The Effect of Climate Change on Wheat Production: Present Patterns and Upcoming Difficulties

Climate refers to the mean weather conditions in a certain region, impacting every aspect of the environment. Urbanisation and industrialization are causing woods to be cleared for living communities. The equilibrium of the ecosystem is upset by this shift, affecting producers, consumers, and decomposers. Plants, or producers, are an important component of the ecosystem because they supply energy. Plant sustainability and production are impacted by this change. A staple grain, wheat is greatly impacted by both temperature and CO2 levels. In addition to decreasing wheat productivity, it also increases wheat's susceptibility to many illnesses. Elevated temperatures result in increased transpiration, which in turn triggers drought, which in turn causes reduced production. According to predictions, in the next 20 to 30 years, a 2° C temperature shift might result in a serious water crisis. A scarcity of water during the grain filling and milking stages can impact production. This article covers the following topics: climate-related variables, effects on wheat production and growth, influence on disease severity, temperature increase prediction model, and CO2 curve in 2050.

Advancements in Drone Technology for Fruit Crop Management: A Comprehensive Review

Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), equipped with advanced sensors and imaging capabilities, have revolutionized the way farmers monitor and manage fruit crops. Aerial surveillance enables high-resolution imaging of orchards and vineyards, allowing for early detection of diseases, pests, and other stress factors that can impact crop health. The data collected by drones facilitate precise and targeted interventions, optimizing resource use and enhancing overall crop productivity. Additionally, drones contribute to yield estimation, canopy management, and post-harvest monitoring. While the technology offers significant advantages, challenges such as payload limitations, weather sensitivity, and regulatory compliance must be addressed. Ongoing research and technological advancements are expected to overcome these limitations, further establishing drones as indispensable tools for sustainable and efficient fruit crop management. This review consolidates current knowledge, highlights emerging trends, and outlines future prospects for the integration of drone technology in fruit agriculture.

Challenges encountered in community-based physiotherapy interventions for urinary incontinence among women in rural areas of Anand District of Gujarat, India

Background: It is necessary to understand the way women think about their health. There is a 揷ulture of silence� among women regarding urinary incontinence (UI). Physiotherapy is proven effective mode of therapy in case of UI. Objectives: This study aimed to explore the attitude of the women toward UI, to understand the related sociocultural factors and health-seeking behavior, and to ascertain the challenges encountered in community-based physiotherapy interventions. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted among women who refused to participate in a physiotherapy intervention for UI in the rural community of Gujarat, India. Fourteen in-depth key informant interviews were conducted using an interview guide. The responses were noted and compiled into a composite interview script. Interviews were not recorded due to nonavailability of consent. Interviews were reviewed by investigators and content analysis was carried out. Key themes were identified after multiple iterations. Results: Most of the women were unaware of the UI and believed that it may be due to their gender or due to aging. Physiotherapy interventions were disregarded due to various reasons such as shy nature, lack of priority and privacy, dependency, self-neglect, and influence of social and cultural norms. Conclusion: Cultural and social systems were more important determinants of health seeking than health systems themselves particularly when sensitive issue such as UI in women of rural Western India was concerned.

A population‑based screening program for early detection of common cancers among women in India – methodology and interim results.

BACKGROUND: Cancers of the uterine cervix, breast, and oral cavity accounted for 134,420, 115,251, and 24,375 cases, respectively, and were responsible for 52.8% of the total cancers among women in India in 2008. AIM: The major objectives were to create awareness regarding common cancers among women, to detect pre‑cancers of the uterine cervix and oral cavity, and early cancers of the breast, uterine cervix, and oral cavity, by conducting screening with simple, low‑cost technology, within the community, and to facilitate confirmation of diagnosis among the screen positives and treatment and follow‑up among the diagnosed cases. SETTINGS AND METHODS: This is a community‑based screening program for early detection of breast, uterine cervix, and oral cancers, being implemented among the socioeconomically disadvantaged women in Mumbai, India. The process involves selection of clusters, household surveys, health education, and screening the eligible women for breast, uterine cervix, and oral cancers, by primary healthcare workers, at a temporarily set‑up clinic within the community. The program is planned to cover a 125,000 disadvantaged population in five years. RESULTS: Twenty‑one thousand and fifteen people, with 4009 eligible women, have been covered to date. The compliance for screening for breast, cervix, and oral cavity has been 85, 70, and 88% and the screen positivity rates are 3.9, 14.9, and 3.9%, respectively. Twenty‑seven oral pre‑cancers, 25 cervix pre‑cancers, one invasive cancer of the breast, two of the cervix, and one oral cavity cancer have been diagnosed among the screened women and all of them have complied with the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The program is raising awareness about the common cancers and harms of tobacco among the disadvantaged women population in Mumbai. It is also helping in detecting pre‑cancers and cancers among asymptomatic women and is assisting them in receiving treatment.

