DEVELOPMENT OF A MEASUREMENT TOOL WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AVARANA IN METABOLIC SYNDROME

In many instances the researcher cannot find an adequate or appropriate existing tool to measure an important construct- the theoretical variable that is supposed to measure. In these situations it will become necessary to develop a new instrument for measuring the particular construct. Failure to carefully develop a measurement instrument can result in invalid data. The steps involved in the development of such tools are complex and unknown to many. Hence, the systematic development of a reliable and valid instrument for measuring subjective states is outlined here to assist researchers in devising usable instruments.According to Ayurveda, the diseases are caused by derangement of Tridoshas- the dynamic force (Vatha), the transformation factor (Pitha) and the anabolic factor (Kapha). Avarana is the disturbances in the movement of Vathadosha by other factors in the body. In the present social scenario, majority of diseases of Vatha are the result of Avarana. Metabolic syndrome is one such lifestyle disease comprised of obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, hyper triglyceridemia and low HDL level. Majority of the symptoms of Avarana can be identified in patients presenting with Metabolic syndrome. This article outlines the methodology involved in the development and validation of a measurement tool, taking into consideration of Avarana in Metabolic Syndrome.

Cancellation of Towing Ship Interference in Passive SONAR in a Shallow Ocean Environment

Towed array sonars are preferred for detecting stealthy underwater targets that emit faint acoustic signals in the ocean, especially in shallow waters. However, the towing ship being near to the array behaves as a loud target, introducing additional interfering signals to the array, severely affecting the detection and classification of potential targets. Canceling this underlying interference signal is a challenging task and is investigated in this paper for a shallow ocean operational scenario where the problem is more critical due to the multipath phenomenon. A method exploiting the eigenvector analysis of spatio-temporal covariance matrix based on space time adaptive processing is proposed for suppressing tow ship interference and thus improving target detection. The developed algorithm learns the interference patterns in the presence of target signals to mitigate the interference across azimuth and to remove the spectral leakage of own-ship. The algorithm is statistically analyzed through a set of relevant metrics and is tested on simulated data that are equivalent to the data received by a towed linear array of acoustic sensors in a shallow ocean. The results indicate a reduction of 20-25dB in the tow ship interference power while the detection of long-range low SNR targets remain largely unaffected with minimal power-loss. In addition, it is demonstrated that the spectral leakage of tow ship, on multiple beams across the azimuth, due to multipath, is also alleviated leading to superior classification capabilities. The robustness of the proposed algorithm is validated by the open ocean experiment in the coastal shallow region of the Arabian Sea at Off-Kochi area of India, which produced results in close agreement with the simulations. A comparison of the simulation and experimental results with the existing PCI and ECA methods is also carried out, suggesting the proposed method is quite effective in suppressing the tow ship interference and is immensely beneficial for the detection and classification of long-range targets

Maximizing the Number of Spatial Nulls with Minimum Sensors

In this paper, we attempt to unify two array processing frameworks viz, Acoustic Vector Sensor (AVS) and two level nested array to enhance the Degrees of Freedom (DoF) significantly beyond the limit that is attained by a Uniform Linear Hydrophone Array (ULA) with specified number of sensors. The major focus is to design a line array architecture which provides high resolution unambiguous bearing estimation with increased number of spatial nulls to mitigate the multiple interferences in a deep ocean scenario. AVS can provide more information about the propagating acoustic field intensity vector by simultaneously measuring the acoustic pressure along with tri-axial particle velocity components. In this work, we have developed Nested AVS array (NAVS) ocean data model to demonstrate the performance enhancement. Conventional and MVDR spatial filters are used as the response function to evaluate the performance of the proposed architecture. Simulation results show significant improvement in performance viz, increase of DoF, and localization of more number of acoustic sources and high resolution bearing estimation with reduced side lobe level

