Simulation of Nitrogen Leaching Loss in Irrigated Rice Fields

The intensive agricultural production in the state of Punjab has resulted in higher N03-N concentration in ground water due to over use of agro-chemicals, which leads to ground water pollution. The LEACHM model developed by Wagenet & Hutson (1992) was modified and used to predict the nitrogen leaching losses from nitrogenous fertilizers in Rice fields. The nitrogen transformations considered are enzymatic hydrolysis of urea, nitrification and denitrification, all represented by first order kinetics. The total measured cumulative nitrogen leaching loss on 95th day after the transplanting of nursery of paddy was observed 32.2 per cent and 29.6 per cent at 60 cm and 90 cm depth below the ground surface, respectively. The model-estimated nitrogen leaching losses at 60 and 90 cm matched fairly well with the observed values in the field. The paired t- test showed that there was no significant difference between the measured and the estimated values at 5 per cent significance level

Subolesin: A candidate vaccine antigen for the control of cattle tick infestations in Indian situation

Identification of cross-protective tick vaccine antigens is a challenging area of veterinary research. To address this challenge, a recently identified candidate tick protective antigen, Subolesin (SUB), was targeted in this research. The conservation of subolesin ortholog of Hyalomma anatolicum and Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus across different Indian strains was 98.1-99.4% (within species), while at the amino acid level SUB sequence homology was ≥53.2% (between tick species). Recombinant R. (B.) microplus SUB (rBmSu) was produced in Escherichia coli and characterized. Cross-bred cattle male calves (N= 10) were immunized with three doses of 100. μg each of the rBmSu emulsified in 10% Montanide 888 at monthly intervals on days 0, 30 and 60. The control group was injected with PBS in 10% Montanide 888. For the first tick challenge, calves were infested with larvae of R. (B.) microplus generated from 100. mg eggs 2 weeks after last immunization (day 75). The immunization resulted in 16.3%, 8.0%, 9.4%, and 26.1% reduction in female tick numbers (DT), weight (DW), oviposition (DO) and egg fertility (DF), respectively, when compared to controls. In the subsequent challenge on day 105, DT, DW, DO and DF were reduced by 9.0%, 4.1%, 8.6%, and 24.2%, respectively, when compared to controls. The vaccine efficacy (E) was equal to 44.0% and 37.2% after the first and second challenges, respectively. The results showed a positive correlation between antibody titers for both total IgG and IgG1 and E in the second but not in the first tick challenge. These results suggested the possibility of developing a SUB-based vaccine for control of cattle tick infestations under Indian conditions.Senior author is highly thankful to the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) for providing Senior Research fellowship.Peer Reviewe

Too long to wait: South Asian migrants’ experiences of accessing health care in Australia

Background: Migrants settling in a new country experience multiple complexities in navigating health care systems and adapting to a new way of life in the host country. In South Asia, migrating to another country for better life opportunities has been an ongoing trend and migration to Australia has significantly increased in recent years. Lower utilisation of health services and higher risks of chronic diseases among South Asian migrants poses a continuing challenge for the Australian health care system and little is known about why this demographic group does not access health services at the same rate. This study aimed to explore factors influencing access to health care by South Asian migrants in Australia. Methods: Using a mixed-method design, we conducted 62 online survey and 14 in-depth interviews with participants from four South Asian countries: Nepal, India, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. Participants were recruited using a purposive snowball sampling approach following a standard ethical approval process. Survey data were analysed descriptively in SPSS and interview data were recorded, transcribed, and analysed thematically. Results: South Asian migrants experienced various complexities while accessing health services in Australia. The findings of this study highlighted a number of negative factors influencing their experiences of accessing health care: long waiting times for public health care, the expense of private health care, and communication problems due to socio-cultural differences. South Asian migrants also expressed their concern for a greater investment of resources into public health care to enable them to access quality and affordable care in these settings. Conclusions: Given limited evidence available to help understand factors leading to the lower utilisation of health care and higher risks of chronic diseases among South Asian migrants, this study plays an important role in highlighting social, cultural, financial, and institutional factors that are critical to designing appropriate health-care strategies. This study recommends incorporating a collaborative and culturally competent model of care to increase access to health care and thereby help reduce existing disparities in health outcomes among South Asian migrant populations

Factors influencing the mental wellbeing of persons affected by leprosy in Far-Western Nepal

Objective To investigate factors that influence the mental wellbeing of persons affected by leprosy in Far-Western Nepal. Methods The study used a cross-sectional design with a qualitative approach. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions covering topics such as feelings towards and experiences with leprosy, mental wellbeing, knowledge about leprosy, social life, community, culture and future outlook were employed. The data were analysed using Framework Analysis and Thematic Open Analysis. Results A total of 25 persons affected by leprosy were included in the in-depth interviews and 13 persons participated in focus group discussions. We found that participants often experienced stigma and/or mental distress. Participants reported physical weakness or pain, activity limitations, worries about their disease and its implications, feelings of shame, suicidal thoughts, and perceived and/or internalised stigma. Factors influencing mental wellbeing included discrimination, social support, religion, participation (restrictions), (in)ability to work, community attitudes, knowledge of leprosy and cultural beliefs about the disease. Conclusions This study revealed that the majority of participants faced leprosy-related stigma, physical discomfort, restrictions in social participation and mental distress. We recommend the development of interventions such as counselling after diagnosis with leprosy, increasing leprosy awareness and knowledge, addressing negative attitudes and beliefs in the community and stimulating social participation