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A diagnosis of autism typically depends on clinical assessments by highly trained professionals. This high resource demand poses a challenge in low-resource settings. Digital assessment of neurodevelopmental symptoms by non-specialists provides a potential avenue to address this challenge. This cross-sectional case-control field study establishes proof of principle for such a digital assessment. We developed and tested an app, START, that can be administered by non-specialists to assess autism phenotypic domains (social, sensory, motor) through child performance and parent reports. N = 131 children (2-7 years old; 48 autistic, 43 intellectually disabled and 40 non-autistic typically developing) from low-resource settings in Delhi-NCR, India were assessed using START in home settings by non-specialist health workers. The two groups of children with neurodevelopmental disorders manifested lower social preference, greater sensory interest and lower fine-motor accuracy compared to their typically developing counterparts. Parent report further distinguished autistic from non-autistic children. Machine-learning analysis combining all START-derived measures demonstrated 78% classification accuracy for the three groups. Qualitative analysis of the interviews with health workers and families of the participants demonstrated high acceptability and feasibility of the app. These results provide feasibility, acceptability and proof of principle for START, and demonstrate the potential of a scalable, mobile tool for assessing neurodevelopmental conditions in low-resource settings.

Adult learning involves the analysis and synthesis of knowledge to become competent, which cannot be assessed only by traditional assessment tool and didactic learning methods. Stimulation of higher domains of cognitive learning needs to be inculcated to reach a better understanding of the subject rather than traditional assessment tools that relies primarily on rote learning. So, there is need for an alternative assessment tool. Hence, we conducted a study where we used case-based examination methodology. This study was conducted on 226 1st year MBBS students in Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi (India). Based on their compiled internal assessment marks according to monthly formative assessment, students were categorized into 3 groups (I: 0-7; II: 8-14; III: 15-20) marks out of 20 marks respectively. Two sets of question papers were set by three examiners, on the same topics carrying 50 marks each. The first set was based on traditional assessment tool (Paper-A) with recall questions and second set on case-based assessment method (Paper-B). Out of 226 students, 146 were males and 80 were females. For all groups, marks (mean ± SD) in Paper B were found to be higher (18.40 ± 4.29, 30.01 ± 4.12, and 40.33 ± 1.15) as compared to paper A (10.88 ± 4.34, 21.96 ± 7.34, and 31.50 ± 6.94) respectively. However, we found that there was significant (p < 0.001) difference in group I & II, whereas with group III, difference was found to be insignificant. Hence, we concluded that students performed better in case-based assessment rather than traditional method due to their direct involvement. Thus, for better memory and deeper learning the subjects can be assessed by case-based assessment method.

Purpose: With the advent of the COVID-19 and increased access to Internet technologies, students tend to use e-learning technologies for improved academic results, and since then, improving student engagement in a virtual space became a difficult task for educational institutions globally. The present study aims to examine the effect of key e-learning factors (i.e. perception, hedonic motivation (HM), usefulness, empowerment and attitude) on student engagement among open and distance learners (ODLs) of the central region of India. Design/methodology/approach: Simple random sampling was applied to collect data from ODLs of Chhattisgarh. ODLs who are using e-learning platforms for at least one year were chosen to be the participant in the study. The authors collected 1,137 responses using both online and offline modes of collection. Findings: The test results indicated that usefulness, HM and attitude factors were found to have a significant relationship with student engagement in e-learning, while perception and empowerment variables did not contribute to the engagement of students. Originality/value: The present study is novel in its approach. It clarifies the key factors to student engagement which might increase the students' level of involvement in e-learning technologies, if these factors are addressed tactfully by the educational institutions or concerned administration.

Purpose: Students' perception towards learning technologies in the disruptive times like coronavirus disease (2019) COVID-19 is what the educational institutes are striving to know so that the educational institutes could provide the best learning experiences to students. The present study attempts to identify the technology-enhanced learning (TEL) factors (i.e. informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and informational quality) with the mediation effect of perceived benefits on student satisfaction to TEL amongst non-technical students of different college/universities at Chhattisgarh state. Design/methodology/approach: Purposive sampling technique with "criterion variable" was applied to collect responses from 600 participants. Students, who are enrolled in non-technical courses at different colleges/universities, were participated in the present study. The data collection process was completed during April--November 2019. Findings: The results revealed that perceived benefits to TEL were significantly and positively mediated between all the TEL factors (i.e. information quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding) and student satisfaction to TEL. Originality/value: The present study itself is a novel study by taking TEL factors such as informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, self-efficacy, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding by considering perceived benefits as mediator to examine the influence on student satisfaction to TEL.

Purpose: Technology-enhanced learning (TEL), undoubtedly, creates a big difference in higher education students' knowledge and growth, which helps them become globally competitive in the job market eventually. The present study aims to investigate the effect of various factors, i.e. informational quality, compatibility, resource availability, subjective norms, subject interest, institutional branding and self-efficacy on students' adoption intention to TEL enrolled in different government and private educational institutes in Chhattisgarh state. Design/methodology/approach: The primary data were collected from 600 students from different universities and colleges using purposive sampling technique with "criterion sampling". Hierarchical multiple regression (stepwise) analysis was used on the collected data. Findings: Results concluded that factors, i.e. compatibility, resource availability, subjective norms, subject interest and institutional branding are significantly and positively influencing students' adoption intention to TEL in Chhattisgarh, whereas self-efficacy and informational quality of TEL did not contribute significant effect for students' adoption intention. Originality/value: There is a lack of research in the knowledge domain, especially in the field of TEL, in the state of Chhattisgarh. The different variables taken in the present study, such as informational quality, self-efficacy, institutional branding, subjective norms, resource availability, compatibility and subject interest of TEL, are the first of its kind where these variables are being examined on the students' adoption intention to TEL.

Purpose: Providing quality education with the help of technologies in order to create global competitiveness among the students is the current trend in the education field. This research attempts to investigate following objectives: (1) the effect of students' perceived benefits and adoption intention of technology-enhanced learning (TEL) on their satisfaction; (2) the effect of students' perceived benefits of TEL on their adoption intention of TEL; (3) the mediating and moderating effect of students' perceived benefits of TEL in the link between students' adoption intention and satisfaction to TEL. Design/methodology/approach: The primary data were collected from 600 undergraduate and postgraduate students, particularly those who are using TEL for at least one year. The authors used purposive sampling technique with "criterion variable". Findings: Results indicated that students' perceived benefits and adoption intention of TEL have significant and positive influence on their satisfaction. Direct effect was also found between perceived benefits and adoption intention of students. Authors also concluded that mediating and moderating effect of students' perceived benefits of TEL in the link between students' adoption intention and satisfaction for TEL was found significant and positive. Originality/value: There is a huge lack of empirical studies available in the knowledge domain explaining the significance and implication of TEL in higher education in the state of Chhattisgarh, India.

