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Partial discharge (PD) monitoring is an effective predictive maintenance tool for electrical power equipment. As a result, an understanding of the theory related to PD and the associated measurement techniques is now necessary knowledge for power engineers in their professional life. This paper presents a modular course on PD phenomenon in which the design experiences are distributed across different modules so that ABET criteria are met to a great extent. The teaching methodology involves delivering theoretical lectures on concepts related to PD and its measurements, along with laboratory experiments, assignments, open presentation, and so on. The evaluation methodology comprises examinations, both oral and written reports, and an assessment of the effectiveness of teamwork and of the course itself by means of student feedback. Analysis of student feedback showed that the students liked the course and felt it would be helpful for their professional advancement. (Contains 2 tables and 5 figures.)

The development of integrated, portable, transformer condition monitoring (TCM) equipment for classroom demonstrations as well as for student exercises conducted in the field is discussed. Demonstrations include experimentation with real-world transformers to illustrate concepts such as polarization and depolarization current through oil-paper composite insulation. The developed equipment has also been used to understand and illustrate the phenomenon of recovery voltage. Finally, the portability and robustness of the equipment enables students to collect data from transformers installed on-site for the purpose of validating the nature of curves obtained in real-world environments. (Contains 9 figures and 2 tables.)

In livestock sub sector the existing policies in place, have exclusively focused on high yield with adoption of modern technologies and establishment of large commercial units to increase the production and productivity of the breeds. Cross breeding native cattle breeds with exotic high yielding breeds mainly Holstein Friesian and Jersey, which has been the most preferred way to increase milk yield, led to the depletion of several indigenous breeds and also pushed some to extinction. This gets evident from the dwindling numbers of indigenous breeds in the country. The policies for conservation of indigenous breed mainly refer to the identification of utility genes and breeds and utilizing them for breeding and research; such a conservation effort being directed towards individual breed overlooks the ecosystem or the small and marginal farmers or the herders and pastoralists who nurture them and depend on them for livelihood. The emphasis on high yielding exotic breeds has also escalated the maintenance cost for cattle rearing with increased uncertainties. This has mainly impacted the small and marginal farmers, the herders and pastoralists who cannot afford such high maintenance cost, led to the disruption or break in the humanlivestock- nature interaction or the crop - livestock system. This article draws an example of Sahiwal- a priced milch cattle, whose numbers are declining in the country, to argue the need for a breeding policy to protect the breed and also the interests of the small and marginal farmers and herders and pastoral community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance malaria parasite is widespread in North eastern region of India. During January 2012-December 2013, we conducted active surveillance for detection of antifolate resistance-associated genetic polymorphisms in Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite from different malaria endemic areas of Assam. Materials and Methods: A total of 281 field samples were collected from suspected malaria patients of which 106 malaria P. falciparum positive cases were detected in microscopic slide examination. A nested PCR was done for amplification of a 648 bp portion of the dhfr gene and 710 bp portion of the dhps gene. Results: Mutation analysis revealed existence of three different haplotypes of the P. falciparum dhfr gene of which ANRNI was highly prevalent (90%). Triple mutant haplotypes AIRNI (N51I + C59R + S108N) of the dhfr gene associated with pyrimethamine resistance were prevalent in Chirang district of Assam. Whereas, dhps mutation study revealed that triple mutant haplotype AGEAA (S436A + A437G + K540E) associated with Sulphadoxine resistance was found among 26% of P. falciparum field isolates. However, P. falciparum dhfr-dhps two locus mutation analysis showed that there were a total of nine dhfr-dhps genotypes. Conclusion: It was noticed that 93.62% (88/94) isolates had mutations in the sequences of both enzymes, which is an indication of prevalence of high grade of Sulphadoxine -- pyrimethamine resistance in P. falciparum malaria parasites in Assam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new evacanthine leafhopper of the tribe Nirvanini, Sophonia submodesta sp. n. (Himachal Pradesh: Nauni), is described and illustrated from India. An annotated key is provided for the identification of all 17 species known under the genus Sophonia reported from the Indian subcontinent. Type material is deposited in the National Pusa Collection, Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute (ICAR-IARI), New Delhi, India.

