinson's remain elusive, especially in the Indian context where there is an increasing disability burden due to Parkinson's disease. Additionally, the challenges faced by speech–language pathologists in India to provide efficient services to this population are unidentified. Aims: To determine speech–language pathologists' self‐perceived competence and challenges faced when providing services to people with Parkinson's in India. Methods & Procedures: A survey questionnaire was sent to speech–language pathologists through emails and social media asking them questions to evaluate self‐perceived competency in serving people with Parkinson's and to identify the challenges to their service delivery. A total of 69 speech–language pathologists responded to the survey. Outcomes & Results: The majority of respondents reported to be competent in dealing with various domains of assessment and management of people with Parkinson's. Although competent, they reportedly faced a few challenges during their service delivery. Conclusions & Implications: This study provides an insight into the speech–language pathologists' self‐perceived competency in serving people with Parkinson's in India, and also identifies the challenges related to interprofessional service delivery. The findings of the study have educational and clinical implications. What this paper adds: The study delineates speech–language pathologists' self‐perceived competency in working with people with Parkinson's in India, a nation that is seeing a constant rise in the incidence of Parkinson's disease.The study the unique challenges within India to speech–language pathologists' service delivery for people with Parkinson's, thus having educational and clinical implications in Parkinson's disease care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a crucial intervention because of its long‐term impact on child development. However, information concerning the effectiveness of the ECEC in developing countries like India is sparsely available. This empirical study drew upon primary data collected from India's eastern state, West Bengal and investigated whether attending preschool contributed to children's cognitive and social skill development. The study found that attending preschool did not provide dividends in the form of cognitive and social skill accumulation. Furthermore, attending private preschool was associated with socioemotional development but no cognitive development. Moreover, parents' education seems to be a strong predictor for child's development. Given the findings of this paper, preschools in India, both in the public and private sectors, would need considerable quality improvement to deliver developmentally appropriate ECEC to children. It is particularly relevant in the context of the new National Education Policy in India, which emphasises the need to provide universal access to high‐quality ECCE to all young children across the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a culturally different and low-resource setting, where lifestyle habits, including dietary pattern and physical activities differ from those in high-income countries, the association between physical activity and cognition is expected to differ. We aimed to investigate the association between physical activity and cognitive functioning after controlling for potential confounders among older adults in India. Furthermore, gender differences in this relationship were analyzed. Using a national-level data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (2017-2018), this paper employed propensity score matching (PSM) approach to examine the association between physical activities and cognitive functioning among Indian older adults. Cognitive impairment was measured through five broad domains (memory, orientation, arithmetic function, executive function, and object naming). We limit our sample to older adults aged 60 + years, and our final dataset contains 31,464 participants (men = 16,366, and women = 15,098). The results indicated that older adults who engaged in frequent physical activity have greater cognitive functioning than older adults without physical activity after adjusting for various individual, health, lifestyle, and household factors. This association holds true for both older men and older women. The results from the PSM revealed that the cognitive function score was increased by 0.98 and 1.32 points for the frequently physically active older men and women population, respectively. The results demonstrate the possible beneficial effects of frequent physical activity on cognitive functioning among older adults. Thus, regular physical activity can be considered as an effective lifestyle factor to promote healthy cognitive aging., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Skills are an important predictor of labour, education, and wellbeing outcomes. Understanding the origins of skills formation is important for reducing future inequalities. This paper analyses the effect of shocks in-utero on human capital outcomes in childhood and adolescence in India. Combining historical rainfall data and longitudinal data from Young Lives, we estimate the effect of rainfall shocks in-utero on cognitive and non-cognitive skills development over the first 15 years of life. We find negative effects of rainfall shocks on receptive vocabulary at age 5, and on mathematics and non-cognitive skills at age 15. The negative effects on cognitive skills are driven by boys, while the effect for both cognitive and non-cognitive skills are driven by children of parents with lower education, suggesting that prenatal shocks might exacerbate pre-existing inequalities. Our findings support the implementation of policies aiming at reducing inequalities at very early stages in life., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

