Browsing by Author "Alok Kumar"

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A new chronology based on OSL and radiocarbon dating for the archaeological settlements of Vadnagar (western India) along with magnetic and isotopic imprints of cultural sediments
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Rajesh Agnihotri; Nikhil Patel; Pradeep Srivastava; Abhijit Ambekar; M. Arif; Anil Kumar; Binita Phartiyal; Alok Kumar
Vadnagar town of western India (North Gujarat) possess continuous human habitation record since ~2500 years. Owing to its rich cultural heritage, the town had been visited by Chinese pilgrims including Hiuen Tsang in 640 CE. Recent archaeological excavations at Vadnagar revealed continuous sequence of seven successive cultures from the Early historic (6th century BCE to 4th century BCE) period till present. From 2017 to 18 excavation seasons, ~18–20 m accumulation of cultural deposits were found at Ambaghat and Darbargarh localities. To complement and fortify the cultural chronology of these ancient cultural deposits, both conventional radiocarbon (C-14) and optically stimulated dating (OSL) methods were employed. Three C-14 and five OSL dates matched perfectly with the cultural ages of deposits and the entire cultural sequence spanned between 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE. Geochemical proxies (δ13C, δ 15N, C/N ratios) of excavated soil-sediments were measured to infer hydro-environmental conditions while soil magnetic parameters (χlf, χhf and χfd%) were measured to assess anthropogenic heating history. Average δ 13CTOC values of both trenches (−20.7 ± 3.5‰, −19.5 ± 3.5‰) indicated drier status of soil-sediments. Soil magnetic susceptibilities at lower and higher frequency ranges (χlf and χhf) varied in overlapping ranges i.e. 88.5 ± 43.1 and 121.4 ± 72.1 (10−8m3 kg−1) respectively, indicating the presence of super paramagnetic grains in the soil attributable to firing activities of soil-sediment. Average χfd% values (8.3 ± 1.1, 7.7 ± 2.0) indicate excavated soils undergone pedogenic processes. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
A petrological approach to understand the signatures of palaeowildfire activities during the formation of Permian coal: A case study of Bastacolla Mine, Jharia Coalfield, India
(SAGE Publications Ltd, 2025) Alok Kumar; Saumya Dubey; Ishita; Prakash Kumar Singh
Despite evidence of palaeo-wildfires during the formation of Indian coal deposits, studies on their fire intensity, temporal variability and relation to palaeo-oxygen levels remain limited. A comprehensive investigation of wildfire signatures in Indian Permian coals is required to bridge this knowledge gap. The Carboniferous to Permian Period is characterised by prevalent coal formation and a substantial occurrence of palaeo-wildfires. However, the occurrence of these wildfires and their spatial distribution exhibited temporal variability throughout this period. An inclusive investigation (including petrological compositions, especially inertinites and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)) was executed on coal samples from Bastacolla Mines, Jharia Coalfield, India, to investigate variations in palaeo-wildfire signature and palaeo-wildfire temperature during peat formation. The dominance of vitrinite with a significant inertinite content (as a by-product of palaeo-wildfire) in studied coal samples reveals that wildfire activity occurred during peat formation. The inertinite reflectance values ranging from 1.42% to 2.62% (mean: 1.88%) and 1.20% to 2.48% (mean: 1.67%) in Bottom-II and Top-III seam, respectively, indicate wildfire in Permian was dominated by mainly ground fires and partially surface fires. SEM images show various typical structures, including cellular/fibrous structure, uniseriate and biseriate tracheid, indicating the dominance of gymnosperm flora during peat formation. Further, the presence of typical structures by SEM, charcoal lenses on the sample surface (macroscopic) and high inertinite in investigated coal seams reveals the occurrence of wildfire during its formation. The significantly high atmospheric oxygen levels (pO2˃23%) provide compelling evidence for frequent wildfires in the Jharia Coalfield during the coal-forming period. © The Authors 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits non-commercial use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
An exploratory study using the OMI scale to assess the opinion toward mental illness among young adults
(Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 2022) Mridul Mishra; Alok Kumar; Mona Srivastava; Sangeeta Kansal
Background: Public perception of mental illness is critical for successful treatment seeking behaviour as well as for early diagnosis and surveillance of disease. Two hundred eleven young patients were interviewed at Department of psychiatry, Sir Sunderlal Hospital, Varanasi with the help of consecutive sampling method. Objective: To assess the opinion towards mental illness among young adults by using the opinion on mental illness scale (OMI). Methods: Data was collected using the opinion about mental illness scale (OMI) which consists of 51 questions out of which, 15 questions directly related to the cause, care, and management of mental illness were randomly selected and analyzed. Analysis was done showing Percentage and chi-square tests to see the significance of scores between the respondents. Results: The finding shows that more than 70% of respondents believe that mental illness is a consequence of bad behavior, lack of willpower, or negative beliefs and gap in the treatment seeking behavior and understanding the cause of disease was found. Conclusions: Opinions on Mental health have received increasing attention as a useful strategy to promote early identification of mental illness, reduce stigma and enhance help-seeking behaviors. As part of the National Mental Health Programme, there is a need to raise awareness in order to enhance understanding of mental illness in facilitating early diagnosis and treatment of disease. © 2022, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. All rights reserved.
