Application of geospatial techniques and binary logistic regression model for analyzing driving factors of urban growth in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia.

Understanding the drivers of urban growth and spatiotemporal land use change is important for rational land use and sustainable urban development. Based on the land use data, GIS data of explanatory variables, experts' knowledge and field observation, the study used a binary logistic regression model (BLRM) to analyze factors that drive rapid urban growth in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia, using the LOGISTICREG module in IDRISI Selva software. Nine factors were used to reflect the influence of proximity and physical factors on urban growth from 1984 to 2019. This model helped in quantifying and identifying the factors of urban growth, which includes topography (slope, elevation and aspect) and accessibility (Dis. to the main road, Dis. to international airport, Dis. to CBD, Dis. to existing built-up area, Dis. to forest land and Dis. to water body). Furthermore, urban growth probability maps were created based on LRM results, revealing that the biggest urban growth would occur around existing built-up areas along the main roads and near Bahir Dar international airport. The Relative Operating Characteristic (ROC) values of 0.85, 0.90 and 0.93 and PCP values of 96.72 %, 98.46 % and 98.51 % indicate the urban growth probability maps are valid and BLRM had an ideal ability to predict urban growth. So, the study highlighted the relation between urban growth and its drivers in Bahir Dar, giving a decision making framework for better land use management and resource allocation.

Factors associated with physical activity participation among children: a systematic review protocol.

BACKGROUND: Reduced physical activity (PA) is one of the significant health concerns in adults and children alike. Despite the proven benefits of PA, most children, globally, do not meet the weekly criteria of enough PA to maintain health. The proposed systematic review is the review of the factors and will provide information on the factors associated with PA participation in children. METHODS: The proposed systematic review will be conducted based on the methodology from the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We will include observational studies (cross-sectional, case-control, and cohort studies), randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and non-randomized study designs for information on factors associated with PA participation among children. Studies with participants in the age range of 5-18 years, indulging in physical activity of 60 min per day for a minimum of 3 days a week, will be included. Studies including differently abled children, children under medical treatment, and those taking medications for illnesses such as neurological, cardiac, and mental health conditions will be excluded from the review. We will search MEDLINE (via PubMed and Web of Science), Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, and PEDro for English language publications published from the inception till October 2022. For additional studies, we will search websites such as the Australian Association for Adolescent Health International Association for Adolescent Health and a reference list of the included publications. Selection of studies, data extraction, and quality assessment of the included studies will be performed in duplicate. Quality assessment of the included studies will be performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (ROB-II) for RCTs, New-Castle Ottawa, for observational studies, and ROBINS-I (Risk of Bias for Non-Randomized studies of Interventions) for non-randomized study designs. DISCUSSION: The proposed systematic review and meta-analysis will present a summary of the available evidence on factors associated with PA participation in children. The findings of this review will provide new insights into how exercise providers can improve PA participation among children and can also help healthcare workers, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to plan long-term interventions targeting child health. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42021270057.

Role of paleoclimatic and paleohydrological processes in lineage divergence in freshwater organisms: A snippet from lentic genus Pila.

The Indian subcontinent is extremely diverse in terms of its flora and fauna. However, only a handful of studies have aimed to understand the diversity of freshwater invertebrates using multiple lines of evidence in recent times. Here we aimed to estimate the cryptic diversity of two widespread freshwater snail species within the genus Pila (Röding, 1798) and uncover the processes behind lineage diversification in these species. We sequenced mitochondrial and nuclear markers from a comprehensive sampling of specimens from different river basins in India. We implemented an integrative taxonomy approach to delimit the lineages in these groups, employing phylogenetic, geometric morphometric and niche modelling-based methods. Then, we investigated the drivers of lineage divergence in these species using population genetic tools in conjunction with divergence time estimation. We found that both species consist of several genetically and ecologically distinct lineages. The genetic data showed that several of these lineages are restricted to a single or a few river basins. The divergence time estimation analyses indicated that the time frame of divergence within the species coincided with paleohydrological and paleoclimatic events in the Miocene. The diversification was primarily driven by allopatric isolation into different river basins. To conclude, the study sheds light on the complex interaction between the habitat preference of the species and the environment in shaping the diversification patterns in this group.

Cephalometric analysis of parents of patients with cleft lip and/or palate.

