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The land of Himachal is well-known as "Dev Bhoomi " which is the well-suited name authored for Himachal Pradesh, being the place that is known for divine beings, Goddesses and nearby Gods overseeing the neighbourhood life and customs of individuals in the state. Himachal Pradesh has a rich social legacy and gastronomy which presents the anthropological, cultural, environmental and topographical diversity of the state. The influence on culinary culture reflection is seen in the variations of local destination development, movement of local populations, and architecture of houses, clothing styles, food and food habits, availability of raw materials, environmental conditions, and traditional knowledge of the local people. This paper is about how the food culture in Himachal Pradesh, especially in Hamirpur and Una districts, has been influenced by various things like history, geography, culture and how rich or poor people are. The paper talks about how the researchers studied it, such as how they chose who to talk to, how they collected information, and how they looked at the information to learn more. This study will be based on how people eat in Himachal and what food they like. We will be asking 110 people from two different districts about their eating habits, where they like to eat out and how they cook. We will use both new information we collect ourselves and information we get from other sources such as books and websites. We'll use a survey to ask people questions and we can also look at things like diaries and articles to find out more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite a lot of developments in the financial markets, financial illiteracy is a main concern across the world and is directly associated with faulty financial decisions making. The situation is very alarming among a socially or economically marginalized section of society as they cannot afford to pay finance professionals for their wealth management. The objective of the study is to understand the level of financial literacy as well as its determinants among the marginalized section of society living in hilly areas. Design/methodology/approach: The study is descriptive as well as empirical in design and based on primary data collected from the 300 scheduled tribe households of Himachal Pradesh a hilly state of India. Findings: The study observed that financial literacy is very low among the scheduled tribes living, and their level of education, income, family system and Internet accessibility have a significant impact on their financial scores. Practical implications: The outcome of the paper may be useful to design customized awareness programs, and financial products focusing on scheduled tribes living in far-flung areas so that they can get the benefits of market-driven financial products. Social implications: Financial awareness can help scheduled tribes in their financial inclusion thereby reducing poverty and inequality through informed financial decisions. Thus, the outcome if implemented can help in achieving the objective of inclusive growth. Originality/value: No specific work has been done to explore the level as well as the determinants of financial literacy among the scheduled tribe households living in hill areas. This paper will fill this gap and contributes to the existing work on financial literacy and inclusion. Peer review: The peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-01-2023-0008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoral practices throughout the world are in a state of flux, and Gaddi pastoralism in India's Western Himalayas is no exception. Often in literature and common parlance, these practices are predicted to end with the current generation of practising pastoralists. For Gaddi, an agro-pastoral community located in the hill state of Himachal Pradesh in India, these gloomy predictions have remained persistent over decades. Irrespective of these claims, pastoralism continues to remain a viable livelihood option for many within the community even today. However, the institutional dynamics in which these practices are embedded have undergone several changes. In this paper, we discuss the changes in Gaddi pastoralism and its resilience by stressing a critical aspect of labour, often referred to as puhals in their vernacular dialect. Out of the various contextual meanings, we adopt the applied translation of this term as hired herders to understand their role in the larger socio-ecological system amidst the on-going livelihood shifts and declining interest among the Gaddi youth to pursue pastoralism. The data presented in this paper was collected through ethnographic fieldwork conducted during 2018–2019 at Bharmour region of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh, India. Qualitative tools including in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and participant observations were administered. We discuss various aspects of puhal practices among the Gaddis including their recruitment process, need for hiring, involved negotiations over remunerations, skill sets and access to the resources, to highlight the institutional dynamism. Our findings suggest that hiring herders remains a crucial adaptation for the continuation and sustenance of pastoral practices that are facing contingent external pressures. It also facilitates transmission of local knowledge, livelihood and income diversification, accumulation of wealth, social mobility and cultural continuity. We conclude that hired herding, in the face of increasing labour shortages among the Gaddis, offers an innovative proposition to halt the decline in pastoralism and shape its future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) survey states that India has 197 endangered languages. Himachal Pradesh, a state in India, has topped the list with seven definitely endangered languages, and Kinnauri-Pahari being the one. Due to the lack of availability of digitized resources, the corpus compilation is a bit difficult. This paper presents and releases the Kinnauri-Pahari (ISO-639-3:kjo) dataset, consisting of the 43,362 Monolingual and 20,307 Parallel sentences in version_0.1. The dataset was tested on the Statistical, and Neural Machine Translation and their results were evaluated using different evaluation metrics. The corpus is freely available for non-commercial usage and research (https://github.com/phildani7/dlnith/tree/master/Kinnauri-Pahari). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are under stress due to variety of climatic and non-climatic factors. Therefore for suitably managing the forests, vulnerability of the forests needs to be understood. The present paper attempts to estimate the vulnerability of various temperate forests of Western Himalaya due to climate change by analyzing the patterns of different taxonomical indices, based on primary data i.e., vegetation data. The paper presents a novel approach for climate change vulnerability assessment based on field data through a bottom-up approach. The vulnerability of the forests was assessed through the IPCC framework by suitably selecting indicators (taxonomy indices and climatic parameters) for the three dimensions of vulnerability i.e., exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The field data were collected from 17 different temperate forests distributed at the elevation "1600 to 3500 m" in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, India. Abundance and richness for each forest were collected by randomly laying ten quadrats of size 0.1 ha each. The analysis resulted into identifying the most and the least vulnerable temperate forests of the western Himalaya to climate change. The analysis showed that the Neoza Pine; Moist Deodar; Ban Oak and Dry Broadleaved and Coniferous forest were the most vulnerable forests in the Himalayan temperate forests due to climate change. Moreover, the variation in the levels of the vulnerability status of the selected forests was insignificant with elevational range as well as exposure to climate. The proposed method will serve for vulnerability estimation of forests due to climate change based on the actual realization of the species in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural and remote area electrification is of grave concern around the globe. Therefore, well-planned and cost-effective microgrids integrating renewable energy sources are emerging as effective solutions. However, the microgrid's stable operation and its future deployment is affected by the perturbations caused due to uncertainity in renewable sources, dependency on the battery state of charge, and load variation. So, considering the possible concerns affecting the planning and development of a microgrid for any given region, this paper proposes a comprehensive performance assessment of the hybrid residential microgrid based on a load model of Kibber village in Himachal Pradesh, India. The proposed approach is divided into three parts for the best planning of microgrids. Firstly, the MATLAB–Simulink software technically analyzes the system performance under perturbations considering the available renewable sources. Secondly, an economic analysis using HOMER Pro software is done to examine the cost-effectiveness of the proposed microgrid model through the simulation of electrical loads for Kibber village, considering the available renewable sources. Lastly, a real-time analysis of the proposed prototype of programmable logic controller-based hardware test bench has been developed, aiming for future regional microgrid deployment. System voltage, frequency, power shared, percentage of load met, energy cost, available renewable energy resource, etc. have been considered for validating the proposed controller. The proposed comprehensive assessment of the microgrid model is reproducible with necessary modifications for any geographical location. It will be helpful for its future deployment aiming at rural and remote electrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modern urban planning is focused towards encouraging pedestrian movement by ensuring their safety and comfort during the walk. Further, COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly obstructed our normal way of life that includes of our local as well as global transport systems. There is greater need of making the public places more pedestrian friendly with the provision of appropriate walking and cycling networks, which can tackle the social distancing issues. This paper presents a novel approach to quantitatively analyze the efficiency of present urban pedestrian streets in maintaining social distances among pedestrians. The survey research techniques, GIS tool and technique; statistical techniques; and space syntax methods are implemented and tested for evaluating present scenario of the pedestrian movement in relation to the urban layout, in the case of Main-Market Street of Hamirpur town of Himachal Pradesh, India. The regression and correlation analysis is performed between outcomes of axial and segment analysis to establish the interrelation among spatial structure and behavioral phenomena. This paper is an attempt to generate the need of rethinking the pedestrian planning process with more holistic approaches to achieve sustainable urban environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main goal of this research paper is to apply a deep neural network model for time series forecasting of environmental variables. Accurate forecasting of snow cover and NDVI are important issues for the reliable and efficient hydrological models and prediction of the spread of forest. Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) model for the time series forecasting of snow cover, temperature, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) are studied in this research work. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are widely used for forecasting time series due to their adaptive computing nature. LSTM and Recurrent neural networks (RNN) are some of the several architectures provided in a class of ANN. LSTM is a kind of RNN that has the capability of learning long-term dependencies. We followed a coarse-to-fine strategy, providing reviews of various related research materials and supporting it with the LSTM analysis on the dataset of Himachal Pradesh, as gathered. Environmental factors of the Himachal Pradesh region are forecasted using the dataset, consisting of temperature, snow cover, and vegetation index as parameters from the year 2001–2017. Currently, available tools and techniques make the presented system more efficient to quickly assess, adjust, and improve the environment-related factors analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender disparity and gender imbalance are globally pervasive in academia. Research into gender disparity characterizing gender differences uses metrics such as publication rates, author contributions, citation rates and research impact. Previous studies are contradictory in their findings and are limited in scope. As such, the current study examines the research contribution of both men and women in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. A Scopus search was used to identify all articles published over a 20-year period (1999-2018). For each article in the final sample of 2,881 publications, the gender the first author was identified. Both the number and the growth rate of publications by women were lower than those by men. Conversely, the growth in citation rate was higher for women in 2009 and 2016. Gender disparity was found to be highest at the Indian Institute of Wheat and Barley Research and less severe at the HP Govt. Dental College. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himachal Pradesh, a mountainous State of India is located in the Western Himalayas has the climatic conditions and topography that are conducive to the growth and production of a variety of fruits. Himachal Pradesh hosts a number of orchards that have grown overtime and have had a great impact upon the ecology, society and economy of the State in several ways. Fruit cultivation is probably the only cash cropping system in which concerns for the environment and the economic output go hand in hand to the extent that they are paramount in Himachal Pradesh's orchard belts today. While on the one hand greater adoption of fruit farming has brought in economic prosperity on the other it has improved the environment. It has brought larger profits to the growers which they have re-invested in improving their social conditions. A detailed discussion of these impacts becomes inescapable in any study into the fruit farming growth and expansion in the State. The present paper is an attempt to study the implications of the diffusion of orchards on the ecology, society and economy of Himachal Pradesh. The findings are based on both primary as well as secondary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Kinnaur-a Himalayan tribal district of Himachal Pradesh, India, on the Sutlej River and at the Tibet border-Buddhism has been practiced, along with indigenous local Hinduism, for at least a thousand years. From ancient times too, Kinnauras have loved to sing and dance. In Kinnauri villages, jomos (celibate Buddhist nuns) and lamas (who in Kinnaur are male religious specialists and most often married) tell the story of Buddhism by reciting prayers and texts, performing rituals, teaching basic Buddhism, and also, significantly for this paper, by composing and singing songs for their disciples and others. Since the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan monks and nuns first came as refugees to India in 1959, some Kinnauri nuns and monks have gone to study with them in Dharamsala (where the Dalai Lama lives) and elsewhere. So nowadays, both ancient traditions and modern curricula coexist in Kinnaur, and Buddhist women masters transmit Buddhism in various ways. This paper asks and attempts to answer two questions: (1) Are there Buddhist women masters in Kinnaur, and if so, what are they like? (2) Do nuns sing about nuns, and if not, why not? (An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 11 annual DANAM conference 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland (in conjunction with the American Academy of Religion annual meeting) in Session 2, entitled 'Buddhist Women Masters'. And LaMacchia 2013b ("Basic Buddhism in songs: Contemporary nuns' oral traditions in Kinnaur," ) discusses in greater depth the way in which Kinnauri nun gurus compose and sing songs as a method of teaching basic Buddhism.) Using as methods fieldwork research (from 1995 to the present)-participant observation and recorded songs, life stories, and interviews-I argue that there are valid, authentic Buddhist women masters-nun gurus-in Kinnaur, but their mode of being masters-ordinary and celibate renunciants-is different from the mode of the reincarnate male gurus they typically sing about in their songs-extraordinary and non-celibate. The paper describes several contemporary women masters and applies traditional definitions of a master to them (citing Gampopa, the Third Dalai Lama, and others), as well as subcategories suggested by me, and quotes two songs that shed light on the ways in which Buddhist masters are (or are not) perceived and presented. In response to the second question, Why don't nuns sing about nuns-or rather, why is there only one song about a nun, the song of the exemplary renunciant Nyima Zangmo-the paper concludes by suggesting that this simple and understated song may be quite powerful if (as Thapar claims) renunciation, and especially female renunciation, is seen as a form of resistance to the norm which is household life, and if (as I claim) a celibate jomo represents renunciation better than typically non-celibate Kinnauri male lamas do. I offer another, rather speculative possibility, too: that her name Nyima, meaning 'sun', may link her subliminally to reincarnate lamas, said to emit light rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Handlooms, Cottage or Small-Scale businesses produce ornaments, garments, and commodities with distinctive designs and long-lasting durability throughout the Himalayan ranges, which are associated with many regions and states. In India, the state of Himachal Pradesh is located in the Himalayan region, one of the country's seven states. Hispanic and worldwide importance is accorded to the products manufactured by cottage and small-scale enterprises in Himachal Pradesh. Among the international treasures are handkerchiefs from the Chamba district, shawls from Kullu, Shimla (Rampur Bushahar) caps, and Kangra paintings, among others. Due to the effects of industrialization on large-scale highly mechanised industrial production, cottage and small-scale industrial activities in India have suffered significantly during the postindependence period, whereas small-scale industrial activities have relevance to the vast majority of the population in terms of entrepreneurialism, employability, and locally consumed goods. Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Himachal Pradesh face a number of issues today, which the study paper attempts to address in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of educational online tools are very prevalent in the current time due to the advancement in technology, digital transformation, and the better speed of the internet. The digital platform is the most preferable and convenient platform to support advanced educational practices. Being a prominent study tool to manage the lectures, study materials, assignments and other necessary elements related to academics, the learning management system (LMS) has been implemented in most institutions, especially after the lockdown amid the COVID-19, pandemic. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the level of acceptance of the LMS in the North Indian regions of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana with the adoption of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. To check the hypotheses (framed as per the TAM model), the structural equation model (SEM) has been applied which reveals that the acceptance level and the adoption of the LMS system is quite low across the chosen population. The complexity and the novelty of technology in addition to the alternative options of LMS can be the reason for the lower level of acceptance and adoption. The exact reason for the lower level of adoption can be explicitly understood from future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of financial inclusion on poverty alleviation through cooperative banks.Design/methodology/approach In order to fulfil the objectives of the study, primary data were collected from 540 beneficiaries of cooperative banks operating in three northern states of India, i.e., J&K, Himachal Pradesh (HP) and Punjab using purposive sampling during July-December 2015. The technique of factor analysis had been used for summarisation of the total data into minimum factors. For checking the validity and reliability of the data, the second-order CFA was performed. Statistical techniques like one-way ANOVA, t-test and SEM were used for data analysis.Findings The study results reveal that financial inclusion through cooperative banks has a direct and significant impact on poverty alleviation. The study highlights that access to basic financial services such as savings, loans, insurance, credit, etc., through financial inclusion has generated a positive impact on the lives of the poor and help them to come out of the clutches of poverty.Research limitations/implications The study was conducted amidst few limitations. First, the in-depth analysis of the study is restricted to three northern states only because of limited resources and time availability. Second, the study is limited to the perception of financial inclusion beneficiaries only, which, in future, could be carried further on the perception of other stakeholders such as bank officials, business correspondents, village panchayats, etc.Originality/value The study makes contribution towards the financial inclusion literature relating to poverty alleviation and fulfils the research gap to some extent by assessing the impact of financial inclusion on poverty alleviation through cooperative banks. This paper can help the policymakers and other stakeholders of cooperative banks in promoting banking habits among poor rural households both at the national and international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations have been experiencing VUCA situations due to swift technological changes, business competitions, and the COVID-19 pandemic and now its second wave. In order to thrive in these situations, organizations ought to prepare their workforce ready with enhanced resilience. Resilience is the capability of employees to recover quickly from a disruption situations, bounce-back ability and flexibility shown by the employees with their enhanced capabilities and desired work behavior. In order to build resilience and desired work behavior in employees, organizations ought to train their employees. The latest management tool to train the employees by adapting to electronic training method in disruption situations. This paper analyzed e-Training adapted in one of the power plants of National Hydroelectric Power Corporation located in Chamba region Himachal Pradesh. Through a case based approach, information was collected from organizations. The results showed a positive effect upon the employees participating in the various e-Training programs, trainees imbibed desired work behavior and enhanced resiliency. This study showed that the learning through e-Training method is more flexible and cost-effective in contemporary business situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates about the diffusion of sustainability innovation practices in the hotels/resorts of Himachal Pradesh and J&K which are two very crucial states of India, tourists-wise and location-wise. The paper investigates about the percentage of the hotels that have implemented such practices and also the major reasons behind adoption or non-adoption of such practices. To investigate the responses, the research uses Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation which hypothesizes that adoption of such practices depends upon characteristics of the innovation and that of the innovator. The study has been conducted in two northern states of India, viz. Himachal Pradesh and J&K, in 120 hotels belonging to different districts of the two states as these two states represent more than 50% of the northern Himalayan region of India. A study also tries to develop a new instrument to measure environmental sustainability innovations measures in Indian context. Relationships have been established with the help of ANOVA, correlations and regression analysis. The results of the investigation have come out with the findings that the high level of environmental opinion leadership of hotels/resorts is the strongest predictor of the adoption of sustainability innovations. The perceived relative advantage and the trialability of the hotels/resorts are only partially correlated. These results can be extremely useful for the government, innovators, change agents, as well as suppliers of the hotel industry of India and can also be a guide on how to further diffuse sustainability. This study provides a valuable contribution to the emerging fields of hotel sustainability and diffusion of sustainability innovations. Adopting the suggested innovative practices can dramatically transform the way in which the hotels/resorts offer their services and products and hence play a leading role in building a progressive society that promotes a lifestyle that is sustainable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluation of stability of artificial slopes created due to road construction in the mountainous terrain is very important but often a neglected aspect. The safe execution of road-cut slopes depends upon the level of understanding achieved in defining the engineering behaviour of rock masses with respect to its deformation and mechanical attributes. Understanding the realistic response of the rock mass to excavation of rock strata requires proper analysis related to influence of structural elements on their continuous characterization for facilitating safe and economical development of cut slopes along the road sections. In this paper structurally and non-structurally controlled rock slope classification systems are implemented to undertake comprehensive evaluation of stability of road-cut slopes. The work carried out involves collection of various inputs in form of rock mass and discontinuity characteristics from ten cut slopes along a road section in Kullu area, Himachal Pradesh, India. Rock samples were collected from site and laboratory testing has been undertaken to determine the intact rocks strength. Beside these, the kinematic analysis was performed to illustrate the geometrical relationship between various joint sets and the slope face so as to determine their failure mechanism. Several rock mass classification systems developed for rock slope stability assessment are evaluated for known slope conditions. The stability assessment for all identified cut slopes is compared using slope mass rating (SMR), Q-slope and slope stability rating (SSR) methods. Design charts proposed for various factor of safety values have been utilized to evaluate the stability of studied road-cut slopes. Finally, a slope wise comparison is made between the stable angles predicted by SSR with those recommended by Q-slope method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations have been experiencing disruption situations due to COVID-19 pandemic. To overcome the disruption situations, organizations need to prepare their workforce for adaptability to technological changes and desired performance. This is possible only through imparting training on the latest technical know-how and desired human behavior to face the challenges. This paper analyzed e-Training methods adapted by the NHPC's one of the power plants located in the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh State. Secondary data was collected from their intranet/portal. The details of technical e-Training programs conducted during the year 2020, participants list, etc. obtained from Training & HRD of concerned Unit. Most of the training programs were conducted virtually due to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and very few in traditional modes. The analysis of information showed increased dependency on e-Training methods for employees' adaptability to technological changes and thriving capability in disruption situations. The training helped them to imbibe enhanced knowledge, flexibility, and team spirit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Himachal Pradesh is well known in all over the country for taking new steps regarding quality education at school level. The State has implemented various schemes for providing quality education to all students. This paper deals with the role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in school education system. The hilly State has implemented the ICT @ School Scheme in 2010 - 11 in 628 schools. ICT is a global phenomenon, and children who are computer literate at an early stage of their lives might deal better with the modern world. A sound knowledge of ICT makes it much easier for growing students to find and organize information. Many schools have dynamic and vibrant virtual learning methods which gives students access to study materials, skills questions, sample papers and assignments. Some schools even have smart interactive white boards for teaching. Children find it more interesting and become more adept in multimedia presentations when engaging with them in their assignments. The researcher discussed ICT @ School Scheme with respect to schools undertaken in the scheme; selections of subjects, topics included and even the number of hard spots in the subjects concerned. The main challenges related to finance, teachers' competency, administrative and social are being discussed in the thematic paper. The requirement of the trained staff, efficient equipments and need of motivation for using ICT in teaching - learning process are properly highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The current production of bioethanol based on lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) highly depends on thermostable enzymes and extremophiles owing to less risk of contamination. Thermophilic bacterial cellulases are preferred over fungi due to their higher growth rate, presence of complex multi-enzymes, stability, and enhanced bioconversion efficiency. Corncob, underutilized biomass, ensures energy conservation due to high lignocellulosic and more fermentable sugar content. In the present study, the thermophilic bacterium Bacillus aerius CMCPS1, isolated from the thermal springs of Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh, India, was characterized in terms of its activity, stability, and hydrolytic capacity. A two-step process comprising: (i) a combined strategy of hydrodynamic cavitation reaction (HCR)-coupled enzymatic (LccH at 6.5 U) pretreatment for delignification and (ii) subsequent hydrolysis of pre-treated (HCR-LccH) corncob biomass (CCB) using a thermostable cocktail of CMCPS1 was adopted to validate the efficiency of the process. Some of the parameters studied include lignin reduction, cellulose increase, and saccharification efficiency. Result: Among the five isolates obtained by in situ enrichment on various substrates, B. aerius CMCPS1, isolated from hot springs, exhibited the maximum hydrolytic activity of 4.11. The GH activity of the CMCPS1 strain under submerged fermentation revealed maximum filter paper activity (FPA) and endoglucanase activity of 4.36 IU mL−1 and 2.98 IU mL−1, respectively, at 44 h. Similarly, the isolate produced exoglucanase and β-glucosidase with an activity of 1.76 IU mL−1 and 1.23 IU mL−1 at 48 h, respectively. More specifically, the enzyme endo-1,4-β-d glucanase E.C.3.2.1.4 (CMCase) produced by B. aerius CMCPS1 displayed wider stability to pH (3–9) and temperature (30–90 °C) than most fungal cellulases. Similarly, the activity of CMCase increased in the presence of organic solvents (118% at 30% acetone v/v). The partially purified CMCase from the culture supernatant of CMCPS1 registered 64% yield with twofold purification. The zymogram and SDS-PAGE analyses further confirmed the CMCase activity with an apparent molecular mass of 70 kDa. The presence of genes specific to cellulases, such as cellulose-binding domain CelB, confirmed the presence of GH family 46 and β-glucosidase activity (GH3). The multifunctional cellulases of CMCPS1 were evaluated for their saccharification efficiency on laccase (LccH, a fungal laccase from Hexagonia hirta MSF2)-pretreated corncob in a HCR. The lignin and hemicelluloses removal efficiency of HCR-LccH was 54.1 and 6.57%, respectively, with an increase in cellulose fraction (42.25%). The saccharification efficiency of 55% was achieved with CMCPS1 multifunctional cellulases at 50 °C and pH 5.0. Conclusion: The multifunctional cellulase complex of B. aerius CMCPS1 is a potential biocatalyst for application in lignocellulosic biomass-based biorefineries. The saccharification ability of HCR-LccH-pretreated corncob at elevated temperatures would be an advantage for biofuel production from lignocellulosic biomass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Poor discharge communication is associated with negative health outcomes in high-income countries. However, quality of discharge communication has received little attention in India and many other low and middle-income countries. Primary objective: To investigate verbal and documented discharge communication for chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) patients. Secondary objective: To explore the relationship between quality of discharge communication and health outcomes. Methods: Design: Prospective study. Setting: Three public hospitals in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala states, India. Participants: 546 chronic NCD (chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease or diabetes) patients. Piloted questionnaires were completed at admission, discharge and five and eighteen-week follow-up covering health status, discharge communication practices and health-seeking behaviour. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between quality of discharge communication and health outcomes. Outcome measures: Primary: Patient recall and experiences of verbal and documented discharge communication. Secondary: Death, hospital readmission and self-reported deterioration of NCD/s. Results: All patients received discharge notes, predominantly on sheets of paper with basic pre-printed headings (71%) or no structure (19%); 31% of notes contained all the following information required for facilitating continuity of care: diagnosis, medication information, lifestyle advice, and follow-up instructions. Patient reports indicated notable variations in verbal information provided during discharge consultations; 50% received ongoing treatment/management information and 23% received lifestyle advice. Within 18 weeks of follow-up, 25 (5%) patients had died, 69 (13%) had been readmitted and 62 (11%) reported that their chronic NCD/s had deteriorated. Significant associations were found between low-quality documented discharge communication and death (AOR = 3.00; 95% CI 1.27,7.06) and low-quality verbal discharge communication and self-reported deterioration of chronic NCD/s (AOR = 0.46; 95% CI 0.25,0.83) within 18-weeks of follow-up. Conclusions: Sub-optimal discharge practices may be compromising continuity and safety of chronic NCD patient care. Structured protocols, documents and training are required to improve discharge communication, healthcare integration and NCD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As education contributes to social and economic progress, a country's school and college policies must be well-defined and futuristic. In order to make their education systems effective, different nations use a variety of stages throughout their life cycle at the school and college levels, taking tradition and culture into consideration. India's new educational system intends the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) a multidisciplinary education, which was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 29, 2020. The previous National Policy on Education, 1986, has superseded the new policy. The policy provides a comprehensive framework for vocational training, elementary through higher education, in rural and urban India. By 2021, the policy intends to transform India's educational system. The government clarified shortly after the policy's release that no one will be required to study a particular language and that English will remain the medium of instruction, not any regional language. The language policy in NEP is a broad guideline and advisory in nature and the implementation is up to the states, institutions, and schools. India's education is on the Concurrent List. The first state to implement the NEP 2020 is Himachal Pradesh. By 2022, all Indian schools should be following the national educational policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indic rites of purification aim to negate the law of karma by removing the residues of malignant past actions from their patrons. This principle is exemplified in the Kahika Mela, a rarely studied religious festival of the West Himalayan highlands (Himachal Pradesh, India), wherein a ritual specialist assumes karmic residues from large publics and then sacrificed to their presiding deity. British officials who had 'discovered' this purificatory rite at the turn of the twentieth century interpreted it as a variant of the universal 'scapegoat' rituals that were then being popularized by James Frazer and found it loosely connected to ancient Tantric practises. However, observing a recent performance of the ritual significantly complicated this view. This paper proposes a novel reading of the Kahika Mela through the prism of karmic transference. Tracing the path of karmas from participants to ritual specialist and beyond, it delineates the logic behind the rite, revealing that the culminating act of human sacrifice is, in fact, secondary to the mysterious force that impels its acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific information on the spatial variability of soil properties is critical for sustainable production and designing appropriate measures for efficient soil–crop management. The growing urban areas in fertile landscapes are a major concern experiencing a huge anthropogenic onslaught and lack of information on spatial variability of soil properties. Therefore, the present study was carried out to delineate the spatial distribution of some selected soil properties from Balh Valley and its catchment area (Suketi basin) in lower Himachal Himalaya, India. A total of 468 geo-referenced surface soil samples were collected and analyzed for soil pH, EC, OC; primary nutrients (N, P, K); secondary nutrients (Ca and Mg); and DTPA-extractable micronutrients (Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu)following standard procedures. The results showed a significant variation in soil pH (acidic to alkaline), EC (0.08–0.70 dS/m), OC (3–26 g/kg), major nutrients N (41.96–208.03 mg/kg), P (5.80–18.75 mg/kg), and K (53.57–163.64 mg/kg). Among micronutrients, Zn was found below the critical limit toward the extreme fringes of the basin. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and geostatistical approach. The spatial maps were prepared with ordinary kriging (OK) technique after semivariogram modeling and cross-validation approach. The five principal components (PCs) chosen depicted a moderate correlation between the calculated soil attributes. The two management zones (MZs) were derived by performing the fuzzy c-means clustering analysis based on fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) analysis. The spatial maps represent the distribution of soil properties in the valley and its catchment area. The information generated provides baseline data for site-specific fertilizer recommendations for precision agriculture and minimize downstream adverse environmental impact in the Himalayan ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted to examine the frequency and distribution of western disturbances (WD) and their effect on crops grown in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The daily rainfall data was collected for the period of 1971–2021. The results revealed that during the period of 50 years, the WD arrived as early as in the month of October and occurred as late as in May in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. The duration of WD persisted for 1 to 5 days. The number of WD with 1 day duration was found to be highest in May (89) and lowest during the month of November (21). The Man-Kendall and Sen’s slope estimator analysed an annual increasing trend of Z=2.62 number of WD year-1 and Q=0.47 number of WD year-1. The deterministic coefficient explained the positive relationship between the number of WD and productivity at the development stage while showing a negative relationship at the maturity stage of different crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arnebia euchroma (Royle ex Benth.) Johnston, commonly known as 'Ratanjot' is an important medicinal plant species and is found distributed in the western Himalaya at elevations ranging between 3200 - 4500 m above sea level. Considering its potent medicinal properties, cultural significance, declining population density and critically endangered status of this taxon, the present investigation was carried out for the assessment of its availability in the natural alpine landscapes of the Spiti cold desert of western Himalaya in Himachal Pradesh (India). We focused our study on its ecological features, population dynamics and performance in natural habitats, so as to formulate conservation plans. In order to achieve the objectives of the present study, a total of 620 areas were set by using a random sampling technique at six different locations where A. euchroma was found distributed naturally. The highest population density was recorded in undulating meadows (5.30 individuals/m2) with a maximum circumference (4.18±1.80cm) at an elevation of 4240 m above sea level, with maximum frequency of occurrence (100%). Ecological surveys revealed that distribution was restricted in specific habitats rich in soil nutrients with high pH (8.025 - 8.37). The significance of the role of various ecological variables is explained in detail in the present paper. Habitat specificity, low population, and anthropogenic pressure justify the rarity status of this taxon in the Spiti valley. The authors discussed different implications to develop appropriate strategies for a long-term monitoring and sustainability of A. euchroma in the Spiti cold desert of western Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, Indian farmers have leveraged their ancestral know-how and experimented to cultivate different crops in difficult environmental conditions. Of late, however, traditional knowledge and practices have suffered massive erosion, mainly due to the impact of globalization and modernization. In this regard, the objective of the present paper was to document and validate the Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITKs) in the tribal farming system in Himachal Pradesh. Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts of Himachal Pradesh were purposively selected for the study owing to their special status of Scheduled Tribal Area. Further, three villages from each district were selected randomly covering a sample of 120 farmers. In addition, 5 key informants experienced in particular ITKs were selected from each village for its validation through Quantification of Indigenous Knowledge (QuIK) methodology. The major documented ITKs were classified into appropriate categories such as soil and water management, cropping system, farm implements, post-harvest technology, storage, horticultural crops, food product development, agro-animal based yarns and leaves, medicinal, veterinary science, animal husbandry, and some myths. Further, Kothar, Graat, Suttar, tying of branches of trees, and chicha were revealed as the most useful ITKs in the tribal areas of Kinnaur. In Lahaul-Spiti, Khudh, Sumbhu, Sem, and shaving off of yak’s hair in summer were the most popular ITKs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research pinpoints the primary socio-economic issues and inherent circumstances of rural development in Himachal Pradesh, India. It provides a critical analysis of 289 households based on the surveys conducted in 5 villages of Sirmaur district, adopted under the UBA ('Unnat Bharat Abhiyan', transl. 'Developed India initiative'). This study highlights and evaluates the significant socio-economic concerns and rural development challenges based on key factors such as population, education, employment, rural development schemes, livestock assets, property distribution, essential services and transport connectivity. The findings from this study are crucial for identifying priority areas for community capacity building and sustainable rural development including literacy rates, healthcare, and agricultural products. The study emphasizes the prudent use of existing resources and the maximisation of benefits from centrally and state-sponsored schemes for the comprehensive development of the adopted villages under UBA. Although the current initiative is based on the UBA-adopted villages, it may be applied to other rural villages of Himalayan states. This article highlights inter-variations in socio-economic issues such as healthcare, sanitation, waste management, unsustainable agriculture methods, drug misuse, unemployment, and sanitation in the UBA adopted villages in the Sirmaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables are important for both nutritional and economic stability and contribute significantly to the agricultural landscape of India. The demand for vegetables is rising, driven by population growth and increased awareness of their benefits. This empirical study highlights the dynamics of agricultural production supply chain networks of capsicum crops in the northwestern Himalayan region, specifically Himachal Pradesh, India. The study employs the Acharya approach to analyse the various marketing channels utilized by farmers in the capsicum supply chain. This methodology sheds light on the economic nuances at each stage and examines marketing channels, costs, margins, price spread and marketing efficiency. Simultaneously, the Garrett ranking method is applied to discern and prioritize constraints faced by farmers. This comprehensive approach ensures a nuanced understanding of the economic and logistical intricacies of capsicum marketing. The analysis of marketing channels reveals five distinct pathways employed by farmers, with Channel-C (Producer–Commission Agent–Retailer–Consumer) standing out as the most dominant, representing 47.25% of the total quantity. Moreover, Channel-A (Producer–Consumer) proves to be the most cost-effective for producers and boasts the highest producer price, while Channel-C, involving commission agents, incurs higher costs. This suggests a preference for intermediaries, emphasizing factors like market access and negotiation skills, whereas Channel-D (Producer–Local Trader–Wholesaler–Retailer–Consumer) has the highest gross marketing margin, emphasizing the trade-offs between efficiency and transaction volume. The results indicate that while Channel-A is the most efficient, it is not the preferred choice due to the lower transaction quantity. Further, the absence of market consultation services, inadequate road infrastructure, high commission charges, nonremunerative prices and untimely availability of vehicles are the major constraints in marketing. The findings of the study call for targeted interventions to create a more robust and farmer-friendly marketing environment for capsicum crops in the region. The study proposes targeted recommendations, emphasizing collaborative efforts between stakeholders, government bodies and farmers. This research contributes to the academic discourse and also offers actionable insights for researchers and policymakers, fostering sustainability, profitability and equity within the capsicum supply chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change stands as a formidable challenge of our era, with extensive repercussions for both the environment and human societies. Its effects are unevenly distributed, intersecting with and exacerbating existing social, economic, and political disparities. A notable aspect of this inequality is the gendered impact of climate change, which disproportionately affects women, girls, and marginalized groups due to prevailing gender inequalities and systemic discrimination. This article delves into the gendered facets of climate change, drawing on anecdotes from the horticulture community in Kotkhai tehsil, Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh, to illuminate how it intensifies gender disparities and presents distinct challenges to different genders. The community's narratives reveal the varied impacts on women and men, underscoring the need to understand the intricate links between gender, climate, and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the on-the-ground realities of upstream-downstream negotiations and transactions over ecosystem services. We explore the engagement, negotiation, implementation, and postimplementation phases of a "reciprocal water access" (RWA) agreement between village communities and municipal water users at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. We aim to highlight how external actors drove the payments for ecosystem services agenda through a series of facilitation and research engagements, which were pivotal to the RWA's adoption, and how the agreement fared once external agents withdrew. In the postimplementation period, the RWA agreement continues to be upheld by upstream communities amidst evolving, competing land-use changes and claims. The introduction of cash payments for environmental services for forest-water relationships has given rise to multifaceted difficulties for the upstream hamlets, which has impeded the functionality of their forest management committee. Upstream communities' formal rights and abilities to control and manage their resources are dynamic and need strengthening and assurance; these