Search for the differences in Atmospheric Neutrinos and Antineutrinos oscillation parameters at the INO-ICAL Experiment

In this paper, we present a study to measure the differences between the atmospheric neutrino and anti-neutrino oscillations in the Iron-Calorimeter detector at the India-based Neutrino Observatory experiment. Charged Current $\nu_{\mu}$ and $\overline{\nu}_{\mu}$ interactions with the detector under the influence of earth matter effect have been simulated for ten years of exposure. The observed $\nu_{\mu}$ and $\overline{\nu}_{\mu}$ events spectrum are separately binned into direction and energy bins, and a $\chi^{2}$ is minimised with respect to each bin to extract the oscillation parameters for $\nu_{\mu}$ and $\overline{\nu}_{\mu}$ separately. We then present the ICAL sensitivity to confirm a non-zero value of the difference in atmospheric mass squared of neutrino and anti-neutrino i.e. $|\Delta m^{2}_{32}|-|\Delta\overline{m^{2}}_{32}|$

Aerodynamic measurement-Maximum Phonation Time in young patients with benign vocal fold lesions and with normal voice: a comparative analysis

Background: Clinicians use Maximum Phonatory Time (MPT) as one of tool to verify the glottic efficiency objectively. Impairment of vocal fold mucosa integrity due to lesions results in alteration in MPT. The aim of current study was to compare MPT in young adults with vocal fold lesions and age and sex matched normal subjects.Methods: This study was conducted in the Department of ENT & Head and Neck surgery of Government Medical College Srinagar on 41 adult patients with benign vocal fold lesions and 41 healthy subjects matched for age and sex for a period of 2 years from April 2017- April 2019. The aerodynamic measure was measured as maximum phonation time in seconds and the results were analysed statistically. Both patients and controls were explained the procedure. Results: Mean MPT in seconds in males with vocal fold lesion was 14.42 seconds with SD of 5.62 seconds and in females was 10.81 seconds with SD of 3.44 seconds. Coefficients of variation (CV) was 0.35 and 0.21 respectively. In control group it was 18.15 seconds with SD of 5.88 in males and in females it was 15.72 seconds with a SD of 6.21. Mean difference between patients and controls in males and females was 3.8 and 4.9 respectively. P-Value in males and females was 0.053 and 0.003 respectively.Conclusion: Vocal cord lesions decrease MPT in both sexes even in young adults

Is open lateral anal sphincterotomy really a safe and satisfactory treatment option for refractory chronic anal fissures? - a prospective study

Background: Chronic anal fissure is a familiar entity in surgical outdoor departments of hospitals in our valley. The muslim women are usually reluctant to expose their anal canal related pathologies to male surgeons, letting anal fissures to reach the chronic stage. Under this background, the present study was conducted to look for the feasibility of lateral anal sphincterotomy in the management of chronic anal fissure in our patients.Methods: This prospective study was carried out over a period of 3 years in the unit 2nd of department of surgery at SMHS (Shri Maharaja Harisingh) hospital, an associated hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar. During this period, 59 patients presented to the outpatient department with typical chronic anal fissures and were included in this study.Results: Fifty-nine patients, diagnosed on clinical evaluation as chronic anal fissure were included in this study. The age varied from 19 to 58 years with mean age of 36.38±7.14 (SD= 7.14) years. There was a female predominance, with a female to male ratio of 2.1:1. Fifty-two (88.1%) patients had posterior midline fissure and 7 (11.8%) patients had an anterior anal fissure. Thirty-one patients were not satisfied with the conservative treatment and insisted for surgical management. All 31 patients were managed by open lateral anal sphincterotomy.Conclusions: Lateral anal sphincterotomy (LAS) is a safe and effective method of management for chronic refractory anal fissures. The complications are minimal and negligible

Impact of Starvation, Refeeding of Freshwater Fish Channa punctatus Via Comparatively Protein Level Investigation on Target Tissues

Using Lowry\u27s approach, the current study investigated how starvation and refeeding affected the amount of protein in various tissues of the freshwater fish Channa panctatus (1951). The fish were categorised into two groups, the first group had normal feedings, while the second was denied food for periods of 7, 14, 21, and 28 days respectively. Notably, the previously starved fish were fed again. Fish show a significant rise in protein levels relative to normal following feeding because prolonged starvation causes a steady drop in tissue protein levels

Life style patterns and adherence to pharmacotherapy after acute coronary syndrome: one year follow up study from a tertiary care center in Kashmir, India

Background: Acute coronary syndrome is the leading cause of cardiac mortality and morbidity world over. Modification of life style pattern and adherence to pharmacotherapy plays a vital role in primary and secondary prevention of coronary events. This study was aimed at assessing the penetration of life style modifications and adherence to pharmacotherapy after acute coronary event in our population.Methods: Acute coronary syndrome patients enrolled in the study were examined, interviewed and all the demographic and clinical data was recorded at index event and at 3, 6 and 12 month intervals.Results: A total of 260 patients were enrolled in the study and followed for 12 months. Mean age of patients was 55.6±8.27 years. Males 78.6% and females 21.5%. Hypertension was risk factor in 67.7%, diabetes in 26.2%, smoking in 63.8%, BMI ≥25 in 67.3% and family history of coronary artery disease in 8.8% of the cases at index event. Uncontrolled hypertension was observed in 30.11%, 38.63% and 44.88% patients at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up. Uncontrolled diabetes at 3, 6 and 12 months was found in 58.82%, 66.17% and 73.52% patients. 5.42%, 15.06% and 21.08% cases continued to smoke at 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. Drug non-compliance overall was noted in 9.61%, 17.69% and 23.84% cases at 3, 6 and 12 month follow up.Conclusions: This study highlights the under prevalence of modifiable risk factor change in practice and drug non-compliance after an acute coronary event

The Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for Treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Adolescents and Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common behavioral disorder among adolescents and children. The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the first pharmacological choice for this condition due to mild adverse effect profile. Objective: This systematic review was performed to evaluate the efficacy of SSRI for OCD in adolescents and children. Methods: Search terms were entered into PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The included studies were randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SSRIs conducted in populations of children and adolescents younger than 18 years. Change from baseline Children\u27s Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS), end-treatment CY-BOCS with respective SD, and response and remission rates were collected for continuous and dichotomous outcome assessment, respectively. Cochrane Rev Man software was used for meta-analyses, providing Forest plots where applicable. Results: SSRIs were superior to placebo with a small effect size. There was no additional benefit of combination treatment over cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) alone, but CBT added substantial benefit to SSRI monotherapy. Fluoxetine and sertraline appear to be superior to fluvoxamine. Conclusion: The results of current systematic review and meta-analysis support the existing National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for choosing CBT as first line of treatment and substituting it with SSRI, depending on patient preference. Adding CBT to current SSRI treatment is effective for non-responders and partial responders, but adding SSRI to ongoing CBT does not prove beneficial. The SSRIs have different effectiveness, and their relative efficacy remains to be investigated

Toxocariasis in Kashmir epidemiology, pathogenesis and immunological studies in human population.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, roundworms of dogs and cats are probably the most common gastrointestinal helminthes of domestic canids and felids. First described in late seventeenth century Toxocara has been found to infect dogs, cats and mice. The larvae of Toxocara canis have been reported in different organs like intestine, liver, lungs, kidneys, skeletal muscles and nervous tissue of rat and mice (Taylor and Holland, 2001). The prevalence of the infection throughout the world shows different infection rates of Toxocara canis in dogs; it is 18.3% in Italy (Legrottaglie et al., 2003), 25.7% in France (France et al., 1997); 18.3% in Indiana (Kazacos, 1978). Saeki et al. (1997) found a prevalence of 79.9% of Toxocara canis in puppies of stray dogs in Ibaraki Prefecture. D’Souza (2002) reported 2.7%-28% of prevalence of Toxocara canis in Bangalore (India). The prevalence of patent Toxocara canis infection is highest in young dogs and much less common in adult animals.Digital copy of Thesis.University of Kashmir

Non-Timber Forest Products Collection Affects Education of Children in Forest Proximate Communities in Northeastern Pakistan

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are crucial in driving the economy of communities living inside or around forests. The scarcity of business and employment opportunities often push the forest proximate communities to tap a range of NTFPs for earning their livelihoods. In many forest-based communities around the world, children are actively involved in NTFPs collection, which is likely to affect the socioeconomic paradigms of these children. We aim to investigate how the NTFP collection venture affects the education of the children involved in the forest proximate communities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. A stratified sampling followed by a series of focus group discussions and one-to-one interviews were carried out to collect information on collection behaviour, patterns, income generation, and other socioeconomic variables. We used a binary logistic regression model to explain children’s state of attending schools using a range of socioeconomic variables. The empirical evidence showed that 42% of the NTFP-collecting children were not going to school, and nearly two-thirds were working in unfavourable working environments. The regression model showed that the role and behaviour of contractors, along with factors like household conditions, were important factors in employing children for long working hours. The study has implications for reforming policies regarding the nexus of income generation and education in the forest-based communities

Physicochemical Properties of Nanomaterials: Implication in Associated Toxic Manifestations

Nanotechnology has emerged as one of the leading fields of the science having tremendous application in diverse disciplines. As nanomaterials are increasingly becoming part of everyday consumer products, it is imperative to assess their impact on living organisms and on the environment. Physicochemical characteristics of nanoparticles and engineered nanomaterials including size, shape, chemical composition, physiochemical stability, crystal structure, surface area, surface energy, and surface roughness generally influence the toxic manifestations of these nanomaterials. This compels the research fraternity to evaluate the role of these properties in determining associated toxicity issues. Reckoning with this fact, in this paper, issues pertaining to the physicochemical properties of nanomaterials as it relates to the toxicity of the nanomaterials are discussed.</jats:p

Early results after transatrial repair of RVOT obstruction including teratology of fallot

Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgical correction of RVOT obstruction including tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Transatrial repair avoids a ventriculotomy (in contrast to the transventricular approach) emphasizing maximal preservation of RV structure and function. We have adopted this technique as less traumatic for the right ventricle. This study evaluates the early surgical results of our approach.Methods: Between January 2005 to January 2014, 77 consecutive patients with RVOT obstruction were referred to our unit for surgical therapy. Of these, 14 were unsuitable for repair and underwent aortopulmonary shunting. In the remaining 63 patients (mean age of 2.67±0.38 years), complete transatrial/transpulmonary repair was performed. Previously placed shunts (four patients) were taken down. In all cases, subpulmonary resection and ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure were accomplished transatrially. In 51 patients, the main pulmonary artery was augmented with an autologous pericardial patch.Results: There were 7 (9%) deaths in this series. No patient required permanent pacemaker. Median ICU and hospital stay were 91 hours and 14 days, respectively. At median follow up of 54 (mean 51±12) months, all patients are asymptomatic, with no significant residual lesion.Conclusions: Transatrial/transpulmonary repair of TOF is associated with remarkably low morbidity and mortality in our early experience