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This study tried to understand the association between exposure to indoor air pollution and angina among the aging population in India. We utilized the data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI) Wave–1 (2017–2018), with a sample of 62,846 aging adults. We applied Chi-square and multivariate logistic regression models. The odds of angina were higher among individuals living in households that used solid fuels for cooking (aOR = 1.15, 99% CI- 1.09-1.20), had someone smoked inside the house (aOR = 1.12, 99% CI- 1.07-1.18), and households that used of incenses inside the home (aOR = 1.11, 99% CI- 1.05-1.18). In addition, it was also found that work-limiting impairment, unhealthy behaviors, and poor health status increased the odds of angina. These results indicate the need to reduce in-house air pollution by promoting clean fuel usage and changing attitudes and practices. Other implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the batting partnerships of three major cricket teams--Pakistan, India, and Australia--using KMeans clustering to categorize player pairs based on their performance. Bar charts and frequency tables highlight the top partnerships for each team, with key pairings such as Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam for Pakistan, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma for India, and David Warner and Aaron Finch for Australia. K-Means clustering further categorizes partnerships into performance clusters, providing insights into each team's strengths and weaknesses. The analysis reveals that India has the strongest partnerships, with more consistent high-performing clusters, while Pakistan and Australia have a wider range of both strong and weak partnerships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the incorporation of wheat bran into semi-dry fermented carabeef sausages, analysing their physico-chemical properties, sensory properties and microbiological quality, with an emphasis on the impact of refrigerated storage. Utilizing buffalo meat, which is prominent in India's meat industry due to its health benefits and minimal religious consumption restrictions, this research focused on enhancing the dietary fiber content of sausages-a product traditionally low in fibers. Wheat bran, known for its high fiber content and health benefits, was integrated at varying levels (6%, 8% and 10%) into sausage formulations. The treatment that included 8% wheat bran emerged as the optimum choice based on cooking yield and sensory attributes, exhibiting significant improvements in moisture retention and overall acceptability compared to the control. Over 60 days of refrigerated storage, both control and most accepted treatment sausages demonstrated a reduction in pH and moisture content, with an increase in microbial counts and indices of oxidative and nitrogenous degradation. Despite these changes, the sensory parameters of treatment sausages with 8% wheat bran were maintained at acceptable levels throughout the storage period. This study concludes that the incorporation of fibre into fermented carabeef sausages can improve sensory attributes and extend the product's shelf life, suggesting a promising approach for enhancing the nutritional profile and storage stability of meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In contemporary society, information technologies and communication technologies (ICTs) are playing crucial role in dissemination of knowledge and information the world over. Universities/ higher education institutions, particularly distance education universities in developed countries are making best use of these technologies for effective and interactive teaching learning process. Developing countries are also trying to adopt the model of developed countries according to their resources and circumstances. Distance education universities in developed countries like United States of America and United Kingdom are using advanced (emerging) technologies such as computers, Internet (World Wide Web) satellite communication, teleconferencing (videoconferencing and audio conferencing) and virtual reality in education and training. In developing countries like India, Pakistan and Thailand, distance education universities are using Radio, Television and Internet for teaching learning purpose and students support services. They are using computers mostly for office work. They are trying to adopt advanced technologies like developed countries but they have some limitations of resources (human & material resources). In future it is hoped that developing countries will also be using emerging technologies for teaching learning purpose.

Introduction: Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (PDPN) is associated with pain and disturbed sensory symptoms. Altered Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) in PDPN often leads to complications of diabetic foot and consequent amputations. Early detection of altered PPT can prevent future complications and reduce mortality rates. PPT may be determined with a pressure algometer, which measures the pressure and/or force at which the first perception of pain begins. The cost of algometers frequently prevents them from being used in clinical and research settings. An affordable and dependable algometer would be a valuable tool in PDPN, where health costs are already 20% higher than those of diabetic controls. Aim: To evaluate the test-retest and inter-rater reliability of a low-cost digital pressure algometer in individuals suffering from PDPN. Materials and Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted for four months at Metro Heart Institute with Multispeciality Hospital, Faridabad, Haryana, India. PPT of 30 patients with PDPN aged 50-70 years (mean age 61.53±5.84 years) was collected twice by one rater (R1) after a gap of 24 hours. Another rater (R2) repeated the first reading at similar points on both feet. PPT was noted at the dorsum, 2nd, and 3rd metatarsal on the plantar surface of the foot. The main outcome measurements were the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Minimal Detectable Change (MDC), and using the Bland-Altman approach, measurement bias was evaluated. Results: The ICC for test-retest reliability for the dorsal right and left foot was 0.85 and 0.83, respectively. The ICC for Plantar 2nd metatarsal right and left was 0.86 and 0.89, respectively. The ICC for the plantar third metatarsal right and left foot was 0.85 and 0.81, respectively. The inter-rater reliability ICC values varied from 0.63 to 0.87. Bland-Altman plots showed acceptable levels of agreement. Conclusion: The digital algometer showed good test-retest and moderate inter-rater reliability in patients with PDPN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From an individual's perspective, social frailty may act as a key determinant of social capital, which is essential for meeting social needs and improvement of overall wellbeing. The present study aimed to understand the social frailty and its determining factors among Indian older adults. Data from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI)-wave 1 was used. For the assessment of social frailty the study proposed a multidimensional Social Frailty Index (SFI) score ranging between 0 and 100 using 17 indicators. Bivariate analysis and quantile regression models were applied. The study results indicated that on average female older adults (mean SFI = 63.7) are relatively more socially frail than male older adults (mean SFI = 59.0). Further, the quantile regression analysis revealed that at the 10th, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles, female older adults were significantly more likely to be socially frail than male older adults (β = 3.80, p <.01; β = 2.82, p <.01; β = 1.72, p <.01; and β = 2.62, p <.01, respectively). Educational attainment