Areas Of Uttarakhand Research Articles

The prevalence of Tuberculosis in HIV patients and their correlation with CD4+ count in a tertiary care hospital in Rishikesh, gateway to the Himalayas

IntroductionTuberculosis is the most common serious opportunistic infection in HIV-positive patients. TB can occur at any time during the course of HIV infection. The estimated number of people living with HIV in India in 2019 was 23.48 lakh. With an estimated 2.5 million cases, or 195 cases per 1 lakh people, India has the highest incidence of tuberculosis cases worldwide, accounting for about 23% of all cases, according to MOHFW India. Information about HIV/TB co-infection is still scarce in India, especially in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Material and methodsIn this retrospective study, subjects are the patients who are diagnosed with MTB in HIV-positive patients of all age groups and sex and were followed up from January 2021 till August 2022 in a tertiary referral hospital AIIMS Rishikesh.Diagnosis of MTB was based on clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging signs, and HIV was based on dot blot, immunochromatographic, and chemiluminescence assay. ResultA total of 520 patients screened for HIV were positive. Out of which 145 were MTB in which 133 had pulmonary tuberculosis and 12 had extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. The patients' average age was 35.5 years. Among males, females and transgender, 97 (66.89%), 46 (31.72%) and 2 (1.38%) have both TB and HIV co-infections respectively.Mean CD4 count prior to ATT was 350.21, After completion was 486.48. The prevalence of Tuberculosis among HIV positive cases was 23.8%.Baseline and latest CD4 count was conducted before and after ART and ATT treatment. It was observed that there was significant increase in the CD4 count after treatment. ConclusionHIV co-infection with TB is higher in this region. There is a role of CD4+ count in the prognosis and progression of the disease. More strategic measures are required for early diagnosis and treatment of HIV to combat MTB.

Pharmacognostical study of stem and bark of bauhinia vahlii (wight & arn)

Bauhinia is known by its medicinal effect in the body system as because it is used in many disease for their initial treatment with no such sevier side effect. This research based on the testing of the plant Bauhinia vahlii and its wide analysis. Plant was collected mainly from threeregions of India Uttarakhand (Pithoragarh, Kathgodam, Gathiya). Stem and Bark part of the plant is taken for research. The research elaborates transverse and longitudinal section of this plant. Research include analysis and testing of the plant with addition of it chromatography by the HPTLC. The complete research done by study of steam and bark of the plant Bauhinia vahlii. The result obtain by the research in the constituents of steam and bark clearly shows all the characterization and positive approach towards the health benefit of it. As traditionally it is seen to usage of its leaf in the covering of some edible sweets like singauri because of its extraordinary pharmaceutical benefits which seems in the result came by this research. This creeper like medicinal plant with structurally wide leaf is widely grows in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand by itself.

Strategy to reduce the migration from hilly areas of Uttarakhand

Strategy to reduce the migration from hilly areas of Uttarakhand

IJCM_238A: Level of awareness regarding antimicrobial resistance among residents in a hilly area of Uttarakhand: A cross sectional study

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a global threat to public health, it demands a comprehensive understanding and awareness among people. With overuse and misuse of antibiotics, there is increasing need to assess knowledge levels within community to formulate effective interventions. This study aims to detect this knowledge gap and contribute to the efforts in combating AMR. Objectives: 1. To assess the level of awareness among residents of study area regarding antibiotics, their appropriate use and concept of AMR. 2. To pinpoint specific areas of misunderstanding or misinformation regarding AMR. Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among community members in hilly region of Uttarakhand in October and November 2023. Simple random sampling technique was used to select respondents. A predesigned semi-structured questionnaire was used to interview the respondents by home visits. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Mean age of respondents is 33.35 ±13.8 in years, 44.7% of the respondents believed that sometimes to save time, they can purchase antibiotics from pharmacist without asking a doctor. 37.8% respondents believe that they can share antibiotics with friends or relatives for similar symptoms. There is a clear pattern in terms of age, respondents between 18-34 years of age are more aware regarding AMR as compared to higher age groups. Conclusion: More than half of the respondents are unaware regarding antimicrobial resistance and the specific areas of misunderstanding among respondents are that length of antibiotic course and poor sanitation and hygiene determines development of AMR.

