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Background: The high prevalence of hypertension in India necessitates both pharmacological and nonpharmacological measures to control it. Here, we report the findings of a study to investigate the effectiveness of yoga therapy in lowering blood pressure (BP) in prehypertensive and hypertensive individuals. Methods: This was a single center, nonrandomized controlled clinical trial, of 200 hypertensives and 100 prehypertensives patients. The control group received the prescribed antihypertensive and lifestyle modification while the yoga group was additionally taught simple yogic exercise by a trained yoga teacher. This training included intensive supervised phase 2-h training sessions in Ujjayi breathing, Bhastrika Pranayama and chanting of “Om” for 10 lessons, followed by self-performed yogic exercise at home for 1 h till the end of study at 1 year. Results: The systolic BP (SBP) in the hypertensive yoga group was significantly lower (t = 3.04, P < 0.01) than the control group at 6 months, but not so at 1 year (SBP t = 0.53, P > 0.05). In the prehypertensive participants, at 6 months (t = 5.85, P = 0.00), and 1 year (t = 6.385, P < 0.05) a significant difference was observed between SBP of the two groups However, no significant difference was observed between the diastolic BP among hypertensives or prehypertensives at 6 months and 1 year. Conclusion: Our present study indicates that yoga therapy is a viable adjunct to pharmacological intervention to reduce SBP in the management of hypertension and prehypertension and that yoga should be incorporated in the treatment regime of such patients, specifically for individuals who have prehypertension.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with adverse impacts on ambient air quality and human mortality; the situation is especially dire in developing countries experiencing rapid industrialization and urban development. This study assessed the spatio-temporal variations of PM2.5 and its health impacts in the South Asian region. Both satellite and station-based data were used to monitor the variations in PM2.5 over time. Additionally, mortality data associated with ambient particulate matter were used to depict the overall impacts of air pollution in this region. We applied the Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope trend analysis tool to investigate the trend of PM2.5. At the same time, clustering of backward trajectories was used for identifying the long-range air mass transport. The results revealed that the mean annual PM2.5 mass concentration was the highest (46.72 µg/m3) in Bangladesh among the South Asian countries during 1998–2019, exceeding the national ambient air quality standards of Bangladesh (i.e., 15 µg/m3) and WHO (10 µg/m3), while lower PM2.5 was observed in the Maldives and Sri Lanka (5.35 µg/m3 and 8.69 µg/m3, respectively) compared with the WHO standard. The trend analysis during 1998–2019 suggested that all South Asian countries except the Maldives experienced an increasing trend (p < 0.05) of PM2.5. The study showed that among the major cities, the mean annual PM2.5 value was the highest in New Delhi (110 µg/m3), followed by Dhaka (85 µg/m3). Regarding seasonal variation, the highest PM2.5 was found during the pre-monsoon season in all cities. The findings of this research would help the concerned governments of South Asian countries to take steps toward improving air quality through policy interventions or reforms. Moreover, the results would provide future research directions for studying the trend and transport of atmospheric PM2.5 in other regions.

A 45-year-old man, used to work in a cement factory, presented to us with a history of adult-onset sub-optimally controlled asthma and was initially managed as a case of acute exacerbation of allergic asthma. However, his repeated evaluation revealed raised eosinophil count, raised serum total IgE and persistent chest infiltrates on imaging. He was provisionally managed empirically with a short course of oral steroids and advised follow-up on an out-patient basis to rule out the possibility of idiopathic eosinophilic pulmonary syndromes. The patient was then lost to follow-up, and after four years, he presented with a vasculitic presentation and was diagnosed with Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA). He improved with corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. This case depicts the importance of evolving nature of EGPA wherein the eosinophilic phase of the disease can mimic other pulmonary eosinophilic diseases and vasculitic symptoms can be delayed as much as by four years.

This study focused on the role of safari parks as a sustainable source of income and employment to ensure food security of the corresponding employees. The survey was accomplished from two safari parks among the employees through a pretested questionnaire using simple random sampling techniques. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied to evaluate current situation of different socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. Different security dimension say, Economic Security Index (ESI), Health Security Index (HSI), Food Security Index (FSI) and Educational Security Index (EDUSI) was constructed to create the ultimate overall Livelihood Security Index (LSI). Again, simultaneous equation system was used to see the interrelation and amount of influence of different variables that affect livelihood status of the people. Three Stage Least Square (3SLS) estimation procedure was used to estimate the parameters of the equations. The study revealed that overall livelihood of the household was positively changed where food security was significantly influenced by the mode of employment. In order to sustainable income generation and employment opportunities, it is needed to boost the capacity of the geoparks and awareness building initiatives. Government can take initiative for promoting geotourism through infrastructural development so that different stakeholders will take initiatives to create a number of local jobs such as shop keeping, hotel and restaurants, transportations, guides, etc. for sustainable economic development through Safari parks.

