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Background Although there has been a favorable trend in the Infant Mortality Rate in India in the last decade, the country is still unlikely to meet the Millennium Development Goal #4. Of significance, there has been minimal improvement in the early neonatal mortality rate, which is an indicator of quality of perinatal care. In the efforts to address this aspect, a range of efforts and interventions have been considered. One such effort is in addressing and reducing hypothermia in neonates. Two low tech strategies, professional mummying/swaddling (PM/S) and ‘Kangaroo mother care’ (KMC), are seen as critical in the continuum of neonatal care. Objective: This study compared the effects of KMC and professional mummying/swaddling (PM/S) on select neonatal outcomes (temperature and weight) in a postnatal hospital unit in Chennai India. Methodology: This quasi-experimental study used a repeat measures time series approach monitoring weight and temperatures for neonates across the two interventions. Results: Significant findings were found in the retention of temperature which indicated that the KMC intervention aligned with higher neonatal temperatures than the PM/S interventions. Further, neither maternal or neonate indicators were found to impact significantly on weight or temperature changes in either group. Conclusions: KMC was found to provide a viable and meritous alternative to PM/S as a thermoregulatory strategy for full term neonates in a low resource setting. The study suggest that ongoing research will be necessary to ascertain the optimal approaches and potentials in both methods with such culturally diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In 2018, it was found that only a quarter of Grade 3 children in India were reading at grade level. A growing demand for English education has further limited children's literacy achievement. Despite a strong evidence base in favour of using systematic phonics for building English literacy skills, many teachers in India continue to use rote‐methods of literacy instruction. Objectives: We aimed to examine the efficacy of GraphoLearn (GL) English Rime, a computer‐assisted reading intervention, in improving the foundational literacy skills of 1st and 2nd grade students who were attending an English medium school in India. Methods: A total of 136 students across 6 classrooms were randomly allocated to play either GL or a control math game over a 5‐week intervention period. Students were pre‐ and post‐tested on various English literacy skills using tasks built into the GL software as well as through oral and paper‐based tasks. Results and Conclusions: Students who played GL showed significantly greater and faster development on in‐game measures of letter‐sound knowledge, rime unit recognition, and word recognition as compared to students who did not play GL. In addition, GL resulted in greater effects on these measures for students with stronger English literacy skills prior to the start of the intervention. No differences were found between groups on the oral and paper‐based tasks. Implications: GL was able to quickly and effectively teach critical sub‐skills for reading. However, a lack of effects on the out‐of‐game measures opens the door for further discussion on the successful implementation of such interventions. Lay Description: What is already known about this topic:India has an ongoing literacy crisis with many children failing to acquire functional literacy skills.Under‐resourced schools,outdated pedagogical methods, and a demand for English‐medium education are partially to blame.Globally, technology is being increasingly looked at to help improve student learning levels across all subject areas.There are a lack of studies examining the efficacy of various ed‐tech tools to improve literacy in the context of India.What this paper adds:The study aimed to test GraphoLearn English (GL), a mobile game designed to teach and practice early reading skills through phonics with first and second graders.Results showed that children who played GL outperformed those who did not play on critical literacy skills such as letter‐sound knowledge and word recognition.In addition, GL was more effective for those who had higher pre‐existing English literacy skills.However, improvements were only seen on measures assessed in the game and not on measures assessed orally or on paper.Implications for practice and/or policy:GL and other educational technologies can be extremely effective tools which allow for an individualized learning experience.However, it is important that for any educational game, learning moves beyond the game itself.Teachers are critical players in this process and must ensure that tech‐based instruction is integrated with teacher‐led instruction.Policy makers and school administration must ensure that teachers are adequately trained on when, with whom, and how to use such technologies before they are introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Recent theorisation has pushed stigma research in new directions, arguing for a need to challenge the unequal power relations that impact groups most at risk for HIV-related stigma rather than locate stigma in the individual. Such a conceptualisation resonates with the growing emphasis on structural interventions for HIV prevention that attempt to alter the social context of risk. Methods The paper predominantly relies on longitudinal interviews conducted three times over a 2-year period with sex workers with varying degrees of involvement with the non-governmental organisation (NGO) and community-based organisation. Results Recognising that stigma is socially constructed and structurally reproduced, the NGO helped mobilise marginalised and hitherto scattered female sex workers to form community-based organisations to challenge their disadvantaged status in society. The authors show how stigma alleviation strategies presented a contradiction: emboldening one group of female sex workers to self-identify as sex workers while making others reluctant to access the intervention-run clinic. Conclusion The paper builds on a growing body of research that acknowledges the struggles in implementing structural interventions, particularly for NGOs working in regions with a diverse population of sex workers with varying needs. The authors argue that intervention goals of reducing stigma and increasing the use of sexually transmitted infection services do not have to conflict and, in fact, must go hand-in-hand for an implementation to be considered a structural intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the wellness effects of yoga retreats on Indian guru-led new religious movements' (NRMs) fellowship. The two-year repeated-measures study included 3658 active followers and 3658 peripheral associates as the comparison group. Two measures assessed wellness: the Flourishing Scale (FS) and the Comprehensive Inventory of Thriving (CIT). Phase 1 scores of both groups were not significantly different. Active followers who attended yoga retreats scored higher at phase 2 on the FS and the CIT than the peripheral associates. Within the active followers' cohort, women, upper class, Hindus and never married/widowed had higher phase 2 FS and CIT scores. Active followers who attended retreats for meditation and reflection, practiced yoga, prayer and personal study during retreats, and regularly maintained the spiritual routine after retreats, acquired several psychological resources and strengths. Hence, active and serious followers of the Indian guru-led NRMs psychologically gain as a result of experiencing yoga retreats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Community mobilisation interventions for HIV prevention among female sex workers (FSWs) aim to organise FSWs for collective action and challenge the structures of power that underlie HIV risk. Assessing intervention impact is challenging because the importance of direct individual exposure to intervention components may decrease over time as change occurs at social-normative, policy and other structural levels. In this paper, the authors examine changes over time in consistent condom use among FSWs in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, the location of a long-standing community mobilisation intervention. Methods The authors analyse cross-sectional data collected among FSWs at three time points (n=2276) using respondent-driven sampling. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of programme exposure with consistent condom use and whether this association varied over time. Results The proportion of FSWs having no exposure or only receptive exposure to the intervention decreased over time, while active utilisation increased from 19.4% in 2006 to 48.5% in 2009-2010. Consistent condom use with clients also increased from 56.3% in 2006 to 75.3% in 2009-2010. Multivariate analysis showed that age, age at start of sex work, venue, living conditions and programme exposure were significantly associated with condom use. The positive association between programme exposure and consistent condom use did not vary significantly over time. Conclusions Findings indicate improvements in HIV risk reduction behaviour among FSWs and suggest that the intervention has substantial reach in the FSW population. The intervention's strategies may be contributing to population-level HIV risk reduction among FSWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine post‐COVID syndromes in the Indian population, correlating a wide spectrum of post‐COVID manifestations with acute disease severity and associated risk factors. Background: Post‐COVID Syndrome (PCS) is defined as signs and symptoms that develop during or after acute COVID‐19 infection. Design of Study: This is a prospective observational cohort with repetitive measurements. Methods: The study followed RT‐PCR confirmed COVID‐19‐positive survivors discharged from HAHC Hospital, New Delhi, for a period of 12 weeks. The patients were interviewed over the phone at 4 weeks and 12 weeks from the onset of symptoms for evaluation of clinical symptoms and health‐related quality of life parameters. Results: A total of 200 patients completed the study. At the baseline, 50% of the patients were categorised as severe based on their acute infection assessment. At 12 weeks after symptom onset, fatigue (23.5%), hair loss (12.5%) and dyspnea (9%) were the main persistent symptoms. The incidence of hair loss (12.5%), memory loss (4.5%) and brain fog (5%) were found to be increased as compared to the acute infection period. Severity of the acute COVID infection behaved as an independent predictor for the development of PCS, with high odds of experiencing persistent cough (OR = 13.1), memory loss (OR = 5.2) and fatigue (OR = 3.3). Further, 30% of subjects in the severe group experienced statistically significant fatigue at 12 weeks (p <.05). Conclusion: From the results of our study, it can be concluded that there is a huge disease burden of post‐COVID Syndrome (PCS). The PCS comprised multisystem symptoms ranging from serious complaints of dyspnea, memory loss and brain fog to non‐serious complaints of fatigue and hair loss. Severity of the acute COVID infection behaved as an independent predictor for the development of PCS. Our findings strongly recommend vaccination against COVID‐19, for protection from disease severity as well as prevention of PCS. Relevance to Clinical Practice: The findings of our study support the multidisciplinary approach required for the management of PCS with a team comprising of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and psychiatrists working in close coordination for the rehabilitation of these patients. As nurses are considered the most trusted professionals in the community and the class of health workers associated with rehabilitation, focus should be given to educating them on PCS, which would prove to be an important strategy for efficient monitoring and long‐term management of COVID‐19 survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disturbance negatively affects recovery and survival of patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to measure the noise levels and evaluate the impact of a white noise app on the sleep quality of critically ill patients. Design: A quasi‐experimental time series pre‐test–post‐test control group design with repeated measures was adopted. Methods: The study was conducted in the high dependency unit (HDU) of a selected tertiary care hospital in Mangalore, Karnataka State, India. Conscious oriented patients with systolic blood pressure ranging from 100/70 to 140/90 mm Hg and hearing acuity of at most 20 dB in both ears were included in the study. Noise levels in the HDU were measured using calibrated sound level meter on weekdays/weekends in three different shifts and an average of 24 readings was obtained per shift. A 4‐point Likert scale was used to assess the sleep quality. The intervention included administration of white noise app twice a day, for three consecutive days by using different masking sounds such as white noise on day 1 which resembles to a humming AC conditioner, pink noise on day 2 which resembles to the sound of ocean waves and brown noise on day 3 which resembles a steady rainfall. The app was used with the help of JBL earphones C10SI an excellent noise cancellation and noise isolating earphone. Results: Among the 54 subjects, the mean age of the patients was 40.28 years, majority 34 (63%) were males. The noise level in the ICU was more than 60 dB. There was a significant difference in the sleep quality after the application of the white noise app in the experimental group on Day 1 (Z = −3.996; P =.001), Day 2 (Z = −3.302; P =.001), and Day 3 (−2.822; P =.005) compared to the control group. Conclusion: Adoption of technology driven noise reduction applications would enhance the quality of sleep among the ICU patients. Relevance to clinical practice: The use of a technology‐driven application helps control noise levels which promotes improved sleep quality among critically ill patients in the intensive care units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To examine the association between the presence of community advocacy groups (CAGs) and female sex workers' (FSWs) access to social entitlements and outcomes of police advocacy. Methods Data were used from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2010-2011 among 1986 FSWs and 104 NGO outreach workers from five districts of Andhra Pradesh. FSWs were recruited using a probability-based sampling from 104 primary sampling units (PSUs). A PSU is a geographical area covered by one outreach worker and is expected to have an active CAG as per community mobilisation efforts. The presence of active CAGs was defined as the presence of an active committee or advocacy group in the area (PSU). Outcome indicators included acquisition of different social entitlements and measures of police response as reported by FSWs. Multivariate linear and logistic regression analyses