Immunization of Children in a Rural Area of North Kashmir, India: A KAP Study.

Background: Knowledge, attitude and practices about immunization among mothers of children aged 1-2 years was assessed. Method: 300 mothers were administered a semi-structured questionnaire at PHC Hajan from 1st march to 1st may 2011 to elicit the information about the knowledge, attitude and practices of the mothers regarding immunization. Results: 100% of mothers knew that vaccination is beneficial and protects their children from diseases. 39% knew OPV protects from polio while only 1% were aware of protective role of BCG. All mothers knew about immunization in pregnancy but 86% were unaware about its preventive role. 26% mothers believed that 3 doses of T.T (tetanus toxoid) are to be given during pregnancy. Whereas 98% of children were completely immunized, 93% completed on schedule. Eighty percent of mothers reported of fever following DPT. All mothers had received tetanus toxoid during pregnancy. Conclusion: Considering mothers' poor knowledge and good attitude, health education on immunization is emphasized to improve their practices

Orientational Ordering and Dynamics of Rodlike Polyelectrolytes

The interplay between electrostatic interactions and orientational correlations is studied for a model system of charged rods positioned on a chain, using Monte Carlo simulation techniques. It is shown that the coupling brings about the notion of {\em electrostatic frustration}, which in turn results in: (i) a rich variety of novel orientational orderings such as chiral phases, and (ii) an inherently slow dynamics characterized by stretched-exponential behavior in the relaxation functions of the system.Comment: 7 pages, 10 figure

Attitudes, values and belief towards money: gender and working sector comparison

This exploratory study focused on psychology of money by gender and private versus public sector workers in Malacca. The sample consisted of 120 respondents collected through systematic sampling procedure. There were statistically significant differences between males and females in the obsession and power money attitudes. Males scored higher than females. The sectors exhibited significant differences in four money attitude (retention, power, security, and effort/ability). Government sector respondents scored higher on retention, and effort/ability than private sector workers; those in the private sector scored higher on power and security. Scores on the money values and beliefs scale were significantly different by gender but not by sector. The implication of the study showed that by exercising good habits in money-usage, positive values and attitudes towards money certainly brings well-being for their life-time

Anatomical and histological study of ovary development stages of big-eye kilka (Clupeonella grimmi) in Babolsar Area, Iran

Biological and reproduction characteristics of female big-eye kilka (Clupeonella grimmi) including body weight, fork length, age, gonad development stages, gonad weight, ganado somatic ratio (GSR) were studied. We sampled 808 fish specimens from the Southern Caspian Sea, Babolsar Area during December 2002 to May 2003. Gonad development stages were assessed through tissue sectioning. Results revealed spawning peak to occur in early January. We also measured body weight as 8.88±0.08 grams, fork length as 1.03±0.26 mm, age as 3.610.03 years, gonad development stage as 3.67±0.03, gonad weight as 0.5±0.01 grams and ganado somatic ratio (GSR) as 5.39 ±0.1 in the specimens. Totally, five age classes, dominated by the 4+ years were distinguished while no 1+ year's age class was observed. The abundance of gonad developmental stages 2-5 was 18.19%, 14.60%, 48.89% and 18.32% respectively. Macroscopic (visual) and microscopic (tissue section) observations of oocyte revealed the same results for gonad development

Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Semiflexible Polyampholyte Brushes - The Effect of Charged Monomers Sequence

Planar brushes formed by end-grafted semiflexible polyampholyte chains, each chain containing equal number of positively and negatively charged monomers is studied using molecular dynamics simulations. Keeping the length of the chains fixed, dependence of the average brush thickness and equilibrium statistics of the brush conformations on the grafting density and the salt concentration are obtained with various sequences of charged monomers. When similarly charged monomers of the chains are arranged in longer blocks, the average brush thickness is smaller and dependence of brush properties on the grafting density and the salt concentration is stronger. With such long blocks of similarly charged monomers, the anchored chains bond to each other in the vicinity of the grafting surface at low grafting densities and buckle toward the grafting surface at high grafting densities.Comment: 8 pages,7 figure

Qualitative assessment of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum Kamensky 1901) stocks in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea (1991-2011)

