982 research outputs found
Application of integrated yoga therapy to increase imitation skills in children with autism spectrum disorder
No full textBackground/Aim: Children with autism exhibit significant deficits in imitation skills, which impede the acquisition of more complex behavior and socialization. Imitation is often targeted early in intervention plans and continues to be addressed throughout the child′s treatment. The use of integrated approach to yoga therapy (IAYT) as a complementary therapy for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is rarely reported and little is known on the effectiveness of such therapies. This study investigated IAYT as a treatment method with children with ASD to increase imitative skills. Materials and Methods: Parents and six children with ASD participated in a 10-month program of 5-weekly sessions and regular practice at home. Pre, mid and post treatment assessments included observers and parent ratings of children′s imitation skills in tasks related to imitation skills such as gross motor actions, vocalization, complex imitation, oral facial movements and imitating breathing exercises. Results: Improvement in children′s imitation skills especially pointing to body, postural and oral facial movements. Parents reported change in the play pattern of these children with toys, peers and objects at home. Conclusions: This study indicates that IAYT may offer benefits as an effective tool to increase imitation, cognitive skills and social-communicative behaviors in children with ASD. In addition, children exhibited increased skills in eye contact, sitting tolerance, non-verbal communication and receptive skills to verbal commands related to spatial relationship
Food consumption and nutritional status in India: Emerging trends and perspectives
No full textThe paper reviews the trends over three decades in the consumption of cereals, calories and micronutrients and nutritional status based on anthropometric measures using the data sets of NSS, NNMB and NFHS. It provides an explanation for the slow growth of nutrient intake and slow reduction in malnutrition. The paper demonstrates that multiple factors influence the nutritional well-being of a child and argues that besides improving the income of a household, there is a need to improve the health and educational status of mothers.
Economic development in Orissa: Growth without inclusion?
No full textThe economy of Orissa has been lagging behind the national economy by several decades. Its per capita net state domestic product, a measure of average income, stood at Rs.20200 for 2006-07 which falls behind the national average by about 35 per cent. Moreover, the gross domestic product of the state grew by a considerable lower rate than many other states for a long time despite its high growth potential. Drawing on the experience of several countries as well as that of India, various studies concluded that economic growth was the most critical factor for reduction of incidence of poverty in the state. It now seems that there has been a turning point in the last few years and the economy of Orissa has witnessed an acceleration in terms of the gross state domestic product (GSDP). The evidence presented here clearly shows that the economy is poised for a take-off to a high growth phase, almost similar to that at the national level. On the poverty dimension, however, the recent developments have been gloomy, to say the least. The consumption expenditure surveys carried out by the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), the standard source of data for poverty analysis in India by official and non-official investigators, shows that the period 1993-2004 has witnessed a reversal of the achievements made on the poverty front during 1983-93. The prima facie evidence points towards a case of growth without inclusion and needs further probe.Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP), India, Poverty
Radiotherapy quality assurance in the SCOPE2 trial: what lessons can be learned for the next UK trial in oesophageal cancer?
No full textAims: the SCOPE2 trial evaluates radiotherapy (RT) dose escalation for oesophageal cancer. We report findings from the accompanying RT quality assurance (RTQA) programme and identify recommendations for PROTIEUS, the next UK trial in oesophageal RT.Materials and Methods: SCOPE2's RTQA programme consisted of a pre-accrual and on-trial component. RTQA pre-accrual requirements included acceptable submission of 3D ± 4D benchmark contouring exercise(s) and a high-dose planning case. On-trial requirements for contouring and planning included prospective reviews (PRs) of each centre's first 3D ± 4D patient and all high-dose cases prior to formal safety review. Further PRs were at the RTQA team's discretion. Timely retrospective reviews (TRRs) were also undertaken for a random 10%. Submissions were assessed against pre-defined criteria and RT planning guidance document (RPGD). This study includes initial submissions only; subsequent resubmissions are not included in this analysis.Results: for contouring, 30/64 (47%) pre-accrual submissions were approved. 38/64 (59%) contained ≥1 target volume (TV) unacceptable variation from protocol (UV), most commonly in CTVB and ITV. Organ-at-risk (OAR) contour review was undertaken in 28/64 (44%); 6/28 (21%) contained ≥1 UV, most commonly in heart and spinal cord. 82/126 (65%) on-trial submissions were approved. 47/126 (37%) contained ≥1 TV UV, most commonly in CTVB, GTV and ITV. For OARs, 30/126 (24%) contained ≥1 UV, most commonly in heart and lungs. On-trial contour submissions were significantly more likely to be approved than pre-accrual (p = 0.016).For planning, 32/43 (79%) pre-accrual plans were approved, those unacceptable were due to PTV coverage/conformity. 118/120 (98%) on-trial plans were approved, the remaining unacceptable were due to PTV coverage/conformity. No UVs in OAR dose constraints were observed.All on-trial submissions were approved following resubmission where necessary.Conclusion: despite an RPGD, contouring atlas, and similar contouring protocols from preceding trials, the SCOPE2 RTQA programme demonstrates a high frequency of UVs. Our findings inform recommendations for future oesophageal RT trials
A simulation into the physical and network layers of optical communication network for the subsea video surveillance of illicit activity.