were used to examine the associations. Results Areas with active CAGs compared with their counterparts had a significantly higher mean number of FSWs linked to ration cards (12.8 vs 6.8; p<0.01), bank accounts (9.3 vs 5.9; p=0.05) and health insurance (13.1 vs 7.0; p=0.02). A significantly higher percentage of FSWs from areas with active CAGs as compared with others reported that the police treat them more fairly now than a year before (79.7% vs 70.3%; p<0.05) and the police explained the reasons for arrest when arrested the last time (95.7% vs 87%; p<0.05). Conclusion FSWs from areas with active CAGs were more likely to access certain social entitlements and to receive a fair response from the police, highlighting the contributions of CAGs in community mobilisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single Display Groupware (SDG) allows multiple people in the same physical space to interact simultaneously over a single communal display through individual input devices that work on the same machine. The aim of this paper is to show how SDG can be used to improve the way resources are used in schools, allowing students to work simultaneously on individual problems at a shared display, and achieve personalized learning with individual feedback within different cultural contexts. We used computational fluency to apply our concept of 'One Mouse per Child'. It consists of a participatory approach that makes use of personal feedback on an interpersonal computer for the whole classroom. This allows for N simultaneous intelligent tutoring systems, where each child advances at his or her own pace, both within a lecture and throughout the curricular units. Each student must solve a series of mathematical exercises, generated according to his or her performance through a set of pedagogical rules incorporated into the system. In this process, the teacher has an active mediating role, intervening when students require attention. Two exploratory studies were performed. The first study was a multicultural experience between two such distanced socio-economic realities as Chile and India. It showed us that even in different environmental conditions, it is possible to implement this technology with minimal equipment (i.e. a computer, a projector, and one mouse per child). The second study was carried out in a third grade class in a low-income school in Santiago de Chile. The students were asked to solve mainly addition exercises. We established statistically relevant results and observed that the software proved most beneficial for the students with the lowest initial results. This happens because the system adapts to the students' needs, reinforcing the content they most need to work on, thus generating a personalized learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To determine the effectiveness of individual-based, nurse-delivered, on-campus screening and brief intervention (SBI) for hazardous alcohol use among college students. Methods It was a parallel-design, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. Out of 793 students screened, 130 met the selection criteria of hazardous alcohol use, defined by alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) score 8–19. Participants were randomly allocated to either SBI or general advice group. Both interventions were delivered by one specially trained nurse. Outcome was assessed after 3 months. Primary outcome was the change in the mean AUDIT score and the secondary outcome was difference in the proportion of students transited from the high- to low-risk category of AUDIT. General linear model with repeated measures and logistic regression were used to determine the primary and secondary outcome, respectively. Results Majority (80.7%) of the participants were men. Among all the baseline demography and clinical characteristics, only family history of alcohol use was significantly different in the groups. Intention to treat analysis showed a significant but small effect (0.16) of SBI on the mean AUDIT score. Gender did not moderate the effect. SBI was also observed to have a significant effect (adjusted odds ratio 3.7 95% CI 1.529–8.850) on shifting the students from high- to low-risk AUDIT zone. Conclusion SBI among college students is acceptable and has a small but significant effect on alcohol use. In countries like India, where despite the increasing magnitude of hazardous drinking in students no formal system exists to deal with the problem, SBI might be useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study aimed at observing how informational maskers with varying degrees of linguistic information affect working memory (WM) performance. The linguistic information in the maskers was varied by increasing the number of speakers in the babbles as well as by time-reversal of these babbles. Method: Backward digit (BD) span was measured on 24 normal-hearing native speakers of Kannada language. BD spans were measured under six background conditions – quiet, 2- and 8-speaker babbles (2SB and 8SB), time-reversed 2- and 8- speaker babbles (2RB and 8RB), and speech spectrum noise. The digits were presented at 75 dB SPL and the SNR was maintained at +5 dB to ensure complete audibility and intelligibility of the target digits. Using an adaptive procedure, BD span was calculated as the average of the last four reversals. Results: One-way repeated measures ANOVA showed that the 2SB caused the greatest deterioration in the BD spans. The 8SB and the two RBs resulted in significantly better scores than the 2SB, but were statistically no different from each other. The speech spectrum noise caused negligible deteriorations on the BD spans and was statistically similar to the quiet background condition. Conclusions: Results showed that the lexical-semantic information in the masker (2SB) causes the greatest deterioration in the WM scores, followed by acoustic–phonetic information (8SB and RBs). Energetic masking resulted in minimal deterioration on the BD spans. These results are further discussed based interpretations from different theories and models of working memory and speech perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients before and after surgical therapy, to compare these values with those of healthy individuals using ELISA, and to evaluate if any correlation existed between vascular endothelial growth factor levels and TNM stage or histolopathologic grade of the tumor. Method and Materials: The study included three groups: group A1 consisted of 31 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients who had not received any prior treatment; group A2 consisted of the same 31 oral squamous cell carcinoma patients who had undergone radical surgical excision 1 month prior but no adjuvant therapy; and group B (control group) consisted of 16 healthy individuals. The serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels were assessed using the ELISA kit. Results: The vascular endothelial growth factor levels of preoperative oral squamous cell carcinoma patients were found to be three times higher than those of controls, and this difference was found to be statistically significant. The postoperative vascular endothelial growth factor levels had decreased 1 month after surgery but did not decrease to baseline levels. The vascular endothelial growth factor levels increased progressively with the TNM stage and histologic grade of tumor, but no definite correlation between the two could be found. Conclusion: Vascular endothelial growth factor is an important marker of