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Background Diabetic foot and lower limb complications affect 40-60 million people globally. A rapid method is needed to understand the bioburden and type of infecting bacteria on diabetic foot ulcers. Aim To compare the accuracy and efficacy of a novel multispectral imaging device, against the standard culture method and correlate bacterial bioburden levels with metagenome sequencing. Method A clinical study was conducted on diabetic foot ulcer patients. Wounds, post-debridement, were imaged using the multispectral imaging device and the report, containing spatially mapped regions of bacterial burden along with their bacterial gram type, was compared with the culture sensitivity report. Additionally, metagenome sequencing was done on a subset of the patient samples.Results A total of 157 patients were imaged, and 177 deep tissue biopsies were taken from colour-coded regions (Gram Positive/Gram Negative infected) identified by the machine learning algorithm. The class-averaged accuracy of the device was found to be 90.4% for gram-positive, -negative, polymicrobial and for no bacterial burden. A total of 26 biopsies were also sent for 16S rRNA sequencing. Of these, cultures were positive in 17 and correlated with the species identified through 16S rRNA results in 16 cases. In five cases where there was no growth in culture, the multispectral imaging device could still detect the presence of bacteria as confirmed by 16S rRNA results (using 50 reads as a cut-off) and thus be used as an adjunct for monitoring wounds' bacterial burden over time. Conclusions The novel multispectral imaging device can be used to effectively understand the bioburden in a wound of clinical significance and the gram type of infecting bacteria. Implications for clinical practice The autofluorescence imaging device can assist doctors in evaluating wounds' bacterial burden level, spatial bioburden extent and the gram type of bacteria present, thus aiding in effective debridement and proper wound-management protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self-efficacy is a person's belief in ones capacity to 'organize and execute' the courses of action required to produce given attainments.The present study is to examine Yoga Based Intervention strategies in accelerating Self- Efficacy among Primary School Teachers. Methods: The present investigationadopted single group design pre-test and post-test deign.A total of forty teachers working in primary classes in Dindigul District Tamil Nadu, India, were taken. Out of 40 teachers, 16 are male teachers (40%) and 24 are female teachers (60%). Analysis and discussion: The findings of the previous studies and the present investigation, the consistency of yoga based intervention is higher in enhancing selfefficacy of the teachers in general and primary teachers in particular. From the statistical findings of the present investigation, it is also affirmed that the teachers' self-efficacy was enhanced through yoga based intervention synergies. Although the experimental work applicable to primary teachers, it can be employed to enhance the self-efficacy of other teachers too subject to the necessary modifications in the yoga based intervention strategies according to the locale, subject and etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the wide-ranging impact of COVID-19 on incomes and livelihoods of people around the world will take some time to become known and understood, it is already clear that those who are in manual, mostly low-wage, occupations are among the worst-hit workers. This paper uses data from a sample survey of migrant workers to come up with useful parameters for estimating the potential losses from possible retrenchment of migrant workers due to the pandemic. The paper employs a simple estimation model using parameters derived from data collected from a KNOMAD-ILO survey of low-skilled migrant workers in the India–Saudi Arabia migration corridor, conducted during 2016–2017. An important finding is that the aggregate losses that low-skilled Indian workers in Saudi Arabia are likely to incur due to COVID-19-related retrenchment may be as high as 21% of their expected earnings. Adding recruitment costs can push up their losses to 36% of expected or potential earnings, while the aggregate remittances to their families could drop by USD 2 billion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the late 1950s, relations between India and China have been fraught with tension and conflict. Yet the two countries have recently enjoyed a significant improvement in bilateral relations. In this article, we explore potential economic reasons for this rapprochement. We set out three possible mechanisms by which commercial interdependence could lead states toward peace, and then examine their operation in the India-China case. We conclude that the most likely explanation for the relational change is the concerted effort in both countries to be seen as responsible participants in the global economy. Thus, general economic prudence, rather than any specific bilateral factor, may be having a positive effect on the India-China relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A low-cost Cr(III)-incorporated Zr(IV) bimetallic oxide (CZ) was synthesized by simple chemical precipitation method for removal of fluoride from contaminated water. The physicochemical properties of CZ before and after fluoride removal were established with several instrumental techniques such as TEM with elemental mapping, SEM with EDX, XRD, IR, XPS, zeta potential measurement, etc. Batch adsorption technique were carried out to understand the factors affecting fluoride adsorption, such as effects of initial pH, adsorbent dose, co-occurring ions, contact time, and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity observed at pH between 5 and 7. The fluoride adsorption processes on CZ obeyed the pseudo-second-order rate equations and both Freundlich and DR isotherm models. The maximum adsorption capacity of 90.67 mg g -1 was obtained. The thermodynamic parameters ΔH 0 (positive), ΔS 0 (positive), and ΔG 0 (negative) indicating the fluoride sorption system was endothermic, spontaneous, and feasible. The CZ also successfully used as fluoride adsorbent for real field contaminated water collected from the Machatora district, Bankura, West Bengal, India. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of CZ synthesis and its application for lab as well as field water purification purpose.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the potential to degrade intestinal oxalate and this is increasingly being studied as a promising probiotic solution to manage kidney stone disease. In this study, oxalate degrading LAB were isolated from human faeces and south Indian fermented foods, subsequently assessed for potential probiotic property in vitro and in vivo. Based on preliminary characteristics, 251 out of 673 bacterial isolates were identified as LAB. A total of 17 strains were found to degrade oxalate significantly between 40.38% and 62.90% and were subjected to acid and bile tolerance test. Among them, nine strains exhibited considerable tolerance up to pH 3.0 and at 0.3% bile. These were identified as Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus salivarius using 16S rDNA sequencing. Three strains, Lactobacillus fermentum TY5, Lactobacillus fermentum AB1, and Lactobacillus salivarius AB11, exhibited good adhesion to HT-29 cells and strong antimicrobial activity. They also conferred resistance to kanamycin, rifampicin, and ampicillin, but were sensitive to chloramphenicol and erythromycin. The faecal recovery rate of these strains was observed as 15.16% (TY5), 6.71% (AB1), and 9.3% (AB11) which indicates the colonization ability. In conclusion, three efficient oxalate degrading LAB were identified and their safety assessments suggest that they may serve as good probiotic candidates for preventing hyperoxaluria.