Perspectives of Tribal Communities on NTFP Resource Use in a Global Hotspot: Implications for Adaptive Management

Tribal communities depend on a large variety of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for their diverse needs, which has attracted high interest in recent years in view of increasing rural incomes and stimulating the forest management. This study investigates forest dependent (NTFPs based) livelihood in an ethnically diverse area in Northeast India, a global hotspot. We addressed two research questions: (1) what is the diversity of NTFPs resources that communities extract from the forest reserves to supplement their home needs? and (2) what are the perceptions of communities about sustainable development of NTFPs resources? We recorded 343 plant species that were used to fulfill varied needs of five tribal communities. Of them, 32% species harvested for their leaves and 27% for fruits. Dependence on NTFPs was more at high mountains. The seasonal use of NTFPs revealed that 79% species collected during lean period. Community perception on use of NTFPs revealed that 11% species consumed most frequently and 53% commonly. It was interesting to note that community residents sell as many as 76 species in the local markets to earn cash. All households collect NTFPs for sustenance while 31-41% households involved in commercial collection of species, viz. Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum fletcherianum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Swertia chirayita, Illicium griffithii, and Thalictrum foliolosum. There was a gradual decrease in use of NTFPs with young age because of high labour and availability of other options. The communities perceived that unscientific and excessive harvesting may threatened these species in near future. For adaptive management of NTFPs, communities suggested that capacity building on maximum allowable harvests and yield regulation measures, tenure improvement, domestication and plantations of selected species along with access to markets for NTFPs products will create better economic gains for communities at the same time it will lead to sustainable management of NTFPs.   Keywords: Northeast India; global hotspot; NTFPs; sustainable use; consumption pattern; enterprises; livelihoods; adaptive managemen

Perspectives of Tribal Communities on NTFP Resource Use in a Global Hotspot: Implications for Adaptive Management

Tribal communities depend on a large variety of Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for their diverse needs, which has attracted high interest in recent years in view of increasing rural incomes and stimulating the forest management. This study investigates forest dependent (NTFPs based) livelihood in an ethnically diverse area in Northeast India, a global hotspot. We addressed two research questions: (1) what is the diversity of NTFPs resources that communities extract from the forest reserves to supplement their home needs? and (2) what are the perceptions of communities about sustainable development of NTFPs resources? We recorded 343 plant species that were used to fulfill varied needs of five tribal communities. Of them, 32% species harvested for their leaves and 27% for fruits. Dependence on NTFPs was more at high mountains. The seasonal use of NTFPs revealed that 79% species collected during lean period. Community perception on use of NTFPs revealed that 11% species consumed most frequently and 53% commonly. It was interesting to note that community residents sell as many as 76 species in the local markets to earn cash. All households collect NTFPs for sustenance while 31-41% households involved in commercial collection of species, viz. Taxus wallichiana, Aconitum fletcherianum, Ophiocordyceps sinensis, Swertia chirayita, Illicium griffithii, and Thalictrum foliolosum. There was a gradual decrease in use of NTFPs with young age because of high labour and availability of other options. The communities perceived that unscientific and excessive harvesting may threatened these species in near future. For adaptive management of NTFPs, communities suggested that capacity building on maximum allowable harvests and yield regulation measures, tenure improvement, domestication and plantations of selected species along with access to markets for NTFPs products will create better economic gains for communities at the same time it will lead to sustainable management of NTFPs.   Keywords: Northeast India; global hotspot; NTFPs; sustainable use; consumption pattern; enterprises; livelihoods; adaptive managemen

Minimization of Handoff Failure Probability for Next-Generation Wireless Systems

During the past few years, advances in mobile communication theory have enabled the development and deployment of different wireless technologies, complementary to each other. Hence, their integration can realize a unified wireless system that has the best features of the individual networks. Next-Generation Wireless Systems (NGWS) integrate different wireless systems, each of which is optimized for some specific services and coverage area to provide ubiquitous communications to the mobile users. In this paper, we propose to enhance the handoff performance of mobile IP in wireless IP networks by reducing the false handoff probability in the NGWS handoff management protocol. Based on the information of false handoff probability, we analyze its effect on mobile speed and handoff signaling delay.Comment: 16 Page

A comparative study of the conduction velocity of motor and sensory fibres of ulnar and median nerves among leprosy patients and normal subjects