According to census 2011, India had nearly 104 millions of 60 years and above population. The share is projected to increase from 8 per cent in 2015 to 29 per cent in 2050, which is a matter of concern as rapid population ageing is accompanied by serious social and economic implications which are often linked with different health outcomes in general and lower subjective well-being (SWB) in particular. This paper aims to focus on how socio-economic inequality affects lower SWB among older adults. Bivariate, binary logistic regression and decomposition analysis were used for carving out the results using data from the Building a Knowledge Base on Population Ageing in India (BKPAI). The effective sample size for the analysis was 9181 older adults. The value of the concentration index for lower SWB was -0.28 in India, depicting that lower SWB was concentrated among older adults with poor socio-economic status. Educational status (22%), living arrangement (13%), trust over someone (13%), self-rated health (6%), instrumental activities of daily living (6%) and cognitive ability (5%) explained significant portion of socio-economic inequality for lower SWB among older adults. Our research highlights the urgent need for more empirical exposure to socio-economic inequality and its dynamic impact on lower SWB among older adults. Moreover, the present study recommends strengthening the current government programme to focus especially on older adults from lower socio-economic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health at birth is an important indicator of human capital development over the life course. This paper uses longitudinal data from the Young Lives survey and employs instrumental variable regression models to estimate the effect of birth weight on cognitive development during childhood in India. We find that a 10 per cent increase in birth weight increases cognitive test scores by 0.11 standard deviations at 5–8 years of age. Low birth weight infants experience a lower test score compared with normal birth weight infants. The positive effect of birth weight on a cognitive test score is larger for girls, children from rural households and those with less educated mothers. Our findings suggest that health policies designed to improve birth weight could improve human capital in resource‐poor settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in the past has intermittently established that JS was not correlated with many of the workplace behaviors which were conventionally held to be significantly interrelated. Besides,while there are abundant publications on job satisfaction there is relatively little on the job satisfaction of academicians in general and very little still on the job satisfaction among school teachers in India. This study is an attempt to find clarification in the interrelationship by measuring JS as a three dimensional attitude. Though the primary objective is to examine the effects of job satisfaction on identified workplace behavior among the academics (school teachers) in Tamilnadu,India, the secondary and tertiary goals of this paper wereto validate the reconstructed tripartite JS construct in the education sector, and to look into the inner dimensions of JS attitude for gaining a better understanding of the JS-outcome relationships. Findings of the study affirm thatthe JS attitude was exceedingly built on Cognition and Evaluation, with low participation of the Affect in the education sector. Performance of employees wereCognition driven, while Organization commitment, Turnover Intention and Intention to stay were Affect driven. This study has made vital contribution to the understanding of JS-outcome relationships by affirming that JS is a comprehensive attitude, and its constituent components have discrete independent influences on the diverse employee behaviors in the workplace.Implications for further research and practice have also been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - Huge gap exists between demand and supply of seeking health care leads to remain high maternal mortality in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, India. The purpose of this paper is to make an effort in this direction. Design/methodology/approach - This paper draws on Three Delays Model to understand the reasons behind poor maternal health outcomes among 964 currently married women aged 15-34, given birth in last two years preceding the survey including six case studies in poor settings of Northern India. Findings - Receiving minimum four antenatal care and identifying the severity of obstetric complications during pregnancy was quite low (7 and 34 per cent, respectively). Major delay in seeking care in district was decision delay (average four days) followed by arranging transportation (average 4 hours) and start treatment within an hour after reaching health facility. Health services and trained human resources are mainly concentrated at towns and poor supply of drugs and equipment in labour room is always in demand at primary level in the district in area. Delays in decision making, travel and treatment compounded by ignorance of obstetric complications and poor healthcare infrastructure are the major contributing factors of maternal deaths in the district in area. Originality/value - Interventions to improve timely seeking of medical care for obstetric complications may need to more effectively target husbands and family members rather than women. Strengthening of primary and secondary level facilities and timely referral to tertiary level care can play a crucial role in improving obstetric care in the district in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on exploring dhvani as a hermeneutical tool for reading Christian devotional literature. Dhvani is a theory of poetic suggestion proposed by Ānandavardhana in the eighth century and elaborated upon by Abhinavagupta in the eleventh century that posits layers of semantics in poetic language. By focusing on the devotional poetry of the seventeenth-century religious poets of England, this paper argues for Ānandavardhana's proposed poetics of suggestion as an enabling way of reading and cognizing devotion as a psycho emotive process. In the context of Indian Christianity, dhvani has been suggested by certain scholars as also enriching the possibilities of interfaith dialogue. This paper argues for incorporating poetic frameworks like dhvani as modes of interfaith dialogue, especially when reading Christian texts in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Research in entrepreneurial cognition has called for a better understanding of interactions between contextual variables and cognitive processes. Based on previous work done on organizational learning and social networks, the purpose of this paper is to propose a formal model in which information acquisition, distribution and interpretation are tested as a function of cognition-based trust, perceived expertise and tie strength between organizational members in two different corporate entrepreneurship (CE) types. Design/methodology/approach: The authors conduct a quantitative analysis based on network data in two companies located in India. Special procedures known as quadratic assignment procedure and multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure were used to run the correlations and multiple regressions, respectively. The authors complement this analysis with interviews and qualitative information to build a rich description in each of