Indigenous Technical Knowledge and ancient proverbs of the coastal fisher folk of Kerala and their implications

The paper attempts to study the Indigenous Technical Knowledge of the fisher folk offishing villages. Maruvakkad and Mallipuram belonging to Chellanam and Elankunnapuzha Panchayats. respectively of Palluruthy and Vypeen Block, Ernakulam. The Traditional knowledge and proverbs penaining to the fishing community of these villages were collected and the scientific rationale for the same was studied

Oral intake during labor and its effect on labor progression in Indian women at a tertiary care centre

Background: Assessment of the subjective perception of the women regarding satisfaction of oral intake during labor and the effect of oral intake on cervical dilatation rates and labor duration in low-risk laboring women. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from January 2021-July 2022 in a tertiary care hospital with 176 low risk laboring women. Satisfaction of oral intake in labor was assessed by a questionnaire post-delivery and the answers were analysed among various parous groups and were correlated with cervical dilatation rates in active and latent phase and duration of labor. Results: Based on the satisfaction of oral intake in labor, the patients were divided into very satisfied, satisfied, neutral and dissatisfied group. Only 6.7% of primigravidas and 25% of multigravidas were very satisfied with oral intake. Patients who were dissatisfied and not satisfied with oral intake had slower median rates of cervical dilation of 0.45 cm/hour and 1.25 cm/hour in latent and active phase respectively compared to the very satisfied group who had a rate of 0.5 cm/hour and 2.4 cm/hour in the latent and active phase in primigravidas. The mean duration of the first and second stage of labor was 15.5 hours and 50 minutes in the dissatisfied group which was prolonged compared to the patients who had very satisfied oral intake in labor with a duration of 9.6 hours and 30.8 minutes respectively among the primi-gravidas Conclusions: In primi-gravidas the cervical dilation rates were faster in the group who were very satisfied and satisfied with their oral intake compared to the group who were dissatisfied. The labor duration was also prolonged among the dissatisfied group

Isachne veldkampii var. malabarica (Poaceae) - a new wetland variety from Northern Kerala, India

Isachne veldkampii var. malabarica, a new variety is described from the wetlands of Kasaragod, Kerala. It can be distinguished from Isachne veldkampii Bhat & Nagendran by the presence of two types of leaves - ligulate and non-ligulate,1–4 spikelets in each panicle branch and 2 florets which are either both pistillate, both bisexual or upper pistillate and lower bisexual. Description along with figures, illustrations and distribution map are provided

ETHNOBOTANY OF KERALA'S KARKIDAKA KANJI (MEDICATED GRUEL)

The Malayalam month of Karkidaka fall during monsoons rather classically known as the Varsha ritu (July-August). Kerala is a hub of unique healthcare practises. One such practice is the “Karkidaka Chikitsa” which includes both internal and external medications taken during the month. Karkidaka Kanji fondly known as Oushadha Kanji is a medicated gruel, either consumed along with these treatments or alone during this period. In Varsha ritu, there will be decreased Jatharagni and Sharira bala. Hence the seasonal adaptations are carried out for Tridosha shamana and Deepana. This maybe the principle behind adopting Karkidaka Kanji by traditional practitioners of Kerala. In the present study details of the recipe was collected form among the traditional practitioners, Ayurvedic doctors of Kerala and the results were tabulated. An in depth literature survey was done for analysing the properties of the medicines used in the preparation. The analysis showed that this is an example of ritucharya modified according to Desa and Satmya. This study highlights the importance of documenting the ethnic practises for further reference

An analysis of vitamin D levels and the factors affecting vitamin D levels among the adult population attending a tertiary care hospital

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the vitamin D levels and the factors affecting vitamin D levels among the adult population attending a tertiary care hospital.Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted among 568 adult individuals attending various outpatient departments at Sree Gokulam Medical College and Research Centre, Venjaramoodu over a period of 3 months from 1st January to 30th March of 2021. 119 males and 449 females were recruited in the study. Only adult patients between the age of 18 to 70 were included in the study. Blood samples were collected randomly from patients attending different OPDs. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) level was measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) in Roche Cobas e 411 fully automated analyzer.Results: Among the study population, 52.9% of males had Vitamin D deficiency and 70.8% of females had vitamin D deficiency with a p value 0.001. Based on age, the study population was subdivided into three groups-young, middle age and old age groups. 76.9% of the young age group had vitamin D deficiency. 57.2% of middle age group and 56.8% of old age group were Vitamin D deficient with a p value 0.0001.Conclusions: Age and gender are significantly related to Vitamin D levels. While individual’s occupation, BMI and their religion are less significant factors correlated to vitamin D levels in an individual.

