Ayodhya: The Imageability and Perceptions of Cultural Landscapes

Most of the visitors (pilgrims in the majority) and the dwellers (mostly Hindus) perform some sorts of rituals at varying degrees and become involved in the religious activities to gain solace or soul healing. Of course, as sidetrack visitors also perform other activities of recreation and side-show. However, these are the marginal activities. It is obviously noted that personality of pilgrims and dwellers in the context of economic, social, cultural, job status, and perspective of life, has a direct effect on the nature of environmental sensitivity to its sacred landscapes and mythologies that support and make them alive. Ongoing rituals, continuous performances of Ramalila in the evening, pilgrimages and auspicious glimpses to the divine images, and associated happenings together make the whole are a part of the sacred environment. These are categorised within the frame of responsive perception, testing Kevin Lynch’s scale of imageability represented with the five elements, viz. path, edge, node, district, and landmark. The perceptual survey of dwellers and pilgrims are codified into a composite cognitive map that reflects the generalised images of various behavioural attributes that fit the cultural and natural landscapes of the city; this is similar to other holy cities of north India like Varanasi, Mathura, and Chitrakut

Lack of research aptitude in medical education

Students are attracted towards the medical profession to become a doctor and not to be a researcher. According to a recent study there are about 1,00,000 undergraduate medical students in India at a given point of time, out of them only 0.9% of the students have shown research aptitude. During their training period of graduation in medical sciences, they are so much burdened with the work load of exams, practicals, ward duties and tutorials. In such an over burdened situation very few of them can think about research. A study had shown that training in research methodology received early in medical school helps students to develop a positive attitude towards research. So changes in the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum are required to promote research among medical students

Optimising mobile laser scanning for underground mines

Despite several technological advancements, underground mines are still largely relied on visual inspections or discretely placed direct-contact measurement sensors for routine monitoring. Such approaches are manual and often yield inconclusive, unreliable and unscalable results besides exposing mine personnel to field hazards. Mobile laser scanning (MLS) promises an automated approach that can generate comprehensive information by accurately capturing large-scale 3D data. Currently, the application of MLS has relatively remained limited in mining due to challenges in the post-registration of scans and the unavailability of suitable processing algorithms to provide a fully automated mapping solution. Additionally, constraints such as the absence of a spatial positioning network and the deficiency of distinguishable features in underground mining spaces pose challenges in mobile mapping. This thesis aims to address these challenges in mine inspections by optimising different aspects of MLS: (1) collection of large-scale registered point cloud scans of underground environments, (2) geological mapping of structural discontinuities, and (3) inspection of structural support features. Firstly, a spatial positioning network was designed using novel three-dimensional unique identifiers (3DUID) tags and a 3D registration workflow (3DReG), to accurately obtain georeferenced and coregistered point cloud scans, enabling multi-temporal mapping. Secondly, two fully automated methods were developed for mapping structural discontinuities from point cloud scans – clustering on local point descriptors (CLPD) and amplitude and phase decomposition (APD). These methods were tested on both surface and underground rock mass for discontinuity characterisation and kinematic analysis of the failure types. The developed algorithms significantly outperformed existing approaches, including the conventional method of compass and tape measurements. Finally, different machine learning approaches were used to automate the recognition of structural support features, i.e. roof bolts from point clouds, in a computationally efficient manner. Roof bolts being mapped from a scanned point cloud provided an insight into their installation pattern, which underpinned the applicability of laser scanning to inspect roof supports rapidly. Overall, the outcomes of this study lead to reduced human involvement in field assessments of underground mines using MLS, demonstrating its potential for routine multi-temporal monitoring

QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDIZATION OF THE BARK OF MORINGA OLEIFERA LAM.

