HILT IV : subject interoperability through building and embedding pilot terminology web services

A report of work carried out within the JISC-funded HILT Phase IV project, the paper looks at the project's context against the background of other recent and ongoing terminologies work, describes its outcome and conclusions, including technical outcomes and terminological characteristics, and considers possible future research and development directions. The Phase IV project has taken HILT to the point where the launch of an operational support service in the area of subject interoperability is a feasible option and where both investigation of specific needs in this area and practical collaborative work are sensible and feasible next steps. Moving forward requires detailed work, not only on terminology interoperability and associated service delivery issues, but also on service and end user needs and engagement, service sustainability issues, and the practicalities of interworking with other terminology services and projects in UK, Europe, and global contexts

HILT : High-Level Thesaurus Project. Phase IV and Embedding Project Extension : Final Report

Ensuring that Higher Education (HE) and Further Education (FE) users of the JISC IE can find appropriate learning, research and information resources by subject search and browse in an environment where most national and institutional service providers - usually for very good local reasons - use different subject schemes to describe their resources is a major challenge facing the JISC domain (and, indeed, other domains beyond JISC). Encouraging the use of standard terminologies in some services (institutional repositories, for example) is a related challenge. Under the auspices of the HILT project, JISC has been investigating mechanisms to assist the community with this problem through a JISC Shared Infrastructure Service that would help optimise the value obtained from expenditure on content and services by facilitating subject-search-based resource sharing to benefit users in the learning and research communities. The project has been through a number of phases, with work from earlier phases reported, both in published work elsewhere, and in project reports (see the project website: http://hilt.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/). HILT Phase IV had two elements - the core project, whose focus was 'to research, investigate and develop pilot solutions for problems pertaining to cross-searching multi-subject scheme information environments, as well as providing a variety of other terminological searching aids', and a short extension to encompass the pilot embedding of routines to interact with HILT M2M services in the user interfaces of various information services serving the JISC community. Both elements contributed to the developments summarised in this report

A Comparative study of Increase in Central Corneal Thickness following Congenital Cataract Surgery in Pseudophakic and Aphakic Eyes

INTRODUCTION: A Congenital cataract is defined as any loss of transparency or opacification of the lens fibres present at birth. The incidence rate of paediatric cataracts in developing countries like India is high and 7.4-15.3% of childhood blindness is due to cataract. Although cataract extraction in children is performed at early ages to prevent stimulus deprivation amblyopia, other complications, such as secondary glaucoma, continue to threaten the visual outcome. The thickened cornea after congenital cataract extraction can lead to overestimation of Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) readings. This can cause over diagnosis of aphakic glaucoma along with overuse of anti-glaucoma medications. Overestimation or underestimation IOP in these patients can have a significant impact on their treatment and overall prognosis. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To determine the central corneal thickness in pseudophakics and aphakics following congenital cataract surgery in children. 2. To compare the central corneal thickness in pseudophakics and aphakics following congenital cataract surgery with age matched healthy controls. MATERIALS & METHOD: This is a comparative cross sectional study and the study was conducted among 32 post-operative cases of congenital cataract attending the OPD as well as wards of department of Ophthalmology as well as Institute of Paediatrics in Government Rajaji Hospital Madurai. Subjects are evaluated for entry into the study. Subjects who fulfilled all eligibility criteria, and none of the exclusion criteria, were recruited in our study. METHODOLOGY: 32 cases following congenital cataract surgery, including 19 aphakic eyes and 41 pseudophakic eyes were recruited for the study after obtaining consent from their guardians. Written informed consent was obtained from the parents / guardians of the cases recruited into the study. Visual acuity was recorded in cooperative children. A detailed evaluation of the anterior and posterior segment was carried out. Intra ocular pressure was recorded with the help of Goldmann applanation tonometry in cooperative children and hand held applanation tonometer in uncooperative small children. Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were taken with Ultrasonic pachymetry. After explaining the procedure, local anaesthetic drops (0.5% propararcaine) was instilled into the eyes. After 5 minutes, child is reassured and asked to fix at a distant target. CCT is measured by placing the tip of the probe gently on the centre of cornea. An average of 5 readings is taken. Uncooperative children were examined under sedation. RESULTS: A total of 32 post operative cases of congenital cataract were studied, which included 19 aphakic eyes and 41 pseudophakic eyes. The age distribution of cases and controls varied from 4-12 years majority being in the range between 6-8 years of age with a male preponderance. The age at which lensectomy was done in study group varied from 1-5 years, most of them being in the range of 2-3 years. The mean CCT of study group was found to be 583.50 μm ranging from 500-612 μm. The central corneal thickness in aphakic group ranged from 550 μm to 612 μm, mean value being 595.68 μm. The central corneal thickness in pseudophakic group ranged from 490 μm to 588 μm, mean value in primary pseudophakics being 521.42 μm and for secondary pseudophakics it was 554.62 μm. CCT was found to be higher in secondary pseudophakics when compared to their primary counterparts. The IOP values in the study group ranged between 12-32 mm of Hg, the mean IOP being 22.88 mm of Hg. There was a significant difference in CCT between the study group and control group. There was a significant positive correlation (r=0.525) between CCT and IOP in the study group. CONCLUSION: Children who have undergone lens extraction for congenital cataract are found to have a clinically significant increase in central corneal thickness which can in turn provide overestimated intraocular pressure readings by applanation tonometry. Aphakic eyes have a thicker cornea when compared to their pseudophakic counterpart showing primary lens implantation can be a protective factor against this increase. So measuring central corneal thickness should be made mandatory and necessary intra ocular pressure corrections made before prescribing antiglaucoma medications in children who are highly susceptible to their serious side effects

