Southern Part Of India Research Articles

Assessment of human health risks posed by toxic heavy metals in Tilapia fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) from the Cauvery River, India

Heavy metal toxicity is a serious threat to human health due to its bioaccumulation, biomagnification, and persistent nature in the environment including aquatic systems. In the recent past, heavy metal contamination in the environment has occurred due to various anthropogenic sources. The concentration of potentially toxic heavy metals was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy in Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), a highly farmed and consumed fish species in southern parts of India. The mean levels of Fe were found to be higher in major organs of the fish with the highest levels in liver (Mean 1554.4 ± 1708.7 mg/kg) and lowest in the muscles (Mean 130.757 ± 33.3 mg/kg). Correlation Matrix analysis revealed relationships between the occurrence of various heavy metals in different organs of fish and indicated similar origins and chemical properties. Target hazard quotient for Cd, Co, Pb, and Cr in the Liver, Co and Cr in the Gills, and Co in Muscle were > 1 for adults, which showed a significant health risk from the combined effects of these metals. The potential health risk to humans, according to the cancer risk (CR) assessment is attributed mainly to Cd and Cr levels. Overall, moderate fish consumption is advised to limit the bioaccumulation of heavy metals over prolonged exposure and associated health risks.

Safety Evaluation of the Novel Cocktail of Monoclonal Antibodies for Postexposure Prophylaxis in Category III Animal Exposures

Abstract Introduction: Rabies monoclonal antibody (mAb) is a life-saving immune-biological for postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) in all Category III animal exposures. A novel cocktail of mAbs derived using recombinant DNA technology is presently available for usage. The WHO recommends monitoring the clinical use and outcomes of mAb products. Methods: An open-label, postmarketing study was conducted at the anti-rabies clinic in the southern part of India. PEP was provided to all the study participants per the national guidelines. All the subjects were assessed for any adverse events (AEs) following PEP up to 35 days; if any, were treated free of cost at the study center. Results: The present study included 309 subjects across all age groups, 59.2% were adults, 33.3% of children, and 7.5% elderly. Majority of the patients were exposed to dogs (89.6%) and most of them had lacerations (86.3%) in different parts of their body. A total of 19 (6.2%) AEs were reported. All the AEs were local reactions, namely pain (2.6%), erythema (1.4%), tenderness (1%), induration (0.6%), and swelling (0.6%). All reported AEs were mild (Grade 1 severity) and resolved completely with symptomatic treatment. Conclusion: The novel cocktail of mAbs was safe for PEP in Category III animal exposures across all the age groups and supports its continued and improved usage for Universal Health Coverage to prevent rabies.

Characterization and Pathogenicity of Soilborne Pathogens in Gloriosa superba: Effects of Single- and Multiple-Pathogen Coinfection on Disease Responses.

Glory lily (Gloriosa superba), an ornamental climbing plant, contains the bioactive compound colchicine, attracting attention from the pharmaceutical industry. However, soilborne pathogens have emerged as a serious threat to the cultivation of glory lily, leading to substantial economic losses in the southern parts of India. Among these, the three major pathogens are Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum, and Agroathelia rolfsii, causing dry root rot (also referred to as charcoal rot), wilt, and stem rot, respectively. Here, we characterized these pathogens using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences related to the internal transcribed spacer of ribosomal DNA, calmodulin (CAL), and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α). Furthermore, in the pathogenicity tests, the inoculation of M. phaseolina alone resulted in lesions measuring 7.54 ± 0.01 mm on tubers and 90% seedling mortality. This severity was comparable to the simultaneous inoculation of all three pathogens, indicating the prominence of dry root rot among soilborne diseases. This study marks the first detailed investigation of soilborne pathogens combined infection in G. superba, contributing to the understanding of fungal disease complexity in medicinal plants.

