Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in an urban school of a developing country

Background: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neuro-psychiatric disorder in children. Hence, the prevalence of ADHD and its types in school children as a community based survey in an urban Indian region was assessed in this study.Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted in an urban English medium school. Children studying in sixth to tenth standard were recruited for the study. DSM-IV based ADHD questionnaire was put forth to parents and teachers. Demographic details, information about their family and school environment were collected from students. Their performance in last year final examination in school was assessed from school records. Statistical analysis was carried out with either Fisher’s exact probability test or Chi-square test.Results: A total of 32/500 (6.4%) children have been diagnosed to have ADHD from the response from parents. Of the 32 ADHD children, 25 (78.1%) were boys and 7 (21.9%) were girls. A majority [22 (68.8%)] were of inattentive type, 2 (6.3%) were hyperactive and 8 (25%) had combined type of ADHD. An unfavourable family environment has been found to be significantly associated with ADHD (P < 0.001). A statistically significant difference (P<0.0001) in school performance was noted in children with ADHD. ADHD children were found to have unfavourable peer relationship more likely than non-ADHD children both in school [25/32 (78.1%)] and at home [16/32 (50%)].Conclusions: We found prevalence of ADHD to be 6.4% in an urban English medium school necessitating an early identification through mass screening programmes and directing appropriate interventions.

Foam-based synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles and their subsequent conversion to Co<SUB>core</SUB>Ag<SUB>shell</SUB> nanoparticles by a simple transmetallation reaction

Cobalt nanoparticles have been synthesized via a novel, foam-based protocol. The foam is formed from an aqueous mixture of Co2+ ions, an anionic surfactant and oleic acid where the cobalt ions are electrostatically entrapped by the surfactant at the thin borders between the foam bubbles and their junctions. The entrapped cobalt ions may be reduced in-situ by a moderately strong reducing agent resulting in the formation of nanoparticles with the foam playing the role of a template. The nanoparticles are immediately capped and stabilized against oxidation by oleic acid present in the foam matrix. The oleic acid-capped Co nanoparticles can be redispersed either in an aqueous or organic medium making this procedure very attractive. The cobalt nanoparticles are readily converted to CocoreAgshell nanoparticles by simple addition of a silver salt to the Co nanoparticle solution, the cobalt atoms on the nanoparticle surface acting as localized reducing agents for the silver ions

Antifilarial Effect of a Plant Acacia auriculiformis on Canine Dirofilariasis

An ethanolic extract was obtained from the funicles of Acacia auriculiformis. The extract was allowed to evaporate and the residue thus obtained was administered orally to 4 pariah dogs naturally infected with Dirofilaria immitis at 150mg/kg/day for 45 days. The treatment resulted in 98% and 99% reduction in microfilarial density on day 45 and day 75, respectively following the onset of treatment. Microfilarial density rose gradually and the level of reduction in the sampling on day 165 was 59%. No toxic effect in the form of a change in movement, body weight and temperature was observed in the treated dogs. The prolonged maintenance of reduced level of microfilarial density may be ascribed to the partial elimination of adult worms

A facile liquid foam based synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and their subsequent conversion to Ni<SUB>core</SUB>Ag<SUB>shell</SUB> particles: structural characterization and investigation of magnetic properties

A facile route for the synthesis of nickel nanoparticles in stable aqueous foams is reported. The Ni nanoparticles were roughly 12-15 nm in size and were stable as aqueous suspensions or powders when oleic acid was used as a capping agent. These Ni nanoparticles were subsequently coated with a silver shell in view of the extra stability and the enhanced manipulative ability afforded by the silver nanocoating. This was accomplished by a simple transmetallation reaction wherein the nanoparticle surface nickel atoms act as localized reducing agents for the silver ions in solution. As the silver shell is formed through the surface reaction a reduction in the average size of the Nicore occurs. After the core-shell structure formation, the Nicore has an average diameter of 10-20 nm while the Agshell has a thickness of 2-4 nm. The pristine oleic acid coated Ni and NicoreAgshell nanoparticles were probed for their magnetic characteristics by a vibrating sample magnetometer. The nascent, oleic acid coated Ni nanoparticles display a low superparamagnetic blocking temperature, TB, of 20 K. The field dependent magnetic behaviour above and below TB displays the standard features corresponding to superparamagnetism, as expected for very small Ni crystallites suggesting again that each 12 nm particle is polycrystalline. The magnetic contribution in the NicoreAgshell system comes from only the Ni core and predictably, the blocking temperature of this system is below 12 K due to the smaller size of the Ni core