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: Population-based burden estimates across five regions in India.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. Paucity of data on NDDs slows down policy and programmatic action in most developing countries despite perceived high burden. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed 3,964 children (with almost equal number of boys and girls distributed in 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories) identified from five geographically diverse populations in India using cluster sampling technique (probability proportionate to population size). These were from the North-Central, i.e., Palwal (N = 998; all rural, 16.4% non-Hindu, 25.3% from scheduled caste/tribe [SC-ST] [these are considered underserved communities who are eligible for affirmative action]); North, i.e., Kangra (N = 997; 91.6% rural, 3.7% non-Hindu, 25.3% SC-ST); East, i.e., Dhenkanal (N = 981; 89.8% rural, 1.2% non-Hindu, 38.0% SC-ST); South, i.e., Hyderabad (N = 495; all urban, 25.7% non-Hindu, 27.3% SC-ST) and West, i.e., North Goa (N = 493; 68.0% rural, 11.4% non-Hindu, 18.5% SC-ST). All children were assessed for vision impairment (VI), epilepsy (Epi), neuromotor impairments including cerebral palsy (NMI-CP), hearing impairment (HI), speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, 6-9-year-old children were also assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LDs). We standardized sample characteristics as per Census of India 2011 to arrive at district level and all-sites-pooled estimates. Site-specific prevalence of any of seven NDDs in 2-<6 year olds ranged from 2.9% (95% CI 1.6-5.5) to 18.7% (95% CI 14.7-23.6), and for any of nine NDDs in the 6-9-year-old children, from 6.5% (95% CI 4.6-9.1) to 18.5% (95% CI 15.3-22.3). Two or more NDDs were present in 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.7) to 4.3% (95% CI 2.2-8.2) in the younger age category and 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-2.0) to 5.3% (95% CI 3.3-8.2) in the older age category. All-site-pooled estimates for NDDs were 9.2% (95% CI 7.5-11.2) and 13.6% (95% CI 11.3-16.2) in children of 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories, respectively, without significant difference according to gender, rural/urban residence, or religion; almost one-fifth of these children had more than one NDD. The pooled estimates for prevalence increased by up to three percentage points when these were adjusted for national rates of stunting or low birth weight (LBW). HI, ID, speech and language disorders, Epi, and LDs were the common NDDs across sites. Upon risk modelling, noninstitutional delivery, history of perinatal asphyxia, neonatal illness, postnatal neurological/brain infections, stunting, LBW/prematurity, and older age category (6-9 year) were significantly associated with NDDs. The study sample was underrepresentative of stunting and LBW and had a 15.6% refusal. These factors could be contributing to underestimation of the true NDD burden in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies NDDs in children aged 2-9 years as a significant public health burden for India. HI was higher than and ASD prevalence comparable to the published global literature. Most risk factors of NDDs were modifiable and amenable to public health interventions

HINDI MAHILA UPANYASAKAROM KE UPANYASOM PAR NARIVAD KA PRABHAV

HINDICUSATDepartment of Hindi, Cochin University of Science & Technolog

Dissemination of Metarhizium anisopliae infection among the population of Odontotermes obesus (Isoptera: Termitidae) by augmenting the fungal conidia with attractants

Long-term biocontrol strategies for termite management have limited success as the behavioral response exhibited by termites in the presence of entomopathogenic fungi was different. To minimize these responses, a study was conducted to attract the termites towards the treated area by augmenting fungal conidia with a mixture of attractants such as sugarcane bagasse, sawdust and cardboard powder. In laboratory experiments, mortality due to the horizontal transmission of Metarhizium anisopliae infection among Odontotermes obesus workers and soldiers was 50 to 98% and 16 to 78% for the five isolates tested. The foraging activity of workers and soldiers increased from 23 to 58% for IWST-Ma13 when conidia were mixed with attractants. In a field study, the weight loss of stakes treated with conidial attractant decreased to 10.9 g compared to dry conidial treatments (19.3 g) for IWST-Ma13 after five months. Similarly, the width of mud galleries covering the tree bark was reduced when treated with conidial baits and gunny bags containing conidial attractant. In treated mounds, as the Acoustic emission signal voltage decreased from the threshold voltage level, the relative magnitude signal (RMS) remains low after five months of treatments with that of the control. From this study it was observed that the mixing of conidia with attractants could augment the dissemination potential of fungal infection among the termites. By adapting attractant based Metarhizium baits and dusting of conidial attractant mixture inside mounds may augment the dissemination potential in epizootic transmission of fungal infection

On Szegö’s Type Theorems

This study is to look the effect of change in the ordering of the Fourier system on Szegö’s classical observations of asymptotic distribution of eigenvalues of finite Toeplitz forms.This is done by checking proofs and Szegö’s properties in the new set up.The Fourier system is unconditional [19], any arbitrary ordering of the Fourier system forms a basis for the Hilbert space L2 [-Π, Π].Here study about the classical Szegö’s theorem.Szegö’s type theorem for operators in L2(R+) and check its validity for certain multiplication operators.Since the trigonometric basis is not available in L2(R+) or in L2(R) .This study discussed about the classes of orderings of Haar System in L2 (R+) and in L2(R) in which Szegö’s Type TheoreT Am is valid for certain multiplication operators.It is divided into two sections. In the first section there is an ordering to Haar system in L2(R+) and prove that with respect to this ordering, Szegö’s Type theorem holds for general class of multiplication operators Tƒ with multiplier ƒ ε L2(R+), subject to some conditions on ƒ.Finally in second section more general classes of ordering of Haar system in L2(R+) and in L2(R) are identified in such a way that for certain classes of multiplication operators the asymptotic distribution of eigenvalues exists

