Indian Tamil Research Articles

Long-term motor, cognitive, behavioural and quality of life outcome of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A longitudinal study on 225 South Indian Tamil patients (1467)

Long-term motor, cognitive, behavioural and quality of life outcome of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: A longitudinal study on 225 South Indian Tamil patients (1467)

Prevalence of HLA-B*27 subtypes in the Tamil population of India with Ankylosing spondylitis and its correlation with clinical features

IntroductionHLA-B*27 is strongly associated with Ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Its subtypes show considerable geographic and ethnic difference. The main aim of this study was to assess the frequency of subtypes of HLA-B*27 in the Indian Tamil AS patients. Methods and materialsAdult AS patients positive for HLA-B*27 were considered for the study. The high-resolution typing to define HLA-B*27 subtypes were done using Invitrogen B kits from One Lambda (SeCore® Sequencing Kits, Thermo Fisher, United States). Results and conclusionPrevalence of subtypes identified were HLA-B*27:04 (52.2%), HLA-B*27:05 (41.6%), HLA-B*27:07 (3.5%) and HLA-B*27:02 (2.7%). All subtypes showed disease predisposition for males. The most common extra articular manifestation seen was enthesitis in HLA-B*27:04 and HLA-B*27:05. Uveitis was mainly associated with HLA-B*27:05 and dactylitis with HLA-B*27:04. A significant peripheral joints involvement for female and axial joint involvement for males was seen in HLA-B*27:04. Our study establishes the prevalence of HLA-B*27 subtypes and the associated clinical phenotypes among the Indian Tamil population. Considering the variability of presentation, organ involvement, and disease course in different subtypes and across ethnicities it is critical to define these associations in the ethnic populations we treat for their appropriate care considering the significant negative health and socioeconomic effects of AS.

The effectiveness of contact tracing in mitigating COVID-19 outbreak: A model-based analysis in the context of India

The ongoing pandemic situation due to COVID-19 originated from the Wuhan city, China affects the world in an unprecedented scale. Unavailability of totally effective vaccination and proper treatment regimen forces to employ a non-pharmaceutical way of disease mitigation. The world is in desperate demand of useful control intervention to combat the deadly virus. This manuscript introduces a new mathematical model that addresses two different diagnosis efforts and isolation of confirmed cases. The basic reproductive number, R0, is inspected, and the model’s dynamical characteristics are also studied. We found that with the condition R0<1, the disease can be eliminated from the system. Further, we fit our proposed model system with cumulative confirmed cases of six Indian states, namely, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Delhi and West Bengal. Sensitivity analysis carried out to scale the impact of different parameters in determining the size of the epidemic threshold of R0. It reveals that unidentified symptomatic cases result in an underestimation of R0 whereas, diagnosis based on new contact made by confirmed cases can gradually reduce the size of R0 and hence helps to mitigate the ongoing disease. An optimal control problem is framed using a control variable u(t), projecting the effectiveness of diagnosis based on traced contacts made by a confirmed COVID patient. It is noticed that optimal contact tracing effort reduces R0 effectively over time.

Transcultural memory and identity: Reconstructing film spectatorship in Tamil refugee resettlement experiences

ABSTRACT Eelam Tamils have a growing connection with Indian Tamils through shared language, cultural heritage, history, and cosmology, despite not having a shared geography or homeland. This paper contributes to understanding this peculiar connection by focusing on the cultural impacts of Indian Tamil films on Eelam Tamil refugees resettled in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s. Building on the existing scholarship on pan-Tamil identity, memory, and film, the paper asks: how did consuming Tamil films affect Eelam Tamils’ cultural identities in their refugee resettlement? Transcultural memory is used as a framework to examine this interaction and the multi-focal identities and orientations among Eelam Tamils towards pan-Tamilness. Tamil refugees used film in a novel way to recall difficult memories of the pressures felt by a young war generation to sustain their cultural heritage while adjusting to the cultural norms of Australia. Consuming films become formative to reconstructing their cultural identities and enables the possibilities for exploring the cultural linkages and disconnections that constitute the heterogeneity of pan-Tamil subjectivities.

Is single nucleotide polymorphism of the FAS A-670G gene associated with systemic lupus erythematosus patients from South Indian tamils?

Is single nucleotide polymorphism of the FAS A-670G gene associated with systemic lupus erythematosus patients from South Indian tamils?

