eChapters

1. Introduction

Library enhances socioeconomic development by creating a knowledgeable society, empowering marginalized people, and promoting economic activity, skill learning, cultural identity enrichment, and decision-making participation. These services are supported by infrastructure, ICT, media. Libraries are responsible for knowledge, acquisition, management, fostering mutual relationships between librarians, the publics, and stakeholders. Its role as a storehouse of resources worldwide, including acquiring, organizing, preserving, storing, and making information available. Public libraries are important for public infrastructure, community health, and supporting social development goals. The contributions of the various types of libraries are discussed below:

1.1. National Library

A country's reference library is called its national library. It is the resource that all kinds of libraries utilize since it has a collection of all books published by Academic Library nationals in every subject area, as well as writings about the nation written by both nationals and non-citizens and by people in need of materials made in the nation. As a result, it is responsible for maintaining the country's cultural legacy and making the national bibliography available each year.

Adipiso genital syndrome is otherwise known as Adiposo genital dystrophy or Frolichs syndrome. It occurs because if disorder of Hypothalamus. It is manifested by a union of obesity, under developed genitals and hormonal imbalances. It essentially influences hidden and adolescents, even though cases in adults have been reported. The causes of adipose genital syndrome include tumors, trauma and I infections The symptoms of adipose genital dystrophy are obesity, delayed or incomplete puberty, under developed or incomplete puberty. Under developed genitals and hormonal imbalances. Diagnosis is based on medical history, physical examination , laboratory tests and imaging studies namely ( MRI ) of the brain. Treatment is dependent upon hormone replacement therapy, diet as well as life style modifications and monitoring as well as supportive care. Finally it is concluded that Adiposo genital syndrome is a rare disease manifested by obesity. Under developed genitals and hormonal imbalances, leading to the dysfunction of the Hypothalamus.

Fruits are an essential component of a human’s healthy diet. Fruits are used as a supplement to primary foods. When compared to grains, many fruits have far greater nutritional potential. The common fig is one of the most important and widely consumed fruits (Ficus carica).

Introduction 
Sustainable development is one of the most important concepts in a business organization. In order to satisfy all the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own requirements, sustainable development is a comprehensive strategy to growth. In order to build a stable and equitable future, it incorporates social inclusion, economic progress, and environmental conservation. The “three pillars” or “three dimensions” of sustainability—economic, social, and environmental—are frequently used to frame the idea of sustainable development. The North East Indian state of Assam’s cultural and economical legacy has an intricate connection to the long and prosperous past of the Assam Silk Industry. From the very ancient times, the production of silk from silkworm and weaving into beautiful garments can be seen in this part of the region.Evidence indicates that the cultivation of silk and weaving were well established in the region by the first millennium BCE, incorporating thousands of years to the cultural heritage of silk weaving in Assam.The indigenous communities of Assam, particularly the Bodo-Kacharis, have been identified for spreading sericulture to the area. Assam produces three types of silk, namely Muga Silk which is also termed as Golden Muga, Pat Silk and Eri or Endi Silk. Also known as the “Golden Silk”, Muga Silk is unique only to Assam and hugely popular because of its natural sheen which increases with each wash. The silk is produced by a special silkworm Antheraea assamensiswhich is endemic to Assam. The town of Sualkuchi, in the Kamrup district of Assam, India, is home to the well-known traditional silk-weaving industry. Sualkuchi, dubbed the “Manchester of Assam,” is well-known for its superior silk goods, especially those crafted from Assamese-only Muga, Eri, and Pat silk(Ghosh, 2021; (Rajesh et al., 2020) The Assam Silk is considered as one of the finest in regional, national and international market because of its superior quality, bright colors and attractive designs. It has a good amount of potential to boost the economic development of Assam. Despite having such importance, it has been observed that the silk industry is facing a lot of problems which is causing a major setback in its growth. The Silk Industry of Assam is highly unorganized because there are less or no educated laborers which results in shortage of agricultural laborers ultimately leading to production shortage. The Assam silk industry, known for producing exquisite silk varieties like Muga, Eri, and Pat silk, faces several marketing challenges that hinder its growth and global competitiveness. Despite being geographically unique particularly Muga Silk, its brand identity is not widely recognized in outside the market. Its reach is restricted to premium and high-end fashion markets due to this lack of worldwide awareness. The majority of Assam’s silk output is limited to local and regional markets. The industry’s minimal web presence and inadequate marketing infrastructure make it difficult for it to penetrate larger domestic and international markets. Silk from Assam is not sufficiently promoted in international forums. There are government initiatives; however, there is a lack of consistency and broad audience reach in marketing activities. In marketplaces where there is competition, this causes the silk to be less visible.Producing Assam silk, particularly Muga silk, requires a lot of work and money. The final product’s high cost of manufacture restricts its customer base to a premium market niche. This lowers total sales and narrows the target market.