Distribution Model Reveals Rapid Decline in Habitat Extent for Endangered Hispid Hare: Implications for Wildlife Management and Conservation Planning in Future Climate Change Scenarios.

The hispid hare, Caprolagus hispidus, belonging to the family Leporidae is a small grassland mammal found in the southern foothills of the Himalayas, in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Despite having an endangered status according to the IUCN Red List, it lacks studies on its distribution and is threatened by habitat loss and land cover changes. Thus, the present study attempted to assess the habitat suitability using the species distribution model approach for the first time and projected its future in response to climate change, habitat, and urbanization factors. The results revealed that out of the total geographical extent of 188,316 km2, only 11,374 km2 (6.03%) were identified as suitable habitat for this species. The results also revealed that habitat significantly declined across its range (>60%) under certain climate change scenarios. Moreover, in the present climate scenario protected areas such as Shuklaphanta National Park (0.837) in Nepal exhibited the highest mean extent of habitat whereas, in India, Dibru-Saikhowa National Park (0.631) is found to be the most suitable habitat. Notably, two protected areas in Uttarakhand, India, specifically Corbett National Park (0.530) and Sonanandi Wildlife Sanctuary (0.423), have also demonstrated suitable habitats for C. hispidus. Given that protected areas showing a future rise in habitat suitability might also be regarded as potential sites for species translocation, this study underscores the importance of implementing proactive conservation strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change on this species. It is essential to prioritize habitat restoration, focused protection measures, and further species-level ecological exploration to address these challenges effectively. Furthermore, fostering transboundary collaboration and coordinated conservation actions between nations is crucial to safeguarding the long-term survival of the species throughout its distribution range.

Trend analysis and change-point detection of monsoon rainfall in Uttarakhand and its impact on vegetation productivity

This study analyzes the long-term spatio-temporal changes and trend analysis in rainfall using the data from 1901 to 2020 and its impact on vegetation from 2000 to 2020 across districts of Uttarakhand. The Pettitt test was employed to detect the abrupt change point in time frame, while the Mann-Kendall (MK) test was performed to analyze the rainfall trend. Results show that the most of the districts exhibited significant negative trend of rainfall in monsoon, except two districts. Out of 13 districts, 4 districts recorded noteworthy rainfall declining trend for the monsoon season at 0.05% significance level, while the insignificant negative trend of rainfall was detected for 7 districts of Uttarakhand. Furthermore, the significant negative trend (-2.23) was recorded for overall monsoon rainfall of Uttarakhand. Based on the findings of change detection, the most probable year of change detection was occurred primarily after 1960 for most of the districts of Uttarakhand. A significant decline rainfall was detected after 1960 while after 1970 interannual variability of rainfall was recorded to be increased. The analysis of month wise cumulative gross primary productivity (GPP) for 13 districts with rainfall trends shows that there is significant impact of rainfall trend on GPP during month of June and it gradually reduces for subsequent monsoon months. It was observed that the GPP of region is increasing at rate of 9.1 gCm-2d-1 in the region since 2000. Based on sensitivity analysis, the GPP of cropped area of region is more sensitive towards rainfall than forest area of Uttarakhand.

Community Screening for High-Risk Human Papilloma Virus Infection using Self-Sampling and 'Point-Of-Care' Test.