Child malnutrition remains a pervasive problem in India though there are significant improvements in several health indicators with country's consistent economic growth. Along with other factors, maternal autonomy is considered to be critical in influencing health outcome of a child. This paper attempts to examine the determinants of nutritional measures of children under age five with the focus to the role of mother's autonomy in India. There are studies which link characteristics of mother, like education, age, with nutrition of her children. But maternal autonomy is a complex subject as this variable is not tangible. Women's autonomy in daily life is more likely to result in their better healthcare which in turn influences children's birth weight and infant nutrition. We used nationally representative India Human Development Survey 2004–05 (IHDS- 1) and 2011–12 (IHDS 2) data for the analysis. This paper studies the association between maternal autonomy and childhood stunting, the indicator of chronic malnutrition, and the risk of having a stunted child. We have also used the panel data using both waves of IHDS and used mothers fixed effect model to evaluate the impact of maternal autonomy. The autonomy index is created using four dimensions-women's decision making, freedom of movement, financial autonomy and attitude toward domestic violence. The two dimensions of autonomy—physical autonomy, financial autonomy—remain significant determinants for childhood stunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discovered a previously unknown population of Isoetes at Badami in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state, India in October 2022 which is determined to be I. bilaspurensis. This represents a new record for the Deccan plateau of Southern India and a significant disjunction from its previously known distribution in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Central India. In light of this additional information a revised, detailed description of I. bilaspurensis is presented. Morphological comparisons with closely related taxa, its conservation status, and the phytogeographic implications of its distribution are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the trend of seasonal rainfall in the context of climate change is crucial for the maintenance of regional water resources management. The present study examines the seasonal rainfall trend in the Mahi River basin, India by using the wavelet transform and clustering method. Daily gridded rainfall data (0.25° × 0.25° spatial resolution) for 51 grids from 1970 to 2020 have been taken from India Meteorological Department (IMD). The monthly, seasonal, and annual statistic has been analyzed for 51 years. We have also plotted the relationship between precipitation trend–elevation. After that, homogeneous precipitation regions are delineated with hierarchical clustering analysis. Results reveal that seasonal precipitation over the basin clusters into 4 subregions for monsoon and 3 subregions for winter, pre-monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons. After the regionalization of the subregions, the periodicity and the inter-seasonal relationship were analyzed using continuous wavelet transform (CWT). In addition, it was clear that the cross-correlation between pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons had a significant periodic change in the last 30 years over the basin. The basin is located adjacent to the Arabian sea, which makes the basin more sensitive to a natural event like ENSO, it can cause changes in ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation patterns that affect precipitation patterns during the study period. It is expected that some natural phenomena like monsoon variability, low-level jet streams, and many more also have an impact on the rainfall patterns of the basin. Thus, the understanding of seasonal precipitation variation provides a practical reference for water resources management, agricultural planning, and a forecast of precipitation in different regions and river basins of India which may give a better climate change indication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Female agricultural workers contribute to 37% of the total agricultural workforce in India, however, most self-propelled machinery is designed for male agricultural workers. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine the impact of the ergo-refined operator's workplace on various aspects of operator performance and comfort, including actuating force, posture, and physiological parameters. METHODS: Experiments were carried out in real field conditions using a full factorial randomized design. Twelve female operators participated in the study, and measurements were taken for control lever actuating force, operator posture, heart rate, and other relevant parameters. RESULTS: The ergo-refined operator's workplace intervention resulted in significant reductions in actuating force for various control levers, angles of joints, working heart rate (WHR), oxygen consumption rate (OCR), muscle load, and whole-body vibration (WBV) acceleration. These reductions were observed under different operating conditions. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the ergo-refined operator's workplace is effective in enhancing operator comfort and reducing physical strain during the operation of riding type self-propelled machines. It contributes to improved safety, comfort, and operational efficiency for operators working in field conditions. ANOVA and MANOVA analyses confirmed the positive impact of operating conditions and engine speed on the measured parameters when using the ergo-refined operator's workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome is a common behavioural disorder of geriatric dogs prevailing in the world including India. The etiology is not confirmed yet, however, the main pathological change is age-related and progressive amyloid protein deposition in the brains of affected dogs. The syndrome usually goes unnoticed due to unawareness among caretakers and non-specific clinical signs such as altered behaviour and cognition. When detected early, environmental enrichment, nutritive diet and supportive therapeutic agents can be beneficial in procrastinating the disorder and improving the quality of life of the animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we identify factors which improve the quality of technical education using the data from World Bank's Technical Education Quality Improvement Programme (TEQIP) in India. We evaluate the success of TEQIP in improving the quality of technical education in the country. Our findings show significant impact of this intervention on the quality of the technical education. The design, strategy, and implementation of TEQIP have crucial lessons for developing countries who want to build their technical education sector for rapid economic growth.

Objective: In India research on health issues of transgender populations are very recent and limited though transgenders are an important sub-group of the population. Hence, this study attempts to understand the state of transgender health research in India through a systematic review of literature. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using bibliometric analysis. Initially, 132 studies were identified, and only 37 articles meeting selection criteria were subsequently selected for review using PRISMA 2020 guidelines. The research landscape was examined with tools such as Biblioshiny, Arc-GIS (10.1), and Vos-Viewer. Results: The review highlights that existing literature on transgender health in India mainly focuses on sexual health while neglecting their overall health status. It also emphasises the skewed geographical coverage of these studies. Based on the analysis, the interdisciplinary nature of the subject is illustrated in a three-field plot and through term co-occurrence. These indicate the need for culture-specific gender-affirmative services promoting a holistic approach to comprehend the health of transgender populations in India. Conclusion: In India research on transgender health is lopsided and at an initial stage. There is a need to develop diverse research focus on various health issues of transgenders that should also be geographically representative. Future in-depth research on this subject will enable optimizing resource allocation, developing effective gender-inclusive policies, and support holistic planning for better health status of transgender people in India, and other countries with similar socio-cultural background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal power generation is economical in the current scenario, but it is a water-intensive process, resulting in a high-water footprint. In this research, life cycle water use (LCWU) was assessed for three coal-based thermal power plant in India. The LCWU was found to be in the range of 2.5 to 3.5 L-kWh−1. The results of the LCWU of coal-based thermal power plants in India are higher than the global average of 1.75 L-kWh−1. In order to reduce the dependency on water, air-cooled condenser (ACC) with a novel approach of reducing temperature of air before entering into condenser is purposed using vapour absorption chillers. A 300 MW thermal power plant located in the South India region is chosen to illustrate the application of the proposed system. Initially, waste heat from flue gas is used to run a vapour absorption chiller, and finally a solar-assisted vapour compression chiller is used. Also, in order to utilize large coastal lines in India, an alternate approach of sea water cooling-based thermal power generation is investigated. A 2 MW steam turbine plant utilizing deep sea water is designed and analysed. In seawater cooling system the condenser temperature is reduced, increasing efficiency by 1.9% and power output by 133 kW. It resulted in power generation with multiple benefits, including cooling, desalinated water, and increased plant efficiency. The outcomes of this study provide information on water use in Indian thermal power plants along with its comparative assessment. A study of ACCs and seawater-cooled condensers is also an opportunity to reduce the life-cycle water use in thermal power plants in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With COVID-19 paralyzing street food businesses, street food vendors are trying to sustain their operations. The current study helps them by identifying the importance of five prominent stimuli viz. authenticity, quality, staff-service, ambience, and value for money in developing desire for street food in individuals in India. Furthermore, the study contributes by identifying the role of street food nostalgia (as a mediator) and perceived risk of COVID-19, age, and gender (as moderators) on the direct impact of each stimulus on the desire for street food. The study uses partial least squares path modelling to validate the hypotheses using SmartPLS. The findings are comparable to other developing Asian countries, as the proposed associations are validated with perceptual responses from three prominent cities and well-known street food destinations in India. The study showed the relative importance of the five-stimuli based on the stimulus-organism-response framework in developing a desire for street food. The