Western Indian State Research Articles

Application of the One Health Surveillance (OHS) Matrix to Evaluate the Disease Surveillance Systems in Gujarat, India: A Policy Content Analysis.

An effective disease surveillance system can detect outbreaks of emerging zoonotic diseases early and allow the system to respond immediately and control the epidemic. Gujarat is a western Indian state with a population of more than 65million humans and 26million livestock, and it has the respective surveillance systems under the Department of Health & Family Welfare for humans and the Department of Animal Husbandry for animals. A veterinarian is placed on establishing cross-sectoral collaborations between these systems, but the joint collaborative activities and their effect on the early warning response are least understood. This provides an opportunity to conduct a secondary policy content analysis study using the One Health Surveillance Matrix (OHSM). The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of collaboration among human-animal disease surveillance systems for zoonotic disease in Gujarat, India. This study findings highlight a few gaps in the human health surveillance system, such as data sharing, sampling, outreach to decision-makers, and external communication, while the animal health surveillance system exhibits deficiencies in the data dissemination to decision-makers, management and storage of data analysis, interpretation of data, and external communication as per the OHSM evaluation. Despite major differences, there is a possibility of developing the One Health Surveillance system in Gujarat, India which is profoundly documented in this study.

Sustainability index development by integrating lean green and Six Sigma tools: a case study of the Indian manufacturing industry

PurposeIndia’s manufacturing sector employs about 12% of the labour force and contributes to about 17% of the nation’s GDP. The Indian government intends to implement several initiatives under the “Make in India” and Atma Nirbhar Bharat banners to increase the manufacturing sector’s share of the nation’s GDP to 25% by 2025. Applying lean manufacturing, green manufacturing and Six Sigma is crucial to ensure that India’s manufacturing sectors grow sustainably in international markets. This study aims to identify sustainability indicators and ascertain their respective weights to evaluate the sustainability performance of the Indian manufacturing industry.Design/methodology/approachThis research identifies 25 sustainability indicators and classifies them into the triple bottom line of sustainability based on an evaluative literature review and expert opinion. The Best Worst Method was utilised to determine the weights of the sustainability indicators. The sustainability index was developed to evaluate economic, social and environmental sustainability.FindingsThe sustainability performance of a foundry in a significant Western Indian State city was assessed by applying the developed sustainability index. After the adoption of integrated lean, green and Six Sigma (LG&SS) strategies and related practices in the foundry, there has been a notable improvement of 68.03% in the economic index, 61.62% in the social index and 13.24% in the environmental index.Research limitations/implicationsThe proposed sustainability index is applied and evaluated specifically for assessing the sustainability performance of Indian manufacturing SMEs. It can be used to substantiate firm’s sustainability performance and also to assess the improvement in firm’s performance in economic, environmental and social dimensions after implementing various operational excellence practices. However, it cannot serve as a benchmark tool across similar companies or organisations.Practical implicationsThe developed sustainable index can be used to analyse the company or organisation’s sustainability performance and see how various strategies have improved things. Practitioners can use this index to assess social, economic and environmental performance and focus on areas that need improvement.Social implicationsThe proposed sustainability index serves as a vital tool for monitoring a firm’s progress in triple bottom line (TBL) dimensions of sustainability, tracking a diverse range of indicators and encouraging sustainable organisational practices.Originality/valueThis study attempts to assess the economic, social and environmental performance of Indian Manufacturing SMEs by proposing a sustainability index.

