46 research outputs found
Russia-Ukraine War and Its Impact on Global Oil and Food Prices
Due to the war between Russia and Ukraine, oil and gas prices and food prices have risen worldwide. This disruption has affected the distribution and production of trade commodities for which Ukraine and Russia are key players. Among the reasons for the price increase were oil and food items, such as wheat, oilseeds, and gas. Due to this, people who are low-income survivors have a hard time surviving. In response, policymakers provided relief for these people with subsidies or lowered taxes. However, these short-run subsidies are inadequate and ineffective remedies that will lead to a shortage of supplies. Through targeted measures, such as cash transfers, policymakers can reduce the impact of these higher prices on lower-income households. Historically, commodity price shocks have induced policy and market responses that led to a larger supply of resources and, in the case of oil price shocks, greater efficiency in consumption and substitution away from oil. Likely, the recent price spike will once again spur more efficient energy consumption and a faster transition away from fossil fuels, especially if policy responses are supportive. We collected data from different sources, including the World Bank, the IMF, and the International Energy Agency, and reports from British Petroleum and the European Commission. The trends show that besides the rise in energy prices, prices of food items are also increasing, and this trend is making people's lives very hard. These price hikes will have the most significant impact on low-income countries, and this will also lead to food shortages worldwide. Changes in relative prices will also affect global food production. As a result of the war, however, there are many uncertainties related to food supply availability, and low-income countries may have a prolonged need for international assistance due to the war.  
Stillbirth in Pigs
Piglets that are born dead may have died at any time during the farrowing process or before. Causes of stillborn piglets can be divided into infectious and noninfectious. Infectious causes perhaps are overemphasized but are certainly important in epidemic situations. Noninfectious causes of stillborns are most common in endemic situations. Genetic, maternal, piglet and environmental factors can all affect the stillborn rate. The review attempts to describe the causes of stillborn piglets and the ways to mitigate them
Impact of Income on the Insurance Potential-A Case Study of Rural Sector of Jammu and Kashmir State
The Indian Insurance industry is flourishing with several national and international players competing and growing at rapid rates. The globalisation has allowed the Indian insurance sector to flourish as there is huge market potential for insurance in India and this potential will definitely increase further in future. The survey was conducted from the state of Jammu and Kashmir using primary and secondary sources of data. This study has explored and assessed insurance potential in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir State by analysing relationship between disposable income and Insurance potential. Looking at the source of information for households, it was found that television is the primary source for both insured and uninsured households. Other sources of information are friends, relatives and neighbours, news papers, radios, and transistors. Keywords: Households, Insurance, Information, Potential, Regulation
Evaluation of phytochemical, antioxidant, and In-vitro antidiarrhoeal, activity of Euphorbia hirta
Background: The current study was carried out to evaluate the phytochemical, antioxidant, and In-vitro antidiarrheal properties of Euphorbia hirta
Methods: Extracts were obtained using cold extraction, hot extraction and autoclave extraction methods using Methanol, Chloroform, Petroleum ether and distilled water as solvents. Crude extracts were screened for different phytochemical constituents like sugars, saponins, flavonoids, tannins, and glycosides etc. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using spectrophotometric method. The in-vitro antidiarrheal activity was elucidated by the antimicrobial activity using agar diffusion method.
Results: Methanol proved to be a good solvent for extraction. In-vitro antidiarrheal activity was shown by all extracts on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella typhi bacteria which are mainly responsible for diarrhea.
Conclusion: From the phytochemical screening it shows presence of phytochemicals like alkaloids, tannins, glycosides, and saponins. The plant also shows antioxidant activity, methnolic extracts shows higher activity and it shows In-vitro antidiarrhoeal activity which clearly indicates that the plant can be used for the treatment of diarrhea. Further studies should be done to isolate the compound responsible for activity in the experimental animals.