Impact of meteorological parameters on black carbon mass concentrations over Silicon City “ Bengaluru, Southern part of India” – A Case Study

In the context of Bengaluru, the impact of black carbon (BC) aerosols on regional climate dynamics emerges as a crucial area of investigation. Due to the lack of high-resolution BC data, it was collected at 5 different locations in Bengaluru, Karnataka, from January 2019 to December 2019. The mean mass concentration of BC was 5.91 microg m-3, whereas the higher mass concentration of BC was 7.71 microg m-3 over the city railway station and the lower (3.69 microg m-3) was in Jayanagara. The contribution of BC in higher-traffic and industrial locations was approximately 41% higher than the residential locations, which indicates a large fraction of soot particles are from anthropogenic activities mainly from fossil fuel combustion. The seasonal concentrations of BC have also exhibited a large variability, with the highest sequence in magnitude during the winter season (9 microg m-3) followed by the summer (6.3 microg m-3), post-monsoon (5.8 microg m-3) and monsoon (3.4 microg m-3) seasons during the study period. The concentrations of BC during the monsoon season were very low as compared to the winter season due to the impact of the washout effect. The BC was negatively significantly correlated (-0.70) with rainfall indicating the washout effect, however, during the winter season, it was due to impact of boundary layer condition. Overall (annually) the mean concentrations of BC have increased by around 55% within five years over the urban region, which indicates the impact of man-made activities. The higher mass concentration of BC over Bangalore in the southern part of India, indicates serious implications for the regional climate that need to be investigated and mitigated. Finally, the study suggests that immediate action is required to mitigate the emission of BC into the urban environment in the southern part of India.

Vitality and metabolic responses to integrated naturopathy and yogic interventions among metabolic syndrome – A protocol for randomized controlled trial

BackgroundMetabolic Syndrome (MetS) refers to a collection of interrelated physiological, biochemical, clinical, and metabolic variables that significantly raise the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and all-cause mortality. This trial aims to assess the effect of Naturopathy and Yogic Interventions on Vitality and Metabolic responses among patients with MetS. MethodThis trial is a single Centre Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) and will be conducted at Nature Cure and Yoga Centre in the Southern part of India. Enrolled subjects with MetS, who fulfilled National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III [NCEP ATP III Criteria], will be randomly allocated at a 1:1 ratio into Intervention and control groups. The Intervention group will receive Intensive Naturopathy and Yoga Intervention whereas the control group will receive a lifestyle advice during the initial consultation. The primary outcome will be measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV), Blood Pressure Measurement, Biochemical Analysis, Anthropometric Measurement, Vitality Questionnaire, and Framingham Risk Score (FRS) which will be performed at the baseline and after 10 days of intervention and follow up will be taken at the 60th day. DiscussionA larger clinical trial will be possible as a result of this study's contribution to the understanding of the effectiveness of Yogic Interventions and Integrated Naturopathy for MetS and associated risk factors.

Predictors of hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism in patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign and malignant pathologies

Objective To analyse the risk factors of hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. Methods Clinical data of patients who underwent total thyroidectomy in a tertiary care hospital from the southern part of India was collected retrospectively from January 2021 to May 2023. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyse the risk factors associated with transient hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia separately. Results A total of 300 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy were enrolled. The median age of the study population was 41 years, and 70% were females. Histopathological examination showed 80.3% had thyroid cancer. The incidence of postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism was 26.7%, while postoperative transient hypocalcemia was 12.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that presence of hypothyroidism before surgery (OR 3.230,95%CI:1.368–7.624,p=0.007), performing central compartment neck dissection (CCND) (OR 2.196,95%CI:1.133-4.257,p=0.02) and parathyroid gland in surgical specimen (OR 5.547, 95%CI:3.065–10.036,p<0.0001) were independent predictors of postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism. Female gender (OR 2.689,95%CI:1.049-6.895,p= 0.039), presence of parathyroid in the surgical specimen (OR 1.067,95%CI:0.367-8.438,p=0.004) and performing CCND (OR 2.192,95%CI:0.990-4.850,p=0.05) were independent predictors of postoperative transient hypocalcemia. Conclusion Hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery are common, and most of them are transient. Independent predictors of hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia differs. Hypoparathyroidism appears to be a better predictor for patients who will develop postoperative hypocalcemia.

Characterization of New Tropicoporus Species (Basidiomycota, Hymenochaetales, Hymenochaetaceae) Discovered in Tamil Nadu, India.

This study aimed to investigate the morphological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of three new species of Tropicoporus from the southern parts of India. The analyses of the ITS and nLSU regions revealed the novelty of these species, which have been named T. pannaensis, T. subindicus, and T. xerophyticus. All three species possess pileate basidiomes, a monomitic hyphal system in the context, and the presence of cystidioles and setae. However, they differ significantly in their phylogenetic placements and other morpho-taxonomic features. Tropicoporus pannaensis is characterized by a meagrely ungulate basidiome, indistinct zones, and an obtuse margin. Tropicoporus subindicus has a triquetrous basidiome and a radially cracked, crusted pileal surface with an acute margin, while T. xerophyticus is distinguished by an imbricate, perennial basidiome with an abundantly warted pileal surface. A phylogenetic tree is provided to show the placement of the three new species, along with detailed descriptions and illustrations. Additionally, a key for the identification of the Asian species of Tropicoporus is presented.