developments result in fluctuating transaction and opportunity costs not originally envisaged by the RWA agreement. The paper demonstrates the importance of an explicit understanding of the local politics of negotiation and implementation to determine the effectiveness of compensationbased mechanisms for the supply of ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biology of Platynaspis saundersi (Crotch) was studied under laboratory conditions at the Department of Entomology, Dr YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Himachal Pradesh, India. The mean preoviposition period was 7.00± 0.21 days, while the oviposition period was 43.50± 0.35 days. The female lays 130.30± 5.96 eggs and the hatching was 86.32± 3.12%, with incubation period being 5.0± 0.47 days and the larval period was for 12.40± 0.35 days. The observed prepupal and pupal periods were 1.50± 0.48 and 7.50± 0.21 day, with longevity of male and female being 70.00± 2.00 and 79.00± 0.89 days, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The remote Himalayan region of Kinnaur in northwestern India is known for its carved wooden homes with decorative features. Relatively recent environmental policies have prompted limitations on wood collection. This, coupled with an increase in access to modern building materials, has resulted in dramatic changes in vernacular housing styles. Landscape analysis and interviews reveal that house form, building methods, and construction materials are all changing. However, decorative features are among the last remaining characteristics of the traditional house. This paper argues that small-scale architectural features are a significant part of an enduring vernacular landscape and allow a region to preserve traditional styles and identity, while also moving forward as a modernizing society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the backbone of Indian economy and farmers play significant role in sustaining the sector. However, farmers face several challenges such as poor market access and limited access to market information which adversely affect their marketing performance. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the marketing performance and factors influencing farmers choice for agricultural output marketing channels in garden pea in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The study utilized primary data collected through structured questionnaires administered via the interview method to a sample size of 400 farmers selected through a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and acharya approach to study the marketing performance. Further, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to determine the factors that influence farmers marketing choice of marketing channels. Additionally, the constraints experienced by farmers during marketing were investigated using garret ranking. The study revealed that farmers who sold their pea directly to consumer had higher marketing performance than those who sold through market intermediaries such as local traders, commission agents and wholesalers. Further, the results indicated that farm income, farm experience, distance to the market and market information were significant determinants of farmers choice for marketing channels.Whereas, lack of market consultancy, high commission chargers and poor transportation were the major constraints faced by farmers during marketing of pea. The findings of this study highlight the need for policymakers to develop and implement interventions that enhance farmers marketing skill, facilitate access to markets, improve negotiation power which can lead to higher incomes for farmers, improve their livelihoods, better quality produce for consumers and a more effcient and sustainable food system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bionutrients play a vital role in enhancing soil productivity and sustainable agricultural production. In vegetable crops, limited information is available on the relevance of bionutrients in solanaceous crops under protected conditions. Therefore, an experiment was planned to study the response of bionutrients under the modified naturally ventilated polyhouse in mid-hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh for two consecutive years. Various bell pepper varieties, viz., Mekong, Orobelle, Indra and DPCY1, were subjected to a set of bionutrient sources (beejamrit, ghanjeevamrit, jeevamrit and mulching). The results showed that there was a substantial increase in yield parameters in the treatment module, i.e., Mekong + beejamrit@ 200 ml/kg + ghanjeevamrit@5q/ha + jeevamrit @ 500 lt/ha at 21-day intervals + mulching @ 10 t/ha. This treatment exhibited a minimum number of days to 50% flowering (24.16), maximum number of marketable fruits per plant (28.40), fruit length (7.68 cm), fruit breadth (7.70 cm), pericarp thickness (9.15 mm), average fruit weight (109.53 g), plant height (84.06 cm) and marketable yield per plant (3.11 kg). However, Mekong + beejamrit @ 200 ml/kg + ghanjeevamrit @5q/ha + jeevamrit@ 500 lt/ha at 28-day intervals + mulching @ 10 t/hattreatment proved best for total soluble solids (4.58 °Brix), ascorbic acid (166.50 mg/100 g), capsaicin content (6.64%) and carotenoid content (2.43 mg/100 g). Horticultural and biochemical traits were appreciably enhanced after bionutrient application in bell pepper. Therefore, outcomes from the study point out that it is a feasible and economical approach for farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental health conditions are common during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Early detection allows timely support and treatment to be offered, but identifying perinatal mental health conditions may be challenging due to stigma and under-recognition of symptoms. Asking about symptoms of mental health conditions during routine antenatal and postnatal appointments can help to identify women at risk. This study explores women's awareness of perinatal mental health conditions, their views on the acceptability of being asked about mental health and any preference for specific assessment tools in two regions in India. Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with pregnant, post-partum and non-perinatal women in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh (northern India) and Bengaluru, Karnataka (southern India). Settings included a hospital antenatal clinic and obstetric ward, Anganwadi Centres and Primary Health Centres. FGDs were facilitated, audio-recorded and transcribed. Narratives were coded for emerging themes and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Seven FGDs including 36 participants were conducted. Emerging themes were: manifestations of and contributors to mental health conditions; challenges in talking about mental health; and the acceptability of being asked about mental health. Difficult familial relationships, prioritising the needs of others and pressure to have a male infant were cited as key stressors. Being asked about mental health was generally reported to be acceptable, though some women felt uncomfortable with questions about suicidality. No preference for any specific assessment tool was reported. Conclusions: Women face many stressors during the perinatal period including difficult familial relationships and societal pressure to bear a male infant. Being asked about mental health was generally considered to be acceptable, but questions relating to suicidality may be challenging in a community setting, requiring sensitivity by the interviewer. Future studies should assess the acceptability of mental health assessments in 'real world' antenatal and postnatal clinics and explore ways of overcoming the associated challenges in resource-constrained settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mountain systems of the Himalayan regions are changing rapidly due to climatic change at a local and global scale. The Indian Western Himalaya ecosystem (between the tree line and the snow line) is an underappreciated component. Yet, knowledge of vegetation distribution, rates of change, and vegetation interactions with snow-hydroclimatic elements is lacking. The purpose of this study is to investigate the linkage between the spatiotemporal variability of vegetation (i.e., greenness and forest) and related snow-hydroclimatic parameters (i.e., snow cover, land surface temperature, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and Evapotranspiration (ET)) in Himachal Pradesh (HP) Basins (i.e., Beas, Chandra, and Bhaga). Spatiotemporal variability in forest and grassland has been estimated from MODIS land cover product (MCD12Q1) using Google Earth Engine (GEE) for the last 19 years (2001–2019). A significant inter- and intra-annual variation in the forest, grassland, and snow-hydroclimatic factors have been observed during the data period in HP basins (i.e., Beas, Chandra, and Bhaga basin). The analysis demonstrates a significant decrease in the forest cover (214 ha/yr.) at the Beas basin; however, a significant increase in grassland cover is noted at the Beas basin (459 ha/yr.), Chandra (176.9 ha/yr.), and Bhaga basin (9.1 ha/yr.) during the data period. Spatiotemporal forest cover loss and gain in the Beas basin have been observed at ~7504 ha (6.6%) and 1819 ha (1.6%), respectively, from 2001 to 2019. However, loss and gain in grassland cover were observed in 3297 ha (2.9%) and 10,688 ha (9.4%) in the Beas basin, 1453 ha (0.59%) and 3941 ha (1.6%) in the Chandra basin, and 1185 ha (0.92%) and 773 ha (0.60%) in the Bhaga basin, respectively. Further, a strong negative correlation (r = −0.65) has been observed between forest cover and evapotranspiration (ET). However, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.99) has been recorded between grassland cover and ET as compared to other factors. The main outcome of this study in terms of spatiotemporal loss and gain in forest and grassland shows that in the Bhaga basin, very little gain and loss have been observed as compared to the Chandra and Beas basins. The present study findings may provide important aid in the protection and advancement of the knowledge gap of the natural