Stress and Nutritional Status of Individuals in Uttarakhand, Northern India: Differential Effect of Gender

Background: Uttarakhand, Northern India is facing challenges in the issues concerning public health. Hence, researches identifying the stressors and nutritional factors influencing health are encouraged. This study attempts to assess the stress levels and nutritional status. Gender differences are also measured in the same. Methods: Stress and nutritional status related information was gathered (Nov, 2012-June, 2013) from 118 individuals residing in Uttarakhand state. Stress level was assessed using Personal Stress Score Inventory. Anthropometric details and dietary intake (3 day food recall method) were collected. Nutrient intake were calculated and compared with recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Indians. T-test and Chi-square (χ²) were performed to measure the gender difference in studied variables. Results: 66.6% of females and 85.4% of males reported moderate stress (31-79). Males were seen to be more stressed then females, though no significant difference was seen. A significant difference in BMI (Body mass Index) was seen between males (24.1 kg/m2) and females (21.5 kg/m2). The study sample was found to be deficient in iron and zinc when compared with RDA. Females suffering from various level of stress had significantly lower levels of energy, protein, zinc than males. Conclusion: Majority of subjects were suffering from moderate level of stress. The anthropometric status of subjects was good, though females showed significantly lower intake of nutrients compared to men. Poor intake of iron and zinc points towards a possibility of hidden hunger. Hence, psychological and nutritional counseling may be required

Generalized Gravi-Electromagnetism

A self consistant and manifestly covariant theory for the dynamics of four charges (masses) (namely electric, magnetic, gravitational, Heavisidian) has been developed in simple, compact and consistent manner. Starting with an invariant Lagrangian density and its quaternionic representation, we have obtained the consistent field equation for the dynamics of four charges. It has been shown that the present reformulation reproduces the dynamics of individual charges (masses) in the absence of other charge (masses) as well as the generalized theory of dyons (gravito - dyons) in the absence gravito - dyons (dyons). key words: dyons, gravito - dyons, quaternion PACS NO: 14.80H

Quaternion Gravi-Electromagnetism

Defining the generalized charge, potential, current and generalized fields as complex quantities where real and imaginary parts represent gravitation and electromagnetism respectively, corresponding field equation, equation of motion and other quantum equations are derived in manifestly covariant manner. It has been shown that the field equations are invariant under Lorentz as well as duality transformations. It has been shown that the quaternionic formulation presented here remains invariant under quaternion transformations.Comment: Key Words: Quaternion, dyons, gravito-dyons, gravi-electromagnetism. PACS No.: 04.90. +e ; 14.80. H

Forage Production in Peach Based Hortipastoral System in Indian Himalaya

The North West Himalayan region (NWHR) exhibits a great diversity in geology, physiography, climate, socio-ecology and land use pattern and supports vast livestock population. The annual average rainfall varies from 80 mm in Ladakh to over 2000 mm in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Livestock rearing is an integral part of hill agriculture. The huge animal population (190 lakh) and poor fodder availability (30 to 40 % of the requirement) has widen the gap between demand and supply of forage crops in the region. The area under permanent pasture and grasslands in NWHR is said to be of 15.8 lakh ha and a major portion of it is located in Himachal Pradesh (HP). Considerable area is under grazing lands and but on the whole their productivity (quantity and quality-wise) is rather poor and is continuously deteriorating. The availability of green grasses during winter season is practically nil due to severe winter and burning of forest (Bisht and Yadav, 2014). Thus, livestock is facing acute nutritional stress due to shortage of nutritional fodder and high cost of concentrates. The commonly preferred horticultural based agro-forestry systems are agri-horticulture, silvi-horticulture and silvipastoral in the NWHR. Various studies showed that peach (Prunus persica L.) which belong to family Rosaceae can be intercropped with crops and grasses in Himalayan region. Turmeric performed better than ginger in the peach garden (Arora and Mohan, 1986). The perennial vegetation have been the primary source to rejuvenate productivity of land through recycling of nutrients and make soil physico-chemical properties favorable for plant growth. Farming system approach integrating all the components viz., soil-plant-fodder-animal management is necessary for the economic well being of the inhabitants. Hence, it is suggested to develop hortipastoral systems/models by introducing pasture and foliage component under fruit trees so as to provide nutritious green forage and foliage (Pathak and Roy, 1994) to animals for getting higher production from unit of land in rainfed areas. Hortipastoral system, where in the inter spaces between fruit trees species are utilized for cultivation of grasses and grass legume mixtures. Winter grasses i.e., Perennial rye, Tall fescue, Grassland manava and Hima are grown in Sikkim, J&K, HP, Nilgiri hills and Kumaon and Garhwal hills of Uttaranchal. Under irrigated conditions it can also be grown successfully in subtropical region as winter forage. These grasses are extremely resistant to cold and frost, a good crop can be raised between 1800 to 2500 m altitudes, but in mid hills its cultivation is feasible under irrigated condition. Hortipastoral is a fodder production system to meet the acute shortage of fodder, to improve the soil and to increase the farmer’s income. This will combine horticultural trees, grasses and use of wasteland for fodder production. Therefore, the production techniques for ensuring green fodder supply during winter months, and total fodder supply for the larger period of the year by adoption of hortipastoral system with improved grass species needs to be exploited