and better economic condition showed a protective effect against social frailty. Investment to improve geriatric health status and socioeconomic conditions shall be a key focus to reduce social frailty prevalence among the older adults. A specific consideration is needed for addressing social frailty among female older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the world's snow-covered mountain regions are at significant natural risk from snow avalanches. The current research attempts to prepare a Snow Avalanche Susceptibility Zonation (SASZ) map of Mughal Road, North-western Himalaya, India using an amalgam of causative factors like Slope angle, Curvature, Slope aspect, Elevation, Topographic Roughness Index (TRI), Distance to Drainage (DTD), Distance to Road (DTR), Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Earthquake, Topographic Position Index (TPI), Wind Speed, Temperature, Solar Radiation and Ground cover. The conditioning factors were integrated within the GIS environment to delineate Snow Avalanche Susceptibility zones by employing the Weighted Overlay Model (WOM). These factors were weighted based on their relative importance to the occurrence of Snow Avalanches. Moreover, the weights have been adjusted to remove the scale biases. The final Snow Avalanche Susceptibility zonation map identified three zones, viz. high susceptibility zone (23.5%), medium susceptibility zone (31.8%) and low susceptibility zone (44.7%). The model validation was done by relating the Snow Avalanche occurrences in these classes using the ROC-AUC method. The deliverables of the study can be pivotal in managing the Snow avalanche hazard in the region and in minimizing the bio-physical losses emanating thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of horses caused by the intraerytrocytic protozoan parasites. The infected animals remain carriers of these blood parasites for long periods and spread the disease. The introduction of carrier animals into areas where competent tick vectors are prevalent can lead to an epizootic spread of the disease. Methods: Total 295 blood smears from diseased and healthy horses were examined and 295 serum samples were analyses by cELISA for the presence of antibodies against T. equi and B. caballi whereas 90 DNA samples from seropositive horses were screened by PCR for presence of parasite's DNA. Result: In present study, 1.35% horses were found positive for T. equi by means of blood smear examination. Using c-ELISA, it was found that 03 (1.02%) horses had antibodies against B. caballi and 182 (61.69%) against T. equi, while none of the sample showed mixed reactions. Ninety (90) seropositivehorses screened for T. equi and B. caballi by PCR method, out of which, only Nine (09) horses werefound positive indicating an overall prevalence rate of T. equi was 10.00% by PCR. None of the horses found positive for B. caballi through blood smear examination and PCR method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal is the major source of power in India and world over. Coal mining is an essential industry which has a major role in the economic development of the country. Most major mining activities contribute directly or indirectly to air pollution. Coal dust is a major air pollutant which affects the personal working in the mines and also people residing in villages near the mines. Air pollution due to coal particulates can affect human health and cause damages to the environment. Hence effective pollution control mechanisms are needed to keep the pollution levels within permissible levels. The easiest and most common method employed for dust suppression worldwide is sprinkling of water. In majority of mines, water sprinklers are operated manually and can lead to wastage of water due to over sprinkling. It can also prove to be ineffective in dust suppression if sprinkling is not done properly. The paper proposes a system which can be deployed to automate the dust suppressions sprinklers. The system will monitor the concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 in the air and initiate sprinkling operation when the particulate matter content exceeds preconfigured limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Northwick Park neck pain questionnaire (NPQ) by translating it from English to Hindi and evaluating its content validity (CV) and internal consistency to assess its feasibility for assessing neck pain. Materials and. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 60 patients who had been experiencing non-inflammatory neck pain for at least 4 months. The psychometric properties, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of the back-translated version were assessed and compared with the original English version. A panel of six experts validated the instrument for CV. Results: The factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure, which accounted for 76.7% of variance in the translated Hindi version of the NPQ. Internal consistency was indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.936, and test-retest reliability was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.935 (95% confidence interval: 0.906-0.958). Significant correlations were found between the individual items of the translated Hindi and original English NPQs. Conclusion: The English-to-Hindi-translated NPQ demonstrated a good factor structure and exhibited similar psychometric properties to the original English version. Therefore, it can be recommended for use in neck pain research in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mughal road located in the high mountainous region of Kashmir Himalaya, India is prone to landslide hazards because of anthropogenic pressure and ongoing climate change. Landslides along the roads is one of the critical problems in hilly areas. Landslide vulnerability maps can serve as an effective tool for the planning and management of landslide disasters. The primary goal of the present study is to generate a Landslide hazard map along the Mughal Road. An integrated approach of Remote sensing GIS and AHP was used applied for this purpose. The eight most important landslide occurrence parameters including slope aspect, geology, elevation, slope angle, lineament buffer, drainage buffer, landuse/landcover and NDVI were employed in the present model. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer Digital Elevation Model and Linear Imaging Self-Scanning Sensor imagery were used to prepare these thematic layers in Arc GIS environment. The analysis of the final landslide hazard map reveals that, very low, low and moderate landslide hazard zones constitute 0.6%, 15.8% and 41.3% of the total area in the study region, respectively. While High and very high landslide hazard zones account for 30.2% and 12.2%, respectively of the total geographical area in the study region. Finally, an inventory of landslides has been used to validate the findings of the study. The landslide hazard zonation map has been also compared with the Landslide inventory map through the ROC-AOC method. The applied model produced an excellent result for landslide hazard mapping in the research region, as shown by the spatial effectiveness of the generated landslide hazard map validated by AUC (77.7% of accuracy). The study can be very useful for policy maker and construction planners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We systematically reviewed and summarized studies focusing on Bharat Biotech's Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Antigen BBV152 (Covaxin), which is India's indigenous response to fighting the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Studies were searched for data on the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety profile of BBV152. All relevant studies published up to March 22, 2022, were screened from major databases, and 25 studies were eventually inducted into the systematic review. The studies focused on the virus antigen (6 μg) adjuvanted with aluminium hydroxide gel and/or Imidazo quinolin gallamide (IMDG), aTLR7/8 agonist. Pre-clinical, phase I, and II clinical trials showed appreciable immunogenicity. Both neutralizing and binding antibody titers were significant and T cell responses were Th1-biased. Phase III trials on the 6 μg +Algel-IMDG formulation showed a 93.4% efficacy against severe COVID-19. Data from the trials revealed an acceptable safety profile withmostlymild-moderate local and systemic adverse events. No serious adverse events or fatalities were seen, and most studies reportedmilder and lesser adverse events with Covaxin when compared with other vaccines, especially Oxford-Astra Zeneca's AZD1222 (Covishield). The immunogenicity performance of Covaxin, which provided significant protection only after the second dose, was mediocre and it was consistently surpassed by Covishield. One study reported adjusted effectiveness against symptomatic infection to be just 50% at 2 weeks after the second dose. Nonetheless, appreciable results were seen in previously infected individuals administered both doses. There was some evidence of coverage against the Alpha, Beta, and Delta variants. However, neither Covaxin nor Covishield showed sufficient protection against the Omicron variant. Two studies reported super-additive results on mixing Covaxin with Covishield. Further exploration of heterologous prime-boost vaccination with a combination of an inactivated vaccine and an adenoviral vector-based vaccine for tackling future variants may be beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustafa Karim is an epoch-making fiction writer of Urdu who, while maintaining the tradition of fiction, has also given new freshness to the eastern and western perspective of fiction. His fictions are excellent in terms of technical, artistic and thematic aspects, while the themes are East and West society, World War I and II, partition of India, migration problems, violence in religions, human tolerance, class division and psychology, problems of immigrants., made the theme of sexual freedom and promiscuity. Most of his fiction depicts the life of immigrants and emigrants. Echoes of the past, consciousness and narrative style have been adopted in these legends. Every Short story is a manifestation of tragedy, sorrow, and suffering. This article gives a brief overview of his short stories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Future cohort of older adults may have to rely on non-family sources and forms of support, religion being one of them. This may be especially so, considering the recent longitudinal evidence that individuals are inclined to become more religious with increasing age. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to assess the association between loneliness and life satisfaction among older adults in India, and the extent to which the association between loneliness and life satisfaction is moderated by spirituality, religiosity, and religious participation. Methods: Data come from the Longitudinal Ageing Study in India, with a sample of 31,464 individuals aged 60 years and above. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to examine the independent association of loneliness and life satisfaction. Further, an interaction analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which the association between perceived loneliness and life satisfaction is moderated by spirituality, religiosity and religious participation among older Indians. Results: The prevalence of low life satisfaction (LLS) was 30.84%; a total of 37.25% of participants reported feeling lonely, 12.54% reported a lack of spiritual experience, 21.24% reported not being religious, and 19.31% reported not participating in religious activities. Older adults who felt lonely had higher odds of LLS relative to peers who were not lonely. Further, the adverse impact of loneliness on LLS among older Indians is moderated by their spirituality, religiosity, and religious participation. Specifically, the adverse impact of loneliness on LLS was less negatively pronounced among older adults who were spiritual, religious, and engaged in religious activities. Conclusions: The study found an independent association between loneliness and lower life satisfaction among older adults in India. It also revealed that religiosity, spirituality and religious participation moderate the association between loneliness and lower life satisfaction. These findings, which underscore the health promoting benefits of religiosity and religious engagement, may be used to build on the interaction between religious and faith-based groups and public health professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Curcumin has been widely used to treat a variety of diseases and disorders since ancient times, most notably for the purpose of healing wounds. Despite the large number of available reviews on this topic, a bibliometric tool-based meta-analysis is missing in the literature. Scope and approach: To evaluate the influence and significance of the countries, journals, organizations and authors that have contributed the most to this topic, the popular bibliometric markers, including article count, citation count, and Hirsch index (H-index), are taken into account. Their collaborative networks and keyword co-occurrence along with the trend analysis are also sketched out using the VOSviewer software. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric review on the topic and hence it is envisaged that it will attract researchers to explore future research dimensions in the related field. Key findings and conclusions: India provided the most articles, making up more than 27.49 percent of the entire corpus. The International Journal of Biological Macromolecules published the most articles (44), and it also received the most citations (2012). The Journal of Ethnopharmacology (28 articles) and Current Pharmaceutical Design (20 articles) were the next most prolific journals with 1231 and 812 citations, respectively. The results indicate a significant increase in both research and publications on the wound-healing properties of curcumin. Recent studies have concentrated on creating novel medicine-delivery systems that use nano-curcumin to boost the effect of the curcumin molecule in therapeutic targeting. It has also been observed that genetic engineering and biotechnology have recently been employed to address the commercial implications of curcumin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Avocado is a food rich in mono unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, phytosterols, phenolic compounds, and procyanidins. In Southern India, avocado (Persea Americana) are frequently used for milkshakes and occasionally added to ice cream and other desserts. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of incorporation of avocado pulp on the physico-chemical, sensory and microbial quality of chicken cutlets. Chicken cutlets were prepared with different levels of avocado pulp, viz., 0% (T1), 5% (T2) and 10 % (T3) and the physico-chemical, sensory and microbial quality of prepared chicken cutlets were assessed. The incorporation of avocado pulp into chicken cutlets reduced the extent of lipid oxidation and microbial count significantly (p < 0.05). In addition, a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in cooking yield and textural properties were also recorded. However, the incorporation of avocado pulp @ 10% in the chicken cutlets showed no significant influence on the overall sensory acceptability of the chicken cutlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The assessments of the available nutrient status of maize growing soils are essential to generate baseline information regarding efficiency of nutrient availability in order to improve yield and maintain soil health. The information generated would be useful for the subsequent research and developmental activities in these areas and shall guide in assessing the possible cause of low yield and quality of maize production. Methods: Fertility assessment of major maize growing soils for district Kupwara was carried out during 2016. Twenty (20) composite surface soil samples at representative sites were collected and investigated for the available nutrient status and chemical properties Result: The soils were slightly acidic to slightly alkaline in reaction (6.1-7.4). The soils of the study area were high in organic carbon content (0.7 to 1.4%), were low in soluble salts (0.11-0.35 dSm-1) and calcium carbonate content (0.08 to 0.15%). The available nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium were ranged from 295.24 to 510.00 kg ha-1, 10.03 to 20.36 kg ha-1, 131.00 to 165.30 kg/ha, respectively. The pH of the soils determined has a negative and significant correlation with available nitrogen (r = -0.915*) and phosphorous (r = -0.931*). A significant and negative correlation of calcium carbonate was observed with available nitrogen (r = -0.871*) and phosphorous (r = -0.906). The organic carbon content shows significant and positive correlation with available nitrogen (r = 0.936*), phosphorous (r = 0.986*), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black tea is one of the most popular beverages consumed in the world. It is stronger in taste as well as in flavour compared to other less oxidized teas. It is made from the leaves of the shrub Camellia sinensis var. assamica. Black tea can be supplemented with other plant parts to enhance its flavour and health-promoting properties. In India, Ocimum spp. leaves have been used for their medicinal properties since ancient times. These leaves can be added during black tea preparation to enhance their aroma and healing activities. O. gratissimum, known as "Scent Leaf", is traditionally used for the management of many diseases, such as the common cold and cough. This work was designed to evaluate the antioxidant interaction between black tea and O. gratissimum (leaves) at five different ratios (1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 2:1, and 3:1). To determine the antioxidant activity, chemical-based methods and ex vivo assays were conducted. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were calculated by Folin's reagent and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. The antioxidant interactions were determined by the combination index (CI), using CompuSyn software. The black tea exhibited higher radical quenching activity (DPPH, ABTS, and NO) and antihaemolytic and anti-lipid peroxidation potential compared to the Ocimum gratissimum infusion. Variation in the antioxidant capability was observed for various ratios of the black tea and O. gratissimum (BT+OG) combination. The antioxidant interaction between BT and OG ranged from nearly additive to antagonistic. The total phenolic content was higher for O. gratissimum, whereas the total flavonoid content was high in black tea. The binary mixture of BT+OG at all ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3) expressed similar phenolic and flavonoid levels. Overall, black tea and O. gratissimum displayed additive antioxidant interaction and the highest free radical scavenging potential at a 3:1 proportion in all the performed parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of people live in diabetes worldwide. Type-2 Diabetes (D2) accounts for 92% of patients with D2 and puts a huge burden on the healthcare industry. This multi-criterion medical research is based on the data collected from the hospitals of Uttar Pradesh, India. In recent times there is a need for a web-based electronic system to determine the impact of mental health in D2 patients. This study will examine the impact assessment in D2 patients. This paper used the integrated methodology of Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy (FAHP) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Performance by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS). The FAHP determines the impact of factors, which is classified by two levels. The first levels have three factors; Body Mass Index (BMI), Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP), and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP). The second level, selects the factors-age, weight, height, exercise (50 to 70 min), and mental health. Furthermore, the alternatives are hospitals A1 to A6. The authors gather the data from the hospitals in different places of state Uttar Pradesh, India. The FTOPSIS approach determines the rank of alternatives. The integrated model shows the applicability and impact of data on mental health in D2 patients. This study explains the complexity of the D2 patient's condition. The multi-criterion medical research is compared with some existing methods, which confirms the strength and stability of the proposed FAHP and FTOPSIS methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experiments were carried out during February-July, 2021 at the Department of Livestock Products Technology (Meat science), Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal, Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, India to assess the influence of heat on protein degradation, histology and eating quality indicators of chicken. Meat samples were taken from the broiler breast and cooked for the targeted end point temperature (75°C, 83°C, 89°C and 94°C) then assessed pH, colour, cooking loss, shear force value, protein degradation (SDS PAGE) and structure of muscle fibers. The heating temperature had a significant effect on pH and shear force value (p<0.01) at 94°C. Colour L* decreased significantly (p<0.01) and a* and b* value increased significantly (p<0.01) of cooked chicken breast at increasing end point cooking temperature. Progressive increasing (p<0.01) trends of cooking loss were noticed during the rising of end point cooking temperature. There were no significant differences between muscle fiber diameters. But significant (p<0.01) differences were observed in the sarcomere length of cooked chicken meat, showing decreasing trends during increasing temperature. Analysis of SDSPAGE showed that the intensity of the myofibrillar protein band gradually decreased during chicken meat cooking at a higher endpoint temperature and inferring that the meat protein had changed. The heating temperature had a significant effect on sensory quality of cooked chicken breast at increasing end point cooking temperature. This study revealed that meat cooking at high-end point temperatures affects the meat quality by degradation of muscle proteins and changes in muscle structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study empirically examines unemployment-output relationship in the framework of Okun law for India. Employing the different version of Okun law, the study also checks the stability over the period using rolling window regression techniques and Brown Durbin Evans test. Furthermore, we also analyse that how the Okun law behave during recessionary and expansionary phase of business cycle. We find based on difference specification that one percent increase in economic growth leads to 0.07 percent decline in unemployment. In the gap specification the Okun coefficient is 0.03. The beta coefficient (otherwise known as Okun coefficient) which we have obtained is far from Okun original estimate of 0.3. The result for extended version where we control for wage, labour productivity capital intensity etc. reinforce the original equation suggesting the weak relation between unemployment and economic growth. The result indicates that Okun coefficient is not stable over the period. As over the maximum period Okun coefficient is positive. So, this finding validates the hypothesis of jobless