Northern India (northern + india)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Prevalence of celiac disease among school children in Punjab, North India

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 10 2006
Ajit Sood
Abstract Background:, Celiac disease, as of today, is said to exist in almost all parts of the world, although it is rare among people of purely African,Caribbean, Japanese and Chinese background. The disease has also been considered uncommon in India until recently. Hospital records have revealed an increasing trend of the disease in predominantly wheat-eating areas of North India. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease among school children in Punjab, North India. Methods:, The study was carried out in the Ludhiana district of Punjab, Northern India. A total of 4347 children aged 3,17 years attending different schools were enrolled. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and symptoms and signs related to celiac disease and various sociodemographic factors. The screening for celiac disease for the suspected celiacs was done by testing for antitissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) by indirect solid-phase immunometric assay (ELISA). All children with high anti-tTG whose parents consented underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for small bowel biopsy from the second part of the duodenum. Histopathology was expressed according to the Marsh classification of 1992. Follow up was carried out among children who were put on a gluten-restricted diet, at monthly intervals for 3 months and every 3 months thereafter. The diagnosis of celiac disease was established on the basis of the revised European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterologists and Nutritionists (ESPGAN) criteria (confirmed cases). Results:, A total of 4347 school children (1967 girls, 2380 boys, age range 3,17 years) were screened for celiac disease. Out of these, 198 suspected children were identified for further evaluation. Twenty-one children tested positive for anti-tTG assay (10.6%, 95% confidence interval: 16.91,34.79). Seventeen of these 21 children agreed to undergo biopsy; of these, 14 had histological changes consistent with celiac disease and all these 14 children had clinical response to gluten restriction. Three children with high anti-tTG had normal mucosa on duodenal biopsy and were not labelled as being in the celiac disease group. In the final analysis the disease prevalence was one in 310 children. Conclusions:, This is the first study on celiac disease prevalence among school children from India. Although this disease frequency of one in 310 is thought to be an under-assessment, it clearly shows that celiac disease is not rare in wheat-eating areas of North India. [source]


Maternal Mortality in Rural India: A Hospital Based, 10 Year Retrospective Analysis

JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY RESEARCH (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2001
Dr. Kavita Verma
Abstract Objectives: To estimate the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Ludhiana, a city of Northern India in order to determine the causes associated with MMR and to suggest ways to reduce it. Methods: Retrospective analysis of the mortality records of obstetrics cases in Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India. Results: The mean MMR for the 10 year period was 785 per 100,000 live births. Of the total 116 reported maternal deaths, 44 (41.9%) were due to induced septic abortion. The reasons were unwanted pregnancy in 22 (50%) and 11 (25%) were female feticide. Conclusions: In our hospital based analysis, MMR was very high. Most maternal deaths are preventable by intervention at the appropriate time and it is important for health professionals, policy makers and politicians to implement the introduction of programs for reducing maternal mortality. Special emphasis should be placed on antenatal care, the establishment of a registration system and measures to abolish illegal abortion. [source]


Cultivation of medicinal isabgol (Plantago ovata) in alkali soils in semiarid regions of Northern India

LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 3 2006
J. C. Dagar
Abstract There is growing global demand for medicinal drugs including isabgol (Plantago ovata). With increasing demand of food for an ever-increasing population in India, it is not possible to bring arable lands under cultivation for aromatic and medicinal plants. Salt-affected lands (both saline and alkali) occupy about 8·6 million ha. Due to poor physical properties and excessive exchangeable Na+, most of these lands do not support good vegetation cover. The marginal and salt-affected lands could be successfully utilized for the cultivation of aromatic and medicinal plants. We achieved almost complete germination of isabgol seeds using up to 5000,ppm salt-solution. Grain yield (including husk) was 1·47 to 1·58,t,ha,1 at pH 9·2 showing no significant yield reduction as compared to normal soil. At pH 9·6 the grain yield was 1·03 to 1·12,t,ha,1. At higher pH there was significant reduction in yield. Sowing in good moisture (at field capacity) of soil was found best, but to save time sowing at shallow depth in dry soil, followed by irrigation was also suitable as compared to broadcasting seeds. The chlorophyll content was greater 70 days after sowing compared to younger stages (50 days after sowing). The total chlorophyll and plant biomass were lower from crops grown by broadcasting methods of sowing as compared to two other methods of sowing. The leaf area index (LAI) was higher for the broadcasting method of sowing as compared to the other two methods. Na+ absorption increased and K+ and K+/Na+ ratio decreased with increase in pH. Results reported in this paper clearly indicate that isabgol can successfully be grown on moderately alkali soils up to pH 9·6 without the application of any amendment. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Dietary aspects of pregnant women in rural areas of Northern India

