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Multiple-choice question (MCQ) plays a significant role in educational assessment. Automatic MCQ generation has been an active research area for years, and many systems have been developed for MCQ generation. Still, we could not find any system that generates accurate MCQs from school-level textbook contents that are useful in real examinations. This observation motivated us to develop a system that generates MCQs to assess the student's recall of factual information. Also, the available systems are often domain, subject, or application-specific in nature. Although the MCQ generation task demands a specific setup, we expect a level of generalization can be achieved. In this development, we also focus on this issue. We propose a pipeline for automatic generation of MCQs from textbooks of middle-school level subjects, and the pipeline is partially subject-independent. The proposed pipeline comprises four core modules: preprocessing, sentence selection, key selection, and distractor generation. Several techniques have been employed to implement individual modules. These include sentence simplification, syntactic and semantic processing of the sentences, entity recognition, semantic relationship extraction among entities, WordNet, neural word embedding, neural sentence embedding, and computation of intersentence similarity. The system is evaluated using the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), India, textbooks for three subjects. The quality of system-generated questions is assessed by human experts using various system-level and individual module-level metrics. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed system is capable of generating quality questions that could be useful in a real examination.

Government Upper Primary School Puracherry is situated in the Madayi educational district within the Kannur district of Kerala. The school comprises 322 students and 18 teachers, offering classes from 1st to 7th standard. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government declared lockdown measures, resulting in the closure of schools. During this period, "First Bell," an initiative of the General Education Department of Kerala, was launched on June 1, 2020, serving as an interim solution while state public schools remained closed. Throughout the academic year 2020-21, Government Upper Primary School Puracherry implemented numerous innovative programs aimed at ensuring that no student missed classes during the pandemic, all while monitoring the safe stay of children at home. The investigator intends to study the educational, economic, technological, and social aspects of the quality-sustaining practices of Government Upper Primary School Puracherry. The study sample includes 4 teachers, 4 parents, and 4 students from Government Upper Primary School Puracherry. The findings revealed that the majority of students and parents favored these quality-sustaining practices, with approximately 80% of children ensuring their access to classes. This study is limited to one school in Kerala, but its findings can benefit educationalists, curriculum developers, teachers, parents, and students in other schools across India.

The perceptions of prospective teachers towards gender roles as they learn about this topic in their B.Ed. program and undertaking an internship is the aim of the study. Both classroom practices and perceptions have been examined. As per the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), gender education is supposed to integrate essential subjects, skills, and capacities into the core part of the curriculum. There is also a provision for a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF). A descriptive method was used to find the result, with a self-made statement schedule having expert validation. The findings of this study show that female prospective teachers are more neutral towards gender roles than their male counterparts. Both are approaching a gender-neutral world, but some dimensions still have stereotypical mindsets. In their classrooms, while the teaching-learning process takes place, they are aware of their behavior toward gender roles. They always try to engage the students in various projects on equal terms, following the protocol of the school where they intern. The results show that if gender studies are taught like any other core subject, observable behavior changes can be seen in both teachers and students. This creates the potential for a gender-neutral world in the long run, which aligns with education's ultimate goal of fostering a happy and prosperous society that facilitates creativity.

The NEP 2020 is the chief education policy of the twenty-first century, paving the way for a change from the 34-year-old National Policy on Education that was implemented in 1986. The initial pillars of NEP 2020 are Access, Equity, Quality, Affordability, and Accountability. It aims to transmute India into a flourishing information society and universal knowledge giant by making both school and college education more holistic, flexible, and multidisciplinary that will suit the 21st century and onward needs. It focuses on bringing out the individualistic and excellent capabilities of each child. A cursory glimpse of the policy causes apprehension with its attractive headlines and phrases. There is no doubt that this is an outstanding document with astonishing educational ideas, presented with a range of recommendations; some unique, some reiterated, and others reclaimed from earlier policy declarations. Terminologies and matter-of-fact imagination in the policy document seem to divert the attention of people and institutions away from the actual education world. As an investigator meticulously examines the policy's contents, one becomes more aware of the gap between key policy ideas and the present reality of education in India. This brief doctrine analysis aims to explore and exemplify some of the crucial thoughts of NEP 2020, which attempts to be holistic and multidisciplinary education. The present study has been undertaken keeping the following research questions in mind: Do we find any strong theories related to the multidisciplinary approach? What are the challenges of NEP 2020 with respect to holistic and multidisciplinary education? The present theoretical views are extremely useful for teacher educators, educational policymakers, and teachers.

Assessment plays an important role in education. Recently proposed machine learning-based systems for answer grading demand a large training data which is not available in many application areas. Creation of sufficient training data is costly and time-consuming. As a result, automatic long answer grading is still a challenge. In this paper, we propose a practical system for long or descriptive answer grading that can assess in a small class scenario. The system uses an expert-written reference answer and computes the similarity of a student answer with it. For the similarity computation, it uses several word level and sentence level similarity measures including TFIDF, Latent Semantic Indexing, Latent Dirichlet Analysis, TextRank summarizer, and neural sentence embedding-based InferSent. The student answer might contain certain facts that do not occur in the model answer. The system identifies such sentences, examine their relevance and correctness, and assigns extra marks accordingly. In the final phase, the system uses a clustering-based confidence analysis. The system is tested on an assessment of school-level social science answer books. The experimental results demonstrate that the system evaluates the answer books with high accuracy, the best root mean square error value is 0.59 on a 0-5 scoring scale.

