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Introduction Malnutrition in infancy contributes to high mortality and morbidity. In India, government has established nutrition rehabilitation centres for managing children with severe acute malnutrition. The study was conducted with aim to understand how community perceived malnutrition and how child's size at birth, infant and young child feeding related behaviours and child's illness were associated with decline in the child's growth or health. Methods Qualitative research employing focused ethnographic methodologies was used. From February–December 2016, cases studies and in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 mothers of malnourished children Results Grounded on experience of participants, emerging themes were that importance of exclusive breastfeeding was neither understood nor emphasized, there was no concept of complementary feeding, family food lacked diversity, malnutrition was not recognised as a health hazard, and there was lack of autonomy of females in reproductive and general health issues. Conclusion Given these paths to malnutrition in infancy, there is an urgent need to create community awareness about malnutrition as a disease as well as about optimal breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices in infancy by using innovative behaviour change communication strategies.

Background with objectives Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is the leading cause of childhood deaths globally. Poor recognition of the danger signs of CAP, inappropriate care seeking, and community distrust in the primary health system are factors largely responsible for CAP related deaths in rural India. Our objective was to develop and pilot test culturally sensitive communication messages for improving symptom recognition of CAP as a means of encouraging timely health care seeking, and to promote trust in the government primary health system as an effective source of CAP treatment among children. Methods and materials Qualitative research was carried out between February and July 2014 in the states of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) and Bihar in northern India. Message development entailed a six-step process: (1) theme identification, (2) creative conceptualization of messages, (3) pretesting messages in focus groups (FGs), (4) modification of messages, tagline/logo based on feedback, (5) piloting modified messages in FGs and further refinement and (6) harmonization of final communication products to ensure consistency. Results Messages were piloted in 49 FGs in 7 rural districts. Hindi terms for the signs of respiratory illness and lay use of "pneumonia" as a term encompassing CAP were understandable across all dialects. Five text, five audio and four video based messages were initially developed and pretested. Three text based messages, four audio and three video were deemed acceptable for pilot testing and refinement. Messages selected for use in future communication programs balanced measures of popularity with measures of maximum comprehension and least misunderstanding. Messages selected were harmonized so they would reinforce one another. Common logo and tagline ensured that the messages would be seen as components of a new outreach program associated with the government's efforts to address CAP as a primary healthcare priority. Conclusions Culturally sensitive messages for improving case management of CAP were developed through a multi-stage, evidence-based research process in a rural population. They need to accompany health systems strengthening efforts to increase confidence in government health facilities.

Cellulose is a rich natural biopolymer on earth, found as a chief component of plant cell wall in lignocellulosic form. Unlike other compounds cellulose is not easily soluble in water; therefore enzymatic conversion of cellulose has become a key technology for biodegradation of lignocellulosic materials. Microorganisms such as aerobic bacteria, fungi, yeast, and actinomycetes produce cellulase that degrades cellulose by hydrolyzing the β-1,4-glycosidic linkages of cellulose (Fig. 6.1). In contrast to aerobic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria lack the ability to effectively penetrate into the cellulosic material which leads to the development of complexed cellulase systems called cellulosome. Microbial cellulases have shown their potential application in various industries including pulp and paper, textile, laundry, biofuel production, food and feed industry, brewing, and agriculture. Due to the complexity of enzyme system and immense industrial potential, cellulases have been a potential candidate for research by both the academic and industrial research groups. Nowadays, significant attentions have been devoted to the current knowledge of cellulase production and the challenges in cellulase research especially in the direction of improving the process economics of various industries.

Tanneries are one of the most important industries of the world, but discharge toxic hexavalent chromium through their waste water into the environment beyond the permissible limit. Such waste water may cause significant damage to the agricultural lands and receiving water bodies due to its higher toxicity and high COD and BOD values and thus is a matter of global concern. To reduce the impact of discharged waste water on all living beings and the environment, several conventional physico-chemical treatment methods are developed to remediate metal polluted sites. However, these methods are costly due to use of non-regenerable materials, high operating cost and generate toxic sludge. Microbial bioremediation is a relatively cheaper and eco-friendly technique for the removal of heavy metals and chloroorganics from tannery waste water and thus has wider implications. Also, there is a chance to recover the economically valuable metal for reuse. Among various microbes, bacteria have proven to be very effective in removing Cr (VI) and pentachlorophenol from tannery waste water. The treated waste water can also be used for various non-potable purposes including agriculture and also during leather tanning. It will ultimately minimize water scarcity problem and will increase the productivity.