angiogenesis, as the vascular endothelial growth factor levels of the oral squamous cell carcinoma groups remained significantly elevated compared to that of controls. Though no significant difference was found between the pre- and postoperative oral squamous cell carcinoma groups, it can be suggested that successful treatment may reduce serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels if the time period of postoperative sample collection is increased. Only then can the utility of vascular endothelial growth factor as marker for assessing the effectiveness of surgical therapy or as a prognostic indicator be commented upon [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) have been advocated for knee osteoarthritis (KOA). There are many gaps in the evidence to their efficacy in India. Aims: The study aims to compare the impact of two packages of NPIs on various outcome variables of KOA patients. Settings and Design: This was a randomized controlled trial in a tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods: A study population (n = 123) of KOA patients aged 40–65 years. Stratified block randomization was done for mild or moderate KOA into two groups. Group "A" patients received a package of NPIs including a set of supervised exercise sessions, kinesthesia, balance, and agility (KBA), meditation, weight reduction advice, and weekly telephonic reminders. Group "B" patients received the same package except for KBA & meditation. Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), visual analog scale (VAS) and performance-based measures were measured. Analysis: t-test and repeat measures ANOVA were undertaken. Results: A significant intragroup reduction in WOMAC score was seen from baseline in Group A (P = 0.00, mean difference: −9.7) as well as in Group B (P = 0.00, −12.9). There was also significant reduction inVAS scores at the end of intervention in Group A and Group B as compared from baseline (−3.62, −3.8, P = 0.00). No intergroup difference was observed in either of the scores. VAS score reduction to 0 at different stages of intervention was noticed in 46% (n = 57) cases. There was a significant intergroup difference for 50-Foot Walk Test (P = 0.055, F = 3.28) at 12 months. Conclusion: Both packages of NPIs were effective in providing relief in symptoms. No specific benefit of KBA or meditation was seen except for 50FWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Spiritual care is still in infancy stage all over the globe including India. The present study was an original study evaluating the role of spiritual care in cancer patients and their primary caregivers regarding their spiritual and general well-being. The study was a prospective, non-randomized single-group study involving cancer patients undergoing surgery and their primary caregivers. Functional assessment of cancer therapy-general and functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-spiritual care was evaluated during the admission and at the time of discharge, two, four and 6 months following discharge from the hospital. Descriptive statistics was used for demographic details and repeated measure ANOVA with Dunn's test was used for analysis of changes in the scores. A total of 107 (63 males and 44 females) patients with a mean (SD) of age 51 (13) years were recruited in the study. Similarly, for each patient one of their primary caregivers was recruited with their mean (SD) age of 39.4 (12.7) years. A total of 11/107 (10.3%) patients died and nine out of 107 (8.4%) were lost to follow-up eventually during the study period. There was a statistically significant ( P < 0.0001) increase in the scores at all the follow-up periods in both the patient and their relative groups. To conclude, we found out that spiritual care on the basis of MATCH guideline improved the level of not only spiritual well-being but general well-being also in both the patients and their primary caregivers. Control group could have improved scientific validity of study in accessing effect of spiritual care. Authors believe that more robust comparative study on each principle against all five MATCH principles in future will add scientific validity and clear the various ambiguities in spiritual care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To increase clinical interventions to reduce modifiable risk factors for noncommunicable disease in low- and middle-income countries. Background Noncommunicable disease is the leading cause of death in the world and is common in low- and middle-income countries. Risk factors for noncommunicable disease are modifiable and health professionals are in an unique position to intervene and influence them. Design Clinical interventions were used as part of the Community Interventions for Health programme, a nonrandomised, controlled study undertaken in three communities - one each in China, India and Mexico. Methods All clinicians in intervention and control areas of the study were invited to complete surveys. A total of 2280 completed surveys at baseline and 2501 at follow-up. Culturally appropriate interventions to reduce tobacco use, improve dietary intake and increase physical activity were delivered in the intervention areas. Results Clinicians in the intervention group felt more prepared to advise smoking cessation and improvement of diet. They were more likely to test serum cholesterol and blood pressure, but less likely to take measurements of height, hip, waist and skin-fold thickness. There were more resources available to clinicians in the intervention group and they used counselling more and complementary medicine less than those in the control group. Conclusions Community interventions which have been shown to have a positive effect in the community and workplace also change clinical practice. Relevance to clinical practice Community interventions make clinicians, including nurses, more likely to feel prepared to offer advice and more likely to use counselling. This would be expected to reduce risk factors in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined whether reports of maternal socialization and child emotion expression differ depending on the emotion-eliciting context. Early adolescents and their mothers ( N = 146) from suburban middle-class families in Gujarat, India participated. In response to hypothetical academic and interpersonal situations, children rated the intensity of felt emotion, and likelihood of expressing felt emotion, and mothers rated the acceptability of their children's emotional expressions, and their behavioral responses to children. Results revealed that across both situations children reported expressing sadness more than anger, and expressing both emotions more in interpersonal than academic situations. Mothers reported child sadness to be significantly more acceptable than anger, and both emotions were significantly more acceptable in interpersonal than academic situations. Mothers reported problem-focused responses (solution) and scolding more in response to academic than interpersonal situations, whereas they reported problem-focused responses (explanation), coaxing, and distraction more in interpersonal than academic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Somatoform disorders are common mental disorders associated with impaired functioning and increased utilization of health resources. Yoga-based interventions have been used successfully for anxiety, depression, and chronic pain conditions. However, literature on the use of yoga in treatment of somatoform disorders is minimal. The current study assessed the effect of a specific yoga-based intervention in patients with somatoform disorders. Consenting patients meeting ICD-10 criteria for somatoform disorders were offered a specific yoga module (1 h per day) as a treatment. Assessments including Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and others were carried out at baseline and after 2, 6, and 12 weeks. Sixty-four subjects were included in the study and 34 completed 12 weeks follow-up. Significant improvement was noted in pain severity from baseline to 12 weeks after regular yoga sessions. The mean VAS score dropped from 7.24 to 2.88. Worst and average pain score in the last 24 h on BPI dropped from 7.71 to 3.26 and from 6.12 to 2.0,7 respectively. Results of the study suggest that yoga-based intervention can be one of the non-pharmacological treatment options in somatoform disorders. These preliminary findings need replication in larger controlled studies. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Mobile phone induced electromagnetic field (MPEMF) as well as chanting of Vedic mantra ‘OM’ has been shown to affect cognition and brain haemodynamics, but findings are still inconclusive. Twenty right-handed healthy teenagers (eight males and 12 females) in the age range of 18.25 ± 0.44 years were randomly divided into four groups: (1) MPONOM (mobile phone ‘ON’ followed by ‘OM’ chanting); (2) MPOFOM (mobile phone ‘OFF’ followed by ‘OM’ chanting); (3) MPONSS (mobile phone ‘ON’ followed by ‘SS’ chanting); and (4) MPOFSS (mobile phone ‘OFF’ followed by ‘SS’ chanting). Brain haemodynamics during Stroop task were recorded using a 64-channel fNIRS device at three points of time: (1) baseline, (2) after 30 min of MPON/OF exposure, and (3) after 5 min of OM/SS chanting. RM-ANOVA was applied to perform within- and between-group comparisons, respectively. Between-group analysis revealed that total scores on incongruent Stroop task were significantly better after OM as compared to SS chanting (MPOFOM vs MPOFSS), pre-frontal activation was significantly lesser after OM as compared to SS chanting in channel 13. There was no significant difference between MPON and MPOF conditions for Stroop performance, as well as brain haemodynamics. These findings need confirmation through a larger trial in future. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The present study is aimed to ascertain whether differences in meditation proficiency alter rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep) as well as the overall sleep-organization. Whole-night polysomnography was carried out using 32-channel digital EEG system. 20 senior Vipassana meditators, 16 novice Vipassana meditators and 19 non-meditating control subjects participated in the study. The REM sleep characteristics were analyzed from the sleep-architecture of participants with a sleep efficiency index >85%. Senior meditators showed distinct changes in sleep-organization due to enhanced slow wave sleep and REM sleep, reduced number of intermittent awakenings and reduced duration of non-REM stage 2 sleep. The REM sleep-organization was significantly different in senior meditators with more number of REM episodes and increased duration of each episode, distinct changes in rapid eye movement activity (REMA) dynamics due to increased phasic and tonic activity and enhanced burst events (sharp and slow bursts) during the second and fourth REM episodes. No significant differences in REM sleep organization was observed between novice and control groups. Changes in REM sleep-organization among the senior practitioners of meditation could be attributed to the intense brain plasticity events associated with intense meditative practices on brain functions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article assesses the effectiveness of The Great WASH Yatra handwashing awareness raising campaign in India on changing visitors' intention to wash hands with soap after using the toilet and the underlying behavioural determinants. Interviews based on the RANAS (Risk, Attitudes, Norms, Abilities, Self-regulation) model of behaviour change were conducted with 687 visitors before and after their visit to the campaign. Data showed that a campaign visit had little effect on the intention to wash hands with soap, even when comparing visitors who had actively participated in handwashing games with those who had not. After a campaign visit, knowledge about the benefits of washing hands had increased by almost half a standard deviation. A multiple linear regression analysis revealed that when considering all behavioural determinants change scores simultaneously, they were able to explain 57% of the variance in the intention change score. These findings suggest that substantively changing behaviour requires more than improving knowledge and emphasizing the importance of washing hands. Identifying the crucial behavioural determinants for handwashing may be an important first step in planning effective large-scale promotion programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Occupational tasks involve awkward upper limb postures, especially movement of forearm with repetitive combined gripping and torqueing exertions, which may lead to development of WMSDs. From the literature survey it was observed that there was a lack of studies focussed on the combined effect of torque and grip exertions on forearm discomfort. OBJECTIVE: The present study was to investigate the effects of grip force, stroke rotation and frequency of exertions on discomfort and Electromyography (EMG) activities of the forearm muscles in a repetitive torqueing task. METHOD: Twenty-seven male participants volunteered in this study. The participants performed repetitive exertions for a 5 minutes duration for each combination of the different levels of stroke rotation, grip force and frequency of exertions. Three levels of stroke rotation, three levels of grip force and three levels of frequency of exertion were chosen as independent variables. Therefore a 3×3 customized factorial design was used for the experiment for each level of grip force. Hence, the study was divided into three groups on the basis of grip force (50N, 70N and 90N). RESULTS: The ANOVA showed that stroke rotation and frequency of exertion were significant on discomfort. Further Students Newmann test (SNK) revealed that discomfort was increased with increasing stroke rotation and frequency of exertion. The multivariate analysis of variances (MANOVA) performed on EMG data instead of ANOVA because EMG activities of five muscles simultaneously were recorded. The Results found that extensor muscles were more fatigued in torqueing with gripping task. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that stroke rotation for the torqueing tasks must be kept below 45°. It was concluded that it is important to control stroke rotation to improve performance of repetitive torqueing activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Affricates have been observed to be problematic in phonological acquisition and disordered speech across languages, due to their relatively complex spatial and temporal articulatory patterns. Remediation of difficulties in the production of affricates requires understanding of how these sounds are typically produced. This study presents the first systematic articulatory and acoustic investigation of voiceless geminate affricate /ʧ/ in Kannada (a Dravidian language), compared to the palatal glide and the voiceless dental stop. Ultrasound data from 10 normal speakers from Mysore, India revealed that /ʧ/ is produced with the tongue shape intermediate between the palatal glide and the dental stop, and with the laminal constriction at the alveolar ridge. The observed articulatory differences are reflected in acoustic formant patterns of vowel transitions and stop/affricate bursts. Altogether, the results show that the Kannada consonant in question is an alveolopalatal affricate, supporting some of the previous descriptive phonetic accounts of the language and raising questions for further research on normal and disordered speech. The results and our survey of literature also suggest that affricates in South Asian languages tend to be phonetically variable and historically unstable compared to other consonant articulations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research indicates that spiritual and religious constructs have the potential to influence a broad range of outcomes such as health, well-being, and meaning, both positively and negatively. This study looked at the effect of an under studied psycho-spiritual approach, Core Transformation (CT), in reducing symptoms and promoting well-being. This study also examined whether the impact of CT would be moderated by age, with older participants evidencing better outcomes. Participants from an Indian convenience sample ( N = 189) ranging in age from 18 to 65 ( M = 34) received group training in CT and completed a battery of measures pretest and 4 weeks post-training, which included personality, spirituality, and psychosocial outcomes scales. Repeated-measures MANOVAs indicated significant improvements over time for both spirituality and symptom experience. Partial correlation analyses, controlling for the predictive effects of personality, reaffirmed the incremental validity of Spiritual Transcendence and religious variables in predicting symptom change and outcome ratings. CT did not appear to effect participants levels of psychological maturity. Age was not found to mediate any of these relationships, indicating the age universality of CT's therapeutic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Spaced IFA Supplementation is recognized as an efficacious public health program and effective preventive approach in combating anemia in adolescent girls, is cost effective and results in fewer side effects. Aim: To study the effect of: bi-weekly supplementation of IFA with and without Albendazole administration on the status of hemoglobin level in college going adolescent girls. Material and methods: An interventional study was conducted among college going girls in Agra in the age group of 16-19 years (n=300) who were randomly selected. Their Hemoglobin levels were estimated before and after intervention by the Cynmeth-hemoglobin method using Drabkin's solution. Three groups [two study A and B and one control] of hundred girls each were randomly constituted. To the study groups, supervised bi-weekly IFA with and without Albendazole were administered respectively for three months. Data collected was analyzed using suitable statistical tools. Results & Discussion: The overall prevalence of anemia was 65.3%.The initial prevalence in study group reduced significantly from 80.7% to 35.5% whereas in study group B it reduced from 73.5% to 58.8% and in control it remained almost same 84.3% and 81.2% pre and post intervention respectively. The mean Hemoglobin rise observed in the study group A and B was 2.5gm/dl and 2.3 gm/dl respectively while in control group fall in the mean Hb was observed (0.1gm/dl). Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia in adolescent girls is high. Supervised IFA therapy twice a week is an effective strategy to lower the prevalence of anemia either combined or uncombined with Albendazole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Linear growth from birth to 2 years of children enrolled in the World Health Organization Multicentre Growth Reference Study was similar despite substantial parental height differences among the six study sites. Within-site variability in child length attributable to parental height was estimated by repeated measures analysis of variance using generalized linear models. This approach was also used to examine relationships among selected traits (e.g. breastfeeding duration and child morbidity) and linear growth between 6 and 24 months of age. Differences in intergenerational adult heights were evaluated within sites by comparing mid-parental heights (average of the mother's and father's heights) to the children's predicted adult height. Mid-parental height consistently accounted for greater proportions of observed variability in attained child length than did either paternal or maternal height alone. The proportion of variability explained by mid-parental height ranged from 11% in Ghana to 21% in India. The average proportion of between-child variability accounted for by mid-parental height was 16% and the analogous within-child estimate was 6%. In the Norwegian and US samples, no significant differences were observed between mid-parental and children's predicted adult heights. For the other sites, predicted adult heights exceeded mid-parental heights by 6.2-7.8 cm. To the extent that adult height is predicted by height at age 2 years, these results support the expectation that significant community-wide advances in stature are attainable within one generation when care and nutrition approximate international recommendations, notwithstanding adverse conditions likely experienced by the previous generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When persons who stutter (PWS) read a text repeatedly, there is a progressive reduction in stutter frequency over the course of three to five readings. Recently, this phenomenon has been attributed by some researchers to motor learning-the acquisition of relatively permanent motor skills that facilitate fluency through practice in producing words. The current study tested this explanation. 23 PWS read prose passages five times in succession. The number of 'new' and 'old' stutters during repeated readings (words stuttered in the current reading but spoken fluently in the previous reading and words stuttered also in the previous reading) were analyzed. If motor learning facilitated fluency during repeated readings in PWS, words read fluently in a reading should not be stuttered in a later reading in significant numbers. Contrary to this prediction, there was no statistical difference in the number of new words stuttered across five readings. A plausible alternative explanation, which requires further study to verify, is offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although a growing body of psychological literature has examined the influence of culture on parenting style, relatively less attention has been paid to gender differences in parenting style across cultures. The present study examined perceptions of parenting style as a function of participant's culture, participant's gender, and parent gender in college students in India and the United States. Using a new vignette-based self-report measure that characterizes each of Baumrind's three parenting styles, participants rated perceptions of effectiveness, helpfulness, caring, and normativeness of each style. Contrary to expectation, results showed that Indian college students considered the parent demonstrating permissive parenting to be more effective and helpful than US college students. In contrast, US college students considered the parents demonstrating authoritative