Plagiatorstvo v raziskovalnih poročilih indijskih doktorskih študentov: vzroki in akcijski načrt za izboljšavo problematike

Many reputable academic journals have retracted research papers from Indian researchers because of plagiarism. The University Grant Commission, a representative organisation of the Indian government, is diligently endeavouring to ensure academic integrity by applying stringent guidelines. The present study aims to find the potential causes of the plagiarism found in the research reports of Indian doctoral students and to formulate a remedial action plan. A literature review was undertaken to identify incidences of plagiarism at educational institutions. Based on the review’s insights, a survey was conducted to investigate doctoral students’ awareness of plagiarism, including causes and remedial action plans. In addition, 21 interviews were conducted with senior academics and professionals from various academic disciplines to gain an understanding of their viewpoints. An analysis was then undertaken of the responses received through the questionnaires and interviews. The results suggested the widespread incidence of plagiarism and shed light on its causes. A remedial action plan emerged from the study, which included 1) establishing a research ethics committee at all academic or research institutions, 2) fostering a correct understanding of plagiarism and its implications by conducting training, workshops and awareness campaigns at an early stage of doctoral students’ lives, 3) ensuring clarity of research purpose among doctoral students and emphasising the quality of research work, 4) developing academic writing skills, and 5) making anti-plagiarism software available free of charge to all students and faculty members. Indian students perceive the University Grant Commission’s stringent guidelines as a good initiative. However, these guidelines cannot be implemented fruitfully without addressing the underlying causes of plagiarism. (DIPF/Orig.

DETERMINATION OF RESIDUAL DIMETHYL SULFATE IN METHOXSALEN DRUG SUBSTANCE BY PRE-COLUMN DERIVATIZATION WITH STATIC HEADSPACE GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY

Objective: Dimethyl sulfate has been highlighted as potential genotoxic and carcinogenic impurity. A sensitive Headspace gas chromatography (HS-GC) method with pre-column derivatization was developed and validated for the determination of dimethyl sulfate impurity in methoxsalen active pharmaceutical ingredient.Methods: HS-GC method on the column Agilent DB-5, 30m X 0.53 mm, film thickness 1.5 µm, with flame ionization detector (FID) was used. Derivatization reagent concentration, time of reaction and pH of the solution were optimized during method development. This analytical method was evaluated by performing method validation as per ICH guideline.Results: The proposed method was specific, linear, accurate, rugged and precise. The calibration curves showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.5 μg/ml to 3.0 μg/ml and the correlation coefficient was 0.999. Method had very low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) 2.0 μg/g and 5.0 μg/g respectively. Accuracy was observed within 98.1%–104.5%.Conclusion: The developed method was demonstrated to be accurate, robust and sensitive for the determination of dimethyl sulfate impurity in methoxsalen drug substance

Asymmetric induction with β cyclodextrin: cis-trans photoisomerization of diphenyl-cyclopropane and its derivatives

Cyclodextrins due to their inherently chiral nature can bring about moderate enantio and diastereoselectivity during the photoreactions of included guest molecules. Photoisomerization of diphenylcyclopropane and its derivatives have been used as a useful probe for this purpose. Interestingly, the optical isomers that are favoured by β-CD during the photoisomerization of diphenylcyclopropane and its derivatives are the same one that are selectively included when a racemic mixture is equlibrated with β-CD

Staff perspectives of barriers to women accessing birthing services in Nepal: A qualitative study

Background: Nepal has made significant progress with regard to reducing the maternal mortality ratio but a major challenge remains the under-utilisation of skilled birth attendants who are predominantly facility based. Studies have explored women's views of the barriers to facility birth; however the voices of staff who offer services have not been studied in detail. This research explores the views of staff as to the key reasons why pregnant women do not give birth in a maternity-care facility. Methods: This mixed methods study comprised qualitative interviews and non-participant observation. The study was conducted in two small non-governmental hospitals, one semi-rural and one urban, in Kathmandu Valley. Twenty interviews were conducted with health care providers and other staff in these hospitals. The interviews were undertaken with the aid of a Nepali translator, with some interviews being held in English. Twenty-five hours of non-participant observation was conducted in both maternity hospitals . Both observation and interview data were analysed thematically. Ethical approval was granted by the Nepal Research Health Council and Bournemouth University's Ethics Committee. Results: Key themes that emerged from the analysis reflected barriers that women experience in accessing services at different conceptual levels and resembled the three phases of delay model by Thaddeus and Maine. This framework is used to present the barriers. First Phase Delays are: 1) lack of awareness that the facility/services exist; 2) women being too busy to attend; 3) poor services; 4) embarrassment; and 5) financial issues. Themes for the second Phase of Delay are: 1) birthing on the way; and 2) by-passing the facility in favour of one further away. The final Phase involved: 1) absence of an enabling environment; and 2) disrespectful care. Conclusion: This study highlights a multitude of barriers, not all of the same importance or occuring at the same time in the pregnancy journey. It is clear that staff are aware of many of the barriers for women in reaching the facility to give birth, and these fit with previous literature of women's views. However, staff had limited insight into barriers occuring within the facility itself and were more likely to suggest that this was a problem for other institutions and not theirs

