Socio-cultural and Economic Impacts of Religious Festivals on Sustainable Local Community Livelihoods in Kerala: The Case of Palakkad

Festivals depict the heritage, culture, and traditions of a particular region. They create a state of exhilaration and enthusiasm. Kerala is a state in southwest India with its own distinct culture and traditions. The state is also known for its religious pluralism. This study attempts to understand the perceived impact of religious festivals on the local community livelihoods in Palakkad, a district in central Kerala. Twelve temples in which religious festivals are held annually, with attendance in the range of thousands, were selected. The selected temples are famous for hosting specific religious festivals which attract a large number of visitors, from within and beyond the region. Using a sample of 420 community members living around these temples, this study examined how the socio-cultural and economic impacts of these religious festivals are perceived by the community. The findings show that there is a statistically significant relationship between the perceived socio-cultural and economic impacts of festivals on local communities. The celebration of local values and distinctiveness were evident in these religious festivals. The local community considers these festivals as part of their community identity and as offering impetus for annual family and community reunions

Cloud Data Security Using Elliptic Curve Cryptography

Data security is, protecting data from ill- conceived get to, utilize, introduction, intrusion, change, examination, recording or destruction. Cloud computing is a sort of Internet-based computing that grants conjoint PC handling resources and information to PCs what's more, different gadgets according to necessity. It is a model that empowers universal, on-request access to a mutual pool of configurable computing resources. At present, security has been viewed as one of the best issues in the improvement of Cloud Computing. The key issue in effective execution of Cloud Computing is to adequately deal with the security in the cloud applications. This paper talks about the part of cryptography in cloud computing to improve the data security. The expectation here is to get bits of knowledge another security approach with the usage of cryptography to secure information at cloud data centers

Role of MDCT (128 slice scanner) in evaluation of focal pancreatic mass lesions

AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. To determine the accuracy of MDCT (128 slice) in evaluation of focal pancreatic mass lesions. 2. To characterize the lesions into cystic/benign /malignant based on the MDCT imaging. 3. To correlate the MDCT findings with endoscopic ultrasound findings where it is applicable. 4. To correlate the MDCT findings with available surgical, cytological, histopathological findings & also follow up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 42 Patients with clinical findings / biochemical markers / ultrasound findings suggestive of pancreatic lesions were subjected to MDCT (SIEMENS SOMATOM DEFINITION EDGE 128 SLICE SCANNER) prospectively. The radiological findings were then compared to the endoscopic findings / available surgical / cytological /histopathological findings and the results were compared in order to determine the efficacy of 128-slice MDCT in the evaluation and characterization of focal pancreatic mass lesions. RESULT: In our study the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 128-slice MDCT in evaluation of malignant focal pancreatic lesions are 88.8%, 95%, 94%, 92% respectively and the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 128-slice MDCT in evaluation of benign focal pancreatic lesions are 95%, 88.8%, 92%, 94% respectively. CONCLUSION: We conclude that 128-slice MDCT is highly sensitive and accurate in detecting and characterizing the focal pancreatic mass lesions, thereby complementing endoscopic ultrasound. The final results of this study are comparable to previous pioneer studies conducted worldwide

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF FLUOROQUINOLONES IN EXPERIMENTAL SEIZURES ON WISTAR RATS: AN ACUTE STUDY

Objective: To compare the convulsive profile of three different Fluoroquinolones namely Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin and Ofloxacin using Maximal Electro Shock (MES) as an experimental seizure model.Methods: Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups with 6 animals each. Group I was administered Gum acacia 1 % solution (control), Group II with Standard drug, Sodium Valproate and Group III-VII received 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin and Ofloxacin each respectively. After 45 min of administration of drugs, animals were subjected to MES.Results: Ciprofloxacin prolonged various phases of MES, Ciprofloxacin 50 mg/kg group increased Tonic Hindlimb Extensor (THE) duration by 91% compared to the control group which was statistically significant. Levofloxacin group exhibited pro convulsive activity which was not significant. Ofloxacin 50 mg/kg group exhibited 80% reduction in the duration of tonic hind limb extensor phase and early recovery phase compared to control group (4.2±1.09 s and 169.33±5.3 s) respectively, proven statistically significant. Ofloxacin group exhibited anticonvulsant like activity.Conclusion: Fluoroquinolones are the popular class of antimicrobials used in a variety of infections. However, conflicting experimental evidence regarding central neurotoxicity especially seizures, complicate their use and required further investigation. Our results suggest that older generation Fluoroquinolones like Ciprofloxacin exhibits significant dose-dependent pro convulsive activity. Hence, their use must be judiciously restricted in patients with predisposing epileptogenic factors. Levofloxacin had no significant pro convulsant activity. Ofloxacin on higher dose appears to be protective exhibiting an anticonvulsant like activity. Hence, if need be, newer generation Fluoroquinolones should be preferred.Â

