Effect of Online Learning in Psychology course on Undergraduate students’ Engagement in Learning

The paper has analyzed the effect of online learning and traditional mode of learning on students’ engagement in learning. A sample of 50 students studying psychology in their B.A course was selected randomly from one college in Chandigarh. An online learning course in selected topics of psychology was developed. The experimental group of the study was exposed through online learning mode for 15 days. Likewise, control group was taught the same content by traditional learning for 15 days as well. Both the groups were controlled on same instructional design model such as ADDIE (analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation), same number of participants, same content was employed for teaching and they were both matched on pre-test of engagement in learning. The students’ post-test scores on engagement in learning was analyzed using t-test to determine if there were significant differences between the two groups. Results indicated significant differences between online learning and traditional learning on students’ engagement in learning as students taught by online learning were more engaged in learning than students who were taught by traditional learning. It indicates that learning through online does enhance students’ engagement in learning

Efficient representation of texture details in medical images by fusion of Ripplet and DDCT transformed images

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the performance of Ripplet Type-1 transform and directional discrete cosine transform (DDCT) and their combinations for improved representation of MRI images while preserving its fine features such as edges along the smooth curves and textures.Methods: In a novel image representation method based on fusion of Ripplet type-1 and conventional/directional DCT transforms, source images were enhanced in terms of visual quality using Ripplet and DDCT and their various combinations. The enhancement achieved was quantified on the basis of peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), mean square error (MSE), structural content (SC), average difference (AD), maximum difference (MD), normalized cross correlation (NCC), and normalized absolute error (NAE). To determine the attributes of both transforms, these transforms were combined to represent the entire image as well. All the possible combinations were tested to present a complete study of combinations of the transforms and the contrasts were evaluated amongst all the combinations.Results: While using the direct combining method (DDCT) first and then the Ripplet method, a PSNR value of 32.3512 was obtained which is comparatively higher than the PSNR values of the other combinations. This novel designed technique gives PSNR value approximately equal to the PSNR’s of parent techniques. Along with this, it was able to preserve edge information, texture information and various other directional image features. The fusion of DDCT followed by the Ripplet reproduced the best images.Conclusion: The transformation of images using Ripplet followed by DDCT ensures a more efficient method for the representation of images with preservation of its fine details like edges and textures.Keywords: Ripplet, Directional discrete cosine transform (DDCT), Peak signal to noise ratio, MSE (mean square error), SC (structural content), MD (maximum difference), NCC (normalized cross correlatio

Quality of life in patients with vitiligo

Vitiligo is an important skin disease having major impact on quality of life of patients, many of whom feel distressed and stigmatized by their condition. Society greets vitiligo patients in much the same way as it does any one else who appears to be different. They are started at or subjected to whispered comments, antagonism, insult or isolation. The chronic nature of disease, long term treatment, lack of uniform effective therapy and unpredictable course of disease is usually very demoralizing for patients suffering from vitiligo. It is important to recognize and deal with psychological components of this disease to improve their quality of life and to obtain a better treatment response

Brachial Plexus Nerve Block with CT Guidance for Regional Pain Management: Initial Results

Brachial plexus nerve blocks are performed to treat patients with chronic pain referable to the brachial plexus. The needle insertion and trajectory are based on palpation of surface landmarks. Occasionally, the surface landmarks are difficult to identify owing to body habitus or anatomic alterations secondary to surgery or radiation therapy. The intent of this manuscript is to describe a technique for brachial plexus block guided with computed tomography and to report our initial results for regional pain management

Epidemiological study of neural tube defects in Jammu division, India

Background: Prevalence and spectrum of neural tube defects has undergone seasonal and secular variations in different regions of the world since the turn of last century. However precise etiology inspite of lot of research has not been clearly elucidated.Methods: The study was conducted in Government Medical College Hospital and SMGS Hospital Jammu in patients diagnosed to have a neural tube defect from birth to 19 years. History regarding sociodemographic profile, antenatal history and significant birth history was elicited. Complete general physical examination, Local examination of the lesion was carried out and neural tube defects were classified. All the cases were subjected to ultrasound head to determine ventricular size and rule out hydrocephalus. The data was entered in Microsoft Excel and results were presented in form of percentages and proportions.Results: Maximum children admitted were in the age group of <1 month and belonged to Jammu district. Commonest anomaly seen was lumbosacral meningomyelocele with associated hydrocephalus and neural deficit. Mothers who gave birth to an NTD affected child were commonly in the age group of 20-30 years, with commonest NTD affected sib being 1stborn and most of parents being from very low socio-economic strata of society. Only 7 mothers had received antenatal advice with ultrasound and almost none had received folic acid either before or after conception.Conclusions: Neural tube defects appear to be fairly common anomaly among females of lower socioeconomic strata, living in far flung mountainous regions of the state, devoid of proper health care facilities and education

Cerebrovascular Disease and Patterns of Cerebral Oxygenation During Sleep in Elders

The aim of this descriptive exploratory study was to describe patterns of cerebral oxygen reserves during sleep and their association with cerebrovascular risk factors in elders

Exploratory Analysis of Cerebral Oxygen Reserves during Sleep Onset in Old and Young Adults

To explore differences in cerebral oxygen reserves during sleep in old and young adult

Th17/IL-17, Immunometabolism and Psoriatic Disease: A Pathological Trifecta

The burgeoning arena of immunometabolism provides evidence of how cellular, as well as local (tissue)/systemic metabolic pathways, are playing an important role in controlling immunity and inflammation. An intricate and elaborate network of various metabolic circuits specifically glycolysis, fatty acid oxidation and synthesis and amino acid metabolism precisely generate metabolites that rewire the immune response. Psoriasis is a chronic progressive self-perpetuated “IL-17-centric” inflammatory disease characterized by the co-existence of autoimmune and autoinflammatory pathways. Metabolic responses, governed by oxygen levels, nutrient availability, growth factors, cytokines, AMP/ATP ratios and amino acids, play a pivotal role in programming Th17 cell fate determination. Understanding the intricate interactions and complex interplay of molecular mechanisms responsible for Th17 cell metabolic rewiring, an important determinant of Th17 cell plasticity and heterogeneity, holds the potential to reshape psoriatic therapeutics in ways currently unimagined. This chapter entails with most recent updates on major cellular and systemic metabolic pathways regulating differentiation of Th17 cells as well their cross-talk with intracellular signaling mediators and also sheds light on how dysregulation of these pathways can be responsible for immune impairment and development of psoriatic disease. A better understanding of these metabolic processes could unveil an intriguing leverage point for therapeutic interventions to modulate metabolic programming and Th17 cell responses in this multi-systemic inflammatory disease