BACKGROUND: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL ± P) or isolated cleft palate (CP) are the most common congenital malformations of the face. Although there have been advances in prenatal diagnosis and the discovery of genetic markers, there has been no breakthrough in the identification of parents at risk of giving birth to a child with a cleft. AIMS: To determine a possible phenotypic difference in the craniofacial morphology of parents of children with CL ± P and to investigate whether cephalometric analysis can help identify parents at risk of giving birth to a child with a cleft. METHODS: Cephalometric data of 25 sets of parents having children with CL ± P were compared with that of 25 sets of parents of children without CL ± P. The study population was indigenous to North Karnataka. In all, 10 linear, 2 angular, and 5 triangular measurements were made on lateral cephalograms and compared using an unpaired t­test. RESULTS: The length of the posterior cranial base (S-Ba) in mothers was smaller in the study compared to the control group. Total facial height (N-Me) both in fathers and in the group with both parents, upper facial height in the group with both parents, and lower facial height (ANS-Me) in fathers was smaller in the study than in the control group. The area of the nasopharyngeal triangle (S-PNS-Ba) in mothers and that of the anterior maxillary triangle (S-N-A) in fathers was smaller in the study group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Parents of children with CL ± P showed variations in craniofacial morphology. Future research correlating cephalometric findings with genetic studies may indicate whether cephalometric analysis can be an adjunct to genetic tests for risk prediction among susceptible parents.

Correction of whistle deformity secondary to cleft lip repair by V-Y plasty: a simple and effective technique.

Several techniques are available for the surgical repair of the cleft lip, however, avoiding secondary deformities and achieving consistent results remains a challenge. The whistle deformity is a secondary lip deformity characterised by inadequate fullness of the central upper lip with abnormal exposure of the central incisors when the lips are at rest, giving a whistling appearance. The causes include scarring of the vermilion and failure to restore the mucosal or muscular continuity. Various surgical options are available ranging from simple procedures like V-Y plasty and Z-plasty to complex procedures like complete lip redo, locoregional flaps, fillers and grafts. V-Y plasty is a simple, effective procedure for lip lengthening that can be performed under local anaesthesia as an outpatient procedure. It is less technique sensitive and also allows for some degree of muscle repair. We present a case of whistle deformity satisfactorily corrected with V-Y plasty.

Watershed degradation and management practices in north-western highland Ethiopia.

Watershed degradation in Ethiopia has become a major environmental threat and caused significant damages both in the natural environment and the development of human society. This paper assesses an overview of the extent, causes, and effects of watershed degradation and the management actions in north-western highland Ethiopia, taking the Rib watershed as a case study site. The data were collected from field observations, interviews, and questionnaire surveys administered to 210 farmers. The results show that watershed degradation is a serious and widespread problem in the study site. The major causes of watershed degradation include population growth, uncontrolled grazing, unsustainable land use and management practices, and weak land ownership system. Watershed degradation, mainly in the form of soil erosion, has adversely reduced agricultural production and worsened food insecurity and poverty in the study area. Various watershed management practices that combine structural and biological measures have been practiced to curb the problem. However, the farmers' decisions to adopt and implement the measures have been highly influenced by a range of socioeconomic, biophysical, and institutional factors. Access to support services, size of the farmland, educational level, and plot ownership were found to influence farmers' decisions positively at a statistically significant (P < 0.01) level. It needs efforts to create farmer environmental awareness and develop strong watershed management standards and guidelines. The watershed could benefit from hand in hand efforts of local farmers, concerned governmental agencies, and researchers.

Transcranial MR Imaging-Guided Focused Ultrasound Interventions Using Deep Learning Synthesized CT.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound is a promising novel technique to treat multiple disorders and diseases. Planning for transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound requires both a CT scan for skull density estimation and treatment-planning simulation and an MR imaging for target identification. It is desirable to simplify the clinical workflow of transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatment planning. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of deep learning techniques to convert MR imaging ultrashort TE images directly to synthetic CT of the skull images for use in transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatment planning. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The U-Net neural network was trained and tested on data obtained from 41 subjects (mean age, 66.4 ± 11.0 years; 15 women). The derived neural network model was evaluated using a k-fold cross-validation method. Derived acoustic properties were verified by comparing the whole skull-density ratio from deep learning synthesized CT of the skull with the reference CT of the skull. In addition, acoustic and temperature simulations were performed using the deep learning CT to predict the target temperature rise during transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound. RESULTS: The derived deep learning model generates synthetic CT of the skull images that are highly comparable with the true CT of the skull images. Their intensities in Hounsfield units have a spatial correlation coefficient of 0.80 ± 0.08, a mean absolute error of 104.57 ± 21.33 HU, and a subject-wise correlation coefficient of 0.91. Furthermore, deep learning CT of the skull is reliable in the skull-density ratio estimation (r = 0.96). A simulation study showed that both the peak target temperatures and temperature distribution from deep learning CT are comparable with those of the reference CT. CONCLUSIONS: The deep learning method can be used to simplify workflow associated with transcranial MR imaging-guided focused ultrasound.