HR-HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for pre-invasive and invasive lesions of the cervix, accounting for 70-80% of the total subtypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of high-risk HPV subtypes 16 and 18 in self-collected vaginal samples using real-time micro-PCR and to study the acceptability of self-sampling. Eligible women (30-65 years) were screened from a semi-urban area of Uttarakhand (India) using self-sampling. High-risk HPV genotypes (16/31 and 18/45) were tested using real-time micro-PCR technique with results available in one hour. The positive results were validated by standard RT-PCR for high-risk HPV 16, 18, separately and for 12 other high-risk genotypes, combined. Ease of the procedure, level of comfort, and recommendation to other women were studied and the acceptability of self-sampling was analyzed using the Likert scale. Of 975 eligible women screened, 45 participants tested positive for HR-HPV (16/31,18/45) using real-time micro-PCR with a prevalence of 4.6%. Positive samples were further tested through routine RT-PCR and 60% were found to be HR-HPV 16 and 18 positive. For self-sampling, 96.72% (n=943) participants were 'very satisfied' and 94.15% (n=918) found self-sampling to be 'very comfortable' and 88.51% (n=863) stated that they will strongly recommend this test to other eligible women in the community. We conclude that HR-HPV testing with limited genotyping showed a prevalence of 4.6%, 60% of these were HPV 16/18 positive. Point of care testing was feasible in the community and self-sampling was acceptable.

Migration in the Border Areas of Uttarakhand: An Emerging Security Threat

Migration in the Border Areas of Uttarakhand: An Emerging Security Threat

Financial inclusion for inclusive growth: adoption of unified payment interface in hilly rural areas of Uttarakhand

Financial inclusion for inclusive growth: adoption of unified payment interface in hilly rural areas of Uttarakhand

Analyzing the Local Communities and Tourist Perception of Ecotourism in the Munsyari Area of Uttarakhand, India

Analyzing the Local Communities and Tourist Perception of Ecotourism in the Munsyari Area of Uttarakhand, India

FOREST FIRE BURNT AREA EXTRACTION USING FUZZY INTEGRATION OF MULTI-SENSOR SATELLITE DATA FOR THE HIMALAYAN STATE

Abstract. Burnt area assessment due to forest fires is an important aspect to estimate the extent of loss of biodiversity which has become feasible even in hilly and inaccessible areas with the help of geospatial technologies. But satellite data also has some limitations as it increases commission error by misclassifying non-burnt areas as burnt areas. To reduce this commission error, present study has attempted to integrate multi-sensor satellite data to characterize and extract forest fire burnt areas in Uttarakhand which is a fire prone hilly state in Western Himalaya. Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 optical datasets have been used to calculate eleven vegetation/burn indices to identify burn patches for fire season of 2022 (February to June). These vegetation/burn indices have been calculated from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 datasets and integrated using Fuzzy Logic Modelling to get characterized forest fire burnt area maps. Accuracy assessment has been done using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) active fire points for the characterized map of burnt area by Landsat-8, Sentinel-2 and combining indices from both sensors. The fuzzy map of burnt area using Landsat-8 showed the accuracy of 66.25%, while Sentinel-2 showed accuracy of 59.79% and the integration of fuzzy burnt area maps of both sensors showed the highest accuracy of 79.66%. This information of characterized burnt areas of a region can help forest managers to identify high vulnerable areas to focus on during the fire season to prevent the losses to natural resources, life and property in the region.

Flower yield potential of Pyrethrum (<em>Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium</em> L.) under various NPK Levels in the Lower Hills of Uttarakhand, India

