Indigenous Method Research Articles

Broken Windows, Broken Promises

We present our narrative as an exercise in Critical Performance Pedagogy: Culture Jamming. It is our contribution to the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Our collective voice, which is framed as a reflexive layered narrative, is offered to both incite introspection and provide a glimpse into the lived understanding of the “Other[ed].” The call and response-inspired exchange represents indigenous method, and is a challenge to the hegemony regarding the narrative voicing of African Americans. It frames the frustration and subsequent activism of stigmatized people and offers a response to their narrative by a White educator poised to institute culturally responsive pedagogy. It is presented as research method, commentary, and call to action, in this not-so-post-racial milieu.

Chemical characterization and decay resistance analysis of smoke treated bamboo species

Severe human health and environmental hazards associated with commercial chemical preservatives has prompted researchers to look for alternative treatment techniques for preservation of bamboo species. In the present study, validation of traditional smoke treatment method to preserve bamboo species (D. strictus) has been performed. Physico-chemical characterization of smoke treated culms showed reduction in alkali solubility (18.8 %), starch (34.5 %) and moisture content (69 %) and considerable increase in lignin content (24.5 %). Improved decay resistance of smoke treated sample (weight loss: 12.2 %) as compared to severely degraded control samples (weight loss: 55.6 %) shows the potential of this indigenous method to preserve bamboo.

Development of a phantom and assessment of 141Ce as a surrogate radionuclide for flood field uniformity testing of gamma cameras

This paper describes an indigenous method for development and deployment of rechargeable liquid filled phantom with newly proposed radionuclide 141Ce for determination of extrinsic uniformity of gamma cameras. Details about design of phantom, neutron irradiation of cerium targets, chemical processing of 141Ce, charging of phantom with 141Ce solution and their performance evaluation are presented. Suitability of 141Ce in quality assurance of gamma cameras used in in-vivo diagnostic imaging procedures has been amply demonstrated.

Negative pressure wound therapy by indigenous method: a decisive and cost-effective approach in management of open wounds

Background: The vacuum-assisted closure was pioneered by Dr Louis Argenta and Dr Michael Morykwas in 1993. It is a development from the standard surgical procedure, which uses vacuum-assisted drainage to remove blood or serous fluid from an operation site to provide a drier surgical field and control blood flow. Methods: We carried out a prospective study of 50 patients on the role of negative pressure wound therapy (VAC) by indigenous method for open wounds cases. Study was conducted during the period from November 2013 to May 2015. Details of cases were recorded including history and wound characteristics. Results: In our study the rate of granulation tissue increases significantly after successive application of VAC and no complications occurred following any VAC dressing. VAC dressing also provided the wound ready for SSG or flap rotation early as assessed by wound bed score. In financial terms VAC dressings by indigenous method is comparable to conventional dressings. Conclusions: Vacuum assisted closure dressing was found to be totally safe. Thus, vacuum assisted closure dressing can be considered as a superior option in the management of chronic wounds. Also compliance of patient is good in vacuum assisted closure therapy.

Development of a dot blot assay with antibodies to recombinant "core" 14-3-3 protein: Evaluation of its usefulness in diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

Background and Purpose:Definitive diagnosis of Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) requires demonstration of infective prion protein (PrPSc) in brain tissues by immunohistochemistry or immunoblot, making antemortem diagnosis of CJD difficult. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends detection of 14-3-3 protein in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in cases of dementia, with clinical correlation, as a useful diagnostic marker for CJD, obviating the need for brain biopsy. This facility is currently available in only a few specialized centers in the West and no commercial kit is available for clinical diagnostic use in India. Hence the objective of this study was to develop an in-house sensitive assay for quantitation of 14-3-3 protein and to evaluate its diagnostic potential to detect 14-3-3 proteins in CSF as a biomarker in suspected cases of CJD.Materials and Methods:A minigene expressing the “core” 14-3-3 protein was synthesized by overlapping polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the recombinant protein was produced by employing a bacterial expression system. Polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbit against the purified recombinant protein were used for developing a dot blot assay with avidin-biotin technology for signal amplification and quantitation of 14-3-3 protein in CSF.Results:The results in the present study suggest the diagnostic potential of the dot blot method with about 10-fold difference (P< 0.001) in the CSF levels of 14-3-3 protein between the CJD cases (N= 50) and disease controls (N= 70). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of the results suggested an optimal cutoff value of 2 ng/mL.Conclusions:We have developed an indigenous, economical, and sensitive dot blot method for the quantitation of 14-3-3 protein in CSF.

