Prevalence of infections among 6-16 years old children attending a semi-rural school in Western Maharashtra, India

Background: Infections are an important cause of morbidity in rural India. Reports on the prevalence of infections in older childrenand their effects on growth are scarce. Objective: The objectives were to determine the prevalence of common infections among6-16 year old school-children in a semi-rural setting in Western India and to assess the influence of infections on the growth status ofthe children. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a semi-rural setting in a Zilla Parishad PrimarySchool, Karegaon, Maharashtra. 802 children (boys = 439), 6-16 years of age were assessed. Data on height, weight and infectionrelatedsymptoms reported by children (pre-tested, validated questionnaire) were collected. K-means cluster analysis was used to createthree clusters based on the severity of infections, and one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc Tukey’s multiple comparisons wasused to test the significance of differences in means of various characteristics of the subjects in three clusters. Results: 43% boys and49% girls reported symptoms of respiratory tract infections occasionally, and 28% boys and 27% girls complained of gastrointestinal(GI) infections occasionally. Children with more severe infections were more likely to be shorter and lighter; this was more marked ingirls. Conclusions: Rural school-going children (aged 6-16 years) suffer from high rates of infections, mainly upper respiratory tractinfections followed by GI tract infections

Effect of hydrogen on ground state structures of small silicon clusters

We present results for ground state structures of small Si$_{n}$H (2 \leq \emph{n} \leq 10) clusters using the Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. In particular, we focus on how the addition of a hydrogen atom affects the ground state geometry, total energy and the first excited electronic level gap of an Si$_{n}$ cluster. We discuss the nature of bonding of hydrogen in these clusters. We find that hydrogen bonds with two silicon atoms only in Si$_{2}$H, Si$_{3}$H and Si$_{5}$H clusters, while in other clusters (i.e. Si$_{4}$H, Si$_{6}$H, Si$_{7}$H, Si$_{8}$H, Si$_{9}$H and Si$_{10}$H) hydrogen is bonded to only one silicon atom. Also in the case of a compact and closed silicon cluster hydrogen bonds to the cluster from outside. We find that the first excited electronic level gap of Si$_{n}$ and Si$_{n}$H fluctuates as a function of size and this may provide a first principles basis for the short-range potential fluctuations in hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Our results show that the addition of a single hydrogen can cause large changes in the electronic structure of a silicon cluster, though the geometry is not much affected. Our calculation of the lowest energy fragmentation products of Si$_{n}$H clusters shows that hydrogen is easily removed from Si$_{n}$H clusters.Comment: one latex file named script.tex including table and figure caption. Six postscript figure files. figure_1a.ps and figure_1b.ps are files representing Fig. 1 in the main tex

Effect of myo-inositol and di-chiro inositol plus vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy on prevention of gestational diabetes: a multi-centric, prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Background: Aim of study was to evaluate the impact of myoinositol and D-chiro inositol plus vitamin D supplementation on the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in pregnant women. Methods: In the multi-centric, prospective, randomised, double-blind clinical trial, either vitamin D alone (group I) or myoinositol and D-chiro inositol plus Vitamin D (group II) were administered to pregnant women from 12 weeks of gestation. The administration was continued until delivery to primigravids who were normoglycemic at 12 weeks of gestation and consented. From October 2018 to December 2019. A total of 1250 women were enrolled, and randomly allocated to either of the groups: 630 women in Group I and 620 in Group II. The allocation was blinded. The primary outcome was the rate of GDM as assessed by oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) recommended by diabetes in pregnancy Study Group India (DIPSI), International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the Government of India, at first antenatal visit followed by at weeks 24 to 28 in both the groups. Results: The rate of GDM was found more in group I as compared to group II treated with myoinositol and D-chiro Inositol plus vitamin D, but the difference was not statistically significant (5.08% in group I and 3.22% in group II). Conclusions: In conclusion, an improved trend has been noticed in the reduction of the rate of GDM with myoinositol and D-chiro inositol plus vitamin D as compared to vitamin D alone. Myoinositol and D-chiro inositol plus vitamin D supplementation may be a good option for pregnant women to prevent the GDM occurrence especially in women having positive risk factors for GDM.

Into the Labyrinth: Tales of Organizational Nomadism

Labyrinths and mazes have constituted significant spaces for tales of transformation, from prehistoric designs through the myth of the Minotaur and the pilgrimage design in Chartres cathedral to contemporary novels and pictorial representations. Labyrinths and labyrinthine designs can also commonly be found in present-day organizations. This text, based on an ethnographic study as well as on an analysis of academic discourse, explores their significance as symbol and as physical structure. Drawing upon the notion of transitional space, it presents labyrinths as an indelible part of human experience, an archetype, and a sensemaking tool for understanding and explaining organizational complexity. The unavoidable presence of labyrinthine structures is presented as a counterpoise to the reductionist tendency towards simplification, streamlining and staying on-message, allowing or demanding space for reflection, doubt and uncertainty

Isoniazid hair concentrations in children with tuberculosis: a proof of concept study

Assessing treatment adherence and quantifying tuberculosis drug exposure among children is challenging. We undertook a “proof of concept” study to assess the drug concentrations of isoniazid in hair as a therapeutic drug monitoring tool. Children <12 years of age initiated on thrice-weekly treatment including isoniazid (10 mg/kg) for newly diagnosed tuberculosis were enrolled. Isoniazid concentrations in hair were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry at 1, 2, 4 and 6 months after tuberculosis treatment initiation. We found that isoniazid hair concentrations in all children on thrice weekly isoniazid were detectable and displayed variability across a dynamic range