Compliance to Gutka ban and other provisons of COTPA in Mumbai.

BACKGROUND: Cigarettes and other tobacco products act 2003 (COTPA) is the principal law governing tobacco control in India. Government of Maharashtra in one of its landmark decisions also banned manufacturing, sale and distribution of gutka and pan masala since July 2012. The desired impact and level of enforcement of the COTPA legislation and the gutka and pan masala ban in Maharashtra State, however, needs assessment. Among the many provisions within COTPA, the present study seeks to assess compliance to implementation and enforcement of Section 5 and 6 of COTPA including compliance to gutka and pan masala ban in Mumbai, India. METHODOLOGY: Six educational institutes (EI) within the Mumbai metropolitan region were selected in a two stage random sampling process. Area around each EI was manually mapped and all the tobacco products selling outlets with in the 100 yards distance were listed by trained Field Social Investigators and were observed to determine compliance for Section 5 and Section 6 of the COTPA legislation and for gutka and pan masala ban. The vendors/shop owners manning these outlets were also interviewed for their personal sociodemographic details, self‑tobacco use, awareness and perception about ill‑effects of tobacco and existing tobacco control legislation in the country. RESULTS: A total of 222 tobacco retail outlets were listed within 100 yards of the EI in violation to the provisions of Section 6 of COTPA, of which 72 (32.4%) were selling tobacco products on mobile structures. About 53.2% of the tobacco vendors were also users of some form of tobacco. Whereas, nearly 217 (97.7%) vendors were aware about the gutka and pan masala ban in the State, only 48.2% were aware about the existence of COTPA legislation. None of the EI had a display board prohibiting the sale of tobacco products within a radius of 100 yards of their EI. Only 56.3% tobacco outlets had complied with the mandatory warning display boards indicating tobacco products will not be sold to people below 18 years of age. With regards to point of sale advertisement only 25.2% compliance was noted for display of health warning boards at the point of sale. Nearly 48.6% tobacco outlets exhibited >2 display boards and another 43.2% exhibited hoardings with brand pack photo, brand name in violation to the provision under Section 5. Violation by visible stacking and open display of tobacco products for sale was observed at 51.3% of tobacco outlets. While 41% of tobacco outlets were found displaying gutka and pan masala packets in violation to the ban. CONCLUSIONS: Enacting of the law without robust measures for enforcement has led to widespread noncompliance to the provisions with in the tobacco control legislation in the metropolitan city of Mumbai. Strong and sustainable measures needs to be incorporated both by civic administration and public health departments for its forceful implementation.

Community-based tobacco cessation program among women in Mumbai, India.

BACKGROUND: Globally tobacco epidemic kills nearly six million people annually. Consumption of tobacco products is on the rise in low‑ and middle‑income countries. Tobacco is addictive; hence, tobacco users need support in quitting. AIMS: Providing tobacco cessation services to women in community enabling them to quit tobacco, identifying factors associated with quitting and documenting the processes involved to establish a replicable “model tobacco cessation program.” SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a community based tobacco cessation program of one year duration conducted among women in a low socioeconomic area of Mumbai, India. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It involved three interventions conducted at three months interval, comprised of health education, games and counseling sessions and a post intervention follow‑up. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Uni and multivariate analysis was performed to find out association of various factors with quitting tobacco. RESULTS: The average compliance in three intervention rounds was 95.2%. The mean age at initiation of tobacco was 17.3 years. Tobacco use among family members and in the community was primary reasons for initiation and addiction to tobacco was an important factor for continuation, whereas health education and counseling seemed to be largely responsible for quitting. The quit rate at the end of the programme was 33.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that women in higher age groups and women consuming tobacco at multiple locations are less likely to quit tobacco. CONCLUSIONS: Changing cultural norms associated with smokeless tobacco, strict implementation of antitobacco laws in the community and work places and providing cessation support are important measures in preventing initiation and continuation of tobacco use among women in India.

