Effects of sorghum residue in presence of pre-emergence herbicides on emergence and biomass of Echinochloa colona and Chloris virgata

In conservation agriculture systems, farmers gain many advantages from retaining crop residue on the soil surface, but crop residue retention in these systems may intervene with the activity of pre-emergence herbicides. A pot study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different rates of pre-emergence herbicides [imazethapyr (100 and 150 g a. i. ha-1), isoxaflutole (100 and 200 g a. i. ha-1), metolachlor (1.5 and 2.25 kg a. i. ha-1), pendimethalin (2.25 and 3.38 kg a. i. ha-1) and prosulfocarb + metolachlor (2.5 and 3.75 kg a. i. ha-1)] on seedling emergence and biomass of Echinochloa colona and Chloris virgata when applied in the presence of sorghum residue at rates equivalent to (0, 3 and 6 t ha-1). When seeds of E. colona and C. virgata were not covered with sorghum residue, the seedling emergence and biomass of both weeds was inhibited by 93–100% and 56–100%, respectively, with the application (both rates) of isoxaflutole, metolachlor, pendimethalin and prosulfocarb + metolachlor. Using sorghum residue resulted in lower herbicide efficacy on both weeds. At 3 t ha-1 sorghum residue, E. colona emergence and biomass reduced by 38–100% and 30–100%, respectively, with application of isoxaflutole, metolachlor and pendimethalin (both rates) in comparison with the no-herbicide treatment. Similarly, the emergence and biomass of C. virgata was also reduced by 92–100% and 25–100%, respectively. The results of this study suggest that crop residue may influence efficacy of commonly used pre-emergence herbicides and that the amount of crop residue on the soil surface should be adjusted according to the nature of the pre-emergence herbicides to achieve adequate weed control

Development of spiced squash (appetizer) from wild prickly pear (Opuntia dillenii Haw.) and its quality evaluation during storage

Wild prickly pear (Opuntia dillenii Haw.) is one of the wild fruit with great importance because of its high antioxidants, colour pigments and other quality parameters besides its medicinal properties. In India, there are only a limited number of reports pertaining to utilization of this fruit which further lack the development of value added novel products. So, the present studies were carried out for the development of spiced squash or appetizer from wild prickly pear fruit and its quality evaluation during storage. Different combinations of fruit juice (25, 30, 35 and 40 %) and sugar syrup (40 and 45 °B) were tried to standardize a proper combination for appetizer. The appetizer prepared by using the best recipe with 35 % juice, 45 °B TSS (Total soluble solids) and 1.20 % acidity was packed in two packaging materials viz. glass and PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles which were further stored for six months under ambient and refrigerated temperature conditions. Appetizer packed in glass as well as in PET packaging material can be stored successfully for a period of six months under both the temperature conditions. However, various quality parameters of appetizer were retained higher in glass bottles stored under refrigerated storage conditions

Experimental Study on Autogenous TIG Welding of Mild Steel Material Using Lathe Machine

Tungsten Inert Gas welding (TIG) is additionally called Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), is a kind of advance arc welding process which become a popular choice when a weld of high level quality or considerable precision welding is needed. However, the key issues of TIG welding process are its slow welding speed and restricted to lower thickness material in single pass. In this work, autogenous Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding has been performed with the help of lathe machine on 5 millimeter thick AISI 1020 mild steel plate without using any kind of filler material. Here a wide range of welding current and scan speed has been tested for getting a full penetration type welding. Activated flux has additionally been accustomed to improve the weld depth. After performing the welding by maintaining completely different gap between plates to be welded, tensile strength and weld bead geometry of the weld has been investigated here. It is noted that, with the help of maintaining a suitable gap full penetration welding of the plate can be done which gives strength almost similar to the base material

CLINICAL EFFICACY OF PHALTRIKADI KWATH IN CONTROLLING BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL IN PRAMEHA (TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS

Prameha is also known as diabetes mellitus (DM) in which there is excess and frequent passage of abnormal urine. Also DM is a group of metabolic disease, in which there is high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period, producing symptoms of excess thirst, hunger and urine. It can be kept under control with appropriate diet, exercise and if required medicine. Phalatrikadi kwath is a well known drug used in the treatment of all kinds of diabetes. Aim: the present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Phalatrikadi kwath in controlling blood sugar level. Methods and Material: 35 patients with high blood sugar (fasting >110 mg/dl, postprandial sugar >140 mg/dl) level of either sex attending the OPD of all India Institute of Ayurveda were selected and Phalatrikadi kwath in the dose of 40 ml was given at bed time for eight weeks with modification in diet and lifestyle instruction. Blood sugar level was tested every fifteen days. The result was analyzed by applying paired t test to the data using SPSS software. Result: It was found that the mean value of fasting and PP sugar level before treatment was 193.20 + 78.782 and 275.96 + 95.678 respectively and that after 8 weeks of treatment was 112.76 and 144.52 respectively. The treatment gave a difference of 80.44 in fasting and 131.44 mg/dl sugar level in postprandial state which is found to be highly statistical significant (P value <0.001). Conclusion: Phalatrikadi kwath is a safe and efficacious treatment for all type of Prameha (type II DM) cases whether old or new

Prevalence and correlates of childhood obesity in suburban area of Odisha: A cross sectional study

Introduction: In India obesity and overweight is increasing among urban adolescents. Both under and over nutrition is grappling the country at faster rate. Present study was an attempt to explore obesity and overweight prevalence among school going children in suburban areas of Cuttack city, Odisha, India and their correlates. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among school children in suburban area of Cuttack city, Odisha. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to interview the study participants to elicit information about their age, number of siblings, birth order of the child, working status of parents, television screen viewing time, mode of transport to school and dietary habit of the students. A total of 550 children studying in class five to ten participated in our study. Result: Out of 550 children screened, nearly (14) 2.5% students were thin or severely thin, whereas (67)12.1% students were overweight or obese. Univariate analysis revealed that girls were almost five times at higher risk of being overweight/obesity compared to boys (OR: 4.78 95%CI: 1.35-16.93). Children who used motorized vehicles for going to school had an unadjusted Odds ratio of 10.08 [95%CI: 2.08-48.77] of being overweight or obese compared to those who walked to school. Having more than one child at home (OR= 0.15, 95%CI: 0.039-0.6) and doing physical activity for more than 30min per day (0.105, 95%CI: 0.015-0.72) were found to be protective against overweight and obesity. Conclusion: Bearing in mind the burden of overweight and obesity among school children there is a need for periodic screening, awareness at school and parent counselling

Comparison of quality of anardana (dried arils) prepared in mechanical cabinet and solar tunnel drier from wild pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits procured from different locations of Himachal Pradesh, India

The dried arils (anardana) prepared from wild pomegranate fruits (Punica granatum L.) are widely used as an acidulant in culinary purposes and in formulations of various ayurvedic medicines which are helpful in curing a number of ailments. As there is a wide variation among the quality of fruits which is due to geographic conditions, climatic factors and genetic variability so anardana was prepared from the fruits of different locations under different drying modes. The prepared product was further compared for its physico-chemical, antioxidant and sensory characteristics. Anardana prepared under mechanical cabinet drier and solar tunnel drier was comparable in terms of its various quality characteristics. While comparing the locations for the procurement of raw material, best quality anardana in terms of various quality attributes like colour, TSS [(total soluble solids) (40.35 oB)], total sugars (26.15 %), anthocyanins (37.97 mg/100 g), total phenols (176.46 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (39.45 mg QuE/100 g), antioxidant activity (59.53 %), starch (2.87 %) and sensory characteristics was prepared from the fruits of Karsog location (1265 meters above mean sea level) of Himachal Pradesh, India

Hand hygiene behavior among urban slum children and their care takers in Odisha, India