A new genus of bamboo feeding leafhopper, Bambuphagan. gen. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Delcephalinae)with Bambuphaga balajiin. sp. from India (Andhra Pradesh) as the type species is described, illustrated, placed in the tribe Punctulini and an annotated checklist to the tribe is provided. The type specimens and material examined are deposited in the National Pusa Collection (NPC), Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, India.

Background: Infants born with low birth weight (LBW), i.e. less than 2500g, is considered an important factor of malnutrition in Asia. In India, research related to this issue is still neglected and limited. Evidence exists that a large number of child deaths occur in India due to maternal and child malnutrition-related complications. Moreover, it has been found that the cost of malnutrition in India results in a significant reduction of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thus, in this current context, this study aims to explore the contribution of low birth weight to childhood undernutrition in India., Methods: The study used data from the 5 th round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a large-scale survey conducted in India. The survey collected information from 176,843 mothers and 232,920 children. The study used the last birth information (last children born 5 years preceding the survey) due to the detailed availability of maternal care information. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to determine the percentage distribution of outcome variables. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the association between LBW and undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight). The study also used the Fairlie decomposition analysis to estimate the contribution of LBW to undernutrition among Indian children., Results: The results show that childhood undernutrition was higher in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The results of the logistic regression analysis show that infants born with low birth weight were more likely to be stunted (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.41-1.50), wasted (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27-1.37), and underweight (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.70-1.82) in their childhood compared to infants born without low birth weight. The findings from the decomposition analysis explained that approximately 14.8% of the difference in stunting, 10.4% in wasting, and 9.6% in underweight among children born with low birth weight after controlling for the individuals' selected characteristics., Conclusion: The findings suggest that LBW has a significant contribution to malnutrition. The study suggests that policymakers should prioritize strengthening maternal and child healthcare schemes, particularly focusing on antenatal and postnatal care, as well as kangaroo mother care at the grassroots level to reduce the burden of LBW and undernourished children., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A new leafhopper species, Mukariella viraktamathi sp. nov., is described from India along with a distinct morphological variant. Illustrations of males and female are provided. An annotated species checklist of the genus and key to species of the genus Mukariella are also provided.

A new leafhopper genus Lapnana gen. nov. and species Lapnana ishanya, sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The new genus is closely related to genus Onukindia Viraktamath and Webb but differs in having a median lamellate carina extending from the base to apex of the crown and ventral processes on the male pygofer.

A new species of genus Dasyproctus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brullé, 1835 is described from India: Dasyproctus helenae Saini and Dey n. sp. A checklist is provided for all Dasyproctus species reported from the Indian subcontinent.

A new species of leafhopper, Scaphoideus banjarensis sp. nov. from India (Himachal Pradesh: Banjar), is described. Also two genera, Neolimnus Linnavuori and Wanritettix Vilbaste, and four species of tribe Scaphoideini, are newly reported from India: N. egyptiacus (Matsumura) and N. quadricornis Khatri Webb; W. wanrianus (Matsumura); and Grammacephalus punjabensis Shah Duan. Indian Scaphoideini currently comprises 78 species in 18 genera, including those newly reported here. Illustrations and distributions for newly recorded species are also included.

The subgenus Thao Tsuneki, 1982 of the genus Crossocerus Lepeletier de Saint Fargeau and Brull, 1835 is recorded for the first time from India. A new subspecies viz., Crossocerus (Thao) nitidicorpus indicus, (India: Uttarakhand) is described. A key to all subspecies in the subgenus Thao is provided.