Twenty bacterial strains were isolated on selective milk agar plates (pH 9.0) from tannery solid waste on the basis of different colony morphology. These strains exhibited variable haloalkaline protease activity and were tolerant to different concentration of both chromate (350-1450 μg/ml) and NaCl (2-9%). Those having clearance zone greater than 20.0 mm were considered as significant isolate. Out of twenty, nine strains were interestingly tolerant to high concentration of Cr(VI) (850-1450 mg/l) and NaCl (6.5-9%) and exhibited vibrant clear zone diameter between 21-35 mm. All these isolates in this study were capable of reducing Cr(VI) aerobically and the reduction values ranged between 50.0-76.0% after 16-20 h of growth. Further, significant haloalkaline protease production was observed in these bacteria within 24 h under wide temperature (25-45°C) and pH (8.0-10.5) range. The potential of these strains to produce protease at higher rate in the presence of wheat bran as a cheap carbon source and yeast extract or beef extract as a nitrogen source makes them a potential candidate for industrial applications and removal of Cr(VI) and proteinaceous waste simultaneously from industrial waste of alkaline nature.

Schematic diagram of time schedule (DOC 55 kb)

A Brevibacterium casei previously isolated from treated tannery effluent in our laboratory was selected in this study. The bacterium was tolerant to a maximum of 850 mg/L Cr(VI) and 1000 mg/L PCP concentration and concomitantly reduced 69% Cr(VI) and degraded 72% PCP within 168 h at pH 7.5 and 35°C temperature under shaking condition (120 rpm). The bacterial cells immobilized on different matrices (agar, agarose and calcium alginate) showed that calcium alginate was found to be the best support material as the immobilized bacterial biomass was capable to reduce 74% Cr(VI) and simultaneously degraded 80% PCP within 168 h at pH 7.5 and 35°C with 120 rpm aeration at an initial concentration of 850 mg/L Cr(VI) and 1000 mg/L PCP. Further, the efficiency of simultaneous Cr(VI) and PCP bioremediation in the treated tannery effluent was higher in bioreactor trials by using calcium alginate immobilized Brevibacterium casei cells. A significant decrease in the physicochemical properties of raw treated tannery effluent such as color, odor, pH, electrical conductivity, total solids, suspended solids, dissolved solids, BOD, COD, As(III), Fe(II) and Ni(II) was also obtained after treatment with calcium alginate immobilized Brevibacterium casei. Moreover, the immobilized cells has potency to almost 60% remove the PCP and Cr(VI) of the effluent within 24 h. This bacterial strain could be an efficient tool for the bioremediation of Cr(VI) and PCP co-contaminated sites and has a potential application in environmental restoration.

Industrial wastewater containing heavy metals constitutes a major source of contamination in the environment. Remediation of toxic metals from wastewater has been a challenge since long. Several physicochemical techniques are used to detoxify metal polluted sites. However, these traditional techniques are cost prohibitive due to use of chemical compounds, expensive and release of secondary toxic solid waste. Biosorption is a metabolism-independent and cost-effective method for removal of toxic metals from discharged liquid waste. Application of fungal biomass as biosorbent for toxic metal remediation has gained interest because of high surface to volume ratio, enough availability, rapid biosorption/desorption efficiency, and cost competitiveness. This chapter presents an overview of heavy metal biosorption studies performed on few potential fungal sorbents.

