Archives of Current Research International

Clinical-Epidemiological and Spatial Profile by Degree of Physical Disability in Leprosy in the State of Pará, Brazilian Amazon (2013 to 2024): A Cross-Sectional Study

2026-07-17T04:51:15+00:00

Background: Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, remains a chronic, socially determined infectious disease affecting the skin and peripheral nerves and may cause severe physical disability when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

Objective: This study analysed the clinical, epidemiological and spatial profile of the degree of physical disability (DPD) at diagnosis and after cure among leprosy cases in the State of Pará, Brazil, between 2013 and 2024.

Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted using data from SINAN (National System of Notifiable Diseases). The study population comprised confirmed leprosy cases reported in the municipalities of Pará between 2013 and 2024. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were examined using geoprocessing tools, and frequencies, proportions and prevalence rates were processed with Jamovi 2.6.44 software.

Results: A total of 29,644 cases were reported during the period, indicating a substantial epidemiological burden. Most cases were multibacillary and dimorphic, and 8.8% presented with grade II physical disability at diagnosis. Cases predominated among men aged 36-45 years, mixed-race/brown-skinned individuals, people with low educational attainment and residents of urban areas. Children under 15 years of age accounted for 10% of diagnoses, indicating ongoing transmission. Spatial analysis highlighted municipalities with critical rates, including Inhangapi, Oriximiná, Anajás and Abel Figueiredo. Despite reductions in grades I and II after treatment, 47.1% of patients were not assessed at discharge, indicating weaknesses in post-treatment follow-up.

Conclusion: Leprosy remains highly endemic in Pará and is strongly associated with social vulnerability. Late diagnosis and the occurrence of cases in children under 15 years of age indicate silent transmission, while the number of cases with grade II disability highlights gaps in surveillance, particularly in post-cure assessment. These findings support the need for public policies focused on early detection, continuous monitoring and reduction of regional inequalities.

Efficacy of Anthelmintics in Field Flocks of Sheep and Goat in Zaria, Nigeria

2026-07-17T10:07:51+00:00

Gastrointestinal nematode infection remains an important constraint to small-ruminant production in tropical livestock systems. This study evaluated the field performance of three commonly used anthelmintics, albendazole, levamisole and ivermectin, in sheep and goats from eight villages within Zaria and its environs, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Animals were assigned to treatment groups and received albendazole at 7.5 mg/kg, levamisole at 5 mg/kg or ivermectin at 0.2 mg/kg. Body weight and faecal samples were collected before treatment and 14 days after treatment. Faecal egg counts were determined using the modified McMaster technique, and faecal egg count reduction was used to assess anthelmintic performance. Body weight increased slightly after treatment in both sheep and goats across the three treatment groups, although these changes were not statistically significant. In contrast, faecal egg counts decreased significantly after treatment in all groups. Levamisole produced the highest overall faecal egg count reduction in sheep and goats, with mean reductions of 88.7% and 75.3%, respectively. Ivermectin produced reductions of 82.8% in sheep and 68.7% in goats, while albendazole produced the lowest reductions, with values of 47.9% in sheep and 53.4% in goats. These findings indicate variable anthelmintic performance among drugs, villages and host species. Routine efficacy monitoring and integrated parasite control are recommended to support sustainable management of gastrointestinal nematodes in small ruminants.

Converting Biomass to Briquettes: Exploring Marketing Strategies and Practices of Briquette Manufacturing Firms in Punjab and Haryana

2026-07-17T10:14:17+00:00

The present study critically examined the marketing strategies and practices adopted by briquette manufacturing units, together with the opportunities and challenges they faced. There were approximately 80 registered briquette manufacturing units in Punjab and 140 in Haryana. The study employed an exploratory research design, and a sample of 50 manufacturing units (25 from each state) was selected purposively from the population of briquette manufacturing units in Punjab and Haryana. Primary data were collected through a structured questionnaire covering demographics, market segmentation, targeting, positioning, and the 4Ps of marketing. Data were analysed using percentage analysis, mean scores, standard deviation, and t-tests. The results indicated that most units were micro-enterprises, primarily manufacturing rice-straw briquettes and adopting competitive pricing to expand their market reach. Distribution involved direct bulk sales to the industrial, commercial, agricultural, and power sectors, while promotion relied on digital platforms. The main challenges were limited consumer awareness, weak branding, restricted access to institutional buyers, and transportation difficulties. Despite these constraints, the units identified opportunities in neighbouring states, among large-scale industrial clients, and through current government schemes. Overall, most units continued to follow basic marketing practices because demand was high, indicating that the development of formal marketing strategies remained at an early stage.

