The teacher efficacy for inclusive practices (TEIP) scale: dimensionality and factor structure

The Teacher Efficacy for Inclusive Practices (TEIP) scale is designed to measure teacher‐self efficacy to teach in inclusive classrooms. The original study identified three scale factors: efficacy in using inclusive instruction (EII), efficacy in collaboration (EC), and efficacy in managing behavior (EMB) (Sharma et al., 2012). The purpose of our study was to examine the TEIP scale for dimensionality and to cross‐validate its factor structure for pre‐service teachers in the context of early childhood education. A bifactor model fit to the data revealed that the TEIP scale is essentially unidimensional, that is, there is one dominant latent factor and the originally found three scale factors (EII, EC, and EMB) represent specific aspects of the general factor of teacher self‐efficacy to teach in inclusive classrooms. Along with providing validation evidence, these findings have important implications for the scoring on the TEIP scale using classical test analysis or unidimensional item response theory models.     

The mystery behind flowering

The concepts of photoperiodic induction, hormonal regulation and florigens used to form the basis of our knowledge of flowering. Consequent upon the advancement of technology, our present day understanding suggests that a number of events like switching on of a cascade of genes, and the subsequent activation of MADS box genes, result in the activation of the the genes responsible for flowering in angiosperms.     

Assessment of quality of higher education in hostile environment: an analysis on provincialised colleges under Assam University Silchar

Historically low average pass rate has been a perennial challenge for the universities and provincialised colleges in the North-Eastern states of India (Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh). Pass rate refers to the proportion of students promoted from one semester to the next and also the proportion of students who pass the final examination to be a graduate. The paper attempts to trace the key parameters for quality improvement for higher education in the region and subsequently augment the pass rate. An inductive content analysis was conducted based on focus group interviews at various levels at Assam University, Silchar and its affiliated provincialised colleges. The four broad categories thus identified (academic, administrative, socio-economic and placement issues) were subjected to Pareto 80-20 principle to identify the issues that are to be given priority for evolving the system. The study would help the administrators to measure the quality of higher education system in a hostile environment characterised by adverse topography, political disturbances, skewed distribution of income, widespread poverty and lack of literacy.     

An easy, rapid and cost-effective method of microtitration

An economical and less time consuming microtitration method is presented. The method has been applied to two types of titration, viz., neutralization and complexometric. The results obtained by the new method are comparable to those obtained by conventional method using burette and pipette. It is proposed that this method can be implemented in high school and undergraduate classes as the quantities of chemicals consumed are far less and the experiment can be completed within the given laboratory period.     

Correlation between Apgar score and urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio in perinatal asphyxia

A randomized case control hospital based study was conducted over 12 months time on 31 asphyxiated and 31 normal newborn to see whether urinary uric acid can be used as a marker of perinatal asphyxia and can be correlated with the clinical diagnosis by Apgar score. Uric acid and creatinine were estimated in spot urine within 24 hours after birth in both cases and controls. A ratio between concentrations of uric acid to creatinine was estimated and compared between cases and controls. It was found that the ratios were significantly higher in cases than controls (3.1± 1.3 vs 0.96± 0.54; P < 0.001) and among asphyxia patients, a significant negative linear correlation was found between the uric acid to creatinine ratio and the Apgar score (r = −0.857, P < 0.001). So urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio can be used as an additional non-invasive dispace, easy and at the same time early biochemical marker of birth asphyxia which biochemically supports the clinical diagnosis and severity grading of asphyxia by Apgar score.     

Xylem hydraulics: Rising up and higher!

This article attempts to examine how xylem hydraulic function is related to the size and redundancy of conduits and whether xylem hydraulic constraint limits tree height.     

Role of Oncofetal Protein CR-1 as a Potential Tumor Marker for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Cripto-1 (CR-1) is an oncofetal protein with its role as a key factor in early process of carcinoma has been evaluated in cases of various cancers. However, very few studies have reported its role in oral cancer, which is the sixth most common cancer around the world, particularly with high prevalence in developing countries. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most predominant (90%) of all the histological types of oral cancer. Late detection, associated with increased morbidity and mortality, is mainly attributed to non-availability of a suitable biomarker for the disease. In the present pilot study, we have evaluated the role of soluble CR-1, in serum as a potential tumor marker for OSCC. CR-1 was estimated using sandwich ELISA in serum samples of 50 biopsy proven OSCC patients (pre and post treatment) along with age and gender matched healthy controls. Immunohistochemistry was also done in corresponding tumor tissue sections to check the expression of CR-1. Pre-treatment CR-1 was found to be 2.25-fold higher in serum of OSCC patients as compared to control (p < 0.0001***), which was reduced to 1.6 folds post treatment (p = 0.0006***). CR-1 levels were comparatively higher in early stage of disease. Upon IHC 80% of the cases were found to be positive for CR-1. This study provides evidence that serum levels of CR-1 are elevated in patients of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma, which decrease post treatment. Also, the association of expression of protein with tumor progression predicts CR-1 as a molecule that can be further evaluated as a potential tumor maker in OSCC.     

Spurious Hyperphosphatemia in a Case of Multiple Myeloma

A 50 year old male was admitted in our hospital with anemia and impaired renal function. He was subsequently found to have extremely elevated serum phosphate level (24 mg/dL, reference interval: 2.5–4.5 mg/dL) with normal serum calcium when assayed on a Beckman Coulter AU 480^® analyser. Clinico-biochemical discrepancy led to the suspicion of spurious hyperphosphatemia. Serum total protein was grossly elevated with gross reversal of albumin to globulin ratio. Serum electrophoresis revealed a large M band and was confirmed as Ig G-Kappa type on immunofixation. Subsequently a bone marrow aspiration biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of multiple myeloma. The patient serum was then reassayed for phosphate on a Vitros^® 250 Dry Chemistry platform and the result was within normal reference interval. Paraproteinemias are a common cause of analytical interference in clinical biochemistry laboratories and as multilayered film technology platforms like Vitros^® assay most routine analytes on a protein free filtrate they are unaffected by paraprotein interference. Clinically discordant patient results should always be interpreted keeping such interferences in mind.     

On-chip lectin microarray for glycoprofiling of different gastritis types and gastric cancer

An on-chip lectin microarray based glycomic approach is employed to identify glyco markers for different gastritis and gastric cancer. Changes in protein glycosylation have impact on biological function and carcinogenesis. These altered glycosylation patterns in serum proteins and membrane proteins of tumor cells can be unique markers of cancer progression and hence have been exploited to diagnose various stages of cancer through lectin microarray technology. In the present work, we aimed to study the alteration of glycan structure itself in different stages of gastritis and gastric cancer thoroughly. In order to perform the study from both serum and tissue glycoproteins in an efficient and high-throughput manner, we indigenously developed and employed lectin microarray integrated on a microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platform. We analyzed serum and gastric biopsy samples from 8 normal, 15 chronic Type-B gastritis, 10 chronic Type-C gastritis, and 6 gastric adenocarcinoma patients and found that the glycoprofile obtained from tissue samples was more distinctive than that of the sera samples. We were able to establish signature glycoprofile for the three disease groups, that were absent in healthy normal individuals. In addition, our findings elucidated certain novel signature glycan expression in chronic gastritis and gastric cancer. In silico analysis showed that glycoprofile of chronic gastritis and gastric adenocarcinoma formed close clusters, confirming the previously hypothesized linkage between them. This signature can be explored further as gastric cancer marker to develop novel analytical tools and obtain in-depth understanding of the disease prognosis.