and authoritarian parenting to be more effective, helpful, and caring than Indian college students. A majority of Indian and US college students selected the parent demonstrating authoritative parenting as most similar to their own parents, and the type of parent they wish to be in the future. Females considered the parent demonstrating authoritative parenting to be more effective and helpful than males. Relatively few effects of parent gender were found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body composition in HIV-infected individuals is subject to many influences. We conducted a pilot 6-month randomized trial of 68 women living with AIDS (WLA) from rural India. High protein intervention combined with education and supportive care delivered by HIV-trained village women (activated social health activist [Asha] life [AL]) was compared to standard protein with usual care delivered by village community assistants (usual care [UC]). Measurements included CD4 counts, ART adherence, socio-demographics, disease characteristics (questionnaires); and anthropometry (bioimpedance analyzer). Repeated measures analysis of variance modeled associations. AL significantly gained in BMI, muscle mass, fat mass, ART adherence, and CD4 counts compared to UC, with higher weight and muscle mass gains among ART adherent (≥66 %) participants who had healthier immunity (CD4 ≥450). BMI of WLA improved through high protein supplementation combined with education and supportive care. Future research is needed to determine which intervention aspect was most responsible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lengthening of voice onset time and burst duration of selected speech stimuli on perception by individuals with auditory dys-synchrony. This is the second of a series of articles reporting the effect of signal enhancing strategies on speech perception by such individuals.Methods:Two experiments were conducted: (1) assessment of the ‘just-noticeable difference' for voice onset time and burst duration of speech sounds; and (2) assessment of speech identification scores when speech sounds were modified by lengthening the voice onset time and the burst duration in units of one just-noticeable difference, both in isolation and in combination with each other plus transition duration modification.Results:Lengthening of voice onset time as well as burst duration improved perception of voicing. However, the effect of voice onset time modification was greater than that of burst duration modification. Although combined lengthening of voice onset time, burst duration and transition duration resulted in improved speech perception, the improvement was less than that due to lengthening of transition duration alone.Conclusion:These results suggest that innovative speech processing strategies that enhance temporal cues may benefit individuals with auditory dys-synchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigates the phonological nature of the lexical links in the bilingual lexicon using different-script bilinguals. Highly proficient Hindi–English bilinguals performed a translation recognition task (i.e., decide whether two words presented sequentially are a correct translation pair). For the critical trials, the second word was a nontranslation distractor word and thus required a no response. The properties of the no trials were manipulated to examine participants' sensitivity to orthographic and phonological relations. The first manipulation investigated whether different-script bilinguals utilise the L1 translation equivalent link in a similar fashion as same-script bilinguals and tested the generalisability of the Revised Hierarchical Model (RHM) to the case of different-script bilinguals. The second manipulation tested the predictions of the Bilingual Interactive Activation plus model (BIA +) regarding phonological nonselectivity in the bilingual lexicon. Results suggest that these highly proficient different-script bilinguals utilise translation equivalent lexical links in a distinct manner from same-script bilinguals, but do display nonselective phonological activation in the form of facilitation across languages that do not share script. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background In a participatory approach to health and development interventions, defining and measuring community mobilisation is important, but it is challenging to do this effectively, especially at scale. Methods A cross-sectional, participatory monitoring tool was administered in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 across a representative sample of 25 community-based groups (CBGs) formed under the Avahan India AIDS Initiative, to assess their progress in mobilisation, and to inform efforts to strengthen the groups and make them sustainable. The survey used a weighted index to capture both qualitative and quantitative data in numeric form. The index permitted broad, as well as highly detailed, analysis of community mobilisation, relevant at the level of individual groups, as well as state-wide and across the whole programme. Results The survey demonstrated that leadership and programme management were the strongest areas among the CBGs, confirming the programme's investment in these areas. Discussion of the Round 1 results led to efforts to strengthen governance and democratic decision making in the groups, and progress was reflected in the Round 2 survey results. CBG engagement with state authorities to gain rights and entitlements and securing the long-term financial stability of groups remain a challenge. Conclusion The survey has proven useful for informing the managers of programmes about what is happening on the ground, and it has opened spaces for discussion within community groups about the nature of leadership, decision making and their goals, which is leading to accelerated progress. The tool provided useful data to manage community mobilisation in Avahan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existence of a positive relationship between spiritual engagement and well-being is currently based on weak correlational evidence, generally in Western contexts. This study advances understanding through a naturalist, longitudinal study of 226 people, including Malays, Chinese, and Indians, experiencing the Hindu Thaipusam festival in Malaysia. We measured the subjective well-being of people with varying levels of engagement&emdash;from nonobservance or simply observing the festival to extreme engagement. Each person was assessed 3 months before, 2 weeks before, 2 weeks after, and 4 months after the festival. We found that the subjective well-being of those with the most extreme level of engagement was permanently higher than other groups. The well-being of those with a strong, but less extreme engagement rose at the time of the festival and remained elevated. The findings are discussed in relation to homeostatic theory of well-being and the potential benefits of spiritual engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aims This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief intervention (BI) for illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants and opioids) linked to the World Health Organization (WHO) Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). The ASSIST screens for problem or risky use of 10 psychoactive substances, producing a score for each substance that falls into either a low-, moderate- or high-risk category. Design Prospective, randomized controlled trial in which participants were either assigned to a 3-month waiting-list control condition or received brief motivational counselling lasting an average of 13.8 minutes for the drug receiving the highest ASSIST score. Setting Primary health-care settings in four countries: Australia, Brazil, India and the United States. Participants A total of 731 males and females scoring within the moderate-risk range of the ASSIST for cannabis, cocaine, amphetamine-type stimulants or opioids. Measurements ASSIST-specific substance involvement scores for cannabis, stimulants or opioids and ASSIST total illicit substance involvement score at baseline and 3 months post-randomization. Findings Omnibus analyses indicated that those receiving the BI had significantly reduced scores for all measures, compared with control participants. Country-specific analyses showed that, with the exception of the site in the United States, BI participants had significantly lower ASSIST total illicit substance involvement scores at follow-up compared with the control participants. The sites in India and Brazil demonstrated a very strong brief intervention effect for cannabis scores ( P < 0.005 for both sites), as did the sites in Australia ( P < 0.005) and Brazil ( P < 0.01) for stimulant scores and the Indian site for opioid scores ( P < 0.01). Conclusions The Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test-linked brief intervention aimed at reducing illicit substance use and related risks is effective, at least in the short term, and the effect generalizes across countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lengthening the transition duration of selected speech segments upon the perception of those segments in individuals with auditory dys-synchrony.Methods:Thirty individuals with auditory dys-synchrony participated in the study, along with 30 age-matched normal hearing listeners. Eight consonant–vowel syllables were used as auditory stimuli. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment one measured the ‘just noticeable difference’ time: the smallest prolongation of the speech sound transition duration which was noticeable by the subject. In experiment two, speech sounds were modified by lengthening the transition duration by multiples of the just noticeable difference time, and subjects' speech identification scores for the modified speech sounds were assessed.Results:Subjects with auditory dys-synchrony demonstrated poor processing of temporal auditory information. Lengthening of speech sound transition duration improved these subjects' perception of both the placement and voicing features of the speech syllables used.Conclusion:These results suggest that innovative speech processing strategies which enhance temporal cues may benefit individuals with auditory dys-synchrony. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: The majority of the world's population is bilingual. Yet, therapy studies involving bilingual people with aphasia are rare and have produced conflicting results. One recent study suggested that therapy can assist word retrieval in bilingual aphasia, with effects generalising to related words in the untreated language. However, this cross-linguistic generalisation only occurred into the person's stronger language (L1). While indicative, these findings were derived from just three participants, and only one received therapy in both languages. Aims: This study addressed the following questions. Do bilingual people with aphasia respond to naming therapy techniques developed for the monolingual population? Do languages respond differently to therapy and, if so, are gains influenced by language dominance? Does cross-linguistic generalisation occur and does this depend on the therapy approach? Is cross-linguistic generalisation more likely following treatment in L2 or L1? Methods & Procedures: The study involved five aphasic participants who were bilingual in English and Bengali. Testing showed that their severity and dominance patterns varied, so the study adopted a case series rather than a group design. Each person received two phases of naming therapy, one in Bengali and one in English. Each phase treated two groups of words with semantic and phonological tasks, respectively. The effects of therapy were measured with a picture-naming task involving both treated and untreated (control) items. This was administered in both languages on four occasions: two pre-therapy, one immediately post-therapy and one 4 weeks after therapy had ceased. Testing and therapy in Bengali was administered by bilingual co-workers. Outcomes & Results: Four of the five participants made significant gains from at least one episode of therapy. Benefits arose in both languages and from both semantic and phonological tasks. There were three instances of cross-linguistic generalisation, which occurred when items had been treated in the person's dominant language using semantic tasks. Conclusions & Implications: This study suggests that 'typical' naming treatments can be effective for some bilingual people with aphasia, with both L1 and L2 benefiting. It offers evidence of cross-linguistic generalisation, and suggests that this is most likely to arise from semantic therapy approaches. In contrast to some results in the academic literature, the direction of generalisation was from LI to L2. The theoretical implications of these findings are considered. Finally, the results support the use of bilingual co-workers in therapy delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) are promising alternatives to the tuberculin skin test, interpretation of repeated testing results is hampered by lack of evidence on optimal cut-offs for conversions and reversions. A logical start is to determine the within-person variability of T-cell responses during serial testing. Methodology/Principal Findings: We performed a pilot study in India, to evaluate the short-term reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In Tube assay (QFT) among 14 healthcare workers (HCWs) who underwent 4 serial QFT tests on day 0, 3, 9 and 12. QFT ELISA was repeated twice on the same sets of specimens. We assessed two types of reproducibility: 1) testretest reproducibility (between-test variability), and 2) within-person reproducibility over time. Test-retest reproducibility: with dichotomous test results, extremely high concordance was noticed between two tests performed on the same sets of specimens: of the 56 samples, the test and re-test results agreed for all but 2 individuals (κ = 0.94). Discordance was noted in subjects who had IFN-γ values around the cut-off point, with both increases and decreases noted. With continuous IFN-γ results, re-test results tended to produce higher estimates of IFN-γ than the original test. Within-person reproducibility: when continuous IFN-γ data were analyzed, the within-person reproducibility was moderate to high. While persons with negative QFT results generally stayed negative, positive results tended to vary over time. Our data showed that increases of more than 16% in the IFN-γ levels are statistically improbable in the short-term. Conclusions: Conservatively assuming that long-term variability might be at least twice higher than short-term, we hypothesize that a QFT conversion requires two conditions to be met: 1) change from negative to positive result, and 2) at least 30% increase in the baseline IFN-γ response. Larger studies are needed to confirm our preliminary findings, and determine the conversion thresholds for IGRAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]