Information needs of farmers on cultivation of salad cucumber Cucumis sativus under polyhouse

The conventional practice of crop production is now giving its way to hi-tech farming practices. Salad cucumber (Cucumis sativus), is a relatively new crop in Kerala and has proven yield benefit under polyhouse conditions. The study intended to assess the information needs of farmers regarding various technical and cultivation aspects of salad cucumber production under polyhouse. Kendall’s coefficient of concordance (W) and mean values were used to identify the information needs. Most of the cultivation aspects fell under either the ‘highly essential’ or ‘moderately needed’ information category. The technical aspects of construction, maintenance and repair of polyhouse were the most critical information need of farmers along with the specifics of fertilizers for polyhouse and fertigation system. Pests, diseases and nutrient deficiency problems were also the main concerns of farmers. Weed management and pollination, with low mean scores were among the least felt information need. Hence, these aspects are also found to be among essential needs. The study elucidated that an efficient information delivery system through appropriate channels is required to boost polyhouse cultivation of vegetables in Kerala

Ferry Route Design with MAC Protocol in Delay Tolerant Networks

Delay Tolerant Networks(DTNs) are occasionally connected networks. They have high latency, long queuing time, limited resources and intermittent connectivity, which are different from traditional networks. They have been proposed to cope with challenges of communication in some extreme or special environments. Due to uncertainty of node mobility, application traffic demand and other factors, it is difficult to provide performance guarantee for a DTN where all nodes move arbitrarily. With controlled mobility, message ferry can be utilized to guarantee the network performance. MAC protocols developed for duty-cycled networks such as B-MAC,S-MAC, employ an extended preamble introduces X-MAC employs shortened preamble approach that retains the advantages of low power listening, namely low power communication, simplicity and a decoupling of transmitter and receiver schedules. Demonstrate through implementation and evaluation that xmac?s shortened preamble approach significantly reduces energy usage at both transmitter and receiver, reduces per-hop latency

SKELETAL MUSCLE: ONE OF THE SILENT TARGETS OF DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS

ABSTRACTObjective: Muscle weakness in diabetes has been considered a rare manifestation associated with severe diabetic neuropathy. However, similarfindings are lacking in individuals with early diabetes. Handgrip strength is a reliable measurement of the disability index. The present study wasdesigned to determine the effect of early Type 2 diabetes on handgrip strength in adults by handgrip dynamometer.Methods: 30 subjects with diabetes (1-5 years duration) were taken as case, and thirty age and sex-matched subjects without diabetes were takenas controls. Subjects with hypertension, heart diseases, and neuromuscular disorders were excluded. Skeletal muscle function was determined usinghand grip dynamometer. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) was measured thrice and best of that it was taken. For endurance time (ET) 50% ofMVC was taken. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and random blood sugar testing was done.Results: Compared to controls, cases had decreased mid forearm circumference (23.97±1.7 cm vs. 23.8±2.7 cm, p<0.005). MVC and ET were alsosignificantly reduced in cases when compared with control subjects (MVC, 32.46±6.865 kg vs. 22.48±4.420 kg, p<0.025) and ET (44.57±17.294 secondsvs. 16.63±9.810 seconds, p<0.022).Conclusion: Our study suggests that there is a decline in skeletal muscle strength in type 2 diabetes even before the disease manifests severely.This provides evidence that impaired grip strength is associated with adverse metabolic profile, in addition, to the loss of physical function, and thepotential for grip strength to be used in the clinical setting needs to be explored.Keywords: Skeletal muscle function, Handgrip, Diabetes, Endurance time, Maximum voluntary contraction

