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Bacillus species are ubiquitous and diverse both in the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In this investigation, predominant Bacillus species from sea water of three different sites of Orissa Coast were isolated and identified. In total, 16 Bacillus species were identified using morpho-physiological and biochemical characterisation. These identified bacterial strains include B. fastidiosus (CMB1), B. alvei (CMB2), B. coagulans (CMB3), B. marinus (CMB5), B. mycoides (CMB8), B. coagulans (PMB1), B. circulans (PMB2), B. cereus (PMB3), B. subtilis (PMB4), B. alcalophilus (GMB1), B. licheniformics (GMB2), B. polymyxa (GMB3) and B. pumilus (GMB4). The isolates CMB4, CMB6 and CMB7 were identified only up to genus level. These isolates were further screened for their salt tolerance and growth under varied temperature and pH conditions. Ability of these strains to produce extracellular enzymes such as protease, amylase, lipase, gelatinase, casein hydrolase, lecithinase, chitinase and pectinase were also screened and found that most of the Bacillus spp. possess extracellular enzymes.

The accomplishment of sustainable development necessitates inclusivity, where the integration of women plays a crucial role, as they are stewards of national and global natural resources and biodiversity. Yet, they often face barriers that limit their role in decision-making for the management and preservation of natural resources. Women's participation in the management of natural resources is not only an equity concern but also a pragmatic approach to achieving effective, efficient, and time-tested ways of preserving eco-diversity. Their traditional roles and knowledge in natural resource management and food security are very crucial in realizing sustainable development. They are repositories of collectively and equity. Hence, empowering them would help in building inclusive, resilient societies and achieve equitable development. The objective of this review paper is to examine the role of women in sustainable development, systematic literature search on women and sustainable development was undertaken on Pub Med, Research Gate, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases. The title search string used for the study includes gender and sustainable development, women and sustainable development, women and sustainability, women and sustainable future, etc. The review paper stresses the need for recognizing and harnessing the potential of women as upholders of sustainable development and therefore emphasizes applying gendertransformative approaches for equitable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted at one of the study centers of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to find out what extent material is self-instructional, and other factors related to print material and its effectiveness in distance education. Results are presented in this article. One major finding was that to a large extent, students were satisfied with the quality of the material and the presentation of the content. (AEF)

The study gives insights on production performance of one of Bihar's most important vegetable, the cauliflower. Compound annual growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower were analyzed to investigate the expansion or shrinkage of the cauliflower in Samastipur district of Bihar as well as for the entire state. In this investigation, resource use efficiency of the respondent farmers were also calculated to know whether the farmers are operating technically, allocatively or cost effectively or not in production of cauliflower in the study area. Significant positive growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower in Bihar was observed during the period of investigation .The growth in area, production and productivity of cauliflower exhibited almost similar trend in case of Samastipur district. The analysis of resource use efficiency of cauliflower production revealed that the mean level of technical, allocative and cost efficiencies of all the sample respondents were estimated at 0.67, 0.61 and 0.41 which implied that the cauliflower growers could decrease the current input by 33.00%, reduce the cost of production of cauliflower by 39.00% for which they would have to be more aware of relative input prices prevailing in the market, while deciding upon quantum of various inputs, and reduce the current cost of the produce by 59.00% to achieve a potential minimum cost of production relative to the efficient farmers given current level of output. In this way the efficiency scores suggest that there is a considerable scope for decreasing inputs and thereby reducing the cost of production in cauliflower cultivation in the study area. The study pointed out that the farmers in the study area were not properly aware about the package of practices of cultivation of cauliflower and under or over utilizing the resources of productivity causing gap in output of the crop. Proper farmer's field trials and awareness campaigns on improved practices and correct method of use of inputs need to be imparted which will ultimately benefit the producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]