Introduction The method of drying is expressed as applying heat under controlled conditions to remove the water or moisture from foods to get a dry product with low moisture content. The primary commitment of drying is to extend the shelf-life of foods by diminishing their water activity. Due to low water activity, microorganisms which cause food spoilage and decay and many of the enzymes which promote undesired changes in the chemical composition of the food are unable to grow, multiply or function. The need for drying in the food industry is increasing day by day, and Novel dehydration techniques are being invented for a more efficient drying process, less energy-consuming, and preserve the product characteristics and nutritional profile. Further, the drying technology is critical for moisture removal from food and non-food materials. Small scale farmers use this food preservation method as an indigenous method and the food processing industry as modern technology. Dried products have numerous benefits compared to raw products, including an extended shelf-life and reduced packaging, storage, handling, and transportation costs. However, drying is a highly energy-intensive food processing operation.

Abstract

For achieving compatibility with the fast changing business environment and economic scenario at national and international level; instead of making more amendments in the Indian Companies Act 1956, it has been replaced with a new Companies Act 2013 which is effective from 1st April, 2014. Many changes have been made in the new Act and many new concepts have also been introduced, such as One Person Company, dormant company, corporate social responsibility, chief executive officer, stakeholders relationship committee, merger with foreign company etc. In this paper, an effort has been made for presenting a section-wise brief summary of some major changes in the Companies Act 2013 as compared to 1956 Act and its impact on corporate world.

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.

Introduction and Applications of 1,2-Azoles
Interest in the chemistry of 1,2-azoles has grown significantly over the last ten years, mostly due to the discovery of intriguing features shown by a large number of 1,2-azoles derivatives. 1,2-azoles, which are five-membered heterocycles with nearby nitrogen and heteroatoms (X = N, O, S), are highly prized in organic synthesis by using heterocyclic substituents that contain nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen, the five-membered ring system’s biological activity and bioavailability can be improved. Functionalized pyrazoles, isoxazoles, and isothiazoles are found in a large number of naturally occurring and synthetically produced medicinally relevant molecules (Chakroborty et al., 2013, Preeti et al., 2018). Numerous biological actions are exhibited by these molecules (Pathak et al., 2012, Yan et al., 2007, Ruan et al., 2012, Katritzky et al., 2001, Shaw et al., 2012, Waldo et al., 2007, Uramaru et al., 2010, Cutri et al., 2004). A few examples of molecules with this structural pattern are shown in Figure 1. Table 1 lists the uses of 1,2-azoles in medications, agrochemistry, natural products, and pharmaceuticals.