The main objective of the present study was qualitative assessment of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum Kamensky 1901) stocks by using indicators of overfishing, condition factor and relative weight in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea during a long period (1991- 2011). Three fisheries indicators in catch were: 1) percentage of mature fish, with 100% as target; 2) percent of specimens with optimum length, with 100% as target; and 3) percentage of mega-spawners, with 0% as target, and if no upper size limit exists, 30-40% as representative of reasonable stock structure. Over this period, the condition factor and relative weight had a decreasing trend. The range of length with optimum yield was between 40 and 48 cm. The mega-spawner measured as fish a size larger than 48 cm. According to these three indicators, the percentage of mature (fork length>40cm), optimum size and mega-spawners were 62.0, 40.9 and 12.5% in 1991-92 which decreased less than 50, 38.2 and 8%, in the years 1992-2011, respectively. The length structure is a matter of concern. Therefore, for reservation and rebuilt of kutum in the Caspian Sea, the target was to let all (100%) fish spawn at least once, using bigger mesh size in cod end (e.g. 35mm, during whole fishing season). The aim was also to implement a fishing strategy that result no (0%) mega-spawners being caught, and the main catch focus on optimum length

Reproduction, sexual maturity and fecundity of anchovy kilka (Clupeonella engrauliformis Svetovidov 1941) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

Reproduction period, spawning peak and sexual maturity in anchovy kilka were investigated during the year 2006 for sustainable yield assessment in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea. The mean fork length, total weight and age were 118±5.9mm, 11±1.7g and 4.6±1.2 year, respectively. Mean (±SD) absolute fecundity was 12625±5533 ovules. More than 50 percent of the fish specimens matured when their length exceeded 92.5mm. The results showed that reproduction of anchovy kilka occurred in autumn, and spawning occurred throughout the year and especially in winter. The length and age ranges were found to be shortened compared to the past years with many older fish and less younger ones (< 2 years) in the catch which sharply decreased recruitment. This phenomenon is thought to be due to overfishing synchronized with invasion of M. leidyi pushing kilka to spawn in winter, which all cause collapse of anchovy kilka stocks in the Caspian Sea. We postulate that anchovy kilka has adopted the strategy of spawning year round to mitigate the negative effects of overfishing and invasion of M. leidyi

Intelligent Height and Reach Adjustable Electronic Chair for Children with Dwarfism (ZUMP)

"Dwarfism", "little people", "short statue" or even "midget" are some of the general names given by society to these special communities. According to the definition of the advocacy group for Little People of America (LPA), Dwarfism is a condition characterized by short stature. Technically, an adult with the height of 4 feet 10 inches or under. Based on the study on the dwarfism symptom, it can be caused by any one of more than 200 conditions, most of which are genetic. Most types of dwarfism are known as skeletal dysplasias, which are conditions of abnormal bone growth. In fact, 85% of children with skeletal dyplasias do occur in families where both parents are of average height. Being a dwarfism is not an intellectual disability. A person who has dwarfism is typically of normal intelligence. Somehow, dwarfism is a disease that requires a "cure". Most people with the condition can live long and fulfilling lives. Lastly, it will not be good reason to assume dwarfism is incapable. Little people go to school, go to work, marry, and raise children, just like their average-size peers

Age and growth of bigeye kilka (Clupeonella grimmi Kessler, 1877) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

Age and growth of Bigeye Kilka, Clupeonella grimmi, were studied in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea from early May 2006 to April 2007. The sagitta otoliths were removed for each 5 mm length interval up to a total number of 262 fish. Fork length and weight ranged from 92.5 to 142.5 mm and 4.2 g to 23.4 g, respectively. The largest length-groups was observed from December to February and the lowest in April, which was coincided with spawning period and feeding during wintering, respectively. The overall sex ratio (male:female) was 0.33:1 which differed significantly from the expected ratio of 1:1. The length-weight regression was W= 0.0000744 FL^3.14 for females and W=0.0000341FL^3.16 for males, indicating the Caspian Bigeye grew isometrically for both sexes. Age determination based on otoliths readings showed that the population was composed of six- groups from 2 to 7 years old which observed a rapidly growth during the second year. In the age compositions, the four years old specimens with a mean fork length and weight 115.5±7.8 mm and 11.9 ± 2.8 g were the most abundant age group and accounted for 40.1%. The condition factor was 0.7-0.8 which varied in difference months and coincided to the gonad development. Age-at-length data were used to determine von Bertalanffy growth parameters for this population in both sexes, indicating that K value and L∞ of females was more than that of males. The results showed that C. grimmi is a rapidly-growing species in the southern parts of the Caspian Sea