PATHYA APATHYA: IMPACT AND ROLE IN LIFESTYLE DISORDERS

Ayurveda is an ancient and most trusted Indian system of medicine commonly used by Indians since time immemorial. Lifestyle diseases/ Metabolic diseases are described as diseases related to the way an individual or group of individuals live, also are referred under Non-Communicable Diseases. Over-crowding and rapid unplanned urbanization; globalization of unhealthy lifestyles is responsible for some of the major reasons for a sedentary life leading to these diseases. It includes arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, obesity and type-2 diabetes, diseases related to smoking, alcohol and drug abuse. The contribution of metabolic risk factors such as high blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and that of improper diet and alcohol use resulting in health loss. Therefore, the occurrence of these disorders has doubled in India over the past quarter of a century therefore it is the need of the hour to manage them diligently. Diet plays a key role to nourish life and balanced diet is very important for maintaining good health. In Ayurveda, wholesome diet is described which plays a very important role specifically rather than in modern medicine which emphasizes only on the components in the diet like proteins, carbohydrates, fats etc. Ayurveda additionally deals with various other aspects like combination of food article, their quantity, method of preparation, their emotional effect, nature of consumer including environmental considerations. Pathya and Apathya Ahara (dietary consideration) is a significant component of almost each and every prescription in Ayurveda therapy. Sometimes, Pathya-Apathya (dietary management) is itself an entire treatment

Reconsidering figures of merit for performance and stability of perovskite photovoltaics

The development of hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that combine high performance and operational stability is vital for implementing this technology. Recently, reversible improvement and degradation of PSC efficiency have been reported under illumination-darkness cycling. Quantifying the performance and stability of cells exhibiting significant diurnal performance variations is challenging. We report the outdoor stability measurements of two types of devices showing either reversible photo-degradation or reversible efficiency improvement under sunlight. Instead of the initial (or stabilized) efficiency and T as the figures of merit for the performance and stability of such devices, we propose using the value of the energy output generated during the first day of exposure and the time needed to reach its 20% drop, respectively. The latter accounts for both the long-term irreversible degradation and the reversible diurnal efficiency variation and does not depend on the type of process prevailing in a given perovskite cell

Association of acute toxic encephalopathy with litchi consumption in an outbreak in Muzaffarpur, India, 2014: a case-control study

Background Outbreaks of unexplained illness frequently remain under-investigated. In India, outbreaks of an acute neurological illness with high mortality among children occur annually in Muzaffarpur, the country’s largest litchi cultivation region. In 2014, we aimed to investigate the cause and risk factors for this illness. Methods In this hospital-based surveillance and nested age-matched case-control study, we did laboratory investigations to assess potential infectious and non-infectious causes of this acute neurological illness. Cases were children aged 15 years or younger who were admitted to two hospitals in Muzaffarpur with new-onset seizures or altered sensorium. Age-matched controls were residents of Muzaffarpur who were admitted to the same two hospitals for a non-neurologic illness within seven days of the date of admission of the case. Clinical specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine) and environmental specimens (litchis) were tested for evidence of infectious pathogens, pesticides, toxic metals, and other non-infectious causes, including presence of hypoglycin A or methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), naturally-occurring fruit-based toxins that cause hypoglycaemia and metabolic derangement. Matched and unmatched (controlling for age) bivariate analyses were done and risk factors for illness were expressed as matched odds ratios and odds ratios (unmatched analyses). Findings Between May 26, and July 17, 2014, 390 patients meeting the case definition were admitted to the two referral hospitals in Muzaffarpur, of whom 122 (31%) died. On admission, 204 (62%) of 327 had blood glucose concentration of 70 mg/dL or less. 104 cases were compared with 104 age-matched hospital controls. Litchi consumption (matched odds ratio [mOR] 9·6 [95% CI 3·6 – 24]) and absence of an evening meal (2·2 [1·2–4·3]) in the 24 h preceding illness onset were associated with illness. The absence of an evening meal significantly modified the effect of eating litchis on illness (odds ratio [OR] 7·8 [95% CI 3·3–18·8], without evening meal; OR 3·6 [1·1–11·1] with an evening meal). Tests for infectious agents and pesticides were negative. Metabolites of hypoglycin A, MCPG, or both were detected in 48 [66%] of 73 urine specimens from case-patients and none from 15 controls; 72 (90%) of 80 case-patient specimens had abnormal plasma acylcarnitine profiles, consistent with severe disruption of fatty acid metabolism. In 36 litchi arils tested from Muzaffarpur, hypoglycin A concentrations ranged from 12·4 μg/g to 152·0 μg/g and MCPG ranged from 44·9 μg/g to 220·0 μg/g. Interpretation Our investigation suggests an outbreak of acute encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur associated with both hypoglycin A and MCPG toxicity. To prevent illness and reduce mortality in the region, we recommended minimising litchi consumption, ensuring receipt of an evening meal and implementing rapid glucose correction for suspected illness. A comprehensive investigative approach in Muzaffarpur led to timely public health recommendations, underscoring the importance of using systematic methods in other unexplained illness outbreaks

