Impacts of irrigation tank restoration on water bodies and croplands in Telangana State of India using Landsat time series data and machine learning algorithms

In 2014, the State of Telangana in southern India began repairing and restoring more than 46,000 irrigation water tanks (artificial reservoirs) under the Mission Kakatiya project with an investment in excess of USD 2 billion. In this study, we attempted to map the temporal changes that have occurred in cropland areas and water bodies as a result of the project, using remote sensing imagery and applying land use/land cover (LULC) mapping algorithms. We used 16-day time series data from Landsat 8 to study the spatial distribution of changes in water bodies and cropland areas over the 2013–18 period. Ground survey information was used to assess the pixel-based accuracy of the Landsat-derived data. The areas served by these tanks were identified on the basis of training data and Random Forest algorithms using Google Earth Engine. Our spatial analysis revealed a substantial increase in cropped area under irrigation and expansion of water bodies over the study period. We observed a 20% increase in total tank area in 2017–18 and total cropland and irrigated area expansion of the order of 0.6M ha and 0.2M ha, respectively. A comparison of ground survey data and four LULC classes derived from Landsat temporal imagery showed an overall accuracy of 87%, significantly correlated with national agriculture statistics. Periodic monitoring based on remote sensing has proved to be an effective method of capturing LULC changes resulting from the Mission Kakatiya interventions. Higher-resolution satellite data can further improve the accuracy of estimates

Assessment of Cropland Changes Due to New Canals in Vientiane Prefecture of Laos using Earth Observation Data

The lower catchment area of a Mak Hiao river system is vulnerable to flash floods and water stress. So it is important to construct irrigation structures in this area to minimize floods during the rainy season and store water for the winter season. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been supporting the Government of Laos in constructing such small reservoirs like Donkhuay schemes 1 & 2, Mak Hiao, Nalong 3 and Sang Houabor projects in lower catchment areas. Our study evaluated the impacts of small irrigation schemes in terms of land-use/landcover (LULC), crop intensity, and productivity changes, using high resolution satellite imagery, socioeconomic, and ground data. We analyzed the temporal cropping pattern in the Vientiane prefecture of Laos using Planet and Sentinel-2 data. On the other hand, crop intensity and cropland changes were mapped using Sentinel-2 data and spectral matching techniques (SMTs). The crop classification accuracy based on field-plot data was 88.6%. Our results show that irrigation projects in the lower catchment areas brought about significant on-site changes in terms of cropland expansion and increased crop intensity. Remarkable changes in LULC were observed especially in the command areas owing to an increase of about 300% in crop area with access to irrigation and increase of water bodies by 31%. Our study found that interventions at the level of the command area do improved on-site soil, water and environmental services. They study emphasized underline the role of land-use regulations in reducing pressure on natural land-use systems and thereby serving the major goal of up-scaling sustainable natural resource management. The study documented the vital role of small/medium irrigation projects in restoring ecosystem services such as cropping patterns and LULC conversio

Constitutively decreased TGFBR1 allelic expression is a common finding in colorectal cancer and is associated with three TGFBR1 SNPs

Purpose: Constitutively decreased TGFBR1 allelic expression is emerging as a potent modifier of colorectal cancer risk in mice and humans. This phenotype was first observed in mice, then in lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with microsatellite stable colorectal tumors. Patients and Methods: We assessed the frequency of constitutively decreased TGFBR1 allelic expression and association with SNPs covering the TGFBR1 locus using RNA and DNA extracted from the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 118 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the colon or the rectum. Results: We found that 11(9.3%) of 118 patients exhibited decreased TGFBR1 allelic expression (TGFBR1 ASE). TGFBR1 ASE was strongly associated with three SNPs in linkage disequilibrium with each other: rs7034462 (p = 7.2 × 10-4), TGFBR1*6A (p = 1.6 × 10-4) and rs11568785 (p = 1.4 × 10-4). Conclusion: These results confirm the high prevalence of constitutively decreased TGFBR1 allelic expression among patients with colorectal cancer. The association of this phenotype with TGFBR1*6A, rs7034462 and rs1156875 suggests an association between TGFBR1 SNPs and colorectal cancer, which warrants additional studies

Outcomes of obstructed abdominal wall hernia: results from the UK national small bowel obstruction audit