Application of Raman Spectroscopy in Coal Research: A Case Study on Tatapani-Ramkola Coal
(Geological Society of India, 2025) Neeraj K. Upadhayay; Alok Kumar; Govind Kumar; Amiya Shankar Naik
Coal, an organic sedimentary rock derived through the coalification of ancient plant material, is a vital fossil fuel with extensive industrial applications. The maturity of its organic matter is a crucial indicator of thermal evolution and rank, which governs the physicochemical properties of coal and its potential suitability for various applications. Raman spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful and non-destructive analytical tool in coal studies, offering insights into structural and chemical properties of carbonaceous rocks. This technique is particularly effective in assessing coal rank and maturity of organic matter, as well as identifying microstructural changes during the pyrolysis process, which is critical for enhancing its application in energy production and other fields. This study examines the application of Raman spectroscopy in assessing coal maturity by analyzing the spectral characteristics of coal samples from the Tatapani-Ramkola coalfield in Chhattisgarh, India. Raman spectroscopy of Tatapani-Ramkola coal reveals broad ‘D’ (1348-1394 cm-1) and ‘G’ (1579-1591 cm-1) bands with low ID/IG ratios (0.30-0.58), indicating moderate maturity. The G-D band separation (176-239 cm-1) reflects the transformation of aliphatic structures into aromatic rings. FWHM (D band) values (153.52-224.01 cm-1) classify the coal samples as medium-rank sub-bituminous coal. © 2025 Geological Society of India, Bengaluru, India.
Assessing Self-Rated Health Among Rural Older Adults in Varanasi Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis: A Cross-Sectional Analysis
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Ashish Kumar Verma; Richa Panchgaur; Alok Kumar
Background: The onset of the pandemic necessitated widespread adaptation and adjustment to unprecedented circumstances in daily life. Particularly vulnerable were older adults, whose health suffered due to limited access to healthcare facilities. Objectives: This study examined the changes in the health status of older adults before and during the pandemic, as well as the factors associated with their deteriorating health conditions. Data and Methods: The cross-sectional survey was conducted through personal interviews among older adults aged 60 and above between March and April 2022. Multistage sampling techniques were used to collect the data. For analysis purposes, we used a sample of 450 older adults. Changes in health status were assessed using the Wilcoxon sign test, and the multinomial logistic regression model was used to point out the factors that were significantly associated with the health of older adults. Findings: The study revealed significant shifts in older adults’ health during the pandemic, with a 13.7% increase in individuals rating their health as poor compared to pre-pandemic levels. Among OBC individuals, the increase was 17.6%, while for SC/ST individuals, it was 13.3%. Good health was significantly associated with the absence of comorbidities. Additionally, initiating and maintaining sleep, hypertension, walking impairment, weight loss, and the presence of any disease were significant predictors of self-rated health in this demographic. Policy Implications: These findings highlight the need for tailored health and social care strategies for older adults in rural areas. Developing effective approaches to prevent or delay chronic diseases, improve sleep quality, and manage hypertension could enhance their self-rated health and overall well-being. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
Assessment of Accessibility and Quality of Emergency Obstetric Care services: A cross sectional study in rural Varanasi
(Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 2021) Gauri Kumari Sarswat; Sangeeta Kansal; Alok Kumar; Immanuel Joshua
Background: Emergency Obstetrics care is an integrated strategy developed by the WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF that aims to equip health facilities with the capacity to provide evidence based, cost effective interventions to attend the leading causes of maternal mortality. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted between April 2019-July 2020. A total of 201 women who delivered in the last 6 months and had complications during their pregnancy were interviewed to find out accessibility and quality emergency obstetric Care (EmOC) services. Facility assessment was also done at two health facilities of Chiraigaon block for the assessment EmOC. Results: Findings show that only 41.8% respondents were able to reach the government health facilities in less than half-an-hour. Out of the total respondents who utilized government health facilities for EmOC, only 19% were attended by the health providers within 1 hour. Conclusion: Low percentage of respondents with complications were reaching the health facility within 30 minutes. Therefore, there is a strong need for strengthening of basic EmOC services at health facilities. © 2021, Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine. All rights reserved.
