Air pollution prediction with machine learning: a case study of Indian cities.

The survival of mankind cannot be imagined without air. Consistent developments in almost all realms of modern human society affected the health of the air adversely. Daily industrial, transport, and domestic activities are stirring hazardous pollutants in our environment. Monitoring and predicting air quality have become essentially important in this era, especially in developing countries like India. In contrast to the traditional methods, the prediction technologies based on machine learning techniques are proved to be the most efficient tools to study such modern hazards. The present work investigates six years of air pollution data from 23 Indian cities for air quality analysis and prediction. The dataset is well preprocessed and key features are selected through the correlation analysis. An exploratory data analysis is exercised to develop insights into various hidden patterns in the dataset and pollutants directly affecting the air quality index are identified. A significant fall in almost all pollutants is observed in the pandemic year, 2020. The data imbalance problem is solved with a resampling technique and five machine learning models are employed to predict air quality. The results of these models are compared with the standard metrics. The Gaussian Naive Bayes model achieves the highest accuracy while the Support Vector Machine model exhibits the lowest accuracy. The performances of these models are evaluated and compared through established performance parameters. The XGBoost model performed the best among the other models and gets the highest linearity between the predicted and actual data.

Healthcare professional views and experiences of complementary and alternative therapies in obstetric practice in North East Scotland: a prospective questionnaire survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) therapy by UK healthcare professionals involved in the care of pregnant women, and to identify key predictors of use. DESIGN: A prospective survey. SETTING: Maternity services in Grampian, North East Scotland. SAMPLE: All healthcare professionals (135) involved in the care of pregnant women (midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists). METHODS: Questionnaire development, piloting, and distribution. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. RESULTS: A response rate of 87% was achieved. A third of respondents (32.5%) had recommended (prescribed, referred, or advised) the use of CAMs to pregnant women. The most frequently recommended CAMs modalities were: vitamins and minerals (excluding folic acid) (55%); massage (53%); homeopathy (50%); acupuncture (32%); yoga (32%); reflexology (26%); aromatherapy (24%); and herbal medicine (21%). Although univariate analysis identified that those who recommended CAMs were significantly more likely to be midwives who had been in post for more than 5 years, had received training in CAMs, were interested in CAMs, and were themselves users of CAMs, the only variable retained in bivariate logistic regression was 'personal use of CAM', with an odds ratio of 8.26 (95% CI 3.09-22.05; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Despite the lack of safety or efficacy data, a wide variety of CAM therapies are recommended to pregnant women by approximately a third of healthcare professionals, with those recommending the use of CAMs being eight times more likely to be personal CAM users.

An audit to review the characteristics and management of placenta praevia at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital, 2009-2011.

Placenta praevia (PP) is an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity. We reviewed the characteristics and management of PP at the Aberdeen Maternity Hospital (AMH) to evaluate performance. In the years 2009-2011, a total of 60 cases with confirmed PP underwent caesarean section (CS) at the AMH. Two-fifths of cases had previous CS and two-thirds were posterior praevias. Four-fifths were major praevias. Diagnosis was mostly by trans-abdominal scanning (TAS). A little less than two-thirds underwent hospital admission (half of them for antepartum haemorrhage). Most received steroid and ferrous sulphate as appropriate. The majority were delivered at greater than 36 weeks' gestation. There was good support in theatre by senior obstetricians and anaesthetists. Cell salvage was used in theatre. Overall, the outcomes were good. Improvements could be made on documentation of counselling preoperatively and practice of trans-vaginal scans (TVS) to confirm low lying placentae even at the 20-week scan for better diagnosis, as per the RCOG guidelines.

Occupational biohazards in agricultural dusts from India.

