Parts Of South India Research Articles

Apatite-hosted REE mineralization in the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt: A future prospect for REE

The growing need of rare earth elements in different sectors of the modern-day world has led to their increasing demand, which is in accordance with their limited supply. In such a scenario, investigations related to search for potential zones of rare earths have become the need of the hour. In one such investigation, undertaken by Geological Survey of India, the authors report profuse intrusion of the apatite veins into the syenite-pyroxenite suite in the eastern part of the Eastern Ghats Mobile Belt (EGMB) in Nayagarh area of eastern Odisha. These apatite veins are anomalously rich in REEs, particularly LREEs, which on average ranges between 37,000 to 53,000 ppm. Rare earths and apatite are generally directly proportional, where apatites tend to carry sufficient REE budget, depending on the phosphorous fugacity and other ambient conditions inducing their genesis. The major-oxide chemistry of apatite veins indicates that apatites in the study area can be divided into two types based on SiO2 wt.% and their inverse relationship with P2O5 and CaO wt.%. Mineral chemistry data shows overall SiO2 depletion, with dominance of CaO, followed by P2O5. Apatite veins, as per mineral chemistry, contain numerous veinlets (identified microscopically), where one type is REE-bearing and another type is REE-free. The REE-bearing phases are rich in Ce, Nd, La and Pr and are represented by allanite, monazite, and bastnaesite. Thorite and zircon are prevalent. Earlier instances of apatite intrusions into granulite have been reported from parts of south India. On the contrary, in this area, the intrusion is typically restricted to the younger intrusive units of the EGMB, represented by syenite-pyroxenite suite. The intrusives also show moderately high values of REEs. In this paper, an attempt has been made to characterize the apatite veins and the syenite-pyroxenite suite, they have intruded, in respect to their mineralogy and tectonics and to elucidate the potentiality of the area in terms of future REE exploration.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography profiling of Crateva magna (Lour.) DC. from different parts of South India

High-performance thin-layer chromatography profiling of Crateva magna (Lour.) DC. from different parts of South India

Climate Change Impacts on Human Health

Our environment provides us with natural resources that are important for our survival and livelihoods. The Earth’s species are dependent on the ecosystem service functions of our planet which is driven by climate stability. Health is a very important aspect and is most essential for life. Health is directly related to the nature of the environment, weather and climate. Changes in weather and climate have influenced the health of human populations in the past and caused several epidemics. Weather and climate can affect the distribution and survival of several arthropods, such as mosquitoes or mammals that are vectors for various diseases. Recently many people in Kerala and some parts of South India were affected by the West Nile virus which is attributed to the changing weather and vector borne influences. This fever is a mosquito-borne zoonotic disease and is caused by the flavivirus — West Nile Virus. The state of Kerala was on high alert as a seven year old boy from Mallapuram died in Kozikode due to the virus. In the same way, the water quality can be impacted giving rise to health problems. We are observing changes in the frequency and severity of weather and climate phenomena. This is seen as heavy rains, droughts, and also extreme cold or hot temperatures in different geographical regions. All this can lead to new climate-related health threats. Therefore, climate variability can pose threats to human health in several ways. The impacts of climate change are already being witnessed and will further increase in the coming decades. It may also lead to several emerging infectious diseases. Scientists study the exposure pathways in humans and animals for understanding the impacts of climate change on health. This involves conducting studies over time and in different locations, among different communities. In this research paper will discuss about the various impacts of climate change on human health.

Temples and Trade Network in South India: The Cult of Gavareshvara

Along with the emergence of Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka and other parts of South India, there was also the appearance of the cult of Gavareshvara. It represented the importance of the Gavares, a dominant trading community of Ayyavole Five Hundred. The Gavareshvara temples attracted donations from the Gavares, Mummuridandas, Settis and Settiguttas apart from officials. The article shows that the assortment of traders exhibited their devotion to god Gavareshvara, thereby demonstrating their respect for the dominant Ayyavole traders, the Gavares. Consequently, Gavareshvara became a major deity of the Ayyavole Five Hundred in Karnataka.

