Effect of Laser Land Levelling on Paddy-Wheat and Cotton-Wheat Cropping Pattern in Haryana

The study has quantified and compared the effect of laser land levelling technology with conventional land levelling in paddy-wheat and cotton-wheat cropping pattern in Karnal and Sirsa district of Haryana state, respectively. Using Bisaliah decomposition model (1977) improved technology and change in input use to enhance productivity under laser land levelling has been assessed. Decomposition of total productivity highlighted that in Karnal district, out of total incremental change in productivity, 8.38 and 5.36 per cent change was contributed only due to change in technology and rest was due to input use in paddy-wheat, respectively. Similarly, in Sirsa district, out of total change in productivity 5.4 and 4.87 per cent change contributed only due to enhancement in technology while rest was due to input use in cotton-wheat cropping pattern, respectively. Further study highlighted that water as well as fertilizer use efficiency was most influenced by use of laser land levelling technology. On the account of results of study, it was concluded that laser land levelling is an effective scale neutral resource conservation technology which has immense potential to cure low water use efficiency and improve fertilizer use in most prevalent cropping patterns (i.e. paddy-wheat as well as cotton) of Haryana state.

Evidence of cushioning of tobacco tax increases in large retailers in Australia

BackgroundTobacco companies may attempt to minimise the impact of tobacco tax increases on consumers by gradually passing on the price rise over several months. This study examined whether there was evidence of large Australian tobacco retailers engaging in this practice (known as cushioning) over a period including both routine indexation and large annual tobacco excise increases.MethodsAdvertised prices of nine factory-made cigarette (FMC) and nine roll-your-own tobacco (RYO) products were recorded from two stores monthly from December 2016 to December 2019. Per cent change in price from the previous month was analysed for FMC and RYO products, controlling for year, month, tobacco company and supermarket chain.ResultsSignificant main effects of month were observed for FMC and RYO products (both p<0.001). Large, significant average increases in per cent change in price were observed in September for FMC (6.51%) and RYO (11.45%) products, the month of the annual excise increase and prices also significantly increased in October (FMC: 3.01%; RYO: 1.91%). Significant increases were also observed in the months after the March annual routine indexation: by 1.10% in May for FMC products and by 1.09% in April for RYO products.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated evidence of cushioning of tax increases of FMC and RYO products in large Australian supermarkets. The monthly per cent change in price significantly increased several months after routine excise indexation and in the 2 months following a large annual excise increase. Further research with a larger sample of products and stores is needed to confirm these findings.

Effectiveness of KVK organized training program on knowledge level of Bee keeping

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Pratapgarh conducted a training program on Bee Keeping. 50 participants from different blocks attended the program. The present study was conducted to assess the change in knowledge level of the trainees regarding various bee keeping technologies after attending the training. The study revealed that there was significant change in knowledge level regarding various aspects of bee keeping technologies. The study revealed that maximum change in knowledge among the trainees was regarding the use of queen cage (70.00%) and lowest change in knowledge level was observed about fertilized and unfertilized eggs within bee hive (12.00%). Moreover, it was also found that 58.00 per cent, 56.00 per cent and 54.00 per cent change in knowledge level regarding ‘Gharchuut’, ‘growth period of honey bee’ and ‘regarding various species of honey bee’. The training helped in overall improvement of knowledge level of trainees regarding various aspects of bee keeping technology.

Financial Development and Tax Revenue: How Catalytic Are Political Development and Corruption?

Increasing domestic revenue mobilization remains a challenge for many governments, particularly in low-income countries. Using a sample of East African countries, the study sets off to investigate the impact of financial development from a multi-dimensional perspective on tax revenues for the period 1990 to 2014, and how political development and the control of corruption would enhance the observed nexus. The dynamic panel results from the system GMM estimation approach indicate a significant role of financial development overall and the financial institutions and financial markets in particular. A disaggregation of the duo suggests that it is the depth of financial institutions that greatly matters for tax revenue, with a one per cent change expected to yield about 0.26 per cent change in tax collections. It is then followed by their level of accessibility, financial market depth and efficiency. We fail to find significant evidence in support of financial market access and financial institutions efficiency although the possibility for the latter seems indismissible. Further evidence points to the catalytic nature of a good institutional and political environment in pursuit of higher tax-GDP ratio via financial development. Policies to promote the depth and accessibility of financial institutions as well the depth and efficiency of financial markets in East Africa alongside well-focused anti-corruption programs and democratic governance are likely to yield better fiscal outcomes in terms of domestic tax revenues critically needed to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We also confirm the positive role played by the lagged tax revenue, per capita GDP, trade openness, debt-to-GDP ratio and population density in the tax effort.

