Nutritional Status of Indian Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Cross-sectional Study

Indian Journal of Pediatrics -     

Associative thinking in schizophrenia: A contextualist approach

Explored the question of whether responses that appeared to be highly pathological on the basis of the word association test did indeed reflect an underlying aberrant associative process or whether the associations actually had a greater degree of meaning than was evident from the test (N = 60). Utilizing contextualist techniques designed by the authors, which were analogous to the word association test but yet measured schizophrenic associative thinking in specific contexts that more closely approximated natural language situations, the quality and purposiveness of the schizophrenics' associations were examined. The word association test technique was judged to be inadequate by itself to account for underlying associative processes involved in schizophrenic associative thought disorder. A majority of responses (70% schizophrenic, 81% nonschizophrenic) judged to be pathological on the basis of the word association test alone became meaningful in the context of a sentence created by the Ss to explain purposively their associations. The schizophrenics' experience of a stimulus word and consequent associations to that word became clearer when placed within an appropriate context (i.e., a sentence), rather than examined as isolated semantic features (as in the word association test).     

DFT-based study of the structural,optoelectronic, mechanical and magnetic properties of Ti3AC2 (A = P,As, Cd) for coating applications

The first-principles approach has been used while employing the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional of generalized gradient approximation (PBE-GGA) along with the Hubbard parameter to study the structural, optoelectronic, mechanical and magnetic properties of titanium-based MAX materials Ti₃AC₂ (A = P, As, Cd) for the first time. As there is no band gap found between the valence and conduction bands in the considered materials, these compounds belong to the conductor family of materials. A mechanical analysis carried out at pressures of 0 GPa to 20 GPa and the calculated elastic constants C_ij reveal the stability of these materials. Elastic parameters, i.e., Young''s, shear and bulk moduli, anisotropy factor and Poisson''s ratio, have been investigated in the framework of the Voigt–Reuss–Hill approximation. The calculated values of relative stiffness are found to be greater than ½ for Ti₃PC₂ and Ti₃AsC₂, which indicates that these compounds are closer to typical ceramics, which possess low damage tolerance and fracture toughness. Optical parameters, i.e., dielectric complex function, refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient, loss function, conductivity and reflectivity, have also been investigated. These dynamically stable antiferromagnetic materials might have potential applications in advanced electronic and magnetic devices. Their high strength and significant hardness make these materials potential candidates as hard coatings.

The first-principles approach has used the Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof exchange-correlation functional of generalized gradient approximation along with the Hubbard parameter to study various properties of titanium-based MAX materials Ti₃AC₂ (A = P, As, Cd).     

Occult abdominal wall peristomal abscess following percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy

This case report describes the complication of peristomal abscess formation associated with the insertion of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). The formation of a peristomal anterior abdominal wall abscess in this patient was associated with the failure to give prophylactic antibiotics. The development of this potentially fatal complication may be avoided by strict observance of insertion protocols. This case was treated by removal of the gastrostomy tube after diagnosis which allowed drainage of the abscess. In similar cases of occult abscess formation, where symptoms are present but signs are absent, ultrasonography may be useful in diagnosis.     

Twelve tips for implementation of “student-as-teacher” programs

Much has been written about the learning benefits of peer teaching for medical trainees. What remains less certain is how practically to implement “Student-as-teacher” (SaT) programs combining teacher-skills training with hands-on teaching experiences for medical students to prepare them for their roles as teachers in residency and beyond. In this article, we address this gap by outlining twelve tips for the implementation of SaT programs based on review of the literature and our experience implementing SaT curricula at our institution. We have organized the tips into three domains (i.e. preimplementation, implementation and postimplementation) to encourage SaT coordinators to iteratively consider how to continually enhance SaT programs before, during and after their implementation.     

Two cases of meningococcal purpura fulminans: the ‘less is more’ approach

This study presents a case series of patients with meningococcal purpura fulminans who were treated at a tertiary referral centre within a few days of each other. Presenting with signs and symptoms of florid meningococcal sepsis, they were managed initially by physicians and intensivists, whereas the development of large purpuric areas and tissue necrosis was managed expectantly by plastic surgeons. When the patients were deemed to have recovered clinically and the necrosis delineated, surgical management was implemented with subsequent involvement of various rehabilitation services. This article highlights the cases of two patients, and their clinical presentation, management and rehabilitation together with a current literature review on this area.