Heavy metals in the agrarian wetlands have substantial implications for the environment, agriculture, and human well-being. This study is a comprehensive examination of heavy metal concentrations and hydrochemical characteristics in the Kol wetland system, a Ramsar site located on the southwest coast of India. It represents the first comprehensive assessment of the distribution of nine heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Fe, Ni, Mn, Co, and Cr) to evaluate Kol wetland water suitability for aquatic life and irrigation purposes. To achieve this, surface water samples were collected during two consecutive monsoon periods in September 2018 and 2019. The average concentrations of the heavy metals in the Kol area were: Zn (0.31–618 µg/L), Cu (BDL-212 µg/L), Fe (30.17–4418.5 µg/L), Mn (1.2–506 µg/L), Ni (BDL-61.96 µg/L), Cr (BDL-61.96 µg/L), Cd (BDL-46.19 µg/L), Co (BDL-4.03 µg/L), and Pb (BDL-103 µg/L). While Cd and Zn exceeded recommended limits by the US Environment Protection Agency, all metal concentrations fell within acceptable levels for irrigation set by the Food and Agriculture Organization. The spatial distribution pattern revealed significant disparities among the three zones of the study area, with the central and southern regions exhibiting higher metal concentrations than the northern zone. Pollution indices indicated that Kol water is suitable for irrigation, with medium contamination and threat to aquatic life noted at the S3 station. Principal components analysis highlighted siltation processes and anthropogenic activities as likely sources of heavy metal contamination. This scenario provides valuable data for strengthening the supervision of the Kol wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The average annual income of farmers in India is well below the poverty line, primarily due to off-season agriculture and a lack of awareness about optimal farming techniques and crop management. This research paper presents an AI-based web application designed to address these challenges and improve farmers' financial and mental well-being. Our solution, comprised of a farming tools leverage system and a collaborative farming forum, empowers farmers with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions and increase their income. The system leverages MongoDB, asynchronous calling, and Fast API for efficient data management and real-time interactions. AI/ML services assist with crop recommendations, crop disease detection, and price predictions. Load balancing ensures optimal performance, and Pusher JS enables real-time communication. Billing services and a dashboard provide income insights, while geographic data enhances machine learning recommendations. In conclusion, this research contributes to alleviating poverty and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers in India by providing a comprehensive solution to the challenges they face. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Difficulty in swallowing or dysphagia is a common symptom. Prolonged dysphagia over a period of days and months can lead to mild to severe malnutrition which also includes iron deficiency anaemia. Aims: To know the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia in middle aged female patients presenting with complaints of dysphagia in otorhinolaryngology department of tertiary care hospital of rural India. Materials and methods: Prospective study was conducted to investigate the association of iron deficiency anemia with dysphagia in an adult female Indian hospital population of 100 patients. Those 100 patients were divided into study group(with dysphagia) and control group(without dysphagia). Results: There were 18% and 8% of patients having iron deficiency anemia in the study group and control group respectively. Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is more in dysphagic patients than non-dysphagic patients. Patients with dysphagia and iron deficiency anemia are at high risk of developing post cricoid carcinoma. Conclusion: Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is more in dysphagic patients than non-dysphagic patients. In this study, patients with dysphagia were more from middle age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture being the pillar of the economy for a developing country like India has a vital role in the survival of living beings on earth. Wheat is the most widely consumed grain on the planet. Deep learning is an evolving technology that is having a significant effect in the field of agriculture, assisting farmers in modernizing their operations. One such application is the identification of plant diseases using image classification which is necessary for long-term agriculture sustainability. Wheat plants are susceptible to a variety of fungal diseases. Hence early identification of diseases of crops like wheat and rice that are staple food of people in many countries is critical. Using deep learning algorithms such as CNN, this proposed system aims to predict wheat diseases. We are introducing a deep learning-based model for image classification to predict wheat diseases. Previous approaches used machine learning algorithms for a general dataset that included all types of crop diseases. To achieve better precision, we built our own dataset and combined it with existing similar datasets to account for 4 major classes of wheat diseases. The dataset consists of 700 images of wheat plants. Based on the input, our system determines if the plant is healthy or diseased so that precautionary measures can be taken to prevent losses in wheat cultivation, which could lead to food shortages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unmet needs for contraception in India have declined over time but the rate has not been uniform among women across geographies and socio-economic strata. Identifying the characteristics of women in communities where unmet need is still high is important to devise appropriate strategies to ensure access and uptake of modern contraceptive methods. The current study examined whether there was a national decline in unmet need over time and if regional disparities exist in unmet need. Demographic variations in unmet need based on factors such as maternal age, education, religion, caste, wealth index quintile, family size, and access to antenatal care (ANC) were also documented. Our approach was to document the prevalence of total unmet need for family planning and unmet need for spacing among married Indian women and quantify variability based on socio-economic and demographic drivers within a hierarchal framework, thus providing both macro and micro perspectives. We used data from the fourth and fifth rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) collected from all the States and Union Territories (UTs) in India. Quantile regression analysis and multilevel regression techniques were used to understand the predictors for the total unmet need for family planning and the unmet need for spacing. Results show a considerable decline in the prevalence of unmet need for family planning in India from NFHS-4 to 5 (from 12.9 to 9.3%) in the last six6 years. The north-eastern states show a significant reduction in unmet need for family planning in Manipur (17.8%), Nagaland (13.5%), and followed by Sikkim (9.1%). The predictors such as years of schooling, place of residence, caste, religion, wealth quintile, number of antenatal care (ANC) visits, and children ever born have a significant association with unmet needs for family planning and spacing among married women in India. There is a significant association between years of schooling with the total unmet needs for family planning at (q25) quantiles and the unmet need for spacing at (q25, q50) quantiles. Results reveal that the demand for unmet need for spacing and limiting was the highest among the women in the age categories 15–19 (17.8%) and 20–24 (17.3%). The demand for limiting was the highest (6.8%) among Muslim women. Across wealth quantile categories, the overall unmet demand (11.4%) for spacing and limiting was the highest among the women in the lowest socioeconomic groups. We conclude that greater access to frontline health workers among young wives, and significant investment in education in general, will continue to reduce the unmet needs for family planning in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The azygos lobe is a developmental anomaly found in the upper lobe of the right lung. It has a prevalence of 0.4% in clinical scenarios and 1% during routine anatomical dissections. Clinically, the azygos lobe mimics various conditions. It is a rare incidental finding during chest radiography or Computed Tomography (CT). Aim: To determine the prevalence of the azygos lobe during anatomical dissection. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted over a 13-year period from June 2010 to August 2023 in various medical colleges in Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. A total of 102 adult cadavers were studied. The dissected right and left lungs of each cadaver were examined for the presence or absence of an azygos lobe and recorded. The morphology of the azygos lobe was studied, including its size, the presence of the azygos fissure, the depth of the azygos fissure, and the course of the azygos vein. The presence of mesoazygos was also checked, and its attachments were noted. Descriptive statistics were used in terms of frequency and percentage. Results: Out of the 102 cadavers, only one right lung had an azygos lobe. None of the cadavers had bilateral azygos lobes. The maximum height of the lobe was 5.8 cm, and the width was 4.5 cm. An azygos fissure was found, through which the mesoazygos was present. The mesoazygos was located from the lung to the thoracic wall. Conclusion: Despite being an incidental finding, the azygos lobe is clinically important. Physicians should be aware of this anomaly, and thoracic surgeons should exercise caution during surgeries involving the thoracic region, such as Video-Assisted Thoracic Sympathectomy (VATS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on dementia literacy in Chinese societies is still emerging, and this is especially the case among racially minoritized groups. The present study explored the knowledge, causal beliefs, and help-seeking behaviors of South Asian migrants in Hong Kong about dementia. It also investigated existing community barriers related to dementia knowledge and help-seeking. We conducted a qualitative study from a purposive sample of 38 older people and family caregivers from India, Pakistan, and Nepal who lived in Hong Kong. Focus groups and individual in-depth interviews were used to gather information, while thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Five main themes were identified: normalization with stigmatization of dementia; spiritual and psychosocial attributions of dementia; familial responsibility despite potential caregiving burden; uncertainties versus openness to professional care; and barriers and opportunities in dementia literacy. Ethnic minorities recognized dementia as a disease of normal aging or a mental disorder. They also perceived spiritual and psychosocial factors as their main causes. While participants recognized the potential burden of dementia caregiving, families were their first point of help-seeking, as many of them expressed contrasting feelings of confidence or doubt toward professional services. Utilization of health education strategies, together with collaboration with community leaders, could address the barriers to dementia literacy. This is the first study to explore how ethnic minorities in Asia perceive dementia and its related help-seeking behaviors in their communities. South Asian migrants in Hong Kong have a limited understanding of dementia and may experience delays in obtaining relevant community services. While culture influenced their knowledge, health education may address their misperceptions and help-seeking behaviors toward dementia. Culture- and language-specific programs could also improve dementia knowledge and health service access. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accreditation is a crucial mechanism for ensuring that educational institutions provide high-quality teaching and learning experiences to their students. It is a process through which the quality of an educational program is evaluated by defining and assessing program level outcomes. In India, several organizations are responsible for accreditation, with the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) being one of the most prominent. However, maintaining NBA guidelines for institutional accreditation can be challenging, particularly due to the lack of a centralized system for storing the required information. The application is designed using ReactJS, NodeJS, Json and would be designed to assist educational institutions in India with maintaining NBA guidelines for institutional accreditation by providing a centralized system for storing all necessary information. This information would be accessible to administrators and faculty members, making it easier for the institution to keep track of the information required for accreditation and simplifying the process of achieving and maintaining a certain quality level of teaching and learning. The web application would be a game changer for the educational institutions in India as it would allow them to focus on providing quality education to their students instead of getting bogged down by the administrative aspects of accreditation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blast pathogen, Magnaporthe spp., that infects ancient millet crops such pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and rice was isolated from different locations of blast hotspots in India using single spore isolation technique and 136 pure isolates were established. Numerous growth characteristics were captured via morphogenesis analysis. Among the 10 investigated virulent genes, we could amplify MPS1 (TTK Protein Kinase) and Mlc (Myosin Regulatory Light Chain edc4) in majority of tested isolates, regardless of the crop and region where they were collected, indicating that these may be crucial for their virulence. Additionally, among the four avirulence (Avr) genes studied, Avr-Pizt had the highest frequency of occurrence, followed by Avr-Pia. It is noteworthy to mention that Avr-Pik was present in the least number of isolates (9) and was completely absent from the blast isolates from finger millet, foxtail millet, and barnyard millet. A comparison at the molecular level between virulent and avirulent isolates indicated observably large variation both across (44%) and within (56%) them. The 136 Magnaporthe spp isolates were divided into four groups using molecular markers. Regardless of their geographic distribution, host plants, or tissues affected, the data indicate that the prevalence of numerous pathotypes and virulence factors at the field level, which may lead to a high degree of pathogenic variation. This research could be used for the strategic deployment of resistant genes to develop blast disease-resistant cultivars in rice, pearl millet, finger millet, foxtail millet, and barnyard millet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a significant cause of preventable blindness across both the developed and developing countries. Recent advancements in neonatal care have led to an increase in the survival of low birth weight infants, resulting in a rise of ROP incidence. Globally, ROP is estimated to affect more than 50,000 infants annually. In India, every year, 500 children are estimated to become blind from ROP. AIM: To study the incidence of RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY and its risk factors in infants admitted at SNCU of a tertiary care maternity hospital. MATERIAL & METHODS: Study Design: Prospective hospital based descriptional study. Study area: Special New-born Care Unit (SNCU) of Modern Government Maternity hospital. Study Period: Jan. 2020 - Dec. 2020. Study population: Preterm babies less than or equal to 34 weeks of gestational age, babies with weight less than or equal to 2 kgs and babies of any gestational age or weight with significant risk factors admitted in SNCU. Sample size: study consisted a total of 365 cases. Sampling method: Simple Random sampling method. Study tools and Data collection procedure: Babies admitted in SNCU with birth weight equal or less than 2 kg and preterm babies less than 34 weeks of gestational age, satisfying the inclusion criteria were enrolled into the study and admitted after getting informed consent from the parents/guardians. A detailed history and clinical examination were done for the study population and all the points were noted. The study population was evaluated further. Results: Among the study population, babies who developed ROP were exposed to oxygen for longer duration. The association between the duration of exposure to oxygen and development of retinopathy was statistically significant with P value of 0.00001. The association between ROP and gestational age at birth was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The present study reflects the incidence of ROP and its risk factors in