Influence of horizontal alignment elements on operating speed of vehicles on two-lane highways

Earlier studies acknowledged that the design speed does not principally assure consistency in the design of highway geometric elements. Methodologies for estimating operating speeds are limited to specific or local traffic conditions and design standards, as in various studies conducted on two-lane and multi-lane highways. The present study develops operating speed models of the vehicle types observed on horizontal curves and tangent sections on two-lane highways in southern parts of India. Geometric features of the curve section and adjacent tangent sections, such as the radius of the curve, curve length, deflection angle, degree of curvature, gradient, carriageway width, and shoulder width, are obtained from the field. The speed data collected at 24 locations on the highway, including curved and tangent gradient sections, are used to analyze and model operating speed. The results indicate that the inverse of the square root of the radius appears to be an influencing parameter for modeling the operating speed of vehicles. The operating speed is sensitive for a curve radius of up to 600 m; thereafter, the operating speed appears insignificant. On tangent sections, the gradient has a larger influence on the operating speeds of all vehicle types. The operating speed models are validated and compared with models available in the literature. The proposed models developed in the present study are helpful to traffic engineers for predicting the operating speed on two-lane highways.

Climate Extremes Related with Temperature Change Point Detection in Pambar Kottakaraiyar Basin

Global climate change has changed the trend of climate variables. Also there is change in intensity, frequency and cyclic pattern of climate extremes such as flood, drought, heatwaves and tropical cyclones in the southern part of India. The high temperatures and further increase pose serious socio-economic and environmental impacts. There is an urgent necessity to know about the regional level climate extremes and their adaptation strategies especially for the drought prone and rain fed basins. This paper discusses about the temperature trend and change point over a long term historical time period of 30 years (1992-2021). Based on the Man-Kendall method and Sen’s test, the temperature over the basin is showing a significant rising trend with positive slopes in almost all the months, seasons and annual statistics. The change points of mean temperature are observed in 2008 for both Kundrakudi and Pudukottai climate stations. The minimum temperature change point was identified in 1998 and 2009 years for the Kundrakudi climate station. The results of this paper will be helpful in capacity building of specialised team on extremes risk, vulnerability and sector specific indices for temperature for the water resources and agricultural sectors under changing climate.

A study on possible risk factors for progressive supranuclear palsy in southern part of India.

Background: The etiological factors leading to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the role of various risk factors in patients with PSP. Methods: A case-control study was conducted over a period of two years from March 2016 to March 2018. The cases were recruited independently by two senior neurologists and a consensus was then reached after discussion for their inclusion. The controls were free of parkinsonian features or dementia and matched by age (± 3 years), sex, and race with the cases. The study population was then interviewed using a standard questionnaire for various possible risk factors. Variables with a significance (P ≤ 0.05) in univariate analysis were considered for bivariate analysis, multivariate analysis, and logistic-regression analysis. Results: A total of 51 cases with an equal number of controls were included in this study. Ten separate variables that included poor educational status, well water, smoking, tapioca, bakery/fast food, tea ≥ 5 cups/day, personality, exposure to pets, exposure to cattle, and family history of stroke were found to show statistical significance after univariate analysis. Among these, tapioca consumption, fast food and bakery items consumption, type A personality, and family history of stroke were found significant after adjusting for the confounding factors. Conclusion: The possible etiological factors that have a relevance in the causation of PSP as borne out in our study include dietary habits such as tapioca, fast food, and bakery items consumption, family history of stroke, and type A personality trait.