Chromate and pentachlorophenol are major pollutants discharged through tanneries. Three bacteria resistant to high Cr6+ and PCP concentrations simultaneously were isolated. The TVS-3 strain was tolerant to highest 850 mg l−1 Cr6+ and 1000 mg l−1 PCP concentration and concomitantly reduced 69% Cr6+ and degraded 72% PCP within 168 h at pH 7.5, 35 ± 1°C temperature, was selected and identified as Brevibacterium casei. At 168 h of growth, bacterium showed maximum PCP utilization of 720 mg l−1 and released 900 mg l−1 chloride ion. The bacterium exhibited remarkable ability to significantly reduce Cr6+ and degrade PCP in presence of other metals, between 100–120 rpm aeration and over broad pH (6.5–10.0) and temperature (30–40°C) range. Maximum 78% Cr6+ reduction and 82% PCP degradation was observed at pH 8.0, 35 ± 1°C within 168 h of incubation, 120 rpm and initial concentration of 850 mg l−1 Cr6+ and 1000 mg l−1 PCP. This is the first study reporting 78% Cr6+ reduction and 82% PCP degradation simultaneously by single native bacteria under wide growth conditions utilizing PCP as sole carbon source. This bacterium may potentially be useful for simultaneous bioremediation of Cr6+ and PCP containing wastes in the environment.

Three-quarters of preschool children in India are anaemic. With the aim of identifying a cost-effective strategy for iron supplementation, the study objective was to assess the effectiveness of daily versus biweekly iron-folic acid (IFA: 20 mg elemental iron and 0.1 mg folic acid/tablet) on change in haemoglobin (Hb) levels of preschool children (3-6 years). This was a rural community-based effectiveness study in Uttar Pradesh, North India. IFA was given in two schedules: biweekly (2 tablets/dose) and daily (1 tablet/dose) for 1 year with fortnightly monitoring for adherence. A total of 400 and 403 children were enrolled in daily and biweekly regimes, respectively, of which 57.32 per cent and 50.25 per cent were anaemic (Hb

In this study, strains that are capable of bioaccumulating Cr(VI) were isolated from treated tannery effluent of a common effluent treatment plant. The Cr(VI) concentration in this treated effluent was 0.96 mg/l, much above the statutory limit of 0.1 mg/l for discharge of industrial effluents into inland surface waters in India. In addition to the bioaccumulation, biosorption capabilities of living and dead cells were analysed. Two strains, identified as Bacillus circulans and Bacillus megaterium were able to bioaccumulate 34.5 and 32.0 mg Cr/g dry weight, respectively and brought the residual concentration of Cr(VI) to the permissible limit in 24 h when the initial concentration was 50 mg Cr(VI)/l. Our experimental design accounts for initial as well as final residual concentration of heavy metal while selecting heavy metal accumulating strains during batch studies. Biosorption of Cr(VI) was shown by B. megaterium and an another strain, B. coagulans. Living and dead cells of B. coagulans biosorbed 23.8 and 39.9 mg Cr/g dry weight, respectively, whereas, 15.7 and 30.7 mg Cr/g dry weight was biosorbed by living and dead cells of B. megaterium, respectively. Biosorption by the dead cells was higher than the living cells. This was due to prior pH conditioning (pH 2.5 with deionized water acidified with H2SO4) of the dead cells.

The occurrence of metal tolerant and antibiotic resistant organisms was investigated in tannery effluent. Seventy-seven isolates comprising heterotrophs (41) and coliforms (36) which were tolerant to chromate level of50 microg/ml were selected for detailed study. The majority of the coliforms were resistant to higher levels of chromate (200 microg/ml) whereas around 3% of the heterotrophs were resistant to Cr6+ at a level of150 microg/ml. All chromate tolerant heterotrophs were also tolerant to Cu2+ (100%) whereas only 58.53% coliforms were tolerant to Cu2+. Except in the case of Cd2+ a higher number of heterotrophs were found tolerant to other heavy metals tested. Both groups of isolates were found sensitive to mercury. Resistance to cephaloridine was more abundant (P0.001) in coliforms as compared to heterotrophs. On the other hand a significantly higher number (P0.01) of heterotrophs showed resistance to streptomycin and carbencillin. All coliforms were sensitive to chloramphenicol. Around 80%) and 31.70% of coliforms and heterotrophs exhibited a relationship to the combination of metals and antibiotics. Both heterotrophs and coliforms tolerant to Hg2+ were also resistant to polymixin-B.

