Understanding Consumer Behavior in the Organic Food Market: Perceptions, Preferences and Purchase Factors

In light of the increasing consumer interest in health-conscious choices, particularly organic food products, this study aims to investigate the perceptions, preferences, and motivations that drive Indian consumers to purchase organic food items. Primary data was obtained from a sample of 120 consumers visiting organic stores for understanding the consumer perceptions, preferences and buying motives for organic food products in Bangalore city of Karnataka State. Factor analysis and cross tabulation are employed for analysing the data. The findings of the study indicated that consumers predominantly perceive organic food as healthy yet expensive. Core product factors influencing purchase of organic products include healthiness and quality, while augmentation factors include preservative-free, nutritional properties and certification. Branded organic stores are preferred place of purchase while social media and influencers are primary information sources. Purchase frequencies vary, from daily for fruits and vegetables to occasional for juices. Food safety ranks highest followed by influential and personal factors are major purchase drivers for organic food products. The study findings led to the development of consumer buying behaviour model for organic food products that majorly lay emphasis on personal, psychological and social factors considered during purchase of these products

A study on clinico social impact of teenage pregnancy in a tertiary care hospital

Background: In India, teenage pregnancy is an important public-health problem, although the national policy of the Government of India advocates the minimum legal age of marriage for girls to be 18 years. Data of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 revealed that 16% of women, aged 15-19 years, have already started childbearing. Teenage pregnancies represent a high-risk group in reproductive terms because of the double burden of reproduction and growth. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of mortality among girls aged 15-19 years in developing countries. Aim and objective of the study was to study the prevalence of teenage pregnancies and to study the clinic social impact of teenage pregnancies.Methods: The observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Government General Hospital, Guntur in the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology over three Months from August to October 2018. All pregnant women coming to either OPD or directly to the labour room were included in the study group. History was taken and examination was done.Results: Among the 709 deliveries in the institute, 138 are teenage pregnancies contributing to 19.4%. Prevalence of anaemia in teenage mothers is as high as 63.7%, pregnancy induced hypertension contributing to 26.8% and abortions 9.4%. The neonatal outcome is poor in teenage mothers, low birth weight 20.2% contributing to the main morbidity.Conclusions: Teenage pregnancy is associated with an increased incidence of preeclampsia, eclampsia, preterm delivery, increased incidence of instrumental deliveries and lower segment caesarean sections due to cephalopelvic disproportion, neonatal complications, increased neonatal morbidity and mortality mainly due to low birth weight was noted in babies delivered to teenage mothers.

Use of vaginal misoprostol before endometrial biopsy in premenopausal women: an observational study

Background: It is well-known since long time the beneficial effects of misoprostol particularly as a cervical softening agent in obstetric practice. Keep in view, study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of vaginal misoprostol 400 mcg before endometrial biopsy in premenopausal women.Methods: All the 200 patients were classified into two groups viz. study group (Group I) with 100 patients and control group (Group II) with 100 patients. To Group I patients, 400 mcg of misoprostol was given vaginally, 4 hours prior to the commencement of endometrial biopsy whereas no medication was received by Group II patients.Results: In the present study, the base line cervical dilatation is found to be 5.8±1.3 mm in Group I patients whereas 3.8±0.92 mm in Group II patients which is significantly higher (p<0.05). Only 32 patients in Group I required further dilatation whereas 88 patients in Group II underwent further dilatation. The mean time required for further dilatation in Group I and Group II patients was 42.6±17.4, 64.6±16.8 sec respectively and was significantly higher in Group II patients (p<0.05). Out of 100 patients in Group I, only 2% of patients complained severe pain whereas in Group II 48% of patients experienced intolerable pain and required anesthesia.Conclusions: Vaginal administration of 400 mcg misoprostol 4 hours prior to endometrial biopsy in premenopausal women had a significant effect on cervical resistance and cervical dilatation

Audit of caesarean deliveries in a tertiary care hospital of northern Andhra Pradesh using modified Robson criteria

