Epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae colonization in ICU: a pilot study from a tertiary care hospital in Western Rajasthan, India

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) is a serious global public health threat. Antibiotic overuse, improper sanitation and unhygienic practices lead to large scale carriage and rapid spread.Methods: This is a prospective hospital based study planned for a period of 3 months including all patients admitted to 14 bedded Trauma ICU of a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan. Rectal swabs were collected from admitted patients and carriage of carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae looked for as per CDC guidelines. Screening of the Enterobacteriaceae colonies for carbapenemase production was done by Modified Hodge test. Carbapenem-resistant isolates were also tested for Metallo beta lactamase production by phenotypic disc confirmatory test.Results: A total of 73 patients were screened and 27 CRE isolates were obtained, carriage rate being 37%. A high level of resistance was seen to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins. 100% sensitivity was however seen to Colistin, Tigecycline and Fosfomycin. 5 out of 27 strains showed a positive MHT test. Metallo beta lactamase (MBL) production was seen in 21/25 strains as tested by meropenem and Meropenem-EDTA discs.Conclusions: The current pilot study finds out the prevalence of CRE carriage among critically ill patients and stresses upon strong need for stringent infection control measures

Genetic Variability, Diversity and Interrelationship for Twelve Grain Minerals in 122 Commercial Pearl Millet Cultivars in India

Pearl millet contributes to the major source of dietary calories and essential micronutrients intake among rural populations in certain regions of India as its grains are more nutritious than other cereals. The aims of this investigation were to profile cultivar nutrition, diversity and interrelationship for grain minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Na, P, S, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Mo and Ni) among 122 pearl millet hybrids and open-pollinated varieties in India. Trials were evaluated in randomized complete block design with three replications at two locations (Patancheru and Mandor) representing two major cultivation zones. The grain minerals in cultivars exhibited two- to- four-fold variation. Positive and significant correlations were noted among different minerals. A higher magnitude of positive and significant association between Fe and Zn (r = 0.71, P\0.01) and with other minerals suggested the existence of greater genetic potential for the concurrent improvement of Fe and Zn without lowering the other grain minerals in pearl millet. The first two principal components accounted for 49% of variation. Euclidian distancebased cluster analysis grouped the 122 cultivars into seven clusters. Cluster I had higher mean for Fe (56 mg kg-1) and Zn (49 mg kg-1), in which ICTP 8203, Ajeet 38, Sanjivani 222,PAC 903 and 86 M86 were identified as rich sources of iron, zinc and calcium with considerable levels of other nutrients. About 65% of cultivars for iron and 100% of cultivars for zinc have met the minimum standards set forth by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research. This indicates the feasibility of breeding nutrient-rich hybrids with competitive yields through mainstreaming in future

First Results from MFOSC-P : Low Resolution Optical Spectroscopy of a Sample of M dwarfs within 100 parsecs

Mt. Abu Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera (MFOSC-P) is an in-house developed instrument for Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) 1.2m telescope at Mt. Abu India, commissioned in February 2019. Here we present the first science results derived from the low resolution spectroscopy program of a sample of M Dwarfs carried out during the commissioning run of MFOSC-P between February-June 2019. M dwarfs carry great significance for exoplanets searches in habitable zone and are among the promising candidates for the observatory's several ongoing observational campaigns. Determination of their accurate atmospheric properties and fundamental parameters is essential to constrain both their atmospheric and evolutionary models. In this study, we provide a low resolution (R$\sim$500) spectroscopic catalogue of 80 bright M dwarfs (J$<$10) and classify them using their optical spectra. We have also performed the spectral synthesis and $\chi^2$ minimisation techniques to determine their fundamental parameters viz. effective temperature and surface gravity by comparing the observed spectra with the most recent BT-Settl synthetic spectra. Spectral type of M dwarfs in our sample ranges from M0 to M5. The derived effective temperature and surface gravity are ranging from 4000 K to 3000 K and 4.5 to 5.5 dex, respectively. In most of the cases, the derived spectral types are in good agreement with previously assigned photometric classification.Comment: Accepted for Publication in MNRA

Exploring the short-term variability of Hα\alpha and Hβ\beta emissions in a sample of M dwarfs

