eveloping a Suitability Assessment Criteria for Software Developers: Behavioral Assessment Using Psychometric Test

A suitability assessment instrument for software developers was created using a psychometric criteria that identify the impact of behavior on the performance of software engineers. The instrument uses a questionnaire to help both individuals and IT recruiters to identify the psychological factors that affect the working performance of software engineers. Our study identifies the relationship between the behavioral drivers and the programming abilities of the subjects. In order to evaluate the instrument, a total of 100 respondents were compared on the basis of their programming skills and nine behavioral drivers. It was concluded that there is a direct relationship between certain human qualities, such as “Attention to Detail,” and the programming style of the students, while the “Locus of Control” factor was observed to have a negative correlation with performance in programming

Reducing the burden of Tuberculosis: an emphasis on improving awareness among caregivers

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the common communicable disease affecting human beings since ancient times. Though effective chemotherapy emerged during 20th century had raised hope towards eliminating TB burden, it still remains as a distant goal. Awareness about TB among close contacts of active disease is of paramount importance in preventing its spread and promoting early diagnosis and treatment. This study aimed to assess the knowledge about tuberculosis among caregivers of tuberculosis patients.Methods: This was a cross sectional study that enrolled 300 subjects who were then caregivers of tuberculosis patients admitted in the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. Subjects were interviewed according to a predesigned panel of questions meant to assess their basic knowledge and perceptions about tuberculosis symptomatology, diagnostic modalities, treatment and prevention.Results: About 90.3% (n=271) of subjects had heard about TB previously and about 37.7% (n=113) considered themselves to be well aware of it. Most of them believed TB to be communicable (90.3%, n=271). Majority believed that TB affects lungs only (n=206, 68.7%), with most commonly perceived symptom being cough (n=285, 95%). Knowledge regarding disposal of sputum was poor (n=110, 36.7%). About 168 (56%) subjects considered usage of face mask by the patient as an effective tool for TB prevention.Conclusions: Caregivers of tuberculosis patients lack proper knowledge about major aspects of the disease. Public awareness and care giver education programs needs to be implemented along with standard TB care to reduce transmission of TB among close contacts

An Overview on the applications of different polymers in capture of Carbon dioxide from atmosphere

Carbon dioxide discharges are increasing at a quick speed in the environment. CO2 is a significant ozone-depleting gas, and its exhausts induce overall temperature variations, which bring about ecological adjustment. As the world accelerates in its battle against environmental modification, climate can differ from one location to the next. Still, when we talk about climate modification, we’re discussing a variant in the usual weather patterns of an area. This could be because of a change in the Planet’s average temperature or maybe a modification in the number of rainstorms and snow. Human beings are progressively affecting the environment as well as the Planet. This includes many greenhouse gases contrasted to those discovered naturally in the atmosphere. Environment change is specified as an adjustment in the average conditions of an area, such as temperature level and rains, over an extended period of time. When we see where climate adjustment influences, unfortunately, it is throughout the world. This presentation will most likely go over various case studies. This evaluation focuses on carbon capture issues with the very best probability of limiting CO2 exhausts to the atmosphere from big point sources. According to a brand-new study that combines the most up-to-date research studies from the United Nations, the buildup of unmatched quantities of greenhouse gases in the environment devotes the world to disastrous future warming. Tape levels of greenhouse gases in the environment dedicate the Earth to disastrous future warming

Pattern and visual outcomes of ocular fire-cracker injuries during Diwali festival in a tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Background: The firecrackers are used widely during Diwali. Eyeball is one of the most commonly injured organ in firecracker injuries. The fire-crackers can cause irreparable damage to ocular structures, leading to blindness. This study was conceptualized to study the pattern of injuries resulting from fire-cracker use and their visual outcomes, in order to generate evidence for managing these injuries more effectively. Material and Methods: This longitudinal, descriptive study was carried out over a period of one week during Diwali festival in 2019, in a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India in 21 patients who presented to hospital with ocular injuries caused by firecrackers. Visual acuity was recorded and complete slit lamp examination, non-contact tonometery, and gonioscopy was done. Ultrasound B-scan and X-ray were also done, when required. Results: The mean age in our study was 18.42±11.88 years with age range of 7-57 years. There were 20 males and 1 female in the study. Most of the injuries were caused by bombs and sparkles. Most of the patients (50%) had visual acuity in range of 6/6-6/24 at the time of presentation. Conjunctival surface was involved in all the patients, followed by lids and cilia (59.09%). One patient had corneal perforation with uveal tissue proplase.Six patients had vitreous haemorrahge and seven patients had hyphema. Final visual outcome was favorable with 63.64% patients achieving vision of 6/6- 6/24 at the end of six weeks. Conclusion: Severe injuries can lead to permanent loss of vision or decreased vision from squealae of wound healing such as astigmatism. Hence, stricter implementation of existing laws and regulations, public education and awareness is needed to prevent avoidable blindness resulting from use of fire crackers

