Mapping of the urban tree population in gardens of Ulhasnagar, District Thane, Maharashtra using Geographic information system (GIS)

Urban trees today are a crucial component that defines the healthy and liveable environment of a city. A city’s database includes streets, building, footprints, overhead and underground utilities, workforce areas, pest/disease quarantine zones, parks, and pending development areas in addition to the tree database such as tree location, species, diameter at breast height (DBH), and canopy width. The present study aimed at mapping the tree population of some selected gardens and parks in Ulhasnagar using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). GIS is an integrated system of computer hardware, software, data and trained personnel for analyzing and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. GIS-based map shows the location for each tree species found in the selected 12 gardens of Ulhasnagar. Green colour represents dense green canopy represented by the above-ground biomass,  and yellow represents moderate, while red indicates scarce or limited above-ground biomass. The green colour actually represents the volume of biomass and not the density or the number of trees and shows the concentration of carbon pools in the study area. Updating data in GIS is much more cost-efficient and less time consuming than having to redraw maps manually. Urban foresters and urban planners can work together using GIS for better management of this resource. This study is one of the pioneering footsteps towards appreciative resources and thus enabling the researchers in developing an appropriate management strategy. The data will help us to analyze and interpret better and eventually conceptualize the above-ground biomass in the entire area of gardens

Public Attitude towards Mental Illness in Bangalore: An Exploratory Study

The aim of the present study was to examine the attitudes towards people with mental illness in the city of Bangalore. The sample consisted of 400 people living in different parts of the city. They were assessed on socio-demographic data sheet, Orientation to Mental Illness Scale, Exposure, Knowledge and Social Distance Scale and Attitudes towards Mental Illness Scale. The Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, Student t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, Pearson’s correlation and Step-wise Multiple Regression Analysis. The study reveals that the common man had neutral orientation to mental illness and is moderate in their attitudes to mental illness. However, many were not informed regarding legal provisions available for the mentally ill and rehabilitation services existing in the community. Although the public was fairly low on social distance, this did not apply to intimate relationships such as sharing a room or marriage. Socio-demographic factors, especially like that of education, had an impact on the attitudes of many to mental illness, with the higher educated being better aware and more positive towards the mentally ill. The study brings out the need for programmes to raise the awareness among the ordinary citizen on various aspects of mental illness including existing legal provisions for the mentally ill in the community and rehabilitation services

Seasonal influence on volatile aroma constituents of two banana cultivars (Grand Naine and Nendran) under Kerala conditions

Banana is a tropical fruit with a pleasant flavour, widely consumed throughout the world. Volatile aroma compounds are responsible for olfactory flavor of banana. However, the development of aroma flavors is affected by the atmospheric temperatures during fruit growth period. In order to get good quality fruits in terms of aroma it is essential to understand the optimum temperature for maximum aroma production. The approach used in this study was to alter the dates of harvest to understand the optimum temperature required for maximum production of volatile compounds under Kerala conditions. The results revealed that with increased temperature volatile aroma compounds decreased in cvs. Grand Naine and Nendran. Total volatile compounds were higher in cv. Grand Naine compared to cv. Nendran. Cultivar Nendran recorded increased concentrations of esters, alcohols and decreased aldehydes, ketones, hydrocarbons and acids at high temperatures. Phenols and other constituents did not show much variation with respect to the temperature variation in both the cultivars. Among esters, Isoamyl butanoate and 3-Methylbutyl-3-methylbutyrate esters were the most abundant in both the cultivars. Ketones, especially 4-Methyl-1-penten-3-one was higher in cv. Nendran whereas esters were lower compared to cv. Grand Naine. Total area of aroma constituents in cultivars Grand Naine and Nendran were high in October followed by February with mean atmospheric temperature of 30.5ºC and 32.6ºC respectively. In case of cv. Nendran, total area of esters and alcohols were maximum at high temperature (34.5ºC) but in cv. Grand Naine, esters and alcohols decreased with high temperature. Results indicated that fruits harvested in October were better in terms of volatile aroma quantity in both the cultivars due to lower atmospheric temperature. Seasonal variations affected the two cultivars differentially in terms of percentage of groups of volatile compounds

Burkitt's lymphoma

Burkitt's lymphoma is a highly aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is the fastest growing human tumour. The disease is associated with Epstein-Barr virus and was one of the first tumours shown to have a chromosomal translocation that activates an oncogene (c-MYC). Burkitt's lymphoma is the most common childhood cancer in areas where malaria is holoendemic. The incidence is very high in immunosuppressed patients in non-endemic areas, especially when associated with HIV infection. Outcome with intensive chemotherapy has improved and is now excellent in children, but the prognosis is poor in elderly adults. The success of intensive treatment relies on good supportive care. The therapy offered in oncology units in low-income countries is not as aggressive as in centres in high-income countries and outcomes are less successful. Adjuvant monoclonal antibody therapy with rituximab shows promise for improved outcomes and reduced toxic effects in the future

Study of ABCB1 polymorphism (C3435T) in HIV-1-infected individuals from South India

Studies on P-glycoprotein expression and function have revealed that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the human ABCB1 gene at 3435 (C > T) results in altered expression and function of P-glycoprotein [1, 2].There have been reports of lower nelfinavir and efavirenz (EFV) concentrations associated with TT genotypes (mutant) of ABCB1 C3435T polymorphism [3, 4].Frequency distribution of this polymorphism is known to vary across populations [3, 5, 6]. We report the genotype distribution of ABCB1 C3435T in 179 individuals (126 HIV-infected and 53 healthy) from South India. The polymorphism was correlated with plasma 12 h EFV and 2 h nevirapine (NVP) concentrations in 55 and 71 patients, respectively. Plasma EFV and NVP were estimated by HPLC [7, 8]. Genotyping was carried out by PCR-RFLP [9]