growth. Additionally, the asymmetrical analysis shows that Okun coefficient is more responsive to recession than expansion over the period. Thus, we propose that given the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, low labour force participation and relatively high proportion of youth constitute as NEET, the Indian economy require a multipronged policy, so that the objective of high growth with productive employment can be achieved. Otherwise, demographic dividend which vanishes in 2040 would go into vain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Rauvolfia belongs to the family Apocyanaceae, and is native to the tropical countries of the world. Six species of Rauvolfia have been reported from India, however, only two species viz. R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla grow in the upper Gangetic plains. The monoterpenoid indole alkaloids reserpine and ajmalicine are the major phytochemicals reported from the roots of the above plants and are well known for their potential antihypertensive activity. Presently, R. serpentina has become critically endangered due to its overexploitation. Therefore, this study was designed to develop a validated High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic densitometric method for determination of reserpine and ajmalicine in R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla in different seasons. Plant materials were collected in March, June, September and December to determine the optimal harvesting time. The densitometric method was validated in terms of instrument precision, range, linearity, specificity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. Reproducibility of the peak of reserpine and ajmalicine was achieved at Rf 0.56, and 0.79 respectively using optimised mobile phase toluene– ethyl acetate-diethyl amine (7:2:0.6 v/v/v). Our study concluded that maximum level of ajmalicine was found in March while that of reserpine was observed in September. Harvesting of R. tetraphylla at the optimal season may reduce the overexploitation of the endangered species R. serpentina. [Display omitted] • HPTLC is an important tool for seasonal variation study of phytochemicals. • Reserpine and ajmalicine are potential antihypertensive alkaloids of Rauvolfia. • R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla were collected in four seasons from northern India. • Ajmalicine found maximum in March in R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla. • Reserpine found maximum in September in aforesaid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to document the participation of intra-household decision-making activities by older adults in India. Design/methodology/approach: This study has used a nationally representative sample of 21,662 older adults (aged 60 and above) from the Longitudinal Ageing Study of India data of 2017–2018. Intra-household decision-making participation is measured based on decision-making activities that includes marriage of daughter/son, buying and selling of property, giving a gift to the family, education of family member and arrangement of social/religious events. This paper used bivariate analysis and binary logistic regression model to examine the factors associated with the participation of older adults in the intra-household decision-making activities. Findings: The result has shown that older persons' participation declined with increased age. This study has also found a difference in the participation of intra-households decision-making activities between male and female, rural and urban older adults, poor and rich older adults. Older adults with good health status who maintain social engagement and a good lifestyle are more likely to participate in the household's decision-making activities. Practical implications: Older adults with better economic and social status are more likely to participate in intra-household decision-making activities that make their life happier than the counterpart. Therefore, emphasis should be given to those vulnerable older adults who do not have any social and economic security in the society. Originality/value: There are limited studies available on intra-household decision-making participation by older adults. This paper documents the intra-household decision-making participation by older adults in India with a nationally representative large sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several alien plant species have been introduced into Kashmir Himalaya from different regions of the world and subsequently some of these have been able to colonize and become invasive. Why only some species among the alien species pool establish as strong invaders represents a fundamental question for invasion ecologists. Trait comparisons of invasive with less/non-invasive congeners help in understanding the role of various trait differences in invasion success. In this study, we investigated the differences in various phenological, physiological and morphological traits in three alien plant congeners (Amaranthus blitum Linn., A. caudatus Linn. and A. spinosus Linn.) which differ in their invasion status, and attempted to relate the trait differences to their differential invasion potential in Kashmir Himalaya. The results revealed that the more aggressive behavior of A. caudatus in contrast to other two congeneric species is more likely explained by its early and longer germination period, shorter pre-reproductive period, early and extended flowering period, shorter generation time, early life cycle completion, fast growth, high reproductive allocation, more height, inflorescence length and higher seed production. We expect this knowledge to yield theoretical as well as practical information, about the possible adaptive traits employed by the three alien species, to target their long term management in the Kashmir Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Balance impairment is one of the most prevalent concern with increasing age. Globally, One in five older adult experiences balance problem. Prevalence of fall has been estimated at 14-53 %in India. Various intervention has already been use to prevent fall and improve quality of life. Static Stabilization Exercises and Progressive Strength training have proven to be effective as a single intervention however minimal literature is available on combined effect of both. The main objective of study is to find out efficacy of combined Static Stabilization Exercises and Progressive Resistive Exercises on balance and quality of life of elderly population and also establishment of dose response relationship of balance training. Methods/Design: The study will be designed as experimental study. 100 participants will be selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria and will be allocated in two groups, Combined Intervention Group (A) and Traditional Balance Intervention group (B). Both intervention include 30-45 min session which will be carried out 3-5 times in week for duration of 8 weeks structured into different components. Outcome will be Balance and Quality of Life and outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline, at midway (4th week) and at the end (8th week) of intervention period. Statistical Analysis will be done using SPSS24. Oversion and p<0.005 will be considered as level of significance. Discussion: The study protocol details two Physiotherapy Interventions to improve balance and quality of life in elderly population. In current literatures there are minimal evidence on combined effect of Static Stabilization Exercises and Progressive Resistive Exercises on balance and quality of life. Successful Completion of trial will provide evidence for best strategy targeting balance and quality of life and relationship of dose response and balance training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of anxiety and depression among the urban Indian population during the