PREDOMINANCE AND INFLUENCE OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY ON GLYCEMIC AND LIPID INDICES IN TYPE 2 DIABETES SUBJECTS: A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Objective To investigate the existence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) among type 2 diabetes, non-diabetes subjects and its effect on both glycemic and lipid profiles.MethodsA case control study was conducted on 200 subjects of both gender (100 type 2 diabetes and 100 non-diabetes individuals) aged 40 to 60 years. Fasting serum 25(OH) D levels, Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), HbA1C, lipid profile including total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein TC/HDL and very low density lipoprotein were estimated. Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) was calculated. Group comparisons were done by one way ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey's test and Student's independent T test. Chi-square test was performed for categorical variables. Correlation was done by Pearson's analysis. P < 0.05 was considered significant.Results The average serum 25(OH) D levels were significantly (p<0.001) low in diabetes group. The prevalence of VDD and the percentage of insufficient and sufficient categories was significantly (p<0.001) high and low respectively in diabetes group. In the deficient category diabetes group had severe VDD with significantly low HDL and elevated triglycerides and there was an insignificant but negative association between serum vitamin D levels, FBS, HbA1c, TC, TG, LDL, TC / HDL and AIP among diabetes subjects.ConclusionThe occurrence of severe vitamin D deficiency coupled with the independent association of the same with the glycemic and lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes may further add to the aggravation of complications Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, Type 2 diabetes, Glycemic and lipid indice

Internal Phosphorus Load Reduction with Iron Filings

Minnesota Pollution Control Agenc

Inorganic Porous Materials Based Epoxy Self-Healing Coatings

The long-term stability of protective coating for metal is critically important for structural applications [1, 2]. Self-healing ability extend the service life of protective coatings leading to a significant reduction in maintenance cost for oil and gas pipe lines and structural parts in civil and construction industry. Recently, the self-healing technology based on healing agent loaded containers has been receiving attention [3, 4]. The incorporation of self- healing agent loaded containers into polymer matrix can be carried out using existing blending techniques. Hence, this technology facilitate large-scale application of self-healing materials [5]. Different micro or nano containers has been used for the storage and release of self-healing agents upon specific corrosion triggering conditions (e.g. on pH change) or upon mechanical damage [6]. Polymer capsules, polymer nanofibers, hollow glass bubbles, hollow glass fibers etc. were used by the researchers to load the healing agent inside their cavity. The inorganic particles with nano cavity offers large surface area, high pore volume and good stability favorable for the storage of the healing agents. Moreover, the usage of inorganic nanomaterials as reservoirs for healing agent can eliminate the tedious encapsulation process. The present study aims to use inorganic nanotubes and mesoporous silica as containers for healing agents in epoxy coating. The ability of Halloysite nanotubes (HNT), titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotube and mesoporous silica to load and release the healing agents are investigated and compared their performance. Among them, Halloysite nanotubes are naturally occurring clay mineral. Meanwhile, TiO2 nanotube and mesoporous silica are synthesised in laboratory and characterised using scanning electron microscopic (SEM), transmission electron microscopic (TEM) techniques and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis. The morphology of the nanotubes and mesoporous silica are shown in Fig. 1 (in supporting file). In this study, the epoxy pre-polymer and hardener are used as healing agents. Containers loaded with epoxy and hardener can provide a repair system with matching chemical entity with host epoxy coating. Both epoxy encapsulated nanotubes (either Halloysite or TiO2 nanotubes) and amine immobilized mesoporous silica are incorporated into epoxy, followed by the addition of diethylenetriamine curing agent. The mixture is coated on the metal with an average thickness of 300 ?m. The controlled epoxy coatings are also prepared without nanotube and mesoporous silica. Epoxy coating loaded with encapsulated Halloysite nanotubes and immobilized mesoporous silica is abbreviated as 'EP/HNT/SiO2' and the one loaded with encapsulated TiO2 nanotubes and immobilized mesoporous silica is abbreviated as 'EP/ TiO2/SiO2'. The self-healing ability of the scratched coatings is monitored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in definite time intervals for 5 days. Both EIS bode plots and tafel polarization curves are analysed to observe the self-healing ability of the coatings. For the scratched controlled epoxy coating, after an immersion time of 24 hours, the impedance curve drop to its minimum value over the entire frequency range and on further immersion period the impedance curve remains its minimum value. However, in the case of self-healing coatings, the initially declined impedance value recovers in successive days. The recovery in low frequency impedance values (at 0.01 Hz), which is a direct reflection of the recovery of corrosion resistance of the coating are evaluated. While EP/TiO2/SiO2 coating recovered 57% of its anticorrosive property, the EP/HNT/SiO2 coating recovered only 0.026%. This results suggest that the nature of the nanotubes affect the amount and rate of healing agent released into the scratched area from the tube lumen which itself affect the self-healing ability of the coating. SEM is also used to observe the healed scratches on the coatings. After 96 hours of immersion in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the scratches in EP/TiO2/SiO2 self-healing coatings are found to be almost covered. The results confirm the effective self-healing ability of the EP/TiO2/SiO2 coating in which the released epoxy pre-polymer from nanotube lumen get contact with the amine hardener immobilized in mesoporous silica and cross-link to cover the scratch. Acknowledgment: This abstract was made possible by PDRA grant # PDRA1-1216-13014 from the Qatar national research fund (a member of Qatar foundation).qscienc

