bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using index tests to predict the compressive strength of crystalline rocks
Authors: Afolagboye Lekan Olatayo
Published: January 2019

Due to its ease of use and other advantages, the point load test has been reported in the literature as an indirect means of measuring the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of rocks. Crystalline rocks, including quartzite, gneiss, granites and charnockite from the Precambrian basement complex of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria were evaluated to assess the relationship between the UCS and point load strength. A regression analysis was carried out for all the rock types and for different types separately. Strong linear relationships were obtained in all cases, although the coefficient of correlation increased when the rock types were considered separately. This study has shown that the effect of different rock lithology must be taken into consideration when deriving the relationship between these two parameters.
Stability of light steel walls in compression with plasterboards on one or both sides
Authors: Lawson R. Mark , Way Andrew G. J. , Heywood Martin , Lim James B. P. , Johnston Ross , Roy Krishanu
Published: January 2019

In light steel framing, the compression resistance of the walls may be improved by the stabilising effect of plasterboard attached to one or both sides of the wall. This paper presents the results of 28 load tests on 2·4 m high walls using 75, 100 and 150 mm deep C-sections in 1·2 to 1·6 mm thick steel with various types of board. The results were compared to the methodology in the standards BS EN 1993-1-3 and BS 5950-5, taking account of restraint to minor axis buckling. The test results showed that the lateral restraint provided by 12 or 15 mm thick fire-resistant or moisture-resistant plasterboard fixed to one flange is equivalent to an effective length reduction factor of 0·7 in the minor axis direction for a 100 mm × 1·6 mm C-section in a 2·4 m high wall. A theory is developed based on distortional buckling of the C-sections, which allows the test results to be extended to other wall heights and section sizes. The failure loads were predicted by finite-element modelling by considering initial imperfections in the C-sections and the torsional restraint due to the boards.
THE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF INDIAN CIVILIZATION: SINCE ANCIENT TIME TO CURRENT STAY
Authors: Bordilovska O.
Published: January 2019

One of the world’s oldest civilizations India is an unique one, with uninterrupted tradition for centuries. It has given birth to four religions – Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism, which are known mainly due to the principles of peaceful coexistence and non-violence. Geography, history, ethnic and linguistic variety and social structure, together with religious principles shaped this amazing civilizational pluralism, which required tolerance. Exactly these values will shape the conduct of the Republic of India after independence, both in internal and external affairs. Author deals with this continuity of civilizational values and also examines the challenges to this extremely traditional civilization in contemporary Indian development.
Drivers and pedestrians of the metropolis in each other’s views
Authors: Pogodina A.V.
Published: January 2019

The article presents the results of the research of mutual perceptions of the main road users in the traffic environment in Moscow. The study involved drivers with different driving experience and pedestrians who had neither driving license nor any practice in driving. Each group in the study included 50 participants. The respondents assessed each other using various diagnostic methods (“Individual Semantic Differential”, associative and drawing techniques). The goal of the study was to define the structural and substantive characteristics of the emotional and semantic views of drivers and pedestrians about each other, as well as to identify the specificity of the views of each group. The research revealed a high level of tension in the interaction between the two groups of road users in the metropolis. It shows that the driver and the pedestrian have a low degree of significance for each other. The emotional-semantic content of ideas about each other has a predominantly negative orientation. The general tendency is that drivers and pedestrians view each other as unattractive, weak and passive with an extremely low level of acceptance of one another. The article describes the specificity of the views of each group of respondents.
Comprehensive prevention issues of impaired driving: organizational, legal, medical and socio-psychological aspects
Authors: Burtsev A.A.
Published: January 2019

The article presents an analysis of the theoretical interdisciplinary model “Psychological and Medical Assistance for Safe Mobility” developed in Germany and supported in some EU countries. The model includes three key “prevention levels” aimed at ensuring both mobility and a high level of road safety for road users. One of the main elements of the model is medical and psychological assessment, which allows to assess mobility competence. The article gives a detailed description of the three “prevention levels” of the model and defines the tasks for medical doctors and psychologists at each level. The article focuses on preventive work with drivers who violate traffic laws being impaired with alcohol. It raises a number of issues related to the replication of the model, its principles and approaches in the Russian Federation, where drinking and driving currently presents an acute problem. The article describes the tasks of comprehensive prevention of drunk driving, highlights the key activities in this direction including organizational, legal, medical and socio-psychological aspects of this work.
Neural network model for recognition of driving strategies and interaction of drivers in traffic conditions
Authors: Efremov S.B.
Published: January 2019

The paper presents a neural network model for recognizing driving strategies based on the interaction of drivers in traffic flow conditions. The architecture of the model, based on self-organizing map (SOM), consisting of various neural networks based on RBF (Radial Basis Function). The purpose of this work is to describe the architecture and structure of the neural network model, which allows to recognize the strategic features of driving. Our neural network is able to identify the interaction strategies of cars (drivers) in traffic flow conditions, as well as to identify such behavioral patterns of movement that can be correlated with different types of dangerous driving. From the results of the study, it follows that neural networks of the SOM RBF type are able to recognize and classify the types of interactions in traffic conditions based on modeling the analysis of the trajectories of cars. This neural network showed a high percentage of recognition and clear clustering of similar driving strategies.
A Imaterialidade do Inefável: Traços Imponderáveis da Percepção Auditiva e da Experiência Musical em Vladimir Jankélévitch
Authors: Gontijo Clovis Salgado
Published: January 2019