Identifiers in Registers - Describing Network Algorithms with Logic

We propose a formal model of distributed computing based on register automata that captures a broad class of synchronous network algorithms. The local memory of each process is represented by a finite-state controller and a fixed number of registers, each of which can store the unique identifier of some process in the network. To underline the naturalness of our model, we show that it has the same expressive power as a certain extension of first-order logic on graphs whose nodes are equipped with a total order. Said extension lets us define new functions on the set of nodes by means of a so-called partial fixpoint operator. In spirit, our result bears close resemblance to a classical theorem of descriptive complexity theory that characterizes the complexity class PSPACE in terms of partial fixpoint logic (a proper superclass of the logic we consider here).Comment: 17 pages (+ 17 pages of appendices), 1 figure (+ 1 figure in the appendix

Effect of differential heat treatments on antibacterial activity of fermented goat milk

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of three different temperatures on the antibacterial potential of fermented goat milk.Goat milk is one of the naturalfoods to complete perfection.Bioactive peptides, the specific protein fragments that have a positive impact on body functions, can be produced during milk fermentation. Thanks to the starter cultures’ proteolytic activity.Fresh pooled goat milk sample collected was divided into four lots. One set was used for raw milk analysis and the remaining three were subjected to heat treatment at three different timetemperature combinations namely;72°C for 15 sec, 85°C for 10 min, and 121° C for 15 min. These samples were cooled immediately to 42ºC, inoculated with 0.04 % DVS yogurt culture,incubated at 42º C for 4 hrs, and then stored at 5±2°C for 21 days for storage studies. The analysis was carried out at 7-day intervals. An agar well diffusion assay was performed to assess the inhibitory activity ofWater-soluble peptide extracts (WSPE) of these samples against Bacillus cereus ATCC 10876, Escherichia coli NCIM 2685, Salmonella enterica ATCC 6017, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. The milk that was heated to 85°C for 10 min before fermentation showed the highest antibacterial activity against E.coli during the 7th and 14th day of storage, withthe zone of inhibition measuredat 17±0.433mm and 21±0.55mm respectively.Thus, it can be concluded that milk heated at 85°C for 10 min had better antibacterial activity than the other two treatments

Students initiated ADR reporting activity in pharmacy colleges - a survey

ADR monitoring is an important function of many pharmacists working in the clinical field. The aim of this study is to assess the student knowledge about Pharmcovigilance and activities done in ADR centers and to find out the impact of pharmacy student service in ADR monitoring. An 11 item web based questionnaire was developed and employed to collect data from Pharm D students at different colleges in South India. A thorough review was conducted of relevant literature pertaining to knowledge, views, and practices of pharmacy students towards the ADR monitoring and reporting in pharmacy colleges. About 61 students were responded through Google forms. The majority students from Vth year and VIth year Pharm D students of about 67.25% were responded well. About 42.62% responders have the correct knowledge of about Pharmacovigilance. About 77.04% of responders having ADR reporting centres in their colleges or their hospital. Responders of about 75.40% were communicates the reported ADRs to consulting physicians by communicating, during ward rounds or by informing to corresponding department faculties. 86.88% of responders were documented the reported ADR. This study demonstrated that knowledge, attitude and practices towards pharmacovigilance is gradually improving among pharmacy students that may improve the patients’ quality of life by correcting adverse reactions, but unfortunately the actual practice of ADR reporting is still deficient among them

Frequent capsule switching in 'ultra-virulent' meningococci - Are we ready for a serogroup B ST-11 complex outbreak?