K-Pop Fandom and Beauty Trends: Investigating the Engagement of Young Urban Indian Women with BTS

The Korean wave (Hallyu) has emerged as a global phenomenon spreading to many countries including India since the nineties. In the initial phase, Korean dramas attracted international attention, after which Korean pop music took the world by storm. With the rising popularity of K-pop in India (Jiju, 2023), it is essential to understand the influence it carries on Indian fans. This paper delves into understanding how K-Pop has influenced ideas about beauty among young adults in Vadodara, a cosmopolitan town located in the western Indian state of Gujarat. Three focus group discussions were carried out with fifteen youngsters who identified as K-pop fans, particularly of BTS (Bangtan Boys), a South Korean boy band formed in 2013. The research design adopted for this study was qualitative and exploratory. Theoretical underpinnings informed by The Social Construction of Reality (Berger & Luckman,1966) and The Juggernaut of Modernity (Giddens, 1990) were used to examine the influence of K-Pop consumption on ideas about beauty in the context of fandom culture. The findings reveal no significant influence on beauty-related values and ideals. However, K-pop does have a positive bearing on other aspects of the lives of its fans such as challenging stereotypes, promoting self-love, addressing social problems, and positive impact on individual personality. In addition, a shift in fashion ideals is observed indicating a growing trend of Korean-inspired fashion trends.

‘Development Has Gone Crazy’: The Gujarat Model of ‘Unequal’ Development through Neoliberalism and Hindutva

Since the mid 1990s, the western Indian state of Gujarat has been continuously led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Right-wing Hindu nationalist political party. The BJP has aggressively pursued Right-wing religious ideologies, while, on the economic front, it has taken on board neoliberal policies. The outcome of this mix came to be referred to as the ‘Gujarat model of development’, as the state delivered impressive figures in the economy, although at the cost of human development indices. The article shows that the intensified adoption of Hindutva and neoliberalism has resulted in unequal development across regions, sectors of the economy and industries, as well as across the axes of class, caste and religion. As unequal development is inherent in both the ideologies of neoliberalism and Hindutva, each of them further exacerbates societal inequalities across multiple spheres without addressing these.

Prediabetes in rural adolescent girls from DERVAN cohort: data from the KONKAN region of the state of Maharashtra, India (DERVAN-4).

India is witnessing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Overweight/obesity, overnutrition, physical inactivity, and family history are well-known risk factors for diabetes. We investigated the role of undernutrition in the development of diabetes among rural adolescent girls. DERVAN cohort study was set up in the KONKAN region of the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It enrolled 1,520 adolescent girls (16-18 years old at the time of enrollment). We measured glycemic parameters (glucose, insulin, and HbA1C) and body size using anthropometry and body composition using bioimpedance. Prediabetes was diagnosed using the American Diabetic Association (ADA) criteria. We also calculated various HOMA indices for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), β-cell function (HOMA-β), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S), and compensatory β-cell response using a homeostasis model. BMI, body fat%, and waist circumferences were treated as exposures and all the glycemic parameters and indices as outcomes. The median age of the subjects was 16.6 years. The median weight, height, and BMI were 40.7 kg, 151.7 cm, and 17.5 kg/m2, respectively. Prevalence of underweight was 28.8%, and stunting was observed in 30.4%. Thinness and obesity using BMI were observed in 58.4% and 4.2%, respectively. The median body fat% was 22.5, and excess body fat (>35%) was observed in 5.7%. The prevalence of prediabetes was 39.4%. Fasting insulin concentrations, HOMA-IR, and HOMA-β showed a positive trend across body composition quartiles (p < 0.001). HOMA-S and compensatory β-cell response showed an inverse trend (p < 0.001). Compared with prediabetic girls in the overweight/obese group, girls most undernourished group had lower median insulin concentrations (8.1 μIU/ml vs. 17.1 μIU/ml), lower HOMA-IR (1.1 vs. 2.3), and lower HOMA-β (75.6 vs. 129.2) but higher sensitivity (87.4 vs. 43.7) (p < 0.001) for all. We have reported a high prevalence of prediabetes among rural adolescent girls with a very low prevalence of obesity. Prediabetes in obesity is driven by hyperinsulinemia and overworking of the pancreas while poor β-cell function and poor insulin secretion are major drivers in the undernourished group. The high-risk diabetes screening programs are much needed for the undernourished populations. Caution should be exercised for planning the interventions as overfeeding (or overnutrition) is likely to put the populations at risk of development of obesity and insulin resistance.