Cost-effectiveness of glaucoma screening in cataract camps versus opportunistic and passive screening in urban India: A study protocol [version 3; peer review: 2 approved]

India has an estimated 12 million people affected with glaucoma; however, no organised screening programme exists. Cases are usually detected opportunistically. This study documents the protocol for detecting glaucoma in suspects in cataract camps conducted by Shroff Charity Eye Hospital in North India. We report a cost-effectiveness alongside prospective study design of patients attending cataract camps where glaucoma screening will be integrated. The eligible population for glaucoma screening is non-cataract patients. Patients will undergo glaucoma screening by a trained optometrist using a pre-determined glaucoma screening algorithm. Specific diagnostic cut-off points will be used to identify glaucoma suspects. Suspected patients will be referred to the main hospital for confirmatory diagnosis and treatment. This group will be compared to a cohort of patients arriving from cataract camps conducted by the institute in similar areas and undergoing examination in the hospital. The third arm of the study includes patients arriving directly to the hospital for the first time. Cost data will be captured from both the screening components of cataract-only and glaucoma screening-integrated camps for screening invitation and screening costs. For all three arms, examination and treatment costs will be captured using bottom-up costing methods at the hospital. Detection rates will be calculated by dividing the number of new cases identified during the study by total number of cases examined. Median, average and range of costs across the three arms will be calculated for cost comparisons. Finally, cost-effectiveness analysis will be conducted comparing cost per case detected across the three arms from a quasi-societal perspective with a time horizon of 1 year. Ethics approval for the study has been obtained from the institutional ethics committee of the hospital. The study protocol will be useful for researchers and practitioners for conducting similar economic evaluation studies in their context

A novel transgenic mouse strain expressing PKC beta II demonstrates expansion of B1 and marginal zone B cell populations

Protein kinase Cβ (PKCβ) expressed in mammalian cells as two splice variants, PKCβI and PKCβII, functions in the B cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathway and contributes to B cell development. We investigated the relative role of PKCβII in B cells by generating transgenic mice where expression of the transgene is directed to these cells using the Eµ promoter (Eµ-PKCβIItg). Our findings demonstrate that homozygous Eµ-PKCβIItg mice displayed a shift from IgD+IgMdim toward IgDdimIgM+ B cell populations in spleen, peritoneum and peripheral blood. Closer examination of these tissues revealed respective expansion of marginal zone (MZ)-like B cells (IgD+IgM+CD43negCD21+CD24+), increased populations of B-1 cells (B220+IgDdimIgM+CD43+CD24+CD5+), and higher numbers of immature B cells (IgDdimIgMdimCD21neg) at the expense of mature B cells (IgD+IgM+CD21+). Therefore, the overexpression of PKCβII, which is a phenotypic feature of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cells, can skew B cell development in mice, most likely as a result of a regulatory influence on BCR signaling

Challenges and opportunities in mixed method data collection on mental health issues of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic in India

Background: The present paper describes the key challenges and opportunities of mixed method telephonic data collection for mental health research using field notes and the experiences of the investigators in a multicenter study in ten sites of India. The study was conducted in public and private hospitals to understand the mental health status, social stigma and coping strategies of different healthcare personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic in India.Methods: Qualitative and quantitative interviews were conducted telephonically. The experiences of data collection were noted as a field notes/diary by the data collectors and principal investigators.Results: The interviewers reported challenges such as network issues, lack of transfer of visual cues and sensitive content of data. Although the telephonic interviews present various challenges in mixed method data collection, it can be used as an alternative to face-to-face data collection using available technology.Conclusions: It is important that the investigators are well trained keeping these challenges in mind so that their capacity is built to deal with these challenges and good quality data is obtained

Risk of secondhand smoke exposure and severity of COVID-19 infection: multicenter case–control study

IntroductionExposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is an established causal risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic lung disease. Numerous studies have evaluated the role of tobacco in COVID-19 infection, severity, and mortality but missed the opportunity to assess the role of SHS. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine whether SHS is an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection, severity, mortality, and other co-morbidities.MethodologyMulticentric case–control study was conducted across six states in India. Severe COVID-19 patients were chosen as our study cases, and mild and moderate COVID-19 as control were evaluated for exposure to SHS. The sample size was calculated using Epi-info version 7. A neighborhood-matching technique was utilized to address ecological variability and enhance comparability between cases and controls, considering age and sex as additional matching criteria. The binary logistic regression model was used to measure the association, and the results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 24 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).ResultsA total of 672 cases of severe COVID-19 and 681 controls of mild and moderate COVID-19 were recruited in this study. The adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for SHS exposure at home was 3.03 (CI 95%: 2.29–4.02) compared to mild/moderate COVID-19, while SHS exposure at the workplace had odds of 2.19 (CI 95%: 1.43–3.35). Other factors significantly related to the severity of COVID-19 were a history of COVID-19 vaccination before illness, body mass index (BMI), and attached kitchen at home.DiscussionThe results of this study suggest that cumulative exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness. More studies with the use of biomarkers and quantification of SHS exposure in the future are needed