Andhra Research Articles

Pertinence of Five Different Regression Equations of Mixed Dentition Analysis in West Godavari District Children: A Comparative Study.

The orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning are the fundamental goals during the mixed dentition period. Numerous methods have been proposed to date. The study was designed to determine the mesiodistal (MD) widths of the lower permanent canines and premolars from Tanaka and Johnston, regression equation (RE) proposed for north Indian population (RE-NIP), Bernabé and Flores-Mir C, Moyers', and Ling and Wong mixed dentition analysis (MDA) and to determine the correlation coefficients for the Eluru population. The study population was selected using cluster random sampling. A total of 3,572 children were clinically examined from the Outpatient Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, St Joseph Dental College and Hospital, Eluru district, Andhra Pradesh. Out of these, 140 children aged 11-16 years were randomly selected for the study based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The MD width of permanent incisors, canines, premolars, and molars was measured with the help of a digital vernier caliper; summed up and compared with the above-mentioned REs. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 22, employing Student's t-test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Kruskal-Wallis test. The RE-NIP underestimated the values, whereas the remaining equations overestimated the sum of permanent canines and premolars in both arches in the study population. The predicted values obtained from the abovementioned methods overestimated the actual values, and a new RE for the Eluru population should be suggested to better represent the size of unerupted canines and premolars. Measuring the MD widths of the upper and lower permanent incisors and molars during the mixed dentition period from different REs will help a pedodontist in proper treatment planning to predict the MD width of unerupted canines and premolars. Kanaparthi S, Done V, P Madu GS, et al. Pertinence of Five Different Regression Equations of Mixed Dentition Analysis in West Godavari District Children: A Comparative Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2024;17(8):871-876.

NDVI land cover classification for Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India for the year 2020 by RS and GIS techniques

NDVI land cover classification for Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, India for the year 2020 by RS and GIS techniques

A Retrospective Study of the Profiles of Outpatients Attending the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Center, Andhra Pradesh, South India.

Adolescents compose a significantly large age group, and attention to their health needs is lacking due to insufficient data and policy implementation globally and in India. India, having 268 million adolescents, faces the world's largest adolescent population, which highlights the importance of addressing their health requirements. The aim of this study was to describe the morbidity profiles of adolescent patients attending the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Centre at a tertiary-level healthcare institution in South India. A retrospective secondary data analysis was conducted at the State Adolescent Friendly Health Resource Center from 2022 to 2023. Data on adolescent health were collected from this center's OPD using a structured questionnaire, which included information on demographics, immunization status, chief complaints, and dietary intake. Diagnosis coding was done using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), with estimated energy and protein intake. The study analyzed 4,000 adolescent patients, with a nearly equal gender distribution across physical OPD and telemedicine services. Adolescent females between 15 and 16 years had more visits for consultation. Most patients were within the normal BMI range, and telemedicine was popular among females with normal BMI. Obesity was more common in males, while overweight was prevalent in females. Energy and protein intake varied across BMI categories, with obese individuals having the highest intake. The morbidity profiles revealed significant gender differences in healthcare utilization and disease patterns. Gender differences in adolescent morbidity and the underutilization of telemedicine highlight the need for tailored healthcare interventions and further research based on socioeconomic factors.

A Study On Cardiovascular Risk And Lifestyle Behaviors Among Teaching Doctors Of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

A Study On Cardiovascular Risk And Lifestyle Behaviors Among Teaching Doctors Of Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh.

Does Stress Among Daily Passengers Causing Urinary Incontinence? – A Cross Sectional Study From Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh Using Non-Invasive Self-Administered Questionnaires.

Does Stress Among Daily Passengers Causing Urinary Incontinence? – A Cross Sectional Study From Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh Using Non-Invasive Self-Administered Questionnaires.

Unveiling the Hidden Enemies: Morphological and Molecular Characterization of Pod Rot Pathogens in Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) in India

Pod rot of groundnut is a complex disease caused by multiple pathogens causes significant economic losses. Present study was undertaken to know the pathogens associated with the disease. In Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, roving survey against pod rot of groundnut revealed association of three fungal species: Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Fusarium spp. Molecular analysis with modified CTAB method and performing PCR using ITS1 and ITS4 primers yielded DNA bands of 650-700 bp, 550-600 bp, and 500-600 bp for Sclerotium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium species, respectively. Sequencing of the rDNA ITS region confirmed the identities of the pathogens as Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium keratoplasticum, based on similarity with NCBI reference sequences. This study confirms that Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia bataticola and Fusarium spp. are the primary causal agents of pod rot disease in Andhra Pradesh.