MATERNAL & CHILD NUTRITION, Issue 2 2008
Virender P. Gautam
Abstract The aim of this article is to document the current dietary profile of pregnant women in rural areas of Delhi. In order to explore the diet the combination of quantitative (24-h recall method) and qualitative methods (food frequency method) were used. The mean intake of macronutrients and micronutrients, namely, iron, folic acid and Vitamin C which play an important role in the pathophysiology of nutritional anaemia during pregnancy was calculated from the foodstuffs, using Nutritive Value of Indian Foods. The preferences and avoidance of various foods by the pregnant women were also elicited. The data were analysed using Epi Info 3.4. The intake of calories, protein, iron, folic acid and Vitamin C was found to be less than the recommended dietary allowance in 100%, 91.2%, 98.2%, 99.1% and 65.8% of pregnant women respectively. Folic acid intakes were significantly lower in younger, primiparous and poorly educated women from low-income families. Vitamin C intake was lower among non-Hindus only. The overall data suggested the presence of food gap rather than isolated deficiency of any particular nutrient. [source]


Epidemiology of Skin Diseases in School Children: A Study from Northern India

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
D.N.B., Sunil Dogra M.D.
Low socioeconomic status, malnutrition, overcrowding, and poor standards of hygiene are important factors accounting for the distribution of skin diseases in developing countries such as India. In order to estimate the burden and relative frequency of dermatologic diseases among children in the community, we measured the point prevalence of skin conditions in 12,586 Indian school children ages 6,14 years. The overall point prevalence of one or more identifiable/apparent skin conditions was 38.8%. Of those studied, 3786 children (30%) had only one skin disease, 765 (6%) had two, and 336 (2.7%) had three skin pathologies. The most common skin conditions and their respective point prevalences were skin infections (11.4%), pityriasis alba (8.4%), dermatitis/nonspecific eczemas (5.2%), infestations (5.0%), disorders of pigmentation (2.6%), keratinization disorders (mostly keratosis pilaris) (1.3%), and nevi/hamartomas (1.1%). This study shows that skin conditions are common in children and about one-third of them are affected at any given time. The finding that more than 85% of the disorders can be grouped into fewer than eight categories is important in designing training programs for medical teams involved in the delivery of primary health care services in developing countries such as India, where about one-third of the population is less than 15 years of age. [source]


Evaluation of cost of treatment of drug-related events in a tertiary care public sector hospital in Northern India: a prospective study

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Smita Pattanaik
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , Drug related events include ADRs, events due to patient or physician noncompliance, drug overdosage and drug interactions. , Economic burden of management of drug related events are substantial and include both direct and indirect costs. , Some data regarding cost of treatment of ADR exist from south and western India. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , An approximate cost of management of drug related events presenting to the emergency medical department in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 4 months. , Compares the cost incurred in a public sector hospital to the projected cost of management of same events in a private sector hospital. , Gives a rough estimate of economic burden on the health care system due to adverse drug events. AIMS Drug related events (DREs) contribute significantly to hospital admissions. These are largely preventable events and require optimum use of the therapeutic agents. The study was conducted to analyze the cost of treatment of DREs. PATIENTS & METHODS All visits to medical emergency department of a tertiary care public sector hospital in northern India were recorded in a prospective, non-interventional manner over a period of 4 months. DREs were recognized and were followed up till their stay in the hospital. Data about the cost generating components of direct and indirect costs of treatment of DREs were collected. The projected cost of treatment of the same DREs in a private sector hospital was estimated and compared. RESULTS Out of 1833 admissions, 92(5.01%) were due to DREs. Maximum cases were due to non compliance (66%) followed by ADR (28%) and drug overdose(6%). The common DREs leading to ED visits were cerebrovascular accident(19.44%), followed by accelerated hypertension(18.36%) and diabetic ketoacidosis(14.04%). Total cost of management of all the 92 DREs in our hospital was calculated to be INR17,37,339(,30,215). The direct cost was INR1,72,961(,3008) and the approximate indirect cost was INR15,64, 378(,27, 206). The projected cost of management of all the 92 DREs was estimated to be INR63,63,872(,1,01, 676) in a private sector hospital. CONCLUSION The study shows that ADEs leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations constitute a significant economic burden. Training of the patients and the prescribers may lessen the economic burden on the patient as well as the health care system. [source]


