Karbi Anglong District Research Articles

A Study of Fruit and Seeds Characteristics of Bombax ceiba L. from Karbi Anglong District of Assam

Bombax ceiba L. is a fast-growing tree found in greater part of India. It is strong light-demander, resists mild frost and is found to be unaffected by drought. The species is planted on a wide scale, but superior germplasm is not available for planting. Germplasm of Assam is known to grow faster than north Indian germplasm. Between-stand as well as between-tree within-stand variation was observed for fruit and seed traits in Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The study suggests that it would be worthwhile to intensively select superior stands as well as superior trees in the state, carry out their progeny testing and clonal evaluation for producing superior germplasm for plantation purposes.

Socio-economic and demographic correlates of stunting among adolescents of Assam, North-east India

The prevalence of stunting (low height-for-age) is a key indicator of long-term chronic undernutrition which reflects an anthropometric failure to reach linear growth potentials due to prolonged food deprivation and/or disease or illness during the early stage of life. The present study assesses the prevalence and socio-economic and demographic correlates of stunting among adolescents of the North-east India. This cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1,818 (830 boys; 988 girls) adolescents (aged 10-18 years) belonging to ethnically heterogeneous populations of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, using stratified random sampling method. Anthropometric measurements of height and weight were recorded using standard procedures. Socio-economic and demographic variables were obtained using pre-structured schedule. The age-sex specific L, M and S reference values were used to calculate height-for-age Z-score (HAZ). According to WHO, HAZ found to be <−2SD was classified as stunting. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, chi-square analyses, binary and step-wise multiple logistic regression analysis in SPSS (version, 17.0). The prevalence of stunting was observed to be significantly higher among boys (48.4%) than girls (37.8%) (p<0.01). Age-sex specific prevalence was found to be higher among boys than girls aged 14-18 years and contrary were observed among girls aged 10-14 years (p>0.05). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that several socio-economic and demographic variables were significantly associated with stunting (p<0.05). The step-wise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that sex (boys), age groups (13-15 years and 16-18 years), father’s occupation (cultivator) and Rupees ≤5000 household income was significantly associated with stunting (p<0.05). Appropriate nutritional intervention programmes and dissemination of knowledge at population level related to undernutrition are necessary to ameliorate their nutritional status.

Neck circumference as a screening measure of overweight/obesity among Indian adults

Neck circumference (NC) is an anthropometric measurement of differentiating body fat distributions and a marker of upper subcutaneous adiposity. The present study highlights the association and importance of NC as a suitable proxy screening measure of overweight/obesity as compared to the conventional anthropometric variables used among Indian adults. The present community based cross-sectional study was undertaken among 1169 Karbi adults (males: 625; females: 544) residing in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India, who were selected through a multistage stratified random sampling method. Height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and NC were recorded using standard procedures. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated and prevalence of overweight/obesity was assessed using standard cut-offs. The prevalence of obesity using BMI (≥25.00 kg m-2) was 15.52% and 15.26% among males and females, respectively (p≥0.05).The prevalence of obesity using NC was observed to be significantly higher among males (48.80%) than females (19.12%) (p<0.01). The binary logistic regression analysis showed that NC predicted obesity over the conventional anthropometric variables with reasonable accuracy (p<0.01). The ROC-AUC analysis showed a relatively greater significant association between BMI, WC and HC and NC for obesity (p<0.01). Thus, NC appears to be a potentially simple, easyto- use screening measure for predicting obesity among adults. Further studies are required to validate its use for screening of obesity among other ethnic populations in India.

Genetic Differentiation and Flow of Plasmodium falciparum dhfr Gene Sequences Associated with Pyrimethamine Drug Resistance

The present study was conducted in Chirang, North Cachar Hills and Karbi Anglong district in Assam with an aim to find out the genetic differentiations and flow of Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (Pfdhfr) gene associated with Pyrimethamine resistance. Therefore, a total of 116 participants were enrolled for the study. Presence of malaria parasites were confirmed by microscopic slide examination method. P. falciparum mono-infection was observed in 69 cases. A 648 base pair portion of Pfdhfr gene containing major single nucleotide polymorphisms were amplified, sequenced, and then analyzed in BioEdit v7.0.9 software, Mega 5 software and DnaSP version v.5.10.01. Three polymorphic sites were observed in the dhfr gene sequences of P. falciparum field isolates in Assam. The value of neutrality test did not show any statistically significant result. The highest level of haplotype diversity (0.38889) was observed in the P. falciparum isolates in Chirang district of Assam. Little to moderate genetic differentiation was observed between the P. falciparum field isolates in Chirang and NC hills. It specifies that the gene flow levels were high enough to counteract the effects of genetic drift.

