To introduce and measure the effectiveness of case based learning in physiology

Background: Student/learner centered strategies are needed to promote active learning in the students. Medical Council of India (MCI) also encourages learner centric approaches. Objectives of the study were to develop case scenarios for teaching in Physiology and use them to teach 1st professional MBBS students and to evaluate the impact of this intervention on students’ learning.Methods: After the approval from Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC) the study was conducted on MBBS 1st professional students. The students were taught two topics using CBL strategy. Pre-post test score were taken for evaluation of students’ learning. Students’ feedback was taken to elicit their perceptions about the effectiveness of the strategy. Faculty feedback was also taken for feasibility and implementation of CBL.Results: Majority of the students were satisfied with the session. Majority felt it to be a good learning experience and many wanted to attend more such sessions. Difference in the pre-post test scores was statistically highly significant.Conclusions: CBL proved to be an interesting and effective active learning strategy. More of such sessions should be conducted to engage the students as felt by students and faculty both

Comparative Assessment of Some Target Detection Algorithms for Hyperspectral Images

Target detection is of particular interest in hyperspectral image analysis as many unknown and subtle signals (spectral response) unresolved by multispectral sensors can be discovered in hyperspectral images. The detection of signals in the form of small objects and targets from hyperspectral sensors has a wide range of applications both civilian and military. It has been observed that a number of target detection algorithms are in vogue; each has its own advantages and disadvantages and assumptions. The selection of a particular algorithm may depend on the amount of information available as per the requirement of the algorithm, application area, the computational complexity etc. In the present study, three algorithms, namely, orthogonal subspace projection (OSP), constrained energy minimization (CEM) and a nonlinear version of OSP called kernel orthogonal subspace projection (KOSP), have been investigated for target detection from hyperspectral remote sensing data. The efficacy of algorithms has been examined over two different hyperspectral datasets which include a synthetic image and an AVIRIS image. The quality of target detection from these algorithms has been evaluated through visual interpretation as well as through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The performance of OSP algorithm has been found to be better than or comparable to CEM algorithm. However, KOSP out performs both the algorithms.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(1), pp.53-62, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.376

Awareness and Attitude towards Plagiarism among Post Graduate Students and Research Scholars of Select Social Sciences Departments of Kurukshetra University and Panjab University, Chandigarh

This study explores the awareness and attitude towards plagiarism among postgraduate students and research scholars of Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra (KU) and Panjab University, Chandigarh (PU). The findings of the questionnaire based study reveal that 53.64% of KU and 79.9% respondents of PU were acquainted with the term plagiarism. More than 41% respondents became aware of this term in their present university and more than half of the total respondents came to know about this concept during last one year. Only 23.97% had attended plagiarism awareness programmes. The understanding and attitude towards plagiarism needs greater attention. Maximum 88.35% respondents considered ‘Using someone’s ideas/words without acknowledging his/her’ as plagiarism while 48.63% did not consider ‘Helping your friend/classmate write a paper that must be submitted by him/her as an assignment’ as plagiarism. The main reason of plagiarism was lack of proper understanding of the concept and therefore it is suggested that awareness programmes on plagiarism and training programmes on methods of citation should be conducted

Mucormycosis During Second Wave Of COVID-19 in India: Exploratory Analysis From Tertiary Care Centre Of Uttar Pradesh

Background: In April and May 2021, India faced massive second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and then became the hotspots of mucormycosis across globe. Hence, we planned the first analysis of mucormycosis in Uttar Pradesh. Aim and Objectives: coThe objectives were to explore the epidemiology, vaccination status, clinical features, microbiological findings, treatment of mucormycosis and outcome. Material and Methods: This was an observational study of mucormycosis at tertiary care centre of Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India from 20 May 2021 to 15 July 2021. Results: 98 patients’ data with mucormycosis was analyzed. Patients had median age of 55 years. COVID-19 infection was present in 69.4% of participants and diabetes mellitus was present as underlying co-morbid condition in more than 85% of patients. 91.8 % of cases were unvaccinated with steroid consumption in almost 60% of patients. R. arrhizus was among the most common agent while we found less commonly reported fungi like R.homothallicus, Apophysomyces, Cunninghamella. 41.8% of cases were successfully treated and 16.3% of cases expired. Conclusion: Diabetes mellitus was labeled as major predisposing factor and most patients were unvaccinated. Awareness about fungal infections, rigorous monitoring of chronic diseases, judicious use of drugs, early diagnosis and prompt treatment is decisive for better outcome

A study to assess body mass index and pattern of physical activity among the government employees working at different organizations of Gwalior city

