• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3455-3459
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• 2013

Background: Smoking and smokeless tobacco use are almost always initiated and established during adolescence. More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. The main objective of the present study is to assess the feasibility of preventing adolescent tobacco use with the help of a specially designed tobacco control program. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional survey on tobacco use and related health effects was conducted using a structured questionnaire in 13 randomly selected schools in Kannur district of Kerala. These students were followed for a period of one academic year with multiple spaced interventions such as anti-tobacco awareness classes, formation of anti-tobacco task forces, inter-school competitions, supplying IEC (information, education and communication) materials and providing a handbook on tobacco control for school personnel. Final evaluation was at the end of one year. Results: There were 4,144 school children who participated in the first phase of the study. The prevalence of tobacco smoking and chewing habits were 9.85% and 2.24% respectively. Ninety-one percent had parental advice against tobacco use and only 3.79% expressed desire for future tobacco use. The final evaluation witnessed a sharp decline in the current tobacco use as 4.68%. We observed a statistically significant difference towards the future use of tobacco (p<0.001) and awareness about the ill effects of passive smoking (p<0.001) among boys and girls. Further a significantly increased knowledge was observed among boys compared to girls about tobacco and oral cancer (p=0.046). Conclusions: The comprehensive school based tobacco control project significantly reduced the tobacco use pattern in the target population. School tobacco projects incorporating frequent follow ups and multiple interventions appear more effective than projects with single intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2663-2667
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• 2012

Objectives: An attempt was made to understand the nicotine dependence of smokers selected for an ongoing smoking cessation intervention programme in rural Kerala, India. Methods: Data were collected from resident males in the age group of 18 to 60 years from 4 randomly allocated community development blocks of rural Thiruvananthapuram district (2 intervention and 2 control groups). Trained accredited social health activist workers were utilised to collect data from all groups through face to face interview. Nicotine dependence among participants was assessed by means of the six-item Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) translated into the local language. The internal consistency of FTND was computed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Criterion validity (concurrent) was assessed by correlations of nicotine dependence scores with age at initiation of smoking and cumulative smoking volume in pack-years. Results: Among the 928 smokers identified, 474 subjects were in the intervention area (mean age = 44.6 years, SD = 9.66 years) and 454 in the control area (mean age = 44.5 years, SD = 10.30 years). The overall FTND score among current daily smokers was 5.04 (SD: 5.05). FTND scores in the control and intervention areas were 4.75 (SD: 2.57) and 4.92 (SD: 2.51) respectively. The FTND scores increased with age and decreased with higher literacy and socioeconomic status. The average FTND score was high among smokers using both bidi and cigarettes (mean 6.10, SD 2.17). Internal consistency analysis yielded a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.70 in a subsample of 150 subjects, a moderate result. The association of the scale was strongest, with the number of pack-years smoked (rho = 0.677, p < 0.001). Conclusion: A moderate level of nicotine dependence was observed among smokers in the current study. Tobacco cessation strategies could be made more cost effective and productive if a baseline assessment of nicotine dependence is completed before any intervention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.181-184
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• 2015

Background: Breast cancer is the most common female cancer in Kerala, South India, with the incidence increasing in the past two decades, also in young women. However, there are limited data regarding the burden of disease, its epidemiology and histopathological characteristics in the state. Materials and Methods: This desciptive study covered 303 breast cancers evaluated during the period of December 2011 to August 2013 in the Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Kottayam.The patients were also interviewed regarding selected risk factors. Results: The majority of the cases were 41-60 years of age with a mean at presentation of 53 years. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common subtype, followed by pure mucinous carcinoma and then lobular carcinoma. Of the cases, 6.6% were nullipara and 52.8% had fewer than or equal to 2 children. Median age at first child birth was 23 years (national value-19.8 years). A significant proportion (15%) had family history of breast cancer. Some 13.5%(41 cases) comprised the young breast cancer group (${\leq}40$years) with a mean age at first child birth in them was 27.4 years, 5 being nullipara and 6 having a positive family history. Conclusions: Breast cancer awareness, better availability of screening techniques and identification and targeting high risk groups all help to tackle the increasing load of breast carcinoma. A good proportion of cases comprised the young breast cancer group (under 40). Younger women should thus also be educated about breast carcinoma-risk factors, symptoms and diagnostic techniques to help in early detection and effective approach esto treatment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.165-168
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• 1999