On some efficient classes of estimators using auxiliary attribute

This paper considers some efficient classes of estimators for the estimation of population mean using known population proportion. The usual mean estimator, classical ratio, and regression estimators suggested by Naik and Gupta (1996) and Abd-Elfattah et al. (2010) estimators are identified as the members of the suggested class of estimators. The expressions of bias and mean square errors are derived up to first-order approximation. The proposed estimators were put to test against various other competing estimators till date. It has been found both theoretically and empirically that the suggested classes of estimators dominate the existing estimators

Efficient Difference and Ratio-Type Imputation Methods under Ranked Set Sampling

It is well known that ranked set sampling (RSS) is more efficient than simple random sampling (SRS). Furthermore, the presence of missing data vitiates the conventional results. Only a minuscule amount of work has been conducted under RSS with missing data. This paper makes a modest attempt to provide some efficient difference- and ratio-type imputation methods in the presence of missing values under RSS. The envisaged imputation methods are demonstrated to provide better results than the existing imputation methods. The theoretical results are enhanced by a computational analysis using real and hypothetically generated symmetric (Normal) and asymmetric (Gamma and Weibull) populations. The computational results show that the proposed imputation method outperforms the existing imputation methods in terms of its higher percent relative efficiency. Additionally, the impact of skewness and kurtosis on the efficiency of the suggested imputation methods has also been calculated

Association of PPARγ2 (Pro12Ala) and Neuropeptide Y (Leu7Pro) Gene Polymorphisms with Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Obese Asian Indians

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent in 7.5% in urban Asian Indians. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma2 (PPARγ2) has been implicated in adipocyte differentiation. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is also considered as a candidate gene for excess body fat accumulation. The association of PPARγ2 (Pro12Ala) and NPY (Leu7Pro) gene polymorphisms with OSA has not been studied in Asian Indians

Evaluation of peri-implant soft tissue and bone levels around early loaded implant in restoring single missing tooth: A clinico-radiographic study

Background: One-stage nonsubmerged protocol which can achieve success rates comparable to implants placed in a two-staged submerged procedure also the preconditions for periimplant bone regeneration has lead to more refined concepts of implant loading. Materials and Methods: Twenty sites with single missing tooth were included in this study. Clinical parameters included sulcus bleeding index (sBI), probing pocket depth (PD), and papilla index (PI) and radiographic parameters included crestal bone level were assessed for a period of 9 months. Results: The crestal bone loss showed mean value ranging from baseline 0.25 ± 0.11 to 0.31 ± 0.08 at 3 weeks, to 0.67 ± 0.13 at 3 months, to 0.85 ± 0.09 at 6 months, and to 0.88 ± 0.12 at 9 months. Probing PD, the mean value for probing PD at 3 weeks 1.20 ± 0.83, 3 months 1.60 ± 1.1, at 6 months 1.40 ± 1.14, and at 9 months 1.20 ± 1.0. sBI, mean value for sBI at 3 weeks 0.00 ± 0.00, 3 months 0.3 ± 0.11, at 6 months 0.09 ± 0.25, and at 9 months 0.08 ± 0.24. PI, showed a significant difference among at different points of time with P = 0.000. Conclusion: The dental implants showed <1 mm of crestal bone loss at 9 months follow-up, clinically significant marginal bone loss occurred between the time of implant placement and 3 months. Subsequent to that, bone loss observed around the implant up to 9 months was minimal. The periimplant soft tissue maturity was maintained throughout the study

Modified Class of Estimators Using Ranked Set Sampling

The present article discusses the issue of population mean estimation in the ranked set sampling framework. A modified class of estimators is proffered and compared in the aspect of its efficacious performance with all salient conventional estimators existing to date. Some well-known existing estimators under RSS are recognized as the members of the proffered estimators for appropriately chosen characterizing scalars. The ascendancy of the proposed class of estimators regarding the conventional estimators has been shown through an extensive computational study utilizing some natural and artificially generated populations

Some Optimal Classes of Estimators Based on Multi-Auxiliary Information

Ranked set sampling (RSS) has been proven an efficient alternative to simple random sampling (SRS). The use of auxiliary information also helps to improve the efficiency of the estimation procedures. Therefore, to accomplish higher efficiency and discuss the optimality issues, we proffer some optimal classes of estimators under RSS by employing multi-auxiliary information. It is seen that the ordinary mean estimator, traditional regression, and ratio estimators are the subsets of the proffered estimators. The expressions of the bias and mean square error are reported. An analytical comparison under some optimality conditions points out the ascendancy of the proffered classes of estimators over all reviewed works. The theoretical results have been furnished with computational study by employing some artificial and natural populations. The computational results show that the proffered estimators outperform the conventional estimators reviewed in this study. Furthermore, apposite advices are suggested to the survey persons

An Efficient Class of Estimators in Stratified Random Sampling with an Application to Real Data

This research article addresses an efficient separate and combined class of estimators for the population mean estimation based on stratified random sampling (StRS). The first order approximated expressions of bias and mean square error of the proposed separate and combined class of estimators are obtained. A comparative study is conducted to determine the efficiency conditions in which the suggested class of estimators outperforms the contemporary estimators. These efficiency conditions are examined through an extensive simulation study by employing a hypothetically drawn symmetrical and asymmetrical populations. The simulation results have shown that the suggested class of estimators is more effective than the other available estimators. In addition, an application of the proposed methods is also presented by examining a real data set