environment and the management of water resources in the HP Basin and other high-mountain regions of the Himalayas. For the first time, this study provides a thorough examination of the spatiotemporal variability of forest and grassland and their interactions with snow-hydroclimatic factors using GEE for Western Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, a cauldron of land and resource conflicts, driven by the increasing demand for land and resources by investors and infrastructure projects has surfaced, often at the expense of millions of rural poor. The concept of land acquisition disturbs the land owners as these individuals subsist on these resources for their livelihood. To overcome such situations, the concept of 'Land pooling' can be introduced, consolidating scattered land parcels for a unified public utility and infrastructure provision. Out of which, a share is taken for the intended development and the rest is then redivided among the owners. The present study was conducted through a pilot survey considering opinions and overviews from the owners, planning officials, and private investors on conventional land use management practices. Thereafter, a scientific model based on a literature review and field survey, recommending the concept of land pooling and reconsolidation was developed and discussed with the same stakeholders again. Subsequently, stakeholders' feedback was taken for the understanding and acceptance of land pooling. The study concludes that with alternative land use management, cadastral parcels can be converted to regularized land plots, with more economic value leading to efficient, sustainable and equitable land development. It further showed that proper land reconstitution can lead to an optimized land utilization pattern resulting in the possibility of more accessible, planned, fair, and resilient urban development. It can also be used for the development of Greenfield and brownfield areas along with redevelopment and revitalization of old unplanned towns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest fires have significant impacts on economies, cultures, and ecologies worldwide. Developing predictive models for forest fire probability is crucial for preventing and managing these fires. Such models contribute to reducing losses and the frequency of forest fires by informing prevention efforts effectively. The objective of this study was to assess and map the forest fire susceptibility (FFS) in the Indian Western Himalayas (IWH) region by employing a GIS-based fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (Fuzzy-AHP) technique, and to evaluate the FFS based on forest type and at district level in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Seventeen potential indicators were chosen for the vulnerability assessment of the IWH region to forest fires. These indicators encompassed physiographic factors, meteorological factors, and anthropogenic factors that significantly affect the susceptibility to fire in the region. The significant factors in FFS mapping included FCR, temperature, and distance to settlement. An FFS zone map of the IWH region was generated and classified into five categories of very low, low, medium, high, and very high FFS. The analysis of FFS based on the forest type revealed that tropical moist deciduous forests have a significant vulnerability to forest fire, with 86.85% of its total area having very high FFS. At the district level, FFS was found to be high in sixteen districts and very high in seventeen districts, constituting 25.7% and 22.6% of the area of the IWH region. Particularly, Lahul and Spiti had 63.9% of their total area designated as having very low FSS, making it the district least vulnerable to forest fires, while Udham Singh Nagar had a high vulnerability with approximately 86% of its area classified as having very high FFS. ROC-AUC analysis, which provided an appreciable accuracy of 79.9%, was used to assess the validity of the FFS map produced in the present study. Incorporating the FFS map into sustainable development planning will assist in devising a holistic strategy that harmonizes environmental conservation, community safety, and economic advancement. This approach can empower decision makers and relevant stakeholders to take more proactive and informed actions, promoting resilience and enhancing long-term well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Chlorolepiota Sathe & Deshpande is a monotypic genus represented by C. mahabaleshwerences Sathe & Deshpande. In this paper, a new species, Chlorolepiota brunneotincta, is described, based upon macroscopic, microscopic, and molecular studies undertaken on the collection from Solan Himachal Pradesh (India). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing the array of effects that invasive alien species have, documenting their status from biodiversity rich regions has been much emphasized. Lack of such studies is a major limitation that hampers proper management of alien species. The present paper, therefore, documents the alien flora of the Indian Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (HP) based on data obtained from literature and herbarium records. The alien flora of HP comprises of 497 species belonging to 85 families. Majority of them belong to family Asteraceae (59 species), followed by Poaceae (47 species) and Fabaceae (43 species). Amongst the genera, Ipomoea (9 species), Eucalyptus and Euphorbia (7 species each) are the most predominant. Herbs constitute the majority (i.e., 73 %) of alien species and a large percentage of them (i.e., 22.94 %) have South America as their native region. Further, of the total alien species, 248 are intentional introductions and majority (31 % species) have been introduced for ornamental purposes. It was revealed that 34 % species have naturalized while 29 % species have become invasive. Today, in addition to human-disturbed landscapes, alien species have also been reported from dense forests. Himalaya being a biodiversity hotspot and HP being a bio-rich Himalayan state, it is hoped that this inventory and assessment of alien flora will help in designing informed management and monitoring strategies against problematic plant invasions in the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cognitive impairment, characteristic of dementia, is measured objectively by standard neuropsychological (cognitive) tests. Given the diversity of culture and language in India, it is difficult to use a single modified version of MMSE uniformly to Indian population. In this article, we report methods on the development of a cognitive screening instrument suitable for the tribal (Bharmour) elderly (60 years and above) population of Himachal Pradesh, India. Materials and Methods: We used a systematic, item-by-item, process for development of a modified version of MMSE suitable for elderly tribal population. Results: The modifications made in the English version of MMSE and the pretesting and pilot testing thereof resulted in the development of Bharmouri version of cognitive scale. Discussion: The study shows that effective modifications can be made to existing tests that require reading and writing; and that culturally sensitive modifications can be made to render the test meaningful and relevant, while still tapping the appropriate cognitive domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper quantifies and reviews the natural resource use in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (HP). Twenty-five percent of the geographical area of HP is under forests and harbour ca. 3,400 plant species. The available bioresources not only support the livelihood of nearly 6 million people but also fulfill the forage requirement of 5.2 million livestock. Thus, dependence on bioresources is manifold. Based on field surveys to different localities of HP and analyses of published information, two types of resource use patterns have been identified. One, the direct use of forest resources which is represented by extraction of timber, fuelwood and fodder; and the second represents indirect resource use from the forest that is represented by activities related to agriculture, tourism and industry. Amongst the direct resource use, annual timber requirement of the local people works out to be 310,063 m. On the other hand, annual fuelwood and fodder requirement of local people is to the tune of 3,646,348.8 and 10,294,116.5 tons, respectively. Extraction of fodder therefore appears to be one of the main reasons for forest degradation in HP as opposed to timber and fuelwood extraction. However, compared to direct resource use, indirect resource use and pressures have far more pronounced effect on the forests. Of the indirect pressures, shifts in agriculture patterns and increased tourism seem to be the most prominent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development activities in mountainous region though provide comfort to the human being and enhance the socioeconomic status of the people but create pressure on the bio-resources. In this paper, the current status of land use/landcover and the vegetation communities of the Solang valley watershed in Himachal Pradesh of Indian western Himalaya has been mapped and presented using remote sensing. This watershed area was dominated by alpine and sub-alpine pastures (30.34%) followed by scree slopes (22.34%) and forests (21.06%). Many tree, shrub, and herb species identified in the study area are among the prioritized species for conservation in the Indian Himalayan Region. Thus, scientific interventions and preparation of action plans based on ecological survey are required for conservation of the Solang valley watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diversified Farming System is one of the main constituents of the National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) to enable the farmers of a specified area to obtain maximum possible returns in addition to ensure a balanced productive system in the farming. But, various field experiences have shown the reluctance of farmers in adopting a complete package of practices recommended under the system due to various constraints. To explore