ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATING PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Technology has changed and continues to change the way people manage things in their lives and it is analogous in the life of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through integration of technology in education. Meaningful inclusive education can be made possible with the help of Assistive Technology (AT) since it helps in identifying and overcoming all barriers for effective, continuous and quality participation of all PwDs including those with intellectual disabilities in education. This article attempts to put forward few measures that provide effective education to Persons with Intellectual Disability through the support of assistive technology specifically designed by understanding their educational needs in order to maximize their academic success. Assistive technology pertinent to various domains of education and developmental areas with appropriate examples and case study is also being illustrated. Barriers to access assistive technology and recommendations to remediate it are also discussed in comprehensive manner.  Article visualizations

Maternal and fetal outcome in teenage pregnancy

The incidence of teenage pregnancy during the study period in KMCH was 9.6%. · 2/3 of pregnant teenagers were 19 yr olds, and almost the rest belonged to the 18 yrs category. Only 2.33% belonged to the 15 - 17 yrs category. Among the control group, about half of the population belonged to 20 - 22 yrs group. · Women in the study group had a mean age at marriage of about 17.08 yrs whereas women in the study group had a mean age of marriage of about 21.52 yrs. · 1.33% of the study group were unmarried whereas all were married in the control group. The unmarried women were illiterate and lacked basic knowledge about pregnancy. Ignorance about safe sex and casual relationship had led to this situation in them. · 17% of the study group were illiterate and 13% of the control group were illiterate. About ½ of the study group have stopped attending school after primary level of education whereas more than half of the control group have attended school till secondary level. · None of the women in the study group have attended college whereas 3.66% of the control group had college education after school education. · Most of the women in both the groups were not working and were solely dependent on their husbands for their living. About 9.66% of the study group belonged to the working category which made them financially independent. · Only 1/6 of the study group had awareness about pregnancy and its complications whereas about 1/3 of the control group had enough knowledge. They acquired the knowledge from books, media and from friends. · 14% of the women in the study group were unbooked i.e. they didn’t have adequate antenatal checkup whereas only 4.66% of the women in the control group didn’t have adequate antenatal checkup. · Almost all patients have had 2 doses of TT in both the study and control group except one patient in the study group who was an unmarried teenager. · 12% of women in the study group booked in the I trimester whereas 30% of women in the control group booked during the I trimester. 14% of the women in the study group had their first visit during III trimester after they had developed complications and 4% of women in the control group had their first visit during III trimester. · Height of most of the women ranged between 146 - 150 cm, the average height in Indian women. 8% of women in the study group were short statured i.e. <145 cm and 3% of women in the control group were short statured. · There was not much difference in the weight between the study and control group. · Mean Hb in study group was 9.58% which belongs to moderate anemia category and mean Hb in control group was 10.11 g% which belongs to mild anemia category according to ICMR classification of anemia. Severe anemia is more common in the study population than the control population. · Pregnancy induced HT was prevalent in both the groups because they were primigravidae. Incidence of mild PIH was almost same in both the groups. Incidence of severe PIH was 3.66% in the study group and was 1% in the control group. Incidence of eclampsia was 1.66% in the study group and 0.33% in the control group. · Among other complications, incidence of malpresentation and malposition was not significantly different. · 2 patients in the study group had intrauterine death. · 5 patients had IUGR in the study group and 2 patients had IUGR in the control group. · There was 1 case of abruptio placenta in the study group. · 10.66% of the study group had cephalopelvic disproportion whereas 8.66% of the control