Prevention of adolescent obesity: The global picture and an indian perspective.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Adolescent obesity is an increasing health burden with a growing prevalence in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this review is to assess and compare current best practice obesity prevention interventions for adolescents in developed nations and in India METHODS: Medline (PubMed), CINAHL, Scopus and Google Scholar electronic databases from 2000 to 2020 were searched using the key terms obesity, overweight, child and adolescent obesity, child and adolescent overweight, interventions for childhood and adolescent obesity and dietary interventions for adolescents, developed countries, and India. RESULTS: Developed nations worldwide have formed and implemented policies and programs at national and local levels to attempt to minimize and manage adolescent obesity. In 2019, scientific and government consultation groups in India have recommended national cross-sectoral structures to action interventions to restrict high-fat food intake, increase physical activity in children and adolescents and to link current research and school-based interventions in a national framework. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity is a multifactorial problem, and multimodal interventions involving all Indian stakeholders, combined with government policy reform, are urgently needed.

The built environment and health: fostering interprofessional collaboration for better policy recommendations.

This paper describes the initiation and proceedings of a national consultation organized to appraise issues in the local built environment affecting public health, using an interprofessional and intersectoral approach. The consultation was hosted as a part of the onsite session of an international fellowship program in interprofessional education and practice, organized by the Manipal FAIMER Institute for Leadership in Interprofessional Education, India. One hundred and eight delegates from across academic disciplines including the health professions, management, public health, architecture, and engineering, participated in this event. Plenary lectures and case studies highlighted the theoretical basics of built environment. Participants were also introduced to fundamental parameters for evaluating health-related aspects of the built environment. Delegates were then grouped into 18 teams and assigned to visit predetermined locations which they appraised and provided recommendations for. These were then thematically coded and synthesized for communication to relevant local municipal authorities. The consultation scope was limited by involving only academics in the appraisal process, and next steps include the engagement of local citizens and policy-makers to ensure the implementation of recommendations. This event illustrates how engaging interprofessional stakeholders can facilitate knowledge-driven development for promoting health equity, through action on the social determinants of health.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia with a novel translocation t(16;17)(q12;p13): a case report.

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APML) is characterised by the t(15;17)(q22;q21), that results in the fusion of the promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) gene at 15q22 with the retinoic acid α-receptor (RARA) gene at 17q21. The current case report describes a 13-year-old male with APML, who was negative for PML/RARA fusion signal but reported to have an atypical translocation t(16;17). To the best of our knowledge this is the first case report of APML responsive to ATRA with such a translocation.

Assessment of Alar Flare and Efficacy of Alar Cinch Suture in the Management of Alar Flare Following Le Fort 1 Superior Repositioning: A Comparative Study.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively analyze the amount of alar flare, factors contributing to alar flare and efficacy of cinch suture as an adjunctive procedure for alar flare reduction. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty adult patients with vertical maxillary excess, who underwent Le Fort 1 impaction, were divided into 2 groups of 15 each. Alar cinch was performed as an adjunct procedure in group 2 patients and results were compared to group 1 which was the control group. Measurements were made on the patients and on 1:1 standardized photographs. RESULTS: Group 2 showed a near pre-operative alar position compared to group 1. The alar flare resulting from every millimeter of impaction was significantly less in group 2 compared to group 1. CONCLUSION: Alar cinch suture restores the normal alar width by preventing the lateral drift of the naso-labial muscle and thereby reducing the postoperative nasal flare significantly.

The antibiotics of choice for the treatment of melioidosis in Indian set up.

Therapeutic options for the treatment of melioidosis caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei are limited due to the inherent resistance conferred by this pathogen to various groups of antibiotics. Witnessing an increase in the number of microbiological culture-confirmed cases of melioidosis at our settings in the past few years, we undertook this study to estimate the minimum inhibitory concentrations of clinical isolates of B. pseudomallei against the four commonly employed antimicrobial agents in the patient management at our settings, namely, ceftazidime, meropenem, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and doxycycline. All isolates were susceptible to the antibiotics tested, except for one isolate which showed resistance to doxycycline (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC]: 32 µg/ml). MIC50 and 90 for all the four antibiotics were estimated. From this study, we conclude that the clinical isolates of B. pseudomallei from the southern part of India are well susceptible to the commonly employed antimicrobial agents for therapy.