A Corrosion Cast Study of Ramification Pattern of Portal Vein in Right Lobe of Human Liver.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the intrahepatic ramification pattern of portal vein in right lobe of liver & its variations. Methods: 25 human fresh livers were obtained after autopsy and studied by corrosion cast method. Polymeric granules of butyl butyrate were dissolved in acetone and 20% homogenous solution was made. Solution was injected into portal vein and the injected liver was placed in 10 %formal saline for 24 hours at room temperature (20°C) for polymerization of infused butyl butyrate solution. Maceration of liver tissue achieved by wholeorgan immersion in 1.8 N KOH solution at 68°C for 24 hrs. Each cast thus obtained was preserved in glycerin and details were studied. Results: The length of the right portal vein varies 0.5 to 1.8 cm (1.2 cm). The right portal vein bifurcated into second order branches - right anterior portal vein (RAPV) & right posterior portal vein (RPPV) in 87 % of the cases, while trifurcated in rest of 13 % of cases. The angle between the anterior and posterior division ranged from 58°-95 °. Anterio-superior (P8) branch shown three type of ramification - Bifurcation type (72 %), P8- one pedicle type (8 %) and P8- trifurcation type (20%). Anterio-inferior (P5max ) branch shown the three type of ramification pattern - P5 -common type (72 %), P5 – P8 anterior type (28 %) but P5 – P8 posterior type was not observed. Right Posterior Portal Vein has shown three types of ramification pattern - Type I-Fan shaped (64%),Type II (28 %) & Type III-Trifurcation type (8%). Conclusions: The findings of present study on hepatic vasculature have immense importance in the field of hepato-biliary surgeries like hepatic resection, segmentectomy and liver transplantation.

Impact of 'gutkha and pan masala ban' in the state of Maharashtra on users and vendors.

BACKGROUND: Gutkha and pan masala contain harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Hence, Maharashtra Government banned their manufacture, storage, distribution and sale on 19th July 2012 for a year. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the impact of the ban on gutkha and pan masala on its users and vendors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‑ sectional study was conducted among gutkha and/or pan masala users and tobacco vendors in the selected area of Mumbai city, 4‑6 months after the implementation of the ban. The parameters studied included knowledge regarding the ban, usage or discontinuation of use of the banned products, product availability, withdrawal symptoms among quitters, etc., RESULTS: A total of 68 users and five tobacco vendors were enrolled in this study. Although all users were aware about the ban on gutkha, very few knew about the ban on pan masala. Only 5.9% of users knew that currently the ban had been declared for only 1 year. Electronic media was the main source of information regarding the ban as reported by 45.6% users. All users and vendors were in favor of the ban. After the ban, 23.53% gutkha users quit their habit while 55.88% reduced their gutkha consumption. Non‑availability of gutkha was the most important reason stated by the gutkha users for quitting or reducing the consumption. In spite of the ban, gutkha is still available in the market, but at an increased cost or in a different form. CONCLUSION: Nearly 23.53% of gutkha users have quit their habit post‑ban despite its availability through illegal sources.

Determination of atmospheric heavy metals using two lichen species in Katni and Rewa cities, India.

A biomonitoring study was conducted to assess the levels of atmospheric heavy metal pollution in Katni and Rewa cities of Madhya Pradesh, state in central India. The Pyxine cocoes and Phaeophyscia hispidula, two epiphytic foliose lichen were used as bioindicators in the present study and seven metals (As, Al, Cd, Cr, Fe, Zn, Pb) were analyzed in naturally growing thallus. The concentrations of these metals was observed to be in higher range as maximum values of Al, Cd, Cr and Zn were reported from the lichen samples from Rewa city which was 561.8±2.4, 6.8±0.8, 35.2±1.4, 214.6±2.0 @g g-1 dry weight respectively. Whereas As, Fe and Pb were reported maximum in the lichen samples collected from Katni city areas with 33.4±0.05, 689.4±2.6, 13.3±0.5 @g g-1 dry weight respectively. However the accumulation of Cd and Pb from both the cities are more or less similar in concentration. The selectivity sequence of metals were Fe>Al>Zn>As>Cr>Pb>Cd in Katni city, and Al>Fe>Zn>Cr>As>Pb>Cd in Rewa city. The findings of this study indicates that extent of heavy metal pollution in the atmosphere of the two cities which may lead to adverse health affects.

