The Role of Neonatal Nurses in the Prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

The main risk factors for preterm babies developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are poorly administered supplemental oxygen, infections, poor weight gain and transfusion of blood products, meaning ROP is sensitive to the quality of neonatal inpatient care provided, especially the nursing care. Nurses are the primary caregivers in neonatal units and play a critical role in preventing ROP related blindness. We discuss the role of the neonatal nurse in prevention of ROP based on a framework of five dimensions of care: specialist knowledge, clinical advocacy, leadership and mentorship, service management and counselling. Developing the role in the prevention of ROP needs to be supported by a wider movement to develop core training competencies and national benchmarks for neonatal nurses. As part of the national newborn action plans, countries such as India have an opportunity to play a leading role in developing the nursing role in minimising the rates of visual impairments and blindness due to ROP

Prevalence of flat foot among medical students and its impact on quality of life and functionality

Background: Flat foot also called pes planus/fallen arches is common deformity in adults. The present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of flat foot among medical students and to find out the association of flat foot with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), foot length and its impact on quality of life and functionality.Methods: A total of 300 medical students of age group 17-23 years were investigated for the presence of flat foot by using navicular drop (ND) test, arch index (AI) and foot posture index (FPI). The data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS software.Results: Prevalence of bilateral flat foot was 11.6% (8.3% were females and 3.3% were males). Unilateral was 3% (2% were females and 1% were males) and the correlation of ND, AI, FPI with gender, age was not significant and with BMI, weight was highly significant.Conclusions: Our study showed the presence of bilateral flat foot in 11.6% and unilateral in 3% students. Flat foot is associated with BMI, weight and slightly associated with foot length, height and it is not associated with age, gender. Flat foot effected the quality of life and functionality of the students whose BMI is more. 

Branching patterns of left coronary artery among North Indians

The left coronary artery displays variations in pattern, number and distribution of its branches. These variations influence the manifestation and extent of the coronary artery disease affecting the left main branch. A total of 100 North Indian cadaveric hearts were dissected to observe the main trunk of the left coronary artery. The main trunk of left coronary artery bifurcated, trifurcated and quadrificated in 66%, 30% and 4% of cases respectively. The high degree of variability of left coronary artery and its branching patterns have anatomical, pathophysiological diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Adequate knowledge of these variations with regard to source, and incidence is important for the interpretation of coronary angiography, stenting procedures and surgical myocardial revascularization.Keywords: Left coronary artery, variability, branching patterns

Study on yield potentiality and spatial requirement of rice varieties (Oryza sativa L.) in system of rice intensification (SRI) under red and laterite zone of West Bengal, India

Field experiment was conducted at Rice Research Station, Bankura during kharif season 2009 and 2010 to study the yield potentiality and spatial requirement of rice varieties in system of rice intensification (SRI) under red and laterite zone of West Bengal. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) in a three replications with two rice varieties (Swarna and Lalat). Performances of swarna and lalat varieties in SRI as compared to conventional method of rice cultivation (CMRC) were investigated. Swarna (MTU 7029) has yielded maximum grain yield (6.07, 5.66 and 5.86 t ha-1 during 2009, 2010 and in pooled, respectively) from the treatment T7 (25 × 25 cm spacing) under SRI. Lowest grain yield (3.55, 3.23 and 3.38 t ha-1 during 2009, 2010 and in pooled, respectively) was recorded from treatment T9 (Lalat at 20 × 15 cm spacing) under CMRC. SRI technology has potential in increasing more grain yield, it saves seed requirement and irrigation water and chemical fertilizer considering than conventional method of cultivation. Rice cultivation is more sustainable and profitable for the farmers in SRI under the red and laterite zone of West Bengal

A Study on Effectiveness of Services Marketing Triangle in City Union Bank, Ramanathapuram

The current scenario of our country, Service sector accounts for more than half of India’s GDP. According to data for the financial year 2006-2007, the share of services, industry, and agriculture in India’s GDP is 55.1 per cent, 26.4 per cent, and 18.5 per cent respectively. The fact that the service sector now accounts for more than half the GDP marks a watershed in the evolution of the Indian economy and takes it closer to the fundamentals of a developed economy

Study on Performance of Different Fodder Crops under Low Cost Green House Hydroponic Fodder Production System

