Browsing by Author "Vishal Kumar"

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A comprehensive review on infant formula: nutritional and functional constituents, recent trends in processing and its impact on infants’ gut microbiota
(Frontiers Media SA, 2023) Shiva Bakshi; Vinod Kumar Paswan; Satya Prakash Yadav; Basant Kumar Bhinchhar; Sheela Kharkwal; Hency Rose; Prajasattak Kanetkar; Vishal Kumar; Zakarya Ali Saleh Al-Zamani; Durga Shankar Bunkar
Human milk is considered the most valuable form of nutrition for infants for their growth, development and function. So far, there are still some cases where feeding human milk is not feasible. As a result, the market for infant formula is widely increasing, and formula feeding become an alternative or substitute for breastfeeding. The nutritional value of the formula can be improved by adding functional bioactive compounds like probiotics, prebiotics, human milk oligosaccharides, vitamins, minerals, taurine, inositol, osteopontin, lactoferrin, gangliosides, carnitine etc. For processing of infant formula, diverse thermal and non-thermal technologies have been employed. Infant formula can be either in powdered form, which requires reconstitution with water or in ready-to-feed liquid form, among which powder form is readily available, shelf-stable and vastly marketed. Infants’ gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem and the nutrient composition of infant formula is recognized to have a lasting effect on it. Likewise, the gut microbiota establishment closely parallels with host immune development and growth. Therefore, it must be contemplated as an important factor for consideration while developing formulas. In this review, we have focused on the formulation and manufacturing of safe and nutritious infant formula equivalent to human milk or aligning with the infant’s needs and its ultimate impact on infants’ gut microbiota. Copyright © 2023 Bakshi, Paswan, Yadav, Bhinchhar, Kharkwal, Rose, Kanetkar, Kumar, Al-Zamani and Bunkar.
Analysis of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Bovine Milk Samples in Varanasi Region, India
(Indian journals, 2024) Basant Kumar Bhinchhar; Vinod Kumar Paswan; Sheela Kharkwal; Satya Prakash Yadav; Arun Pratap Singh; Vishal Kumar; Prajasattak Kanetkar
Extensive applications of pesticides on crops result in the contamination of feed. Contaminated feed, fodder, and drinking water of livestock lead to adulteration of milk which in turn is the primary cause of substandard nutritional value of the milk produced in India. Bovine milk from different blocks of Varanasi region of Uttar-Pradesh, India has been analysed for organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues. The study was based on 360 bovine milk samples collected from 4 blocks in 3 seasons viz., summer, rainy and winter. Out of 180 cow milk samples, 68 (37.77%) samples were found to contain OCP residues. Contamination with aldrin residues were found with a total value of 16.11% in cow milk and 25.00% in buffalo milk samples. The mean endosulfan concentration in cow milk and buffalo milk were 1.41 and 1.77 µg/kg, respectively. In cow milk samples the residues of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH, γ-HCH were 1.8, 4.4, 6.7 and 6.6 µg/kg while in buffalo milk it was observed 5.4, 5.3, 8.9 and 8.6 mg/kg, respectively. Among different DDT isomers, 4,4’ DDE and 2,4’ DDT had the highest prevalence of 37.22 and 37.00% in cow milk samples. The prevalence of residues of 2,4’ DDD, 2,4’ DDT and 4,4’ DDT in buffalo milk was 19.4, 26.1 and 30.0%, respectively. The highest prevalence of OCP residues in buffalo and cow milk was observed in winter followed by summer and rainy seasons successively. The above MRL prevalence of OCP residues was 1.7% (3 out of 180) in cow milk and 6.1% (11 out of 180) in buffalo milk. The findings underscore the need for continued monitoring of pesticide residues in milk and the importance of promoting judicious pesticide use in agriculture to minimize contamination and potential health risks. © 2024, Indian journals. All rights reserved.
Animal-Based Food Waste and By-product Utilization
(Springer Science+Business Media, 2025) M. Kumar Singh; Himanshu Mishra; Prajasattak Kanetkar; Arvind P. Kumar; Vishal Kumar; Pawan Katole
Production and post-production processes in meat, dairy, and fish industries produce large quantities of waste and different by-products. These materials are generally discarded without any significant utilization by humans. Meat industry waste products such as liver, kidney, heart, stomach, tongue, blood, bone, etc., are rich in nutrition required for humans (as diet), animals (as feed), and soil (as fertilizer). In the dairy industry, whey (cheese), skim milk (cream), ghee residue (ghee), buttermilk (Chhach), etc., are the by-products of production line. All these by-products are composed of high nutritional components such as proteins, unsaturated fats, minerals, bioactive peptides, etc. Fishery industry waste is rich in collagen and omega-3 fatty acid content. These precious wastes need to be utilized without exposing them directly to the surroundings. Without processing, the high content of insoluble organic (blood compositions, wastewater, etc.) waste items also acts as an environmental hazard. High rate of mineral deposition in soil causes toxicity effects on human, plant, and marine ecology. So this chapter is focused on nutritional values and processing of the waste material for decreasing waste and converting waste to wealth. © 2025 The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
Atomic disorder and intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in a half-metallic ferromagnet Co2VAl
(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Shivani Rastogi; Vishal Kumar; Ajit K. Jena; Nisha Shahi; Gaurav K Shukla; Sunil Wilfred D'Souza; Satadeep Bhattacharjee; Sanjay Singh
Half-metallic ferromagnets, conducting for one spin channel while insulating for the other, are highly desirable for spintronic applications due to 100 % spin polarization around the Fermi level. Cobalt-based half-metallic Heusler compounds have attracted enormous attention due to their large spin polarization and a high magnetic transition temperature. In the present study, we report the experimental and theoretical investigation of crystal structure and anomalous Hall effect (AHE) in half-metallic ferromagnet Co2VAl. The structural investigation of high-resolution synchrotron x-ray diffraction data reveals 10 % antisite disorder between V and Al atoms within the L21 ordered crystal structure. The scaling analysis of anomalous Hall data shows that the AHE in our system is mainly driven by the Berry curvature in the momentum space. The magnitude of experimental intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) due to the momentum space Berry curvature is about 44.67 ± 0.02 S/cm at 5 K, which is less than the theoretically calculated AHC for the ordered structure. Our theoretical calculations suggest that the lower AHC obtained for the present system is due to the reduced Berry curvature in the disordered case with negligible impact on half-metallicity of the system. © 2024 Elsevier B.V.
Bioactive metabolites identification of the foxnut and broken millet-based nutritional bar using HR-MS
(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Vishal Kumar; Arvind Kumar; Manish Kumar Singh; Priya Dhyani; Himanshu Mishra; Dinesh Chandra Rai
The by-products of the grain processing industry are a vital resource for the valorization methods in the food industry. In comparison to the whole grain, the broken kernels and seeds own similar nutrient and bioactive compounds having multifaceted health properties. This study aims to develop a nutritional bar by utilizing the by-products from barnyard millet and foxnut with added sweeteners. Furthermore, high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) metabolomics was carried out in positive and negative both ion modes to identify the major bioactive compounds formed in the matrix of the best-optimized valorized bar. The formulation of the bar having 15 % foxnut flour and the barnyard flour each, was elucidated highest rheological and sensory scores. A sum of 29 bioactive metabolites has been observed in the obtained metabolome. Major metabolites were palmitoyl serinol, glycitein, persin, bufagargarizin, apigenin, carvone, etc. covering a wide area in the mass spectrum. The therapeutic value of these compounds is heart health promotion, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, etc. This work highlights the bioactivity of the valorized nutritional bar employing robust and accurate tool of mass spectrometry. The developed snack is a functional food for the consumers. © 2024 The Author(s)
Emergence of a partially disordered magnetic state driven by structural distortion in P d2DySn
(American Physical Society, 2025) P. Koushik; Manisha Choudhary; Vishal Kumar; Sanjay Singh; K. Mukherjee
Frustrated magnetism, driven by competing exchange interactions, remains a pivotal topic in modern condensed-matter physics. In frustrated systems, observation of a partially disordered (PD) state where long-range magnetic order coexists with disorder is a unique phenomenon. Here, we focus on the emergence of a PD state and its underlying mechanism in a Heusler alloy, Pd2DySn. Our findings reveal that this alloy crystallizes in a cubic structure and undergoes a partial transformation to tetragonal phase at low temperatures. The static magnetization and heat capacity studies reveal three successive long-ranged antiferromagnetic transitions at ∼16, 12, and 6 K, respectively, while dynamic magnetization studies provide clear evidence for multiple cluster glass transitions, concomitant with the long-range ordering temperatures. This study demonstrates the coexistence between antiferromagnetic and glassy magnetic states, which is a relatively rare phenomenon in Heusler alloys. We propose that the emergence of the PD state stems from magnetic frustration induced by the structural distortion rather than geometrical frustration associated with triangular networks of magnetic ions as observed in other PD magnetic systems. © 2025 American Physical Society.