Background: Abdominal wall hernia is a common surgical condition. Patients may present in an emergency with bowel obstruction, incarceration or strangulation. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a serious surgical condition associated with significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe current management and outcomes of patients with obstructed hernia in the UK as identified in the National Audit of Small Bowel Obstruction (NASBO). Methods: NASBO collated data on adults treated for SBO at 131 UK hospitals between January and March 2017. Those with obstruction due to abdominal wall hernia were included in this study. Demographics, co-morbidity, imaging, operative treatment, and in-hospital outcomes were recorded. Modelling for factors associated with mortality and complications was undertaken using Cox proportional hazards and multivariable regression modelling. Results: NASBO included 2341 patients, of whom 415 (17·7 per cent) had SBO due to hernia. Surgery was performed in 312 (75·2 per cent) of the 415 patients; small bowel resection was required in 198 (63·5 per cent) of these operations. Non-operative management was reported in 35 (54 per cent) of 65 patients with a parastomal hernia and in 34 (32·1 per cent) of 106 patients with an incisional hernia. The in-hospital mortality rate was 9·4 per cent (39 of 415), and was highest in patients with a groin hernia (11·1 per cent, 17 of 153). Complications were common, including lower respiratory tract infection in 16·3 per cent of patients with a groin hernia. Increased age was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·01 to 1·10; P = 0·009) and complications (odds ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·02 to 1·09; P = 0·001). Conclusion: NASBO has highlighted poor outcomes for patients with SBO due to hernia, highlighting the need for quality improvement initiatives in this group

National prospective cohort study of the burden of acute small bowel obstruction

Background Small bowel obstruction is a common surgical emergency, and is associated with high levels of morbidity and mortality across the world. The literature provides little information on the conservatively managed group. The aim of this study was to describe the burden of small bowel obstruction in the UK. Methods This prospective cohort study was conducted in 131 acute hospitals in the UK between January and April 2017, delivered by trainee research collaboratives. Adult patients with a diagnosis of mechanical small bowel obstruction were included. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included complications, unplanned intensive care admission and readmission within 30 days of discharge. Practice measures, including use of radiological investigations, water soluble contrast, operative and nutritional interventions, were collected. Results Of 2341 patients identified, 693 (29·6 per cent) underwent immediate surgery (within 24 h of admission), 500 (21·4 per cent) had delayed surgery after initial conservative management, and 1148 (49·0 per cent) were managed non‐operatively. The mortality rate was 6·6 per cent (6·4 per cent for non‐operative management, 6·8 per cent for immediate surgery, 6·8 per cent for delayed surgery; P = 0·911). The major complication rate was 14·4 per cent overall, affecting 19·0 per cent in the immediate surgery, 23·6 per cent in the delayed surgery and 7·7 per cent in the non‐operative management groups (P < 0·001). Cox regression found hernia or malignant aetiology and malnutrition to be associated with higher rates of death. Malignant aetiology, operative intervention, acute kidney injury and malnutrition were associated with increased risk of major complication. Conclusion Small bowel obstruction represents a significant healthcare burden. Patient‐level factors such as timing of surgery, acute kidney injury and nutritional status are factors that might be modified to improve outcomes

Outcomes of obstructed abdominal wall hernia: results from the UK national small bowel obstruction audit

Background Abdominal wall hernia is a common surgical condition. Patients may present in an emergency with bowel obstruction, incarceration or strangulation. Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a serious surgical condition associated with significant morbidity. The aim of this study was to describe current management and outcomes of patients with obstructed hernia in the UK as identified in the National Audit of Small Bowel Obstruction (NASBO). Methods NASBO collated data on adults treated for SBO at 131 UK hospitals between January and March 2017. Those with obstruction due to abdominal wall hernia were included in this study. Demographics, co‐morbidity, imaging, operative treatment, and in‐hospital outcomes were recorded. Modelling for factors associated with mortality and complications was undertaken using Cox proportional hazards and multivariable regression modelling. Results NASBO included 2341 patients, of whom 415 (17·7 per cent) had SBO due to hernia. Surgery was performed in 312 (75·2 per cent) of the 415 patients; small bowel resection was required in 198 (63·5 per cent) of these operations. Non‐operative management was reported in 35 (54 per cent) of 65 patients with a parastomal hernia and in 34 (32·1 per cent) of 106 patients with an incisional hernia. The in‐hospital mortality rate was 9·4 per cent (39 of 415), and was highest in patients with a groin hernia (11·1 per cent, 17 of 153). Complications were common, including lower respiratory tract infection in 16·3 per cent of patients with a groin hernia. Increased age was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·01 to 1·10; P = 0·009) and complications (odds ratio 1·05, 95 per cent c.i. 1·02 to 1·09; P = 0·001). Conclusion NASBO has highlighted poor outcomes for patients with SBO due to hernia, highlighting the need for quality improvement initiatives in this group