Long-Term Functional and Psychosocial Consequences and Health Care Provision after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Long-Term Functional and Psychosocial Consequences and Health Care Provision after Traumatic Brain Injury.

Farm Level Pesticides Use in Patuakhali and Comilla Region of Bangladesh and Associated Health Risk

A survey study was conducted among two hundred farmers from Patuakhali and Comilla district, Bangladesh to determine the farmers’ awareness about farm land pesticide application on major crops with beneficial and harmful effects, pesticide use trends in last five years (2011−2016), crop harvesting time after pesticide application, integrated pest management (IPM) with indigenous technology etc. determinants. Survey result showed that 82% of the farmers of Patuakhali cultivating local varieties of rice and used IPM with indigenous technology in addition with application of pesticides for pest management. Though these farmers did not use any pesticide in 2011 except carbofuran but in 2016, they are used various kinds of organocarbamate and organophosphate pesticides for controlling pest. On the other hand, farmers from Comilla regions increased their pesticide application three times during the last five years and used only piercing as an indigenous method for pest management. Pesticide application intensity (3/4/more times in a cropping season) higher in Comilla region compared to that of Patuakhali region. Vegetables harvesting time within 24 or 48 hrs after application of pesticides will be alarming for consumers due to toxicity development of pesticide residue. Application of pesticides more than the recommendation limits increasing the environmental, animal and human health risk at the studied area. It is concluded that effective implementation of government policy, continuous monitoring, increasing IPM practices, expansion of indigenous technologies and as a whole growing farmers’ awareness about the pesticide use are suggested for sustainable and quality crop production and healthy consumption.

On Rendering French Syllabic Verse in Estonian Language: Reflections and Proposals

In recent times we have witnessed – most notably due to the popular work of Johannes Semper – an increase in the number of Estonian renditions of French verse. This, however, raises issues concerning the method of translation. I have been interested for a long time in the question of how to render French meter, especially alexandrine (that is, the iambic hexameter, according to the conventional definition). The main difference in the general use of versification methods lies between the French practice of the so-called syllabic and our practice of tonic meter (with the exception of folklore). According to the most common understanding, this means that the French count the number of syllables, whereas we count the number of stresses. The stress placement in verse lines for us is mostly predetermined, while in French verse both the number and position of stress varies. It has been widely held that our traditional and indigenous method cannot be altered even when translating French verse, and that therefore the most classical and well-known form of French verse – the alexandrine – must be bent into conformity with our schemes and rules. The scheme for the Estonian iambic hexameter is plain and simple: ∪  ∪  ∪  ∪  ∪  ∪  (∪). This is the very form that has been used in most cases for rendering French poetry into Estonian. I will illustrate this by juxtaposing the first two stanzas of Johannes Semper’s translation of Baudelaire with the original:

Fatty acids profile of milk and milk products in cow and buffalo fed roughage based diet

Diet composition is an important determinant of milk production and composition, including milk fatty acid profile. Present experiment evaluated the influence of diet on milk fatty acid composition of cow and buffaloes, which have varying genetic potential of milk secretion and mammary lipogenesis. Sixteen of each multiparous crossbred cows and Murrah buffaloes were divided in 2 equal groups of each species with 8 animals in each group making 4 groups altogether (groups 1 and 2 for cows and groups 3 and 4 for buffaloes). Cows and buffaloes of groups 1 and 3 were fed ad lib. berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) fodder along with wheat straw, whereas, animals of groups 2 and 4 were offered concentrate mixture and wheat straw. Fatty acid profiles were determined of milk samples and ghee (clarified butter oil) prepared at fortnight intervals by indigenous and creamery (commercial) methods from the total milk collected from each group. Total milk fat, protein, total solids and solid not fat contents of milk were similar between cow and buffaloes irrespective of dietary changes. Total CLA content in milk was higher in berseem fed groups of both the species. In conclusion, total PUFA and SFA levels of cow and buffalo milk with same feeding regimen were nonsignificant. However, the total MUFA content significantly increased in cows when fed with green fodder as compared to buffaloes. Furthermore, total CLA content in ghee prepared using indigenous method was higher as compared to that of creamery method.