Association of fasting blood glucose level with hypertension & obesity: A cross sectional study among urban population in Varanasi
(Institute of Medico-Legal Publications, 2016) Reema Singh; Sangeeta Kansal; Alok Kumar
Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is increasing due to the population growth, aging, urbanization, low physical activity, and high prevalence of obesity. Worldwide, the number of people with Impaired Glucose Tolerance is estimated to be 280 million and projected to become 398 million individuals will have IGT by 2030. Diabetes Mellitus and associated complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the developing countries. The present study was a community based cross sectional study with the specific objectives to assess the prevalence of pre diabetes and diabetes in urban population and find out its association with hypertension and obesity. Methodology: The study was based on a sample of 700 people of age between 20-65 years, out of which 359 were males and 347 were females. Applying a multistage cluster random sampling technique, a sample of 706 persons was taken. Known cases of diabetes (6) were excluded from the analysis. Thus, finally 700 respondents were interviewed by using pretested semi structured interview schedule. Fasting Capillary blood glucose level was measured according to WHO-2006 criterion with the help of Glucometer. Blood pressure and weight was checked with the help of automatic blood pressure and weighting machines respectively. Height was measured with standard anthropometric rod with parallel bar. Results: Study shows that 11.9% of the respondents were pre-diabetic and 7.2% were diagnosed as diabetes. 27.1% of the total respondents were in pre-hypertension and 15.4% in hypertension category while 18.4% respondents were found over-weight and only 1.3% was obese. Diabetes was observed nearly five times more among obese as compared to the respondents having normal weight. Hypertension was observed more than two times significantly more likely in respondents with pre-diabetes and about two times more likely in diabetes as compared to those having normal fasting blood glucose level. Conclusion: The present study shows significant association of pre diabetes & diabetes with obesity and hypertension. Findings suggest that there is a strong need of inclusion of screening of all the three major noncommunicable diseases in primary health care delivery system in urban areas. © 2016, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved.
Awareness of legal and social issues related to reproductive health among adolescent girls in rural Varanasi
(NLM (Medline), 2017) Sangeeta Kansal; Sweta Singh; Alok Kumar
BACKGROUND: Data on awareness of adolescent's on the legal and social issues/acts related to reproductive health, especially in rural areas, are scarce. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present cross-sectional study is to assess the awareness level of legal and social issues related to reproductive health and its association with the various individual and family/household level characteristics. METHODS: 650 adolescent girls in the age group of 15-19 years were interviewed with the help of pretested and semistructured questionnaire and focus group discussions were also conducted for qualitative findings in Chiraigaon block of district Varanasi. RESULTS: It was observed that 42.9% of the respondents were aware of legal age of marriage, 14.9% knew about the right age of childbearing. Dowry prohibition act and domestic violence act were known to 46% and 27% respondents, respectively, and only 2.6% were aware of medical termination of pregnancy act. Logistic regression analysis shows the significant effect of education on awareness of legal age of marriage, right age of childbearing, domestic violence, and dowry prohibition acts, which is also supported by qualitative findings. CONCLUSION: All the important legal issues/acts should be included in high school curriculum and female teachers should be involved in training program for adolescents. Role of mass media in creating awareness about these issues in their routine programs should be ascertained. Accredited Social Health Activist and Anganwadi workers should be aware of and include these issues/acts in adolescent meetings.