The time scales of variability in active M dwarfs can be related to their various physical parameters. Thus, it is important to understand such variability to decipher the physics of these objects. In this study, we have performed the low resolution ($\sim$5.7\AA) spectroscopic monitoring of 83 M dwarfs (M0-M6.5) to study the variability of H$\alpha$ / H$\beta$ emissions; over the time scales from $\sim$0.7 to 2.3 hours with a cadence of $\sim$3-10 minutes. Data of a sample of another 43 late-type M dwarfs (M3.5-M8.5) from the literature are also included to explore the entire spectral sequence. 53 of the objects in our sample ($\sim$64\%) show statistically significant short-term variability in H$\alpha$. We show that this variability in 38 of them are most likely to be related to the flaring events. We find that the early M dwarfs are less variable despite showing higher activity strengths (L$_{H\alpha}$/L$_{bol}$ \& L$_{H\beta}$/L$_{bol}$), which saturates around $\sim$10$^{-3.8}$ for M0-M4 types. Using archival photometric light curves from TESS and Kepler/K2 missions, the derived chromospheric emission (\ha and \hb emission) variability is then explored for any plausible systematics with respect to their rotation phase. The variability indicators clearly show higher variability in late-type M dwarfs (M5-M8.5) with shorter rotation periods ($<$2 days). For 44 sources, their age has been estimated using StarHorse project and possible correlations with variability have been explored. The possible causes and implications for these behaviors are discussed.Comment: There are 35 pages including 18 pages of supplementary material. The manuscript is accepted for publication in MNRA

Behavioural disorders amongst children of a rural community of Lucknow, India

Background: Behavioural disturbances are notable child health problem, the importance of which is increasingly recognized in most countries. A behaviour problem is nothing but a deviation from the accepted pattern of behavior on the part of the child when he is exposed to an inconsistent social and cultural environment.&nbsp;Aims &amp; Objectives:&nbsp;To assess the prevalence of behavioural disorders in children of a rural community.&nbsp;Material &amp; Methods:&nbsp;This was a village based cross-sectional study done among the children for the assessing the behavioural disorders.&nbsp;Results: Of the total 1157 children studied, 195 (16.9%) showed one or the other behavioural disorders. Various disorders elicited were bed wetting (11.6%), thumb sucking (3.1%), nail biting (1.6%) and food fad (0.5%). The disorders were more common in preschool children (34.2%) compared to school going age children (11.0%). Behavioural disorders were more frequent in children at extremes of birth orders (birth orders I &amp; V) compared to others. The prevalence of disorders did not differ much in boys (16.2%) and girls (17.6%).&nbsp;Conclusions: The present study has reported a relatively higher prevalence of behavior disorders (16.9%) in children in a rural setting. The pattern of behavior problems was studied in terms of age, sex and birth order. In such children, there is a need for health education and counseling by psychiatrist/psychiatric social worker at the primary care level and must be worked ou

Partial uterine perforation and ovarian embedment of misplaced intrauterine device: a case report

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are the commonest form of contraceptive method in use globally. IUDs like other methods of contraception may be associated with its own complications. The major risk includes uterine perforation with embedment, migration, and/or expulsion. A 35 year old female who had a history of postpartum IUD insertion 10 years ago was referred to our institute with complains of severe lower abdominal pain and vomiting since 10 days. Transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound (TAS/TVS) were done. Ultrasound led to the final diagnosis of ovarian embedment of the IUD. Laparotomy with IUD removal was successfully performed. This case report highlights one of the rare complications of IUD migrating to the left ovary in a patient presenting with lower abdominal pain. In a patient with history an IUD insertion in situ, lower abdominal pain and missing threads on examination should wary the gynaecologist to the possibility of total or partial transmigration of the device into the pelvis or abdomen

Morphology of radio relics I: What causes the substructure of synchrotron emission?

High-resolution radio observations of cluster radio relics often show complex spatial and spectral features. However, it is not clear what these features reveal about the underlying magnetic field properties. We performed three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamical simulations of merger shock waves propagating through a magnetised, turbulent intracluster medium. Our model includes the diffusive shock acceleration of cosmic-ray electrons, their spatial advection and energy losses at run-time. With this set-up we can investigate the relation between radio substructure and pre-shock plasma conditions in the host cluster. We find that upstream turbulence plays a major role in shaping the properties of radio relics produced downstream. Within the assumption of diffusive shock acceleration, we can reproduce the observed discrepancy between the X-ray derived Mach number of shocks, and the Mach number inferred from radio spectra. Our simulated spectral index maps and profiles across the radio relic also suggest that the standard deviation of the upstream magnetic field must be relatively small ($\sigma_B\leq 1 \, \mu$G) in order to reproduce observations and therefore, radio relics can potentially constrain the distribution of magnetic fields in galaxy clusters outskirts.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 22 pages, 25 figure