Zoom in on the levels of employee engagement, perception, satisfaction; employee roles influenced – health care sample study

Purpose The paper aims to considering quality that comes from quality employees taking discretionary efforts, having right perception towards quality, getting satisfied from their contribution. Exploring the relationship of engagement, perception and satisfaction, and mapping the levels and identifying managerial implications for improving the levels. Design/methodology/approach William Kahn’s employee engagement dimensions, Parasuraman and Zeithaml’s quality dimensions and Harter et al.’s satisfaction dimensions applied and variables framed in health-care context, tested and applied. Survey data collected from randomly selected medical and non-medical employees from south Indian state Tamil Nadu health-care organizations, using structured questionnaire. Findings Age, experience and roles of the respondents in work have a significant association with the levels. It explores a significant positive relationship of perception, engagement and satisfaction. The study explores an average 28% of employees have high level of engagement, perception (18%) and satisfaction (22%), and the rest fall under moderate and low levels. The roles of the respondents significantly predict the levels. Originality/value The study focuses on engagement, perception and satisfaction of employees, not of patients. It registered the responses of trained physicians, nurses and administrative staff. It illustrates human resource strategic importance to improve the levels concerning quality measures.

Prothrombotic Factors Have Significant Association with Arterial and Venous Strokes in Indian Tamilians.

Prothrombotic factors have been correlated with vascular events in young patients, with recurrent strokes, and with venous thromboembolisms. However, their prevalence in adult strokes, in healthy populations, and in specific ethnic groups is not well defined. We investigated the association of prothrombotic factors with strokes in a South Indian Tamil population. In this hospital-based cross-sectional study, plasma homocysteine (Hcys), protein C and protein S activity levels, activated protein C resistance (APCR) as a surrogate for factor V Leiden (FVL), fibrinogen, and antithrombin III (ATIII) were determined from 75 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke (IS), 25 with cortical venous thrombosis (CVT), and 75 healthy control participants. The Student t test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparing prothrombotic factor levels between the stroke and control groups. The χ2 or Fisher exact test was used for comparisons of proportions of thrombophilia and estimation of odds ratios. Mid-P correction was done for multiple estimations. Hcys levels in patients with IS were significantly higher compared with those in healthy control participants (P = 0.02). Proportions of ATIII deficiency and hyperfibrinogenemia were significantly higher in the IS group, and no healthy control participants had hyperfibrinogenemia. Protein C deficiency was more frequent in those with IS (17%; P < 8 × 10-5) and CVT (P < 10-7) compared with healthy control participants, and protein C activity levels (P = 0.016) were also significantly lower in patients with CVT. Other parameters had no significant associations with IS and CVT. The frequency of protein S deficiency was high in healthy control participants (60%) and in both patients with IS (45%; P = 0.1) and patients with CVT (48%; P = 0.4). No patients or control participants had abnormal APCR. In Tamilian participants, several prothrombotic factors were associated with IS. Protein C deficiency alone was associated with CVT. Replication of the pattern in genetically linked populations around the world may affect management of stroke in those populations.

Delineation of Genotype × Environment Interaction for Identification of Stable Genotypes to Grain Yield in Mungbean

In the present study, fifty-two mungbean (Vigna radiata) genotypes were evaluated for seven morphological traits at three different environments in South Indian state Tamil Nadu, namely Virinjipuram (E1), Eachangkottai (E2), and Bhavanisagar (E3) during Kharif 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively. The data collected were subjected to variability and correlation analyses, followed by stability analysis using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model, genotype and genotype × environment interaction effects (GGE) biplot. Variablility was observed among the genotypes for the following traits viz., plant height, days to fifty per cent flowering, number of pods per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod, hundred seed weight and grain yield. Correlation analysis showed that the trait number of pods per plant was significantly associated with grain yield. The G × E was smaller than the genetic variation of grain yield as it portrayed the maximum contribution of genotypic effects (61.07%). GGE biplot showed E3 as a highly discriminating and representative environment. It also identified environment-specific genotypes viz., EC 396111 for E1, EC 396125 for E2 and EC 396101 for E3 environments. The genotypes with minimum genotype stability index (GSI) viz., V2802BG (7), HG 22 (13), and EC 396098 (13) were observed with wide adaptation and high yields across all the three environments. In summary, we identified stable genotypes adapted across environments for grain yield. These genotypes can be used as parent/pre-breeding materials in future mungbean breeding programs.