these cases. Findings: The results indicate moderate support for the model. The evidence suggests that between both types of CE types, domain redefinition requires higher levels of tie strength, trust and perceived expertise. Sustained regeneration shows moderate significant results in tie strength, and cognition-based trust. Originality/value: The authors combined insights on social network and organizational cognitive processes to analyze interactions between context and cognition. The authors were also able to compare two different companies. The authors found consistent results regarding tie strength, but the authors also found differences between both companies, which suggest that different CE types tend to require different dynamics between context and cognitive processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Population ageing represents a significant global challenge, particularly pronounced in countries like India. Aims: This study aims to explore how factors such as socio-economic status, behaviour, and health influence healthy ageing across the Indian older population. Methods: In this study, we utilized the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India – wave 1 dataset for analysis purposes. Scores were generated for five dimensions of healthy aging, including physical, functional, mental, cognitive, and social aspects and these scores were treated as the target variables. Multivariate Regression Trees analysis was employed to identify the behavioural and socio-demographic factors associated with each dimension of healthy ageing. Results: Years of education emerge as crucial across all dimensions, positively impacting cognitive health and mitigating age-related decline in healthy ageing. Marital status, engagement in household activities, spiritual practices, and living arrangements impacts the scores of different aspects of healthy ageing. Gender disparities in healthy aging are noticeable in the 60–74 age group, with women generally having lower scores. Safety of the living environment is a crucial determinant of the mental health of the elderly across all age groups.These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors in healthy ageing outcomes. Conclusion: Our study emphasizes the pivotal role of education in fostering healthy ageing in India. Factors such as environmental safety and social participation also influence well-being. Targeted interventions addressing education, gender equality, safety, and healthcare access are vital for enhancing the ageing experience and overall well-being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dance and movement therapy (DMT) and Western dance forms have been advocated for the effective management of Parkinson's Disease (PD). This study focuses on including culturally relevant Indian dance concepts in developing and evaluating a community-based DMT programme for PD. This is the first comparative study on DMT for PD conducted in India, with a control group of a 'physical exercise programme'. 34 People with Parkinson's Disease (PwPs) were assigned to a 'DMT intervention' or a 'Physical exercise group' using convenience sampling and they attended weekly 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks. Mood, physical and cognitive functioning, and quality of life were measured pre-and post-interventions. Results and subjective feedback from PwPs suggest that DMT intervention was more effective in improving positive mood and reducing depression in PD as compared to the control group. This study concludes that culturally informed community-based DMT programmes hold promise as a supportive intervention for PwPs in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception cannabis has been observed to be associated with various psycho-pathology. In this paper, the authors have reviewed the advancement made in this area over the last decade. The association between cannabis and schizophrenia has been researched more intensively. The controversy regarding the reliability, clinical utility, and the existence of a cannabis withdrawal syndrome has also been settled. Recent studies also buttressed the possibility of acute and chronic effect of cannabis on various cognitive functions. There has been a plethora of research regarding the treatment for cannabis use disorders. But the new and most interesting area of research is concentrated on the endocannabinoid system and its contribution in various psychiatric disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to clarify Ratnākaraśānti?s epistemological theory that mental images in a cognition are false (*alīkākāravāda) in comparison with Śāntarakṣita?s criticism of the Yogācāra position. Although Ratnākaraśānti frequently uses the neither-one-nor-many argument for explaining his Yogācāra position, the argument, unlike Śāntarakṣita?s original one, does not function for refuting the existence of awareness itself as the basis of mental images. This point is examined in the first two sections of this paper by analyzing Ratnākaraśānti?s proof of the selflessness of entities (dharmanairātmya) and his application of the neither-one-nor-many argument for demonstrating the falsehood of mental images. On the other hand, the last section investigates into his defense of the alīkākāravāda against Śāntarakṣita?s severe criticism of it. Here, too, we can find his tactical usage of the neither-one-nor-many argument, or more precisely, one of its variants: the neither-identical-nor-different argument. Through the above procedure, we can see how Yogācāra philosophy survived in the late period of Indian Buddhism by blending the Madhyamaka opponent?s argument with its own thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender gaps in skills exist around the world but differ remarkably among countries. This paper uses a unique data set with more than 20,000 adolescents in rural India to explore gender gaps in cognitive and noncognitive skills. We find that boys have considerable advantages over girls on several indicators of cognitive and noncognitive skills that remains robust to a wide range of controls and specification choices. We also examine the correlates of cognitive and noncognitive outcomes, paying close attention to socioeconomic status (SES) and pro-female gender attitudes. We find a steep positive gradient in SES as well as for pro-female gender attitudes, with stronger associations between the SES gradient and skills. Further, high socioeconomic status and more pro-female gender attitudes are both strongly correlated with reducing the gender gap in cognitive and noncognitive outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caregiver-infant