Assessing the Effectiveness of Information Literacy Instruction Program: Pre and Post Evaluation Case Study

Learning is a continuous process and effective learning relates to students’ attitudes, feelings and approach towards the subject of learning. To excel in their academic curricula students must acquire, evaluate and use the available information effectively. One of the mandates of today’s higher education is to develop a community of students with information literacy (IL) skills while pursuing their education and enable them to further extend it to their future workplace. This paper examines the information literacy competency of post-graduate students of pharmaceutical sciences course at Manipal University, Manipal. The present case study, conducted prior to and after an Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) program at the Health Sciences Library of Manipal University, Manipal, assesses different aspects of information competency for utilization of information resources. Data were collected through a survey prior to IL session and through feedback response at the end of the session (after the session). Structured questionnaires were distributed to all the participants (125) before and after the instruction program. Students’ awareness about the library website, availability of types of resources of the library, familiarity with the name of online database in the health sciences field, knowledge about the use of library catalogue, bibliographic databases and open access resources; confidence level related to search skills before and after the ILI and the usefulness of ILI program were assessed during the study. The results indicated that the information literacy instruction had a positive influence on effective learning of information literacy skills

Assessing the Effectiveness of Information Literacy Instruction Program: Pre and Post Evaluation Case Study

Learning is a continuous process and effective learning relates to students’ attitudes, feelings and approach towards the subject of learning. To excel in their academic curricula students must acquire, evaluate and use the available information effectively. One of the mandates of today’s higher education is to develop a community of students with information literacy (IL) skills while pursuing their education and enable them to further extend it to their future workplace. This paper examines the information literacy competency of post-graduate students of pharmaceutical sciences course at Manipal University, Manipal. The present case study, conducted prior to and after an Information Literacy Instruction (ILI) program at the Health Sciences Library of Manipal University, Manipal, assesses different aspects of information competency for utilization of information resources. Data were collected through a survey prior to IL session and through feedback response at the end of the session (after the session). Structured questionnaires were distributed to all the participants (125) before and after the instruction program. Students’ awareness about the library website, availability of types of resources of the library, familiarity with the name of online database in the health sciences field, knowledge about the use of library catalogue, bibliographic databases and open access resources; confidence level related to search skills before and after the ILI and the usefulness of ILI program were assessed during the study. The results indicated that the information literacy instruction had a positive influence on effective learning of information literacy skills

Production of lignans in callus culture of Podophyllum hexandrum

Purpose: Podophyllum hexandrum Royle, a source of highly valued podophyllotoxin has been subjected to heavy collection from the wild. The ever-increasing demand of podophyllum is mainly due to two semi synthetic derivatives of podophyllotoxin that is etoposide and teniposide, which are used in the treatment of various types of cancer. The anti cancer lignan derivative podophyllotoxin in Podophyllum hexandrum is biosynthesized at very low quantities in intact plant, so the biotechnological production of podophyllotoxin has been considered essential. Method: The aseptically germinated embryos of Podophyllum hexandrum were developed on solid nutrient agar slab. For the growth of callus culture, Murashigae and Skoog media (MS media)) with various concentrations of BAP, NAA and GA3 adjusted to pH 5.8 was used. Podophyllotoxin content in the alcoholic extract of calli and plant root was analysed by HPLC and HPTLC and was also compared with cultivated Podophllum hexandrum root extracts. Result: A fully defined MS medium supplemented with Naphthalene acetic acid and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were effective for both initiation and sustained growth of callus tissue. The relative proportion of callus was markedly influenced by presence of plant growth regulators. The amount of Podophyllotoxin obtained from callus was 0.78 and 0.79 percent as characterized by HPLC and HPTLC respectively. Conclusion: The study revealed that callus culture may be a fruitful tool for the production of podophyllotoxin resin, an anticancer entity. Keywords: Podophyllum hexandrum, Tissue culture, Podophyllotoxin, HPTLC, HPLC Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 6 (4) 2007: pp. 803-80

A study of clinical and functional outcome of primary total knee arthroplasty using posterior cruciate substitute design

