Increasing Competency In Health Science Education: Introspection

Before health science can play its expected role, health science education needs to be looked at critically and revamped. This area of education needs immediate attention for positive and effective change. This paper is based on observations, deliberations, and supportive findings across the US system of science education. However, with globalization, a lot of it is applicable to other countries. Health science education has been categorized into three categories: Health Science Education in School; in College; And, Beyond College. The paper raises more questions that we need to find workable answers to. It does not, in anyway, claim to provide the best solution, the only answer, or the end to all discussion and development for improvement

Anti-vibrio potential of bacterial and fungal endophytes isolated from Datura metel

43-53Bacterial and fungal endophytes were isolated and characterized from root and shoot of Datura metel and studied for their antimicrobial properties. Molecular identification of the endophytes, both bacteria and fungi were done using 16S rDNA and 18S rDNA sequencing, respectively. Out of the total bacterial endophytes, Bacillus subtilis was predominant in both the tissues. Of the nine fungal endophytes isolated both from root and shoot, Aspergillus versicolor was found to be dominant. These two dominant species of endophytes, B. subtilis and A. versicolor, were subjected to mass multiplication, and secondary metabolites extraction of the host plant endophytes were performed using solvents of different polarity. The respective extracts were then studied for their antimicrobial activity against different Vibrio cholerae strains. Both bacterial and fungal extracts showed impressive activity against the V. cholerae strains P5, NE2 and VC7233

Cluster-randomised controlled trial of community mobilisation in Mumbai slums to improve care during pregnancy, delivery, postpartum and for the newborn

Background: The United Nations Millennium Development Goals look to substantial improvements in child and maternal survival. Morbidity and mortality during pregnancy, delivery and the postnatal period are prime obstacles to achieving these goals. Given the increasing importance of urban health to global prospects, Mumbai's City Initiative for Newborn Health aims to improve maternal and neonatal health in vulnerable urban slum communities, through a combination of health service quality improvement and community participation. The protocol describes a trial of community intervention aimed at improving prevention, care seeking and outcomes.Objective: To test an intervention that supports local women as facilitators in mobilising communities for better health care. Community women's groups will build an understanding of their potential to improve maternal and infant health, and develop and implement strategies to do so.Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial.Methods: The intervention will employ local community-based female facilitators to convene groups and help them to explore maternal and neonatal health issues. Groups will meet fortnightly through a seven-phase process of sharing experiences, discussion of the issues raised, discovery of potential community strengths, building of a vision for action, design and implementation of community strategies, and evaluation.The unit of allocation will be an urban slum cluster of 1000-1500 households. 48 clusters have been randomly selected after stratification by ward. 24 clusters have been randomly allocated to receive the community intervention. 24 clusters will act as control groups, but will benefit from health service quality improvement. Indicators of effect will be measured through a surveillance system implemented by the project. Key distal outcome indicators will be neonatal mortality and maternal and neonatal morbidity. Key proximate outcome indicators will be home care practices, uptake of antenatal, delivery and postnatal care, and care for maternal and neonatal illness.Data will be collected through a vital registration system for births and deaths in the 48 study clusters. Structured interviews with families will be conducted at about 6 weeks after index deliveries. We will also collect both quantitative and qualitative data to support a process evaluation.Trial registration: Current controlled trials ISRCTN9625679

Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Properties of Nickel Ferrite by Soft Chemical Method

Synthesis of nanosized nickel ferrite by a template method where tartaric acid is used as a ligand and nitric acid as an oxidant is described. The synthesized powders were characterized by TGA, XRD, FTIR, TEM, BET, VSM and SQUID studies. The average crystallite size of the phase pure material was of 30 nm and the surface area was found to be 20.37 m(2).g(-1). Magnetic measurements of the phase pure powder were carried out at room temperature by VSM at a magnetic field of 1 Tesla, and by SQUID at a magnetic field of 6 Tesla. High saturation magnetization of 31.43 emu.g(-1) is observed in case of VSM and 43.36 emu.g(-1) is observed for SQUID measurements. Comparative analysis of M(s) values synthesized by different routes are compared

Direct search for multi-nucleon clustering in nuclear interactions —Evidence at ultra-relativistic energy

We present an exhaustive analysis on the direct search of multi-nucleon clusters in 28Si-AgBr, 32S-AgBr and 16O-AgBr interactions at 14.5 AGeV, 200 AGeV and 60 AGeV, respectively. A comparison with Monte Carlo simulation reveals that clusters of three and four particles are present in the multi-nucleon production at 200 AGeV

Influence of B site substituents on lanthanum calcium chromite nanocrystalline materials for a solid-oxide fuel cell

Highly reactive and nanocrystalline powders of LaCrO(3)based compositions, having the general formula La0.9Ca0.1Cr1-xMxO3-delta (0 <= x <= 0.1, and M=Al, Co, or Mg), suitable for solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) applications, have been synthesized using an auto-combustion technique with ammonium dichromate as the chromium source. Owing to very fine crystallite size (ranging from 10 to 50 nm) and the high reactivity of the powders (surface area as high as 25 m(2)/g), the sintering temperature reduces drastically and a highly dense, uniform, and fine-grained microstructure is obtained. A dramatic improvement in densification (nearly theoretical density) is observed for aluminum substitution, when sintered at as low a temperature as 1300 degrees C. The microstructure shows a uniform distribution of grains having an average grain size of similar to 0.5 mu m. Depending on the substituent, the electrical conductivities of the sintered samples in air, at 1000 degrees C, were found to be in the range of 10-45 S/cm, and are more than that of the values required for SOFC application. The thermal expansion coefficients, as obtained, are also comparable with the other SOFC cell components

Low-temperature synthesis of nanosized bismuth ferrite by soft chemical route

The present research describes a simple low-temperature synthesis route of preparing bismuth ferrite nanopowders through soft chemical route using nitrates of Bismuth and Iron. Tartaric acid is used as a template material and nitric acid as an oxidizing agent. The synthesized powders are characterized by X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The particle size of the powder lies between 3 and 16 nm. In the process, phase pure bismuth ferrite can be obtained at a temperature as low as 400&DEG; C, in contrast to 550&DEG; C for coprecipitation route. On the other hand, we find that, like solid state reaction route, Pechini's autocombustion method of synthesis generates a lot of impurity phases along with bismuth ferrite