a SNCU. The incidence of ROP in the present study was 4.93%. Among the ROP cases, birth weight ranges between 1.42± 0.25 and it was significantly associated with development of ROP. Among the study population, babies born prematurely i.e., at lowest mean gestational age at birth had developed retinopathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing recognition of women's role in fisheries, but this has not translated into equal representation of women in management and policy. Fisherwomen remain under-studied and under-recognized in marine resource management. Conservation and fisheries management programmes are biased because of a lack of understanding of women's role in fisheries policy-making. The purpose of this study is to examine the various policies, programmes, and schemes that have been implemented by both the Central and State governments of Andhra Pradesh in support of empowerment of fisherwomen. The study evaluated existing policies and schemes and their utilization by fisherwomen to determine whether they helped to empower fisherwomen. Finally, the paper concludes by highlighting policy gaps in favor of economic growth but without considering the needs of fisherwomen. Thus, providing suggestions and recommendations for forming and implementing policies and schemes for fisherwomen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multiwavelength investigation of the Galactic H  ii  region IRAS 17149 − 3916. Using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, first low-frequency radio continuum observations at 610 and 1280 MHz for this region are presented. The ionized gas emission displays an interesting cometary morphology, which is likely powered by the early-type source, E4 (IRS-1). The origin of the cometary morphology is discussed under the framework of the widely accepted bow shock, champagne flow, and clumpy cloud mechanisms. The mid- and far-infrared data from Spitzer -GLIMPSE and Herschel -Hi-GAL reveal a complex network of pillars, clumps, bubble, filaments, and arcs suggesting the profound influence of massive stars on the surrounding medium. Triggered star formation at the tip of an observed pillar structure is reported. High-resolution ALMA continuum data show a string of cores detected within the identified clumps. The core masses are well explained by thermal Jeans fragmentation and support the hierarchical fragmentation scenario. Four 'super-Jeans' cores are identified which, at the resolution of the present data set, are suitable candidates to form high-mass stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organophosphate (OP) compounds are one of the most common agents used for deliberate self-harm in developing countries, including India. OP compounds inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which is responsible for hydrolysing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in both the central and peripheral nervous systems (PNS). Acute cholinergic crises are the most common clinical presentation of OP poisoning. While physicians mostly encounter acute and delayed complications, there have been rare documented cases in the litreature of an intermediate syndrome presenting with extrapyramidal symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, and dystonia. In this report, the authors present a case of a 64-year-old male patient who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with a history of consuming an unknown quantity of OP-Phorate (11.2%). The initial manifestations included vomiting, sweating, difficulty in breathing, and a low level of consciousness. The patient was managed with atropine, pralidoxime, and mechanical ventilation. He was extubated but later reintubated due to respiratory failure. Eventually, a neurological examination revealed rigidity in all four limbs. The patient was diagnosed with an extrapyramidal type of intermediate syndrome and treated with oral amantadine and trihexyphenidyl. After further hospital monitoring, the patient was extubated and discharged with intact neurological function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare efficacy and safety between superior calyceal access and inferior calyceal access for pelvic and/or lower calyceal renal stones. Methods: Consecutive patients presenting with Pelvic and/or inferior calyceal renal calculi were allocated to the superior calyceal access (group 1) or inferior calyceal access (group 2) treatment arm. Allocation of treatment access was based on the surgeon's preference. Variables studied included stone free rate, operating time, intraoperative and postoperative complications. Statistical analysis was executed using SPSS, Version 16.0. The statistical significance was evaluated at 5% level of significance (p value < 0.05). Results: Between July 2018 and February 2019, 63 patients were included in each group. The percutaneous inserted guidewire entered the ureter in 92% in group1 and 74.6% in group 2 (p = 0.034). Stone fragments migrated to the middle calyx in 3.2% in group1 and 9.5% in group 2 (p = 0.033). A second puncture was required in one patient in group 1 and in 5 patients in group 2 (p = 0.04). The operative duration (minutes) was 13.46 ± 1.09 in the group 1 while 16.58 ± 1.44 in the group 2 (p = 0.002). Thoracic complications (hydropneumothorax) occurred to 2 patients in superior calyceal access group managed with intercostal tube drainage (p = 0.243).Post operatively blood transfusion was required in two patients in group 2 (p = 0.169). Angioembolization was done in one patient among the inferior calyceal access approach (p = 0.683). Complete stone clearance assessed at 3 months was 96.8% in group 1 and 85.7% in group 2 (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Superior calyceal access is a safe and most efficacious in terms of achieving complete stone clearance rate with reduced operative time, minimal blood loss, less need for a second puncture and auxiliary procedures at minimal complications. Study registration: Clinical trials registry – INDIA; CTRI/2018/07/014,687. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) in the young has been increasing globally. Research in this population has been limited in developed countries or urban areas in developing countries. Identifying the various epidemiologic features in this age group is crucial to understand the disease. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics of young adults presenting with ACS in a rural tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 patients diagnosed with ACS. Data were collected from consecutive patients between the ages of 18 to 45 years diagnosed with ACS between January 2014 to January 2015 in the Emergency Medicine Department of a tertiary care hospital in Davanagere, India. Data were collected on demographic characteristics, risk factors, laboratory tests, and angiographic findings. Range, mean and percentages were calculated for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A 95% confidence intervals were calculated for all variables. Results: The mean age was 38.1±5.8 years with male preponderance 46 (92%). Risk factors were smoking 36 (72%), diabetes 17 (34%), hypertension 6 (12%) and Body Mass Index (BMI) >23 kg/m2, 36 (72%). Anterior Wall Myocardial Infarction (AWMI) was observed in 35 (70%) of subjects with angiography revealing Single Vessel Disease (SVD) 28 (56%), Double Vessel Disease (DVD) 5 (10%), Triple Vessel Disease (TVD) 3 (6%) and Myocardial Infarction with Non-Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease (MINOCA) 11 (22%). Three patients died during their course of treatment before initiating an interventional procedure. Conclusion: Smoking, diabetes mellitus and elevated BMI are associated with ACS among young patients. Interventions targeting these risk factors among younger individuals should be developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 is a pandemic which has spread to more than 200 countries. Its high transmission rate makes it difficult to control. To date, no specific treatment has been found as a cure for the disease. Therefore, prediction of COVID-19 cases provides a useful insight to mitigate the disease. This study aims to model and predict COVID-19 cases. Eight countries: Italy, New Zealand, the USA, Brazil, India, Pakistan, Spain, and South Africa which are in different phases of COVID-19 distribution as well as in different socioeconomic and geographical characteristics were selected as test cases. The Alpha-Sutte Indicator approach was utilized as the modelling strategy. The capability of the approach in modelling COVID-19 cases over the ARIMA method was tested in