Paddy-based Cropping Systems and their Sustainability: A Micro-level Study of Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh, India

A sustainable cropping system is needed to ensure profitable, productive and less risky crop production, particularly when the agricultural sector is experiencing climatic uncertainty and price volatility. Hence, the study aims to identify paddy-based cropping systems and their sustainability in the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. The study is based on primary data collected during 2022-23 with the help of a pre-structured schedule. The major cropping systems based on paddy were identified as system Ⅰ (paddy-groundnut), cropping system Ⅱ (paddy-paddy), & cropping system Ⅲ (paddy-cotton). The profitability analysis revealed that the gross returns for cropping systems I, II and III were computed to be Rs. 281916.83, Rs. 259072.90 and Rs. 330072.45. The farmers realized the highest net income, Rs. 169222.62, under cropping system III. The net returns for the cropping systems Ⅰ and Ⅱ were obtained as Rs. 141282.24 and Rs. 127048.48, respectively. The sustainability indices of paddy-groundnut (cropping system I), paddy-paddy (cropping system II) and cropping system III (paddy-cotton) were computed as 42.88%, 50.86% and 60.93%, respectively, and the paddy-cotton cropping system came out as the most profitable and sustainable in the study area. The regression analysis revealed that factors like returns to cost ratio and the cost used for environmentally friendly inputs relative to the overall cost of cultivation were found significant in all three cropping systems.

Assessment of yield loss due to fall armyworm in maize using high-resolution multispectral spaceborne remote sensing

ABSTRACT The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), invasion endangered the maize production worldwide, including India. The objective of this study was to quantify the FAW damage severity and its impact on leaf area index (LAI), biomass and grain yield of maize and to detect the field damage using high-resolution multispectral spaceborne remote sensing data. Maize growing fields in the Kurnool District of Andhra Pradesh and the Gadwal District of Telangana, India, were randomly surveyed to collect detailed ground-truth information. Foliar damage due to FAW was recorded, and the fields were categorized into various severity grades (healthy, low, medium and severe). FAW infestation caused significant change in LAI between the severity grades, which formed the basis for its damage detection using multispectral spaceborne remote sensing. Severe FAW infestation caused significant reduction in LAI, biomass and grain yield ranging between 36.9 and 39.9% compared to healthy grade. The infestation at the leaf collar (LC) stage caused significant yield loss of up to 26.5% compared to the tassel initiation (TI) and tasselling and silking (TS) stages. Canopy spectral reflectance from healthy and FAW-infested plants showed significant differences in the visible and near infrared (NIR) regions. A reflectance peak was observed in the NIR region of healthy plants compared to infested plants. Among various spaceborne vegetation indices, the Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) performed better in identifying the FAW infestation (R2 = 0.61**), biomass (R2 = 0.70**) and yield loss (R2 = 0.82**). These findings indicate the feasibility of utilizing multispectral remote sensing data for monitoring FAW infestation on a spatial scale, thus enabling the site-specific management.

Modeling and Spatial Variability of Soil Nutrients - A Case from Soil Health Card Project, India

Ascertaining and mapping soil nutrient data is crucial for governments to maintain soil health on farmlands. As part of the soil health card project, a total of 329 geo-referenced soil samples were collected from Thaticherla village, Anantapur mandal, Andhra Pradesh, India. These samples were analyzed for various soil properties such as soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), available nitrogen (N), available phosphorus (P), available potassium (K), available sulphur (S), DTPA extractable micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu), and hot water-soluble boron (B) at a depth of 0 to 15 cm. The results showed high variability (>35%) in coefficients of variation in Cu, EC, Zn, and B. The findings indicated positive correlation between Zn and Mn; N and OC; and OC and Zn. The data underwent logarithmic and Box-Cox transformations to achieve normalization. The ordinary kriging method was employed to analyze the spatial variability. The findings revealed that exponential model was appropriate for B, Fe, Mn, Zn, and OC; Gaussian for K; J-Bessel for N; K-Bessel for Cu, P, and S; stable for EC and rational quadratic for pH, respectively. The analysis showed a strong to weak spatial dependency. In the study area, the spatial variability maps exhibited deficiencies of 97%, 96% and 40% for N, OC and Zn, respectively. Therefore, it is urgent to apply suitable manures and fertilizers in the study area to address these issues. The study area exhibited significant variation in spatial patterns, emphasizing the importance of implementing field-specific plans for soil health and environmental management.