group had cephalopelvic disproportion. · 9% of the study group had prelabour rupture of membranes whereas 7.66% of the control group had the same. · 6 patients from the study group had prolonged labour and 1 patient had prolonged labour among the control group. One patient from the study group had precipitate labour. · All complications occurring postpartum such as local sepsis, mastitis and UTI were increased in the study group than in the control group. · There was not much difference in the mode of delivery between the 2 groups. Labour naturale was 58.66% in the study group and 57% in the control group. Caesarean rate was 35.33% in the study group and 38% in the control group. Instrumental delivery was seen in 4.33% among the study group and 4.66% among the control group. · About 38.66% of babies born to mothers in the study group were low birth weight (<2.5kg). About 25.66% of babies born to mothers in the control group were low birth weight. · About 1/3 of babies born to mothers in the study group required NICU admission whereas only 1/5 of babies born to mothers in the control group were admitted in NICU. · Leading causes of admission in NICU were respiratory distress and LBW / preterm babies. 16.33% of babies born to mothers in the study group had respiratory distress and 7% of babies born to mothers in the control group had respiratory distress. · 14% of babies born to mothers of study group required admission for low birth weight / prematurity whereas 10% of babies born to mothers of control group required admission for the same. · Incidence of sepsis was same in both the groups. · 2 babies from the study group had milk aspiration preumonitis as the mothers had no idea how to feed the babies. · 6.66% of the babies born to mothers of the study group expired whereas 1.66% of the babies born to mothers of the control group expired. Main reason for perinatal loss in both the groups was prematurity. CONCLUSION Teenage pregnancy is a serious problem today all over the world and more so in developing countries like India. Throughout the world, various measures are being taken to prevent teenage pregnancy. Educating and creating awareness about the perils of teenage pregnancy is the best approach for this problem. In U.S., a national campaign has been started in February 1996 with the goal to reduce teen pregnancy rate by 1/3 over 10 yrs and in 2006, the goal was again revised to reduce teen pregnancy rate by another 1/3 between the years 2006 - 2015 24 In U.S. schools, a popular video `Too young’ is being telecasted, where teen parents from a variety of backgrounds share their stories and in their own words offer their candid view about the difficulties they have faced. In the same lines, Jason Reitman, has directed a film `Juno’ which is about the pathetic situation of an American teenager facing an unplanned pregnancy and the film has won the best film award at Rome film festival in October 2007. In Jharkand, a 16 hour course prepared by UNESCO, named `Learning for life’ `Jeevan ke liye siksha’ has been made compulsory for class 11 and class 12 students which educates about HIV, STDs, teenage pregnancy and ways to prevent it. All over India, 2 programmes have been initiated by FOGSI. `Growing Up’ program initiated by FOGSI in partnership with Johnson and Johnson educates schoolgirls on menstruation, its myths and hygeine, anatomy and functioning of the reproductive system, value of good nutrition and exercises, problems of drugs alchohol and smoking and about sexual abuse. Another program `Let’s talk’ initiated by FOGSI in association with Organon educates college going women about various forms of contraception. ‘Teenage girl clinic’, set up in various Government hospitals tackles various problems encountered by teenage girls and distributes iron tablets to teenage girls to improve adolescent health. ‘Family Welfare Clinic’ offers excellent services in the form of contraceptive measures including emergency contraception and by providing with MTP services in case they get pregnant. With these measures, we can hope to eradicate teenage pregnancy at least in the future generation, just as we have brought 100% immunisation among antenatal women through various Government programmes. The present approach is to provide general health education about the risks of teenage pregnancy, strictly enforce the minimum age at marriage law, screen all pregnant mothers for risk factors and provide at risk mothers with education about childbearing and rearing and referral to a tertiary hospital for safe delivery. A multidisciplinary approach involving educationists, health workers, social workers and obstetrician and gynaecologists is required to improve the adolescent’s reproductive health