Awareness regarding tuberculosis in an urban setting of Varanasi
(Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development, 2014) Sangeeta Kansal; Alok Kumar
Research question: What is the extent of knowledge about tuberculosis and different components of RNTCP among people residing in an urban area of Varanasi? Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge of residents of study area regarding tuberculosis and different component of RNTCP. 2. To identify socio-demographic correlates influencing the knowledge of population about tuberculosis and RNTCP. Study Design: Community based cross sectional study. Setting: The Study was carried out in an urban area of Varanasi district. Results: A total of 667 subjects were interviewed. It was found that about one third of the study subjects were not aware about the correct cause of tuberculosis as germs. The study reveals that 85.8% study subjects had knowledge of DOTS centre and 52.6% knew about DOTS provider. Duration of treatment of tuberculosis ranged from 6 to 9 months was known to 47.0% subjects while 32.0% had no idea about it. Majority (64%) mentioned/ reported that stigma is the main reason for delay in seeking treatment. Still stigma associated with TB is widely prevalent. Approximately 88.0% of them knew that tuberculosis is curable. Conclusion: Overall knowledge of population of urban area was found to be fairly good. Community based efforts are also required to identify the DOTS provider as major change agent in the demand generation as well as service provision. As the programme is based on passive surveillance, IEC strategies should be tailor made & suited to all the needs of a sub population.
Awareness regarding tuberculosis in an urban setting of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
(2011) Sangeeta Kansal; Alok Kumar
Research Question: What is the extent of knowledge about tuberculosis and different components of RNTCP among people residing in an urban area of Varanasi? Objectives: 1. To assess the knowledge of residents of study area regarding tuberculosis and different component of RNTCP. 2. To identify socio-demographic correlates influencing the knowledge of population about tuberculosis and RNTCP. Study Design: Community based cross sectional study. Setting The Study was carried out in an urban area of Varanasi district. Results: A total of 667 subjects were interviewed. It was found that about one third of the study subjects were not aware about the correct cause of tuberculosis as germs. The study reveals that 85.8% study subjects had knowledge of DOTS centre and 52.6% knew about DOTS provider. Duration of treatment of tuberculosis ranged from 6 to 9 months was known to 47.0% subjects while 32.0% had no idea about it. Majority (64%) mentioned/ reported that stigma is the main reason for delay in seeking treatment. Still stigma associated with TB is widely prevalent. Approximately 88.0% of them knew that tuberculosis is curable. Conclusion: Overall knowledge of population of urban area was found to be fairly good. Community based efforts are also required to identify the DOTS provider as major change agent in the demand generation as well as service provision. As the programme is based on passive surveillance, IEC strategies should be tailor made & suited to all the needs of a sub population.