Background: Enteric fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar typhi and Salmonella enterica serovar paratyphi A remains one of the most common causes of community-acquired bloodstream infection among children in India. Multidrug resistance is emerging and is a cause of concern as it affects the choice of treatment in enteric fever., Method: In this study, a 10-year analysis of resistance patterns was done along with in-silico homology modeling and molecular docking to understand the commonly occurring quinolone resistance., Results: A total of 1010 cases of blood culture-confirmed enteric fevers (S. typhi n=849; S. paratyphi A n=161) were recorded at the study hospital during the period from 2011-2020. Multidrug resistance among cases of S. typhi was 2.12 %, whereas it was completely absent among cases of S. paratyphi A. Fluoroquinolone resistance was high (>95%) throughout the study period. Resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and co-trimoxacole was low (<3%) among S. typhi cases. No deaths were observed among study participants. Molecular docking analysis showed that quinolone had less binding affinity to mutated gyrase A than to its wild type for both S. typhi and S. paratyphi A., Conclusion: Quinolone resistance was high among cases of enteric fever, whereas no resistance was observed among third-generation cephalosporins. In-silico studies indicated that a mutation in gyrase A might be the cause of the gradual increase in ciprofloxacin resistance over the study period., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Malnutrition continues to be a primary concern for researchers and policymakers in India. There is limited scientific research on the effect of agriculture on child nutrition in the country using a large representative sample. To the best of our knowledge, no study has examined the spatial clustering of child malnutrition and its linkage with agricultural production at the district-level in the country. The present study aims to examine agricultural production's role in improving the nutritional status of Indian children through child feeding practices. The nutritional indicators of children from the National Family Health Survey-4 (2015-16) and the agricultural production data for all the 640 districts of India obtained from the District-Wise Crop Production Statistics (2015-16), published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India were used for the analysis. The statistical analysis was undertaken in STATA (version 14.1). ArcMap (version 10.3), and GeoDa (version 1.8) were used for the spatial analysis. The study found a higher prevalence of malnutrition among children who had not received Minimum Meal Frequency (MMF), Minimum Dietary Diversity (MDD), and Minimum Acceptable Diet (MAD). Further, child feeding practices- MMF, MDD, and MAD- were positively associated with high yield rates of spices and cereals. The yield rate of cash crops, on the contrary, harmed child feeding practices. Production of pulses had a significant positive effect on MDD and MAD. Districts with high cereal yield rates ensured that children receive MMF and MAD. There is a significant spatial association between child feeding practices and malnutrition across Indian districts. The study suggests that adopting nutrient-sensitive agriculture may be the best approach to improving children's nutritional status., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Genera and species of the subtribe Hecalina from the Indian subcontinent are reviewed. Three genera, Hecalus (28 species), Linnavuoriella (1 species), Thomsonia (4 species) comprising 33 valid species reported from the Indian subcontinent are recognized. Three new species, Hecalus shanayai sp. nov. (Maharashtra: Chikhaldhara), Hecalus tumidus sp. nov. (Himachal Pradesh: Kinnaur) and Thomsonia assymetrica sp. nov. (Meghalaya: Barapani) from India are described and illustrated. An annotated checklist and key to genera of Hecalina from the Indian subcontinent are provided.

Airborne fungal spores are extensively reported as the elicitors of respiratory allergies in human. Fusarium lateritium is one such fungal species reported for eliciting significant skin prick results from India. The present study aims to analyze the allergenic potential of F. lateritium followed by the identification of allergens. The total protein of F. lateritium was subjected to 1dimensional (1D) and 2D gel electrophoresis followed by corresponding IgE-specific immunoblots. We found 8 immunoreactive bands/zones in (1D) immunoblot using 11 F. lateritium -sensitised patient sera. In 1D immunoblot, a 34 kDa band was detected in >80% of the patients and hence considered as a potential allergen of F. lateritium . Corresponding 34 kDa spot in 2D-immunoblot was analyzed by mass spectrometric analysis and identified as Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The identified F. lateritium allergen holds the potential to instigate vaccine development for immunotherapy of F. lateritium sensitized patients.