The concept of the ineffable, employed by Vladimir Jankélévitch’s philosophy of music, seems to imply, besides a limit to verbal expression, the idea of immateriality. This article will initially consider the immaterial tenor of the ineffable in two strands which particularly influenced the philosopher: Christian mysticism and Neoplatonism. A second and larger section will be devoted to the investigation of the theme in Jankélévitchian philosophy of music. Firstly, some “immaterial” features of musical experience and auditory perception, such as its indivisible, non-locatable, non-storable and non-objectifiable character will be identified. Secondly, it will focus on the intentional search of immateriality by Debussy and Fauré, who enhance the immateriality of music through specific procedures, such as the choice of diaphanous motifs, the nocturnal setting, the absence of external references, the exploration of veiled timbers and of sonorities of minimal intensity, the special use of modality and modulation. These aspects will be summed up in the conclusion, which will also question the possibility of inferring the alleged essential immateriality of music from the poetics that cultivate intangible sonorous atmospheres.
El Elemento Afectivo en la Música
Authors: Castro Sixto
Published: January 2019

In this text I present the basic theories dealing with the relationship between music and emotion. As an introduction, I raise a series of fundamental previous issues that are not usually taken into account when addressing the issue, to show that, in many cases, the analyses are biased because they do not take into account basic suppositions. Then I show some strengths and weaknesses of the theories of expression, arousal and resemblance. Finally, I make some brief comments in order to recover an analogical approach to the question.
Why Does Pure Music Not Have Semantic Content?
Authors: Mikalonytė Elzė Sigutė
Published: January 2019

The aim of this paper is to analyze the possibility of semantic content in pure music. The paper argues that pure music does not have semantic content. This conclusion relies on the Gricean analysis of meaning in terms of speakers’ intentions and on Peter Kivy’s argument that pure music does not meet the Gricean requirement for the composers’ intention. First, we analyze the results of empirical studies of metaphorical conceptualization of music; they show that the connections between properties of sound and various metaphors are not “one-to-one” but “one-to-many”. These results support a further argument that it is not possible for a composer to have an intention to communicate by his work of music what is, as we know from the empirical studies, perceived in music by the listeners; and if he has an intention to communicate something more specific than what is perceived by the listeners, the communication is bound to fail. This failure shows the absence of a Gricean communicative intention in the composer, even if an informative intention would be present.
On Narrativity and Narrative Flavor in Jazz Improvisation
Authors: Friedman J Tyler
Published: January 2019

This essay investigates an established question in the philosophy of music: whether, and in what respect, music may express narratives. However, this essay departs in two essential respects from traditional treatments of the question. First, the jazz tradition instead of European art music is used as the primary source material. Second, instead of merely posing the question of whether music can harbor a narrative, this essay is oriented by what it argues is a common experience of “narrative flavor” in music – the feeling of having heard a story in non-representational sound. The essay seeks to account for the experiential givenness of “narrative flavor” with the assistance of contemporary philosophical work on narrative and musicological work on improvisation and musical motion. Working with a minimalist definition of narrative that requires (1) the representation of two or more events that are (2) temporally ordered and (3) causally connected, music is found to be able to satisfy the second and third conditions. However, the questionable representation capacities of music lead to the conclusion that music cannot, in the strict sense, harbor a narrative. The experience of narrative flavor is explained with reference to J. David Velleman’s concept of emotional cadence, Brian Harker’s work on structural coherence in improvisation, and Patrick Shove and Bruno Repp’s work on the perception of musical motion. These sources are utilized to demonstrate that improvisations can be structured so as to give the listener the impression of having heard a story by initiating and carrying out an emotional cadence.
A Distinção Gráfico-Linguístico e a Notação Musical
Authors: Fortes Fabrício Pires
Published: January 2019

This paper examines the traditional musical notation from the viewpoint of the general problem concerning the types of visual representations. More specifically, we analyze this system in relation to the distinction between graphical and linguistic representations. We start by comparing this notation with the representational systems which are most commonly associated with such categories: on the one hand, pictorial representations as an example of a graphical representation; on the other hand, verbal writing usually associated with a linguistic representation. Then, we examine the traditional musical notation in relation to different ways of drawing the distinction graphic–linguistic, and we evaluate the applicability of such criteria to the former system. Finally, we present some general remarks about the legitimacy of this distinction both with respect to representational systems in general and to the specific case of the traditional musical notation.
The Music World in Phoenix: Insights from a Cultural Planning Study where the Lights are Darkest and the Sounds Mute!
Authors: Balsas Carlos José Lopes
Published: January 2019

