Food consumption and nutritional status in India: Emerging trends and perspectives

The paper reviews the trends over three decades in the consumption of cereals, calories and micronutrients and nutritional status based on anthropometric measures using the data sets of NSS, NNMB and NFHS. It provides an explanation for the slow growth of nutrient intake and slow reduction in malnutrition. The paper demonstrates that multiple factors influence the nutritional well-being of a child and argues that besides improving the income of a household, there is a need to improve the health and educational status of mothers.

Nitrogen harvest index in relation to productivity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L)

Twelve lines derived from three single crosses were used to evaluate the role of the two characters, nitrogen harvest index (NHI) and total nitrogen percentage (TN) in selection or productivity in groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). The selected lines could be differentiated either by the breeding process, intermating or selfing, through which they were evolved or by their high or low yield levels. There was significant variation among the lines for TN and NHI. NHI was positively and significantly correlated with pod yield. NHI and TN together could identify the yield status of all the lines correctly. The mean values of NHI and TN were much higher in high yielding lines compared to the values of their superior progenitor parent. The reverse was true for low yielding lines. The results suggest that nitrogen harvest index is an important parameter to reckon with in programmes of yield improvement in groundnut

Estimation and Determinants of Chronic Poverty in India : An Alternative Approach

The paper conceptualizes chronic poverty by using the spaces of income and nutrition and estimates its incidence among states and social groups. It also aims to improve our understanding of the determinant of chronic poverty by considering economic, demographic and social factors. It attempts to answer the following questions : How important a determinant of chronic poverty is household income? What factors inhibit escape from chronic poverty? How different are the other poor from chronic poor? The analysis uses the unit level NSS and NFHS data.Chrinic Poverty, India

Estimation and determinants of chronic poverty in India: An Alternative approach

The paper conceptualizes chronic poverty by using the spaces of income and nutrition and estimates its incidence among states and social groups. It also aims to improve our understanding of the determinant of chronic poverty by considering economic, demographic and social factors. It attempts to answer the following questions: How important a determinant of chronic poverty is household income? What factors inhibit escape from chronic poverty? How different are the other poor from chronic poor? The analysis uses the unit level NSS and NFHS data.

Modeling charge transport in Swept Charge Devices for X-ray spectroscopy

We present the formulation of an analytical model which simulates charge transport in Swept Charge Devices (SCDs) to understand the nature of the spectral redistribution function (SRF). We attempt to construct the energy-dependent and position dependent SRF by modeling the photon interaction, charge cloud generation and various loss mechanisms viz., recombination, partial charge collection and split events. The model will help in optimizing event selection, maximize event recovery and improve spectral modeling for Chandrayaan-2 (slated for launch in 2014). A proto-type physical model is developed and the algorithm along with its results are discussed in this paper.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, Proc. SPIE 8453, High Energy, Optical, and Infrared Detectors for Astronomy

Is Nomophobia an Early Indicator of Developing Problematic Smartphone Use?

Problematic smartphone use and nomophobia have been associated with several psychopathological conditions. However, little is known about the interconnectedness of these phenomena and conditions that influence them, despite previous studies discussing the mediating effects of variables such as boredom proneness, self-control, and attachment anxiety. We differentiate them as separate phenomena and investigate the role of emotional wellbeing and mindfulness in influencing them through a quantitative study with a sample of 282 participants. Statistical analysis shows that negative affective states indirectly influence problematic smartphone use through nomophobia while gender and occupation have an impact of nomophobia as well. Further, mindfulness has no bearing on problematic smartphone use or nomophobia. The study demonstrates subtle differences between two dark side phenomena and signifies the varying effects on them. It furthers the argument that dark side phenomena are interrelated and highlights the need to explore mitigation mechanisms beyond mindfulness to deal with these phenomena