Objective. To study the knowledge and practice of hand washing among mothers and children of shikharchandi slum of Bhubaneswar, Odisha and to recommend possible measures to improve the current practices. Methodology. Present cross-sectional study was carried out in the Shikharchandi slum located in the Bhubaneswar city of Orissa state in India. 150 women and 80 children were interviewed. Chil- dren questionnaire were prepared to suit to their age and accord- ing to local context. Components of sanitation like food handling and hand washing were covered in this questionnaire. Results. Hand washing before preparing food is being practiced by 85% of women. Of all women interviewed, 77% wash hands before serving food. Only 15% children said soap was available in their school to wash hands. Out of total children interviewed, 76% told that their teachers tell about sanitation and hand washing in the class. Only 5% children told they were consulted by doctor/health worker during last 3 months. As many as 81% children told that they wash their hands before taking food and 19% children said they take their food without washing hands. Though most of the children told that they wash hands before tak- ing food, but only 17.5% told that they use soap for hand washing. Only 29% children told that their teachers check hand washing in school. When asked about critical timing of hand washing, 44% children told about at least two critical timings and 56% were unaware about the critical timings of hand washing. Conclusion. Inadequate knowledge on this among our study par- ticipant is a point of concern. Systematic integration of health and hygiene education in schools through curricular modifications could be an appropriate strategy

A study of organizational versus individual needs related to recruitment, deployment and promotion of doctors working in the government health system in Odisha state, India

Background An effective health workforce is essential for achieving health-related new Sustainable Development Goals. Odisha, one of the states in India with low health indicators, faces challenges in recruiting and retaining health staff in the public sector, especially doctors. Recruitment, deployment and career progression play an important role in attracting and retaining doctors. We examined the policies on recruitment, deployment and promotion for doctors in the state and how these policies were perceived to be implemented. Methods We undertook document review and four key informant interviews with senior state-level officials to delineate the policies for recruitment, deployment and promotion. We conducted 90 in-depth interviews, 86 with doctors from six districts and four at the state level to explore the perceptions of doctors about these policies. Results Despite the efforts by the Government of Odisha through regular recruitments, a quarter of the posts of doctors was vacant across all institutional levels in the state. The majority of doctors interviewed were unaware of existing government rules for placement, transfer and promotion. In addition, there were no explicit rules followed in placement and transfer. More than half (57%) of the doctors interviewed from well-accessible areas had never worked in the identified hard-to-reach areas in spite of having regulatory and incentive mechanisms. The average length of service before the first promotion was 26 (±3.5) years. The doctors expressed satisfaction with the recruitment process. They stated concerns over delayed first promotion, non-transparent deployment policies and ineffective incentive system. Almost all doctors suggested having time-bound and transparent policies. Conclusions Adequate and appropriate deployment of doctors is a challenge for the government as it has to align the individual aspirations of employees with organizational needs. Explicit rules for human resource management coupled with transparency in implementation can improve governance and build trust among doctors which would encourage them to work in the public sector

PRACTICING HEALTH PROMOTION IN PRIMARY CARE – A REFLECTIVE ENQUIRY

IntroductionHealth promotion is an integral part of routine clinical practice. The physicians’ role in improving the health status of the general population, through effective understanding and delivery of health promotion practice, is evident throughout the international literature. Data from India suggest that physicians have limited skills in delivering specific health promotion services. However, the data available on this is scarce. This study was planned to document the current health promotion knowledge, perception and practices of local primary care physicians in Odisha. MethodsAn exploratory study was planned between the months of January – February 2013 in Odisha among primary care physicians working in government set up. This exploratory study was conducted, using a two-step self-administered questionnaire, thirty physicians practicing under government health system were asked to map their ideal and current health promotion practice, and potential health promotion elements to be worked upon to enhance the practice. ResultsThe study recorded a significant difference between the mean of current and ideal health promotion practices. The study reported that physicians want to increase their practice on health education. ConclusionWe concluded that inclusion of health promotion practices in routine care is imperative for a strong healthcare system. It should be incorporated as a structured health promotion module in medical curriculum as well