Creating Blended Learning with Virtual Learning Environment: A Comparative Study of Open Source Virtual Learning Software

Virtual learning environment (VLE) provides students a common platform where they can get the subject-wise tutorial, course content, assignments, worksheets, notes, lectures, etc., anywhere, anytime. The slated features, unique characteristics, and availability of basic required features, consorting VLEs as the need of the today in academic sector. Besidesmaking, learning and teaching virtually real, VLEs are also equipped with tremendous, unique and never ending exhaustive features. Present paper is an endeavor to evaluate, compare, and assess the most widely used five open source VLE software tools. The VLE software studied are Chamilo, ILIAS, Forma.LMS, OpenSIS, and Opigno. It compares the features, pre-requisites, basic requirements for any organizational needs, uniqueness, and unison, etc. for each of the VLE. Based on the evaluation, observation, and comparison, the ranking in terms of excellent, very good, good, average was given to each of the five VLEs. The paper also sums up main comparisons among all the five VLEs especially in terms of the variety of the features available in them

Audit of buying patterns of drugs from various pharmacies in Northern India

A study was conducted to gather data regarding drug buying practices in Delhi to compare the same in rural pharmacies in surrounding area. A cross sectional study was conducted as exit interviews using pretested Performa with customers visiting randomly selected pharmacies of Delhi and rural Haryana. Out of 280 consumers interviewed 140 belonged to urban areas and 140 to rural areas. In both areas male and younger consumers are significantly high. Most consumers in both set ups took medication after physician’s prescription in comparison to self medication. Source of information for self medication was media in urban and friends in rural areas. Alteration in brand name was more in rural areas. Antimicrobials and NSAIDs in rural areas and drugs for cardiovascular diseases and oral hypoglycemic drugs in urban areas are major purchased drug groups

Observational study of vaginal culture in symptomatic and asymptomatic non pregnant female patient in tertiary care hospital

Background: Vaginal miroflora plays an important role in maintaining healthy microenvironment. Lactobacilli are the dominant flora responsible for this. Any disturbance in balance of normal and abnormal flora leads to different types of vaginal infections like, vulvo-vaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis. Most common organisms causing vaginitis is Gardnerella vaginalis which causes bacterial vaginosis. Other organisms responsible for infections are, candida, trichomonas, and viruses. Abnormal growth of pathogenic bacteria during pregnancy can lead to various adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This is an observational study conducted in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months (January 2023 to June 2023). Overall, out of 135 women, sample of 120 women were taken and treated accordingly. Results: Among 120 women, 52 (43.3%) women had no growth on culture, while 20 patients (16.6%) showed growth of Klebsiella and 20 (16.6%) patient shows Candida and rest shows growth of other pathogen. Conclusions: In our study, half of the women were found to be with positive culture report, who shown improvement after treatment

Clinical significance of ovarian stromal blood flow in assessment of ovarian response in stimulated cycle for in vitro fertilization

Background: Several ultrasound parameters have been examined to predict the ovarian response to gonadotropins. The only parameter that has been conclusively proven to predict ovarian response is the antral follicle count. It has been suggested that ovarian blood flow may play a crucial role in the development of ovarian follicles. The present study was planned to prospectively analyse the effect of ovarian stromal blood flow on ovarian responsiveness in terms of number of oocytes retrieved in stimulated cycle for IVF.Methods: Fifty subjects between 22 to 37 years of age with male factor, tubal factor or unexplained infertility underwent controlled ovarian stimulation by the standard “Long protocol”. Ovarian stromal blood flow was recorded on baseline transvaginal sonography on day 2 or 3 of cycle and was correlated with number of oocytes retrieved in IVF cycle.Results: The ovarian stromal blood flow was found to be negatively correlated with age. The number of follicles formed in a subject after stimulation with gonadotropins was negatively correlated with ovarian stromal resistance index and pulsatility index.Conclusions: Ovarian blood flow predicts ovarian responsiveness and hence provides a non-invasive and cost effective prognostic factor of IVF outcome

