Impact of Reading habits on the Academic Achievements: A Survey

The present paper examines the impact of reading habits on the academic achievements of the students and faculty members in the universities of Karnataka state. The survey was conducted using a well design and structured questionnaire. A total of 2463 postgraduate students, research scholars and faculty members participated in the study. The study population consisted of an equal number of males (50.2%) and female (49.8%) and most of them (63%) are from rural areas. The study found that the majority of the respondents are from Science (48.8%) disciplines. The study found that almost all the respondents have reading habits and most of the them read at their home (69.1%), followed by university library (48.6%). It is very interesting to note that 57.7% of the respondents read books everyday. The study found that, most of the respondents preferred to read newspapers/magazines (69.5%), followed by books (58.9%). The study found that to a great extent, the majority of the respondents read various information sources, because they are interested in the topic of the study (53.2%). The study found that, the reading habit has made an impact on the academic achievements of the respondents. Further, it is found that reading habit has been acting as a channel for gaining real world of knowledge. Further, it also improved mental capacity and enhanced the reading skills in everyday life

Computer usage in teaching and learning among Indian Academics: Exploring the Gender disparity

This study aims to explore the gender disparity in Computer usage for teaching and learning among Indian academics. A total of 2463 samples were selected from 11 state universities in Karnataka, India. A well designed questionnaire was used to collect the data from the respondents. The result shows that, half of the male (50.2%) and female (49.8%) respondents used computer. Further, most of the male respondents used computer every day (58.0%) compared to female (42.0%) respondents. The present study found that majority of the respondents used computer for the research purpose (Male=55.6%, female=44.4%), followed by to read the e-books/e-journals, (Male=54.7%, female=45.3%) to prepare notes, to access Internet (Male=50.6%, female=49.4%), to prepare presentation slides (Male=50.1%, female=49.9%), to prepare class assignments (Male=49.1%, female=50.9%) and to improve typing skills (Male=51.8%, female=48.2%) and also to prepare project reports (Male=48.4%, female=51.6%)

Comparison of dosimetry in head and neck cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy and helical tomotherapy

Background: This study was conducted to compare dosimetric parameters and dose to specific organs at risk (spinal cord and parotids) between intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and helical tomotherapy (HT) in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).Methods: Thirty patients with histologically proven HNSCC were treated with chemo radiotherapy, to a dose of 60-70 Gray in 30-35 fractions. This study consists of two arms; IMRT arm and tomotherapy arm. Fifteen consecutive patients treated under IMRT and 15 patients were treated under helical tomotherapy, along with concurrent chemotherapy. PTV1 encompasses low risk planning target volume (PTV) which receives 50 Gy; PTV2 encompasses intermediate risk PTV which receives 54-60 Gy and PTV3 encompasses high risk PTV which receives 66-70 Gy. After completion of planning, dose to the organs at risk (OARs) and targets, homogeneity index and conformity index were evaluated, and tabulated.Results: On evaluation of plans we found that V95% in PTV1, PTV2 and PTV3 were 91.82%, 96.85% and 90.67% respectively for IMRT and 99.25%, 99.68% and 99.73% respectively for tomotherapy. For PTV3, V110% was 0.11% for IMRT and 0.01% for tomotherapy. Homogeneity index in IMRT arm was 0.285 and it was 0.206 in tomotherapy arm. Conformity index was found to be 1.04 for IMRT plans and 1.06 for tomotherapy plans. When mean dose to contra lateral parotids was evaluated, it was 26.91 Gy in IMRT arm and 25.97 Gy in tomotherapy arm. Max dose to spinal cord was better in tomotherapy (43.07 Gy in IMRT and 34.41 Gy in tomotherapy).Conclusions: There was statistically significant reduction in spinal cord maximum dose and point doses in tomotherapy plans compared to IMRT plans. The decrease in spinal cord dose can increase the tolerance reserve which can be useful in dose escalation or re-irradiation if required. There was also decrease in contra lateral parotid doses (not statistically significant). There was significant improvement in V95% in tomotherapy arm compared to IMRT arm, indicating the significantly superior coverage of target volumes in helical tomotherapy plans compared to IMRT plans. V110% (hot spots) inside the target was very minimal in tomotherapy arm compared to IMRT arm. Conformity index, homogeneity index between two arms were comparable

PERCEPTION AND USAGE OF HEALTH INFORMATION SOURCES AND SERVICES AMONG THE URBAN COMMUNITY USERS OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES: A CASE STUDY OF BHADRAVATHI

The study examined the perception and usage of health information sources and services by the urban community users of public libraries. The study investigated 110 users from two public libraries in Bhadravathi. Findings revealed that majority of the users not enrolling library membership. 44.54% of users were visit library daily and large numbers of respondents were get health information through newspaper followed by television, advertisements and pamphlet/brochures. Education and sports were the most frequently preferred topics by the users. Arogya column published by Prajavani Kannada newspaper was most preferred newspaper column for getting health information by the users followed by VK Health column published by Vijaya Karnataka was stood in 2nd position to get health information by the users. Most of the users preferred Sudha, Gruhashobha and Taranga magazines to get health information. Stimulatingly, large number of the users frequently listen health related programs in Radio. The study also revealed that most of the users were aware about H1N1, DPT, Polio, BCG, TT, AIDS Control, 108 Arogya Kavacha, Malaria Cholera Dengue, Family Planning, Chicken Gunya district health programs of Karnataka state

An Analysis of Covid-19 Global Pandemic and Sri Lankan Aboriginal Community with Special Reference to Bourdieusian Approach