Background: Longitudinal perinatal depression (PND) data is sparsely available in the Indian population. We have employed Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to assess the prevalence and identify characteristics associated with PND in the south Indian population. PND was assessed longitudinally using EPDS scores with traditional cut-off approach as well as a novel method of latent class mixture modeling (LCMM). The LCMM method, to the best of our knowledge, has been used for the first time in the Indian population., Methods: Three hundred and forty seven women, predominantly from economically-weaker sections of rural and urban South India were longitudinally assessed for antenatal depression (AD) and postnatal depression (PD) using EPDS cutoff-scores ≥13 and ≥10, respectively. Uni/multivariable analyses were used to identify PND associated characteristics. LCMM was then implemented, followed by risk characteristics identification., Results: PND prevalence from traditional approach was 24.50 % (12.68 % AD; 18.16% PD). Characteristics associated with PND were urban-site and recent adverse life events. Irregular menstrual history and chronic health issues were associated with AD and PD, respectively. Three distinct PND trajectories were observed from LCMM-analysis: low-risk (76.08%), medium-risk (19.89%) and high-risk (4.04%). Urban-site, recent adverse life events, irregular menstrual history and pregnancy complications were associated with medium-risk/high-risk trajectories., Limitations: EPDS is a screening tool and not a diagnostic tool for depression. Since the study population included women from economically-weaker sections, the results need verification in other socio-economic groups., Conclusions: Both the traditional cut-off-based approach and LCMM provided very similar conclusions regarding the prevalence of PND and characteristics associated with it. Higher PND prevalence was observed in urban women compared to rural women. In low-income countries, identifying risk characteristics associated with PND is a critical component in designing prevention strategies for PND related conditions because of the limited access to mental health resources., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Utilization of biomass energy from various agricultural wastes for local usages and its removal through open burning potentially increase emission of Green House Gases (GHGs), deteriorate air-quality, formation of tropospheric ozone and create trans-boundary health hazards in countries of South East Asia. The effect of common agro-waste management practices in soil quality and agricultural production system over this part of the world is not well documented. In the present three-years long study, spanning over two entirely different agro-ecological zones of India and Bhutan, highlights the impacts of the burning of agricultural waste in soil physio-chemical properties, biological properties and crop production. The current study also focuses on the alternative usage of crop residue to enhance soil organic carbon, soil moisture, soil nutrients and soil biological activity through the application of biochar and raw agricultural waste generated from the field. It was observed that crop residue used as raw mulch and biochar improved the agricultural production up to 36%-64% over the experimental fields of India and Bhutan. The results from the study disseminated among the local farmers and technological support were provided for practicing alternative crop residue management. Nearly 1450-1500 farmers in India and 100-125 farmers in Bhutan have adopted the agro-waste management practices of removal and re-application of agro-wastes in the field. A total of ~26000 t of CO 2 emission has been reduced in two intervention sites during the study period. The present action-research helps to propose future guidelines for environmental friendly crop residue utilization and management and simultaneously help to improve agricultural yield along with soil quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

West Bengal, India, is inhabited by abundance and variety of insects that triggers sensitization in some humans to inhalant allergens and/or insect stings/venoms. Lack of research on this topic prevented accurate diagnosis and proper follow-up treatments to patients suffering from insect-induced allergies. The aim of our study was to identify the allergy-causing insects and evaluate resulting sensitization among a study population in West Bengal, India. The skin prick test (SPT) evaluated sensitivity of 450 patients who sought treatment at the Allergy and Asthma Research Center from July 2017 to June 2018. Eight insect allergens were tested: Common Black Ant (Lasius niger, Linnaeus 1758), Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta, Buren 1972), Honey Bee (Apis cerana indica, Fabricius 1798), Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris, Linnaeus 1758), Mosquito (Aedes aegypti, Linnaeus in Hasselquist 1762), American Cockroach (Periplaneta americana, Linnaeus 1758), House Fly (Musca domestica, Linnaeus 1758), and Grasshopper (Gesonula punctifrons, Stal 1861). From a total of 450 patients evaluated, 370 patients had positive SPT reaction from at least one of the 8 insect allergens tested. Sensitivity to some Hymenoptera insects (common black ant, 87.62%; fire ant, 84.59%; and honey bee, 67.02%) was found in higher proportion than non-Hymenoptera group (mosquito, 66.67%; American cockroach, 33.33%; house fly, 10.41%; and grasshopper, 5.14%). There was significant difference in sensitivity among child, adolescent, and adult (P < 0.001). While female patients showed more sensitivity than males to SPT, the difference was statistically insignificant. In regards to occupation, farmers and bee keepers were most sensitive of field workers sensitive to Hymenoptera-derived allergens., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Antimicrobial-resistant HAI (Healthcare associated infection) are a global challenge due to their impact on patient outcome. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programmes (AMSP) is needed at institutional and national levels. Assessment of core capacities for AMSP is an important starting point to initiate nationwide AMSP. We conducted an assessment of the core capacities for AMSP in a network of Indian hospitals, which are part of the Global Health Security Agenda-funded work on capacity building for AMR-HAIs., Subjects and Methods: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's core assessment checklist was modified as per inputs received from the Indian network. The assessment tool was filled by twenty hospitals as a self-administered questionnaire. The results were entered into a database. The cumulative score for each question was generated as average percentage. The scores generated by the database were then used for analysis., Results and Conclusion: The hospitals included a mix of public and private sector hospitals. The network average of positive responses for leadership support was 45%, for accountability; the score was 53% and for key support for AMSP, 58%. Policies to support optimal antibiotic use were present in 59% of respondents, policies for procurement were present in 79% and broad interventions to improve antibiotic use were scored as 33%. A score of 52% was generated for prescription-specific interventions to improve antibiotic use. Written policies for antibiotic use for hospitalised patients and outpatients were present on an average in 72% and 48% conditions, respectively. Presence of process measures and outcome measures was scored at 40% and 49%, respectively, and feedback and education got a score of 53% and 40%, respectively. Thus, Indian hospitals can start with low-hanging fruits such as developing prescription policies, restricting the usage of high antibiotics, enforcing education and ultimately providing the much-needed leadership support., Competing Interests: None

