Clinical characteristics and associated factors of cerebral palsy in pediatric population: a tertiary care centre clinicoepidemiological study

Background: Although, a highly prevalent disease, the etiology of cerebral palsy is still poorly understood thereby eluding a definitive prevention strategy. Our study aimed to evaluate the etiological, clinical and prognostic factors associated with cerebral palsy in children of western Rajasthan. Methods: All cases of non-progressive neurological disorder in the age group of 6 months to 14 years were enrolled in the present study. Detailed assessment, CNS examination and related neuroimaging were performed. Statistical analysis was done by standard statistical methods. Results: Maximum number of patients in current study were in the age group of 1-3 years. In our study according to sex, 40 (66.67%) were males and 20 (33.33) were females. Most of the patient in the present study were spastic quadriplegic type (40%) followed by spastic diplegia in 20% cases. As per gross motor function classification system (GMFCS) grading, maximum number of cases were 16 (26.67%) from grade 4. The most common sequelae in cerebral palsy were speech delay in 49 (81.66%) patients. Cortical atrophy was the most commonly (71.73%) seen abnormality on neuroimaging with CT-scan. Conclusions: Cerebral palsy is a non-progressive CNS disorder which has a major physical as well as psychological effects on the children as well as their families. The present study highlights the importance of understanding epidemiological and etiological aspects of the disease in Indian scenario

Can Industry 5.0 Technologies Overcome Supply Chain Disruptions? - A Perspective Study on Pandemics, War, and Climate Change Issues

Industry 5.0 (I5.0) is the next industrial revolution that will leverage human intervention in collaboration with intelligent, logical, and smart machines to attain even more user-preferred and resource-efficient manufacturing and supply chain solutions. The main aim of this article is to study I5.0 technologies in supply chains when these are affected by disruptive phenomena such as those created by wars, climate change or pandemics. A systematic literature review methodology was conducted to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. This study summarises 194 research articles from the period 2009 to 2022 to understand the present knowledge connected with this theme. The research findings show a significant gap related to the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent or overcome supply chain disruptions. 194 articles, including journal and review articles, were identified in the literature. The study provides a novel and insightful concept related to I5.0 within the context of supply chain disruptions. The potential applications of I5.0 and Industry 4.0 are elaborately discussed in three areas, namely: (1) disruptions in supply chains due to pandemics; (2) disruptions in supply chains due to war; and (3) disruptions in supply chains due to climate change. Finally, this study highlights research implications and proposes future research avenues that will contribute to further exploring the adoption of I5.0 technologies to prevent, manage and overcome disruptions in supply chains

Non-rotating and rotating neutron stars in the extended field theoretical model

We study the properties of non-rotating and rotating neutron stars for a new set of equations of state (EOSs) with different high density behaviour obtained using the extended field theoretical model. The high density behaviour for these EOSs are varied by varying the $\omega-$meson self-coupling and hyperon-meson couplings in such a way that the quality of fit to the bulk nuclear observables, nuclear matter incompressibility coefficient and hyperon-nucleon potential depths remain practically unaffected. We find that the largest value for maximum mass for the non-rotating neutron star is $2.1M_\odot$. The radius for the neutron star with canonical mass is $12.8 - 14.1$ km provided only those EOSs are considered for which maximum mass is larger than $1.6M_\odot$ as it is the lower bound on the maximum mass measured so far. Our results for the very recently discovered fastest rotating neutron star indicate that this star is supra massive with mass $1.7 - 2.7M_\odot$ and circumferential equatorial radius $12 - 19$ km.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures. Phys. Rev. C (in press

Synthesis and characterization of hybrid solar cell based on zinc blend semiconductor quantum dots

An attempt have been made to synthesise and characterize of undoped and doped zinc blend based semiconducting quantum dots prepared by a simple wet chemical precipitation method for solar cell application. Formation of semiconducting quantum dot has been ascertained by X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and impedance spectroscopy measurements. XRD studies confirm that all the prepared samples are in zinc-blende phase and in quantum dot regime. Dopants copper and cadmium cause a shift in diffraction peaks towards lower diffraction angles with linear increase in lattice constant values. UV-visible studies reveal decrease in optical bandgap of the QDs with co-doping of Cd and Cu ion in ZnS lattice though bandgap energy is higher than that of corresponding bulk material due to quantum confinement effect and alloyed formation of nanoparticles. TEM pictures reaffirm nanocrystalline nature of samples with size ranging 4 to 8 nm supporting XRD result. Mott-Schottky analysis revealed n-type conductivity of as prepared semiconducting QDs. To test the utility of these materials bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cells have been fabricated in 1 cm×1 cm size with p-type polypyrrole. Solar cells with quaternary zinc blend {(Zn0.85Cu0.15)0.5cd0.5S} structure under AM 1.5 illumination resulted in highest conversion efficiency of 1.8% and fill factor 0.81

Correlations in the properties of static and rapidly rotating compact stars

Correlations in the properties of the static compact stars (CSs) and the ones rotating with the highest observed frequency of 1122Hz are studied using a large set of equations of state (EOSs). These EOSs span various approaches and their chemical composition vary from the nucleons to hyperons and quarks in $\beta$-equilibrium. It is found that the properties of static CS, like, the maximum gravitational mass $M_{\rm max}^{\rm stat}$ and radius $R_{1.4}^{\rm stat}$ corresponding to t he canonical mass and supramassive or non-supramassive nature of the CS rotating at 1122 Hz are strongly correlated. In particular, only those EOSs yield the CS rotating at 1122Hz to be non-supramassive for which \left (\frac{M_{\rm max}^{\rm stat}}{M_\odot}\right )^{1/2} \left (\frac{10{\rm km}}{R_{1.4}^{\rm stat}})^{3/2} is greater than unity. Suitable parametric form which can be used to split the $M_{\rm max}^{\rm stat}$ $-$ $R_{1.4}^{\rm stat}$ plane into the regions of different supramassive nature of the CS rotating at 1122Hz is presented. Currently measured maximum gravitational mass 1.76$M_\odot$ of PSR J0437-4715 suggests that the CS rotating at 1122Hz can be non-supramassive provided $R_{1.4}^{\rm stat} \leqslant 12.4$ km.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, Appearing in Phys. Rev.

MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WITH ABHAYAGHRITA AND PANCHA BHAUTIKA TAILANASYA- A CASE REPORT

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition with its onset before the age of three years. It is characterized by abnormalities in communication, impaired social function, repetitive behaviours and restricted interests. There is no effective treatment currently available for ASD and there is a growing need of an alternative treatment modality. A three year six month old male patient, diagnosed with ASD was brought to the OPD for Ayurvedic treatment of ASD. There is no mention of ASD in Ayurveda classics and hence, considered an Anukta Vyadhi. ASD involves vitiation of all the three Doshas mainly Vata Dosha in the lead. The management was primarily based on the associated Doshas and Ayurvedic formulations i.e. Abhaya Ghrita orally for three months and Marsha Nasya with Panchabhautika Taila for forty five days were used. Changes in the clinical features were assessed using Aberrant Behaviour Checklist (ABC) and changes in the severity of disease after treatment was done using Clinical Global Impression scale (CGI). The patient showed significant improvement in the core features of ASD after the treatment duration