Polymorphisms in ERCC2, MSH2, and OGG1 DNA repair genes and gallbladder cancer risk in a population of Northern India

CANCER, Issue 13 2010
Kshitij Srivastava MSc
Abstract BACKGROUND: Genetic variants of DNA repair enzymes may lead to genetic instability and contribute to gallbladder (GB) carcinogenesis. METHODS: A case-control study (230 GB carcinogenesis patients and 230 controls) was undertaken to evaluate whether genetic variations in 3 DNA repair genes ERCC2 (Asp312Asn [rs1799793] and Lys751Gln [rs13181]), MSH2 (,118T>C [rs2303425] and IVS1 + 9G>C [rs2303426]), and OGG1 (Ser326Cys [rs1052133] and 748-15C>G [rs2072668]) are associated with GB carcinogenesis risk in a North Indian population. RESULTS: The authors found that the ERCC2 Asp312Asn AA, MSH2 IVS1 + 9G>C CC, OGG1 Ser326Cys GG and CG + GG, and OGG1 748-15C>G GG and CG + GG genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of GB carcinogenesis (odds ratio [OR], 2.1, 1.8, 2.5, 1.8, 2.0, and 1.6, respectively). In contrast, ERCC2 Lys751Gln, and MSH2 ,118T>C markers showed no significant associations with GB carcinogenesis risk, although because of the small sample size their effects cannot be ruled out. Female GB carcinogenesis patients with the OGG1 748-15C>G GG, OGG1 Ser326Cys GG, and ERCC2 Asp312Asn genotypes had a greater risk for developing the disease (OR, 3.6, 7.7, and 2.7, respectively). There was a significant interaction between MSH2 IVS1 + 9G>C and OGG1 748-15C>G polymorphisms (P = .001). Furthermore, individuals with >6 variant alleles of the studied polymorphisms were at 4-fold increased risk for developing GB carcinogenesis. Classification and Regression Tree analysis revealed potential higher-order gene-gene interactions and categorized a few higher-risk subgroups for GB carcinogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that genetic variants in the DNA repair pathways may be involved in GB carcinogenesis etiology. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society. [source]


Review of the genus Leucophenga Mik (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in India, with descriptions of five new species from northern India

ENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 4 2005
Rajendra S. FARTYAL
Abstract A review of all Indian Leucophenga species is given, including descriptions of five new species: L. champawatensis, L. chaubattiaensis, L. kumaonensis, L. nainae and L. neointerrupta. New collection records of some species from India and adjacent countries; namely, Myanmar and China, and distribution range of each species within India are also given. Keys to species groups and species occurring in India are provided. [source]


Essential oil composition of Zanthoxylum alatum seeds from northern India

FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 6 2001
Neetu Jain
Abstract The seeds of Zanthoxylum alatum Roxb., on hydrodistillation, gave 1.5% of oil (v/w). GC and GC,MS analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 56 constituents, representing 99.5% of the oil. Linalool (71%), limonene (8.2%), ,-phellandrene (5.7%) and (Z)-methylcinnamate (4.9%) were the major components. It is suggested that the seeds of Z. alatum can be used as a commercial source for the isolation of linalool. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Magnitude calibration of north Indian earthquakes

GEOPHYSICAL JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2004
N. N. Ambraseys
SUMMARY This article is concerned primarily with the evaluation of the size and location of northern Indian and southern Tibetan earthquakes during the last 200 yr. It draws attention to the problems of assessing intensity of early and more recent earthquakes in a built environment, which is different from that for which the intensity scale has been constructed and to the way in which isoseismals are drawn. Through a re-evaluation of intensities and a reassessment of isoseismals, a formula for the estimation of surface wave magnitude using isoseismal radii is derived. This formula is used to estimate the surface wave magnitudes of 16 earthquakes that occurred in the region between 1803 and 1900. This study shows that it is possible to calculate accurate surface wave magnitudes for earthquakes that occurred before the advent of the scale and that there is no need to resort to empirical formulae for the assessment of the size and seismic moment release of pre-20th-century earthquakes. Also derived are formulae for the conversion of Ms to M0. In total, locations, surface wave magnitudes and M0 estimates are presented for 43 important events that occurred in the region between 1803 and 1974, eight of which were in the lower crust or were subcrustal. We find that the M0,Ms scaling for India yields smaller Ms than the global relation and that the methodology used can help to evaluate more realistic slip rates as well as to address other issues related to earthquake hazard in northern India. [source]