Rapid impact assessment of severe cyclone storm Michaung along coastal zones of Andhra and Tamil Nadu, India: A geospatial analysis

The coastal regions of India, particularly the Bay of Bengal, are highly vulnerable to the severe weather conditions induced by tropical cyclones. This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the changes in vegetation cover, shoreline dynamics, and meteorological variations resulting from Cyclone Michaung and subsequent post-monsoon events along the coastal zones of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, India. A suite of vegetation indices, including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), Modified Vegetation Condition Index (mVCI), and Disaster Vegetation Damage Index (DVDI), were employed to assess changes in vegetation cover. The Digital Shoreline Assessment System (DSAS) was utilized to evaluate shoreline changes, and a range of meteorological variables were analyzed to assess the impacts of Cyclone Michaung and post-monsoon events. The findings reveal significant ecological impacts, with a notable decrease in Very Healthy Vegetation from 5.71% to 1.30%. The mean value of mVCI shifted from −0.2 to −0.16, indicating vegetation stress. DVDI analysis showed that 56.49% of the area experienced moderate damage, while 40.24% suffered severe vegetation damage. Additionally, erosion was observed along 79.46% of the shoreline transects in the study area. These insights are critical for assisting coastal managers in developing resilient coastal systems. Remarkably, a significant change in rainfall was recorded between the pre-cyclone period and the landfall day, with maximum rainfall intensifying from 13.93 mm/h on December 3rd to 164.26 mm/h on December 4th, and subsequently decreasing to 144.39 mm/h on December 5th.

Exploring Self‐Care Behaviors In Rural Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Study In Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh

Exploring Self‐Care Behaviors In Rural Type 2 Diabetes Patients: A Study In Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh

A Study to Assess the Knowledge regarding Complications of Early Marriage and Teenage Pregnancy among Parents of Teenage Girls at selected Community

BACKGROUND: Early marriage refers to any marriage happens under the age of 18 years, where the girl is not ready for the marriage and childbirth. Teenage pregnancy is defined as pregnancy in a female adolescent as the period between the age of 13 to 19 years. Over 700 million women were married before being 18 years old in the World. This research study was conducted to assess the knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra pradesh. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM: A descriptive study to assess the knowledge regarding complications early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls at selected community, Srikakulam, Andhra pradesh. METHOD: A descriptive research design was used and a total of 30 parents of teenage girls in selected community at Srikakulam were selected by using non-probability convenience sampling techniques. Data was collected by using structured interview questionnaires by using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. RESULTS: The study revealed that among 30 parents, 0(0%) had inadequate knowledge, 23(76.6%) had moderate knowledge and 7(23.3%) had adequate knowledge regarding complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Findings of the current study revealed that the knowledge regarding the complications of early marriage and teenage pregnancy among parents of teenage girls was not satisfactory and had to improve significantly.

Enhanced Tobacco Yield Prediction Using Spatial Information and Exogenous Variable-driven Machine Learning Models

Remote sensing technology has been essential in studying the relationship between tobacco canopy spectral characteristics and biomass yield. This study has been conducted in Garnepudi, Andhra Pradesh, employed satellite imagery obtained between 2015 and 2023 to extract vegetation indices (VI’s). Accurately predicting yield is crucial for India's economy. This study investigates the efficacy of various predictive models for tobacco yield forecasting using multiple vegetation indices: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Green Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (GNDVI), Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Leaf Area Index (LAI) and Leaf Surface Water Index (LSWI). The models assessed include traditional parametric approaches (ARIMAX, MLR), machine learning techniques (ANN, SVR, RFR), and advanced ensemble methods like XGBoost. The results highlight XGBoost as the most accurate model, consistently delivering the lowest error metrics, including RMSE and MAE, across all vegetation indices. Specifically, XGBoost achieved the best performance with LAI showing RMSE of 86.657, MAE of 58.324, sMAPE of 14.354, MASE of 1.001, and QL of 29.162 respectively. They exhibited lower error metrics, as compare to the statistical and ML models underscoring their effectiveness and potential in tobacco yield prediction. This study highlights the significant role of remote sensing technology in capturing crop development patterns and accurately forecasting tobacco yield, thereby offering valuable insights for agricultural planning and decision-making. The study also addresses challenges such as data quality and model generalization, providing a comprehensive view of the research impact and future directions.

