Some Superstitious Botanical Folklore of Different Tribes of North Cachar Hills, Assam (Northeast India)

The district of North Cachar Hills of Assam, one of the most biodiverse regions of the world is endowed with different tribes each with their own traditions, customs and method of healing. Northeast India has been a paradise for ethnobotanical research but the district of N.C.Hills, with its vast ethnobotanical wealth is virtually unexplored. The present study documents for the first time, the superstitious folkloric uses of plants to treat ailments among the different tribes. 16 species of plants has been identified with details on its method of use, disease, parts used, local name and growth forms. The study was conducted through informal interviews after prior informed consent. The study reflects a rich traditional knowledge base of the tribe on ethnomedicine with immense potential for a more detailed study with emphasis on its pharmacological aspects

Traditional Tribal Knowledge and Status of Some Rare and Endemic Medicinal Plants of North Cachar Hills District of Assam, Northeast India

An ethnobotanical survey carried out in the district of North Cachar hills, Assam, North East India during the period of February 2006 – November 2006, has revealed 34 species of plants to be threatened in several parts of the country, and in the district itself. More than 6 species of plants are included in the red Data Book of Indian Plants, 5 numbers of species have already been included in the Red Data List of the IUCN. 13 species documented in the present paper have not been reported about its threat status earlier, but are now threatened in the district. These plants are used in various ways such as, medicinal, wild edibles, ornamentals, building materials and other miscellaneous uses in their daily life. Because of the declining population of species like, Taxus baccata, Renanthera inschootiana, Swertia chirata etc., the area warrants conservation in order to preserve them from extinction. The present paper documents on the botanical name, parts used, local name, and also compares the threat status relative to other regions of the country as per IUCN Guidelines

Agricultural growth linkages in Sub-Saharan Africa:

How much extra net income growth can be had in rural areas of Africa by increasing the spending power of local households? The answer depends on how rural households spend increments to income, whether the items desired can be imported to the local area in response to increased demand, and, if not, whether increased demand will lead to new local production or simply to price rises. For every dollar in new farm income earned, at least one additional dollar could be realized from growth multipliers, according to Agricultural Growth Linkages in Sub-Saharan Africa.Income Rural areas Africa., Agricultural development Africa., Agricultural policy Economic aspects., Households Zimbabwe., Social accounting., Africa sub-Saharan,

Biomarkers for Radiation Pneumonitis Using Noninvasive Molecular Imaging

Our goal is to develop minimally invasive biomarkers for predicting radiation-induced lung injury before symptoms develop. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can predict radiation pneumonitis. Radiation damage to the whole lung is a serious risk in nuclear accidents or in radiologic terrorism. Our previous studies have shown that a single dose of 15 Gy of x-rays to the thorax causes severe pneumonitis in rats by 6–8 wk. We have also developed a mitigator for radiation pneumonitis and fibrosis that can be started as late as 5 wk after radiation. Methods: We used 2 functional SPECT probes in vivo in irradiated rat lungs. Regional pulmonary perfusion was measured by injection of 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin. Perfused volume was determined by comparing the volume of distribution of 99mTc-macroaggregated albumin to the anatomic lung volume obtained by small-animal CT. A second probe, 99mTc-labeled Duramycin, which binds to apoptotic cells, was used to measure pulmonary cell death in the same rat model. Results: The perfused volume of lung was decreased by about 25% at 1, 2, and 3 wk after receipt of 15 Gy, and 99mTc-Duramycin uptake was more than doubled at 2 and 3 wk. There was no change in body weight, breathing rate, or lung histology between irradiated and nonirradiated rats at these times. Pulmonary vascular resistance and vascular permeability measured in isolated perfused lungs ex vivo increased at 2 wk after 15 Gy of irradiation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that SPECT biomarkers have the potential to predict radiation injury to the lungs before substantial functional or histologic damage is observed. Early prediction of radiation pneumonitis in time to initiate mitigation will benefit those exposed to radiation in the context of therapy, accidents, or terrorism

Evolution of 3D Boson Stars with Waveform Extraction

Numerical results from a study of boson stars under nonspherical perturbations using a fully general relativistic 3D code are presented together with the analysis of emitted gravitational radiation. We have constructed a simulation code suitable for the study of scalar fields in space-times of general symmetry by bringing together components for addressing the initial value problem, the full evolution system and the detection and analysis of gravitational waves. Within a series of numerical simulations, we explicitly extract the Zerilli and Newman-Penrose scalar $\Psi_4$ gravitational waveforms when the stars are subjected to different types of perturbations. Boson star systems have rapidly decaying nonradial quasinormal modes and thus the complete gravitational waveform could be extracted for all configurations studied. The gravitational waves emitted from stable, critical, and unstable boson star configurations are analyzed and the numerically observed quasinormal mode frequencies are compared with known linear perturbation results. The superposition of the high frequency nonspherical modes on the lower frequency spherical modes was observed in the metric oscillations when perturbations with radial and nonradial components were applied. The collapse of unstable boson stars to black holes was simulated. The apparent horizons were observed to be slightly nonspherical when initially detected and became spherical as the system evolved. The application of nonradial perturbations proportional to spherical harmonics is observed not to affect the collapse time. An unstable star subjected to a large perturbation was observed to migrate to a stable configuration.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figure

