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Bovine milk contains an average of 3.5% protein. The concentration of protein changes significantly during lactation. The first few days of lactation exhibit the main change in protein concentration. The main changes occur in whey protein fraction.

Distribution of Protein in Milk

80% casein and 20% whey protein (β lactoglobulin- 10%, α- lactalbumin- 5%, serum albumin, and immunoglobulin- 5%).

Fractionation of Milk Proteins Fractionation of milk protein is mainly done by acidification at pH 4.6 around 30 °C.

Almost 80% of the bovine milk protein precipitates at pH4.6, and this fraction yielded by precipitation is called casein.

The remaining soluble part of the protein is referred to as whey protein/serum protein/ non- casein protein. Wide variation is observed in the casein- whey protein ratio in different types of milk(protein synthesis is independent of animal diet)

Significant Difference Between Casein and Whey Protein

1. Casein precipitates at pH 4.6 but does not precipitate whey protein at that pH. This property of milk protein is commercially exploited for the preparation of industrial casein and certain varieties of cheese.

2. Chymosin or other proteolytic enzymes produce specific changes in casein resulting in coagulation in the presence of calcium. Whey protein does not undergo this type of coagulation.

3. Casein is very stable to high temperatures. They can withstand heating up to 140 °C for 20 minutes but whey protein is relatively heat labile. They are completely denatured by heating at 90 °C for 10 min.

4. Casein is a phosphoprotein containing an average of 0.85% phosphorous while whey protein does not contain any phosphorous. The phosphate of casein is an important contributor to remarkably high heat stability and calcium- induced coagulation of rennet- altered casein.

5. Casein contains very low sulfur (0.8%) whereas whey protein is relatively rich in sulfur (1%). The principle casein contains only methionine but whey protein contains a significant amount of cystine, cysteine, and methionine. These sulfur- containing amino acids are responsible for many changes in milk on heating.

6. Casein is synthesized only in the mammary gland and no other sources in nature. Some of the whey proteins β lactoglobulin, and α- lactalbumin are synthesized in the mammary gland but bovine serum albumin and immunoglobulin are not synthesized in the mammary gland but derived from blood.

7. The whey protein is dispersed in solution and has a simple quaternary structure. Casein has a complex quaternary structure and exists in milk as large colloidal aggregates.

History

• Aristotle (384-322 BC): A good beginning of taxonomy was made by Aristotle (Historia Animalium). He erected entomon. He could distinguish mandibulates and haustellates; winged and wingless forms. The insect orders like coleopteran, dipteral, psyche (Lepidoptera) were created by him. Hence, he was called as Father of Biological Classification.

• Linnaeus (1707-1778): Father of Taxonomy and Binomial Nomenclature. He coined the term Insecta. He used the term Systematics. His greatest contribution is Systema Naturae.

• Brawer (1885): Laid foundations for modern system of classification and responsible to divide class Insecta into Apterygota and Pterygota.

• Michael Anderson (1727-1806): Contemporary and rival of Linnaeus. Introduced Numerical Taxonomy and hence is called Father of Numerical Taxonomy. 

• Johan Christian Fabricius (1745–1808), the first systematist considered to specialize on insects, published in 1778 his Philosophia Entomologica (40), the first textbook of entomology.

• Fabricius had already set forth his system of insects in 1775 (Systema Entomologiae), his system of genera in 1776 (Genera Insectorum), and then numerous works on species, culminating in individual accounts of the species of each order

INTRODUCTION

Ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation are well recognized as essential to human well-being and have become a policy priority. India is gifted with a large coastline and vast stretches of coastal wetlands. The estuaries and back waters which may include mangroves, mud flats, bays etc. extend over a large part of the Indian coasts. The mangrove ecosystem functions as a habitat for nurseries, thus benefiting fishers in the food chain (Mumby et al., 2004; Venkatachalam et al., 2018). Mangrove habitats increase the survival ratio of young fish that migrate to other offshore habitats when they mature, resulting in the enrichment of fish biomass in adjacent mangrove areas (Mumby et al., 2004; Aburto-Oropeza et al., 2008). Mangroves enhance fish production by providing food and shelter to fishery resources. Mangrove forests are highly productive, with average primary productivity level similar to that of tropical terrestrial forests (Alongi, 2009). Therefore, mangrove loss could have a devastating effect on fishery outcomes. The estimated fish catch is up to 70% higher in mangrove areas than in non-mangrove areas (Das, 2017).

NATURE OF MANGROVE FORESTS

Mangroves are amongst the most productive marine ecosystems on the Earth, providing a unique habitat opportunity for many species and key goods and significant services for human beings. They are salt tolerant plants, and are found distributed growing in estuaries, lagoons, backwaters and bays at the land-sea interface in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mangroves thrive on low-oxygen through the breathing roots or pneumatophores that are used for respiration. They need freshwater for their growth and so they live at the sea edge, they must remove the salts from the water that is taken in by the roots.

INTRODUCTION

Coral reefs are fragile and most diverse and valuable ecosystems on earth. The stony corals are formed from the tiny, soft colonial organisms called polyps. They provide enormous ecological, economic services, and cultural value to hundreds of millions of people. They are significantly contributing to the nutrition, economic security and protection from natural disasters. They are often termed as the rain forests of the sea.

Coral reefs were first appeared 485 million years ago during the early Ordovician period. They belong to the class Anthozoa of animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and jelly fish. Coral reef is an under water ecosystem which is characterized by reef-building corals. Unlike sea anemones, colonies of coral polyps secrete a hard exoskeletons called reef which is made up of calcium carbonate to support and protect the corals. These reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated water.