India’s Influence on Sri Lanka’s Language Issue and Linguistic Nationalisms in the Late 1940s and 1950s

The aim of this research was to examine the influence and impact of India's language issue on determining the characteristics of Sinhalese and Tamil linguistic nationalisms and the commencement of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The research, which was based on secondary data, used interpretive approach for the analysis. It found that the language issue of India influenced both the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils in Sri Lanka to adopt inflexible and radical stances on language. On one hand, while the arguments and policies of Hindi language loyalists of North India encouraged Sinhalese to justify their demand to make Sinhala the sole official language, the radical Tamil linguistic nationalism prevalent at that time in South India ignited fear among Sinhalese that led them to be uncompromising on language issues. On the other hand, South Indian Tamil linguistic nationalism provided Tamils with both ideology and inspiration for a radical stance and activism, and profoundly influenced the development of a Tamil group identity that was solely based on language in Sri Lanka. The study proves that the conditions for the development of such an identity were largely unavailable domestically at that moment. Hence, it is clear that the influence and impact of India's language issue was very deterministic in characterising the two nationalisms; Sinhala and Tamil in Sri Lanka which later on collided with each other and resulted in an ethnic conflict.

Manifestation of Atithi Devo Bhavah maxim on Sri Lankan Tamil refugees treatment in India

This study discusses the reflection of Indian’s Athithi Devo Bhava policy towards Sri Lankan Tamil refugees during the hostility staged in the island since 1983. The enduring Indian practices of tolerance and goodwill resulted in following a benevolent policy towards all those who sought asylum. In ancient India, there were four cultural maxims: (1) Matru Devo Bhava, your mother is like God; (2) Pitru Devo Bhava, your father is like God; (3) Acharya Devo Bhava, your teacher is like God, and (4) Athithi Devo Bhava, your guest is like God. The refugee has considered as an Athithi (guest) to the country and treated them as God. India has accorded asylum to more than 25 million people in spite of the absence of strong refugee laws, but the treatment has been given on an ad hoc basis. The study is descriptive in nature. The information was collected from secondary sources. It underlines that the Indian government has been providing accommodation, food, and security to refugees. Subsequently, the services enjoyed by the Indian citizens are extended to refugees. There is a harmony between Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian Tamils in language and culture. Tamils in India and the Indian government has treated the refugee as a guest.

Social inequalities in low birthweight outcomes in Sri Lanka: evidence from the Demographic and Health Survey 2016

ObjectiveTo investigate social inequalities underlying low birthweight (LBW) outcomes in Sri Lanka.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingThis study used the Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey 2016, the first such survey to cover the...

Increased hepcidin levels in preeclampsia: a protective mechanism against iron overload mediated oxidative stress?

Background Pregnancy is a metabolic state which demands increased iron bioavailability. While in preeclampsia, due to the placental vascular events there is an iron surplus environment along with inflammation and placental hypoxia. Routinely in India iron is supplemented to all pregnant women irrespective of their general physical condition. Hepcidin a regulator of iron metabolism protects the cells from iron mediated cytotoxicity. Objective To find out whether hepcidin gets induced as a protective mechanism in preeclampsia patients in order to combat the environment of iron overload, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction. Methods A cross-sectional study with follow up was carried out in a South Indian Tamil population. Forty healthy pregnant women and forty preeclampsia patients in the gestational age 32 ± 4 weeks were recruited (n = 80). Biochemical analysis to assess the serum levels of the following were carried out (1) indices of iron homeostasis – serum iron, ferritin, transferrin, hepcidin, (2) endothelial dysfunction –serum assymetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) (3) oxidative stress – Malon di aldehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, linear regression and ROCAUC analysis were performed to understand their relationship with each other. Results Levels of serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation, hepcidin, and MDA/FRAP ratio were elevated significantly in preeclampsia patients compared to controls, while serum transferrin levels were significantly decreased in them. Hepcidin levels showed a significant positive correlation with serum ADMA, and MDA/FRAP. Serum hepcidin, transferrin saturationand MDA/FRAP ratio is useful in differentiating pre-eclampsia patients from healthy pregnant women. Conclusion Iron supplementation in preeclampsia patients might have led to a state of iron overload, which might have caused oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia patients. The rise in hepcidin levels in this scenario may be viewed as a protective mechanism to combat the iron overload mediated cytotoxicity.

Association Analysis of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Promoter Polymorphisms and Vitiligo Susceptibility in South Indian Tamils

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) has been associated with the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases. Also, various studies in different ethnics showed an association between TNF-α gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to vitiligo. The paucity of genetic data led us to undertake this study to evaluate the association of five TNF-α SNPs (rs1799964, rs1800630, rs1799724, rs1800629, and rs361525) with the development of vitiligo in South Indian Tamils. A total of 264 vitiligo patients and 264 healthy controls were recruited and TNF-α genotyping was performed using amplification-refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction and TaqMan allele discrimination assay. Circulatory TNF-α levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. We observed that a single polymorphic allele A in the promoter region -308 (rs1800629) conferred significant risk to develop vitiligo (p = 0.0002, OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.28–2.25), whereas the other polymorphisms failed to contribute to disease risk (p > 0.05). From the constructed haplotypes, TCCAG was found to be a significant risk factor for vitiligo (p < 0.05). Also, a strong linkage disequilibrium was observed between the following SNPs: (1) rs1799964 and rs1800629 (2) rs1800630 and rs1799724 (D’ = 0.90). Analysis of the influence of genotype on phenotypes revealed that the A allele of rs361525 was a risk factor for vitiligo in females (p = 0.04, OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.21–0.95), whilst the rs1800629 allele conferred protection against early disease onset (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference in plasma TNF-α levels was found between cases and controls (p < 0.05). The TNF-α -308A allele and TCCAG haplotype were identified as genetic risk factors for vitiligo susceptibility in South Indian Tamils.

Crop Yield Prediction using XG Boost Algorithm

The main objective of this research is to predict crop yields based on cultivation area, Rainfall and maximum and minimum temperature data. It will help our Indian farmers to predict crop yielding according to the environment conditions. Nowadays, Machine learning based crop yield prediction is very popular than the traditional models because of its accuracy. In this paper, linear regression, Support Vector Regression, Decision Tree and Random forest is compared with XG Boost algorithm. The above mentioned algorithms are compared based on R2, Minimum Square Error and Minimum Absolute Error. The dataset is prepared from the data.gov.in site for the year from 2000 to 2014. The data for 4 south Indian states Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala data alone is taken since all these states has same climatic conditions. The proposed model in this paper based on XG Boost is showing much better results than other models. In XG Boost R2 is 0.9391 which is the best when compared with other models.

Identification of a rare tri-allelic inheritance at the D8S1179 locus in a case of paternity testing

Short Tandem Repeat (STR) typing is routinely used in forensic casework, paternity disputes and in the detection of aneuploidies. Anomalous peak patterns are occasionally encountered in STR typing due to genetic variations, mutations and, other abnormalities. We report here a rare tri-allelic variant at the D8S1179 locus in a 6-month-old female child, observed during routine paternity testing in the Indian Tamil population.DNA eluted from the blood samples collected on FTA elute microcards were subjected to STR typing for autosomal and sex STR loci using the commercial AmpFlSTR Identifiler Plus kit and the Promega PowerPlex® Fusion kit. Capillary electrophoresis was carried out in ABI 3130xl Genetic Analyzer and genotyped using GeneMapper ID-X Software v1.5. Copy number variations and aneuploidy status of chromosome 8 were analyzed using Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and Prenatal BoBs assays. In this case of paternity exclusion, the child displayed a Type II tri-allelic pattern (10,13,14) at the D8S1179 locus. In addition, the mother displayed an abnormal 10,14 genotype (with heterozygous peak imbalance - 2:1) at the D8S1179 locus suggesting 10,10,14 pattern. MLPA and prenatal BoBs analyses did not detect any abnormalities on chromosome 8. These results suggest an intrachromosomal segmental duplication event at the D8S1179 locus (8q24.13) as the reason behind tri-allelic pattern and its inheritance. Understanding anomalous cases such as these can help in appropriate interpretation of the results in STR typing.

Sounding “brown”: Everyday aural discrimination and othering

Recent political geographic scholarship has revisited the relevance of banal, everyday nationalism in the context of identity. This article contributes to that literature by focusing more specifically on the role of sound – accent and language – in everyday, banal “othering” and discrimination driven by heightened nationalism. Examining sound, both how it is perceived and experienced, lends insights into how nationalism and exclusion play out in everyday life. Contextualizing and nuancing broader issues of “othering” and discrimination through sound demonstrates that exclusion is not always visual or overt. Based on three years of fieldwork and interviews with Indian Tamils living in the United States, this research examines the banality of nationalism in aural encounters. First, it highlights subtle othering and microaggressions as well as their physical, emotional, and psychological effects. Second, it demonstrates how language and accent can be used to “flag” otherness in ordinary daily interactions and spaces. Third, it shows how attention to aural ‘flagging’ reveals nuance of complex identities often binarized during climates of heightened nationalism. Ultimately, this article demonstrates that the impacts of nationalism are embedded in people's daily lives and identities through subtle discriminatory aural encounters.