District-Level Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage and Out-of-Pocket Expenditure on Caesarean Section Deliveries in Public Health Facilities in India

Reducing catastrophic out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and increasing the rates of institutional deliveries are part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). India has made significant progress on the maternal and child health front in recent years. India’s National Health Mission (NHM) has been able to increase rates of institutional deliveries. In the present study, we aim to ascertain district-level patterns of percentage of health insurance coverage in the National Family Health Surveys NFHS 4 and NFHS 5. We also aim to ascertain district-level patterns of out-of-pocket expenditure on C-section deliveries in public health facilities in NFHS 4 and NFHS 5. The present study explores district-level data associated with health insurance coverage (%) and out-of-pocket expenditure in a public health facility (in INR) observed across NFHS 4 and NFHS 5. A spatial analysis was carried out using QGIS 3.26 (Mac version) and GeoDA 1.20.0.8. A visual assessment of the maps across NFHS 4 and NFHS 5 shows improvement in insurance coverage at the district level across the two surveys. Despite an increase in insurance coverage, North East India has experienced an increase in OOPE for C-section deliveries. Rajasthan and various parts of South India have experienced a decrease in OOPE for C-section deliveries. Kerala has experienced a rise in insurance coverage and OOPE for C-section deliveries. Univariate LISA cluster and significance maps revealed that Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the eastern coast of India and parts of Mizoram are hot spots, whereas Jammu and Kashmir and parts of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat are cold spots. Both these findings are significant. Rajasthan emerges as a significant hot spot along with parts of Assam and a few districts on the eastern coast of India in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have emerged as significant cold spots. The South Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu are no longer hot spots indicating geospatial variations across time. An increase in the number of hot spots across NFHS 4 and NFHS 5 indicates rising out-of-pocket expenditure for C-sections despite growth in health insurance coverage. The present study does not offer any evidence to suggest that health insurance coverage decreases OOPE on C-section deliveries at government facilities. With RSBY having been launched in 2008 and Ayushman Bharat in 2018, high levels of OOPE on C-section deliveries at government facilities raise serious concerns about the efficacy of PFHIs in reducing OOPE. The government would need to plug the well-documented weaknesses of PFHIs, such as fraud, double charging, poor enrolment, and lack of awareness in addition to the unfortunate phenomena of “tips” and “tie ups” mentioned earlier that plague the public healthcare system, if we are to see any reduction in OOPE in the foreseeable future.

Study of functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities of jackfruit pulp powder produced through optimized foam-mat drying parameters.

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) production is abundant during the summer season in Southeast Asia and is also produced throughout the year in some parts of South India. Attributed to the absence of viable process technology, the pulp is predominantly consumed fresh and has not been used effectively for other applications such as in ice cream, beverages, custard preparations, or as a flavor enhancer. The conversion of the high sugar-containing pulp to powder is difficult. Hence, the foam-mat drying of jackfruit pulp was carried out using different foaming agents and stabilizers. The effect of maltodextrin (MD; 3%, 4%, and 5% w/w), glycerol-monostearate (GMS; 2%, 3%, and 4% w/w), or soy protein (SP; 0.5%, 1%, and 1.5% w/w), and 0.5% methylcellulose added to the pulp at a concentration of 8 °Brix on foam expansion (FE; %), foam retention (FR; %), total carotenoids (TC; mg/100g pulp), and overall acceptability (OA) were investigated, and their levels were optimized using central composite design of response surface methodology. The foam mats were dried at a drying air temperature of 70°C along with a foam thickness of 4mm. The samples were evaluated based on drying time, foaming, functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities. The optimum levels of MD and GMS were 3.96% (4.0%) and 3.01% (3.0%), respectively, which led to the foam-mat-dried jackfruit powder with properties within the desirable range. At these optimum conditions, the predicted FE, FR, TC, and OA were 69.84%, 89.42%, 0.152mg/100g pulp, and 7.73, respectively. The optimum levels of MD and SP were 3.95% (4.0%) and 1.02% (1.0%), respectively, and the corresponding properties (considered as responses) of this foam-mat-dried jackfruit powder such as FE, FR, TC, and OA were 74.45%, 84.80%, 0.14mg/100g pulp, and 7.6, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study is one of the few studies that is focused on the development of a technique for the long-term preservation of jackfruit powder for further applications that will also reduce the wastage of jackfruit attributed to its fast perishability. This technology can be replicated in other parts of the world. This article has demonstrated foam-mat drying as a useful technique to achieve high-quality jackfruit pulp powders with desirable drying, foaming, functional, biochemical, and sensory qualities using different foaming agents and stabilizers.