Purpose: A favorable environment is available for the cultivation of Pyrethrum in the hilly regions of India, as well as in some mountainous areas of India. In view of the demand for Pyrethrin, it is very necessary to promote the huge cultivation of Pyrethrum. There is no misconception that research work has not been done to promote Pyrethrum, but the data related to the assessment of the right amount of nutrients required for the crop is not available in research related to agrotechnology. If the crop is to be taken as a ratoon crop, then it is very important to estimate the amount of nutrients for single recommendation of crop cultivation. Research Method: A research experiment was conducted in the year 2021 at the CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research, Centre Purara, Bageshwar (Uttarakhand) to study the flower yield potential of Pyrethrum under various NPK levels in the lower hills of Uttarakhand. The experiment was carried out in Complete Randomized Block Design. The six different levels of NPK (kg ha-1) were taken as treatments, i.e., control, 60:60:20, 80:70:30, 100:80:40, 120:90:50, and 150:100:60. Various plant growth and yield parameters considered in the study include plant height (cm), plant diameter (cm), number of flower heads, fresh flower weight plant-1 (g), dry flower weight plant-1(g), fresh flower yield (kg ha-1), dry flower yield (kg ha-1), Pyrethrin concentration (%) and yield (kg ha-1). Findings: Based on the research findings, it seems that the NPK level of 120:90:50 is the best combination to obtain the highest dry flower yield (310.49 kg ha-1) in the lower hills of Uttarakhand. However, the fresh flower weight obtained was the highest under the NPK level of 100:80:40 i.e., 840.47 kg ha-1, but it’s dry flower yield estimated was 301.93 kg ha-1 which was the second highest yield after 310.49 kg ha-1. This could be due to the difference in moisture levels in fresh flowers at the time of harvesting.Research Limitation: Considering the climate of the hilly regions of Uttarakhand, not much work has been done to assess and standardize the proper amount of nutrients required for Pyrethrum crop cultivation, which needs to be done.Originality/ Value: In the hilly areas of Uttarakhand, farmers are interested in the cultivation of Pyrethrum, but if farmers will adopt this crop cultivation as a ratoon crop, then in such a situation it is absolutely necessary to assess the proper amount of nutrients. This research will prove helpful in promoting the cultivation of Pyrethrum in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand.

Bacterial Isolates and Their Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile in Osteomyelitis Patients: An Experience From a Tertiary Care Center in a Hilly Area of Uttarakhand.

Osteomyelitis, an infection related to bone and bone marrow,is verydiverse in its pathophysiologyandclinical presentation; hence, it is considered one of the most difficult-to-treat infections.The presentstudyisaimed at assessing the microbiological profile of osteomyelitisand related antimicrobial susceptibilitypatternsin patients attending a tertiary care centerin Uttarakhand, India, over a period of one year (January to December 2019). In aerobic culture,58/105 (55.2%) bacterial isolates were detected. In addition,Staphylococcus aureuswas the most common isolate, and amongst Gram-negative bacilli, most isolates that grew on culture were Escherichia coli(22.4%). Out of 21S. aureusisolates, methicillin resistancewas detectedinnine [9/21(42%)] cases, which is a matter of concern. Hence, proper training and application of antimicrobial stewardship are the need of the hour so that clinicians can initiate targeted therapy as early as possible.

Entropy-based assessment of climate dynamics with varying elevations for hilly areas of Uttarakhand, India

Entropy-based assessment of climate dynamics with varying elevations for hilly areas of Uttarakhand, India

Establishing a Regional Rare Blood Donor Registry in Uttarakhand, India

Background and Objectives: Uttarakhand, a state in northern India, is home to various local communities, including the Garhwali, Kumaoni, and Jaunsari. In addition, individuals from neighboring countries such as Nepal and Tibet reside in Uttarakhand for many years, resulting in a diverse population. However, currently, there is no regional registry for rare blood donors in this state. The aim of this study was to develop a rare donor registry in Uttarakhand which could in future become a part of the national rare blood donor registry. Methods: During the routine donation process, samples were taken from randomly selected O-typed blood donors who are residents of Uttarakhand. Seventeen monoclonal antisera included Rh (anti-D, anti-C, anti-c, anti-E, and anti-e), Duffy (anti-Fya and anti-Fyb), Kell (anti-K and anti-k), Kidd (anti-Jka and anti-Jkb), Lewis (anti-Lea and anti-Leb), M, N, S, and s (Ortho Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, Mumbai, India). Furthermore, four polyclonal antisera from our serum repository, Diego (anti-Dia), Indian (anti-Ina), Rh (anti-Cw), and anti-Gp-Mur were used for phenotyping. The study was financially aided by the Uttarakhand State Council of Science and Technology (UCOST), Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Government of India. Results: Over a period of 16 months (November 2021–February 2023), out of a total of 17,004 blood donations, O blood type donors accounted for 29.9% (5085/17,004) of the donors screened. Among these, 7.3% (374/5085) of the donors were from the interior and plain areas of Uttarakhand. Our study revealed a high prevalence of k and e antigens, with 96.7% and 92.5%, respectively. The least prevalent antigen was Rh (Cw), observed in only 0.5% of cases. We also identified rare blood antigens such as Diego, Indian, and Gp-Mur and compared our findings with other studies. Furthermore, we identified a donor with an H-deficient phenotype, specifically the Bombay blood group (Oho). Conclusion: We have successfully established a regional registry for rare blood donors in Uttarakhand, which will be valuable for managing complex transfusion scenarios in the future. Further, given Uttarakhand's proximity to China and Nepal, the presence of individuals from these countries aptly connects the fields of anthropology and transfusion medicine.

