Evaluation of spot urinary albumin - creatinine ratio as a screening tool in the prediction of pre-eclampsia in early pregnancy: a pilot study

Background: Pre-eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in India. Objective of this study was to establish whether a spot urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) measured between 18-28 weeks of gestation can predict subsequent pre-eclampsia in asymptomatic pregnant women.Methods: A prospective observational study involving 50 registered antenatal cases visiting the obstetrics outpatient department between 18-28 weeks of singleton pregnancy with nil proteinuria upon dipstick measurement were included. ACR was determined from random single midstream urine sample. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi square test and Student’s t-test.Results: Of the study group, 10 patients had high ACR value, with 8(80%) developed pre-eclampsia and 2(20%) remained normotensive. ACR had a sensitivity of 80%, specificity 97.56%, positive predictive value of 88.89%, diagnostic accuracy of the test being 94.12%.Conclusions: The spot urinary protein creatinine ratio is a reliable predictor for pre-eclampsia in pregnancy

New vegetation type map of India prepared using satellite remote sensing: Comparison with global vegetation maps and utilities

International audienceA seamless vegetation type map of India (scale 1: 50,000) prepared using medium-resolution IRS LISS-III images is presented. The map was created using an on-screen visual interpretation technique and has an accuracy of 90%, as assessed using 15,565 ground control points. India has hitherto been using potential vegetation/forest type map prepared by Champion and Seth in 1968. We characterized and mapped further the vegetation type distribution in the country in terms of occurrence and distribution, area occupancy, percentage of protected area (PA) covered by each vegetation type, range of elevation, mean annual temperature and precipitation over the past 100 years. A remote sensing-amenable hierarchical classification scheme that accommodates natural and semi-natural systems was conceptualized, and the natural vegetation was classified into forests, scrub/shrub lands and grasslands on the basis of extent of vegetation cover. We discuss the distribution and potential utility of the vegetation type map in a broad range of ecological, climatic and conservation applications from global, national and local perspectives. We used 15,565 ground control points to assess the accuracy of products available globally (i.e., GlobCover, Holdridge’s life zone map and potential natural vegetation (PNV) maps). Hence we recommend that the map prepared herein be used widely. This vegetation type map is the most comprehensive one developed for India so far. It was prepared using 23.5 m seasonal satellite remote sensing data, field samples and information relating to the biogeography, climate and soil. The digital map is now available through a web portal (http://bis.iirs.gov.in)

Proceedings of International Conference on Women Researchers in Electronics and Computing

This proceeding contains articles on the various research ideas of the academic community and practitioners presented at the international conference, “Women Researchers in Electronics and Computing” (WREC’2021). WREC'21 was organized in online mode by Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (Punjab), INDIA during 22 – 24 April 2021. This conference was conceptualized with an objective to encourage and motivate women engineers and scientists to excel in science and technology and to be the role models for young girls to follow in their footsteps. With a view to inspire women engineers, pioneer and successful women achievers in the domains of VLSI design, wireless sensor networks, communication, image/ signal processing, machine learning, and emerging technologies were identified from across the globe and invited to present their work and address the participants in this women oriented conference. Conference Title: International Conference on Women Researchers in Electronics and ComputingConference Acronym: WREC'21Conference Date: 22–24 April 2021Conference Location: Online (Virtual Mode)Conference Organizers: Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, INDI