Music is an art form and a mean of expression and performance. The instruments utilized to produce musical sound are as varied as the sounds desired and the materials and technologies utilized to produce it. The memorialization and celebration of sounds (and instruments) in specialized museums, such as Phoenix’s Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), is simultaneously a philanthropic investment and a wealth creation strategy. Based on an in-depth analysis of MIM’s location, planning, operations and growth ventures, this article answers the research question of whether edge city cultural investments work against institutionalized urban revitalization political agendas aimed at partially reversing sprawl development tendencies. I utilize Petula Clark’s ‘Downtown’ and Pedro Barroso’s ‘Tanta Gente’ songs to compare and contrast an institutionalized urban revitalization vision with real estate strategies aimed at capitalizing on inexpensive land in the suburbs. I argue that MIM’s launch in north Phoenix in 2010 is marred in the practically mute unsustainable patterns of metropolitan development so common in the pre-2008–2009 crisis reality of the U.S. Southwest. The key finding is a set of implications at the intersection of cultural planning and environmental citizenship in North America and beyond.
Descifrando el código genético o cómo pasar de un lenguaje de 4 letras a uno de 20
Authors: García Pedro
Published: January 2019

Aunque siempre es buen momento para recordar cómo se han realizado los descubrimientos que han marcado la Biología actual, la celebración de un aniversario "redondo" nos proporciona una excusa perfecta. En este 2018 secumplen 50 años desde que se concedió el premio Nobel en Fisiología oMedicina a tres investigadores por su interpretación del código genético y su función en lasíntesis de proteínas: Marshall Niremberg, Har Gobind Khorana y Robert W. Holley. En esta historia también tuvieron un papel decisivo otros muchos científicos,varios de los cuales habían obtenido el premio Nobel previamente como Severo Ochoa, James D. Watson y Francis H. C. Crick, o lo obtendrían posteriormentecomoSydneyBrenner. A lo largo del presente trabajo repasaremos brevemente cómo se consiguió establecer la verdadera relación que existe entre los genes y as proteínas, laaportación del numeroso grupo de investigadores implicados al desciframiento del código, en especial la de los tres premiados en 1968, y por último algunos nuevosconocimientos que se han obtenido sobre este tema desde dicho año.
Los edificios de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales de la Universidad de León, entre el recuerdo y el apunte histórico
Authors: Luis Calabuig Estanislao , Nieto Nafría Juan Manuel
Published: January 2019

La Universidad de León adoptó a raíz de la Ley Orgánica 11/1983 de Reforma Universitaria —conocida como LRU— una organización sin supeditación entre centros y departamentos, por lo cual no es fácil determinar si un inmueble de la Universidad corresponde en exclusiva a un centro o lo comparte con espacios departamentales. Sin embargo es normal referirse a muchos de los edificios del campus de Vegazana con el nombre de un centro. Entre ellos están los dos edificios de la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, según su denominación actual. Ambos se encuentran situados en el extremo sudoccidental de la parte primigenia de ese campus (Fig. 1), la parte urbanizada a comienzos de los setenta del pasado siglo por la Caja de Ahorros y Monte de Piedad de León.
De todo un poco
Authors: Revista Equipo
Published: January 2019

Unaño más, la Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (FCCBA) de la Universidad de León ha desarrollado una intensa actividad académica y ha participado y organizado múltiples eventos de carácter cultural, científico, formativo y divulgativo, muchos de ellos con el objetivo de conmemorar el 50 aniversario de la implantación de los estudios de Biología en León.
Prevalence of climacteric symptoms in menopausal and perimenopausal women
Authors: Sharma Achala Sahai , Khan Zareena
Published: January 2019

Background: With increasing life expectancy population of menopausal women is also rising and each woman is expected to spend almost 1/3rd of her life in this phase. Due to various factors the health issues of menopausal age group are still not completely understood and addressed. Further studies in this field are expected to enhance the understanding of the subject and improve the quality of life of elderly woman.Methods: A cross sectional analysis was done over a period of one year, 200 women between 40 to 65 years of age not taking HRT and not having any other medical illness were recruited. The data regarding demography and 21 climacteric symptoms in Greene’s Climacteric Scale was collected by interviewing the subjects. The prevalence of various menopausal symptoms and their severity were analyzed.Results: Mean age of study group (n=200) was 46.8 years with menopausal group (n=79) 50.18 years and perimenopausal group (n=121) 44.6 years. Out of all 84% subjects were illiterate. The most prevalent and severe symptom was muscle and joint pain. There was no significant difference in the mean number of climacteric symptoms in various demographic groups and between menopausal and perimenopausal group.Conclusions: The climacteric symptoms do not appear to decrease in number or intensity after transition from perimenopause to menopause. Differences in sensitivity, literacy, social and cultural factors etc. among elderly women may be responsible for under reporting or differences in reporting. Exploring the issues of menopausal health and training of health personnel in this field may improve awareness of these women about various menopause related health issues and thus improve their quality of life.
Mullerian ductal anomalies and its outcome
Authors: Vyas Rupa C. , Moghariya Ashleta M. , Shah Sapana R. , Parikh Purvi M. , Shelat Prachi M.
Published: January 2019