BIODIVERSITY

The term biodiversity was coined by Walter G. Rosen in the year 1985. Biodiversity refers to the variation among living organisms that can be found in a particular area such as terrestrial, marine and desert ecosystems and the ecological complexes to which they are a part. The study of biodiversity helps to understand the ecological stability, economic and ethical importance. Coral reefs are believed to have the highest biodiversity on the planet even more than a tropical rainforest. Though the coral reefs distributed in less than one percent of the ocean floor, they provide habitat for more than 25% marine life with more than 4,000 world’s fishes. They act as protective nurseries to many fish species, and shelter small fishes to grow. Coral reefs diversity is so rich that we do not have a firm count on all the species that live within it and every year discover new species.” There are about six thousand coral species in the world, in which few are growing in warm shallow waters near coastlines while others in the dark, cold seafloor of the open ocean.

INTRODUCTION

Lakes are of immense ecological, economic, and cultural significance, representing integral features within our planet's landscapes. Studies show that there are around 117 million lakes worldwide, constituting about 4% of the Earth's non-glaciated land surface (Verpoorter et al., 2014). These lakes play a crucial role in providing essential services to nearby communities and serve as important centres for recreation and overall well-being. However, the increasing demand for natural resources has led to widespread degradation of these lakes (Jenny et al., 2020). Despite efforts to restore lakes, there is a prevailing perception that such programs often encounter high failure rates (Søndergaard et al., 2007; Gulati et al., 2008; Poikane et al., 2024). This concern is particularly pronounced in less economically developed countries, where populations are highly exposed to the consequences of lake degradation, and monitoring, assessment, and restoration programs may be in nascent stages. Additionally, lakes play a pivotal role in climate regulation, influencing local weather patterns and contributing to global processes such as water and carbon cycles. Recognizing and preserving the significance of lakes is imperative for sustaining ecosystems, ensuring water security, and nurturing the well-being of both the natural environment and human societies. 21o 8’ 55’’ 79o 4’46’’E.

Nagpur situated at coordinates 21o 8’ 55’’ N and 79o 4’46’’E, holds the distinction of being the second capital of Maharashtra. Renowned as the "orange city" and the "city of lakes," Nagpur relies significantly on its lakes as a valuable resource base. The current water supply for the city is primarily sourced from, Kanhan River, Gorewada Lake, and Pench Dam. Futala Lake serves an irrigation purpose, benefitting 84 acres of cultivated agricultural land. Ambazari Lake, on the other hand, caters to the water needs of local residents in the MIDC colony, Hingna area, Nagpur, and supports industrial purposes. Other notable water bodies in Nagpur include Sonegaon, Gandhisagar, Naik, Sakkardara, and Lendi. However, these lakes face severe pollution due to anthropogenic activities such as bathing, washing clothes, and improperly disposing of plastic, paper, oil, and worship materials. Moreover, the lakes Gandhisagar and Lendi are now dried.

Vital Statistics

It is defined as that branch of biometry which deals with data and the laws of human mortality, morbidity and demography. According to N.B. Ryder, they “provide cumulative summaries for successive time periods of population movements like birth, death, migration, marriage and marital dissolution as well as demographic and other relevant characteristics of the individuals involved in these events.”

Measures of Vital Statistics of Population

The total number of vital events such as births and deaths are converted into rates and ratios for comparison of vital statistics from place to place or year to year. In order to determine the population at any time ‘t’ after the census or between two censuses, a number of methods have been devised. Therefore, a suitable method which makes use of births, deaths and migration statistics, if we assume that:

(i) The census data gives us the total size of the population of a region or community together with age and sex distribution

(ii) The birth, death and migration statistics during different periods are obtained from registers.

The states in the Eastern India where pineapple is grown include West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. In between this states the ideal condition for pineapple is found in most parts of north Bengal and some north eastern districts of Bihar. West Bengal ranks first in production of pineapple in India (Figure 2).

West Bengal and Bihar

West Bengal ranks ninth in fruit production in India with a total production of 3850.5 thousand ton from 261.02 thousand hectare area (Table 1). Major fruit crops are mango, banana, pineapple, guava, litchi, jackfruit, mandarin, papaya and sapota. A large number of other fruit crops such as Jamun, bael, custard apple, ber, lime, lemon, plum, karonda, aonla, etc. are also grown in various parts of the state (Mitra, 2013). Pineapple is one of the important fruit crop of West Bengal covering an area of 11,410 ha with an average productivity of 30.24 t ha-1(Table 2). The state of West Bengal, having five distinct agro climatic zones, is ideally suited for growing several tropical and subtropical fruits. These agro-climatic zones are:

I. Hill zone II. Terai zone III. Alluvial zone IV. Laterite zone

V. Coastal zone In between these five agro-climatic zones commercially pineapple is grown mostly in Terai zone which is situated at the foot hills. High rainfall, light acidic soils and prolonged monsoon are characteristics of this zone. So the districts are Darjeeling, North Dinajpur, Jalpaiguri and some parts of Alipurduar. Besides terai zone other places where pineapple is grown in small scale or for experimental purpose are described below.

Definitions

Pathology

Pathology is the study of the anatomical, chemical and physiological alterations from normal as a result of disease in animals. It is a key subject because it forms a vital bridge between preclinical sciences (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry) and clinical branches of Medicine and Surgery (Fig.1.1). Pathology is derived from the Greek word pathos = disease, logos = study. It has many branches, which are defined as under:

General Pathology

General Pathology concerns with basic alterations of tissues as a result of disease. e.g. fatty changes, thrombosis, amyloidosis, embolism, necrosis (Fig. 1.2).

Systemic Pathology

Systemic Pathology deals with alterations in tissues/organs of a particular system. e.g. respiratory system, genital system etc. (Fig. 1.3).