Value of dual testing for identifying tuberculous infection

Setting: A rural community in Chingleput district in Tamil Nadu state in south India. Objective: To determine the value of dual testing with PPD-S and PPD-B for identifying subjects with a tuberculous infection. Design: About 240,000 subjects in rural south India, all of whom were tested initially with PPD-S and PPD-B, were followed up for 15 years, mainly by total population survey once in every 212 years. The incidence of culture-positive tuberculosis was estimated using life-table technique. Results: Among 17,530 subjects with an intermediate reaction (8–11 mm) to PPD-S at intake, 285 with an induration to PPD-S exceeding the induration to PPD-B by at least 2 mm, had a significantly higher incidence of culture-positive tuberculosis than the remaining (154 and 93 per 100,000), and similarly 481 who had an induration of o10mm to PPD-B compared to those with X10mm (131 and 93 per 100,000). These subjects may be regarded as having a tuberculous infection. Infection with non-tuberculous mycobacteria conferred protection of about 30% against the development of tuberculosis over a 15-year period. Conclusion: In subjects with an intermediate reaction (8–11 mm) to PPD-S, dual testing with PPD-B enabled identification of those with a tuberculous infection. Most of the reactions were due to non-tuberculous mycobacteria

Lung Cancer and Human Papilloma Viruses (HPVs): Examining the Molecular Evidence

Human papilloma virus (HPV), known to be an etiological agent for genital cancers, has been suggested also to be a possible contributory agent for lung cancer. Alternatively, lung cancer, formerly considered to be solely a smoker's disease, may now be more appropriately categorised into never smoker's and smoker's lung cancer. Through this paper we attempt to bring forth the current knowledge regarding mechanisms of HPV gaining access into the lung tissue, various strategies involved in HPV-associated tumorigenesis in lung tissue

Persepsi Pemandu/petandu terhadap Pembentukan Kelompok Ipphti, Jawa Barat

IPPHTI (Ikatan Petani Pengendalian Hama Terpadu Indonesia) nasional berawal dari kegiatan-kegiatan terkait dengan Sekolah Lapangan (SL). Tujuan studi ini adalah meneliti persepsi pemandu/petandu IPPHTI berkaitan dengan faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pembentukan kelompok IPPHTI, Jawa Barat. Profil demografik dari survei menunjukkan mayoritas laki-laki (partisipasi wanita 30%), bersuku Sunda, berpendidikan SD dan telah menamatkan SL. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi pembentukan kelompok IPPHTI adalah tersedianya sumberdaya manusia (SDM) dan adanya jaringan organisasi-organisasi. Kategori ilmu dan pengetahuan membuktikan ada kaitan dengan keinginan tahu dan hak-hak asasi manusia khususnya hak milik tanah. Jenis kelaminan, kesukuan, status kepemimpinan, dan penggarapan atas tanah tidak membuktikan adanya perbedaan berarti dalam persepsi antara berbagai status pendidikan dan pembentukan IPPHTI. Meskipun demikian, terdapat perbedaan berarti dalam persepsi antara berbagai status pendidikan dan pembentukan kelompok IPPHTI. Para pemandu/petandu siap berdiskusi dengan pemerintah setempat dan Dinas Pertanian terkait mengenai hasil survei ini. Hasil dari survei, yang dilaksanakan April 2004, sudah dilaporkan ke responden (IPPHTI, Jawa Barat). Diskusi yang berlangsung meliputi tiga pertanyaan: 1. Mengapa status pendidikan mempengaruhi hasil survei? 2. Apakah dasar dari korelasi antara pengetahuan yang diperoleh dan hak milik tanah? 3. Mengapa SDM lebih bernilai daripada bantuan ekonomi dalam mengembangkan IPPHTI? Pendapat yang muncul dari diskusi-diskusi adalah apabila pelatihan SDM tersedia, maka sumberdaya ekonomi dari pemerintah dan swasta serta penelitian universitas akan lebih baik dimanfaatkan yang dilatih SL. Memperoleh informasi yang secara konkret dapat memperbaiki penghidupan petani selalu menjadi tujuan utama dari IPPHTI

Effect of electron beam irradiation on structural and optical properties of Cu-doped In2O3 films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering.

Undoped and Cu-doped In2O3 films were prepared by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering technique. The effects of Cu doping and high-energy electron beam irradiation on the structural and optical properties of as-prepared films were investigated using techniques such as x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), lateral scanning electron microscopic image analysis, energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, micro-Raman, and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy. Moderate doping of Cu in In2O3 enhanced the intensity of (222) peak, indicating alignment of crystalline grains along . Electron beam irradiation promoted orientation of crystalline grains along in undoped and moderately Cu-doped films. EDX spectroscopic and XPS analyses revealed incorporation of Cu2+ ions in the lattice. The transmittance of Cu-doped films decreased with e-beam irradiation. Systematic reduction of the bandgap energy with an increase in Cu doping concentration was seen in unirradiated and electron-beam-irradiated films