Epidemiology of EGFR Mutation in Adenocarcinoma NSCLC Patients in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Studies reporting the Indian prevalence of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mutation are mostly single centers with small sample sizes. This systematic review and meta-analysis summarized the available evidence of EGFR mutation epidemiology in Indian patients with adenocarcinoma (ADC) Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). We conducted a structured literature search in PubMed, and EMBASE databases from January 2004 through October 2019. The primary outcome of interest was prevalence of EGFR mutation by gender, smoking status, and mutation subtype. The review included 34 studies. EGFR mutation prevalence was 39.5% in patients with ADC, and significantly higher in females, non-smokers, and patients with exon 19 deletions. The EGFR mutation frequency in Indian patients with ADC was higher than reported in Caucasians but at a lower range of that reported in East Asians. These findings support the use of EGFR mutation testing to guide choice of treatment.

Preparedness,knowledge,and perception of nursing students about climate change and its impact on human health in India

Higher education plays an important role in all aspects of sustainability.Infusing climate change and sustainability into the curriculum is important to prepare future health-care professionals for climate change and sustainability actions to build resilient health systems.In this study,we evaluated the preparedness,knowledge,and perception regarding climate change and its impact on human health among Indian nursing students.A quantitative descriptive survey was conducted among 644 undergraduate nursing students studying in three institutes in the southern,northern,and western parts of India.We used a structured online questionnaire with established validity and reliability to collect data.The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26 software.The results showed that more than half of the students reported experiencing excessive increase(362;56.2%)and decrease(374;58.1%)in temperature in recent years.Though more than three quarters of the students(494;76.7%)accepted the general truth that climate change is mainly caused by human activities,only less than half of the students(309;48.0%)perceived the impact of climate change to be high.Three quarters of the students(483;75.0%)had a high level of knowledge regarding climate change.The students who had a high level of knowledge about climate change exerted a high perceived impact of climate change(χ^(2)=75.47;P<0.01).More than half of the students(50.9%)felt that they needed information about climate change to be included in the nursing curriculum,and only one sixth of the students(16.1%)were highly confident about engaging in climate change-related conversation with patients.Most of the students who participated in the study had basic knowledge about climate change and its impact on human health.However,there is an observed gap between knowledge and their preparedness and confidence to engage in climate change actions.Hence,we propose to strengthen the nursing curriculum by integrating various curricular and co-curricular activities related to climate change,so that future nurses are empowered to become climate change advocates.

Charting the course:India's health expenditure projections for 2035

Objectives Understanding past trends and forecasting future changes in health spending is vital for planning and reducing reliance on out-of-pocket(OOP)expenses.The current study analyzed health expenditure patterns in India and forecasted future trends and patterns until 2035.Methods Data on health expenditure in India from 2000 to 2019 was collected from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development(OECD)iLibrary and National Health Accounts 2019 databases.Gross domestic product(GDP)data from the World Bank was also utilized.Descriptive statistics analyzed the composition and pattern,while the exponential smoothing model forecasted future health expenditures.Results The findings revealed that expenditure made by OOP is the primary health financing source,followed by government and pre-paid private spending.The percentage of GDP allocated to total health expenditure remains stable,while the per capita health expenditure fluctuates.Variations in expenditure among states are observed,with Karnataka relying heavily on pre-paid private coverage.Future projections suggest a decline in per capita and total health expenditure as a share of GDP,with a slight increase in the government’s share.Pre-paid private expenditure per capita and OOP health expenditure as a share of the total is projected to remain relatively constant but still high in absolute terms.Conclusion The study highlights variations in health spending in India,characterized by high OOP spending,limited public coverage,and a need for investments,and reforms to improve healthcare access and equity.

Offshore high-grade limemud resources of west coast of India:Economic potential and industrial applications

