Efficacy of Communicative Task-Based Language Learning in Developing Listening Skills of Elementary Stage Students

The current research paper is the second and the concluding research paper that aims at addressing the lacunae found in listening comprehension of elementary school students discussed in ‘Listening: An overlooked dimension in second language acquisition’ (Sekhri & Singh, 2017). Of various methods proposed by various linguists and scholars in the area, the researcher picked grammar-translation method (still very popular in Indian schools) and task-based language learning (found to be very successful in enhancing the listening skills of students) to examine their effect on listening skills of elementary school students. The study was delimited to students studying in private schools of Ambala district. The duration of the study was 9 weeks and it was experimental in nature following pretest-posttest control group design. A total of 140 randomly selected students were equally allocated to experimental (taught using and task-based language learning (TBLL)) and control groups (taught using grammar-translation method (GTM)). It was hypothesized that there won’t be any significant difference between the mean gain scores of students in either group. The researcher developed both instructional material and listening test. Independent samples T-test was employed on pre-test scores to compare the means and to match the groups taught through TBLL and GTM. Finally, parametric statistics viz. 2 X 3 ANOVA was employed to study the impact of teaching methods on dependent variable. The listening skills of students taught through TBLL were found improving during the treatment. It was also found that traditional way (GTM) of transmitting knowledge to young brains mars their creativity as well as interest in the subject. Further, since TBLL demands working in groups and pairs hence, it was found that the said method not only had an impact on students’ linguistic skills but also life skills including team work, cooperation, critical thinking and social-competence. Keywords: task-based language learning, grammar-translation method, listening skills, life skills, elementary school student

Biallelic Germline Transcription at the κ Immunoglobulin Locus

Rearrangement of antigen receptor genes generates a vast array of antigen receptors on lymphocytes. The establishment of allelic exclusion in immunoglobulin genes requires differential treatment of the two sequence identical alleles. In the case of the κ immunoglobulin locus, changes in chromatin structure, methylation, and replication timing of the two alleles are all potentially involved in regulating rearrangement. Additionally, germline transcription of the κ locus which precedes rearrangement has been proposed to reflect an opening of the chromatin structure rendering it available for rearrangement. As the initial restriction of rearrangement to one allele is critical to the establishment of allelic exclusion, a key question is whether or not germline transcription at the κ locus is monoallelic or biallelic. We have used a sensitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and an RNA–fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to show that germline transcription of the κ locus is biallelic in wild-type immature B cells and in recombination activating gene (RAG)−/−, μ+ B cells. Therefore, germline transcription is unlikely to dictate which allele will be rearranged first and rather reflects a general opening on both alleles that must be accompanied by a mechanism allowing one of the two alleles to be rearranged first

Pattern of 25-hydroxy vitamin D response at short (2 month) and long (1 year) interval after 8 weeks of oral supplementation with cholecalciferol in Asian Indians with chronic hypovitaminosis D

Hypovitaminosis D is common in Asian Indians. Physicians often prescribe 1500 μ g (60 000 IU) cholecalciferol per week for 8 weeks for vitamin D deficiency in India. Its efficacy to increase serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) over short (2 months) and long (1 year) term is not known. We supplemented a group of twenty-eight apparently healthy Asian Indians detected to have low serum 25(OH)D (mean 13.5 (sd 3.0) nmol/l) on screening during January-March 2005. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was supranormal in 30 % of them. Oral supplementation included 1500 μ g cholecalciferol per week and 1g elemental Ca daily for 8 weeks. Serum 25(OH)D, total Ca, inorganic P and intact (i) PTH were reassessed in twenty-three subjects (twelve females and eleven males) who had follow up at both 8 weeks and 1 year. At 8 weeks the mean 25(OH)D levels increased to 82.4 (SD 20.7) nmol/l and serum PTH normalized in all. Twenty-two of the twenty-three subjects had 25(OH)D levels>49.9 nmol/l. At 1 year, though the mean 25(OH)D level of 24.7 (SD 10.9) nmol/l was significantly higher than the baseline, all subjects were 25(OH)D deficient. Five subjects with supranormal iPTH at baseline showed recurrence of biochemical hyperparathyroidism. Thus, with 8 weeks of cholecalciferol supplementation in Asian Indians with chronic hypovitaminosis D, mean serum 25(OH)D levels would be normalized and serum PTH value would be reduced to half. However, such quick supplementation would not maintain their 25(OH)D levels in the sufficient range for 1 year. For sustained improvement in 25(OH)D levels vitamin D supplementation has to be ongoing after the initial cholecalciferol loading