Determining woodpecker diversity in the sub-Himalayan forests of northern India using call playbacks

JOURNAL OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGY, Issue 2 2010
Raman Kumar
ABSTRACT Tropical forests have exceptional woodpecker diversity, but little is known about the abundance and diversity of woodpeckers in the Indian subcontinent, particularly for the Shorea robusta -dominated moist deciduous forests of northern India. Our objective was to compare the number of woodpecker species and number of individuals detected using playback surveys and visual/aural transect surveys at five sites. Each site was surveyed 5,6 times along a 2000-m transect, with woodpeckers detected using two methods: (1) visual and aural cues, and (2) playing back calls of 13 species at 400-m intervals. Both methods involved similar effort per survey (100,110 min). During surveys, we detected 11 species of woodpeckers. More species and more than twice as many individuals were detected during playback surveys than during visual/aural surveys. In addition, species accumulation curves showed that we detected the species known to be present based on previous work faster with playback surveys than with visual/aural surveys at four of the five sites. During field trials, 97% of targeted individuals (N= 269) of 12 species responded to playback, and 83% of the responses occurred within 1 min of broadcast. The number of species of woodpeckers in our study area (11 species) was typical for a structurally diverse, tropical/subtropical moist broad-leaved forest. Our results demonstrate that playback surveys are more efficient and accurate than visual/aural surveys, and that playback surveys can be useful for assessing and monitoring woodpecker diversity in tropical forests. RESUMEN Los bosques tropicales tienen una diversidad excepcional de pájaros carpinteros, pero se conoce muy poco sobre la abundancia y diversidad de estas aves en la parte norte del sub-continente de la India, particularmente en el bosque deciduo húmedo dominado por Shorea robusta. Nuestro objetivo fue comparar el número de especies y de individuos de carpinteros utilizando grabaciones para censarlos y transectos visuales/auditivos en cinco lugares. Cada lugar fue censado 5,6 veces, cada 400m, a lo largo de un transecto de 2000 m, utilizando pistas visuales y auditivas y grabaciones de 13 especies. Ambos métodos incluyeron un esfuerzo similar por censo (100,110 minutos). Durante los censos, detectamos 11 especies de pájaros carpinteros. Una cantidad mayor de especies y más del doble de los individuos fueron detectados utilizando grabaciones que en los censos visuales/auditivos. Además, las curvas de acumulación de especies mostraron que detectamos las especies que sabíamos estaban presentes (basados en trabajos previos) de forma más rápida utilizando grabaciones que con el método visual/auditivo en cuatro de las cinco localidades. Durante las pruebas de campo el 97% (N= 269) de 12 especies respondieron a las grabaciones, y el 83% de las respuestas se obtuvieron un minuto después de exponerlos a la grabación. El número de especies de pájaros carpinteros en nuestra área de estudio (11) fue el típico para un bosque tropical/subtropical húmedo de hoja ancha y estructura diversificada. Nuestros resultados demuestran que los censos en donde se usan grabaciones son más eficientes y precisos que los censos visuales/auditivos. Además que los censos en donde se usan grabaciones pueden ser útiles para determinar y monitorear la diversidad de carpinteros en bosques tropicales. [source]


Post-cholecystectomy biliary strictures: Not always benign

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 7pt2 2008
Ajay Sharma
Abstract Background:, Post-cholecystectomy malignant biliary obstruction masquerading as benign biliary stricture (BBS) has not been reported in the literature; it presents a diagnostic and management challenge. Methods:, Of the 349 post-cholecystectomy BBS managed at a tertiary care hospital in northern India between 1989 and 2004, 11 patients were found to have biliary malignancy. Records of these 11 patients were analyzed retrospectively for the purpose of this study. Results:, Mean age of patients with malignant biliary strictures was significantly higher (52 vs 38 years, P = 0.000); they were more likely to have jaundice (100% vs 78%, P = 0.008) and pruritus (82% vs 48%, P = 0.03). Unlike most patients with BBS referred from elsewhere to us, they had had a smooth postoperative course uncomplicated by bile leak, had a longer cholecystectomy-presentation interval, and were more likely to have high strictures ((Bismuth type III/IV) 91% vs 49%, P = 0.008). Conclusions:, Post-cholecystectomy biliary obstruction is not always benign. High bilirubin levels and hilar strictures, especially after an uneventful cholecystectomy, in a middle-aged patient should raise a suspicion of underlying missed malignancy. [source]


