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Ticks are blood-sucking parasites and occur all over the world, especially in humid and subhumid nations such as India. They are very important vectors of many economically important livestock diseases, such as Anaplasma spp., Babesia spp., and Theileria spp. Ticks were collected from organized and unorganized cattle farms situated in and around Mhow. The initially collected samples of ticks (≤200) were washed in tap water and identified as Rhipicephalus microplus. The study was carried out from June 2021 to May 2022. Ticks were treated with 0.625, 1.25, 2.50, 5, and 10% oil of Azadirachta indica in both the adult immersion test and larval immersion test. All the concentrations were prepared with absolute ethanol. In the present study, fipronil was used as a positive control using various concentrations (x/8, x/4, x/2, x, and 2x) and was prepared in distilled water. The LC50 values against fipronil were observed as 1.03 and 1.12 ppm for adults and larvae, respectively. Results of the study showed that the oil of Azadirachta indica was responsible for the mortality of adults (LC50 = 2.70%) and larval stages (LC50 = 1.27%) at all the concentrations used. Furthermore, it was observed that this oil was also responsible for the inhibition of oviposition and had excellent repellent activity at 10% concentration. Based on the study, we can conclude that the oil of A. indica can be used in an integrated tick management system to reduce the tick burden on animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the plains of western North India, traditional rice and wheat cropping systems (RWCS) consume a significant amount of energy and carbon. In order to assess the long-term energy budgets, ecological footprint, and greenhouse gas (GHG) pollutants from RWCS with residual management techniques, field research was conducted which consisted of fourteen treatments that combined various tillage techniques, fertilization methods, and whether or not straw return was present in randomized block design. By altering the formation of aggregates and the distribution of carbon within them, tillage techniques can affect the dynamics of organic carbon in soil and soil microbial activity. The stability of large macro-aggregates (> 2 mm), small macro-aggregates (2.0–2.25 mm), and micro-aggregates in the topsoil were improved by 35.18%, 33.52%, and 25.10%, respectively, over conventional tillage (0–20 cm) using tillage strategies for conservation methods (no-till in conjunction with straw return and organic fertilizers). The subsoil (20–40 cm) displayed the same pattern. In contrast to conventional tilling with no straw returns, macro-aggregates of all sizes and micro-aggregates increased by 24.52%, 28.48%, and 18.12%, respectively, when conservation tillage with organic and chemical fertilizers was used. The straw return (aggregate-associated C) also resulted in a significant increase in aggregate-associated carbon. When zero tillage was paired with straw return, chemical, and organic fertilizers, the topsoil's overall aggregate-associated C across all aggregate proportions increased. Conversely, conventional tillage, in contrast to conservation tillage, included straw return as well as chemical and organic fertilizers and had high aggregate-associated C in the subsurface. This study finds that tillage techniques could change the dynamics of microbial biomass in soils and organic soil carbon by altering the aggregate and distribution of C therein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is a creative instrument for poverty reduction. Pro-Poor Tourism (PPT) provides economic, socio-cultural and even environmental benefits to the globally impoverished community. The main goal of this study is to demystify the constructs of Pro-Poor Tourism and investigate the local community perception regarding the role of tourism in poverty alleviation. The present study attempts to understand the development of pro-poor tourism from social, cultural and economic dimensions by delving into the perceptions of the locally disadvantageous community providing tourism services in the Kashmir region of India. Primary and secondary data have been collected from the targeted respondents through a structured questionnaire for conducting this research. The study areas that have been selected for conducting the present study are Gulmarg (Study Area A) and Pahalgam (Study Area B) from the Kashmir region. The data collected were analysed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression analysis to draw reliable and representative interpretations. The findings of this study may help the strategy makers and other community groups develop effective policy interventions for developing creative tourism practices as an anti-poverty programme that has local and global implications for promoting tourism for Poverty alleviation, ensuring sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in water treatment industries can simultaneously offer disinfection and eradicate organic contaminants. The present work examined the direct exposure impact of various oxidative (UV, O3, and H2O2) and their eclectic combinations (UV/O3, H2O2/O3, and UV/H2O2) for the abolition of Trihalomethane (THMs) precursors. The application of the Fenton process proved to be the most effective technique for reducing TOC (85.23%) and UV254 (91.11%) than other used AOPs. Higher removal of THMs precursors found in the Fenton process may be attributed to the higher degradation potential of hydroxyl radical generated from this process than other AOPs. The deformed ferrous iron salts (Fe2+) in the Fenton reagent catalyzed the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and produced highly reactive radicals. Seasonal probabilistic lifetime cancer and non-cancer risks of THMs in males and females were also investigated in the drinking water supplies of five major cities in India. Comparative risk analysis through different pathways revealed significant risk from oral ingestion (99%), followed by inhalation exposure (0.77%) and dermal absorption (0.002%), where females were found at higher risk of cancer. Sensitivity analysis using a radar plot was also performed to identify the most influential parameter affecting the total risk of cancer. The Risk value of chloroform (CF) was highest among the THMs compound in all the WTPs for both seasons. Seasonal risk assessment revealed a higher risk of cancer in the pre-monsoon season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers, policymakers, and governments are increasingly interested in assessing the ecological health (EH) of lakes and streams. The EH of a lake can be expressed in terms of water quality, trophic state and biodiversity of riparian vegetation, macroinvertebrates and fishes. The ecological health index (EHI) of Renuka lake, Himachal Pradesh of India, was analyzed based on National Sanitation Foundation Water Quality Index (NSFWQI), Carlson's Trophic State Index (TSI), Simpson Diversity Index (SDI), and Shannon-Weiner index (SWI). The results of NSFWQI and CTSI are found in the range of 40-59 and 49.9-58.9 respectively indicating that the water quality was poor to medium and not suitable for drinking purposes but can be used for secondary purposes such as agriculture, industry, and recreation etc. The trophic state of the lake is similarly in the eutrophic range, with an overall EHI of 1.81-2.47, indicating poor to medium trophic status. Apart from analyzed results, the EH category from mesotrophic to a eutrophic state of the lake is caused due to the cultural siltation/nutrient loading, religious practices, land tenurial issues, and uncontrolled tourist pressure followed by recreational activities on water bodies and lake vicinity. Accordingly, suitable restoration methods such as source control, desilting/dredging, and lake aquatic plantation are suggested to recover the ecological health of the lake back to a mesotrophic or oligotrophic state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]