Bacterial desulphurization of low-rank coal: A case study of Eocene Lignite of Western Rajasthan, India
(Taylor and Francis Inc., 2018) Alok K. Singh; Aniruddha Kumar; Prakash K. Singh; Asha Lata Singh; Alok Kumar
High sulfur lignite samples collected from Giral mine was subjected to desulfurization using bacteria Burkholderia sp. GR 8–02 isolated from native lignite. A removal of 50.69% of total Sulfur (St) has been observed. The reduction in hydrogen and ash content was found up to 2.92% and 14.78%, respectively. In addition, relative carbon (up to 12.81%) and nitrogen (up to 34.52%) has also been increased. An increase in the relative concentration of volatile matter and fixed carbon (up to 19.47% & 3.29%) has been detected. In addition, the desulfurization of high sulfur lignite with Burkholderia sp. GR 8–02 increased the calorific value from 5.24% to 20.74%. © 2018 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Beneficiation of High Sulfur Tertiary Coal of Assam with Burkholderia sp. GR 8-02. An Eco-Friendly Approach Toward Clean Coal Production
(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2024) Aniruddha Kumar; Asha Lata Singh; Pramod K. Rajak; Alok Kumar; Prakash K. Singh
The high sulfur content in North-East Indian coal is one of the primary challenges with using it as an energy source. Therefore, the present study uses Burkholderia sp. GR 8-02 to explore coal beneficiation from the Tipong mine (T20 and T60) in Assam (North-East India). Various particle size fractions (−125 to +210 µm, −210 to +250 µm, −250 to +297 µm, −297 to +400 µm and −400 to +500 µm) were treated and subjected to petrographic and chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Raman spectral analysis. The results revealed a 39.04% and 32.43% reduction in total sulfur for T20 and T60 samples, respectively. The ash content decreased by 19.79% in the T20 coal sample and by 24.52% in the T60 coal samples, with a relative decrease in the mineral matter content of approximately 17.43%. Following beneficiation with Burkholderia sp. GR 8-02, the −125 to +250 µm coal fraction exhibited maximum ash removal. The T20 sample useful heating value increased from 8116 to 8203 kcal/kg and the T60 sample from 8060 to 8210 kcal/kg. X-ray diffraction and FTIR patterns showed mineral phases like quartz, kaolinite, and pyrite. The FTIR spectra indicated altered C-S, SO2, and C=O bonds. The thermal profile showed a 12.54% mass loss difference between untreated and treated coal samples, suggesting lower thermal stability post-treatment without affecting the useful heating value (UHV). The treated coal’s surface leaching and morphological structure changes were investigated using Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) images. Raman analysis revealed increased carbon crystallinity and molecular structure in treated coal. This study offers an environmentally friendly and efficient approach to clean coal production. © 2024 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Biomechanical Analysis of Trapezoidal Thread Screw–Rod Fixation in Pedicle Section of Cervical Spine: A Finite-Element Analysis
(Springer, 2024) Ram Kumar; Amit Kumar; Shabnam Kumari; Alok Kumar
Background: Cervical pedicle screw-rod fixation presents a complex approach in spinal surgery, offering enhanced spine stabilization in variable conditions considering traumatic injuries, degenerative changes, as well as orthopaedic and oncological ailments. This technique employs small diameter screw implants strategically placed to bolster the mechanical integrity of the spine. Notably, it involves minimally invasive procedures, resulting in smaller incisions and reduced patient discomfort. This study aims to assess the effects of trapezoidal thread screws in pedicle sections of the cervical spine during flexion-extension loadings, focusing on factors such as range of motion (ROM), implant stress, and stress on adjacent bone. Methods: Utilizing CT scan data, a finite element model of the cervical spine (C2-C7 vertebrae) was prepared. Trapezoidal thread screws were integrated into a single-level pedicle screw-rod fixation at the C5-C6 vertebrae. The C2 vertebra were given a compressive load of 50 N along with a moment of 1 Nm, resulting in the immobilization of the C7. Results and Discussion: The results indicate a reduction in ROM at the C5-C6 level by 69% to 77% compared to the intact spine during flexion-extension loading, with a slight increase in ROM observed at adjacent cervical spine levels. Stress analysis revealed that the trapezoidal thread screws induced stresses ranging from 24 MPa to 29 MPa in PEEK trapezoidal screw-rod implants, which fall below the material's yield stress. Conclusions: This suggests that the trapezoidal thread profile may be advantageous in minimizing stress concentration, attributed to its larger contact area with the vertebrae bone between the threads. © Indian Orthopaedics Association 2024.
