Reinventing Lombroso in the Era of Genetic Revolution: Whether Criminal Justice System Actually Imparts Justice or is Based on ‘Convenience of Assumption’?

In the last century there has been growing appreciation for the role that genes play not only in the development of certain physical characteristics and diseases, but also in human behaviour. The recent advancements in the field of genetics show that genes do play a role in criminal behaviour, which has further shaken the free-will foundation upon which the criminal justice system is based. Does this mean that we are reinventing Lombroso and his theory of ‘atavism’ in the era of genetic revolution? This paper provides a critical analysis of India’s judiciary’s position on ‘criminal genes’ explanations as acceptable arguments that can be used by defence lawyers in criminal cases. We have found that ‘criminal genes’ arguments do not yet constitute a complete defence given the low level of accomplishment in this regard in the field of genetics. However, genetic arguments can be used as a reliable defence for mitigating the sentence

The challenge of youth unemployment in Nigeria

Nigeria is home to a significant and growing "youth"population, over a third of it below 24 years of age. The demographic potential for productivity and growth this group represents occurs alongside large-scale unemployment among young people of working age. The "unemployment crisis"has deep historical roots and exists within a wider context of poor governance, insecurity, conflict, and poverty. Policy norms and practices to address youth unemployment in Nigeria largely centre on skill development and job creation, with complementary schemes selectively targeted to specific groups of vulnerable and poor individuals. Measures are typically ad hoc, detached from a coherent programme of sustainable reform. Pre-existing structural factors and capacity constraints also shape the effectiveness of these programmes. While a productivist focus within current policy is potentially empowering in giving young Nigerians "worker"status, it also detracts from attending to deep-rooted structural problems seen to affect young people in disproportionate ways. Securing meaningful choices and lives for Nigerian youth requires reframing youth unemployment beyond labour markets alone, and embedded in ideas of equality and collective action

Prevalence of cough more than two weeks among OPD attendees, and smear microscopy outcome among them

Abstract Tuberculosis (TB) is a public health emergency, which challenges the health indicators of India. Delayed diagnosis of TB may result in more extensive disease, more complications, and lead to a higher mortality. It also leads to an increased period of infectivity in the community. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of the country has modified the definition of a pulmonary TB suspect so as to include an additional proportion of people with cough of 2 weeks duration, which will help in reducing the delay in starting treatment. This study was carried out with the objective of estimating the prevalence of cough more than 2 weeks among OPD attendees, and smear microscopy outcome among them and to assess the treatment seeking behavior of patients with cough ≥ 2 weeks. The present cross-sectional study was carried out at Out-Patient Department of GianSagar Medical College and Hospital, Banur, Distt. Patiala , Punjab. All adult chest symptomatics with cough of two weeks or more than two weeks duration attending in OPD were screened for pulmonary tuberculosis by examining the two sputum smears in designated microscopy center as per RNTCP guidelines. A total of 16030 adult patients attended outpatients department (OPD) in the months of May and June 2013. Out of these, 561(3.5%) patients reported cough. Among patients who reported cough, 70(12.5%) patients reported cough ≥ 2 weeks duration.Of those who coughed for two weeks or more, 10 (14.2%) had smear positive PTB .Of the patients who had cough ≥ 2 weeks duration, only 21.4% of patients reported to a health facility for treatment within 1 st week of symptoms and majority (50%) of them preferred going to private practitioners.It may be concluded that reservoir of tuberculosis infection can only be reduced by early detection and prompt and complete treatment of sputum positive cases

Estimating yield-contributing physiological parameters of cotton using UAV-based imagery

Lint yield in cotton is governed by light intercepted by the canopy (IPAR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI). However, the conventional methods of measuring these yield-governing physiological parameters are labor-intensive, time-consuming and requires destructive sampling. This study aimed to explore the use of low-cost and high-resolution UAV-based RGB and multispectral imagery 1) to estimate fraction of IPAR (IPARf), RUE, and biomass throughout the season, 2) to estimate lint yield using the cotton fiber index (CFI), and 3) to determine the potential use of biomass and lint yield models for estimating cotton HI. An experiment was conducted during the 2021 and 2022 growing seasons in Tifton, Georgia, USA in randomized complete block design with five different nitrogen treatments. Different nitrogen treatments were applied to generate substantial variability in canopy development and yield. UAV imagery was collected bi-weekly along with light interception and biomass measurements throughout the season, and 20 different vegetation indices (VIs) were computed from the imagery. Generalized linear regression was performed to develop models using VIs and growing degree days (GDDs). The IPARf models had R2 values ranging from 0.66 to 0.90, and models based on RVI and RECI explained the highest variation (93%) in IPARf during cross-validation. Similarly, cotton above-ground biomass was best estimated by models from MSAVI and OSAVI. Estimation of RUE using actual biomass measurement and RVI-based IPARf model was able to explain 84% of variation in RUE. CFI from UAV-based RGB imagery had strong relationship (R2 = 0.69) with machine harvested lint yield. The estimated HI from CFI-based lint yield and MSAVI-based biomass models was able to explain 40 to 49% of variation in measured HI for the 2022 growing season. The models developed to estimate the yield-contributing physiological parameters in cotton showed low to strong performance, with IPARf and above-ground biomass having greater prediction accuracy. Future studies on accurate estimation of lint yield is suggested for precise cotton HI prediction. This study is the first attempt of its kind and the results can be used to expand and improve research on predicting functional yield drivers of cotton

