Dynamics of Amphan Cyclone and Associated Changes in Ocean, Land Meteorological and Atmospheric Parameters

The low-pressure system developed in the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea during March- October, often forms tropical cyclones, depending upon the intensity widespread destruction occurs in the areas where landfall takes place along the Indian coastal region. On 20 May, 2020, tropical cyclone Amphan hit the Indian coast at Bakkhali, West Bengal, in the afternoon (1330 IST). On 19 May, 2020, the intensity strengthened into a super cyclonic storm, with a strong wind speed up to 220 km/h. This cyclone affected a large population of India and Bangladesh. More than twenty-two thousand houses were damaged and millions of people were shifted to a safe place and due to the spread of COVID-19, the rescue missions were quite challenging. The cyclone affected most of the eastern states of India, heavy rainfall occurred causing floods along the track of cyclones. Using multi-satellite, ground and Argo floats data, we have analyzed meteorological and atmospheric parameters during May 2020. Our detailed analysis shows pronounced changes in atmospheric (CO mole fraction, total ozone column) and ocean parameters (chlorophyll concentration, dissolved oxygen, salinity, sea surface and sub-surface temperature) before and after the cyclone. Changes in ocean parameters such as caused by the cyclone Amphan along its track and the atmospheric and meteorological parameters change as the cyclone moves over the land

A hospital-based study of severe anemia in adults in Eastern India

Background: Anemia remains a crucial health problem in developing countries. Cardiac compromise and fatal complications usually occur at Hb of <5g/dL. The aim of the study was to determine possible etiologic and clinical profile in adult patients with very severe anemia (Hb of <5g/dL).Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in a teaching hospital of Odisha over a period of 12months. A total of 70 patients of both men and non-pregnant women admitted to the medicine wards were included after exclusion. Detailed history, clinical examination and investigation findings were recorded. Independent ‘t’ test, Wilcoxon rank sum test, Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test were used as applicable, to compare the variables.Results: The mean Hb (g/dL) was 3.73 ±0.85 and the mean age of the study group was 53.34±17.75years. No significant difference was observed in the severity of anemia between the female (mean Hb of 3.56±0.93) and male patients (mean Hb of 3.87±0.77) (p=0.130). The most frequent etiology found was absolute iron deficiency (44.3%, n=31) and mostly (41.9%) found in the age group of ≥65years (p<0.001). Congestive cardiac failure was found in 20% (n=14) of patients and majority of patients (64.2%, n=9) were males (p<0.001).Conclusions: Iron deficiency is the principal cause of very severe anemia in adults rather than malignancy or anemia of chronic disease and only about one fourth of patients develop heart failure even with very severe anemia

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ସାମୁଦ୍ରିକ ଶୈବାଳ ଚାଷର ସୁଯୋଗ, ସମସ୍ୟା ଏବଂ ଏହାର ସମାଧାନ (Seaweed farming in Odisha: Opportunities and Challenges -Odia version)

ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ସାମୁଦ୍ରିକ ଶୈବାଳ ଚାଷର ସୁଯୋଗ, ସମସ୍ୟା ଏବଂ ଏହାର ସମାଧାନ (Seaweed farming in Odisha: Opportunities and Challenges -Odia version

Changing epidemiology of dengue in South-East Asia

ABSTRACT The burden of dengue and its potential threat to global health are now globally recognized, with 2.5 billion people at risk worldwide. The pathogenesis of severe dengue is particularly intriguing with the involvement of different immune factors. Also, the epidemiology of dengue in South-East Asia is undergoing a change in the human host, the dengue virus and the vector bionomics. Shift in affected age groups, sex differences and expansion to rural areas are evident, while the virulence and genotype of the virus determine the severity and time interval between sequential infections. The Aedes mosquito, a potent and adaptive vector, has evolved in longevity and survival, affected by seasonality and climate variability, socio-cultural and economic factors of human habitation and development. This review provides insights into the changing epidemiology and its factors in South-East Asia, one of the most important epicentres of dengue in the world, highlighting the major factors influencing these rapid changes. Addressing the changes may help mitigate the challenges in the current dengue control and prevention efforts