Evaluation of Functional and Sensory Properties of Ice-cream Incorporating Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil Microcapsules
(Agricultural Research Communication Centre, 2025) Vishal Kumar; Durga Shankar Bunkar; Shiva; Prajasattak Kanetkar; Ayushi Jha; V. K. Paswan; Suneel Kumar Goyal
Background: The food industry continuously explores new formulations to resolve the growing consumer requirement for healthier, functional foods. Sea buckthorn seed oil (SBSO) is recognized for its recuperative and therapeutic advantages. The current research investigates the incorporation of microencapsulated SBSO in ice cream. Methods: A base ice cream mixture was prepared using 10% milk fat, 14% sucrose, 0.5% emulsifier, along with 0.5% stabilizer. The SBSO was microencapsulated using an atomization drying method with maltodextrin and inulin as wall materials. Encapsulated and non-encapsulated SBSO both were added into the ice cream, followed by optimization of formulations based on parameters including antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC), sensory properties, viscosity, overrun as well as hardness. The ice cream sample containing 2% SBSO exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, with a DPPH inhibition of 88.73% and TPC of 24.23 mg GA eq./g. Meanwhile, the ice cream with encapsulated SBSO powder (1%) demonstrated superior sensory attributes, viscosity, overrun and hardness compared to other formulations. Furthermore, the TPC increased proportionally with higher encapsulated and non-encapsulated SBSO levels. Result: These results suggest that as a natural bioactive ingredient, sea buckthorn seed oil holds potential for creating innovative ice cream formulations with improved antioxidant properties. © 2025 Agricultural Research Communication Centre. All rights reserved.
High-resolution mass spectrometer-based identification of β-Casein variant (A2/A1) in the milk of Indian Holstein Friesian crossed cows
(Academic Press Inc., 2024) Manish Kumar Singh; Arvind Kumar; Ramadevi Nimmanapalli; Mohit Malik; Ankur Aggarwal; Vishal Kumar; Mahendra Kumar
Foodomics tools are ameliorating the compositional and quality analysis part of various domains of food products. The use of proteomics in the polymorphic product investigation of beta-casein (β-Cn) is intriguing because of the fast and reliable results from the accurate mass spectrometry. This study delineates the LC-MS/MS-based sequential analysis of gel fractionated β-Cn of eighteen Holstein Friesian (HF) crossed cow milk for the identification of A2 milk. The probe of genetically induced polymorphism of β-Cn milk protein in the crossed animals is essential for the quality concern and fulfilling the demand of the consumers. Several in-vivo studies have shown that proteolytic digestion of the A1 milk secreted an opioid, i.e., β-casomorphin-7 that can cause many types of non-communicable diseases. SDS-PAGE was done on 15% resolving gel and an orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with UniProt database search was used for the detection of the genetic variants in the HF crossed cows have shown ten animals are lactating milk with A2 β-Cn (Pro67), whereas only eight animals have A1 β-Cn (His67). The high number of HF-crossed cows are producing A2 milk. Among the molecular biology methods, top-down proteomics is the most efficient, accurate, and sustainable technique of milk protein genetic variant analysis. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.
Honey: A Sweet Solution to Oral Healthcare Problems
(Springer Nature, 2024) Shiva Bakshi; Vinod Kumar Paswan; Neha Choudhary; Vishal Kumar; Prajasattak Kanetkar; Dhamchoe Dolma Bhutia; Durga Shankar Bunkar
Oral problems are becoming a worldwide issue causing serious economic and health burdens that in turn reduces quality of life. Alongside, the personal consequences of these implications impose a great burden on both healthcare and families. Due to the ample nutrition and therapeutic abilities of honey, it has a great potential to be used as a sweet solution in the prevention and curing of oral diseases. Moreover, it exerts biological properties, namely, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancerous and antiseptic. Therefore, honey’s potent multidisciplinary characteristics in oral health are being explored by scientists and researchers. In addition, till now there is no such synthetic compound reported to show all these properties. The overview of this chapter begins with a brief description of the oral microbiome and its potent effects. Furthermore, there is mention of honey’s application in the mitigation and amelioration of several oral issues including gingivitis, malodour, oral cancer, mouth ulcers, herpes labialis, cold sores, oral wounds, radiation-induced oral mucositis and xerostomia. However, despite the extensive utilization of honey, there is still need for more conclusive clinical trials to know about the effectiveness and efficacy of honey in oral healthcare. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.