Analysis of Mannose-Binding Lectin Protein Levels and their MIC Profile in Patients with Dermatophytosis.

Analysis of Mannose-Binding Lectin Protein Levels and their MIC Profile in Patients with Dermatophytosis.

Kotaru Chettiars' Wedding Rituals of Pavom Puja and the Hidden Social Status Symbol in the Foot Worship Ritual

Each caste follows different wedding rituals with a specific meaning. Basically, there are two important rules in a caste. First rule tells who you should not marry and second rule tells who u can marry. The first rule is strict than the second rule. There is no society that does not follow this rule. On that basis, the Kotaru Chettiars are also following the marriage ceremony of their caste group. The kinship structure formed by marriages and the exchange of brides have certain peculiarities. 'Bringing', 'Giving' means bringing the bride and giving to the groom. This happens within the intimate relationship and outside the relationship. In this type of marriage relationship, in South Indian regions, both bride and groom’s family are considered equal. But in North India, the tradition is just opposite where bride givers are considered inferior and bride takers are considered superior. So, in the north Indian marriage relationship, the bridegroom's feet are washed by the father of the bride, 'Pavom Puja' is followed. But in South Indian tradition, the groom and the bride fall at the feet of their father and mother and worship their feet. But the Chettiars living in Kumari, a part of South India, are following the North Indian marriage laws, Pavom Puja. What is the reason for this? This article will be an attempt to restore the hidden historical background behind the rituals of Pavom Puja.

Combined Artificial Intelligence and Fuzzy logic Model for the process of groundwater treatment for irrigation and drinking purposes using filtration and other membrane process

The process of water purification or water filtration takes several stage approaches. In which, the membrane model process is an important role in filtration. This research work is done by considering double filtration method for filtration process and it is modelled by clustering of Artificial Neural Network and multiple linear regression approach. In this research work, ten different physical parameters and chemical parameters for designing our model. The measurement of groundwater quality for both irrigation and drinking water is a complex process due to various factors such as geology, hydrogeology, biology, etc. With the help of Neural network and fuzzy logic systems approach, we have studied the quality of water in various part of south India. For the process of double filtration process, we have taken rapid sand filter followed by slow sand filter. For the membrane process of water treatment, the membrane chosen for the research are reverse osmosis, microfiltration and nanofiltration.

English

BACKGROUND Chronic liver disease is a liver disorder of varying causes and severity with variable clinical, biochemical and histological findings with severity lasting for 6 months or more. The spectrum of chronic inflammatory diseases of the liver extends from acute hepatitis to chronic hepatitis and finally to cirrhosis. Whatever the aetiology, the same basic underlying histological changes may be seen in the liver. The objective of the study was to see the association of clinical diagnosis with the histopathological diagnosis among chronic liver disease patients. METHODS It is a cross-sectional study that included analysis of clinicopathological data of 40 patients with clinically suspected chronic liver disease who were admitted to the medical wards of government general hospital, Kakinada between March 2003 and May 2005. RESULTS Total number of patients (N = 40) of suspected chronic liver disease were included in the study in which 25 were males (62.5 %) and 15 were females (37.5 %). Most of the cases (36) were found in the age group of 30 - 69 years, a majority of 12 was in the age group of 50 - 59 years. The most common symptoms in this study were abdominal distension and loss of appetite in 28 (70 %) patients, followed by pain in abdomen 22 (55 %), jaundice 17 (42.5 %), loss of weight 16 (40 %), pedal oedema 11 (27.5 %). A total of 7 cases (41.7 %) of cirrhosis were seen in the age group of 40 - 49 years, 5 cases (45.45 %) with chronic hepatitis were in the age group of 50 - 59 years, 5 (45.45 %) hepatocellular carcinoma cases were in the age group of 60 - 69 years, hepatoblastoma was seen in a 60-year-old female. Clinical diagnosis was strongly associated with histopathology (Pearson chi-square value = 19.583, P = 0.021) and also showed fair agreement between clinical diagnosis and histopathology (P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Chronic liver disease is more in males, most commonly seen in the age group of 30 - 69 years and the majority of them are in the age group of 50 - 59 years. Cirrhosis is the most common chronic liver disease seen in North and Coastal Andhra, part of South India, followed by chronic hepatitis, hepatocellular carcinoma. The most common etiological factor is alcoholic abuse (35 %) followed by HBsAg positivity (15 %), native medicine in 5 % and unknown in 45 %. Clinical diagnosis of chronic liver disease should be confirmed with histopathological examination. In appropriate clinical settings, the clinical diagnosis of chronic liver disease made by experts is fairly associated with histopathological diagnosis. KEY WORDS Chronic Liver Disease, Clinical Diagnosis of Liver Disease, Histopathological Association

