Functional analysis of concealment: a novel application of prospect and refuge theory

According to prospect-refuge theory, humans prefer to be in spaces that afford protection from threat (refuge), but also provide large fields of view (prospect). These preferences are said to arise from the adaptive advantages of such locations with respect to both avoidance of predation from refuge and survey of opportunities for resource collection by prospect. Prospect-refuge theory in the past has traditionally only been applied to human beings, but many of the same contingencies governing spatial preference ought to also hold true in other animals. If people's spatial preferences are influenced by prospect-refuge considerations, then such preferences ought to be found in other animals that are subject to the same pressures to find safety and resources. The overall objective of this study was to explore spatial preferences of the Mongolian gerbil in situations in which prospect-refuge theory makes specific predictions about which regions of an environment will be preferred. Gerbils were placed in an arena containing three dome shaped refuges that varied in the amount of prospect and refuge. A predator was released during the trial to examine how contextual factors may influence the degree of prospect and refuge preferred. There was a preference for an enclosed refuge at stimulus onset even though this was not reflective of what happened prior to stimulus onset, which suggests there was a shift in preferring refuges with greater concealment upon exposure to a threatening stimulus. These results indicate that shelter preference does in fact depend on contextual factors. An explicit comparison of these preferences in widely divergent species may help to place theories of spatial preference on a firmer biological footing, and may provide a greater understanding of how the principles of spatial cognition might underpin parts of the design process

The science of navigation: An analysis of behavioural differences between good and poor wayfinders

Everyday experience suggests that certain people can find their way to a destination easily, while others have considerable difficulty. This dissertation focused on gaining a greater understanding of navigational strategies that can facilitate or hinder an individual’s wayfinding performance. The first study was conducted to gain a broad idea of various factors that may influence navigational performance. Participants were guided through a building and then asked to find their way to a destination. It was found that good navigators made fewer errors in traversing a learned route than did poor navigators. They were also better at recognizing landmarks they had seen along the route, recalling the appropriate directions to be turned at each landmark, and at drawing the correct pathways on a map drawing task. A discriminant analysis revealed that the best predictor of determining navigational performance was the ability to form spatial relationships between landmarks. Results from the first study demonstrated that good navigators were better at determining spatial relationships between landmarks, but it did not address whether this was due to spatial relationships between distances and/or angles. The focus of the second study was to gain a greater understanding of the degree to which distance and angular information are used by good and poor navigators in determining spatial relationships between landmarks. Results showed that neither a distance nor an angular strategy were preferred in either group of wayfinders. An analysis of navigators initial heading angle error to a target location suggested that good wayfinders may be more efficient at finding their way because they appear to plan routes prior to initiating self-locomotion. Such pre-planning was confirmed by the fact that good wayfinders’ initial heading direction error was significantly less than in poor wayfinders. Poor wayfinders appear to head in a random direction and then attempt to determine target locations. The use of landmark information may be useful in certain contexts, but this may not always be the most efficient strategy. The last experiment was aimed at determining whether good navigators adjust strategies used (landmark vs. street), depending on contextual factors. Differences in strategies used were not found, however the results suggest that good navigators appear to be more skilled at navigating in environments rich with streets compared to poor wayfinders. Good and poor navigators were equally skilled at navigating in environments rich in landmarks. It appears that the ability to determine spatial relationships between landmarks is the strongest predictor of navigational performance compared to a wide range of other navigational skills

Intrauterine unilateral single inferior accessory renal artery: a case report

In comparison with other organs, variants of blood supply to the kidneys were always at special attention due to end arteries. Anatomic variations in the renal vasculature are common and occurrence is varying in between 25% to 40%. The most common variation is presence of accessory renal arteries. Accessory renal artery generally diagnosed on abdomen angiography studies or cadaveric dissection. Only few studies or case report of intrauterine detection of accessory renal artery are available in printed and online literature. During a dedicated anomaly scan of 23 week foetus, detection of an accessory renal artery on left side entering kidney in inferior pole courses parallel to main renal arteries and arising from abdominal aorta. Knowledge of the possible anatomic variations and anomalies of the renal arteries like accessory renal arteries are necessary for proper surgical management during renal transplantation, abdominal aorta aneurysm repair, different urological procedures and angiographic procedures. As the various type of vascular and non - vascular interventions increase, knowledge of the different type of variations of the renal arteries is necessary for proper surgical management in the different specialties

Pregnancy outcome in women with heart disease at a tertiary referral teaching center in Northern India

