Study on the effect of machine operative parameters on physical characteristics of rice/maize based fruit/vegetable pulp fortified extrudates

 Rice / Maize based extruded products were formulated in addition to fruit (guava, banana) and vegetable (tomato, pumpkin) pulp to enhance the nutritive value and flavour to fulfil the requirements of children from three to five years old.  The Response Surface Methodology was used with machine parameters as independent variables (die temperature, screw speed and feed rate) while physical parameters such as expansion ratio, density and textural characteristics were analysed for model validation.  The extrusion of cereals by adding 10% of pulp of fruit and vegetable was an added advantage on nutrition and structure.  The final product was agreeable in terms of physical structure by slightly compromising in expansion and texture. The banana added extrudates of rice and maize had maximum expansion and lower in toughness.   Keywords: Extrusion process, fruit and vegetable fortified extrudates, response surface method; snack food, optimizatio

Analysis of knowledge and attitude regarding antenatal examination among nursing students in Sikkim: a descriptive co-relational study

Background: The antenatal period is a time of physical and psychological preparation of birth and parenthood. Becoming a part is a time of intense learning both for parents and those close to them. This can be a time of great hope and joyful anticipation. The primary aim of antenatal care is to achieve, at the end of pregnancy, a healthy mother and healthy baby. The quality of care is more important than the quantity. Most women pass through the period with specific assessment, supportive measures and encouragement. Life threatening conditions place the woman and fetus at risk for significant mortality and morbidity. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding the antenatal examination and also to assess their attitude towards it at selected nursing institute of Gangtok, Sikkim. Hence the present study was planned to assess and compare the knowledge and attitude towards antenatal examination among nursing students.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, co-relational study was carried out at Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Vinayaka Mission College of Nursing and School of Nursing, STNM hospital Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Data were collected using structured questionnaire for which validity and reliability was ensured. 64 nursing students’ were selected through non-probability convenience sampling technique who are currently undergoing 3rd year GNM, 1st year PBBSc and 3rd and 4th year B. Sc. Nursing programme and attended regular classes on antenatal examination.Results: The findings revealed that nursing students had mean knowledge score of 20.07 (66.97%) on antenatal examination. However, the majority of nursing students (n=54, 84.3%) did not have adequate knowledge on antenatal examination. The study revealed that nursing students had positive attitudes towards antenatal examination with mean score 75.2 (89.5%) against a possible score of 84 (SD 4.098).The study also reveals that there was poorly positive relationship found between knowledge of nursing students and their attitude towards antenatal examination (P<0.05). Different nursing programme significantly influences knowledge regarding antenatal examination (???? = 0.001), while attitude was influenced by number of times nursing students performed antenatal examination and total theory hours attended respectively (P <0.05).Conclusions: A majority of nursing students demonstrated inadequate knowledge but had favorable attitude towards antenatal examination. As nurses are the major health care providers in community settings if their knowledge is enhanced it can contribute effectively to achieve the goal in reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate

Anti-nutritional compounds in pulses: Implications and alleviation methods

Pulses are a rich source of protein and minerals particularly for the vegetarian and vegan population. However, several anti-nutritional compounds, such as trypsin inhibitor, phenolic compounds, phytates, cyanogenic compounds, lectins and saponins are also found in the legumes. Most of the anti-nutritional compounds of the pulses are present in the seed coat. Most of these compounds are sensitive to heat and can be substantially reduced by milling, cooking, germination, fermentation and heat processing. This review paper summarizes anti-nutritional compounds present in different pulses including their fractions, significance and beneficial and adverse effect on human health. The aim of this paper is to enlighten the readers about the anti-nutritional compounds present in the pulses and possible processing methods to enhance utilization of pulses

GREEN BUYING BEHAVIOR AMONG MAURITIAN CONSUMERS: EXTENDING THE TPB MODEL : Received: 28th June 2021; Revised: 25th October 2021, 11th January 2022, 21st January 2022; Accepted: 25th January 2022

This study aims to explore the major predictors of green purchase behavior in Mauritius, using an extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model by incorporating advertising and sales promotion as two new factors. A self-administered questionnaire using quota and judgmental sampling survey was conducted to collect data. Hundred and fifty respondents judged to be knowledgeable about environmentally friendly products were approached to participate in the survey. The findings reveal that Mauritians have a strong positive attitude towards the environment. Sales promotion, subjective norms, and attitude towards the environment are found to be significant determinants of green purchase intention. Perceived behavioral control and advertising were identified as not very significant variables. Results further show that there is not enough advertising done concerning green products in Mauritius.  A positive relationship between green purchase intention and green purchase behavior was also identified. The results of this study can assist marketers and policymakers in developing more effective strategies when marketing green products in Mauritius to create better awareness and more acceptability of this emerging phenomenon that is a good part of sustainability development

Arjun

In The Lotus Singers: Short Stories from Contemporary South Asia. Written by Mahasweta Devi, translated into English from Bengali by Mridula Nath. Adivasi tribal identity is challenged and forced for sale yet again in a discomforting story of environmental exploitation and inextricable social ties

