29 research outputs found
Surveillance for face mask compliance, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, October-December, 2020
No full textSurveillance for face mask compliance, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, October-December, 2020
No full textSurveillance for face mask compliance, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, October-December, 2020
No full textCALIBRATION OF LEPS POTENTIALS TO SPECTROSCOPIC CONSTANTS OF TRIATOMIC MOLECULES
No full textAuthor Institution: North American Carbon, Incorporated; Battelle Columbus Laboratories; Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State UniversityIn the semi-empirical theory of London, Eyring, Polani, and Sato, the parameter k is usually adjusted to fit kinetic rate constants. If k is assumed to depend upon the molecular geometry, simple relations are derived that connect a Taylor series representation of k expanded about a reference structure” to spectroscopic constants that characterize the potential surface. Two reference structures will be discussed: (i) the equilibrium geometry for a basin-type surface, and (ii) the saddle point geometry for a repulsive-type potential surface. Numerical examples will be given for and , respectively
Outbreak of acute diarrhoeal disease attributed to consumption of faecal contaminated water supplied through damaged pipelines in Thiruper, Tiruvallur district, Tamil Nadu, India, 2016
No full textBackground: On December 24, 2016, 18 Acute Diarrhoeal Disease (ADD) cases were reported in Thiruper village. We aimed to identify potential exposure and propose recommendations. Methods: We defined a case of ADD as occurrence loose stools (≥3 episodes), December 14–30, 2016. We did door-to-door case search, calculated attack rate by age and gender, drew epidemic curve and plotted cases by residence. We conducted a matched case-control study and computed Matched Odds ratio (MOR), 95% confidence interval (95% CI) and Population Attributable Risk (PAR). We collected stool and water specimens for laboratory testing. Results: We identified 38 (6%) cases among 625 residents. The attack rate of ADD was higher among aged <5 years (16.5%), and female (6.8%). The outbreak lasted between 14–27 December 2016 with multiple peaks. Cases clustered in areas receiving water from damaged pipelines crossing open-defecation area. We compared 38 ADD cases with 76 age, gender and neighbourhood matched controls for different exposures. Consuming water supplied through the damaged subterranean pipeline (MOR = 3.7; 95% CI = 1.1 to 16.4; PAR = 72%) was associated with ADD. The environmental investigation pointed out potential faecal contamination of water through damaged subterranean pipelines near open-air defaecation area of village. The collected stool specimens were negative for pathogens, and water specimens tested positive for Escherichia coli. Conclusions: We confirmed that the outbreak of ADD in Thiruper village was due to consumption of water contaminated with E. coli supplied through damaged subterranean pipelines post-cyclone. We recommended the replacement of subterranean pipelines and distribution of chlorinated water
Implementation of a Triage Protocol Outside the Hospital Setting for Timely Referral During the COVID-19 Second Wave in Chennai, India
No full textIndia experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases during the second wave in the period of April-June 2021. A rapid rise in cases posed challenges to triaging patients in hospital settings. Chennai, the fourth largest metropolitan city in India with an 8 million population, reported 7564 COVID-19 cases on May 12, 2021, nearly 3 times higher than the number of cases in the peak of COVID-19 in 2020. A sudden surge of cases overwhelmed the health system. We had established standalone triage centers outside the hospitals in the first wave, which catered to up to 2500 patients per day. In addition, we implemented a home-based triage protocol from May 26, 2021, to evaluate patients with COVID-19 who were aged ≤45 years without comorbidities. Among the 27,816 reported cases between May 26 and June 24, 2021, a total of 16,022 (57.6%) were aged ≤45 years without comorbidities. The field teams triaged 15,334 (55.1%), and 10,917 (39.2%) patients were evaluated at triage centers. Among 27,816 cases, 19,219 (69.1%) were advised to self-isolate at home, 3290 (11.8%) were admitted to COVID-19 care centers, and 1714 (6.2%) were admitted to hospitals. Only 3513 (12.7%) patients opted for the facility of their choice. We implemented a scalable triage strategy covering nearly 90% of the patients in a large metropolitan city during the COVID-19 surge. The process enabled early referral of high-risk patients and ensured evidence-informed treatment. We believe that the out-of-hospital triage strategy can be rapidly implemented in low-resource settings
An outbreak of bilateral photokeratitis among an indoor school event attendees attributable to unshielded mercury vapour and metal halide lights, Eruvadi village, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, South India, 2018