Intestinal bacterial diversity of Charybdis ( Charybdis ) feriata (Linnaeus, 1758) from Kerala coast

Considering the increasing demand and scope for aquaculture of crucifix crab Charybdis (Charybdis) feriata (Linnaeus, 1758) an attempt was made to study its intestinal bacterial diversity. The intestinal bacterial diversity of C. feriata from three different sites along the Kerala coast was examined using conventional biochemical techniques as well as by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The total bacterial count in the intestine of C. feriata ranged from 1.5×106 to 3.2×106cfu.g-1 (colony forming unit per g tissue). The predominant isolates were genera Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Microbacterium and Dermacoccus . Among these two isolates one having protease and other with amylase and cellulase activity were selected for molecular characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. They were identified as Microbacterium oxydans KU937308 and Dermacoccus abyssi KU937309 respectively. Since protease, amylase and cellulase are important in the areas of food processing, detergent, textile, pharmaceutical products, dairy, beverages and feed industries the isolates can be further screened for such applications. Dermacoccus abyssi has been found to be useful in biocleaning of industrial dye baths and Microbacterium oxydans in reutilization of brownseaweed waste

A SKOS Core approach to implementing an M2M

The proliferation of distributed digital libraries and repositories has increased the need for improved interoperability between terminologies in order to facilitate user access to the discrete heterogeneous digital objects held therein. The emergence of the Simple Knowledge Organization System (SKOS) Core is a useful development in this context. In this paper we describe a SKOS Core approach to implementing a web services (i.e. M2M) terminology server employing terminology mapping and using SKOS Core to wrap terminology responses. Aspects advantageous to this approach are explored, as are issues and areas for future research

Educational Equality among Social Classes: A Prerequisite for Social Reconstruction in Nigeria Multi-Ethnic Society

Education is and will continue to be a major determinant of social mobility in Nigeria with a deep attachment to paper qualifications. It determines social class and breaks barriers of all kind of divides in the society. Education largely and increasingly determines an individual's job choice and income. It has more impact than any other factor, possibly excepting wealth, on whether one participates in politics, what one believes politically, and how much political influence one has. Social change and for multi-ethnic society to strive for meaningful and sustained development of the society, educational administrators, planners and all necessary institutions saddle with responsibilities of designing the curriculum in Nigeria are to brace themselves for a huge task of social reconstruction that will harmonized the ethnic divides and alley fears of inequality as a source of disharmony in the society. Education is the arena in which countries has sought to overcome racial domination and class hierarchy, reduce poverty, to turn immigrants into citizens, to turn children into responsible and active citizens, to create and maintain democracy, also demonstrates ways in which class biases are closely entwined with racial and ethnic challenges that reduce progress and development in Nigeria among ethnic groups as a matter of fact, is the best solutions to all challenges in our society

Effectiveness of moderate massage therapy and light massage therapy in weight gain of pre term infants: A Comparative study.