Role of predictors in acceptance of post-exposure prophylaxis with single-dose rifampicin among contacts of leprosy in rural area of Bankura: An explanatory mixed-method study

Background: India achieved the elimination of leprosy two decades ago although its sustenance continues to be threatened by ongoing active transmission in few remaining pockets. There is a paucity of data regarding the acceptance of single-dose rifampicin (SDR) prophylaxis among healthy contacts. Aims and Objectives: The aims and objectives of the study are to assess the factors influencing the acceptability of SDR among contacts. Materials and Methods: A community-based, sequential, explanatory mixed-method study was conducted over 6 months from September 2022 to February 2023 among 168 contacts of leprosy patients from two blocks in Bankura district, West Bengal. Quantitative analysis was done for SDR acceptance and its predictors among contacts using the Chi-square test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Logistic regression. This was followed by qualitative assessment using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews among contacts to explain the findings through a thematic approach. Results: Household contacts (aOR=13.72, 95% CI=2.09–90.19), increasing knowledge score of contacts (aOR=3.18, 95% CI=1.88–5.38), counseling by health workers (aOR=11.98, 95% CI=2.20–65.15), trust in health workers (aOR=152.96, 95% CI=13.17–1776.09), and not taking other medicines for comorbidity (aOR=35.82, 95% CI=2.94–436.02) were associated with increased SDR uptake among leprosy contacts. Barriers and facilitators of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)-SDR were categorized as contact, health workers, and program-related factors. Conclusion: SDR acceptability among contacts was 77.4%. Facilitators of SDR-PEP were awareness of side-effects, follow-up, prompt support by health workers, IEC, belief in National programs, etc. Lack of knowledge of PEP-SDR and contraindications, ineffective counseling by health workers, stigma of the disease, the increased workload of health workers, etc., were the barriers to SDR-PEP implementation

The Structural Relationship Between Current and Capital Account Balance in India: A Time Series Analysis

The long run relationship between current account balance (CAB) and capital account balance (KAB) and the repercussions of capital account convertibility (KAC) on growth process of a country is a much debated issue. In particular, in the aftermath of the Southeast Asian crisis, the limitation of the liberal capital regime for a developing country like India is often highlighted in the literature. However, the probable impact of introducing KAC on CAB in India generally is discussed theoretically. Though some of the existing studies in India have earlier focused on this research question, they have done so by exogenously assuming the existence of a single structural break in the interrelationship between CAB and KAB. The present study intends to bridge the gap in the literature by raising two empirical questions: first, how far KAC is likely to destabilize the CAB and second, measuring the strength of the interrelationship between CAB and KAB. The current paper also contributes to the literature by incorporating multiple endogenous structural breaks in the empirical analysis. The empirical findings do not support any long term relationship between capital and current account balance and reveals that two significant structural breaks are observed in 1993-94 and 2003-04

Ferromagnetic resonance in nanomagnetic metal core and noble metal shell systems

The change in the line widths in the Ferromagnetic Resonance (FMR) spectra of Co and Ni nanoparticles upon shell formation with noble metals like gold or silver are described. The NicoreAgshell, CocoreAgshell, and CocoreAushell nanoparticles were prepared by a simple transmetallation reaction between the Co and Ni nanoparticles and the Ag+ or AuCl−4 ions. It is revealed that the FMR line width decreases upon Ag shell formation whereas it increases upon core–shell composite formation with Au. Several probable explanations such as the differences in size distributions before and after the reaction or the changes occurring in shape anisotropy of the particles due to the shell formation or the different extents of electronic interaction between the core and shell materials have been offered for this observation

Liquid foam: a versatile template for the synthesis of different minerals

The crystallization of different carbonates namely lead carbonate, cadmium carbonate and strontium carbonate in aqueous foam stabilized by the surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) by a method of cation entrapment is described. Reaction of ammonium carbonate with the respective cations electrostatically entrapped in the foam results in the formation of minerals, possibly in the Plateau border and Plateau junction regions of the foam. The unusual morphology of the crystals obtained from foam based synthetic method as compared to the crystals prepared in aqueous solution shows the utility of the template for the growth of crystals with an unusual morphology due to constrained environment. The materials are well characterized using TEM, SEM, EDAX and FTIR techniques. The large interfacial area of the liquid lamellae in the foam provides a striking possibility for the large-scale synthesis for not only minerals but also other nanoscale materials