Application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for correcting multicollinearity and dimension reduction of morphological parameters in Bunaji Cows

This paper presents the application of Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on the dimension reduction of morphological variables. Sixteen morphological variables were measured from 50 multiparous Bunaji cows. The correlation amongst most of the morphological variables was very high suggesting severe multicollinearity. Therefore, PCA was applied to verify whether the collinear variables could be combined to form composite scores. The application of the PCA effectively reduced the dimensionality of the 16 morphological variables into four artificial composite variables (called principal components) which were uncorrelated and independent of each other with standardized means of zero and standard deviation of one and explained 90.45% of the variation in the original morphological data set. Therefore, PCA can be used to correct the problem of multicollinearity and dimension reduction of morphological data in multiple regression analysis.Keywords: principal component, correlation, communality, body indices, orthogonal varima

Comparative study: normotensive and preeclampsia mother presenting with imminent symptoms of eclampsia in third trimester of pregnancy

Background: This prospective study compares the maternal and fetal outcome in normotensive and preeclampsia mother presenting with imminent symptoms of eclampsia in third trimester. This prospective study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Government Theni Medical College, Tamil Nadu, India in 2019.Methods: A total 100 antenatal mothers were selected for the study. Group A - 50 known case of preeclampsia presented with imminent symptoms. Group B-50 previously normotensive patients present with imminent symptoms of eclampsia. Maternal and fetal outcome were analysed.Results: Incidence of eclampsia - 0.1%, HELLP syndrome - 0.04%, pulmonary edema - 0.06%, PRES - 0.07%, abruptio placenta - 0.14% and maternal death in Group A was 2% and in Group B was 8%. Maternal complications are more in normotensive women (46%) presented with imminent symptoms than in preeclampsia women (26%) with imminent symptoms. Incidence of IUGR in Group A was 46%, whereas in Group B 12%. Incidence of preterm babies in Group A was 18%, whereas in Group B was 42%. Perinatal death incidence was 2.2% in imminent eclampsia.Conclusions: Because known preeclampsia patients were aware of imminent symptoms and presented early to hospital. Early identification and treatment of this dreadful outcome at the imminent state itself can reduce the complications. In current status on preventive aspect of eclampsia, atypical presentation should also be considered for which new screening and diagnostic tools has to be developed

Prospective study of fetomaternal outcome in epilepsy in pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder in obstetrics after migraine. There are conflicting reports about the effect of epilepsy on pregnancy. Objective of present study was to evaluate fetomaternal outcome in patients with epilepsy.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Government Thanjavur medical college hospital, Tamil Nadu, India over a period of 15 months from January 2015 to March 2016 in all epilepsy cases. Total 110 epilepsy cases were admitted. In all cases maternofetal outcome were noted.Results: This study showed that the incidence of epilepsy in pregnancy in our hospital is 0.6%. 86.36% of patients were treated with antiepileptic medications during their pregnancies.  Pregnancy complications were anemia, gestational diabetes mellitus, gestational hypertension, intrauterine growth retardation, premature rupture of membrane, and vaginal bleeding. Live birth rate was 91.82%.  Low birth weight babies were recorded in 24 (21.82%) infants. Only one baby had congenital anomaly of cleft lip and palate.Conclusions: There was no significant increase in the risk of complications of pregnancy or delivery.Frequency of cesarean section is not increased in epileptic patients. There is no undue risk to pregnancy and childbirth in most of the cases

A study on echocardiography findings in severe pre-eclampsia and their maternal and fetal outcome

Background: Pre-eclampsia includes elevated blood pressure after 20 weeks of gestation with proteinuria. It constitutes the major reason behind maternal mortality in developing countries. It is one of the major reasons of maternal mortality and morbidity having greater effect on fetal morbidity and mortality also. The objectives of the study were to study the echocardiography changes in severe pre-eclampsia; to determine the left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in pre-eclamptic women by measuring the LV systolic and diastolic indices using echocardiography; to compare normal and abnormal ECHO findings in severe pre-eclampsia in terms of maternal and perinatal outcome.Methods: Prospective observational study conducted in department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Government Theni medical college from August 2019 to October 2020 to study normal and abnormal echocardiography changes in severe pre-eclamptic patients and to study maternal and fetal outcome in those two groups.Results: LV systolic function was within normal limits in our control and study group population of severe pre-eclampsia. Statistically significant LV diastolic dysfunction was seen Pulmonary edema and cardiac failure did not occur in any patient of our study population.Conclusions: From our study of ECHO in severe pre-eclampsia patients we came to a conclusion that left ventricular dysfunction occurs in many of the patients with severe pre-eclampsia and identification of diastolic dysfunction at an early stage could be of much use in preventing the complication which can arise due to the cardiac problems

