Perspectives of Teachers at Medical Colleges Across India regarding the Competency based Medical Education Curriculum – A Qualitative, Manual, Theoretical Thematic Content Analysis

Background: Competency-based medical education (CBME) curriculum has been implemented in India since 2019 with a goal to create an “Indian Medical Graduate” (IMG) possessing requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes, values, and responsiveness. Objectives: To explore teachers’ perceptions across India at medical colleges on the newly implemented competency-based medical education curriculum. Methods: This was a qualitative cross?sectional study conducted among teachers working at medical colleges across India, between February and April 2022 (n = 192). The data collection was done using Google forms online survey platform on teachers’ perception regarding CBME, its specific components, and perceived bottlenecks. We analyzed this qualitative data using manual, theoretical thematic content analysis following the steps endorsed in Braun and Clarke’s six-phase framework. Results: The majority of the teachers (64.1%) have positively responded to the CBME curriculum’s implementation. However, it came with a caution that the curriculum should continuously evolve and adapt to regional demands. The foundation course, early clinical exposure, and the family adoption program were the specific components of CBME curriculum over which the teachers raised concerns. The need for additional teachers in each department (department-specific teacher or faculty per hundred students ratio to be worked out) and the need for enabling faculty preparedness through adequate training was highlighted. Concerns were also raised regarding implementing CBME with teachers without a medical background (especially in preclinical departments). Conclusion: It is the need of the hour for the curriculum to incorporate a systematic feedback mechanism built into the system, though which such critical appraisals can be meaning collated and acted upon, to ultimately evolve, thereby creating an “Indian Medical Graduate” for the needs of todays’ society

Sm/Lsm Genes Provide a Glimpse into the Early Evolution of the Spliceosome

The spliceosome, a sophisticated molecular machine involved in the removal of intervening sequences from the coding sections of eukaryotic genes, appeared and subsequently evolved rapidly during the early stages of eukaryotic evolution. The last eukaryotic common ancestor (LECA) had both complex spliceosomal machinery and some spliceosomal introns, yet little is known about the early stages of evolution of the spliceosomal apparatus. The Sm/Lsm family of proteins has been suggested as one of the earliest components of the emerging spliceosome and hence provides a first in-depth glimpse into the evolving spliceosomal apparatus. An analysis of 335 Sm and Sm-like genes from 80 species across all three kingdoms of life reveals two significant observations. First, the eukaryotic Sm/Lsm family underwent two rapid waves of duplication with subsequent divergence resulting in 14 distinct genes. Each wave resulted in a more sophisticated spliceosome, reflecting a possible jump in the complexity of the evolving eukaryotic cell. Second, an unusually high degree of conservation in intron positions is observed within individual orthologous Sm/Lsm genes and between some of the Sm/Lsm paralogs. This suggests that functional spliceosomal introns existed before the emergence of the complete Sm/Lsm family of proteins; hence, spliceosomal machinery with considerably fewer components than today's spliceosome was already functional

Recovery of three-dimensional models from single two-dimensional sketches using cubic corners

81 p.The objective of this dissertation work is to reconstruct 3D objects from a single 2D line-drawing using the concept of cubic corner. The application of cubic corners into the algorithm enables a deterministic approach. It reduces complexity and time taken to reconstruct the model. The 3D object reconstruction from a single line drawing begins by identifying the faces, finding the cubic corner in the sketch, assuming the depth of the cubic corner to be zero, finding the other three vertices using cubic corner concept and building the model.Master of Science (Mechanical Engineering

Raman spectroscopic studies on sodium metavanadate

Sodium metavanadate $(NaVO_3)$ has been reported earlier to exhibit ferroelectric behaviour below 380°C, but unlike many other known ferroelectrics it does not show a very strong dielectric anomaly, indicating that the structural change during the ferroelectric phase transition may be only a slight modification of the paraelectric phase. This is in conformity with the x-ray data at room temperature, which could be refined to the same R value either in space group C2/c or Cc. Further, it is known that $NaVO_3$ occurs also in another polymorphic modification (\beta -form), the structure of which has not been established. Raman spectroscopic studies of single crystals of the \alpha -form of $NaVO_3$ have been carried out and a crystalline powder of the \beta -form has been made. The Raman spectra have been interpreted in terms of the linear $VO^-_3$ chains formed by $VO_4$ tetrahedra sharing two corners with each other. The temperature variation of the intensity and width of the Raman lines through the phase transition has been measured and the observed LO-TO splitting in the room temperature phase confirm the Ce ferroelectric space group

Technology Issues in Implementation of E-Governance

Nowadays, more and more countries, developed or developing, are looking at egovernance as means to improved and cost effective governance. E-government can be defined as the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to provide improved citizen services and efficient government processes like procurement [1]. In other words, the purpose of e-government is to achieve the public interests of society [ 2]. On the other hand, the e-governance is “to provide the links between government and its broader environment – political, social, and administrative [2]”. As a result, e-government and e-governance are related closely. Since the concepts of egovernance and e-government become critical, this paper will examine some of the key issues facing e-governance implementation like Privacy and Data security, Interoperability, Infrastructure availability and public preparedness (education, trust and accessibility)