findings suggest partial to complete mediation of street food nostalgia across the three samples. Lastly, the perceived risk of COVID-19 along with age and gender emerged as prominent moderators for many of the direct effects of stimuli on desires for street food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is an unmet need for high-quality data for Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in the Indian population. Indian study group on partial nephrectomy (ISGPN) is a consortium of Indian centers contributing to the partial nephrectomy (PN) database. The current study is a descriptive analysis of perioperative and functional outcomes following RAPN. Methods: For this study, the retrospective ISGPN database was reviewed, which included patients who underwent RAPN for renal masses at 14 centers across India from September 2010 to September 2022. Demographic, clinical, radiological, perioperative, and functional data were collected and analyzed. Ethics approval was obtained from each of the participating centers. Results: In this study, 782 patients were included, and 69.7% were male. The median age was 53 years (interquartile range [IQR 44-62]), median operative time was 180 min (IQR 133-240), median estimated blood loss was 100 mL (IQR 50-200), mean warm ischemia time was 22.7 min and positive surgical margin rates were 2.5%. The complication rate was 16.2%, and most of them were of minor grade. Trifecta and pentafecta outcomes were attained in 61.4% and 60% of patients, respectively. Conclusions: This is the largest Indian multi-centric study using the Indian Robotic PN Collaborative database to evaluate the outcomes of robot assisted PN, and has proven its safety and efficacy in the management of renal masses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A diagnosis of autism typically depends on clinical assessments by highly trained professionals. This high resource demand poses a challenge in low-resource settings. Digital assessment of neurodevelopmental symptoms by non-specialists provides a potential avenue to address this challenge. This cross-sectional case-control field study establishes proof of principle for such a digital assessment. We developed and tested an app, START, that can be administered by non-specialists to assess autism phenotypic domains (social, sensory, motor) through child performance and parent reports. N = 131 children (2–7 years old; 48 autistic, 43 intellectually disabled and 40 non-autistic typically developing) from low-resource settings in Delhi-NCR, India were assessed using START in home settings by non-specialist health workers. The two groups of children with neurodevelopmental disorders manifested lower social preference, greater sensory interest and lower fine-motor accuracy compared to their typically developing counterparts. Parent report further distinguished autistic from non-autistic children. Machine-learning analysis combining all START-derived measures demonstrated 78% classification accuracy for the three groups. Qualitative analysis of the interviews with health workers and families of the participants demonstrated high acceptability and feasibility of the app. These results provide feasibility, acceptability and proof of principle for START, and demonstrate the potential of a scalable, mobile tool for assessing neurodevelopmental conditions in low-resource settings. Autism is diagnosed by highly trained professionals– but most autistic people live in parts of the world that harbour few or no such autism specialists and little autism awareness. So many autistic people go undiagnosed, misdiagnosed, and misunderstood. We designed an app (START) to identify autism and related conditions in such places, in an attempt to address this global gap in access to specialists. START uses computerised games and activities for children and a questionnaire for parents to measure social, sensory, and motor skills. To check whether START can flag undiagnosed children likely to have neurodevelopmental conditions, we tested START with children whose diagnoses already were known: Non-specialist health workers with just a high-school education took START to family homes in poor neighbourhoods of Delhi, India to work with 131 two-to-seven-year-olds. Differences between typically and atypically developing children were highlighted in all three types of skills that START assesses: children with neurodevelopmental conditions preferred looking at geometric patterns rather than social scenes, were fascinated by predictable, repetitive sensory stimuli, and had more trouble with precise hand movements. Parents' responses to surveys further distinguished autistic from non-autistic children. An artificial-intelligence technique combining all these measures demonstrated that START can fairly accurately flag atypically developing children. Health workers and families endorsed START as attractive to most children, understandable to health workers, and adaptable within sometimes chaotic home and family environments. This study provides a proof of principle for START in digital screening of autism and related conditions in community settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on women empowerment highlights a positive correlation between work and decision‐making power of women within families. On the contrary, the role of work opportunities in letting women achieve greater control over their lives, making them more independent is also well‐established. In this background, we explore the effect of women employment on different dimensions of women empowerment by using a nationally representative household survey data, the Indian Human Development Survey (IHDS‐II, 2011–12). As "empowerment" is unobservable, multi‐faceted and difficult to quantify, we model it by an index which aggregates the qualitative answers provided by a respondent. Due to the presence of an endogenous relation, we exploit sources of exogenous variations in employment through an instrumental variable (IV) setup. Following the literature, we identify IV as the level of transport infrastructure in the region where a woman resides. We find that the estimated coefficients are positive and statistically significant, remaining robust to changes in empowerment calculation. In the context of public initiatives aimed at improving female labour force participation and empowering women in India, our results show how policymakers can look beyond standard policies and take the help of transport‐related initiatives to improve employment and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing water scarcity and the demand for sustainable agriculture, precise estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for effective irrigation management, crop yield assessment, and equitable water distribution, particularly in semi-arid regions. In this study, a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) was used to validate the remote sensing-based ET model SETMI (Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface) in an irrigated maize-wheat cropping system in a semi-arid region at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Results obtained by the SETMI model depicted modeled surface energy fluxes compared well with LAS field data, showing a very high R2 (0.83–0.95) and NRMSE (8–29%). The SETMI model performed better in the case of the maize crop than the wheat crop in field experiments. Further, the SETMI model was employed at the regional level using high-resolution Sentinel-2 to estimate the regional water productivity of wheat crops over a semi-arid region in India. The estimated regional, seasonal wheat actual ET mainly ranged between 101 mm and 325 mm. The regional wheat water productivity varied from 0.9 kg m−3 to 2.20 kg m−3. Our research reveals that the SETMI model can give reliable estimates of regional wheat water productivity by examining its spatial and temporal fluctuations and facilitating the creation of regional benchmark values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is no information available in India regarding the fertigation schedule for the growth and development of indoor plant species suitable for indoor vertical gardening. The current investigations were conducted at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India with the objective to determine the optimum fertigation schedule of nutrient formulations for a successful installation of a vertical garden by using four indoor plant species Schefflera arboricola, Dracaena godseffiana, Aglaonema angustifolium and Philodendron selloum to make interior beautiful as well as to add cleaner air for healthy environment. These indoor plant species were grown in soilless media consisting of cocopeat, perlite and vermiculite in the ratio 3:1:1 with four concentrations of Hoagland nutrient solution (25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of Hoagland's solution) and the fifth concentration was self-composed nutrient formulation placed horizontally inside the rooms. Experimental design was factorial completely randomized design keeping three replications in each treatment. Plant growth and leaf nutrient accumulation was maximum when the plants were fertigated with 100 % of the Hoagland's solution (NF IV). Thus, based on their performance these indoor plant species were further planted for indoor vertical garden using fertigation schedule of NF IV. The order of performance of the species evaluated on the basis of growth, chlorophyll and nutrient accumulation were Aglaonema angustifolium >Schefflera arboricola> Philodendron selloum> Dracaena godseffiana. The accumulations of nutrients by ornamental plants were highly variant between species and this information could be used for further fertigation scheduling of indoor vertical gardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been little research conducted within developing nations examining the link between knowledge and diet-related perceptions and behaviors. In addition, prior investigations have rarely examined interrelationships between knowledge and other nutrition-related factors. Purpose: This study explored the relationship between nutrition knowledge, social/informational factors, and diet-related outcomes among Indian adults with multiple chronic conditions. Methods: A snowball sampling technique was employed to recruit individuals. Hierarchical regression analysis was employed to examine mediating and moderating relationships. Results: Results from a cross-sectional survey indicated that knowledge only predicted use among those reporting greater pressure/concern from close others. Furthermore, social support and social trust were found to moderate the relationship between knowledge and diet-related perceptions and behaviors. Discussion: Results suggest that social factors may play a critical role in moderating the impact of nutrition knowledge on diet-related perceptions and behaviors. Translation to Health Education Practice: Public Health Education interventions targeting developing nations should aim to maximize consumers' nutrition knowledge while identifying valued close others who can help encourage positive health action. Furthermore, Health Educators as well as government and local communities must engage in outreach efforts to reinforce or, if necessary, change public perceptions regarding the food industry.

