Economic Evaluation of Investments in Micro Irrigation Structures in Kandi Area of Punjab

Three types of micro irrigation structures, namely small dams (SD), lift irrigation structures (LIS) and Makowal type structures (MTS) were constructed by the Department of Soil and Water Conservation, Govt. of Punjab, Hoshiarpur division in the Kandi area of Punjab depending upon the availability of water at site, during the period 1990-91 to 1996-97. The impact evaluation has shown that the cultivated area has increased by 9.5 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 9.8 per cent and irrigated area by 600 per cent, 1038 per cent, and 253 per cent for SD (from 1991-92 to 2003-04), LIS (from 1993-94 to 2003-04) and MTS (from 1994-95 to 2003- 04), respectively in the selected villages of these structures. The income of irrigated hectare has been found higher at Rs 14478 than un-irrigated hectare. Discounted cash flow technique has revealed that the financial internal rate of returns are as high as 20.56 per cent, 38.54 per cent and 27.95 per cent for SD, LIS and MTS, respectively, which are highly satisfactory and encourage more public investments on such type of irrigation structures to enhance the income of Kandi farmers.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Individual differences in anxiety sensitivity: The role of emotion regulation and alexithymia

The literature has shown anxiety sensitivity to be a significant risk factor in the development of pathological anxiety. Recent theoretical models have also emphasized the additional importance of emotion regulation in predicting the development of anxiety disorders. The present study examined the interactive influence of anxiety sensitivity and emotion regulatory strategies on anxiety symptoms in an ethnically diverse sample recruited in Singapore in order to determine the most appropriate anxiety prevention strategies to pursue. Results indicate that emotion regulation skills had a much greater effect on anxiety levels in this non-clinical sample than anxiety sensitivity and, second, that emotion regulation skills partially mediated the effect of anxiety sensitivity on anxiety such that emotion regulation accounted for 77% of the impact. Therefore, instruction in emotion regulation skills provides potentially a far more effective means of preventing anxiety than the targeting of anxiety sensitivity in the cultural groups studied. A second aim of the study was to determine if anxiety sensitivity varies across cultures, and if the difference is accounted for by an individual’s awareness, understanding, and ability to communicate his or her feelings (alexithymia). Anxiety sensitivity and alexithymia did not, in fact, vary across the Chinese, Malay, and Indian students sampled. However, Singapore participants in general reported far higher anxiety sensitivity and trait anxiety scores than similar American and international samples. Further, Indian participants had significantly lower anxiety and emotion regulation difficulties, including alexithymia, than Chinese and Malay participants

Qualitative study of trauma outcomes among Acehnese tsunami survivors

This study uses qualitative methods to understand trauma from an indigenous perspective and to assess the validity of the DSM-IV (APA, 2000) diagnosis PTSD and depression in a remote Asian population. Twelve individuals were interviewed about their post-tsunami difficulties in the Indonesian province of Aceh. Contrary to our expectations, participants reported significant numbers of almost all DSM-IV-TR symptoms of PTSD and depression. Although the expressions of illness symptoms were colored by the local language and customs, participants reported few symptoms that could be seen as unique to this culture. These finding suggest that Western developed DSM-IV-TR symptomatology may be largely valid in this culture. The correspondence between PTSD symptoms, functioning and economic distress provides clear indication that the symptoms have a profound effect and should be assessed and treated in the context of how these are expressed in the local context

Technical Efficiency in Crop Production: A Region-wise Analysis

The technical efficiency in crop production has been reported in different regions as well as in the state of Punjab to show how different regions have adopted the latest technology. Technical efficiency of individual farms has been estimated through stochastic frontier production function analysis. The production function estimates have pointed towards the presence of disguised unemployment in the sub-mountainous region of the Punjab state. The technical efficiency has shown a wide variation across regions. The average technical efficiency has been found maximum in the central region (90 per cent), followed by south-western and sub-mountainous regions. The main drivers of inefficiency have been identified as experience in agriculture and age of a farmer. The policy intervention to improve technical efficiency being not the same for all the regions, the study has observed that the state would benefit more if policy interventions are developed at the local level.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Technical Efficiency of Wheat Production in Punjab: A Regional Analysis

The study has analysed the technical efficiency in wheat production across different regions of the Punjab state. It is based on the cross sectional data collected from a random sample of 564 farm households comprising 58, 318, and 188 households from semi-hilly, central and south-western regions for the year 2005-06. The mean technical efficiency of wheat production has been found as 87 per cent, 94 per cent, 86 per cent and 87 per cent in semi-hilly, central, south-western and Punjab state as a whole, respectively. The results signify that farmers of the central region do not have much scope to increase productivity of wheat through technical efficiency improvement under the existing conditions of input-use and technology. In the semi-hilly and south-western regions, the yield of wheat can be improved to the extent of 13 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively through adoption of better practices of technology. Across different regions, wheat area has contributed positively and significantly, the coefficient being highest and only significant variable for the central region. The coefficient of expenditure on insecticides and pesticides has been found significant for the semi-hilly region, demanding boost in the expenditure on insecticides and pesticides to increase wheat production in this region. The coefficient of fertilizer nutrients has been observed positive and significant for the semi-hilly and south-western regions, indicating that there is scope for increasing production of wheat by enhancing the use of fertilizers in these regions. Further, the technical efficiencies are positively and significantly related to age, education and experience of a farmer and percentage area under the crop.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Lighten up: Exploring Skin Lightening Practices among Canadian South Asian Woman