Diagnostic utility of α-methylacyl CoA racemase (P504S) & HMWCK in morphologically difficult prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To evaluate the diagnostic utility of alpha-methylacyl CoA racemase (P504S) & HMWCK (34beta E12) in morphologically difficult prostate cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 1034 cases were reviewed and divided into benign (585) malignant (399) and suspicious (50). Immunohistochemistry with HMWCK and AMACR was done on the 50 suspicious cases along with controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty nine suspicious cases were resolved by using both markers where as 1 case was resolved by further support with CD68. The original diagnosis was changed in 15 of 50 (30%) suspicious cases from benign to malignant, one case from benign to high grade PIN and in one case from malignant to benign. Change of diagnosis was seen in 17 of 50 (34%) suspicious cases with a significant p value of 0.002. The overall diagnosis was changed in 17 of 1034 cases (1.64%) of prostatic disease (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A combination of HMWCK and AMACR is of great value in combating the morphologically suspicious cases and significantly increasing the diagnostic accuracy in prostate cancer. Although, in this study the sensitivity and specificity of HMWCK and AMACR were high, yet it should be used with caution, keeping in mind all their pitfalls and limitations.</p

Prevalence of thyroid autoimmunity in sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in comparison to type 1 diabetes and premature ovarian failure

Context: Thyroid autoimmunity is the most common coexistent endocrinopathy in type 1 diabetes (T1D), Addison's disease, and premature ovarian failure (POF). Although the role of autoimmunity is being investigated in patients with sporadic idiopathic hypoparathyroidism (SIH), there is little information on coexistent thyroid autoimmunity. Objective: Our objective was to assess the prevalence of thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPOAb) and thyroid dysfunction in patients with SIH and its comparison with that in T1D, POF, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and age- and sex-matched healthy controls (for SIH). Design and Setting: We conducted a case control study in a tertiary care setting. Patients and Methods: Subjects were consecutive patients with SIH (n = 87), T1D (n = 100), POF (n = 58), and HT (n = 47) and healthy controls (100 females and 64 males). Serum free T3, free T4, TSH, and TPOAb (normal &#8804; 34 IU/ml) were measured by electrochemiluminescence assay. Subjects with 1) serum TSH at least 5 &#956; U/ml along with TPOAb more than 34 IU/ml; 2) TSH at least 10 &#956; U/ml but normal TPOAb titers; or 3) Graves' disease were considered to have thyroid dysfunction. Results: TPOAb positivity (&gt;34 IU/ml) in females was 14.6% in SIH, 24.1% in POF, and 42.1% in T1D compared with 76.6% in HT and 9% in healthy controls. The frequencies of TPOAb positivity and thyroid dysfunction in patients with SIH were comparable to those in control and POF groups, but significantly less than in T1D and HT groups. Conclusion: The frequencies of TPOAb and thyroid dysfunction were not significantly higher in patients with SIH than in healthy controls, unlike in patients with T1D and POF

Tobacco Cessation Centres: Vital Cog in the Fight against Tobacco Epidemic Preparedness towards a future pandemic

The tobacco crisis, which claims more than 8 million lives yearly and adds 1.2 million more from secondhand smoke inhalation, is a serious concern for world health. The detrimental impact of tobacco usage on health is projected to have an annual economic cost of 1.4 trillion US dollars (health costs plus lost productivity) or 1.8% of the world's GDP. Both smokers and users of smokeless tobacco can profit greatly from quitting. Quitting smoking lowers the likelihood of developing respiratory problems, delays their beginning, and slows the progression of chronic lung diseases. Therefore, the "World Health Organisation (WHO)" and the "Ministry of Health & Family Welfare", Government of India, worked together to open official tobacco cessation clinics throughout India. The goal of tobacco cessation centers was to offer to counsel people trying to stop smoking. This includes monitoring the patient's progress and providing counseling, either by itself or in conjunction with medication

