Prevalence of hypertension at high altitude: cross-sectional survey in Ladakh, Northern India 2007-2011

Objective: Prevalence of hypertension was examined in a widely dispersed (45 110 km2) representative group of Ladakhi in Northern India. The influence of hypoxic environment of wide-ranged altitude (2600–4900 m) and lifestyle change on hypertension was studied. Methods: 2800 participants (age 20–94 years) were enrolled. Systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥90 mm Hg and/or taking current anti-hypertensive medicine was defined as hypertension. Height and weight for body mass index and SpO2 were examined. The rural population comprised six subdivisions with a distinct altitude, dietary and occupational pattern. Participants in the urban area of Leh consist of two groups, that is, migrants settled in Leh from the Changthang nomadic area, and dwellers born in Leh. The prevalence of hypertension in the two groups was compared with that in the farmers and nomads in rural areas. The effects of ageing, hypoxia, dwelling at high altitude, obesity, modernised occupation, dwelling in an urban area, and rural-to-urban migration to hypertension were analysed by multiple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 37.0% in all participants and highest in migrants settled in Leh (48.3%), followed by dwellers born in Leh town (41.1%) compared with those in rural areas (33.5). The prevalence of hypertension in nomads (all: 27.7%, Tibetan/Ladakhi: 19.7/31.9%)) living at higher altitude (4000–4900 m) was relatively low. The associated factors with hypertension were ageing, overweight, dwelling at higher altitude, engagement in modernised sedentary occupations, dwelling in urban areas, and rural-to-urban migration. The effects of lifestyle change and dwelling at high altitude were independently associated with hypertension by multivariate analysis adjusted with confounding factors. Conclusions: Socioeconomic and cultural factors play a big role with the effect of high altitude itself on high prevalence of hypertension in highlanders in Ladakh

Hitomi (ASTRO-H) X-ray Astronomy Satellite

The Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission is the sixth Japanese x-ray astronomy satellite developed by a large international collaboration, including Japan, USA, Canada, and Europe. The mission aimed to provide the highest energy resolution ever achieved at E  >  2  keV, using a microcalorimeter instrument, and to cover a wide energy range spanning four decades in energy from soft x-rays to gamma rays. After a successful launch on February 17, 2016, the spacecraft lost its function on March 26, 2016, but the commissioning phase for about a month provided valuable information on the onboard instruments and the spacecraft system, including astrophysical results obtained from first light observations. The paper describes the Hitomi (ASTRO-H) mission, its capabilities, the initial operation, and the instruments/spacecraft performances confirmed during the commissioning operations for about a month

ラオス サワンナケートケン ノ スイデン チタイ ニ オケル ショクブツ タヨウセイ

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(地域研究)甲第12433号地博第32号新制||地||11(附属図書館)UT51-2006-J424京都大学大学院アジア・アフリカ地域研究研究科東南アジア地域研究専攻(主査)助教授 竹田 晋也, 教授 田中 耕司, 助教授 岩田 明久学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of Area StudiesKyoto UniversityDFA

Cultural Adaptation of the Himalayan Ethnic Foods with Special Reference to Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh

The Himalayan people have developed the ethnic foods to adapt to the harsh conditions and environment. The in-take of such foods has been in the systems for centuries and people have adapted such foods to protect and sustain them. People living in high altitude (>2500) are adapted to cereals and food grains grown in dry and cold climates, with less vegetables and more meat products. More diversity of food items ranging from rice, maize to vegetable, milk to meat is prevalent in the elevation less than 2500 to 1000 m. Ethnic foods possess protective properties, antioxidant, antimicrobial, probiotics, bio-nutrients, and some important health-benefits compounds. Due to rapid urbanisation, development, introduction of commercial ready-to-eat foods have adverse effects on production and consequently consumption of such age-old cultural ethnic foods is declining. The people should be ascertained about the worth indigenous knowledge they possess, and biological significance of their foods. Detailed health status in terms of consumption of both fermented and non-fermented foods and their cultural adaption need to be carried out urgently

The Brokpa and their Social Development: The Work of M/S Dunkarpa Welfare Association at Dirang Circle of West Kameng District, Arunachal Pradesh, India