Limestone is one of the essential raw materials in the cement,paint,steel,ceramic,glass,chemical,pharmaceutical,paper,and fertilizer industries.In India,only 8%of the limestone resources are placed under the reserve category,of which 97%is of cement grade.Thus,India depends on imports to bridge the demand‐supply gap of steel,blast furnace,and chemical‐grade limestone.Efforts of Geological Survey of India(GSI)to locate alternate sources for limestone led to the discovery of enormous quantities of carbonate minerals called limemud from the continental shelf margin of the west coast of India.GSI carried out systematic studies to explore the nature of the disposition,quality,quantity,and suitability of the offshore limemud for various industrial applications.A preliminary estimate of resources using high‐resolution subbottom profiling and sediment core sample studies established the occurrence of more than 172 billion tonnes of high‐grade(The content of CaCO3 is greater than 80 wt%)limemud in 0.4–28.0m thick stratified sediment layers spread over an area of 18000 km2.Chemical,physical,mineralogical,beneficiation,and agglomeration studies found the offshore limemud as a potential replacement for limestone in the cement,filler,blast furnace,steel melting shop,lime production,paint,and Grade‐I steel industries.An assessment of mining and transportation costs indicates that the offshore limemud(USD 5–6/ton)is more cost‐effective than that imported from other countries(USD16‐18/ton).With several advantageous factors like low impurity,mode of occurrence in overburden‐free stratified form,fine‐grained slurry nature,and shallow water depth,sustainable mining of offshore limemud could be a future reality with controllable technological,economic,and environmental challenges.

Role of self-help groups on socioeconomic development and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)among rural women in Cooch Behar District,India

This study examines the transformative role of self-help groups(SHGs)in the socioeconomic development of rural women in Cooch Behar District,India,and their contribution toward achieving Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs)of the United Nations.In this study,we explored the effect of SHGs on rural women by specifically addressing SDGs,such as no poverty(SDG 1),zero hunger(SDG 2),good health and well-being(SDG 3),quality education(SDG 4),and gender equality(SDG 5).Given this issue,a cross-sectional survey and comparison analyses are needed to assess the socioeconomic development of rural women and their awareness level before and after the participation of rural women in SHGs.The survey conducted as part of this study was divided into three sections,namely,demographic characteristics,socioeconomic development,and awareness level,with each focusing on different aspects.A group of 400 individuals who were part of SHGs completed the questionnaire survey form.The results showed that the participation of rural women in SHGs significantly improved their socioeconomic development and awareness level,as supported by both mean values and t test results.Memberships in SHGs and microcredit programs were the major elements that boosted the socioeconomic development of rural women,which also achieves SDGs 1,2,3,4,and 5.This study revealed that participation in SHGs and related financial services significantly aided rural women in economically disadvantaged communities in accumulating savings and initiating entrepreneurial ventures.Moreover,participation in SHGs was instrumental in enhancing the self-confidence,self-efficacy,and overall self-esteem of rural women.Finally,doing so enabled them to move more freely for work and other activities and to make family and common decisions.

Gallbladder cancer:Progress in the Indian subcontinent

Gallbladder cancer(GBC)is one of the commonest biliary malignancies seen in India,Argentina,and Japan.The disease has dismal outcome as it is detected quite late due to nonspecific symptoms and signs.Early detection is the only way to improve the outcome.There have been several advances in basic as well as clinical research in the hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases in the West and other developed countries but not enough has been done in GBC.Therefore,it is imp-ortant and the responsibility of the countries with high burden of GBC to find solutions to the many unanswered questions like etiopathogenesis,early diagn-osis,treatment,and prognostication.As India being one of the largest hubs for GBC in the world,it is important to know how the country has progressed on GBC.In this review,we will discuss the outcome of the publications from India highlighting the work and the developments taken place in past several decades both in basic and clinical research.

Prevalence of obesity,determinants,and its association with hyperglycaemia among community dwelling older adolescents in India

BACKGROUND Globally,obesity and diabetes mellitus(DM)are emergent public health concerns in the adolescent population.India,home to the largest adolescent population and the second largest diabetes cohort is experiencing rapid but unplanned urbanization,with accompanying unhealthy nutritional transition,and sedentary lifestyle.AIM To determine prevalence and determinants of obesity and hyperglycaemia and their association among community-dwelling older adolescents(15-19 years)in India.METHODS This cross-sectional analysis from the national family health survey-5 included data of 258028 adolescents aged 15-19 across India(2019-2021).The survey employed stratified two-stage sampling,with systematic random sampling in rural and urban areas.Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics,bivariate,and multivariable logistic regression,employing generalized linear models.RESULTS The weighted prevalence of DM was 1.09%including 0.77%[95%confidence interval(CI):0.72-0.83]previously diagnosed and 0.32%(95%CI:0.29-0.35)newly diagnosed cases detected on survey screening.On adjusted analysis,increasing age,higher education levels,higher wealth index,and overweight/obesity were the factors significantly associated with presence of DM.Only 61%of the adolescents with previously diagnosed DM were on anti-diabetes treatment.The weighted prevalence of overweight/obesity among older adolescents was 6.9%with significantly higher odds in the male sex,having higher educational levels,urban residence,and those with a higher wealth index.CONCLUSION Nearly one in hundred older adolescents in India have diabetes,with one in three undiagnosed.Strengthening DM screening and treatment access among adolescents through public health programs is urgently warranted.