We evaluate the impact of educational reforms starting from the mid-1990s in India on the school attendance rate of low-income rural children aged 6-14 compared to ineligible rural children, employing NSSO data from 1983 to 2004/2005. We estimate a triple difference model allowing for differential (linear) trends and find a positive causal effect of school reforms on the school attendance rate of rural low-income children, although somewhat stronger for girls than boys. For both girls and boys in these groups, the increase in attendance rate is driven by the 6-11 age category and by children of scheduled tribe or scheduled caste background.

Two species of Ceratosporella collected on leaf litter of Mohru Oak Quercus floribunda in Uttarakhand, India, are described herein and compared with closely allied species. They are Ceratosporella deviata and Ceratosporella cheiroidea. Among them, C. cheiroidea is newly recorded from India. Morphological descriptions, illustrations, and comments are provided for the aforementioned species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) remains a significant health concern, especially in regions like India, where its prevalence is on the rise. In response to this, we present a groundbreaking approach to CVD recognition using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) applied to an audio dataset containing heartbeats. Our study's primary objective was to detect CVD, with a particular focus on distinguishing between five distinct classes: normal, murmur, extra heart sound, artifact, and extrasystole. Our CNN model achieved an impressive 70% accuracy in classifying these heartbeat sounds. Importantly, for abnormal heartbeats, the model can accurately identify the type of anomaly and provide essential information on symptoms, treatments, and the urgency of seeking medical attention. In India, CVD poses a pressing health issue, with a high incidence of undiagnosed cases due to the limitations of traditional diagnostic methods, including their cost and time consumption. This study addresses the need for accessible, accurate, and rapid CVD diagnosis through an innovative approach. We employed a CNN architecture to process and classify audio heartbeat data from the Dangerous Heartbeat Dataset (DHD), implementing techniques such as data augmentation and cross-validation to optimize performance. The CNN model successfully classified heartbeat sounds into their respective categories and provided valuable insights for abnormal heartbeats, including symptom identification, treatment recommendations, and advice on seeking medical attention. This research has the potential to revolutionize CVD diagnosis by offering a non-invasive, cost-effective, and time-efficient method that can be widely accessible. The model's accuracy and ability to provide symptom and treatment guidance have the potential to reduce the burden on healthcare systems, leading to earlier interventions and improved patient outcomes. Future research in this field should focus on expanding the dataset and improving model generalization. Practical applications include integrating this technology into portable devices for early screening and enhancing telemedicine capabilities for rural and underserved areas. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CNN-based audio analysis can provide an accurate, accessible, and informative method for CVD detection, with the potential to transform the landscape of cardiovascular healthcare in India and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The disheartening reality sheds light on the tragic consequences that can arise from inaction and inefficiencies in maternal healthcare systems, often leading to devastating outcomes for mothers and their families. Among the multifaceted causes of maternal deaths, one deeply concerning aspect is the phenomenon of "maternal deaths due to delays". Objective: To explore the pervasive issue of maternal deaths due to delays, distance, different referrals highlighting the discrepancies in the system. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study done in selected district (Jabalpur, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Katni) of Jabalpur division of Madhya Pradesh, India for a period of 1 year from April 2021 to March 2022. A total of 68 maternal deaths were reviewed out of 324 total maternal deaths in Jabalpur division in 2019-2020. Results: Pathway analysis of the maternal deaths were drawn to illustrate the Referrals of the maternal deaths in various health care facilities. About 42(61%) of the deceased mothers were referred to two facilities. 17(25 %) and 3 (5%) of the deceased mothers were referred to third and fourth health facilities respectively. Major causes of the delays were identified was the No birth preparedness by the family/deceased mother, inadequate referral system and shortage of staff in the facilities, Lack of encouragement from relatives & community members to seek care. Conclusion: The delays require a multi-faceted approach involving improved healthcare infrastructure, increased access to skilled healthcare professionals, community education, removing financial barriers, promoting respectful and patient-centred care, and addressing cultural and societal norms that discourage timely care-seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The second wave of SAR Cov-2 Infection brought a new menace that was the escalation in the number of mucormycosis, which is a potentially life-threatening, opportunistic, invasive, fungal infection commonly called the "Black fungus". Objective: To find out the factors responsible for occurrence of mucormycosis and the pattern that have emerged in the Post SARS - CoV-19 infected cases admitted in tertiary care hospital of Central India. Material and methods: This descriptive Cross-sectional study was conducted in Government Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical college and hospital of Central India from May 2021 to June 2021. 96 Confirmed cases of mucormycosis were included in this study. The details about Demographical, Epidemiological, clinical data were retrieved by us through interview with patient or his relative and by going through the case sheets of the cases. Results: The mean age for the mucormycosis was among male is 52.68 ±11.13 years and among female it is 47.47±10.07years. 78% of study subjects were hospitalized for treatment while 22% received treatment at home. 72.40% had steroid intake, Mean duration of steroid therapy was 10.15±5.71 days. Mean duration between steroid therapy and appearance of mucormycosis as 14.21±9.1 while mean duration between Covid infection and mucor mycosis was found to be 19.71±9.84 days. Conclusion: Immunosuppression during Covid -19 treatment had catalyst effect on the development of mucormycosis. Early diagnosis and careful monitoring of immuno-compromised individuals is essential. Steroid and other immune- suppressive drugs should be given cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The term seizure is used to describe abnormal, uncontrolled paroxysmal electrical activity of brain, literature suggests that about 8 -10% of population may experience at least one episode of seizure. Neuroimaging studies like CT scan brain is recommended in adult patients with new onset seizures to determine the underlying cause, structural abnormality, and the possibility of recurrence. Because of its capacity to quickly rule out an intracranial haemorrhage or a tumour requiring immediate neurosurgical intervention, CT scan remains the first -line imaging technology in most acute care settings. Aims and Objectives: To Evaluate the CT scan study in new onset seizure and to identify a lesion in CT scan that can explain the seizure. Materials and methods: Eighty-five patients (age 18 and above) were studied in the outpatient and inpatient department of medicine of a tertiary care centre of central India from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2021. All patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were subjected to detailed clinical history, examination including neurological examination, and aetiology and characteristics of seizure were co related with CT scan findings. Results: The majority of patients were presented with focal seizures 55 (55%) and with generalised seizures 45(45%). Seizures are more prevalent in age 18 to 40. the prevalence of seizures was higher in males 60% than in females 40%. The abnormal CT scan findings were found in 50.6% cases where seizure were secondary to CVA infarct in 16.5%cases, whereas CVA IP bleed was noted in 10.6% ICSOL was noted in 16.6% cases, with tuberculoma and neurocysticercosis in 5.9% and 4.7% cases respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Incidence & prevalence of OPMDs & OSCC is increasing day by day, thereby escalating the burden of oral cancer in India. Oral cancer ranks in the top three of all cancers in India and is quickly becoming a health priority. This study aims to assess prevalence and associated factors of OPMDs and OSCC in patients attending dental OPD and its association with age, gender, habit (type & duration), clinical presentation and site of involvement. Material and Methods: A prospectively 12 months study was conducted in the outpatient department. Patient's data whether suspected or proven cases of OPMDs & OSCC and fits in clinical criteria were reviewed and analysed for demographic data, oral adverse habit, clinical presentation and site of involvement. Results: Overall 38,588 patient's data were analysed for 12 month time duration. Out of this 552 (1.43%) cases of OPMDs and 58 (0.15%) cases of OSCC were reported. Out of 552 maximum patients were reported with OSMF (34.4%), followed by other lesions and minimum with LP (7.9%). Age group most commonly affected was above 45 years (44.9%) of age. Males (81.1%) were affected more than females. OPMDs (92%) and OSCC (96.5%) were mostly associated with smokeless or smoking form of tobacco. Conclusion: Present study evaluated the prevalence rates and associated factors of OPMDs & OSCC, which is beneficial for general practitioner in early diagnosis, formulating better treatment plan and to educate general population about risk factors, early signs and symptoms of these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Environmentally