Interplay between food-associated oxidative stress and NDG disorders
(Elsevier, 2024) Lakshay Kapil; Vishal Kumar; Sanchit Arora; Simranjit Kaur; Sonima Prasad; Charan Singh; Arti Singh
Food-associated oxidative stress has a significant impact on the pathophysiology of many diseases and is often influenced by dietary patterns, food preferences, and nutrient intake. Unhealthy eating practices also cause the creation of free radicals, which interact with polyunsaturated fatty acids to create lipid peroxides. When these peroxides degrade, a chain of events begins that includes the production of the recognized mutagen malondialdehyde (MDA). Lipid peroxides have been demonstrated to reduce membrane permeability and flexibility, which may lead to cell damage. These changes are probably more pronounced in long-lived, primarily postmitotic cells like neurons, which may result in a variety of illnesses. In the study, several micro- and macronutrients, their origins, and associated dysfunctions are highlighted along with the mechanism underlying food-associated oxidative stress. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Physicochemical and bioactive constituents, microbial counts, and color components of spray-dried Syzygium cumini L. pulp powder stored in different packaging materials under two controlled environmental conditions
(Frontiers Media SA, 2023) Vishal Kumar; Chandra Shekhar Singh; Shiva Bakshi; Sudhir Kumar; Satya Prakash Yadav; Zakarya Ali Saleh Al-Zamani; Pankaj Kumar; Upendra Singh; Kamlesh Kumar Meena; Durga Shankar Bunkar; Vinod Kumar Paswan
Currently, the demand for functional food items that impart health benefits has been rising. Blackberry (Syzygium cumini L.) fruit has high anthocyanin content and other functional attributes. However, this seasonal fruit is highly perishable, and a large proportion of it goes unharvested and wasted worldwide. Spray drying of the fruit pulp can impart improved shelf life, ensuring long-term availability for consumers to exploit its health benefits. The storage quality varies according to the type of packaging material and the storage environment. Therefore, in this study, the shelf life span of the spray-dried Syzygium cumini L. pulp powder (SSCPP) was investigated during 6 months of storage under three types of packaging materials (i.e., polystyrene, metalized polyester, and 4-ply laminates) in a low-temperature environmental (LTE) and at ambient environmental conditions. The physicochemical stability of bioactive principles (TPC and TAC), microbial counts, and color components were analyzed at 0, 2, 4, and 6 months of storage. There was a significant gradual loss of dispersibility and solubility with an increase in flowability, bulk density, and wettability during the entire storage period for all three packaging materials. The TSS, pH, TPC, TAC, and microbial counts decreased in the SSCPP both at ambient and LTE conditions during the study. Among all the packaging materials, the 4-ply laminate was found to be the most appropriate and safe for storage of spray-dried SCPP at LTE conditions. Copyright © 2023 Kumar, Singh, Bakshi, Kumar, Yadav, Al-Zamani, Kumar, Singh, Meena, Bunkar and Paswan.