Environmental predictors may change at fine scale habitat suitability modelling: implications for conservation of Kashmir musk deer in three protected areas of Uttarakhand, India.

The Kashmir musk deer (Moschus cupreus, hereafter KMD) is one of the top conservation priority species which is facing population decline due to poaching, habitat loss, and climate change. Therefore, the long-term survival and viability of KMD populations in their natural habitat require conservation and management of suitable habitats. Hence, the present study attempted to assess the suitable habitat of KMD in three protected areas (PAs) of the Western Himalayan region of Uttarakhand using the Maxent modelling algorithm. Our results suggest that Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary (KWLS) possesses the maximum highly suitable habitats (22.55%) of KMD, followed by Govind Pashu Vihar National Park & Sanctuary (GPVNP&S; 8.33%) and Gangotri National Park (GNP; 5%). Among the environmental variables, altitude was the major contributing factor governing the distribution of KMD in KWLS. In contrast, human footprint in GPVNP&S and precipitation in GNP were the major contributing factors governing the distribution of KMD in these respective PAs. The response curve indicated that habitats with less disturbance falling in the altitudinal zone of 2000-4000m were the most suitable habitat range for the distribution of KMD in all three PAs. However, in the case of GNP suitable habitat of KMD increases with an increase in the value of variables bio_13 (precipitation of wettest month). Further, based on our results, we believe that the predictors of suitable habitat change are site specific and cannot be generalized in the entire distribution range of the species. Therefore, the present study will be helpful in making proper habitat management actions at fine scale for the conservation of KMD.

Knowledge Regarding Hypertension and Amount of Diet Consumption Among Adults From Uttarakhand: A Comparative Survey.

Hypertension is becoming more common worldwide, and by 2025, its incidence is predicted to rise by 32.4%. The present study aims to assess the knowledge related to hypertension and the amount of diet consumption among adults at risk of developing hypertension in both rural and urban areas of Uttarakhand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 667 adults at risk of hypertension. The study sample included adults selected from the rural and urban communities of Uttarakhand. A semi-structured questionnaire on knowledge regarding hypertension and self-reported amount of diet consumption was used as a tool for data collection. The mean age of participants in this study was 51.46 ± 1.44 years, and the majority of the participants had poor knowledge regarding hypertension as a disease and its consequences as well as preventive measures. The mean days for consumption offruits were three days, four days for green vegetables, two days for eggs, and two days for a well-balanced diet, and the mean± SD of a non-vegetarian diet consumption was 128 ± 182 gm. Another highlighted significant mean difference was found between knowledge of raised blood pressure with the amount of consumption of fruits, green leafy vegetables, a non-vegetarian diet, and a well-balanced diet. In the present study, knowledge of blood pressure and raised blood pressure with its related factors was poor among all participants. The average consumption of all types of diet was two to three days a week, which was borderline, based on recommended dietary allowances. The knowledge related to raised blood pressure and its associated factors had significant mean differences for the mean consumption of fruits, non-vegetarian diet, and well-balanced diet.