Vice-President Ai Ping Meets Secretary-General Saqib of India China Economic and Cultural Council

On March 26th,CAFIU Vice-President Ai Ping met Secretary-General Mohammed Saqib of the India China Economic and Cultural Council.The two sides exchanged views on China-lndia relations and people-to-people exchanges.Vice-President Ai Ping said that the development of relationship between two states is based on their peoples.Strengthening people-to-people exchanges between China and India and promoting mutual understanding between the peoples are important for the improvement of the relationship between the two countries.

Assessing the role of forest resources in improving rural livelihoods in West Bengal of India

Forest resources play a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of rural communities residing in forest-rich areas.In India,a forest-rich country,a significant proportion of non-timber forest products(NTFPs)is consumed locally,supporting numerous rural communities relying on forests for essential resources,such as firewood,timber,and NTFPs.This study focuses on two forest-dominant districts in West Bengal of India,namely,Jhargram District and Paschim Medinipur District.Furthermore,this study aims to enhance the understanding of forest-dependent communities by comparing the standard of living among different village classes.Thus,we categorized villages into three classes based on the distance from home to forests,including inner villages,fringe villages,and outer villages.Through focus group discussions and household surveys,we explored the sources of local economy,income sources of household,and reasons for economic diversification in different village classes.The study findings confirm that substantial variations existed in the income sources and the standard of living in these villages.Forest income varied dramatically among the three village classes,with inner villages having greater forest income than fringe villages and outer villages.Meanwhile,households in outer villages depended on forests and engaged in diverse economic activities for their livelihoods.Compared with inner and fringe villages,households in outer villages derived a significant portion of their income from livestock.This discrepancy can be attributed to challenges,such as inadequate transportation,communication,and underdeveloped market chains in inner villages.Moreover,these findings emphasize the need to develop sustainable forest management practices,create alternative income-generation opportunities,and improve infrastructure and market access in inner villages,as well as promote economic diversification in outer villages.Through targeted policy measures,these forest-rich regions can achieve improved livelihoods,enhanced standard of living,and increased resilience for their communities.

First Known Case of Carcass Guarding by Black Kite (Milvus migrans) in Urban Landscape, North India

Behavioral traits of species can play an important role in the functioning of the ecosystem and in evolving behavioural adaptations to survive according to environmental conditions.This note documents evidence of adding a rare observation by providing photographic evidence of the entanglement of a carcass of a juvenile Black Kite(Milvus migrans)from a nest and the use of nest by an adult individual,guarding the carcass.Documenting such behavior contributes to our understanding of the natural history and management of native species in an urban environment.Further,scientific studies/observations are needed to be conducted to reach some conclusion as to why species perform such behaviour.

Morphometric analysis and hydrological implications of the Himalayan River Basin,Goriganga,India,using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques

The application of Geographic Information System(GIS)methodologies offers valuable insights into the hydrological behaviour of watersheds through the analysis of their morphometric attributes.This study focuses on the Goriganga River,a major tributary of the Ganga River system,by conducting a detailed morphometric analysis using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer(ASTER)imagery with 30 m resolution,alongside survey of India topographic sheets.Thirty-two water-sheds within the river basin were delineated to calculate linear,areal,and relief morphometric parameters,covering a total drainage area of 2,183.11 km^(2).The drainage pattern,primarily dendritic to sub-dendritic,is shaped by the region's topography,geological structure,and precipitation patterns.Classified as a 6th-order basin,the drainage density ranges from 1.21 km/km^(2)to 1.96 km/km^(2),underlining the significant influence of the regional physiography and lithological composition on the stream ordering.Relief analysis suggests the basin is in an early developmental stage,characterised by varying slope gradients and a low to moder-ate risk of soil erosion.The basin's hydrogeology is complex,with aquifer distribution primarily governed by lithological factors.Limestone,due to its high permeability and karst features,forms the principal aquifer,although it is susceptible to contamination.In contrast,groundwater potential in the Basement Gneissic Complex and Schist regions is limited to structurally controlled zones,while shale acts as an aquitard.The basin's heterogeneous aquifer characteristics emphasize the need for localized groundwater management strategies tailored to specific lithological units.The integration of remote sensing and GIS techniques effectively delineates the basin's morphometric and hydrogeological characteristics,providing critical information for the development of sustainable water resource management strategies.

Liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in India: Are we ready for 2040?

BACKGROUND Liver transplantation(LT)for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)has been widely researched and is well established worldwide.The cornerstone of this treatment lies in the various criteria formulated by expert consensus and experience.The variations among the criteria are staggering,and the short-and long-term outcomes are controversial.AIM To study the differences in the current practices of LT for HCC at different centers in India and discuss their clinical implications in the future.METHODS We conducted a survey of major centers in India that performed LT in December 2022.A total of 23 responses were received.The centers were classified as high-and low-volume,and the current trend of care for patients undergoing LT for HCC was noted.RESULTS Of the 23 centers,35%were high volume center(>500 Liver transplants)while 52%were high-volume centers that performed more than 50 transplants/year.Approximately 39%of centers had performed>50 LT for HCC while the percent distribution for HCC in LT patients was 5%–15%in approximately 73%of the patients.Barring a few,most centers were divided equally between University of California,San Francisco(UCSF)and center-specific criteria when choosing patients with HCC for LT,and most(65%)did not have separate transplant criteria for deceased donor LT and living donor LT(LDLT).Most centers(56%)preferred surgical resection over LT for a Child A cirrhosis patient with a resectable 4 cm HCC lesion.Positron-emission tomography-computed tomography(CT)was the modality of choice for metastatic workup in the majority of centers(74%).Downstaging was the preferred option for over 90%of the centers and included transarterial chemoembolization,transarterial radioembolization,stereotactic body radiotherapy and atezolizumab/bevacizumab with varied indications.The alphafetoprotein(AFP)cut-off was used by 74%of centers to decide on transplantation as well as to downstage tumors,even if they met the criteria.The criteria for successful downstaging varied,but most centers conformed to the UCSF or their center-specific criteria for LT,along with the AFP cutoff values.The wait time for LT from downstaging was at least 4–6 wk in all centers.Contrast-enhanced CT was the preferred imaging modality for post-LT surveillance in 52%of the centers.Approximately 65%of the centers preferred to start everolimus between 1 and 3 months post-LT.CONCLUSION The current predicted 5-year survival rate of HCC patients in India is less than 15%.The aim of transplantation is to achieve at least a 60%5-year disease free survival rate,which will provide relief to the prediction of an HCC surge over the next 20 years.The current worldwide criteria(Milan/UCSF)may have a higher 5-year survival(>70%);however,the majority of patients still do not fit these criteria and are dependent on other suboptimal modes of treatment,with much lower survival rates.To make predictions for 2040,we must prepare to arm ourselves with less stringent selection criteria to widen the pool of patients who may undergo transplantation and have a chance of a better outcome.With more advanced technology and better donor outcomes,LDLT will provide a cutting edge in the fight against liver cancer over the next two decades.

Performance of a Combined Energy System Consisting of Solar Collector, Biogas Dry Reforming and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell: An Indian Case Study

An energy production system consisting of a solar collector, biogas dry reforming reactor and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) was assumed to be installed in Kolkata, India. This study aims to understand the impact of climate conditions on the performance of solar collectors with different lengths of parabolic trough solar collector (dx) and mass flow rate of heat transfer fluid (m). In addition, this study has evaluated the amount of H2 produced by biogas dry reforming (GH2), the amount of power generated by SOFC (PSOFC) and the maximum number of possible households (N) whose electricity demand could be met by the energy system proposed, considering the performance of solar collector with the different dx and m. As a result, the optimum dx was found to be 4 m. This study revealed that the temperature of heat transfer fluid (Tfb) decreased with the increase in m. Tfb in March, April and May was higher than that in other months, while Tfb from June to December was the lowest. GH2, PSOFC and N in March, April and May were higher than those in other months, irrespective of m. The optimum m was 0.030 kg/s.