&lt;i&gt;Lura&lt;/i&gt; - Indigenous Approach to Biodiversity Conservation by Temporary Community Confinement of &lt;i&gt;Mithuns&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;Bos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt; frontalis&lt;/i&gt;) during Growing Season

The extraordinary knowledge of indigenous people about their immediate environment and natural resource base can be a great asset for conservation of biodiversity. The current study aims to investigate an indigenous method of grazing management through temporary confinement of Mithun (Bos frontalis) of whole village community in a well selected area in the forest during the cropping and growing season. The whole system is called Lura and practiced by Galo tribes of Eastern Himalayan region of India. Every year Lura management committee is formed that selects a new site based on number of Mithuns, forage availability, time period and several other key criteria without affecting flora-fauna diversity and rare medicinal plants. The practice checks continuous, free, random and selective grazing by Mithuns. It prevent continuous disturbance of soil surface due to treading, during growing and rainy seasons that avoid soil erosion and compaction, and facilitate seedling germination and the invasion by plants. Change of site, provide resting period to the forages in the previous Lura site especially during growth stage that allow them to renew and regenerate appreciably within 1-2 months. It also saves resources and time for construction of fencing in each Jhum and other agricultural site of each farmer. The confinement offers easy monitoring, protection and regular health assessment of the livestock. Thus, it is a multifaceted indigenous practice that ensures grazing management, biodiversity conservation, protection of standing agricultural crops and animal health management

&lt;i&gt;Lura&lt;/i&gt; - Indigenous Approach to Biodiversity Conservation by Temporary Community Confinement of &lt;i&gt;Mithuns&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;Bos&lt;/i&gt;&lt;i&gt; frontalis&lt;/i&gt;) during Growing Season

The extraordinary knowledge of indigenous people about their immediate environment and natural resource base can be a great asset for conservation of biodiversity. The current study aims to investigate an indigenous method of grazing management through temporary confinement of Mithun (Bos frontalis) of whole village community in a well selected area in the forest during the cropping and growing season. The whole system is called Lura and practiced by Galo tribes of Eastern Himalayan region of India. Every year Lura management committee is formed that selects a new site based on number of Mithuns, forage availability, time period and several other key criteria without affecting flora-fauna diversity and rare medicinal plants. The practice checks continuous, free, random and selective grazing by Mithuns. It prevent continuous disturbance of soil surface due to treading, during growing and rainy seasons that avoid soil erosion and compaction, and facilitate seedling germination and the invasion by plants. Change of site, provide resting period to the forages in the previous Lura site especially during growth stage that allow them to renew and regenerate appreciably within 1-2 months. It also saves resources and time for construction of fencing in each Jhum and other agricultural site of each farmer. The confinement offers easy monitoring, protection and regular health assessment of the livestock. Thus, it is a multifaceted indigenous practice that ensures grazing management, biodiversity conservation, protection of standing agricultural crops and animal health management

Awareness of climate change and indigenous coping strategies of women crop farmers in Kogi state, Nigeria

The study assessed the awareness and indigenous coping mechanism employed by women crop farmers to cope with climate change in Kogi State, Nigeria. Respondents’ socioeconomic characteristic, level of awareness about climate change, and indigenous coping strategies to climate change as well as activities of women crop farmers that contributed to climate change were investigated. Four-stage sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 women crop farmers used in the study. Analytical tools used include frequency counts, Percentage and Pearson Product moment correlation. Findings showed that crop rotation practices, planting of early maturing seed, reduced use of chemical fertilizers and changing of crop varieties as indicated by more than 60% were the indigenous coping strategies commonly used among the respondents. Also, some of the major activities of respondents that contributed to climate change as indicated by more than 50% of the respondents includes: bush burning, deforestation, continuous cropping, and complete tillage. Person Product Moment Correlation analysis result revealed that; educational level and farm size have significant (p&lt;0.05) influence on the level of awareness and sources of information. It was concluded that greater number of women crop farmers in the study area use indigenous coping method to mitigate the effect of climate change. Therefore, future policy should focus on awareness creation on climate change through different sources such as mass media and extension, encouraging informal social net-works, facilitating the availability of credit, enhancing research on the use of new crop varieties that are more tolerant to changing climate.Keywords: Awareness, climate change, indigenous, coping strategies, women farmers.