Spirometry and diffusion studies in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus and their association with microvascular complications.

Background. Diabetes is a systemic disease with-well known complications involving eyes, kidneys and nerves. The presence of an extensive pulmonary microvascular circulation and abundant connective tissue raises the possibility that lung may also be a target organ in diabetes. Methods. A total of 45 subjects were included in the study. All patients were evaluated for diabetic microangiopathies: nephropathy (by 24-hour protein excretion), retinopathy (by direct ophthalmoscopy) and neuropathy (by clinical examination). The patients were divided into following three groups: Group A: patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with evidence of microangiopathy (n=15); Group B: patients with type-2 DM without any evidence of microangiopathy (n=15); Group C: non-diabetic subjects (n=15) as controls. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1C) was measured as an indicator of glycemic control. Spirometry and single-breath diffusion capacity for carbon-monoxide (DLCO) were performed on all patients using Elite Series Body Plethysmograph machine. Results. A significant reduction of diffusion capacity corrected for alveolar volume (%DL/VA) was observed in group A (p<0.001), as compared to the other groups. There were no differences among the three groups for other pulmonary functions. There was a significant correlation between DL/VA percent predicted and albuminuria (r= -0.975, p<0.001), and DL/VA percent predicted and the retinopathy (r = -0.550, p< 0.05). Conclusion. This study shows a mild reduction in diffusing capacity in patients with type-2 DM with microangiopathy.

Call centre employees and tobacco dependence: Making a difference.

Context : India is known as the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) capital of the world. Safeguarding health of millions of youngsters employed in this new growing economy is an occupational health challenge. Aims : This study was initiated in June 2007 in India with the objectives to assess the prevalence of tobacco use and study the factors responsible for initiating and continuing its use. The main aim, however, was to assess the effect of different tobacco cessation intervention strategies, thus identifying effective methods to assist these employees to quit tobacco. Materials and Methods : This is a 4-arm cluster randomized trial of 18 months duration among 646 BPO employees, working in 4 different BPO units. The employees were invited to participate in interviews following which tobacco users of each BPO were offered specific tobacco cessation interventions to assist them to quit tobacco use. Results : The prevalence of tobacco dependence is 41%, mainly cigarette smoking. The tobacco quit rate is similar (nearly 20%) in the 3 intervention arms. Significantly higher reduction in tobacco consumption of 45% is seen in Arm 4 with the use of pharmacotherapy. BPO employees change jobs frequently, hence follow-up remains a major challenge. Conclusion : Inaccessibility of pharmacotherapy in the developing countries should not deter tobacco cessation efforts as good tobacco quit rates can be achieved with health education and behavioral therapy. Tobacco cessation should be an integral activity in all BPOs, so that the employees receive this service continuously and millions of our youths are protected from the hazards of tobacco.

Effect of habitual arecanut chewing on resting whole mouth salivary flow rate and pH.

BACKGROUND: Resting whole mouth salivary flow rate (SFR) and pH play a significant role in pathogenesis of various oral diseases and conditions. AIM: To observe the effect of habitual use of arecanut and various arecanut containing products (AN) on SFR and pH. DESIGN: Cross sectional. SETTING: Outpatient Department of Dental College. PARTICIPANTS: AN chewers and non-chewers attending Dental college. MEASUREMENTS: SFR and pH. VARIABLES: Type, frequency, duration and exposure time of AN, Smoking and Alcohol habit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects study was divided into chewers (n=110) and non- chewers (n=50). The SFR (expressed in mL/10min) and pH measured. RESULTS: The difference between the mean SFR for chewers and non-chewers was not statistically significant. The difference between mean pH of chewers and non-chewers was statistically significant. (P=0.02). Difference in pH was statistically significant among the different types of AN chewers (P=0.024). With chewing raw AN, an increase in frequency and exposure time increased SFR and pH respectively. In processed AN chewers, increase in duration and frequency of consumption increased SFR and decreased pH respectively. For chewers with betel quid with tobacco, increase in duration was significantly associated with decrease in salivary pH. CONCLUSION: SFR and pH are altered in AN chewers, rendering the oral mucosa vulnerable to the toxic effects of AN.

