Open access journals in library and information science: a study

Open access spurred by the Internet has brought in new vistas for dissemination of scholarly content in almost all thedisciplines. It has enabled agencies, publishers and individuals to distribute scholarly content online, free from licensingrestrictions and cost. Like other fields, the growth of open access has also benefited the field of library and informationscience (LIS). In this paper an attempt has been made to assess the current status of open access journals in LIS covered inDirectory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) based on various parameters

The status epilepticus in childhood outcomes study (STEPSOUT): long-term mortality, neurological, cognitive and neuroimaging outcomes

Childhood convulsive status epilepticus (CSE) is associated with considerable short-term mortality and morbidity, but data on long-term outcomes are uncertain. In addition, while the current evidence suggests that prolonged febrile seizures (PFS) can result in acute hippocampal injury, whether this evolves into mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) and cause temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in the long-term is uncertain. In the status epilepticus in childhood outcomes study (STEPSOUT), prospective follow-up of a previously identified unique population-based cohort was performed to investigate mortality, morbidity, and structural consequences within 10 years after childhood CSE. Data from STEPSOUT suggest that aetiology is the main determinant of long-term outcomes following CSE in childhood, and CSE characteristics including seizure duration did not affect outcomes. Mortality within 10 years after childhood CSE was 46 times higher than expected in the reference population, but was predominantly seen in children with pre-existing neurological impairments at CSE presentation and the cause of death was usually not seizure related. Similarly, the long-term outcome was generally less favourable for children who had epilepsy and/or neurological impairments at CSE presentation, but was surprisingly good for those who were neurologically normal prior to their initial CSE and survived beyond 30 days after CSE. Children with PFS had a generally favourable outcome, and only a small minority developed TLE and/or MTS. Neuroimaging data demonstrated little evidence of evolving MTS, but suggested that children with PFS may have a higher prevalence of hippocampal developmental malformations. In addition, widespread diffusion tensor imaging changes reflecting disruption of white matter microstructure were apparent in children with PFS. The novel findings in this work are in some instances, contrary to the long-standing perceptions/beliefs about childhood CSE. The implications of these findings for our understanding of the natural history and long-term prognosis after childhood CSE will be further explored in the body of this thesis

CLINICAL ASPECT OF GUNA SIDDHANTA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO TRISUTRA AYURVEDA

Ayurveda emphasises on maintaining the healthy life and curing the disease of diseased. Various Siddhantas (Principles) have been mentioned in Ayurveda Treatise. Shatpadartha is one among the Siddhantas which hold basis for Dhatusamyata (equilibrium in bodily humours). Guna (attributes) is one amongst Shatpadartha explained in classical texts, which is Nischestyaa (inactive) remains with Samvayi Sambandha (inseparable relation) in Dravya. Acharya Charaka has enlisted 41 Guna and classified them into Sartha Guna, Paradi Guna, Gurvadi Guna and Prayatnadi Guna. Trisutra Ayurveda shows marked relation with Guna Siddhanta. The concept of Guna Siddhanta forms an underlying source of principles in practice to infer the Trisutra i.e. Hetu (Etiological factors), Linga (Symptoms) and Aushada (Treatment). The present article aims to confer the clinical understanding of Guna Siddhanta based on Samhita to provide an insight by Hetu, Linga, Aushada and bring about Dhatusamyata

Genetic variation and diversity for grain iron, zinc, protein and agronomic traits in advanced breeding lines of pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] for biofortification breeding

Genetic improvements of iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) content in pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] may reduce the problems of anemia and stunted growth among millet dependent staple food consumers. The availability of variation in diversebreeding lines is essential to improve grain micronutrients in high-yielding cultivars. This study aimed to determine the extent of variability, heritability and diversity for grain Fe, Zn and protein, along with key agronomic traits, in 281 advanced breeding lines bred at ICRISAT and evaluated across two seasons (environments). A pooled analysis of variance displayed significant variation for all these traits. Highest variability was recorded for Fe (35–116 mg kg-1), Zn (21–80 mg kg-1), and protein (6–18%), and a three-fold variation was observed for panicle length, panicle girth and 1000-grain-weight (TGW). Diversity analysis showed 10 clusters. Cluster-III had maximum lines (25%) and Cluster-V showed the highest mean values for Fe, Zn, protein and TGW. These results highlight the success of breeding program that aimed both the maintenance and creation of genetic variability and diversity. A significant positive correlation among Fe, Zn, protein and TGW indicated the potential for simultaneous improvement. Grain yield had a non-significant association with Fe and Zn, while protein showed a negative correlation. These results suggest that significant variability exists in elite-breeding lines, thus highlighting an opportunity to breed for biofortified varieties without compromising on the grain yield. The lines with high Fe, Zn and protein content can be used as hybrid parents and may also help in further genetic investigations

Epidemiological Profile of Pesticide Poisoning Cases in Bijapur, Karnataka in Southwest India: a Retrospective Study