Demographic and Clinical Profile of Presbyopia in a Tertiary Care Centre

Introduction: Presbyopia is an age related loss of accommodative amplitude leading to difficulty with near vision and near work. The onset of presbyopia occurs around 40-45 years of age in most individuals. It may lead to difficultly in performing various tasks of daily routine Keeping in view the high prevalence of uncorrected presbyopia, this study was conceptualized to study the demographic profile of presbyopia, in order to create awareness among the general population, which would help us in managing this condition, more effectively. Material and methods: This observational, cross-sectional study was carried out among 500 patients who presented to out-patient clinics. Detailed medical history and ocular examination was done. Distance visual acuity was recorded with Snellen chart and near vision with Jagger’s chart. All data was entered in Microsoft excel and subsequently analyzed with OpenEpi software version 3. Results: The prevalence of presbyopia was 22.8% with mean age of 52.17±9.52 years and age range of 32- 60 years. Females were more commonly affected (75.44%) as compared to males. Most of the patients presented with difficulty in near vision (69.29%) and were emmetropic for distance vision (63.15%). Maximum patients were literate (80.7%). Homemakers and office-worker seek medical advice earlier as compared to others. Conclusions: Females were more commonly affected and had younger onset of presbyopia as comapared to males. Hypermetropia was more commonly associated with presbyopia as compared to myopia

Laboratory preparedness for SARS-CoV-2 testing in India: Harnessing a network of Virus Research & Diagnostic Laboratories

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: An outbreak of respiratory illness of unknown aetiology was reported from Hubei province of Wuhan, People's Republic of China, in December 2019. The outbreak was attributed to a novel coronavirus (CoV), named as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 and the disease as COVID-19. Within one month, cases were reported from 25 countries. In view of the novel viral strain with reported high morbidity, establishing early countrywide diagnosis to detect imported cases became critical. Here we describe the role of a countrywide network of VRDLs in early diagnosis of COVID-19. METHODS: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, established screening as well as confirmatory assays for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 13 VRDLs were provided with the E gene screening real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay. VRDLs were selected on the basis of their presence near an international airport/seaport and their past performance. The case definition for testing included all individuals with travel history to Wuhan and symptomatic individuals with travel history to other parts of China. This was later expanded to include symptomatic individuals returning from Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and South Korea. RESULTS: Within a week of standardization of the test at NIV, all VRDLs could initiate testing for SARS-CoV-2. Till February 29, 2020, a total of 2,913 samples were tested. This included both 654 individuals quarantined in the two camps and others fitting within the case definition. The quarantined individuals were tested twice - at days 0 and 14. All tested negative on both occasions. Only three individuals belonging to different districts in Kerala were found to be positive. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Sudden emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and its potential to cause a pandemic posed an unsurmountable challenge to the public health system of India. However, concerted efforts of various arms of the Government of India resulted in a well-coordinated action at each level. India has successfully demonstrated its ability to establish quick diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 at NIV, Pune, and the testing VRDLs

Proceedings of International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Planet

This proceeding contains articles of the various research ideas of the academic community and practitioners accepted at the "International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable Planet (ICCESP 2021)". ICCESP 2021 is being Organized by the Habilete Learning Solutions, Kollam in Collaboration with American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India. Conference Title: International Web Conference in Civil Engineering for a Sustainable PlanetConference Acronym: ICCESP 2021Conference Date: 05–06 March 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizer: Habilete Learning Solutions, Kollam, Kerala, IndiaCollaborators: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Kollam, Kerala, India