The Monpa is one of the major 26 tribes of Arunachal Pradesh State, India, inhabiting the land at the altitude from 2000 m to 4000m a.s.l. Monpa people at Dirang Circle are classified into two groups according to their lifestyle, "Unpa (field cultivators at lower altitude)" and "Brokpa (pastoralists at higher altitude)". One of the major characteristics of Brokpa's livelihood is seasonal moving around the grazing land at the altitude from 3000 m to 4500 m with Yak, cow and their cross-breeding, or sheep. Brokpa have close relationship with Unpa in terms of landholding, agricultural production and trading, and marriage. Brokpa owe the land and staple food to Unpa, and Unpa instead obtain the cheese and butter which are important protein source for them. The original culture of Brokpa community and their relationship with Unpa will be influenced by the recent increasing attention on the political, environmental, and socio-economic importance of the high altitude land in Arunachal Pradesh. Dunkarpa Welfare Association was established against such a background, aiming to support the Brokpa community by providing permanent settlement at roadside, school education facilities, and job for gaining regular cash income. However, sudden and compulsory change of the accustomed lifestyle will not be accompanied by mental satisfaction of Brokpa people. Thus, it is a challenge for the action plan of High Altitude Project to support the development of Brokpa's society with ensuring their welfare

Wild Edible Herbs in Paddy Fields and Their Sale in a Mixture in Houaphan Province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Wild Edible Herbs in Paddy Fields and Their Sale in a Mixture in Houaphan Province, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Multiple wild edible herbs coexist in paddy fields under the agricultural practices used for growing rice. Paddy field vegetation was surveyed and the rural population’s perceptions and use of wild edible herbs were investigated in the northern Lao People’s Democratic Republic. A total of 115 wild herbaceous species were observed in the paddy fields of two villages; 52 species grew in fields, 95 on levees, and 63 on banks. Of these, 25 species were locally used, and 22 were sold as a mixture at the Xamneua market, with species composition varying by availability and season. The total number of edible greens increased during the summer season when available vegetables were scarce. Marsilea quadrifolia L. (Marsileaceae), the most abundant in the field and in the market, as well as Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Apiaceae), Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae), Spilanthes oleracea L. (Asteraceae), and Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae) were the most popular wild herbs sold. Wild edible herbs are called “phak”, which is also used to indicate cultivated vegetables, and clearly distinguishes them from the inedible herbs referred to as “nya.” Two methods are employed to gather wild edible herbs: some plants are uprooted as a way of thinning individuals, and other plants have only their young leaves picked so that they can be harvested repeatedly. Gathering and selling wild edible herbs was mainly conducted by women and children for whom it was a source of cash income. Thus, the relationships that exist between people and the wild plants they maintain as part of their farming activities can be considered an indicator of paddy field agrodiversity.ラオス北部フアパン県における水田の食用野草とその販売における組み合わせ. 水田稲作は多様な野草を育み、その多くは食用とされてきた。ラオス北部において、水田の草本植生と住民による野草利用の調査を行った。二カ村の調査で合計115種の野草が記録され、そのうち52種が田面、95種が畦畔、63種が水路土手に生育していた。食用とされる25種のうち、22種はサムヌア市街の市場で販売されていた。市場では複数種の野草が混ぜて販売され、野菜の少ない乾季には混ぜられる野草の種類が多かった。最も多く販売される野草は、Marsilea quadrifolia L. (Marsileaceae)、Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. (Apiaceae)、Eryngium foetidum L. (Apiaceae)、Spilanthes oleracea L. (Asteraceae)、Monochoria hastata (L.) Solms (Pontederiaceae)であった。食用となる野草は、栽培野菜を指す総称「パック」で呼ばれ、食用とならない野草「ニャー」と明確に区別されていた。食用野草の採集には、間引きも兼ねて根から引き抜く方法と、繰り返し採集できるように若葉だけ摘む方法の二通りが確認された。野草の採集と販売は女性と子供によって行われ、彼らの現金収入源とされていた。このようにラオス北部の水田では、農耕活動のもとで人々と野草の多様な関係が維持されており、それは水田農業の多様性を象徴するものである