Stormy Sunset: Old age and recluse: A Study on elderly people in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, A case study of Diphu Town

This paper intends to investigate the plight and predicament of the elderly people in a certain geographical area (Karbi Anglong District of Assam). Given the increasing plight of elderly people in today's materialistic world wherein love, care, dedication and selfless efforts of the parents get a severe nudge by their own children, the question that occupies us to search out the reasons for such frailty in human nature. A couple of factors interplay in such disorder and decline of human values that figure out in the literature as well as the micro level research that we have conducted in the course of the study. The helpless condition of the elders and their broken mind in most cases lie in their private life due to the embarrassment and pain attached to it. Though the problem is psycho social, none can ignore economic and cultural factors also to understand the problem. Karbi Anglong district is inhabited predominantly by the tribal population along with the significant presence of diverse communities. It is observed that the marginalization, abuses and torture on the elders are aplenty on the communities like Assamese, Bengali, Bihari etc. and this prompted us to concentrate our study on the aforesaid groups.

Mainstreaming Gender Narratives: A Study on Women Empowerment of Kuki women In Assam?s Karbi Anglong District: A Case Study in Diphu Town

Mainstreaming Gender Narratives: A Study on Women Empowerment of Kuki women In Assam?s Karbi Anglong District: A Case Study in Diphu Town

Mutational prevalence of chloroquine resistance transporter gene among Plasmodium falciparum field isolates in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India

Objective: The present study aims to find out the mutational prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) gene in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India. Methods: To fulfil the objective of the study, a total of 54 P. falciparum malaria positive samples were attempted for genotyping of Pfcrt gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct DNA sequencing method. Results: The K76T mutation was observed in 77.78% cases followed by M74I (61.11%), N75E (61.11%) and C72S (16.67%). Triple mutant allele M74I+N75E+K76T was found in 61.11% P. falciparum field isolates. Double mutant allele C72S+K76T was seen among 16.67% samples. Mutation studies have shown existence of three different haplotypes of which two were associated with chloroquine resistance. The haplotype CVIET was found preponderance and circulated in all four districts. The other haplotype SVMNT was observed only in Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Maximum haplotype diversity was also recorded from Karbi Anglong district of Assam. Conclusion: Our study has confirmed high prevalence of mutant Pfcrt genotypes associated with chloroquine resistance in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, India.

Generational shift in occupational pattern among the Karbis of Karbi Anglong district in Assam

The agricultural sector plays crucial role in the economic pursuits of the people of Karbi Anglong District. This traditional and labour intensive economic activity is the single largest contributor to the District Domestic Product accounting for about 44.9 p.c. of the total DDP of Karbi Anglong. More over 73 p.c. of the total working population are engaged in agricultural sector where 59 p.c. as cultivators and 14 p.c. as agricultural labour. They have lived on traditional occupational systems like – fishing, hunting, animal rearing and lumbering, etc. which are based on nature. After granting them the Autonomous District Council under the sixth schedule of the Indian constitution, autonomous political power has been changed their occupation, living standard, food habit, language, culture and political behaviour. The researcher through this research work has tried to find out the occupational mobility of the Karbi people living in Karbi Anglong District of Assam. The study has revealed that with the passage of time, many Karbi people have shifted to other occupations also. Those living in the urban areas are engaged in various occupations in the secondary and tertiary sector and those living in rural areas have also witnessed a change in their occupational patterns.

Quality Assessment of Drinking Water from Dimapur District of Nagaland and Karbi-Anglong District of Assam for Possible Related Health Hazards

Quality of drinking water always remains a sensitive issue since contaminants like Arsenic, Fluoride in excess amount cause serious health hazards. Arsenic in drinking water causes harm to physical and mental health of a person and this may even cause cancer and damage to blood vessels and heart. This may also cause reproductive problems and birth defects.Several states of India are known to be effected arsenic contaminated water which leads to serious illness. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhnad, West Bengal, Assam, etc. are examples of such states. Arsenic related illness has also been reported in Manipur. Similarly presence of excess fluoride in drinking water causes mild dental fluorisis to skeletal fluorisis. It is also equally important to maintain prescribed standard of the other drinking water ingredients. Quality assessment of drinking water from Dimapur district of Nagaland and Karbi Anglong district of Assam has been presented in this paper. Quality assessment has been accomplished by measuring various quality parameters in drinking water collected from different random locations of the two districts. Quality parameters like ‘Alkalinity’, ‘Hardness’, ‘pH’, ‘Arsenic’ and ‘Fluoride’ concentration etc. are determined during the course of the study. Based on the values of the quality parameters, a rational analysis has been made about the quality of drinking water.