The meningococcal ST-11 complex (cc11) causes large invasive disease outbreaks with high case fatality rates, such as serogroup C (MenC) epidemics in industrialised nations in the 1990s and the serogroup W epidemic currently expanding globally. Glycoconjugate vaccines are available for serogroups A, C, W and Y. Broad coverage protein-based vaccines have recently been licensed against serogroup B meningococci (MenB), however, these do not afford universal MenB protection. Capsular switching from MenC to MenB among cc11 organisms is concerning because a large MenB cc11 (B:cc11) outbreak has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess the potential for licensed and developmental non-capsular meningococcal vaccines to protect against B:cc11. The population structure and vaccine antigen distribution was determined for a panel of >800 geo-temporally diverse, predominantly MenC cc11 and B:cc11 genomes. The two licensed vaccines potentially protect against many but not all B:cc11 meningococci. Furthermore, strain coverage by these vaccines is often due to a single vaccine antigen and both vaccines are highly susceptible to vaccine escape owing to the apparent dispensability of key proteins used as vaccine antigens. cc11 strains with MenB and MenC capsules warrant special consideration when formulating future non-capsular meningococcal vaccines

The Homeobox Protein CEH-23 Mediates Prolonged Longevity in Response to Impaired Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain in C. elegans

Recent findings indicate that perturbations of the mitochondrial electron transport chain (METC) can cause extended longevity in evolutionarily diverse organisms. To uncover the molecular basis of how altered METC increases lifespan in C. elegans, we performed an RNAi screen and revealed that three predicted transcription factors are specifically required for the extended longevity of mitochondrial mutants. In particular, we demonstrated that the nuclear homeobox protein CEH-23 uniquely mediates the longevity but not the slow development, reduced brood size, or resistance to oxidative stress associated with mitochondrial mutations. Furthermore, we showed that ceh-23 expression levels are responsive to altered METC, and enforced overexpression of ceh-23 is sufficient to extend lifespan in wild-type background. Our data point to mitochondria-to-nucleus communications to be key for longevity determination and highlight CEH-23 as a novel longevity factor capable of responding to mitochondrial perturbations. These findings provide a new paradigm for how mitochondria impact aging and age-dependent diseases

Impact of meningococcal ACWY conjugate vaccines on pharyngeal carriage in adolescents: evidence for herd protection from the UK MenACWY programme

Objective: Serogroup W and Y invasive meningococcal disease increased globally from 2000 onwards. Responding to a rapid increase in serogroup W clonal complex 11 (W:cc11) invasive meningococcal disease, the UK replaced an adolescent booster dose of meningococcal C conjugate vaccine with quadrivalent MenACWY conjugate vaccine in 2015. By 2018, the vaccine coverage in the eligible school cohorts aged 14 to 19 years was 84%. We assessed the impact of the MenACWY vaccination programme on meningococcal carriage. Methods: An observational study of culture-defined oropharyngeal meningococcal carriage prevalence before and after the start of the MenACWY vaccination programme in UK school students, aged 15 to 19 years, using two cross-sectional studies: 2014 to 2015 “UKMenCar4” and 2018 “Be on the TEAM” (ISRCTN75858406). Results: A total of 10 625 participants preimplementation and 13 434 postimplementation were included. Carriage of genogroups C, W, and Y (combined) decreased from 2.03 to 0.71% (OR 0.34 [95% CI 0.27–0.44], p < 0.001). Carriage of genogroup B meningococci did not change (1.26% vs 1.23% [95% CI 0.77–1.22], p = 0.80) and genogroup C remained rare (n = 7/10 625 vs 17/13 488, p = 0.135). The proportion of serogroup positive isolates (i.e. those expressing capsule) decreased for genogroup W by 53.8% (95% CI –5.0 to 79.8, p = 0.016) and for genogroup Y by 30.1% (95% CI 8.9–46·3, p = 0.0025). Discussion: The UK MenACWY vaccination programme reduced carriage acquisition of genogroup and serogroup Y and W meningococci and sustained low levels of genogroup C carriage. These data support the use of quadrivalent MenACWY conjugate vaccine for indirect (herd) protection