ABSTRACT

Indian farming community is facing a multitude of problems to maximize crop productivity. In spite of successful research on new agricultural practices concerning crop cultivation, the majority of farmers is not getting upper-bound yield due to several reasons. One of the reasons is that expert/scientific advice regarding crop cultivation is not reaching farming community in a timely manner. It is true that India possesses a valuable agricultural knowledge and expertise. However, a wide information gap exists between the research level and practice. Indian farmers need timely expert advice to make them more productive and competitive. In this paper, we made an effort to present a solution to bridge the information gap by exploiting advances in Information Technology (IT). We propose a framework of a cost-effective agricultural information dissemination system (AgrIDS) to disseminate expert agriculture knowledge to the farming community to improve the crop productivity. Some of the crucial benefits of AgrIDS are as follows. It is a scalable system which can be incrementally developed and extended to cover all the farmers (crops) of India in a cost effective manner. It enables the farmer to cultivate a crop with expertise, as that of an agricultural expert, by disseminating both crop and location specific expert advice in a personalized and timely manner. With AgrIDS, the lag period between research effort to practice can be reduced significantly. Finally, the proposed system assumes a great importance due to the trend of globalization, as it aims to provide expert advice which is crucial to for the Indian farmer to harvest different kinds of crop varieties based on the demand in the world market.

Abstract

The objective of the study is to build a framework of Geo-spatial Information System for effective decision making by empowering all the stake holders with spatial and non-spatial data. The Interface of this information system is developed as a deployable windows application using Map Objects in Visual Basic programming language with MS Access database. The practical utility of the proposed information system was explained with a case study in Aquaculture. This geo-spatial information system provides required information through maps based on spatial and attribute quarries. These dynamic maps help in taking effective decisions.

1.0 Introduction

Computer based information systems proved to be very efficient and effective tools for managing data and information to aid in decision making . FAO (2000) proposed agricultural knowledge and information system for rural development (AKIS/RD) to link rural people and institutions to promote mutual learning and generate , share and utilize agricultural technology , knowledge and information. This serves as vehicle for sharing ideas and principles with various stake holders addressing the problems and seeking solutions to rural development. Although the rural development planning is top-down prescriptive approach , in reality the decisions are made by the stake holders based on their perspectives, knowledge and priorities. Problems particularly related to environmental impacts are location specific and contextual. Geo-spatial technologies may serve as better vehicle to store and share all kinds of location specific data and information. The state of mapping and management of geospatial data changed during the recent years with the diffusion of modern geospatial information technologies such as GIS(Geographic information system), GPS(Global positioning system) and image analytical system for remote sensing(RS) data. Adinarayana et al., (2008) proposed a geographical information and communication technology (Geo-ICT) based information system called Grama Vikas( rural development) to assist the user in analyzing the rural information for rural development, planning . During the recent years there is a paradigm shift in GIS applications for rural development particularly in developing countries, by way of integrating top-down approach with bottom-up approach by the stake holders who stand to be affected by the decisions based on these technologies. Emerging concepts include “ community - integrated GIS”, “GIS in participatory research” and ‘participatory GIS”. (Abbot et al., 1998)

Abstract

On the basis of symptoms, samples from seven localities within Solan district (H.P.) at varying altitudes ranging from 600-1650mts comprising Nalagarh (600-750m), Badghal (850m), Dilchab (950-1000m), Shaya (1200m), Solan (1300-1450m), Bajhyana (1520m) and Tikari Pajahali (1650m), were collected and used for serological detection by DAS ELISA. It was found that all the isolates except Nalagarh, reacted positively with the antisera to ToLCV, thus substantiating the results on the identity of the present isolates. Out of the seven isolates under study, Dilchab and Shaya isolates did not show any PCR amplification for Rep gene indicating the variability in the regions flanking the Rep gene. Likewise, no amplification result in case of Nalagarh sample proposes the attack of some other pathogen producing similar symptoms.

Abstract

Genomics is playing an increasing role in generating new tools and databases with the rapid advances in genome technology which increases the eficiency and precision of crop improvement. With the emergence of new high-throughput technologies like next-generation sequencing (NGS) and reduction in their costs are bringing many more plants within the range of genomic and post genomic data along with the integration of information from the related fields of transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and phenomics. Translating the vast abundance data produced by genome technologies requires large generic databases which hold specific data types for a broad range of species, which act as a resource for the crop improvement. The development of custom bioinformatics tools and advanced databases has become an expanding challenge which systematically helps in storing, organizing, manipulating and analyzing large amounts of biological information computationally. In this review, we outline some recent advances in the features of plant genome databases and various platforms with the recent advances in technology.