Background: Leprosy and the associated scourge have affected humanity for thousands of years. One of the most debilitating consequences of leprosy is peripheral neuropathy. Nerve Conduction Velocity study provides us with a non-invasive modality to assess peripheral nerve involvement in leprosy.Methods: With this in mind, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted including 30 leprosy patients as "Cases" and 30 age-matched healthy subjects, not suffering from any kind of neurological disorders, as "Controls". Using a digital electromyography machine, the Latency, Amplitude and Conduction Velocities of Motor and Sensory fibres of Ulnar and Median nerves were recorded. The results were compared among controls and cases using suitable statistical tests (descriptive statistics and significance testing using unpaired t-test).Results: In this study, with regard to Sensory Nerve conduction Velocity (SNCV), statistically very significant difference was noted in case of right (p 0.0011) and left (p 0.0037) ulnar nerves among controls and cases. The difference in the amplitude of Motor Action potential (MAP) with regard to right median nerve, among cases and controls, was also statistically significant (p 0.0127). Further the amplitude of Sensory Nerve Action Potential (SNAP) values were higher among cases compared to controls.Conclusions: As such, the findings of this study (and which is also corroborated by many previous studies) lead us to the conclusion that NCV studies can detect lepromatous neuropathy much before the emergence of frank clinical signs and this type of neuropathy is predominantly demyelinating in nature with occasional axonal loss

Distribution of aetiological types of stroke among the diabetic adults admitted with stroke in a referral hospital: an observational study

Background: Stroke is one of the most devastating disorders worldwide, in terms of morbidity and mortality. Association of comorbid conditions increase severity and chances of unfavourable outcome in stroke patients. Diabetes is one of the vital comorbidity risk factors reported to be associated with occurrence, poor outcome in stroke patients. An increased incidence of stroke has been reported in advanced age among diabetic patients. The aim of this study was to determine the relative distribution of aetiological types of stroke among the stroke patients having diabetes.Methods: All adults (18-65) admitted in medicine indoor of Midnapore medical college and hospital with a provisional diagnosis of stroke having random blood glucose level ≥200 mg/dl and/or h/o diabetes were enrolled and screened for different etiological factors e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia. Age group and gender wise distribution pattern were also obtained.Results: A total 384 subjects were included in the study. Hypertension was found to be most common (75%) comorbid condition among participants, followed by dyslipidemia (56%). 77.9% of subjects presented with random glucose level of >200 mg/dl.Conclusions: stroke of either types is very much prevalent among diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes along with hypertension and dyslipidemia increases the chance many times. Early detection and prompt therapeutic intervention may reduce the mortality rate overall

Modalities of NADP-malic enzyme activities under light and darkness indicate its regulation with reference to C4 weed

NADP –ME is the key enzyme for decarboxylation reactions in C4 CO2 concentration pathways. So, Amaranthus viridis has been evaluated with regards to photosynthetic NADP-malic enzyme for its response under light and darkness. Illumination (1000–1200 µEm-2s-1) for 40 minutes under 2 mM bicarbonate (HCO3-) sensitivity increased activity by 1.97 & 3.77-fold over darkness under 4.0 mM and 0.01 mM malate respectively. Limiting (0.01 mM) and saturated (4.0 mM) malate concentration had significant changes in enzyme activities. The different kinetic parameters indicated had the feedback inhibition under illumination. The activity with the inducer (citrate and succinate) and inhibitor (pyruvate and oxalate) was significant with substrate concentrations. Dithiol had reduced the activity by inhibition of the diminishing effect of light activation treatment. Therefore, NADP-ME is stringently regulated by redox changes with illumination as a key factor. Moreover, the pattern of polymorphic gene expression may be supportive in molecular modulation under light/darkness. This study may support the role of NADP-ME as a biomarker for C4 weed species under oxidative stress through light/darkness

Mathematical Modeling of the Synergetic Effect between Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy

Achieving effective synergy between radiotherapy and immunotherapy is critical for optimizing tumor control and treatment outcomes. To explore the underlying mechanisms of this synergy, we have investigated a novel treatment approach known as personalized ultra-fractionated stereotactic adaptive radiation therapy (PULSAR), which emphasizes the impact of radiation timing on treatment efficacy. However, the precise mechanism remains unclear. Building on insights from small animal PULSAR studies, we developed a mathematical framework consisting of multiple ordinary differential equations to elucidate the temporal dynamics of tumor control resulting from radiation and the adaptive immune response. The model accounts for the migration and infiltration of T-cells within the tumor microenvironment. This proposed model establishes a causal and quantitative link between radiation therapy and immunotherapy, providing a valuable in-silico analysis tool for designing future PULSAR trials

A stochastic integrated planning of electricity and natural gas networks for Queensland, Australia considering high renewable penetration

This study develops a long-term integrated planning approach to electricity and gas aiming at economically optimizing the 2030's investments of both networks while considering new policies towards future clean energy. A static stochastic cost minimization model is formulated, which takes into account the short-term uncertainties of renewable power, i.e. wind and utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) as well as the long-term uncertainties of load growth and gas price. The equivalent networks of both electricity and gas are driven to accurately capture their existing supplies and transmission networks. In addition, the integrated planning model allows determining the location of new power plants and gas supply facilities with their optimized capacities, as well as new transmission lines and pipelines. An extension of the proposed scheme is considered to accommodate higher penetrations of renewable energy and assess their impacts on both systems. The proposed model is applied to the state of Queensland in Australia, which is a prime example of a region actively integrating electricity and gas