Far-infrared observations of Circinus and NGC 4945 galaxies

Circinus and NGC 4945 are two galaxies luminous in the infrared and are characterized by compact non thermal radio nuclei, deep silicate absorption features and unusually strong water vapor maser luminosities. Moorwood and Glass (1984) have observed these galaxies extensively in the 1 to 20 micron range. In the far-infrared, observations up to 100 microns are available from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS). In order to study the cool dust component of these galaxies, researchers observed them at 150 microns using the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) 100 cm balloon-borne telescope. Here, they report observations along with deconvolved maps at 50 and 100 microns obtained from the Chopped Photometric Channel (CPC) on board IRAS

Generalized Electromagnetic fields in Chiral Medium

The time dependent Dirac-Maxwell's Equations in presence of electric and magnetic sources are written in chiral media and the solutions for the classical problem are obtained in unique simple and consistent manner. The quaternion reformulation of generalized electromagnetic fields in chiral media has also been developed in compact, simple and consistent manner

A spectroscopic study of the hybrid pulsator Gamma Pegasi

The recent detection of both pressure and high-order gravity modes in the classical B-type pulsator Gamma Pegasi offers promising prospects for probing its internal structure through seismic studies. To aid further modelling of this star, we present the results of a detailed NLTE abundance analysis based on a large number of time-resolved, high-quality spectra. A chemical composition typical of nearby B-type stars is found. The hybrid nature of this star is consistent with its location in the overlapping region of the instability strips for beta Cephei and slowly pulsating B stars computed using OP opacity tables, although OPAL calculations may also be compatible with the observations once the uncertainties in the stellar parameters and the current limitations of the stability calculations are taken into account. The two known frequencies f1 = 6.58974 and f2 = 0.68241 c/d are detected in the spectroscopic time series. A mode identification is attempted for the low-frequency signal, which can be associated to a high-order g -mode. Finally, we re-assess the binary status of Gamma Peg and find no evidence for variations that can be ascribed to orbital motion, contrary to previous claims in the literature.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figure

Eczema : Management through Ayurveda - A Case Report

Introduction: Eczema, Greek for ‘boil out’[1] is a pruritic disease associated with IgE sensitization. Usually occurring in childhood[2] with a recognised adult onset variation. The frequency of Eczema is as high as 20% in childhood and 0.9% in adults. 1/3rd of the affected individuals develop allergic rhinitis and 1/3rd develop asthma as a complication,[3] making early intervention essential. Vicharchika clinically correlates to Eczema. Management principle is primarily based on Shodhana and Raktaprasadana. Methods: The current report is based on a case of Eczema that presented as scaly skin lesions, intense itching, purulent discharge associated with tenderness and burning sensation. It was diagnosed as Vicharchika with Pittanubandha. Treatment included Raktamokshana, DeepanaPachana, Snehapana, Abhyanga and Virechana. Assessment was done based on subjective and objective parameters. Result: Reduction in pruritus, burning sensation and discharge was noted. Discussion: Ayurveda management with Kushta Chikitsa provided accelerated results in this case

Modifications to the Hadronic Regge Trajectories

The effect of quark mass on the Regge trajectory is analysed. Modifications in the equations of Regge trajectories are shown for mesonic as well as baryonic systems. For mesonic systems, the Regge trajectories get modified, but still remain linear. Contrary to the mesonic case, the Regge trajectories for baryonic systems indicate non-linearity. It is shown that in low mass and angular momentum region two hadrons with different quark compositions can have same mass and angular momentum.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, Published in MPLA, corrected versio

Octonion Quantum Chromodynamics

Starting with the usual definitions of octonions, an attempt has been made to establish the relations between octonion basis elements and Gell-Mann \lambda matrices of SU(3)symmetry on comparing the multiplication tables for Gell-Mann \lambda matrices of SU(3)symmetry and octonion basis elements. Consequently, the quantum chromo dynamics (QCD) has been reformulated and it is shown that the theory of strong interactions could be explained better in terms of non-associative octonion algebra. Further, the octonion automorphism group SU(3) has been suitably handled with split basis of octonion algebra showing that the SU(3)_{C}gauge theory of colored quarks carries two real gauge fields which are responsible for the existence of two gauge potentials respectively associated with electric charge and magnetic monopole and supports well the idea that the colored quarks are dyons