Customer Relationship Management Impact: Evidence from Insurance Employees

2026-07-18T09:21:15+00:00

This study examines insurance employees’ perceptions of the benefits, functional uses, and adoption patterns of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. A quantitative survey was conducted among 175 employees of public and private insurance companies in Karnataka, India, using a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to assess perceived CRM benefits, while chi-square tests and Fisher’s exact test examined associations between gender and selected CRM functionalities. Cross-tabulations were also used to compare the adoption of CRM models across geographical locations and marital-status groups. Automating everyday tasks and improving sales performance received the highest mean ratings (2.8571 each), whereas customer satisfaction received the lowest mean rating (1.9657). Significant gender-based associations were identified for call, email, and meeting history, accounting software, sales tracking, and calendar and scheduling functions. No statistically significant gender-based associations were observed for marketing results, customer-profile handling, or reporting. The adoption patterns of the IDIC, QCI, CRM Value Chain, and Payne’s Five Forces Process models varied across the geographical and marital-status categories represented in the sample. Overall, employees perceived CRM as more beneficial for operational efficiency and sales-related activities than for customer-satisfaction outcomes. The findings indicate that insurance companies should consider workforce characteristics, regional conditions, and employee training when implementing CRM systems. Because the study used convenience sampling and self-reported perceptions, the results should be interpreted as evidence of perceived CRM usefulness rather than causal organisational impact.

District-wise Growth Analysis of Major Agricultural Crops in Telangana, India

2026-07-18T09:27:00+00:00

Agriculture plays a crucial role in Telangana's economy, where changes in irrigation, technology, and government policies have significantly influenced crop production over time. This study examines the growth performance of major crops in Telangana by estimating the compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) of area, production, and yield for paddy, maize, cotton, total pulses, total oilseeds, and fruits and vegetables during 1990–91 to 2019–20. The study period was divided into three phases to capture changes before and after the formation of Telangana State, and a log-linear regression model was employed to estimate CAGRs at both state and district levels. The results reveal considerable temporal and spatial variations in crop growth across the state. Paddy, maize, and cotton registered positive growth in area, production, and yield over the overall study period, whereas oilseeds showed a declining trend in cultivated area. The findings further indicate that the rapid increase in paddy production after the formation of Telangana was largely driven by an expansion in cultivated area, supported by improved irrigation infrastructure and government procurement policies. The district-wise analysis also revealed substantial variations in crop performance, reflecting differences in resource endowments, irrigation development, and technological adoption. The study provides useful insights into the changing dynamics of agricultural growth in Telangana and offers evidence to support region-specific policies for enhancing productivity, promoting crop diversification, and achieving sustainable agricultural development.

Phenological and Agrometeorological Evaluation of Ambri Apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) Selections in Jammu and Kashmir, India

2026-07-18T11:41:12+00:00

Ambri apple is an important temperate fruit crop of Jammu and Kashmir, but locally selected genotypes may differ in their phenological timing and thermal requirements. The study aimed to evaluate the phenology of these selections based on their thermal responses. The present investigation was conducted at the experimental field of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Ganderbal, during 2023. The experiment comprised seven Ambri apple selections, namely GA-AS-01, GA-AS-02, GA-AS-03, GA-AS-04, GA-AS-05, GA-AS-06 and GA-AS-07. The experiment was laid out in a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences among the Ambri apple selections for the recorded observations. GA-AS-04 required the maximum number of days (225.00) and accumulated the highest Growing degree days (GDD) (3161.80 ^oC days), Photothermal unit (PTU) (42587.59 ^oC days), Heliothermal unit (HTU) (23277.64 ^oC days) and Hydrothermal unit (HYTU) (220521.10 ^oC days %) to reach maturity. Conversely, GA-AS-02 required the minimum number of days (215.00), GDD (3036.57 ^oC days), PTU (41112.04 ^oC days), HTU (22335.29 ^oC days) and HYTU (211827.50 ^oC days %) to reach maturity. Heat use efficiency (HUE), photothermal use efficiency (PTUE), heliothermal use efficiency (HTUE) and hydrothermal use efficiency (HYTUE) were reported to be highest in GA-AS-05 (8.22, 0.60, 1.11 kg ha^-1 ^oC day^-1 and 0.11 kg ha^-1 ^oC day^-1 %, respectively) and lowest in GA-AS-07 (6.82, 0.50, 0.92 kg ha^-1 ^oC day^-1 and 0.09 kg ha^-1 ^oC day^-1 %, respectively).

The Effect of Amla (Phyllanthus emblica) on Growth performance of Pangasius pangasius Fingerlings

2026-07-18T12:56:12+00:00

This study evaluated the growth-promoting potential of Amla (P. emblica) powder as a dietary supplement for P. pangasius fingerlings. Four diets containing 0% (control), 1.5%, 3.0%, or 4.5% Amla powder were evaluated for their effects on growth, feed utilisation, survival, and culture-water quality. Water temperature (25.10-26.70 °C), pH (7.9-8.5), total alkalinity (110-140 mg/L), and mean dissolved oxygen (6.4-6.8 mg/L) were monitored fortnightly. These variables remained broadly comparable among treatments throughout the experiment. Growth performance was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the supplemented groups than in the control. The 3.0% treatment (T2) produced the highest net weight gain (27.20 g), percentage weight gain (103.03%), and specific growth rate (1.18), compared with 18.05 g, 69.96%, and 0.88, respectively, in the control. Feed conversion was also most efficient in T2, which recorded the lowest feed conversion ratio (2.45), whereas the control recorded 3.18. Survival reached 80% in T1 and T2 and 70% in the control and T3. One-way analysis of variance followed by Duncan's multiple range test indicated significant differences among treatments for the evaluated performance indices. Under the conditions of this study, dietary supplementation with 3.0% Amla powder provided the most favourable combination of growth, feed utilisation, and survival without detectable deterioration of the measured water-quality variables.

Factors Affecting Consumer Awareness Regarding Organic Red-gram Dal of Commercial Brands: A Logistic Regression Analysis

2026-07-18T13:02:24+00:00

Consumer awareness plays a crucial role in promoting the adoption of organic food products, particularly organic pulses, which are increasingly preferred due to their perceived health and environmental benefits. The present study was undertaken to identify the socio-economic factors influencing consumer awareness of commercially branded organic red-gram dal among consumers in Hyderabad and Vikarabad districts of Telangana. A total of 83 respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique, and primary data were collected through a structured interview schedule. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the influence of age, education, occupation, income and location on consumer awareness and perceived purchasing constraints.

The findings revealed that age, education and occupation significantly influenced consumer awareness regarding organic red-gram dal, whereas location did not significantly influence awareness levels. Older consumers, highly educated respondents and individuals engaged in independent occupations demonstrated comparatively higher awareness than other consumer groups. Among the variables associated with purchasing constraints, location showed a significant influence, indicating differences in perceived challenges across geographical areas. The study highlights the importance of consumer education, awareness programmes, effective promotional strategies and improved market accessibility to enhance awareness and encourage wider adoption of organic pulse products.

Digital Twin Applications for Real-Time Optimization of Oilfield Operations: A Critical Review

2026-07-18T11:36:16+00:00

Digital twin technology has moved from a conceptual novelty to an operational necessity across upstream and midstream petroleum engineering. By fusing real-time sensor streams with physics-based and data-driven models, digital twins allow operators to monitor, predict, and optimise drilling, production, and facility performance with a fidelity that static simulation cannot match. This review synthesises the peer-reviewed literature on digital twin applications for real-time oilfield optimisation, examining conceptual foundations, architectural patterns, data acquisition strategies, virtual flow metering, predictive maintenance, production and reservoir optimisation, and the cybersecurity implications of increasingly interconnected assets. The review adopts a narrative rather than systematic methodology, given the breadth and technical heterogeneity of the subject matter, while retaining a transparent and reproducible search protocol. Evidence indicates that digital twins deliver measurable gains in production efficiency, unplanned downtime reduction, and multiphase flow measurement accuracy, although adoption remains uneven and constrained by data quality, interoperability, and validation challenges. Cybersecurity emerges as an increasingly central concern as digital twins tighten the coupling between information technology and operational technology domains. The review concludes that digital twin maturity in the oilfield sector is progressing unevenly across the asset lifecycle, with virtual flow metering and predictive maintenance the most operationally mature applications, while closed-loop autonomous optimisation remains comparatively nascent. Future research priorities include standardisation of digital twin architectures, robust uncertainty quantification, and integrated cybersecurity-by-design frameworks.