Item Hierarchy of Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in School Teachers—A Study from South India

AimThe study aimed to identify the item hierarchy of the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) in school teachers using Mokken Scaling Analysis (MSA). MethodA total of 362 school teachers from five zones in Chennai city, southern part of India, participated in the study. All subjects completed a subject information form that had details such as age, sex, duration of vocal demand per day, number of classes taken, grades taught, and years of experience and VFI. Based on the VFI factor I scores, teachers were segregated into three groups, viz., No fatigue (NF; <11), Low Fatigue (LF; 11-24), High Fatigue (HF; >24). Percentage analysis, Mann Whitney U, Pearson’s chi square was done for finding the association of variables (listed above) with vocal fatigue and MSA. ResultsTwo-hundred and seventy-five teachers (75.5%) identified themselves with vocal fatigue, and 87 (24%) others reported no vocal fatigue. The highest percentage of fatigue (63.18%) was documented in factor II, followed by factor III (48.90%), and factor I (40.38%). Mann Whitney U test revealed a significant difference in vocal fatigue experience between males and females (p=0.01). Pearson chi square showed a positive association between factor I and years of experience in teachers (p=0.02). No significant correlation was observed between other variables and factors of VFI. MSA divided the VFI scale into two, scale 1 (factor I & II) and scale 2 (factor III). On segregation, several reliable scales were obtained, however, all the scales had a low Loevinger’s coefficient. Discussion/ConclusionVFI, though a reliable tool, did not capture the underlying trait of vocal fatigue completely in school teachers as a population. This study ascertains the need to develop a tool that is specific to occupation/profession, geographic, socio-cultural, and ethnic group. Mere adaptations and translations of tools may not necessarily suffice for clinical utility and application.

Assessment of Heterosis in Inter-varietal Hybrids of Mangalore Melon (Cucumismelo var. acidulus) for Yield and Quality Traits

Mangalore melon is one of the distinct class of Cucurbitaceae family widely grown in southern part of India. Despite of having many nutritional values, there is scope for systematic hybridization study to improve the many qualitative and quantitative traits. An investigation was undertaken to develop inter-varietal hybrids and their evaluation to assess the extent of heterosis in newly developed hybrids between selected genotypes of Mangalore melon during kharif, 2019 and 2020 at College of Horticulture, Sirsi, Karnataka, India. A total of 16 intervarietal hybrids were developed by crossing 15 parental lines. Hybrids were developed using hand emasculation and hand pollination technique and the developed hybrids were evaluated using RCBD design with two replications. The results showed significant positive heterosis over mid parent and better parent for all the hybrids. The hybrids Soubhagya×RNMS-1 exhibited highest and significant heterosis over both mid parent (88.05%) and better parent (72.69%) followed by MS-19×MS-5 over mid parent (73.09%) and better parent (61.10%). From this study, it was concluded that hybrid Soubhagya X RNMS-1 was superior over their parents for most of the traits with the total yield of 8.44 kg plant-1. These best performing hybrids are need to be studied for their stability and commercial exploitation, resistance of pest and diseases, keeping quality of hybrids (storability) and experimentation on hybrid seed production technologies as well as storability of seeds should be done.

Prevalence and specificity of clinically significant red blood cell alloantibodies among hospitalized patients attending a tertiary care center in the southern part of India: A retrospective observational study

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Alloimmunization due to red blood cell (RBC) transfusions may occur due to discrepancy between donor and recipient’s antigenic exposure on RBCs. A thorough literature search shows limited data pertaining to the rate of alloimmunization and specificity of alloantibodies in the general patient population. The main aim of our study is to find the prevalence of alloimmunization rate and specificity of RBC alloantibodies among the patients who were admitted under different clinical departments in a tertiary care hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study was a retrospective observational study in which the patient data regarding their blood grouping status, alloimmunization status, and other relevant details were collected from the case records that were recorded between 2021 and 2022. Antibody screening of these patients was carried out using Bio-Rad ID DiaCell I, II, III Asia (Mia+), 3-cell panel with the lot number (45330.13.x). The specificity of these alloantibodies was identified using the 11-cell antibody identification panel Bio-Rad (ID-DiaPanel 11 × 4) which belongs to lot number (06171.47.x–06271.47.x). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of RBC alloimmunization in our study was found to be 1.3% (n = 137). The most prevalent alloantibody in our study was considered to be anti-D (30.65%), followed by anti-c (18.24%) and anti-Jkb (16.05%). Females had a more significant association with the development of alloantibodies than males with P = 0.001. Patients with a history of transfusion also had a significant association with alloantibody formation (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Since alloimmunization may result in drastic unforeseen responses in patients during transfusions, prior alloantibody screening may provide an additional safety layer in providing safe transfusions to patients. Hence, this study advocates the provision of antigen-matched RBC units for ABO, Rh, and Kell antigens.