Application of information theory-based decision support system for high precision modeling of the length-weight relationship (LWR) for five marine shrimps from the northwestern Bay of Bengal

The study was conducted to develop an information theory-based decision support system to understand the variance distribution structure of the data so that a proper modeling approach could be implemented to explain the relationship between the body length and weight of shrimps. Based on biological reasoning, initially, a log-normal multiplicative error structure was assumed and therefore, a log-linearized model was applied. Secondly, the support for normal additive error structure was assessed by fitting a weighted nonlinear model with a power variance structure (wNLM) to address the heteroscedasticity in shrimp weight. The likelihood support for the error structures was ascertained by comparing th

Serum gamma-glutamyl transferase level in acute stroke

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, causing 6.2 million deaths in 2011. Serum Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) has been conventionally considered as a marker of excessive alcohol intake and/or liver dysfunction. There are accumulating evidences suggesting association of raised serum GGT level in stroke. So, this study was conducted to determine the association between the serum GGT level and stroke in population without history of alcohol consumption.Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was carried out at Department of General medicine, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla from November 2016 to October 2018. 100 cases and 100 controls were included in this study. Cases were the patients admitted to Department of General Medicine, VIMSAR, Burla, presenting within 24 hours of first episode of stroke. Controls were the age (+/-5 years) and sex matched healthy attendants of the patients. Alcoholics or patients suffering from hepatitis, cirrhosis of liver, cholestasis or patients taking drugs like Phenytoin, Valproic acid, Carbamazepine etc or patients with past episode of stroke were excluded from this study. Serum GGT level of both cases and controls were measured and compared.Results: In stroke patients, the mean serum GGT level was 54.95 IU/L with standard deviation of 20.54. In controls, the mean serum GGT level was 32.14 IU/L with standard deviation of 5.07. The p-value was less than 0.0001 i.e. highly significant.Conclusions: Serum GGT level is significantly increased in stroke patients than healthy persons without stroke

Status of eel fishery along the Odisha coast

Estimated landings of eels along the Odisha coast during 2007- 2021 ranged from 561 to 5194 tonnes. In 2021, the total eel landings of 1752 tonnes contributed 1.7 % to the total marine fish catch of the state. Multiday trawlers were the major crafts operated for eel resources with highest landings observed during October-December (47.7%) along the Odisha coast. Six species regularly landed during the period were Anguilla bicolor, Muraenesox bagio, Muraenesox cinereus, Congresox talabon, Congresox talabonoides and Strophidon sathete with rare landings of Gymnothorax sp. and Congresox sp. also recorded. During 2007- 2021, M. cinereus (36 %), M. bagio (35%), followed by A. bicolor (21%), Congresox sp. (3%), C. talabonoides (3%), C. talabon (1%) and S. sathete (1%) dominated amongst the eel species landed during all the years. M. bagio followed by S. sathete were the dominant and targeted species landed at Puri during 2021. The length range for M. bagio and S. sathete were 95-190 cm and 60-240 cm respectively. The market price is `300-350 for M. bagio whereas S. sathete which comes as bycatch is sold at `50-60 per kg in fresh condition

Note on a large sized Indian squid landed

Indian squid, Uroteuthis (Photololigo) duvauceli (Orbigny, 1835) locally called as Narsingha, forms an important cephalopod resource in Gujarat. The present specimen was collected on 20th January 2017 from the Veraval Fishing Harbour caught by a singleday trawler operating at a depth zone of 40 to 60 m off Gujarat coast. The particular trawler also landed about 20 kg of considerably bigger size squids. U. (P.) duvauceli show differential allometric growth and the asymptotic length for male is higher than females, whereas the female grows faster compared to males