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Investment in the small-scale enhancement of groundwater recharge through check dams and other recharge structures in rural India is on the order of USD 1 billion/year. However, for any catchment, the optimal capacity of check dams is unknown, and the impacts on downstream flows are rarely determined. This paper describes a method that can be applied to plan recharge augmentation in catchments that have at least one monitored check dam. It was applied in the Dharta catchment of the Aravalli Hills in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India, where four check dams in an ephemeral stream were monitored by farmers over seven years. For the last three years of this study, the hydrology of two of these check dams was affected by 19 new check dams established upstream. A basic hydrologic model, WaterCress, was calibrated on monitored check-dam storages and used to assess the impacts of the new structures on recharge from those downstream. Then, the model was rerun with a range of capacities of upstream check dams to determine the effects of check-dam capacity on (1) the recharge from the downstream check dam, (2) the total recharge from all check dams, and (3) the frequency of spill from the downstream check dam. Using the available economic information, the benefit–cost ratio was calculated for a range of check-dam capacities. This showed a decline in economic efficiency with each new check dam and defined the optimal capacity. Monsoon size was found to be consequential to results, and longer hydrological records yield more reliable results. The study showed that monitoring check dams, rainfall, and groundwater levels is key to deciding whether additional check dams are economically beneficial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper reports the rediscovery of Helicobarbula porphyreoneura (Müll. Hal.) M.J. Cano in and around Jaigarh fort of Jaipur, Rajasthan (India). The article not only reports in detail the delimitation of Pseudocrossidium and the segregated genus Helicobarbula, where P. porphyreoneurum is currently placed but also provides a detailed description of the species along with illustrations that have not been published yet. Besides this, the current status of the distribution of Helicobarbula and Pseudocrossidium in India is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition among children under the age of five still now is a major public health problem in India. The child nutritional situation remains grim for most of the states, especially in the tribal region. This paper is an attempt to measure the extent of under-nutrition in terms of height/length-for-age (stunting), weight-for-height/length (wasting) and weight-for-age (underweight) for 2-5 year of age tribal girl children in predominantly tribal block Jhadol of district Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. In this study, a total of 152 tribal girls of 2–5-year-old were selected and assessed their anthropometric measurements in terms of weight, height, and MUAC. Z-score for height-for-age (HAZ-score), weight for age (WAZ-score), Weight for Height (WHZscore) and MUAC for age (BAZ-score) were assessed using the WHO standards reference data. The results show that severe undernourishment among the girl children about 48.03% of girl children are moderate to severely stunted (short for age), 46.71% were found moderately and severely acute wasted (weight for height) and around 25.66% of 2-5 year children were found to underweight (weight-for-age) in Jhadol block. The high prevalence of chronic malnourishment in this part of Rajasthan is a matter of grave concern. Malnutrition is a barrier to the development of girl children and its presence indicates that basic physiological needs have not been met. Observation of malnutrition is not only the result of insufficient or inappropriate food intake but also the relation of other factors like availability of food, preparation of food, water supply, sanitization, immunization, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, urbanization and rapid population growth has resulted in a substantial increase in generation of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Safe collection, transportation and treatment of MSW are among the major issues for Indian cities. Poor MSW management practices have negative impact on public health, environment and climate change. India currently only treats 21% of MSW while the remainder disposed in unsanitary landfill sites with no recycling and treatment technologies. This paper reviews the existing MSW management practices, challenges and provides recommendations for improving MSW management for the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan, India. Despite being the state capital as well as the top tourist destination in northern part of India, there is no detailed study which reviews the waste management strategies of this city along with identifying the key challenges. The study reveals that the major challenges for MSW management in Jaipur include uncontrolled landfilling, inadequate public participation as well as failings of implementation of MSW legislation and waste conversion. Recommendations for improvement include public awareness campaigns, public-private partnership, investment in lined landfills, recycling and waste to energy techniques. Optimization models and life cycle assessment tools should be employed to minimize cost and the environmental impact of MSW management. This study will provide policy makers and private sector stakeholders to develop strategies for future planning, investment and execution of improved MSW management in Indian cities. [Display omitted] • In Jaipur city 50% MSW is treated while rest is subjected to unsanitary landfilling. • Indian cities have inadequate MSW management practices treating only 21% of MSW. • Lack of public participation, proper treatment techniques and sanitary landfill in the city. • Recycling facilities, waste to energy techniques and sanitary landfilling is required. • Role of optimization and LCA models in planning suitable MSW management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large quantity of trace metals has been continuously polluting the environment as a result of increasing urbanization and industrial processes. In 2016-2017, the metal (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels were determined in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) at Bais Godam (industrial location) in Jaipur and Chittora (rural location) in Rajasthan, India. Fecal pellets in industrial regions which are under higher anthropogenic influence exhibited higher metal concentrations when compared with the fecal pellets of the same species in rural area which have minimal anthropogenic input, with statistically significant industrial-rural differences in the metal concentrations except for Ni. Results obtained in this study, as well as the comparison with literature data, indicated that concentrations of Cr and Cu were high in fecal pellets of Blue Rock Pigeon in the industrial region of the present study. Furthermore, many significant correlations were also observed between metal levels in the industrial region which could be attributed to a similar source. Moreover, contamination levels of pigeon excrement serve as one of the most compelling indicators in terrestrial systems for the monitoring of metal pollution levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ovarian neoplasms have increased in incidence in leading sites of cancer in five old population based cancer registries on comparing first ten and last ten years data. All three germ layers are afflicted in process of ovarian neoplasmceolomic epithelium, germ cell and sex chord/stromal cells. Due to this, ovarian masses are spread widely over all age groups. However, a correct pathological diagnosis goes a long way in management of the disease and consequent benefit to patient. Aim: To assess the histopathological pattern, age, laterality and distribution of ovarian tumours in a tertiary care centre of tribal part of Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: Retrospective hospital based study wherein 157 ovarian specimens received in Department of Pathology of Geetanjali Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan over a period of three years were studied after obtaining permission of ethical committee. Details such as age, signs and symptoms, laterality were retrieved from patient file. Only benign, borderline or malignant ovarian neoplasm specimens removed surgically were included. Physiological cysts were excluded. Descriptive statistics were used and results were expressed as percentages. Results: Out of 157 ovarian neoplasms, 42 (26.75%) were from hysterectomy specimen, 44 (28.02%) from planned cystectomy for mass, 71 (45.22%) from cytoreductive surgery or tissue obtained from Exploratory Laparotomy. A 63.06%, 33.76% and 3.18% of neoplasms were benign, malignant and borderline, respectively. Extremes of age lied between 14 to 84 years. Mean age for benign, malignant and borderline tumours respectively was 38.60 years (SD 15.21), 47.79 years (SD 14.53) and 38.4 years (SD 14.04) respectively. Unilateral tumours were clearly in abundance with 85.35%. Right-sided tumours were more (49.04%). Surface Epithelial Tumours (SET's), Germ Cell Tumour (GCT's) and Sex Chord Stromal Tumours (SCSCT's) were 59.24 %, 34.39% and 6.37%, respectively. Out of 10 cases, 60% were malignant (Granulosa cell tumour). No metastatic tumour was seen during the study period. Conclusion: To effectively reverse the trend in a developing country like India each and every gynaecologist should be aware and well versed with histo-morphological pattern of ovarian neoplasms specific to a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]