Assessing the Disparities of Per-capita Electricity Consumption in North-Eastern States of India Using Gini Index and Lorenz Curve

Electricity is the basic need for individuals, households and industries. It is used for everyday life activities by the households, agricultural activities, commercial buildings and industries. The per capita electricity consumption is a proxy indicator growth and development status of a region. All the north eastern states consume per-capita electricity lesser than the national average except Sikkim. The per capita consumption of electricity by Nagaland, Assam and Manipur is nearly just one-third of the national average. Notably, these three north eastern states consume just 40 percent of per capita electricity compared to the highest consumer state Meghalaya. The present study is an evaluation of the per-capita electricity consumption trend and inequality amongst the north-eastern states of India using Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve for two different time periods i.e. 2007 and 2017. We find that Tripura’s annual linear growth rate of per-capita electricity consumption is the highest (3 percent) while that of Meghalaya is the least (1 percent) and the other five states are growing equally at the rate of 2 percent. The Gini coefficient is found to be decreasing from 0.137 in 2007 to 0.122 in 2017. We conclude that the level of inequality is reducing among north eastern states of India though the per-capita consumption of electricity is less than the national average

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Not AvailableRice / Maize based extruded products were formulated in addition to fruit (guava, banana) and vegetable (tomato, pumpkin) pulp to enhance the nutritive value and flavour to fulfil the requirements of children from three to five years old.The Response Surface Methodology was used with machine parameters as independent variables (die temperature, screw speed and feed rate) while physical parameters such as expansion ratio, density and textural characteristics were analysed for model validation. The extrusion of cereals by adding 10% of pulp of fruit and vegetable was an added advantage on nutrition and structure. The final product was agreeable in terms of physical structure by slightly compromising in expansion and texture. The banana added extrudates of rice and maize had maximum expansion and lower in toughness.Indo US Agriculture Knowledge Initiative Projec

Analysis of knowledge and attitude regarding antenatal examination among nursing students in Sikkim - a descriptive co-relational study

Background: The antenatal period is a time of physical and psychological preparation of birth and parenthood. Becoming a part is a time of intense learning both for parents and those close to them. This can be a time of great hope and joyful anticipation. The primary aim of antenatal care is to achieve, at the end of pregnancy, a healthy mother and healthy baby. The quality of care is more important than the quantity. Most women pass through the period with specific assessment, supportive measures and encouragement. Life threatening conditions place the woman and fetus at risk for significant mortality and morbidity. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of nursing students regarding the antenatal examination and also to assess their attitude towards it at selected nursing institute of Gangtok, Sikkim. Hence the present study was planned to assess and compare the knowledge and attitude towards antenatal examination among nursing students.Methods: A quantitative, descriptive, co-relational study was carried out at Sikkim Manipal College of Nursing, Vinayaka Mission College of Nursing and School of Nursing, STNM hospital Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Data were collected using structured questionnaire for which validity and reliability was ensured. 64 nursing students’ were selected through non-probability convenience sampling technique who are currently undergoing 3rd year GNM, 1st year PBBSc and 3rd and 4th year B. Sc. Nursing programme and attended regular classes on antenatal examination.Results: The findings revealed that nursing students had mean knowledge score of 20.07 (66.97%) on antenatal examination. However, the majority of nursing students (n=54, 84.3%) did not have adequate knowledge on antenatal examination. The study revealed that nursing students had positive attitudes towards antenatal examination with mean score 75.2 (89.5%) against a possible score of 84 (SD 4.098).The study also reveals that there was poorly positive relationship found between knowledge of nursing students and their attitude towards antenatal examination (P<0.05). Different nursing programme significantly influences knowledge regarding antenatal examination (???? = 0.001), while attitude was influenced by number of times nursing students performed antenatal examination and total theory hours attended respectively (P <0.05).Conclusions: A majority of nursing students demonstrated inadequate knowledge but had favorable attitude towards antenatal examination. As nurses are the major health care providers in community settings if their knowledge is enhanced it can contribute effectively to achieve the goal in reduction of maternal and infant mortality rate

Isolation of bacteria from allopathic and ayurvedic syrups used for UTI and diarrhoea

Syrups are used as the flavouring, colouring and sweetening agents in oral pharmaceutical products. I conducted my research on isolation & identification of bacteria found in Allopathic & Ayurvedic syrups. A total of 30 samples of syrups purchased from different medicine store of Paonta Sahib Market. The samples were processed for further dilutions (10-1-10-3) in 9ml distilled water & put into Nutrient agar plates by spread plate method. After that colony was propagate in Nutrient broth followed by culture on Selective Media- EMB, MacConkey, BSA, XLD, MSA etc. All isolates have their own morphological characters. I isolated 39 isolates in which 18S.aureus, 8Salmonella, 4E.coli, 5Pseudomonas were taken. These all pathogenic bacteria cause microbial contamination in syrups samples in pharmaceutical industries