Status of Trace Minerals And Colostral Immunoglobulin’s In Periparturient Goats And Its Significance On Morbidity And Mortality of Goat Kids In Semi-Arid Zone of Northern Plains of India

The present study was designed to evaluate the variations of trace minerals status in blood at different stages of periparturient periods and colostrum and milk, colostrum immunoglobulin’s and morbidity and mortality were also evaluated in various recognized breeds of goats maintained at organized farms of CIRG in comparison to the non-descript goats maintained at farmers field flock. The results reveal that blood, colostrum and milk levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe) manganese (Mn) and cobalt (Co) were found to be significantly lower at different stages of periparturient period in the Non-descript breed of goats of maintained at farmers field flock. The colostrum immunoglobulin’s (IgG, IgM and IgA) were also found to be lowest in the non-descript breed of goats than recognized breeds of goats. The morbidity and mortality were found to be highest in goat kids born of non-descript breed of goats during pre weaning period in comparison to the recognized breeds. It can be concluded that the lower level of trace minerals during periparturient period in non-descript goats of farmers field flocks might results in lower level of colostral immunoglobulin’s hence poor transfer of passive immunity in goat kids. Therefore, high morbidity and mortality of goat kids during pre weaning period than recognized breed of goats of the organized farms.

Language Politics in the Comparative Media Crucible

This chapter recounts the language politics of north India, with particular stress upon the heydays of Hindi nationalism, which wrested control of literary production from Urdu on behalf of the ‘Hindis’ of northern plains. Bhojpuri among other ‘tongues’ were therefore side-lined by the nationalist fervour. Tracing the trajectory of women’s folksongs, popular chapbooks and theatre troupes, the chapter reconstructs the resurgence of the vernaculars via audiocassettes, VCDs/DVDs and microSD cards. Electronic media thus absorbed the energies pushed out of the literate public sphere. The chapter also highlights the role played by a lateral-ness of address to unspool Bhojpuri from its ‘folk’ bearings and mount a mass address upon it. At the end, the chapter places the language politics of north India in relation to the Trojan horse of English, and the attendant struggle for the political existence of the vernacular linguistic communities.

Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol and Smoking on Fetal Heart Rate and Movement Regulation

Negative associations of prenatal tobacco and alcohol exposure (PTE and PAE) on birth outcomes and childhood development have been well documented, but less is known about underlying mechanisms. A possible pathway for the adverse fetal outcomes associated with PTE and PAE is the alteration of fetal autonomic nervous system development. This study assessed PTE and PAE effects on measures of fetal autonomic regulation, as quantified by heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (SD-HR), movement, and HR-movement coupling in a population of fetuses at ≥ 34 weeks gestational age. Participants are a subset of the Safe Passage Study, a prospective cohort study that enrolled pregnant women from clinical sites in Cape Town, South Africa, and the Northern Plains region, United States. PAE was defined by six levels: no alcohol, low quit early, high quit early, low continuous, moderate continuous, and high continuous; while PTE by 4 levels: no smoking, quit early, low continuous, and moderate/high continuous. Linear regression analyses of autonomic measures were employed controlling for fetal sex, gestational age at assessment, site, maternal education, household crowding, and depression. Analyses were also stratified by sleep state (1F and 2F) and site (South Africa, N = 4025, Northern Plains, N = 2466). The final sample included 6491 maternal-fetal-dyad assessed in the third trimester [35.21 ± 1.26 (mean ± SD) weeks gestation]. PTE was associated with a decrease in mean HR in state 2F, in a dose dependent fashion, only for fetuses of mothers who continued smoking after the first trimester. In state 1F, there was a significant increase in mean HR in fetuses whose mother quit during the first trimester. This effect was driven by the Norther Plains cohort. PTE was also associated with a significant reduction in fetal movement in the most highly exposed group. In South Africa a significant increase in mean HR both for the high quit early and the high continuous group was observed. In conclusion, this investigation addresses a critical knowledge gap regarding the relationship between PTE and PAE and fetal autonomic regulation. We believe these results can contribute to elucidating mechanisms underlying risk for adverse outcomes.