An assessment of “Organization Culture” in District Program Management Units established under National Health Mission in a western state of India

BackgroundState programme management unit and District Programme Management Units (DPMU) are established under National Health Mission with an expectation to strengthen the management structures at the state and district levels, respectively. This is a major initiative to bring change in organisation structure and an effort to embrace change in working culture. The study was undertaken in a western Indian state to assess and compare the organisation culture in DPMUs. MethodsDistricts of the state were divided into three strata based on the geographical and demographic features. One district from each stratum was randomly selected for the study. In-depth interview of nine key officials in each sampled DPMU was conducted with the use of standardised questionnaire—openness, confrontation, trust, authenticity, proactiveness, autonomy, collaboration and experimentation (OCTAPACE), developed by Pareek. ResultsValues of OCTAPACE were diversely distributed with significant difference in distribution of scores between these domains (p < 0.05). Pro-action and Trust scores were relatively higher and consistent in the study units. Values of experimentation were lower and inconsistent. There was no significant difference in the distribution of scores between three sampled DPMUs for openness, confrontation, trust, authenticity, pro-action, autonomy and experimentation (p > 0.05). However, the distribution of collaboration score was significantly less in DPMU of desert district in comparison to DPMU of plain and tribal district (p < 0.05). ConclusionThe lacuna in values of organisation culture should be addressed to strengthen the existing management structures at the state and district levels.

Remote Reorientations: Teach for India Fellow Perceptions of Pedagogy and Technology During the COVID-19 Pandemic

In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, students from marginalised communities across the world were disproportionately impacted in terms of educational access, opportunities and outcomes. This article explores reorientations to technology for online remote instruction from the perspective of educators delivering instruction with the educational non-profit organisation Teach for India (TFI) in Pune, a city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. From qualitative ethnographic interviews with TFI fellows and programme managers to online classroom observations from April 2020 until October 2021, this article illustrates successes and challenges in online instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic, which facilitated both teaching innovations and made apparent cleavages in access to education among marginalised students and their families. Ultimately, TFI’s short-term fellowship model provided novice instructors with a unique window of opportunity during the COVID-19 pandemic to integrate technology into pedagogy in novel ways.

Design and analysis of solar assisted mini desalination plant using waste humid air of energy tower suitable for small community

ABSTRACT The aim of this work is to design and analyze solar humidification and dehumidification desalination plant that is integrated with an energy tower. The proposed integrated water production plant (IWPP) utilizes the waste humid air of the energy tower for the production of potable water as an added benefit in bonus apart from the power production through energy tower. The layout of the proposed desalination plant has been presented which is configured with 100 solar humidification dehumidification desalination units and capable to fulfill potable water demand of 800 liters per day that may be sufficient for a small community of remote area. The seasonal and annual performance of the plant has been analyzed in the climatic condition of Jamnagar which is hot and humid city in western Indian state, Gujarat. The optimum values of air and water mass flow rate have been identified with the help of mathematical simulations in summer, rainy and winter season. The results showed that air mass flow rate 118–120 kg/hr through solar air heater is suitable for water production throughout the year. The water mass flow rate of 125–130 kg/hr in humidifier and 120 kg/hr−122 kg/hr in dehumidifier has been found optimum for potable water production. The seasonal variation in gain output ratio is 0.32−0.45 however it can be increased to 0.62 at optimized operating condition. Finally, the economic and environmental analysis of the proposed plant resulted Rs 0.93/kg (US $ 0.011/kg) cost of potable water, payback period of 0.49 year and 146.8 t/annum reduction in CO2 emission, respectively.