Socio-Economic, Demographic and Lifestyle Determinants of Overweight and Obesity among Adults of Northeast India.

Overweight and obesity are the accumulation of high body adiposity, which can have detrimental health effects and contribute to the development of numerous preventable non-communicable diseases. This study aims to evaluate the effect of socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle factors on the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults belonging to the Rengma-Naga population of North-east India. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 826 Rengma-Naga individuals (males: 422; females: 404) aged 20-49 years from the Karbi Anglong District of Assam, using a two-stage stratified random sampling. The socio-economic, demographic and lifestyle variables were recorded using structured schedules. Height and weight were recorded and the Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated using standard procedures and equation. The WHO (2000) cut-off points were utilized to assess the prevalence of overweight (BMI ≥23.00-24.99 kg/m(2)) and obesity (BMI ≥25.00 kg/m(2)). The data were analysed using ANOVA, chi-square analysis and binary logistic regression analysis using SPSS (version 17.0). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 32.57% (males: 39.34%; females: 25.50%) and 10.77% (males: 9.95%; females: 11.63%), respectively. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that age groups (e.g., 40-49 years), education (≥9(th) standard), part-time occupation and monthly income (≥Rs.10000) were significantly associated with overweight and obesity (p<0.05). Age, education occupation and income appear to have higher associations with overweight and obesity among adults. Suitable healthcare strategies and intervention programmes are needed for combating such prevalence in population.

ETHNOBOTANICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON ANTIDOTES IN SINGHASON HILLS, KARBI ANGLONG DISTRICT, ASSAM, INDIA

The Singhason hill range in Karbi Anglong district, Assam, I ndia is considered a floristic hotspot of Assam , India. T he region has poor access to modern healthcare system and people rely on traditional medic ine for primary healthcare. The present study investigates ethnomedicinal claims relating to treatment and ma nagement of plant poisons and venomous bites practised among the people in Singhason hills. Methods adopted for the present study included semi - structured interviews and personal observations. The present paper provides ethnobotanical knowledge of 42 medic inal plants of 40 families, used as antidotes - food poisoning (6), insect and spider poisons (11), snake poison (17) and other poisons (13 ). Both h erbal prescriptions as well as restrictions are maintained to manage many poisons and allergy reactions. Trad itional medicines remain an integral part of healthcare; it can be developed through validation and value addition .

Ethnobotany of Dreams and Dream Interpretations: A study among the Karbis of India

The Karbi ethnic group of Northeast India associates many meanings of dreams events with real life. Dream interpretation is an integral part of their traditional religion and healthcare practices. Traditional concept of dreams and the role of 35 plants in dream interpretation are discussed here. We conducted group discussions in 51 randomly selected villages across the plain and hill areas of Karbi Anglong district, Assam, during January 2010 to October 2012. This was followed by interviews of 175 select elders. Karbis recognize three types of dreams: (1) mang jangre, dreams which bear positive correlation with real life; (2) mang kai, dream events which are opposite or unrealistic in real life; and (3) mang phumeng, dreams which do not carry any significant meaning in real life. Certain plants that come in dreams carry important messages which have relevance to the individual and his or her family. Karbis also use many plants and their products for preventing nightmares.

Gender Differences and Achievements in Mathematics Among the Students in High School Examination in Diphu Town of Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India

This paper reports from a large scale action research study on gender issues emerging in the context of mathematics education. Gender equity has been a source of discussion and contention in the educational community for a number of years. In light of the under representation of women in careers in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering, increasing research attention is being devoted to understanding gender differences in mathematics achievement, attitudes, and affect. The gender stratification hypothesis maintains that such gender differences are closely related to cultural variations in opportunity structures for girls and women. The findings and outcomes indicate that the socio economic conditions of parents and school Proprietorship affect the gender difference in the achievements in Mathematics in High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) examination. Educational implications have been highlighted.