In silico studies reveal antiviral effects of traditional Indian spices on COVID-19

BACKGROUND: The global health emergency due to SARS-CoV-2 causing the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the scientific community to intensify their research work for its therapeutic solution. In this study, Indian traditional spices owing to various medicinal properties were tested in silico for their inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2 proteins. SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (SP) and main proteases (Mpro) play a significant role in infection development were considered as potential drug targets. METHODS: A total of 75 phytochemicals present in traditional Indian spices retrieved from the published literature and Dr. Duke\u27s Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Database, were docked with Mpro (PDB IDs: 6YNQ), and the SP (PDB IDs: 6LXT and 6YOR). RESULTS: Through the screening process, 75 retrieved phytochemicals were docked with spike protein (PDB IDs: 6LXT and 6YOR) and main protease (PDB ID: 6YNQ) of SARS-CoV-2. Among them, myricetin, a flavonoid (rank score: 6LXT: -11.72383; 6YOR: -9.87943; 6YNQ: -11.68164) from Allium sativumL and Isovitexin, an example of flavone (rank score:6LXT: -12.14922; 6YOR: -10.19443; 6YNQ: - 12.60603) from Pimpinella anisumL were the most potent ligands against SP and Mproof SARS-CoV-2. Whereas, Astragalin from Crocus sativusL.; Rutin from Illicium verum, Oxyguttiferone from Garcinia cambogia; Scopolin from Apium graveolens L, Luteolin from Salvia officinalis, Emodin, Aloe-emodin from Cinnamomum zeylanicium and Apigenin from Allium sativumL showed better inhibition against Mpro than SP of SARS-CoV-2. The amino acid residues like SER, LYS, ASP and TYR were found playing important role in protein-ligand interactions via hydrogen bonding and Vander Waals forces. CONCLUSION: Optimal use of traditional spices in our daily meals may help fight against COVID-19. This study also paves the path for herbal drug formulation against SARS-CoV-2 after wet lab validation

Silybin B and Cianidanol Inhibit M pro and Spike Protein of SARS-CoV-2: Evidence from in Silico Molecular Docking Studies

BACKGROUND: The main proteases (Mpro) and Spike Proteins (SP) of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) play a major role in viral infection development by producing several non-structural proteins (nsPs) and penetrating the host cells respectively. In this study, the potential of in silico molecular docking-based drug repositioning approach was exploited for identifying the inhibitors of Mpro and SP of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS: A total of 196 compounds including various US-FDA-approved drugs, vitamins and their analogs were docked with Mpro (PDB IDs: 6YB7 and 6Y84), and the top six ligands were further tested for ADME properties followed by docking with SP (PDB IDs: 6LXT and 6W41). RESULTS: Out of 196 compounds, binding energy (DE) of Silybin B (6YB7: DE: -11.20 kcal/mol; 6Y84: DE: -10.18 kcal/mol; 6LXT:DE: -10.47 kcal/mol; 6W41:DE: -10.96 kcal/mol) and Cianidanol (6YB7:DE: -8.85 kcal/mol; 6Y84:DE:-10.02 kcal/mol; 6LXT:DE:-9.36 kcal/mol; 6W41:DE: -9.52 kcal/mol) demonstrated better binding and ADME properties compared with the currently endeavored drugs like Hydroxychloroquine and Lopinavir. Additionally, Elliptinone, Diospyirin, SCHEMBL94263 and Fiboflavin have shown encouraging results. Fiboflavin, an immunity booster, was found to inhibit both the Mpro and spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. It was observed that amino acid residues MET6, ALA7, PHE8, PRO9, ASP295, GLY302, VAL303 and THR304 play significant roles in protein-ligand interactions through hydrogen bonds and Vander Waals forces. CONCLUSION: Silybin B and Cianidanol showed excellent binding and ADME properties compared with the currently endeavored drugs and can be exploited as therapeutic options against SARS-CoV-2 infection after experimental validation and clinical trials