Aambkapad, Chira, Khun, and more – Intercultural Influences on Fabrics of the Peshwas of Pune, India

The study of historic costumes provides deep insights on various multicultural, geographical, locational, climatic, religious, technological, and socio-economic factors that has influenced the dressing choices of particular people. While there is substantial research on the costumes of the Rajputs and Mughal rulers of India, documentation of the clothing of the various rulers of the western Indian state of Maharashtra has been limited. The objective of this study was to provide insights into the prevalent textiles used to make the costumes of the Maratha Peshwas through a hundred-year-old dominance of the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The research aimed to also identify intercultural influence of other prevailing dynasties on the costume of the Peshwas. Using a socio-cultural history-based qualitative research approach with a combination of visual and textual modes of information collection, Peshwa costumes have been studied through in-depth interviews, artifact study, study of folk literature and historical records along with a firm grounding of historical context to corroborate the findings. This paper highlights the fabrics that were used to make the costumes and accessories of the Peshwa men and women. Influences of Rajput Mughal and Nizam cultures on Peshwa costumes has also been studied.

A simplified measure of nutritional empowerment: Using machine learning to abbreviate the Women's Empowerment in Nutrition Index (WENI).

Measuring empowerment is both complicated and time consuming. A number of recent efforts have focused on how to better measure this complex multidimensional concept such that it is easy to implement. In this paper, we use machine learning techniques, specifically LASSO, using survey data from five Indian states to abbreviate a recently developed measure of nutritional empowerment, the Women's Empowerment in Nutrition Index (WENI) that has 33 distinct indicators. Our preferred Abridged Women's Empowerment in Nutrition Index (A-WENI) consists of 20 indicators. We validate the A-WENI via a field survey from a new context, the western Indian state of Maharashtra. We find that the 20-indicator A-WENI is both capable of reproducing well the empowerment scores and status generated by the 33-indicator WENI and predicting nutritional outcomes such as BMI and dietary diversity. Using this index, we find that in our Maharashtra sample, on average, only 35.9% of mothers of children under the age of 5years are nutritionally empowered, whereas 77.2% of their spouses are nutritionally empowered. We also find that only 14.6% of the elderly women are nutritionally empowered. These estimates are broadly consistent with those based on the 33-indicator WENI. The A-WENI will reduce the time burden on respondents and can be incorporated in any general purpose survey conducted in rural contexts. Many of the indicators in A-WENI are often collected routinely in contemporary household surveys. Hence, capturing nutritional empowerment does not entail significant additional burden. Developing A-WENI can thus aid in an expansion of efforts to measure nutritional empowerment; this is key to understanding better the barriers and challenges women face and help identify ways in which women can improve their nutritional well-being in meaningful ways.

Petrographical-geochemical characteristics and floral-faunal compositions of the Valia lignite deposits from Cambay Basin (Gujarat), western India

