The role information literacy in overcoming obstacles to learning and lifelong learning

Literacy is widely recognised as a fundamental human right, which empowers individuals and opens opportunities for social, economic and political integration. Information Literacy can be defined as knowing when and why one might need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner. In this paper we argue that Information Literacy can help disadvantaged groups in both the developed and developing worlds improve their opportunities for developing their intellectual potential. We report on case studies and initiatives from the Information Literacy movements that are addressing these hurdles to learning. It will be argued that it is naïve and simplistic to suppose that a solely technological solution will enable the learners to surmount obstacles to learning in order to improve their life chances. What is required is a more holistic approach, which requires the construction of legal, cultural, and economic infrastructures

Prediction of large-for-gestational-age neonate by routine third-trimester ultrasound

Objectives: First, to evaluate and compare the performance of routine ultrasonographic estimated fetal weight (EFW) and fetal abdominal circumference (AC) at 31+0 - 33+6 and 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation in the prediction of large for gestational age (LGA) neonates born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation. Second, to assess the additive value of fetal growth velocity between 32 and 36 weeks’ gestation on the performance of EFW at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation for prediction of LGA neonates. Third, to define the predictive performance for LGA neonates of different EFW cut-offs at routine ultrasound examination at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation. Fourth, to propose a two-stage strategy for identifying pregnancies with LGA fetuses that may benefit from iatrogenic delivery during the 38th gestational week. Methods: First, data from 21,989 singleton pregnancies that had undergone routine ultrasound examination at 31+0 - 33+6 weeks’ gestation and 45,847 that had undergone routine ultrasound examination at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks were used to compare the predictive performance of EFW and AC for LGA neonates with birthweight >90th and >97th percentiles born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation. Second, data from 14,497 singleton pregnancies that had undergone routine ultrasound examination at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation and had a previous scan at 30+0 – 34+6 weeks were used to determine, through multivariable logistic regression analysis, whether addition of growth velocity, defined by a difference in EFW and AC Z-scores between the early and late third trimester scans divided by the time interval between them, improved the performance of EFW at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks in the prediction of delivery of LGA neonates born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation. Third, in the database of the 45,847 pregnancies that had undergone routine ultrasound examination at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation the screen positive and detection rate of LGA neonates born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation and at ≤10 days from the initial scan were calculated for different EFW percentile cut-offs between the 50th and 90th percentile. Results: First, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) of screening for LGA neonates were significantly higher with EFW Z-score than AC Z-score and at 35+0 - 36+6 than at 31+0 - 33+6 weeks’ gestation (p90th percentile at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation the predictive performance for LGA neonates born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation was modest (65% and 46% for neonates with birthweight >97th and >90th percentiles, respectively, at screen positive rate of 10%), but the performance was better for prediction of LGA neonates born at ≤10 days from the scan (84% and 71% for neonates with birthweight >97th and >90th percentiles, respectively, at screen positive rate of 11%). Fourth, screening by EFW >70th percentile at 35+0 - 36+6 weeks’ gestation predicted 91% and 82% of LGA neonates with birthweight >97th and >90th percentiles born at ≥37 weeks’ gestation, at screen positive rate of 32%, and the respective values of screening by EFW >85th percentile for prediction of LGA neonates born at ≤10 days from the scan were 88%, 81% and 15%. On the basis of these results it was proposed that routine fetal biometry at 36 weeks’ gestation is a screening rather than diagnostic test for fetal macrosomia and that EFW >70th percentile should be used to identify pregnancies in need for another scan at 38 weeks and in the latter those with EFW >85th percentile should be considered for iatrogenic delivery during the 38th week. Conclusions: First, the predictive performance for LGA neonates by routine ultrasonographic examination during the third trimester is higher if the scan is carried out at 36 than at 32 weeks, the method of screening is EFW than fetal AC, the outcome measure is birthweight >97th than >90th percentile and if delivery occurs within 10 days than at any stage after assessment. Second, prediction of LGA neonates by EFW >90th percentile is modest and the study presents a two-stage strategy for maximizing the prenatal prediction of LGA neonates

Impact of new definitions of pre-eclampsia on incidence and performance of first-trimester screening

