Are Gen Z Values the New Disruptor for Future Educational Institutions?

Do educational organizations need to go beyond the self-imposed dichotomies of preparing students for either career or direct them towards their passions, guide them towards professional success or goad them towards a balance that will keep them happy? Whether models of teaching/learning would have to evolve through disruption or perish in future? That is the motivation for our study which seeks to understand in depth, the values of post-millennial higher education students and suggest consequently a broad contour of academic structure that might accommodate their preferences. We purposely select a sample cohort of brightest Generation Z students of an eminent technological university who can articulate freely their deepest feelings and perceptions about their hopes and fears. Through qualitative research tools we obtain their rich inputs to propose a model of teaching /learning based upon four superordinate Generation Z values (viz. instrumental – career & passions; terminal – success & happiness) in the context of higher education. Finally, we propose a framework for change of educational organizations in terms of their curriculum, pedagogy and culture

Functional outcome of small and long bone lengthening by distraction osteogenesis

Background: Upper limb lengthening has limited indications because of the predominant non weight bearing nature. However, lengthening does have specific indications where the functional outcomes improve in selected patients. The aim of the study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of upper limb long and short bone lengthening by distraction osteogenesis.Methods: A total of twenty four lengthenings were done in 21 patients, three cases being bilateral. The study group included cases of club hand, symbrachydactyly, multiple hereditary osteocondramatosis, traumatic amputations and congenital defects. Operative technique involved gradual mechanical distraction by orthofix external fixator after osteotomy. Clinical and radiological evaluation was done on follow up. The functional outcome for daily activities was assessed. The Healing index, Percentage healing index and Consolidation time were calculated.Results: The mean age of patients was 11.6 years. The percentage healing index of long bones was higher compared to short bones but the consolidation time was almost similar. Complications were seen in 35% patients. The satisfaction rates were higher in small bone lengthening and the complication rates were almost same as for long bones. Grasp, pinch strength and range of motion improved in cases of short bone lengthening.Conclusions: Distraction osteogenesis is reliable and predictable method of correction of osseous defects with vascular bone without sacrificing any adjacent digits or toes. It also gains soft tissue that is sensate with good blood supply

Study of prenatal, natal, and neonatal risk factors associated with autism

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder is one of the common developmental disabilities. Underlying autism etiology is most likely polygenic but environmental factors may also contribute. Obstetrical and neonatal risk factors have been considered for the development of autism. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to know the presence of antenatal, perinatal and neonatal complications in autistic children. Materials and Methods: Children who were diagnosed with autism were included in the study. Visits were made to the special school for the collection of data with prior consent, and birth details were collected from the parents. Results: A total of 54 children were included in the study. Age of the children ranged from 3 years to 17 years with the mean age of 10.93 years. 39 (72.2%) were boys and 15 (27.8 %) were girls. Advanced maternal age at delivery was noted in 24% of the cases. Antenatal risk factors were seen in 24% of cases and natal risk factors in 20% of the cases. 17% had birth asphyxia. Neonatal intensive care unit admission was noted in 20% of cases, neonatal seizures in 5.6%, respiratory distress in 9.3%, and low birth weight in 17% of cases. 60% of them were first born. Overall, the presence of antenatal, natal, and postnatal risk factors were noted in 57% autism cases. Conclusion: In children with autism, there is increased prevalence of obstetric and neonatal risk factors. These variables should be examined in future for precise assessments of exposures

Dissecting the Role of Critical Residues and Substrate Preference of a Fatty Acyl-CoA Synthetase (FadD13) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Newly emerging multi-drug resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) severely limit the treatment options for tuberculosis (TB); hence, new antitubercular drugs are urgently needed. The mymA operon is essential for the virulence and intracellular survival of M.tb and thus represents an attractive target for the development of new antitubercular drugs. This study is focused on the structure-function relationship of Fatty Acyl-CoA Synthetase (FadD13, Rv3089) belonging to the mymA operon. Eight site-directed mutants of FadD13 were designed, constructed and analyzed for the structural-functional integrity of the enzyme. The study revealed that mutation of Lys487 resulted in ∼95% loss of the activity thus demonstrating its crucial requirement for the enzymatic activity. Comparison of the kinetic parameters showed the residues Lys172 and Ala302 to be involved in the binding of ATP and Ser404 in the binding of CoenzymeA. The influence of mutations of the residues Val209 and Trp377 emphasized their importance in maintaining the structural integrity of FadD13. Besides, we show a synergistic influence of fatty acid and ATP binding on the conformation and rigidity of FadD13. FadD13 represents the first Fatty Acyl-CoA Synthetase to display biphasic kinetics for fatty acids. FadD13 exhibits a distinct preference for C26/C24 fatty acids, which in the light of earlier reported observations further substantiates the role of the mymA operon in remodeling the cell envelope of intracellular M.tb under acidic conditions. A three-dimensional model of FadD13 was generated; the docking of ATP to the active site verified its interaction with Lys172, Ala302 and Lys487 and corresponded well with the results of the mutational studies. Our study provides a significant understanding of the FadD13 protein including the identification of residues important for its activity as well as in the maintenance of structural integrity. We believe that the findings of this study will provide valuable inputs in the development of inhibitors against the mymA operon, an important target for the development of antitubercular drugs

Cord bilirubin levels as a predictive marker for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: A prospective study

