Gravitational lens candidates in the E-CDFS

We report ten lens candidates in the E-CDFS from the GEMS survey. Nine of the systems are new detections and only one of the candidates is a known lens system. For the most promising five systems including the known lens system, we present results from preliminary lens mass modelling, which tests if the candidates are plausible lens systems. Photometric redshifts of the candidate lens galaxies are obtained from the COMBO-17 galaxy catalog. Stellar masses of the candidate lens galaxies within the Einstein radius are obtained by using the $z$-band luminosity and the $V-z$ color-based stellar mass-to-light ratios. As expected, the lensing masses are found to be larger than the stellar masses of the candidate lens galaxies. These candidates have similar dark matter fractions as compared to lenses in SLACS and COSMOS. They also roughly follow the halo mass-stellar mass relation predicted by the subhalo abundance matching technique. One of the candidate lens galaxies qualifies as a LIRG and may not be a true lens because the arc-like feature in the system is likely to be an active region of star formation in the candidate lens galaxy. Amongst the five best candidates, one is a confirmed lens system, one is a likely lens system, two are less likely to be lenses and the status of one of the candidates is ambiguous. Spectroscopic follow-up of these systems is still required to confirm lensing and/or for more accurate determination of the lens masses and mass density profiles.Comment: 12 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, ApJ accepte

Inequalities in maternity care and newborn outcomes: one-year surveillance of births in vulnerable slum communities in Mumbai

Background: Aggregate urban health statistics mask inequalities. We described maternity care in vulnerable slum communities in Mumbai, and examined differences in care and outcomes between more and less deprived groups. Methods: We collected information through a birth surveillance system covering a population of over 280 000 in 48 vulnerable slum localities. Resident women identified births in their own localities and mothers and families were interviewed at 6 weeks after delivery. We analysed data on 5687 births over one year to September 2006. Socioeconomic status was classified using quartiles of standardized asset scores. Results: Women in higher socioeconomic quartile groups were less likely to have married and conceived in their teens (Odds ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.79, and 0.82, 0.78–0.87, respectively). There was a socioeconomic gradient away from public sector maternity care with increasing socioeconomic status (0.75, 0.70–0.79 for antenatal care and 0.66, 0.61–0.71 for institutional delivery). Women in the least poor group were five times less likely to deliver at home (0.17, 0.10–0.27) as women in the poorest group and about four times less likely to deliver in the public sector (0.27, 0.21–0.35). Rising socioeconomic status was associated with a lower prevalence of low birth weight (0.91, 0.85–0.97). Stillbirth rates did not vary, but neonatal mortality rates fell non-significantly as socioeconomic status increased (0.88, 0.71–1.08). Conclusion: Analyses of this type have usually been applied across the population spectrum from richest to poorest, and we were struck by the regularly stepped picture of inequalities within the urban poor, a group that might inadvertently be considered relatively homogeneous. The poorest slum residents are more dependent upon public sector health care, but the regular progression towards the private sector raises questions about its quality and regulation. It also underlines the need for healthcare provision strategies to take account of both sectors

Effect of mutagens on Mitotic Index and mitotic aberrations in M1 generations of Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet

In the present investigation the effect of the different Chemical and Physical mutagens like EMS, Gamma rays and combination of both EMS and Gamma rays concentration  and doses were studied for the mitotic index and mitotic abnormalities in the M1generation . The Mitotic index is decreased with the increased in the concentration and doses of the mutagens. All the three mutagenic treatments EMS, Gamma rays and combination treatment induced the reduction in mitotic index. The maximum induction of mitotic index is observed in EMS followed by Combination and Gamma rays radiation. The different mitotic abnormalities like micronuclei, mis-orientation, stickiness, precocious movements, multiple bridges. The percentage of the mitotic abnormalities was increased with the increases in the dose or concentration of the mutagenic treatments. The highest percentage of the mitotic abnormalities was observed at EMS treatments followed by the Gamma rays and Combination treatments

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Uncovering caregiver concerns: 5 key issues that still remain unresolved in administration of oral medicines for children in India