Hydroponics play most significant role in augmenting fodder shortage and helps for dairy production efficiently. A study was conducted to assess the performance and suitability of different crops under low cost green house hydroponic fodder production unit at SHE&CS Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Yagantipalle. Four varieties of cereals grains and four verities of Pulses were tested. One kilogram grain each of the variety was soaked for 12 hours in water for sprouting in air tight condition for 36 hours. The sprouted seed was spread in trays of size 2.5 ft X 1.5ft and kept in the Hydroponic Unit. Automatic sprinkling of water was managed by cyclic timer. Chemical fertilizer was not used. Data on sprouted seed weight and weight of biomass after 5 days was recorded using electronic weighing balance. The high biomass yield after 5days in cereals was recorded in Bajra followed by sorghum, Barley and Maize. Among pulses Pillipesara yielded highest weight followed by Cowpea, Lucerne and Horse gram. Highest plant height among cereals was recorded in Barley and cowpea in pulses. The difference among all the varieties in respect of biomass yield and plant height was found to be significant. Negative correlation was found between plant height and biomass yield

Pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers - a community survey in Udupi, Karnataka, India

Background: Smoking has been labeled the most important preventable cause of a respiratory disease and its effects in a smoker are well established. A better understanding on the pulmonary function impairments in an asymptomatic smoker is the need of the hour. Objective: To study the pulmonary function changes in asymptomatic smokers and non- smokers and to establish the dose -effect relationship amongst asymptomatic smokers.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Udupi district of Karnataka, India. 140 men aged between 20 to 45 years with a BMI ranging from 18.5 to 29.9 Kg2 /m was enrolled in to the study. 70 subjects were asymptomatic smokers and the other 70 were non-smokers. Outcomes measured were standard spirometric measures for pulmonary function and symptoms like breathlessness, cough and sputum using a Breathlessness Cough Sputum scale.Results: The mean age (mean ± SD) of non-smokers and asymptomatic smokers enrolled was 34.7±5 and 33.8±5 years respectively. The mean smoking dose amongst the asymptomatic smokers was 15.74±5.5 pack years. FEV1 amongst the asymptomatic smokers showed a negative correlation with smoking dose (p<0.05) and there was a significant difference in FEV1, FVC, PEFR, MVV and FEF 25- 75 % (p<0.001) amongst the asymptomatic smokers and non-smokers.Conclusions: Asymptomatic smokers showed low values of pulmonary function parameters compared to those in non-smokers

Managing lane-changing of algorithm-assisted drivers

Theoretical models of vehicular traffic ascribe the fundamental cause of velocity oscillations and stop-and-go waves to suboptimal or unpredictable human driving behavior. In this paper we ask: if vehicles were controlled or assisted by algorithms, and hence driven “optimally,” would these phenomena simply go away? If they do not, how should a regulator manage algorithm-assisted vehicular traffic for a smooth flow? We study these questions in the context of a mandatory lane-changing scenario from the perspective of an algorithm-assisted driver on a curtailed lane that has to merge to an adjacent free lane with a relatively dense platoon. In a stylized model of algorithm-assisted driving, we liken the blocked-lane driver to a rational self-interested agent, whose objective is to minimize her expected travel time through the blockage, deciding (a) at what velocity to move, and (b) whether to merge to the free lane if an adequate gap arises. Moving at higher velocities reduces travel time, but also reduces the probability of finding a large enough gap to merge. We analyze the problem via dynamic programming, and we show that the optimal policy has a surprising structure: in the presence of uncertainty on adequate-sized gaps in the target lane, it may be optimal for the blocked-lane driver, in certain parameter regimes, to oscillate between high and low velocities while attempting to merge. Hence, traffic oscillations can arise not just due to suboptimal or unpredictable human driving behavior, but also endogenously, as the outcome of a driver’s rational, optimizing behavior. We provide theoretical support for this finding by drawing similarities to bang–bang control. As velocity oscillations are known to be detrimental to a smooth traffic flow, we provide sufficient conditions such that traffic oscillations, due to such optimizing behavior, do not arise. Finally, we investigate the fundamental flow-density and travel time-density diagrams through traffic micro-simulations performed in SUMO. We establish that the proposed approach exhibits consistently near-optimal performance, in a broad variety of traffic conditions

Floral biology studies in wild melon [Cucumis melo L. ssp. agrestis (Naudin) Pangalo var. agrestis Naudin]

Studies on floral morphology, phenology and biology of wild melon revealed that the ratio of staminate and pistillate flowers was 3.40:1. The longevity of the male flowers were between 5 and 6 days, whereas, female flowers between 6 and 7 days. Anthesis was observed from 4.00 am to 10.00 am, while, the anther dehiscence started from 5.00 am which was continued to 7.00 am. The peak anthesis was observed from 8.00 am to 9.00 am and anther dehiscence from 6.00 am to 6.30 am. Freshly opened flowers showed pollen viability up to 98.35%, decreased upon closure and crashed to 17.48% in 3 days. Pollen germination was occurred after 15 minutes of incubation and continued up to 24 h of incubation. The stigma receptivity lasts from one to two days of anthesis. Major pollinator of wild melons observed was honey bee, mostly visited between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm