Separate Forms Research Articles

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity in brain damage (scientific review). Part 1

Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) is a separate form of fever of central origin and is a neurological syndrome characterized by simultaneous paroxysmal occurrence of hypertension, hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, tachypnea, increased sweating and dystonic posture due to sympathetic activation in brain damage. PSH is a syndrome that can manifest itself in a wide range of clinical symptoms. Paroxysmal sympathetic hyperacti-vity is an example of a clinical correlate of central and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Almost all cases of PSH are associated with craniocerebral trauma, hypoxia, and acute cerebrovascular accident. There is a disengagement theory and a model of the excitation-inhibition relationship of the PSH pathogenesis. In 2014, an expert consensus group proposed a PSH-assessment measure (PSH-AM), which can not only serve as a reliable diagnostic criterion but also stratify the severity of PSH. Assuming clinical evaluation as the current gold standard, PSH-AM has a sensiti-vity of 94 % when used retrospectively. In the treatment of patients with traumatic brain injury, PSH-AM can help avoid misdiagnosis, increase diagnostic efficiency, save time, and reduce economic costs. Hypodiagnosis of PSH can lead to an increase in mortality, disability, length of hospital stay and material costs, but timely diagnosis will allow optimizing treatment for PSH.

POINT PREVALENCE SURVEY OF ANTIMICROBIAL CONSUMPTION IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF NORTH EAST INDIA

Objective: The study was conducted to quantify antimicrobial utilization and determine the patterns of antibiotic use in Indoor patients and ICUs of the hospital. Methods: The Point Prevalent Survey (PPS) was conducted in a core “National Antimicrobial Consumption Network site” as a part of the National Centre for Disease Control-WHO project “Point prevalence survey of antimicrobial consumption at healthcare facilities.” The study was conducted as per the “WHO Methodology for PPS on Antibiotic use in hospitals” in March, 2022. Altogether, 1396 eligible patients were admitted during the survey period, and 1109 patients were included in the survey. Data were collected using a predesigned and pretested questionnaire in separate hospital, ward and patient forms. Results: The prevalence of antibiotic use during the study was 79.44%. On an average, 1.39 antibiotics were in use per patient and only a minor fraction of (1.5%) patients received definitive therapy. Parenteral route of administration (92.72%) was mostly used for administration of antibiotics. The most common indication for antibiotic use was found to be surgical prophylaxis (30.66%). There were 154 antibiotic prescriptions in the 'Not Recommended' category. Double gram negative and double anaerobic cover accounted for 25% and 8.3% respectively of the total prescriptions. Conclusion: Empirical use of antibiotics is common and lack of utilisation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing services requires urgent interventions. Routine monitoring of antibiotic use is recommended to improve the current scenario of antimicrobial consumption.

AHP SO04 - ''Effectiveness of a surgical wound care bundle for reducing surgical site infection after emergency abdominal surgery''

Abstract Background Surgical site infection (SSI) imposes a considerable financial burden to both hospital and patient by increasing the hospital stay, utilization of resources and readmission rates. This study compared the effectiveness of surgical wound care bundle concept with traditional ongoing wound care for reduction of SSI after emergency abdominal surgery. Method This cross-sectional analytical study was carried out with a total of 120 patients who underwent emergency abdominal surgery were included after taking informed written consent and divided into two groups: Group-A (n=60, surgical wound care bundle) and Group-B (n=60, traditional ongoing care). A detailed history and thorough clinical examination were carried out in each patient. Data were collected in separated case-record form and analyzed by SPSS 24. Results Mean age of Group A and Group B was 44.88 ±11.2 years and 44.82±13.3 years accordingly (p=0.391) with male majority in both groups (70% in Group-A and 80% in Group-B, p<0.292). Both groups were statistically similar regarding comorbidities, baseline laboratory parameters and pre-operative diagnosis (p>0.05).Group-B patients had higher frequency of SSI development compared to Group-A(43.3% vs. 15%, p-0.001). Besides, patients having traditional ongoing care had longer hospital duration than surgical wound care bundle (10.1±2.7 vs. 6.9±1.9 days, p<0.01). Though not significant, 30-day readmission rate was also higher in Group-B than Group-A (16.7% vs. 5%, p=0.075). Conclusion Surgical wound care bundle reduce surgical site infections in patients with emergency surgery. However, further multicenter studies are warranted.

In the name of time: Duration as a distinct stressor during an enduring conflictual divorce

Researchers have traditionally viewed conflictual divorce as a form of marital separation characterized by intense conflicts between the divorcing partners, but only recently has there been more focus on its temporal dimension. However, it remains unclear how the duration of this conflict-ridden process itself acts as a stressor, and how divorcees cope with it. This study involved a sample of 21 individuals living in Lithuania still legally married but undergoing divorce for periods ranging from 6 months to up to 5 years. We utilized a grounded theory design to explore how individuals encounter the duration of their divorce and how it plays a role in their interaction with external world. Data was collected through two waves of interviews. The findings suggest that the duration is largely linked to heightened experiences of uncertainty and unpredictability, transitioning from acute to entrenched over time. Individuals employ various strategies to increase clarity and reduce stress, although they may not always achieve the desired outcomes. The article concludes with recommendations for both professionals and divorcees themselves.

Machine Learning Diagnostic Model for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation and Ferroptosis-Related Genes.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a primary liver malignancy with a multifaceted molecular landscape. The interplay between liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and ferroptosis-a regulated form of cell death-has garnered interest in tumorigenesis. However, the precise role of LLPS and ferroptosis-related genes in HCC progression and prognosis remains obscure. Unraveling this connection could pave the way for innovative diagnosis and therapeutic strategies. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified based on 3 GEO datasets, followed by overlapping with LLPS-related and ferroptosis-related genes. Based on central hub genes, a diagnostic model was developed through LASSO regression and validated using KM survival analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Then the effects of NRAS on the development of HCC and ferroptosis were also detected. We identified 24 DEGs overlapping among HCC-specific, LLPS, and ferroptosis-related genes. A diagnostic model, centered on 5 hub genes, was developed and validated. Lower expression of these genes corresponded with enhanced patient survival rates, and they were distinctly overexpressed in HCC cells. NRAS downregulation significantly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation and migration (P < .01). Fe2+ content and ROS levels were both significantly increased in the si-NRAS group when compared to those in the si-NC group (P < .01), while opposite results were observed for the protein level of GPX4 and GSH content. The diagnostic model with 5 hub genes (EZH2, HSPB1, NRAS, RPL8, and SUV39H1) emerges as a potential innovative tool for the diagnosis of HCC. NRAS promotes the carcinogenesis of HCC cells and inhibits ferroptosis.

Trends and prospects of investigating cases of anticompetitive concerted actions in the form of similar actions in the light of antitrust reform

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the qualification and application by the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) and the courts of the institute of «similar actions» (parallel behavior) as a separate form of anticompetitive concerted actions, prosecution for which did not require direct evidence of a violation and the standard of application of which was the economic analysis of the price situation in the market (correlation analysis). It has been established that the institution of «similar actions» has traditionally been used by the AMCU in seasonally volatile markets which are characterized by the oligopolistic structure of the market or the obvious price leadership of several key market participants (core of the market) the pricing strategies of which were adjusted by all other market participants. It is analyzed that despite the established approaches of the AMCU and courts in the application of the institution of «similar actions» in practice such a standard of proof of «cartel conspiracies» was often criticized by practicing lawyers and economists and generally did not meet the standards of proof of cartel conspiracies in the EU. Despite this as can be seen from the author’s analysis the use of the AMCU of the institute of «similar actions» generally achieved the goals of the state’s antimonopoly policy which was to suppress sharp price disturbances in certain socially sensitive markets including in the markets of electricity and oil products by initiating appropriate investigations of cases of violation of economic competition with subsequent prosecution of participants in «price cartels». The author analyzes the further conditions and prospects for the investigation of anticompetitive concerted actions in the form of parallel behavior based on the results of further harmonization of Ukrainian competition legislation with the EU competition rules during the second stage of antitrust reform which is designed to raise the standards of application of the institution of anticompetitive concerted actions (and investigation of cases of the corresponding category) with the simultaneous exclusion of the institution of «similar actions» from national legislation.

Urban Patterns from Space: A Remote Sensing Based Comparison Between France and Germany

AbstractThis article presents two novel methods on how to derive and visualise settlement patterns from space: a non-parametric approach called multi-scale homogeneity and a parametric, unsupervised approach known as hierarchical multi-scale clustering that models the urban clusters with the help of Gaussian bell curves. The main advantage of remote sensing based acquisition and fully automated evaluation methods is their consistency over large coverages. The Global Urban Footprint-Density (GUF-DenS) indicating the degree of impervious surfaces worldwide serves as database. The geographical focus lies on the neighbouring central-European countries France and Germany. Assuming that the centralist and federal administrative systems resulting from the individual history show a certain impact on the urban patterns, both countries are first examined separately, then together as union. The numerical comparison proofs the expected differences: the settlement pattern of the capital Paris as the largest metropolitan region in France is dominating, whereas several economic clusters of more of less similar size like Rhine–Ruhr and Rhine–Main characterise the German urban landscape. The most interesting and unexpected findings are located along the border, where neighbouring urban ellipses overlay in the separate processing and form transnational clusters when processed as union. One can interpret that the national border does not play a role in the urban development (any longer). The temporal change of the settlement patterns as effect of the regional planning strategies or the opening of the inner-European border cannot be derived from the mono-temporal GUF-DenS and thus, will be subject to future studies.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ МОНІТОРИНГУ ПЕРСОНАЛУ НА СУЧАСНИХ ПІДПРИЄМСТВАХ

Businesses related to various niches and industries use employee monitoring to protect themselves from potential risks of data leakage and other external threats. Employee monitoring is a new strategy in today's business that is central to improving productivity and operational efficiency. The application of scientific methods of monitoring and analyzing the activities of employees in real time allows organizations to achieve a high level of accountability, optimal allocation of resources and making informed management decisions. Such a monitoring system contributes to the rise and development of the enterprise, creating a more productive and motivated work environment. The article examines the peculiarities of the implementation of employee monitoring as an important tool for ensuring the efficient operation of the enterprise, maintaining labor discipline and rational use of resources. Separate forms of monitoring that are used in practice are considered. Attention is focused on the legal aspects of the monitoring process, compliance with the needs of both employers and employees, in particular, taking into account the rights and privacy of the latter. In the modern conditions of business operation and development, employers have an interest in the most efficient use of their staff's working time. Time control is one way to achieve this. Controlling working hours can be efficient and beneficial for a company, but it can also raise certain ethical and legal issues. It is important that this control is carried out in compliance with all relevant legal requirements and taking into account the rights and interests of employees. Therefore, the employer must develop and implement internal regulatory documents that regulate monitoring procedures, as well as ensure that employees are informed about their rights and obligations in this process. This will avoid conflicts and ensure the legal purity of monitoring, maintaining a balance between the needs of the enterprise and the rights of employees. The choice of personnel monitoring and tracking tools is not limited to technical aspects, but includes the creation of a culture of trust and openness in the relationship between the employer and employees.

Beyond markets. On field competition in higher education

ABSTRACT Competition today has become a central policy imperative in higher education. Connected to resource efficiency and scarcity, it remains closely attached to the idea of the market but reaches beyond when related to positional or status orders. In the higher education literature such varieties of competition – as distinct social processes – are still under-investigated. In drawing on common references to competition in the literature and empirical examples the paper identifies and outlines two separable forms: market and field competition. The distinction shows that there are fundamental differences in the way competition in higher education plays out which should not be viewed merely as variations of market settings. To outline the differences among the two forms the paper follows a two-step iterative process. The paper first highlights a time-bound analytical problem in common market-references. Drawing on empirical work by Michel Callon it specifies market competition as the construction, singularisation and detachment of a good. As empirical examples from the German higher education case show, such singularisation and detachment are rarely complete, competition rather operates through the attachment of universities to status-consecrating intermediaries, as analysed in the status competition literature. In a second step, the paper outlines the main premises of status competition but also its lack of a comprehensive frame that could qualify it as a distinct form of competition. The ‘field’ fills this void by providing a selective relational space on which universities can act and observe themselves competing, reinforced by multiple intermediaries.

Molecular Markers in Follicular and Oncocytic Thyroid Carcinomas: Clinical Application of Molecular Genetic Testing.

Oncocytic thyroid carcinoma (OTC) was previously considered a variant of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) but has recently been reclassified as a separate form of thyroid cancer. This study aimed to demonstrate that FTC and OTC are fundamentally distinct entities that can potentially be differentiated preoperatively through cytology and/or molecular testing. A retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with FTC and OTC operated upon at two university health centers from January 2016 to September 2023 (n = 3219) was conducted. Molecular testing results were correlated with histopathologic diagnosis. Fifty patients met the inclusion criteria. FTC was identified in 27 (54.0%) patients, and OTC in 23 (46.0%) patients. Patients with OTC were older (61.8 years) than FTC patients (51.2 years) (p = 0.013). Moreover, aggressive tumors were found in 39.1% (9/23) of OTCs compared to 11.1% (3/27) of FTCs (p = 0.021). Amongst Bethesda category III and IV nodules, 17 out of 20 (85.0%) OTC cytology reports demonstrated an oncocytic subtype compared to only 5 out of 24 FTC cytology reports (20.8%) (p = 0.002). On molecular testing, the EIF1AX alteration was exclusively present in OTCs while the PAX8/PPARy and PTEN alterations were exclusively found in FTCs. Copy number alterations (CNAs) were found to be more prevalent in OTC (66.7%) compared to FTC (33.3%), and they were not indicative of tumor aggressiveness. Within the OTC group, all three patients who had a TP53 alteration were diagnosed with aggressive cancer. Lastly, the OTCs exhibited a higher frequency of multiple alterations on molecular testing (66.7%) compared to FTCs (33.3%). To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date comparing the clinical application of abnormalities found on molecular testing for FTC and OTC. It further demonstrates the distinct clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of OTC.

Impact of Median Separation Facilities on Drivers’ Shy-Away Effects: Why Are Median Separation Facilities Widely Used in China?

In recent years, China has begun introducing readily installable median separation facilities into its urban road network. Although some studies have recognized the benefits of using median separation, few have investigated the effects of different types of facilities on driver behavior. This driving simulator study aims to determine whether different types of medians on urban arterial roads in China affect driving behavior, and to provide new insights for designing more effective and safer forms of median separation. A driving simulator study was conducted, with 50 participants. The scenario exactly reproduced an existing six-lane urban arterial road in China, and four different median separation types were tested: (1) double yellow line; (2) raised pavement markers; (3) reboundable traffic cylinders; (4) traffic separator railing. Their effects were statistically analyzed using data on driver eye movements, trajectories, and speeds collected from simulation tests. The results showed that the median separation facilities significantly improved drivers’ access to road information, corrected drivers’ attention, and suppressed driving speeds. Although median separation facilities can be an effective solution to the current problem of chaotic vehicular traffic on China’s urban roads, their setup still needs to be optimized. This study demonstrates the calculation method for optimal median facility setup. The resulting 1.21-m-high median facility, paired with a 1.17-m-wide median strip and a certain lane-width compression, more effectively addresses driver factors, the driving task, and the spatial right-of-way. The study’s calculations can also be used to improve other types of roads that can take a median separation facility.

Formulation and Evaluation of Lungs-Specific Doxorubicin-Loaded Chitosan-PLGA-Alginate Polymeric Nanoparticles

Background: An antibiotic called doxorubicin is produced by the Streptomyces peuce-tius bacterium, which is a member of the anthracycline drug class and is used in chemotherapy. Usually, doxorubicin is employed to cure solid tumors in children and adult patients. The physical and biological stability of the medicine can be increased by encasing it in nanoparticles, which increases the active pharmaceutical ingredient's bioavailability. Objective: This study aimed to create lungs targeting doxorubicin-loaded biodegradable polymer-ic nanoparticulate system by utilizing an appropriate method and conducting its evaluation. Methods: The polymeric nanoparticles using biodegradable polymers were prepared by the emul-sion polymerization method. Franz- diffusion cells were utilized to conduct in-vitro drug diffu-sion investigations. Results: Based on the outcomes of the experiments carried out for the research, polymeric nano-particles of doxorubicin were prepared utilizing different concentrations of chitosan, Sodium al-ginate, and PLGA. The visual appearance of doxorubicin polymeric nanoparticles shows homo-geneous dispersion with no phase separation form. The percentage yield, % entrapment efficien-cy, and drug content obtained for the final formulation were 93.43 ± 1.776, 87.31 ± 1.075, and 91.98 ± 0.493, respectively. A size dimension of 174.51 nm with a PDI of 0.242 and zeta poten-tial value of -36.1 mV of prepared nanoparticles demonstrate the stability of the formulation. The presentation of the PNPs of the optimized formulation having 310mg Tween 80 showed in vitro diffusion of 98.93% ± 0.296 % and an increased flux rate. Based on the determination coeffi-cients, the Higuchi model (K0 = 20.43 and R2= 0.982) was determined to have the best fit for the release data. Conclusion: Based on the trials conducted during the investigation, it was determined that the emulsion polymerization technique was best for the fabrication of the polymeric nanoparticles by utilizing different concentrations of chitosan, Sodium alginate, and PLGA. The formulation F6 containing 310mg Tween 80 suggested improved in vitro diffusion following the Higuchi model throughout all formulations. The findings suggest that a sustained process was responsible for the drug's release from the doxorubicin polymeric nanoparticles.