the study. Data consist of accumulated COVID-19 cases present in the selected countries from the first day of the presence of cases to September 26, 2020. Ten percent of the data were used to validate the modelling approach. The analysis disclosed that the Alpha-Sutte modelling approach is appropriate in modelling cumulative COVID-19 cases over ARIMA by reporting 0.11%, 0.33%, 0.08%, 0.72%, 0.12%, 0.03%, 1.28%, and 0.08% of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) for the USA, Brazil, Italy, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Spain, and South Africa, respectively. Differences between forecasted and real cases of COVID-19 in the validation set were tested using the paired t -test. The differences were not statistically significant, revealing the effectiveness of the modelling approach. Thus, predictions were generated using the Alpha-Sutte approach for each country. Therefore, the Alpha-Sutte method can be recommended for short-term forecasting of cumulative COVID-19 incidences. The authorities in the health care sector and other administrators may use the predictions to control and manage the COVID-19 cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) are a group of 1.4 million community health workers that operate throughout rural India as a part of the Integrated Child Development Services program. AWWs are responsible for disseminating key health information regarding nutrition, family planning, and immunizations to the women and children in their catchment area, while maintaining detailed registers that track key beneficiary data, updates on health status, and supply inventory beneficiaries. There is a need to understand how AWWs spend their time on all of these activities given all of their responsibilities, and the factors that are associated with their time use.Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted in Madhya Pradesh, collected time use data from AWWs using a standard approach in which we asked participants how much time they spent on various activities. Additionally, we estimated a logistic regression model to elucidate what AWW characteristics are associated with time use.Results: We found that AWWs spend substantial amounts of time on administrative tasks, such as filling out their paper registers. Additionally, we explored the associations between various AWW characteristics and their likelihood of spending the expected amount of time on preschool work, filling out their registers, feeding children, and conducting home visits. We found a positive significant association between AWW education and their likelihood of filling out their registers.Conclusions: AWWs spend substantial amounts of time on administrative tasks, which could take away from their ability to spend time on providing direct care. Additionally, future research should explore why AWW characteristics matter and how such factors can be addressed to improve AWWs' performance and should explore the associations between Anganwadi Center characteristics and AWW time use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiwavelength analysis of star formation associated with the extended green object, G19.88-0.53 is presented in this paper. With multiple detected radio and millimetre components, G19.88-0.53 unveils as harbouring a protocluster rather than a single massive young stellar object. We detect an ionized thermal jet using the upgraded Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, which is found to be associated with a massive, dense and hot ALMA 2.7 mm core driving a bipolar CO outflow. Near-infrared spectroscopy with UKIRT–UIST shows the presence of multiple shock-excited H2 lines concurrent with the nature of this region. Detailed investigation of the gas kinematics using ALMA data reveals G19.88-0.53 as an active protocluster with high-mass star-forming components spanning a wide evolutionary spectrum from hot cores in accretion phase to cores driving multiple outflows to possible UCH  ii regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study of soil organic carbon pools is helpful to understand the mechanism of carbon sequestration in soil. It was hypothesized that different management practices and sources of organics applied to soil will change the carbon allocation into various pools. The changes in total organic carbon (TOC) and its pools of different oxidizabilities (very labile, labile, less labile and non-labile pools) were investigated along with other fractions – microbial biomass carbon, particulate organic carbon, active carbon and oxidizable organic carbon – in soils under a 24-year-old double rice (Oryza sativa L.) cropping system with different management strategies in a hot, sub-humid region of India. Cultivation over the years caused a net buildup of TOC under different treatments. About 27.3, 48.2 and 54.1% of the C applied through green manure (GM), farmyard manure (FYM) and GM + FYM, respectively, was stabilized in the soils. Application of GM and FYM increased C in very labile and less labile pools, respectively. Of the analyzed pools, permanganate oxidizable and microbial biomass C were more sensitive to management practices and hence are considered important indicators of soil quality, and balanced fertilization with GM + FYM is considered suitable management for sustaining soil health under the double rice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural characterization of fulvic acids (FAs) along with the essential heavy metals (Fe, Co, Zn, and Cr) was carried out in the surface soil samples of prominent mango orchards in Palakkad district, Kerala, India. The FAs were examined with the help of elemental analyzer, UV-Visible, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The heavy metal distribution in the soil was observed in the following order: Fe > Cr > Zn > Co. The statistical analysis indicated the lithogenic and agricultural origin of metals in the study area. The detected level of Fe from the sampling sites was higher than the WHO guideline, while Co and Cr concentration exceeded the USEPA guideline values. The influence of cation exchange capacity, clay content, and CaCO3 of soil over the fate of heavy metals was identified through canonical correspondence analysis. The aliphatic and oxidation degree of FAs was examined using UV-Visible absorbance ratios, atomic ratios, and elemental composition. Results revealed that aliphatic moieties and polar functional groups enrich the FAs in the study area. Pearson correlation analysis exposed the dominant role of FAs in the fate of metals along with the other soil properties. These outcomes provide necessary information that might be useful in the assessment of risk/deficiency associated with the heavy metals in agricultural soils of the study region. It emphasizes the necessity of soil constituent evaluation before crop cultivation to attain sustainable farming practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health status of low vision (LV) patients is not a routine evaluation. This study was carried out to determine the mental health status among LV patient using Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) Scale questionnaires. A total of 100 LV patients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Standard LV assessment and mental health screening using DASS-21 and HAD Scale questionnaires were administered. The mean age of the subjects was 62.77±9.15 years old. There were 63% Malays, followed by 26% Chinese and 11% Indians. The mean visual acuity of the subjects was 0.45±0.24 LogMAR. Results showed the mean score for depression and anxiety for HAD scale questionnaire were 3.11±3.35 and 2.85±3.21, respectively. The mean score for depression, anxiety and stress for DASS questionnaire were 4.83±6.90, 3.58±3.79 and 6.18±6.92, respectively. The mean scores fell into the normal range classification of severity on both HAD scale and DASS. The HAD Scale showed that 12% of the subjects experienced depression and 8% experienced anxiety while the DASS showed that 7% had depression, 17% had anxiety and 24% experienced stress. These findings illustrate that the mental health of the LV patients can be affected due to visual impairment. In conclusion, the mental health status of LV patients can be screened objectively using DASS-21 and HAD Scale questionnaire. Understanding the mental health status of LV patients will enable us to provide better LV assessment and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food preferences play an important role in the diet of the poor. Increasing the supply of unappealing foods is not likely to effectively solve the problem of malnutrition. Improved income is more likely to remedy malnutrition than are categorical programs aimed at providing protein or calories. (Author/GC)