Outcomes following small bowel obstruction due to malignancy in the national audit of small bowel obstruction

Introduction Patients with cancer who develop small bowel obstruction are at high risk of malnutrition and morbidity following compromise of gastrointestinal tract continuity. This study aimed to characterise current management and outcomes following malignant small bowel obstruction. Methods A prospective, multicentre cohort study of patients with small bowel obstruction who presented to UK hospitals between 16th January and 13th March 2017. Patients who presented with small bowel obstruction due to primary tumours of the intestine (excluding left-sided colonic tumours) or disseminated intra-abdominal malignancy were included. Outcomes included 30-day mortality and in-hospital complications. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to generate adjusted effects estimates, which are presented as hazard ratios (HR) alongside the corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI). The threshold for statistical significance was set at the level of P ≤ 0.05 a-priori. Results 205 patients with malignant small bowel obstruction presented to emergency surgery services during the study period. Of these patients, 50 had obstruction due to right sided colon cancer, 143 due to disseminated intraabdominal malignancy, 10 had primary tumours of the small bowel and 2 patients had gastrointestinal stromal tumours. In total 100 out of 205 patients underwent a surgical intervention for obstruction. 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 11.3% for those with primary tumours and 19.6% for those with disseminated malignancy. Severe risk of malnutrition was an independent predictor for poor mortality in this cohort (adjusted HR 16.18, 95% CI 1.86 to 140.84, p = 0.012). Patients with right-sided colon cancer had high rates of morbidity. Conclusions Mortality rates were high in patients with disseminated malignancy and in those with right sided colon cancer. Further research should identify optimal management strategy to reduce morbidity for these patient groups

Strengthening Food Security Post-COVID-19 and Locust Attacks

This study mainly focussed on linking Insurance and Technology. The study will use comprehensive exiting environmental, weather and management data along with satellite derived crop spatial data. This information will be modelled using crop models to assess crop yield assessment at gram panchayat (GP) and required spatial information generated from near real time high resolution satellite images

Strengthening Food Security Post-COVID-19 and Locust Attacks: Supporting crop insurance in Pakistan

This study mainly focussed on linking Insurance and Technology. The study will use comprehensive exiting environmental, weather and management data along with satellite derived crop spatial data. This information will be modelled using crop models to assess crop yield assessment at gram panchayat (GP) and required spatial information generated from near real time high resolution satellite images

Optimizing Crop Yield Estimation through Geospatial Technology: A Comparative Analysis of a Semi-Physical Model, Crop Simulation, and Machine Learning Algorithms

This study underscores the critical importance of accurate crop yield information for national food security and export considerations, with a specific focus on wheat yield estimation at the Gram Panchayat (GP) level in Bareilly district, Uttar Pradesh, using technologies such as machine learning algorithms (ML), the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) crop model and semi-physical models (SPMs). The research integrates Sentinel-2 time-series data and ground data to generate comprehensive crop type maps. These maps offer insights into spatial variations in crop extent, growth stages and the leaf area index (LAI), serving as essential components for precise yield assessment. The classification of crops employed spectral matching techniques (SMTs) on Sentinel-2 time-series data, complemented by field surveys and ground data on crop management. The strategic identification of crop-cutting experiment (CCE) locations, based on a combination of crop type maps, soil data and weather parameters, further enhanced the precision of the study. A systematic comparison of three major crop yield estimation models revealed distinctive gaps in each approach. Machine learning models exhibit effectiveness in homogenous areas with similar cultivars, while the accuracy of a semi-physical model depends upon the resolution of the utilized data. The DSSAT model is effective in predicting yields at specific locations but faces difficulties when trying to extend these predictions to cover a larger study area. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers by providing near-real-time, high-resolution crop yield estimates at the local level, facilitating informed decision making in attaining food security