House dust mites (HDMs) are extensively reported as potent allergens worldwide with India being in the top row. HDM sensitization is hugely reported from India and has led to the concern of implementing proper guidelines for treatment of the sufferers. Climatic conditions and a rapid shift of life style toward a more indoor and urbanised pattern are denoted as the probable causes of increased HDM exposure and sensitization. On the contrary, the varying rate of HDM allergy from similar climate and urbanised areas throughout the world suggest the influence of genetic predisposition. At present, in India, avoidance of HDM exposure is recommended as the baseline defence. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) guidelines are proposed in India to maintain uniformity in the diagnosis techniques and management strategies throughout the country. Considering the genetic susceptibility toward allergic diseases, the concept of 'personalised medicine' is preferred over the 'mass targeted treatment'. From the Indian perspective, the present problem is Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae allergens are not well characterised at the molecular level. As a consequence, India is still reliant on less standardised allergen extracts. The proper identification, purification, and molecular characterization of HDM allergens can combat this problem. In this review, we aimed to portray a complete account of HDM allergy in India with respect to prevalence, probable triggers, diagnosis and therapy. We have attempted to present the current ambiguities along with the likely deciphering that would pave the way to solve HDM allergy-related queries in India.

House dust mites (HDMs) are the major constituents of house dust (HD). HD and HDM sensitization is well documented worldwide. Storage mite (SM) sensitization is presently lacking from India. The present study evaluated the sensitization of both HDM and SM among 372 allergic rhinitis patients reported to the Allergy and Asthma Research Center of Kolkata metropolitan, India. HD samples were collected from the patients' home and analyzed for the major constituent mites. HD and six constituent mites Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DP), Dermatophagoides farina Hughes (Acari: Pyroglyphidae) (DF), Blomia tropicalis (BT), Acarus siro Linnaeus (Acari: Acaridae) (AS), Lepidoglyphus destructor (LD), and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acari: Acaridae) (TP) are tested for the allergenic potential through Skin Prick Test (SPT). Three SMs, namely AS, LD, and TP, were newly included in the mite SPT extract for the first time in Kolkata. In total, 330 patients showed significant positive SPT toward any one allergen tested. HD was the major elicitor exhibiting 92.42% response. Individuals of age group 15-40 were the worst sufferers. DF showed the highest sensitization (87.87%) among the dust mites. The SMs also contributed significantly to prove their sensitizing potential. SPT rates for AS, LD, and TP were 33, 25, and 18%, respectively. SPT grades and total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) were positively correlated for each of the allergens. Most of the patients were multi-sensitized (95%) and represented markedly high total IgE levels (>500 IU/ml). Three SMs proved to be significant allergens for the studied population. The sensitization toward these SMs is first time reported from India and can be recommended for inclusion of routine SPT for better outcome in the future., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Aeroallergen sensitization is increasing worldwide. The optimal management of allergic disease requires the identification of the allergic sensitivities of the patient. Complete data of offending aeroallergens are scant from West Bengal, India. Hence, we employed a retrospective analysis of an atopic population of West Bengal to investigate the rate of sensitivity toward common aeroallergens including pollens, molds and house dust