Embodiment as a means for scaffolding young childrenʼs social skill acquisition

In this paper, we discuss the notion of embodiment in the context of the ECHOES project, which aims at developing a multi-modal interactive environment for scaffolding young typically developing (TD) children and children with Asperger Syndrome (AS) in acquiring social interaction skills. Whilst, our approach to embodiment is in line with the current HCI trends, the pedagogical nature of ECHOES and the specific target users pose unusual challenges to the design and implementation of embodied interaction

Change in the room temperature magnetic property of ZnO upon Mn doping

We present in this paper the changes in the room temperature magnetic property of ZnO on Mn doping prepared using solvo-thermal process. The zero field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetisation of undoped ZnO showed bifurcation and magnetic hysteresis at room temperature. Upon Mn doping the magnetic hysteresis at room temperature and the bifurcation in ZFC-FC magnetization vanishes. The results seem to indicate that undoped ZnO is ferromagnetic while on the other hand the Mn doped ZnO is not a ferromagnetic system. We observe that on addition of Mn atoms the system shows antiferromagnetism with very giant magnetic moments.Comment: 5 figure

Ethnomedicinal Survey of Medicinal Plants Used for the Treatment of Diabetes and Jaundice Among the Villagers of Sivagangai District, Tamilnadu

The present study revealed that totally 12 and 10 modes of treatment were followed by the rural people of Sivagangai district to cure diabetes and jaundice respectively. The rural people of the study area were used 17 plants for diabetes and 12 for jaundice. Among them, 6 plants viz., Azadirachta indica, Carum nothum, Cynodon dactylon, Lablab purpureus, Momordica charantia and Phyllanthus amarus were used to cure both diabetes and jaundice. The plants were used either separately or in combination with other plants. These ethnomedicinal data may provide a base to start the search the new compounds related to phytochemistry, pharmacology and pharmacognosy. Attention should also be made on proper exploitation and utilization of these medicinal plants

Invitro Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Analysis of Ficus religiosa L. and Ficus bengalensis L. against Diarrhoeal Enterotoxigenic E. coli

The barks of Ficus religiosa L. and Ficus bengalensis L., which belongs to family Moraceae, were investigated for invitro antibacterial activity and phytochemical analysis. The various solvents extract like aqueous, methanol, chloroform, petroleum ether and hexane were screened for antibacterial activity against Enterotoxigenic E. coli isolated from diarrhoeal patients. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of the methanol extracts of both the plants showed the presence of carbohydrates, flavonoids, aminoacids, steroids, saponins and tannins. The extracts were subjected for antibacterial activity against Enterotoxignic E.coli (ETEC) at 200mg/ml concentration by disc diffusion method. The results of antibacterial activity revealed that methanol extracts of both the plants barks exhibits good activity compared to chloroform and aqueous extracts. Petroleum ether and hexane extracts did not show any activity. The antibacterial activities of extracts were compared with standard antibiotics

Cardiac myxosporiosis of pearl-spot, Etroplus suratensis (Bloch), due to Myxobolus etropli sp. nov.

A new myxosporea, Myxobolus etropli sp. now, was found to infect the bulbus arteriosus of Etroplus suratensis from brackishwarer lasoons of Muaulkadu. Chenna

Clinical profile and the outcome of corrosive injury of GI tract

Background: Corrosive substances are common household substances that can be ingested either accidentally or intentionally with suicidal intent. The present study was conducted to analyse the clinical profile of 50 cases of corrosive injury of GI tract and to analyse the outcome of 50 cases of corrosive injury of GI tract.Methods: The Cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 cases admitted in the toxicology ward in Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, madras medical college, Chennai over a period of six months. Patients with history of corrosive ingestion presenting within 24 hours of ingestion subjected to Upper GI endoscopy within 24 hours of admission. Patients presenting after 24 hours, with respiratory distress, suspected perforation either radiologically clinically and normal findings in Upper GI endoscopy were excluded. The patients were serially followed and were subjected for a re-look upper GI endoscopy after 6 weeks and the findings were compared.Results: Corrosive ingestion was more common in the age group 20-30 years and more common in males. Acid ingestion was almost twice as common as alkali ingestion. Suicidal ingestion was the most common circumstance of consumption and associated with higher grade of injury. Patients with ingestion of more than 50 ml had higher grades of injury and also were at higher risk of strictures. The spectrum of injury to the GI tract revealed esophageal injury of grade II b to be the most common finding with the duodenum being spared in majority of the cases.Conclusions: In our study, Patients with ingestion of more than 50ml had higher grades of injury and also were at higher risk of strictures. While the lesser grade injuries (0, I, IIa) were associated with complete recovery with no sequelae, the more severe grades (IIb and IIIa) were associated with higher incidence of strictures especially the circumferential lesions.  Oesophageal strictures are commonly associated with suicidal corrosive ingestion. All patients with corrosive ingestion should be subjected to early UGIE and after 6 weeks to identify stricture formation

Assessment of soil and water quality status of rose growing areas of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, India

Rose is a commercial flower crop widely grown across India. It is highly sensitive to salinity and alkalinity. In the process of identification of salt and alkalinity resistant rootstocks of rose cultivars, a survey was conducted in the rose growing areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Rajasthan. Total of 28 representative surface soil samples were collected from rose fields of these regions, processed and analyzed for the soil quality parameters. Similarly water samples (20 samples) from the bore wells of these fields were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that most of the soils of rose growing fields in UP were alkaline (pH >8.0) with normal salt content (electrical conductivity, EC < 0.5 dS m-1). Many of these soils also had higher bicarbonates (> 3 meq 100 g-1). In case of Rajasthan, few samples had higher pH, EC, chloride (>2 meq 100 g-1) and bicarbonate contents. Exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of UP and Rajasthan samples ranged from 5.21-20.7% and 2.94-24.9%, respectively. In case of water parameters in these areas, pH was slightly in alkaline range, EC of some of the samples were high (>1 dSm-1). Sodium content was slightly higher than other cations. Soluble sodium percentage (SSP) of water samples was also slightly higher than normal range (0-50%). Few samples had slightly higher chloride above the threshold limit. From the results, it is concluded that soil and water quality of the rose growing areas of UP and Rajasthan is marginal and proper management/reclamation measures need to be carried out for sustaining the production system