Background: Pregnancy causes a significant burden on cardiovascular system due to hemodynamic changes therefore a diseased heart may not be able to adjust with extra load resulting in heart failure and even maternal mortality.Methods: A prospective study was done in 50 women with heart disease over a period of 12 months from 2010 to 2011 at G.S.V.M. Medical College, Kanpur. At the first antenatal visit baseline data is recorded included age, parity, gestational age, NYHA class, co-morbid conditions, prior cardiac events, cardiac lesion (if already diagnosed), prior surgery/interventions, cyanosis and medications. A thorough clinical examination and investigations were done.Results: Maximum numbers of patients (56%) were in the age group 20-24 years. 52 % of patients were primigravida and 48 % of patients were multigravida. Maximum numbers of patients (76.67%) were in the lower socioeconomic group. Chronic rheumatic heart disease (84%) was the most common type of heart disease followed by congenital cardiac disease (14%). Heart disease if diagnosed preconceptionally or during earlier period of gestation both maternal (8.9%) and foetal complications (22.8%) are lesser as compared to patients in whom diagnosis was made late. There is also the significant difference with majority of the foetal complications in group IV (80%) (preterm birth, IUGR and perinatal mortality) as compared to group I (14.2%).Conclusions: Maternal and perinatal outcome in women with heart disease depends mainly on the functional cardiac status during pregnancy, the risk being greater in NYHA III and IV. Our study shows that surgical intervention or medical management in pregnancy improves the functional class and also improves the maternal and fetal outcomes. Interventions can only be successfully done either before pregnancy or during 2nd trimester. When patients were diagnosed before pregnancy we have enough time for counseling and treatment. Counseling further increase the compliance and acceptance for medical and surgical interventions

The role of antioxidants and free radicals in the healing effects of Bacopa monniera on acetic acid-induced colitis in rats

Background: The aim to study and elucidate the healing effects of ethanolic extract of dried whole plant of Bacopa monniera against experimental colitis in rats.Methods: Bacopa monniera whole plant extract was administered orally, once daily for 14 days, to rats after induction of colitis with acetic acid. We studied its effects on: faecal output, food and water intake, and body weight changes and also examined colonic mucosal damage, inflammation and status of antioxidants: superoxide dismutase, reduced glutathione; free radicals: nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation on 15th day of the experiment. Antibacterial activity of the extract was also studied using in vitro procedures. Statistical comparison was performed using either unpaired ‘t’ test or one -way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and for multiple comparisons versus control group was done by Dunnett’s test.Results: Bacopa monniera whole plant extract decreased colonic mucosal damage, inflammation, faecal output and increased body weight in acetic acid induced colitis. It also showed antibacterial activity and enhanced the antioxidant but decreased free radicals. Acute toxicity study indicated no mortality or other ANS or CNS related adverse effects even with ten time effective dose indicating its safety.Conclusions: Bacopa monniera whole plant extract is safe, effective and could be beneficial as a complementary agent in treatment of ulcerative colitis

To evaluate diagnostic efficacy of maternal serum C - reactive protein to predict preterm labour

Background: Preterm birth is a major challenges faced by obstetricians worldwide. Globally, an estimated 13 million babies are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation annually. Preterm birth is the leading direct cause of neonatal death (27%); more than one million preterm newborns die annually. According to report ‘India is among the top 10 countries that account for 60 per cent of the world’s preterm births. Methods to detect preterm labour early include ultrasound examination of the cervix and detection of biochemical markers of preterm labour in blood (include serum C - reactive protein level) and cervicovaginal secretions. The objective of the study was evaluate diagnostic efficacy of maternal serum C - reactive protein (CRP) to predict preterm labour.Methods: A prospective study comprised of a total of 132 pregnant women with singleton fetus with symptoms of preterm labour. Serum CRP values was taken in all patients. Out of which 17 patients were lost during follow up, 3 patients develop PPROM. Hence study was conducted over 112 patients. Among these 62 patients went in preterm labour and 50 patients delivered at term.Results: For predicting preterm delivery sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for serum CRP were 70.9%, 70%, 74.5% and 66% respectively.Conclusions: Serum CRP is good predictor to differentiate the women who were likely to deliver preterm. CRP positivity in early pregnancy is associated with nearly a twofold increased risk of preterm delivery

Evaluation of physicians and junior residents’ knowledge and awareness of radiation dose and its risks: a cross-sectional survey in tertiary health centre of central India