CEREBRAL VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN PREGNANCY : A CASE REPORT

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare complication encountered in pregnancy. Symptoms of CVT include headache, limb paresis, seizures , disturbed consciousness , visual disturbances. We present our 25 years old pregnant patient who presented with unsteadiness of gait , weakness and numbness of all four limbs, vomiting headache , giddiness due to which it was difficult for her to perform her daily activities. After the differential diagnostic examinations, we recognised cerebral venous thrombosis. After anti-coagulant treatment , the symptoms resolved. We would like to convey that such symptoms in pregnant women we should always think of CVT

Efficacy of metformin and insulin in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus: A comparative study

Background: In Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), the insulin secretion is not adequate enough to compensate for the severity of hyperglycaemia and pregnancy is also a state of high insulin resistance which leads to ineffective glycaemic control. Aim and Objectives: To compare the efficacy of metformin and insulin in management of GDM; and to assess neonatal and maternal outcomes in the study group. Material and Methods: One hundred pregnant women visiting the Outpatient Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JSS Hospital, Mysuru were screened for GDM at first antenatal visit. If the first test results were negative, then second test was done at 24 - 28 weeks of gestation. One hundred pregnant women diagnosed as GDM after 20 weeks of gestation by Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group of India (DIPSI) method were included for the study. They were randomly assigned into two groups with 50 patients each and were subjected to pharmacological treatment with either insulin or metformin. Optimum glycemic control between the two groups was studied along with the maternal and fetal outcome. Results: Our study showed no significant difference in GDM with the use of metformin or insulin. All patients (100%) from the insulin group achieved good glycemic control whereas in the metformin group, 98% achieved good glycemic control. Maternal and fetal outcomes were also not significant between the two groups. Conclusion: Our study showed no significant difference in the use of metformin or insulin and suggests that metformin is effective in controlling GDM without associated higher risk of maternal or neonatal complications compared with insulin

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and air-water CO2 exchange in the tropical semidiurnal estuarine system

Time-series observations of the Vellar estuary between May 2013 and December 2019 showed clear variability with respect to space and time in the distribution of nutrients, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) and air-water CO2 exchange. Lower and higher salinities revealed significant seasonality in estuarine pCO2, as well as variations in the seasonal pattern due to the freshwater discharges during monsoon rainfall. The pCO2 attained the highest levels (8457 µatm) during monsoon which coincided with the lowest pH (7.498) and the undersaturation of pCO2 (322 µatm) was observed with maximum pH (8.182) during pre-monsoon. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified four components that accounted for 77.28 % of the total variance and explained the significant influence of nutrients, chlorophyll and temperature on pCO2 distribution. Similarly, the multiple linear regression analysis showed significant influence of environmental variables on pCO2 variability with a R2 of 0.957, SEE±230.816, p < 0.001. The surveyed area of the Vellar estuary had an overall pCO2 of 1068 µatm and was supersaturated with regard to the atmospheric pCO2 throughout the year, with an average CO2 flux of 4.13±5.59 mmol C m-2 d-1 to the atmosphere. During the study period, the Vellar estuary actively supplied 650.2 mol C m-2 Y-1 to the atmosphere. Hence, the metabolic balance of the estuarine ecosystem is aided by land derived organic carbon accompanied with freshwater flows from the Vellar river, constituting the estuary as a substantial source of atmospheric CO2