Determination of the Accuracy of Transcerebellar Diameter in Estimating Gestational Age in the Second and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy.

Background Every antenatal woman and her treating doctor aim for a healthy newborn. In obstetrics, accurately determining the gestational age (GA) is a critical aspect of managing pregnancy and evaluating fetal growth and development. The transcerebellar diameter (TCD) is the greatest transverse measurement of the fetal cerebellum. The growth of the cerebellum is minimally affected by fluctuations in growth, making the TCD the most reliable measurement for predicting GA. The purpose of the present research is to determine the accuracy of TCD in estimating GA in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Materials and methods The study included 500 antenatal women at 18-40 weeks of gestation. We also measured TCD in addition to routine ultrasound parameters like biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), and femur length (FL). We used IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22 (Released 2013; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, United States) for statistical analysis. The collected data was subjected to statistical tests, including Pearson's correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination. We conducted a regression analysis and used correlation coefficients to compare each ultrasound-measured parameter with the GA. Results The current research demonstrates a significant linear relationship between the TCD and GA (r = 0.9865; p = 0.0001), a strong association between BPD and GA (r = 0.9541; p = 0.0001), between HC and GA (r = 0.9613; p = 0.0001), between AC and GA (r = 0.9489; p = 0.0001), and between FL and GA (r = 0.9697; p = 0.0001). TCD showed the best correlation with GA among all the biometric parameters. TCD showed a correct assessment of GA by the last menstrual period (LMP) in 479 (95.8%) antenatal women. Conclusion The current research concludes that the TCD can be utilized as an independent measure to determine GA in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, particularly in cases where the LMP is unknown, no dating scan has been performed in the first trimester, initial assessment taking place in the third trimester and in fetuses with variations in head shape such as dolichocephaly and brachycephaly.

Working with adults with intellectual challenges to enhance their employability skills.

The employability of the intellectually challenged has received little attention in the past. In order to fill this research gap, the present study was undertaken. The study is centered on the experiences of six intellectually challenged individuals who received employability training at a non-governmental organization. A focus group discussion along with a case study was conducted. The researchers employed the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique to analyze the data from the focus group discussion. Results from both the focus group discussion and the case study revealed that the training program has had a significant impact on the lives of the participants and has aided them in becoming economically empowered and independent.

Storing drinking-water in copper pots kills contaminating diarrhoeagenic bacteria.

Microbially-unsafe water is still a major concern in most developing countries. Although many water-purification methods exist, these are expensive and beyond the reach of many people, especially in rural areas. Ayurveda recommends the use of copper for storing drinking-water. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of copper pot on microbially-contaminated drinking-water. The antibacterial effect of copper pot against important diarrhoeagenic bacteria, including Vibrio cholerae O1, Shigella flexneri 2a, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, enteropathogenic E. coli, Salmonella enterica Typhi, and Salmonella Paratyphi is reported. When drinking-water (pH 7.83 +/- 0.4; source: ground) was contaminated with 500 CFU/mL of the above bacteria and stored in copper pots for 16 hours at room temperature, no bacteria could be recovered on the culture medium. Recovery failed even after resuscitation in enrichment broth, followed by plating on selective media, indicating loss of culturability. This is the first report on the effect of copper on S. flexneri 2a, enteropathogenic E. coli, and Salmonella Paratyphi. After 16 hours, there was a slight increase in the pH of water from 7.83 to 7.93 in the copper pots while the other physicochemical parameters remained unchanged. Copper content (177 +/- 16 ppb) in water stored in copper pots was well within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization. Copper holds promise as a point-of-use solution for microbial purification of drinking-water, especially in developing countries.

Killing of enteric bacteria in drinking water by a copper device for use in the home: laboratory evidence.

Water inoculated with 500-1000 colony forming units/ml of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Typhi and Vibrio cholerae was stored overnight at room temperature in copper pots or in glass bottles containing a copper coil devised by us. The organisms were no longer recoverable when cultured on conventional media, by contrast with water stored in control glass bottles under similar conditions. The amount of copper leached into the water after overnight storage in a copper pot or a glass bottle with a copper device was less than 475 parts per billion, which is well within the safety limits prescribed by the WHO. The device is inexpensive, reusable, easy to maintain, durable, does not need energy to run and appears to be safe. It has the potential to be used as a household water purification method for removing enteric bacteria, especially in developing countries.