Evolution of Jahn-Teller distortion, transport and dielectric properties with doping in perovskite NdFe1-xMnxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) compounds.

We have carried out dielectric and transport measurements in NdFe1-xMnxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) series of compounds and studied the variation of activation energy due to a change in Mn concentration. Despite similar ionic radii in Mn(3+) and Fe(3+), large variation is observed in the lattice parameters and a crossover from dynamic to static Jahn-Teller distortion is discernible. The Fe/Mn-O-Fe/Mn bond angle on the ab plane shows an anomalous change with doping. With an increase in the Mn content, the bond angle decreases until x = 0.6; beyond this, it starts rising until x = 0.8 and again falls after that. A similar trend is observed in activation energies estimated from both transport and dielectric relaxation by assuming a small polaron hopping (SPH) model. Impedance spectroscopy measurements delineate grain and grain boundary contributions separately both of which follow the SPH model. Frequency variation of the dielectric constant is in agreement with the modified Debye law from which relaxation dispersion is estimated.

Genome Sequence of a Burkholderia pseudomallei Clinical Isolate from a Patient with Community-Acquired Pneumonia and Septicemia.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Burkholderia pseudomallei CM_Manipal, the causative agent of melioidosis isolated from a diabetic patient in Manipal, southern India. The draft genome consists of 107 contigs and is 7,209,157 bp long. A total of 5,600 coding sequences (CDSs), 60 tRNAs, 12 rRNAs, and one noncoding RNA (ncRNA) were predicted from this assembly.

Salivary gland tumors: a diagnostic dilemma!

Salivary gland tumors generate considerable interest because of their heterogeneous and variable histology, grade of malignancy, and clinical behavior. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is considered the first diagnostic modality for salivary neoplasms due to its ready availability and ease of performance. However it cannot always be relied upon in isolation, and should be used in conjunction with other investigations like incisional biopsy. We present two cases, which highlight the drawbacks of relying on FNAC alone, which resulted in misdiagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma as pleomorphic adenoma.

Maxillo-Mandibular Cemento-ossifying Fibroma: A Rare Case Report.

Cemento-ossifying fibroma (COF) is a benign fibro osseous lesion of the jaws which has been described as a demarcated or rarely encapsulated neoplasm consisting of fibrous tissue and varying amounts of mineralized material resembling bone and/or cementum (Dinkar et al. in IJDA 2(4):45-47, 2010). Majority of lesions occur in the mandible and only few cases of COFs of the maxillary sinus and bilateral COFs of the mandible have been reported in literature (Dinkar et al. in IJDA 2(4):45-47, 2010; Tamiolakis et al. in Acta Stomatol Croat 39(3):319-321, 2005; Hamner et al. in Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 26(4):579-587, 1968; Gunaseelan et al. in Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 104:e21-e25, 2007). These lesions have a very low recurrence rate (Ertug et al. in Quintessence Int 35(10):808-810, 2004) and are generally treated by enucleation. In this paper we present a rare case of COF occurring in both the maxilla and mandible of the same patient. Only one such case (Takeda and Fujioka in Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg 16(3):368-371, 1987) has been reported in literature so far.

Role of SNTA1 in Rac1 activation, modulation of ROS generation, and migratory potential of human breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Alpha-1-syntrophin (SNTA1) has been implicated in the activation of Rac1. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been explored. Here, we show that a novel complex, involving SNTA1, P66shc, and Grb2 proteins, is involved in Rac1 activation. METHODS: Co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to show the complex formation, while siRNAs and shRNAs were used to downregulate expression of these proteins. Various Rac1 activation assays and functional assays, such as migration assays, in vitro wound healing assays, cell proliferation assays, and ROS generation assays, were also performed. RESULTS: The results showed a significant increase in activation of Rac1 when SNTA1 and P66shc were overexpressed, whereas depletion of SNTA1 and P66shc expression effectively reduced the levels of active Rac1. The results indicated a significant displacement of Sos1 protein from Grb2 when SNTA1 and P66shc are overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines, resulting in Sos1 predominantly forming a complex with Eps8 and E3b1. In addition, the SNTA1/P66shc-mediated Rac1 activation resulted in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and migratory potential in human breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: Together, our results present a possible mechanism of Rac1 activation involving SNTA1 and emphasise its role in ROS generation, cell migration, and acquisition of malignancy.