Organ donation – Perception and practices among health science graduates in Southern India

Background: Organ donation rates in India are among the lowest globally. The complex interplay of social, religious, and media influences behind organ donation in today's social milieu is not fully understood. Health-care professionals are in a unique position to influence popular perception on organ donation through their practices. Objectives: The objective of this study was to explore organ donation-related perceptions and practices among health science students from southern India. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based, online descriptive study was carried out among undergraduate health science students from the medical, nursing, and allied health science streams in Coimbatore, western Tamil Nadu. A total of 618 respondents participated in the online survey conducted during the summer 2021. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 27 statistical package. Results: The general awareness levels and perceptions regarding organ donation were fairly high, and 83.1% were interested in becoming an organ donor. Even though a sizable proportion (37.4%) were ready to pledge right away, many did not know how to take the next step – the actual pledging for organ donation. Apprehensions relating to organ donation fell under few major themes – concerns of misuse of organ donation platforms for monetary gains; cumbersome legal procedures; family, social, and religious beliefs; and influences of popular media. Conclusions: Despite a fair degree of knowledge, the practice of organ donation seems to be relatively low among the participants, owing to a multitude of reasons. If enabled appropriately, health science graduates would be the perfect ambassadors for promoting organ donation in the society

Laser Raman spectra of semicarbazide hydrobromide

Semicarbazide hydrobromide which is isomorphous with SEM.HCl, was expected to belong to a new family of ferroelectrics. Dielectric, thermal and other studies on these crystals have yielded results which show many peculiarities but not confirmed ferroelectricity in the low temperature phase. As such a Laser Raman spectrosocopic study of oriented singe crystals of SEM.HBr was made at 298°K and at 253°K. The results have been correlated with structural features and compared with SEM.HCl

A Study of Menstrual Hygiene Practices and Associated Symptomatic Genitourinary Illness among Adolescent Girls in Rural Puducherry

Background: Adolescent population occupies 1/5th of world’s population and in India 20.9% of the population falls in this age group. Social prohibitions and traditional beliefs blocked the access to get the right kind of information to adolescent girls that led to poor hygiene practices. These practices result in harboring of microorganisms that increase susceptibility to genitourinary infections. Hence this study was conducted to study the menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls and in rural Puducherry.Methodology: A community-based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted in rural field practicing area of MGMCRI, Puducherry, from 15th of March 2013 to 31st April 2014 by using semi-structured questionnaire. 528 adolescent girls were included by complete enumeration.Results: Majority (89.2%) of the adolescent girls was using sanitary pads, fresh and reusable cloths were used by 6.6% and 4.2%, respectively. 65.3% girls changed their soaked absorbent 25 times in a day. Majority (60.8%) of the girls disposed their used absorbent by burying or burning. 67.9% girls were washing genitalia during micturition. 54.4% used soap and water for hand cleaning purpose and 1.4% used ash & mud etc. 35.9% & 32.5% reported abnormal vaginal discharge and itching in the genitalia. 2-4 symptoms and more than 4 symptoms were reported in 39% and 4.6% girls. The association between menstrual hygiene practices with genitourinary illness (symptomatic) was found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Even though sanitary pad users were high, unhygienic practices were noticed, so more emphasis is needed to be given on awareness of menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls. This study also highlights the lack of sanitary latrine facility in majority of houses that affected the privacy of the girls which resulted in poor menstrual hygiene practices

Utilization of modern menstrual methods and related unmet needs among college going women in Coimbatore district: a descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract Objectives The primary objectives were to determine the proportion of modern menstrual method (MMM) users among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu; and to estimate the unmet needs associated with use of MMMs in comparison with other menstrual hygiene methods (MHMs). We also assessed the factors that determine MMM use among college going women. Methods This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among college going women in Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu, India between October 2022 and January 2023 using a purpose predesigned, pretested, semi-structured proforma that included validated Menstrual Practice Needs Scale (MPNS-36). Results Only 1.4% of the study participants used MMMs – menstrual cups (1.3%) and tampons (0.1%). Sanitary pads were the most common MHM of choice (96.3%); of which majority (98.6%) used disposable pads and more than half (50.4%) used non-biodegradable pads. Importantly, one in six (16.5%) were not aware of nature of sanitary pads (biodegradable or nonbiodegradable) used. The unmet needs associated with MMMs (menstrual cups and tampons) were significantly lower than that for other MHMs (including sanitary pads), in particular, the unmet material and home environment needs, unmet material reliability concerns, unmet reuse needs and unmet reuse insecurity. However, we found no significant difference between MMMs, sanitary pads and other MHMs in terms of unmet transport, college environment, change and disposal insecurity needs. The significant predictors of use of MMMs were age (more than 21 years of age), residence (urban), type of stay (off campus including home), socioeconomic status (upper), fathers’ and mothers’ education (high school and above), and presence of personal income. Discussions with friends (or peers) both before and after menarche regarding menstruation resulted in higher adoption of modern menstrual methods. Conclusion MMMs provided comparative advantage with lesser unmet needs for material reliability and reuse insecurity concerns, particularly in home environment. However, none of the MHMs fulfilled the user expectations for transport and disposal insecurity concerns, particularly outdoors