Persistence of Informal Credit in Rural Karnataka, India-Some Evidences from Primary Data

Purpose: The aim of the study is to examine the rural credit markets in Karnataka region in India. The rural credit structure in India consists of two sectors-formal and informal.  This study focuses on understanding farm credit and mixed households (households with farm and non-farm workers) in the rural economy in terms of socioeconomic status, credit structure, linkage, and so on.   Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach and a cross-sectional research design were adopted in the study. Primary Data on 100 households collected from two villages in Karnataka India. An attempt was made to understand the difference between informal and formal credit between two villages using cross tabulation and percentage analysis.   Findings: The results shows the role of informal credit has declined, it still holds a large share in the rural economy. There is a significant difference between loans give agricultural and mixed households. The results showed that the interlinked credit transactions are less in the developed village, while such transactions are highly prevalent in the backward village   Originality/value: The study based on recent changes pertaining to credit markets in the rural Karnataka

Prognostic model to predict postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery based on a national prospective observational cohort study.

Background: Acute illness, existing co-morbidities and surgical stress response can all contribute to postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. The aim of this study was prospectively to develop a pragmatic prognostic model to stratify patients according to risk of developing AKI after major gastrointestinal surgery. Methods: This prospective multicentre cohort study included consecutive adults undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection, liver resection or stoma reversal in 2-week blocks over a continuous 3-month period. The primary outcome was the rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery. Bootstrap stability was used to select clinically plausible risk factors into the model. Internal model validation was carried out by bootstrap validation. Results: A total of 4544 patients were included across 173 centres in the UK and Ireland. The overall rate of AKI was 14·2 per cent (646 of 4544) and the 30-day mortality rate was 1·8 per cent (84 of 4544). Stage 1 AKI was significantly associated with 30-day mortality (unadjusted odds ratio 7·61, 95 per cent c.i. 4·49 to 12·90; P < 0·001), with increasing odds of death with each AKI stage. Six variables were selected for inclusion in the prognostic model: age, sex, ASA grade, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate, planned open surgery and preoperative use of either an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Internal validation demonstrated good model discrimination (c-statistic 0·65). Discussion: Following major gastrointestinal surgery, AKI occurred in one in seven patients. This preoperative prognostic model identified patients at high risk of postoperative AKI. Validation in an independent data set is required to ensure generalizability

Ultrasonic characterisation of malignant melanoma of choroid

An in-vitro study of wave spectral analysis in 8 enucleated eyes was conducted in order to differentiate histological subtypes of malignant melanoma. To obtain the backscattering coefficient for the tissues, we used a broadband focussed transducer with a frequency range of 7-12 MHz and a centre frequency of 10 MHz. Experimental measurement of backscattering coefficient and attenuation coefficient at various frequencies was done by substitution techniques. The backscattering coefficient, scatterer size, and root mean square velocity fluctuation were derived by the numerical method, while the attenuation coefficient at 1 MHz was derived from attenuation coefficient at different frequencies. This study revealed that backscattering coefficient and attenuation coefficient, over a frequency range of 7-12 MHz, show an increase in the spindle cell type compared to the mixed cell type of malignant melanoma. Particularly, the scatterer size was significantly higher in the spindle cell group (p = 0.013) in contrast to the mixed cell type. Spindle cells have uniform and compact histological pattern which contributes to an increase in scatterer size and root mean square velocity fluctuation. The ultrasonically obtained parameters have been shown to have a good correlation with the histology of malignant melanoma

Plate-Rich Plasma and its Utility in Clinical Conditions: A Systematic Review

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autologous product derived from whole blood through the process of density gradient centrifugation which contains a concentrated form of a large number of platelets in a small volume of plasma. PRP has a higher concentration of growth factors than whole blood. These growth factors promote natural healing. PRP is becoming more popular as a treatment option for a broad spectrum of medical disorders. PRP has been studied but has received less attention. The objective of this literature review was to focus on the utility of PRP on various medical conditions and, to consolidate the available evidence on PRP for the practicing dermatological conditions. Keywords: Pure Platelet-Rich Plasma (P-PRP), Leukocyte-and Platelet-Rich Plasma (L-PRP), Red - Platelet-Rich Plasma (R-PRP), Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin (i-PRF), Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), Platelet-poor plasma (PPP), Cytokines, Growth factors

Determination of diffusion coefficient for coal leaching process

Coal leaching process has tremendous applications in the field of thermal and metallurgical industries. Coal leaching with alkaline solution removes silica, alumina and other acidic, ash bearing minerals present in the coal. Leaching with caustic soda has a better effect on the leaching process. In order to improve the leaching kinetics, development of the reaction kinetics is required. Indian coals are of drift origin and the mineral matter present in the coal is embedded inside the organic matter and hence, leaching is reaction controlled followed by diffusion controlled process. For studying the kinetics of the process, shrinking core model was adopted. Coal leaching kinetics at different alkali concentration was studied and diffusion coefficient is determined at room temperature. By using parametric estimation method, diffusion coefficient value obtained (DAe) is 1.2 × 10–10 m2/min and the silica and alumina rate constants are 4 × 10–6 mol/m2.min and 8 × 10–6 mol/m2.min respectively for the leaching of coal with 10% (w/w) caustic solution

Magnetic ground state of the multiferroic hexagonal LuFeO3

The structural, electric, and magnetic properties of bulk hexagonal LuFeO3 are investigated. Single phase hexagonal LuFeO3 has been successfully stabilized in the bulk form without any doping by sol-gel method. The hexagonal crystal structure with P6(3)cm space group has been confirmed by x-ray-diffraction, neutron-diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy study at room temperature. Neutron diffraction confirms the hexagonal phase of LuFeO3 persists down to 6 K. Further, the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy established the 3+ oxidation state of Fe ions. The temperature-dependent magnetic dc susceptibility, specific heat, and neutron-diffraction studies confirm an antiferromagnetic ordering below the Neel temperature (T-N) similar to 130 K. Analysis of magnetic neutron-diffraction patterns reveals an in-plane (ab-plane) 120 degrees antiferromagnetic structure, characterized by a propagation vector k = (0 0 0) with an ordered moment of 2.84 mu(B)/Fe3+ at 6 K. The 120 degrees antifferomagnetic ordering is further confirmed by spin-orbit coupling density functional theory calculations. The on-site coulomb interaction (U) and Hund's parameter (J(H)) on Fe atoms reproduced the neutron-diffraction Gamma(1) spin pattern among the Fe atoms. P-E loop measurements at room temperature confirm an intrinsic ferroelectricity of the sample with remnant polarization P-r similar to 0.18 mu(C) cm(2). A clear anomaly in the dielectric data is observed at similar to T-N revealing the presence of magnetoelectric coupling. A change in the lattice constants at T-N has also been found, indicating the presence of a strong magnetoelastic coupling. Thus a coupling between lattice, electric, and magnetic degrees of freedom is established in bulk hexagonal LuFeO3