Bioremediation of chromium (VI) from mining-contaminated soil using Klebsiella sp. (BH-A1): environmental implications
(Springer, 2025) Anjali Srivastava; Asha Lata Singh; Aniruddha Kumar; Alok Kumar
The present investigation aimed to isolate and identify a novel bacterium from chromium (VI)-contaminated soil samples collected from the Gorbi mine area, Singrauli coalfield, evaluates its potential for Cr(VI) reduction to Cr(III) and enhances environmental and operational conditions to apply this in bioremediation of Cr-contaminated soils. A bacterium was newly isolated from contaminated soils of coal mines for chromium (VI) reduction and identified as Klebsiella sp. (BH-A1) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Calcium chloride and sodium alginate solutions were used to immobilize the bacterial cells of isolated Klebsiella sp. Bacteria beads (Klebsiella sp. BH-A1) were tailored to reduce 10 µg/g Cr(VI)-contaminated soil under varied environmental factors such as bead biomass (200–1000 mg), pH (5–8), temperature (25–35 °C), and nutrient sources. Beads of Klebsiella sp. (BH-A1) (1000 mg/g) were efficient for 87% reduction of 10 µg/g Cr(VI) present in the soil at pH 7, 30 °C, within a six-hour contact period. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses reveal varied functional groups like –OH, –NH, and –COOH in Cr-treated bacterial beads. Functional groups corroborate their involvement in Cr(VI) and Cr(III) absorption on the cell surface of bacteria. Chromium-treated Klebsiella sp. (BH-A1) cell size was wider due to chromium absorption than the non-treated bacterial cells after SEM analyses. The energy dispersive X-ray plot has proven the 0.41 weight percent chromium accumulation inside the bacterial cells. Moreover, XPS analyses of Cr-treated bacterial cells indicate reduced Cr(VI) into Cr(III). The finding further suggests that Klebsiella sp. (BH-A1) might be a new prospect for potential application in Cr detoxification from Cr-contaminated soil. The limitations of this research include the accumulation of hazardous metabolic products due to low diffusion rates, the formation of thick biofilms blocking bead pores, and interrupted substrate transport from the bulk liquid to immobilized cells. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2025.
Challenges of Frontline health workers on reduction of anaemia among adolescents: A Qualitative enquiry
(Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 2024) Priyanka Yadav; Alok Kumar; Sangeeta Kansal
Background: High prevalence of anaemia is a severe public health problem in several low-and middle-income countries like India. In adolescents, anaemia has been linked to impaired physical and mental development and increases reproductive morbidities among adolescent girls during their womanhood. To tackle this high prevalence, number of government programs have been launched in India. However, a slow decline in the prevalence of anaemia has been reported in Indian adolescents over the recent past. Therefore, it is important to unfold the issues in reduction of prevalence of anaemia and the current study was carried out to identify challenges in reducing anaemia among adolescent girls. Methods: 33 Frontline Health Workers (FHW) were recruited from 6 randomly selected villages (out of 6, 2 villages were having population less than 2000, 2 villages were having population 2000 to 5000 and 2 villages were having more than 5000 population) of Kashi Vidyapeeth block, Varanasi. between January 2022 to April 2022. In-depth, face-to-face interviews were carried out in local language using an interview guide. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcribed data was analysed manually for theme extraction. This study was granted ethical permission by the Institutional Ethics Committee. Results: Following major themes were extracted during the data analysis: (i) Poor knowledge about adolescent health-related issues; (ii) non-adherence to program guidelines; (iii) Irregularity in the supply chain; (iv) Beneficiary’s lack of interest in only education about anaemia in the community; (v) Excessive administrative burden; (vi) Dissatisfaction in terms of monetary remuneration. Conclusions: The emerging findings throw light on the knowledge & perspective of Frontline health workers about program guidelines and also highlights the different challenges in implementing anaemia prevention strategies faced by them at the grass root level. © The Author(s). 2024.
Community engagement for healthcare delivery without incentive: sustainable or not for Universal Health Coverage?
(Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 2025) Archana Pandey; Alok Kumar; Neeraj Agarwal; Anju Bharti; Neeta Kumar; Sangeeta Kansal
Apart from healthcare service delivery, the growing digitalization of health records raises a need to connect every citizen with a digital health ecosystem under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. Considering this fact, an ICMR-funded project, the human resource in the form of Home Health Guides (HHGs) is envisaged to bridge the gap between the community and the health system as complementary to the existing health workforce. These are active volunteers in the community who are educated till matriculation and are willing to work in the field for at least two or three hours without any incentives/remunerations. Their assigned roles are to record and update the health-related information of the assigned families. They are also supposed to assess health emergencies, guide the community regarding their healthcare needs, and link them with the existing healthcare system. As part of the project, we have provided hand-holding support, training, and a few other non-monetary incentives in the form of first aid and medical tool kit, stationary, etc. It was observed that along with the health system, the community also needs the assistance of such a cadre for updating their health records. Also, despite so much effort, these volunteers are not motivated therefore, such initiatives need to be revised and should include monetary incentives to keep them motivated. ©The Author(s). 2025 Open Access.
Comparative analysis of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion versus posterolateral instrumented fusion in degenerative lumbar spine disorders
(SAGE Publications Inc., 2020) Sanjay Yadav; Saurabh Singh; Raj Kumar Arya; Alok Kumar; Ishan Kumar; Abhinav Jha
Objectives: Spinal fusion is an effective treatment for degenerative lumbar spine; however, conflicting results exist regarding the best procedure. This study compares the clinical and radiological outcomes of transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) versus instrumented posterolateral fusion (PLF) in patients of degenerative lumbar spine disorders. Methods: Of the total 37 patients, 16 patients were operated with TLIF and 21 were operated with instrumented PLF with bone grafting. Duration of the study was from June 2017 to June 2019. Patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Inclusion criteria were (1) age of patient ranging from 18 years to 70 years, (2) involvement of single level, (3) diagnosis of degenerative spine disease, and (4) minimum follow-up of 1 year. Radiographic parameters such as slippage of vertebrae, anterior and posterior disc heights, local disc lordosis, T12–S1 angle were measured, and fusion were assessed; comparison between preoperative and postoperative parameters was also done. Clinical outcome score was obtained using visual analog scale (VAS) and Oswestry disability index (ODI). Statistical analysis was done using SPSS software. Results: No significant difference was found in ODI and VAS between TLIF and PLF. Restoration of disc height and improvement of local disc lordosis was better in the TLIF group than in the PLF group. The fusion rate was 87.5% in the TLIF group and 81% in the instrumented PLF group. Amount of blood loss was slightly higher in the TLIF group (319.69 ± 53.8 mL) than in the instrumented PLF group (261.19 ± 34.9 mL). Operating time was also slightly higher in TLIF (133 ± 6.02 min) than in instrumented PLF (90.71 ± 6.3 min). Conclusion: TLIF is superior to instrumented PLF in terms of restoration of anterior and posterior disc heights and improvement in local disc lordosis and higher fusion rate, however it requires greater surgical expertise and more experience. Because of anterior cage support, early weight-bearing mobilization can be allowed in the TLIF group compared to the PLF group. Surgical time and blood loss were slightly higher in cases of TLIF than instrumented PLF. © The Author(s) 2020.