Piperine loaded metal organic frameworks reverse doxorubicin induced chemobrain in adult zebrafish
(Elsevier B.V., 2023) Sanchit Arora; Vishal Kumar; Lakshay Kapil; Ashish Kumar Agrawal; Arti Singh; Charan Singh
The study's primary goal was to enhance medicinal potential of piperine (PIP)-loaded zeolitic imidazolate frameworks-8 (PIP@ZIF-8) against doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cognitive impairments in zebrafish. Herein, PIP@ZIF-8 was synthesized via easy, economical and reproducible ultrasonication method followed by spray drying technology. ZIF-8's structural integrity has been confirmed by PXRD, and even after PIP was encapsulated, the structure of ZIF-8 remained unchanged. Pure ZIF-8 and PIP@ZIF-8 were subjected to TEM analysis, which revealed hexagonal morphology with a nanosize range. FTIR and UV–Visible spectroscopy studies confirmed the drug loading of ZIF-8. Studies on in vitro release revealed 71.48 ± 7.21% and 34.56 ± 5.35% PIP release from PIP@ZIF-8 and unformulated PIP, respectively in pH 7.4. The highest antioxidant scavenging results were obtained with vitamin C (73.77 ± 6.7%) at an intensity of 200 μg/ml, though it was 65.09 ± 2.5% and 57.99 ± 3.1% for PIP@ZIF-8 and PIP, respectively. In vivo studies on zebrafish showed that DOX administration remarkably impaired cognitive activity in T-Maze, and downregulated spatial memory and locomotor activity in the open field test. In addition, DOX administration caused a downregulation in GSH and SOD levels and increase in LPO, AChE and TNF-α levels compared to the vehicle group along with changes in brain histopathology. Further, PIP@ZIF-8 reversed the DOX-induced cognitive impairments by its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. It can be concluded that PIP@ZIF-8 has a promising therapeutic potential against the chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments in zebrafish. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Revealing the origin of the topological Hall effect in the centrosymmetric shape memory Heusler alloy Mn2NiGa: A combined experimental and theoretical investigation
(American Physical Society, 2023) Shivani Rastogi; Nisha Shahi; Vishal Kumar; Gaurav K. Shukla; Satadeep Bhattacharjee; Sanjay Singh
Skyrmions are localized swirling noncoplanar spin textures offering a promising revolution in future spintronic applications. These topologically nontrivial spin textures lead to an additional contribution to the Hall effect, called the topological Hall effect. Here, we investigate the origin of the topological Hall effect - a trademark of skyrmions - in a centrosymmetric shape memory Heusler alloy (SMHA) Mn2NiGa. The magnetization measurement unveils the presence of austenite to martensite transition in the studied system. The topological Hall effect (THE) in the present system is examined experimentally and theoretically. The presence of a large THE in the austenite (cubic) phase of the system strongly suggests that the observed THE in Mn2NiGa cannot be attributed to the antiskyrmions stabilized by D2d symmetry as reported earlier. To comprehend the underlying mechanism behind the origin of THE, we have performed micromagnetic simulations for a range of magnetic field with a small value of DMI (local DMI) to consider the possible impact of earlier reported atomic disorder in the centrosymmetric SMHA Mn2NiGa. The results showed the stabilization of Néel-type skyrmions, which can be assigned to the expected local symmetry breaking at the interface of disorder originated ferromagnetic nanoclusters and ferrimagnetic lattice of the system. A theoretical calculation of topological Hall resistivity by utilizing micromagnetic simulations is performed, which is of the same order as the experimentally obtained values in the both martensite and austenite phases. © 2023 American Physical Society.
Spin reorientation and sign reversal of Berry curvature induced intrinsic anomalous Hall effect in the manganese pnictide MnSb
(American Physical Society, 2024) Nisha Shahi; Gaurav K. Shukla; Vishal Kumar; Sanjay Singh
The manipulation of the anomalous Hall effect (AHE) by controlling magnetization is of great interest in condensed matter physics due to its potential application for the practical design of spintronic devices. In this study, we report a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the AHE in the MnSb manganese pnictide. Temperature-dependent magnetization measurement indicates spin reorientation transition (SRT) temperature at ∼ 120 K (TSR). Magnetotransport data shows that negative magnetoresistance increases from room temperature up to SRT temperature 120 K, then decreases and becomes positive at very low temperatures. The anomalous Hall conductivity (AHC) shows temperature-independent behavior from room temperature to TSR followed by a drop and sign reversal at low temperatures. Detailed scaling analysis of anomalous Hall data suggests that the AHE above TSR is primarily governed by the intrinsic Berry curvature and the obtained value of intrinsic AHC is about 310 S/cm. In contrast, below TSR, the extrinsic skew scattering becomes the dominant contributor to the AHE compared to the intrinsic Berry curvature and the obtained value of intrinsic AHC is about-28 S/cm. The first-principles calculations reveal that changes in the sign and magnitude of the intrinsic AHC are attributed to modifications in the Berry curvature when the magnetic moment undergoes rotation from the c-axis to the ab-plane. Our study yields a compound exhibiting large AHC and offers an insightful comprehension of the anisotropic behavior of AHE due to the modification of Berry curvature. © 2024 American Physical Society.
