Language Proficiency and Assessing Classroom Achievement: A Literature Review

The goal of placement tests in language programs is to divide students into homogenous groups for the purpose of class assignment. In most intensive English language programs such as the AEC, the most typical criterion for dividing students into classes is proficiency in the target language (English). Accurate and reliable placement tests are crucial to the successful functioning of any English language program. This literature review discusses the concept of language proficiency and ways to measure it

From General ESL to EAP: A Fall Leap

This paper is based on the presentation by the same name given in Lawrence, KS on December 7, 2018 as part of the Building Bridges for English Language Centers conference. The presenters were two instructors, Diane Taveggia and Parul Sood, who taught EAP courses for the first time after teaching general ESL classes for many years at the Applied English Center (AEC) at the University of Kansas (KU). The presentation focused on the skills taught in two English for Academic Purposes courses - EAP 101 taught by Parul Sood and EAP 102 taught by Diane Taveggia in the Academic Accelerator Program at KU. This paper expands upon the difference between the University’s IEP and the Academic Accelerator Program as well as the challenges of the transition experienced by the two instructors who made the leap from ESL to EAP for the first time

Gynecological disorders in geriatric women regarding their frequency, diagnosis and management in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: Geriatric gynaecological problems have not received adequate attention in India. This study was undertaken to assess gynaecological disorders in geriatric women regarding their frequency, diagnosis and management in Himachal Pradesh, India.Methods: It was a prospective observational study of patients aged above 60 years, admitted in Gynecology ward, IGMC Shimla over one year. Spectrum of gynecological disorder, comorbidities, diagnosis and management were noted and analyzed.Results: 224 patients aged 60 years and above were admitted over a period of one year. The commonest presenting complaint was postmenopausal bleeding in 41.07% of patients. 80.80% patients had one or more comorbid conditions. Malignancy was the most frequent diagnosis 54% followed by uterovaginal prolapse in 30.35%. Ovarian cancer constituted 47.93% followed by cervical cancer 31.40%. 89.65% patients of ovarian cancer had surgical treatment whereas only 21.05% of cervical cancer patients underwent surgical treatment and rest were referred for radiation. In 62 out of 68 cases of pelvic organ prolapse had definitive surgical treatment.Conclusions: Pelvic organ prolapse and genital malignancy are the major gynecological causes of hospital admissions in the patients above 60 years. Ovarian and endometrial cancer are showing a rising trend in this age group. Cervical cancer was the second most common malignancy in this group and most of these patients presented at advanced stage. Therefore, recommendations to discontinue screening in older age groups must be viewed with caution

ANTIFERTILITY ACTIVITY AND CONTRACEPTIVE POTENTIAL OF THE HYDROALCOHOLIC RHIZOME EXTRACT OF TRILLIUM GOVANIANUM IN FEMALE WISTAR RATS

Objective: Trillium govanianum is used in several traditional containing steroids and sex hormones for the management of inflammation, menstrual disorders, sex-related disorders, and antiseptic. The present study was aimed to investigate the antifertility potential of hydroalcoholic rhizome extract of T. govanianum and to explore the possible mechanism of action. Methods: Anti-implantation activity of T. govanianum rhizome extract (125 and 250 mg/kg; p.o.) was performed in female Wistar rats with proven fertility, and its estrogenic/antiestrogenic effect was evaluated in ovariectomized females. 17-α-ethinylestradiol (1 μg/rat/day; s.c.) or plant extract was administered for 11 days after which animals were sacrificed. Percentage inhibition of implantation sites, serum estrogen levels, changes in body and uterus weight, and morphological alterations in the uterus and ovaries were evaluated. Results: T. govanianum treatment resulted in increased uterus weight and induced dose-dependent anti-implantation effect, with 100% implantation inhibition at 250 mg/kg dose. Anti-implantation effects of T. govanianum were associated with endometrial thickening and significantly elevated serum estrogen levels. Moreover, estrogenic/antiestrogenic studies revealed that T. govanianum possessed strong estrogenic effect; however, the effect was saturable. Conclusion: T. govanianum possesses antifertility activity which can be attributed to its strong estrogenic potential and uterine thickening. Moreover, it could find a clinical application as a safer and efficacious birth control herbal remedy