TOPICAL STEROIDS ABUSE AND IT'S HIGH PREVALENCE WITH TEANIA INFECTIONS IN COVID-19 CRISIS TIME -A CLNICO EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Introduction: Topical corticosteroids are today among the most commonly prescribed medications indermatology clinics. Due to easy availability of steroid creams as over-the-counter drugs Steroid abuse has become a common problem .This study was conducted to see the magnitude of this problem of it and the clinical profile of these patients in our population in one part of south India. Material And Methods: All patients with a history of topical use of steroids on different skin problems mainly teania infected areas for a period greater than few months were enrolled in this study after taking an informed consent. A detailed history about the type of steroid used, duration of application, source of prescription of the drug (doctor/chemist/self/acquaintances) and indications were recorded. A detailed clinical examination of these patients was carried out and results were recorded. Results: This study was conducted over a period of 1 year and 380 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. There were247 males and 133 female patients. The range of age of these patients varied from 5 years to 60 years.Teania cruris was the most common indication for steroid use.Severity of problem was got neglected mainly because of covid crisis time situation and other misguidance by ignorance,friends and Chemists.Chemists were the most common source of prescribing steroids.COVID economic crisis may be an another leading factor of using the easy avilable medicine at counter for mild to moderate severity of skin problems especially fungal tinea corporis/cruris. Atrophic changes of the skin were the most common adverse effects seen. Conclusion:Topical steroids are very commonly abused drugs.This problem is more common in youngsters,especially males.Over the counter availability of these drugs in our part of world is a major cause of their abuse

Effect of plant growth regulators on yield attributes of taro [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) schott.

Colocasia [Colocasia esculenta var. antiquorum (L.) schott.], which is also known as Taro, Arvi, Katchu and eddode belongs to the family Araceae is an important edible aroid. Africa ranks first in area and production of colocasia and in India colocasia is favourite among Gujarat, Konkan region of Maharashtra and several other parts of south India. The cormels, corms, leaves and petioles are used as a vegetable and considered as rich source of carbohydrates, proteins, minerals and vitamins. Due to increasing demand of taro, there is a need to increase its yield. Foliar application of plant growth regulators is reported to improve growth and tuber yield. Hence, the present investigation has been carried out in the the Horticulture Research unit, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi during Kharif season of 2017. There were eleven treatments used namely T1- Naphthalene Acetic Acid (25 ppm), T2- Naphthalene Acetic Acid (50 ppm), T3- Indole Acetic Acid (25 ppm), T4- Indole Acetic Acid (50 ppm), T5- Maleic Hydrazide (50 ppm), T6- Maleic Hydrazide (100 ppm), T7- Gibberellic Acid (100 ppm), T8- Gibberellic Acid (200 ppm), T9- Ethrel (75 ppm), T10- Ethrel (150 ppm) and T11- Control (water spray only). To find out feasibility of increment in growth & yield of taro by means of application of plant growth regulators on the till date most accepted variety of taro, Muktakeshi by the growers in the state of Jharkhand. Among the eleven treatments used GA3 at 200 ppm was found to record maximum yield parameters in cultivation of taro.