Population dynamics, distribution, and species diversity of fruit flies on cucurbits in Kashmir Valley, India.

Given the economic importance of cucurbits and the losses incurred by fruit fly infestation, the population dynamics of fruit flies in cucurbit crops and the influence of abiotic parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, and total sunshine hours per day on the fruit fly population were studied. The study was carried out at six locations; in district Srinagar the locations were Batmaloo, Shalimar, and Dal, while in district Budgam the locations were Chadoora, Narkara, and Bugam (Jammu and Kashmir, India). Various cucurbit crops, such as cucumber, bottle gourd, ridge gourd and bitter gourd, were selected for the study. With regard to locations, mean fruit fly population was highest (6.09, 4.55, 3.87, and 3.60 flies/trap/week) at Batamaloo and Chadoora (4.73, 3.93, 2.73, and 2.73 flies/trap/week) on cucumber, bottle gourd, ridge gourd, and bitter gourd, respectively. The population of fruit flies was significantly correlated with the minimum and maximum temperature. The maximum species diversity of fruit flies was 0.511, recorded in Chadoora. Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Diptera: Tephritidae) was the most predominant species in both Srinagar and Budgam, followed by B. dorsalis (Hendel) and B. tau (Walker), while B. scutellaris (Bezzi) was found only in Chadoora. Results of the present investigation may be utilized in developing a sustainable pest management strategy in the agroecological system.

Operational experience of electronic active personal dosemeter and comparison with CaSo4:Dy TL dosemeter in Indian PHWR.

Direct reading dosemeter has been used for day-to-day radiation exposure control and management for last four decades in Indian nuclear power plants (NPPs). Recently new real time, alarm and pre-alarm on equivalent dose/dose rate, storage of dose/dose rate and maximum dose rate, user-friendly electronic active personal dosemeter (APD) has been implemented into practice for the first time at Kaiga Atomic Power Station-3&4,  of Indian NPPs. The dosemeter showed tolerance level (L) 0.1085±0.0450 compared with 0.1869±0.0729 (average±SD) for CaSO4:Dy, TL dosemeter, having narrow range trumpet curve, nil electromagnetic interference. Records of >29 000 for APD and TL dosemeter were analysed for comparasion of the measurement of the individual dose. APD followed general acceptance rule of ±25 % for dose >1 mSv. Monthly Station collective dose by TL dosemeters and APD for normal reactor operation as well as outage are found in good agreement. Operational experiences and statistical analysis support that an APD dosemeter is reasonably equivalent to CaSO4:Dy TL dosemeter. The accuracy, reproducibility and repeatability of the measurement of radiation for (137)Cs are comparable with CaSO4:Dy, TL dosemeter. Operational experience of APD during the normal operation as well as outage showed as one of the best ALARA tool for occupational dose monitoring, control, management and future outage planning.

Interventional study to strengthen the health promoting behaviours of pregnant women to prevent anaemia in southern India.

OBJECTIVES: to determine the effectiveness of a health information package in terms of empowering the pregnant women to modify their health-care behaviour and take appropriate action to combat anaemia in pregnancy. DESIGN: the study was conceptualized based on Rosenstock and Becker's health belief model. A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest control group design was used. The sample consists of 225 anaemic pregnant women randomly allocated in experimental (n=75), control group A (n=75) and control group B (n=75). The health seeking behaviour outcome measure included knowledge regarding anaemia, food selection ability, increase in haemoglobin level and compliance to iron supplementation. Intervention was a validated planned educational programme with visual aids and iron supplementation. FINDINGS: the results show the mean gain of knowledge scores of experimental group was comparatively higher and control groups A and B showed that F ratio was (F(2,190)=11.910, p<0.01) indicating that the pregnant women learned more about anaemia prevention than others. With regard to food selection ability scores of experimental, control groups A and B the F ratio was also significant (F(2,190)=20.92, p<0.01). Nearly 61.2% of the subjects in experimental group became non-anaemic after the intervention when compared to control group A. This indicated that inspite of iron supplementation received by the three groups health education contributed significantly in modifying their health seeking behaviour and their perception about significance of anaemia has a problem. CONCLUSION: developing countries still face the critical problem of anaemia in pregnancy. These are the socio-cultural priority problems that demand immediate attention by the policy makers and health professionals. The national anaemia control programme focuses on iron supplementation, but nutritional education and supervision of iron supplementation has failed in different regions. The study implies that economic empowerment; strengthening health literacy through planned educational programs will definitely improve the health behaviour of individual and community at large.