Background: Today, there is an increased trend in the incidence of caesarean section (CS) rate worldwide particularly in India, even with the lack of evidence supporting considerable maternal and perinatal benefits with higher CS rates. The main objective of our study was to find the incidence of CS rate, auditing the data on the basis of modified Robson criteria, factors responsible for the most common group, to know the changing trends of CS and finally put forth the strategies to reduce CS rate.Methods: This is a retrospective study of 472 CS cases carried out in a tertiary care hospital during the year 2016. All the cases were grouped according to the modified Robson criteria and the data was analyzed. The data were grouped into 3 different slots of 4 months each (FF = first four months; MF = middle four months and LF = last four months of the year 2016).Results: A significant increasing trend was observed in the groups of 2B and 5C where as a significant decreasing trend was noticed in 6C and 7C. The most common indications for caesarean delivery were cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD) (28%) and fetal distress (22%) in group 1 whereas in group 2A CPD, fetal distress and failed induction were found to be 12%, 24% and 30% respectively.Conclusions: The change in trend has been noticed in the last few months particularly in 2B and 5C groups suggesting that there is a change in the attitude of obstetricians in conducting caesarean deliveries before the onset of labour rather than performing CS after the onset of labour. Targeting 2B along with 5C would help our efforts in reducing the CS rate

Tea mosquito bug, Helopeltis spp. (Miridae; Hemiptera) an emerging phytotoxic pest: A comprehensive review of its biology and management

The Tea Mosquito Bug (TMB), Helopeltis spp. (Miridae: Hemiptera), is a highly destructive pest that significantly threatens plantation and fruit crops across tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. With a wide host range, Helopeltis spp. infests various economically vital crops such as tea, cashew, pomegranate, guava, neem and cocoa. Both nymphs and adults feed by piercing plant tissues, extracting fluids and injecting enzymes like polyphenol oxidase from their salivary glands, leading to browning and scab-like lesions on affected plant parts, ultimately reducing yield. Additionally, the damage is compounded by the transmission of secondary pathogens, particularly Botryodiplodia theobromae and Phytophthora, causes which lead to dieback diseases in crops like neem and pomegranate, resulting in causing considerable economic losses. Although chemical control methods especially insecticides have traditionally been used for managing Helopeltis spp., excessive reliance on these methods has led to various challenges. These include the development of pesticide resistance, environmental pollution and concerns about pesticide residues in agricultural products resulting in strict regulations in many developed nations. As a result, there is a pressing need for alternative and sustainable management strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which incorporates biological control agents, cultural practices, botanical insecticides and selective chemical use has emerged as a promising and environmentally sound approach for controlling Helopeltis spp. in an economically viable way. This review provides an in-depth assessment of the biology, ecology and behavior of Helopeltis spp., along with a comprehensive analysis of their global host plant range. Furthermore, it highlights recent advancements in pest management, particularly focusing on IPM strategies and ongoing research into biological control, such as utilizing natural predators and parasitoids. By reducing dependency on chemical pesticides, these sustainable practices are crucial for minimizing the impact of TMB on global agricultural systems enhancing crop resilience and promoting long-term environmental sustainability

Exploration of the effect of botanicals on controlling tea mosquito bug (Helopeltis antonii Signoret) in the cashew ecosystem

The tea mosquito bug (TMB) Helopeltis antonii Signoret poses a significant threat to cashew plantations, causing substantial damage to the trees and affecting crop productivity. Botanicals have been examined for their effectiveness against tea mosquito bugs (TMB) in cashew plantations that impose damage on cashew trees. A field experiment was conducted at the Regional Research Station, Vridhachalam, Tamil Nadu, to evaluate the effectiveness of various botanical pesticides against TMB. The study included seven treatments using different botanicals and one untreated control. Applications were made at critical growth stages, namely flushing, flowering and nut formation, at fortnightly intervals, ensuring the pest population remained below the economic threshold level (ETL). Five spray rounds were administered, with a maximum of 10 L of spray suspension applied per tree for each treatment. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in TMB incidence in plots treated with botanical pesticides. Fifteen days after the third, fourth and fifth sprays, TMB incidence was completely absent in treated plots, whereas the untreated control recorded a damage score of 3.25. Furthermore, a marked decline in fresh TMB infestations was observed within seven days following each spray application. Among the treatments, a mixture of leaf extracts from adathoda (Adathoda vasica), datura (Datura metel), vitex (Vitex negundo), calotropis (Calotropis gigantea) and neem (Azadirachta indica) showed the highest efficacy, reducing TMB incidence to damage scales of 0.660 and 0.550. Similarly, Pongamia oil (5 % concentration) exhibited substantial effectiveness, reducing TMB incidence to scales of 0.845 and 0.645. These findings highlight the potential of botanical pesticides as eco–friendly and effective alternatives for managing TMB in cashew plantations