HEd-INNOSERV: perceived service innovation scale for the higher education sector

PurposeThe study aims to emphasize the need for an exclusive theory, approach and measurement scale for service innovation. In the past three decades, the importance of services and service-related industry has grown tremendously. Well-established scales used for research in manufacturing cannot be directly adopted and measured in the service industry. This article follows the synthesis approach by including both technological and non-technological typologies for measuring service innovation. This is followed by reporting the effect of service innovation on outcome performances. The context of the study is the higher education sector.Design/methodology/approachAn integrated research design was used to collect data from students in various parts of south India. In total, two focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews were conducted for item generation. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed for the reliability and validity of the scale. The study developed the HEd-INNOSERV scale consisting of seven dimensions comprising 34 items.FindingsThe study developed the HEd-INNOSERV scale consisting of seven dimensions comprising 34 items. The empirical results demonstrate that the scale is reliable, valid and generalizable across higher education institutions (HEIs). The scope for future research is to develop a generalized scale that can measure across the entire service sector.Research limitations/implicationsThe scale shall help researchers in testing the conceptual models earlier developed in the service innovation domain. Similarly, HEIs could measure their stakeholders' perceptions of their innovation activity. Further, the result indicates that innovation enhances the reputation of the institution, which ultimately results in positive word of mouth.Practical implicationsCommercialization of the scale by developing an appropriate algorithm would help institutions in measuring their innovation-led initiatives continually and establish quality and standards. The scale can be used complementarily with other measures adopted from regulatory and rating agencies.Originality/valueThe HEd-INNOSERV scale shall help in optimizing the existing business processes of HEIs by helping them consciously introduce appropriate technological and non-technological innovations.

TAXONOMY AND DISTRIBUTION OF Liopeltis calamaria (GÜNTHER, 1858) (REPTILIA : COLUBRIDAE), INCLUDING REDESCRIPTION OF THE SYNTYPES

Liopeltis calamaria, a rare non-venomous colubrid snake of South Asia, is redescribed. Its syntypes and all the available type specimens of its recognized synonyms are examined, including information about the respective populations found across India and Sri Lanka. Our literature compilation and mapping analyses reveal three distinct populations – (I) Sri Lankan (probably also present in some parts of South India as well), (II) Peninsular Indian, and (III) Himalayan / Nepalese, separated by the Palk Strait and the Indo-Gangetic plains respectively.

A Study On Consumer Awareness Towards Siddha Medicine In Dharmapuri City

Siddha is considered to be one of the oldest medicines with its own benefits. In this modern era, people are more aware towards their health. At many circumstances of illness, people use Siddha medicines to cure their disease. Siddha is preferred for its own specialties. This paper has attempted to reveal the awareness towards Siddha medicines taking 52 respondents from Dharmapuri City. The results were analysed by using various statistical techniques like percentage analysis, chi-square and t test. Siddha focuses on the eight supernatural powers called as ‘Ashtaamahasiddhi’ and those who achieved these powers were known as siddhars. Hence it is called as siddha medicine. The siddhars knowledge was found in palm leaf manuscripts and their fragments were found in some parts of south India.