To determine the effects of genetic and environmental influences on cell mediated immune (CMI) responses in broiler rabbits, contact sensitivity to 2,4-Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) was assessed in three temperate broiler breeds of rabbits, namely Soviet Chinchilla, New Zealand White and Grey Giant. The feasibility of using the contact sensitivity to DNCB as a marker trait in selection for disease resistance was examined. There were highly significant differences between breeds (p<0.01) in initial skin thickness and contact sensitivities to DNCB at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Initial skin thickness was greatest in the Soviet Chinchilla breed (mean 2.2484 mm), and was significantly greater (p<0.01) in males (2.4963 mm) than in females (1.7846 mm) (p<0.01). Highest contact sensitivity to DNCB was in the New Zealand White breed with mean increase in skin thickness of 1.1884, 0.9072 and 0.5879 mm at 24, 48 and 72 hours post challenge respectively. Delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction to DNCB at 24 hours post challenge had a highly significant association (p<0.01) with the incidence of body mange in rabbits. The results indicated a lowered contact sensitivity to DNCB at 24 hours post challenge was associated significantly (p<0.01) with an increase in incidence and severity of body mange, suggesting its potential value as a marker. The correlation s among contact sensitivities at 24, 48 and 72 hours were positive and highly significant (p<0.01); correlations between initial skin thickness and contact sensitivities were negative and highly significant (p<0.01). Another notable significant correlation was between body weight and delayed type hypersensitivity at 24 hours indicating that an enhanced CMI might be associated with better growth rate and general wellbeing.

• Forest Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.160-168
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• 2018

The seeds of Elaeocarpus serratus, a tropical underutilized fruit tree are characterized by hard seed coat and consequent poor water uptake and low germination. To improve the regeneration through seeds, various parameters such as viability of seeds, water uptake, and effect of seed mass on germination and pretreatments were performed using a completely randomized design (CRD). Tetrazolium (TZ) test was conducted using fresh, mature seeds revealed $50{\pm}2.56%$ mean viability. Seeds of different weight classes showed similar pattern of water uptake and the saturation level was achieved at 60 hrs of soaking. Seeds belong to weight class 2.6-3.5g were germinated ($12.5{\pm}1.26%$) with $175{\pm}1.75days$ (d) of mean time taken for germination (MTG). Germination capacity of seeds varied significantly among different populations and Varkala population gave $12.5{\pm}1.1%$ germination with $174.6{\pm}2.5d$ MTG. Among various seed treatments, mechanical scarification was superior in germination and significant reduction in MTG ($p{\leq}0.05$). The mechanical scarification by complete removal of seed coat resulted in $49.2{\pm}1.52%$ germination within a short period of time ($9.52{\pm}0.89d$ MTG). However, the complete removal of seed coat without damaging to embryo is a difficult task. An alternate treatment (Mechanical scarification II) by making cracks on nut faces vertically followed by soaking in distilled water for 24 hrs gave $48.4{\pm}1.73%$ germination with significantly reduced MTG ($12.14{\pm}0.56d$) over unsoaked, untreated control ($6.5{\pm}1.84%$ germination and $197.18{\pm}1.79d$ MTG; $p{\leq}0.05$). This treatment (Mechanical scarification II) is therefore recommended for E. serratus seeds as it can adopt easily and can achieve 7 fold increases in germination over control. The recorded germination through mechanical scarification is in tune with realized viability percentage of the seeds.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.9
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• pp.3268-3276
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• 2023

