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The JK Paper industry located at Rayagada discharges biologically untreated effluent more than the permissible limit prescribed by Pollution Control Board, Odisha in to the environment. The industry is seriously polluting the surrounding aquatic and terrestrial environment. No detailed intensive study was carried out by previous workers on this industry earlier. The present study aims at finding out the impact of effluent on the flora at the contaminated site. The chemically treated effluent (TE) contained significant amount of mercury and cadmium. The TE has high BOD, COD, dissolved solids and suspended solids when compared to normal river water at the site of discharge. The TE deteriorated the natural water bodies changing the physico-chemical properties of natural river water. After meeting the river water the TE was diluted after 1 km distance from the meeting point of the river. Crop plants collected from the contaminated site showed higher level of residual Hg and Cd and significant depletion in pigment was observed. Plants collected from both the sides of the treated effluent canal showed significant amount residue mercury and cadmium in the plant leaves. The plants exposed to the TE, showed variation in chlorophyll and Phaeophytin pigment content when compared to their respective control values in all terrestrial plants collected from the contaminated site. In some plant leaves little increment in the pigment level was noted but the values were not significant. The changes observed in the plant pigment might be due to heavy metal accumulation. The presence of residual Hg and Cd in crop plants and plant leaves grazed by grazing animals after absorption, accumulation and enrichment may lead to a possible biological magnification, warrants attention. Proper biological treatment, treatment of effluent by modern methods and removal of heavy metals from the effluent before discharge by the industry is suggested. • Biological treatment of the effluent was not carried out by the industry & chemicals present in the effluent were significantly high.. • The water quality of the river water deteriorated due to the discharge of effluent of the paper mill. • Plants collected from the contaminated site showed significant accumulation of cadmium and mercury in leaf tissues • Significant depletion in pigment content of exposed plant leaves was noticed. • Depletion in plant pigment was due to accumulation of cadmium and mercury in plant tissues absorbed from the effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Agro-based pulp and paper mills in India are one of the most polluting industries; in addition, they are high consumers of raw water. Growing scarcity of high quality freshwater as well as stringent regulatory standards is compelling these units to explore appropriate water management options. Based on data obtained through a questionnaire survey and plant visits, this work provides an overview of the water use and effluent treatment status in Indian agro-residue and recycled pulp and paper mills. The challenges faced by this sector are reviewed and practices adopted by progressive units to minimize freshwater use are illustrated through case studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A long-term feasibility analysis of a 100 ton per day mechanical biological treatment (MBT) plant for municipal solid waste (MSW) valorization and material and energy recovery was carried out. It involves the material recovery and segregation stage (MRSS), organic extraction (pulping), thermophilic anaerobic digestion (AD), composting, effluent treatment plant (ETP), and biogas genset stages producing: 11.90% recyclables, 33% refused derived fuel (RDF), 5% compost of total waste received, 70 m3/day recyclable water and 0.435 MWh/day electricity. The biogas and methane yield were 0.535 and 0.350 m3/kg VS added (avg.), respectively, with 40% VS removal (avg total solids (TS) 10%). Less than 3% (inert) of total waste received was subjected to landfill disposal. The MBT plant's revenue generation is 995 US$ per day/148 tons ($ 6.72/ton) waste processed. The gross OPEX is 24 US$/ton making the net OPEX of 17 US$/ton (minus revenue), which could be considered as the excellent OPEX for MSW based MBT plants as per global benchmarks. Further, local usage of RDF can significantly reduce the OPEX to 14 US$/ton, as almost 16% of the OPEX goes towards RDF disposal to cement companies located at a distance of 200–500 km from the MBT plant site. As per LCA study, the total GHG emissions have been calculated to be −25.68 tons CO 2 eq./100 tons MSW. The negative emissions result from the export of electricity, compost, and RDF as well as recycling of paper and plastic products. Our study presents a cutting-edge scenario of all-inclusive recycling, recovery, and reuse loop of MSW direly required for accomplishing a circular economy. [Display omitted] • Long term performance of first successful 100 tons/d MBT plant in India was studied. • 12% recyclable, 33% RDF, 0.435 MWh/d power, 5% compost, 70 m3/d water were recovered. • Biogas and