Measuring Perceived Service Innovation Typologies in Retail Industry

Purpose: The study is undertaken with two objectives, first to develop a scale that can measure service innovation from customer perspective in retail industry, and second to find out how the developed service innovation measurement scale has an effect on predicting customer’s Word-of-Mouth (WOM), followed by testing the mediation effect of corporate reputation between service innovation and WOM.Methodology: The study followed the Integrated Design Approach that included qualitative studies and quantitative studies in exploring and validating the measurement items for service innovation typologies. The codes that represent the typologies of service innovation were elicited through group discussions with selected customers and validated through in-depth interviews with decision maker/managers of retail industry in different parts of South India. The approved codes were validated through two expert opinion surveys and further authenticated through quantitative approaches such as: Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis with two different sets of samples. Finally, the nomological validity of the developed scale was tested on estimating its effect on Corporate Reputation and WOM.Findings: The developed service innovation scale can be adopted by both researchers and managers in measuring service innovation in retail industry. The path analysis results concluded that service innovation has positive impact on corporate reputation and WOM, where the decision makers/managers can note that if service innovations are brought in frequently, it would make the firm reputed in the market and ultimately results in positive WOM from the customers. The mediation analysis result also gives an insight that even if the service innovation is by a non-reputed retailer, it still gets positive WOM.Originality/Value: The study contributes by providing a unique scale to measure service innovation from customer perspective in retail industry, overcoming the existing Goods-Dominant logic. Further, by empirically testing nomological validity, the effect on non-financial performance is estimated to understand how innovation in services would build corporate reputation that ultimately results in customers’ positive WOM which is wanting in literature on service innovation.

Vijayanagara in modern historiography: A survey

What Sewell called the ‘Forgotten Empire’ once unified the larger part of South India, governing it from Vijayanagara for over 200 years. Once modern methods of research took root, the effort began to reconstruct its history. British historians saw in it a predecessor—an imperfect, but predecessor all the same. Indian historians tended to see in it good evidence of Indian capacity for military enterprise and efficient administration. Since Independence, the trend has continued, with Burton Stein on one side and T.V. Mahanlingam, on the other side. But a more objective trend is also noticeable now, in the work of Y. Subbarayalu and N. Karashima.

Poetics of Praise and Image‐Texts of Cinematic Encompassment

Developing the concept of image‐text out of Roman Jakobson's notion of aesthetic function and linguistic anthropology's discussion of entextualization, this paper shows how the tropology explored by the late Bernard Bate in twentieth‐century Dravidianist oratory is taken up and recontextualized in the late twentieth‐century Tamil films of the “mass hero” Rajinikanth. I trace a particular image‐text across the two major media of modern Tamil politics—oratory and cinema—showing how it threads an aesthetics of political power and representation in this part of south India. In doing so, the article theorizes what images are and how they circulate.

Chatterjee, S.C. and Sengupta, S.Death and Dying in India: Ageing and End‐of‐Life Care of the Elderly, London and New York: Routledge. 2017. 162 pp. £105.00 (hbk) ISBN: 9780415403177 £20 (eBook) ISBN: 9781315228884

Chatterjee, S.C. and Sengupta, S.Death and Dying in India: Ageing and End‐of‐Life Care of the Elderly, London and New York: Routledge. 2017. 162 pp. £105.00 (hbk) ISBN: 9780415403177 £20 (eBook) ISBN: 9781315228884

Antemortem dental records versus individual identification.

Background:Forensic odontology plays a pivotal role in the identification of victims in mass disasters utilizing “preserved dental records” or “ante-mortem records” available with the general dental practitioners. Identification of a deceased individual by comparing antemortem and postmortem records is more reliable and easier as compared to other methods. However, in India, the practice of maintaining dental case record requires additional emphasis.Aim:The aim of the present study is to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of dental practitioners in South India regarding awareness and importance of maintaining patient's dental records.Settings and Design:A descriptive questionnaire study was conducted among the alumni of the dental institution over a period of 3 months. The alumni who passed out from 2000 to 2015 were included in the study.Materials and Methods:A structured questionnaire containing 24 questions regarding the knowledge, attitude, and practice of maintaining clinical case records was prepared and validated. Data were collected from 543 dental practitioners from various parts of South India who were the alumni of the dental institution.Statistical Analysis:The data were summarized and analyzed using the statistical software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The descriptive analysis was done in percentages, and the results were tabulated.Results:Overall, 58.39% of dentists were found to be maintaining records promptly, and 84.6% dentists have knowledge about forensic odontology, but only 8.4% of dentists have helped the government agencies during mass disasters.Conclusion:This study reveals that the need of the hour is to change the attitude and to cultivate interest among practicing dentists regarding dental record maintenance which can tremendously help in the deceased individual identification process.