No full textA space of goals: the cognitive geometry of informationally bounded agents
No full textTraditionally, Euclidean geometry is treated by scientists as a priori and
objective. However, when we take the position of an agent, the problem of
selecting a best route should also factor in the abilities of the agent, its
embodiment and particularly its cognitive effort. In this paper we consider
geometry in terms of travel between states within a world by incorporating
information processing costs with the appropriate spatial distances. This
induces a geometry that increasingly differs from the original geometry of the
given world as information costs become increasingly important. We visualise
this "cognitive geometry" by projecting it onto 2- and 3-dimensional spaces
showing distinct distortions reflecting the emergence of epistemic and
information-saving strategies as well as pivot states. The analogies between
traditional cost-based geometries and those induced by additional informational
costs invite a generalisation of the notion of geodesics as cheapest routes
towards the notion of infodesics. In this perspective, the concept of
infodesics is inspired by the property of geodesics that, travelling from a
given start location to a given goal location along a geodesic, not only the
goal, but all points along the way are visited at optimal cost from the start.Comment: Includes supplementary material, 6 figures in the main document, 5
figures in the supplementary material. Replacing preprint with author
accepted manuscrip
Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards face mask use among residents of Greater Chennai Corporation, India, March 2021
No full textBackgroundWearing a mask is one of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Studies reported poor mask compliance in Greater Chennai Corporation, India. Hence, we described the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding mask use among adults (≥18 years) in Greater Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu, India.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among residents of Greater Chennai Corporation in March 2021. We estimated the sample size to be 203 per strata (slum and non-slum). We used a simple random sampling technique to select 20 locations using a digital map in the slum and non-slum areas. After reaching the location chosen, we selected 10 consecutive households and one adult (≥18 years of age) from each household. We used a validated, semi-structured questionnaire for collecting data regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices for mask use. We estimated proportions and 95% CI for key variables and compared the variables between slums and non-slums.ResultsOf 430 participants included in the study, 51.4% were males. The mean (S.D.) age of the participants is 41.1 (14.6) years. The majority (86.7%) of the participants felt that wearing a mask helped in reducing the spread of coronavirus and the knowledge differed (p-value < 0.05) between the slum (81.4%) and non-slum (92.3%). Nearly half (46.5%) of the participants did not like being forced to wear the mask. About 63.9% of the participants reported the practice of mask use while going out which was similar across slums and non-slums.ConclusionAlthough the knowledge regarding mask use was good among the public, the attitude was unfavorable. We suggest continuous reinforcement by spreading awareness and educating the community on the appropriate use of the mask
Data_Sheet_1_Knowledge, attitude, and practice towards face mask use among residents of Greater Chennai Corporation, India, March 2021.PDF
No full textBackgroundWearing a mask is one of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Studies reported poor mask compliance in Greater Chennai Corporation, India. Hence, we described the knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding mask use among adults (≥18 years) in Greater Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu, India.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among residents of Greater Chennai Corporation in March 2021. We estimated the sample size to be 203 per strata (slum and non-slum). We used a simple random sampling technique to select 20 locations using a digital map in the slum and non-slum areas. After reaching the location chosen, we selected 10 consecutive households and one adult (≥18 years of age) from each household. We used a validated, semi-structured questionnaire for collecting data regarding knowledge, attitudes, and practices for mask use. We estimated proportions and 95% CI for key variables and compared the variables between slums and non-slums.ResultsOf 430 participants included in the study, 51.4% were males. The mean (S.D.) age of the participants is 41.1 (14.6) years. The majority (86.7%) of the participants felt that wearing a mask helped in reducing the spread of coronavirus and the knowledge differed (p-value ConclusionAlthough the knowledge regarding mask use was good among the public, the attitude was unfavorable. We suggest continuous reinforcement by spreading awareness and educating the community on the appropriate use of the mask.</p
