A Study on Impact of Training for Efficient Water Management in Agriculture

Extension functionaries play a catalytic role in adoption of agricultural innovations where water management is no exception. Training plays a pivotal role for enhancing the competence of extension functionaries’ through diffusion of innovations at actual workplace. In this stride, training on scaling up of water productivity in agriculture was organized and evaluated at all the stages of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Skill and Aspiration (KASA) model. The model assumes that change in knowledge, attitude, skill and aspiration leads to modification in practices for creating desired changes in water management in agriculture. Significant change in acquiring knowledge, developing participatory skills, changing attitudes and fulfilling aspirations towards scaling-up of water productivity in agriculture was observed. Hence, the enhanced learning will be effectively diffused among the farmers at the actual workplace for effective water management

ANTIPLAQUE EFFICACY OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM TOOTHPASTE - AN IN VITRO STUDY

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of Ganoderma lucidum toothpaste as an antiplaque agent and to compare its efficacy with herbal toothpaste and mouthwash.Methods: Pooled saliva was collected in a sterile container from the volunteers after taking the consent. Tissue culture plate with 12 (3 × 4) wells was chosen. Pooled saliva of 20 mL was added to each well using the micropipette and was kept in the incubator at 37°C for 72 h. After 72 h, saliva was removed without touching the walls or the base of the wells. Each row was treated either with slurry prepared with Ganoderma/herbal/Colgate total toothpaste or herbal/chlorhexidine mouthwash/distilled water. One row of wells was kept as a control using erythrosine dye. After 30 s, all the wells were rinsed with distilled water. Erythrosine dye was added to all the wells, kept for 30 s, and rinsed with distilled water. The tissue culture plate was kept in the ELx800MS machine (ELISA reader) which was set at 540 nm, and the readings were obtained.Results: The results showed that G. lucidum toothpaste slurry reduced plaque than herbal and chlorhexidine mouthwash. However, there was no significant difference in plaque reduction between herbal and G. lucidum toothpaste slurries.Conclusion: The present study concluded that G. lucidum had better antiplaque efficacy than herbal toothpaste, herbal mouthwash, and chlorhexidine mouthwash

Implementing Neural Fuzzy Rough Set and Artificial Neural Network for Predicting PCOS

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (or polycystic ovary syndrome – PCOS) is a multifarious form in which a woman’s ovaries are normally larger than standard. The term ‘Polycystic’ defines that the ovaries comprise of numerous cysts or follicles to facilitate hardly ever nurture towards ripeness or generate eggs accomplished of being fertilized. One third of women could contain polycystic ovaries observed on an ultrasound, however it does not all have PCOS. PCOS is comparatively universal, especially for sterile women. It concerns about 12 to 18 per cent of women of reproductive age (between late adolescence and menopause). In approximate 70 per cent of this kind of cases remain undiagnosed. In our previous researches, we have proposed a new feature selection technique and hybrid approach and in this present investigation, we implement these proposed algorithms to forecast the PCOS disease among women. In addition to above analysis, we evaluate the effect of the proposed algorithms with other existing methods

Efficient removal of methyl orange using magnesium oxide nanoparticles loaded onto activated carbon

ABSTRACT. In this work, an activated carbon composite made with magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONP-AC) was effectively utilized for methyl orange (MO) adsorption. The effect of pH (6-10), mass of MgONP-AC (0.1-0.3 g/L), initial MO concentration (10-30 mg/L), and temperature (283-323 K) on MO removal was investigated using a central rotatable composite experimental design based on the response surface technique (RSM) at an equilibrium agitation period of 60 min. The studies predicted the optimal MO removal of 98.99% at pH 7.68, MgONP-AC dosage of 0.24 g/L, and starting MO concentration of 15 mg/L, and temperature of 313 K. Furthermore, an artificial neural network (ANN) was utilized to simulate MO adsorption, and it properly predicted MO removal using mean squared error (MSE) and R2 for the testing data. The ANN predicts a maximum removal of 99.63% with ANN with R2 = 0.9926. The kinetic results suited the pseudo-second order kinetic equation, and the data from the equilibrium investigations corresponded well with the Langmuir isotherm (maximum uptake capacity qmax = 346 mg/g). Endothermic, spontaneous, and physical adsorption were discovered during the thermodynamic investigations.   KEY WORDS: Adsorption, Artificial neural network, Experimental design, isotherms, Kinetics, Methyl orange, MgONP-AC   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(3), 531-544.                                                                DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i3.