Background: The aim is to study various investigative modalities to diagnose Mullerian anomalies and to evaluate the reproductive outcome that occurs as a result of malformation of genital tract.Methods: A prospective study of reproductive anomalies and its outcome was performed by using data from women with congenital anomalies attended in OPD either with complains or for operative treatment or incidental diagnosis during caesarean section, manual removal of placenta, during laparoscopy or laparotomy at tertiary care center. Total 70 women with different types of congenital anomalies were included in study. Out of them gynecological cases (27) were diagnosed on basis of clinical examination and other diagnostic aids while Mullerian anomalies in obstetric cases (43) were observed and their outcomes were studied.Results: Most common utero-vaginal anomaly seen in present study was septate uterus with 18 (25.7%) cases, followed by bicornuate uterus with 13 (18.6%) cases. Most common presenting symptom is primary amenorrhea 21 (30%) followed by cyclical abdominal pain 11 (15.7). HSG, USG are the primary tools to detect genital tract anomalies. Surgical correction was required in 47.1% patients.Conclusions: Present study shows prevalence of congenital malformation of female reproductive tract is 0.17% at our tertiary care center. Utero-vaginal anomalies are a morphologically diverse group of developmental disorders. Establishing an accurate diagnosis is essential for planning treatment and management strategies. The surgical approach for correction of utero-vaginal anomalies is specific to the type of malformation and may vary in a specific group.
Study on breastfeeding practices among rural women in the field practice areas of a tertiary care teaching hospital
Authors: Nagar Noopur S. , Thomas Ebbie , Nagar Shashwat S. , Godara Naresh R.
Published: January 2019

Background: Breastfeeding is one of the most important determinants of child survival, birth spacing, and prevention of childhood infections. The beneficial effects of breastfeeding depend on breastfeeding initiation, its duration, and the age at which the breast-fed child is weaned. Data from NFHS-4 suggest that in India, in Gujarat where only 56% of infants are exclusively breastfed and 50% of infants are initiated with breastfeeding within one hour of birth. This study was planned to identify the gaps in breastfeeding practices so that necessary interventions can be designed and thereby implemented. The objective is to study the breastfeeding practices of mothers having children below 2 years of age in the field practice areas of the medical college and to associate the findings of these practices with the socio-demographic characteristics of the population.Methods: The study conducted was a community based cross-sectional one in the six villages of RHTC of PIMSR. The study was conducted by surveying a total of 204 mothers to study their breastfeeding practices which were categorized into ‘good’ and “not so good’ practices. From this the total score was calculated and associated with socio-demographic variables.Results: Majority of the mothers were in the age group 18-22 and educated up to ‘primary’ and most of them were from social class IV and V. Only 23% of the mothers had adequate knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding. About 70% practiced both early initiation of breastfeeding and feeding colostrum whereas nearly 80% practiced exclusive breastfeeding.Conclusions: It is concluded from the study that even though the practice of breastfeeding was found quite good, the gaps in the knowledge and practice must be addressed through health education and support through peer and health groups. Documenting the success stories will go a long way for community education and behavioral change in communication at the community level for adequate breastfeeding practices.
Kidney length, a visceral parameter predicts foetal age between 24 to 40 weeks of gestation
Authors: Bharatnur Sunanda , Dawson Samantha , Hebbar Shripad
Published: January 2019

Background: Accurate estimation of gestational age is important in providing appropriate antenatal care. Recent evidence suggests that weightage should also be given to kidney length in addition to standard biometric parameters in determining the duration of pregnancy by ultrasound.Methods: In a single centre, prospective cross-sectional study was done in 120 pregnant women. In addition to standard biometric parameters, kidney length was also measured between 24 to 40 weeks at two-week intervals. A total of 240 renal vertical measurements were done and average of right and left renal lengths was taken as a final kidney length. Descriptive analysis was carried out to find the mean and standard deviations for each variable. Regression analysis was carried for each variable either singly or in combinations and Pearson regression coefficients was used to find the association between gestational age and various foetal parameters and to determine which of the regression model gives the best fit for prediction of gestational age.Results: Foetal kidney length progressively increased throughout the gestation (from 23.2 mm at 24 weeks to 40.1 mm at 40 weeks). The regression formula using only kidney length as an independent variable (gestational age=2.195±0.942 X kidney length) had high degree of correlation (R2 0.97, p<0.001, SE of prediction 4.7±3.9), which was superior to other prediction models using standard biometric parameters. In multiple regression models using several conventional parameters, when femur length was added in a stepwise manner, there was significant improvement in forecasting gestational age.Conclusions: Present study showed that foetal kidney length is a reliable indicator of gestational age between 24 to 40 weeks of pregnancy and may be of utility in pregnancies with wrong dates, non-availability of dating scan and women who have conceived during lactational period.
Association of serum neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels with preeclampsia
Authors: Dhivya M. , Mathew Chippy Tess , Jeyachandran G.
Published: January 2019

