A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ALTERNATE IRON AND FOLIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION REGIMES IN CHILDHOOD ANAEMIA

Introduction: The prevalence of anaemia among children less than five years of age in India is around 70%. Anae- mia in young children puts them at a higher risk of experiencing health problems such as stunted growth, mental retardation, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of IFA supplementation (daily vs. biweekly vs. weekly regime) on haemoglobin levels of young chil- dren. Materials & Methods: A total 740 children in age group of six months to five years were included in this commu- nity based interventional study using Systemic random sampling. The children having mild to moderate anaemia were then divided into three groups A, B and C by simple random sampling and were given Iron and Folic acid supplementation daily, biweekly and weekly respectively. Follow up data was collected after 3 months and analysed using appropriate tests. Results: Prevalence of Anaemia was 91.1% among study participants. Comparison after 3 months showed signifi- cant change in haemoglobin levels in all three groups with mean improvement of 1.31 gm%, 0.89 gm% and 0.85 gm% in group A, B and C respectively. However, no significant difference was noted among the groups in pre as well as post intervention phase. Conclusion: Weekly regime is as effective as daily or biweekly regime in improving haemoglobin levels in children. Moreover, it has better compliance, lesser side effects and cost of therapy. So, the same should be recommended for prophylaxis as well as treatment of mild to moderate anaemia cases

Quiescence of an Outburst of a Low-Mass Young Stellar Object: LDN1415-IRS

LDN1415-IRS, a low-mass young stellar object (YSO) went into an outburst between 2001 and 2006, illuminating a surrounding nebula, LDN1415-Neb. LDN1415-Neb was found to have brightened by I=3.77 mag by April 2006. The optical light curve covering $\sim$ 15.5 years, starting from October 2006 to January 2022, is presented in this study. The initial optical spectrum indicated the presence of winds in the system but the subsequent spectra have no wind indicators. The declining light curve and the absence of the P-Cygni profile in later epoch spectra indicate that the star and nebula system is retrieving back from its outburst state. Two Herbig-Haro objects (HHOs) are positioned linearly with respect to the optical brightness peak of the nebula, probably indicating the circumstellar disk being viewed edge-on. Our recent deep near-infrared (NIR) imaging using TANSPEC has revealed the presence of a nearby star-like source, south of the LDN1415-IRS, at an angular distance of $\sim$ 5.4 arcsec.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Journal of Astrophysics and Astronom

Bulk Level to Individual Particle Level Chemical Composition of Atmospheric Dust Aerosols (PM5) over a Semi-Arid Urban Zone of Western India (Rajasthan)

Mineral dust particles in the lower atmosphere may significantly influence radiative and optical budgets, along with the net chemical balance, through their interactions with ambient chemicals. Their ability to absotb/scatter incoming radiation strongly depends on their chemical composition (i.e., distribution of major crustal elements), but as yet there is no adequate regional database with regard to this for the Indian region. To create a regional database of background mineral dust from a semi-arid zone of western India, we measured the chemical composition of ambient particles (with aerodynamic diameter <= 5 mu m; PM5), collected from seven locations of Jaipur city (in the vicinity of Thar Desert; Rajasthan) at varying altitudes, during late-winter of 2012. The chemical compositions of the sampled particles at both bulk and individual levels were measured using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Scanning Electron Microscope equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) techniques, respectively. Significant differences in chemical compositions were observed among the seven sites, yet the bulk chemical compositions of the particles were broadly consistent with those of individual particles. Average elemental ratios of Mg/Al, Si/Al, K/Al, Ca/Al, Mn/Al, Fe/Al were found to be 0.44 +/- 0.22, 1.96 +/- 0.90, 0.65 +/- 0.22, 1.52 +/- 0.40, 0.84 and 1.54 +/- 1.67, respectively. We also estimated the complex refractive index (RIs at 550 nm wavelength) for the studied sites, yielding an average n and k (the real and imaginary parts of RI, respectively) of (1.56 +/- 0.03) + (6.5 +/- 4.6) x 10(-3)i, with the aerosols collected from Kukas Hill area (27.02 degrees N, 75.85 degrees E) having the highest iron (Fe) mass fraction (similar to 43%). Non-crustal elements e.g., Cu, S, C, Ag and Pb were found only in aerosols over the main city Birla Temple (Jaipur) at ground level (26.89 degrees N, 75.81 degrees E)

Post-outburst evolution of bonafide FUor V2493 Cyg: A Spectro-photometric monitoring

We present here the results of eight years of our near-simultaneous optical/near-infrared spectro-photometric monitoring of bonafide FUor candidate `V2493 Cyg' starting from 2013 September to 2021 June. During our optical monitoring period (between October 16, 2015 and December 30, 2019), the V2493 Cyg is slowly dimming with an average dimming rate of $\sim$26.6 $\pm$ 5.6 mmag/yr in V band. Our optical photometric colors show a significant reddening of the source post the second outburst pointing towards a gradual expansion of the emitting region post the second outburst. The mid infra-red colors, on the contrary, exhibits a blueing trend which can be attributed to the brightening of the disc due to the outburst. Our spectroscopic monitoring shows a dramatic variation of the H$\alpha$ line as it transitioned from absorption feature to the emission feature and back. Such transition can possibly be explained by the variation in the wind structure in combination with accretion. Combining our time evolution spectra of the Ca II infra-red triplet lines with the previously published spectra of V2493 Cyg, we find that the accretion region has stabilised compared to the early days of the outburst. The evolution of the O I $\lambda$7773 \AA~ line also points towards the stabilization of the circumstellar disc post the second outburst.Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in Ap