Virulence and mycotoxic effects of Metarhizium anisopliae on Mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla robusta (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Developing appropriate control measures for the Mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla robusta Moore has become increasingly important due to the severe damaging effect of the pest on the establishment of the saplings of Swietenia mahagoni Jacq (Sapindales: Meliaceae). Existing management methods are largely limited to silvicultural practices and spraying of chemical insecticides. To identify a potential fungal biocontrol agent, we compared the virulence of six native and two standard ARSEF isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae Metsch. against this pest. The average survival time and conidial yield of IWST-Ma7 was higher (6.2 to 7.3 days and 4.9 to 4.7×105 conidia/ml) than the standards. Significant difference in sporulation on the cadavers between isolates, doses and incubation periods were substantiated for the selection of potential strain. The mycotoxic effects of crude soluble protein extract when incorporated in the artificial diet, the ARSEF 2596 and ARSEF 3603 showed LD50 value of 3.7% and 5.6%. However, IWST-Ma7 was highly lethal with significant lowest LD50 value of 2.6%. The enzyme activity of IWST-Ma7 was highest for chitinase, CDA, protease and lipase viz., 1.90 U/mg, 1.80 U/mg, 0.98 U/mg and 0.80 U/mg respectively. However the enzyme activity of chitinase and Chitin deacetylase assay for all the isolates was significantly higher than protease and lipase activity. The ITS regions (5.8S rDNA and 28S rDNA) of seven isolates of M. anisopliae were amplified using the ITS1 and ITS4 primers which was a unique fragment of approximately 550 bp. Based on ITS regions, phylogenetic tree have been constructed and the isolates have been grouped in to 5 clades. The virulence and mycotoxic effects of different isolates could rationally be used to employ them for the management of the mahogany borer

Infectivity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) isolates to the arboreal termite Odontotermes sp. (Isoptera: Termitidae)

Infectivity of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae against workers of the arboreal termite Odontotermes sp. was assayed under laboratory conditions. Test isolates were collected from different sources, including soil from varied locations and insect hosts from the orders Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Orthoptera. All the 23 isolates tested and the standard (ARSEF 7413) were pathogenic to the workers of Odontotermes sp. at a concentration of 107 conidia/ml, with mean mortality ranging from 57.5 to 100%. Two of the isolates (Ma2, Ma13) and the standard caused 100% mortality in the termite species. A detailed bioassay was subsequently conducted with the five most promising isolates, namely Ma1, Ma2, Ma13, Ma16 and Ma17, at concentrations ranging from 104 to 107 conidia/ml. The lethal concentrations (LC50) of these isolates ranged from 0.01 to 0.46 £ 105 conidia/ml. The average survival time (AST) for the termites treated with the most virulent isolate (Ma2) varied from 4.2 to 5.7 days across the four spore loads, while AST with the standard isolate ranged from 5.3 to 6.3 days. Two of the isolates, Ma2 and Ma13, were found to be significantly more pathogenic to Odontotermes sp. workers than all the others, including the standard

Attempts at controlling Teak Defoliator (Hyblaea puera Cramer, Lepidoptera, Hyblaeidae) with the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.): laboratory, nursery and field trials

Defoliator pests often cause severe damage to commercially valuable timber trees, such as teak, grown in plantations, affecting the quality and quantity of the wood produced. Twenty-five isolates of an entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metsch.), derived from different forest habitats were tested for their efficacy against the Teak Defoliator, Hyblaea puera Cram. The median lethal concentration (LC50) for the isolates ranged from 0.65 to 947.41 × 105 conidia mL−1. Four isolates, viz. MIS2, MIS19, MIS7 and MIS1, were promising, having low LC50 values. A median lethal time (LT50) of 3.8 d was recorded for the isolates MIS2 and MIS7 when the moth larvae were exposed to a spore load of 107 conidia mL−1. Formulations composed of “MIS2 + MIS7 + 0.5% Pongamia pinnata seed oil” and “MIS2 + MIS7” proved to be superior against the Teak Defoliator, causing 94.73% and 93.93% mortality, respectively. Application of the formulation “MIS2 + MIS7 + 0.5% P. pinnata oil” resulted in 63.6% and 56.2% reduction in infestation in nurseries and plantations, respectively, while the formulation “MIS2 + MIS7” recorded 56.18% and 51.60% reduction. Our results indicate that M. anisopliae formulations could be an effective means of managing Teak Defoliator in plantations, particularly when combined with P. pinnata oil