mites., Objectives: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the profile of skin prick test (SPT) reactivity of an atopic population of eastern India., Methods: The prevalence aeroallergen sensitization was investigated by SPT along with a questionnaire survey of patients who visited the Allergy and Asthma Research Center of West Bengal, India, from June 2016 to May 2018. Patients were categorized according to the demographic (age, gender) and clinical aspects. Statistical tests were applied to differentiate between age and gender of the sufferers., Results: 524 out of 605 patients exhibited a positive SPT response toward one or more aeroallergens tested. One-way ANOVA following Tukey's post hoc test reveals the age group of 15-40 years was more sensitized than that of < 15 years and no male-female discrimination was found using the paired t test. House dust mites, namely Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farinae, elicited most significant SPT results (80.34 and 84.92%, respectively) followed by Cocos (73.28%) and Azaridacta (57.25%) pollen. The most sensitive mold was Alternaria alternata (26.9%). Allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma and atopic dermatitis were recorded as the common symptoms. Other influencing factors were family history, nature and season/time of onset and house conditions., Conclusion: Following the increasing trend, house dust mite sensitization still held the dominance like in any other Indian population reported earlier. This study would pave the way to construct a standard and minimal SPT panel for the atopic patients of eastern India., (© 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Auxillary nurse midwives (ANMs) are the most important frontline multi-purpose workers in rural India. This study was conducted to assess the spectrum of service delivery, time utilisation, work planning, and factors affecting functioning of ANMs in South India., Methods: We conducted a time and motion study in three districts across two states in South India. The districts selected in such a manner that they had a considerable tribal population. We conducted multi-stage sampling to select ANMs. We directly observed 43 ANMs consecutively for six working days and in-depth interviewed all selected ANMs, their supervisors, medical officers, and district health officials. We conducted an FGD to substantiate the findings from observations and interviews. Observation findings were analysed under three broad domains: (i) programme activities, (ii) programme support activities, and (iii) other work. Time spent was calculated in median (interquartile range, IQR) minutes/ANM per week or day. Qualitative data were coded and analysed using grounded theory, and appropriate themes and sub-themes were identified., Results: ANMs worked for median 7 h a day (7:10 h, non-tribal; 6:20 h, tribal). There is variation in the hours of work, the pattern of service provided and time utilisation across days of a week. ANMs spent 60% of their on-job time on programmatic activities (median 22:38 h; IQR, 20:48-27:01 h) in a week. Emphasis is more on home visits, universal immunisation, antenatal care, school health, and seasonal diseases. ANMs spent negligible time on non-communicable diseases, adolescent health, nutrition, etc. ANMs spent the remaining time in program support activities, such as meetings with seniors, community meetings, and other non-health related work. There are no renewed job description, work plans, and supervision guidelines, even with newly added programs and tasks. ANMs prioritised work as per the priorities set by the supervisors and leaders. Health administration often disrupts the regular functioning of ANMs for training, meetings and other ad hoc work., Conclusion: ANMs are overworked; they often multi-task and fail to deliver efficiently. The administration needs to re-assess the workload. The administration may reduce expected work, provide strong supervisory support, and make conscious efforts to pose fewer disruptions in regular working of ANMs.