sustainable diets are represented in the EAT‐Lancet recommendations developed by the Lancet Commission on Planetary Health in 2019. Very few studies have compared Indian diets with the EAT‐Lancet recommendations. The present study performed such a comparison using primary dietary consumption data from adults in north and south India. Methods: Data from 8762 adults (52.4 ± 11.7 years) residing in Sonipat and Vizag India were collected on sociodemographic characteristics, wealth index (household assets) and dietary intake (food frequency questionnaire: nine food groups). The quantity consumed and energy from each food group was compared with the EAT‐Lancet recommendations. We investigated the likelihood of deficit or excess in consumption compared to the EAT‐Lancet recommendations by different sociodemographic factors. Results: Half of the participants were women and half resided in rural areas. Vegetables and fruits were consumed in lower quantity, whereas dairy and added fats were consumed in higher quantity than recommended by the EAT‐Lancet recommendations. For whole grains, female gender and poorest wealth index were the factors associated with deficit or no consumption, whereas, for vegetables and fruits, it was poorest wealth index and residence in rural areas (p < 0.05, all). Rural residence and poorest wealth index were associated with excess consumption of dairy and added fats (p < 0.05, all). Conclusions: The diets of the study participants were mainly plant‐based, and high in dairy but lacking in nutrient‐rich foods such as vegetables and fruits. Appropriate policy actions for making healthy sustainable diets and micronutrient‐rich foods available and affordable to all with a particular focus on the poor and rural populations are warranted. Very few studies have compared Indian diets with the EAT‐Lancet dietary recommendations. The present study performed such a comparison using primary dietary consumption data, finding that Indian diets were mainly plant‐based, being high in dairy but lacking in nutrient‐rich foods such as vegetables and fruits. Highlights: Compared with the EAT‐Lancet recommendations, Indian diets were deficit in fruits and vegetables consumption but exceeded in dairy and added fats.Female gender, rural residence and poorest wealth index were associated with lower nutrient rich foods consumption.To ensure sustainable and healthy diets in India, the EAT‐Lancet recommendations should be adopted considering Indian Council of Medical Research guidelines.Urgent policy actions are needed to make healthy and sustainable diets locally available accessible and affordable to all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate prediction of noise levels at outdoor locations requires detailed data of the noise sources and terrain parameters and an efficient model for prediction. However, the possibility of predicting noise with reasonable accuracy using less input data is a challenge and needs to be studied scientifically. The qualities of the noise data, terrain parameters, and prediction model can impact the accuracy of the prediction significantly. This study primarily focuses on the dependency of noise data for efficient noise prediction and mapping. This research article proposes a detailed methodology to predict and map the noise and exposure levels in Ratapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, with various granularities of noise data inputs. The noise levels were measured at various places and at different times of the day at 10 min intervals. Different data input proportions and qualities were used for noise prediction, namely, (1) a large data-based method, (2) a small data-based method, (3) a source point average data-based method, (4) a Google navigation data-based method, and (5) accurate modelling using an ANN-based method, integrating accurate noise data with a sophisticated modelling algorithm for noise prediction. The analysis of the variation between the predicted and measured noise levels was conducted for all five of the methods using the ANOVA technique. Various methods based on less noise data methods predicted the noise levels with accuracies within the ±4–10 dB(A) range, while the ANN-based technique predicted it with an accuracy of ±0.5–2.5 dB(A). Interestingly, the estimation of the noise exposure levels (>85 dB(A)) and the identification of hazard zones around the studied road intersection could also be performed efficiently even when using the data-deficient models. This paper also showcased the possibility of predicting an accurate 3D map for an area by extracting vehicles and terrain features from satellite images without any direct recording of noise data. This paper thus demonstrated approaches to reduce the noise data dependency for noise prediction and mapping and to enable accurate noise-hazard zonation mapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inadequate complementary feeding practices lead to poor cognition, stunting, and increased rate of infections. Insight into deficiencies of complementary feeding practices could help in planning and implementing newer approaches at various levels of intersection. Aims and Objectives: The aim and purpose of the study were to determine the complementary feeding practices, to identify maternal determinants of each practice, and to analyze the associations between complementary feeding practices with malnutrition. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, of a tertiary hospital over a 14-week period. All children aged 6-23 months were included in the study. Data were collected using a pre-structured questionnaire based on the World Health Organization Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) indicators for assessing IYCF practices. Results: A total of 400 mothers participated in the study. The mean age of children was 12.58 20±5.02 months, male: female = 1.6:1. The mean age of starting complementary feeding was 6.81±1.79 months. Semisolid food was introduced in 90.2% of children, minimum dietary diversity was received by 61.0%, minimum meal frequency by 83.8%, and minimum acceptable diet by 58.2%, eggs and flesh by 14.2% and 3.5% children, respectively; only 9.2% received vitamin A rich fruits and 38.5% did not receive any vegetable or fruit. Bottle feeding was present in 55.5% of population. Maternal parameters (education, employment access to media) and socioeconomic status were significantly associated with feeding practices (P<0.05). A significant difference was found in the nutritional status (wasting and stunting) of children who did not receive minimum dietary diversity (P<0.01). Conclusion: Wide gap exists in feeding practices even in urban settings and was significantly associated with child's nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The empirical evidence on the association between labour market flexibility and research & development (R&D) activities of firms is limited only to developed economies. In this research note, we examine the relationship between labour market flexibility and the R&D decisions of firms in India's organised manufacturing. Using a cross-section of manufacturing firms from the Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) 2015–16 unit-level data, we model the R&D decision of firms as a two-step process. We use Cragg's Double-hurdle model that examines the probability of undertaking R&D in the first stage and the extent of R&D expenditure Amongst the R&D-performing firms in the second stage. Controlling for the firm-specific determinants of R&D expenditure, we find that the spatial variation in labour market flexibility is negatively and significantly associated with the extent of R&D expenditure of R&D-performing Indian firms. We extend the analysis by proxying R&D investment with the factories' net investment in plant and machinery. We found a similar negative correlation between labour market flexibility and the net value of plant and machinery of factories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Thyroid hormones have a very crucial role in the regulation of metabolism, proteins synthesis and influencing functions of various other hormones in the human body. While both kidneys play an essential role in the metabolism of thyroid hormone by conversion of thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3). In patients with chronic kidney diseases, frequent abnormal thyroid functions are observed. Aim:To study the pattern of thyroid dysfunction in chronic kidney disease population and to evaluate the correlation existing in between severity of kidney failure and thyroid dysfunction Methods:This cross sectional observational study was conducted in the department of internal medicine in a tertiary care hospital, central India. 100 chronic kidney disease patients were included in the study. Diagnosis of chronic kidney failure was performed as per criteria laid down by Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative. Blood was drawn for estimation of serum creatinine, GFR and thyroid profile. Results: Among 100 CKD patients, most of them (64%) were male with age ranging from 18 to 80 years with mean age of 57.08±10.35 years. Of the total patients, 6%, 12%, 29%, 26% & 27% patients belonged to CKD Stages 1,2,3,4 & 5 respectively. Low T3 is the most common thyroid dysfunction & the earliest abnormality noticed in CKD patients. The prevalence of low T3 syndrome in this study was 48%. Increasing trend for Low T3 prevalence with increasing severity of CKD was noticed in this study and was statistically significant (P