A Study to Assess the Level of Body Dysmorphic Disorder among Adolescents in Selected Higher Secondary School Students at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh

A Study to Assess the Level of Body Dysmorphic Disorder among Adolescents in Selected Higher Secondary School Students at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh

Content Analysis of Knowledge and Adoption of Climate-resilient Cotton Production Practices among Dryland Farmers

Cotton is a vital crop for smallholder farmers in India, particularly in the rainfed regions of Andhra Pradesh. The dryland farming is vulnerable to climate change, water scarcity, and soil degradation, leading to reduced crop yields and decreased livelihood security. Critical interventions like conservation agriculture, micro irrigation, and integrated nutrient management are essential to address these challenges. Despite their importance, the adoption of these interventions among dryland farmers remains limited. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and adoption of critical interventions among dryland farmers in cotton cultivation. The results showed that 75-100% of farmers had knowledge about basic practices like sowing time, seed rate, and spacing, while 50-75% knew about pest and disease management practices. However, only 25-50% were aware of drought mitigating measures, and 0-25% knew about advanced practices like micro irrigation and anti-transpirants. The adoption of critical interventions was also low, with 75-100% adoption of basic practices, 50-75% adoption of pest and disease management practices, and 25-50% adoption of drought mitigating measures. The study highlights the need for awareness and training programs to improve the knowledge and adoption of critical interventions among dryland farmers. The findings suggest that there is a significant knowledge and adoption gap among dryland farmers, particularly regarding advanced practices. Addressing this gap is crucial to enhancing the livelihoods of dryland farmers and promoting sustainable cotton production in the region.

Sustainable millet-based ethanol production in India: a comprehensive analysis of water footprint and environmental impact

This research seeks to comprehensively assess the water footprint and environmental sustainability of millet-based ethanol production in India, responding to the growing interest in resilient and nutritious alternatives. Utilizing a life cycle assessment approach, the study will scrutinize water usage across the entire production process, from millet cultivation to ethanol extraction. The primary aim is to gain an in-depth understanding of water consumption at each stage, pinpointing areas for enhancement and efficiency. Rajasthan exhibited the highest total water footprint at 6596 m3/ton, primarily due to its substantial ETc value, while Andhra Pradesh showcased the lowest at 1906 m3/ton, owing to its high average yield. Haryana displayed significant water usage during crop production, with a water footprint of 5870 m3/ton, where WFgreen, WFblue, and WFgrey contributed 3730 m3/ton, 2010 m3/ton and 130 m3/ton respectively. Uttar Pradesh demonstrated a comparatively lower total water footprint of 2564 m3/ton. These findings are anticipated to offer valuable insights into the viability and sustainability of millet-derived ethanol as an eco-friendly biofuel option in India, guiding policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in promoting its adoption and addressing environmental challenges linked with conventional fuel sources.

Role of Sericulture in the Indian Economy

Sericulture, often known as silk farming, involves raising silkworms to make silk. Out of the five states that contribute to the majority of India's silk production—Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Jammu & Kashmir -98.5% comes from mulberry sericulture. Silk plays a vital role in Indian culture and tradition, with a rich history spanning over five millennia. Sericulture, especially in Karnataka, supports farmers' livelihoods and has significant economic potential. However, climate change poses a serious threat to global ecosystems, endangering species and affecting industries like sericulture. The Author uses the study variables for their study and also questionnaires, and statistical tools like SPSS and Excel for data presentation and calculation respectively also used statistical techniques like, Factor Analysis, Descriptive analysis, and Relatively Analysis. Sericulture enhances income, crop diversification, sustainability, and land use efficiency, supported by government policies and training. Sericulture is vital to India’s rural development, job creation, and exports. It supports millions of rural households, especially women and marginalized communities, by generating consistent income. As one of the world’s top silk producers, India benefits from government-backed sustainable practices, making sericulture crucial to its economy.