Background: Pesticide poisoning is a major public health problem in developing countries. Its usage has increased in recent and thus increased even its misuse to commit suicide. The aim of his study was to determine the epidemiological profile of fatal pesticide poisoning in and around Bijapur district.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Department of Forensic Medicine, B.M. Patil Medical College. Bijapur, Karnataka in southwest India, with the fatal pesticide poisoning cases from 2003 to 2009. All collected data was analyzed in all possible aspects, to identify risk factors, most common offending agent and other epidemiological factors etc.Results: During the study period a total 980 medico legal autopsies were conducted, amongst them poisoning were 240 (24.48%) cases. Out of these, 210 cases were due to fatal pesticide poisoning (87.55%). All collected data was analyzed in all possible aspects, to identify risk factors, most common offending agent and other epidemiological factors.Conclusion: Agrochemical poisons, more so organophosphates are responsible for most of the poison related fatalities in the present study. Besides this, the establishment of specialized toxicological units for detection and management of poisoning cases at all hospitals and primary health care centers could considerably minimize the morbidity and mortality due to poisoning

Enantioselective total synthesis of polyoxygenated cyclohexanoids: (+)-streptol, ent-RKTS-33 and putative '(+)-parasitenone'. identity of parasitenone with (+)-epoxydon

Short, simple and enantioselective syntheses of the natural product (+)-streptol, the non-peptide apoptosis inhibitor ent-RKTS-33 and the putative structure of 'parasitenone' have been accomplished from the readily available chiral building block. 'Parasitenone' has been shown to be identical with the known natural product epoxydon

Dietary Management of Children With Super-Refractory Status Epilepticus: A Systematic Review and Experience in a Single UK Tertiary Centre

Ketogenic diet therapies (KDT) are high-fat, low carbohydrate diets used as an effective treatment option for drug-resistant epilepsy. There is limited research on the efficacy of KDT for super-refractory status epilepticus (SRSE). We systematically review evidence for use of KDT in children with SRSE and present a single UK tertiary centre's experience. Thirty one articles were included, of which 24 were “medium” or “low” quality. One hundred and forty seven children with SRSE started KDT, of which 141 (96%) achieved ketosis. KDT was started mean 5.3 days (range 1–420) after status epilepticus (SE) started. SRSE resolved in 85/141 (60%) children after mean 6.3 days (range 0–19) post SE onset, but it is unclear whether further treatments were initiated post-KDT. 13/141 (9%) children died. Response to KDT was more likely when initiated earlier (p = 0.03) and in females (p = 0.01). Adverse side effects were reported in 48/141 (34%), mostly gastrointestinal; potentially serious adverse effects occurred in ≤4%. Eight children with SRSE, all diagnosed with febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome, were treated with KDT at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. KDT was initiated enterally at mean day 13.6+/− 5.1 of admission. Seven of 8 (88%) children reported adverse side effects, which were potentially serious in 4/8 (50%), including metabolic acidosis, hypoglycaemia and raised amylase. SE ceased in 6/8 (75%) children after mean 25+/− 9.4 days post onset, but other treatments were often started concomitantly and all children started other treatments post-KDT. Two of 8 (25%) children died during admission and another died post-admission. Four of the remaining 5 children continue to have drug-resistant seizures, one of whom remains on KDT; seizure burden was unknown for one child. Our findings indicate that KDT is possible and safe in children with SRSE. Cessation of SRSE may occur in almost two-thirds of children initiated with KDT, but a causal effect is difficult to determine due to concomitant treatments, treatments started post-KDT and the variable length of time post-KDT onset when SRSE cessation occurs. Given that serious adverse side effects seem rare and response rates are (cautiously) favorable, KDT should be considered as an early treatment option in this group

Obstetric emergencies during the COVID-19 lockdown period: a case series

Obstetric emergencies during COVID-19 pandemic pose an enormous challenge to the concerned obstetrician. Risk stratification during obstetric triage will guide in the initial assessment & planning of further management to reduce maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality rates. As the health system adapts to cope with this pandemic, special attention needs to be given to the several moral and ethical dilemmas that may occur during patient care

Narrative review of epilepsy: getting the most out of your neuroimaging

Neuroimaging represents an important step in the evaluation of pediatric epilepsy. The crucial role of brain imaging in the diagnosis, follow-up and presurgical assessment of patients with epilepsy is noted and has to be familiar to all neuroradiologists and trainees approaching pediatric brain imaging. Morphological qualitative imaging shows the majority of cerebral lesions/alterations underlying focal epilepsy and can highlight some features which are useful in the differential diagnosis of the different types of epilepsy. Recent advances in MRI acquisitions including diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), post-acquisition image processing techniques, and quantification of imaging data are increasing the accuracy of lesion detection during the last decades. Functional MRI (fMRI) can be really useful and helps to identify cortical eloquent areas that are essential for language, motor function, and memory, and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) can reveal white matter tracts that are vital for these functions, thus reducing the risk of epilepsy surgery causing new morbidities. Also positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG) and fMRI, and electrical and magnetic source imaging can be used to assess the exact localization of epileptic foci and help in the design of intracranial EEG recording strategies. The main role of these “hybrid” techniques is to obtain quantitative and qualitative informations, a necessary step to evaluate and demonstrate the complex relationship between abnormal structural and functional data and to manage a “patient-tailored” surgical approach in epileptic patients