interactions shape infants' early visual experience; however, there is limited work from low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) in characterizing the visual cognitive dynamics of these interactions. Here, we present an innovative dyadic visual cognition pipeline using machine learning methods which captures, processes, and analyses the visual dynamics of caregiver-infant interactions across cultures. We undertake two studies to examine its application in both low (rural India) and high (urban UK) resource settings. Study 1 develops and validates the pipeline to process caregiver-infant interaction data captured using head-mounted cameras and eye-trackers. We use face detection and object recognition networks and validate these tools using 12 caregiver-infant dyads (4 dyads froma 6-month-old UK cohort, 4 dyads froma 6-month-old India cohort, and 4 dyads froma 9-month-old India cohort). Results show robust and accurate face and toy detection, as well as a high percent agreement between processed andmanually coded dyadic interactions. Study 2 applied the pipeline to a larger data set (25 6-month-olds from the UK, 31 6-month-olds from India, and 37 9-month-olds from India) with the aim of comparing the visual dynamics of caregiver-infant interaction across the two cultural settings. Results show remarkable correspondence between key measures of visual exploration across cultures, including longer mean look durations during infant-led joint attention episodes. In addition, we found several differences across cultures. Most notably, infants in the UK had a higher proportion of infant-led joint attention episodes consistent with a child-centered view of parenting common in western middle-class families. In summary, the pipeline we report provides an objective assessment tool to quantify the visual dynamics of caregiver-infant interaction across high- and low-resource settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bipolar disorder is one of the severe mental disorders that are associated with significant morbidity of the patients. Despite advancements in our understanding about the disorder, it remains a challenging proposition to treat bipolar disorder, largely since the prophylactic treatment of the disorder requires assessment of complex clinical algorithms. The revisions of the classificatory systems have also changed the conceptualization of the disorder. In this background, we conducted a review of the Indian studies conducted on the clinical aspects of bipolar disorder. Methods: A narrative review was conducted with focus on the literature published from India. The databases searched included PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, and articles published over the last 15 years by Indian authors were included for this review. Results: In our review, we could access a substantial volume of research published from India. We could identify studies that catered to most of the relevant themes in bipolar disorder including epidemiology, etiology, comorbidities, stigma, disability, clinical course, cognitive profile, pathways to care, and recovery. Conclusion: The research trajectory was in line with the research conducted elsewhere in the world. However, certain dissimilarities in terms of focus could also be observed. The possible reason behind this deviation could be the difference in clinical need and unique challenges faced in the management and rehabilitation of patients in bipolar disorder in Indian scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several observational studies have reported the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and their risk factors in an elderly population. Any information in this regard is currently lacking from India. Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of CMBs, and association with cognition in an Indian urban population aged 50 years and above. Methods: Household surveys were conducted as part of ongoing Longitudinal Cognition and Aging Research on Population of the National Capital Region (LoCARPoN) study in areas of urban Delhi. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed in 2599 participants. Using standard neuropsychological battery, mean Z-scores for each domain (memory, executive, information) were derived. Binary and stepwise logistic regression models were used to determine associated risk factors for the presence of CMB and its association with cognitive domains. Results: The prevalence of CMBs was 14.42% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.06-15.73). Of these, 203 (7.81%) participants had single CMBs and 172 (6.61%) had multiple microbleeds (≥2). Higher prevalence was observed in older age (6070 years: odds ratio [OR]: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.93-1.67]; 70-80 years: OR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.48-2.84]; ≥80 years: OR: 3.27 [95% CI: 1.97-5.44]) compared to individuals in the age group 50-60 years. History of stroke (OR: 2.97 [95% CI: 1.56-5.66]), hypertension (OR: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.05-1.75]), and smoking (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.11-1.85]) was associated with at least one CMB. Multiple CMBs were associated with worse scores in memory and executive domains. Conclusion: Older age, hypertension, history of stroke, and history of smoking emerged as important risk factors for the presence of multiple CMBs. Follow-up study is required to determine implications of CMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in demography in developing countries haves led to new issues among older rural populations, such as self-neglect which is under researched.Self-neglect identified as poor self-care, unsafe living quarters, inadequate medical care and poor utilization of services increase the odds of morbidity and mortality. Methods Our study was conducted in Kaniyambadi, a rural block in Vellore district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Ten villages were randomly selected. The study was conducted among people older than 60 years who were selected by random sampling using a computer-generated list. The following assessments were done: (i) A 19-item questionnaire was used to assess self-neglect, (ii) Katz index of daily living to assess functional activity, (iii) Mini Mental State Examination to evaluate cognition, (iv) Geriatric Depression Scale to identify depression, (v) Duke Social Support Index to measure social supports. Clinical data and anthropometric data were also collected. Data were entered into Epidata v3.1. All analyses were performed using SPSS v23.0. Results One hundred fourteen people above 60 years of age