Examining teacher absence from the classroom in Indian secondary schools: Power, context and inequality

Education policy in India has long included a focus on the need to address teacher absence from lessons. Using multilevel regression analysis of secondary data from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, this paper quantifies the impact of teacher absence, finding that the most marginalised students are more likely to be affected. Yet analysis also indicates the importance of understanding teacher absence in context, with absence rates highest among those with the most power and influence and those with the least. These findings suggest that efforts to tackle teacher absence must begin at systemic levels, rather than the level of the individual teacher.

Influential Factors Shaping Farmers Knowledge Levels Regarding Critical Interventions in Dryland Farming in Drought Prone Region of Andhra Pradesh

This study was conducted to investigate the profile, knowledge, and adoption of critical interventions among dryland farmers in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. Ex post facto research design was followed for the study and a sample of 120 dryland farmers were drawn. The research focused on the association between 16 independent variables and dryland farmers' knowledge and adoption of critical interventions in redgram and cotton. The findings revealed that variables such as education, land holding, yield, annual income, extension contact, mass media exposure, information seeking behavior, social participation, credit orientation, risk preference, irrigation status, economic orientation, decision making ability, and cropping pattern were positively and significantly related to knowledge and adoption of critical interventions in both crops. Conversely, age and experience in dryland farming were negatively and significantly related to knowledge and adoption. The independent variables explained 85.20% of the variation in knowledge on critical interventions in redgram, 76.80% in cotton, and 74.70% and 72.80% in the extent of adoption of critical interventions in redgram and cotton, respectively. These findings suggest that addressing these factors can enhance dryland farmers' knowledge and adoption of critical interventions, ultimately improving productivity and sustainability. Specifically, increasing education, land holding, yield, and annual income, and promoting extension contact, mass media exposure, and social participation can positively impact knowledge and adoption. Additionally, improving credit orientation, risk preference, irrigation status, economic orientation, and decision-making ability can also enhance adoption. Conversely, addressing the negative impact of age and experience is crucial. Overall, this study highlights the importance of a comprehensive approach to enhancing dryland farmers' knowledge and adoption of critical interventions.

Turmeric Cultivation in Erode District: An Analysis of Farmer Constraints

Turmeric farming is a key agricultural activity in the Erode District of Tamil Nadu, contributing significantly to the region's economy. However, farmers in this area face a myriad of constraints that hinder their productivity and economic stability. This study investigates the specific challenges encountered by turmeric growers, focusing on technical, economic, marketing, storage, and general constraints. In terms of production, consumption, and exports, India leads the world in turmeric usage. India is estimated to produce 11.7 lakh metric tonnes of turmeric in 2022–2023. Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and West Bengal are the main states in India that produce turmeric. In Tamil Nadu, 96,000 metric tons of turmeric are grown around 20,000 hectares. An ex-post facto research design was employed, with Kodumudi Block selected due to its prominence in turmeric cultivation in Erode district. A proportionate random sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from five villages: Vengampur, Punjai Kollanali, Unjalur, Kollathupalayam, and Kodumudi. The inclusion of an interview schedule as the data collection tool adds depth to the study, as it allows for a structured approach to gathering information directly from the respondents, ensuring the reliability and validity of the findings. The data that were gathered was compiled and subjected to suitable statistical analysis like cumulative frequency method, percentage analysis and ranking method. The findings reveal that the most critical issues include high fluctuations in market prices, pest and disease outbreaks, inadequate storage facilities, and a lack of technical guidance. Economic challenges such as high input costs, difficulty in securing loans, and insufficient subsidies further exacerbate the situation. Marketing constraints, including poor transportation infrastructure and the absence of regulated markets, force farmers into distress sales. General issues like labor shortages and inadequate irrigation facilities add to the farmer burdens. To address these challenges, the study suggests implementing efficient irrigation systems, promoting integrated pest management (IPM) programs, establishing community-based storage facilities, and strengthening farmer cooperatives to enhance their bargaining power. Additionally, introducing government-backed procurement systems with minimum support prices (MSP) and improving access to financial services are recommended as the solutions. By tackling these constraints, the study aims to enhance the sustainability and profitability of turmeric farming in Erode District, ensuring a stable livelihood for the farmers.