Objective: Moringa oleifera Lam. (Morangaceae) is a large glabrous tree, found throughout India. It is well known for curing a variety of ailments such as wound Healing, dysentery, fever, diarrhea and urinary problems. The present study highlights the pharmacognostical and phytochemical parameters of the bark of M. oleifera.Methods: The quality control standardization was performed following the standard parameters prescribed in World Health Organization guidelines and Indian Herbal Pharmacopoeia.Results: Standardization parameters show that it contains calcium oxalate crystal, starch grains and stone cells. High ash value may be due to presence of calcium oxalate crystals. Extractive value is high for water as compared to other solvent which accounts for the presence of comparatively more polar compounds. It contains different chemical constituents as carbohydrate, amino acid, terpenoid and saponin. Total saponin content was found to be 3.022 mg/g equivalent to diosgenin.Conclusion: The present observations will aid in the botanical identification and standardization of the drug in crude form and will help to distinguish the drug from its other species.Â

Clinical effectiveness of selective nerve root block in lumbar radiculopathy

Background: Epidural steroid injections (ESIs) have been used as an adjunct in the treatment of sciatica. Since the early reports, success rates ranging from 18% to 90% (average, 67%) have been documented. However, the efficacy of ESI has lasted, on the average, less than 3 months.Methods: This study was conducted at Abrol medical centre, Punjab from June 2019 to June 2020. One hundred patients with back pain documented with lumbar disc disease treated initially with rest, analgesics and physiotherapy for at least six weeks were included in the study and treated with transforaminal epidural steroid injection. The protocol of the study was approved by ethical committee. Patients to be participated in this study were documented. Patients with lumbar disc disease were given transforaminal epidural steroid injection in Orthopaedics operation theatre of our institute. Informed and written consent were obtained as per ethical committee guidelines.Results: Pre-procedure Roland Morris disability mean score was 17.54 and it got reduced to 5.57 by 4th day immediately post injection, was 6.44 by 6 weeks, by 3rd month 7.1 and by end of 6 months it was 8.34. Improvement in score on 4th day post injection was 68.24 percent which is considered significant and successful.Conclusions: Transforaminal epidural steroid treatment better medication for pain relief, patient satisfaction, disability improvement and functional improvement

A case study to know the level of awareness about pharmacogenomics and its clinical application among doctors of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Presently knowledge of pharmacogenomics is important for therapeutic purposes as well as for the prevention of many ADRs (adverse drug reactions). So this study was planned to know the level of awareness about pharmacogenomics and its clinical application among doctors of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.Methods: The study was done through a survey among 400 doctors by a questionnaire method. The questions were formulated to know the awareness and extent of knowledge of doctor. The answers were in yes and no and the data collected was calculated in percentage.Results: 79.75% doctors were well aware about pharmacogenomics. 13.0% doctors were not aware but wanted to know about it, while 7.25% of doctors were neither aware nor interested about pharmacogenomics.Conclusions: Most of the doctors were aware about the pharmacogenomics theoretically and they need to be updated about its clinical application in their practice by seminars, presentation and workshops

Sveti vodeni bazeni hinduističkih svetih krajolika u sjevernoj Indiji

The basic metaphysical frame of life in ancient India, that of sacred water (paviṭra jala) and the notion that “Water itself is life” (jala hī jivan hai), can be illustrated with case studies of two cities. Settled continuously since 1000 BCE, the cities of Varanasi and Ayodhya have been eulogized as the salvific holy-heritage cities in India known for their ritualscapes associated with sacred waters and pools. According to the ancient treatises and tales, there were fifty-four sacred tanks (kunds) and wells (kūpas) in each of these cities, and they became important sites for purification rituals, pilgrimage, healing and festive celebration by devout Hindus. After providing descriptions of the sacred water pools, this essay in part explores traditions associated with a water-pool sacred to the Sun god in both the cities. More broadly, using ancient texts, present participatory surveys, and ethnological narration, the essay considers the long-lived sacrality of water pools in these holy cities and current development strategies involving them.Osnovni metafizički okvir života u drevnoj Indiji, onaj svete vode (paviṭra jala), te predodžba da je “voda sam život” (jala hī jivan hai) mogu se ilustrirati studijama slučaja dvaju gradova. Nastanjeni kontinuirano od 1000. godine prije Krista, gradovi Varanasi i Ayodhya u Indiji slave se kao spasiteljski sveti i baštinski gradovi, poznati po svojim obrednim krajolicima povezanima sa svetim vodama i bazenima. Prema drevnim raspravama i pričama, u svakom od tih gradova postojale su pedeset i četiri svete cisterne (kunds) i bunara (kūpas), koji su postali važna mjesta za rituale pročišćavanja, hodočašće, ozdravljenja i svečana slavlja pobožnih hinduista. Nakon opisa svetih vodenih bazena, u radu se djelomično istražuju tradicije vezane uz vodene bazene posvećene bogu sunca u oba grada. U širem smislu, koristeći se drevnim tekstovima, današnjim participativnim anketama i etnološkim pripovijedanjem, u radu se razmatra dugovječna sakralnost vodenih bazena u spomenutim gradovima te s njima povezane aktualne razvojne strategije