Background: The obesity can be defined simply as the disease in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that health may be adversely affected. Physical activity is a key determinant of energy expenditure, and thus is fundamental to energy balance and weight control. Aims and objectives was to assess the BMI and physical activity among government employees working in different organizations of Gwalior city.Methods: The present study was a cross sectional study. Five different government organizations were selected and from each organization 60 participants were selected randomly. A pre-designed, pre-tested, semi-structured interview based questionnaire was used for data collection from different participants. WHO BMI classification was used to classify participants.Results: In the present study 44% of the study participants were overweight/ pre-obese while 8.33% and 1.33% were in Obese Class I and Obese Class II respectively. 40.67% were doing physical exercise. The most common type of physical exercise was walking or jogging 72.13%.Conclusions: It was concluded that despite the known fact that obesity could have negative impact on the work capacity and physical fitness, only 40.67% were doing some physical exercise. Employees should be motivated to do daily exercise for the duration of at least 30 minutes

A study to assess prevalence of obesity among government employees of medical college in Madhya Pradesh, India

Background: Obesity has become a major chronic disorder affecting the larger population more than any other disease in the world. Objective was to determine the prevalence of obesity among the government employees of G.R. Medical College, Gwalior.Methods: The present study has been undertaken among government employees of G.R. Medical College, Gwalior in which all the employees were interviewed by a predesigned, pre-tested and pre-validated structured Questionnaire. Anthropometric data regarding weight and height was taken. The data was collected and analyzed using statistical software and chi square and other statistical tests were applied.Results: The study shows that among total 215 employees. 35 (21.21%) males and 21 (42%) females were found overweight and obese with the criteria of BMI more than 25 kg/m2.Conclusions: It was concluded from the present study that obesity is a chronic illness. Early detection and appropriate intervention could prevent various complications associated with it. BMI plays a crucial role

Geriatric social security and welfare services in Gwalior, India: a cross sectional study of awareness, utilization, concerns and solutions

Background: Between 2015 and 2050, the proportion of the world's population over 60 years will nearly double from 12% to 22%. In 2050, 80% of older people will be living in low and middle income countries. All countries face major challenges to ensure that their health and social systems are ready to make the most of this demographic shift.Methods: The present Study was a cross-sectional study done for 1 year in 2016 in which 600 households were selected by simple random sampling in Gwalior city in which the knowledge and awareness of various Government health scheme and policies and their day to day utilization in their life were assessed. A predesigned and pretested interview based structured questionnaire was used for data collection. They were analysed and interpreted by appropriate software and various statistical tests were applied.Results: The maximum no. of participants 112 (54.9%) knew about railways/road transport/air travel concessions provided to Senior citizens, 23.04% knew about telephone and postal services, 13.24% were aware of tax exemptions while 9.8% knew about banking and insurance schemes regarding elderly. Males were generally more aware than females. The maximum utilization (59.82%) was found in railways/road transport/air travel concessions while minimum utilization (25.00%) was in Indira Gandhi National old age pension scheme.Conclusions: The system for comprehensive geriatric care to the community was well in place with regular development and growth but there is dearth of awareness and utilization of these services

Assessment of Nutritional Status and its Determinants among Under-five Children in Urban Slum Areas of Gwalior City, Central India

Introduction: Children living in urban slums are vulnerable to malnutrition due to lack of basic health facilities and poor environmental conditions. These make children susceptible to infectious diseases. Data on the correlates of stunting, underweight and wasting specifically among under-five children in central India remain limited, hence the need of this study. Aim: To study the prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting with its predictors in under-five children living in slum area. Materials and Methods: It was a community-based crosssectional study, carried out from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019, slum area of Gwalior City, using multistage sampling. Study subjects were under-five children residing in urban slums. Data collection was done by conducting house to house survey and information was recorded in pre-designed questionnaire. Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), frequency and percentage were calculated. Logistic regression was applied to calculate Odds Ratio (OR, 95% CI). Data was analysed using version Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) -16. Results: A total of 550 children (257 boys, 293 girls) under-five years of age were included in the study. The overall prevalence of underweight was 49.1%, stunting was 58.2% and wasting was 23.5%. The risk of underweight, stunting and wasting was less among others caste category (OR:0.42,0.27,0.49). The risk was higher among children living in nuclear family (OR:1.86,1.78,1.72), with illiterate mother (OR:6.47,4.87,3.53), with Illiterate father (OR:4.60,3.65,1.99) and also among people living in kuccha house and using wood as medium of cooking food. Duration of breastfeeding, complementary feeding only, timing of initiation of complementary feeding and birth weight emerged as other significant predictors for underweight, stunting and wasting. Conclusion: Children with low birth weight, belonging to lower socioeconomic class, living in nuclear families and having illiterate parents require special attention and focus. Parents should also be careful in reference to their children’s complementary feeding and duration of breastfeeding