Study of Phytochemical Attributes of Ashwagandha Ghrita from Desi Cow Milk
(Agricultural Research Communication Centre, 2024) Vishal Kumar; Tarun Verma; Suresh Chandra; Anita Wanjari; Vikas Patel; Saurabh Singh
Background: The dairy industry constantly works to manufacture healthier products to fulfill consumer demand. Ashwagandha therapeutic and medical qualities are highly recognized. The current study examines the phytochemical attributes of Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera) ghrita from desi cow milk. Methods: The Ashwagandha ghrita was prepared by following the guidelines of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS). Cow ghee contains 0.20% moisture, 99.85% milk fat and 0.20% free fatty acids as oleic acid. The butyro refractometer value is 41, the Reichert-Meissel value is 31, the Polenske value is 1.18, the Peroxide value is 0.75 and DPPH is 75.6. The Ashwagandha ghee contains 0.18% moisture, 99.82% milk fat and 0.40% free fatty acids as oleic acid. It has a Butyro Refractometer value of 42, Reichert-Meissel value of 32, Polenske value of 1.19, Peroxide value of 0.80, DPPH of 83.98, total phenolic content (GAE/ml) of 62.85 µg and phytosterol content of 0.33 mg/g. Result: During investigation, it was found that the nutritional profile of Ashwagandha ghrita is better as compared to cow ghee. The sensory evaluation (flavor, texture, color, freedom from suspended solid and overall acceptability) was found significant (p<0.05) which was evaluated by a trained panel. Ashwagandha may be used as a natural ingredient for the development of Ashwagandha ghee with high antioxidant activity. © 2024 Agricultural Research Communication Centre. All rights reserved.
The Health Benefits of Ghee: A Comparative Analysis of Ayurvedic and Modern Scientific Perspectives: A Review
(Agricultural Research Communication Centre, 2025) Vishal Kumar; Akanksha; Saurabh Singh; Ashok Kumar Yadav; Sudhir Kumar; Aman Rathaur
The scientific perspective on dairy fats, including ghee, is evolving. In the past, dairy fats were thought to have adverse health effects, but recent research is revealing their functional benefits and the positive aspects of their fatty acids. This shift in scientific understanding has sparked interest in ghee, a clarified butter derived from milk, which holds cultural significance in India and plays a prominent role in Ayurvedic medicine. While modern scientific studies on ghee’s benefits are limited, Ayurvedic literature extensively documents its therapeutic potential, categorizing different types of ghee based on factors like milk source, manufacturing methodand maturation. To explore ghee’s therapeutic potential further, researchers conducted a review comparing Ayurvedic literature to modern scientific studies. These mentions were grouped into various health benefit clusters. While recent research emphasized cardiovascular health and skin benefits, Ayurveda, an ancient medical system, has emphasized cognitive benefits, gastrointestinal healthand overall nourishment. These aspects are gaining significance as the world’s population ages and chronic diseases become more common. As scientists work to address these health issues, they can look to the detailed descriptions in Ayurvedic texts. These texts provide information about the animal sources of ghee, how it is processedand how it is aged, as well as its associated health benefits. This knowledge could offer valuable insights for guiding future research efforts. Exploring ghee’s traditional usage and formulations could lead to new scientific discoveries and potentially innovative approaches to addressing modern health challenges. © 2025 Agricultural Research Communication Centre. All rights reserved.
