Prevalence and pattern of congenital heart diseases in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, India: diagnosed clinically and by trans-thoracic-two-dimensional echocardiography

Background: To find the prevalence and pattern of congenital heart diseases (CHD) at a Semi-Urban teaching hospital in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, India.Methods: A thorough history, clinical examination and Trans-Thoracic-Two-Dimensional Echocardiography (TTE) was done for all the live birth, children up to 18years of age and patients between 18 to 25 years, who were referred or presented to the Department of Medicine, Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Bommakal, Karimnagar (AP), over a period of 5 years from July 2008 through June 2013. Those suspected to having a CHD or referred in our department, were further evaluated with: Clinically, Twelve-Lead-Surface Electrocardiography, Chest Radiography and the diagnosis was confirmed by TTE. Trans-Thoracic-Two-Dimensional Echocardiography, M-Mode, Color flow doppler and Spectral doppler echocardiography was done in all patients in the various views.Results: Total 13,554 patients were examined and underwent TTE. Out of 13,554 patients 116 were identified as having congenital heart diseases, thus giving a prevalence of 8.55 per 1,000 live births. Isolated Ventricular septal defect (28.44%), isolated atrial septal defect (18.10%), Patent ductus arteriosus (10.34%), isolated congenital pulmonary stenosis (6.03%) and tetralogy of Fallot’s (6.03%), were the commonest defects observed and confirmed by TTE. TOF was the main cyanotic CHD (6.03%), with the prevalence of 0.51% per 1,000 live births. VSD, ASD and PDA were more prevalent in males. TOF and Complete A.V. Canal defect was prevalent in females. All small size muscular and perimembranous VSD was closed spontaneously. Spontaneous closure rate of 75.00% in Muscular VSD and 52.17% in perimembranous VSD was observed. Spontaneous closure rate of Ostium secundum type ASD was 53.33%. Conclusions: The prevalence of CHD at a tertiary teaching hospital (CAIMS, Bommakal, Karimnagar, AP, India), is 8.55 per 1,000 live births. VSD, ASD, PDA are the most common acyanotic and TOF was the commonest cyanotic congenital heart defects respectively. Non-Invasive Cardiac diagnostic technique (like TTE) plays major in the diagnosis of CHD. When clinical evidences lead to suspicion of congenital heart defect, an echocardiography should be performed immediately.

Tropical storm off Myanmar coast sweeps reefs in Ritchie’s Archipelago, Andaman

The reefs in some islands of Andaman and Nicobar suffered severe damage following a tropical storm in the Bay of Bengal off Myanmar coast during 13–17 March 2011. Surveys were conducted at eight sites in Andaman, of which five were located in the Ritchie’s Archipelago where maximum wind speeds of 11 ms-1 was observed; and three around Port Blair which lay on the leeward side of the storm and had not experienced wind speeds of more than 9 ms-1. Corals in the shallow inshore reefs were broken and dislodged by the thrust of the waves. Significant damage in the deeper regions and offshore reefs were caused by the settlement of debris and sand brought down from the shallower regions. The fragile branching corals (Acropora sp.) were reduced to rubbles and the larger boulder corals (Porites sp.) were toppled over or scarred by falling debris. The reefs on the windward side and directly in the path of the storm winds were the worst affected. The investigation exposes the vulnerability of the reefs in Andaman to the oceanographic features which generally remain unnoticed unless the damage is caused to the coastal habitats

Validation of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) forecasts from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The annual exploitable fisheries of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are estimated to be 1.48 lakh t of which a meagre 22% is harvested currently. Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) forecasts based on remotelysensed chlorophyll concentration and sea surface temperature were applied for harvesting the unexploited marine fishery resources. Simultaneous validation experiments (n = 87) synchronizing with PFZ forecasts within (PFZs) and outside (non-PFZs) the demarcated zones employing different vessel categories viz., gillnetters (n = 50), trawlers (n = 22) and longliners (n = 15) were carried out. Significant disparity in fish catch was observed within and outside PFZs. Fish catch from gillnetters composed of carangids, clupeids, scombrids with Megalaspis cordyla being dominant at PFZ. Carangids, sphyraenids, serranids, lutjanids, lethrinids and carcharhinids were reported from trawlers with significantly higher CPUE from PFZs except nemipterids. Fish catch from longliners constituted mainly of carcharhinids and serranids, where the catch of former was found to be significantly higher at PFZs

Influence of mesoscale eddies on a commercial fishery in the coastal waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Mesoscale eddies enhance the productivity in a stratified coastal environment by upwelling. The seas around the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have been found to have frequent mesoscale eddy activity. Commercial fishing grounds coincide with upwelling areas associated with cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies and also with areas between two adjacent eddies. There are different eddy zones supporting different types of fishing gears and fish. The current study aims at identifying the different zones of mesoscale eddies in the Andaman Sea and compares the productivity and fishing activity in each of them. Data collected from 454 commercial fishing trips in the Andaman Sea along with maps of sea level anomaly and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) global level 3 mapped thermal infrared (IR) daytime sea surface temperature (SST) from the Aqua and Terra satellites were used for the study. Known upwelling areas such as the periphery of anticyclonic and the core of cyclonic eddies showed higher catches in longlines, ring seines among the fishing gears, and among all the fish species groups. Downwelling areas such as the periphery of cyclonic and the core of anticyclonic eddies showed lower catches with ring seines and the fish species groups. Areas in between adjacent eddies were explored in this study and the fish captures in such areas were found to be different with types of fishing and the target fish group. The study shows results that link eddy activity with the performance of a fishery

Are ratings of dentofacial attractiveness influenced by dentofacial midline discrepancies?