Experimental investigation on the role of indigenous carbon nanotube emulsified fuel in a four-stroke diesel engine

Effect of carbon nanotube emulsified fuel in a single-cylinder water-cooled four-stroke diesel engine was studied. CNT were produced by indigenous flame synthesis method. Water diesel emulsion was prepared in the proportion of 78% diesel, 20% water, and 2% surfactant with a HLB balance of 8. Tween 80 and Span 80 were used as surfactants. CNT in the mass fraction of 50 ppm, 100 ppm, and 150 ppm were blended in the water–diesel emulsion. CNT were dispersed in the water for 35 min with the help of ultrasonicator set at frequency of 40 kHz and ultrasonic power of 120 W, subsequently added in diesel, surfactant mixture to produce CNT blended water diesel emulsion. A mechanical homogenizer was used to produce emulsion at the speed of 3000 r/min for 25 min. The experimental investigation was carried out using single-cylinder diesel engine coupled with eddy current dynamometer and equipped with data acquisition system. An AVL Di-gas analyzer and AVL smoke opacity meter has been used to measure the exhaust emissions. Experiment was conducted at a constant speed of 1500 r/min from no load to full load for all fuel specimens. A comparative study involving combustion characteristics, brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, NOx, CO, HC, CO2 were recorded for pure diesel, water diesel emulsion and CNT-emulsified fuel. The results have shown significant improvement in engine performance, combustions attributes and reduction in emissions using CNT-emulsified fuel.

Tracking in Caves: Experience Based Reading of Pleistocene Human Footprints in French Caves

Some of the painted caves in southern France preserve human footprints from the Ice Age of 17,000 years ago. Research has so far dealt with them sparsely and through a morphometric approach only. In 2013 three indigenous hunters/trackers from the Kalahari had an opportunity to read several spoor accumulations in four caves on the basis of their indigenous knowledge. As a result of this morpho-classificatory approach to track reading they produced new hypotheses on prehistoric cave visitors. Most spectacular is the narrative which the trackers generated from the footprints not far from the clay bison at Tuc d’Audoubert. Further research is planned to inspect more tracks and look into the epistemological status of the indigenous tracking method.

English

Sustainable indigenous agricultural development for smallholder farmers entails the values placed on the use of indigenous knowledge and methods that depend on such to maintain productivity and better output for the Nigerian teeming population. The study analyzed the different indigenous pests and diseases control methods used by ‘ofada’ rice growers. Multi stage sampling technique was used in sampling 120 respondents and primary data were obtained using interview guide. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s product moment correlation. The study reveals that majority of the growers were between 20 to 60 years old. Most were male, married and had 4 to 15 multi-generational household members from which 75% of the labor use on the farm was derived. Types of indigenous pest control methods used by ‘ofada’ rice growers include the use of scare crows, traps, burning or slashing of debris/grass, removal of unwanted weeds, repeated tilling. Furthermore, 72.5% of the growers affirmed that most of the methods used were effective in helping to combat pests on their fields. Also, growers were of the view that some of the indigenous pest and diseases control methods were cost effective, agro ecologically friendly and less hazardous to human health. Some constraints identified were lack of proper documentation of indigenous pest control methods and that most farmers were unwilling to divulge some methods used. There existed significant relationships between the use of indigenous pest control method, age, occupational experience and educational status. It is recommended that immediate steps should be taken to collect, document and preserve the indigenous methods used by ofada rice growers in controlling pest. Key words: Knowledge, indigenous, local, modern, farmers, sustainability.