An unusual presentation of an intra-parenchymatous frontal yolk sac tumour : case report.

Yolk sac tumours are rare conditions among the germ cell tumours. Intracerebral germ cell tumours are exceedingly rare. A 15 year old girl presenting with a one week history of raised intracranial pressure is described. She had bilateral papilloedema and a right 6th nerve palsy. CT scan showed an intra-parenchymatous right frontal ring enhancing lesion of 2 cms diameter. The patient underwent microsurgical total excision of the tumour, followed by chemotherapy. She was asymptomatic at three years following surgery.

Solitary skull metastasis from mucoepidermoid mimicking a parotid tumour.

Metastatic parotid tumours in the skull are very rare. An interesting case of a mucoepidermoid parotid tumour metastasizing to the skull vault is described in a patient who had previously been operated for a pituitary adenoma 20 years back with no post operative radiotherapy; however, she required hormonal supplementation therapy. She underwent an operation for a parotid tumour 7 years ago and received postoperative radiotherapy for the parotid tumour away from the site of the skull metastases. No local recurrence of the parotid tumour was noted. The initial diagnosis was that of a solitary intradiploic meningioma. Interesting clinico-radiological findings are presented.

Gluteal neuralgia - unusual presentation in an adult with intrasacral meningocele: a case report and review of literature.

A nineteen year old man with intrasacral meningocele is reported, who presented with long standing episodic gluteal pain and progressive muscle wasting. Magnetic resonance imaging established the diagnosis. Surgical excision relieved the pain but muscle wasting persisted. Pertinent literature is reviewed.

Possible role of lens collagen in cataractogenesis.

The solubility characteristics of collagen in human cataractous eye lenses were studied in relation to age. Post-operative cataractous lenses were collected form eye camps in Phulbani district of Orissa. These were preserved in 70% alcohol and immediately transferred to the laboratory. Various fractions in the collagen obtained from lens capsule of each lens sample were estimated. The salt-soluble and the acid-soluble collagens showed positive correlation with age. The insoluble and total capsular collagen increased with increasing age. The solubility percentage of collagen in salt and acid solutions decreased significantly with increasing age. The possible role of lens collagen in the development of cataract with increasing age is discussed in the background of cross-link theory of aging.

Alloxan diabetes in Swiss mice: activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase.

The activities of two enzymes viz: Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in brain and liver of alloxan diabetic Swiss albino mice are reported. Alloxan diabetes caused significant decrease in the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase reflecting reduced glucose transport across the cell membrane. On the contrary, the observed enhanced activity of the enzyme SDH is attributed to increased supply of TCA cycle substrates from accelerated oxidation of fatty acids.

On the contribution of height to predict lung volumes, capacities and diffusion in healthy school children of 10-17 years.

Lung volumes, capacities, diffusion and alveolar volumes with physical characteristics (age, height and weight) were recorded for 186 healthy school children (96 boys and 90 girls) of 10-17 years age group. The objective was to study the relative importance of physical characteristics as regressor variables in regression models to estimate lung functions. We observed that height is best correlated with all the lung functions. Inclusion of all physical characteristics in the models have little gain compared to the ones having just height as regressor variable. We also find that exponential models were not only statistically valid but fared better compared to the linear ones. We conclude that lung functions covary with height and other physical characteristics but do not depend upon them. The rate of increase in the functions depend upon initial lung functions. Further, we propose models and provide ready reckoners to give estimates of lung functions with 95 per cent confidence limits based on heights from 125 to 170 cm for the age group of 10 to 17 years.

In vitro effect of alloxan on Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities in brain and liver of mice.

The present study reports in vitro inhibition of the activities of enzymes Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase by alloxan in brain and liver homogenates of Swiss mice. The Vmax of both the enzymes was reduced in presence of alloxan without any substantial alteration in Km for substrate. Lineweaver Burk's plots showed higher 1/Vmax for alloxan treated samples and convergence of both slopes to intercept-1/Km. The observations pointed to non-competitive type inhibition of the enzymes by alloxan. This may be due to the modification of essential--SH groups present within/adjacent to substrate binding sites by alloxan.