This chapter is based on literature reviews on urban regeneration with the intention to record and appreciate the perception of urban regeneration as reflected by the experiences of regeneration attempts in Europe and the United States. Since India owes much of her urbanization characteristics of the contemporary era to the colonial days, a special focus is on the experiences of U.K. The chapter also deals with early civilization and understanding of Urbanism, Impact of industrial Revolution and discusses Cities of South Asia. This attempt acts as a window to view cities as centres of power and performance, the assets of a city are discussed and the declining factors observed, a view necessitated out of the exercise is to look at cities on their own merits, demerits and policies, the programme for renewing would stem out of these inherent qualities which make these cities stand apart. The third and concluding part discusses some of the successful efforts of regeneration in the West and specifies on the strategies drawn for regeneration as a product of declining factors, the capacity to withstand change and available resources.

Soon after completing masters in Veterinary Pathology, Dr Chauhan joined as Teaching Associate in the department of Microbiology and Public Health in Pantnagar and taught BVSc &AH students systemic Bacteriology, meat hygiene and milk hygiene. However, this period was very short of only few months as he joined as Assistant Professor/ Assistant Disease Investigation Officer in HAU Hisar (1983-1996) and was entrusted disease investigation besides teaching of UG and PG students. He taught hygiene to BHSc students, and Epidemiology, Zoonosis, Livestock and Poultry Disease Investigation courses to masters and doctoral students. He also guided several masters and doctoral thesis research on pesticide toxicity, reoviral infection, and protozoan parasite infections. He has written a book on “Text book of Veterinary Clinical and Laboratory Diagnosis which was released by Hon’ble Central Education Minister Km Shailja ji. Students were fond of Dr Chauhan because of his teaching skills, easy to learn process and friendly behaviour; among them are Dr Naresh Jindal, Dr NK Mahajan, Dr SK Khurana, Dr Rajsh Khurana, Dr RK Vaid, Dr Devendra Bist etc.
In Feb1996 he joined at Pantnagar as Associate Professor and was given responsibility of Veterinary Pathology teaching to BVSc&AH, MVSc and PhD students. The teaching skills of Dr Chauhan were appreciable and were very useful to the students. He prepared power point presentation of each and every topic with photographs, line drawings, video and graphs/ bar diagrams etc to make it more understandable to the students. Particularly Dr Chauhan’s teaching include the Indian perspectives including animal diseases which showed the right things present in the field. Many disease conditions are different in India in comparison to other countries; some important diseases present in India are mentioned in the books of foreign writers and similarly many diseases occurs in other countries are not having any presence in India. So it is very important to impart education to students in right perspective which they will face in the field. Dr Chauhan always discusses the epidemiology part of the disease whether the disease in present in India or not; if present then what is the magnitude of disease. Such information is not available in literature, it comes by virtue of experience.

A dog’s skin is not only their largest organ but also a vital indicator of their overall health and well-being. Proper skin care and management are essential for keeping your furry friend comfortable, happy, and healthy. Here’s a comprehensive guide to maintaining your pet dog’s skin:

1. Regular Grooming

• Regular grooming is key to keeping your dog’s skin clean and free from debris, dirt, and excess oils. Brushing your dog’s coat helps distribute natural oils and prevents matting, which can lead to skin irritation.

• Use a grooming brush appropriate for your dog’s coat type and length. Long-haired breeds may require daily brushing, while short-haired breeds may need less frequent grooming.

2. Bathing Routine

• Bathing helps remove dirt, allergens, and bacteria from your dog’s skin and coat. However, over-bathing can strip away natural oils and lead to dryness and irritation.

• Use a mild, hypoallergenic dog shampoo specifically formulated for pets. Avoid using human shampoos, as they can be too harsh for your dog’s skin.

• Frequency of bathing depends on your dog’s breed, lifestyle, and skin condition. Generally, bathing once every 4-6 weeks is sufficient for most dogs.

