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Agriculture has a big impact on society because it is essential for a large percentage of our food. The issue of hunger is getting worse because of a growing population in many nations, resulting in food shortages or insufficiencies. To meet the world's food needs, it is ever more crucial to provide crop protection, conduct detailed land surveys, and predict crop yields. To calculate the estimated number of crops that are produced in a year, this research focuses on the use of machine learning techniques to predict crop yield and recommend crops with the highest yield and profitability in the Northeast region of India. The crop market's fluctuations in prices may be controlled with the aid of this information. To estimate agricultural crop yields, this study accurately evaluates a range of machine learning regression models, such as Linear Regression, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting, XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting), and AdaBoost. With a 0.98 R2 score for the XGBoost and 0.96 for the Random Forest, they performed better than the other models. By evaluating crop yields along with their corresponding market prices and costs, we have determined their profitability. As a result, we have provided recommendations for the top five profitable crops in India’s Northeastern region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Almost every cesarean delivery is done under spinal anesthesia because of ease of doing, rapid onset, avoids maternal and fetal risk of general anesthesia, promotes early recovery. Major complication especially in young women undergoing LSCS under spinal anesthesia is post dural puncture headache (PDPH) which is caused by cerebrospinal fluid leakage. There is wide variation in reported incidence of PDPH (0.3% to 40 %) after spinal anesthesia being affected by various procedure and non procedure related risk factors like age, gender, needle size and type, numbers of spinal attempts and previous history of PDPH. Methods: Prospective cohort study was conducted in 335 patients posted for caesarean section under spinal anesthesia from January 2019 to September 2019 in medical College situated in rural India. Spinal anesthesia was given by 26 G Quincke spinal needle. All patients were evaluated for incidence and severity of PDPH from post operative day 1 to day 5. Result: Incidence of PDPH was 11.4% in this study. Majority of patients (62.5%) were having mild pain. All patients reported PDPH with 72 hours. Conclusion: Body mass index (BMI), h/o PDPH, multiple attempts for successful spinal anesthesia did not have any significant association with PDPH in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achyranthes aspera is an economically important medicinal plant, exhibiting a wide range of cytomorphological diversity. Taking into account, its pharmacological activities, as well as variability, found within the species, the present attempt was made to study the detailed meiotic course in 13 plant samples collected from different areas of North India. The anti-diabetic activity of three different cytotypes (diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid) and two different morphotypes (obovate-leaf morphotype and ovate-leaf morphotype) was investigated in alloxan-induced Swiss albino male rats. Additionally, phytochemical analysis of aerial parts of these cytotypes and morphotypes was performed using the UPLC technique. The meiotic analysis depicts the presence of three cytotypes with 2n=14, 28, and 42. The results indicated that the diploid cytotype of A. aspera has maximum activity against diabetes in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Out of the two morphotypes, the obovate-leaf morphotype showed a potent anti-diabetic effect as compared to the ovate-leaf morphotype. UPLC results showed that the maximum percentage of active component oleanolic acid was present in diploid cytotype followed by tetraploid and hexaploid cytotypes. A comparative study of the two morphotypes within the tetraploid cytotype revealed that the obovate-leaf morphotype possessed a higher percentage of oleanolic acid as compared to the ovate-leaf morphotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syzygium cumini, is a medicinally important plant and exhibits a wide range of cytomorphological diversity. The present attempt was made to study the detailed meiotic course in five different populations from North India. The meiotic analysis depicts the presence of three cytotypes with 2n = 22, 44, and 66. These cytotypes were further subjected to the chemical analysis of the content and composition of leaf essential oil by GC-MS. All three-leaf samples (SLS-1, SLS-2, and SLS-3) collected from the same study area (Patiala, Punjab) were reported to be different in the content and composition of their essential oil components. The extraction yields of oils from leaves were 0.37 % (SLS-1), 0.42 % (SLS-2), and 0.39 % (SLS-3), respectively. The essential oil constituents identified were 38, 39, and 39 out of total 40 constituents for each oil sample representing 99.08 %, 99.52 %, and 99.39 % of the compositions, respectively. The major constituents of leaf essential oil of sample SLS-1 were: Iso-dihydrocarveol (14.61 %); (Z)-β-ocimene (12.02 %). From sample SLS-2 were (Z)-β-ocimene (19.45 %); α-pinene (14.80 %). From the sample, SLS-3 was: (Z)-β-ocimene (13.75 %); α-pinene (9.08 %), respectively. The present study identifies the best cytotype which can be preferably cultivated commercially for their use in the preparation of medicines and other formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Development of rural areas is important for India because nearly 78% of its population lives in villages, and the development of India, by and large, lies in the development of its rural