Immunohistochemical Detection of Nerve Growth Factor Expression in Follicular and Plexiform Ameloblastoma

Title: Immunohistochemical detection of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) expression in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. INTRODUCTION: Odontogenic tumours (OT) are lesions derived from the epithelial and/or mesenchymal elements of the tooth forming apparatus and are therefore found exclusively within the jaw bones. OTs are not frequently occurring lesions accounting for < 2–3% of all oral and maxillofacial specimens sent for diagnosis to oral pathology services. If viewed as a percentage of all tumours in the human body, this figure is reduced to a conservative estimate of approximately 0.002–0.003%. Ameloblastoma is an aggressive odontogenic tumour that forms from odontogenic epithelium within a mature fibrous stroma devoid of odontogenic ectomesenchyme. At present, it is known that the potential sources to develop an ameloblastoma are varied, and these include: • Cell rests of enamel organ, • Epithelium of existing odontogenic cyst, • Disturbances of the developing enamel organ, • Basal cells of the surface epithelium of the jaws. Although classified as a benign tumour, ameloblastoma is also the most common odontogenic tumour of epithelial origin with severe clinical implications. Ameloblastoma has a locally aggressive growth pattern; about 70% of cases undergo malignant transformation, and up to 2% metastasize to other sites. Ameloblastoma constitutes about 14% of all jaw tumours and cysts, and it is the most prevalent odontogenic tumours in developing countries. The tumor shows an approximately equal prevalence in the third to seventh decades of life. Ameloblastoma has two relatively distinct cells, an anti-apoptotic proliferating site in the periphery (Ameloblast like cells) and a pro-apoptotic differentiating site in the centre (Stellate reticulum like cells) resembling the enamel organ during odontogenesis. The molecular background of ameloblastoma has been poorly understood, thus hindering the development of noninvasive therapies. The neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors plays a major role in apoptosis, survival, and differentiation of neural and non-neural cells. The neurotrophin family comprises four different members. The first of these growth factors to be described was the neuronal growth factor (NGF), followed by the discovery of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5). The actions mediated by these molecules depend on their binding to two different subsets of transmembrane receptors. On one side, the pro-neurotrophins (immature form of these factors) and mature neurotrophins bind to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR), and on the other, only mature neurotrophins bind to three different tropomyosin-related kinase (TrK A, TrK B, TrK C) receptors in a specific manner. In this way, NGF binds to TrKA, BDNF and NT-4/5 to TrKB, and NT-3 to TrkC. Following ligand binding, p75NTR can act independently or p75NTR can also act as a TrK co-receptor, allowing a stronger binding affinity of the neurotrophins to the TrK receptors. p75NTR and TrK receptors can interact both in synergistic or antagonistic manners. The formation of a p75NTR/TrK complex was shown to facilitate the affinity and selectivity of each neurotrophin for its TrK receptor. AIM OF THE STUDY: 1. The study is aimed at evaluating the expression of Nerve Growth Factor in follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. Objectives: 2. To detect and analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of Nerve Growth Factor in follicular type of ameloblastoma. 3. To detect and analyze the immunohistochemical expression pattern of Nerve Growth Factor in plexiform type of ameloblastoma. 4. To compare the immunohistochemical expression pattern of Nerve Growth Factor among the follicular and plexiform types of ameloblastoma. JUSTIFICATION: 1. High and low affinity neurotrophin receptors namely TrK and p75NTR along with neurotrophin signalling pathways, plays a crucial role for survival/proliferation regulating pathways (RAS, MAPK, P13, IKK and NFkB) of the neuronal and non-neuronal cells prove p75NTR independent, p75NTR dominant or TrK dominant system. 2. Expression of RAS, MAPK, P13K, IKK, and NFkB have been elucidated in other tumours by the binding of nerve growth factor ligand with nerve growth factor receptors through earlier studies. 3. Expression of P75NTR in peripheral Ameloblast like cells of Ameloblastoma has already been documented in literature. This study will detect the role of nerve growth factor and its possible role in the biological behaviour of ameloblastoma METHODOLOGY: • 40 paraffin embedded study samples will be extracted from the archives of the Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, Vivekananda Dental College for Women, Tiruchengode. • The study sample comprises of follicular and plexiform types of ameloblastoma. • The selected samples will be sectioned into two sections of 3 to 5 microns. One section will be stained with haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and the other will be Immunohistochemically stained with NGF marker. • In all samples, under H&E staining, when morphological analysis disclosing the presence of more than one histological pattern of Ameloblastoma, then the pattern which predominates will be considered for final diagnosis. • Immunohistochemical standardisation will be done using nervous tissue as positive control. Immunohistochemical reactivity is classified into three groups:(+) mildly positive, (++) moderately positive and (++) strongly positive. • Inclusion criteria - histological patterns of Follicular and plexiform types of Ameloblastoma. • Exclusion criteria - hybrid Ameloblastoma, other histological variants of Ameloblastoma and recurrent Ameloblastoma. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Statistical package for social science SPSS version 16 will be used. The scores for strongly positive immunoreactivity will be given between 6 and 9, for moderate positive immunoreactivity between score 2 and 3, and for weakly positive immunoreactivity, score 1 and 2 will be given [Nunia et al., 2016]. [50] An unpaired t-test will be used to compare the staining intensity between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma and a Chi-square Test will be employed to determine the magnitude of expression between follicular and plexiform ameloblastoma. Potential Risk: There is no potential risk. BENEFITS: Histological diagnosis via IHC will bring us to a non-surgical approach of the treatment of ameloblastoma in the near future. OUTCOME MEASURES: By obtaining thorough knowledge on the altered molecular signalling pathways in this neoplasia, we can definitely elucidate the mechanisms of tumorigenesis, cell differentiation, and tumour progression

