Search

Remote sensing-based surface energy balance models are widely utilized for estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) over large spatial scales, providing crucial information for water resource management. These models rely on the surface energy balance algorithm to estimate ETa. The objective of this study was to obtain the spatial distribution of ETa, for wheat crop in rabi season (2019–20) using the EEFlux model for a minor irrigation canal command in Bhagwatipur distributary, Bihar, India, and compare it with the CROPWAT 8.0 model (Modified Penman–Monteith Model). The EEFlux model estimated daily ETa values of 1.15 mm/day, 2.4 mm/day, 4.9 mm/day, and 3.5 mm/day during the early, vegetative, maturity, and full maturity stages of the crop, respectively. The minimum and maximum ET a values were 0.96 and 1.30 mm/day, respectively, and the average was found to be 1.15 mm on 6th January. As January is a cold month and the crop was in the development stage, the evapotranspiration demand is low. The average ET a value increases from January 6th to March 26th, with the maximum value in March varying between 3.85 and 4.79 mm/day for the selected fields, which were in the maturity stages of the crop. Besides this, in April, the ET a values decreased. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.79 between the two estimation methods indicating a close agreement. Nonetheless, the Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) were also found to be 0.60 and 0.86 mm/day, respectively. Therefore, it could be inferred from these results that the EEFlux model is a good estimator of ETa for the crop, which could be used for irrigation planning in the command area to enhance the irrigation efficiency and water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Newborn screening (NBS) aims towards early detection of congenital disorders or prevention of intellectual and physical defects and life-threatening illness. Three disorders namely congenital hypothyroidism (CH), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G-6-PDD) were selected for a preliminary study for NBS. The study aimed to establish NBS in the Indian scenario that could lay a framework for future such initiatives. Methods: A screening programme was conducted at a tertiary care hospital for 1 year. All the neonates born at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, were screened for their blood levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Heel-prick blood samples were collected within 48–72 h of birth, and the level of these parameters was accessed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Results: A total of 492 neonates were born from January 2020 to December 2020, of which 369 newborns were screened for CAH, CH and G-6-PDD. Of 369 neonates, one case (male) had an increased level of TSH, six cases (all males) had an increased level of 17-OHP and no case was found with G-6-PDD. Interpretation and Conclusions: Preliminary data on the prevalence of various genetic disorders revealed that CAH is the most prevalent disorder followed by CH in the population of Bihar. More efforts need to be undertaken to create awareness and to make screening a successful programme in India. A cost-effective nationwide screening programme is highly recommended for the detection of such cases at the earliest to avoid their future complication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the factors associated with food security after three years of implementation of the National Food Security Act, 2013. Fifteen hundred and fourteen households in three states of India—563 from Bihar, 557 from Uttar Pradesh, and 394 from Haryana—were surveyed. Data on beneficiary status, calorie consumption, economic status, social status, health status, and women empowerment were analyzed using binary logistic regression. Findings suggest that beneficiary had more employment in families, normal and deficit calorie intake, used cow dung cake as fuel, more children enrolment in primary and secondary schools, and adoption of family planning measures. These improvements have occurred after three years of implementation of the Act, and through supply of food grains to poor families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding is the most widespread and frequent natural disaster in developing countries. Until recent years, determining flood extent and inundation depth were undertaken using hydrodynamic models but have pertinence constraints in data-scarce regions. This has given the new potential to characterize floods (e.g., inundation, depth, duration) at a large-scale using a geomorphic approach. The SAR data was employed to derive flood extent and the 12.5 m resolution DEM-based geomorphic method was applied to determine inundation depth in flooded domains of Kosi River Basin (KRB) in North Bihar (India) to characterize 2017 floods. The total inundated area in flooded domains over KRB was estimated at 4,108.2 km2 (20.88%). Most of the area (2,750 km2, 14%) of flooded domains over land had a water depth of 0.1 to 1 m. The geomorphic approach is appropriate for characterizing floods over large-scale and data-sparse basins like KRB and afforded a new horizon for flood risk assessment on flood vulnerable areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study focused on the recent flood inundation (July 2020) that occurred in the lower Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra plains (IGBP) using concurrent C-band Sentinel-1A Synthetic Aperture Radar images in Google Earth Engine. The study exhibited that a substantial proportion of IGBP (40,929 km2) was inundated primarily in Bangladesh (9.09% of the total inundation), Assam (8.99%), and Bihar (6.29%) during June–July 2020. The severe impact of flood inundation was observed in croplands (4.41% of the total cropland), followed by settlements (20.98% of the total settlements) that affected a large population (~ 10,046,262) in IGBP. The prevailing COVID-19 pandemic has debilitated the efforts of mitigation and responses to flooding risks. The study necessitates adopting an integrated, multi-hazard, multi-stakeholder approach with an emphasis on self-reliance of the community for sustenance with local resources and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background-Elimination of iodine deficiency disorder is a very important health and social goal.Iodine deficiency at critical stages during pregnancy and early childhood results in impaired development of brain and subsequent impaired mental function. Objective is To estimate the proportion of house holds using adequatelyiodized salt and to estimate the Total GoiterRate (TGR) in children ofage6-12years.Material and Method- A cross sectional study was carried out in few administratively selected blocks using simple random sampling. A total of 172 households and 5 schools were visited and 172 children were examined clinically for presence of goiter .Salt samples were collected from every household for iodometric titration. Statistical analysis was done in excel. Result-The respondents were mainly females living in pukka houses with recently built toilet facilities. All of them were using packet salt (retail iodine content-100%, household iodine content -76.9%) but storage of salt was either from the packet itself, Any container without lid and covered container . Presence of goiter after clinical examination was 5.2 %. Conclusion-Sitamarhi district needs more awareness about storage and use of iodized salt. It falls under mild endemic for IDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding is a recurrent hazard in east Gangetic plains, largely on account of natural factors that pose risks to life and property. Bagmati and Burhi Gandak rivers draining parts of North Bihar causes substantial flooding owing to higher rainfall. This comprehensive study was carried out to map near real-time flood inundation using multi-temporal Sentinel-1A (SAR) and Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Near Real-Time (MODIS NRT) flood data (Optical and 3-day composite) over Darbhanga district of North Bihar during August and September 2017. Floodwater pixels were extracted using the binarization technique, wherein the threshold was applied as −22.5, −23.4, −23.8 and − 22.7 over VH polarization image. The key results revealed that during peak flooding stage (23rd August), 13% of areas were submerged based on SAR data, whereas overestimation by >20% was estimated using MODIS data. As shown in the composite flood inundated map, the inundated patches are quite similar in both the optical and SAR based data. Notably, there were higher flood patches observed in the central, northern, and western parts of the district due to the presence of more water channels in those regions. Our findings suggested that agriculture patches of ~392 sq.km area were inundated due to flood followed by vegetation clutters (16.07 sq.km) and urban (8.46 sq.km). These results indicated the impact of floodwater on agriculture and urban patches. These findings are crucial for policymakers to assess flood impacts. It can be inferred that flood prognosis using SAR data will lead to spatial accuracy and can be improved when coupling with various hydro-meteorological parameters and hydrological models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]