Development and comparative evaluation of radiation-based reference evapotranspiration equations for sub-humid Hazaribagh region of Jharkhand

In this study, two site-specific solar radiation (Rs) and net radiation (Rn) based equations for estimating reference evapotranspiration (ET­0) were developed and their performance were statistically analysed in comparison to widely accepted FAO Penman-Monteith method (PMF-56) and four other standard radiation methods for sub-humid Hazaribagh region of Jharkhand. These two equations were developed with daily values of Rs and Rn in conjunction with maximum and minimum air temperature by taking daily PMF-56 ET0 values as index with weather dataset of 15 years (1990-2004). The performance of these equations validated with carefully screened daily weather dataset of eight years (2005-2012) with other considered standard methods revealed that they estimated ET0 better. The eight year average ratio of ET0 values calculated with developed Rs- and Rn- based equations and PMF-56 on daily basis were obtained as 1.07 and 1.10 respectively. These two derived equations resulted in better average values of SEE on daily (0.57 and 0.61) and monthly (1.24 and 1.21) basis. The higher value of Agreement index (D) on monthly ET0 values on daily and monthly basis during validation period confirms efficacy of derived equations. Considering the limitations associated with reliability and availability of weather data especially in developing countries, derived equations presented in this study are recommended to estimate ET0 in sub-humid Hazaribagh region if standard PMF-56 equation cannot be used due to non-availability of required weather parameters

Identification of risk factors for malaria control by focused interventions in Ranchi district, Jharkhand, India

Background & objectives: Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand state is endemic for malaria, particularly the Bundu Primary Health Centre (PHC) is the worst affected. Therefore, a study was initiated during 2009 using remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) to identify risk factors responsible for high endemicity in this PHC. Methods: Bundu and Angara in Ranchi district were identified as high and low malaria endemic PHCs based on epidemiological data of three years (2007–09). The habitation, streams, other water body, landform, PHC and village boundary thematic maps were prepared using IRS-P6/LISS III-IV imageries and macro level breeding sites were identified. Digital elevation model (DEM) of the PHCs was generated using Cartosat Stereo Pair images and from DEM, slope map was derived to calculate flat area. From slope, aspect map was derived to indicate direction of water flow. Length of perennial streams, area under rocky terrain and buffer zones of 250, 500 and 750 m were constructed around streams. High resolution remote sensing imageries were used to identify micro level breeding sites. Based on macro-micro breeding sites, six villages from each PHC were selected randomly having combination of different parameters representing all ecotypes. Entomological data were collected during 2010–11 in pre- and post-monsoon seasons following standard techniques and analyzed statistically. Differential analysis was attempted to comprehend socioeconomic and other determinants associated with malaria transmission. Results: The study identified eight risk factors responsible for higher malaria endemicity in Bundu in comparison to Angara PHC based on ecological, entomological, socioeconomic and other local parameters. Conclusion: Focused interventions in integrated vector management (IVM) mode are required to be carried out in the district for better management and control of disease

Chemical Protection Studies of Activated Carbon Spheres based Permeable Protective Clothing Against Sulfur Mustard, a Chemical Warfare Agent

Technological advancements in the field of chemical threat have made it possible to create extremely dangerous chemical warfare agents (CWA). Hence, the effective protection of personnel is very important in a chemical warfare scenario amidst the current climate of terrorism awareness. In particular, body protection plays a substantial role in the chemical defence considering the urgency of situation in the nuclear, biological and chemical environment. Activated carbon spheres (ACS) based permeable chemical protective clothing (coverall) was developed for protection against CWA. The adsorbent material i.e, ACS used in this protective clothing provided higher adsorption capacity (1029 mg/g in terms of iodine) and low thermal burden (34 °C WBGT index) compared to earlier indigenously developed NBC suit. This article focuses on the extensive evaluation of chemical protective clothing against sulfur mustard (HD), a CWA. The results revealed that the developed protective clothing provided more than 24 h protection against HD. This chemical protective suit is light weight (< 2.75 kg for XL size). It also has higher air permeability (> 30 cm3/s/cm2) as well as less water vapour resistance (< 9.6 m2Pa/W). With continued innovations in materials and attention to key challenges it is expected that advanced, multifunction chemical protective suit will play a pivotal role in the CWA protection scenario