Needof Virtual Learning Environmentfor Educating Library& Information Science

We learn things when we study but understood them when we do it practically. Slowly education system understood this need and many of the areas are revamped and new student centric and project based learning are introduced in the existing curriculum. With regard to the otherfields, Library and information science (LIS) profession, itscurriculum and learning approach should be transformed to new Information and communication technology (ICT) based style of teaching and learning. Virtual learning environment (VLE) is one of the best solutions to get quality out of the education and to produce more gen ready information specialist and not merely librarians. This paper endeavours to discuss the need of VLE in the present LIS education, its pros and cons and also some issues that one will face while implementing it for university, college, or any educational institut

Prescribing pattern and pharmacoeconomic analysis of antidiabetic drugs

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is a worldwide growing problem causing threat to patient's health because of its association with various complications and comorbidities. It is a chronic disease requiring lifelong medication which further adds to the economic burden. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern and to do pharmacoeconomic analysis of prescribed antidiabetic drugs.Methods: This observational cross sectional study was conducted for 12 months duration in Outpatient Pharmacy of tertiary care hospital. Prescriptions with antidiabetic drugs were captured and evaluation of prescribing pattern along with pharmacoeconomic analysis of antidiabetic drugs was done.Results: A total of 611 prescriptions with antidiabetic drugs were analyzed. There were total 4034 drugs in all prescriptions with a mean of 6.6 drugs per prescription. 4.28% of drugs were prescribed by generic name and 58.9% of prescribed drugs were from essential drug list. Dual drug therapy was prescribed in maximum number of patients (42.2%) followed by monotherapy (28.8%). More commonly prescribed class of antidiabetic drugs was biguanides as monotherapy (n=119) and its combination with sulfonylureas was prescribed maximally among dual drug therapy (n=158). Cost of monthly therapy for antidiabetic drugs prescribed as monotherapy was least with Biguanides (₹ 98.89/ month) whereas combination of biguanides and thiazolidinediones was least expensive among dual drug therapy (₹ 216/ month).Conclusions: Biguanides was the most common prescribed class of antidiabetic drugs among monotherapy and its combination with sulfonylureas was most prescribed as dual drug therapy and both of these therapies were economical

Creating Blended Learning with Virtual Learning Environment: A Comparative Study of Open Source Virtual Learning Software

Virtual learning environment (VLE) provides students a common platform where they can get the subject-wise tutorial, course content, assignments, worksheets, notes, lectures, etc., anywhere, anytime. The slated features, unique characteristics, and availability of basic required features, consorting VLEs as the need of the today in academic sector. Besidesmaking, learning and teaching virtually real, VLEs are also equipped with tremendous, unique and never ending exhaustive features. Present paper is an endeavor to evaluate, compare, and assess the most widely used five open source VLE software tools. The VLE software studied are Chamilo, ILIAS, Forma.LMS, OpenSIS, and Opigno. It compares the features, pre-requisites, basic requirements for any organizational needs, uniqueness, and unison, etc. for each of the VLE. Based on the evaluation, observation, and comparison, the ranking in terms of excellent, very good, good, average was given to each of the five VLEs. The paper also sums up main comparisons among all the five VLEs especially in terms of the variety of the features available in them

Understanding the dynamics of notification and implementation of Article 5.3 across India's states and union territories

INTRODUCTION: In federal systems, state and local governments may offer opportunities for innovation in implementing the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). This paper explores the implementation of WHO FCTC Article 5.3 within India’s federal system, examining how its guidelines have been operationalised across states and union territories. METHODS: Interviews with officials from government and civil society organisations across key states, and a document review of state government and district administration notifications adopting Article 5.3 guidelines between 2015 and 2019. RESULTS: The data reveal subnational leadership in formulating intersectoral committees, which are designed to limit interactions with the tobacco industry, and corresponding measures to reject partnership and conflicts of interest for government officials. There are notable omissions across states and union territories in adoption of key Article 5.3 guidelines; only four districts and state governments refer to regulating aspects of ‘socially responsible’ industry activities, and no notifications include measures to prevent the tobacco industry receiving preferential treatment or requiring that information provided by industry actors be transparent and accountable. Interview data indicate that dynamics of notification across states have been shaped by lesson drawing and the catalytic role of civil society. The adoption of protocols is impacting on the practices of health officials, but there are concerns about engagement by other departments and the regulatory capacity of empowered committees. CONCLUSION: The spread of state- and district-level policies illustrates opportunities federal structures can provide for accelerating tobacco control. Given significant omissions and policy tensions, there remains a need for national action to build on these innovations, including in revisions to India’s tobacco control legislation