Impact of Social Networking Sites (SNSs): Are Youth affected by its usage?

The popularity of online social networking sites (SNS) is constantly growing. New social networking practices are being used in areas such as knowledge sharing, development of ideas, creative production, communication etc. especially by adolescents and young adults. These groups can be called the IGENERATION as majority of their daily activities including staying connected, doing project work/assignments as well as information gathering about the happening around them, they use internet as opposed to the older generations who used resources like newspaper, library or television to stay update. The purpose of the study was to examine the usage pattern of social networking sites among the youth of today’s generation. Descriptive research design was used in order to understand the usage pattern of SNS amongst youth and its impact on their performance and psychological well being. Survey was conducted using a self-made questionnaire to study the ‘usage pattern of social networking sites amongst the youth and its impact on their performance and psychological well-being’ in Dehradun, capital of Uttarakhand. Stratified random sampling technique was used for the study. The sample includes different age groups, gender, and regional background. Results indicated that the students have access to internet, 73% are members of any one of the social networking sites, Facebook being very popular followed by Google +.Majority of the students used social networking sites mainly for social purposes rather than for educational purposes. It was also reported that SNSs did not affect performance and study habits though it affected language to a certain extent

Nursing Students’ Perception of Online Learning Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: The declaration of COVID-19 pandemic on 11th March 2020 by World Health Organization forced many countries including Nepal to choose online mode of nursing education. Hence, it is essential for the educators to find out students’ perception that ensures their readiness to learn in this new environment. This study sought to examine the perception of online learning among nursing students. Methods: After obtaining ethical clearance, a cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 211 nursing students using enumerative sampling method. Self-administered structured online questionnaire was used. Calculated Cronbach's alpha value was 0.828. Descriptive (frequency, percentage, mean etc.) and inferential statistics (Chi-square test) were used to analyze data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 19.80±1.87 years. All (100%) had mobile phone. Most (93.8%) had internet facility at home. More than half (59.7%) strongly agreed that face-to-face learning was more effective. Less than half (44.6%) strongly agreed that interrupted internet connection was an obstacle. More than half (56.9%) participants had positive perception of online learning. Age, enrolled nursing program and device used were statistically significant with perception of online learning. Conclusion: The perception of nursing students towards online learning is positive. Students are satisfied with their learning opportunities amidst COVID-19 through online education. However, interrupted internet connection, unfeasible practical natured courses, load-shedding etc. were perceived as obstacles to online learning. Age, enrolled nursing program, academic year, and devices used had an impact on positive perception

Exploring the Nature, Attributes and Consequences of Forgiveness in Children: A Qualitative Study

Researchers have unanimously suggested forgiveness to be closely linked with a host of positive life outcomes for people across all developmental periods. The scientific endeavours have largely been confined to the study of adults’ forgiveness mostly employing quantitative methods and, thus, have oversighted the study of children’s forgiveness despite its similar and noticeable relevance to their life outcomes. To bridge this gap, this study aims to explore the nature, attributes and perceived consequences of forgiveness for children. The study was carried out on full-time mothers of 4 male (5-10 years) and 4 female (4.50-9.50 years) children of the same local community. The mothers were interviewed about the nature of perceived wrongdoings, emotional, social and cognitive concomitants of forgiveness of their children. The contents of the interviews were audio-taped and transcribed verbatim followed by their analysis by the Thematic Analysis Method. The findings showed that the children’s transgression related to their immediate and tangible realities of life. The significant others played a facilitative role in their learning phase of forgiveness. The children easily accepted their wrongdoings. Some personality attributes regulated the understanding of their wrongdoings. Moreover, children’s forgiveness was more explicit and, thus, easy to understand spontaneously. The understanding and acceptance of wrongdoings of the children were generally guided by their preferences, relationships, moods and concreteness. In essence, the children’s forgiveness evinced close links with their social, emotional and interpersonal developments. The findings have been discussed considering the current empirical findings pertaining to the children’s forgiveness and some cultural concerns. The implications and directions for future research have been discussed along with some limitations

EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATIONAL PACKAGE ON LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING MISSION INDRADHANUSH AMONG MOTHERS OF UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN SELECTED URBAN SLUM AREA, BENGALURU, INDIA

Introduction: Immunization is one of the most important public health interventions to reduce child mortality associated with infectious diseases. Mission Indradhanush was launched in December 2014 and aimed to fully immunize more than 90% of newborns and pregnant mothers by 2020 through innovative and planned approached to reach all children. Aim of the Study: To assess the effectiveness of educational package on Mission Indradhanush among mothers of under five children.                Methodology: Quasi -Experimental study, one group, pre-test and post-test design was used .The data collection period was 1 month. Simple Random sampling technique was used to select 60 mothers of under five children. Data was collected using structured questionnaire and checklist. Results: The mean knowledge score in pre-test was 10.17 with SD of 4.49 and the mean attitude score was 30.58 with SD of 2.39. Where as in the post test the mean knowledge score was found 17.00 with SD of 3.36 and attitude score was 37.21 with SD of 2.50. Paired t-test shows that there was statistical significance at p<0.001 level. It showed, there was an establishing impact of educational package on knowledge and attitude regarding Mission Indradhanush among mothers of under five children and there was significant linear correlation (r=0.486) between knowledge and attitude regarding Mission Indradhanush among mothers of under five children at p<0.05 level.       Conclusion: The study concluded that the educational package was effective in improving the level of knowledge and attitude regarding Mission Indradhanush among mothers of under five children