Chromate and pentachlorophenol are major pollutants discharged through tanneries. Three bacteria resistant to high Cr(6+) and PCP concentrations simultaneously were isolated. The TVS-3 strain was tolerant to highest 850 mg l(-1) Cr(6+) and 1000 mg l(-1) PCP concentration and concomitantly reduced 69% Cr(6+) and degraded 72% PCP within 168 h at pH 7.5, 35 ± 1°C temperature, was selected and identified as Brevibacterium casei. At 168 h of growth, bacterium showed maximum PCP utilization of 720 mg l(-1) and released 900 mg l(-1) chloride ion. The bacterium exhibited remarkable ability to significantly reduce Cr(6+) and degrade PCP in presence of other metals, between 100-120 rpm aeration and over broad pH (6.5-10.0) and temperature (30-40°C) range. Maximum 78% Cr(6+) reduction and 82% PCP degradation was observed at pH 8.0, 35 ± 1°C within 168 h of incubation, 120 rpm and initial concentration of 850 mg l(-1) Cr(6+) and 1000 mg l(-1) PCP. This is the first study reporting 78% Cr(6+) reduction and 82% PCP degradation simultaneously by single native bacteria under wide growth conditions utilizing PCP as sole carbon source. This bacterium may potentially be useful for simultaneous bioremediation of Cr(6+) and PCP containing wastes in the environment.

Aims: To investigate the genetic basis of Cr(VI) resistance and its reduction to Cr(III) in indigenous bacteria isolated from tannery effluent. Methods and Results: Four bacteria resistant to high Cr(VI) levels were isolated and identified as Bacillus spp. Their Cr(VI) reduction ability was tested. To assess the genetic basis of Cr(VI) resistance and reduction, plasmid transfer and curing studies were performed. Among all, B. brevis was resistant to 180 μg Cr(VI) ml−1 and showed the greatest degree of Cr(VI) reduction (75·8%) within 28 h and its transformant was resistant to 160 μg Cr(VI) ml−1 and reduced 69·9% chromate. It harboured a stable 18 kb plasmid DNA. Transfer and curing studies revealed that both the chromate resistance and reduction were plasmid mediated. The presence of other metal cations did not have any significant effect on Cr(VI) bioreduction. Conclusions: Bacillus brevis was resistant to elevated Cr(VI) levels and may potentially reduce it in short time from an environment where other metal ions are also present in addition to chromium ions. The strain tested shows a positive correlation between genetic basis of Cr(VI) resistance and reduction. Significance and Impact of the Study: To our knowledge, this is the first study on the genetic correlation between chromium resistance and reduction in bacteria. Such strains may potentially be useful in biotechnological applications and in situ Cr(VI) bioremediation.

The present study was undertaken to assess the quality of treated tannery effluent discharged from Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), Unnao, India, to various water bodies and agricultural lands. The physico-chemical analyses revealed that the effluent was yellowish-brown in colour, having alkaline pH, high BOD, COD values and contained large quantities of organic and inorganic constituents well above the prescribed standards. The bacteriological quality was assessed in terms of the presence of heterotrophs and total as well as faecal coliforms. All faecal coliforms were identified as Escherichia coli, of which 50% were found pathogenic after serotyping. Most of the serotypes were uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) 04. The potential risks of the contamination of different ecosystems situated to the vicinity of such sites are obvious. The observations of this investigation indicate that the treated tannery effluent released for various purposes is not satisfactory, and is far from optimal in attaining the safe limits of disposal.