Prevalence of Double Nutrition Burden Among Adolescent Girls of Assam, Northeast India

Introduction: Prevalence of the malnutrition is a very common phenomenon in the developing countries leads to high mortality, morbidity and long-lasting physiologic effects. The present study was conducted among adolescent populations residing in rural regions with an aim to determine the prevalence of double nutritional burden (e.g., thinness and overweight) in Karbi-Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India.Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among 1228 heterogeneous groups of adolescent girls aged 10- 16 years residing in rural areas of Diphu, Karbi-Anglong, Assam is using simple random sampling method. The anthropometric measurement of height and weight were recorded using the standard procedure. The Body mass index (BMI=weight/height2, kg/m2) was calculated. Recently proposed, the BMI based age sex specific international references and cut-offs of Cole et al. was used to assess the prevalence of thinness and overweight.Results: The overall prevalence of overweight and thinness was found to be 8.13% and 19.14% respectively. The age specific prevalence of overweight and thinness was found to be higher among 11 years (12.00%) and 16 years (31.13%) respectively.Conclusion: The present study shows the magnitude of thinness is a still greater nutritional problem than overweight in rural adolescent girls in India. The results of the present study will be useful for the policy makers in their endeavour to formulate various developmental strategies and health care programmes of the population concern to combat the double burden of nutrition.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.10447J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(2):132-137

Prevalence of undernutrition among tribal adolescents of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India

Correction: On 8th September 2014, the title was changed from 'Anglong district' to 'Karbi Anglong district'. The name of the district was corrected in this way throughout the paper. Background: Undernutrition is a major public health problem affecting children and adolescents of developing countries such as India and causes high mortality and morbidity. Objective: To assess prevalence of undernutrition among tribal adolescents of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 864 (448 boys) tribal Karbi adolescents aged 10-17 years of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India. Height and weight were recorded and the body mass index calculated. WHO recommended indices of stunting (height-for-age, rd percentile of National Centre of Health Statistics) and thinness (BMI-for-age, th percentile, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) were used to assess the prevalence of undernutrition. Results: Overall mean height, weight and BMI were found to be significantly higher among boys than girls (p 2 to 20.1 kg/m 2 in boys and 15.1 kg/m 2 to 18.7 kg/m 2 in girls 10-17 years old. Overall prevalence of stunting (51.2%) was found markedly higher than thinness (13.4%). Sex-specific overall stunting was similar among girls (50.2%) and boys (50.1%). Overall prevalence of thinness was slightly higher among girls (14.9%) than boys (12.05%) (p> 0.05). Conclusion: Stunting was present in 51.2% and thinness in 13.4% among Karbi adolescents of Karbi Anglong district of Assam, Northeast India. (Keywords: Stunting; thinness; BMI; adolescents; anthropometry) Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health , 2014; 43 (3): 154-157 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v43i3.7375

Radon Exhalation rate of soil and indoor radon concentration of various places of Karbi Anglong District of Assam

In this paper we report our results on radon exhalation rate of soil as well as indoor radon concentration of a few places of Karbi Anglong District of Assam. The technique of passive method has been adopted using LR-115 (type-II) plastic detector. Significant variations in radon exhalation rate and indoor radon concentration have been observed for the studied locations. The minimum and maximum values of radon exhalation rate as found for the present investigation are 348.37±17.4 mBqmh (10.52±0.52 mBqkgh) and1864.2±92.7 mBqmh(56.29±2.8 mBqkgh ).For indoor radon concentration the minimum and maximum values as found from this study are 81.26±4.06 Bqmand 277.78±13.89 Bqm.

Bambusa balcooa along with rhizome bearing plants as intercrops - A potential agroforestry practice in Jhum land of Assam

A field experiment was carried out for three consecutive years (2009-2012) in Rongbonghat, Karbi Anglong District, Assam. Culm cutting of Bambusa balcona was planted in four different spacing trial (3x3, 3x4, 4x4 and 5x5m) intercropped with Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) and Ginger (Zingiber officinale Ros.). Culm length and collar diameter of Bamboo in both solo plantation as well as intercropped with Turmeric and Ginger recorded significantly more in 5x5m spacing during third year of experimentation. Remarkable variations have been noticed in different spacing trials. Emergence of new shoot recorded more or less equal in both solo and mixed plantation. Productivity of crop observed maximum in 5x5m and 4x4m spacing of B. halcooa. Yield was found to be declined in subsequent year of cropping which is due to competition of nutrients between two growing crops. Productivity of Ginger observed relatively high compared to Turmeric during third year of experimentation. Comparatively less value of pH, organic carbon and NPK was noticed in soil under intercropping. The rate of mineralization of organic nitrogen may not compensate the nutrient requirement of fast growing Bamboo species resulted decrease value of available nitrogen under reduced spacing. Available phosphorus and exchangeable potassium content increase significantly in 5x5m spacing trial in both solo and intercropped plots. Uptake of nutrient by the growing crop and Bamboo play a vital role in this regard.