Paracrine signaling by progesterone

Steroid hormones coordinate and control the development and function of many organs and are implicated in many pathological processes. Progesterone signaling, in particular, is essential for several important female reproductive functions. Physiological effects of progesterone are mediated by its cognate receptor, expressed in a subset of cells in target tissues. Experimental evidence has accumulated that progesterone acts through both cell intrinsic as well as paracrine signaling mechanisms. By relegating the hormonal stimulus to paracrine signaling cascades the systemic signal gets amplified locally and signaling reaches different cell types that are devoid of hormone receptors. Interestingly, distinct biological responses to progesterone in different target tissues rely on several tissue-specific and some common paracrine factors that coordinate biological responses in different cell types. Evidence is forthcoming that the intercellular signaling pathways that control development and physiological functions are important in tumorigenesis. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Design of Microstrip Patch Antenna for Industrial Routers Applications

The proposed antenna has a simple structure comprising of two radiating strips and a coupling strip which serves to enhance the bandwidth at high frequency. The antenna has been designed to cover X bands (8-12GHz). The designed antenna only occupies a small area of 9×8.7 mm2 on the system circuit board. Byadjusting the shape, location and size of the antenna, the return loss is effectively reduced, while the efficiency of the antenna is preserved. This antenna is helpful to incorporate into industrial routersfor next generation wireless systems

Design of E-Shaped Patch Antenna with Multi Resonances

In this paper, we tend to designed, simulated, engineered and check ‘E- shaped patch antenna with multi resonances’ that provides 9 db graph gain. Our simulation and experimental investigation aimed to grasp the behavior of the 2 slits. The first frequency is 3.6GHz with 4.46dBi gain the second frequency is 6.8GHz with 4.98dBi gain, the third frequency is 6.93GHz with 5.558 dBi and the fourth frequency 7GHz with gain 5.3681 dBi

Studies on decolorization of textile dye by using Pseudomonas and bacillus sp from the contaminated effluent soil samples of Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu

Textile industries releasing large amount of effluent which contains textile dyes and toxic chemicals and it is one of the major source of pollution also contaminating water bodies. To remove that, bacteria have been of great attention because of their ability to treat effluent. The present study was undertaken to exploit the ability of Pseudomonassp and Bacillus sp from dye contaminated soil samples for bioremediation for dye effluent. Among the bacterial strains used in the study. Pseudomonas sp emerged out to be most potent decolorizer in comparison to Bacillus sp with the degree of decolorization of 90.0 %. Thus, it was concluded that the Pseudomonas sp had highest color removing capacity from contaminated effluent soil samples.&nbsp

A Study Siddha Diagnostic Methodology and Symptomatology Specially Ennvagai Thervu for Netri Soolai

The aim is to conduct a clinical study on standardization of Siddha diagnostic methodology for Netrisoolai with special mention to Envagai thervu. • The disease is characterized by Alterations in foods, habits, sleep or any disequilibrium between the three domains. • The author had collected literature for definition, etiology, pathogenesis, other characteristic features, specific diagnostic findings, line of treatment and dietary regimen from various texts. • For the work, 40 cases were observed and diagnosed in the OPD of Government Siddha Medical College, Palayamkottai • Log Book and proforma were maintained for each of these 40 cases individually. • Prompt diagnosis was made after careful analysis of observation results and differential diagnosis. • The etiopathogenesis and pathology of the disease had been discussed. • Derangement of UyirThathukkal and UdalThathukkal in the disease had been discussed. • Alterations in Siddha parameters like Kaalam, Nilam, Gnanenthiriyam, Kanmenthiriyam, Thegi Ilakkanam and Manikkadai Nool have been recorded. • Ennvagai Thervugal had been studied in detail and their interpretation had been done. CONCLUSION: In this study the diagnosis of disease “Netrisoolai” as per siddha diagnostic procedures, elucidated in the siddha textbooks were done elaborately and the results observed were recorded and interpreted. Naadi and Neikuri shows rise in vatham followed by pitham and Kapam. Hence Naadi and Neikuri are better parameters in assessing the disease. This study has been conducted as observational type of study. Furthermore Experimental studies should be carried out in validating this research in more efficient way

