Gold Exchange Traded Fund - Price Discovery and Performance Analysis

The paper aims to examine the price discovery process and the performance of Gold Exchange Traded Funds especially with respect to two Gold ETFs, namely, Goldman Sachs Gold Exchange Traded Scheme (GoldBeEs) and SBI Gold Exchange Traded Scheme (SBIGETS), for the period 2009 – 2016. The study has employed Johansen cointegration and Johansen’s Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) for the price discovery analysis. The results of VECM reveal that the spot prices lead the Gold ETFs price during the study period. Tracking Error analysis shows that Gold ETFs have neither outperformed nor underperformed the spot price. Price Deviation analysis indicates that Gold ETFs are trading on an average lower than the spot price of gold. The entire analysis reveals that although the price discovery takes place in the spot market, Gold ETFs have performed as well as physical gold and the slight difference in price with that of Gold is only because of certain fees, which are applicable in the management of Gold ETFs.JEL Codes - G13

Prevalence and Susceptibility of extended spectrum beta-lactamases in urinary isolates of Escherichia coli in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Chennai- South India

Extended spectrum beta – lactamases (ESBLs) are on the rise in hospitalsettings across the globe. The presence of ESBLs significantly affects the outcome of an infection and poses a challenge to the management of infection worldwide. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence and susceptibility of extendedspectrum beta – lactamase in urinary isolates of Escherichia coli (E.coli) in a tertiary care hospital, Chennai-South India. A total of 450 urinary isolates of E.coli were collected over a period of six months from April 2008 to September 2008. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was determined to commonly used antibiotics using the modified Kirby-Bauer’sdisc diffusion method. ESBL detection was done by the screening method of double disc synergy test and then confirmed by the phenotypic confirmatory test with combination disc as recommended by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the minimuminhibitory concentration (MIC) method using the E test strips (AB Biodisk,Sweden )- as per manufacturer’s instructions. The prevalence of E.coli ESBL was 60%. The ESBL producing isolates were significantly resistant (p < 0.01) to ampicillin, trimethoprim /sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin and nalidixic acid as compared to non-ESBL producers.Multidrug resistance was significantly (p < 0.01) higher (69%) in ESBL positive isolates than non-ESBL isolates (21%). Knowledge of the prevalence of ESBL and resistance pattern of bacterial isolates in a geographical area will help the clinicians to formulate theguidelines for antibiotic therapy to avoid inappropriate use of extended spectrum cephalosporins

Life Science in Arahpalisura Sathagam

What makes man live as a man is the advice given by the ancestors and the literature which they composed.&nbsp; In this way Arapalisura Sathagam presents many virtues.&nbsp; This book leads a person to do good deeds from birth to his death. Virtues are the pillars of an individual's life.&nbsp; Virtue makes man good.&nbsp; Education teaches men to earn and to help the needy. This book indicates that educated people are good and they will achieve success.&nbsp; Also, a person becomes a philanthropist when he thinks to help a poor who is in distress without even caring about his own life.&nbsp; He who lives by supporting the people of this world is respected as equal to the gods.&nbsp; Virtue beautifies human life.&nbsp; Treating anyone as a guest at home is one of the best virtues.&nbsp; When a doctor treats his patients based on the medical books he learned, it is considered as a virtue.&nbsp; Also, Arahpalisura Sathagam provides a way to achieve salvation by performing thirty-two types of virtues

Navigating the Insight of Gender Disparity Issues in Tourism: A Conceptual Study

Tourism experience has been perceived traditionally in terms of products, destinations, and consumption patterns. However, modern travelling is seen as an experience, performance, surveillance, play, relationship, and a form of mobility. Research studies in tourism explored gender as a global phenomenon of biased consequence. This paper attempts to conceptualize the agreements relating to ‘tourism is a gender determined activity. Further, investigates the most crucial gender trends affecting tourist destination, like subjectivity and critically examines the premise that destination is actually a perceptual concept, interpreted by consumers and also a result of the moment, the people and motive of their travel

Knowledge attitude and practice on prevention of hepatitis B infection among medical students of a tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India