Introduction

Drip irrigation is an efficient method of application of water at the plant bottom at a rate nearly equal to the consumptive use rate of the plant, thereby minimizing the conventional water losses like percolation, runoff and evaporation from soil. It is a process of slow application of water on, above or beneath the soil by the surface, sub-surface, bubbler, and spray or pulse system. Fertilizer can also be applied with the drip water. Emitters or applicators are placed closed to the plants and used to spray water in the form of drops, tiny streams or miniature spray. In the drip system water applied from the point source advances in all direction in the soil outward from the source. Drip irrigation is essentially a low rate, low pressure, frequent and long duration application of water in plants root zone area.

Drip irrigation is also called as localized irrigation, trickle irrigation, daily f low irrigation, diurnal irrigation, drop irrigation, sip irrigation, and micro irrigation. A particular name is being popularized in any area depending on the choice of the people of that area. The International Commission for Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) has recommended the term micro-irrigation while the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE) has preferred drip irrigation. In India it is told as drip irrigation.

In May 2020, The Government of India launched the flagship scheme called Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), with an estimated investment of Rs. 20050 crores, comprising a Central share of Rs. 9407.00 crores, a state share of Rs 4880.00 crores, and a Beneficiary contribution of Rs. 5763.00 crores for its implementation during a period of 5 years from FY 2020-21 to FY 2024-25 in all States/Union Territories (Guidelines on Entrepreneurship Models in Fisheries and Aquaculture under PMMSY, 2020). The PMMSY will address critical gaps in fish production and productivity, quality, technology, traceability, post-harvest infrastructure, and management.

Fisheries and aquaculture sector have been increasingly recognized for their essential contribution to global food security and nutrition. In 2020, total global catches in inland waters were 11.47 million tonnes and India stands top in the world with 1.8 million tonnes. India has witnessed remarkable growth in fish production in the last couple of years and stands second in world aquaculture production. The total fish production during 20-21 is estimated at 14.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) with a contribution of 11.25 MMT from inland sector and 3.48 MMT from marine sector. During FY 2020-21, export of marine products stood at 1.15 MMT and valued at Rs. 43,717.26 crores despite the market uncertainties raised by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak. The inland open water resources of India are the life line of country?s vast population and provide nutritional and livelihood security besides other innumerable economic, social and ecological services. In addition to India, countries of Mekong cooperations including Myanmar, LaoPDR, Vietnam, Copyright: New India Publishing Agency, New Delhi, India. Commercial Use will call for Legal Action. Cambodia and Thailand contribute significantly to the Asian Fish production. As per FAO (2022) report, a number of Asian countries majorly contribute to the Inland capture fisheries production including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Cambodia have reported a steady or decline in fish catch, since the last few decades. Though there are several potential threats behind this declining fish production trend, major is linked to water availability, pollution, overfishing and climate change. 

Introduction

Stress is any unfavorable condition for a plant’s normal growth and development. In the case of crop plants, such adverse conditions are caused by biological (biotic) and non-biological (abiotic) environmental factors. Abiotic stress is the negative impact of non-living factors on living plants in a specific environment. Usually, abiotic stress is unavoidable, and we can only go for its management.

The most basic stresses include:

• Extreme (high/low) temperatures

• Soil-chemical properties

• Water deficiency

• Excessive moisture

• Element toxicity or deficiency

Importance and uses

Walnut is a valuable nut crop that is grown in several regions of the world, including India. The nut is a rich source of several nutrients, including protein, fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and antioxidants. Walnuts have several health benefits, including reducing the risk of heart disease, improving brain function, and reducing inflammation. They are also used in several industries, including food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

Walnuts have been an important food source for humans for thousands of years. In ancient times, they were believed to have medicinal properties and were used to treat several ailments (Martinez et al., 2010). Today, they are used in the food industry to produce confectionery, bakery products, and as an ingredient in several cuisines. They are also used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries due to their anti inflammatory and anti-aging properties (Alasalvar et al., 2010; Bolling et al., 2011).

Walnuts are a rich source of antioxidants, which are important for maintaining good health. Antioxidants help to neutralize free radicals in the body, which can cause cell damage and lead to several chronic diseases, including cancer and heart disease (Alasalvar et al., 2010). In addition, walnuts are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for brain health and reducing inflammation in the body (Bolling et al., 2011). Walnuts also contain fiber, which is important for maintaining healthy digestion and reducing the risk of colon cancer (Martinez et al., 2010).

7.1. Introduction

Preservation of fruit and vegetables by application of heat is one of the important methods of food preservation as it not only imparts desirable effect in the eating quality of the food but also exerts a preservative effect on the foods by destruction of micro-organisms, enzymes, insects and parasites. Other advantages of heat processing include destruction of anti nutritional factors (e.g. trypsin inhibitor in some legumes), improvement in availability of some nutrients (eg improved digestibility of proteins, gelatinization of starches, and release of bound niacin), production of shelf-stable foods that do not require refrigeration and above all it offers a relatively simple control of processing conditions. The disadvantages of heat processing include alteration or destruction of sensory quality of foods like flavor, colour, taste and texture as a result the heat processed foods are perceived to have different quality as compared to fresh produce.

1. If AAGCT is the base sequence on one side of DNA molecule, what will be complementary sequence on the other side?

a) UUGCA

b) TTCGA

c) AAGCT

d) GGTCA

2. The start codon in the mRNA sequence is

a) AUG

b) UAG

c) UGA

d) UAA

Introduction

Soil is a very precious natural resource. It is considered as the epicentre of all the life forms on earth. One cm of soil takes about 1000 years to form but if not used sustainably and managed properly, it may degrade and get converted into a wasteland in just few countable years. The heavy population load, rapid industrialization, unscientific agricultural practices have already put a lot of pressure on soil resulting in reduced soil fertility, degraded wastelands and problematic soils. In India, out of the 329 m ha of geographical area, nearly 50% is subjected to degradation by the various agents like water, wind and biotic interference. In this chapter we will focus on the wastelands and problematic soils, their distribution, cause of formation, management practices mainly in respect to the Indian state of Jharkhand.