participated. The prevalence of self-neglect was 21.1% (95% CI 14.9%—29%); about half of the elderly population (47.38%) refused to seek or follow medical advice. Lower levels of education (OR 3.678, 95% CI 1.017 – 13.301), lower social class (OR 4.455, 95% CI 1.236 – 16.050) and functional impairment (3.643, 95% CI 1.373 – 9.668) were found to be significant factors associated with self–neglect. Though prevalence of comorbidities (70%) and depression (27%) were high, there was no statistical evidence of association with self-neglect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An essential and necessary component of any investigation into a sudden, suspicious death is the medico-legal autopsy. It's critical to understand the profile of medico-legal autopsy cases in order to ascertain the mortality rate from non-natural causes in a given area and addressing the demographic requirements in accordance with the region's unique mortality statistics. Material & Method: The present study was a retrospective study of autopsies performed at a tertiary care centre in southern Haryana, from January 2018 to December 2023. During this period a total of 886 medico legal autopsies were conducted. Relevant information and subjective data like age, gender, marital status & manner of death have been collected from medico legal autopsy register from January 2018 to December 2023. Results: It was observed that out of 886 cases male outnumbered females in ratio 2.06:1. Majority of the victims belonged to the age group 21-30 years. Majority of the deaths occurred due to poisoning (n=264, 29.79%), followed by road traffic accidents 26.74%. Conclusion: Majority of cases were in the 3rd decade of life, males outnumbered females. Poisoning and road traffic accidents were the leading cause of death. Public attention, awareness, preventive and remedial strategies should be undertaken to reduce similar incidents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of information about health risks may limit the adoption of improved nutrition and other new healthy behaviors. This paper studies the effect of a nutrition-information intervention on household dietary behavior, hemoglobin levels, and cognitive outcomes of children in rural India. Using experimental data and a regression discontinuity design that exploits the exogenous cutoff of hemoglobin level for anemia, we find statistically insignificant treatment effects on dietary improvements, child health, and cognitive outcomes of children. Our findings suggest that light-touch nutrition information alone, even when parents are informed about the health risk of their children, may not induce adoption of healthy behaviors. Our findings also imply that factors other than information might constrain households in making nutritional investments for their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical students confront enormous academic, psychosocial, and existential stress throughout their training, leading to a cascade of consequences both physically and psychologically. The declined cognitive function of these students interferes in their academic performance and excellence. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a yogic meditation technique, mind sound resonance technique (MSRT), on cognitive functions of University Medical students in a randomized, two-way crossover study. In total, 42 healthy volunteers of both genders (5 males and 37 females) with mean age of 19.44 ± 1.31 years were recruited from a medical college in South India, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. A 10-day orientation in the technique of MSRT was given to all the recruited subjects after which each subject underwent both MSRT and supine rest (SR) sessions. All participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive a session of either MSRT or SR. After a day of washout, participants crossed over to receive the alternative intervention. The cognitive functions were assessed using 2 paper-pencil tasks called Digit Letter Substitution Test (DLST) and Six-Letter Cancelation Task (SLCT), before and immediately after both sessions. Both the groups showed significant improvement in net attempt of both DLST and SLCT, but the magnitude of change was more in the MSRT group than in the SR group. The MSRT group demonstrated significantly enhanced net scores in both SLCT ( p < 0.001) and DLST ( p < 0.001). The result of the present study suggests that a single session of MSRT, a Mind-Body Practice, may positively impact the performance in cognitive tasks by the University Medical Students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intellectual disability (ID) is a public health challenge affecting communities worldwide. ID is characterized by impaired physical and cognitive functioning and less engaged in physical activities. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of adaptive yoga practices on cognitive and motor abilities in the subjects with ID. Sixty-six subjects with mild and moderate IDs were purposively selected and randomly divided into experimental and control groups, with 33 subjects in each group. One month of adaptive yoga module was provided to the experimental group. To assess the impact of the yoga intervention, Functional Reach Test (FRT), Wall Toss Test (WTT), Finger Tapping Test (FTT), Sit-- Reach Test (SRT), and Six Letter Cancellation Test (SLCT) were administered. The experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement with P < 0.05 across all the parameters, whereas the control group could not observe a significant improvement. Based on the results, this study concludes that "one month of adaptive yoga module" delivered impact and helped to improve the dynamic balance, eye--hand coordination, neuro-motor function, spinal flexibility, and selective attention in ID-afflicted subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies across multiple countries reveal that depression and sleep disorders can lead to cognitive decline. This study aims to speculate on the effect of different sources of indoor air pollution on cognition and to explore the mediation effect of depression and sleep disorders on cognition when exposed to indoor air pollution. We hypothesize that an older adult experiences higher cognitive decline from indoor pollution when mediated by depression and sleep disorders. Methods: We use data from Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI), 2017–2018, and employ a multiple mediation model to understand the relationship between indoor air pollution and cognition through sleep disorders and depression while adjusting for possible confounders. Sensitivity analysis was applied to