Evaluation of a hybrid power system based on renewable and energy storage for reliable rural electrification

Microgrids system consisting of single or multiple energy resources and storage is used to provide electricity to remote rural areas. Subsequently, they can be worked in both grid-connected and islanded modes. Microgrids can provide stable energy solutions to areas where grid extension is either costly or not feasible. The system's long-term economic stability and sustainability must be considered throughout the microgrid's design. Renewable energy sources have a variety of objectives and possible restrictions. The current plan suggests a rural microgrid with integrated solar, diesel, and battery systems. The proposed microgrid for the rural area of Uttarakhand (India) is given a techno-economic and feasibility analysis. For the hilly region of India, a standalone microgrid is created to handle the home peak load of 13kW. Moth flam optimization (MFO) is utilized to optimize the proposed energy framework, and the results are compared with those of a genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The optimal hybrid system's net current and energy costs are calculated to be $58372.00, with the cost of energy per unit being $0.14/kWh. Sensitivity analysis and robustness viability have been performed for the configuration. The finding suggested that the energy framework using MFO is 18% and 16% less expensive than GA and PSO, respectively. This research adds new direction to critical sustainable development among developed countries.

Forest fire susceptibility mapping with sensitivity and uncertainty analysis using machine learning and deep learning algorithms

In the hilly region of the Western Himalayas, forest fires play a crucial role in forest destruction and biodiversity loss. Therefore, addressing the problem of forest fires is an immediate priority to mitigate the impact of forest fires. Therefore, the objective of this research is to assess and map the susceptibility zones of forest fire in the hilly state of Uttarakhand using geospatial techniques and machine learning algorithms (MLA) and deep Learning based sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of the forest fire ignition parameters. Thirteen forest fire ignition parameters were used to map forest fire susceptibility. Further, we used five distinct MLAs, including artificial neural networks (ANN), random forest (RF), logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM) and an ensemble machine learning model. The generated models were validated using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC). The result shows that the ''very high'' and ''high'' zones for forest fires cover almost 55% of the total area of Uttarakhand. Validation of the models used indicated that all models produced most significant results. The ensemble machine learning had the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.977), followed by RF (0.973) and ANN (0.972). In addition, a Deep Neural Networks (DNN) based sensitivity approach is proposed to perform sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of the ignition parameters. For this, we have selected the best predictive model (Ensemble Machine Learning) to evaluate the sensitivity and uncertainty analysis. The sensitivity analysis shows that evapotranspiration has the highly influencing parameter to forest fires, followed by annual rainfall, wind speed, distance to agriculture, distance to tourist spots, distance to built-up and distance to road. However, aspect, temperature and distance to religious centers have less influence on susceptibility to forest fires in this study area. This study is unique because it provides new insights into the construction of an ensemble machine learning model and the integration of DNN-based sensitivity and uncertainty for robust and scientific modelling of forest fire susceptibility. The contribution of parameters demonstrates a novel approach in understanding the impact of a single parameter sample on forest fire susceptibility, which will help in developing prevention strategies. A similar approach may be used in other parts of the world with similar natural and anthropogenic conditions for mapping forest fire susceptibility.

Comparative study of early versus delayed presentation of lens induced glaucoma: A retrospective study conducted among population in remote hilly areas of Uttarakhand

To compare the causes and visual outcome of lens induced glaucoma amongst those presenting early (within 7 days) with those presenting late (after 7 days). This was a retrospective study which included a total of 50 cases diagnosed as lens induced glaucoma. Patients were divided into two groups- group A presenting within 7 days and group B presenting after 7 days. All the patients underwent manual small incision cataract surgery with PMMA lens implantation. Visual outcome and intraocular pressure in both the groups preoperatively and on postoperative day 30 were compared. Majority of patients were females and in the age group of 61-70 years. Phacomorphic glaucoma was the main cause of lens induced glaucoma accounting for 64% of the cases. Good vision in the other eye was the most common reason of delay in seeking medical aid (45.45%). Postoperative day 30 assessment of visual outcome showed that majority of group A patients had a visual acuity of 6/6 to 6/12. Group B patients showed majority with visual acuity of 6/18 to 6/60. Postoperative IOP of 74% patients was well controlled below 21 mm Hg at 1 month. The final BCVA in our study was found to be better in those who presented early, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and efficient management.