Antimicrobial Activity of Secondary Metabolites in Medicinal Plants: An Update

Plants have filled in as a significant wellspring of elements for conventional drugs for centuries. Verifiable records and present day ethno botanical field examines feature their significance in the conventional treatment of irresistible malady. Be that as it may, plants form just a minor level of present collection of FDA-endorsed antimicrobial medications. The present article gives an outline of active components of plants as hint for other wellspring of antimicrobial agents to be used in the battle against microscopic organisms. It additionally surveys the ethno botanical way to deal with sedate disclosure and talks about various inventive focuses for future medication revelation endeavours in this field. Without an uncertainty, antimicrobials are miracle tranquilizers. They have represented a very long time against different irresistible infections and spared a huge number of lives. The ongoing disappointment of antimicrobials because of the sensational rise of multidrug-safe microbes and fast spread of new diseases, be that as it may, prompts wellbeing associations and the pharmaceutical business worldwide to change their methodology and to expand improvement of antimicrobials against quickly rising anti-infection safe microorganisms. In spite of the fact that there is thinking about elective wellsprings of characteristic antimicrobial molecules from plants having different methods of activity, some of which have been utilized in regular medication for a considerable length of time and have appeared to have serious impacts contrasted with other antimicrobials. This examination portrays plant intensity as an elective hotspot for antimicrobial agents

Gynecological disorders in geriatric women regarding their frequency, diagnosis and management in the state of Himachal Pradesh, India

Background: Geriatric gynaecological problems have not received adequate attention in India. This study was undertaken to assess gynaecological disorders in geriatric women regarding their frequency, diagnosis and management in Himachal Pradesh, India.Methods: It was a prospective observational study of patients aged above 60 years, admitted in Gynecology ward, IGMC Shimla over one year. Spectrum of gynecological disorder, comorbidities, diagnosis and management were noted and analyzed.Results: 224 patients aged 60 years and above were admitted over a period of one year. The commonest presenting complaint was postmenopausal bleeding in 41.07% of patients. 80.80% patients had one or more comorbid conditions. Malignancy was the most frequent diagnosis 54% followed by uterovaginal prolapse in 30.35%. Ovarian cancer constituted 47.93% followed by cervical cancer 31.40%. 89.65% patients of ovarian cancer had surgical treatment whereas only 21.05% of cervical cancer patients underwent surgical treatment and rest were referred for radiation. In 62 out of 68 cases of pelvic organ prolapse had definitive surgical treatment.Conclusions: Pelvic organ prolapse and genital malignancy are the major gynecological causes of hospital admissions in the patients above 60 years. Ovarian and endometrial cancer are showing a rising trend in this age group. Cervical cancer was the second most common malignancy in this group and most of these patients presented at advanced stage. Therefore, recommendations to discontinue screening in older age groups must be viewed with caution

Comparative evaluation of dexmedetomidine and midazolam-ketamine combination as sedative agents in pediatric dentistry: A double-blinded randomized controlled trial

Background: Pharmacological methods have been used as an adjunct to enhance child cooperativeness and facilitate dental treatment. Objective: Purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effect of sedation by intranasal dexmedetomidine and oral combination drug midazolam–ketamine in a group of children with uncooperative behavior requiring dental treatment. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind study that included patients 3–9 years old with American Society of Anesthesiologists-I status. About 36 children presenting early childhood caries were randomly assigned to one of three groups studied: Group MK received intranasal saline and oral midazolam (0.5 mg/kg) with ketamine (5 mg/kg) mixed in mango juice; Group DX received intranasal dexmedetomidine (1 μg/kg) and oral mango juice; and Group C received intranasal saline and oral mango juice. Patients' heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation were recorded before, during, and at the end of the procedure. Patients' behavior, sedation status, and wake up behavior were evaluated with modified observer assessment of alertness and sedation scale. Ease of treatment completion was evaluated according to Houpt scale. Results: Hemodynamic changes were statistically insignificant in Group MK and Group DX. About 75% patients in Group MK were successfully sedated as compared to 53.9% Group DX and none of the patients in Group C. Ease of treatment completion was better with Group MK as compared to Group DX and least with Group C. Around 50% patients in Group MK had postoperative complications. Conclusion: Oral midazolam–ketamine combination and intranasal dexmedetomidine evaluated in the present study can be used safely and effectively in uncooperative pediatric dental patients for producing conscious sedation

A phyto-pharmacological overview on Salvadora oleoides Decne

Salvadora oleoides Decne belonging to the family Salvadoraceae is a small, multipurpose tree commonly grown in western Rajasthan and Gujarat states of India. It is also known as Jhal and Badapilu. Many chemical constituents such as carbohydrates, alkaloids, steroids, glycosides, saponins, tannins, triterpenes, mucilage, fats and oils have been reported from its leaves and stems extracts. Because of the presence of these active chemical constituents it possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-ulcer, anthelmintic, antibacterial, antifungal and diuretic activities. This review summarizes the traditional claims, phytochemistry and pharmacology of S. oleoides reported so far in scientific literature