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Background: The dairy industry is one of the largest industries in India. The exports were made to 105 countries in the world. Dairy production is one of the major sustenance factors for the rural economy of India. Notably, India ranks first in Isabgol production (98%) and is the sole supplier of seeds and husk in the international market. Among medicinal plants, Isabgol is the first ranked foreign exchange earner for the country. India is the largest producer and the main supplier of seed and husk to the world market. It contains a significant number of proteins and husk yields colloidal mucilage which are valued for medicinal application and is used in Ayurveda, unani and allopathic systems of medicines. It is the main constituent of a number of laxative preparations. The psyllium is high in soluble fibre content with detoxing effect over digestive system makes it a very apt nutraceutical. Basundi is one of the heats desiccated indigenous products popular in Western part of India, mostly Maharashtra and Gujarat. It can be classified in the condensed milk group along with rabri, khoa, mithai and kheer and can be considered similar to sweetened condensed whole milk. Methods: The present investigation indicates utilization of encapsulated lactic acid bacteria culture (Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus) and modified psyllium husk for the preparation of probiotic basundi. The prepared probiotic basundi was analyzed for sensorial, physicochemical and microbial quality parameters. Probiotic basundi was prepared from 1000 ml of milk, 90 gm sugar, 02-03 pieces of cardamom, saffron and encapsulated LAB culture having (107, 108 and 109 cfu/gm containing equal proportions of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus) with 0.65 per cent hydrochloric acid modified psyllium husk. The probiotic basundi was then stored at refrigerated conditions at 4C for 08 hrs. Result: The organoleptic evaluation of probiotic basundi was carried out. As per the score of hedonic scale, basundi with encapsulated 10 per cent probiotic culture (109 cfu/gm) with 0.65 per cent hydrochloric acid modified psyllium husk had shown maximum consumer acceptability (8.3) among all samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India achieved the goal of a circular economy towards regenerative, value-creating development and growth for long-term prosperity. But at the same time, due to the recent unprecedented urbanization and industrialization, wastes and pollutants generated from these activities are enormous, which causes water, air and soil pollution. For example, brine sludge is one of the large quantities of waste from the chlor-alkali industry. This paper reviews different environmental impacts of waste minimization of brine sludge from the chlor-alkali industry with current treatment and utilization technologies. Various materials developed like paver blocks, bricks, non-toxic radiation shielding materials, cement-free materials, etc., using brine sludge as resource material, which can be helpful for broad application spectrum. Conventional softening, Ion exchange, and membrane technologies are available to remove solute from brine sludge. For the salt content in brine sludge, resins' uses are most economical and immensely practical. Due to high-quality recovery with power generation and environmentally friendly brine treatment, membrane-based technologies like membrane distillation, forward osmosis, and electrodialysis can be preferred. In the future perspective, recent membrane technologies like pressure-retarded osmosis and reverse electrodialysis are used to generate power from the salinity gradient between waste brine and freshwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at 10 sites in Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP), Jammu and Kashmir, India, with the objective to analyse the diversity and distribution of macrofungal communities. A total of 40 permanent plots (four plots in each site) were established and macrofungal fruiting bodies were recorded monthly from each plot between July 2015 and October 2017. Diversity indices and canonical correspondence analysis were applied to determine the composition and environmental factors responsible for structuring the macrofungal communities in the study area. In total, 83 wild macrofungal species were identified belonging to 35 genera, 24 families and 9 orders. Humicolous fungi were the most dominant group of macrofungi contributing 71.8% of the total dominance, followed by lignicolous fungi (11.8%). The distribution of fruiting bodies of macrofungal species was mainly in groups, i.e. aggregated pattern (75.9%). The diversity indices varied from 20 to 37 (richness), 2.04 to 3.16 (Menhinick), 4.14 to 7.25 (Margalef), 0.03 to 0.06 (Simpson’s dominance), 2.91 to 3.49 (Shannon– Wiener’s diversity), 0.86 to 0.95 (evenness), 7.69 to 16.29 (Fisher’s alpha) and 0.05 to 0.12 (Berger–Parker diversity). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that Scleroderma verrucosum, Boletus granulatus and Ramaria formosa were the most important species, and that mean temperature and rainfall were the key environmental factors responsible for the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in the present study. The present study was conducted at 10 sites in Kishtwar High Altitude National Park (KHANP), Jammu and Kashmir, India, with the objective to analyse the diversity and distribution of macrofungal communities. A total of 40 permanent plots (four plots in each site) were established and macrofungal fruiting bodies were recorded monthly from each plot between July 2015 and October 2017. Diversity indices and canonical correspondence analysis were applied to determine the composition and environmental factors responsible for structuring the macrofungal communities in the study area. In total, 83 wild macrofungal species were identified belonging to 35 genera, 24 families and 9 orders. Humicolous fungi were the most dominant group of macrofungi contributing 71.8% of the total dominance, followed by lignicolous fungi (11.8%). The distribution of fruiting bodies of macrofungal species was mainly in groups, i.e. aggregated pattern (75.9%). The diversity indices varied from 20 to 37 (richness), 2.04 to 3.16 (Menhinick), 4.14 to 7.25 (Margalef), 0.03 to 0.06 (Simpson’s dominance), 2.91 to 3.49 (Shannon– Wiener’s diversity), 0.86 to 0.95 (evenness), 7.69 to 16.29 (Fisher’s alpha) and 0.05 to 0.12 (Berger–Parker diversity). Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that Scleroderma verrucosum, Boletus granulatus and Ramaria formosa were the most important species, and that mean temperature and rainfall were the key environmental factors responsible for the diversity and distribution of macrofungi in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India after adopting Green Revolution technology increased its food grain production and has acquired the status of sufficient in the category of basic foods. But Green Revolution can be considered responsible for favouring wheat and rice production alone leaving behind pulses, coarse cereals and small millets in terms of area and production. Present study mainly focuses on the unbalanced production of the food grains. It also provides clue to factors behind uneven agricultural growth and our work deals with pulses, coarse cereals and small millets which have been neglected by the Green Revolution. Hence, effort has been made to examine the effect of Green revolution on the cropping pattern in order to assess the production performance of pulses, coarse cereals so fine cereals and to suggest some remedial measures to cope up with the imbalances within the food grain basket in Central Uttar Pradesh. Our study concludes that the area, production and yield are continuously decreasing for pulses, coarse cereals and small millets during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of two different methods of dental health education (DHE) for improving oral hygiene among hearing impaired adolescents in school aged 11-20 years., Methodology and Results: A randomized double blind controlled parallel time series trial was done among 178 hearing impaired adolescents. Considering existing literature, the required sample size was found to be 82 per group, at 95% confidence interval, design effect = 1, type I error = 5%, power of study = 80%, and 20% attrition rate. Two out of five schools were randomly selected. Different methods of DHE were used, schools were coded as School A (DHE using sign language by the investigator) and School B (DHE by conventional visual method, using only posters). The mean reduction in Simplified Oral Hygiene Index (OHI-S), Plaque Index (PI), and Gingival Index (GI) scores was 1.13 ± 0.81, 0.66 ± 0.31, and 0.58 ± 0.32, respectively, in school A. The mean reductions seen in school B was 0.52 ± 0.89 in OHI-S, 0.44 ± 0.44 in PI, and 0.34 ± 0.32 in GI index (P-value < 0.05)., Conclusion: Basic training of dental professionals in sign language is both effective and feasible, and brings about greater improvement in oral hygiene status and gingival health as compared to the conventional methods of health education., (© 2019 Special Care Dentistry Association and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Tobacco-free policies in hospital campus reduce exposure to tobacco smoke; change the demeanour of the professionals, patients and people visiting hospitals towards tobacco use. Section-4, 5 and 6 