A Study on Hyper Spectral Remote Sensing Pest Management

Designing innovative combination of techniques to improve the sustainability of cropping system is a major challenge in many regions of the world. Long-term cropping systems research is important in order to reduce production costs, to control crop pests, and to optimize the sustainability of agro-ecosystems. Research into vegetative spectral reflectance can help us gain a better understanding of the physical, physiological and chemical processes in plants due to pest and disease attack and to detect the resulting biotic stress. This has important implications to effective pest management. Pest surveillance programs such as field scouting are often expensive, time consuming, laborious and prone to error. As remote sensing gives a synoptic view of the area in a non-destructive and non-invasive way, this technology could be effective and provide timely information on spatial variability of pest damage over a large area. In this paper to study management of water, nutrients, and pests in agricultural crops and assesses the role of hyperspectral remote sensing in yield prediction and also remote sensing can guide scouting efforts and crop protection advisory in a more precise and effective manner in the field of pest management

Electrocardiographic findings in COVID-19 patients

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV2) has caused the global pandemic, COVID-19. Though predominantly a respiratory illness, cardiac manifestations of COVID-19 significantly contribute to mortality. We wanted to determine whether admission electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics provide prognostic information in COVID-19.Methods: We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study in a designated District COVID hospital. COVID-19 patient’s medical records were converted into an electronic database which included demographic data, clinical characteristics and electrocardiogram recorded at/near the time of admission. Primary outcome assessed was the occurrence of severe COVID-19.Results: Of 180 patients, the majority were males (67.8%) and aged 31-50 years (38.9%). The predominant comorbidity among patients who were discharged (non-severe COVID-19 disease) and those who got referred (severe COVID-19 disease) was hypertension (56.5% vs 43.3%), followed by diabetes mellitus (37.7% vs 36.7%). Fatigue (41.9%) and cough (18.5%) were the most frequent symptoms among non-severe cases. Of 32.8% of the patients with abnormal ECG, abnormal axis (25.5%), poor R wave progression (23.5%), T inversion (15.3%), left ventricular hypertrophy (12.2%) followed by ST segment depression (8.3%) were the frequent findings. Logistic regression analysis revealed that elderly patients (>60 years) (β=2.276, OR=9.737, p=0.002), Heart rate (β=0.191, OR=1.211, p=0.045) and ST segment depression (β=9.986, OR=21725.39, p=0.022) showed statistically significant positive association with Severe COVID-19.Conclusions: ST segment abnormalities on admission ECG are markers of cardiac injury and may assist in prognostication of COVID-19. Early identification of these findings might play a crucial role in identifying patients likely to progress to severe COVID-19

HIBISCUS ROSA SINENSIS LOADED SOLID LIPID NANOPARTICLES AND IN VIVO WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY IN WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Objective: The objective of the present research was to investigate the wound-healing potency of solid lipid nano particles of Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract. Crude herbal extracts and rudimentary formulations containing herbal extracts are good for demonstrating the feasibility of the concept; however, such formulations suffer with poor oral bioavailability and variability within groups of subjects. Converting herbal extracts into novel drug delivery systems may prove effective in addressing some of these problems. Methods: In the present study an attempt was made to develop Hibiscus rosa sinensis extract loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (HSLNs) using lipids glycerol monostearate (GMS) or beeswax. The prepared HSLNs were characterised for their size, surface charge and morphology. The optimized HSLNs were incorporated into Carbopol gel and tested for wound healing activity in male Wistar albino rats using excision wound model. Results: HSLNs of ~175 nm in size carrying negative charge were obtained with the optimised procedure using beeswax. The shape of the HSLNs was nearly spherical. The HSLNs (10 mg/ml) treated wounds healed much faster compared to raw crude extract and healing was comparable to marketed preparation. Conclusion: It is concluded that converting crude herbal extracts into SLNs can be an effective way to enhance the effectiveness of herbal extracts and their in vivo activity

Living Environs and Nutritional Status of Children from an Urban Indian Slum: An Analysis of Associative Factors

Growing urbanization gives rise to slums, which are densely populated peri-urban areas housing underprivileged populations. The nutritional status of children in slum areas can be compromised due to poor living environs despite availability of many urban health care facilities. The present cross- sectional study was undertaken to determine the nutritional status of children residing in slum and analyze the various associative factors. The study area was Ghousianagar, a slum in city of Mysore from South India. A sample of 676 children (2-11 years of age, males, 310 and females, 366) from two schools was chosen for detailed anthropometry. Data were also collected on living conditions, economic and literacy levels of parents and nutritional status of mothers (n=200) through standard techniques. The results revealed that the living conditions of children were highly unhygienic. Only in 36% of families both parents were literate. Children from all age groups exhibited different degrees of malnutrition which worsened with increasing age. Only 8% of children were normal and the rest suffered with different degrees of undernutrition. Stunting and wasting were significantly influenced by age and gender of children. Under associative factors studied, weight for age of children was significantly associated with economic status of family and maternal BMI. Weight for height was associated with economic status, family size and maternal BMI. Height for age exhibited marginal association with family size. It can be said that adverse living environment and limited resources influenced the nutritional status of children adversely