Background: Hyperbilirubinemia is the most common medical problem in newborn infants. Early discharge is recommended but hospital readmission is a cause of concern among clinicians. This in turn carries a risk of delayed recognition of significant hyperbilirubinemia. Objective: A cross-sectional analytical study was done to evaluate the predictive value of cord bilirubin level for identifying term and near-term neonates for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia. Materials and Methods: Cord bilirubin levels at birth and subsequently serum bilirubin levels at 72 h were assessed in 100 neonates. The cutoff value was estimated beyond which there was significant hyperbilirubinemia. Results: The cutoff value of cord bilirubin >2.02 mg/dl had sensitivity and specificity of 87.5-70.8%, respectively, with positive predictive value of 0.39 and negative predictive value of 0.965 for subsequent hyperbilirubinemia. Conclusion: The cutoff value of cord bilirubin level estimated is 2.02 mg/dl can be used to predict significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Evidence for weak antilocalization-weak localization crossover and metal-insulator transition in CaCu3_{3}Ru4_{4}O12_{12} thin films

Artificial confinement of electrons by tailoring the layer thickness has turned out to be a powerful tool to harness control over competing phases in nano-layers of complex oxides. We investigate the effect of dimensionality on transport properties of $d$-electron based heavy-fermion metal CaCu$_{3}$Ru$_{4}$O$_{12}$. Transport behavior evolves from metallic to localized regime upon reducing thickness and a metal insulator transition is observed below 3 nm film thickness for which sheet resistance crosses $h/e^{2} \sim 25~$k$\Omega$, the quantum resistance in 2D. Magnetotransport study reveals a strong interplay between inelastic and spin-orbit scattering lengths upon reducing thickness, which results in weak antilocalization (WAL) to weak localization (WL) crossover in magnetoconductance.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Recent Innovations in Footwear and the Role of Smart Footwear in Healthcare—A Survey

© 2024 The Author(s). Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Smart shoes have ushered in a new era of personalised health monitoring and assistive technologies. Smart shoes leverage technologies such as Bluetooth for data collection and wireless transmission, and incorporate features such as GPS tracking, obstacle detection, and fitness tracking. As the 2010s unfolded, the smart shoe landscape diversified and advanced rapidly, driven by sensor technology enhancements and smartphones’ ubiquity. Shoes have begun incorporating accelerometers, gyroscopes, and pressure sensors, significantly improving the accuracy of data collection and enabling functionalities such as gait analysis. The healthcare sector has recognised the potential of smart shoes, leading to innovations such as shoes designed to monitor diabetic foot ulcers, track rehabilitation progress, and detect falls among older people, thus expanding their application beyond fitness into medical monitoring. This article provides an overview of the current state of smart shoe technology, highlighting the integration of advanced sensors for health monitoring, energy harvesting, assistive features for the visually impaired, and deep learning for data analysis. This study discusses the potential of smart footwear in medical applications, particularly for patients with diabetes, and the ongoing research in this field. Current footwear challenges are also discussed, including complex construction, poor fit, comfort, and high cost.Peer reviewe

Stevens-Johnson Syndrome while on lamotrigine and NSAID:A case report

Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a severe immune-mediated cutaneous reaction occurring due to exposure to certain drugs. Lamotrigine is an FDA approved drug used in the treatment of bipolar depression. When it is given concomitantly with sodium valproate, the risk of developing Stevens-Johnson syndrome increases. Here we present the report of a patient with bipolar depression who developed serious skin rashes while on lamotrigine and NSAID prescribed by a local doctor, who recovered after timely management. This case highlights the importance of following proper dosing, drug escalation regimen and managing drug interactions during lamotrigine therapy

Genomic Determinants and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Clinical Isolates of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) Producing Escherichia coli

The growing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a worldwide public health apprehension, and Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most commonly implicated bacterial species. Among E. coli isolates, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing strains have been identified as a key contributor to antibiotic resistance. Penicillin’s, cephalosporins, and monobactams are only a few of the β-lactam antibiotics that can be rendered inactive by ESBLs. This investigation’s goals were to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli isolates found in clinical samples and to analyze the distribution of the blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes among them. Additionally, we aimed to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of these isolates to other antibiotics. Clinical isolates from urine, ear swab, and wound/pus swabs were collected from patients with suspected E. coli bacterial infections from different regions of north India viz., SKIMS-JVC medical college and NABL accredited Dr. Qadri’s Lab both from Srinagar Kashmir valley region and SMSR, SU from Greater Noida UP. Standard laboratory techniques were used to identify E. coli isolates, and the combined disc method and other phenotypic confirmation techniques were used to confirm ESBL formation. PCR amplification and sequencing were used to find the blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method was used to test the antimicrobial susceptibility of various bacteria to different antibiotics. A total of 210 E. coli isolates were collected from different clinical samples and only 158 isolates showed positive results for ESBL by DDST and phenotypic confirmatory tests. Of these, 124 (78.48%) were ESBL-producing isolates. We found that blaTEM was the most prevalent gene (45.16%), followed by blaCTX-M (34.16%) and blaSHV (12.09%). Antimicrobial resistance profiles were assessed for each of the 120 isolates. Ampicillin and Cefepime were the most resistant drugs to ESBL-producing isolates, followed by Gentamicin, Ceftriaxone, and Cefixime