The association of IL-8-251T/A polymorphism with complicated malaria in Karbi Anglong district of Assam

Amongst host genetic factors, cytokine gene polymorphism can be anticipated to be an important factor as qualitative, quantitative and time of secretion play an important role in disease outcome. We have investigated association of cytokine promoter SNPs with risk of Plasmodium falciparum malaria and disease severity in a case control study in malaria endemic Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India.Frequency of IL-8-251T/A (p=0.03 and p=0.01) and TGF-β1-509C/T (p=0.02 and p=0.03) was higher in malaria in comparison to control participants and non-malarial fever controls. Interestingly, a higher frequency of mutant allele of IL-10-819T/C was observed in non-malarial fever controls compared to malaria thus suggesting its role as a distinguishing marker of the two disease groups. Higher IL-8 expression and increased frequency of IL-8-251T/A in complicated malaria (p=0.002) was reported indicating its role in susceptibility to complicated malaria.In conclusion, our study suggests the role of mutant genotype of IL-8-251T/A as a marker of complicated malaria in our population. Surprisingly, decreased expression of TGF-β1 in uncomplicated malaria even in presence of high expressing mutant genotype was observed and needs to be investigated in context of the pool of activated cells producing the cytokine.

Antitumor effect of blister beetles: An ethno-medicinal practice in Karbi community and its experimental evaluation against a murine malignant tumor model

Ethnopharmacological importanceThe blister beetles Epicauta hirticornis and Mylabris cichorii are used as a folk medicine by the Karbi tribe in Karbi Anglong district of Assam, India for the treatment of different human ailments, including cancer cases. Aim of the studyIt includes field survey related to zoo-therapeutic aspects of two blister beetles in Karbi community, isolation of bio-active compound and evaluation of its antitumor potential with possible mode of action against murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Materials and methodsThe main bio-active compound of blister beetles was isolated from ethyl acetate extract and the structure was confirmed as cantharidin using NMR, IR, Mass and X-ray diffractometer. The effect of cantharidin on apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy and the apoptosis related signaling pathways were determined using different bioassays, including cell cycle analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential, western blot analysis of cytochrome c, caspases 9, 3/7 assays, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay. ResultsCantharidin induced apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy cell death in EAC cells. The decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential was observed, which may help to release cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol. Cantharidin treatment caused up-regulation of caspases 9 and −3/7 and a decrease in LDH activity in EAC cells. ConclusionThe major bioactive compound of these blister beetles is cantharidin which induces severe apoptosis in EAC cells involving mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. Cantharidin-mediated inhibition of LDH activity may lead to short supply of NAD+ and cut off energy and anabolic supply to cancer cells.

Measurement of Uranium, Radium and Radon Exhalation Rate of Soil Samples from Karbi Anglong District of Assam, India Using EDXRF and Can Technique Method

Natural radiation is the largest contributor to the collective radiation dose to the world population. Relatively constant exposure to the population at a location for a considerable period of time is the cause of radiation hazard to the population. The earth is radioactive since its creation. The radioactive elements such as uranium, radium and radon are present in soil, air and water. The inhalation and ingestion of these radionuclides, above the permissible level, becomes a health hazard. In the present investigation, uranium concentration has been determined by EDXRF technique and radium and radon exhalation rate of soil samples have been determined by Can technique method. Uranium concentration in soil samples has been found to vary from 1.47ppm to 10.66ppm whereas radium concentration varies from 10.54 Bq/kg to 49.67 Bq/kg. The radon exhalation rate in these samples has been found to vary from 502.34 mBqm−2h−1 to 2062.53 mBqm−2h−1. A good positive correlation coefficient (R= 0.98) has been observed between uranium concentration and radon exhalation rate of soil samples.