Keywords: Euphrobia hirta, autoclave extraction, antidiarrheal, phytochemicals
Immunopathogenesis of Salmonellosis
Salmonella is an intracellular pathogenic, gram-negative, facultative anaerobe and non-spore-forming and usually a motile bacillus that leads to salmonellosis in the host. It is a common food-borne disease that ranges from local gastrointestinal inflammation and diarrhoea to life-threatening typhoid fever and presents usually a serious threat to public health due to its socio-economic value. Inadequate sanitation and impure water help in the propagation of this disease. Despite advancement in the sanitation standards, Salmonella enters the food chain and affects communities globally. There is an immediate need to develop improved vaccines to minimise Salmonella-related illnesses. Some Salmonella serovars infect a wide range of hosts, while others are known to be host restricted. Many different factors determine the adaptability and host specificity of Salmonella. The host-pathogen interactions play a unique role in Salmonella invasion and progression which needs to be studied in detail. This chapter shall focus on our current understanding of Salmonella invasion, pathogenesis and interactions with the host, host specificity and adaptability
Genetics of Disease Resistance in Chicken
Although poultry industry has gained momentum during the last few decades, there are still various impediments like improper infrastructure, unscientific management and above all various deadly infectious diseases which incur huge economic losses on poultry industry. These diseases include viral diseases like Avian Influenza, Marek’s Disease, New Castle disease and bacterial diseases like Colibacillosis, Pasteurellosis and Salmonellosis, etc. Development of disease resistant poultry has been found successful practice over the use of drugs or vaccines for disease control. Studies involving genome wide associations to figure out certain candidate genes that are involved in disease resistance have also been carried out. Single nucleotide polymorphism studies to unveil the mechanisms underlying disease resistance in chicken show that SNPs and other candidate gene approaches play a vital role in providing disease resistance. Also, understanding the genes and biological pathways that confer genetic resistance to various infections will lead towards the development of more resistant commercial poultry flocks or improved vaccines against various diseases. This chapter shall focus on various factors involved in disease resistance in chicken that interact with the pathogen and provide resistance against the pathogen
Integrative approach for validation of six important fish species inhabiting River Poonch of north-west Himalayan region (India)
Traditionally, species of fish are identified based on morphological characteristics. Although these taxonomic descriptions are essential, there are cases where the morphological characters distinguishing these species show marginal differences. For instance, in the Poonch River in the Himalayas, there are 21 species, out of which some are morphologically similar, and the taxonomic distinction between these species is unclear. Therefore, in this study, we used sequences from two mitochondrial genes, Cytochrome b (Cyt b) and a larger ribosomal subunit (16S rRNA), as well as the morphological analysis to address any taxonomic ambiguities among the six fish species. Maximum Likelihood results revealed that all the species were clustered according to their families and genera. The phenotypic analysis also supported this statement, as all the species of different genera like Schizothorax, Tor, Garra, Traqilabeo, and Glyptothorax are grouped in their particular cluster, it shows that species of a separate class share a mutual morphological characteristic. While genetic analyses of these species suggest nucleotide diversity (p) and haplotype diversity, with Hd values as 0.644 for Cyt b and 0.899 for 16S rRNA, confirming the rich genetic diversity in the river. Overall, we recommend that the integrative approach in delimiting the fish species is more effective than the individual one and can be used to rapidly diagnose a species and understand the evolutionary relationship between the species
Early results after transatrial repair of RVOT obstruction including teratology of fallot
Background: Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after surgical correction of RVOT obstruction including tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). Transatrial repair avoids a ventriculotomy (in contrast to the transventricular approach) emphasizing maximal preservation of RV structure and function. We have adopted this technique as less traumatic for the right ventricle. This study evaluates the early surgical results of our approach.Methods: Between January 2005 to January 2014, 77 consecutive patients with RVOT obstruction were referred to our unit for surgical therapy. Of these, 14 were unsuitable for repair and underwent aortopulmonary shunting. In the remaining 63 patients (mean age of 2.67±0.38 years), complete transatrial/transpulmonary repair was performed. Previously placed shunts (four patients) were taken down. In all cases, subpulmonary resection and ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure were accomplished transatrially. In 51 patients, the main pulmonary artery was augmented with an autologous pericardial patch.Results: There were 7 (9%) deaths in this series. No patient required permanent pacemaker. Median ICU and hospital stay were 91 hours and 14 days, respectively. At median follow up of 54 (mean 51±12) months, all patients are asymptomatic, with no significant residual lesion.Conclusions: Transatrial/transpulmonary repair of TOF is associated with remarkably low morbidity and mortality in our early experience