Several independent research traditions have examined the diffusion of innovations. Fields such as anthropology, geography, and sociology have long aimed to understand current behaviours by tracing the diffusion of techniques and ideas from their origins to their present distributions. Critics argue that this tradition often focuses on descriptive history inferred from patterns of similarity (diffusionism) while neglecting causal processes. Extreme diffusionists sometimes postulated implausible links between societies.

Rural sociologists pioneered the quantitative study of innovation diffusion, with classic studies examining the spread of hybrid corn and 2-4-D weed killer in the American Midwest. This field has produced numerous studies, including many focused on the diffusion of modern techniques to Third World peasants. Similarly, researchers in educational reform have studied the spread of kindergartens, driver training, and modern mathematics curricula. Currently, there may be studies on the diffusion of General Education requirements in U.S. universities. Medical sociologists have investigated how new drugs spread among communities of physicians. Additionally, communications and marketing experts study how propaganda and advertising persuade people to adopt new ideas and products.

Social change encompasses alterations in both the tangible and intangible aspects of a society's culture. It involves transformations in the structure and dynamics of social systems, manifesting as shifts in:

• The roles assumed by individuals

• The values and norms upheld within society

• The framework of social institutions and structures

• The dynamics of interpersonal relationships

• The patterns of social interaction

• The functions fulfilled by various societal groups and institutions

Communication, as a fundamental aspect of human existence, has evolved significantly over time. Initially, it was primarily visual and verbal, but with the development of written scripts and digital technologies, these too became integral components of human interaction. Language has always been inherently complex, with individuals from different cultural backgrounds and belief systems encoding and decoding messages in diverse ways. This process involves giving meaning to and deriving meaning from various forms of communication.

Moreover, the medium through which communication occurs often imposes its own structural rules or "grammar." For instance, messages conveyed through audiovisual media or computer-mediated communication are often organized differently than those in traditional written or spoken forms. These structural differences can lead to variations in meaning depending on the context in which the communication takes place.

8.1. Classification

The ruminants belong to the Order Artiodactyla. The families in order of Artiodactyla include Camelidae, Tragulidae, Cervidae, Giraffidae, Antliocapridae, and Bovidae.

The family Camelidae includesGuanaco (Lama guanicoe), Llama (Lama glama), Alpaca or South American camelid mammal (Lama pacos), Dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius), and Bactrian or two-humped camels (Camelus bactrianus).

The family Tragulidae includes Chevrotains originate from Africa (Hyumo schusaquaticus) and Chevrotains that originate from Asia (Tragulus species).

The family CervidaeincludesWhite tailed deer(Odococlius virginianus), Follow deer (Dama dama), Roe-deer (Capreolus capreolus), Axis deer (Axis axis), Reindeer (Rangiter tarandus), Musk deer (Moschus species) and Chinese water deer (Hydropotes species).

9.1. Classification: Order Perissodactyla

The order Perissodactyla, also known as odd-toed ungulates, is a group of herbivorous mammals characterized by having one or three toes on each foot. They are distinguished from even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla) by this anatomical feature. Even-toed ungulates, such as pigs, cows, and deer, have an even number of toes (two or four) on each foot. Some of the well-known members of this order include horses, zebras, asses, tapirs, and rhinoceroses.

The name “Perissodactyla” comes from the Greek words “perissos,” meaning “odd,” and “daktylos,” meaning “finger or toe,” referring to their unique foot structure. Unlike even-toed ungulates (Artiodactyla), which bear weight on their third and fourth toes, perissodactyls primarily bear weight on their third toe.

In agroforestry systems the various components like tree, crop and pasture exist in different proportions and orientations. It is difficult to find out which agroforestry system is the best suited for a given land situation. Similarly, it is to be decided which technologies are required for refinement and improvement of the existing agroforestry practices. But without sufficient knowledge of the existing system in a particular land situation, it is very difficult to set the research priorities for modification and development of this system.

Diagnosis and Design (D & D) is a systematic and objective methodology developed by International Centre for Research in Agroforestry (ICRAF) to initiate, monitor and evaluate agroforestry programmes. D & D is based on the philosophy that knowledge of the existing situation (diagnosis) is essential to plan and evaluate (design) meaningful and effective programmes in agroforestry research for development. The methodology plays a strategic role in all the phases of the agroforestry research process. D & D in agroforestry is unique and it has been specially developed for the following purposes (Raintree, 1987)

Human societies over the ages have depleted natural resources in different ways and degraded their local environments. Indiscriminate cutting down of trees and accelerating the construction works lead to global warming and climate change. Climate scientists believe that human-induced deforestation is responsible for 18-25% of climate change. Accumulation of greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere is the main cause of global climate change. The concentration of these gases in the earth’s atmosphere is increasing, mainly due to deforestation and the combustion of fossil fuels which release carbon dioxide.

The earth receives heat energy constantly from the sun through radiation. Some of the heat is absorbed and some is reflected. Carbon dioxide works like an invisible blanket that wraps around the earth and traps the heat inside, similar to the function of a greenhouse. A greenhouse is a structure that is used in colder climates to grow plants. Even when outside temperatures drop below freezing point, greenhouses are still warm enough inside to grow plants. Greenhouses are made of glass, which allows solar radiation to enter. The heat is trapped inside the greenhouse, allowing plants to grow all the year round. Increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere insulate it like a greenhouse, leading to a gradual warming of the earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is the major greenhouse gas, but there are others as well, including methane and nitrous oxide.

Dolichos bean, [Lablab purpureus (L.) Sweet] var. typicus (2n=22) also known as Indian bean or sem is one of the vital leguminous vegetables grown in India for its tender green pods. Both pole types and bush types are commercially grown. It is predominantly cultivated in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and North-East India. Protein, minerals, vitamins and f ibers are abundant in Dolichos bean. Bush-type vegetable dolichos unlike the pole-type dolichos (which are generally grown during the winter season as they require short day) are thermosensitive and can be grown year-round.