Objective: The traditional definition of pre-eclampsia (PE) is based on the development of hypertension and proteinuria. This has been revised recently to include cases without proteinuria but with evidence of renal, hepatic or hematological dysfunction. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of new definitions of PE on, first, the incidence and severity of the disease and, second, the performance of the competing-risks model for first-trimester assessment of risk for PE. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 66 964 singleton pregnancies that were classified as having PE, gestational hypertension (GH) or no PE or GH, according to the traditional criteria of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP-old), which defines PE as the presence of both hypertension and proteinuria. We reviewed the records of pregnancies with GH, and those cases with high creatinine or liver enzymes or low platelet count were reclassified as having PE, according to the new criteria of ISSHP (ISSHP-new) and the new criteria of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The groups of PE according to the traditional and new criteria were compared for, first, gestational age at delivery, birth-weight percentile and incidence of a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate with birth weight < 10th percentile and perinatal death, and, second, the predictive performance for preterm PE of the competing-risks model based on the combination of maternal risk factors, uterine artery pulsatility index, mean arterial pressure and serum placental growth factor at 11-13 weeks' gestation (triple test). Results: According to ISSHP-old, 1870 (2.8%) cases had PE, 2182 (3.3%) had GH and 62 912 (94.0%) had no PE or GH. The incidence of PE according to ACOG was 3.0% (2029/66 964) and ISSHP-new was 3.4% (2301/66 964). Median gestational age at delivery in the extra cases of PE according to ACOG (difference, 1.3 weeks; 95% CI, 0.71-1.71 weeks) and in the extra cases of PE according to ISSHP-new (difference, 1.5 weeks; 95% CI, 1.29-1.71 weeks) was higher than in cases with PE according to ISSHP-old (38.4 weeks). The incidence of a SGA neonate in the extra cases of PE according to ACOG (relative risk, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.42-0.79) and in the extra cases of PE according to ISSHP-new (relative risk, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.42-0.65) was lower than in the cases of PE according to ISSHP-old (33.64%). In first-trimester screening for preterm PE by the triple test, the detection rate, at a 10% false-positive rate, was 75.9% (95% CI, 70.8-80.6%) for ISSHP-old, 74.3% (95% CI, 69.2-79.0%) for ACOG and 74.0% (95% CI, 68.9-78.6%) for ISSHP-new. Conclusions: The new definitions of PE resulted in, first, an increase in pregnancies classified as having PE but the additional cases had milder disease, and, second, a non-significant decrease in the performance of first-trimester screening for PE

Acalypha indica Linn is a potential source of root-knot nematode infestation in cultivated fields

Acalypha indica L. is a commonly growing weed in India, which is also known as Indian Acalypha. These plants were growing as a weed in pots wherein okra was planted for experimental purpose. Infestation of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita was observed on it. Soil and root samples were collected for analyses of nematode infestation. Roots of the infested plants were galled measuring gall index (GI) of 3-4. The population density of second stage juveniles (J2) in soil varies from 378-752/200cc soil and the roots were harboring 3876-7654 eggs/per root system. The root galling and presence of high population of nematode eggs and J2 revealed that A. indica can be a reservoir for M. incognita during non-host cropping and serve as a source of infestation to other hosts in the next cropping season. So, in the light of present findings growers are advised to be watchful for A. indica in their fields, and keep the field free from this weed to minimize the infestation of M. incognita in the next crop. 

Hysterectomy, endometrial destruction, and levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (Mirena) for heavy menstrual bleeding : systematic review and meta-analysis of data from individual patients

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Investigation on Dielectric Properties of Sludge Waste from Water Treatment Using Microwave Non-Destructive Testing (MNDT)

The demand for water cleanup rises in tandem with a country's requirements and development. Recovery of purified water containing nutrients and other beneficial materials is a critical opportunity that must be taken advantage of. A challenge that needs to be tackled is the necessity for large capacity and high-value management of sludge waste following the water treatment process. The pH level and microwave frequencies influence were used as a starting point for assessing the content of the sludge waste. Microwave non-destructive testing (MNDT) is a microwave measurement that can be used to determine the dielectric characteristics of materials without destroying or modifying the sample's content. The methodology employs a free-space measurement technique with a frequency range of 8 to 12 GHz (X-band). Through S-parameters acquired, a correlation analysis was done to analyze the effect of frequencies with the sludge waste. A comparative investigation with peat soil samples in establishing if the sludge has similar attributes to normal soil is used to ensure the accuracy of the sludge waste data. It can be determined that the sludge waste has a high signal correlation towards the frequency band 8 GHz to 12 GHz, which is compatible with the MNDT approach. All of the sludge samples had a pH range that is appropriate for agricultural use

Investigation on Dielectric Properties of Sludge Waste from Water Treatment Using Microwave Non-Destructive Testing (MNDT)

The demand for water cleanup rises in tandem with a country's requirements and development. Recovery of purified water containing nutrients and other beneficial materials is a critical opportunity that must be taken advantage of. A challenge that needs to be tackled is the necessity for large capacity and high-value management of sludge waste following the water treatment process. The pH level and microwave frequencies influence were used as a starting point for assessing the content of the sludge waste. Microwave non-destructive testing (MNDT) is a microwave measurement that can be used to determine the dielectric characteristics of materials without destroying or modifying the sample's content. The methodology employs a free-space measurement technique with a frequency range of 8 to 12 GHz (X-band). Through S-parameters acquired, a correlation analysis was done to analyze the effect of frequencies with the sludge waste. A comparative investigation with peat soil samples in establishing if the sludge has similar attributes to normal soil is used to ensure the accuracy of the sludge waste data. It can be determined that the sludge waste has a high signal correlation towards the frequency band 8 GHz to 12 GHz, which is compatible with the MNDT approach. All of the sludge samples had a pH range that is appropriate for agricultural use