Poverty and Inequality in Middle Income Countries: Policy Achievements, Political Obstacles

This collection offers a timely reassessment of viable ways of addressing poverty across the globe today. The profile of global poverty has changed dramatically over the past decade, and around three-quarters of the poor now live in middle income countries, making inequality a major issue. This requires us to fundamentally rethink anti-poverty strategies and policies, as many aspects of the established framework for poverty reduction are no longer effective. Featuring contributions from Latin America, Africa and Asia, this much-needed collection answers some of the key questions arising as development policy confronts the challenges of poverty and inequality on the global, national and local scale in both urban and rural contexts. Providing poverty researchers and practitioners with valuable new tools to address new forms of poverty in the right way, Poverty and Inequality in Middle Income Countries shows how a radical switch from aid to redistribution-based social policies is needed to combat new forms of global poverty.Comparative Research Programme on Poverty (CROP) at the University of BergenpublishedVersio

Expanding health care services for poor populations in developing countries: Exploring India’s RSBY national health insurance programme for low-income groups

Health is deemed central to a nation’s development. Accordingly, health care reform and expansion are key policy priorities in developing countries. Many such nations are now testing various methods of funding and delivering health care to local disadvantaged populations. Similarly, India launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) national health insurance programme for low-income groups in 2008. The RSBY intends preventing catastrophic health-related expenditure by improving recipients’ access to hospital-based care. This thesis is an in-depth qualitative evaluation of the RSBY in Delhi state. It examines the RSBY’s effectiveness in fulfilling its goals and meeting local health care needs. Walt and Gilson’s (1994) actors-content-process-context model informs the research design and an actor-centred “responsive” (Stake 1975) or “constructivist” approach guides data analysis. Three research questions are examined: (i). Why was a health insurance programme launched and why now? Why was this model favoured over alternate methods of service expansion? (ii). Is the RSBY delivered as intended? If not, why? (iii) How does the RSBY affect patients’ access to services? The findings are based on documentary sources, observation of implementation sites and activities and 164 semi-structured interviews with RSBY policymakers, insurers, NGOs, doctors, and patients. The results show improved access to curative and surgical care for RSBY patients. However, RSBY’s focus on hospitalisation and omission of primary and outpatient services had undesired negative effects. The lack of ambulatory facilities led RSBY patients to self-medicate or use dubious quality informal providers. By only allowing inpatient care, the RSBY also seemingly encouraged the substitution of outpatient care with costlier hospitalisations. In effect, the RSBY’s design contributed to cost increases and poor patient outcomes. While more funds and human resources were needed to improve RSBY implementation, the performance of frontline agencies could potentially improve through more stable, longer-term contracts. Similarly, modifying RSBY’s monetary incentives for doctors may lead to better service delivery by them. By evaluating the RSBY’s strong points and shortcomings, this thesis provides key lessons on strengthening policy design and health service delivery in developing countries. Thereby, it makes a broader contribution to understanding the determinants of successful policymaking.</p

Expanding health care services for poor populations in developing countries: Exploring India’s RSBY national health insurance programme for low-income groups

Health is deemed central to a nation’s development. Accordingly, health care reform and expansion are key policy priorities in developing countries. Many such nations are now testing various methods of funding and delivering health care to local disadvantaged populations. Similarly, India launched the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) national health insurance programme for low-income groups in 2008. The RSBY intends preventing catastrophic health-related expenditure by improving recipients’ access to hospital-based care. This thesis is an in-depth qualitative evaluation of the RSBY in Delhi state. It examines the RSBY’s effectiveness in fulfilling its goals and meeting local health care needs. Walt and Gilson’s (1994) actors-content-process-context model informs the research design and an actor-centred “responsive” (Stake 1975) or “constructivist” approach guides data analysis. Three research questions are examined: (i). Why was a health insurance programme launched and why now? Why was this model favoured over alternate methods of service expansion? (ii). Is the RSBY delivered as intended? If not, why? (iii) How does the RSBY affect patients’ access to services? The findings are based on documentary sources, observation of implementation sites and activities and 164 semi-structured interviews with RSBY policymakers, insurers, NGOs, doctors, and patients. The results show improved access to curative and surgical care for RSBY patients. However, RSBY’s focus on hospitalisation and omission of primary and outpatient services had undesired negative effects. The lack of ambulatory facilities led RSBY patients to self-medicate or use dubious quality informal providers. By only allowing inpatient care, the RSBY also seemingly encouraged the substitution of outpatient care with costlier hospitalisations. In effect, the RSBY’s design contributed to cost increases and poor patient outcomes. While more funds and human resources were needed to improve RSBY implementation, the performance of frontline agencies could potentially improve through more stable, longer-term contracts. Similarly, modifying RSBY’s monetary incentives for doctors may lead to better service delivery by them. By evaluating the RSBY’s strong points and shortcomings, this thesis provides key lessons on strengthening policy design and health service delivery in developing countries. Thereby, it makes a broader contribution to understanding the determinants of successful policymaking.This thesis is not currently available in ORA

