532 research outputs found
Myten om Kumari i Kathmandudalen
No full textThe thesis discusses a myth of Kumari in relation to historical events and political tendencies in the Kathmandu valley. While historically myths have been used for various purposes, most of which are harmless, sometimes the motives do not justify the actions. In a nutshell, in the thesis the author is trying to show how a myth can be manipulated by political actors in order to legitimise or secure their stands. In this thesis, the myth is approached through the prism of three concepts: shaktism, virgin worship and divine right of the king. While the paper gives a full historical background, the main focus is on the Malla period which occurred between 1200’s and 1769. The analysis will show how the myth was effected by the three concepts and explain the main reasons behind different versions of the myth. Worshiping of the virgin, borrowed from earlier traditions from India and Nepal, became a dangerous tool in the hands of the kings, as Kumari earned a special position in order to harm competing rulers. The practice of shaktism and the myth in itself show that the myth was used, among other things, as a power legitimizing tool by the Malla kings. In this light, the theory of divine right is used to amplify that the kings during Malla period exploited the goddess for the motives of power and control in the Kathmandu Valley. Among researchers in the field, the topic of virgin as a power legitimizing tool has often been omitted. The paper provides a fresh look on a topic that is hundreds of years old. Instead of focusing on the traditions of the Kumari, as has been done numerous times, the writer rather emphasises the myth of Kumari itself. Such an approach allows to see how easy a myths narrative can be manipulated for political purposes. The main aim of the thesis is to shine a light on the nature of the relationship between the Malla kings and Kumari. The conclusions of the research can be valuable as a general introduction to the topic of Kumari, as well as for a more profound analysis of a myth within political and religious realms during Malla period
The Corona Goddess
No full textFig. 1. Corona Mātā, depiction circulating on Indian social medias since 2020 (‘Maa Bharati On Coronavirus’ Sandhya Kumari/Gallerist.in, CC BY-SA). In pandemic times, some people call on pharmaceutical labs to rapidly defeat the virus, others directly address the disease. In India, informal devotional practices for a female deity called “Corona Mātā” (also named, depending on the area, “Corona Mai” or “Corona Devi”, fig. 1) have been reported soon after the COVID outbreak. Besides domestic r..
Localization of mandibular foramen relative to landmarks in East Indian mandibles
No full textContext: The position of mandibular foramen (MF) is an important anatomical landmark for effective anesthesia in dentistry for many procedures, including dental extraction from the lower jaw and putting mandibular implants. Several causes have been examined in this context, and the uncertainty in the location of the MF has been examined to be a major factor for the high failure rate of anesthesia and complications of the orthodontic procedure.
Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine and analyze the position of the MF relative to six bony landmarks on the ramus in the population of Jharkhand.
Subjects and Methods: The different parameters were measured in 30 dry adult′s mandibles that were obtained from the Department of Anatomy. The data were tabulated and statistically analyzed.
Statistical Analysis Used: Paired t-test.
Results: The mean distance between the MF and the respective landmarks was noted as 16.00 ± 3.50 mm for the anterior border, 10.21 ± 2.34 mm for the posterior border, 20.48 ± 3.89 mm for the superior border, 24.15 ± 4.97 mm for the inferior border, 33.46 ± 6.08 mm
for the condyle, and 12.31 ± 4.88 mm for the internal oblique ridge for the right side. On the left side, these distances were 16.27 ± 3.9 for the anterior border, 10.28 ± 5.24 for the posterior border, 20.15 ± 3.8 for superior border, 24.86 ± 4.04 for inferior border 32.48 ± 4.73 for condyle, and 10.93 ± 4.06 for the inferior oblique ridge. Statistically, there was no significant difference in the distance to either side from selected 5 landmarks, the only exception being the condyle.
Conclusions: Condyle and internal oblique ridge have been shown to be two new landmarks that may be used to find MF. Bilateral symmetry has been shown for all landmarks except for condyle
Hippocampal subfield volumes and memory deficits in schizophrenia
No full textData Availability: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.Supplementary materials are available online at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0925492725000952?via%3Dihub#sec0020 .Background:
Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder commonly associated with significant cognitive impairment, particularly in memory. Reduced gray matter volume in various brain regions, including hippocampus and its subfields, is also well-documented in individuals with schizophrenia (SZH). However, few studies have investigated how memory deficits relate to hippocampal subfield volume loss.
Methods:
In this study, we examined hippocampal subfield volumes and their associations with immediate and delayed memory performance (using the WMS-III battery), comparing 57 individuals with SZH to 32 well-matched controls.
Results:
Compared to controls, SZH exhibited lower memory performance, and lower hippocampal volumes, particularly in the left hippocampus and parasubiculum, CA1 subfields specifically. Both Immediate and Delayed Free Recall memory performance was seen to be positively correlated with left CA1 volume in SZH only, and not in controls. Positive associations were also observed between Thematic Recall scores and volumes in the left CA1, CA3, and CA4/DG subfields in SZH only, but only at an uncorrected threshold.
