Objective. To define otomycosis and determine the predisposing factors and microbiology in primary otomycosis. Study Design. Prospective study of two years and review of the literature. Setting. Academic Department of Otolaryngology in a coastal city in India. Patients. 150 immunocompetent individuals of whom 100 consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of otomycosis are considered as the study group and 50 consecutive patients with no otomycosis are considered as the control group. Results and Observations. Instillation of coconut oil (42%), use of topical antibiotic eardrops (20%), and compulsive cleaning of external ear with hard objects (32%) appeared to be the main predisposing factors in otomycosis. Aspergilli were the most common isolates (80%) followed by Penicillium (8%), Candida albicans (4%), Rhizopus (1%), and Chrysosporium (1%), the last being reported for the first time in otomycosis. Among aspergilli, A. niger complex (38%) was the most common followed by A. fumigatus complex (27%) and A. flavus complex (15%). Bacterial isolates associated with fungi in otomycosis were S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Proteus spp. In 42% of healthy external ears fungi were isolated. Conclusion. Aspergillus spp. were the most common fungi isolated, followed by Penicillium. Otomycotic ears are often associated with bacterial isolates when compared to normal ears. Fungi are also present in a significant number of healthy external auditory canals and their profiles match those in cases of otomycosis. The use of terms “primary” and “secondary” otomycosis is important to standardize reporting.

This article documents instances of racism that have previously acted as barriers to Indian students' academic success in Australia. It is felt that such incidents would not have happened to students from, for example, China or Japan, as their governments would have taken more serious steps against the Australian government. There is a feeling in India that the Indian government can be seen as weak. Against this background, the article looks at potential reasons for racially motivated attacks against Indians in Australia, and at what can be done to reduce these, as well as both the Australian and Indian government responses to the particular instances reported.

After each major disaster of the modern era, humanitarian organizations have reaffirmed a critical lesson: good communication is essential to effective coordination. Field workers now rely on tools like portable satellite antennae that enable them to have Internet communications from many places on the globe. Rather, the problem is now shifting from basic connectivity to information management. Without information sharing there can be no coordination. If we are not talking to each other and sharing information then we go back 30 years. In this paper, we adopt a theory-driven approach to develop a set of information management roles and dynamic capabilities for disaster management. Although the networks that connect humanitarians have expanded quickly in recent years, the volume of data flowing through these pathways, and the number of information sources, have increased at an even faster rate. Responders are increasingly struggling to handle a growing amount of data, arriving more quickly than ever before. This is a problem from the non-emergency world that is amplified at times of crisis. Due to poorly adapted tools, training and strategies, responders are increasingly ill-prepared to produce useful knowledge from the flow of information and data.   Keywords - Information architecture, information management, adaptivity roles, preparedness

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