The historical origins of diffusion research can be traced back over 200 years. In the early 18th century, French judge and sociologist Tarde wrote "The Laws of Imitation" (1903). He viewed the diffusion of innovation as arising from conscious and unconscious social imitations among individuals. Tarde introduced seminal diffusion concepts such as the S-curve, opinion leaders, and perceived compatibility.

Following Tarde, German political philosopher and sociologist Simmel published "Conflict and the Web of Group Affiliations" (1922). In this work, Simmel explored how the relationships in which individuals are embedded influence their responses to innovations. He also suggested that individuals outside a social system can introduce new ideas into that system.

In the 1920s, American cultural anthropologist Kroeber studied both the spread of innovations and how cultures recursively shape innovations. These early works contributed to the development of diffusion research in sociology during the 1920s and 1930s.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Recent advances in the field of regenerative medicine have opened up newer therapeutic modalities using cell-based and cell-free therapies, particularly stem cells, as potential candidates. As per the definition, stem cells are the undifferentiated progenitor cells that can regenerate and can also differentiate into various specialized cells (Hoang et al., 2022). They can be classified as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and postnatal adult stem cells (Locke et al., 2009). Among postnatal adult stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a popular choice of candidate for therapeutics due to the relatively easy availability, simple isolation techniques, low risk of teratogenicity, minimal ethical and legal concerns unlike embryonic stem cells, hence, are easy to apply in clinical research and practice (Voga et al., 2020). Among MSCs of different origin, bone marrow and particularly adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADMSCs) received more attention and are one of the most common and promising stem cell types. These cells can be simply obtained from subcutaneous and omental fat or liposuction aspirates for the treatment of diverse clinical applications (Kim &Heo, 2014). These cells can also be expanded vigorously in vitro and differentiated into specific cell lineages such as adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, and neurocytes and are even genetically stable in long-term cultures (Miana& González, 2018). Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells possessing self-renewal ability (limited in vitro) and differentiation potential into mesenchymal lineages, according to the (ISCT) International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (Dominici et al., 2006).

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.

Introduction

Cyanobacteria are often called “blue-green algae”, this name is convenient for talking about organisms in water that make their own food, but does not ref lect any relationship between the cyanobacteria and other organisms called algae. Cyanobacteria are relatives to bacteria, not eukaryotes, and it is only the chloroplast in eukaryotic algae to which cyanobacteria are related. Some cyanobacteria are aquatic and photosynthetic, that is, they live in water, and can manufacture their own food. They are quite small and usually unicellular, though they often grow in colonies large enough to see. In fact, it may surprise you then to know that the cyanobacteria are still around; they are one of the largest and most important groups of bacteria on earth (Berry et al., 2008). The great contribution of cyanobacteria is the origin of plants chloroplast with which plants make food for themselves is actually a cyanobacterium living within the plant’s cells. Sometime in the late Proterozoic or in the early Cambrian, cyanobacteria began to take up residence within certain eukaryote cells, making food for the eukaryote host in return for a home. This event is known as endosymbiosis, and is also the origin of eukaryotic mitochondrion (Issa et al., 2002).

The recent earthquake in Nepal brings back memories of 26th January 2001. While the nation was busy in celebrating Republic Day, an earthquake shattered Gujarat especially Kutch and Saurashtra regions. A large number of buildings and houses collapsed within moments. Thousands were injured and many lost their lives and many more became homeless. Bhachau – Kutch soon after the earthquake in 2001 (Picture – 1) Kutch received quick responses from all over the world and a large number of individuals, institutions, government and semi-government bodies, professional experts, religious and social organizations etc. sprang into action to bring back some normalcy in the lives. However, long-term rehabilitation program based on scientific planning is most vital after such disasters. Since agriculture was the main source of livelihood of majority of Kutch people, a plan based on scientific agriculture and integration of the same with livelihood, nutritional and long term social considerations was required. It has also been observed that new and appropriate technology can be fast adopted even by small and marginal farmer women and men under such circumstances.