see the effect of different sources of indoor pollution (cooking fuel, indoor smoke products, and secondhand smoke) on cognitive performance. Results: The effect of three sources of indoor pollutants on cognition increased when combined, indicating stronger cognitive decline. Unclean cooking practices, indoor smoke (from incense sticks and mosquito coils), and secondhand smoke were strongly associated with sleep disorders and depression among older adults. Indoor air pollution was negatively associated with cognitive health (β= -0.38) while positively associated with depression (β= 0.18) and sleep disorders (β= 0.038) acting as mediators. Sensitivity analysis explained 45% variability while adjusting for confounders. Conclusion: The study lays a foundation for future investigations into the nexus of indoor pollution and mental health. It is essential to formulate policies to reduce exposure to varying sources of indoor air pollutants and improve screening for mental health services as a public health priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Menstruation is a natural, physiological process experienced by all adolescent girls and women. The reproductive age group is the largest and most susceptible to various health and illness-related risk factors. This study aims to find the prevalence of satisfactory menstrual hygiene management (MHM) among women of reproductive age group and we also want to explore the cultural practices and beliefs related to menstruation and barriers to satisfactory MHM. Material and Methods: This study was conducted in rural field practice areas of Department of Community and Family Medicine, AIIMS, Rishikesh including 271 participants; women of reproductive age group using a mixed method study design (sequential quan--qual). Quantitative data were collected by household surveys and government schools using a validated structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted to have insights about understanding menstrual hygiene and barriers to satisfactory hygiene practices. Results: It was found that only 70 (29.6%) participants adhered to satisfactory menstrual hygiene practices. The age group of 20--24 years had a higher proportion compared to other groups. Through FGD, the main themes derived were practices related to menstruation (maintenance of personal hygiene), daily activities (physical and mental problems during menses), and barriers faced (cultural, economic, privacy concerns, and shyness). Conclusion: The prevalence of satisfactory menstrual hygiene practices was very low only 29.6%, which is a cause of concern; either Taboos associated with menstruation, socio-cultural, economic barriers, or lack of awareness related to menstrual hygiene in the community can be contributing factors for low prevalence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social and community participation are major indicators to assess the adequacy of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). This study examined the relationship between functional independence, level of disability, and social and community participation among people with SCI in India. Materials and Method: In this cross sectional study, 110 persons with SCI, aged 18 years and above participated in a community setting, in Karnataka, India. Spinal Cord Independence Measure Version III-self-reporting (SCIM III-SR), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), and WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS) were the clinical outcome measures. Spearman's correlation and stepwise multiple linear regression were done to determine association and identify the factors determining the community participation of people with SCI. Results: CHART physical independence had a positive correlation with SCIM self-care (R = 0.446) and SCIM mobility (r = 0.434). CHART cognitive independence (R = -0.38) and CHART mobility (R = -0.396) had a weak correlation with WHODAS. SCIM self-care and SCIM mobility (R² = 0.34) were determinants of CHART cognitive independence. SCIM respiratory and sphincter management and SCIM self-care (R² = 0.327) were determinants of CHART mobility. Conclusion: Self-care and mobility of people with SCI determine their ability to successfully reintegrate into the community, warranting a comprehensive community rehabilitation program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living through the COVID-19 pandemic has been proven to have psychological impacts among individuals in both sport and non-sport populations. However, there is little available research comparing athlete and non-athlete populations in this context, especially among a non-western sample. This study employs a novel, longitudinal mixed method sequential explanatory research design to compare the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic between athlete and non-athlete populations and the role of physical activity. Phase A was a quantitative study measuring the psychological impact using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised among both groups (n = 32). Phase B was a qualitative study, with a sample (n = 7) participating in experiential interviews, exploring the lived experiences of participants over a 7-month period since Phase A was completed. Results indicated that athletes had lower psychological impact of the pandemic compared to non-athletes. Reflexive thematic analysis indicated that over the 7-month longitudinal period, athletes and non-athletes had different experiences across the themes of 'Appraisal and Coping', 'Cognitions', and 'Impact of the Pandemic'. Findings show A) a clear longitudinal impact of COVID-19 over a 7-month period; B) there is a clear contrast between sport and non-sport populations, with participants indicating sport and physical activity to be a protective factor limiting negative psychological impact. Findings are discussed with recommendations for physical activity and sport for reducing psychological impact among both athletes and non-athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Early life interventions are considered essential for reducing the burden of health inequalities over the life course. This paper tests this issue empirically focusing on whether access to antenatal care can later reduce children's health and educational inequalities., Methods: Data came from the Young Lives Project for Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam, and the State of Andhra Pradesh in India. We selected children born in early 2001/2002 and who were followed longitudinally in 2006/2007. We used multilevel mixed effects linear regression models to estimate the parameters of interest., Results: We found a positive and significant relationship between mothers' access to antenatal care and their children's cognitive development in all countries. In addition, we found a positive and significant relationship between antenatal care and children's cognitive development for stunted children but only in Peru and Vietnam., Conclusions: We conclude that (1) antenatal care has the potential to change the negative consequences of early nutritional deficiencies on later cognitive development in Peru and Vietnam; (2) differentials in the quality of antenatal care services could explain the cross-country differentials in the role of early life interventions found here.