Lignite-bearing sequence of the Valia mine, associated with the Cambay Shale Formation (early Eocene) in Cambay Basin of western Indian State Gujarat, has been studied. An integrated approach (including organic petrography, palynofacies, palynology, entomology, geochemistry) has been adopted to assess the origin and characters of lignite deposits and their potential for the hydrocarbon generation, besides to understand the evolution and interaction of different biotic (floral-faunal) groups of the geological time. The studied samples (lignites/shales) are characterized by the domination of huminite group (av. 67 vol.%)/phytoclasts (av. 58%) along with the abundance of short-chain n-alkanes (bacterial activity). The frequencies of detrohuminite sub-group, non-biostructured elements, macrophyte-derived amorphous organic matter (AOM, mainly), and high values of proxy aqueous are indicating the elevated bacterial degradation of the OM and/or also suggest the significant contribution of the herbaceous vegetation/aquatic macrophytes/algal input to the palaeo-peat. The relative abundance of hopanes and low values of the steroids/hopanoids ratios further indicate a high bacterial activity. On the other hand, the contents of telohuminite, liptinite group, and cuticle elements together with the high carbon preference index, low proxy wax, and terrigenous/aquatic ratios confirm both terrestrial and macrophyte contributions during the peat accumulation. Fascinatingly, we have found Dipterocarpus-derived amber (fossil resin) within the lignite seam (lower) with remarkably well-preserved arthropod inclusions consisting of arachnids and insects. Generally, insects have an association with flora and provide important ecosystem functions. In the studied amber samples, the insects to arachnids (spiders and pseudoscorpions) ratio is 3:1. Their quantitative analysis indicates the dominance of the Chironomidae (non-biting midges 32%) followed by Araneae, Myrmicinae, Cecidomyiidae, and Mycetophilidae. A rare entity such as pseudoscorpions has also been found during the investigation.The derived petrographic indices indicate that the peat-forming limno-telmatic vegetation was accumulated mainly in back-barrier settings with high groundwater (mesotrophic to rheotrophic) condition. The contents of pyrite (mainly framboidal) mineral and sulphur (0.69–2.24 wt.%) suggesting that peat had experienced the marine influx. Further, the high occurrence of funginite maceral (among inertinite group), and spores of family Microthyriaceae point towards a warm and moist condition. The plotting of palynofacies data on Tyson's APP diagram, and the values of pristane/phytane ratio suggest that the OM was primarily deposited in dysoxic to suboxic settings. The high incidence of family Chironomidae, non-biostructured and low cuticle contents indicate the proximal settings and a low energy environment like lake/pond or marshlands. However, the occurrence of granular-AOM along with high (relatively) opaque phytoclast contents in the upper part indicates that distal settings were formed at the termination of the OM accumulation. The total organic carbon (TOC) contents and hydrogen index values in the studied samples indicate a good to excellent source for the hydrocarbon generation. However, the low gross calorific value (av. 4467 cal/g), values of Tmax (mostly below 435 °C), and H/C and O/C atomic ratios showing that the samples are of immature (early diagenetic stage; huminite reflectance value: av. 0.28%) nature of the OM. Moreover, the different cross plots (hydrogen index (HI) vs. oxygen index (OI), S2vs. TOC, HI vs. Tmax) indicate that the Valia lignite-bearing succession contains admixed type-III/II kerogen, and can generate gaseous and some liquid hydrocarbons upon maturation or with additional heating.

Indian Migrant Workers’ Experience During the COVID-19 Pandemic Nationwide Lockdown

This article explores the lived experiences of some Indian migrant workers (MW) during the first COVID-19 pandemic nationwide lockdown, investigating their plights from a social identity perspective. It analyses crises associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, and with hunger and starvation. Drawing on a qualitative study conducted with twelve participants in the city of Pune in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra, the findings suggest that the participants’ plights have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings indicate the need for policy responses to focus on addressing conditions of work, terms of employment and access to necessities for Indian MW, including ensuring conditions for a prompt job-ready recovery and mental health care after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emotional Labour in the Lifeworld of Indian Hospitality Employees: A Phenomenological Inquiry

In this study we explore the lived experience of emotional labour of ten hospitality employees and tries to get a deeper understanding of how they interpret it in their life world. In-depth interviews were conducted with the front-line employees 4,5-star hotels and high-end restaurants in the city of Pune in Western Indian state of Maharashtra. Using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to analyse the data, the findings threw up some convergent as well as divergent themes about how the employees interpret the experience in their life world and how they feel about it. Emotional maneuverability, ambivalent disposition, spillover of emotions emerged as some of the key interpretations of emotional labour as a lived experience. It also emerged that a collective effort needs to be put in place to help the employees cope with the consequences of emotional labour. This study can help hospitality industry leaders with a fresh perspective about understanding and tackling the negative consequences of emotional labour amongst their employees.

Allelic frequency database of 15 polymorphic autosomal STRs in the Malayalam-speaking population of Kerala, India.

In this study, we assessed and established an allelic frequency database of Malayalam-speaking population of south western Indian state Kerala, using 15 polymorphic short tandem repeats (STRs) genetic markers. For this study, 464 unrelated healthy individuals were randomly selected following the ethical standards. The most polymorphic and most discriminating locus was D2S1338, with a value of 0.860 and 0.968, respectively. The range of heterozygosity extended from a minimum of 0.668 (TH01) to a maximum of 0.847 (D2S1338). The combined discrimination power (CPD) and combined exclusion power (CPE) were 1 and 0.999997861, respectively, for all 15 autosomal STR loci under study. The combined probability of match (CPM) and combined paternity index (CPI) for all 15 autosomal STR loci were found to be 9.85 × 10-19 and 4.18 × 105, respectively.