Dolichos is a versatile and valuable leguminous crop, offering multiple benefits. It boasts a high protein content of 3.6% and fiber content of 1.8%. The dry seed is composed of a protein content ranging from 23.0% to 28.0%. The pods are abundant in phenols, with levels ranging from 1.7 to 9.67 mg/100 g, making them a valuable source of antioxidants. Furthermore, dolichos serves as an excellent source of amino acids, particularly lysine, along with vitamins such as A, C, and riboflavin, and essential minerals (Ca, Fe, Mg, S, Na and P). The seeds of dolichos contain a flavonoid, kievitone, recognized for its potential in combating breast cancer. Additionally, the presence of tyrosinase in the seeds indicates promising possibilities for treating hypertension in humans. Dolichos beans are utilized for various medicinal purposes, acting as stomachic, anthelmintic, diuretic, aphrodisiac, antispasmodic, digestive, febrifuge, and carminative agents. Furthermore, they are rich in bioactive compounds that offer significant benefits in treating specific ailments such as liver problems, diabetes and tumors.

9.1 Introduction

Almond is one of the major and oldest tree-nut crops of the world. It is a close relative of peach. It was bought to California in the 17th century by Spanish. In India it was first introduced into Kashmir during 16th century by Persian settlers. The tree bears a fruit called a drupe consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed inside. Almonds are generally cross-pollinated. Therefore, the common honeybee plays a vital role in the production of the nuts. A compound called ‘Amygdaline’ differentiates the bitter almond from the sweet almond. In the presence of water (i.e., on hydrolysis), amygdaline yields glucose and the chemicals, benzaldehyde and hydrocyanic acid (HCN). The salt of HCN known as cyanide is poisonous. The bitter almond is slightly broader and shorter than the sweet. Bitter almonds yield 4-9 mg of hydrogen cyanide per almond. Almonds are cultivated in many parts of the world, with the five leading countries being the U.S., Spain, Australia, Iran and Morocco.

12.1 Introduction

Walnut (Juglans regia L.), called “the magic tree” since ancient times, is one of the most economically significant and widely distributed cultivated species for its timber and nutritious nuts all over the world. It is an important source for food, medicines, phytotherapeutic products, raw material in the wood industry and biomass. The nuts are also known as “King of Nuts”. Walnut is known to be trees with a high market potential. Its nutritious nuts and good quality timber are highly valued and the market demand is correspondingly high. It is known for its high-quality nuts and timber. It makes it an economically and nutritionally important tree species. Almost all plant parts and their by products have been used in one or other way. It is the most widespread nut tree in the world (Sharma, 2022). It is relatively fast-growing reaching a total height of 18-30 m and a canopy width of 12-18 m. Roots are sensitive to oxygen depletion which can occur in wet conditions.

1. Introduction

Education is undergoing a digital transformation. The incorporation of digital technologies into the educational scene over the last two decades has radically changed the way we teach and learn. This transition has started a revolution with far-reaching repercussions, both positive and negative, for students, educators, and institutions alike.

The growing adoption of digital technologies in educational settings has created a world of possibilities. Online platforms, learning management systems, educational apps, virtual reality, and augmented reality are just a handful of the innovations that have transformed the educational experience. This comprehensive investigation tries to investigate the intricate and multifaceted impact of various digital technologies on schooling.

Developmental Anomalies

Persistent right aortic arch

This is a developmental anomaly of aorta in which the aorta develops from right arch present on right side of trachea and oesophagus. The ductus arteriosus forms a ring around trachea and oesophagus by connecting aorta and pulmonary artery. This ring causes partial obstruction of trachea and/or oesophagus.

Patent ductus arteriosus

The ductus arteriosus is a short blood vessel which connects pulmonary artery to aorta in foetal life for diversion of blood. Normally, soon after birth this duct is sealed and remains in the form of a ligamentum arteriosum. But sometimes this ductus arteriosus remains open and blood is continuously shunted between aorta and pulmonary artery, after leading to congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension and cyanosis due to mixing of venous and arterial blood (Fig. 3.1).

Understanding the chemistry of submerged soil in the field of Geology, Pedology, Agriculture and other allied sectors draws attention to the research on characteristic changes in soil under submergence. It has been reported that, about 72% of the earth’s surface is covered by submerged soils or sediments . Rice plants have unique adaptation capability to grow under submerged soil and in any type of soil (acid/alkaline) condition or land situation (upland/lowland). The knowledge on changes of important physical, chemical and biological properties under submergence have important role to play in understanding the mechanisms of availability of nutrients to the plants and sustainability of the crop during its growing period.

9.0 Submerged Soil

The soils which are saturated with water for a longer period of time in a year to make the soil a distinctive gley horizons resulting from oxidation-reduction processes are called submerged soil. About 72% of the earth’s surface is covered with soil –submergence or sediments.

Taxonomic keys are devices that make identification of taxa easy and enjoyable. A key is presentation of appropriate diagnostic characters in a series of attractive choices to facilitate identification of a specimen.

Key characters are the characters that are easily perceived of very low variability, usually present in preserved material. They are useful as convenient labels for distinguishing taxa by the process of classification. Many taxonomic characters such as chemical, chromosomal, physiological and behavioural may have high value of identification because they are inaccessible in preserved material. Ideal key characters apply equally to all individuals of the population. They are absolute, relatively constant and external so that they can be observed directly without special equipment.

Introduction

A Brief Overview of Industry 4.0

It is widely agreed that foundational technologies such as 5G, IoT, Robotics, Nano-Tech, Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), Neural Networks, Quantum Computing, Cost-efficient and low-emission Transportation, and Sustainable Power have coalesced to give birth to industry 4.0.