Enhancing Asian Indigenous Language Processing through Deep Learning-based Handwriting Recognition and Optimization Techniques

Asian indigenous language or autochthonous language is a language which is native to a region and spoken by indigenous people in Asia. This language is a linguistically different community created in the region. Recently, researchers in handwriting detection studies comparing with indigenous languages have attained important internet amongst the research community. A new development of artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing (NLP), cognitive analytics, and computational linguistics (CL) find it helpful in the analysis of regional low-resource languages. It can be obvious in the obtainability of effectual machine detection methods and open access handwritten databases. Tamil is the most ancient Indian language that is mostly exploited in the Southern part of India, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. Tamil handwritten Character Recognition (HCR) is a critical procedure in optical character detection. Therefore, this study designs a Henry Gas Solubility Optimization with Deep Learning-based Handwriting Recognition Model (HGSODL-HRM) for Asian Indigenous Language Processing. The proposed HGSODL-HRM technique relies on computer vision and DL concepts for automated handwriting recognition in the Tamil language, which is one of the popular indigenous languages in Asia. To accomplish this, the HGSODL-HRM technique employs a capsule network (CapsNet) model for feature vector generation with the HGSO algorithm as a hyperparameter optimizer. For the recognition of handwritten characters, wavelet neural network (WNN) model is exploited. Finally, the WNN parameters can be optimally chosen by sail fish optimizer (SFO) algorithm. To demonstrate the promising results of the HGSODL-HRM system, an extensive range of simulations can be implemented. The simulation outcomes stated the betterment of the HGSODL-HRM system compared to recent DL models.

“Knowledge, attitude and reporting practices of ventilator-related errors among nursing professionals"

BackgroundVentilator-related errors (VREs) pose a critical concern for patient safety, necessitating a thorough understanding and mitigation strategies within healthcare settings. This study delves into the prevalence of VREs, while examining the nurse's knowledge of VREs and their reporting attitudes, and practices. Study designCross sectional analytical study. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted on 129 nurses working in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a major tertiary care hospital located in the southern part of India. The study involved the administration of a Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) survey questionnaire. ResultsThe findings demonstrate a deficiency in the comprehension of VREs among ICU nurses, which subsequently affects their attitudes and reporting practices. Only a small percentage of nurses possess good knowledge (13.2 %), attitude (7 %), and reporting practices (5.4 %). Many nurses identified issues with ventilator performance, including component failure (17 %), design issues (14 %), and alarm problems (14 %). They also reported battery-related problems (9 %), lack of awareness of the instruction manual (7 %), software challenges (6 %), and wear and tear (6 %). A significant association between VRE knowledge and staff experience (p < 0.05) and attitude (P < 0.001) was found. Reporting practices are influenced by staff attitudes (moderate, P < 0.001; good, P < 0.001). ConclusionThis study highlights the significant impact of VRE on patient safety, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive understanding and effective preventative measures in healthcare settings.

Effects of Far Infrared Radiation and Sitz Bath on Perineal Wound Healing and Pain in Primiparous Women Undergoing an Episiotomy: A Randomized Prospective Parallel Arm Study.

Introduction Episiotomy is a common surgical procedure done during childbirth. The study aims to assess the efficacy of far-infrared (FIR) and sitz bath (SB) effects on pain relief and healing of perineal wounds in primiparous women who had undergone an episiotomy. Materials and methods A randomized prospective parallel arm study was conducted among 208 primigravida women who underwent episiotomy in a tertiary hospital in the southern part of India from December 2020 to March 2022. Participants were randomized into the FIR (n-104) and SB therapy groups (n-104) and their efficacy was assessed for pain relief and healing of perineal wounds using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Redness, Oedema, Ecchymosis, and Discharge, the Approximation Scale (REEDA) and the Modified Oxford Scale (MOS). The variables were compared using an independent two-sample t-test and chi-square test (p ≤ 0.05). Results Pain was evaluated using VAS, and by the sixth week postpartum, 90.4% (94) of the FIR group reported mild to no pain compared to 88.5% (92) of the SB group. Wound integrity assessment using the REEDA scale showed better results among the FIR group (94, 90.4%) than the SB group (93, 89.4%) on the second day postpartum. Perineal muscle tone, measured by the MOS, was slightly better in the FIR group (59, 62.8%) than the SB group (55, 59.8%) at the sixth week postpartum, although these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion FIR therapy reduces postpartum discomfort, promotes wound healing, and improves perineal muscle tone better than SB therapy. FIR also enhanced patient compliance and efficacy.

