The folksong jukebox: singing along for social change in rural India

In designing digital literacy content for marginalized demographics, we need to garner local resources to structure engaging and meaningful media experiences. This paper examines the socio-cognitive implications of a novel edutainment product in rural India on learning, stemming from an e-development initiative funded by Hewlett-Packard. This product encapsulates a multiplicity of media forms: text, audio and visual, with social-awareness folk themes endemic to the locality. It uses the karaoke ‘same language subtitling’ feature that won the World Bank Development Marketplace Award in 2002 due to its simple yet innovative application that has proven to have an impact on reading skills. The product strives to combine cultural regeneration, value-based education, incidental literacy and language practice through entertainment. The paper investigates how this product addresses engagement and empowerment simultaneously, based on elements such as emotional appeal, multimodal stimulation, interactivity, contextual content and local representation. This is useful for practitioners and scholars interested in the design of novel edutainment content for international, underrepresented demographics.     

Incidence of microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients

The prevalence of microalbuminuria was assessed in 174 albustix negative hypertensive patients by estimating albumin in the morning random urine samples by immunoturbidimetric method within four hours of voiding of urine. The urine samples were not stored and collected without any preservatives. The urinary albumin was calculated in terms of ratio with respect to urinary creatinine and expressed as albumin creatinine ratio (mg/g). Out of 174 albustix negative hypertensives, 58 (33.3%) patients were found to have microalbuminuria. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in males and females was found to be 34% and 30.7% respectively. No correlation was found between the Body Mass Index (BMI) and albumin excretion (r² = 0.0271) and between duration of hypertension and urinary albumin excretion (r² = 0.0042). Prevalence of microalbuminuria in nonsmokers and non-alcoholic hypertensives was 20%. The prevalence in alcoholics, smokers and both smokers and alcoholics was found to be 35%, 42% and 41% respectively. The high prevalence of microalbuminuria than the various reported studies on the subject demands establishment of a screening programme for microalbuminuria, implementation of specific intervention methods and education of hypertensive patients about the consequences of smoking and alcohol on possible involvement of renal system.     

Effect of soy proteins Vs soy isoflavones on lipid profile in postmenopausal women

Soy isoflavones and soy proteins are being considered as possible alternatives to postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. This study was undertaken to evaluate effects of these two preparations on symptoms and lipid profile in postmenopausal women. The study was done in 75 postmenopausal women with FSH levels = 30 mIU/ml. These women were randomly divided into 3 groups (n=25). Study group I was given soy proteins 30gm/day containing 60 mg soy isoflavones. Study group II was given soy isoflavones (60 mg/day). The control group was given casein protein 30 gm/day. The menopausal symptoms were assessed by Kupperman Index. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for serum lipid profile, apolipoprotein A1 and B, Leutenizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) at the beginning of therapy, 4 and 12 weeks after initiation of therapy. A highly significant improvement in postmenopausal symptoms was observed in both the study groups. A highly significant improvement was seen in serum lipid profile and Apolipoprotein A1 and B in women taking soy proteins whereas women taking soy isoflavones demonstrated significant improvement in serum triglycerides only. Both soy proteins and soy isoflavones are helpful in alleviating postmenopausal symptoms but soy proteins offer a greater health advantage due to their beneficial effect on serum lipid profile.     

Measuring Bullying with the “Life in School” Checklist

James Park, the director of Antidote, criticizes those who believe that the most important task of education is to develop cognitive abilities, without any particular regard for emotional development. He argues that such an approach leaves individuals ill equipped to engage with the challenges that life throws in their path. He feels that, in spite of the recognition in the new National Curriculum Guidance of the significance of emotional processes on learning, government policy as a whole does not always appear to acknowledge this. In his view, ‘feeling and thinking, are engaged in a continuous dance. Individuals who can gracefully glide between the two modes bring energy to the task of learning and thinking’. He goes on to outline the key competencies that individuals require to achieve this, and suggests that these are most effectively achieved through dialogue ‘talking together in ways that allow individuals to understand the thoughts, feelings and values of each other’. The paper concludes with an explanation of the work and aims of Antidote.     

PCT as a Prognostic Marker in Cardiac Patients with Neutropenic Sepsis: Two Case Reports

Procalcitonin (PCT) is an innovative and highly specific marker for diagnosis of clinically relevant bacterial infection and sepsis. PCT supports early diagnosis and Clinical decision making. A retrospective study of two classical cases of neutropenic sepsis with elevated PCT levels in cardiac ICU was done. PCT was analyzed using Elecsys Brahms PCT kit. Serum PCT levels <0.5 ng/ml and ANC <1,000/mm³ was taken as cutoff. The first patient had initial high levels of PCT 100 ng/ml, TLC 13,600/mm³ and ANC 12,250/mm³. It was followed by drop with subsequent rise in PCT levels and drop in TLC 1,000/mm³ and ANC 70/mm³. The second patient had normal PCT 0.116 ng/ml, TLC 5,600/mm³ and ANC 4,420/mm³ levels followed with sharp increase in all the values with subsequent drop in TLC 2,000/mm³ and ANC 880 cells/mm³. Both the patients died of neutropenic sepsis with multiorgan failure. The case reports showed the correlation of PCT with TLC and ANC levels in predicting the mortality of patients with neutropenic sepsis in cardiac ICU.     