New exact solutions of some (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations and folding waves

By means of the Hirota’s bilinear method and special multi-linear variable separation ansatz, new exact solutions with low dimensional arbitrary functions of some (2+1)-dimensional nonlinear evolution equations are constructed. That is, we propose a unified method for solving the mNNV-type equations and the Burger-type equations. The key factor to the success of this method is that we have constructed some simplified Hirota’s bilinear calculation formulas in the form of variable separation of arbitrary order. Appropriate multi-valued functions are used to construct coherent structures such as the bell-type, peak-type and loop-type folding waves.

A study on existence of wormhole in Lemaitre–Tolman–Bondi model

An investigation has been done for possible existence of evolving wormhole (WH) solution in the background of inhomogeneous Lemaitre–Tolman–Bondi (LTB) space-time geometry. Using separable product form of the geometric (or area) radius, the shape function can be evaluated in terms of the functional part of the radial coordinate in the area radius. The conditions for a viable WH configuration have been examined.

An analytical study of TEG loss in a natural gas purification plant based on high-pressure droplet angular scattering

In the process of purifying natural gas, natural gas dehydration plants use triethylene glycol (TEG) as a solvent for absorption. However, the loss of TEGs in the form of droplets can pollute pipelines and create a technological challenge. Using the geometric optical approximation (GOA) method, a model was developed to predict the scattering of droplets at high pressure. Based on this model, a device was designed and constructed to inspect droplets in external pipelines and distillation column tailgate lines online, which are the outlets of the natural gas dehydration unit (TEG absorber tower) of four columns in stable production. This device analyzes the components of the sampled droplets and performs online inspection to ensure smooth and safe operation. The results of the experiment indicate that the TEG content in the droplet samples exceeded 80%, which helped identify the source of the loss. The amount of treatment directly affected the concentration and distribution features of the entrained droplets, whereas the impact of the gas-phase pressure change was negligible. This study investigated three different forms of filtration separation, which provided industrial data for the separation and recovery process of entrained droplets. This study provides a new testing tool and method to examine plate towers under high pressure and provides a theoretical reference for dewatering procedures in natural gas purification plants.

Segmental vertebral three-dimensional motion in patients with L4 isthmic spondylolisthesis under weight-bearing conditions

ObjectiveTo investigate in vivo 6-degree-of-freedom (DOF) vertebral motion in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis (IS) during various functional weight-bearing activities.MethodsFifteen asymptomatic volunteers (mean age 54.8 years) and fourteen patients with IS at L4-5 (mean age 53.4 years) were recruited. The positions of the vertebrae (L4-L5) in the supine, standing, flexion–extension, left–right twisting and left–right bending positions were determined using previously described CT-based models and dual fluoroscopic imaging techniques. Local coordinate systems were established at the center of the anterior vertebra of L4 isthmic spondylolisthesis (AIS), the posterior lamina of L4 isthmic spondylolisthesis (PIS) and the center of the L5 vertebra to obtain the 6DOF range of motion (ROM) at L4-L5 and the range of motion (ROM) between the AIS and the PIS.ResultsThe translation along the anteroposterior axis at L4-L5 during flexion–extension, left–right bending and left–right twisting was significantly greater than that of the healthy participants. However, the translation along the mediolateral axis at L4-L5 presented paradoxical motion under different positions: the ROM increased in the supine-standing and flexion–extension positions but decreased in the left–right bending and left–right twisting positions. The separation along the anteroposterior axis during flexion was significantly greater than that during standing, on average, reaching more than 1 mm. The separation along the mediolateral axis during standing, flexion and extension was significantly greater than that in the supine position.ConclusionsThis study revealed the occurrence of displacement between the AIS and PIS, primarily in the form of separation during flexion. Symptomatic patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis exhibit intervertebral instability, which might be underestimated by flexion–extension radiographs.