Background: Hepatitis B infection is a serious global public health problem. About two billion people are infected with hepatitis B Virus (HBV) all over the world. The prevalence of HBV infection in India is 4%(2%-8%) with more prevalence among health care workers. Medical students represent a group that is at high-risk for acquiring and spreading hepatitis B infection. Despite increasing prevalence of HBV infection, there is paucity of knowledge, attitude and practice on HBV among medical students. Objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices on prevention of hepatitis B infection among medical students of Sree Mookambika Institute of Medical Sciences, Kulasekharam.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 205 MBBS students using a pretested self-administered questionnaire for assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice on prevention of HBV infection after obtaining informed consent from the participants.Results: Among 205 MBBS students, correct response towards Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices were given by 77.07%, 77.56%, and 76.59% respectively, 79.5% of the students were fully vaccinated; 20.5% were partially vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus infection.Conclusions: The medical students are at a very high risk of contracting HBV infection during their training period in view of low HBV vaccine uptake rate and high chance of accidental exposure to blood infected with HBV. Creating awareness among medical students on various aspects of Hepatitis B infection through health education programs before their exposure in medical colleges and subjecting them to active immunization against HBV are mandatory to control the spread of Hepatitis B viral infection

Association of atherogenic indices with obesity and as biomarkers of cardiovascular risk

Background: Obesity, the new world syndrome is the major health problem pandemically. One of the causes of dyslipidemia is obesity. The study was aimed to detect the pattern and prevalence of dyslipidemia in obese persons.Methods: Case control study included 70 subjects categorized into two groups based on BMI (body mass index) as cases (obese) with BMI >25 kg/m2 (n=35) and controls (non-obese) with BMI <25 kg/m2 (n=35). Anthropometric measurements such as waist and hip circumference and waist to hip ratio were measured. Fasting venous blood samples collected were estimated for total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein. Non-HDL-cholesterol, atherogenic indices such as atherogenic index of plasma, Castelli's risk index I and II and atherogenic coefficient were calculated from the estimated lipids.Results: Dyslipidemia observed in obese cases was hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia (28.57%), lowered HDL (57.14%) and increased LDL (65.71%). Significant lower HDL, elevated non-HDL cholesterol, CRI-I, II and AC were observed in cases compared to controls. BMI had a significant negative correlation with HDL and positive correlation with anthropometric measurements, TC, non-HDL cholesterol and atherogenic indices. TC and HDL were associated with all the atherogenic indices. CRI-I, CRI-II and AC have significant diagnostic utility, with CRI-I and AC having more sensitivity and specificity at cut off values of 3.85 and 2.85 respectively.Conclusions: Decrease in HDL, elevated non-HDL cholesterol and atherogenic indices are associated with BMI. CRI-I and AC are indicative cardiovascular risk

PURIFICATION AND MOLECULAR WEIGHT DETERMINATION OF KERATINASE ISOLATED FROM STREPTOMYCES MALAYSIENSIS

Objective: The aim of the present study was to purify and determine the molecular weight of keratinase isolated from Streptomyces malaysiensis.Methods: For that purpose purification was done using ammonium sulphate and Sephadex-LH 100 column chromatography. Further, the fractions were pooled and subjected to molecular weight determination using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE).Results: The obtained results showed keratinase with 47.57% recovery, 3.5-fold purification and an estimated molecular mass of 27,000 Da. Keratinase showed an optimal activity at 60 οC and pH 8. Keratinase activity of the purified product was assayed with feather powder as a substrate. The isolated strain was identified as Streptomyces malaysiensis based on phylogenetic tree analysis. The strain isolated from termite mound soil showed the highest keratinase activity, which could be considered a microorganism of environmental origin.Conclusion: The production of keratinase on simple media with feathers as sole source allowing its production from the cheap substrate and a commercial production with low production cost. Stability in the presence of detergents, surfactants and solvents make this keratinase extremely useful for a biotechnological process involving keratin