This thesis examines how and why South Asian women decide to engage in the beauty practice of skin lightening within Canada. Skin lightening involves the use of products, treatments and procedures to lighten, whiten and brighten ones skin tone. In particular, I examine this practice through the lens of shadeism, which is discrimination against darker skin tones. Through conducting qualitative interviews with South Asian women and South Asian women who work as beauticians, I uncover the ways in which light/er skin operates as a form of social capital with potential to improve life chances. In this thesis I trace the historical and ongoing impact of shadeism within the South Asian context by examining the legacies of the caste system, colonialism and the contemporary globalizing white beauty ideal

Endometrial stromal sarcoma: a rare tumour

Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) are rare endometrial tumours arising from stroma of endometrium i.e. connective tissue of endometrium rather than glands. Usually a pre-operative diagnosis is difficult. Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy is main line of treatment. Adjuvant hormone therapy in the form of progesterones, GnRH analogues, aromatase inhibitors are effective for prevention of recurrences as these tumours are invariably positive for oestrogen & progesterone receptors. Surgical excision, radiotherapy, hormone therapy are recommended for recurrences. We report a 52 yrs widow with undifferentiated endometrial stromal sarcoma weighing 3.75 kg with a short history of 3 months diagnosed only after histopathology

Study and analysis of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels as a biomarker of placental adherence in low lying placenta

Background: The objective was to study and analyze maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein levels as a biomarker of placental adherence in low lying placenta. Methods: This was a prospective observational study analysing the conditions and the data of 80 cases with low lying placenta in a tertiary care hospital. The analysis was done for the association of MSAFP with MRI, perinatal and maternal outcome. Results: The level of MSAFP was found higher in 12 out of 13 cases (93.3%) of placenta previa with placental adherence. There was significant surgical intervention (80%) and increased maternal morbidity (68.8%) in the study group with placental adherence and raised MSAFP respectively. Conclusions: MSAFP is an important biomarker for prognostication of placental adherence in low lying placenta

Antifertility effect of bait containing Carica papaya L. seed powder in male lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray and Hardwicke)

448-457In rodent control exercise, after successful control with rodenticides, the surviving population often rebuild up themselves rapidly due to reduced competition and high rate of reproduction. In this context, here, we investigated the potential of papaya (Carica papaya L.) seed powder as a natural reproduction inhibitor for male lesser bandicoot rat, Bandicota bengalensis (Gray and Hardwicke) in reducing the post control population rebuild up rate. Exposure of male B.bengalensis to cereal based bait containing 2, 3 and 5% papaya seed powder for 15 and 30 days durations in bi-choicelaboratory feeding tests resulted in the ingestion of total 7.14-18.15 and 13.74-41.25 g/kg body wt. of the active ingredient,respectively. Breeding performance of treated rats was 33.33 and 16.67% after treatment with 5% papaya seed powder for15 and 30 days, respectively. Autopsy of rats immediately after treatment withdrawal revealed a significant decrease inweights of testis, cauda epididymis, seminal vesicles and prostate gland. Sperm motility, sperm viability and sperm countwere found reduced and sperm abnormality increased significantly in the cauda epididymal fluid of treated rats as comparedto untreated rats. The total proteins, 17β-HSD, 3β-HSD and testosterone levels were also found decreased in treated rats ascompared to untreated rats. All the changes observed in treated rats showed partial or no recovery after 30 days of treatmentwithdrawal. The study suggests the potential of papaya seed powder in regulating fertility of male B. bengalensis which maybe exploited as a component of integrated rodent pest management

The prevalence of pruritus gravidarum and its relation with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Background: Pruritus is a common complaint amongst pregnant woman, affecting 20% of them. This can be physiological or due to some specific dermatological conditions. Among them Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is most common cause and is characterized by pruritus with derranged liver enzymes and raised serum bile acid levels in the absence of any other liver pathology. It is associated with increased fetomaternal morbidity. Methods: This was a prospective study, conducted at Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre, Government Medical College, Amritsar in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology with collaboration of Dermatology Department, from March 2021 to Aug 2022. After taking ethical approval, informed consent, detailed history, clinical and biochemical assessment was done and fetomaternal outcome was recorded. Results: Prevalance of pruritus was 20.8% amongst pregnant women, of which 24% patients were diagnosed having intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and 76% were labelled as NON ICP patients. Among NON ICP patients prevalence of pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy was 32.10%. Majority intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients had moderately affected quality of life. Majority of pruritic patients had normal bilirubin levels and all intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients had raised serum Alanine transaminase, Aspartate transaminase, bile acids values. Meconium stained liquor, preterm delivery, Low birth weight, cesarean rates, NICU admissions rates were higher in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients. Conclusions: Pruritus in pregnancy is a common condition. Dermatological opinion along with liver function tests should be done to know about the cause and severity of pruritus. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) affects perinatal outcomes. So patients should be closely monitored to improve the fetomaternal outcome