OBJECTIVE: To assess household practices that can affect neonatal health, from the perspective of caregivers and health workers; to identify signs in neonates leading either to recognition of illness or health-care seeking; and to ascertain the proportion of caregivers who recognize the individual items of the integrated management of neonatal and childhood illnesses (IMNCI) programme. METHODS: The study was carried out in a rural community in Sarojininagar Block, Uttar Pradesh, India, using qualitative and quantitative research designs. Study participants were mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, fathers or "nannies" (other female relatives) caring for infants younger than 6 months of age and recognized health-care providers serving the area. Focus group discussions (n = 7), key informant interviews (n = 35) and structured interviews (n = 210) were conducted with these participants. FINDINGS: Many household practices were observed which could adversely affect maternal and neonatal health. Among 200 caregivers, 70.5% reported home deliveries conducted by local untrained nurses or relatives, and most mothers initiated breastfeeding only on day 3. More than half of the caregivers recognized fever, irritability, weakness, abdominal distension/vomiting, slow breathing and diarrhoea as danger signs in neonates. Seventy-nine (39.5%) of the caregivers had seen a sick neonate in the family in the past 2 years, with 30.38% in whom illness manifested as continuous crying. Health care was sought for 46 (23%) neonates. Traditional medicines were used for treatment of bulging fontanelle, chest in-drawing and rapid breathing. CONCLUSION: Because there is no universal recognition of danger signs in neonates, and potentially harmful antenatal and birthing practices are followed, there is a need to give priority to implementing IMNCI, and possible incorporation of continuous crying as an additional danger sign.

Twenty six thermotolerant strains resistant to high levels of chromium (50-250 microg/ml) were isolated from treated tannery effluent. They were also found resistant to multiple heavy metals and antibiotics. Majority of them were resistant to copper and bacitracin. Nine strains representing different resistance patterns were selected for plasmid profile and conjugation studies. Agarose gel electrophoresis results revealed that 6 strains harboured a single plasmid, whereas 3 strains exhibited 2 plasmid bands. Among antimicrobials, co-trimazole and bacitracin and among metals, Cu2+, Cd2+, Zn2+ and Ni2+ resistance were transferred most frequently at variable rates. However, chromium resistance was transferred in 6 strains with a frequency ranging 19-49x10(-2). Resistance to Co2+ and Hg2+ did not transfer under environmental conditions. Among the nine strains, three were found predominantly uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) serotype 04, whereas two strains were untypable. In addition, 4 transconjugants also showed a positive result after serotyping.

This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of anemia among preschool children (3-5 years) and its association with malnutrition in rural Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Three out of 18 sub-centers in Nindura block, Barabanki, each with six villages, were randomly selected for this survey and 654 boys and 546 girls were included. Mean hemoglobin level in g/dL among boys and girls was 10.1 (SD: 1.66) and 9.9 (SD: 1.67) (P0.06) respectively. The proportion of anemic children (Hb11 g/dL) was 70%. Boys were heavier and taller as compared to girls. Among the 67.3% underweight children the mean hemoglobin level was 9.85 (SD: 1.67) as compared to 10.39 (SD: 1.62) in those without malnutrition (P0.0001). Likewise, stunted children (87.6%) had statistically significantly lower mean hemoglobin levels than those not stunted. The odds ratio of an underweight and stunted child having moderate to severe anemia was 1.66. While more than half caretakers knew about the term "anemia " and associated physical weakness with it, only very few (2.5%) knew that iron intake will improve it. They relied on "doctors" (86.7%) for anemia prevention.

The influence of total organic carbon (TOC), pH, and mating temperature on transfer of chromium-resistant plasmid between Escherichia coli strains in terms of variation in the number of transconjugants formed and variation in transfer frequency was investigated. In vitro transfer was studied in five chromate-tolerant E. coli strains isolated from tannery effluent using E. coli K12 J62 (Nal(r) Lac-) as a recipient. Conjugal transfer of different selection markers was observed in three strains. The study was carried out in sterile wastewater. A gradual decrease was observed both in the number of transconjugants and in transfer frequencies as the concentration of TOC in the mating medium descended from 10,095 to 1.2 mg of C/L, obtaining the maximum values with a TOC concentration of 10,095 mg of C/L. The number of transconjugants and the transfer frequency were maximum at 30 degrees C. However, neither the transfer frequency nor the transconjugant number varied significantly in the range of pHs assayed. The strains were also found resistant to different heavy metals and antibiotics. Curing of these strains resulted in loss of one or more resistance markers indicating the plasmid-borne resistance. Itis inferred that plasmid transferby conjugation occurs in wastewater bodies within a wide range of conditions.