Gender dimension of human right

Gender issues are a focus of discussion in present day research in Kerala. A state with high level human development Index and Gender development index shows economic political and social invisibility of females received attention in Kerala’s academic circles. Majority of the studies highlighted male dominance as a reason for the present day female deprivation. But the special characteristic of reproductive role of female has not received much attention. The rights of women and children are intertwined during the infant stages of life and the health of children is intimately connected with the conditions in which their mothers work. The first six years of life (and especially the first two years) have a decisive and lasting influence on a child’s health, well-being, aptitudes and opportunities. The absent from market work for a long period during their younger ages (potential age), reduces the experience and competitiveness of mother. The full time mental and physical presence of mother during the child’s early six years is the right of the child because; any deficiency of food or mental care will negatively influence the entire future achievement of the child. The compulsory withdrawal, from market work reduces the efficiency of women in labour market and thereby reduces her earning capacity, in future reduces the material well being of the child in his/her future development. Present paper discusses about the contradictions of child’s right and mothers rights and link the role of society in it. This paper is basically a theoretical one

Professional Quality of Life and Mental Health among Doctors in Tamil Nadu during COVID19 Pandemic

Background: The pandemic COVID19, a serious global threat has led to elevated levels of pressure on medical professionals. The research shows that occupational stressors has been significantly associated with the pandemic.Objective: To estimate the professional quality of life of doctors in Tamil Nadu and their mental health during the COVID19 pandemic. Settings andDesign: Cross-sectional study in Tamil Nadu, South India. Method: Among 318 doctors from both private and government sectors in Tamil Nadu, South India during April 9th - May 10th 2021, the study was conducted to estimate the professional quality of life [Compassion Satisfaction (CS), Secondary Traumatization (ST) and burnout] using ProQOL-5 scale. Depression and Anxiety were estimated using PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales respectively. Statistical analysis used: Association between the variables was found using Chi-square test. Results: Among the 318 respondents (170 males and 148 females), CS and ST levels were high in 77(24.2%), and 10(3.1%) respondents respectively. Severe depression and anxiety were among 36(11.3%) and 109(34.3%) respectively. Statistically significant association was found for Burnout (?2=55.671; OR=15.135; 95% CI=6.361-36.013 and ?2=57.518; OR=18.014; 95% CI=7.054-46.007) and ST (?2=56.701; OR=15.432; 95% CI=6.486-36.717 and ?2=26.281; OR=4.558; 95% CI=2.476-8.390) with both depression and anxiety (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Doctors of Tamil Nadu, South India are challenged with adverse mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic with a significant association between the quality of life at work and psychological distress

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF FIRST ORDER, ABSORBANCE RATIO AND BIVARIATE SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHODS FOR DETERMINATION OF ATOVAQUONE AND PROGUANIL IN PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATION MALARONE®

Objective: Three simple, rapid, accurate and precise spectrophotometric methods have been developed for the simultaneous estimation of atovaquone and proguanil hydrochloride in pharmaceutical preparations.Methods: The determination of drugs was carried out using the first order derivative, absorbance-ratio and bivariate spectrophotometric methods. The methods were validated for their linearity, accuracy and precision, recovery and ruggedness according to the ICH guidelines.Results: The linearity was established in the concentration range of 1.0-10 µg/ml for atovaquone and 0.5-8.0 µg/ml for proguanil hydrochloride by all three methods. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of the methods varied from 0.252 to 0.270 µg/ml and 0.764 to 0.825 µg/ml for atovaquone and 0.119 to 0.156 µg/ml and 0.361 to 472 µg/ml for proguanil hydrochloride respectively. The intra-and inter-batch accuracy (% recovery) and precision (% RSD) ranged from 99.16 to 101.05 % and 0.603 to 1.048 for atovaquone and 99.74 to 101.12 % and 0.593 to 1.001 for proguanil respectively.Conclusion: The proposed methods were applied to a pharmaceutical formulation with acceptable accuracy and precision without any interference from commonly used excipients and additives. The results show that all three methods are comparable, cost effective and rapid and thus can be readily used in quality control labs for routine analysis of these drugs.Â