Taller children perform better on average on tests of cognitive achievement, in part because of differences in early-life health and net nutrition. Recent research documenting this height-achievement slope has primarily focused on rich countries. Using the India Human Development Survey, a representative sample of 40,000 households which matches anthropometric data to learning tests, this paper documents a height-achievement slope among Indian children. The height-achievement slope in India is more than twice as steep as in the U.S. An earlier survey interviewed some IHDS children's households eleven years before. Including matched early-life control variables reduces the apparent effect of height, but does not eliminate it; water, sanitation, and hygiene may be particularly important for children's outcomes. Being one standard deviation taller is associated with being 5 percentage points more likely to be able to write, a slope that falls only to 3.4 percentage points controlling for a long list of contemporary and early-life conditions., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Passive-aggressive behaviour, categorised as an immature defense mechanism, has long been studied in researches related to workplace, due to its negative impact on overall work environment and work productivity. It has been deffned as a pattern of passive hostility and an avoidance of direct communication (Schanz, et. al., 2021), and is divided into two types as per research: others-directed, and self-directed. The development of such defense systems are often inffuenced by traumatic or negative experiences in childhood, recent daily stressful events considered as traumatic, and is often regulated by benevolent experiences in childhood and development of adaptive meta-cognitive abilities or functions. This study focuses on clinical psychology trainees, who are dealing with individuals experiencing mental health issues and illnesses. They undergo rigorous and demanding training course which requires them to constantly shift roles: as a student, a researcher, or a therapist; this causes high amounts to stress in them often considered as traumatic in nature. Thus, engaged in mental health care profession, it is important to study the above-mentioned factors in the development, maintenance or regulation of passiveaggressive behavior. Method: Purposive and snowball sampling methods were used to select a total of 107 participants from various RCI recognized institutions across India conducting MPhil, PsyD and PD in Clinical Psychology courses across India. Results: Correlation and multiple regression analysis revealed a signiffcant positive correlation and signiffcant prediction between childhood traumatic experiences and recent traumatic experiences with passive aggressive behaviour. Meta-cognition and Benevolent childhood experiences revealed signiffcant negative correlation with passive aggressive behaviour. Gender differences analyzed via Mann Whitney U rank sum test revealed that Male trainees engaged in passive-aggressive behaviour, especially self-directed passive aggressive behaviour more signiffcantly than female trainees. Conclusions: The use of passive-aggressive behaviour was more signiffcantly prevalent in the male clinical psychology trainees than female trainees; and both childhood and recent traumatic experiences were found to be positively inffuencing the same, and benevolent childhood experiences and meta-cognitive functions were found to be regulating the behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health protection schemes such as health insurance and financial assistance provide immense help and support to access health care services, especially to the poor and marginalized section of society. India is witness to low health-related expenditure, and the society's socioeconomic and demographic structure further drops health care access to the new bottom. Consequently, inequality in health care access is highly observed across many socioeconomic attributes. The condition of Bihar, the poorest state of India, is more alarming. The analysis suggests that financial support in terms of universal health insurance coverage considerably reduces out-of-pocket expenditure and thus health inequality. Further, the low health insurance coverage is not solely due to a lack of institutional commitment and implementation process; the cognitive behavior and attitude of people are equally responsible for low health care access. An intensive awareness program to show the benefit of the health insurance scheme and sensitization of people against the social stigma is important to provide better health care access and reduce health inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the creative dynamic between abstraction, reification, and reflexivity in the study of religion in general and textual analysis and Indian Buddhist thought in particular. I define "texts" narrowly, as written materials signifying human speech, something doubly removed from sensory experience, inviting abstraction and reification, while enabling reflexive analysis. Such analyses accumulate in literate civilizations -- alienating yet enabling us. For example, the critical methods of Biblical analysis ironically undermined its own a historical assumptions, e.g., the idea of an Urtext independent of historical context. Philosophy of science displays similar developments: abstract theories enable analyses of data, which are, however, only meaningful within specific contexts of interpretation. Indian Buddhist philosophy similarly critiques ordinary assumptions about identity, subserved by our innate tendencies to abstract and reify experience, while recognizing its analytic insights. Its own accumulating traditions led Buddhist thinkers to critique multiple theories of cognition, concluding that, like an Urtext, the notion of an independent Self is an abstract social and especially linguistic construct that, nevertheless, operates at the deepest levels of our common cognitive