period of national lockdown imposed by the government of India to combat the COVID-19 pandemic Method: Total 278 participants were participated in an online, cross-sectional survey. Anxiety and depression was assessed. Gender, age, occupation and average time spent on gathering information on COVID-19 was assessed. Results: less than 30 years of age and students showed higher prevalence of depression. Participants spending more than three hours on COVID-19 information showed that 18.2%, 42.4% and 37.9% were mildly, moderately and severely affected by anxiety symptoms, respectively and 19.7%, 47% and 24.2% were mildly, moderately and severely affected with depression. Further, more than three hours of time spent on COVID-19 showed strong association with mild, moderate and severe anxiety (p<0.001) as well as mild, moderate and severe depression (p≤0.01). Conclusions: Participants, less than 30 years of age and students were found more likely to have anxiety and depression symptoms. Participants who have been spending more than three hours on COVID-19 information were strongly affected with mild, moderate and severe anxiety as well as depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nehnar glacier is located in the Sindh sub-basin of the Jhelum River in the Kashmir Himalayas. We studied the dynamic response of the glacier (area, snout, Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA), specific mass balance, volume) using Survey of India (SOI) toposheets and Landsat imagery series from 1962 to 2017. The results show that this glacier has lost an area of 1.4 km2 (50.35%) during this period of 55 years. The snout position and ELA have risen significantly, with varying rates at different time intervals. The specific mass balance of the glacier changed from −2.3 cm water equivalent (w.e.) to −35.1 cm w.e. during this period, with a loss of glacier volume from 0.17 km3 to 0.07 km3. Annual mean maximum (Tmax) and mean minimum (Tmin) temperatures show significant increases, whereas an insignificant decrease in precipitation has been recorded from 1980 to 2016. The continuous glacier retreat will have a significant impact on streamflow, agriculture, and other sectors of the Kashmir Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the level of regular, periodic deworming and awareness of National Deworming Day in the local population in the endemic region of Kashmir by conducting a cross-sectional survey in the local population of patients (or their attendants for patients 18 years of age or younger) who visited the hospital as outpatients or were admitted as inpatients. The study team presented questionnaires with simple questions about deworming and child immunization to 1150 participants, noted responses, and then compiled the data. We found that the level of regular deworming was very low: only 3.7% (43/1150) of respondents regularly dewormed themselves and 16.34% (188/1150) dewormed their children at least once in a year. None of 1150 participants was aware of national deworming day despite having adequate knowledge about the immunization infrastructure. The immunization infrastructure can be used to improve public health in such circumstances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex medical condition characterized by atherosclerotic plaque accumulation in coronary arteries, leading to narrowed blood vessels and impaired blood flow. Endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and various risk factors contribute to CAD development. Matricellular proteins, including thrombospondins (THBS), play crucial roles in vascular processes and cardiac function. Methods: A case–control study was conducted among 296 participants from Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, India, to investigate genetic variations in THBS1 (N700S) and THBS2 (3′ UTR T → G) in relation to CAD. Genomic DNA was isolated, and PCR–RFLP was employed for genotyping. Clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed, and statistical analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: The study revealed that age, serum cholesterol, HDL, VLDL, and LDL were significantly associated with CAD in the Indian population. However, no statistically significant associations were found between triglyceride and serum creatinine levels, as well as the studied THBS1 and THBS2 genetic polymorphisms, and CAD. The analysis of genotypic and allelic frequencies did not indicate significant associations with CAD risk. Conclusions: This study suggests that specific genetic variations in THBS1 and THBS2 may not be strongly linked to the development or risk of CAD in the studied Indian population. The associations observed between age, lipid profiles, and CAD highlight the multifactorial nature of CAD susceptibility. Further research with larger sample sizes and diverse populations is warranted to validate these findings and explore additional genetic factors contributing to CAD in specific populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many Indian capitals are rapidly becoming megacities due to industrialization and rural-urban emigration. Land use within city boundaries has changed dynamically, accommodating development while replacing traditional land-use patterns. Using Landsat-8 and IRS-P6 data, this study investigated land-use changes in urban and peri-urban Hyderabad and their influence on land-use and land-cover. Advanced methods, such as spectral matching techniques with ground information were deployed in the analysis. From 2005 to 2016, the wastewater-irrigated area adjacent to the Musi river increased from 15,553 to 20,573 hectares, with concurrent expansion of the city boundaries from 38,863 to 80,111 hectares. Opportunistic shifts in land-use, especially related to wastewater-irrigated agriculture, emerged in response to growing demand for fresh vegetables and urban livestock feed, and to easy access to markets due to the city's expansion. Validation performed on the land-use maps developed revealed 80-85% accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era where laparoscopic colorectal surgery is well established, robotic- assisted colorectal surgery is gaining increasing popularity and acceptability. Stable camera platform, superior 3D views, and articulating instruments help to overcome difficulties associated with standard laparoscopic surgery. However, a significant drawback of robotic surgery is the cost of the robotic system and relevant disposable equipment compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery. This image series depicts a novel method to perform laparoscopic high anterior resection in a more cost-effective way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global economy has recorded an unprecedented increase in growth rates in the last few decades occasioned by the expanding interconnectedness among countries through exchanging goods and services. The expanding production base has increased the demand for fossil fuels, specifically crude oil, both in local and foreign markets, leading to inevitable imports. Despite this, factors driving the increasing demand for oil imports have not been extensively researched thus calling for an empirical verification on the matter. Hence, this study contributes to the literature by investigating the tripartite effects of transportation infrastructure, economic growth, and renewable energy on crude oil imports. The empirical evidence relies on the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model for bound test cointegration employed to obtain long- and short-run estimates. The empirical results from the study's analysis show that renewable energy hinders crude oil importation while transportation stimulates it in both economies. The inducing role of economic growth is substantial only in China, and the significant effect of foreign direct investment and industrialization prove to be fundamental in