INTRODUCTION: Administration devices play a very crucial role in achieving a drug’s therapeutic effect. Children are often dosed with oral liquids, but dosing devices don’t have the accuracy needed, putting them at risk of inaccurate and suboptimal dosing. The availability and use of administration devices may vary throughout the world. Multiple surveys in UK, Europe and Japan have shown diverging practices by parents/caregivers. The aim of the present investigation was to conduct a larger Pan-India study through a series of workshops to understand the use and challenges of traditional devices and assess the need of innovative administration devices for liquid orals in India. METHODS: Administration devices play a very crucial role in achieving a drug’s therapeutic effect. Children are often dosed with oral liquids, but dosing devices don’t have the accuracy needed, putting them at risk of inaccurate and suboptimal dosing. The availability and use of administration devices may vary throughout the world. Multiple surveys in UK, Europe and Japan have shown diverging practices by parents/caregivers. The aim of the present investigation was to conduct a larger Pan-India study through a series of workshops to understand the use and challenges of traditional devices and assess the need of innovative administration devices for liquid orals in India. RESULTS: Across the four regions (4 metro cities) involved in the study, 271 caregivers agreed to participate in the workshops. 17.7 % administered solid dosage forms, 81.2 % administered liquid dosage form and the remaining 1.1 % opted for others. TRADITIONAL DEVICES: Caregivers reported the use of measuring cups (41.4 %) followed by household spoons (25.8 %), droppers (15.3 %), measuring spoons (2.6 %), and other dosing devices (5.5 %) for measuring oral liquids. 8.0 % did not use any of the dosing devices as they were administrating tablets and/or capsules. The ease-of-use score was the highest for the dropper (2.67 ± 0.68) and the lowest for the measuring spoon (2.00 ± 1.00). The reported challenges were categorised into five categories which also influences the preference of using administration devices. This includes device design, user experience and usability, sociocultural factors, such as beliefs, knowledge and education, regulatory, and market/distribution. INNOVATIVE DEVICES: The majority of the caregivers (86.7 %) were not aware of any of the innovative devices shown to them. 58.7 % were willing to use it if was recommended by the doctor, 1.5 % of caregivers would use it on pharmacists’ recommendation and 37.6 % parents would use it if came along with the medicine. The criteria considered by the parents for use of the innovative devices in the descending order were Doctor’s recommendation > Quality > Cost > Packed in medicine > Ease of use > Availability/accessibility. There were no differences observed among the low and high socioeconomic status of caregviers regarding the use of traditional devices, challenges faced and awareness about innovative devices. Overall, the study revealed heterogeneity in the SES for the use of administration devices in the four zones. The association of SES and opinion on the use of administration devices was demonstrated with no statistically significant interaction between caregiver SES and the use of administration devices. CONCLUSION: The workshop revealed the prevalence of traditional dosing devices like measuring cups, household spoons among the caregivers. It highlighted key issues with the use of appropriate administration devices for correct and accurate dosing in children that remain unresolved and prevalent in India. This study reflects on the needs of the target community; thus hope will help facilitate the development of locally sustainable solutions to improve the administration of medicines in children in India

Evaluation of Antimitotic Activity of Momordica Dioica Fruits on Allium Cepa Root Meristamatic Cells

Natural occurring phenolic compounds play an important role in cancer prevention and shows antimitotic activity. Number of active constituents like phenolic acid, curcuminoids, coumarine, ligans, quinones, etc. is showing antimitotic activity of Momordica dioica. The present work is on phytochemical investigation and examines antimitotic activity of aqueous extract of fruits Momordica dioica at concentration of 15 mg/ml on Allium cepa root meristamatic cells.The fruits are air dried and extracted with solvents like water by maceration method. The evaluation of antimitotic activity is done by using Allium cepa root meristamatic cells parameters where and methotrexate was used as a standard drugs. In Allium assay, aqueous extract of fruits of Momordica diocia (15 mg/ml) and methotrexate act against cells of allium roots and lesser the growth of root and mitotic index when compared with distilled water as control group. The result indicated that cytotoxic property is due to presence of phenolic, alkaloids and flavonoids compounds in 15 mg/ml concentration of aqueous extract of Momordica diocia fruits extract.On the basis of result, we concluded that, 15 mg/ml concentration of Momordica dioica fruits shows good antimitotic activity on the Allium cepa root tip assay

Generalised Decision Level Ensemble Method for Classifying Multi-media Data

In recent decades, multimedia data have been commonly generated and used in various domains, such as in healthcare and social media due to their ability of capturing rich information. But as they are unstructured and separated, how to fuse and integrate multimedia datasets and then learn from them eectively have been a main challenge to machine learning. We present a novel generalised decision level ensemble method (GDLEM) that combines the multimedia datasets at decision level. After extracting features from each of multimedia datasets separately, the method trains models independently on each media dataset and then employs a generalised selection function to choose the appropriate models to construct a heterogeneous ensemble. The selection function is dened as a weighted combination of two criteria: the accuracy of individual models and the diversity among the models. The framework is tested on multimedia data and compared with other heterogeneous ensembles. The results show that the GDLEM is more exible and eective

Open defecation free Odisha: achievable or a pipe dream? An analysis of sanitation promotions in Odisha, India

India has the largest number of people practising open defecation in the world; hence progress made by India is of crucial importance to meet the global MDGs and the post 2015 agenda. The state of Odisha has the second largest proportion of people practising open defecation in India. The paper analyses the policy, socio-cultural norms and dynamics affecting the state of Odisha and its struggle to eliminate open defecation. It covers the historical perspective on the approaches used by the Government of India and Odisha. Based on the results and the acquired insights, policy recommendations are provided to achieve an open defecation free state

Post Disaster Management of Mithi River Flood after July -2005 by HAVOC

The disaster of Mumbai, July 2005 a galvanised the concerned agencies into recognising the importance of the river, which in fact flows through the heart of Mumbai Suburbs. The authorities were willing now to recognise that the Mithi was a "river" and not a "nalla". The Mithi River Development and Protection Authority was established to initiate the study to identify the causes of pollution affecting the river and to suggest remedial measures. The authority conducted and environmental survey of the Mithi River to determine the pollution level of its water. I have tried to analyse the situation and have suggested guidelines for immediate actions as well as for long term measures. I have refrained from working out specific details of any proposals and it will be done as required by the concerned public agencies keeping in view of the guidelines suggested in this paper. Ours has not been a fault finding mission, but a serious exercise to understand as to which deficiencies need to be overcome, so as to be able to face calamitous situations as on 26th and 27th July,2005 in a better prepared way. We hope that our findings will help Mumbaikar?s to move in the right direction rapidly and with confidence