Conclusion:
These findings support the notion that hippocampal volumetric alteration contributes to memory impairment in SZH. In particular, findings point to the left CA1 subfield as being particularly important in this regard, informing potential targeted intervention strategies to address memory impairment and functional recovery in SZH.The study was supported by funds from the Wellcome Trust, UK (067427/z/02/z)
Exploring weight-related attitudes and experiences
No full textThe increasing prevalence of people who are overweight and obese is a global health concern, with associated physical health problems that are highly linked to mortality and morbidity. As well as physical health consequences, there are also psychological and social consequences of obesity. The factors that are involved in why excessive amounts of food are being consumed have been explored. Such explanations as to why adults and children are overweight include individual factors as well as social, cultural and environmental influences.
CHAPTER ONE: The literature review critically evaluates the research that has explored the attitudes towards dieting and weight loss of people in ethnic minority groups. The review indicated a number of factors that impact upon individuals ability to manage weight, including individual factors such as the impact on emotional well-being, as well as cultural influences such as tensions around living in two cultures and the dilemma of making different food choices. Clinical implications included tailoring interventions in order to account for individual, family and cultural factors that influence a person’s ability to manage their weight.
CHAPTER TWO: The empirical paper aimed to explore weight-related views and opinions of young people who are overweight and were actively engaged within a weight management programme, using a Grounded Theory approach. A model of participants experiences was developed that reflected how participant’s sense of self and how they made sense of being overweight were interlinked, and sat within the wider category of how they manage being overweight. Such factors were further influenced by others in the wider systemic context. The findings suggested implications for tailoring interventions to individuals, as well as exploring the impact of interventions for the family as a whole.
CHAPTER THREE: This paper summarises the reflections of the personal and professional experiences of talking with young people about their weight management journey. The categories within the Grounded Theory model were considered, as were the reflections of doing research with young people
Sweet food prepared from yams
No full textSome text in EnglishThe project addressed soil degradation due to emphasis on cash crops, and promoted organic agriculture methods towards soil rehabilitation. Different types of yams were identified and shared among farmers. The booklet provides recipes for local vegetables and yams (with local and botanical names) in Sri Lankan script
Conservation of highly nutritious dry zone grains (pulses and oil seed crops) in extinction in the dry zone Sri Lanka
No full textSome text in Englis
Microcredit as a poverty alleviation strategy, women's empowerment and gender relations
No full textThis dissertation is about how women are empowered when they gain access to small loans (microcredit) and how that alters or reinforces existing gender relations. My study shows that “the poor” is not a monolithic entity but is an aggregation of differentiated categories with the most vulnerable segments of society occupying the lowest rung of society. The state-civil society synergy that is so characteristic of the state of Kerala does not percolate down to the poorest and most vulnerable segments of society and the tribes for a variety of reasons. If these segments of the population have to benefit, the structure of microcredit has to be redesigned to make it more appropriate and responsive to their special needs. Microcredit provides the entry point but it is the networking that empowers impoverished women who lack material resources. Networking itself is an umbrella term that entails different kinds of networking. My conclusion is that the women-centric microcredit program sponsored by the state marks a departure from the earlier paradigms of developments in which women were not placed at the center of developmental activities. The new paradigm is the state’s attempt at negotiating privatized strategies of development in the larger context of liberalization espoused by the Indian state. My study reveals that microcredit does help women tide over the emergency needs of the family without relying on others. But it is not a substitute for long term structural problems of poverty. The social solidarity generated by different kinds of networking helps women’s empowerment by way of expanding their consciousness through new knowledge including legal literacy and through exposure to other people with other ideals and ethics. I also find that the social capital generated by the networking of over 3.7 million women through self help groups has not transformed into organized demand cutting across party politics for radical changes like redistribution of resources especially arable land. Microcredit has functioned to depoliticize what could have been a progressive politics for gender equity.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Kumar Bhargavi Valsala Kumar
Tobacco use and Smoking among patients undergoing treatment of Cancer”
No full textIntroduction: It is estimated that 46-75% individuals has tobacco-smoking history at the time of diagnosis of cancer and 14% - 58% continue to smoke even after the initiation of their treatment. The current study is done in a tertiary care hospital to find out the continuation of tobacco use among patients post diagnosis of cancer. The objectives were to assess current tobacco use among cancer patients after diagnosis and after initiation of treatment, to assess awareness about the available tobacco cessation treatments and types of facilities for treatment and exposure to passive tobacco-smoking. Methods: The study was conducted in adult patients suffering from cancer, admitted in a tertiary care hospital for treatment. It was a quantitative approach cross-sectional survey design. Total enumeration sampling method was used for enrolling the patients. Tools: a questionnaire containing five items was used to assess the history of tobacco use, continuation of tobacco use after diagnosis, continuation of tobacco use after initiation of cancer treatment, awareness about the treatment services available for tobacco de-addiction and exposure to passive smoking. Written informed consent was taken from patients and their family care giver. Results: The mean age of 102 study patients was 46.18 years. Sixty percent of study patients were male and 40% were female. Fifty three percent of study patients were using tobacco in past it includes both smoke and smokeless tobacco, among the tobacco users (n=52), 81% of study patients stopped tobacco use after diagnosis of cancer. A total of fifty three percentage of study patients were currently using tobacco. Forty percent of Study patients did not have any knowledge about available medical treatment for tobacco cessation. Forty two percent of study patients reported that they were exposed daily to passive smoking. Conclusion: Despite enormous gains from tobacco cessation, very few persons give up tobacco use spontaneously, and that is also due to illness factor. Therefore it is the responsibility of the health professionals to guide the patients for enrolling into the tobacco cessation program at the earliest after the diagnosis of cancer
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