population. Non-Governmental Organizations, (NGOs) with their advantages of being non-rigid, locality-specific, felt needbased, beneficiary-oriented and committed nature of service, have established a multitude of roles that affect development. In the present study, the opinion of the sampled respondents regarding rural development with the help of NGOs in fields like construction of link roads, irrigation facilities and preservation of natural sources of water, watershed development, plantation of medicinal plants, development of cash crops, awareness about modern technologies in cultivation and harvesting, total sanitation campaign, development of sericulture units, disseminating awareness about wormy compost and social audit, promotion of organic farming and implementation of MGNREGA is collected and analyzed. It is clear from the study that the NGOs have definitely added wheels to rural development in Himachal Pradesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Fumaria indica (Hausskn.) Pugsley (Fumariaceae), known as “Fumitory”, is an annual herb found as a common weed all over the plains of India and Pakistan. The whole plant is widely used in traditional and folkloric systems of medicine. In traditional systems of medicine, the plant is reputed for its anthelmintic, diuretic, diaphoretic, laxative, cholagogue, stomachic and sedative activities and is used to purify blood and in liver obstruction in ethnopharmacology. The whole plant is ascribed to possess medicinal virtues in Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine and is also used in preparation of important Ayurvedic medicinal preparations and polyherbal liver formulations. The review reveals that phytochemical constituents of wide range have been separated from the plants and it possesses important pharmacological activities like smooth muscle relaxant, spasmogenic and spasmolytic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuropharmacological and antibacterial activities. The separation of hepatoprotective and antifungal constituents from this plant was also reported newly. This review highlights the traditional, ethnobotanical, phytochemical, pharmacological information available on Fumaria indica, which might be helpful for scientists and researchers to find out new chemical entities responsible for its claimed traditional uses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In view of the widespread use of pesticides in agriculture and its associated toxic effects on environment and human beings, the fate of these chemicals in soil is of major concern. The pesticide adsorption process is one of the major factors affecting its persistence and movement in the soil. With a view of studying the fate of malathion in soil, the adsorption of this insecticide was studied on three Indian soils by using batch equilibrium method. To carry out the adsorption study, a new simple, sensitive, and rapid method was developed, based on microwave-assisted alkaline hydrolysis of insecticide to the dimethyl dithiophosphate and its subsequent reaction with copper(I) perchlorate in acetonitrile. On mixing the reagents, a yellow color developed, which was stable for 120 min and was measured at 419 nm. The adsorption of malathion was studied by using Freundlich's adsorption equation and nf values were observed less than 1 in all the soils. The leaching behavior of the insecticide was studied in terms of ground ubiquity score, which was below 1.8, classifying malathion as non-leacher pesticide, and hence it is not hazardous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abuse against women is a severe issue that can emerge at any time during peace or conflict. This abuse or violence or crime can occur anywhere-at home, on the street, at work, in jails, etc.-and ranges in severity from very minor teasing to rape and murder. People who are accused of crimes against women rarely actually receive punishment. There are fewer crimes against women reported, and even fewer are prosecuted. Without detailed incidence research, it is difficult to make recommendations for reducing, if not eliminating, such violence. To better understand the mentality of the perpetrators, more study on this violence is critically needed. To create plans to reduce violence, it is necessary to investigate violence in great detail. The accused must receive swift and severe punishment, which would also serve as a deterrent. Any culture that claims to be civilized must re-evaluate its claim when half of its citizens lack security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nevus of Ota is a dermal melanocytosis seen along the distribution of ophthalmic and maxillary divisions of the trigeminal nerve. Only 12 cases so far have been reported in English literature & it is rare in Indian subcontinent. Most of the cases reported are in females & oral cavity is infrequently involved. Here, we report a rare case of unilateral Nevus of Ota in a 56 year old male with oral manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In accordance with the end game strategies for polio eradication a synchronized switch plan from tOPV to bOPV was implemented globally in 2016. The National Committee for Polio Eradication (NCCPE) validated the switch activities in India. An expert group of 104 academics conducted field visits in 25 states and 2 Union territories for independent verification (after an initial round of verification by the National Polio Surveillance Project [NPSP]). The objectives were to validate withdrawal and disposal of tOPV by screening cold chain points in public and private sector health facilities in both rural and urban areas; additionally, availability of bOPV and IPV was also documented. 