Scientific validation of indigenous organic formulation-<em>panchagavya </em>for sustaining rice productivity and residual effect in rice-lentil system under hot semi-arid eco-region of middle Indo-Gangetic plains

104-113Combined application of organic source of nutrient and inorganic fertilizers increases nutrient synchrony and reduces losses leading to sustainable productivity. With this concept in mind a field trial was conducted at Varanasi, India during 2013–14 and 2014–15, to evaluate and validate the efficiency and efficacy of panchagavya (blend of five cow products i.e. dung, ghee, curd, urine and milk) in combination with recommended doses of fertilizers (RDF) on rice yield, soil microbial population, soil microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), soil enzymatic activity and their residual effects on lentil. Application of panchagavya (D4-seedling root dip + one spray at 30 days after transplanting-DAT @ 6% + application through irrigation water at 60 DAT) produced higher productive tillers/m2, number of filled spikelets/panicle, leaf area index (LAI), grain yield, soil bacterial and fungal population, SMBC and dehydrogenase activity. Application of 100% RDF significantly increased grain yield (5935 kg/ha) but 120% RDF recorded the highest straw yield (8283 kg/ha) and biological yield. Residual effect of panchagavya at D4 level resulted in higher (19.1% over control) seed yield of lentil. However, conjunctive use of 100% RDF and D4 ensured maximum net return (1194.9 $/ha).Therefore, use of indigenous product i.e. panchagavya in combination with fertilizer can be inferred to improve soil health, ascertain high productivity, profitability and sustainability in rice-lentil production, while preserving natural resource base under hot semi-arid eco-region of middle Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP)

Longitudinal trial of smart-phone based social media applications for remote monitoring of cancer patients in the context of a LMIC: compliance, satisfaction, and cost-benefit analysis

The cancer burden is expected to reach 20 million new cases annually in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) by 2025. Few estimates suggest that thyroid cancer could become the third most common cancer diagnosed in women by 2019. Health care services need to gear up to provide close clinical follow-up care for patients especially in LMICs where there is already a shortage of healthcare personnel. We conducted this study to assess the effect of remote monitoring using tele-follow up on compliance, satisfaction and economic benefit. Participants were recruited to traditional hospital follow-up (consultation, clinical examination, and investigations as per hospital policy) or tele-follow up based on social media. Outcomes included information needs, participants’ compliance, and satisfaction, post-op complications, clinical investigations ordered. A total of 64 patients with thyroid cancer were recruited- 24 in hospital follow up group and 40 in the remote monitoring group. There were no significant differences between groups regarding satisfaction with information received. Responses were significantly more positive in the social media group, with a higher percentage reporting “very satisfied”. Wound evaluation through tele-follow up was on par with OPD follow up. If all of these 40 patients would have come to our OPD follow-up, they would have travelled on an average of 930 kms per patient. This study shows that social media is a practical tool in follow-up of cancer patients in LMICs where traditional telemedicine tools are restricted and conventional follow-up is economically challenging to patients. It also ensures compliance which is a major issue with conventional follow-up due to poor infrastructure

GIST a rare abdominal tumor and our surgical experience

Background: GISTs are rare abdominal tumors, encountered as the most common mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract leading to GI bleeding. We report a changing trend of diagnosis and management in Indian patients.Methods: The retrospective data was collected from medical records and 62 cases of GIST from 2003 to 2020 in General surgical unit of BHU. They were divided in three groups. In group A (36) patients only surgery, group B (14) patients surgery than adjuvant chemotherapy and in group C (12) who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy then surgery. Preoperatively, USG and CT scans of the abdomen were the main investigations, others being upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and chest x-ray confirm by histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation.Results: The mean age at presentation was 42.8 years (range 17-74 years) and mean duration of symptoms was of 5 months (range 10 days-2 years). It was from the stomach, (06) duodenum (14) jejunum, (06) ileum, (1) caecum and (4) from the mesentery and (4) from retroperitoneum. 44 cases had low grade benign tumors and 18 malignancies. In group A, 22 (61%) patients showed recurrence in group B, 06, (42%) patients showed recurrence and group C, 02 (33%) patient showed recurrence.Conclusions: Most of the tumours were benign and surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment. However, the patients in which only surgery was done showed maximum recurrence and patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy then surgery followed adjuvant chemotherapy showed minimum recurrence.

Bridging the Gap of Skilled Surgeons in Low and Middle Income Countries Using ICT Based Tools : A Case Study in Super-Speciality Training

Introduction: Over the last two decades, advancement of super specialised surgical disciplines has shown improved health outcome, in particular quality and safety. Although medical technology has developed to meet diagnostics and therapeutic needs, there is a scarcity of trained human resources in advanced specialities in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Innovative methods are needed to educate and train people at their workplaces using collaborative technologies and networks. Methods: Over the last 15 years, two general surgeons in Cuttack have been telementored from Lucknow 1,163 km away, using collaborative technologies to develop Endocrine Surgery. This study reviews the last 11 years of the service which includes a clinical decision support system and treatment planning advice using real time videoconferencing. Results: Over the last 11 years, 199 endocrine surgeries per annum were performed with most being thyroid cases as compared with 119 surgeries per annum during the previous five years. Parathyroid and adrenal cases increased significantly during this period (p &lt;0.001). Rates of temporary and permanent vocal cord palsy (1.7% and 0%), hypocalcaemia (5.9% and 1.1%) were comparable with high volume centres. Based on the quantum, safety and quality outcome of endocrine surgery the provincial government has approved creation of a super-speciality department of endocrine surgery in Cuttack. Conclusion: Sustained engagement using telementoring can transfer surgical skills to needy surgeons and enable them to match the expertise of mentors. This model can be replicated in other specialities in a cost effective way to develop specialised human resources for healthcare, in particular in LMICs