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. In India, they account for the third most important cause of maternal mortality. The objectives of this study were to evaluate maternal and perinatal outcome and complications in cases with Gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia without severe symptoms and pre-eclampsia with severe symptoms and eclampsia. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted over a period of 6 months in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, tertiary health care centre at King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam. A total of 520 pregnant women with hypertension were enrolled in this study with inclusion and exclusion criteria. Necessary information such as detailed clinical and obstetric history, clinical examination, investigation and fetal outcome was noted by using preformed proforma. Data was entered and analysed by using MS EXCEL. RESULTS: 62.30 % of cases were in the age group of 20-25 yrs, nearly 67.69% were primigravidae and the majority were referred from peripheral hospitals. Liver function tests were deranged in 12.11% of the patients and 6.5% had abnormal renal function tests. 30.96%of the cases had a preterm delivery and 7.1% of the babies needed NICU admission. There were 28 neonatal deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Accessible Healthcare and Health education and awareness regarding antenatal checkups for all women lead to early detection of pre-eclampsia. Prompt treatment and management of its complications will certainly improve the maternal and fetal outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a multiwavelength study of the extended green object, G12.42+0.50, in this paper. The associated ionized, dust, and molecular components of this source are studied in detail employing various observations at near-, mid- and far-infrared, submillimetre, and radio wavelengths. Radio continuum emission mapped at 610 and 1390 MHz, using the Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope, India, advocates for a scenario of coexistence of an UC H  ii region and an ionized thermal jet possibly powered by the massive young stellar object, IRAS 18079-1756, with an estimated spectral type of B1-B0.5. Shock-excited lines of H2 and [Fe  ii ], as seen in the near-infrared spectra obtained with UKIRT-UIST, lend support to this picture. Cold dust emission shows a massive clump of mass 1375 M⊙ enveloping G12.42+0.50. Study of the molecular gas kinematics using the MALT90 and JCMT archival data unravels the presence of both infall activity and large-scale outflow suggesting an early stage of massive star formation in G12.42+0.50. A network of filamentary features are also revealed merging with the massive clump, mimicking a hub-filament layout. Velocity structure along these indicates bulk inflow motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the origin, quality, composition, and trophic state of sedimentary organic matter (SOM) in core samples collected from three zones (Munambam, Vypin, Chettuva) of Central Kerala, India. The SOM exhibited enhanced levels for carbohydrate (CHO) followed by protein (PRT) and lipid (LPD); and phytopigment in the sediment followed the trend: Pheophytin (Pheo) > Carotenoid (carotend) > Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) > Chlorophyll-b (Chl-b) > Chlorophyll-c (Chl-c). The low PRT: CHO ratio indicated a large amount of nonliving or aged organic matter in the sedimentary environment. Whereas the low Chl-a: Pheo ratio interprets the abundance of dead plant materials in the sediments. Correlation matrix showed strong association between organic matter and clay fraction of sediment. Furthermore, the strong interrelationships between biochemical components and chloropigments in all the zones suggested that SOM is strictly connected to phytodetritus deposition. Vypin zone near Vallarpadam Container Terminal revealed the presence of high biopolymeric carbon content. Besides, the PRT: CHO > 1 reflected the eutrophic condition at the same site but the low PRT: CHO ratio in the remaining stations displays the oligotrophic nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: As there is a global increase in the number of people with obesity world-wide, there is an increasing need for estimation of body composition especially, the calculation of Body Fat (BF) percentage for treatment and prevention of obesity. Hence, the present study deals with the estimation of BF percentage using three methods. Aim: To compare the percentage of BF obtained by bioelectrical impedance method with percentage BF obtained by two other methods, {Skin-fold Thickness Measurements (STM) and Body Mass Index (BMI)}, in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted on 50 healthy male subjects of the age group 25-55 years in a tertiary care hospital in Rajamahendravaram, Andhra Pradesh, India. BF percent measured using Karada scan HBF-701, compared with percentage BF as calculated by Siri equation (from the sum of skin fold thickness measured at four places-Triceps, Biceps, Suprailiac and Subscapular areas) and percentage BF calculated from BMI. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 20 and MS-Excel-2007 by Pearson Correlation Coefficient test and ANOVA. Results: Mean value of percent BF assessed by bioelectrical impedance was 18.27±3.32, mean BF percentage from Siri equation was 23.33±2.75 and mean BF from BMI was 19.55±3.22 the results showed significant difference in percent BF by different methods. Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) underestimated BF when compared to other two methods. There was a statistically significant positive co-relation between Karada scan and BMI (r is 0.336, p is 0.017). Conclusion: According to the results of the study, we can conclude that bioelectrical impedance analyser underestimated BF percentage when compared to other two methods (skinfold thickness measurements and BMI) though there was a positive correlation between BF measurements by BIA and other two methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Unlike in adults, diagnosis of TB can be challenging in children, as signs and symptoms of paediatric TB can be very non-specific and similar to other common childhood chest infections, which may lead to under or delayed diagnosis of TB disease. In spite of the increasing availability of rapid high-sensitivity diagnostics in public and private sectors, majority of paediatric TB cases are empirically diagnosed, without laboratory confirmation. To address these diagnostic challenges, World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended upfront Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) testing for the diagnosis of TB in paediatric presumptive pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB) cases. However, in spite of the increasing availability of rapid high-sensitivity diagnostics, a significant gap exists in its application with Xpert being rarely used as an upfront diagnostic among patients presumed to have TB. Under an ongoing paediatric project since April 2014, which provided free-of-cost upfront Xpert testing, several low-cost outreach and education interventions were undertaken to increase the diagnostic uptake by different providers catering to the paediatric population, thereby increasing adherence to global guidance. Methods: Providers catering to paediatric population in the project cities were systematically mapped and contacted using different outreach strategies. The focus of outreach efforts was to increase provider literacy and increase their awareness of the availability of free rapid diagnostic services with the goal of changing their diagnostic approaches. Results: From April 2014 to June 2016, more than 5,700 providers/facilities were mapped and 3,670 of them were approached. The number of providers/facilities engaged under the project increased more than 10-fold (43 in April, 2014 to 466 in June, 2016), with significant increase in project uptake, both from public and private sector. Overall 42,238 paediatric presumptive TB cases were enrolled in the project, across the four cities. Over the project period, quarterly diagnostic uptake and paediatric TB cases detection rates increased more than two-fold. TB detection rates were similar in patients from public and private sectors. Conclusions: Ongoing efforts in scaling up new rapid diagnostics involves significant investments. These efforts need to be complemented with proactive