Geographical difference in antimicrobial resistance pattern of Helicobacter pylori clinical isolates from Indian patients: Multicentric study

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 12 2003
SP THYAGARAJAN
Abstract Aim:, To assess the pattern of antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori isolates from peptic ulcer disease patients of Chandigarh, Delhi, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Chennai in India, and to recommend an updated anti- H. pylori treatment regimen to be used in these areas. Methods:, Two hundred and fifty-nine H. pylori isolates from patients with peptic ulcer disease reporting for clinical management to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh; All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi; Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow; Deccan College of Medical Sciences and Allied Hospitals, Hyderabad; and hospitals in Chennai in collaboration with the Dr ALM Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences were analyzed for their levels of antibiotic susceptibility to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxycillin, ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. The Epsilometer test (E-test), a quantitative disc diffusion antibiotic susceptibility testing method, was adopted in all the centers. The pattern of single and multiple resistance at the respective centers and at the national level were analyzed. Results:, Overall H. pylori resistance rate was 77.9% to metronidazole, 44.7% to clarithromycin and 32.8% to amoxycillin. Multiple resistance was seen in 112/259 isolates (43.2%) and these were two/three and four drug resistance pattern to metronidazole, clarithromycin, amoxycillin observed (13.2, 32 and 2.56%, respectively). Metronidazole resistance was high in Lucknow, Chennai and Hyderabad (68, 88.2 and 100%, respectively) and moderate in Delhi (37.5%) and Chandigarh (38.2%). Ciprofloxacin and tetracycline resistance was the least, ranging from 1.0 to 4%. Conclusion:, In the Indian population, the prevalence of resistance of H. pylori is very high to metronidazole, moderate to clarithromycin and amoxycillin and low to ciprofloxacin and tetracycline. The rate of resistance was higher in southern India than in northern India. The E-test emerges as a reliable quantitative antibiotic susceptibility test. A change in antibiotic policy to provide scope for rotation of antibiotics in the treatment of H. pylori in India is a public health emergency. [source]


Epidemiology of gallstone disease in Chandigarh: A community-based study

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Virendra Singh
Abstract Background: Cholelithiasis is frequent in our country (India), and is a common cause for abdominal surgery. We studied the prevalence of gallstone disease and its association with various risk factors in the city of Chandigarh. Methods: A house-to-house survey of residents aged 15 years or above in a subsector of Chandigarh was conducted as a part of a pilot survey. All individuals with a history of gallstone disease, and equal or more number of asymptomatic individuals were asked to attend the outpatient department of the Postgraduate Medical Institute. On the basis of the pilot survey, the sample size to be studied was 2648 and we screened 2649 persons. Results: Two hundred and fifty-four individuals attended the outpatient services of the Institute, and 248 underwent an ultrasound. There were 37 symptomatic and 211 asymptomatic individuals (male : female, 93:155). Gallstone disease was seen in 24 out of 37 (64.9%) in the symptomatic, and seven out of 211 (3.3%) in the asymptomatic group. Out of these, 27 females and four males had gallstone disease (mean age: 48.30 ± 16.03 years). Approximately 67% of patients were between 20 and 60 years of age. Gallstone disease was more frequently seen in those from high socioeconomic status as compared to middle socioeconomic status (,2 = 8.9, d.f. = 1, P < 0.01), and in multiparous as compared to nulliparous females (,2 = 4.8, d.f. = 1, P < 0.05). Body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a vegetarian/non-vegetarian diet did not influence the prevalence of gallstone disease. Conclusions: Gallstone disease is frequent in northern India. Gallstones were frequent in those belonging to high socioeconomic status and multiparous females. However, body mass index, smoking, alcohol or other dietary habits did not make a difference. [source]


