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Persistent soil moisture deficits during flowering and yield formation stage are referred to as late-season agricultural drought. This study aims to assess late-season agricultural drought in cotton- and millet-growing districts of Andhra Pradesh, India, during summer cropping season 2011. Satellite-based indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Water Index and their Vegetation Condition Index from MODIS were analyzed. The root zone Soil Moisture Index (SMI) using soil water balance model for cotton and millet (sorghum and pearl millet) crops was derived to evaluate the soil moisture status. The analysis was carried out by comparing the satellite-derived indices with the previous normal years, and the assessments were made. The satellite-based indices clearly brought out the stress that the crop endured during late October and November, while SMI indicated soil water stress in early October. The soil- and crop-specific SMI's were able to clearly indicate the exact period of water stress. The results show that millet crop was able to escape drought due to sufficient rainfall and its shorter duration, while cotton crop did not have enough soil moisture during the critical stage of flowering and boll formation and suffered severe yield loss due to the late-season agricultural drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Dentine hypersensitivity (DH) is a relatively common problem which may disturb the patient during eating, drinking, brushing and sometimes even breathing. It is a painful condition highly prevalent in the general adult population. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of DH and to examine some associated factors such as initiating stimuli among adult patients. Materials and Methods: The study is done under two phases. In the first phase a cross-sectional study was carried out in 665 study volunteers. Only 212 adult patients who were meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria were conveniently selected to the study. A detailed demographic data and a structured questionnaire regarding type of response, sensitivity episodes, and duration of sensation, and stimulus for initiation were recorded by the examiner. Evidence of DH was confirmed by the use of air blast and water from the air-water jet of the dental chair and scratching the suspected tooth surfaces which is indicated by study subjects with a dental probe and noting the responses by using visual analog scale (VAS). In the second phase the related factors or characteristics of DH were surveyed. Statistical analysis preformed by using methods of descriptive statistics and Kruskal Wallis test. Results: The overall prevalence of DH was found to be 32%. The most common cause was consuming cold food or drinks (92%) and common predisposing factor was gingival recession (28%). Probe method yields a higher VAS score followed by Air at 10 seconds and Water at 10 seconds which is statistically significant. Conclusion: The prevalence of DH in present study was 32% which is attributed to gingival recession as predisposing factor and cold stimuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable management of groundwater needs comprehensive study on water quality in present scenario. Hence, an understanding on the hydro geochemistry, saltwater intrusion, spatiotemporal-seasonal variations and irrigational suitability of groundwater becomes a must, especially in coastal regions. Our study area is one such place where all the parameters play a major role against sustainable management. The study pointed out that majority of the samples is brackish with two notable geochemical facies for pre monsoon and post monsoon. Factor and cluster analyses revealed that EC, TDS, Na+, Cl−, Mg2+ and Ca2+ are the major contributors. Gibb's diagram supported the dominance of rock weathering and evaporation in controlling the groundwater chemistry. Sea water intrusion was mapped using HFE diagrams and the Irrigational suitability is studied using USSL, SAR, %Na, etc. The data and results from this study might provide crucial information to water management authorities in dealing groundwater scarcity and pollution problems. • Evaporation-dominance is recorded on groundwater chemistry in both seasons. • USSL, Wilcox, Doneen diagrams, Na% and SAR are used for irrigation suitability. • HFE-Diagram revealed 86% of sea water intrusion in post and 72% in pre monsoon. • Corrosion and Incrustation may cause in industries by use of this water source. • This study is executed for the sustainable development of coastal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than 20 years the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has been widely used to monitor vegetation stress. It takes advantage of the differential reflection of green vegetation in the visible and near-infrared (NIR) portions of the spectrum and provides information on the vegetation condition. The Land Surface Water Index (LSWI) uses the shortwave infrared (SWIR) and the NIR regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. There is strong light absorption by liquid water in the SWIR, and the LSWI is known to be sensitive to the total amount of liquid water in vegetation and its soil background. In this study we investigated the LSWI characteristics relative to conventional NDVI-based drought assessment, particularly in the early crop season. The area chosen for the study was the state of Andhra Pradesh located in the Indian peninsular. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Vegetation Index (VI) product from the Aqua satellite was used in the study. The analysis was carried out for the years 2002 (deficit year) and 2005 (normal year) using the NDVI from the MODIS VI product and deriving the LSWI using the NIR and SWIR reflectance available with the MODIS VI product. The response of LSWI to rainfall, observed in the rate of increase in LSWI in the subsequent fortnights, shows that this index could be used to monitor the increase in soil and vegetation liquid water content, especially during the early part of the season. The relationship between the cumulative rainfall and the current fortnight LSWI is stronger in the low rainfall region (<500 mm), while the one-fortnight lagged LSWI had a stronger relationship in the high rainfall region (>500 mm). The relationship between LSWI and the cumulative rainfall for the entire state was mixed in 2002 and 2005. The strength of the relationship was weak in the high rainfall region. When LSWI was regressed directly with NDVI for three LSWI ranges, it was observed that the NDVI with the one-fortnight lag had a strong relationship with the LSWI in most of the categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]