Background: Preeclampsia is a systemic disorder that affects multiple organs and is characterized by the new onset of hypertension and proteinuria or end-organ dysfunction or both in the second half of pregnancy. NGAL is a 25-KDa protein of the lipocalin family and is considered to be a novel biomarker for ischemic injury. The objective of this study is to compare the levels of serum NGAL in preeclamptic patients and gestational age matched normotensive controls.Methods: The study design is case control study in which pregnant women with preeclampsia (n=40) are selected as cases. Cases were selected from pregnant women attending OG-OPD and IP satisfying the inclusion criteria and not coming under exclusion criteria. 0.5ml of blood was collected in vacutainers and was centrifuged at 3500rpm for 10 minutes. The serum thus separated was aliquoted into smaller plain containers and stored at -20 degree Celsius for analysis. The urine sample was also collected. Controls were also selected from the OP patients.Results: In present study, the serum NGAL ranged from 40-900ng/ml in cases and from 110-795ng/ml in controls. There is no difference in NGAL between cases and control. The correlation coefficients between the NGAL levels and other parameters like maternal age, gestational age, systolic Blood pressure, diastolic Blood pressure, uric acid levels, urine PCR are also not statistically significant.Conclusions: Serum NGAL levels are not significantly elevated in patients with preeclampsia when compared with the normotensive controls and also there is no significant correlation between serum NGAL levels and other assessed parameters.
Obstetrical outcome in gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective study
Authors: Manjappa Anitha Aldur , Menon Maya , Patil Aruna Bholenath
Published: January 2019

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Majority of the maternal complications associated with GDM have been decreasing nowadays, however the relative risk of development of perinatal complications remain higher in women with hyper glycaemia.Methods: This retrospective study was conducted among 286 delivered pregnant women. The pregnant women were diagnosed as GDM by DIPSI diagnostic criterion. The study was performed to find the association of various risk factors with GDM occurrence and to assess the obstetrical outcome in the GDM and normoglycaemic women.Results: Out of the 286 women, the proportion of women affected with GDM was 20.6%. The onset of GDM was more common among women between 25-30year (62.7%). GDM onset is increased when they had previous history of GDM and family history of diabetes.  The obstetric complications were less common among GDM women (23.72%). GDM women had increased rate of caesarean delivery (69.5%) and induction of labour (42.4%). The neonatal complications were more common among GDM neonates (57.62%). The proportion of occurrence of congenital anomalies and macrosomia (>3.5kg) was similar among both groups.Conclusions: Risk factors associated with GDM onset such as previous history of GDM and family history of diabetes are significant risk factors. Advanced age, increasing parity and occurrence of abortions were not associated with GDM onset.  With good glycaemic control the obstetrical complications and macrosomia are preventable. Rate of Induction of labour, caesarean delivery and neonatal morbidity remains higher among GDM women.
Prevalence and determinants of caesarean section in a rural tertiary teaching hospital: a 6-year retrospective study
Authors: Reddy Ke Manga , P. Lakshmi Sailaja , Kodimala Shiva Charana , Pathakamudi Poojitha , Betha Kalpana
Published: January 2019

Background: Caesarean section is the most commonly performed surgery in obstetrics and there is a rise in caesarean section rates in recent times. This study was undertaken to know the changing trends in caesarean section rate in a rural hospital and to examine the indications contributing to it. The objective of the present study was to know the prevalence and changing trends in caesarean section over the last 6 years (April 2012-March 2018).Methods: Demographic data for all the deliveries, mode of delivery and indications of caesarean sections performed from April 2012 to March 2018 that occurred at MIMS were collected in a retrospective manner.Results: Among a total of 12,522 women delivered during the study period of 6 years, 44.93%, 48.49%, 48.41%, 50.9%, 45.48% and 49.62% were delivered by caesarean section during 2012-2013, 2013-2014, 2014-2015, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 respectively. Increase in repeat caesarean section is the primary reason for these increased rates followed by fetal distress. There is a rise in the repeat caesarean section from 44.36% in 2012-2013 to 55.67% in 2016-2017 and 47% in 2017-2018. Whereas primary caesarean section rate reduced from 55.63% in 2012-2013 to 44.32% in 2016-2017 and 53% in 2017-2018.Conclusions: As repeat caesarean section and fetal distress are the most common causes of caesarean section we need to address these to bring down the caesarean section rate.
Elevated progesterone level and its consequences on IVF
Authors: Das Sankar Kumar , Roy Priyanka , Kalita Krishna
Published: January 2019

Background: Understanding of the embryo-endometrium dialogue is still far from being understood. During conventional in vitro fertilization cycles, progesterone elevation on the day of human chorionic gonadotropin administration refers to rising progesterone levels in the absence of either premature or a luteinizing hormone surge. Most research have reported that elevated progesterone had an adverse impact on the endometrial environment of fresh cycles, leading to a decrease in pregnancy rates.Methods: The current study was undertaken at Swagat hospital and research Centre, Bongaigaon, Assam (India). Fifty patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) were selected for the study. Baseline estimation of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), (estrogen) E2 and (transvaginal sonography) TVS was done. The patients were grouped on the basis of their progesterone levels on the day of hCG trigger, with the cutoff for defining premature progesterone rise being (progesterone) P4≥ 3ng/ml. Final oocyte maturation was induced with hCG. Oocyte retrieval was performed 34-36 h after hCG. Two to three embryos of day 3 cleavage stage were transferred under TVS guidance. The parameters obtained from each cycle were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed. Probability (P) value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A sonographic confirmation of pregnancy was performed 2 weeks after β-hCG positive.Results: On dividing the patients into two groups, based on the cut off of P4 as 3ng/ml, it was observed that the no of cases that conceived was significantly higher in the subjects whose P4 level was less than or equal to 3ng/ml than the subjects whose P4 level was more than 3ng/ml.Conclusions: Elevated P4 i.e. Progesterone level just before trigger is a reflection of endometrial maturity that can cause disparity between endometrial and embryonic ageing and therefore hamper implantation or cause failure in assisted reproductive technology (ART).
Effect of Myoinositol and Metformin in combination on clinical and hormonal profile in patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: Nagaria Tripti , Mohapatra Arpita , Jaiswal Jyoti
Published: January 2019

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) also known as hyperandrogenic anovulation syndrome or Stein – Leventhal syndrome is an endocrine disorder, characterized by anovulation, oligomenorrhea, amenorrhea, features of androgenic hormone excess (hirsutism, acne, alopecia, seborrhea) and insulin resistance. The global prevalence ranges from 2.2% to 26%. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from December 2015 to December 2016 in Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial medical college and associated Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar memorial hospital, Raipur (C.G.) after obtaining permission of ethical committee of the institute to evaluate the effect of myoinositol and metformin on clinical profile in patients of polycystic ovarian syndrome. 70 women were included in the study who received a combination of myoinositol 600mg and metformin 500mg (twice a day) for 3 months for the management of PCOS. Prior to the start of the therapy, a detailed history and baseline investigations were recorded. Cases were reassessed at the end of three months of therapy for evaluation of change in clinical and hormonal profile.Results: 90.09% (63/70) cases showed improvement in the menstrual complaints. Spontaneous onset of menses occurred in all the cases presented with amenorrhea, in nearly 90% within 2 months of start of treatment. Regularization of cycles was observed in nearly 50% of patients with infrequent menses. Amongst all the cases with cutaneous manifestations, maximum improvement was seen in cases of acne (4/6) i.e. 66.66%. 25% (5/20) patients with infertility conceived during the study period.Conclusions: Myoinositol with metformin in combination has resulted in significant improvement in the clinical profile with reduction in individual drug dosage in cases with PCOS.
Role of low dose Magnesium sulphate in eclampsia
Authors: Sinha Kajal , K. Sinha Shail
Published: January 2019

Background: Eclampsia is one of the challenging medical complications seen during pregnancy. With the use of magnesium sulphate for control of convulsion in eclampsia, it can be managed effectively.Methods: This is a prospective study done in a tertiary care hospital. Considering low body mass index of patients of developing area, authors had used low dose regime of magnesium sulphate. 100 patients had been enrolled for low dose magnesium sulphate regime after categorizing patients as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. The primary outcome to be measured was recurrence of fits in any patients who received low dose magnesium sulphate. The secondary outcome measured were development of any toxicity, level of serum magnesium level, maternal and perinatal outcome.Results: It was observed that 93% of the patients responded to low dose regime. 7% developed  recurrence of fits for that additional dose of 2 gram of 20% magnesium sulphate was given to the patients. Not even a single patient developed signs of toxicity. 94% and 95% of the patients acquired therapeutic level of serum magnesium at 4 hours and 10 hours of magnesium sulphate administration, respectively. Maternal mortality was 5% and perinatal mortality was 24.4%.Conclusions: Low dose of magnesium sulphate can prevent and treat eclampsia. Low dose regimen also reduces incidence of toxicity with improved maternal and perinatal outcome.
A large fibroma polyp of labia majora
Authors: Raj Aman Deep , Soma Murali Mohan , Khajuria S. P.
Published: January 2019

Fibroepithelial stromal polyps are benign proliferations which are usually polypoid or pedunculated, and less than 5cm in size. They are generally single lesions but can be multiple during pregnancy. They can be polypoid or pedunculated and are usually solitary. Symptoms usually include bleeding, discharge and general discomfort with sensation of a mass. They typically have a central fibrovascular core and contain stellate and multinucleated stromal cells which are best seen beneath the surface epithelium. True myxoid stroma is absent. Although vulvovaginal fibroepithelial stromal polyps are well documented, a giant variant such as the one authors report here is rather rare. To the knowledge, present case is the largest fibroepithelial stromal polyp compared to others reported in the literature.
Huge cervical pedunculated leiomyoma with uterine prolapse: a case report
Authors: Khade Shweta Avinash , Jadhav Balaji , Raut Rohini
Published: January 2019

Leiomyoma uterus is the most common benign solid tumor in female. Most of it situated in the body of the uterus.  cervical myoma account 3%-8% of uterine myoma. Cervical myoma can frequently cause diagnostic dilemmas. Pedunculated cervical myoma can arise from the endocervical canal or from the uterine cavity and protrude through the cervix, may become necrotic, infected and gangrenous due to inadequate blood circulation through a long pedicle or if the pedicle of leiomyoma twists. This can cause menometrorrhagia, recurrent vaginal discharge leading to anemia and sepsis. A case of huge pedunculated cervical leiomyoma has been reported here. A 40 years old female, para 4, with menometrorrhagia, excessive vaginal discharge and severe anemia with haemoglobin 5gm% and challenging huge cervical pedunculated leiomyoma of size 13cm*9cm*9cm prolapsed outside introitus which is congested necrotic, infected causing uterine prolapse with bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis. Patient underwent bilateral internal iliac artery ligation and fibroid excision followed by total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy after tracing both ureters.  Post-operative period was uneventful. Histopathology was confirmatory of leiomyoma.
Comparative evaluation of phasic and chemical antinociceptive action of a conventional and a novel anticonvulsants in experimental models of tail flick and formalin test
Authors: Kansal Saurabh , Sirohi Rohan , Agarwal Ruchika
Published: January 2019

Background: Some antiepileptic drugs have been shown to be clinically efficacious in treatment of neuropathic pain and are being used by clinician.Methods: This study determined the analgesic effect of gabapentin (a conventional anticonvulsant) and levitiracetam (a novel anticonvulsant) in rats in different types of acute and chronic nociceptive test like tail flick and formalin test and compared its potency with a conventional non opioid analgesic diclofenac.Results: Per oral administration of gabapentin produced no any marked effect on early phase response of formalin test but significantly suppressed the late phase response while levitiracetam produced no any type of significant effect in both phases. In tail flick test gabapentin as well as levitiracetam produced no any significant analgesic effect while diclofenac produced significant reduction of pain in tail flick test as well as in both phases of formalin test.Conclusions: Thus, we have observed that gabapentin produced antinociception in chronic pain as second phase of formalin test reflects chronic inflammatory pain while levitiracetam did not produce any type of antinociceptive effect as it could not suppress the pain significantly in both tail flick and formalin test.
Clinical utility of TIRADS and ultrasound elastography in characterization of thyroid nodules
Authors: Sachdev Namrita , . Sana , Gupta Shivani , Prasad Akhila
Published: January 2019

Background: Thyroid nodules are a common entity in an iodine deficient population, however malignant nodules are relatively uncommon with excellent prognosis. Ultrasound elastography is a useful tool for characterization of nodules and allows selection of tumors for FNAC. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of strain elastography and acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging in differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules.Methods: This study included 100 thyroid nodules evaluated using ultrasound TIRADS classification. Strain elastography evaluated the nodules using the elasticity score and strain ratio followed by VTI and shear wave velocity generated from ARFI data to characterize the nodules. Final diagnoses were obtained from cytological and/or histological evaluation. The diagnostic performance of the two elastography methods was analyzed and compared by multiple receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.Results: Of the 100 thyroid nodules observed in 100 patients (82 females and 18 males), 22% were malignant nodules and 78% were benign. The cut off values for elasticity scores, mean SR, VTI grade and mean SWV for predicting malignant thyroid nodules were greater than or equal to score 2, 2.4, grade 3, 2.5m/s respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for elasticity score, mean SR, VTI grade and mean SWV was 0.79, 0.78, 0.89 and 0.84, respectively (P>0.05) and the accuracy was 74, 81.6, 88 and 87.5%, respectively (P>0.05). The accuracy of the combined use of conventional sonography, strain elastography and ARFI imaging was 85.6% respectively, which was higher than that of conventional sonography (P>0.05).Conclusions: Strain elastography and ARFI imaging have high sensitivity and specificity for differentiating malignant from benign thyroid nodules and therefore have good clinical utility in evaluating these lesions.
Effectiveness of ginger aromatherapy towards nausea and vomiting on first trimester pregnant women at BPM (private practice midwives) Ni Wayan Suri in Denpasar City
Authors: Dewianti Ni Made , Witari Ni Nyoman Deni
Published: January 2019