Dynamical evolution of boson stars in Brans-Dicke theory

We study the dynamics of a self-gravitating scalar field solitonic object (boson star) in the Jordan-Brans-Dicke (BD) theory of gravity. We show dynamical processes of this system such as (i) black hole formation of perturbed equilibrium configuration on an unstable branch; (ii) migration of perturbed equilibrium configuration from the unstable branch to stable branch; (iii) transition from excited state to a ground state. We find that the dynamical behavior of boson stars in BD theory is quite similar to that in general relativity (GR), with comparable scalar wave emission. We also demonstrate the formation of a stable boson star from a Gaussian scalar field packet with flat gravitational scalar field initial data. This suggests that boson stars can be formed in the BD theory in much the same way as in GR.Comment: 13 pages by RevTeX, epsf.sty, 16 figures, comments added, refs updated, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Infant feeding practices in an urban tertiary care hospital: A descriptive longitudinal study

Background: Infant and young child feeding are the corner stone for child development. More than a third of the world’s undernourished children reside in India. Inadequate infant and young child feeding practices with inadequate care and management of common illnesses contributes to malnutrition. Objective: To study the prevailing infant feeding practices and determine influence of factors on infant feeding in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: A descriptive longitudinal follow-up study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital between November 2010 and April 2012. Maternal and baby’s profiles were obtained using oral questionnaire after birth by personal one-to-one interview. These cases were followed up for their infant feeding practices till 1 year of age in outpatient department and also by telephonic conversation. Continous variables were analysed by mean and SD. For categorical variable frequency and percentage were determined. Results: 61.25% mothers had initiated breastfeeding within 1 h. Prelacteal feed was given to 28.6% babies. 61.5% had initiated complementary feed at 6 months. Bottle feeding was preferred mode of feeding. There was a statistically significant association between initiation of breastfeeding and parity (p=0.022) and type ofdelivery (p<0.0001), religion and complementary feeding introduction (p<0.001), religion and duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) (p=0.003), occupation and EBF duration (p=0.005), education (p=0.015), and religion (p=0.001) were associated with prelacteal feeds. Conclusions: Infant feeding practices observed from the study include early initiation of breastfeeding, appropriate duration of EBF, and timely introduction of complementary feed. Practice of prelacteal and bottle feeding was seen. Infant feeding practices are found to be influenced by several socio-demographic factors

A CLINICAL STUDY OF CHARAKOKTA SAUVARCHALADI CHURNA IN SHWAS (ASTHMA)

Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of Charakokta sauvarchaladi churna and Theo-asthalin in Shwas”, it aimed at evaluating the efficacy of Sauvarchaladi Churna in Shwas. Materials and Methods: A study was conducted and 60 patients were randomly selected of Shwas, attending OPD or IPD department of Kayachikitsa OPD was included in study and divided into 2 groups. In Group A 30 patients were selected and trial drug was advocated in a dose of 3gm twice a day with Koshna Jal as Anupana. In Group B 30 patients were selected, Tab Theo-Asthalin was given twice a day. Treatment was given for 30 days with the result assessment recorded at every 5 days. Subjective and objective parameters were analyzed before and after the treatment. In subjective parameters Pinasa, Kasa veg, Kapha Sthivan, Shwas Veg gati, Asino Labhate Saukhyam, Ghurghurakam, while ESR, Chest Expansion, Breath holding time and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) are considered as objective parameters. Results: Effect of the Sauverchaladi churn (Group A) and Tab. Theo-Asthalin (Group B) on symptoms observed in Shwas is statistically proved to be significant. But on comparison between two groups, group A is more effective in reducing the symptoms Kasa veg, Kapha Sthivan, Shwas Veg gati, Asino Labhate Saukhyam. In reducing the symptoms Pinasa and Ghurghurakam there is no significant difference between two groups i.e. both groups are equally effective. It was observed that total percentage of relief in symptoms in Group A is 75.24%, whereas in Group B it was found 63.86%. It shows that Group A therapy of Saauvarchaladi churna is more effective in relieving symptoms of Shwas. Conclusion: Comparison between two groups was statistically evaluated by chi- square test. The Chi-square value 7.929 at 2 degrees of freedom, P<0.001 which is statistically highly significant which suggest that Group A was more effective than Group B

Comment on "The extent of forest in dryland biomes"

Bastin et al (Reports, 12 May 2017, p. 635) infer forest as more globally extensive than previously estimated using tree cover data. However, their forest definition does not reflect ecosystem function or biotic composition. These structural and climatic definitions inflate forest estimates across the tropics and undermine conservation goals, leading to inappropriate management policies and practices in tropical grassy ecosystems