Morphology of Atmospheric Particles over Semi-Arid Region (Jaipur, Rajasthan) of India: Implications for Optical Properties

The regional dust morphology and spectral refractive indices (RIs; governed by hematite, Fe2O3 content at short wavelengths) are key elements for ascertaining direct radiative forcing of mineral dust aerosols. To provide morphological features of background mineral dust from a semi-arid zone in the vicinity of the Thar Desert, we carried out an expedition to the Jaipur city during late winter of 2012. Morphological analysis reveals the predominance of "Layered", "Angular" and "Flattened" particles, while the frequency distribution of a total of 235 dust particles shows the aspect ratio, AR and circularity parameter, CIR (measures of particle's non-sphericity) typically similar to 1.4 and similar to 0.8, respectively. Sensitivity analysis at 550 nm wavelength reveals the equivalent sphere model may underestimate Single Scattering Albedo, SSA for the dust with low (similar to 1.1%) hematite by similar to 3.5%. Both underestimation (by similar to 5.6%) and overestimation (up to 9.1%) are probable in case of dust with high hematite content (similar to 5.68%). In addition, the effect of AR on the dust scattering is significant in case of dust with high hematite content. More such regionally representative dust morphological data are required for better estimation of regional radiative forcing of mineral dust aerosols

Article ID 607935, 5 pages

Children are considered fully immunized if they receive one dose of BCG, three doses of DPT and polio vaccine each, and one measles vaccine. In India, only 44% of children aged 12-23 months are fully vaccinated and about 5% have not received any vaccination at all. Even if national immunization coverage levels are sufficiently high to block disease transmission, pockets of susceptibility may act as potential reservoirs of infection. This study was done to assess the immunization coverage in an urban slum area and determine various sociodemographic variables affecting the same. A total of 210 children were selected from study population using WHO&apos;s 30 cluster sampling method. Coverage of BCG was found to be the highest (97.1%) while that of measles was the lowest. The main reason for noncompliance was given as child&apos;s illness at the time of scheduled vaccination followed by lack of knowledge regarding importance of immunization. Low education status of mother, high birth order, and place of delivery were found to be positively associated with low vaccination coverage. Regular IEC activities (group talks, role plays, posters, pamphlets, and competitions) should be conducted in the community to ensure that immunization will become a &quot;felt need&quot; of the mothers in the community

Drug abuse: Uncovering the burden in rural Punjab

Introduction: Drug abuse is a global phenomenon, affecting almost every country, but its extent and characteristics differ from region to region. India too is caught in this vicious circle of drug abuse, and the numbers of drug addicts are increasing day by day. The bane of drug abuse in Punjab has acquired the proportions of a pestilence that has shaken the entire society in the state. It is observed that in Punjab “drug abuse” is a raging epidemic, especially among the young. Methodology: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 400 adolescents and young adults (11–35 years) from 15 villages of Jalandhar District. Systematic sampling (probability proportionate to size) was used for the selection of study subjects. A preformed, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on type and frequency of drugs abused and other sociodemographic variables. The statistical evaluation of the data was performed using SPSS software, version 21.0. Results: The prevalence of substance abuse among study group was 65.5% and most common substance abused was alcohol (41.8%), followed by tobacco (21.3%). A high prevalence of heroin abusers was noted among study subjects (20.8%). The prevalence of nonalcohol and nontobacco substance abuse was 34.8%. A significant association of drug abuse was observed with male gender, illiteracy, and age above 30 years. Conclusions: The problem of drug abuse in youth of Punjab is a matter of serious concern as every third person is hooked to drugs other than alcohol and tobacco. The other striking observations were the high prevalence of heroin and intravenous drug abuse

Adverse Reactions Due to Directly Observed Treatment Short Course Therapy: An Indian Prospective Study

Abstract Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) causes enormous social and economic disruption and hampers nation&apos;s development. DOTS strategy under RNTCP is one of the largest public health programs found to be beneficial against TB. Adverse drug reactions lead to decrease in patient compliance and adherence. Good patient adherence to the treatment regimen is the foundation stone to effective antitubercular therapy. Noncompliance is cited as the major problem to the control of the tuberculosis at the level of public health which finally leads to drug resistance in case of TB. Aim and Objectives: To identify the occurrence and pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) associated with anti-tubercular drugs in TB patients under DOTS therapy during Intensive phase of treatment. Materials and methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 2 randomly selected DOTS centers of Jalandhar. A total of 102 patients of categories I and II who were registered in third quarter of 2014 were selected for study. The follow up period was during the intensive phase of DOTS regimen. All patients on ATT were followed up at the end of 1 week, 1 month and after the completion of intensive phase or if/ when self reporting was done due to adverse drug reactions. Detection and monitoring of adverse drug reaction was done by interviewing patients, consulting with physicians about the patient&apos;s clinical problems, reviewing laboratory test and medical records. The data so collected was entered and analyzed using SPSS 21 software. Results: The Incidence of adverse drug reaction was observed in 20.4% i.e. 21 out of 102 patients. Total number of adverse reactions developed in 21 patients were 31, with most common being GI