Prospective study of fetomaternal outcome in eclampsia in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Objective of the study was to evaluate fetomaternal outcome in patients with eclampsia.Methods: This prospective study was conducted in Government Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, Tamilnadu, India over a period of 15 months from January 2015 to March 2016 in all eclampsia cases. Total 146 eclampsia cases were admitted of which 113 were antepartum eclampsia, 4 were intrapartum eclampsia and 29 cases were postpartum eclampsia. In all cases of antepartum eclampsia pregnancy was terminated irrespective of gestational age.Results: This study showed that incidence of eclampsia in our hospital is 0.83%. It is more common in the age group of 20 to 25 years (78.8%) and primigravidae (69.2%). Maximum number of cases had seizures before the onset of labour (77.39%). 53.85% eclamptic cases presented with seizures at ≥37 completed weeks. Commonest mode of delivery was caesarean section (62.33%). Out of 146 patients, 9 (6.16%) cases died, 35 (23.97%) had complications. 75.64% cases delivered live babies but 26.36% had early neonatal death.Conclusions: Eclampsia is still one of the important and common obstetric emergencies, which has a significant role in maternal and perinatal outcome. Regular Antenatal Care (ANC), proper health education, improvements of socio-economic conditions and spreading of awareness in the community has major roles in prevention of eclampsia. Timely and appropriate intervention including primary management, early referral and judicious termination of pregnancy help in reducing morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus

Analysis of risk factors and treatment outcome following methotrexate therapy in ectopic pregnancy

Background: Ectopic pregnancy is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in first trimester of pregnancy. Awareness regarding risk factors for ectopic pregnancy aids in early diagnosis and timely medical intervention before tubal rupture occurs. This study was undertaken to analyze the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy and to study the treatment outcome following methotrexate therapy.Methods: In this prospective study, 34 women with unruptured ectopic pregnancy selected for medical therapy were enrolled women with ectopic pregnancy who were hemodynamically stable with initial beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β hCG) values of <5000 mIU/l, ectopic gestation mass size <5 cm and with no contraindication for methotrexate use were included in the study. Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy were studied and treatment outcome following single dose or 2 dose methotrexate regimen were analyzed.Results: The mean age of the study group was 26.88±4.5 years. Highest incidence of ectopic pregnancy was noted in 26-30 years and in second gravidas. Successful treatment outcome was observed in 61.8% with single dose methotrexate (MTX) and in 23.5% with 2 doses. Overall success rate of MTX therapy was 85.3%. Surgical intervention was instituted in 14.7% when pretreatment β hCG levels were <1500 mIU/ml. Single dose MTX was successful in 91.7% and with 2 doses it was 100%. None developed any major side effects to methotrexate therapy.Conclusions: MTX therapy is safe and effective in carefully selected women with ectopic pregnancy. Success rate of MTX therapy was 85.3%. MTX was most effective when pretreatment β hCG levels were less than 1500 mIU/ml

Catching the “Tail/Tale” of Teaching Qualitative Inquiry to Novice Researchers

This article responds to the call for deeper examination of qualitative inquiry teaching practices by presenting representative examples from the pedagogies of three teacher-educators who have taught Qualitative Research Methods courses for the past 15 years. We focus in particular on the pedagogical complexities of teaching data analysis, which is a topic that remains under-theorized and under-represented in contemporary scholarship on qualitative methodologies. Using a critical friends framework, we analyze and synthesize our pedagogical responses to key dilemmas we have encountered in our respective contexts, all state universities, to introducing qualitative inquiry to novice researchers who often enter the analytic process with positivist notions of knowledge creation. They sometimes enter the analytic process with the belief if they can only “catch the tail” of this thing called qualitative research they will be able to “do it right.” Yet, as the metaphor implies, catching a fierce beast by the tail, thinking you can control its actions, can intrude on the inductive and holistic character of the qualitative inquiry process

Diskurs zur Klärung des Weges: Das Bendōwa von Dōgen

Was bedeutet das protestantische Motto »zurück zu den Quellen« eigentlich für die Möglichkeit einer Open-Source-Theologie? Ist der Quellcode der Theologie, z. B. der biblische Kanon, offen, zugänglich, veränderbar

Heat treatment and loading orientation effects on some mechanical properties of steamed cashew kernels (Anacardium occidentale L.)

The economic interest has made many countries of the world to encourage the cultivation of cashew and it is fast becoming an export produce in many developing countries.  The necessary processing operations needed for cashew nut before obtaining the standard exportable quality of edible cashew kernel require lot of time, materials and human resources.  This study considers the wholeness of kernels obtainable by varying the drying duration and temperature. The cashew kernels were steamed, peeled and dried.  Mechanical properties of the dried samples of the kernels were determined at axial, lateral and longitudinal loading.  The breaking force and energy of cashew kernels followed a non-steady pattern with moisture removal at constant temperature and different durations of drying.  However, to save energy and time, drying at 80oC for 5 h and drying at 90oC for 3 h are recommended for high quality kernels