Foliar demand and resource economy of nutrients in dry tropical forest species

JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 1 2001
C.B. Lal
Important phenological activities in seasonally dry tropical forest species occur within the hot-dry period when soil water is limiting, while the subsequent wet period is utilized for carbon accumulation. Leaf emergence and leaf area expansion in most of these tree species precedes the rainy season when the weather is very dry and hot and the soil cannot support nutrient uptake by the plants. The nutrient requirement for leaf expansion during the dry summer period, however, is substantial in these species. We tested the hypothesis that the nutrients withdrawn from the senescing leaves support the emergence and expansion of leaves in dry tropical woody species to a significant extent. We examined the leaf traits (with parameters such as leaf life span, leaf nutrient content and retranslocation of nutrients during senescence) in eight selected tree species in northern India. The concentrations of N, P and K declined in the senescing foliage while those of Na and Ca increased. Time series observations on foliar nutrients indicated a substantial amount of nutrient resorption before senescence and a ,tight nutrient budgeting'. The resorbed N-mass could potentially support 50 to 100% and 46 to 80% of the leaf growth in terms of area and weight, respectively, across the eight species studied. Corresponding values for P were 29 to 100% and 20 to 91%, for K 29 to 100% and 20 to 57%, for Na 3 to 100% and 1 to 54%, and for Ca 0 to 32% and 0 to 30%. The species differed significantly with respect to their efficiency in nutrient resorption. Such interspecific differences in leaf nutrient economy enhance the conservative utilization of soil nutrients by the dry forest community. This reflects an adaptational strategy of the species growing on seasonally dry, nutrient-poor soils as they tend to depend more or less on efficient internal cycling and, thus, utilize the retranslocated nutrients for the production of new foliage biomass in summer when the availability of soil moisture and nutrients is severely limited. [source]


Comparative evaluation of exotic and adapted germplasm of spring wheat for floral characteristics in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of northern India

PLANT BREEDING, Issue 6 2007
S. K. Singh
Abstract Four hundred spring wheat genotypes, comprising exotic and indigenous germplasm and adapted cultivars for commercial cultivation, were investigated during four crop seasons for six floral characteristics related to outcrossing behaviour. Genetic variability and heritability were investigated along with phenotypic correlation coefficients among these characteristics. A significant quantitative variation existed among the characteristics in all three groups. High heritability for stigma length, openness of florets, anther extrusion and duration of floral opening indicated that selection for these characteristics may be effective. The adapted cultivars were found more promising than the exotic and indigenous germplasm. Most of the characteristics showed significantly positive correlation with each other and high correlation was observed between anther and stigma length, and anther extrusion and duration of floral opening. Superiority of varietal mixtures and segregating generations (F3 and F4) of two crosses over parental lines suggested that heterozygosity and heterogeneity can provide yield advantages. Germplasm lines possessing superior expression of floral characteristics may be used to improve yielding ability through enhanced heterozygosity or the development of hybrids. [source]


Aghor medicine: pollution, death, and healing in northern India , By Ron Barrett

THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Issue 2 2009
Amit Desai
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River of love in an age of pollution: the Yamuna River of northern India , By David L. Haberman

THE JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL ANTHROPOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, Issue 2 2007
Jonathan Benthall
[source]


Subseasonal extremes of precipitation and active-break cycles of the Indian summer monsoon in a climate-change scenario

THE QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL METEOROLOGICAL SOCIETY, Issue 640 2009
A. G. Turner
Abstract Changes to the behaviour of subseasonal precipitation extremes and active-break cycles of the Indian summer monsoon are assessed in this study using pre-industrial and 2 × CO2 integrations of the Hadley Centre coupled model HadCM3, which is able to simulate the monsoon seasonal cycle reasonably. At 2 × CO2, mean summer rainfall increases slightly, especially over central and northern India. The mean intensity of daily precipitation during the monsoon is found to increase, consistent with fewer wet days, and there are increases to heavy rain events beyond changes in the mean alone. The chance of reaching particular thresholds of heavy rainfall is found to approximately double over northern India, increasing the likelihood of damaging floods on a seasonal basis. The local distribution of such projections is uncertain, however, given the large spread in mean monsoon rainfall change and associated extremes amongst even the most recent coupled climate models. The measured increase of the heaviest precipitation events over India is found to be broadly in line with the degree of atmospheric warming and associated increases in specific humidity, lending a degree of predictability to changes in rainfall extremes. Active-break cycles of the Indian summer monsoon, important particularly due to their effect on agricultural output, are shown to be reasonably represented in HadCM3, in particular with some degree of northward propagation. We note an intensification of both active and break events, particularly when measured against the annual cycle, although there is no suggestion of any change to the duration or likelihood of monsoon breaks. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society [source]