driving crude oil imports. Consequently, the study concludes that other explanatory variables contribute to crude oil dependence in China and India, asides from renewable energy. The post estimation tests conducted further accentuate the validity and reliability of the empirical outcomes. Drawing from the empirical outcome, the study suggests the criticality of renewable energy promotion as a viable policy decision to resolve the growth of oil dependence in the countries under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of dynamic land use and land cover changes on the livelihood of local communities and ecosystem services is a major concern. This is particularly evident in most dryland agricultural systems in South Asia. We study land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the last two decades in a watershed (9589 ha) located in semi-arid eco-region in South India (Anantapuram district) using Landsat and IRS imagery. We captured additional data through field observations and focused group discussions. The high resolution 30 m data and the spectral matching techniques (SMTs) provided accuracy of 91-100% for various land use classes and 80-95% for the rice and groundnut areas. The watershed studied has undergone significant land use changes between 1988 and 2012. Diminishing size and number of surface water bodies, and contrastingly increased areas under irrigation clearly explain that the system has evolved significantly towards groundwater-irrigated groundnut production. Such changes could be beneficial in the short run, but if the groundwater withdrawal is without sufficient recharge, the long-term consequences on livelihoods could be negative. The water scarcity could be aggravated under the climate change. The construction of checkdams and dugout ponds to recharge groundwater is a potential solution to enhance recharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several plants and barks of trees in India with ethnomedicinal uses. These include the Acacia catechu used for child birth, diarrhoea, and haemoptysis. It notes the Anacardium Occidentale L., used for diarrhoea, leprosy, and rubefacient. It mentions the Bombax ceiba L. used for treating acne, pimples, and blood dysentery.

The correct identification of Anemone tschernjaewii Regel. previously misidentified as A. biflora DC. in the Kashmir Himalaya, India is reported. In this brief report, a detailed taxonomic description and photo-plates of its diagnostic morphological and anatomical characters are provided to validate this plant record for the region and to facilitate its easier field identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Damage and loss assessment is the first step towards the bringing the disaster affected communityback to mainstream life. The asset is the deciding factor; hence those who do not have assets arenormally excluded from compensation. In India many Dalit victims are forced to remain outside thepurview of formal disaster rehabilitation. Also, the value of assets of such asset-less communitiesseldom figures in a damage and loss assessment, which prevents the community from attainingsustainable resiliencethus exposing them to cumulative vulnerability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants ofOxalis corymbosadisplaying typical viral symptoms were observed during spring 2010 in plant nurseries in central India. The virus was mechanically transmissible to indicator plants and induced symptoms similar to those incited byCucumber mosaic virus(CMV). Electron microscopic examinations of symptomatic leaf samples revealed the presence of isometric virus-like particles about 28–30 nm in diameter. Molecular detection methods allowed the identification of the pathogen as a CMV. The results were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with specific CMV primers, and digestion with a restriction enzyme. The coat protein gene was 95 and 99% identical at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, to the published sequences of CMV, high amino acid sequence homology in multiple alignment analysis and closest phylogenetic relationship with Lucknow isolate (JX570732) of CMV. This represents the first record for CMV-infectingO. corymbosain Aligarh India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The marine based algal biofuel may be the best possible options for future energy, particularly for India where freshwater and land resources are limited. We have characterized a novel marine microalga, isolated from an Indian Ocean using genotypic and biochemical studies, which contain high lipids (48%) on dry wt. basis, among marine-microalgae reported from the Indian subcontinent. The classification of new species based on DNA barcodes studies using 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA has indicated its genetic similarity to green algae Parachlorella kessleri. Subsequently, FAME analysis has showed that it contain about 43%, saturated fatty acids, which makes new algal species highly suitable for further exploration and commercial production of the biodiesel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A foraminiferal assemblage comprising 30 species dominated by the family Vaginulinidae is recovered from the Chari Formation exposed at Keera Dome, Kutch. The paper presents a systematic account of eight species, reported for the first time form the Indian region. Preliminary interpretations regarding age and palaeoenvironment are drawn on the basis of the recovered foraminiferal assemblage. The assemblage supports a Callovian to Oxfordian age for the studied sequence. A near shore, open marine environment ranging from mid to outer shelf is interpreted on the basis of the foraminiferal assemblage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: There has been a steep rise in incidence of liver injury in the past few years because of increase in incidence of road traffic accidents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of non-operative management of liver injury due to blunt abdominal trauma. Materials and Methods: All patients with liver injury from blunt trauma abdomen were studied between January 2000 and January 2010. A total of 152 patients with liver injury were put on conservative management. Hundred and three (67.77%) patients were males and 49 (32.23%) were females with an age range of 15-60 years (32.8 years). Most of the injuries were because of road traffic accidents (81.57%). Liver injuries were graded according to Moore's classification using computed tomography. Patients with Grade V and VI were excluded from the study. Patients who were unstable hemodynamically on admission were also excluded from the study. Results: There was no mortality in our series. Eight patients needed exploration because they developed hemodynamic instability. Four of the patient developed post-operative liver abscess which was treated conservatively. Conclusion: Non-operative management of liver injury due to blunt trauma abdomen is a safe, effective and treatment modality of choice in hemodynamically stable Moore's grade I to Grade IV injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An attempt has been made to investigate the difference between job involvement of BTC and special BTC teachers. 