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Although visualization remains a primary mode of interaction in simulations, touch is the most common way people use to interact with the physical objects. A greater sense of immersion in a learning environment can be reached when the user is able to feel and manipulate objects as compared to only seeing or listening. Despite the affordances of haptic technologies, which could serve as scaffolds for deep conceptual learning, their true potential in education has not been fully harnessed and little research has been done to investigate its effectiveness for learning difficult concepts. This study explores the potential of haptic technologies in supporting conceptual understanding of difficult concepts in science, specifically concepts related to electricity and magnetism. A pretest-posttest study identified if students improved their conceptual understanding of electricity and magnetism concepts. Specifically, this study identified (a) how students, with different physics background, conceptually interpreted the tactile learning experience in the context of the visualization, and (b) students' perceptions on the use of haptic technologies for their learning, as well as their perceived usefulness and ease of use. Our results suggest that overall students significantly improved their conceptual understanding about electric fields for distributed charges after being exposed to a visuohaptic simulation guided activity. Regarding students' prior coursework, students with high school-only physics background outperformed students who have been previously exposed to college-level physics courses 8% higher in the posttest average score. Similarly, students overall agreed that they enjoyed using the haptic device for learning and found the technology as easy to interact with. Implications for teaching and learning are provided as well as venues for future work.

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BACKGROUND: Underweight is still prevalent in developing countries like India. Prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) is used as the standard against which the measurements are made in pregnancy. AIM: To study the association between early pregnancy BMI and feto-maternal outcome among nulliparous women METHODOLOGY: This is a prospective observational study, with a sample size of 294. The antenatal patients were categorized into four categories of BMI according to the WHO classification, and pregnancy outcomes were compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS Software Version 17.0. Statistical tools used were percentages and mean, and categorical variables were analyzed by Chi-square statistics. RESULTS: 48.94% of the patients enrolled in the study had normal early pregnancy BMI, and 44.22% and 6.8% were underweight and overweight, respectively. Obese women who gained more weight were at a higher risk of preterm delivery, cesarean section, and more time required for resumption of normal routine. Underweight women were at higher risk of postterm delivery, low birth weight, and increased hospital stay. CONCLUSION: Adverse maternal and fetal outcomes are seen more commonly with the extremes of BMI.

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In tropical countries like India, irrigation is necessary to grow crops in the nonmonsoon period. The conventional methodology for conveying irrigation water from the source to the field is through open canals. However, considering huge losses due to evaporation and percolation, a modern system of irrigation like pipe irrigation network (PIN) is desired. Advancement in technology has led to the progress in the PIN as they are compatible with modern irrigation facilities such as sprinkler and drip irrigation systems. In the present study, the layout of the PIN is designed and optimized in two phases. Initially, the looped network is traced out for the Bakhari distributary of the Kanhan Branch Canal, India. Minimum spanning tree (MST) network is obtained from the looped network using Prim's algorithm to calculate the nodal demands. The layout optimization of the MST is carried out using the Steiner concept to obtain the initial Steiner tree (IST). The steady-state hydraulic analysis and design are carried out for the looped and IST network. The results show that the percentage of length decreasing from the looped network to the MST network is 51.58%. The IST network is the optimized network having the minimum length showing a 12.21% length reduction compared to the MST network. The total reduction in the cost of the Steiner tree is found to be 4.25% compared to the looped network. Steiner concept application to large irrigation networks can reduce the length of the network thereby minimizing the total project cost.

Context:Inadequate prenatal weight gain is a significant risk factor for adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Nutrient intake and weight gain during pregnancy are the two main modifiable factors influencing maternal and infant outcomes.Aim:To assess the social and demographic factors affecting weight gain of pregnant women and to determine the correlation between maternal weight and fetal outcome.Setting and Design:Observational prospective study.Materials and Methods:Two different groups and settings of populations were studied, one enrolled in the antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital (sample size 197) and the other suburban antenatal clinic located in a slum community (sample size 97) of the same metro city.Statistical Analysis:Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used for analysis.Result:In the tertiary care hospital, 16.75%, 75.13%, and 8.12%, whereas in the suburban hospital 47.42%, 46.39%, and 6.19% primigravidae gained less than or equal to 8, 8.1–16 kg, and more than 16 kg weight, respectively. In the tertiary care hospital, the percentages of preterm birth, low birth weights, special attention needed, and no immediate cry after birth were 5.1%, 19.80%, 4.1%, and 4.1%, respectively, while in the urban health center they were 9.3%, 41.24%, 21.65%, and 11.3%, respectively. A significant association was found between maternal weight gain and birth weight of neonate and special attention needed by baby in both groups.Conclusion:Monitoring the maternal weight during the antenatal period epidemiologically determines the strength of association between maternal weight gain and birth weight of child.

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