Industry 4.0, sometimes also designated as the fourth wave of Industrial Revolution, is all about transforming traditional manufacturing and related industrial practices through various digital technologies. It represents a paradigm shift characterized by the amalgamation of multiple technologies such as computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), convergence, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and automation into a unified protocol for application in the industrial processes.

At its core, Industry 4.0 emphasizes the interconnectedness and intelligent communication between machines, products, and people. It revolutionizes production and operational methods by enabling machines to operate semi autonomously and make decentralized decisions. This allows for increased f lexibility, efficiency, and customization within manufacturing processes.

Key elements of Industry 4.0 include the digitization of manufacturing, smart factories, and the use of data-driven technologies to optimize production. It incorporates concepts such as predictive maintenance, where machines predict their own maintenance needs, and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), allowing devices and systems to communicate, analyze, and optimize processes in real-time.

Introduction

The Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 is the aggregation of advanced digital technologies into manufacturing and production processes. These technologies include Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous systems, which collectively facilitate smart manufacturing and interconnected industrial operations. When examining Industry 4.0’s wider ramifications, contradictions or fascinating facts surface. Its impact is widespread in society and the economy, even if it mostly concentrates on manufacturing. It may be seen in the service industry, urban development, and agriculture, among other areas (Ane & Yasmin, 2019; Kraus et al., 2022). Furthermore, the phrase encompasses not only the development of technology but also the evolution of organizational leadership and the significance of security and privacy in the digital era (Beattie & Wyer, 2019; ONIK et al., 2019). Overall, Industry 4.0 represents a transformative era where digital technologies are harnessed to create intelligent, interconnected systems that revolutionize traditional industrial practices.

Ringworm

Ringworm is a fungal disease of skin affecting animals characterized by popular skin lesions in circular form discharging serus exudate.

Etiology

• Microsporum canis- dogs

• M. gypseum- dogs, horse, pig

• Trichophyton verrucosum- bovines

• T. equinum- horses

Pathogenesis

The fungi enter in skin through abrasion and the hyphae appear in stratum corneum after germination and invade the hair follicles. The hyphae growth and spore formation in stratum corneum leads to hyperkeratosis and the fungus spreads centrifugally from the point of primary invasion leading to ring shaped lesion (Fig.8.1).

Tyzzer’s disease

Tyzzer’s disease is an acute infectious disease of laboratory animals including rats caused by Clostridium spp and Characterized by watery diarrhoea, necrotic hepatitis and death

Etiology

• Clostridium piliforme

• Gram positive, Spore forming, Anaerobe

Pathogenesis

• Horizontal transmission- faecal oral route

• Contaminated feed, water

• Bacteria in gut causing enteritis

1. Introduction

India has 536.76 million livestock as per 20th Livestock Census 2019. Livestock plays a vital role in improving the socio-economic conditions of rural masses especially for landless and marginal farmers; as well as an important role in the national economy. Livestock production and agriculture are closely related and vital for the overall food security. Agriculture diversification through animal husbandry is one of the primary factors of growth in rural incomes. A higher public investment in livestock sector is the need of the hour for doubling farmers’ income. Future economic growth would have to come from improvements in animal productivity. India is bestowed with a great degree of livestock biodiversity which can be elucidated in hosting more than 200 breeds across all the species. Along with producing A2 milk, desi cattle are renowned for withstanding heat, illness resistance, immunity to ticks and parasites and low maintenance requirements. The various indigenous breeds of agricultural animals are mostly the consequence of evolutionary processes. They were improved through field progeny testing & selection. Conservation and propagation of most precious high producing elite buffalo germplasm though the cloning technique is the contribution of the scientists to the buffalo rearing farmers of the country. The Indian Jamunapari goat is one of the ancestors of the American Nubian. Goat milk is an excellent source of vitamin A, is high in digestible protein, contains significantly lower levels of alpha-S1-casein, contains slightly less lactose, and has more non-digestible carbohydrates than cows’ milk.

13.1. Introduction

The Delphi technique is a systematic, interactive forecasting method that involves gathering expert opinions to make informed decisions, predict future trends, or address complex problems. The core idea behind this technique is to use the knowledge and insights of experts in a structured manner to produce well-informed and reliable outcomes. By combining expert judgment with iterative feedback, the Delphi method allows for deeper analysis, greater accuracy, and a better understanding of complex issues that cannot be easily solved through traditional data analysis or quantitative methods (Ismail and Taliep, 2023).

Originally designed for defence-related forecasting, the Delphi technique has since evolved into a versatile tool used across a wide range of fields, such as business, healthcare, education, public policy, environmental science, and social research. Its versatility stems from its ability to gather expert opinions in a manner that allows for rigorous analysis of complex issues, without the constraints of traditional group meetings or face-to-face discussions.

Pork production in India is limited, representing only 9% of the country’s animal protein sources. Production is concentrated mainly in the northeastern states of the country and consists primarily of backyard and informal sector producers. The contribution of pork products in terms of value works out to 0.80% of total livestock products and 4.32% of the meat and meat products. The contribution of pigs to Indian exports is very poor.

The chromosomes of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus) are known to be prone to reciprocal chromosome translocations and other balanced chromosome rearrangements with concomitant fertility impairment of carriers. The domestic pig has diploid chromosome (2n) number 38. The domestic pig karyotype shows a tendency for balanced structural chromosomal rearrangements, such as reciprocal, Robertsonian, and tandem translocations, as well as inversions. There is extensive polymorphism in the heterochromatin, with G-C-rich heterochromatin located in centromere regions of biarmed chromosomes and less G-C-rich heterochromatin in the centromere regions of one-armed chromosomes.