Recent contributions to the business cycle literature point towards the presence of potential nonlinearities in the relationship between similarities in sectoral composition of countries and their bilateral business cycle synchronization. By using a dynamic indicator of structural change (as opposed to the traditional static indicators), this article attempts to identify whether the similarities in the evolution of structural change across countries influence their bilateral business cycle synchronization heterogeneously across quantiles. With focus on India and its advanced and developing trade partners, this article employs the quantile regression model with non-additive fixed effects to assess this relationship. While India and its advanced countries' trade partners display a homogeneous and positive relationship between the similarity in evolution of agriculture and industry and their bilateral business cycle synchronization, there exists a homogeneously negative relationship with respect to the service sector. Similarities in the evolution of the industry and the service sector between India and its developing trade partners, on the other hand, have a heterogeneous impact on their bilateral business cycle synchronization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to find the association between fetal hemoglobin (HbF) concentration and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm infants. Methods: In this observational, prospective, longitudinal study, a total of 410 preterm infants with <36 gestational weeks and <2.5 kg birth weight, who were attending ROP clinic in a tertiary care hospital of central India for 1 year duration were included. Dilated fundus examination was done as per ROP screening guidelines, and ROP was staged as per international classification for retinopathy of prematurity (ICROP) classification, 2021. HbF (%) was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography, and data was analyzed statistically. The relationship between HbF (%) and ROP was evaluated. Those infants who had ROP were further divided into treatment-requiring and non-treatment-requiring groups and HbF was compared in these groups at the first visit and after 1-month follow-up period. The outcome of ROP was studied with HbF levels. Results: A total of 410 preterm infants were included, out of which 110 infants had ROP (26.8%). Infants with ROP had significantly lower percentage of HbF with gestational age groups and birth weight groups, compared to infants without ROP. Higher percentage of HbF was associated with a lower prevalence of ROP. Higher concentration of HbF was found in the ROP infants who regressed spontaneously without treatment and less concentration was found in those who progressed to a severe disease and those who required treatment. The predictive ability of HbF (%) was 0.976 for ROP. Conclusion: Low fraction of HbF was found to be significantly associated with the development and progression of ROP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Appropriate management of ophthalmoplegia demands good anatomy knowledge of cranial nerves involved i.e., III, IV and VI. Where these nerves originate and where they end, clinical features associated with paralysis of each nerve all this knowledge help in proper management of cases. Objective: To study clinical and etiological factors associated with the ophthalmoplegia. Methods: Prospective, Hospital based observational study was carried out among 50 cases of ophthalmoplegia. Detailed history was recorded. Thorough clinical examination including examination of both the eyes was carried out in terms of laterality, pupils affected or not, Central nervous system involvement, cranial nerves III, IV and VI etc. Papilledema, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar were investigated for each case. Results: Most common age group affected was >50 years in 50%. Males were slightly more affected than females. Majority (72%) cases were bilateral. Only nine cases had affected pupils. In ten cases, central nervous system was affected. Hypertension was seen in 32% and diabetes in 44%. 14% had history of trauma. Inflammation, tumor and vascular affection was seen in three cases each. Four cases had viral infection. Among all factors, diabetes was significantly associated with III cranial nerve involvement (p<0.05). Hypertension was significantly associated with IV cranial nerve involvement (p<0.05). But no factor was significantly associated with VI cranial nerve involvement (p>0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that ophthalmoplegia mainly affects elderly and males. It is usually bilateral and sometimes pupils and CNS are affected. Hypertensives and diabetics are at an increased risk of ophthalmoplegia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt is a major threat to lentil production in India and worldwide. The presence of evolving virulent races has imposed the necessity of reliable management practices including breeding for resistance using unexplored germplasms. The magnitude of resistance by the plant is determined by rapid recognition of the pathogen and induction of defence genes. Resistance gene analogues have been key factors involved in the recognition and induction of defence response. In the present study, the expression of key RGA previously cloned was determined in three resistant accessions (L65, L83 and L90) and a susceptible accession (L27). The expression was assessed via qPCR at 24, 48 and 72 hpi against virulent race5 (CG-5). All the RGAs differentially transcribed in resistant and susceptible accession showed temporal variation. RGA Lc2, Lc8, Ln1 and Lo6 produced cDNA signals during early infection (24 hpi) predicting its involvement in recognition. LoRGA6 showed significant upregulation in L65 and L83 while downregulating in L27 and the full length of LoRGA6 loci was isolated by 5′ and 3′ RACE PCR. In-silico characterization revealed LoRGA6 loci code for 912 amino acids long polypeptide with a TIR motif at the N terminal and eight LRR motifs at the C terminal. The tertiary structure revealed a concave pocket-like structure at the LRR domain potentially involved in pathogen effectors interaction. The loci have ADP binding domain and ATPase activity. This has further paved the path for functional analysis of the loci by VIGS to understand the molecular mechanism of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed consumer buying behavior across the world. COVID-19 crisis brought a behavioral change in consumers' attitudes toward health, financial and social well-being. The current research work highlights the factors influencing consumer buying behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic considering saving and safety perspectives. Design/methodology/approach: This study attempts to understand the gap in buying behavior with reference to saving and safety. Survey-based study was conducted during the second phase of COVID-19, and the respondents were those who lived in highly affected COVID cities in India. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out for testing the hypotheses. Findings: Seven factors became the prominent factors in consumer buying patterns during the pandemic. Consumers in the times of COVID-19 pandemic spend only on essential items as compared to nice-to-have and non-essential items. Research limitations/implications: Respondents considered in the research were millennials aged 25–40. The current research is limited to specific geographic location. Practical implications: The study assessed how savings and safety influence consumer buying behavior. The 2S framework model for consumer buying behavior during pandemic has been developed. The findings of the study provides a road map to the companies, policy makers, managers and consumers in understanding the consumer buying behavior during pandemic. Originality/value: The current research work observe the changes in the behavioral patterns of consumers in the context of 2S framework, i.e. saving and safety. This study offer novel contribution as there is no available literature that examined the saving and safety aspects together for consumer buying behavior during crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transformational leadership has caught the significant attention of many academic scholars in the leadership domain. In recent studies, emphasis has been given on green transformational leaders who empower their subordinates, which, in turn, leads to employees' discretionary behavior toward environmental management of the organization, which has been denoted as organizational environmental citizenship behavior. Organizational citizenship behavior has been strongly advocated as a means to improve the environmental performance of organizations. A green transformational leader encourages his subordinates to undertake activities that are beneficial to the organization's environmental management, such as thinking about the sustainable development of the organization, solving environmental problems and contributing to the firm's environmental performance. This study aims to investigate the domain of environmental leadership by examining the mechanism and conditions under which green transformational leaders induce organizational environmental citizenship behavior. Design/methodology/approach: Information technology (IT) firms across four major cities in India were considered for the survey to examine the proposed hypotheses. Online questionnaires were shared with 1,286 employees working across seven branches of IT companies. A total of 378 respondents completed the survey, but only 293 questionnaires were suitable for further analysis using structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings of the study show that green transformational leadership promotes green empowerment and organizational citizenship behaviors toward the environment (OCBE) among the employees. It also reveals that environmental passion plays a key role in promoting eco-initiative and eco-helping behavior among the employees when they are empowered for green practices. Also, the influence of resource commitment fosters eco-civic engagement among the employees. Practical implications: Results hold strong implications for human resource managers on how green transformational leadership approaches can help trigger organizational citizenship behavior among employees. Also, understanding the impact of green empowerment on employees' involvement in extra-role behavior will help organizations to develop strategies to strengthen their sense of empowerment toward green practices. Originality/value: This study attempts to investigate the impact of green transformational leadership on employees' OCBE and the mechanisms through and conditions under which green transformational leadership may impact the indicators of OCBE. The study proposes a mechanism and social and psychological conditions that can potentially explain the linkages between green transformational leadership and OCBE: green empowerment, resource commitment and environmental passion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally-conscious