Significance of prescription elements and determination of prescription errors in psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital

Background: Prescription is a paper or electronic document issued by licensed medical practitioner detailing the medicine or medicines to be dispensed for an individually named patient. Psychopharmacology is a rapidly growing field and psychiatrists are exposed to lots of newly introduced drugs. Therefore, this study was carried out to determine the Errors in elements of Prescription in Psychiatry Outpatient Department.Methods: A cross sectional descriptive, non-interventional study in OPD of Psychiatry Department for 12weeks, 300 prescriptions was analyzed.Results: Superscription transcription and subscription was included in almost all the prescriptions. In 244 (81.33%) signature was present. Registration number was written in 177 (59.0%) prescriptions. Only 56 (18.70%) prescriptions were written in generic name and 49 (16.34%) in capital letter. The dose was written in 241 (80.34%) of the total prescription. The frequency was written for all the drugs in 273 (91.0%) and some drugs in 46 (15.34%) and none of the drugs in 13 (4.33%) of the total prescriptions. Instructions for use was written for all the drugs in 216 (72.0%) and some drugs in 39 (13.0%) and none of the drugs in 45 (15.0%) of the total prescription. Total quantity to be dispensed was written for all the drugs in 284 (94.66%) and some drugs in 9 (3.0%) and none of the drugs in 7 (2.33%) of the total prescription. Polypharmacy was observed only in a quartile of the total prescriptions.Conclusions: The results of the present study show varied compliance to different elements of prescription writing. Low level of generic prescription observed in this study is a matter of concern. Increased generic prescribing will reduce the cost of medications and promote medication adherence

Removal of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) using activated carbon prepared from mango kernel activated with H3PO4

The present work reported the adsorption of Cr (VI) from aqueous solutions on activated carbon prepared from mango kernel, a seasonal waste from mango fruits. Kernels from dried mango fruit shells were taken out and pulverized in a micro-pulverizing mill. The powder thus obtained was activated with 40% H3PO4 and carbonized at 600 °C for 1 hour in an inert atmosphere. Physico-chemical characteristics such as elemental composition, surface area, functional groups and surface morphology of the activated carbon were analyzed using elemental analyzer, BET surface area analyzer, FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis respectively. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to investigate the effects of Cr (VI) concentration, carbon dose, pH, rate of agitation, time and temperature. The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) was found to be 7.8 mg g−1 at pH 2 and temperature 35 °C. The Langmuir adsorption isotherm best represented the equilibrium data and a pseudo-second order relation represented the adsorption kinetics

Klippel trenaunay syndrome-an obstetric challenge

Klippel Trenaunay Syndrome is a rare congenital disease characterized by triad of extensive cutaneous haemangiomas (most common), venous varicosities and hypertrophy affecting a leg and/or arm on one side. We report two cases of pregnant women with Klippel Trenaunay syndrome of which one patient presented with Kasabach Merritt Syndrome (refractory coagulopathy). 24-year-old primigravida of 29 weeks with KTS presented with bleeding gums for two days. Known case of diabetes, hypothyroid on treatment and treated TB lymphadenopathy. She had hypertrophy with varicosities and haemangiomas on left lower limb and vulvar region. She was treated for thrombocytopenia at 19 weeks gestation with steroids. Laboratory studies revealed thrombocytopenia. Steroids were given as per haematologist opinion for thrombocytopenia. She had emergency caesarean section with platelet transfusion at 35 weeks as per vascular surgeon opinion. Postoperatively she was given anticoagulants and steroids. 28-year-old primigravida of 39 weeks with KTS admitted for safe confinement. She had surgery for haemorrhoids at 14 years of age and had bleeding per rectum two years back. She had hypertrophy of left lower limb and cutaneous nevus in multiple dermatomes on left half of body. Doppler left lower limb shows superficial varicosities. Laboratory studies revealed normal. With multidisciplinary approach, she had elective caesarean in view of primigravida/breech-footling presentation. Post operatively she was given anticoagulants. The success in the management of these patients requires the participation of multidisciplinary approach. The use of prophylactic anticoagulant is generally advised during the pregnancy and postpartum period

Yield and Economic Viability of Coriander under Frontline Demonstration in Bundi District of Rajasthan

A study was conducted in Bundi district of Rajasthan to analyze yield and economics of coriander under frontline demonstration. Results of the study revealed that yields in coriander were substantially higher over the Local Check (Control), fetching the participating farmers a higher price for their produce. A majority of the respondent farmers expressed high (44.32%) to very high (37.50%) level of satisfaction with extension services and performance of the technology under the demonstration