Incidencia de los hábitos de estudio y las estrategias de evaluación que implementan los docentes, en el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de III y IV año de la carrera de Educación Comercial, en las asignaturas de Cálculo Mercantil I y Cálculo Mercantil II, en la Facultad de Educación e Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua), durante el primer semestre del año 2016

La presente investigación tiene como propósito general analizar la Incidencia de los hábitos de estudio y las estrategias de evaluación que implementan los docentes, en el rendimiento académico de los alumnos de III y IV año de la carrera de Educación Comercial, en las asignaturas de Cálculo Mercantil I y Cálculo Mercantil II, en la Facultad de Educación e Idiomas de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua), durante el primer semestre del año 2016. La investigación está centrada en un enfoque sociológico cuantitativo, es de tipo ex post facto o no experimental, de corte transversal, descriptiva y correlacional. Tiene una cierta implicación cualitativa porque intenta comprender la realidad del fenómeno, desde la visión de alumnos y docentes que son las unidades de análisis involucradas. El alcance de este estudio considera dos grandes componentes relacionadas con el rendimiento académico, como son los hábitos de estudio y las formas de evaluación, en la revisión bibliográfica se encontró estudios que tratan una u otra componente, pero no las dos simultáneamente. La metodología utilizada consideró una muestra probabilística representativa de treinta y tres alumnos de III y IV año de la carrera de Educación Comercial, a los cuales se les aplicó un instrumento de medición acerca de sus hábitos de estudio, el que fue analizado con técnicas estadísticas descriptivas e inferenciales. También se realizaron dos grupos focales, el primero con una muestra intencional de doce alumnos y el segundo con ocho docentes que han impartido Cálculo Mercantil. Además de una entrevista dirigida al coordinador de la carrera. Entre los principales resultados obtenidos, se obtuvo que en general los alumnos no practican hábitos de estudio, y que estas prácticas tienen una mínima relación lineal con el rendimiento académico. Además que las formas tradicionales de evaluación inciden negativamente en los aprendizajes significativos de los alumno

Evaluation of Valiantzas ET0 Equations against FAO56-PM Model in Indian Semi-arid Climatic Conditions

In this study, performance of three forms of Valiantzas ET0 equations namely, (i) requiring full meteorological dataset, (ii) not requiring wind speed data, and (iii) not requiring both wind speed & relative humidity data for Indian semi-arid Hissar and Parbhani districts in comparison to widely accepted FAO-56 PM model was evaluated in terms of different statistical indices and their ranking based on GPI values. All Valiantzas ET0 equations requiring full meteorological dataset under-estimated FAO56-PM estimates in the range of 9.10 to 21.84% at Hissar while they over-estimated it in the range of 0.98 to 8.32% at Parbhani district. Valiantzas equations not requiring wind speed data under-estimated FAO56-PM ET0 values in the range of 3.90 to 34.56% at Hissar and over-estimated the same in the range of 11.55 to 41.28% at Parbhani. The Valiantzas equations not requiring both wind speed & relative humidity data under-estimated FAO56-PM ET0 estimates in the range of 23.80 to 57.56% at Hissar and over-estimated it in the range of -1.80 to 6.96% at Parbhani district. Among all 16 considered Valiantzas ET0 equations, Val 7 and Val 2 (equations requiring full meteorological dataset) showed best performance at Hissar and Parbhani districts, respectively while Val 16 (equation not requiring both wind speed & relative humidity data) and Val 9 (representing Valiantzas equations not requiring wind speed data) were adjudged worst at Indian semi-arid Hissar and Parbhani districts, respectively

Evaluating the Performance of Calibrated Temperature-based Equations as Compared to Standard FAO-56 Penman Monteith Equation in Humid Climatic Condition of Dehradun (India)