This study investigated the phycoremediation abilities of Chlorella vulgaris (microalga) and Anabaena variabilis (cyanobacterium) for the detoxification of polluted river water. Lab-scale phycoremediation experiments were conducted for 20 days at 30 °C using the microalgal and cyanobacterial strains and water samples collected from the Dhaleswari river in Bangladesh. The physicochemical properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), hardness ions, and heavy metals of the collected water samples indicated that the river water is highly polluted. The results of the phycoremediation experiments demonstrated that both microalgal and cyanobacterial species significantly reduced the pollutant load and heavy metal concentrations of the river water. The pH of the river water was significantly raised from 6.97 to 8.07 and 8.28 by C. vulgaris and A. variabilis, respectively. A. variabilis demonstrated higher efficacy than C. vulgaris in reducing the EC, TDS, and BOD of the polluted river water and was more effective at reducing the pollutant load of SO42− and Zn. In regard to hardness ions and heavy metal detoxification, C. vulgaris performed better at removing Ca2+, Mg2+, Cr, and Mn. These findings indicate that both microalgae and cyanobacteria have great potential to remove various pollutants, especially heavy metals, from the polluted river water as part of a low-cost, easily controllable, environmentally friendly remediation strategy. Nevertheless, the composition of polluted water should be assessed prior to the designing of microalgae- or cyanobacteria-based remediation technology, since the pollutant removal efficiency is found to be species dependent.

In this paper, investigation of voltage stress on a single switch Boost-Fly-back integrated (SSBFI) DC-DC converter is carried out for light load condition. During this condition, reverse recovery occurs on the switches of the converter enabling resonance condition on the parasitic elements of the devices causing an increased device voltage stress. An appropriate snubber parameter design is a prerequisite to save the devices from the affect of such stress. A proper snubber design can be achieved with a detailed realization of the parasitic elements and suitably evaluated through a complex and tedious analysis. However, an indirect method using maximum voltage stress analysis can also be a suitable alternative for proper snubber design. A detailed study is carried out in this regard mainly focusing on power electronic device voltage stress in steady state under variation of load condition. The theoretical analysis is validated through a laboratory prototype with a capacity of 50 W. Keywords: Coupled inductor, Gain cross over, Light load condition, Single switch, Voltage stress on devices

Biodegradation is found to be a promising, cost-effective and eco-friendly option for the treatment of industrial wastewater contaminated by 1,4-dioxane (1,4-D), a highly stable synthetic chemical and probable human carcinogen. This study aimed to isolate, identify, and characterize metabolic 1,4-D-degrading bacteria from a stable 1,4-D-degrading microbial consortium. Three bacterial strains (designated as strains TS28, TS32, and TS43) capable of degrading 1,4-D as a sole carbon and energy source were isolated and identified as Gram-positive Pseudonocardia sp. (TS28) and Gram-negative Dokdonella sp. (TS32) and Afipia sp. (TS43). This study, for the first time, confirmed that the genus Dokdonella is involved in the biodegradation of 1,4-D. The results reveal that all of the isolated strains possess inducible 1,4-D-degrading enzymes and also confirm the presence of a gene encoding tetrahydrofuran/dioxane monooxygenase (thmA/dxmA) belonging to group 5 soluble di-iron monooxygenases (SDIMOs) in both genomic and plasmid DNA of each of the strains, which is possibly responsible for the initial oxidation of 1,4-D. Moreover, the isolated strains showed a broad substrate range and are capable of degrading 1,4-D in the presence of additional substrates, including easy-to-degrade compounds, 1,4-D biodegradation intermediates, structural analogs, and co-contaminants of 1,4-D. This indicates the potential of the isolated strains, especially strain TS32, in removing 1,4-D from contaminated industrial wastewater containing additional organic load. Additionally, the results will help to improve our understanding of how multiple 1,4-D-degraders stably co-exist and interact in the consortium, relying on a single carbon source (1,4-D) in order to develop an efficient biological 1,4-D treatment system.

Biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane, a water contaminant of emerging concern, has drawn substantial attention over the last two decades. A number of dioxane-degraders have been identified, though many of them are unable to metabolically utilize 1,4-dioxane. Moreover, it is considered more preferable to use microbial consortia rather than the pure strains, especially in conventional bioreactors for industrial wastewater treatment. In the present study, a stable 1,4-dioxane-degrading microbial consortium was enriched, namely 112, from industrial wastewater by nitrate mineral salt medium (NMSM). The consortium 112 is capable of utilizing 1,4-dioxane as a sole carbon and energy source, and can completely degrade 1,4-dioxane up to 100 mg/L. From the consortium 112, two 1,4-dioxane-degrading bacterial strains were isolated and identified, in which the Variovorax sp. TS13 was found to be a novel 1,4-dioxane-degrader that can utilize 100 mg/L of 1,4-dioxane. The efficacy of the consortium 112 was increased significantly when we cultured the consortium with mineral salt medium (MSM). The new consortium, N112, could utilize 1,4-dioxane at a rate of 1.67 mg/L·h. The results of the ribosomal RNA intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) depicted that changes in the microbial community structure of consortium 112 was the reason behind the improved degradation efficiency of consortium N112, which was exhibited as a stable and effective microbial consortium with a high potential for bioremediation of the dioxane-impacted sites and contaminated industrial wastewater.

Brick kiln is a big environmental issue for the agriculture of Bangladesh as it was observed that the agricultural production in the soil close to the brick kiln was lesser than the same soil far from brick kiln. The study was conducted to assess the impact of brick kiln operation to the degradation of topsoil quality at Singair of Kalihati upazila in Tangail, Bangladesh, during the period of July to December 2013. The Soil was collected from areas close to the brick fields and far from the brick fields at a depth of 0-15 cm. The Electrical Conductance (EC) was found almost double in the soil samples close to the brick field than the soil samples far from brick field. The organic mattter content in the soil sample close to the brickfield was significantly lower than that of the far soil sample. The mean values of total N, available P and S were also significantly lower in the soil samples close to the brick kiln, 0.05%, 12.4, and 8.36 ppm respectively in the close soils, while 0.06%, 24.6, and 11.7 ppm respectively in the far soil. There were no significant changes observed in the other elements.

The advancement in satellite technology in terms of spatial, temporal, spectral and radiometric resolutions leads, successfully, to more specific and intensified research on agriculture. Automatic assessment of spatio-temporal cropping pattern and extent at multi-scale (community level, regional level and global level) has been a challenge to researchers. This study aims to develop a semi-automated approach using Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) satellite data and associated vegetation indices to extract annual cropping pattern in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar, India at a fine scale (1:50,000). Three vegetation indices (VIs) – NDVI, EVI2 and NDSBVI, were calculated using three seasonal (Kharif, Rabi and Zaid) IRS Resourcesat 2 LISS-III images. Threshold reference values for vegetation and non-vegetation thematic classes were extracted based on 40 training samples over each of the seasonal VI. Using these estimated value range a decision tree was established to classify three seasonal VI stack images which reveals seven different cropping patterns and plantation. In addition, a digitised reference map was also generated from multi-seasonal LISS-III images to check the accuracy of the semi-automatically extracted VI based classified image. The overall accuracies of 86.08%, 83.1% and 83.3% were achieved between reference map and NDVI, EVI2 and NDSBVI, respectively. Plantation was successfully identified in all cases with 96% (NDVI), 95% (EVI2) and 91% (NDSBVI) accuracy.

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with adverse impacts on ambient air quality and human mortality; the situation is especially dire in developing countries experiencing rapid industrialization and urban development. This study assessed the spatio-temporal variations of PM2.5 and its health impacts in the South Asian region. Both satellite and station-based data were used to monitor the variations in PM2.5 over time. Additionally, mortality data associated with ambient particulate matter were used to depict the overall impacts of air pollution in this region. We applied the Mann–Kendall and Sen's slope trend analysis tool to investigate the trend of PM2.5. At the same time, clustering of backward trajectories was used for identifying the long-range air mass transport. The results revealed that the mean annual PM2.5 mass concentration was the highest (46.72 µg/m3) in Bangladesh among the South Asian countries during 1998–2019, exceeding the national ambient air quality standards of Bangladesh (i.e., 15 µg/m3) and WHO (10 µg/m3), while lower PM2.5 was observed in the Maldives and Sri Lanka (5.35 µg/m3 and 8.69 µg/m3, respectively) compared with the WHO standard. The trend analysis during 1998–2019 suggested that all South Asian countries except the Maldives experienced an increasing trend (p < 0.05) of PM2.5. The study showed that among the major cities, the mean annual PM2.5 value was the highest in New Delhi (110 µg/m3), followed by Dhaka (85 µg/m3). Regarding seasonal variation, the highest PM2.5 was found during the pre-monsoon season in all cities. The findings of this research would help the concerned governments of South Asian countries to take steps toward improving air quality through policy interventions or reforms. Moreover, the results would provide future research directions for studying the trend and transport of atmospheric PM2.5 in other regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]