Desulfurization of Giral lignite of Rajasthan (Western India) using Burkholderia sp. GR 8–02
(Routledge, 2022) Aniruddha Kumar; Alok K Singh; Prakash K Singh; Asha Lata Singh; Binoy K Saikia; Alok Kumar
Present investigation entails the results of desulfurization of high sulfur Giral (Rajasthan-India) lignite with the help of Burkholderia sp. GR 8–02. Total sulfur varies from 3.73% to 7.91%, where inorganic sulfur is 2.17–3.82%, pyritic and Sulfate sulfur is 0.90–2.42% and 0.47–2.84%, respectively. Chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS) were used in order to understand desulfurization. Bacterial treatment caused a significant reduction in total sulfur content ranging from 23.59% to 37.55%. Organic sulfur removal ranges from 11.06% to 20.54% while pyritic and Sulfate sulfur removal vary from 10.40–43.39% and 50.89–96.97%, respectively. In addition to desulfurization of lignite, the reduction in the ash yield and the volatile matter was also observed whereas there was a relative increase in the fixed carbon and elemental carbon content. Further, an increase in the gross calorific value from 3189 kcal/kg to 3482 kcal/kg was noticed. © 2019 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Disclosures in BR Report of Listed Indian Companies
(SCMS Group of Educational Institutions, 2018) Alok Kumar
This paper examines the nature, level and extent of the disclosures in Business Responsibility Report by top 50 NSE listed Indian companies as per mandatory guidelines under SEBI's (LODR) regulations. The paper relies on secondary data collected from annual report of the selected companies available on their websites for the FY 2016-17. Based upon the sample data and its extensive content analysis, result reveals that there is significant difference in disclosures of BR report adopted by selected Indian companies. Precisely, outcomes of this study would be added to the existing knowledge on ESG mandatory and voluntarily disclosure especially in BR reporting disclosure as per SEBI's (LODR) regulations. Further analysis yields the 2X2 BR Report matrix categorized across four quadrants-pace setters, smart utilizers, starting out and low efficiency. The disclosure scoring model is used to collect ESG information in BR Reports, comprehensively suggesting the strong and weak areas of the listed entities. Moreover, the findings of this study should strongly motivate Indian policy makers to review BR Reporting guidelines under SEBI (LODR) Regulations. It is acknowledged that legislation and regulations can significantly influence trends and patterns of disclosure in BR Reports. © 2018 SCMS Group of Educational Institutions. All rights reserved.
Distribution of trace elements and rare earth elements in coal from the Bhalukasba Surni coal block, Rajmahal coalfield, Eastern India
(Springer International Publishing, 2024) Saswati Chakladar; Sneha Kumari; Alok Kumar; Ashok Mohanty; Sanchita Chakravarty; Allan Kolker
Exploration of secondary resources for isolation of valuable constituents, such as rare earth elements (REEs) and trace elements (TEs), is of importance owing to the need to identify new domestic sources and reduce reliance on imports. The present study systematically discusses the distribution of REEs and TEs in core samples from the coal block of Bhalukasba Surni {(B1(125 m)-B9 (409 m)} located in Rajmahal coalfield, Jharkhand, India, which has not been investigated previously for its geochemistry. The studied coal samples were found to be enriched in TEs whose abundances were in the order of Mn > Mo > Zr > Ni > Cr > V > Cu > Zn > Pb, and REEs (La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu) along with Sc and Y. The average concentration of REEs with yttrium (ΣREY) on an ash basis was 528 ppm, which is significantly higher than the world average for coal ash (435 ppm). Of the samples investigated, B3 (182–184 m) and B8 (396–399 m) demonstrated relatively higher concentrations of potentially economic elements, with B3 containing a higher proportion of middle to heavy REEs Gd, Dy, Ho and Er, and B8 showing relative enrichment in Nd and Y. On dry whole coal basis, B6 (275–278 m) showed a considerably higher concentration of Ge (55 ppm) than other samples, whereas the concentration of Zr varied in the range of 90–160 ppm in the whole coal block. X-ray diffraction studies revealed the presence of quartz, keatite, hematite, zircon, anatase and orthoclase in the coal ash samples prepared at 815 °C. REEs exhibited prominent positive correlation with Al2O3 (0.4 < r > 0.9) which is supportive of their residence in primary clay minerals such as kaolinite and illite-smectite. Additionally, a positive correlation of REEs with P2O5 (0.4 < r > 0.9) suggests their association with phosphate minerals (such as monazite, xenotime, apatite). Positive correlation with TiO2 (r > 0.7) corroborates the possible association of REEs with anatase. The morphology of the coal ash samples viewed in SEM showed the presence of Al2O3 and SiO2 enriched irregular-sponge particles likely derived from partly-fused clay minerals, which accounted for the lower extent of REE encapsulation. The Bhalukasba Surni coal block is potentially of economic importance due to its enrichment in Ge, Zr, and the REEs. © Saswati Chakladar, Sneha Kumari, Alok Kumar, Ashok Mohanty, Sanchita Chakravarty. Parts of this work were authored by US Federal Government authors and are not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply 2024.