Sixteen samples of settled dusts deposited during handling of various granular plant materials (green gram, red gram, amaranth, rice, pearl millet, sorghum, wheat, maize) in small food storing and processing facilities (godowns) were collected in the region of Aurangabad (Southern India). The samples were examined by the dilution plating method for the concentration and species composition of Gram-positive mesophilic bacteria, Gram-negative mesophilic bacteria, thermophilic actinomycetes and fungi. They were also examined by Limulus test for the concentration of bacterial endotoxin. The total concentration of microorganisms (bacteria + fungi) in examined samples varied within a wide range of 1.4 x 10(5) - 8.45 x 10(8) cfu/g (median 8.36 x 10(6) cfu/g). On average, the most common were Gram-positive bacteria (87.84% of all isolates) followed by Gram-negative bacteria (11.12%). Less common were fungi (1.24%) and thermophilic actinomycetes (0.01%). Among isolated bacteria and fungi, there were many species known as causative agents of allergic alveolitis, asthma and organic dust toxic syndrome. The concentration of bacterial endotoxin in the examined samples ranged between 12.5 - 62500 microg/g (median 781.25 microg/g), being particularly large in the samples of dust from maize (6250 microg/g and 62500 microg/g) and pearl millet (6250 microg/g and 12500 microg/g). The results of the present work indicate that the agricultural dusts from India represent a potential hazard for the workers because of high concentrations of allergenic microorganisms and bacterial endotoxin. The particular risk is associated with handing of maize and pearl millet. Further studies on this subject with the use of aerobiological methods are highly desirable

Nepal's IEC approach for the integrated project.

PIP: When the Integrated Family Planning and Parasite Control Project (IP) was launched in the Panchkhal area in Nepal, the area had an intestinal parasite incidence as high as 90%. Before the pilot projects were set up, the emphasis was on the IEC aspect. Meetings and discussions were held with the concerned community leaders about the objectives of the integrated project. Pamphlets, posters and booklets were prepared, pretested, printed and distributed. Once the program began, such activities as person-to-person communication, construction of demonstration toilets and protected water sources were started. The primary school was the target and beneficiary of these activities. A mobile laboratory was set up and eggs of parasites were shown to parents and others to stir their interest. The passage of round worms in affected areas and the administration of drugs was a serious concern to some parents. The community was warned that reinfestation could occur in 3 months if personal hygiene was not observed and latrine use was not practiced. The documentary film, 'Ascariasis' provided by JOICEP is one of the most popular and effective mediums for motivating the rural populace to improve environmental sanitation and ensure against infestation and reinfestation by parasite. Other audiovisual methods are also helpful. A local-level cooperation committee is responsible for planning and implementing the integrated project at the local level. Various IEC strategies were used to stress the need to establish a community-based primary health care (CBPHC) unit. The integration of parasite control with family planning has resulted in a marked reduction of parasite infestation in school childred and has increased the acceptance of family planning.^ieng

Making life easier in the rugged countryside through the Panchkhal Panchayat Health Movement.

PIP: Nepal is a mountainous Himalayan country. All the signs of underdevelopment--poverty, illiteracy, sickness, malnutrition, high birth rate, high infant mortality--are evident. Life in Panchkhal is not easy. Women work hard, fetching water from streams or ponds. There are no safe sources of water. Water-borne diseases are common because of fecal contamination of water. Unhygienic habits and unsanitary disposal of human excreta have resulted in a high incidence of parasitic infestation in the community. In 1983, community-based health care units were set up. Community members pooled funds for a community-based primary health care unit where drugs for diarrhea, scabies, dysentry, cough, fever, and eye infection would be made available at low cost. The Integrated Family Planning and Parasite Control Project has set up a sales depot to make drugs available at nominal prices. 2 health units were established in Panchkhal in 1983. There was a strong determination on the part of the community to improve the health status of the people, especially that of the uner-5s. The local village health workers were trained and assigned to work in the project area. Village health workers found the health unit a useful base. The importance of disease prevention was realized by the villagers. At present there are 9 health units. Each is run by 2 village health workers who receive salaries from either the integrated project of the government FP/MCH program. Social workers also provide services. A woman volunteer trained in basic MCH and family planning motivation assists the unit twice a week. The responsibility of the health committee is to ensure the smooth operation of the unit and to see that health care is provided to the villagers. Toilets have now been constructed in many homes. Children are healthier. Family planning is more acceptable to the community. The marketing of lacal produce is a problem, as well as funding of the health project.^ieng

Haplorchoides Chen, 1949 (Haplorchinae: Heterophyidae) in freshwater fishes.