Background: In India, amidst the increasing number of health programmes, there are concerns about the performance of frontline health workers (FLHW). We assessed the time utilisation and factors affecting the work of frontline health workers from South India., Methods: This is a mixed methods study using time and motion (TAM) direct observations and qualitative enquiry among frontline/community health workers. These included 43 female and 6 male multipurpose health workers (namely, auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) and male-MPHWs), 12 nutrition and health workers (Anganwadi workers, AWWs) and 53 incentive-based community health workers (accredited social health activists, ASHAs). We conducted the study in two phases. In the formative phase, we conducted an in-depth inductive investigation to develop observation checklists and qualitative tools. The main study involved deductive approach for TAM observations. This enabled us to observe a larger sample to capture variations across non-tribal and tribal regions and different health cadres. For the main study, we developed GPRS-enabled android-based application to precisely record time, multi-tasking and field movement. We conducted non-participatory direct observations (home to home) for consecutively 6 days for each participant. We conducted in-depth interviews with all the participants and 33 of their supervisors and relevant officials. We conducted six focus group discussions (FGDs) with ASHAs and one FGD with ANMs to validate preliminary findings. We established a mechanism for quality assurance of data collection and analysis. We analysed the data separately for each cadre and stratified for non-tribal and tribal regions., Results: On any working day, the ANMs spent median 7:04 h, male-MPHWs spent median 5:44 h and AWWs spent median 6:50 h on the job. The time spent on the job was less among the FLHWs from tribal areas as compared to those from non-tribal areas. ANMs and AWWs prioritised maternal and child health, while male-MPHWs were involved in seasonal diseases and school health. ASHAs visited homes to provide maternal health, basic curative care, and follow-up of tuberculosis patients. The results describe issues related with work planning, time management and several systemic, community-based and personnel factors affecting work of FLHWs., Conclusion: TAM study with mixed methods can help researchers as well as managers to periodically review work patterns, devise appropriate job responsibilities and improve the efficiency of health workers.

Sycophilodes Joseph is a non-pollinating fig wasp genus so far reported only from Ficus benghalensis L. The genus Sycophilodes is revised with redescription of the male and the first description of the female of its only currently included species, S. moniliformis. A second species, Sycophilodes uluberiaensis Pramanik & Dey sp. nov. is described. Available keys are modified and supplemented to facilitate identification of Sycophilodes and a key for distinguishing both sexes of the two included species is presented. All type specimens are deposited in the National Pusa Collection, IARI, New Delhi.

Background: Food allergy is increasing worldwide, and Asian countries are not the exception. Still, ample data are lacking in India. We conducted a cross-sectional study in a metropolis of Eastern India to record the presence of food allergy among the local population., Methods: The prevalence of food allergy was investigated among patients reporting to The Institute of Child Health and Mediland Diagnostics in Kolkata, India. A total of 5,161 patients were subdivided into 3 age groups and surveyed accordingly. The evaluation was conducted via a questionnaire and a skin prick test., Results: Among the 5,161 patients tested, 4,160 showed a positive response to one or more food items. Banana (32%), brinjal (29%), wheat (22%), and egg (23%) were found to be dominant allergens. Sixty-three percent of patients with a family history of allergy showed either a sudden or an insidious mode of onset, whereas the remaining 37% suffered insidious allergic symptoms with no record of a family history of allergy. Skin rashes, cough, and sneezing were the major symptoms observed. Patients in the age group of 15-40 years were the most susceptible., Conclusion: It has been observed that certain specific foods consumed in specific regions cause allergies that are unique to their respective populations. In the present study, the most commonly consumed foods in the studied area, e.g. banana, brinjal, wheat, and egg, had severe effects on the local population. Complementary studies in other countries as well as in other parts of India will allow us to gain further insight into this fact. Some other influencing factors were found to be genetics, cultural habits, and occupation. Avoidance of the allergy-causing food is the best way to deal with food allergy., (© 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