these constraints, the study conducted in the "Chaura Watershed" of Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh revealed the main constraints as (i) non-availability of inputs timely such as improved varieties' seeds / seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, etc.; (ii) high cost of inputs and lack of finance for purchasing them; (iii) undulating small land holding having low fertility due to frequent soil erosion; (iv) inclement weather conditions particularly at critical stagesof crop growth; (v) road blockade at the time of transportation, inadequate supply of packaging material and lack of remunerative prices for quality produce; (vi) lack of technical guidance in complete package of technology; (vii) lack of farmers' participation in the development work; (viii) low frequency of on-campus as well as off-campus training for farmers particularly for Mitra Kisans (Friend Farmers) and Gopals (Care-takers of common/waste land development activities); and (ix) lack of adequate publicity regarding implementation and functioning of the project. In addition, some strategical points for promoting the adoption of diversified farming system have also been discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Himachal Pradesh in India is one of the most important hotspots when it comes to landslides; and Kandaghat, a tehsil in the Solan district of Himachal Pradesh having religious and tourism importance, is substantially affected by frequent landslides causing road blocking. In the present study, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and certainty factor (CF) techniques, which form part of the geographic information system (GIS)-based landslide susceptibility models, were used to prepare a landslide susceptibility map for the Kandaghat region, for which, as a preliminary step, an inventory of 214 live landslides was prepared from the Bhukosh data directory. The landslide inventory was cross-verified on the Google Earth platform. About nine landslide causative factors (slope, curvature, aspect, soil, rainfall, land use–land cover, lithology, drainage density and lineament density) were considered for the study area, and against the backdrop of these, the corresponding thematic maps were prepared and used in turn for the preparation of the final landslide susceptibility map. Based on the two mentioned techniques, the thematic maps were assigned weights according to their prominence and dynamic processes in the study area. The model performance for each method was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), and the accuracies for the AHP and CF were ascertained as, respectively, 81% and 85.6%. The Himalayan terrains are significantly prone to landslides, and this study outlines the characteristics of one of the important Himalayan towns in terms of vulnerability for landslides, together with providing its classification in terms of slope deformation susceptibility; this procedure can help direct attention towards areas needing to be classified under high to very high landslide susceptibility zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination with faecal matter is usually the main cause of microbial waterborne diseases. Such diseases are an alarming situation for small cities in developing countries like India. In this research, to check the microbiological status of drinking water in Solan, Himachal Pradesh (India), water samples were collected from baories/stepwells (n = 14), handpumps (n = 9), and the municipal water distribution system (MWDS) (n = 2) in alternative months of the year (covering three main seasons). In 6 months, 150 samples were collected, and they were all examined for the presence of total coliforms and other bacterial pathogens. The associations between the isolates' ecological and seasonal prevalence were also examined. The coliforms were detected by the Most Probable Number (MPN) method, whose range was noticed from the 2–540/100-ml MPN index. The colony forming unit (CFU) count for different samples at the base log 10 value ranged from 3.03 to 6.19. Different genera isolated and identified were Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteric subsp. enterica, Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Overall, 74% of the isolates identified in water samples were from the Enterobacteriaceae family. E. coli was about 42.67% (n = 102), followed by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica 20.92% (n = 50), Staphylococcus aureus 13.38% (n = 32), Pseudomonas spp. 12.55% (n = 30), and Klebsiella spp. 10.46% (n = 25) amongst the total of 239 isolates. The seasonal impact and the dependency of the occurrence of bacteria on one another were determined to be insignificant in the Spearman correlation test. These results showed that external factors (anthropogenic activities) are mainly responsible for the presence of these bacteria in water resources. The occurrence of bacterial isolates has been noticed in all water samples, irrespective of collecting site or season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The almond, a commercially important tree nut crop worldwide, is native to the Mediterranean region. Stone fruit trees are affected by at least 14 'Candidatus Phytoplasma' species globally, among which 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' is one of the most widespread phytoplasma infecting Prunus dulcis, causing aster yellows disease. Recently, almond plantations of Nauni region were consistently affected by phytoplasma, as evidenced by visible symptoms, fluorescent microscopic studies and molecular characterization. During several surveys from May to September 2020- 2022, almond aster yellows phytoplasma disease showing symptoms such as chlorosis, inward rolling, reddening, scorching and decline with an incidence as high as 40%. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic almond trees and the presence of phytoplasma was confirmed through fluorescent microscopic studies by employing DAPI (4, 6-diamino-2-phenylindole) that showed distinctive light blue flourescent phytoplasma bodies in phloem sieve tube elements. The presence of phytoplasma in symptomatic almond trees was further confirmed using nested PCR with specific primer pairs followed by amplification of 16S rDNA and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer (IS) fragments. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of expected amplicon of the 16S rDNA gene confirmed that the almond phytoplasma in Himachal Pradesh was identical to the aster yellows group phytoplasma. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA almond phytoplasma also grouped 'Prunus dulcis' aster yellows phytoplasma within 16SrI-B subgroup showed 94% nucleotide identity with 'Prunus dulcis' phytoplasma PAEs3 and 'Prunus dulcis' phytoplasma PAE28 from Iran. This research presents the first host report of 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' infecting almonds in India, expanding the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of phytoplasma strains affecting almond trees globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetable cultivation holds importance in Himachal Pradesh agriculture as it provides food, nutrition, and financial security. The present study examines the profitability and resource use efficiency in vegetable cultivation in Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh. The study was based on primary data collected during 2017-18 from 60 farmers selected randomly using three-stage sampling techniques. The study found that growing vegetables on sample farms was very profitable as the net returns over total cost were positive in all crops. Moreover, the return per rupee investment ratio was greater than one, demonstrating that vegetable growing is economically efficient. The outcomes of the production function indicated increasing returns to scale for all vegetables except garlic, implying that by increasing all production variables (area, seed, FYM & fertilizers, human labour, irrigation, and plant protection measures) by one per cent, the production will increase by more than one per cent. This shows that there is still the possibility of expanding output. The marginal value productivity analysis revealed that the farmers in the study area may improve their earnings by enhancing the use of variable inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 99DOTS is a cellphone-based digital adherence technology. The state of Himachal Pradesh, India, made 99DOTS available to all adults being treated for drug-sensitive tuberculosis (TB) in the public sector in May 2018. While 99DOTS has engaged over 500,000 people across India, few studies have evaluated its effectiveness in improving TB treatment outcomes. Methods: We compared treatment outcomes of adults with drug-sensitive TB before and after Himachal Pradesh's 99DOTS launch using data from India's national TB database. The pre-intervention group initiated treatment between February and October 2017 (N = 7722), and the post-intervention group between July 2018 and March 2019 (N = 8322). We analyzed engagement with 99DOTS and used multivariable logistic regression to estimate impact on favorable treatment outcomes (those marked as cured or treatment complete). Results: In the post-intervention group, 2746 (33.0%) people called 99DOTS at least once. Those who called did so with a wide variation in frequency (< 25% of treatment days: 24.6% of callers; 25–50% of days: 15.1% of callers, 50–75% of days: 15.7% of callers; 75–100% of days: 44.6% of callers). In the pre-intervention group, 7186 (93.1%) had favorable treatment outcomes, compared to 7734 (92.9%) in the post-intervention group. This difference was not statistically significant (OR = 0.981, 95% CI [0.869, 1.108], p = 0.758), including after controlling for individual characteristics (adjusted OR = 0.970, 95% CI [0.854, 1.102]). Conclusions: We found no statistically significant difference in treatment outcomes before and after a large-scale implementation of 99DOTS. Additional work could help to elucidate factors mediating site-wise variations in uptake of the intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]