Anterior Ethmoidal Nerve Syndrome - An Under-diagnosed Cause of Headache

Introduction The anterior ethmoidal nerve syndrome is a group of symptoms resulting from irritation of the terminal branches of the anterior ethmoidal nerve.  Middle turbinate compression against the septum or the lateral nasal wall may cause a neuropathic facial pain syndrome which is often confused with sinogenic headache or other causes of headache. The diagnosis of anterior ethmoidal nerve syndrome is based on clinical and radiologic findings and needs a high index of suspicion. Our objective is to determine the nasal cause of headache and to create awareness among young ENT surgeons about various local causes of craniofacial pain. Materials and Methods A retrospective observational study carried out in a tertiary care hospital of North India. 30 patients who fulfilled the clinical diagnostic criteria were selected for the study. Results All the patients were analysed, managed accordingly by conservative and surgical management and outcome analysed. All patients were managed with medical and surgical management. Out of 30 patients, 28 (93.33%) patients improved in which 2 patients improve by medical management and 26 patients by surgical management. Conclusion The diagnosis requires a strong clinical suspicion and appropriate evaluation including nasal endoscopy, scan and anesthesia of the suspected point of contact

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p

Mesocarbon microsphere composites with Fe3O4 nanoparticles for outstanding electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness

Development of advanced carbon based materials with improved microstructure properties, finding widespread applications in electromagnetic shielding is a challenge for the scientific community. This research paper describes a method, which is simple and economic for the synthesis of mesocarbon microspheres (MCMS) from heat treatment of coal tar pitch and petroleum pitch followed by solvent extraction. The MCMS were then semi-graphitized (GMCMS) at 1400 degrees C and the distance between the graphitic layers of GMCMS was increased by a chemical treatment called expanded EMCMS. Further, Fe3O4 nanoparticles were in situ incorporated in GMCMS and EMCMS. All the samples were characterized for various parameters, particularly with regard to their potential use in electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness in the X-band of the frequency range of 8.2 GHz to 12.4 GHz. A maximum total shielding effectiveness (SET) of -65.4 and -75.8 dB for GMCMS-Fe3O4 and EMCMS-Fe3O4, respectively was achieved which is more than double for the bare samples, i.e., -29 and -32 dB for GMCMS and EMCMS, respectively. A total SET was obtained for the EMCMS-Fe3O4 composite of similar to-75.8 dB in the whole X band which is remarkably high compared to other reported values in the literature. EM parameters such as relative complex permittivity and relative complex permeability of all the composites were also studied in the X band frequency range

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Not AvailableAnimal trypanosomosis (surra), caused by Trypanosoma evansi, is one of the most important diseases in livestock and wild animals in India. The disease is prevalent across all agro-climatic regions of India, and has a considerable impact on the country's livestock economy through direct and indirect impact on livestock productivity. In the present study, the economic losses on livestock productivity were assessed resulting from surra in India, considering all possible direct and indirect losses in major six livestock species viz., cattle, buffalo, goat, equine, camel and pig. The contemplative risk and retrospective analyses were performed using various official records and scientific literature complemented with expert data for evaluation of impact of surra on livestock productivity in India. Most of the information were derived using the secondary data published in scientific journals, and the official data reported by Basic Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Statistics (BAHS, 2014), the Government of India and other scientific reports. To address the variability and uncertainty, probability distributions for many input values were used in the present study and sensitivity statistical analyses were conducted using a simulation model. In the current analysis, all prices were assumed as deterministic. Based on present study, a total annual loss (direct and indirect) caused by surra was estimated to US $671.1 million or Indian Rupee (INR) 44,740 million (US$ 344–US $ 1209 million or INR 22951.88–80,752.35 million at 95% confidence interval), at present valuation. The mortality losses were estimated to 15.67% of the total loss. Among morbidity losses, the reduction in milk yield and reproductive losses components were 36.46% and 25.72% of total loss, respectively. Other parameters like reduction in growth (9.83%), reduction in draught power (7.95%) and additional opportunity cost (2.93%) also yielded considerable loss. The results highlighted the urgent need for early diagnosis and control strategies for surra in livestock species to reduce the productivity losses in the country's livestock sector.Not Availabl

Novel 3D lightweight carbon foam as an effective adsorbent for arsenic(V) removal from contaminated water

In the present work, an efficient system for removal of pentavalent arsenic (As(V)) from water has been developed using a novel three-dimensional (3D) lightweight carbon foam. The carbon foam was synthesized from phenolic resin by a sacrificial template technique followed by stabilisation and carbonisation. The carbon foam was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) for phase identification and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) for compositional analysis. This same carbon foam has been utilized for the removal of As(V), and remaining concentrations were determined using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer-hydride generator (AAS-HG) at varying adsorption parameters, viz. time, pH and adsorbate dose. The adsorption data is best fitted to a Langmuir isotherm and suggests monolayer adsorption over a homogenous surface. The adsorption capacity of carbon foam is 38.4 mu g g(-1) and the % of arsenic removal is 99.1%, which is very high as compared to other low density carbon materials. The carbon foams efficiently adsorbed As(V) and purify water below the prescribed limits of the world health organization (WHO) and the United States-environmental protection agency (US-EPA)