Background: The frequency of radiological investigations increases to many fold now-a-days, so it is necessary to know the knowledge of all physicians about radiation dose, safety measures and regulations which governs the use and practice of radiation examination and their therapeutic use. The objectives comprise to investigate amongst all Physicians: (1) level of knowledge and awareness of radiation dose of radiological investigations and radiobiology of radiation exposure, and (2) to assess physicians’ knowledge about the risks associated with the use of radiological examinations and their safety measures.Methods: A questionnaire targeting about knowledge, safety measures, and radiation biology about some commonly performed radiological procedures was addressed: (1) Relative radiation doses, (2) Associated risks of radiation exposure, (3) What safety measures should be considered before examination. (4) What risk and hazards all physicians considered when requesting radiological examinations.Results: A questionnaire answered by physicians demonstrates loops in knowledge. In all, 15% (14/92) incorrectly believed that magnetic resonance imaging involved radiation exposure and 3% (3/92) incorrectly believed that ultrasound involved radiation exposure; 38% (35/92) stated that they always explain the benefits and risk of radiation to their patients when obtaining informed consent for examinations involving radiation.Conclusions: This study concluded a deficit of knowledge about radiation dose exposure, and hazards among Physicians, which may cause them to request more radiological investigations than appropriate and high-dose investigations instead of lower dose alternatives. Providing better radiation protection training may help improve their basic knowledge on the subject and reduce unnecessary patient exposure to radiation

Psychological impact among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in Bundelkhand region, Central India

Background: A cancer diagnosis can have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing. Cancer is the second most common cause of death after heart diseases and it accounted for 9.6 million deaths worldwide in 2018. Various individual psychosocial and contextual factors potentially contribute to the development of anxiety and depression among people with cancer. In comparison with general people, the prevalence of anxiety and depression is frequently found to be higher among cancer patient, but estimates vary due to various factors, such as the type of cancer, treatment setting, and prognosis of disease. The present study was conducted to find out the estimate of depression in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and determine the various factors associated with depression.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted amongst cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy at Department of Oncology, Government Bundelkhand Medical College and Hospital, Sagar from January to April 2019. 150 participants were interviewed using predesigned questionnaire based on the Beck’s depression inventory.Results: Out of 150 cancer patients, 83 (55.3%) were found to be depressed. Depression was comparatively higher in patients’ ≥50 years; in males. Among the study patients, 83 (55.33%) had depression of which 21 (25.3%) had borderline clinical depression, 54 (65.06%) had moderate depression and 08 (9.6%) had severe depression.Conclusions: The study revealed depression in majority of patients receiving chemotherapy. Treatment of cancer patients need to be complemented by psychological support. Research is urgently needed into the possible impacts of long term effects of cancer treatment on mental health

Machine Learning Framework: Competitive Intelligence and Key Drivers Identification of Market Share Trends Among Healthcare Facilities

The necessity of data driven decisions in healthcare strategy formulation is rapidly increasing. A reliable framework which helps identify factors impacting a Healthcare Provider Facility or a Hospital (from here on termed as Facility) Market Share is of key importance. This pilot study aims at developing a data driven Machine Learning - Regression framework which aids strategists in formulating key decisions to improve the Facilitys Market Share which in turn impacts in improving the quality of healthcare services. The US (United States) healthcare business is chosen for the study; and the data spanning across 60 key Facilities in Washington State and about 3 years of historical data is considered. In the current analysis Market Share is termed as the ratio of facility encounters to the total encounters among the group of potential competitor facilities. The current study proposes a novel two-pronged approach of competitor identification and regression approach to evaluate and predict market share, respectively. Leveraged model agnostic technique, SHAP, to quantify the relative importance of features impacting the market share. The proposed method to identify pool of competitors in current analysis, develops Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs), feature level word vectors and evaluates the key connected components at facility level. This technique is robust since its data driven which minimizes the bias from empirical techniques. Post identifying the set of competitors among facilities, developed Regression model to predict the Market share. For relative quantification of features at a facility level, incorporated SHAP a model agnostic explainer. This helped to identify and rank the attributes at each facility which impacts the market share.Comment: 7 Pages 5 figures 6 tables To appear in ICHA 202

Urinary Bladder Calculus as a Rare Cause of Obstructed Labour: A Series of Three Rare Cases

Obstructed labour by large urinary bladder stones is one of the rare complications. Very small number of cases have been described in available literature. The diagnosis is generally based on the history of patient, their clinical evaluation and ultrasonography scans during pregnancy. Majority of antenatal cases in rural areas come first time in Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) with labour pain and usually without any previous ultrasound scans. These cases are referred to higher centres due to prolonged obstructed labour. Although rare, but one should consider a large urinary bladder calculus as a cause of obstructed labour as early diagnosis and timely management of urinary bladder stones can prevent various complications like mechanical dystocia and Vesico-vaginal Fistula (VVF). Here, authors reported three cases of a large urinary bladder calculus causing obstructed labour. Caesarean section was done for obstructed labour and cystolithotomy was performed simultaneously in all three cases