Biomedical waste management practices in a tertiary-care hospital in Punjab

Background: Biomedical waste (BMW) has recently emerged as an issue of major concern not only to hospitals and nursing homes, but also to the environmental and law enforcing agencies, media, and the general public. BMW forms approximately 1%–2% of the total municipal solid waste stream. Objectives: The aims of the study were the following: to get background information about the disposal of hospital waste; to determine the awareness regarding waste management practices; to document the waste management practices; and to suggest the possible remedial measures, if required. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical college hospital in Patiala district. A survey of the personnel handling and monitoring the BMW was carried out using a scientifically prescribed questionnaire. Results: More than 90% of the nurses and laboratory technicians were well aware of the proper disposal of the sharps and infected waste, but only 50% of the sweepers could satisfactorily answer about the same. Among nurses, approximately 90% were aware that improper management of BMW causes environmental pollution and injuries, whereas 60% of nurses and laboratory technicians could enlist the diseases transmitted by improper handling of BMW. Approximately 40–60% of ward boys and sweepers were aware of the effects of poor handling of BMW on environment and the injuries caused by it, but none of them could tell the diseases transmitted by the improper recycling of hospital waste or by improper handling of BMW. Conclusion: The human element is found to be far more important than the technology. Almost any system of treatment and disposal of BMW that is operated by well-trained and well-motivated staff can provide greater protection to staff, patients, and the community than an expensive and sophisticated system that is managed by staff who do not understand the risk and the importance of their contribution

Anxiety and Depression among new entrants in a Medical College

Background: Depression is commonly reported by university students due to change in environment, academic demands, developing new relations and more financial freedom. If that professional course happens to be medical education, the transition is even more drastic. Studies have also shown that Quality of Life (QOL) is negatively affected by the presence of anxiety and depression. Aim: Present study aims to find the prevalence of anxiety, depression and stress among students who have recently joined medical college. Materials &amp; Method: This cross-sectional study was undertaken at Private medical college in north India. Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS) was used for the data collection. MBBS students who have joined the institution in August 2019 were included in the study. Statistical Analysis Used: Data was entered in excel and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 21. Result: We found that almost half of the students who participated in the study had scores above 10 (meaning thereby depressed) on the depression scale, with 23.5% of respondents showing moderate or severe depression. Two-third students experienced anxiety, with 20% students having severe to very severe anxiety. Stress levels amongst the students were also high, with 47% of the students reporting stress. 3.4% students experienced severe or very severe stress. Conclusion: Medical students have high prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression. It is recommended that medical colleges should implement appropriate and timely measures to address students’ well-being and offer comprehensive intervention and preventive programs to help students cope with this transition phase

Prevalence of obesity and need for screening using tools like Indian Diabetes Risk Scale in Diabetes prevention among medical students

Introduction: The prevalence of lifestyle diseases in increasing throughout the world. They are increasingly taking over communicable diseases as the major cause of morbidity and mortality. Medical students usually have sedentary lifestyle coupled with high level of stress, owing to academic requirements. Hence, they are at a much higher risk of developing lifestyle diseases. Materials and Methods: Study subjects were administered a validated questionnaire to collect information related with the components of IDRS. Based on the score, they were divided into high risk, moderate risk and low risk. Data was analysed using the SPSS version 21. Result: Half of all the students were in the moderate risk group. The rest was distributed among low risk (17.33 %) and high risk (27.33%). Among those with low risk of developing T2DM, 73% were males, whereas females constituted 70.7% of those with high risk of developing T2DM. The association of developing T2DM was also highly significant with obesity. Statistically significant association of high T2DM risk were found with gender being female, family history of T2DM and BMI≥23 Kg/m2 Conclusion: IDRS has been shown to be an effective tool for screening populations. Hence, regular programs with IDRS along with blood sugar and lipid profile of moderate and high risk group along with stress management can be effective in supporting medical students to cope with demanding study and work conditions among medical students and doctors