Study of the trajectories of visually guided movement of unimanual and bimanual tasks

Restitution of upper limb mobility following stroke is one of the major challenges facing clinicians in the country today. The complexity of performing skilled tasks with fine movements makes restitution of mobility all the more complex for rehabilitation specialists. Although several techniques have been evolved for, limited success with transfer of training from the clinical environment to functional performance clearly indicates a need for research and development in the area of upper extremity rehabilitation. Bimanual coordination has recently surfaced as a novel and effective way to fast and lasting recovery. The success of bimanually coordinated training encourages a better understanding of the underlying neural, physiological and engineering principles involved which in turn would result in improved treatments for people with hemiparesis. An apparatus developed in this project enables such an understanding, by successfully being able to collect, record and analyze the movement trajectories of both the hands simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy

Dryland Agriculture: Dynamics, Challenges and Priorities

The developments in the dryland region reflect the pervasiveness of poverty, which is demonstrated by the growing constraints of water, land degradation, continuing concerns about malnutrition, migration due to frequent droughts, lack of infrastructure, poor dissemination of improved technologies, and effects of government policies and further economic liberalization on the competitiveness of dryland crops. This research bulletin reviews past trends, summarizes the major constraints to income growth, food security, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability, and identifies future strategies and priorities. The discussion uses the semi-arid tropics as a focal point where poverty, food insecurity, child malnutrition and gender inequalities are widespread. A synthesis of evidence and lessons learned from ICRISAT Village Level Studies (VLS), conducted since 1975, is presented to provide empirical evidence on the vulnerability of the poor to various risks and shocks, as well as their capacity to access physical, financial and social resources and networks in the risky environments of the drylands. An analysis of available evidences provided a basis for identifying major policy issues that need to be addressed. Priority development interventions are identified to accelerate the pace of development of dryland agriculture: a) water as a catalyst for development; b) reorientation of public policies and better targeting of development interventions to dryland farmers, especially since they relate to key factors constraining agricultural productivity, and hence poverty reduction; c) diversification with a higher focus on crop-livestock development; d) innovative, cost effective and community based management of wastelands and common property resources; e) marketing, commercial orientation and competitiveness of dryland agriculture; and f)institutional innovations, building partnerships, linkages and capacity. The development of dryland agriculture requires synergy among technologies, marketing systems, input supplies, credit, policies and institutions. A broadbased sustainable growth and development in the drylands of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is viewed as a key strategy for addressing rural poverty in the Asian and sub-Saharan region

Dryland Agriculture: Dynamics, Challenges and Priorities

The developments in the dryland region reflect the pervasiveness of poverty, which is demonstrated by the growing constraints of water, land degradation, continuing concerns about malnutrition, migration due to frequent droughts, lack of infrastructure, poor dissemination of improved technologies, and effects of government policies and further economic liberalization on the competitiveness of dryland crops. This research bulletin reviews past trends, summarizes the major constraints to income growth, food security, poverty alleviation, and environmental sustainability, and identifies future strategies and priorities. The discussion uses the semi-arid tropics as a focal point where poverty, food insecurity, child malnutrition and gender inequalities are widespread. A synthesis of evidence and lessons learned from ICRISAT Village Level Studies (VLS), conducted since 1975, is presented to provide empirical evidence on the vulnerability of the poor to various risks and shocks, as well as their capacity to access physical, financial and social resources and networks in the risky environments of the drylands. An analysis of available evidences provided a basis for identifying major policy issues that need to be addressed. Priority development interventions are identified to accelerate the pace of development of dryland agriculture: a) water as a catalyst for development; b) reorientation of public policies and better targeting of development interventions to dryland farmers, especially since they relate to key factors constraining agricultural productivity, and hence poverty reduction; c) diversification with a higher focus on crop-livestock development; d) innovative, cost effective and community based management of wastelands and common property resources; e) marketing, commercial orientation and competitiveness of dryland agriculture; and f)institutional innovations, building partnerships, linkages and capacity. The development of dryland agriculture requires synergy among technologies, marketing systems, input supplies, credit, policies and institutions. A broadbased sustainable growth and development in the drylands of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is viewed as a key strategy for addressing rural poverty in the Asian and sub-Saharan region