It seems that Sri Lankan aboriginal community had to go through significant hardships during the Covid-19 outbreak. This particular research was conducted in Rathugala aboriginal village in Monaragala district mainly as a qualitative research. The whole research was driven by four major objectives; investigating the social burdens that Rathugala aborigines had to undergo in the pandemic outbreak, the efficacy of the government-sponsored redressing mechanism towards the Rathugala aborigines, the coping strategies employed by Rathugala aborigines to face the unexpected pandemic and its consequences and understanding aforesaid factors through a Bourdieusian perspective. A sample comprising 20 respondents (N=20) was selected under the purposive sampling and sample size was determined by the data saturation point. Data analysis was predominantly carried out as a thematic analysis with a Bourdieusian Approach. The research revelations are as follows; Closing the entrances to the aboriginal village seemingly brought most of the income earnings of the Rathugala aborigines to a halt. Subsequently, it caused the proliferation of the decades-old chronic poverty in Rathugala aboriginal village. Some aboriginal youth have been involved in illegal means of income-earning for their survival as government subsidizing was late and not systematic. The lack of social capital in the Rathugala aboriginal community has made them more deprived of gaining social support from outside of their community. Being aborigines has created a pathetic social perception in the mindset of both the general public and state officials and it might have been a barrier for Rathugala aborigines in the pandemic time when gaining state support. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v07i02.1

Augmented Reality Based 3D Furniture Shopping

The main aim of the paper is to present an Augmented Reality application for 3D furniture, with a particular emphasis on the development of an android application that provides a realistic view of an augmented reality 3D furniture target object in the real-world. This app for Android would overlay a virtual environment on top of the user's real world.  AR makes real-world data and presents it in an immersive manner, making the virtual section feel like it belongs in the real world. AR is commonly used in online shopping, and the 3D visualization allows any furniture piece to be configured. Results shows that, users can customize and combine their favorite furniture products, enhancing their shopping experience. This elevates the shopping experience to a new level. This application allows users to see and experience the object in their current environment before buying from a shop, and customers can visualize the furniture model in a real-world setting

Plant Disease Identification Using Machine Learning Techniques

Plants have become a principle origin of energy and are a basic piece in the complexity to work out the problems of a worldwide temperature alteration. There are various kinds of infections which are available in plants. To identify these sicknesses design are needed to remember them. A symbolic strategy for this situation is the utilization of distant dig-out strategies that explore multi and hyper unearthly picture clutch. The strategy that accepts this methodology regularly utilize advanced picture preparing devices to execute their objective. In this paper, various machine learning techniques are handed-down for automatic detection and categorization of plant leaf diseases. It also covers survey on numerous diseases categorization techniques that can be handed-down for plant leaf disease identification. In the remain work back proliferation and head segment investigation are utilized to distinguish plant sicknesses. These calculations are gained from preparing management in neural organization. There is an issue of exactness in these calculation

POTENTIAL IN VITRO ANTIOXIDANT AND PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF CASSIA FISTULA LINN. FRUIT EXTRACTS AGAINST INDUCED OXIDATIVE DAMAGE IN HUMAN ERYTHROCYTES

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant potential and protective effect of Cassia fistula Linn. on hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative damage in erythrocytes.Methods: The in vitro antioxidant potency was screened by various established chemical, biochemical and electrochemical techniques. The Chemical assays allowed an evaluation of their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, total antioxidant capacity, reducing power, radical scavenging activities and metal chelating activity. Both, CFE (C. fistula ethanolic extract) and CFA (C. fistula aqueous extract) were analyzed for phenolic acids and flavonoids by HPLC. The biochemical assays were employed to evaluate the lipid peroxidation and protective effect on induced oxidative damage in erythrocytes. Electrochemical measurement of CFE and CFA was determined by cyclic voltammetry.Results: CFE showed strong antioxidant activity as well as >90% protection of erythrocytes. This might be due to the presence of high 464.3 ± 0.02 µg EGA mgˉ1total phenolics and 272.5 ± 0.5 µg EQ mgˉ1 total flavanoids while, CFA showed 75% antioxidant and protective activity possibly due to 250.84 ± 0.25 µg EGA mgˉ1 total phenolics and 195 ± 0.5 µg EQ mgˉ1 total flavonoid content. Moreover, HPLC of CFE and CFA exhibited widely known various good antioxidant molecules such as gallic acid, coumaric acid, ellagic acid, rutin, quercetin, myricetin and kaempferol. The cyclic voltammetric behavior shows the broad peak towards anodic potential represents the antioxidant property of CFE and CFA.Conclusion: The present study clearly indicates that, C. fistula Linn. Fruit is an excellent source of natural antioxidant.Â

Detection of Coronavirus illness using Techniques of Deep Learning and CNN

A year has been passed with the global pandemic creating havocs in everyone’s life. The novel Coronavirus is still raging around the globe causing catastrophic consequences on the entire health and wealth of humankind. Tests are being conducted in an insane amount on the suspected individuals. Infections that are gained through respiratory course, for example, the lethal SARS-CoV-2, are determined to have the assistance of direct identification of viral parts in respiratory examples. The two most generally utilized techniques to do this are nucleic corrosive enhancement tests through polymerase chain response/reaction (PCR) or antigen-based tests. This can take a while to generate results as there is steady increase in number of cases and causing delay in laboratories. Early detection of the virus is life saviour, if the virus is left unnoticed it can be fatal for ones’ life. The current industrial era is ruled by fields of artificial intelligence and machine learning; hence this paper is an attempt to use one of these practices for novel corona virus prediction using chest radiogram images. Here dataset of Chest Roentgenogram images of patients infected with the corona virus and normal Chest Roentgenogram images are used to detect coronavirus infection. The study employs an efficient approach of application Convolutional Neural Network in predicting if the patient is affected and unaffected with the virus. The prepared model created a precision pace of 92.77% at the time of the performance preparation