INTRODUCTION: In humans preterm birth refers to the birth of a baby of less than 37 weeks gestational age. The medical definition that determines a 'preterm baby' from a 'miscarriage' (in Australia) is the baby being more than 20 weeks gestation and / or more than 400 grams in weight. The World Health Organization suggests 22 weeks and 500 grams in birth weight. Approximately 10 to 12 percent of Indian neonates are born before 37 completed weeks. The cause for preterm birth is in many situations elusive and unknown; causes are mainly two types spontaneous and induced. In spontaneous main causes are ante partum hemorrhage, cervical incompetence, maternal disease, low maternal weight gain and malnutrition, multiple pregnancies and congenital malformations. The induced causes are maternal diabetes and severe heart diseases, unsatisfactory fetal growth, antepartum hemorrhage, fetal hypoxia and fetal distress. OBJECTIVES : 1. A study about weight gain in preterm babies while receiving moderate and light pressure massage therapy. 2. The behavioral states and heart rate were recorded in preterm while receiving the treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY: Thirty preterm infants (Mean Gestational Age =32wks, Mean Birth Weight =1000 grams) were randomly assigned. Assessment Tools used: • Sleep-wake behaviors- Thoman’s sleep state criteria • Heart rate of baby during pre and post treatment • Weight of the baby during pre and post treatment. MATERIALS: • Towel • Data collection and recording sheet • Pediatric balance beam scale for assessing body weight • Stethoscope for assessing heart rate. METHODS: Study design - This is a study with two groups. One received moderate pressure massage therapy and other received light pressure massage therapy. The results were compared. Study setting - The study was carried out in Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Sri Ramakrishna hospital, Coimbatore. Sampling technique - Convenient random sampling. Sample size - 30 pre-term infants were assigned into two groups of 15 each. Study duration - The study was conducted for a period of four months. Inclusion criteria: Gestational age between 28-32 weeks • Their birth weight between 550-1800 gms • Their NICU stay was 5-50 days • Their current weight study entry between 1000 and 1900 gms • They are medically stable • They were not receive antibiotics and phototherapy. Exclusion criteria: Exhibited genetic anomalies, congenital malformations and • central nervous system dysfunctions • Human Immuno deficiency Virus +ve • Had history of maternal alcohol or drug or syphilis or hepatitis • Birth weight above 2000gms • Current birth weight study entry below 1000 and above 2000 gms. CONCLUSION : According on the statistical analysis and review of literature, it has been clearly established that moderate pressure massage therapy is much more efficient than light pressure massage therapy for weight gain of pre-term infants

Family Planning Policies and Sex Selective Abortions in India: Does the former elevate the latter?

The implementation of the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 in a patriarchal country like India does not necessarily eliminate sex-selective abortions. The prevalence of a higher preference  of sons in India can be identified in previous  studies. Over the years a drastic fall in Total  Fertility Rates both in urban and rural areas of India can be observed along with various     inventions of sex determination techniques.    All this has resulted in a decline in child sex  ratio across the country. China is a great example of a country with alarming gender imbalances, which emerged due to similar changes in Total Fertility Rate, level of son preference and diagnostic techniques along with the implementation of the One-Child Policy, which made the gender imbalance even worse. The population explosion in India has forced several state governments to consider the implementation of a Two Child Policy. The relationship between Sex Selective Abortions (SSA) and Family Planning Policies is not a well-established phenomenon in India as per several studies that have been conducted as of today. Our objective in this paper is to see whether the stringent implementation of nation-wide Family Planning Policies will lead to a rise in sex selective abortions in India. Further we would also like to analyse how in India by imposing a Family Planning Policy like a one or a two-child policy will the Child Sex Ratio (age 0-6) get affected? To achieve these objectives, we have used the NFHS-4 reports as our data sources

Characterization of functionally diverse intestinal bacterial flora of Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Rock lobster Panulirus homarus is a commercially important species exploited in India and abroad, and has proven mariculture potential. The present study was focused on isolation, screening, biochemical and molecular level characterization of putative probiotic bacteria from the intestine of P. homarus sampled along the south west coat of India. The total plate count in the intestine ranged from 8 ×104 to 3.8 × 106 cfu g-1 (colony forming unit per g tissue). The intestinal bacterial flora as identified by the physiological and biochemical characters, consisted of strains belonging to Enterobactericeae, Bacillaceae, Vibrionaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, Micrococcaceae and Moraxellaceae families. Among these, four strains which were functionally diverse viz. pigmented, proteolytic and denitrifying strains were characterized by molecular methods following 16S rDNA sequencing and were identified as Bacillus aerophilus KU296018, Micrococcus aloeverae KU296019, Psychrobacter sanguinins KU296021 and Pseudomonas caeni KU296020. In aquaculture beneficial bacteria could be introduced into artificial diets. The enzyme producing microorganisms isolated from the crustacean digestive tracts in the present study may be beneficially used as a probiotic supplement while formulating the diet, especially in the larval stages