The sudden wealth syndrome and loss of rectitude in Vivek Shanbhag’s Ghachar Ghochar

Middle-class mores in the southern part of India are largely homogenous, though even here one can see that there exists the lower middle class and upper middle class. The differences, however, vary in application on a gradient of material possessions and upgradation in lifestyle. What unifies the middle class is the value systems that they practice. A stable job, thrift, financial stability, and most importantly adherence to societal norms characterizes this section of society. When such families experience a windfall of unexpected wealth it can destabilize the family structure, create mistrust and anxiety among members, undermine moral rectitude and ethics, and topple the very value system that held the family together. This paper examines the primary source, the novel, Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag, to point out that consumerism and materialism, if not balanced with reflection and introspection, can stunt spiritual growth and lead towards a loss of basic human ethics and morality. The narrator’s family members, hitherto used to a steady income from a salaried job, switch to becoming entrepreneurs, trading in spices and ready spice powders, and enjoying a bounty of wealth. They fall back on unethical business practices and their wealth multiplies, changing their lifestyles and bringing up cracks in their relationships. They are blasé about the sudden wealth and splurge on luxuries as if in haste to wipe out their middle-class upbringing, letting go of the middle-class values of moral rectitude and ethical living that had held them together and made them upright citizens.

Impact of Migraine on Family Members - A Cross-sectional Study in Southern Part of India.

Migraine is a disabling primary headache disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of headache. Migraine not only imposes a burden on the sufferer but also imposes a burden on their family members too. A holistic approach is more essential in the management of migraine and family members should also be included in the management of migraine. There are no published studies done in India so far to look for the impact of migraine on partners and adolescent children (IMPAC). This pilot study was done to assess the IMPAC. The objective of the study was to study the IMPAC. In this descriptive study, 130 chronic migraine patients were observed in a row during 9 months. The impact of migraine on family members as well as migraine disability and Migraine-specific Quality of Life (MSQoL) was evaluated using validated questionnaires. One hundred and thirty chronic migraine patients were studied as part of this study. The mean age of the study population was 34.43 ± 9.002 years, and two-third of the participants were female. The majority of the participants had a moderate-to-severe disability due to migraine and had negatively impacted their MSQoL. The impact of migraine on family members was moderate-to-severe grade in most of the participants and affected their family life negatively both with children and spouses. The males were more significantly affected than females in terms of MSQoL, anxiety, depression, and also on migraine's impact on family members. Migraine not only affects the sufferers, it also significantly affects their family members.

KATHA KEERTHAN, AS AN ART AND BEYOND…

Katha Keerthan is a popular performing art that is widely recognized among people. This art form, known as Katha Keerthan, is actively promoting religious thoughts and striving to unite people throughout India. This is especially true in the southern part of India. Medieval India used this art, initially a medium for the praise of God and later for the propagation of religious ideas, to revive religion. It is used in modern India to promote government schemes and raise public awareness about various issues. The use of art as a vehicle for various ideas other than religious premises has faced strong opposition. There has been a significant amount of serious thought towards the revival of art. The present article tries to examine all these aspects through a historical lens.

Strategies for Leveraging Digital Libraries to Improve Financial Literacy among Rural Entrepreneurial Women

The topic of women's financial inclusion has gained international attention, and prior research has shown conflicting results about the factors that influence financial inclusion among Rural Women Entrepreneurs (RWE) worldwide. Nonetheless, previous research has seldom examined how women's financial inclusion is impacted by digital financial literacy and Digital Libraries (DLs). An individual with financial literacy is equipped with the information and abilities needed to make wise business choices. The ability of business owners to get the capital they need has a beneficial impact on the expansion of the national economy. Making sure vulnerable populations, including low-income RWEs, have affordable access to suitable financial goods and services is known as financial inclusion. The geographical region under investigation was the southern part of India. The participants in the study were 499 RWE from five different states (Tamilnadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andra Pradesh and Telangana). A total of 259 respondents who used Digital Financial Goods &amp; Services (DFG &amp; S) using DLs and 240 respondents who did not utilize financial services took part in the survey. The statistical analysis compares the revenue of individuals who use DFG&amp;S through DLs and those who do not use DFG &amp; S. The annual savings exhibit a substantial disparity, shown by a T-ratio of 2.684 and a p-value of 0.015, which suggests a noteworthy difference at a significance level of 1.5%. Results indicate that those who answer save more money each year than those who do not react. On the other hand, the wealth parameter exhibits a T-ratio of 1.987 and a p-value of 0.123, indicating no statistically significant wealth disparity between the two respondent groups.