Biochemical composition of seaweeds from Veraval coastal regions along Saurashtra coast of Gujarat, India

Seaweeds are the macrophyte marine algae; a primitive variety of plants absent of true roots, steam and leaves. The term seaweed gives the erroneous impression that it is a useless plant but seaweeds are miracle plants of the sea and extremely useful plants. Among all these Indian coastal states Tamil Nadu and Gujarat states contributes more seaweed resource. Seaweeds were mainly utilized for food, medicine, fertilizers etc. In this study, four seaweed species were identified viz., red seaweed species Gracilaria corticata and Hypnea musciformis, Green seaweed species Ulva reticulata and Brown seaweed species Sargassum cinctum. The biochemical composition of those species were studied for Crude Protein, Fat, Carbohydrate, Moisture and Ash content. The values of biochemical composition were varies from; crude protein: 12.21±0.01-16.59±0.03%, lipid content: 0.20±0.02-3.10±0.04%, carbohydrate content: 46.74±0.03-58.16±0.05%, moisture content: 2.75±0.01-7.90±0.03 and ash content: 21.86±0.02-32.08±0.01%, which represents these available seaweed resources in future could become one of the supreme important resource and so in future this scenario ultimately causes the utilization and demand of seaweed was goes on increasing, not only along the India, but also from all over the world.

South Indian Tamil Cinema’s Influence on Sri Lankan Tamil Filmmakers

South Indian Tamil Cinema’s Influence on Sri Lankan Tamil Filmmakers

Evidence of restricted maternal gene flow of Purana (old) Population in the suburbs of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

IntroductionBased on historical records suggesting that the ancestry of the Purana (old) population living in the suburbs of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka can be traced back to the times of the Sinhalese Kings of the 5th century A.D. (1,450 YBP) and studies reporting that the Purana are biometrically different from the rest of present Sri Lankans and other populations in the world, we investigate the maternally inherited Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Purana population in the suburbs of Sigiriya to better understand genetic affinities of them to present day Sri Lankans. Materials and MethodsForty six Purana inhabitants belonging to Purana pedigrees were recruited in the study. Mitochondrial DNA was extracted, amplified and sequenced. Polymorphisms of mtDNA hypervariable segment I (HVS –I) between nucleotide positions 16,004 –16,411 were identified using CLUSTALX option of MEGAVA 4.0 sequence alignment software. In order to investigate genetic affinity of Purana population, Arlequin software version 3.11 and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were applied using reported similar genetic data of present Sri Lankans such as Sinhalese, Sri Lankan Tamils, Indian Tamils, Sri Lankan Moors and Vedda. Genetic relationships of Purana population with other Sri Lankans were further explored by phylogenetic analysis. Results and AnalysisGenetic dissimilarity among groups was higher (2.81%) when populations were grouped into two as modern and Purana than grouping them according to their ethnic basis (0.00%). This indicates a restricted mtDNA flow between the two groups (Purana and rest of the Sri Lankans) that made Purana population was maternally isolated from the rest of Sri Lankans. ConclusionDetailed phylogenetic analysis of the study revealed that they are maternally more related to Sri Lankan Tamil than to any other present Sri Lankans.

Diagnostic ability of hepcidin in predicting fetal outcome in preeclampsia

Background Low birth weight and prematurity are the major contributors to neonatal mortality and morbidity. Preeclampsia which is associated with both maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity is a major contributor to such poor fetal outcomes. Hepcidin an acute phase peptide hormone gets elevated in conditions of iron overload, inflammation, infections, and cytotoxicity. Hepcidin levels can get elevated in pregnancies with such pathologies which invariably will be having a poor fetal outcome. Objective To study the role of hepcidin as a diagnostic marker in predicting a poor fetal outcome. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study with follow up was carried out in a South Indian Tamil population. Forty healthy pregnant women and forty preeclampsia patients were recruited between the gestational age of 34 ± 4 weeks and followed up till delivery. Serum levels of hepcidin were analyzed for all the participants and comparisons were done between preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies as well as between pregnancies with good and poor fetal outcomes. Fetal outcome variables such as birth weight, gestational age at the time of delivery and NICU admission status of the newborn were collected during the follow-up period. ROC curves were constructed to determine the ability of maternal serum hepcidin levels in predicting poor fetal outcomes with good sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios. Results Maternal hepcidin levels were found to be significantly elevated in preeclampsia patients (p < .001) as well as in mothers with the poor fetal outcome (p < .001). On ROC curve analysis, AUC were 0.686, 0.788, 0.749 and LR + were 2.18, 2.44, 2.14, respectively for predicting low birth weight, preterm delivery and NICU admission status of the newborn. Hepcidin was able to predict the overall poor fetal outcome in our preeclampsia patients above a cut off level of 615 pg/ml Conclusion Above a cut off level of 615 pg/ml and at the gestational age of 34 ± 4 weeks, maternal hepcidin levels were able to predict poor fetal outcomes such as low birth weight, preterm delivery, and NICU admission.