processes -- an insight that depended on textual traditions to develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservative Protestants in the United States have historically distanced themselves from gay men, lesbians, and transgender persons living with HIV based largely on fears of moral contamination which are propagated by disgust. We argue how disgust can implicitly reify social divides that engender condemnation and subjugation. However, we will propose that it is achievable to safeguard the traditional tenets of sexuality and gender among conservative Protestants and actively oppose misapplications of those tenets to exclude persons living with HIV. We will support our thesis by describing the work of a medical clinic founded on conservative Protestant ideology that serves hijras and kotis living with HIV in India. We will introduce how applications of recategorizing contact, cognitive consistency, and cultural scaffolding are formative in maintaining one's ideological integrity without enacting exclusion based on fear and disgust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of study Alignment of curricular objectives, teaching learning activities, and assessment tasks is essential for quality learning. The present study was done to assess the coverage of different topics in theory examinations of Community Medicine for medical undergraduates, in relation to the curriculum and allotted teaching hours. Methodology Question papers of final MBBS part I examinations in Community Medicine ( n = 10), between December 2008 and May 2012, of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry, were analyzed for coverage and weightage to content areas, and compared with number of hours of theory classes ( n = 127). Results The highest coverage was for topics like general epidemiology and epidemiology of specific diseases (20% each), followed by 11% from Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) and 10% from health planning and management. Coverage in exams and the hours of teaching did not correspond for a few topics (epidemiology, RCH). Certain topics were not covered in some question papers (Occupational health, sociology, concepts in health, school health). This could be due to unequal distribution of topics in two papers (with fixed marks) leading to overrepresentation of a few areas and vice versa. As the marking pattern was changed in the last two examinations with lesser number of segments carrying more marks, certain important topics were not covered. It was also observed that only 2.8% (10 out of 351 segments) assessed the ‘reasoning’ domain of learning, while the remaining 97.2% tested recall abilities of the students. Conclusions There is a mismatch between the topics covered in the syllabus and assessment process, mainly targeting at recall level of cognitive domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural experiences come in many different forms, such as immersion in a particular linguistic community, exposure to faces of people with different racial backgrounds, or repeated encounters with music of a particular tradition. In most circumstances, these cultural experiences are asymmetric, meaning one type of experience occurs more frequently than other types (e.g., a person raised in India will likely encounter the Indian todi scale more so than a Westerner). In this paper, we will discuss recent findings from our laboratories that reveal the impact of short- and long-term asymmetric musical experiences on how the nervous system responds to complex sounds. We will discuss experiments examining how musical experience may facilitate the learning of a tone language, how musicians develop neural circuitries that are sensitive to musical melodies played on their instrument of expertise, and how even everyday listeners who have little formal training are particularly sensitive to music of their own culture(s). An understanding of these cultural asymmetries is useful in formulating a more comprehensive model of auditory perceptual expertise that considers how experiences shape auditory skill levels. Such a model has the potential to aid in the development of rehabilitation programs for the efficacious treatment of neurologic impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Indian population is ageing at a higher pace coupled with the increase in life expectancy, and the prevalence of cognitive impairment, dementia, and comorbidities increase dramatically with age. Such cognitive and physical changes are intimately linked with declines in everyday functioning that include loss of decision-making skills. The present study explored the relationship between socioeconomic and health status of older adults and their role in household decision making. The study used data from the "Building a Knowledge Base of Population Ageing in India" (BKPAI) survey conducted in 2011 (n = 9181). Descriptive statistics along with multivariate negative binomial and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. A proportion of 29.7% of older adults had no or partial involvement in household decision making and 26.5% of older adults reported that they had witnessed a decline in their role as decision-maker. The involvement of older adults in household decision making was 1.51 times lower among those who did not contribute money in household expenditure (incidence rate tatio (IRR):1.51; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24, 1.84) than those who contributed. Respondents who had low cognitive ability (IRR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.37) or had more than one disability (IRR: 1.27; 95%CI: 1.09, 1.47) were significantly 1.22 and 1.27 times less likely to have involvement in household decision making, respecctively. Older adults who reported low self-rated health (adjusted odds rati (aOR): 1.4; 95% CI: 1.21, 1.61), low general health (aOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 2.46, 3.31), low subjective wellbeing (aOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.99, 2.64) and low IADL (aOR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.31, 1.69) were significantly more likely to report a decline in the role as a decision maker compared to their healthy counterparts. Along with the poor socioeconomic characteristics, the negative effects of cognitive and health markers of ageing further diminish the role of older adults in household decision making. Further research in the field of familial role and importance of older adults in different family settings is required in tackling a wide range of issues related to the wellbeing of the aged population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]