The diploid chromosome number of the pig is 2n = 38, consisting of 18 autosomal chromosome pairs, which vary in length and morphology (12-bi-armed and 6 one-armed pairs), and two sex chromosomes, XX or XY. Robertsonian translocation is known to occur in the acrocentric chromosomes 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18. In these cases, the chromosomes fuse at the centromeric region, resulting in the production of two derivative chromosomes, a large bi-armed chromosome, and a secondary short chromosome often lost in subsequent cell divisions. Thus, the karyotype of a domestic pig carrying Robertsonian translocation has a distinct 2n = 37 diploid chromosome number, with the noticeable addition of a novel large bi-armed chromosome.

Using the FAO criteria, Bargur and Siri cattle breeds and Attapadi goat breeds were categorized under vulnerable status of risk; Krishna Valley, Mewati, Pullikulam and Punganur cattle breeds, Chilika and Toda buffalo breeds and Karnah and Poonchi sheep breeds under endangered status of under risk and Vechur cattle under critical status of risk. All these breeds need immediate steps for rescue by using suitable conservation methodology. Breed-wise census should be continued in future so that trends in breed populations may also be estimated for fine tuning of risk assessment of breeds.

Rate of inbreeding in Indian livestock breeds: The rate of inbreeding estimated for different breeds of cattle was well below 0.5% (needed for a breed ‘not at risk’) except for Mewati (1.193%), Pullikulam (0.72%) and Vechur (17.893%). The rate of inbreeding in buffalo breeds was also well below 0.5% except in Chilika buffalo, where it was 0.731%. The rate of inbreeding of these breeds may be reduced by increasing the number of breeding males and in Vechur also the breeding females. The rate of inbreeding in all the breeds of sheep (Indian or exotic), goat and pig were estimated to be less than 0.5%. In these species, a good balance of breeding males and females is always expected.

Developing countries with agrarian economy have been facing challenges arising from climate change causes and consequences. The altered patterns of climate are affecting the yield potential of crops thereby affecting agricultural production, farmers’ income, and livelihoods. Out of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, the 13th SDG on ‘Climate action to combat climate change and its impacts,’ emphasises the importance and urgency of addressing the effects of climate change in developing nations. It is projected that climate change would have the most detrimental effect on agriculture, the primary source of income for small and marginal farmers in developed nations (Azadi et al., 2021). Building the ability of small and marginal farmers will be crucial to global food security over the next decade (FAO, 2020). World Bank (2018) reported that 800 million South Asian population are at risk of experiencing a decline in their standard of living and incomes due to rising temperatures and more erratic rainfall hampering the agriculture production system. Millions of low-income smallholder farmers, particularly those who rely on agriculture for a living and an income in South Asia, would be directly impacted by a reduction in productivity leading to food supply shortages and price increases.

The biosphere or part of the earth and its atmosphere where life is found is made of different size of ecosystem regulated by solar energy. Ecosystems have both biotic and abiotic components. The biotic component comprises closely interacting groups of flora and fauna having varying energy needs which comprise heterotrophic, chemoautotrophic and photoautotrophic microorganisms.

Biodiversity refers to the richness of life as manifested by their morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics of microorganism and their interdependence in habitat. It is because of biodiversity that each ecosystem functions as the basic life support system of the planet earth. Biodiversity sustains the food and nutrition security of human beings and mediates the ecological process by resisting environmental perturbations in a given soil and climatic conditions.

Presently greater emphasis is being placed on the biodiversity of above ground biotic components belonging to plant and animal kingdom. The living organisms in soil and their diversity in relation to their contribution to sustainable agriculture often do not receive adequate attention. Without taking into considerations the magnitude and understanding of the global diversity will be fragmentary. However, management of below ground biodiversity is being focused presently by several national and international bodies.

Financial inclusion, which is the process of accessing and properly utilizing formal financial services, is an important factor in powering economic development and poverty reduction. Study undertakes a broad cross- country analysis of financial inclusion and its impact on social and economic factors. Applying data from respectable bodies like World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Eurostat and United Nations Development Programme, the study applies regression analysis and fixed effects models to determine how income, employment, income inequality, urbanization and human development affect financial inclusion. The outcomes show the complicated interplay between these actors and financial inclusion over various national situations.Financial inclusion is becoming a key component of equitable economic development and poverty alleviation worldwide. The importance of financial inclusion is undisputed, but its causes must be identified. This research article uses a comprehensive cross- country analysis to explain how various civilizations utilize financial services. The study will examine the relationship between financial inclusion and its key socio-economic factors— income levels, employment dynamics, income inequality, urbanization trends, and human development—to inform inclusive economic development policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. The data demonstrates that financial inclusion promotes economic development by helping people save, invest, and manage risk. Additionally, academics have focused on socio-economic issues including income distribution, urban-rural divide, and education level in shaping financial inclusion patterns within and within nations. These characteristics’ effects on financial literacy are yet unknown, thus more empirical study is needed to develop evidence-based policy.

Introduction

People visit tourist destinations for the purpose of enjoying the beauty, to relax and rejuvenate. One of the popular destinations chosen by all are hill stations. Darjeeling, also known as the Queen of Hills, is a popular tourist destination visited by six-hundred-thousand Indians and thirty-thousand foreigners annually (Bhattacharya, n.d.). The primary attractions that make Darjeeling worth visiting are the magnificent views of the Kanchenjunga range and the lush tea gardens. As a result of the advancement in technology, the luxury of travel is now feasible to all sections of society because of which tourism in India has rapidly expanded in the past three decades. This is the result of: great progress and advancement of the Indian economy, India’s roaring IT sector and promotion of “Unbelievable India” by the Tourism Ministry. Although tourism has significantly boosted revenue and employment, it comes with its downsides: the harm that it poses to the environment if it goes unchecked. Since the number of tourists is greater than the ability of the environment to cope up with, it puts tremendous pressure upon the environment which can have irreversible negative impacts

Introduction

Intellectual Property emerged in new type of property referring to creation of the mind in today’s globalized world. While IP such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks are centuries old, but the extension of IPRs to living beings and knowledge related to them is relatively recent. Similarly Intellectual Property Rights (hereafter IPRs) mean legal protection to protect data from new inventions. In exchange for being required to reveal the formula or strategy underlying the technique, these rights enable the owner to stop imitators from commercializing the inventions or processes for a limited time. Biological Diversity refers to all kinds of living organisms found in an area which maintain balance and support life hence may be called as the cornerstone of sustainability of all living creations i.e. the hallmark of the life of living beings since origin. In general, all organisms, including flora and living things, microbes, and their ecosystems, are together referred to as biodiversity.