Mother tongue activism and language shift in multilingual India: Marathi in Pune, Maharashtra

ABSTRACTThis article outlines the extracurricular work of education and language revitalization by two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Pune, a city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra. It demonstrates how these NGOs respond to anxieties and fears of language shift, language death, and social change in ways that fill a gap in how connections of language to society are addressed in the formal education system in Pune. These NGOs recreate structures of hierarchies among socioeconomic classes in their work of language preservation, assigning to lower classes the task of maintaining Marathi as an everyday language and delegating the promotion of Marathi “high culture” forms such as the arts to the upper classes. The article illuminates ways in which Marathi use and language ideologies shape socioeconomic class identifications and how ideologies about language and language use take different forms based on needs defined through a socioeconomic class lens.

Report of a mermithid nematode infecting Amyna axis, Chrysodeixis spp. and Spodopteraspp.from India

Amyna axis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Chrysodeixis spp. ( C. acuta and C. eriosoma ) and Spodoptera spp. ( S. exigua and S. litura ) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are important polyphagous insect-pests of leguminous crops. A mermithid (Nematoda: Mermithidae) nematode was found parasitizing the larval stages of these insects in the western Indian state of Rajasthan. Morphological and molecular analysis suggests that the nematode might be a species of the genus Hexamermis . The average length of post-parasitic nematode juveniles was 15 cm, and the average greatest body width was 1.5 mm. The vulva was median (V% = 48) without vulval flap. Approximately 100-125 μm long caudal appendages were present on tail. The cross-section revealed the presence of six hypodermal chords at the mid body region, and stichosome was present. The 18S rDNA sequence showed 99% similarity to mermithid nematode. A phylogenetic analysis of 18S rDNA sequences of mermithids resulted in identification of a new clade “Lineage 3” which included representatives of Mermis sp., Isomermis sp., Limnomermis sp., and Pheromermis sp. This is the first report of natural mermithid parasitism of A. axis and Chrysodeixis spp. along with its molecular characterization.

Incidence and risk factors of retinopathy of prematurity in Goa, India: a report from tertiary care centre

Background: To report the incidence and risk factors leading to the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) from a tertiary care center in the western Indian state of Goa, India.Methods: This was a prospective observational study carried out in a level II neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for a period of 18 months. Babies born at &lt; 34 weeks’ gestation and having a birth weight of &lt;1500gm were screened for ROP and laser photocoagulation was done for those who developed threshold ROP. Group differences between any ROP and threshold ROP were analysed using the chi-square test.Results: Out of the 244 preterm neonates screened, 37 developed ROP (15.16%), and 14 out of them (5.73%) developed threshold ROP requiring laser photocoagulation. Very low birth weight, prematurity, apnea, anemia, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, blood transfusions, exchange transfusions and days taken to reach full enteral feeds and regain birth weight were significantly associated with the development of ROP.Conclusions: This is the first report of ROP from Goa where less than 1 in 5 babies developed ROP. This is similar to that reported across the rest of the country. Judicious oxygen use, ventilation strategies, transfusions guidelines, control of sepsis, early enteral feeds and adequate nutrition may help prevent the development of ROP in the future.