250 BTC and 250 special BTC teachers were selected randomly from various primary schools of Bareilly, Pilibhit and Badaun districts, affiliated to Basic Shiksha Parishad, Uttar Pradesh. Job involvement scale developed by Kapoor & Singh (1978) was employed to collect the data. The data were analysed by employing percentage analysis, mean, standard deviation and 't' test. BTC teachers are more involved in their job in comparison to special BTC teachers. Male BTC teachers have higher job involvement than female BTC teachers and sex does not make any effect on job involvement of special BTC teachers. Further, differences do not exist between rural and urban teachers of BTC and special BTC in relation to job involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Missile cardiovascular injuries have taken an epidemic proportion in Kashmir valley since the eruption of militancy in 1990. Present study was undertaken to analyse the pattern, presentation and management of missile cardiovascular injuries. Patients and Methods: Three hundred and eighty-six patients with missile cardiovascular injuries since Jan 1996 to Oct 2008 were studied retrospectively. All patients of cardiovascular injuries due to causes other than missiles were excluded from the study. Results: All patients of missile cardiac injuries were treated by primary cardiorrhaphy. Right ventricle was the most commonly affected chamber. Left anterior thoracotomy was most common approach used. Most of the patients of missile vascular group were treated by reverse saphenous vein graft or end-to-end anastomosis. Most common complication was wound infection (20.83%) followed by graft occlusion (1.94%) in missile vascular group. Amputation rate was 4.66%. Amputation rate was higher in patients with delay of >6 hours and associated fractures. Conclusion: Missile cardiac injuries should be operated early without wasting time for investigations. Clinical status at arrival, time interval till management, nature of injury and associated injuries, tell upon the mortality. Missile vascular injury needs prompt resuscitation and revascularization at the earliest. Time interval till revascularization and associated fractures has a bearing on mortality and morbidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) genebank in India holds the world's largest collection of 21,594 pearl millet germplasm accessions including 18,447 landraces from 50 countries. West and Central Africa (WCA) region, which is considered as the centre of diversity for pearl millet, is also an important pearl millet germplasm source for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. A total of 7372 landraces were assembled from WCA countries. Out of which, 6434 landraces have the georeference data. The geographic origins of these landraces were analyzed using geographic information system tools to identify gaps in the collection. Geographical distribution of existing collections, type of vegetation, land cover and the high probability (.70%) for the occurrence of pearl millet estimated using the FloraMap software in different countries show that 62 districts in 13 provinces of Nigeria, 50 districts in 16 provinces of Burkina Faso, 9 districts in 6 provinces each of Mali and Mauritania, 8 districts in 8 provinces of Chad and 7 districts in 3 provinces of Ghana as the major geographical gaps in the pearl millet collection at the ICRISAT genebank. In view of this, we suggest that the final areas for exploration in these districts should be decided prior to the launch of the collection missions in consultation with local government officials and extension officers, who have the knowledge of pearl millet cultivation in the districts identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tragopogon kashmirianus (Asteraceae: Lactuceae) (2 n = 24) was described based on collections from Kashmir. The tetraploid is morphologically similar to allotetraploid T. mirus from North America that has formed in western North America from the introduced T. dubius (2 n = 12) and T. porrifolius (salsify; 2 n = 12). Singh and Kachroo (1976 ) suggested that T. kashmirianus might have formed from the same diploid parental combination as T. mirus. To determine this, we investigated internal and external transcribed spacers (ITS, ETS) and five plastid regions of T. kashmirianus and species reported from Kashmir, northern India and neighbouring countries ( T. badachschanicus, T. longirostris, T. porrifolius, T. pratensis, T. orientalis, T. subalpinus, T. trachycarpus, T. gracilis and T. dubius). Molecular data indicate that the parents of T. kashmirianus are not the European T. porrifolius and T. dubius. The exact parentage of T. kashmirianus is still unclear, but if it is an allotetraploid, at least one parent is a species native to Kashmir/India. Alternatively, it may represent an autopolyploid, again with the diploid parent native to Kashmir/India. We also found that ‘ T. dubius’ from Kashmir is phylogenetically and morphologically distinct from collections of T. dubius from Europe and probably represents a previously unrecognized species. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 391–398. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyse the incidence of carcinoma thyroids in toxic multinodular goiters (MNG) and the pathological pattern of these cancer nodules. Methods: This is a retrospective review of 2344 patients, operated for MNG over a period of 10 years from January 1993 to December 2002 at Lourdes Hospital, Kochi, Kerala, India. Results: We operated on 2344 patients for MNG, out of whom 160 patients presented to us in a toxic state and the remaining 2184 in a non-toxic state. Of the patients operated for MNG 4.5% were found to have associated thyroid cancer. The incidence of thyroid cancer in toxic MNG patients was 26.25% whereas in non-toxic MNG patients it was 2.5%. All the malignant nodules detected were papillary cancers of the thyroid and relatively large nodules (range 0.6 cm−4.1 cm) were found in toxic MNG compared to non-toxic MNG. Conclusion: Patients with toxic MNG showed a very high incidence of coexisting thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancers can coexist in toxic MNG despite the suppression of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The coexisting thyroid cancer size is larger in toxic MNG than euthyroid MNG. A total thyroidectomy is the treatment recommended for toxic MNG in an endemic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On a global basis, ticks transmit a greater variety of pathogenic microorganisms, protozoa, rickettsiae, spirochaets, and viruses than any other arthropods and are among the most important vectors of diseases affecting livestock, humans, and companion animals. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TTBDs) affect 80% of the world cattle population and are widely distributed throughout the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical countries including India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Ticks and tick-transmitted infections have coevolved with various wild animal hosts, which constitute the reservoir hosts for ticks and tick-borne pathogens of livestock, pets, and humans. In this region, the livestock sector is suffering from a number of disease problems caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Among the parasitological problems, the damage caused by TTBDs is considered very high, and the control of TTBDs has been given priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses whether there is a failure of democracy in Pakistan. The country faces enormous security pressures due to multifaceted problems with India. As State survival became the country's primary concern, the military assumed a greater importance. In the wake of weak political leadership, the military's top brass began to assert its centrality in matters of governance and political management. Military rulers have managed to secure substantial external backing for themselves.

The Kashmir Himalayan Mountains are endowed with a diverse plant wealth. In this region, the Bakerwals and other migratory herders and shepherds utilize herbal therapies for treatment of their livestock. Information on these plants used for veterinary practices was obtained through interviews of herders, shepherds, and others that work with farm animals during the period of 1997 through 2001. A total of 25 plants within 19 families was identified for treatment of a variety of animal afflictions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]