34 filled tOPV and 5 empty vials were detected inside cold chain equipment and 17 outside. The disposal mechanism was found to be reasonably adequate. The key strategies -- 'throttling' of vaccine supplies well ahead of the switch date while preventing stock outs at various immunization points, simultaneously working with the regulators to delicense the tOPV on the switch date and helping manufacturers to calibrate vaccine production according to national timelines, and strong and persistent advocacy with professional associations to align with national bOPV and IPV policy facilitated successful accomplishment of the switch process. Effective implementation of the switch strategy in India also bears testimony to the resilience of the health system operating under diverse and heterogeneous governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of present study was to find out the effect of non-genetic factors on linear type traits in Karan Fries and Sahiwal cows reared at an organized farm of northern India. The present study was conducted on Lactating Karan Fries ( N  = 123) and Sahiwal ( N  = 133) cows maintained at Livestock Research Center of ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India during the period of 2017-2019. Total eight udder morphometric traits and seven teat morphometric traits were measured. The linear model including fixed effects of season, parity and stage of lactation was used for the analysis. In Karan Fries cows, linear type traits were significantly affected by parity and stage of lactation, while in Sahiwal cows linear type traits were significantly affected by season, parity and stage of lactation. Udder depth (UD) and udder circumference (UC) were significantly ( p  < 0.05) affected by season, parity and stage of lactation in Sahiwal cattle, while in Karan Fries cattle udder length (UL) and shortest distance from rear teat ends to floor (SDR) were significantly ( p  < 0.01) affected by parity and stage of lactation. The results pertaining to present study indicated that season, parity and stages of lactation were important sources of variation for most of linear type traits. Adjustment of data for these effects is necessary to reduce known differences between animals and to obtain reliable estimates of the traits.

Background: H. pylori-associated gastritis in patients from the high-altitude area of Ladakh showed severe gastritis, mucosal nodularity, atrophy, and cancer in comparison to those from North India. This study served to analyze if differences in the H. pylori virulence genotypes decide the extent of gastric mucosal inflammation., Methods: Fifty gastric biopsies each from patients with H. pylori-associated gastritis from Ladakh and a tertiary care center in North India were included. The presence of H. pylori strain was confirmed with Warthin starry stain and polymerase chain amplification of the H. pylori-specific 16S rRNA. The cagA, vacA s1, s2, and m1, m2 alleles, and dupA virulence genotypes were studied in all archival samples, followed by their histological correlations., Results: cagA (P 0.009) and vacAs1 m1 (P 0.009) genes were distinctly more in H. pylori strains colonizing the biopsies of North Indian patients. In contrast, the cagA -ve vacAs2 m2 strains were significantly more in H. pylori strain colonizing the biopsies from Ladakhi patients. dupA genotype was almost similarly present in strains from both regions. Among these, only cagA and dupA virulence genes were associated with severe mucosal neutrophilic activity and deep infiltration of H. pylori strains in North Indian patients., Conclusions: Differences in virulence genotypes of H. pylori in gastric biopsies from North Indian and Ladakhi patients were found not significant in deciding the severity of H. pylori-associated gastritis., Competing Interests: None

Background: Village health sanitation and nutrition day (VHSND) was conceived under the National Rural Health Mission to deliver maternal and child health and nutrition services at the village level in the anganwadi center. Multiple challenges, including a lack of convergence of frontline workers, were affecting service delivery at VHSND. As a public-private partnership Piramal Foundation proposed to revive the concept of VHSND., Objectives: The present study was aimed to demonstrate a model of VHSND to provide primary care related to maternal and child health and nutrition at the village level in 25 aspirational districts across seven states of India., Methods: The descriptive study was undertaken as a pilot phase. Of the purposively identified 506 VHSND sites, monitoring data on delivery of six basic primary care services at VHSND, collected as part of routine operations were compared for 229 sites for the month of September 2018 (baseline) and January 2019 (endline)., Results: In model sites, there was the increased availability of drinking water and functional toilets; a significant improvement of availability of equipment for providing antenatal care services, immunization, and growth monitoring. However, the supply of drugs at these sites did not show a statistically significant change. There was also a significant improvement in the engagement of the Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committee (VHSNC) in the villages of the model VHSND sites., Conclusion: The model demonstrated the significant changes with effective supervision and participation of VHSNC members, demand generation activities complemented with improved supplies and widening range of services at the VHSND are required to be undertaken., Competing Interests: None

This survey was conducted among 125 pediatricians working in public and private child care facilities of Delhi. Prescription rates of routine vitamin D supplementation varied between 70-100% for various groups of infants, despite non-availability of government guidelines. Pediatricians in private practice more frequently prescribed vitamin D supplementation to term healthy infants as compared to government pediatrician (91.4% vs 71.6%; P=0.005).