Wrestling women: Caste and neoliberalism in rural Haryana

In the 2016 blockbuster film Dangal, a young wrestler by the name of Geeta Phogat is taken by her father to Rohtak, in the western Indian state of Haryana, to participate in her first wrestling match. He is ridiculed for attempting to enroll his daughter into the hyper male domain and sent on his way. But the organizers soon relent when they see the potential for a salacious scandal of a girl fighting a boy. The scene establishes rural Haryana as a space of hyper misogyny and public space dominated by men who enjoy crude entertainment. But when the young Geeta takes on the toughest of contestants and defeats him, the victory symbolizes something larger – vindication against routine humiliation girls are made to feel. The year 2016 brought unprecedented publicity to women wrestlers in India. Sakshi Malik won the Bronze medal in wrestling for India at the Rio Olympics, and film audiences were treated to two blockbuster films on women wrestlers from Haryana. In this essay, I suggest that the celebratory story of wrestling women both elides and is made possible by Haryana’s, and the larger Indian state’s, neoliberal agenda. I argue that neoliberalism is able to accommodate the contradictions of Haryana’s skewed sex ratio while at the same time produce and celebrate successful women athletes. Second, the story of wrestling women cannot be understood without caste as a fundamentally structuring dimension of success. I make these arguments at three different scales – body and household, village and district, the state.

Prevalence and pattern of alcohol consumption using alcohol use disorder identification test among students at a medicalcollege in Goa, India

Background: Alcohol use is a complex health and social issue, especially in developing countries like India and in particular the western Indian state of Goa moreover, adolescents are usually more vulnerable to alcohol-related harm from a same volume of alcohol compared to other age group individuals.Methods: A cross-sectional design was conducted over a period of two months in Goa medical college, Goa. Students pursuing the MBBS Course in all semesters for the academic year 2015-16 were the study partici pants. Data was collected by interviewing the students. The pre-tested structured questionnaire used to collect the data. Alcohol consumption pattern was assessed using alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT). Approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of the Medical College. Informed written consent was obtained from the participant prior to the interview. SPSS Software Package was used for statistical analysis.Results: Prevalence of alcohol consumption was found to be 39.4%. Prevalence among females was higher (40.6%) compared to Males (38%). Among the alcohol consumers 82.3% were light drinkers (AUDIT &lt;8) while 17.7% were identified as heavy drinkers. Hazardous alcohol consumption was identified in 46.7% of alcohol consumers. 20.9% of alcohol consumers showed signs of alcohol dependence.Conclusions: Awareness of ill effects of alcohol consumption, counselling to deal with stress related to studies, negotiating peer pressure etc. need to be the possible solutions to address this health and social issue of alcohol use among young adults.

Characterization of Panandhro Lignite Deposits (Kachchh Basin), western India: Results from the Bulk Geochemical and Palynofloral Compositions

ABSTRACT Characterization of the Panandhro lignite deposits from western Indian state of Gujarat, based on the geochemical and palynological evidences, has been performed to assess the floral composition, maturity and hydrocarbon potential of the sequence. Elementally, the lignites consist of moderate carbon, low hydrogen and moderate sulfur contents. The samples are characterized by high TOC contents (lignite: av. 46.43 wt.%, resin: 62.47 wt.%). The average HI values for the lignite is 136 mg HC/g TOC, and that of the associated resin is 671 mg HC/g TOC. The highest Tmax is recoded in lignite (422°C) and lowest in the resin (39°C) samples. The FTIR spectrum of lignite is characterized by highly intense OH stretching peak ∼3350 cm–1, aliphatic CHx stretching peaks between 3000-2800 cm–1, aromatic C=O stretching and an aromatic C=C stretching. The spectrum of resin shows strongest absorption due to aliphatic CHx stretching between 2940-2915 cm–1 and 2870-2850 cm–1, and deformation by the medium peak between 1450 and 1650 cm–1. The recovered palynofloral assemblage indicates the dominance of angiosperm pollen grains with maximum abundance of Arecaceae family, and subdominant pteridophytic spores. Marine influence is indicated by the presence of abundant dinoflagellate cysts. The occurrence of flora from a variety of ecological niches suggests a luxuriant diverse vegetation pattern existed in the vicinity of depositional site under humid tropical conditions. The overall characteristics of the lignite deposits point towards their ability to generate (upon maturation) hydrocarbons as they have types III–II admixed kerogen (organic matters).