Strategic Partnerships @ ICRISAT: Global Partnerships for Strategic Impact

This study formally examines the intricacies of public-private partnerships at ICRISAT in order to glean from experiences how best to effectively and efficiently develop strategic partnerships that work and to build a learning module on successful partnership management for ICRISAT staff and partners. Public-private partnerships are examined in the light of institutional behavior and lessons learned, which facilitate/impede the exchange of potential pro-poor knowledge and technology. The focus is on three key issues: (1) the rationale for forging partnerships; (2) the benefits accrued; and (3) lessons learned from ongoing partnerships to harness more successful strategic ties in the future. Collaborations between scientists of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) were examined, especially working linkages between and among researchers based in international, regional and national organizations spread across Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Data and information were obtained through web- and email-based surveys across all the regional locations of ICRISAT. The resulting analysis characterizes public-private partnerships at ICRISAT and delves into factors that contribute to their success or failure. These findings are critical to developing a learning module on the best practices in undertaking strategic partnerships at ICRISAT

Micronutrients and phytochemicals content in various rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) samples control carbohydrate digestion variedly and present differential antioxidant activities: an in vitro appraisal

821-831High starch and carbohydrate content in rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) disparages this food responsible for postprandial hyperglycemic excursions. However, rice is an Asian food synonym. Additionally, in traditional Indian healing practices, rice is used for treatment of various disorders. In this research, we analyzed micronutrient and phytochemical contents in different rice samples available in market. Effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of each type of rice was evaluated against intestinal α-glucosidase to examine extract’s influence on carbohydrate digestion. Free-radicals scavenging activities as a measure of antioxidant potential in different rice were also examined. Brown-rice presented highest (54%) α-glucosidase inhibition followed by parboiled-rice (52%), idly-rice (48%), hand-pounded rice (42%), dosa-rice (40%) and basmati-rice (39%). Polished white sona-masoori rice presented least enzyme inhibitory (31%) activity. Presence of higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was regarded as slow digesting rice that would impart lesser postprandial glycemic excursion. Brown and parboiled-rice presented highest ABTS֗+ radical scavenging (74%) activity whereas; idly-rice displayed highest DPPH scavenging (50%) activity. Higher polyphenol and niacin contents in rice were found significantly (p+ radical scavenging activity

Micronutrients and phytochemicals content in various rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) samples control carbohydrate digestion variedly and present differential antioxidant activities: an in vitro appraisal

High starch and carbohydrate content in rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) disparages this food responsible for postprandial hyperglycemic excursions. However, rice is an Asian food synonym. Additionally, in traditional Indian healing practices, rice is used for treatment of various disorders. In this research, we analyzed micronutrient and phytochemical contents in different rice samples available in market. Effect of aqueous-ethanol extract of each type of rice was evaluated against intestinal α-glucosidase to examine extract’s influence on carbohydrate digestion. Free-radicals scavenging activities as a measure of antioxidant potential in different rice were also examined. Brown-rice presented highest (54%) α-glucosidase inhibition followed by parboiled-rice (52%), idly-rice (48%), hand-pounded rice (42%), dosa-rice (40%) and basmati-rice (39%). Polished white sona-masoori rice presented least enzyme inhibitory (31%) activity. Presence of higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was regarded as slow digesting rice that would impart lesser postprandial glycemic excursion. Brown and parboiled-rice presented highest ABTS֗+ radical scavenging (74%) activity whereas; idly-rice displayed highest DPPH scavenging (50%) activity. Higher polyphenol and niacin contents in rice were found significantly (p<0.0001 and p<0.01 respectively) correlated with enzyme inhibitory activity. Higher polyphenol content was found responsible for enhanced free-radicals scavenging activity. Increasing concentrations of niacin and pantothenic acid correlated with ABTS֗+ radical scavenging activity

Relative uniformity in illumination across the red, green and blue channels respectively.

<p>(a-c) RGB color bands of a healthy fundus image, with blue being most uniform; (d-f) RGB color bands of an APROP fundus image, with the mean of blue channel <64.</p

Varying levels of arborocity in APROP.

<p>(a-b,d-e) vessel segments in DR1, EDR1 and DR2 respectively; (c) APROP sample without vessel segments in DR2; (f) APROP sample with too many vessel segments in DR2.</p

Severe APROP subject treated post diagnosis.

<p>(a) vessels after first sitting of laser burns; (b) vessels with reduced tortuosity after second week of laser therapy.</p