product design using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) deserves the utmost attention to save and sustain our planet's lives, flora and fauna. The choice of materials during the design stage needs to address environmental concerns from their sourcing to production and ultimately going up to the disposal stage. A good majority of industrial products are still not designed, focusing the environmental concerns. The inclusion and practice of the LCA approach during product designing are in a nascent stage not only in India but even over the rest of the world. Nowadays, polymers share a major chunk of the volume of goods produced worldwide and thus have a significant effect on the environment. The available design books or nomographs guide the selection of materials considering several criteria but not considering the related environmental issues. This paper attempts to bridge this gap only for the selection of polymeric materials by providing some easily interpretable and visually ready reckoners in the form of 3-D nomographs. These 3-D nomographs, graphical representations developed using the Solidworks software, echo the material's Environmental Impact (EI) potential on an axis with some two material properties (e.g., tensile strength and density) on the other two axes. 3-D nomographs are suitably transformed into 2-D nomographs without the loss of any information. EIs on these nomographs were computed using SimaPro software. The potential EI of any product and the overall environmental burden due to them can be significantly reduced, and more so when they are mass-produced, by selecting the right materials using these nomographs. Such an approach will help in fulfilling long-term sustainable development goals of society and the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nasolabial cysts are non-odontogenic cysts that arise from the nasal alar area. Sublabial resection of the nasolabial cyst is considered an effective surgical modality of treatment. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of nasolabial cyst at a tertiary care teaching hospital in eastern India. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 38 cases of nasolabial cysts managed between May 2018 and June 2022. The detailed clinical presentations, investigations and treatment of nasolabial cysts of the patients were studied. Results: Out of 38 cases of the nasolabial cyst, 22 (57.9%) were seen on the left side, 13 (34.2%) were seen on the right side and 3 were seen bilaterally. The most common presenting complaint was facial swelling (84.2%). Computed tomography of the nose and paranasal sinuses was done in 24/38 (70.5%) patients studied. Surgical excision of the nasolabial cysts was done by intraoral sublabial approach in 32 (84.2%) cases and 6 underwent endoscopic transnasal marsupialisation. The most common post-operative complication was post-operative facial/perinasal swelling. One case of recurrence was reported who underwent endoscopic transnasal marsupialisation. Conclusions: Nasolabial cysts are an uncommon clinical entity but manifest cosmetic deformity and nasal obstruction. Intraoral sublabial excision and endoscopic transnasal marsupialisation are important surgical techniques for the nasolabial cyst. The post-operative complications and chance of recurrence are rare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Testicular Germ Cell Tumor (GCT) is a disease of young adults and is also highly curable. But in India, most of the patients present in an advanced stage and succumb to the disease as compared to the Western nations where patients present at an earlier stage and are mostly cured. Also, there is a scarcity of literature on testicular GCT from the Indian subcontinent. We present our experience from the Tata Memorial Centre of North-east India. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Tata Memorial Centre - BBCI, Guwahati for the period of 5 years from January 2018 to December 2022. The study focused on epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes. Results: Seventy-two cases of testicular GCTs were studied (28 cases were seminoma, and 44 were non-seminoma). Most common presenting stage was stage I in seminoma (53.6%), and stage III (77.2%) in non-seminoma. As per the International Germ Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification, 25%, 35%, and 40% of patients were good-risk, intermediate-risk, and poor-risk in non-seminoma. In patients with seminoma, 54% and 46% were in good and intermediate-risk, respectively. Seventy-two percent and 21% had achieved a radiologic complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) with conventional chemotherapy in patients with seminoma. Radiologic CR and PR rates were 20% and 61% among non-seminoma patients. The median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 43 months. RFS was better in seminoma versus non-seminoma, stage I versus stage III, and good-risk versus high-risk group. Conclusion: Most of our patients presented with an advanced stage of the disease and a high nodal burden. In patients with non-seminoma GCT, the best response to conventional chemotherapy was a partial response. The use of an alternative chemotherapy regimen to improve outcomes for such patients can be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The information-seeking behavior of the radiology residents on call has undergone modernization in the recent times given the advent of easy to access, reliable online resources, and robust artificial intelligence chatbots such as Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT). Purpose The aim of this study was to conduct a baseline analysis among the residents to understand the best way to meet information needs in the future, spread awareness about the existing resources, and narrow down to the most preferred online resource. Methods and Materials A prospective, descriptive study was performed using an online survey instrument and was conducted among radiology residents in India. They were questioned on their demographics, frequency of on call, fatigue experienced on call, and preferred information resources and reasons for choosing them. Results A total of 286 residents participated in the survey. All residents had used the Internet radiology resources during on-call duties. The most preferred resource material was Radiopaedia followed by Radiology Assistant. IMAIOS e-Anatomy was the most preferred anatomy resource. There was significant (p < 0.05) difference in relation to the use of closed edit peer-reviewed literature among the two batches with it being used almost exclusively by third year residents. In the artificial intelligence-aided ChatGPT section, 61.8% had used the software at least once while being on call, of them 57.6% responded that the information was inaccurate, 67.2% responded that the information was insufficient to aid in diagnosis, 100% felt that the lack of images in the software made it an unlikely resource that would be used by them in the future, and 85.8% agreed that they would use it for providing reporting templates in the future. In the suggestions for upcoming versions, 100% responded that images should be included in the description provide by the chatbot, and 74.5% felt that references for the information being provided should be included as it reaffirms the reliability of the information. Conclusions Presently, we find that Radiopaedia met most of the requirements as an ideal online radiology resource according to the residents. In the present-day scenario, ChatGPT is not considered as an important on-call radiology education resource first because it lacks images which is quintessential for a budding radiologist, and second, it does not have any reference or proof for the information that it is providing. However, it may be of help to nonmedical professionals who need to understand radiology in layman's terms and to radiologists for patient report preparation and research writing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bile is deemed a sterile fluid, with the presence of clinical conditions like cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, previous biliary interventions, biliary strictures, and so on, leading to bile stasis, and increases the chances of bacteriobilia. In this study, we recognize the bacterial spectrum of microorganisms isolated from bile samples, diagnostic parameters, and antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out by compiling data from the hospital information system of a tertiary care center from 2021 to 2022 to evaluate biliary infections in patients who underwent surgical procedures related to the biliary tract and associated organs. Results: A total of 234 patients' bile samples were included in our study. The mean age of patients was 48.04 ± 14.74 years, with more patients below the age of 65 years among those with infected bile samples. One hundred and sixty-three (163/234, 69.66%) patients infected by 209 pathogenic microorganisms were recognized. The most common microorganism isolated was Escherichia coli (83/209, 39.71%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (37/209, 17.7%). Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolate owed to more than 90% penicillin, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, carbapenem, and fluoroquinolone resistance among all isolates. Length of hospital stay, malignant obstruction, and chronic kidney disease were identified as statistically significant risk factors that lead to the isolation of multi-drug-resistant isolates from bile culture. Conclusion: We recognized the spectrum of pathogens causing biliary tract infections at our center along with the antibiotic resistance pattern to guide and facilitate prompt and appropriate treatment by primary health care professionals and family medicine practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is characterized by painful, oral mucosal ulcers with wide range of prevalence ranging from 2 to 78%. Etiology of RAS is idiopathic and multifactorial. There are numerous gaps in assessment and management of RAS and the absence of guidelines or a consensus document makes the treatment further difficult. The aim of this document is to provide an Indian expert consensus for management of RAS. Experts from different specialties such as Otorhinolaryngology, Oral Medicine/Dentistry and Internal Medicine from India were invited for face to face and online meetings. After a deliberate discussion of current literature, evidence and clinical practice during advisory meetings, experts developed a consensus for management of RAS. We identify that the prevalence of RAS may lie between 2 and 5%. In defining RAS, we advocate three or more recurrences of aphthous ulcers per year as criterion for RAS. Investigation should include basic hematological (complete blood count) and nutritional (serum vitamin B12, and iron studies) parameters. Primary aim of treatment is to reduce the pain, accelerate ulcer healing, reduce the recurrences and improve the quality of life. In treating RAS, initial choice of medications is determined by pain intensity, number and size of ulcers and previous number of recurrences. Topical and systemic agents can be used in combination for effective relief. In conclusion, this consensus will help physicians and may harmonize effective diagnosis and treatment of RAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Blumea lacera (Burm.f.) DC. (Family—Asteraceae) is widely used for treating hemorrhoids by several ethnomedicinal practitioners and tribes in India. Thus, the main objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the potential of B. lacera leaf extract in the treatment of hemorrhoids using a croton oil-induced hemorrhoid rat model. Materials and Methods: Ethanol extract of B. lacera (EBL) leaves was prepared using Soxhlet extraction, optimized using Box–Behnken design (BBD), and quantified using high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Furthermore, the vasoactive ions were estimated using ion-exchange chromatography. Hemorrhoids were induced in the recto-anal portion of experimental rats, followed by treatment with EBL (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg; par oral (p.o.)) and Pilex granules as a standard anti-hemorrhoid drug for 7 days. The anti-hemorrhoid potential was evaluated on the eighth day by assessing the severity of hemorrhoids, biochemical parameters, and histology of recto-anal tissue. Results: Upon treatment with EBL and Pilex, there was a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in the inflammatory severity index, concentration of Evans blue dye, recto-anal coefficient (RAC), elevated cytokines level, and restoration of altered antioxidant status. Furthermore, the histopathological results revealed a marked reduction in the inflammatory zones along with minimally dilated blood vessels. Conclusion: The present study confirmed the traditional claims of the plant B. lacera in the treatment of hemorrhoids, which may be attributed to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in EBL, where quercetin could be considered the main contributor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food insecurity is a major public health problem worldwide. In India, there are limited food insecurity assessment studies using a conventionally accepted method like the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), developed by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). This study aims to measure food insecurity using the FIES and explore its determinants and association with body mass index (BMI) among Indian adults. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, we used FIES to measure food security in a sample of 9005 adults residing in North and South India. Using questionnaires, socio-demographic factors, dietary intake and food security data were collected. The dietary diversity scores (FAO-IDDS) and food insecurity scores (FAO-FIES) were calculated. Body size was measured and BMI was calculated. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 52.4 years (± 11.7); half were women and half resided in rural areas. Around 10% of the participants reported having experienced (mild or moderate or severe) food insecurity between October 2018 and February 2019. Dietary diversity (measured by FAO's Individual Dietary Diversity Scores, IDDS) was low and half of the participants consumed ≤ 3 food groups/day. The mean BMI was 24.7 kg/m2. In the multivariate analysis, a lower IDDS and BMI were associated with a higher FIES. The place of residence, gender and wealth index were important determinants of FIES, with those residing in South India, women and those belonging to the poorest wealth index reporting higher food insecurity. Conclusion: Food security is understudied in India. Our study adds important evidence to the literature. Despite having marginal food insecurity, high prevalence of low diet quality, especially among women, is disconcerting. Similar studies at the national level are warranted to determine the food insecurity situation comprehensively in India and plan appropriate policy actions to address it effectively, to attain the key Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soybean is one of the most important crops grown worldwide and accounting for significant global trade including transgenic soybean. The crop is attacked by several seed-borne fungal pathogens and some of them are of quarantine concern for India. Keeping in view of the risks associated with movement of soybean seeds, sensitive and reliable molecular diagnostics have been developed for precise and simultaneous detection of three pathogens of quarantine concern for India namely, Diaporthe phaseolorum (stem blight), D. longicolla (seed decay), Peronospora manshurica (downy mildew), along with Macrophomina phaseolina causing dry root rot. The targeted pathogens after isolation from imported transgenic and non-transgenic soybean seeds were identified. Quadruplex and qPCR assays were developed targeting the sequences of different genes such as Histone-3 for detection of D. longicolla and M. phaseolina. The markers DlHisF2&R2 and MpHisF1&R1 produced 265 and 309 bp amplicons for D. longicolla and M. phaseolina, respectively. Actin gene based marker DpActF1&R2 was developed for D. phaseolorum which provided 113 bp amplicon whereas, COX2 based marker PmCoxF2&R2 was developed for P. manshurica with amplified product of 152 bp. During qPCR analysis, these markers proved highly specific and sensitive for detection of these pathogens up to 0.1 pg of template DNA. Quadruplex PCR protocol was also developed by combining these specific markers which could distinguish all the targeted pathogens simultaneously in a single reaction. The developed diagnostic protocols are extremely valuable for quarantine clearance and to ensure the safe transboundary exchange and healthy conservation of germplasm in the National Genebank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourteen Indian cities, including urban and rural locations, were chosen for the present study across India, with unhealthy air quality based on National Air Quality Index (NAQI > 100). However, it was found that NAQI values over the locations are driven by the undifferentiated mass concentration of particulate matter (PM, both PM 10  and PM 2.5 ) than other criteria pollutants. The PM 2.5  and PM 10  concentration during the winter violated the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of India by two to five times at six urban locations, with the mean daily PM 2.5  concentration averaged over the month; the the largest being at Patna (353 µg m − 3 ) during the winter and lowest at Bengaluru (27 µg m − 3 ) during the summer. The analysis of chemical species, in general, indicated NO 2  (SO 2 , CO) as having a 25% to 70% (16% to 50%, 16% to 85%) increase in concentration from the summer to winter, which is adequately reflected in higher fuzzy scores during the winter. Thus, to provide a realistic approach to air quality management, the present study focuses on identifying priority-based locations requiring immediate mitigation measures by developing a Prioritized Clean Air Assessment Tool (PCAT). The tool utilizes a fuzzy-based algorithm to incorporate the cumulative effect of all six criteria pollutants, taking into consideration the severity of their expected health implications. Using PCAT, Delhi and Varanasi cities are identified for prioritized mitigation considering the NAAQS of India, unlike all cities (except Bengaluru) during the winter and nine out of fourteen cities during the summer, considering the NAQI. Using more stringent WHO guideline values in PCAT, six cities out of fourteen were identified requiring immediate mitigation during the winter and summer months; locations such as Solapur and Patna are identified to need season-specific mitigation measures during the summer and winter, respectively. The tool is simplistic, user-friendly, and quickly evaluates multiple locations simultaneously to provide priority sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study performs the time series analysis of agriculture land in the Nainital District of Uttarakhand, India. The study utilizes Landsat satellite images for the classification of agriculture and non-agriculture land over a time duration of 21 years (2000–2021). Landsat 5, 7 and 8 satellites data have been used to classify the study area with Random Forest classifier. The Landsat satellite images are processed using the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. The selection of Random Forest classier has been based on a comparative analysis among Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machines (SVM) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART). Overall accuracy, user accuracy and producer accuracy and Kappa coefficient has been evaluated to determine the best classifier for the study area. The overall accuracy for RF, SVM and CART for the year 2021 is 96.38%, 94.44% and 91.94% respectively. Similarly, the Kappa coefficient for RF, SVM and CART was 0.96, 0.89, 0.81 respectively. The classified images of Landsat in agriculture and non-agriculture area over a period of 21 years (2000–2021) shows a decrement of 4.71% in agriculture land which is quite significant. This study has also shown that the maximum decrease in agriculture area in last four years, i.e., from 2018 to 2021. This kind of study is very important for a developing country to access the change and take proper measure so that flora and fauna of the region can be maintained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]