FSTE Refresher and Induction Programme

In this new era of ICT driven education, the developing countries are finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the heavy and continuous changes brought to the area of higher education. Currently, the University of the South Pacific(USP) has witnessed the advert of multiple learning tools in ICT. These tools are relatively new, unheard of and sparingly utilized in most of the USP region. A consequence of this is the difficulty faced by students adapting to the university environment. High attrition rates, subdued interests, mixed views of the Learning Management System (Moodle), unfavorable or lukewarm response to mLearning and eLearning tools, etc. are subsequently noted. The Faculty of Science, Technology, and Environment in USP has embarked on a new initiative to introduce new students to a Refresher and Induction Programme before they embark on their journey at USP. It is suggested that these types of programmes make the transition from secondary schools to tertiary Institutions easier and smoother. This new Refresher and Induction programme consisted of ten modules: 1) ICT Tools, 2) Understanding course outlines, 3) Mathematical Software, 4) Mobile Learning, 5) Time management and Study skills, 6) Moodle learning Management system, 7) Learning Labs, 8) Early Warning System, 9) Turnitin and Plagiarism and 10) Remedial Mathematics. The paper showcases the pilot run and highlights its strengths and opportunities. Results from student surveys are discussed

Pulp response to high fluoride releasing glass ionomer, silver diamine fluoride, and calcium hydroxide used for indirect pulp treatment: An in-vivo comparative study

Aims and Objectives: The study aims at determining pulp response of two high fluoride releasing materials silver diamine fluoride (SDF) and Type VII glass ionomer cement (GIC) when used as indirect pulp treatment (IPT) materials. Materials and Methods: Deep Class V cavities were made on four first premolars indicated for extraction for orthodontic reasons. SDF, Type VII GIC, and calcium hydroxide base are given in three premolars, and one is kept control. Premolars were extracted 6 weeks after the procedure and subjected to histopathological examination to determine the pulp response. The results were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: No inflammatory changes were observed in any of the groups. Significantly more number of specimens in SDF and Type VII GIC groups showed tertiary dentin deposition (TDD) when compared to control group. No significant difference was seen in TDD when intergroup comparison was made. Odontoblasts were seen as short cuboidal cells with dense basophilic nucleus in SDF and Type VII GIC group. Conclusion: The study demonstrated TDD inducing ability of SDF and Type VII GIC and also established the biocompatibility when used as IPT materials

Diagnostic accuracy of Lipoarabinomannan detection by lateral flow assay in pleural tuberculosis

Abstract Background Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) antigen serves as an attractive biomarker to diagnose Tuberculosis (TB). Given the limitations of current diagnostic modalities for Pleural TB, current study evaluated LAM’s potential to serve as a point-of-care test to diagnose pleural TB. Methods A cross sectional, diagnostic accuracy study was conducted during February to November 2021 in a tertiary care hospital in India. LAM antigen detection was performed on pleural fluid as well as early morning urine specimen of suspected pleural TB patients by “Alere/ Abott Determine TB LAM” lateral flow assay (LAM-LFA). The results were compared to microbiological reference standards/MRS (Mycobacterial culture or NAAT) and Composite reference standards/CRS (MRS plus Clinico-radiological diagnosis). Results A total of 170 subjects were included in the analysis, including 26 with Definite TB, 22 with Probable TB, and 122 with No TB. Compared to MRS and CRS, the sensitivity (61.54% & 45.83%) and positive predictive value (PPV) (57.14 & 78.57%) of Pleural LAM-LFA testing were found to be suboptimal, whereas the specificity (91.67% & 95.08%) and negative predictive value (NPV) (92.96% & 81.69%) of the assay were found to be good. Urinary LAM-LFA performed even worse than pleural LAM-LFA, except for its higher specificity against MRS and CRS (97.2% and 98.3%, respectively). Specificity and PPV of pleural LAM detection increased to 100% when analysed in a subgroup of patients with elevated ADA levels (receiver operating curve analysis-derived cut off value > 40 IU/ml). Conclusion Detection of LAM antigen by LFA directly from pleural fluid was found to be a useful test to predict absence of the disease if the test is negative rather than using as a POCT for diagnosis

Environmental Sustainability through Soil Conservation: An Imperative for Future Generations

Environmental sustainability is a critical concern for the well-being of future generations. Within the realm of sustainability, soil conservation plays a crucial role in preserving Earth's vital resource and maintaining the balance of ecosystems and agricultural productivity. This review explores the importance of environmental sustainability and the significance of soil conservation in achieving this objective. It examines the detrimental impacts of soil degradation on ecosystems and agriculture, emphasizing the need for effective conservation strategies. Various strategies for soil conservation and sustainable land management are discussed, including erosion control, soil restoration, agroforestry, and precision agriculture. The review also highlights the benefits and challenges associated with implementing soil conservation measures. By embracing these strategies, we can ensure the long-term health and productivity of our planet's soil, securing a sustainable future for generations to come

New Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Based Derivation for Quantification of Alkyl Esters Generated Using Biocatalysis

Monoalkyl esters of fatty acids commonly known as biodiesel are synthesized from triglycerides by the transesterification reaction with monohydric alcohol, usually methanol or ethanol. Biodiesel is an attractive alternative fuel for diesel engines because of its renewability, biodegradability, and nontoxicity. Several methods/approaches have been developed for analyzing the fuel quality of biodiesel. Mainly chromatographic techniques [e.g., gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography, etc.] are being used for the analysis of biodiesel. The equation for quantification of the transesterification reaction using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) is available in the literature, wherein methanol/ethanol are being used as an acyl acceptor. In the present work, we report the equation based on ¹H NMR, which can be used for the quantification of the transesterification reaction, using other primary alcohols as an acyl acceptor. Simultaneously, we have also studied the effect of the chain length of alcohols on the extent of transesterification using whole cell catalysts. Transesterification was enhanced using butanol (67%) and pentanol (76%), followed by a decrease with hexanol (66%) and octanol (56%). The correlation coefficient (<i>R</i>²) between GC and ¹H NMR methods was 0.97. The results obtained by the new ¹H NMR equation proposed in this work were well-correlated with GC analysis of the same samples

Diversity and distribution of the spiders (arachnida: araneae) from Kailashahar: first record of nine species from Tripura, India

Spiders are one of the most diverse and numerically abundant arthropods. They have a wide distribution and inhabit different types of habitats. Their occurrence and distribution function as a bio-indicator of that area and their presence is influenced greatly by the corresponding habitat and vegetation types. In this study the spider fauna was surveyed from November 2019 to October 2020 in three locations of Kailashahar, Tripura, India. A total of thirty-two species belonging to thirteen families and eighteen genera were identified. Among them nine species are reported for the first time in Tripura, India - Neogeo nocticolor, Tetragnatha mandibulata, Tetragnatha javana, Enoplognatha sp., Oxytate sp., Carrhotus viduus, Thalassius albocinctus, Scytodes fusca and Mimetus sp. The highest numerically abundant spider recorded is Oxyopes scalaris and the least abundant species is Opadometa fastigata in the study area. The present study thoroughly investigated the unexplored spider species distributed over the study area and highlights the richness of spider diversity while calling for greater conservation of forest areas. Further rigorous works are necessary to discover more new spider species from this unexplored state of northeast India.O