Role of canonical Wnt signaling in mammary gland development

The female reproductive hormones estrogens, progesterone, and prolactin control postnatal breast development and are important to breast carcinogenesis. In particular, exposure to progesterone is tightly linked to breast cancer risk. Using the mouse as a model system to study the mechanisms through which hormones elicit morphogenetic changes in the mammary gland in vivo, we demonstrated that progesterone acts by a paracrine mechanism and identified Wnt4 as a target of progesterone important in mediating side branch formation. The mechanisms underlying Wnt4 function remains poorly understood. To understand the pattern of canonical Wnt signaling activation during mammary gland development and to address which cellular compartment of the mammary gland is activated by canonical Wnt signaling, a reporter mouse model was utilized in which the lacZ gene is under the control of endogenous Axin2 promoter, classical target promoter of canonical Wnt signaling. Analysis of reporter mice at different developmental stages of mammary gland development showed the highest reporter activity during early pregnancy which correlated with the time of side branch formation. At this stage, β-galactosidase activity was found exclusively in myoepithelial cells. Overexpression of Wnt1 from MMTV promoter increases reporter activity in the myoepithelium. Gene expression analysis on FACS sorted luminal and myoepithelial cells shows that known canonical Wnt signaling pathway components such as receptors and co receptors as well as targets are specifically expressed in the myoepithelial compartment further supporting the notion that myoepithelial cells are the target cells for Wnt1 and Wnt4 secreted by luminal cells. Consistent with a model whereby progesterone induced Wnt4 secretion results in canonical Wnt signaling activation, reporter activity was induced by progesterone treatment and lacZ expression increased during diestrus when serum progesterone levels are high under physiological conditions. Analysis of contralateral mammary glands engrafted with PR-/-.Axin2 lacZ and PR+/-.Axin2 lacZ epithelium during pregnancy revealed that intact PR signaling is required to activate canonical Wnt signaling. Similar experiments with Wnt4-/-.Axin2 lacZ and Wnt4+/+.Axin2 lacZ mammary epithelium showed that reporter activation relies on Wnt4. Histological analysis on mammary glands in which β-catenin was ablated using MMTV-Cre revealed that β-catenin deleted cells were present only in the luminal epithelial compartment and showed that β-catenin deleted myoepithelial cells cannot participate in side branch formation. Similarly, ectopic expression of dominant negative β-catenin in wt MECs reduced side branching indicating that canonical Wnt signaling mediated by β-catenin is required for side branching. Furthermore, constitutive activation of β-catenin in the mammary epithelium was sufficient to induce side branch formation in virgin mice. In Wnt4 mutant epithelium, proliferation of progesterone receptor positive and negative cells were significantly reduced in response to progesterone treatment. Wnt signaling has been implicated in stem/progenitor activation in several tissues including mammary gland. Consistent with Wnt4 activating stem/progenitors, serial transplantation assays revealed that Wnt4-/- epithelium failed to reconstitute already at 2nd to 3rd generation when the wt has the ability to reconstitute up to seven generations indicating that Wnt4 is required for stem cell function while Wnt4 is dispensable for embryonic and rudimentary mammary gland formation. Histology and gene expression analysis in late pregnancy showed that Wnt4 mutant epithelia were able to differentiate and produce milk proteins, further supporting the thought that Wnt4 function is important for stem/progenitor cell activity and not required for differentiation. Taken together, I report that Wnt4 induces canonical Wnt signaling in myoepithelial cells and activation of canonical Wnt signaling is required and sufficient for side branching. Moreover, Wnt4 function is essential for mammary stem/progenitor cells