No full textCriminal activity is increasingly entering the ocean subsurface with acts such as illegal fishing and narco-submarining becoming points of contention. This among other illicit acts taking place in this domain imply a need for surveillance to render these activities apparent. However, subsurface Underwater Sensor Networking which is central to the surveillance is still generations behind terrestrial networking, therefore it is still challenging to monitor for subsurface activities. This is since the current signal transmission standard, acoustic communication, is limited in practical bandwidth and thus channel data-rate, this is, however, caveated with omni-directional propagation and supreme range rendering it reliable but incapable of carrying video or other data intensive sensor information. There is, however, an emerging technology based on optical (visible light) communication that can accommodate surveillance applications with superior data rates and energy savings. This investigation demonstrates how theoretically it is possible to achieve a network of underwater channels capable of sustaining a multimedia feed for monitoring subsurface activity using modern optical communication when in compared to an acoustic network. In addition, a simple topology was investigated that shows how the range limitations of this signaling can be extended by adding floating relay nodes. Through simulations in Network Simulator 3 (NS-3)/Aquasim-NG software it is shown that Visible Light wireless communication in visible light networks have a channel capacity high enough to carry out monitoring in strategic areas, referencing, optical modems that are available in the market. This implies that data-rates of 10 Mb/s are possible for the real-time video surveillance
SCOPE 2 – Still answering the unanswered questions in oesophageal radiotherapy? SCOPE 2: a Randomised phase II/III trial to study radiotherapy dose escalation in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with definitive chemoradiation with an embedded phase II trial for patients with a poor early response using positron emission tomography/computed tomography
No full textThe SCOPE 2 trial of definitive chemoradiotherapy in oesophageal cancer investigates the benefits of radiotherapy dose escalation and systemic therapy optimisation. The trial opened in 2016. The landscape of oesophageal cancer treatment over the lifetime of this trial has changed significantly and the protocol has evolved to reflect this. However, with the recent results of the Dutch phase III ART DECO study showing no improvement in local control or overall survival with radiotherapy dose escalation in a similar patient group, we sought to determine if the SCOPE 2 trial is still answering the key unanswered questions for oesophageal radiotherapy. Here we discuss the rationale behind the SCOPE 2 trial, outline the trial schema and review current data on dose escalation and outline recommendations for future areas of research
Manufacturing of Composites by Pressure Infiltration, Structure and Mechanical Properties
No full textThis paper presents the possibility of composite block production by using pressure
infiltration technology. This method uses the pressure of an inert gas (usually argon or
nitrogen) to force the melted matrix material to infiltrate the reinforcing elements. Two types
of materials were considered: metal matrix syntactic foam and carbon fibre reinforced metal
matrix composite. Physical and mechanical investigations – such as optical microscopy,
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractography (XRD), tensile and upsetting
tests (considering aspect ratio) – were performed. The results of measurements are
summarized briefly here. Microscopic investigations showed almost perfect infiltration. XRD
measurements and tensile tests revealed negative effect of an intermetallic phase (Al(4)C(3)) on
ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Syntactic foams showed plateau region in their upsetting
diagrams. The effect of aspect ratio was also investigated. Specimens with higher aspect ratios
showed higher peak stress and higher modulus of elasticity. In the case of carbon fibre
reinforced metal matrix composites Al(4)C(3) ensured high compressive fracture strength
Speckle pattern analysis of security holograms and related foils for quality assessment and authentication.
No full textA speckle pattern is produced by the mutual interference of a set of coherent wavefronts. Speckle patterns typically occur in diffuse reflections of monochromatic light such a laser light. When a rough surface is illuminated by a coherent light is imaged, a speckle pattern is observed in the image plane. This study involves the quality assessment and authentication of security holograms and its related foils by analyzing the speckle pattern generated from the specimen itself. Speckle pattern from various type of security holograms and foils are taken. By processing the image of the speckle pattern, the size of the speckles is analyzed using MATLAB software. By evaluating the size of the speckle generated, the feasibility of analyzing the quality and authenticity of the security hologram is assessed. The paper discusses about the experimental setup, image capturing, and processing method and the result obtained in detail
Lithosphere Structure and upper mantle characteristics below the Bay of Bengal
No full textThe oceanic lithosphere in the Bay of Bengal (BOB) formed 80–120 Ma following the breakup of eastern Gondwanaland. Since its formation, it has been affected by the emplacement of two long N-S trending linear aseismic ridges (85oE and Ninetyeast) and by the loading of ca. 20-km of sediments of the Bengal Fan. Here, we present the results of a combined spatial and spectral domain analysis of residual geoid, bathymetry and gravity data constrained by seismic reflection and refraction data. Self-consistent geoid and gravity modeling defined by temperature-dependent mantle densities along a N-S transect in the BOB region revealed that the depth to the Lithosphere-Asthenosphere boundary (LAB) deepens steeply from 77 km in the south to 127 km in north, with the greater thickness being anomalously thick compared to the lithosphere of similar-age beneath the Pacific Ocean. The Geoid-Topography Ratio (GTR) analysis of the 85°E and Ninetyeast ridges indicate that they are compensated at shallow depths. Effective elastic thickness (Te) estimates obtained through admittance/ coherence analysis as well as the flexural modeling along these ridges led to the conclusions: i) 85°E Ridge was emplaced in off-ridge environment (Te = 10–15 km); ii) the higher Te values of ?25 km over the Afanasy Nikitin Seamount (ANS) reflect the secondary emplacement of the seamount peaks in off-ridge environment, iii) that the emplacement of the Ninetyeast Ridge north of 2°N occurred in an off-ridge environment as indicated by higher Te values (25-30 km). Furthermore, the admittance analysis of geoid and bathymetry revealed that the admittance signatures at wavelengths >800 km are compensated by processes related to upper mantle convection
Integrated approach to yoga therapy and autism spectrum disorders
No full textA specially designed Integrated Approach to Yoga Therapy module was applied to Autism Spectrum Disorders over a period of two academic years. Despite low numbers (six in each arm), consistency and magnitude of effects make the findings significant. Parental participation, allowing firm guidance to be given to each child, resulted in significant improvements in imitation and other skills, and in behavior at home and family relationships. We hypothesize that guided imitation of therapist body positions stimulated mirror neuron activation, resulting in improved sense of self
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