The practice of identifying the potential zones for mineral exploration in a speedy and low-cost method includes the use of satellite imagery analysis as a part of remote sensing techniques. It is challenging to explore the iron mineralization of a region through conventional methods which are a time-consuming process. The current study utilizes the Hyperion satellite imagery for mapping the iron mineralization and associated geological features in the Irikkur region, Kannur, Kerala. Along with the remote sensing results, the field study and laboratory-based analysis were conducted to retrieve the ground truth point and geochemical proportion to verify the iron ore mineralization. The MC simulation showed for shielding properties indicate an increase in the linear attenuation coefficient with raising the Fe₂O₃+SiO₂ concentrations in the investigated rocks where it is varied at 0.662 MeV in the range 0.190 cm^-1 - 0.222 cm^-1 with rising the Fe₂O₃+SiO₂ content from 57.86 wt% to 71.15 wt%. The analysis also revealed that when the γ-ray energy increased from 0.221 MeV to 2.506 MeV, sample 1 had the largest linear attenuation coefficient, ranging from 9.33 cm1 to 0.12 cm^-1. Charnockite rocks were found to have exceptional shielding qualities, making them an excellent natural choice for radiation shielding applications.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.2380-2387
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• 2023

Hyperspectral data and its ability to explore the minerals and their associated rocks have a remarkable application in mineral exploration and lithological characterization. The present study aims to explore the radiation shielding aspects of the iron ore in Kerala with the aid of the Hyperion hyperspectral dataset. The reflectance-spectra obtained from the laboratory conditions as well as from the image show various absorptions. The results from the spectra are validated with geochemical data and GPS points. The Monte Carlo simulation employed to evaluate the radiation shielding ability. Raising the oxygen ions caused a noteworthy decrease in the µ values of the studied rocks which is accompanied by an increase in Δ_0.5 and Δ_eq values. The Δ_0.5 and Δ_eq values increased by factors of approximately 77 % with raising the oxygen ions between 44.32 and 47.57 wt.%. The µ values varies with the oxygen concentrations, where the µ values decreased from 2.531 to 0.925 cm^-1 (at 0.059 MeV), from 0.381to 0.215 cm^-1 (at 0.662 MeV), and from 0.279 to 0.158 cm^-1 (at 1.25 MeV) with raising the oxygen ions from 44.32 to 47.43 wt.%.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.435-439
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• 2004

Three Bacillus strains were isolated from soil samples. Morphological and physiologi­cal characterization indicated that the isolated strains were B. mycoides, B. licheniformis and B. brevis. White pepper was produced from black pepper by the fermentative method using the isolates in shake flaks as well as in a large-scale fermenter. Volatile oil and piperine contents of the product were $3.2\%$ (v/w) and $4\%$ (v/w) respectively. The moisture content was $15\%$. The mi­crobial contamination was less than 10 per 100 g. The product also exhibited excellent storage stability.

• Journal of Construction Engineering and Project Management
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.8-11
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• 2014

The interactions and interrelationships between stakeholders largely determine the overall performance of a construction project, and have the crucial responsibility for delivering a project to successful completion. An important component of stakeholder management is stakeholder analysis. Two case studies are conducted within Kerala (India). The main objective was to carry out stakeholder analysis using stakeholder organiser deluxe software, considering the data's collected from the project execution team using questionnaire. During data collection the key stakeholders were identified, to know how to manage them, their interest, power, attitude level etc, for quality improvement. Analyze the results using the software Stakeholder organizer deluxe and modeling of stakeholders is to be done. Finally validate the models of the projects. These findings may mainly reflect the stakeholder management environment in the respective regions of project implementation.

• Communications of the Korean Mathematical Society
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.745-751
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• 2012

The aim of this research note is to provide the sums of the series $$\sum_{k=0}^{\infty}(-1)^k\({{a-i}\atop{k}}\)\frac{1}{2^k(a+k+1)}$$ for $i$ = 0, ${\pm}1$,${\pm}2$,${\pm}3$,${\pm}4$,${\pm}5$. The results are obtained with the help of generalization of Bailey's summation theorem on the sum of a $_2F_1$ obtained earlier by Lavoie et al.. Several interesting results including those obtained earlier by Srivastava, Vowe and Seiffert, follow special cases of our main findings. The results derived in this research note are simple, interesting, easily established and (potentially) useful.