Study of the peri-operative mortality in trochanteric fractures in elderly patients (60 years and above) visiting department of orthopedics at Dr. RPGMC Tanda

Background: In elderly, trochanteric fractures are frequent and typically result from mild to moderate trauma in osteoporotic bones while in young adults these fractures are generally due to high energy trauma such as road side accidents.Methods: The present study was conducted in elderly patients with trochanteric fractures (age 60 years and above) presenting to the department of orthopedics, Dr. RPGMC Kangra at Tanda. All cases presenting to the department and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were studied for three months period from the day of surgery. All cases fulfilling the inclusion criteria who were operated over the period of one year from the date of start of study were included.Results: Our study observed that out of 176 patients, 10.23% (n=18/176) patients could not survive within 90 days of surgery while 89.8% (n=158/176) patients survived. Perioperative mortality was 10.23%.Conclusions: In our study, peri-operative mortality is lower than reported earlier. We also found that perioperative mortality was influenced by older age

A review of laser scanning for geological and geotechnical applications in underground mining

Laser scanning can provide timely assessments of mine sites despite adverse challenges in the operational environment. Although there are several published articles on laser scanning, there is a need to review them in the context of underground mining applications. To this end, a holistic review of laser scanning is presented including progress in 3D scanning systems, data capture/processing techniques and primary applications in underground mines. Laser scanning technology has advanced significantly in terms of mobility and mapping, but there are constraints in coherent and consistent data collection at certain mines due to feature deficiency, dynamics, and environmental influences such as dust and water. Studies suggest that laser scanning has matured over the years for change detection, clearance measurements and structure mapping applications. However, there is scope for improvements in lithology identification, surface parameter measurements, logistic tracking and autonomous navigation. Laser scanning has the potential to provide real-time solutions but the lack of infrastructure in underground mines for data transfer, geodetic networking and processing capacity remain limiting factors. Nevertheless, laser scanners are becoming an integral part of mine automation thanks to their affordability, accuracy and mobility, which should support their widespread usage in years to come

Comparative study of hematological parameters along with effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in different stages of breast cancer

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies found among women in India. Haematological parameters have been shown to predict severity, mortality and treatment follow-up in breast cancer patients. The aim of the study was to compare haematological parameters along with effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in different stages of breast cancer patients.Methods: Total 235 human subjects were taken in the study. Out of which 100 normal ages matched healthy subjects were considered as controls and 135 breast cancer patients subjects as cases which were further divided into their respective stages according to TNM classification.Results: Estimation of haematological parameters was done by Sysmex Automated Hematology Analyzer Kx-21. The statistical differences between cases and control were determined by using student independent sample t-test.Conclusions: We found hemoglobin level, polymorphs, lymphocytes, monocytes and RBC count were statistically reduce (p<0.05) while other parameters were non-significant as compared to control healthy subjects. We also found deranged haematological parameters in all four stages of breast cancer. The data also indicated that patients which were on combined therapies i.e. radio and chemo have more deranged and decreased levels of haematological parameters as compared to individual therapies