Background: To study the clinical and functional outcome in a consecutive series of Total Knee Arthroplasty using Posterior cruciate substituting (PS) design using the Knee Society Score(KSS). The objectives of the study was 1) To assess the improvement in pain relief post-operatively, stability, mobility of the joint and to assess the correction of deformities. 2) To compare the knee clinical score (KCS) pre-operatively and post-operatively. 3) To compare the knee functional score (KFS) pre-operatively and post-operatively. 4) To assess the radiological outcome of total knee arthroplasty. 5) To study the association between the KCS and the KFS.Methods: The study was conducted on patients who have undergone Primary total knee replacement, in Department of Orthopaedics, KIMS hospital from June 2014 to February 2017. The patient was assessed clinically, functionally using the Knee Society Score and a radiographic evaluation was done. These evaluations were performed at 6weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks and 1year follow up visits.Results: At 1 year follow up of 60 knees, the average pre-op knee clinical score and functional score of 24.7 and 41.2 improved to an average post-op score of 89.9 and 87.8 respectively. Knee clinical and functional score grade of excellent to good was seen in 96.7% (58 knees of 60). Significant association was seen between KCS and KFS. 5 patients had delayed wound healing and one patient had deep infection. Alignment of prosthesis was found satisfactory in all patients. Flexion deformity, valgus and varus correction achieved in all the patients. Conclusions: Total knee arthroplasty using posterior cruciate substituting designs resulted in excellent relief of pain, range of motion, restoration of function, low prevalence of patellofemoral complications and continues to function well during the follow-up period. Improvement in clinical score correlated significantly with improvement in functional score. Knee society scoring system effective in evaluating clinical, functional and radiological outcomes.

Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours

Citation: Purna, S. K. G., Shi, Y. C., Guan, L., Wilson, J. D., & Graybosch, R. A. (2015). Factors Governing Pasting Properties of Waxy Wheat Flours. Cereal Chemistry, 92(5), 529-535. doi:10.1094/cchem-10-14-0209-rWaxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) contains endosperm starch lacking in amylose. To realize the full potential of waxy wheat, the pasting properties of hard waxy wheat flours as well as factors governing the pasting properties were investigated and compared with normal and partial waxy wheat flours. Starches isolated from six hard waxy wheat flours had similar pasting properties, yet their corresponding flours had very different pasting properties. The differences in pasting properties were narrowed after endogenous alpha-amylase activity in waxy wheat flours was inhibited by silver nitrate. Upon treatment with protease, the extent of protein digestibility influenced the viscosity profile in waxy wheat flours. Waxy wheat starch granules swelled extensively when heated in water and exhibited a high peak viscosity, but they fragmented at high temperatures, resulting in more rapid breakdown in viscosity. The extensively swelled and fragmented waxy wheat starch granules were more susceptible to a-amylase degradation than normal wheat starch. A combination of endogenous a-amylase activity and protein matrix contributed to a large variation in pasting properties of waxy wheat flours

Effect of Planting Density on Growth Parameters and Fruit Yield in Guava (Psidium guajava L.) cv. Allahabad Safeda Cultivated under Mild Humid Conditions of Coorg

A study was carried out in 'Allahabad Safeda' guava (Psidium guajava L.) to standardize the effect of planting densities on growth parameters viz., scion girth, plant height, and spread (East - West and North - South), canopy area, canopy volume and fruit yield over a ten years period. The trial was laid out with five planting densities viz., 6x3, 6x4, 6x6, 8x4, 8x3m accommodating 555, 416, 277, 312 and 416 plants/ha respectively with four replications having sixteen plants per treatment in a randomized block design during 1988-89 season. The grafted plants on seedling rootstock were planted and the yield data were recorded from 1992 to 1997. The results indicated that the scion girth was significantly higher in 8x3 or 8x4m configurations. There were no significant differences among treatments for plant height. The plant spread across East-West direction was however significant in 8x3m. The fruit yield in Mrig bahar was significantly higher as compared to that of Hasth bahar in terms of fruit number and weight. Land Use Index (LUI) values exceeding 50% had bearing on the productivity of different configurations. The productivity was nearly double in 6x3m where, the planting density was twice as much in recommended spacing (6x6m) by sixth year of planting after which, yield levels declined. Thus, it was concluded that a spacing of 6x3m having 555 plants/ha, gives the highest productivity in 'Allahabad Safeda' guava by sixth year of planting under North Coorg conditions

Association of Usage of Online Journals with Impact Factors: A Descriptive Analytical Study

A case study of association between usage of online journals and their impact factors was conducted for the subscribed journals of the Health Sciences Library of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal. The publisher-generated usage statistics were collected and tabulated for the period 2010-2015. The full text usage was considered as the criteria for identification of the extent of usage of online journals from different publishers. The Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of these journals were retrieved in 2015 from Journal Citation Report to check whether association existed between the most used and the least used journals with their impact factor. The study identified two lists of journals, the most used and the least used journals, from among the subscribed online journals through the usage analysis. ‘Mann Whitney U test’ was performed to check the association between the usage of online journals and their impact factors. It was observed that there is a statistically significant difference (p\u3c0.001) in the impact factors of the most used journals and the least used journals, which indicated that an association existed between the IFs and the usage. The application of the outcome measures of the study provide a benchmark for the online journal collection for the libraries that explore the usage of its online resources. Study also propositions the means for increasing the usage of subscribed online journals