The miners as well as the inhabitants vicinity to the mining areas are generally susceptible to the respiratory disorders due to constant exposure to the coalmine dust for a prolonged period. In this paper the dust concentration and dust dose associated with the rate of tuberculosis around the major part of Ib Valley Coalfield (Belpahar and Brajarajnagar area) have been analysed. Several field trips around Ib Valley Coalfield have been conducted for consecutively three years (2005, 2006 and 2007) to evaluate the present status of the dust concentration and rate of tuberculosis infection. It was observed that the dust concentrations of different residential places as well as the places vicinity to the opencast mining projects have been increased in the subsequent years of investigation. As a result, the dust doses of various residential places have also increased in a parallel manner. The dust doses of various mining sites range from 25.51 to 37.08 mg, 34.76 to 41.03 mg and 37.8 to 44.49 mg during 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. Interestingly in most of the mining sites the dust doses are more than the safe dust does (32 mg). An attempt has been made to correlate the dust concentration with tuberculosis infection in the area by making a questionnaire survey. Early symptoms of tuberculosis were reported in case of 121 out of 205, 129 out of 212 and 145 out of 220 inhabitants during 2005, 2006 and 2007 respectively. The study clearly revealed that the tuberculosis patients have been increased significantly in the successive years of investigation.

Background & Objective: The price and availability of medicines are key components in determining access to effective treatment. Data on prices and availability of common medicines in public and private sector in different States of India are scarce. Hence, surveys were undertaken in different States of India to evaluate these metrics., Methods: During October 2004 to January 2005, six surveys were undertaken simultaneously in five States of India to assess medicine prices and availability of essential medicines (n = 21-28) using the World Health Organization and Health Action International methodology. Surveys were conducted at Chennai, Haryana, Karnataka, West Bengal, and at two sites in Maharashtra. For each medicine, data were collected for the Innovator Brand (IB), Most Sold Generic (MSG), and Lowest Priced Generic (LPG) at randomly selected public and private facilities in each site surveyed. Prices were compared to an international reference benchmark (expressed as median price ratio - MPR)., Results: The procurement price of medicines in the public sector was 0.27 to 0.48 times the international reference price. However, these medicines were inadequately available and the median availability in the public sector ranged from 0 to 30 per cent. The median prices of medicines in the private sector were less than twice the IRP, although a few innovator brands were more expensive. No difference was observed between the prices of the most sold generic (MSG) and the lowest priced generic (LPG) available at the facilities. Interestingly, price variation was observed among different generic equivalents of ciprofloxacin in each region. The price of LPG diazepam in the private sector was thirty three times its procurement price in the public sector., Interpretation & Conclusion: The survey revealed low procurement prices and poor availability in the public sector. Thus, the majority of the population purchased medicines from private pharmacies, where generics were usually available although prices of certain medicines were high. Various policy measures could increase the availability and accessibility of medicines for the population.

In the present study, we compared two enteroadherent Escherichia coli (EAEC) not belonging to the classical enteropathogenic O serotypes with respect to their attachment to and invasion of HeLa cells. Depending on the pattern of adherence to HeLa cells, one of the strains showed localized adherence (LA), and the other showed diffuse adherence (DA). Electronmicroscopic study showed that LA-EAEC produced the intimate attaching and effacing lesions and intracellular penetration in cultured HeLa cells. In contrast, DA-EAEC exhibited fimbrially-mediated adhesion to HeLa cells. Both LA and DA possessed morphologically distinct fimbriae. LA-EAEC expressed rod-like fimbriae, whereas fibrillar fimbriae were observed in DA strain. Ultrastructural study showed that the mechanisms of invasion by both the strains were different. LA-EAEC strains invaded the cells after pedestal formation and were enclosed in membrane-bound vacuoles. In contrast, DA-EAEC showed no membrane dissolution and pedestal formation during internalization of HeLa cells. A carefully controlled study will be necessary to establish the pathogenic role of DA-EAEC in diarrhoea.

Tumours of the mastoid temporal bone are interesting clinical entities owing to their rarity. A wide variety of benign and malignant tumours occur in and around the temporal bone reflecting the complicated embryological origin and resultant diversity of tumours found in the area. Friedmann (1974), in a classification of tumours of the ear, has grouped some tumours as intermediate in variety, e.g. glomus jugulare tumour, in addition to various benign and malignant tumours. Metastatic deposits from various distant organs such as the lung, breast and kidney can occur in the mastoid bone (Schucknecht, 1968). Invasive tumours can spread to the mastoid bone from adjacent areas such as neoplasms of the parotid and cranium.