The present study was undertaken to calibrate, validate, and evaluate the performance of temperature-based evapotranspiration equations in comparison to the standard FAO-56 Penman Monteith (FAO-56 PM) model in humid climatic condition of Dehradun district of Uttarakhand using 31-years (1989-2019) daily meteorological dataset. The quality control of dataset was ensured by omitting days with missing data and outliers. The performance of 12 calibrated temperature-based ETo equations namely, Allen (1993) [AL93], Baier and Robertson (1965) [BR65], Bogawski and Bednorz (2014) [BB14], Droogers and Allen (2002) [DA02], Dorji et al. (2016) [DO16], Hargreaves (1994) [HA94], Heydari and Heydari (2014) [HH14], Kharrufa (1985) [KA85], Ravazzani et al. (2012) [RA12], Samani (2004) [SA04], Schendel (1967) [SC67], and Trajkovic (2007) [TR07] were evaluated in comparison to standard FAO-56 PM model in terms of daily ETo estimates. The analysis showed that calibrated temperature-based equations performed well with higher value of agreement index (0.85-0.98) and reduced errors. The values of Root mean square error (RMSE), Mean bias error (MBE), Maximum absolute error (MAXE), Percent error of estimate (PE), and Standard error of estimate (SEE) for calibrated equations ranged from 0.29 to 1.15 mm.day-1, (-)0.39 to 0.53 mm.day-1, 0.64 to 3.95 mm.day-1, 4.71 to 19.11%, and 0.17 to 1.00 mm.day-1, respectively; whereas for original equations they varied in the range from 0.47 to 3.64 mm.day-1, (-)0.32 to 2.92 mm.day-1, 0.95 to 10.65 mm.day-1, 11.74 to 106.15%, and 0.18 to 1.72 mm.day-1, respectively, indicating improved performance of calibrated equations. The ranking of calibrated ETo equations on the basis of Global Performance Indicator (GPI) values confirmed that calibrated Dorji et al. (2016) equation produced best result, while Samani (2004) equation with its lowest value performed poorly. Based on GPI values, calibrated equations can be ranked (best to worst performing) as DO16> AL93> TR07> RA12> DA02> HA94> SC67> KH85> BR65> HH14>BB14> SA04. Thus, calibrated Dorji et al. (2016) equation can be used as substitute for FAO-56 PM model in the absence of large number of meteorological parameters for accurate estimation of ETo values in the study area

Percutaneous chemical lumbar sympathectomy for buerger's disease: Results in 147 patients

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcome of percutaneous chemical lumbar sympathectomy (PCLS) in Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans [TAO]). Design: This was a retrospective comparative study. Methods: TAO patients who underwent PCLS in surgery department of a teaching hospital in Central India. Diagnosis of TAO was made on clinical grounds and color Doppler study. PCLS was done under image guidance after amputation of gangrene or before if a clear line of demarcation was lacking. After PCLS, patients were followed up on next day and after 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks. Outcome monitored were improvement in rest pain (using visual analog scale) and healing of ischemic ulcers. Results: All patients were males, chronic bidi smokers, mostly in the third decade of life. All had involvement of lower limbs either ischemic rest pain or ischemic ulcers or gangrene of toes/forefoot. A total of 167 PCLS (20 bilateral) were performed on 147 TAO patients from June 2008 to January 2016. Imaging modalities were computed tomography scan (n = 67), digital X-ray (n = 50), and C-arm fluoroscopy (n = 50). Success rate for chemical neurolysis was > 82%. Excellent long-lasting rest pain relief was obtained in > 80% patients. Ulcer healing was seen in majority of patients. Large number of limbs (103/167) had gangrene of toe/multiple toes/part of forefoot. Those with patent popliteal artery fared better. Conclusions: PCLS can provide safe and efficient treatment for rest pain and healing of ischemic ulcers in TAO

Additional file 7: Table S7. of Polygenic study of endurance-associated genetic markers ACE I/D, ACTN3 Arg(R)577Ter(X), CKMM A/G NcoI and eNOS Glu(G)298Asp(T) in male Gorkha soldiers

Comparison of physiological characteristics and VO2max in male Gorkha soldiers grouped according to total genotype score (TGS). (DOCX 32 kb