Whakawhiti Kōrero, a Method for the Development of a Cultural Assessment Tool, Te Waka Kuaka, in Māori Traumatic Brain Injury.

The importance of tools for the measurement of outcomes and needs in traumatic brain injury is well recognised. The development of tools for these injuries in indigenous communities has been limited despite the well-documented disparity of brain injury. The wairua theory of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Māori proposes that a culturally defined injury occurs in tandem with the physical injury. A cultural response is therefore indicated. This research investigates a Māori method used in the development of cultural needs assessment tool designed to further examine needs associated with the culturally determined injury and in preparation for formal validation. Whakawhiti kōrero is a method used to develop better statements in the development of the assessment tool. Four wānanga (traditional fora) were held including one with whānau (extended family) with experience of traumatic brain injury. The approach was well received. A final version, Te Waka Kuaka, is now ready for validation. Whakawhiti kōrero is an indigenous method used in the development of cultural needs assessment tool in Māori traumatic brain injury. This method is likely to have wider applicability, such as Mental Health and Addictions Services, to ensure robust process of outcome measure and needs assessment development.

Indwelling pleural drain for mobile management of malignant pleural effusion-combining benefits of both methods.

Malignant pleural effusion is a leading cause of morbidity in lung cancer patients requiring repeated pleural aspirations or persistent intercostal drainage tube. Using an indigenous method of putting icd tube of smaller size with subcutaneous tunneling would allow draining fluid from lungs easily and painlessly when needed and avoid the need for repeated injections and chest tube insertion every time the fluid is to be drained.

Evaluation of aflatoxin B1 biosynthesis in A. flavus isolates from central india and identification of atoxigenic isolates

Present study describes the effect of temperature and pH on biosynthesis of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) to identify atoxigenic (aflatoxin non-producer) isolates of Aspergillus flavus. An indigenous detection method for AFB1 was developed using tandem mass spectrometric method. Detection of AFB1 was carried out in positive polarity using triple quadrapole mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization interface in Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM) mode. A total of four A. flavus isolates were selected for screening of AFB1 biosynthesis at pH 4.0, 5.5, 7.0, and 8.5 at 27℃. Highest AFB1 biosynthesis in MTCC11866 was found at pH 6.5 while in MTCC9367 it was at pH 7.0. On screening AFB1 biosynthesis in A. flavus culture at various temperatures a significant suppression in AFB1 biosynthesis was found at 37℃ in comparison to 24 and 27℃ in MTCC11866 and MTCC9367. AFB1 was not detected in other two A. flavus isolates MTCC11580 and MTCC11588 at any temperature and pH tested. AFB1 nonproducing isolates, MTCC11580 and MTCC11588 could be used as potent biocontrol agent. Additionally, present standardized method for AFB1 detection may find its application in qualitative and quantitative analysis of AFB1 contamination in food crop and other products.

Distribution and Fractionation of Lead and Cadmium in a Long-Term Zinc Smelting Areas

Pb, Cd contamination is a serious enviroment problem in the process of exploitation and utilization of zinc mine. In this study, the contents and different fractions of Pb, Cd were investigated in a regions of zinc smelting with indigenous method. The results revealed that Pb, Cd pollution were seriously in smelting slags and farmland. The contents of Pb, Cd were 34 times and 9 times as that of the background values of soil. The sequential extraction test showed that 80% of Pb were associated with residual Pb, Fe-Mn oxides bound Pb and Organic bound Pb, while exchangeable fractions Pb was quitely lower.The sequence of Cd fracttions in slags was residual fraction&gt;Fe-Mn oxide-bound&gt;Exchangeable&gt; Carbonate-bound &gt; Organic-bound. The exchangeable fraction Cd in farmland soils was the most and reached 24%~43%. Bioavailability of Cd is very high in the studied area and had huge threat to the crop security and human healthy.

Erratum to: Standardization of a bottle assay—an indigenous method for laboratory and field monitoring of insecticide resistance and comparison with WHO adult susceptibility test

Erratum to: Standardization of a bottle assay—an indigenous method for laboratory and field monitoring of insecticide resistance and comparison with WHO adult susceptibility test