Enhancing Mango Productivity through Sustainable Resource Management

Mango the “King of fruits” is the most important fruit crop in India and the area under mango is the largest among fruit crops (2,516 thousand ha) with a production of around 19.69 million tonnes. India ranks first in mango production in the world contributing 41% of the total world production of mango. Among Indian states, with a total output of 4.3 million MT, Uttar Pradesh stands first as mango producing state. (Fig.1).This is followed by Telangana (2.73 million MT), Karnataka (1.75 million MT) and Bihar (1.36 million MT). Particularly in India all stages of mango fruit are used starting from immature to over ripe stages. Mango has specific problem of alternate bearing leading many times to low yields or no yield

Study of management of subtrochanteric fractures of femur with reconstruction nail

Background: Subtrochanteric fractures of femur are the fractures occurring from the inferior aspect of the lesser trochanter to 5 cm distally. They represent a challenge for surgeons due to the deforming forces acting on the region and the high rates of complications like non-union. This study evaluates the fixation of subtrochanteric fractures of femur with reconstruction nail which is a specialized antegrade intramedullary nail for femur.Methods: A prospective study conducted between October 2017 to May 2019 where 20 cases of subtrochanteric fractures of femur were treated with reconstruction nail and were followed up serially till 24 weeks radiologically and clinically.Results: The average time of union for patients was 5.15±1.14 months with 3 patients whose fractures didn’t unite where one went for frank non union, one had a refracture and one patient had reverse z effect. The functional outcome was excellent in 45% patients and good in 30% patients while poor in 3 (15%) patients.Conclusions: Reconstruction nail is a good device for subtrochanteric fractures of femur providing rigid fixation with low complication rates

No association of alcohol use and the risk of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease: data from a European Prospective cohort study (EPIC)

Background The role of long -term alcohol consumption for the risk of developing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) is unclear. Aim s For the first time, t o prospectively assess the role of pre -disease alcohol consumption o n the risk of developing UC or CD. Methods Nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC - IBD ), incident UC and CD cases and ma tched controls where included. At recruitment, participants completed validated food frequency and lifestyle questionnaires. Alcohol consumption was classified as either: non -use, former, light ( ≤ 0.5 and 1 drink/week), below the recommended limits (BRL) ( ≤ 1 and 2 drinks/day), moderate ( ≤ 2.5 and 5 drinks/day) , or heavy use (>2.5 and >5 drinks/ day) for women and men, respectively ; and was expressed as consumption at enrolment and during lifetime. Conditional logistic regression was applied adjusting for smoking and education , taking light users as the 3 Abstract Background The role of long -term alcohol consumption for the risk of developing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) is unclear. Aim s For the first time, t o prospectively assess the role of pre -disease alcohol consumption o n the risk of developing UC or CD. Methods Nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC - IBD ), incident UC and CD cases and ma tched controls where included. At recruitment, participants completed validated food frequency and lifestyle questionnaires. Alcohol consumption was classified as either: non -use, former, light ( ≤ 0.5 and 1 drink/week), below the recommended limits (BRL) ( ≤ 1 and 2 drinks/day), moderate ( ≤ 2.5 and 5 drinks/day) , or heavy use (>2.5 and >5 drinks/ day) for women and men, respectively ; and was expressed as consumption at enrolment and during lifetime. Conditional logistic regression was applied adjusting for smoking and education , taking light users as the reference. Results Out of 262,451 participants in 6 countries, 198 UC incident cases/792 controls and 84 CD cases/336 controls were included. At enrolment, 8%/27%/3 2%/2 3%/1 1% UC cases and 7%/2 9%/4 0%/19%/ 5% C D cases were: non -users, light, BRL, moderate and heavy users, respectively. The corresponding figures for lifetime non -use, former, light, BRL, moderate and heavy use were : 3%/5%/2 3%/44%/19%/6% and 5%/2%/25%/44%/23 %/1% for UC and CD cases , respectively. There were no associations between any categories of alcohol consumption and risk of UC or CD in the una djusted and adjusted odds ratios . Conclusion There was no evidence of association s between alcohol use and the odds of developing either UC or CD