Moduli dynamics in effective nested warped geometry in four dimensions and some cosmological implications

We analyze the effective four-dimensional dynamics of the extra-dimensional moduli fields in curved braneworlds having nested warping, with particular emphasis on the doubly warped model which is interesting in the light of current collider constraints on the mass of the Kaluza-Klein graviton. The presence of a non-zero brane cosmological constant (Ω) naturally induces an effective moduli potential in the four-dimensional action, which shows distinct features in dS (Ω > 0) and AdS (Ω < 0) branches. For the observationally interesting case of dS 4-branes, a metastable minimum in the potential arises along the first modulus, with no minima along the higher moduli. The underlying nested geometry also leads to interesting separable forms of the non-canonical kinetic terms in the Einstein frame, where the brane curvature directly impacts the kinetic properties of only the first modulus. The non-canonicity of the scenario has been illustrated via an explicit computation of the field space curvature. We subsequently explore the ability of curved multiply warped geometries to drive inflation with an in-built exit mechanism, by considering predominant slow roll along each modular direction on a case-by-case basis. We find slow roll on top of the metastable plateau along the first modular direction to be the most viable scenario, with the higher-dimensional moduli parametrically tuning the height of the potential without significant impact on the inflationary observables. On the other hand, while slow roll along the higher moduli can successfully inflate the background and eventually lead to an exit, consistency with observations seemingly requires unphysical hierarchies among the extra-dimensional radii, thus disfavouring such scenarios.

“I Thought That We Could Nurture the Nature Out of Our Son”: Making Meaning of Parenting in the Narratives of Parents of Children in Residential Treatment

ABSTRACT Enrolling a child in residential treatment for behavioral or emotional disorders is often considered a last resort for parents and can be accompanied by feelings of desperation and failure. Coupled with social discourse inexorably linking parenting with mental health outcomes, parents might experience stigma as they seek support for themselves and their children. Thus, this study implements relational dialectics theory to explore the meaning of parenting from the perspective of parents who have enrolled a child in a residential treatment program. Contrapuntal analysis of six interviews revealed two discourses competing to make meaning of parenting, the Discourse of Demanding Parenting Ideals (DDPI), consisting of two themes: relentless sacrifice and complete responsibility, whereas themes of boundary-setting and acceptance compose the Discourse of Realistic Best Effort (DRBE). Discursive interplay between these discourses occurred in the forms of diachronic separation, synchronic interplay, and discursive transformation to make meaning of parenting.

Hidden collective oscillations in a disordered mean-field spin model with non-reciprocal interactions

Abstract We study the effect of introducing separable quenched disorder on a non-equilibrium mean-field spin model exhibiting a phase transition to an oscillating state in the absence of disorder, due to non-reciprocal interactions. In the disordered model, the magnetisation and its time derivative no longer carry the signature of the phase transition to an oscillating state. However, thanks to the separable (Mattis-type) form of the disorder, the presence of oscillations can be revealed by introducing a specific, disorder-dependent observable. We also introduce generalised linear and non-linear susceptibilities associated either with the magnetisation or with its time derivative. While linear susceptibilities show no sign of a phase transition, the third-order susceptibilities present a clear signature of the onset of an oscillating phase. In addition, we show that the overlap distribution also provides evidence for the presence of oscillations, without explicit knowledge of the disorder.

Navigating Hindu Family and Christian Belief

Abstract The paper is an ethnographic study of an urban Bengali Christian neighbourhood in Kolkata where Hindu women from nearby places attend the two Christian prayer meetings – Catholic and Pentecostal – run by the local preachers of the neighbourhood. Borrowing the theoretical understanding of belief, the paper interrogates the question, posed by Cannell (2006) ‘what difference does Christianity make, in the lives of these Hindu women? The paper looks into the experiences of these women in the intimate spaces of kinship, marriage and family as they undergo a form of separation from their Hindu beliefs yet remain largely embedded within Hindu familial ties and obligations without engaging in the practice of baptismal conversion. The study allows us to critically examine the sharp binaries of religious divisions and argues that a focus on baptismal conversion only renders invisible the complex possibilities of what difference Christianity makes on the ground.