Changes of State: Slow-Motion Trauma in the Gangetic Plains of India

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN, Issue 5 2010
Anthony Acciavatti
Abstract In recent years, the vicissitudes wrought by harsh weather patterns and natural disasters have resulted in hurricanes and earthquakes and had a catastrophic impact on people's lives. The Ganges River Corridor in northern India is a region that perennially undergoes extreme changes in weather and climate with the onslaught of the monsoon season. AnthonyAcciavatti, in his Dynamic Atlas series of drawings, has measured the effects of rainfall and agrarian processes in relation to the fast-paced modes of urbanisation in the area. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Molecular data reveal that the tetraploid Tragopogon kashmirianus (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) is distinct from the North American T. mirus

BOTANICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 3 2008
EVGENY V. MAVRODIEV
Tragopogon kashmirianus (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) (2n = 24) was described based on collections from Kashmir. The tetraploid is morphologically similar to allotetraploid T. mirus from North America that has formed in western North America from the introduced T. dubius (2n = 12) and T. porrifolius (salsify; 2n = 12). Singh and Kachroo (1976) suggested that T. kashmirianus might have formed from the same diploid parental combination as T. mirus. To determine this, we investigated internal and external transcribed spacers (ITS, ETS) and five plastid regions of T. kashmirianus and species reported from Kashmir, northern India and neighbouring countries (T. badachschanicus, T. longirostris, T. porrifolius, T. pratensis, T. orientalis, T. subalpinus, T. trachycarpus, T. gracilis and T. dubius). Molecular data indicate that the parents of T. kashmirianus are not the European T. porrifolius and T. dubius. The exact parentage of T. kashmirianus is still unclear, but if it is an allotetraploid, at least one parent is a species native to Kashmir/India. Alternatively, it may represent an autopolyploid, again with the diploid parent native to Kashmir/India. We also found that ,T. dubius' from Kashmir is phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from collections of T. dubius from Europe and probably represents a previously unrecognized species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 391,398. [source]


Evaluation of cost of treatment of drug-related events in a tertiary care public sector hospital in Northern India: a prospective study

BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Smita Pattanaik
WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT , Drug related events include ADRs, events due to patient or physician noncompliance, drug overdosage and drug interactions. , Economic burden of management of drug related events are substantial and include both direct and indirect costs. , Some data regarding cost of treatment of ADR exist from south and western India. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS , An approximate cost of management of drug related events presenting to the emergency medical department in a tertiary care hospital over a period of 4 months. , Compares the cost incurred in a public sector hospital to the projected cost of management of same events in a private sector hospital. , Gives a rough estimate of economic burden on the health care system due to adverse drug events. AIMS Drug related events (DREs) contribute significantly to hospital admissions. These are largely preventable events and require optimum use of the therapeutic agents. The study was conducted to analyze the cost of treatment of DREs. PATIENTS & METHODS All visits to medical emergency department of a tertiary care public sector hospital in northern India were recorded in a prospective, non-interventional manner over a period of 4 months. DREs were recognized and were followed up till their stay in the hospital. Data about the cost generating components of direct and indirect costs of treatment of DREs were collected. The projected cost of treatment of the same DREs in a private sector hospital was estimated and compared. RESULTS Out of 1833 admissions, 92(5.01%) were due to DREs. Maximum cases were due to non compliance (66%) followed by ADR (28%) and drug overdose(6%). The common DREs leading to ED visits were cerebrovascular accident(19.44%), followed by accelerated hypertension(18.36%) and diabetic ketoacidosis(14.04%). Total cost of management of all the 92 DREs in our hospital was calculated to be INR17,37,339(,30,215). The direct cost was INR1,72,961(,3008) and the approximate indirect cost was INR15,64, 378(,27, 206). The projected cost of management of all the 92 DREs was estimated to be INR63,63,872(,1,01, 676) in a private sector hospital. CONCLUSION The study shows that ADEs leading to emergency department visits and hospitalizations constitute a significant economic burden. Training of the patients and the prescribers may lessen the economic burden on the patient as well as the health care system. [source]