Two metacercariae of Haplorchoides, recorded in the fingerlings of over a dozen species of freshwater fishes, are described and illustrated. Ovigerous flukes were recovered from older specimens of two species of fishes procured from the same locality. Comparison of taxonomic characters of the juveniles and adults suggests that they are conspecific. The metacercariae and adults are assigned to two new species, Haplorchoides pearsoni and H. Mehrai. The observations, presented herein, necessitated a review of the species named under this genus and a revision of the generic diagnosis. The reports on fish intermediaries of H. attenatus have been enlarged.

Anomalous pattern of median artery in the forearm of Indians.

Various anomalous relations between the brachial plexus or its branches and arteries are reported. The present study was conducted on 134 limbs to note the origin and course of the median artery and its relation to the median nerve. In 2 limbs (1.5%), the median artery split the median nerve into two roots in the forearm and the artery passed through the nerve. In both of these limbs (1.5%), the median artery arose from the ulnar artery. The median artery in these 2 limbs (1.5%) was considerably large and supplied the hand. Both the origin of the median artery from the ulnar artery and the splitting of the median nerve by the median artery are rare anomalies which have not been reported in the available literature.

Morphological variations within the species Onchocerca armillata and O. gutturosa in buffaloes and cattle in India, with special reference to the male tail and cuticular ornamentation.

Morphological variations in Onchocerca armillata and O. gutturosa, from buffalo and cattle, with special reference to male tail and cuticular ornamentation, have been studied from a large collection of worms available from the infected aortae and ligamentum nuchae, procured from slaughter houses at 3 different localities in Uttar Pradesh, India. Seven variations in the disposition of caudal papillae in males in O. armillata and 14 in O. gutturosa are described. The prevalence of these two Onchocerca species in bubaline and bovine populations appears to be widespread.

Socio-educational influences on nepali women and their association with innovative values and behaviors.

The introduction of health and family planning services in developing countries often requires extensive changes in the values and behaviors of the women of those countries. A better understanding of the factors influencing change in rural women would provide a stronger scientific base for the introduction of health services.The authors gathered data from 1,417 rural women in Nepal. Indicators of social change were contraceptive use, desired family size and scientific treatment of sick children. Major influences associated with change were regionality, having children in school, ownership of money and access to media. However, the strength of association with the indices of change varied, suggesting that change in values and behaviors is meaning specific and not a general phenomenon.

Constructing linkage maps in autotetraploid species using simulated annealing.

In this paper we demonstrate how molecular markers segregating in a full-sib autotetraploid mapping population can be ordered to form a linkage map using simulated annealing. This approach facilitates the examination of orders close to the optimum to see which marker placings are fixed and identify the markers whose position is less certain. A simulation study investigates the effects of population size, marker spacing, ratio of dominant to codominant markers, typing errors and missing values. The method is applied to map 30 amplified fragment length polymorphism and microsatellite markers on linkage group IV of potato.

Early childhood experience in Nepal: a study of sickness, treatment and mortality.

This article reports on a longitudinal study of almost 7,000 children under six years in selected villages in Nepal, giving their morbidity and mortality history, treatments given and costs involved. The study suggests that about two children out of three are defined as sick by their mothers in any given year and that treatment is sought for about 40 percent of sickness in small children. Three of four children treated are treated by scientific medicine, that is by physicians, nurses or pharmacists. The principal causes of death are fevers and diarrhea. Education of mothers in spacing of births, hygiene, nutrition and rehydration therapy would appear to be the most important primary health care service, along with increased access to potable water and to medical clinics.

Characterization of atmospheric dust at Gurushikar, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan.

The nature of atmospheric aerosols at Gurushikar, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan where a gamma ray telescope is to be installed, was investigated. Air particulate samples collected on filters were used to estimate the total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) and its elemental composition. The TSPM varied from 31 to 103 µg/m(3) during January to March 1994. The heighest loads were observed during the months of May and June (80-100 µg/m(3)) and lowest during October (20-60 µg/m(3)). The dust was also examined for size, shape and nature of the mineral matter. The particle sizes varied from 100 µm to 5 µm. The course particles (>50 µm) are irregular shaped quartz grains. Some of the medium size (=50 µm) particles were spherical and were highly conducting. These particles were rich in iron content. Correlation coefficients among various elements in the dust showed that it is made up of mainly two components-wind blown ground dust and particulate arising out of wood and coal burning.