Organic foods are promoted as superior and safer options for today's health-conscious consumer. Manufacturers of organic food claim it to be pesticide-free and better in terms of micronutrients. Consumers have to pay heavily for these products--and they are willing to--provided they are assured of the claimed advantages. Scientific data proving the health benefits of organic foods, especially in children, are lacking. Indian Government has developed strict guidelines and certification procedures to keep a check on manufacturers in this financially attractive market. American Academy of Pediatrics, in its recently issued guidelines, did not recommend organic foods over conventional food for children. Indian Academy of Pediatrics has not opined on this issue till date. In this perspective, we present a critical review of production and marketing of organic foods, and scientific evidence pertaining to their merits and demerits, with special reference to pediatric population.

Objective: To study detailed pharmacognostic profile of leaves and stem of Careya arborea (C. arborea) Roxb. (Lecthyidaceae), an important medicinal plant in the Indian system of medicine., Methods: Leaf and stem samples of C. arborea were studied by macroscopical, microscopical, physicochemical, phytochemical, fluorescence analysis of powder of the plant and other methods for standardization recommended by WHO., Results: Macroscopically, the leaves are simple, broadly obovate in shape, acuminate apex with crenate, dentate margin, petioles (0.1-1.8 cm) long. Microscopically, the leaf showed the presence of median large size vascular bundle covered with fibrous bundle sheath, arrangement of xylem in cup shape and presence of cortical vascular bundle, patches of sclerenchyma, phloem fibers in groups and brown pigment containing cells in stem are some of the diagnostic features noted from anatomical study. Powder microscopy of leaf revealed the presence of parenchyma cells, xylem with pitted vessels and epidermis with anisocytic stomata. The investigations also included leaf surface data; quantitative leaf microscopy and fluorescence analysis. Physiochemical parameters such as loss on drying, swelling index, extractive values and ash values were also determined and results showed that total ash of the stem bark was about two times higher than leaf and water soluble extractive value of leaf and stem bark was two times higher than alcohol soluble extractive value. Preliminary phytochemical screening showed the presence of triterpenoids, saponins, tannins and flavonoids., Conclusions: The results of the study can serve as a valuable source of information and provide suitable standards for identification of this plant material in future investigations and applications.

Purpose: To investigate and report the reliability of detection and grading of diabetic retinopathy by direct ophthalmoscopy through a dilated pupil by general physicians (non-ophthalmologists) and optometrists who have undergone a short period of training., Methods: A total of 400 eyes of 200 diabetes patients were examined by two non-ophthalmologists. Their observations were compared with an ophthalmologist's diagnoses for the same patients., Results: The diagnoses made by the general physician (kappa = 0.8381, SE = 0.041) and the optometrist (kappa = 0.7186, SE = 0.051) showed good rates of agreement with the ophthalmologist's diagnoses., Conclusions: The provision of appropriate screening protocols and follow-up parameters can enable primary care physicians and support personnel to reliably screen individuals for retinopathy in diabetes. This will reduce the workload of tertiary hospitals, and provide optimal services to the huge majority of the Indian population that has limited access to eye care services.