Significance of umbilical artery doppler velocimetry in the perinatal outcome of growth restricted fetuses

Background: The objectives of the study are to determine the relationship between the umbilical artery Doppler and perinatal outcome in growth restricted foetuses and to compare the outcome with those of normal foetuses.Methods: A prospective observational study in which subjects were divided into two groups, pregnancies affected with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pregnancies with normal fetuses. Both the groups were followed with Doppler velocimetry of umbilical artery after 28 weeks till delivery. The perinatal outcome of both the groups with normal and abnormal umbilical artery Doppler (reduced/ absent/ reversed end – diastolic flow) were analysed with Chi-square test and student t - test using SPSS software version 15.0.Results: Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry showed significant abnormality in growth restricted foetuses in comparison to normal foetuses. There was significant increase in the delivery of IUGR foetuses <37 weeks gestation(p<0.05). There was a significant increase in operative deliveries in both the groups with abnormal umbilical artery Doppler. A significant rise in adverse perinatal outcomes, Apgar <7 at 5 min and low birth weight in IUGR foetuses in comparison to normal foetuses (p<0.05).Conclusions: There is a strict correlation between abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry and an increased incidence of perinatal complications in growth restricted foetuses compared to normal foetuses. Hence, umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry should be used in all patients with fetal growth restriction, to identify impending hypoxia, to optimise the time of delivery and to optimise the perinatal outcome in these patients

Clinico-pathological study of intradural extramedullary spinal tumors

Background: The intradural extramedullary tumours of the spine are one of the commonest tumours of the spine. Early diagnosis and surgical removal helps in best outcome. The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical presentation, imageology, resectability, to know the incidence of different types of tumours in intradural extramedullary compartment and to study the surgical outcome.Methods: This was a prospective study of 32 cases of intradural extramedullary tumours. The clinical presentation, imageology, resectability, histopathology, surgical outcome were studied. The patients were investigated with plain spinal radiography and MRI. All cases were treated surgically by posterior or posterolateral approaches. Outcome and complications were evaluated. They were followed up regularly and the results were analyzed. Ambulatory status was classified on admission by using Nurick-grading scheme.Results: The incidence of intradural extramedullary spinal tumours was 57.14%. Most of the tumours presented in the third decade (37.5%). Mean age of Presentation for meningioma was 36 years and for nerve sheath tumours was 39.5 years. The nerve sheath tumours contributed 35% followed by meningioma 28%. Nerve sheath tumours were found to be most commonly located in thoracic region (56%). Total excision of tumour was achieved in 87.7% cases.Conclusions: Nerve Sheath tumours and Meningiomas were the most common in intradural extramedullary spinal lesions and complete excision was possible in almost all cases. Prognosis was usually good, in spite of poor neurological status at the time of presentation.

A comparative study of vaginal delivery and caesarean section in antepartum eclampsia at and beyond 34 weeks of gestation

Background: This study was done to compare maternal and fetal outcome in pregnancies after 34 weeks gestation complicated by antepartum eclampsia when terminated by caesarean section and by vaginal delivery. Methods: A comparative prospective study was done on 100 pregnant women with antepartum eclampsia at or beyond 34 weeks of gestational age from November 2019 to June 2021 at Gandhi Hospital, Secunderabad, Telangana. The patients were divided into two groups: CD group (who delivered by caesarean section) and VD group (who delivered by vaginal route). After history taking and examination, delivery was planned according to the gestational age, foetal condition and Bishop’s score. The associated indication for caesarean, induction delivery interval in vaginal deliveries, total blood loss was noted. Baby details were noted and were followed till discharge at hospital. Results: The incidence of caesarean section was 41% and that of vaginal delivery was 59%. Highest incidence of antepartum eclampsia was seen in the age group of 20-24 years and between 37-40 weeks. Most common indication of caesarean section was fetal distress (19%). The convulsion-delivery interval was less in CD group and it was statistically significant (p value 0.01). The incidence of live births, still births and IUD was better in the CD group than VD group (p value 0.02). Perinatal mortality was more in vaginal delivery group (27.64%) than in caesarean section group (12.19%). Maternal mortality was 1.7% in the VD group and nil in the CD group. Conclusions: The study reflected that both perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality were found to be lesser in the CD group in comparison with the VD group. Thus, early decision for caesarean section especially when delivery is not anticipated within 6 hours of admission is essential in improving the perinatal and maternal outcome in eclampsia

A23187-Channel behaviour: fluorescence study

Pyranine entrapped soylipid liposomes have been used as a model system to study the proton transport across membrane in the presence of A23187, a carboxylic ionophore specific for electroneutral exchange of divalent cations. An apparent rate constant (kapp) for transport of protons has been determined from the rate of change of fluorescence intensity of pyranine by stopped flow rapid kinetics in the presence of proton gradient The variation of kapp has been studied as a function of ionophore concentration and the results have been compared with gramicidin-a well known channel former under the similar experimental conditions. The rates thus obtained showed that A23187 is not only a simple carrier but also shows channel behaviour at high concentration of ionophore