Satisfaction Level of Patients Visiting Outpatient Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Delhi - A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Patient satisfaction is considered to be one of the important parameters in the assessment of quality of healthcare and overall performance of a healthcare facility.Objectives: To assess the utilization of health services and patient satisfaction for services provided by this tertiary care center.Material and Methods: The present study was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary care center situated in South Delhi from March 9 to June 8, 2016 (3 months). Patients of age >18 years visiting the OPD who gave their informed written consent were interviewed by using a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. The responses of patients were divided into three categories-satisfied, uncertain and dissatisfied.Statistical Analysis: The surveyed questionnaires were collected and coded in an MS Excel database and analyzed by using the SPSS statistical package, version 21.0. Descriptive statistics were performed on the sociodemographic data.Results: A total of 313 patients had participated in the present study. Most (53.4%) of the patients were of age group 21-40 years. Majority (60.1%) of them were male. Nearly 80% were literate. It was found that 89.9% patients were satisfied with the overall behavior of hospital staff. It was revealed that 87.4% of the patients were satisfied with the good healthcare services provided by the hospital. 7.1% patients were dissatisfied with the healthcare services. They found insufficient healthcare facilities in this hospital. 5.2% patients were uncertain.Conclusion: Dissatisfaction among some patients triggers an alarm for hospital management to work on those components so that quality health services can be provided to all patients to make them satisfied. Periodic patient satisfaction survey should be institutionalized to provide feedback for continuous quality improvement

Acute myocardial infarction in labor: a rare case report

Myocardial infarction (MI) presenting first time in labor is rare with incidence of 3 case per 1,00,000 and its management during labor is rarely seen in literature. In this case, a 29-year-old gravida 2 para 1 with previous caesarean section 1 year back with history of postpartum eclampsia presented with acute breathlessness and lower abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with acute MI. Patient had emergency caesarean section due to scar tenderness. Post operatively patient was managed in ICU with multi-disciplinary team of critical care, cardiologist and obstetrician.

FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING INDEX OF CUCURBITA MAXIMA SEEDS AND THEIR LIBS BASED ANTIOXIDANT ELEMENTAL PROFILE

Objective: To assess the free radical scavenging index and antioxidant capacity of C. maxima (Cucurbita maxima) seed extract in vitro and its correlation with the phytoelemental profile, quantitatively assessed by LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy).Methods: A number of in vitro antioxidant and free radical scavenging assays were performed along with standard as a reference. Reduction capacity and scavenging potential of C. maxima seeds were analyzed in addition to their IC50 values and were compared with respective standards. Quantitative measurements of phytoelements present which is responsible for antioxidant activity is carried out by LIBS.Results: Significant Antioxidant power of the extract was validated by high values of Total Phenolics (18.42 mg/g of gallic acid equivalent) and Total Flavonoids (5.53 mg/g of quercetin equivalent). A result of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (163.4 μM Fe+2/g) clearly reflects its reduction capacity. Percentage inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (69.25), Nitric Oxide (63.63) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (62.09) radicals proves its antioxidant potential undoubtedly, which was further confirmed by their IC50 values. Reducing power was found to increase significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Extent lipid peroxidation was also measured by comparing the results of Ferric thiocyanate assay with the Thiobarbituric acid method. LIBS analysis showed the presence of certain phytoelements viz. Mg, Ca and Na in the extract, which could be responsible for its antioxidant capacity.Conclusion: Thus, the seeds of C. maxima having a combination of antioxidant phytochemicals and phytoelements could be explored for developing as a complementary and alternative medicine for managing oxidative stress including diabetes as well as aging.Keywords: Reactive oxygen species, Cucurbita maxima, Elemental analysis, Laser spectroscop

Role of Moringa oleifera in regulation of diabetes-induced oxidative stress

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the antioxidant activity of aqueous extract ofMoringa oleifera (M. oleifera) young leaves by in vivo as well as in vitro assays.MethodsIn vitro study included estimation of total phenolic, total flavonol, total flavonoid and total antioxidant power (FRAP assay). In addition, in vivo study was done with the identified most effective dose of 200 mg/kg of its lyophilized powder on normal and diabetic rats. Its effect on different oxidative free radical scavenging enzymes,viz, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), lipid peroxide (LPO) contents were measured.ResultsSignificant increase in activities of SOD, CAT, GST while, a decrease in LPO content was observed. Whereas, total phenolic, flavonoid and flavonol contents in the extract were found to be 120 mg/g of GAE, 40.5 mg/g of QE and 12.12 mg/g of QE, respectively. On the other hand, FRAP assay results ofM. oleifera leaves was (85.00±5.00)μM/g of extract powder.ConclusionsThe significant antioxidant activities ofM. oleifera leaves from both in vivo as well as in vitro studies suggests that the regular intake of its leaves through diet can protect normal as well as diabetic patients against oxidative damage