The use of municipal solid waste compost in combination with proper irrigation scheduling influences the productivity, microbial activity and water use efficiency of direct seeded rice
(MDPI, 2021) Dharminder; Ram Kumar Singh; Vishal Kumar; Biswajit Pramanick; Walaa F. Alsanie; Ahmed Gaber; Akbar Hossain
Appropriate irrigation scheduling, along with proper nutrient management practice for direct seeded rice (DSR), are very much essential to attain higher water use efficiency. Huge amounts of municipal waste are been produced every year and these wastes are left untreated and have caused many environmental hazards. However, these wastes can be converted into potential manures for crop production when enhanced with microbial consortia. Concerning these, the current research was carried out to know the effect of compost of enriched municipal soil waste (E-MSWC) with suitable irrigation scheduling on growth, yield, microbial activity, and water use efficiency of the DSR grown under Indo-Gangetic plains during two consecutive rice seasons of 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 at Varanasi, India. From the experiment, it was found that E-MSWC applied at 10 Mg·ha−1 along with 75% recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF) was capable to improve growth, yield, soil microbes, and water use efficiency (WUE) of rice. Amongst different enriched MSWC, the consortia (blend of N-fixing, P and Zn-solubilizing bacteria and Trichoderma) enriched MSWC was found to be the most effective. Concerning, different irrigation scheduling, it was observed that 50 mm cumulative pan evaporation (CPE) based irrigation was the most suitable as compared to providing irrigation at 75 mm CPE. Comparing rice varieties used in the research, the rice variety Swarna has appeared as a better choice in terms of yield and WUE than the variety, Sahbhagi. Thus, it can be recommended that irrigation at 50 mm of CPE in conjunction with 75% RDF + E-MSWC (consortia) at 10 Mg·ha−1 could improve the water use efficiency of rice grown in Indo-Gangetic plains. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
Unusual zero field cooled exchange bias and related mechanism in YBaCuFeO5-Ni0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 composites
(American Institute of Physics, 2025) Amaresh K. Sahoo; Anupama Pati; Sujata Kumari Ray; Payala Sahoo; Vishal Kumar; Sanjay Singh; S. Dash
We report an unusual room temperature giant zero-field-cooled exchange bias (∼1 kOe) in an antiferromagnetic (100 − x)YBaCuFeO5-ferrimagnetic (x) Ni0.3Zn0.7Fe2O4 composite. The solid state route is adopted to prepare these dilute weight% (x = 1, 3, and 5) ferrite based composites. The incorporation of ferrite phase improves the interfacial tensile strain and grain boundary volume fraction in the said composite. The incommensurate to commensurate magnetic transition (TN2) of YBaCuFeO5 is shifted to a high temperature by 10 K with the lowest concentration and indistinguishable in higher concentrations due to the magnetic dominance of ferrites. The irreversibility of magnetization due to the field history mostly stems from the uncompensated spins and a competitive interaction among the magnetic phases at the interface. The magnetic isotherms show unusual negative exchange bias phenomena in the said system, and a large room temperature spontaneous exchange bias (∼1 kOe) is achieved with a dilute incorporation x = 5. The exchange bias field and coercive fields (HC) are, however, contrary to each other with temperature (and concentration) explained with a schematic model on the basis of dominating irreversible spins at high temperatures. In a field of ±50 kOe, the exchange bias field is dropped, while HC is increased, which might be due to the dominance of Zeeman energy over the uniaxial anisotropy. The non-collinear magnetic phase transition of YBaCuFeO5 at T ≤ 175 K plays a pivotal role in reducing the exchange bias compared to its collinear phase (300 K). Moreover, the extent of this bias field (∼1 kOe) can be considered a useful component in efficient device fabrication. © 2025 Author(s).
Utilization of plant food waste: Sustainable approaches and innovations
(Elsevier, 2025) Shiva Bakshi; Shubham Sharma; Vishal Kumar; Kaminee Singh; Prajasattak Kanetkar; V. K. Paswan; Durga Shankar Bunkar
With the alarming rise in the global population, the issue of waste generation, particularly food waste, has reached a critical level. The urgency of this problem is underscored by the fact that reducing food waste is one of the key sustainable development goals. The plant waste includes leftover, spoiled, processed/unprocessed agricultural produce possessing the potential for manufacturing high-value compounds. However, most conventional approaches to waste utilization are either composting, animal food, or landfill, having their own demerits. Hence, at present, there is a pressing need for economical and eco-friendly techniques that can ultimately contribute toward sustainability. Valorization presents a new opportunity for the production of biofuels, fertilizers, and bioactives. This chapter provides insight into the distinctive types of food waste: fruits and vegetables, cereals and legumes, roots and tubers, spices and herbs, etc. It also comprehensively emphasizes that strategies opted for waste utilization, leading to a circular economy. Furthermore, the nutritional value and potential health benefits of derived phytoconstituents are highlighted. Nonetheless, more interdisciplinary and collaborative studies are required for the promotion of waste utilization. © 2026 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved..