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Effect of Debt Suspension on the Financials of Banks: Evidence from India
Get PDFTo curb the negative effect of recent disruptions, the government of India has declared a nationwide lockdown strategy where only essential work is carried out. This bears a severe financial toll laterally with the health disaster. Several individuals have lost their jobs and are struggling to pay off their monthly loan installments. This called for the need for a moratorium on credit. The present paper highlights the impact of a debt moratorium on Indian commercial banks because of the pandemic. It gives a brief commentary on the financial health of banks affected by the stated strategy. A broad-based exploration of the database associated to a debt moratorium on commercial banks during the pandemic in India has been undertaken. Further, a short review has been undertaken on the extracted data through research papers, articles, and reports. The result revealed that though the banks will be benefited from the increased EMI on loans because of the moratorium only if people can repay, that seems highly unlikely due to the crisis. It will further damage the asset quality, and capital requirements and deteriorate the bank’s profitability in the long run
The Effect of Nutritional Counselling on Knowledge Level, Dietary Compliance, and Fasting Blood Glucose Levels in Outpatients with T2DM
Get PDFDiabetes Mellitus is a chronic disease that is increasingly common due to factors such as population growth, aging, urbanization, obesity, and lack of physical activity. Low adherence and understanding of the specialized diet among patients result in difficulties managing diabetes diets. This is primarily because patients only receive brief education from midwives regarding allowed and prohibited food items, which leads to inadequate comprehension of proper dietary management. Moreover, nutritional counselling has not been systematically implemented. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of nutritional counselling on dietary adherence among outpatients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) at Selopuro Community Health Center, Blitar Regency. This study employed a quantitative quasi-experimental design with a pre-test and post-test approach. Thirty patients with T2DM at Selopuro Community Health Center were purposively sampled. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and questionnaires. Univariable analysis described respondent characteristics and pre-post counselling changes, while bivariate analysis using the Wilcoxon test assessed the effect of counselling. The study revealed a significant improvement in the intervention group that received counselling three times. Respondents’ knowledge improved from 80% categorized as poor to 73% as sufficient, dietary adherence improved from 80% non-compliant to 73% compliant, and poor fasting blood glucose levels decreased from 87% to 67%. In contrast, the control group, which received counselling only once, showed lesser improvements. Repeated nutritional counselling (three sessions) and dietary monitoring significantly improved knowledge, dietary adherence, and fasting blood glucose levels among patients with T2DM compared to the control group receiving a single counselling session
Choice Overload and Maximization Tendencies in Slot Machine Play
Get PDFThe present study investigated behavioral differences in slot machine play of maximizers and satisficers (those who tend to carefully examine options before making a choices versus those who tend to make choices with little deliberation), and further examined whether more extensive arrays of available slot machines would result in choice overload, a phenomenon characterized by negative side effects such as the suppression of choice and response allocation. Forty-five graduate and undergraduate students and general population adults were classified as maximizers or satisficers based on score on the Maximization Scale and gambled hypothetical credits among 3, 6, and 14 concurrently available slot machines, choosing freely among alternatives. During play, the frequency of slot machine switches were scored as a potential behavioral correlate of maximization, and accuracy of estimations of win frequency were collected to determine if switching resulted in poor result tracking. The results demonstrated that maximizers switched among slot machines significantly more than satisficers suggesting a behavioral difference in play, the size of the array had no effect on response allocation indicating that choice overload, and both groups estimated win frequency poorly. Implications of maximization and slot machine switching for pathological gambling and future directions are discussed
Psychological Safety in Division Two Soccer Teams in the Central Region of Ghana: Exploring the Impact of Transformational Leadership on Player Well-being and Performance
Get PDFThis research examines how transformational leadership affects psychological safety in division two soccer teams by emphasizing its influence on players well-being and performance in the Central Region of Ghana. Soccer teams encounter various stresses and obstacles that impact the mental health of players and the overall dynamics of the team. Psychological safety is vital to team cohesion, trust and individual efficacy. Transformational leadership, defined by its inspirational motivation, individualized attention and intellectual stimulation, is proposed as a significant leadership style that could improve psychological safety in soccer teams. This study employed a qualitative research method with 30 participants, consisting of 20 players, five coaches and five team managers from division two soccer teams. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were performed to understand the participants experiences and views regarding leadership behaviors and their effects on psychological safety and performance. The results indicate that transformational leadership favors player well-being by establishing trust, open dialogue and support. Players expressed higher confidence, decreased anxiety and increased motivation due to the practices associated with transformational leadership. Additionally, team managers and coaches observed enhancements in team cohesion and performance, which they credited to the psychological safety fostered by transformational leadership. The implications of these findings are extensive and indicate that soccer teams in Ghana could greatly gain from implementing transformational leadership to create a nurturing environment that boosts both player well-being and performance. This research adds to the expanding literature on leadership in sports, particularly in the context of African soccer, providing insights that can guide coaching practices and team management strategies in Ghana and other regions
Phytochemical Screening and In vitro Antibacterial Evaluation of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng
Get PDFPlectranthus amboinicus is a medicinal plant widely recognized in Ethiopia but requires scientific validation to support its potential for drug development. This study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical properties and antibacterial activities of P. amboinicus crude extracts against selected pathogenic bacteria. The experiment followed a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) using a laboratory bioassay with three replications. The factorial arrangement included two extract sources (leaf and stem), two solvents (ethanol and distilled water), three concentration levels (100 mg/mL, 120 mg/mL and 150 mg/mL), four bacterial species and three replications, resulting in a 2x2x3x4x3 design. The disc diffusion method was employed to assess bacterial susceptibility, while the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth dilution method and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was evaluated on nutrient agar. Gram positive bacterial species demonstrated the highest susceptibility, with MIC values ranging from 25 mg/mL to 100 mg/mL and MBC values between 50 mg/mL and 100 mg/mL. The study findings revealed that extracts from the leaves of P. amboinicus were particularly effective against the tested pathogens, highlighting the plant’s antibacterial potential. Furthermore, phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds, supporting the use of P. amboinicus as a medicinal plant. These results provide a scientific basis for its traditional application in treating bacterial infections. However, further research is necessary to investigate its efficacy against a broader range of bacterial and fungal pathogens
Revolutionizing Digital Narratives: The Role of Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence in Storytelling
Get PDFArtificial Intelligence and Semantic Web technologies are redefining digital storytelling by creating personal, interactive narratives that adapt to the user's input in real time. The Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence have revolutionized web storytelling, turning it into a dynamic, interactive, and personalised experience. Artificial Intelligence models and structured web technologies reinforce narratives based on user input and real-time interaction. Our paper examines the transformative impact of emerging technologies, notably the Semantic Web and Artificial Intelligence on contemporary digital storytelling. Based on an interdisciplinary approach that spans the fields of digital humanities and computer science, our research examines how narrative structures are redefined, improved and democratized by semantic enrichment and algorithmic narrative. By examining recent theoretical frameworks and empirical studies, our work has identified new paradigms for narrative construction and delivery, and has highlighted the dynamic interaction between human creativity and machine intelligence. Our study uses a mixed methodology, combining qualitative content analysis with quantitative assessments of digital storytelling platforms. The findings suggest that AI-based tools and semantic web technologies will allow for greater contextual accuracy, personalisation and interactivity in narrative, thus redefining traditional narrative boundaries. The implications for future research and practice in the academic and professional digital media communities are discussed
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR): A Comprehensive Descriptive Analysis
Get PDFObjectives: TAVR is a minimally invasive alternative to SAVR, offering a key treatment for high-risk patients with severe aortic stenosis, including those with advanced age or comorbidities. Its popularity has led to its use in lower volume institutions, where outcomes are comparable to higher volume centers. This study analyzes procedural volume and outcomes at our institution, compares them with the PARTNER III trial and evaluates complications and patient selection criteria.
Design: This was a retrospective descriptive study.
Setting: This study was performed at a public, multi-institutional healthcare system featuring an acute care hospital with a level I adult trauma and burn center.
Participants: We obtained retrospective data on 37 patients who underwent TAVR in our hospital system in 2022. Data was collected on their outcomes, including mortality, readmission rates and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications at 30 days and 1 year.
Interventions: No interventions were performed on patients as this was a retrospective study.
Measurements and main results: Patient outcomes were compared with PARTNER III trial results. There was no 30-day mortality (versus 1% in the PARTNER III trial) and a 1-year mortality rate of 2.7% (versus 8.5% in the PARTNER III trial). During the procedures, no patients were converted to general anesthesia nor actively bleeding. At 30 days, no patients were readmitted for valve-related issues.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that lower volume healthcare institutions can achieve outcomes comparable/similar to higher volume institutions in specialized procedures like TAVR, challenging the assumption that superior outcomes are tied to institutional size. Our findings highlight the importance of quality, teamwork and individualized care in achieving excellent clinical outcomes, regardless of size
Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Phytochemical Analysis of Detarium Microcarpum Stem Bark Fractions
Get PDFChronic inflammation represents a significant global health burden implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and autoimmune conditions. The limitations of conventional Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as adverse effects and diminishing efficacy, necessitate the investigation of alternative therapies, particularly those derived from medicinal plants. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory activity and chemical composition of Petroleum Ether (PE), Dichloromethane (DCM), and Hydro-Methanol (HMF) fractions of Detarium microcarpum stem bark using in vitro models and HPLC fingerprinting. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via erythrocyte membrane stabilization, inhibition of protein denaturation, and heat-induced albumin denaturation assays, with aspirin serving as the standard control. HPLC was used to identify phytoconstituents in each fraction. All fractions exhibited significant (p<0.05) dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity, with the DCM fraction demonstrating the most potent membrane stabilization effect with an IC50 value of 0.9524 mg/mL and the HMF fraction showing the most outstanding heat-induced protein denaturation inhibition (IC50=0.4920 mg/mL). HPLC fingerprinting revealed key anti-inflammatory phytoconstituents, including quercetin, kaempferol, lupeol, Betulinic acid, methyl gallate, stigmasterol, and β-sitosterol, which were variably distributed across the fractions. The findings demonstrate that fractions of Detarium microcarpum possess significant anti-inflammatory properties, likely attributable to their rich content of flavonoids, triterpenoids, sterols, and phenolic compounds. Moreover, the identification of potent anti-inflammatory compounds underscores the plant's potential in drug discovery efforts targeting chronic diseases related to inflammation. These compounds may offer multi-targeted therapeutic benefits by modulating key pathways involved in inflammation, such as the NF-κB and COX-2 signalling pathways. Consequently, D. microcarpum fractions could be developed into lead compounds in the formulation of safer and more effective anti-inflammatory drugs
A Rarity of Triad Dental Anomalies Occurrence in a Non-Syndromic Indian Patient
Get PDFHuman teeth undergo several developmental changes due to nature’s continuous evolutionary phenomenon. As a result, variations in tooth shape, size, number and eruption pattern can be found in humans and the prevalence may vary among different population. ‘Mesiodens’ is a supernumerary tooth, which occur with different forms and can be seen erupted or remain impacted. Mesiodens is the one which cause delay in eruption of the permanent incisors or interfere with their eruption. Maxillary canine tooth is the most commonly observed tooth to be found as impacted. Therefore, occurrence of different multiple dental anomalies or variations in a single, non-syndromic patient is an uncommon scenario. Previous literature shows documentation of either any one form dental variation. Reports on occurrence of three or more different dental anomalies or variations are rarely documented. Therefore, aim of the present case report is to showcase an interesting case consisting of impacted permanent central incisor, impacted molariform mesiodens and horizontally impacted permanent maxillary canine which all occurred in a single non-syndromic Indian patient
In Vitro Neuronal Cell Culture: Challenges to Axon and Dendrite Growth and The Path Toward Neural Regeneration
Get PDFBackground: Neuronal cell culture provides unparalleled insights into developmental biology, disease modeling, and regenerative strategies; however, persistent obstacles—including limited neuronal longevity, tumorigenicity in stem cell–derived neurons, and reproducibility gaps—continue to impede translational progress.
Methods: We critically review advances in extracellular matrix (ECM) engineering, three‑dimensional (3D) biomimetic microenvironments, molecular interventions, and standardization protocols, framing neuronal regeneration as a multidimensional optimization of mechanical, biochemical, and epigenetic variables.
Results: 3D hydrogels with tunable stiffness and RGD motifs boost neurite outgrowth by 40%–60% over 2D cultures in primary neurons.
Differential reliance on secretory pathway components (e.g., Sar1) underlies distinct axon versus dendrite growth, with dendritic extension reduced by ~70% upon Sar1 knockdown versus ~30% for axons.
CRISPR‑Lin28 knockout in iPSC‑derived neurons reduces teratoma formation by ~60% in preclinical models.
dCas9‑DNMT3A epigenetic editing silences inhibitory genes such as Nogo‑A with off‑target rates <10%.
AI‑driven platforms (e.g., NeuroCult™) validated across five laboratories decrease protocol variability from 40%-12%.
Conclusion: Integrating 3D biomimetic models, precise biochemical modulation, epigenetic tools, and standardized AI‑automated protocols offers a clear roadmap for bridging In vitro cultures with clinical translation for CNS injuries and neurodegenerative diseases