Does club convergence matter? Empirical evidence on inequality in the human development index among Indian states

Abstract The Human Development Index (HDI) is recognised as the most commonly used composite index to assess the socio-economic progress of a country. To preserve its pioneering role in development, there has to be a reduction in inequalities and cross-state convergence by adding a sustainable dimension. This paper investigates the convergence hypothesis for the HDI in 36 Indian states and union territories (UTs) from 1990 to 2019. For that purpose, the study used the club convergence technique of Phillips and Sul (2007) and Kernel Density estimates to assess whether states converge towards a single steady-state equilibrium or multiple groups. The paper also considers the relative performance of Indian states and UTs and the comprehension of inter-regional inequality in the HDI by employing the Gini and Theil indices. Using the Phillips and Sul technique, the results reveal that all the states converged into two final clubs (i.e., Club 1 and Club 2). The rate of convergence of HDI is approximately 0.112% for club 1 and 1.135% for club 2. The findings indicate that states with the lowest HDI converge faster than those with higher HDI. The kernel density estimates demonstrate that HDI stratifies, polarises, and becomes unimodal over time, albeit with a common steady state. Further, the Gini and Theil indices suggest a significant decline trend in HDI inequality across the Indian states and UTs from 1990 to 2019. From a policy perspective, the study recommends promoting regional development and reducing inequality, considering the unique convergence paths of the clustering states. The study’s findings could provide the government with a new perspective on attaining “horizontal equity” in HDI across Indian states and UTs

Lower motor neuron paralysis with extensive cord atrophy in parainfectious acute transverse myelitis

We describe a young patient of acute transverse myelitis (ATM) who developed true lower motor neuron (LMN) type flaccid paraplegia as a result of anterior horn cell damage in the region of cord inflammation that extended from conus upwards up to the D4 transverse level. We infer that flaccidity in acute phase of ATM is not always due to spinal shock and may represent true LMN paralysis particularly if the long segment myelits is severe and extending up to last spinal segment

Plagiarism in the Research Reports of Indian Doctoral Students: Causes and a Remedial Action Plan

Many reputable academic journals have retracted research papers from Indian researchers because of plagiarism. The University Grant Commission, a representative organisation of the Indian government, is diligently endeavouring to ensure academic integrity by applying stringent guidelines. The present study aims to find the potential causes of the plagiarism found in the research reports of Indian doctoral students and to formulate a remedial action plan. A literature review was undertaken to identify incidences of plagiarism at educational institutions. Based on the review’s insights, a survey was conducted to investigate doctoral students’ awareness of plagiarism, including causes and remedial action plans. In addition, 21 interviews were conducted with senior academics and professionals from various academic disciplines to gain an understanding of their viewpoints. An analysis was then undertaken of the responses received through the questionnaires and interviews. The results suggested the widespread incidence of plagiarism and shed light on its causes. A remedial action plan emerged from the study, which included 1) establishing a research ethics committee at all academic or research institutions, 2) fostering a correct understanding of plagiarism and its implications by conducting training, workshops and awareness campaigns at an early stage of doctoral students’ lives, 3) ensuring clarity of research purpose among doctoral students and emphasising the quality of research work, 4) developing academic writing skills, and 5) making anti-plagiarism software available free of charge to all students and faculty members. Indian students perceive the University Grant Commission’s stringent guidelines as a good initiative. However, these guidelines cannot be implemented fruitfully without addressing the underlying causes of plagiarism

Medium effect on the reactions of coordination complexes: Base hydrolysis of (αβS)(<i>p</i>-hydroxybenzoato)(tetraethylenepentamine) - cobalt(III) in methanol-water, acetone-water and acetonitrile-water media

26-33The kinetics of base hydrolysis of ((abS)(p-hydroxybenzoato)(tetraethylenepentamine)cobalt(III) has been studied in aqua-organic solvent media using MeOH, Me2COand MeCN as cosolvents at 20.0 £ to C £ 40.0 (I= 0.02 mol dm-3 ) with 80% (v/v) of cosolvents. Only the base catalyzed path (kobs = kOH [OH-] )has been observed. The relative second order rate constant, kOH05 I kOH0w at I = 0, increases nonlinearly with increase in mole fraction ( xo.s. ) of the cosolvents. MeCN and Me2COexert much  tronger rate acceleration than MeOH. The relative transfer free energy [∆tG(t.s.}- . ∆tG(t.s.)](s←w)298 K is positive for MeCN and negative for both Me2CO and MeCN indicating greater destabilising effect of the solvent on the transition state (t.s.) relative to the initial state(i.s.).for MeCN-H20 while the effect is reversed for MeOH-H2O and Me2CO-H2O media. The variation of activation parameters (∆H: and ∆S:) with XO.S .. is non-linear exhibiting extrema supporting the fact that solvent structural effects are important in controlling the energetics of the process through solvation of the initial and transition states