of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) necessitates the need for implementation of the prohibition on smoking in public places. Against this background, the present work was designed to evaluate the status of compliance Section 4, 5 and 6 of COTPA in Delhi Government hospitals Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted within Government hospitals. Multistage random sampling was used to select 18 hospitals out of 39 hospitals from 5 zones. Standard assessment Proforma developed by John Hopkins School of Public Health for assessing compliance to Tobacco-Free Law was used and modified to address certain aspects of Section-4, 5 and 6 of COTPA. Hospital campuses were assessed by dividing them into zones like hospital buildings, office buildings, public places outside the hospital and residential areas. Result: Signs of active tobacco use observed in 40.6% of hospital buildings, 35.3% in office buildings, and 75.4% in public places outside the buildings. ‘No smoking signage was not as per the COTPA guidelines in 21.4% of the hospitals and 72% were not tobacco free outdoors in these positions. Conclusion: The study highlighted a lower compliance rate than expected which raises questions on law enforcement concerning tobacco. Hence necessary measures have to be used up for sustained awareness campaigns, backed by enforcement drives. Periodic compliance surveys will strengthen the implementation of tobacco free legislation in health care institutions., (Creative Commons Attribution License)

Introduction: Hookah smoking is becoming increasingly popular among the youth. Evidence shows that exposure to marketing of the unhealthy products through social media platforms may impact adolescent health behaviors. The aim of the study was to perform a content analysis of online portals selling hookah products., Materials and Methods: A content analysis of online retail market was conducted on Google India using three keywords hookah, hookah products, and shisha. Retail websites popular in India that were selling hookah products were randomly selected and explored. A total of 15 themes were developed and used to describe various promotional strategies for hookah products., Results: In all, 41 (19.2%) products claimed to be tobacco/nicotine-free and only 14 products (6.5%) displayed age/health-specific warnings. About 86% of products were available at discounted rates; glamorizing words for describing products in form of superior, premium, and legendary were found on 189 (88.3%) products. Phrases such as "ultimate way to celebrate," "perfect excuse to chill with your friends," and "now enjoy the world of smoking without any doubt of harm" are commonly used to promote hookah products., Conclusion: Easy availability of newer forms of smoking at online markets could play a role in promoting the use of hookah among the youth. Most products are being sold without any warnings and there is no means to control the selling of the products to minors. There is a need to raise the issue of hookah products in the same tune as done for other forms of tobacco., Competing Interests: None

Background: We report an assessment of measles outbreak during the months of February 2014 to April 2014 in Dwarahat block of district Almora and the response mounted to it., Materials and Methods: An intensive door-to-door search to six measles affected villages in Dwarahat block of district Almora, covering a population of 2,408 was carried out to identify the cases of measles by a rapid response team (RRT). A total of ten blood samples were randomly collected for detecting IgM antibody against measles. For all cases, information on personal details, place of residence, time of onset and status of immunization were obtained., Results: Overall attack rate (AR) was 2.8%. AR among the population of age-group 0-16 was 7.2%. Statistically significant higher AR (16.26%) was seen for the age-group of 0-5 years as compare to 6-10 and 11-16 years of age (AR-8.71, relative risk-0.53, 95% confidence interval-0.32-0.88, P value-0.012 and AR-0.57%, relative risk-0.035, 95% confidence interval-0.00-0.14, P value-0.000, respectively). Males were affected more often than females 35 [59.2%] vs. 24 [40.8%]. Measles-related complications were seen in three children. No death was reported. Of the 10 samples, nine were positive for measles IgM antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)., Conclusion: The recognition of early warning signals, timely investigation and application of specific control measures can contain the outbreak. The unvaccinated or partially protected human beings serve as the reservoir of measles virus. Hence, there is a need for sero surveillance for measles in Uttarakhand and one catch up measles immunisation campaign to prevent future outbreak.