2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism criteria for minimal, moderate, and major clinical response in adult dermatomyositis and polymyositis

To develop response criteria for adult dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM). Expert surveys, logistic regression, and conjoint analysis were used to develop 287 definitions using core set measures. Myositis experts rated greater improvement among multiple pairwise scenarios in conjoint analysis surveys, where different levels of improvement in 2 core set measures were presented. The PAPRIKA (Potentially All Pairwise Rankings of All Possible Alternatives) method determined the relative weights of core set measures and conjoint analysis definitions. The performance characteristics of the definitions were evaluated on patient profiles using expert consensus (gold standard) and were validated using data from a clinical trial. The nominal group technique was used to reach consensus. Consensus was reached for a conjoint analysis-based continuous model using absolute per cent change in core set measures (physician, patient, and extramuscular global activity, muscle strength, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and muscle enzyme levels). A total improvement score (range 0–100), determined by summing scores for each core set measure, was based on improvement in and relative weight of each core set measure. Thresholds for minimal, moderate, and major improvement were ≥20, ≥40, and ≥60 points in the total improvement score. The same criteria were chosen for juvenile DM, with different improvement thresholds. Sensitivity and specificity in DM/PM patient cohorts were 85% and 92%, 90% and 96%, and 92% and 98% for minimal, moderate, and major improvement, respectively. Definitions were validated in the clinical trial analysis for differentiating the physician rating of improvement (p<0.001). The response criteria for adult DM/PM consisted of the conjoint analysis model based on absolute per cent change in 6 core set measures, with thresholds for minimal, moderate, and major improvement.

2016 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism Criteria for Minimal, Moderate, and Major Clinical Response in Juvenile Dermatomyositis

To develop response criteria for juvenile dermatomyositis (DM). We analysed the performance of 312 definitions that used core set measures from either the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies Group (IMACS) or the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation (PRINTO) and were derived from natural history data and a conjoint analysis survey. They were further validated using data from the PRINTO trial of prednisone alone compared to prednisone with methotrexate or cyclosporine and the Rituximab in Myositis (RIM) trial. At a consensus conference, experts considered 14 top candidate criteria based on their performance characteristics and clinical face validity, using nominal group technique. Consensus was reached for a conjoint analysis–based continuous model with a total improvement score of 0–100, using absolute per cent change in core set measures of minimal (≥30), moderate (≥45), and major (≥70) improvement. The same criteria were chosen for adult DM/polymyositis, with differing thresholds for improvement. The sensitivity and specificity were 89% and 91–98% for minimal improvement, 92–94% and 94–99% for moderate improvement, and 91–98% and 85–86% for major improvement, respectively, in juvenile DM patient cohorts using the IMACS and PRINTO core set measures. These criteria were validated in the PRINTO trial for differentiating between treatment arms for minimal and moderate improvement (p=0.009–0.057) and in the RIM trial for significantly differentiating the physician's rating for improvement (p<0.006). The response criteria for juvenile DM consisted of a conjoint analysis–based model using a continuous improvement score based on absolute per cent change in core set measures, with thresholds for minimal, moderate, and major improvement.

Antegrade versus Retrograde Cerebral Protection in Repair of Acute Ascending Aortic Dissection

The objective of this study was to compare retrograde with antegrade cerebral protection during acute aortic dissection repair using cerebral oximetry measurements. Fifty consecutive acute ascending aortic dissection repairs were analyzed. Cerebral oximetry data were collected for 41 of 50. Eight patients who had antegrade cerebral protection alone and 29 of 41 had retrograde cerebral protection alone. The per cent change in cerebral oximetry values during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest from baseline and from prearrest values was compared for the two groups using Student t test. The per cent change from baseline for the antegrade patients was: right 13.8 per cent and left -2.5 per cent; the per cent change from baseline for retrograde patients was: right 0.8 per cent and left 0.2 per cent ( P values 0.216 and 0.725, respectively). The per cent change from the prearrest value for the antegrade patients was: right -12 per cent and left -15 per cent; the per cent change from prearrest for retrograde patients was: right -15 per cent and left -16 per cent ( P values 0.514 and 0.956, respectively). No compelling evidence for an advantage to either antegrade or retrograde cerebral perfusion was detected. Further study with a focus on neurologic outcomes is warranted.