To assess the attractiveness of dentofacial midline discrepancies during smiling, and to determine if the ratings were influenced by the gender of the judges

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Not AvailableThe reefs in some islands of Andaman and Nicobar suffered severe damage following a tropical storm in the Bay of Bengal off Myanmar coast during 13–17 March 2011. Surveys were conducted at eight sites in Andaman, of which five were located in the Ritchie’s Archipelago where maximum wind speeds of 11 ms-1 was observed; and three around Port Blair which lay on the leeward side of the storm and had not experienced wind speeds of more than 9 ms-1. Corals in the shallow inshore reefs were broken and dislodged by the thrust of the waves. Significant damage in the deeper regions and offshore reefs were caused by the settlement of debris and sand brought down from the shallower regions. The fragile branching corals (Acropora sp.) were reduced to rubbles and the larger boulder corals (Porites sp.) were toppled over or scarred by falling debris. The reefs on the windward side and directly in the path of the storm winds were the worst affected. The investigation exposes the vulnerability of the reefs in Andaman to the oceanographic features which generally remain unnoticed unless the damage is caused to the coastal habitats.Not Availabl

Investigation of various Mg(x)Fe(1−x)2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9) nanostructures as a resistive and flexible LPG sensor

This report talks in detail about the successful synthesis of nanoparticle material Mg(x)Fe(1−x)2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9) through a simple and inexpensive sol-gel auto-combustion process and its application as a gas sensor. A detailed description of the dependence of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sensing performance on the various compositional ratios of Mg(x)Fe(1−x)2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.5 and 0.9) have been investigated. The device was prepared by drop-drying method on lithographic patterned flexible interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). The characterizations revealed that at the specific composition of Mg(x)Fe(1−x)2O4 (x = 0.5), the prepared material performed with supreme sensitivity at 90 °C with respect to the commercially existing gas sensors for 500 ppm of LPG at applied voltage 1 V. Additionally, this device reproduced the similar response in bending test also. The sensor has exhibited related stability even after few days and maintained the stability quite well for several cycles.This publication was partially made possible by the NPRP grant # NPRP11S-1221-170116 from Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.Scopu

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Not AvailableThis study reports the mapping, structural characteristics and distribution of mangrove species of the Andaman Islands. 79 mangrove patches were identified using Thiessen polygons of which, 53 accessible patches were surveyed during 2014–2015. Multiple linear transects were laid at each of the mangrove patches and data pertaining to diameter at breast height, basal area and height were recorded for all mangrove trees within a 10 × 10 m quadrat laid along the transects at 50 m intervals. Altogether, 178 quadrats were laid and 25 mangrove species representing 11 families and 14 genera were recorded. Of the 3073 mangrove plants enumerated in the present study, 96.06% were composed of trees (>4 m height), 1.99% of saplings (>1 m to ≤4 m height) and 1.95% of seedlings (≤1 m height). The number of species per quadrat ranged from 1 to 9 and majority of the quadrats had 2–3 species. Density and basal area of mangrove trees ranged from 1252 ha−1 to 2200 ha−1 and 30.8 m2/ha to 59.6 m2/ha, respectively. High diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener index ranged from 1.65 to 2.24; Simpson index from 0.74 to 0.85 and Pielou’s evenness index from 0.66 to 0.84) indicated greater diversity and even dispersion of mangroves in the Islands. The study also revealed that the mangrove forests of Andaman Islands were characterized by a mixed species composition. Most of the sites were represented by different combinations of dominant and co-dominant species, all from the family Rhizophoraceae. The present study highlights the need for conserving the mixed species mangrove forests of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and development of location-specific management plans for biodiversity conservation.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableAndaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) have an estimated fisheries potential of 2.4 lakh tonnes/annum (John et al., 2005). But, the fish harvest has always been far below the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) with an average harvest of around 30,000 tonnes for the last decade (Roy and George, 2010). The islands have witnessed an array of extreme events and inclement weather prevails during incessant rains rendering fishing vulnerable to occupational hazards. Infrastructure and accessibility within the islands are inadequate, resulting in poor fishing operations.Not Availabl

Integrated Potential Fishing Zone Forecasts: A Promising Information and Communication Technology Tool for Promotion of Green Fishing in the Islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI) have an estimated fisheries potential of 2.4 lakh tonnes/annum (John et al., 2005). But, the fish harvest has always been far below the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) with an average harvest of around 30,000 tonnes for the last decade (Roy and George, 2010). The islands have witnessed an array of extreme events and inclement weather prevails during incessant rains rendering fishing vulnerable to occupational hazards. Infrastructure and accessibility within the islands are inadequate, resulting in poor fishing operations