A Whole-school Approach to Bullying

This paper focuses on issues to do with inclusion of children currently causing considerable political concern: those who are excluded from education in mainstream school or class because they are considered too disruptive or because they are thought to have ‘social, emotional or behavioural difficulties’. The critical literature on special educational needs in its recent focus on disability has tended to avoid discussion of this group, yet they form a large and increasing proportion of the population of segregated special education. Though this paper focuses on Scotland, its content has relevance to a wider audience.     

School psychologists’ interprofessional collaboration with medical providers: An initial examination of training,preparedness, and current practices

Research has pointed to the importance of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) between school psychologists and medical providers in the provision of quality mental health care for youth with chronic health conditions. However, little is known about current IPC practices among school psychologists. This study examined school psychology trainees’ and professionals’ perceptions of training, preparedness, and current practices related to IPC with medical providers. Survey results indicated that participants (N = 317) endorse relatively low levels of training and preparedness and limited practice of IPC with medical providers. Additionally, results indicated that perceptions of training and preparedness were associated with current practices in IPC with medical providers. Findings demonstrated the impact of training and preparedness on subsequent engagement in IPC and have implications for the future training of school psychologists as they seek to address the needs of youth with chronic health conditions.     

MULTIPLE‐STAGE SCREENING OF YOUTH DEPRESSION IN SCHOOLS

Schools present a unique environment in which to conduct universal screenings for youth depression. The present study examines the efficiency of a multiple‐stage assessment procedure assessing youth depression in the schools by calculating hit rates and establishing diagnostic accuracy for the measures used. Girls (N = 3318) aged 8 to 13, participated in a three‐stage screening conducted in schools. At Stage 1, participants completed self‐report measures. At Stage 2, participants completed either a second self‐report measure or a brief symptom interview. At Stage 3, diagnostic interviews were conducted. Hit rates were calculated at Stages 1 and 2 to compare the efficiency of the different assessments. The diagnostic accuracy of the screening measures was investigated through the calculation of sensitivity and specificity indices, logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Bias in identification rates across ethnicities was also examined. Comparison of hit rates indicated that the brief symptom interview had greater efficiency in the identification of depression at Stage 2; moreover, the measures demonstrated accuracy in their prediction of depression. Results also indicated a lack of bias in screening measures, as they did not over‐identify depression in different ethnic or racial groups. Recommendations for implementation of multiple‐stage screenings in schools are discussed.     

“Supply Chain—Marketing Shark Tank” Experiential Lab Game in Interdisciplinary Business Education: Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses

This article provides educators in business schools with a new interdisciplinary experiential lab game called Supply Chain—Marketing (SC‐Mark) Shark Tank game, which can be implemented in both Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Marketing courses. The SC‐Mark experiential lab game is a real‐life business environment simulation that explores complexities in advertising industry service supply chains. One hundred sixty‐one undergraduate students participated in the game at two business schools over two semesters. The effectiveness of the game was measured and analyzed, qualitatively and quantitatively, based on text analysis of the feedback received from participating students. The results revealed five themes that helped student teams understand how advertising companies integrate and improve their service supply chains—buyer‐supplier relationships, supply chain functions and operations, consumer focus and orientation, community focus, and overall risk management.     

Association of Obesity with Hormonal Imbalance in Infertility: A Cross-Sectional Study in North Indian Women

Hormones play an important role in the development and regulation of reproductive function and the menstrual cycle of women. Extremes of body weight tend to affect the homeostasis of the hypothalamo–pituitary–gonadal axis. This cross-sectional study was carried out in 113 women (57 with primary infertility and 56 with secondary infertility) in the age group 20–35 years, presenting for hormonal evaluation of infertility in a tertiary care hospital. After preliminary clinical evaluation, anthropometric indices (height, weight, BMI, waist circumference and waist hip ratio) were measured in all subjects. Fasting blood sample drawn on second/third day of menstrual cycle was analysed for serum luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Serum FSH levels showed a significant positive correlation with indicators of central obesity (waist circumference and waist hip ratio in both the study groups). In primary infertility, significant positive correlation was also observed between serum FSH levels and other markers of obesity like body weight, hip circumference and BMI. In secondary infertility, serum prolactin and serum TSH levels demonstrated a significant positive correlation with body weight and BMI. Obesity is associated with hormonal derangements which are responsible for infertility. In overweight women with infertility, weight loss should be considered as a first line treatment.