Optimización de un pretratamiento enzimático para semillas de mostaza utilizando metodología de superficie de respuesta

In order to investigate the effect of an enzymatic pre-treatment process for the extraction of oil from black mustard seeds (Brassica nigra) using viscozyme, the reaction parameters such as temperature, buffer-to-seed ratio and enzyme concentration were considered as determinant factors in the central composite design. Optimization was carried out according to the four-variable five-level central composite design of experiments. The effects of enzyme concentration (5–12%), temperature (40–55 °C), pH (5.0–6.0), and reaction time (1–7 h) on the free oil liberated were studied. Residual oil was collected by subjecting the treated meal to soxhlet extraction for 4 h. An enzyme dose of 7.5% (w/w), pH 5.0, 50 °C, and 5 h with constant shaking at 450 rpm were found to be opti­mal conditions. Centrifuging the mixture at 7000 rpm for 30 min separated the oil with a recovery of 71–73.1%.Con el fin de investigar el efecto de un pretratamiento enzimático para la extracción de aceite de semillas de mostaza negra (Brassica nigra) utilizando viscozima, los parámetros de la reacción, como la temperatura, la relación de tampón/semilla y las concentraciones de enzima, se consideraron factores deter­minantes en el diseño. La optimización se llevó a cabo mediante cuatro diseños de experimentos compuestos de cinco niveles. Se estudió el efecto de la concentración de enzima (5-12%), temperatura (40-55 °C), pH (5.0-6.0), y tiempo de reacción (1-7 h) sobre el aceite liberado. El aceite residual se recolectó sometiendo la pasta tratada a una extracción de soxhlet durante 4 h. Las dosis de enzima del 7,5% (p/p), pH 5,0, 50 °C y 5 h con agitación constante a 450 rpm fueron las condiciones óptimas. La centrifugación de la mezcla a 7000 rpm durante 30 minutos separó el aceite con una recuperación de 71-73.1%

Efficient Domination In Fuzzy Graphs and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Graphs in Strong and weak forms

This work defines the concepts of strong efficient dominating set and intuitionistic fuzzy graph. We also introduce an intuitionistic fuzzy graph and a strong efficient dominating number of fuzzy graphs. The strong efficient dominant number in fuzzy graphs has some limitations that are studied, and intuitionistic fuzzy graphs are derived.

Molybdenum status and critical limit in the soil for green gram (Vigna radiata) growing in Madurai and Sivagangai districts of Tamil Nadu, India

A survey was undertaken during 2008 to determine molybdenum (Mo) status of soils and to establish critical limits in soils of Madurai and Sivagangai districts of Tamil Nadu. A total of 202 surface soil samples were collected from 16 soil series of the study areas based on their percent coverage. The samples were analyzed for extractable or available Mo. Extractable Mo varied from 0.028 to 0.661 mg kg−1 and 0.035 to 0.961 mg kg−1 at Madurai and Sivagangai districts, respectively. Based on the results of a pot culture experiment, the critical limit of available Mo was determined to be 0.043 mg kg−1 for green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] (Var; CO 6) in both the districts. Based on this critical limit, we classified the soils into three categories: (1) low: 0.082 mg kg−1. Green gram responded highly to Mo application in soils below the critical limit whereas soils with Mo greater than 0.082 mg kg−1 did not respond. Among rates of Mo application, 0.075 mg kg−1 showed better yield than others. Overall, 3–41% and 7–46% of total area in Madurai and Sivagangai districts were in the low to medium Mo status, respectively. The application of 0.075 mg of Mo kg−1 or 0.4 kg ha−1 as sodium molybdate was sufficient to optimize green gram yield in the major soil series of the districts. These results will be useful in decision-making to apply Mo for improving green gram yields in the two districts studied

Effect of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® on faecal excretion of secretory immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin 2 in healthy adult volunteers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotics are used to provide health benefits. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>26 women aged 18-21 (median 19) years residing in a hostel were given 200 ml normal yoghurt every day for a week, followed by probiotic yoghurt containing <it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®(10⁹in 200 ml) for three weeks, followed again by normal yoghurt for four weeks. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and assayed for immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin-2 by ELISA. All participants tolerated both normal and probiotic yoghurt well. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in faeces were not altered during the course of the study. On the other hand, compared to the basal sample, faecal IgA increased during probiotic feeding (P = 0.0184) and returned to normal after cessation of probiotic yoghurt intake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®increased secretory IgA output in faeces. This property may explain the ability of probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections.</p