Entrepreneurship serves as a crucial element of economic development. In times of economic crisis, the significance of business development rises. Entrepreneurship has been linked to enhanced economic growth, greater wealth, and an elevated quality of life. In developing countries like India, the planning and implementation of entrepreneurship program development is essential for the standard of living of most of the backward areas due to their over-dependence on agriculture for employment (Uplaonkar and Biradar 2015). Entrepreneurship development therefore seems to be the best option to find job opportunities, generate income, reduce poverty and improve nutrition, health and overall food security in the national economy.

Entrepreneurship refers to the ability to take big risks to make a profit, to succeed, to manage and organize a new business. Entrepreneurship is a process in which a person becomes aware of owning a business as an alternative and develops new ideas for business. In addition, they try to learn the whole process of becoming an entrepreneur, and an initiative has been taken to develop entrepreneurship. It shows the practical application of all qualities such as innovation, creativity and risk in a work environment. The development of agriculture requires innovations in agricultural business. Stabilizing innovations and increasing productivity is a long-term and difficult business.

Conventional crop breeding requires a substantial investment of time, space, and resources for the selection process and the subsequent crossing of desired plants. The time taken for the complete seed-to-seed cycle is a critical constraint in the advancement of plant research and breeding. The concept of speed breeding holds the promise of diminishing the duration necessary for the entire process of cultivar development, from creation to introduction and eventual commercial availability, thereby enhancing the improvement of both food and industrial crops. It revolves around optimizing conditions such as light intensity, temperature, and daylight duration (22-hour light, 22°C day/17°C night, and high light intensity). This approach enhances photosynthesis, triggering early flowering, and, in combination with yearly seed collection. The adoption of speed breeding shows promises in realizing nutritional security and promoting sustainable agriculture for the future rising population. The technique’s integration with advanced genomics and gene editing opens doors to precise trait incorporation. Moreover, speed breeding reduces resource consumption, aligning with sustainability goals. As local adaptations become feasible, it empowers diverse regions.

Epigenetics is a new field of research in plant biology, which aims to provide a powerful tool to improve crop productivity, adaptability, and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. In recent years, researchers have begun to explore the potential of epigenomics in plant breeding, providing breeders with an alternative to genetic engineering, addressing concerns related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture. In particular, epigenetic markers (epimarkers) are chemicals which regulate genes by sitting over the DNA sequence; they explore the consequences of thermal and ionic variation on the behavior of plant under stress conditions. Moreover, epialleles may be promising sources of new variation of traits that are controlled by genes that are not detrimentally regulated. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the current state of the art in epigenomic research, focusing on the impact of next-generation sequencing (NGS) on epigenomes, as well as the potential use of epigenetics in crop breeding.

Introduction

Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in gene expression that occur without alterations in the DNA sequence. It involves modifications of the DNA or associated proteins that can influence gene activity and expression. Most cells in an organism share the same genes, although they can be very diverse from one another. This is due to the fact that not all genes are active in all cells at the same time. The epigenetic context of a gene, or its accessibility to transcription, can tell whether the gene is likely to be active or not (Klemm et al. 2019). Indeed, the nuclear genome is found as a dense combination of long DNA strings wrapped around specialized proteins called histones to create nucleosomes (Samo et al. 2021). These nucleosomes can be further packed together to form even denser 3D formations that are sometimes visible under a microscope, giving rise to the term “chromatin”.

Introduction

Analysis of insecticide formulations are critical for the availability of quality insecticides in the market for ultimate benefit of farmers and ecosystem health. This chapter highlights the significance of comprehensive insecticide formulation analysis protocols, encompassing methods for determining active ingredient and assessing physical and chemical parameters. Employing advanced analytical techniques such as spectroscopy and chromatography for insecticide formulation analysis will eventually maintain the quality of insecticides for the sustainable management of pests.

In India, over 339 pesticides are registered that includes insecticides, fungicides, herbicides (DPPQS, 2024). The current market of non-genuine insecticide is INR 3,200 crores (USD 525 Million) which constitutes 25 per cent by value and 30 per cent by volume of the total domestic market of agrochemicals in India as per Industry reports, primary interviews, news articles and Tata Strategic analysis (FICCI, 2015). Monitoring registration and regulation of insecticides is governed by the Insecticide Management Bill 2020, which replaced the Insecticide Act 1968 (DPPQS, 2023). The Insecticide Act of 1968 established the Central Insecticide Laboratory, Faridabad, under section 16 with two regional insecticide testing laboratories at Chandigarh and Kanpur (DPPQS, 2023). Current Quality Control of Insecticides in States/UTs during the last five years shows that 68078 insecticide samples were analysed (DPPQS, 2023). In the beginning, these laboratories involved in analysing insecticide samples drawn by any officer or the body authorized by the Central or State Governments and submit certificates of analysis to the concerned authority. Regional Pesticide Testing Laboratories (RPTLs) had a huge target of analysis of 1550 samples per annum that necessitated the establishment of 71 State Pesticide Testing Laboratories (SPTL) spread across India of which 14 are NABL accredited (DPPQS, 2023).