Background: Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy are called morning sickness, which is experienced by around 70-80% of pregnant women, is a phenomenon that often occurs at 5-12weeks of gestation. Since long time ago, ginger has been known as a plant with a million of medicinal properties. Non-pharmacological intervention measures by giving ginger aromatherapy is part of the comfort intervention which aimed to provide physical comfort to pregnant women.Methods: The design of this study was pre-experimental (Quasi experiment design) with one group pretest-posttest design on the group that was given ginger aromatherapy. The population in this study was pregnant women who made antenatal visits at Private Practice Midwives (hereafter BPM) Ni Wayan Suri in Denpasar City in 2018 with purposive sampling technique. The samples in this study were first trimester pregnant women who experienced nausea and vomiting in BPM Ni Wayan Suri in Denpasar City and met the inclusion criteria. The number of samples in this study was 30 people. Data were analyzed through t-test to compare the results of the pretest and posttest.Results: The average nausea and vomiting of pregnant women in the first trimester before receiving ginger aroma therapy was 8.1. The average nausea and vomiting of pregnant women in the first trimester upon receiving the aroma of ginger therapy was 6 with a p value of 0.00 which means that there was an effect of ginger aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnant women in first trimester in Private Practice Midwives  BPM Ni Wayan Suri in Denpasar City.Conclusions: There is an effect of ginger aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnant women in first trimester in Private Practice Midwives BPM Ni Wayan Suri in Denpasar City.
Predictivity of inflammatory cell counts in early diagnosis of hydatidiform mole
Authors: Eroğlu Hüseyin Avni , Adalı Yasemen
Published: January 2019

Background: Hydatidiform mole (HM) is the most frequently encountered disease among gestational trophoblastic diseases. HM can invade myometrium and result in hysterectomy and because of the absence of any predictive method, the disease  can  be lately diagnosed in the periphery. Author aimed to evaluate predictive value of  the inflammatory cell counts in molar pregnancies in this study.Methods: Nineteen (19) cases with histopathologic HM diagnosis and 19 cases of control group with pregnancy termination or abortion material reached to a university hospital's pathology department on the same day were included in the study. The data on the same day or the day before the operation was used as the hemogram data.Results: The mean age of the cases were 33.84±8.477. The mean of neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, basophil and eosinophil numbers of the HM group and control group were compared in the 95% confidence interval with the independent t test. No statistical significance was observed in any of the inflammatory cell means  (p>0.05). The ratio of lymphocyte means was statistically significant (p=0.006).Conclusions: In this study, author assessed whether the inflammatory cell counts were a predictive in detecting HM. The statistically significant results that author founded in the means of lymphocyte, suggests that this finding may be predictive of early diagnosis. They concluded that this result can be routinely used after the confirmation of the results in larger series of cases.
New perspectives in modified Gleason’s grading for prostatic cancer and its comparison with original Gleason’s
Authors: Gupta Sajjan , Dubey Ishan , Agarwal Vandana , Agarwal Shalakha
Published: January 2019

Background: The Gleason score is the most widely accepted histopathological grading system for prostate cancer since decade despite having many deficiency that can potentially impact patient health care. So ISUP agreed on developing a system of prognostic grade groups from I-V. Aim and objective was to study the new perspectives of modified Gleason’s grading and to compare it with original Gleason’s System with focus on the prognostic significance of the modifications.Methods: A retrospective study of 60 patients, who underwent TURP and Sextant biopsy and diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma in our institute were included in this study. Laboratory requisition forms with clinical history, PSA levels and histopathology reports of these patients were reviewed and graded accordingly to the newer gleasons. New Gleason grade includes five distinct Grade Groups based on the modified Gleason score groups. Grade Group 1 = Gleason score ≤6, Grade Group 2 = Gleason score 3 + 4 = 7, Grade Group 3 = Gleason score 4 + 3 = 7, Grade Group 4 = Gleason score 8, Grade Group 5 = Gleason scores 9 and 10 were assigned. The change in the grading system is tabulated and compared separately.Results: Patients age ranged from 55-80 years. The number of cases were 3,12,15,19 and 11 categorized under grade group I, grade group II, grade group III, grade group IV, grade group V cancer respectively according to modified gleason grading.Conclusions: Modified Gleason is a simplified grading system which may reduce over treatment of indolent prostate cancer. New gleasons grading clarifies the clinicians about the dilemma of gleason scores, offering an excellent prognostic stratification of this carcinoma.
A demographic study of urolithiasis in patients attending tertiary urological hospital in Dibrugarh, Assam, India
Authors: Sandilya Prakritee , Sandilya Prakritee
Published: January 2019

Background: Urolithiasis is a common disease entity seen in medical practice. Various studies from different areas of the world indicates higher male preponderance. Our study was done to find out the gender, age and area of distribution of Urolithiasis in a tertiary urology centre in upper Assam.Methods: Our study was a retrospective study done between January 2018 to June 2018. Data was collected from the records. A total of 1041 patients were examined during this period, out of which 307 patients were diagnosed and treated for urolithiasis.Results: Out of 307 patients, 228 were males and 79 were females. Male to female ratio was 2.9:1. The maximum number of patients in the age group was between 30-39 years. Majority of the patients were from the Dibrugarh district of upper Assam. Most of the positive urolithiasis cases was fund in patients consuming a non-vegetarian diet.Conclusions: Urolithiasis is a disease with preponderance in adult males. Geographical distribution, age and diet are factors that affect the occurrence of the disease.