A Contrastive Analysis of English and Chinese Idioms About Color Words & Their Cultural Connotations

There are many idioms related to color words in English and Chinese.The use of color words in idioms adds beauty and vividness to the language.Due to the cultural differences,“color idioms”have gained different cultural connotations with the development of English and Chinese languages.It is of great significance to accurately understand and grasp the meanings and differences of color-related idioms in Chinese and English.This paper intends to analyze and expound the cultural connotations of English and Chinese idioms related to several widely used basic color words with the aim of helping English learners know and use the idioms about color words better.

Translation of Culture-loaded Words in The Golden Cangue under the Perspective of Reception Aesthetics

Good translations play a very important role in cultural exchange.The idea of reception aesthetics think the reader as the center in translation process.This paper will study the translation of culture-loaded words from the perspective of reception aesthetics.It is divided into five parts.The first part mainly introduces the background and theoretical foundation of this paper,the second part introduces the writer’s works,the third part gives examples to analyze the culture-loaded words appearing in The Golden Cangue,the fourth part gives examples of the translation methods,and the fifth part is the conclusion.It aims to provide a reference for the English translation of culture-loaded words.

基于图像Bag-of-Words模型的无载体信息隐藏

介绍一种基于bag-of-words(BOW)模型的无载体信息隐藏方法.该方法使用BOW模型提取图像的视觉关键词(visual words,VW)以表达待隐藏的文本信息,从而实现文本信息在图像中的隐藏.首先使用BOW模型提取图像集中每幅图像的VW,构建文本信息的关键词和VW的映射关系库;然后把每幅图像分为若干子图像,统计每一幅子图像的VW频数直方图,选择频数最高的VW表示该子图像;最后根据构建的文本关键词和子图像VW的映射关系库,搜索出与待隐藏文本信息存在映射关系的子图像序列,将含有这些子图像的图像作为含密图像进行传递.实验结果和分析表明,该隐藏算法在抗隐写分析、鲁棒性和安全性方面均有良好的表现.

基于“bag of words”的视频匹配方法

提出了一种利用"bag of words"模型对视频内容进行建模和匹配的方法。通过量化视频帧的局部特征构建视觉关键词(visual words)辞典,将视频的子镜头表示成若干视觉关键词的集合。在此基础上构建基于子镜头的视觉关键词词组的倒排索引,用于视频片段的匹配和检索。这种方法保留了局部特征的显著性及其相对位置关系,而且有效地压缩了视频的表达,加速的视频的匹配和检索过程。实验结果表明,和已有方法相比,基于"bag of words"的视频匹配方法在大视频样本库上获得了更高的检索精度和检索速度。

Comparative study of Chinese and English color words

There are a lot of color words in both English and Chinese. The color words in both English and Chinese can be divided into two parts： basic color words and real-stuff based color words. In this paper the formation, syntactic functions and characteristics of English and Chinese color words have been analytically studied, and some differences and similarities of English and Chinese color words have been summed up.

n-words模型下Hesse稀疏表示的图像检索算法

论文针对视觉词袋(BOVW)模型放弃图像空间结构的缺点,提出一种基于Hesse稀疏编码的图像检索算法。首先,建立n-words模型,获得图像局部特征表示。n-words模型由一系列连续视觉词获得,是图像特征的一种高级描述。该文从n=1到n=5进行试验,寻找最恰当的n值;其次,将二阶Hesse能量函数融入标准稀疏编码的目标函数,得到Hesse稀疏编码公式;最后,以获得的n-words序列作为编码特征,利用特征符号搜索算法求解最优Hesse系数,计算相似度,返回检索结果。实验在两类数据集上进行,与BOVW模型和已有的算法相比,新算法极大地提高了图像检索的准确率。

Fuzzy Words Distribution in Management Science Research Articles

By using ZHANG Qiao＇s method for identifying fuzzy words （1998）, the present paper makes a statistic analysis of fuzzy words appearing in about 43,000 words of 6 academic research articles in management science. A distribution curve of fuzzy words in management research articles is drawn in accordance with the structures of the articles, and it is proved to be reasonable for tile discourse function of each section. Furthermore, the fuzzy words are divided into three categories and eleven sub-categories, including Category Ⅰ-fuzzy words, Category Ⅱ-fuzzy words＋non-fuzzy part / non-fuzzy part＋fuzzy words, Category Ⅲ-approximators＋fuzzy words. Distribution of fuzzy words varies in different sections of research articles in management science, because of different communicative purposes or discourse functions. Introduction section and Conclusion section have a higher occurrence rate of fuzzy words than Abstract section and Methodology and Data section.