Migrant labourers in the marine fisheries sector

It is now recognised that migration is an integral part of the survival strategies of the poor; especially where local economics offer limited livelihood alternatives. Intervention strategies should, therefore, be directed at reducing the vulnerability of migrants, not at reducing migration itself. Migration has become a key facet of today’s world. Migrants living outside their country of birth are 191 million

कर्नाटक के तटीय पानी में पिंजरों में मछ्ली पालन की साध्यताएं

कृपया पूरा लेखा पढ

Adoption of sustainable capture based aquaculture practices by traditional fishermen of Karnataka

Capture Based Aquaculture (CBA) has emerged as the optimal solution to meet India's ever growing demand for protein food security, besides providing additional income to rural fishermen during the lean seasons. The following study documents the adoption of sustainable CBA in traditional farming systems with minimum inputs. The fish farmer being the end user in the technology adoption process, an empirical evaluation of the concept of sustainability is important in reducing the production costs, in harnessing environmental benefits and ensuring stable fish production. The reliability of Farmer Sustainability Index (FSI) to measure the adoption of sustainable practices in capture based aquaculture was measured using Cronbachs Coefficient of Alpha which worked out to 0.97, indicating a high index of reliability of the method used. The FSI constructed was administered to 40 traditional fishermen adopting CBA at Uppunda village of Kundapura taluk of coastal Karnataka. The overall mean FSI index for all the six practices from cage fabrication to harvest was 77.95, indicating a relatively high value of Farmer Sustainability Index for adoption of CBA practices

Detection of the United States Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade in the United Kingdom, August and December 2019 - emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance calls for vigilance.

Since 2015 in the United States (US), the US Neisseria meningitidis urethritis clade (US_NmUC) has caused a large multistate outbreak of urethritis among heterosexual males. Its 'parent' strain caused numerous outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease among men who have sex with men in Europe and North America. We highlight the arrival and dissemination of US_NmUC in the United Kingdom and the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistance. Surveillance systems should be developed that include anogenital meningococci

Group dynamics effectiveness index- A Measure of Gender Centric Approach in Mussel Farming in Coastal Karnataka, India

Today’s extension trends represent a paradigm shift from top down approach to bottom up approach wherein the farmer is the central figure in the technology adoption and technology refinement process. Research and ex-tension organizations have moved from working with individual farmers to collaboration with groups. Members of a group collectively take part in accessing and sharing resources, in decision making, partaking of benefits, than while acting individually. The Participatory Action model (PAM) was used for the transfer of technology to Mussel farmers, through a six step process of planning and implementation. Mussel farming connotes the scien-tific culture of edible bivalves which belong to the family “Mytilidae”. The economic by product of mussel farming is the mussel meat which has considerable commercial value and fetches additional source of income for fisher-men during the lean fishing seasons. Mussel faming in India is carried out as individual ownership, family owner-ship and ownership by self-help groups. In the present study, the Participatory Action Model was used as a meth-od to organize the self-help groups involved in mussel farming. This model aims at development of group capaci-ties through involvement of the group members in planning, implementation, review and reflection process in mussel farming undertaken on a group basis. The study aimed at assessing the Group Dynamics Effectiveness of men and women mussel farmers in their respective groups. The findings revealed that the overall Group Effec-tiveness Index (G.E.I) was 63.03, which has been achieved, within a short period of three years of technology transfer. Results of Chi-square analysis revealed that there was significant association between men and women farmers in the groups with respect to group dimensions such as influence, styles of influence, decision making, task function, feelings, norms, interpersonal trust and group achievements at (P<0.05). The findings of the discri-minant analysis revealed that the group dimensions which significantly discriminated the men and women farm-ers, were achievements of group, norms, interpersonal trust and empathy. The study implies that there is tremen-dous potential for harnessing the group efforts for successful adoption of the technology and future participatory efforts should be directed at strengthening these specific dimensions which govern the group behaviour and which in turn accentuate the G.E.I