provider engagement to ensure provider-literacy and awareness, for maximizing impact of this scale-up. The current project demonstrated the usefulness of outreach and education interventions for the effective uptake of newer diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture planning plays a significant growth and food security of an agro-based country like India. In this Review we present a comprehensive and critical survey on current challenges and methodologies applied for various image processing and Machine learning approaches on variety of crops in their productivity increase, considering the following measures: Early detection/recognition of crop diseases, diagnosing methods and crop selection method in yield prediction. This paper presents an overview of existing reported techniques useful in detection of diseases in variety of crops. Finally we identify the challenges and some opportunities for future developments in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many people come to memory clinic for memory problems, most of them for the fear of developing dementia. Majority of such subjects are normal however a sizable number show cognitive decline on Neuro-psychological tests. Aim and objectives: The aim of this study was to find out the incidence of normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment and dementia in patients attending Memory Clinic of Gandhi Hospital with forgetfulness. Materials and methods: Patients attending Neurology OPD with memory complaints were initially screened for any neurological deficit by a neurologist. Then a Psychologist assessed cognition with Neuro-psychological tests. A total of 1894 patients attending the memory clinic from January 2007 to June 2015 were included in the study. Results: Normal cognition was seen in 62% (n=1,166) and were labeled as Worried Well. Another 17% (n=328) were with borderline problems in cognition and were categorized as Mild Cognitive Impairment and the remaining 21% (n=400) were diagnosed with abnormal cognition and diagnosed as dementia. Atherosclerotic risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, smoking and alcoholism were higher in the subjects who had abnormal results on neurocognitive tests. Conclusion: Many patients seek medical help for forgetfulness and fear of developing dementia. Majority of them have normal cognition on neuropsychological tests. Patients having abnormality on cognitive evaluation also have atherosclerotic risk factors. Dementia was detected in 23% of patients attending Memory Clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Indian babies are characterised by the 'thin-fat phenotype' which comprises a 'muscle-thin but adipose' body composition compared with European babies. This body phenotype is of concern because it is associated with an increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We examined whether the 'thin-fat phenotype' persists through early childhood, comparing Indian children with white Caucasians in the UK at birth, infancy and childhood, using comparable measurement protocols. Methods We used data from two cohorts, the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study (N=631) and the Southampton Women's Survey (N=2643). Measurements of weight, head circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, height, triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness were compared at birth, 1, 2, 3 and 6 years of age. SD scores were generated for the Pune children, using the Southampton children as a reference. Generalised estimating equations were used to examine the changes in SD scores across the children's ages. Results The Indian children were smaller at birth in all body measurements than the Southampton children and became relatively even smaller from birth to 2 years, before 'catching up' to some extent at 3 years, and more so by 6 years. The deficit for both skinfolds was markedly less than for other measurements at all ages; triceps skinfold showed the least difference between the two cohorts at birth, and subscapular skinfold at all ages after birth. Conclusions The 'thin-fat phenotype' previously found in Indian newborns, remains through infancy and early childhood. Despite being shorter and lighter than UK children, Indian children are relatively adipose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the spatial distribution of various organochlorine insecticides (OCIs) and heavy metals in both sediment and a bivalve,Villorita cyprinoidesvar.Cochinensis, collected from three pristine areas of Lake Vembanad. The detected concentrations of OCIs in the bivalve and sediment are in the order DDT > Heptachlor > BHC and BHC > DDD > heptachlor, respectively. However the DDT concentration (28.5 ng/g) in the bivalve at Chambakkara exceeded the limit suggested by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program (NWQAP) and indicated an anthropogenic input source for the parent DDT. The maximum potential contamination indices for Zn and Ni in the bivalve were 267.8 mg/kg and 22.3 mg/kg, respectively. The Enrichment Factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values of sediment indicated that Cd showed high pollution status and the Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor value of heavy metals suggested that Zn, Cu, and Cd were bioaccumulated in the bivalve's tissue. The concentrations of Zn and Cd were above the threshold levels and regarded as harmful according to the international standard for metals in mollusc compiled by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Therefore, they create great health risk for mussel consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Introduction: Young adulthood is a stressful transition period that may increase the risk for disturbed eating, especially for college students. The prevalence of eating disorders (ED) in this part of the world (South East Asia) is lower than that of Western countries but appears to be increasing. There are very limited studies on Eating Disorders in India. So, we conducted this study to determine the prevalence of eating disorders. Aim: To find out the prevalence of eating disorders among college students of Bagalkot city. Methodology: A Cross sectional study was conducted among 489 students from eight colleges in Bagalkot city. A pre tested, semi structured questionnaires were used and BMI were noted. Results were tabulated using Microsoft excel 2007 and chi square tests used to find the association. Results: In the present study 65.85% were girls and 34.15% were boys. Majority (31.09%) belong to class III socio-economic class (SEC) and 89.78% reside at hostel. The prevalence of study participants with disturbed eating attitude and serious ED was 12.68% and 2.86% respectively. Among ED, two third (78.57%) were more than 21yrs old (p<0.001), maximum among female( 92.86%) (p=0.03), more than one fifth (28.57%) are medical college students and majority (71.43%) were from urban background(p<0.001). ED was more prevalent (64.29% ) among class I SEC (p< 0.001). The risk of ED was for female (OR=0.14, 95%CL-0.01-1.10), urban background (OR=2.3, 95%CL-0.71-7.46) and statistically significant for students staying away from home (OR=13.7, 95%CL-4.5-41.4) Conclusions: Eating disorder is strongly correlated with the urban background and higher socio economic status. Awareness regarding eating disorders should be emphasized among youth, parents and public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Healthcare workers (HCW) are prone for accidental Needle Stick Injuries. Inspite of health education and interventions for prevention, needle stick injuries are still common. Methodology: We reviewed the surveillance data of NSI over a period of 2 years (March 2009 - Feb 2011) to identify the health groups affected, types of needles used, mechanisms of NSI, pattern of post-exposure prophylaxis and the complications. Results: 118 HCW reported the injuries. Among them were 42 (35%) nurses, 22 (19%) nursing interns/ students, Laboratory technicians 21 (18%), Cleaning staff 14 (12%), Medical interns 12 (10%) and Doctors 07 (06%). The devices mainly responsible for Needle Stick Injuries were hollow bore needles (n=90, 78%), solid 16 (17%) and others 4 (5%). Almost all injuries were caused during blood collection procedure and de-capping or re-capping of the needles. Post exposure prophylaxis for HCW's who reported injuries was provided. Subsequent follow up for Human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus was negative except for one health care worker who was positive for Hepatitis B Surface Antigen(HBsAg). Conclusion: Proper education and appropriate waste disposal of the sharps are necessary to prevent Needle stick Injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first environmental isolation from India of Cryptococcus gattii, genotype amplified fragment length polymorphism 5 (AFLP5), which is one of the rarely reported genotypes of this pathogen. It originated from decayed wood inside a trunk hollow of Manilkara hexandra, a native tree in Delhi. We investigated 101 isolates of C. gattii, originating from 556 samples of decayed wood inside trunk hollows of 311 heterogeneous tree species and their surrounding soil. Of these, only a solitary isolate proved to be AFLP5, the remainder belonged to AFLP4. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed a low MIC90 (0.25 μg ml−1) of the new azoles posaconazole and isavuconazole for these environmental isolates. Genotype AFLP5 has been mainly reported from environmental sources in Colombia and from clinical sources in California (USA), where it seems to be endemic. Phylogenetic analysis of multi-locus sequence typing data showed that the Indian AFLP5 C. gattii isolate had a distinct profile compared with a cluster of mainly Colombian and Californian C. gattii AFLP5 isolates. As molecular typing of human pathogenic fungi is still in its infancy and not accessible to many countries, our current knowledge cannot be taken as reflective of the true geographic distribution of C. gattii AFLP5 or its other rarely reported molecular types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mass drug administration (MDA), which means once in-a-year administration of diethyl carbamazine (DEC) tablet to all people (excluding children under 2 years, pregnant women and severely ill persons) in identified endemic areas. OBJECTIVES: 1. To study the compliance of MDA and its determinants in rural areas of Bilagi taluk. 2. To study the reasons for non compliance STUDY DESIGN: A cross sectional study STUDY SETTING: Rural areas of Bilagi taluk belonging to Bagalkot district, Karnataka state, identified as endemic areas of Filariasis where MDA 2008 was undertaken SAMPLE SIZE: 10% of families from each cluster totaling to 5512 population from 30 clusters. SAMPLING METHOD : Two stage sampling method (stratified and 30 cluster sampling method) RESULTS: 77.34% of study population consumed the DEC and 22.66% did not consume DEC. 97% of the children in the age group of 6-14 years consumed DEC and 88% of the children in the age group 2-5 years consumed the DEC. Compliance in age group of 15-60 years was 73%. Compliance in females was 79% as compared to males 75.56%. 88.27% of individuals were motivated by the head of the family who consumed DEC. Compliance of DEC consumption was significantly higher when distributed by teacher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Few equations for calculating body-fat percentage (BF%) from field methods have been developed in South-Asian children. The objective of this study was to assess agreement between BF% derived from primary reference methods and that from skinfold equations and bio-impedance analysis (BIA) in Indian children.Subjects/Methods:We measured BF% in two groups of Indian children. In Pune, 570 rural children aged 6-8 years underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. In Mysore 18O in doubly labeled water was administered to 59 urban children aged 7-9 years. We conducted BIA at 50 kHz and anthropometry, including sub-scapular and triceps skinfold thicknesses. We used the published equations of Wickramasinghe, Shaikh, Slaughter and Dezenburg to calculate BF% from anthropometric data and the manufacturer's equation for BIA measurements. We assessed agreement with values derived from DXA and doubly labeled water using Bland-Altman analysis.Results:Children were light and thin on average compared with international standards. There was poor agreement between the reference BF% values and those from all equations. Assumptions for Bland-Altman analysis were not met for Wickramasinghe, Shaikh and Slaughter equations. The Dezenberg equations under-predicted BF% for most children (mean difference in Pune −13.4, LOA −22.7, −4.0 and in Mysore −7.9, LOA (−13.7 and −2.2). The mean bias for the BIA equation in Pune was +5.0% and in Mysore +1.95%, and the limits of agreement were wide; −5.0, 15.0 and -7.8, 11.7 respectively.Conclusions:Currently available skinfold equations do not accurately predict BF% in Indian children. We recommend development of BIA equations in this population using a four-compartment model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insights regarding the interpretation of Mou Zongsan on the Buddhist doctrine of the tãthagatagarbha in China and his contribution to the understanding of the tãthagatagarbha theory. He cites that the analysis of Mou has similarities with the interpretation of the rNying ma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. He adds that the comparison of the two versions of the doctrine reveals that it was composed by someone from northern India or Central Asia.

Taking advantage of the increased ray coverage due to seismicity following the 2004 December and 2005 March great earthquakes, an improved iterative regional–global tomographic method was applied to the Sumatra–Andaman and adjacent regions to better constrain the 3-D mantle velocity heterogeneity in the region. Velocity and hypocentral parameters were iteratively perturbed to sharpen the image of the subducted slab. Several iterations were performed, and the effects of source mislocation were considered in the iterative process, an issue usually neglected in global tomography. We find that source relocation between iterations increases the amplitudes of slab anomalies and sharpens the definition of slab geometry beyond what can be achieved by a fixed-source iterative inversion alone. In addition, extensive restoration tests of synthetic data were conducted that emphasize enhancements obtained by our iterative process. These tests show significant increases in amplitude and decreased smearing of synthetic slab features. Thus, when applied to the real data, similar enhancements are inferred in the resulting model, which better illustrates the complex slab geometry in the upper-mantle and transition zone regions along the Sumatra, Andaman and Burma subduction zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency is common in Indians and a major contributor to hyperhomocysteinemia, which may influence fetal growth, risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this paper was to study the effect of physiological doses of B12 and folic acid on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration.Subjects/Methods:A cluster randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, 2 × 3 factorial trial, using the family as the randomization unit. B12 was given as 2 or 10 μg capsules, with or without 200 μg folic acid, forming six groups (B0F0, B2F0, B10F0, B0F200, B2F200 and B10F200). Plasma tHcy concentration was measured before and after 4 and 12 months of supplementation.Results:From 119 families in the Pune Maternal Nutrition Study, 300 individuals were randomized. There was no interaction between B12 and folic acid (P=0.14) in relation to tHcy concentration change and their effects were analyzed separately: B0 vs. B2 vs. B10; and F0 vs. F200. At 12 months, tHcy concentration reduced by a mean 5.9 (95% CI: −7.8, −4.1) μmol/l in B2, and by 7.1 (95% CI: −8.9, −5.4) μmol/l in B10, compared to nonsignificant rise of 1.2 (95% CI: −0.5, 2.9) μmol/l in B0. B2 and B10 did not differ significantly. In F200, tHcy concentration decreased by 4.8 (95% CI: −6.3, −3.3) μmol/l compared to 2.8 (95% CI: −4.3, −1.2) μmol/l in F0.Conclusion:Daily oral supplementation with physiological doses of B12 is an effective community intervention to reduce tHcy. Folic acid (200 μg per day) showed no additional benefit, neither had any unfavorable effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the morphological characteristics of deciduous teeth of children in Chennai and Hyderabad, by establishing normal data on the mesiodistal and buccolingual crown dimensions in 3-5 year old children. Materials and Methods: Study casts of 200 children (100 boys and 100 girls) from two groups (Chennai and Hyderabad) were used in this study. Digital caliper was used to measure the mesiodistal and buccolingual dimensions. Results and Conclusion: Significant differences were found in the mean values of mesiodistal and buccolingual diameters of primary teeth, in which boys generally had larger crown diameters than girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]