methane yield were 0.535 and 0.350 m3/kgVS added (65%CH 4), 40%VS removal. • MBT plant has OPEX of US$ 24/ton and revenue of $6.72/ton; net OPEX of US$ 17/ton. • LCA study revealed the negative GHG emission of −41.45 tons CO 2 eq./100 tons MSW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the Linguistic Survey of India (LSI), a monumental exercise supervised by George Grierson to survey and classify the languages of colonial India. It considers why the LSI developed into an atypical scheme that corresponded with a multiethnic and multinational network of officials and scholars to survey India's languages. It makes the case that the networked practice of surveying was reciprocated at different scales, from localised linguistic surveys in districts and princely states to gather information and specimens, to a loosely governed transnational exercise involving Indians and Europeans to edit, review and publish results. The paper argues that the LSI's scalar geographies were negotiated by Grierson and, more importantly, his assistant Gauri Kant Roy and demonstrates that scale, as an analytic or process, was not an abstraction or predetermined for those entangled in the LSI's survey of India's languages. • Examines the Linguistic Survey of India from a historical geography perspective. • Highlights the LSI's uniqueness as a colonial Indian survey. • Draws on underutilised materials from National Archives of India. • Proposes a scalar and networked approach to the history of science and surveying. • Emphasises the significance of Gauri Kant Roy and various Indian surveyors in shaping India's linguistic geography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo spp. are a significant source of raw materials for the paper and pulp industries worldwide. Therefore, it is crucial to identify pathogens accurately since they can pose a significant threat to bamboo in nurseries and plantations. In January 2021, symptoms of leaf spot and blight disease were observed on Bambusa polymorpha in the central nursery of Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, India. After examining the morphological characteristics and conducting a phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA, Nigrospora sphaerica was identified as the causative agent. In pathogenicity experiments, N. sphaerica induced disease symptoms and was successfully re-isolated from the inoculated leaves, thereby satisfying Koch's postulates. This study marks the first report of N. sphaerica as a foliar pathogen of B. polymorpha in India. Further research should focus on developing strategies to manage this disease in bamboo nurseries. [Display omitted] • This study reports Nigrospora sphaerica as a foliar pathogen of Bambusa polymorpha for the first time in India. • The pathogen was identified based on microscopic features, ITS sequence analysis and pathogenicity tests. • This is a new taxonomic addition to the diversity of pathogenic bambusicolous fungi. • This study provides directions to study the host range and develop control methods for N. sphaerica and other bamboo pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus species are highly valuable source for wood-based paper and pulp industries in India and worldwide. Therefore, accurate identification of pathogens affecting Eucalyptus is of critical importance. In March 2022, symptoms of a leaf spot disease were observed in Eucalyptus plantations in northern India. Morphological characteristics coupled with phylogenetic analysis of combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1), and partial β-tubulin (tub 2) regions identified the associated species as Lasiodiplodia iraniensis. The pathogenicity of L. iraniensis was confirmed on detached Eucalyptus leaves and reconfirmed in glasshouse inoculation experiments. Finally , re-isolation of the pathogen from the inoculated leaves fulfilled the Koch's postulates. This study is the first report of pathogenic L. iraniensis on Eucalyptus in India. Further studies on the diversity of this pathogen and identification of disease resistant Eucalyptus germplasm are required. [Display omitted] • This study first time reports Lasiodiplodia iraniensis as a foliar pathogen of Eucalyptus in India. • The pathogen was identified based on microscopic features, DNA sequence analysis, and pathogenicity tests. • This is a new taxonomic addition to the diversity of Lasiodiplodia fungi in India. • This study provides future directions to decipher the diversity of Lasiodiplodia species and testing of Eucalyptus genotypes for disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of education can be enriched with better outcome in undergraduate (UG) computer science and engineering program with the introduction of High Performance Computing (HPC) courses into the UG curriculum. The paper gives the background of the author’s institution, processes of curricula enhancement, infrastructure development to enable students to carry out the work and records the students’ achievements academic year wise. The paper also discusses the evolution and continuous upgrading of the HPC courses along with the issues and challenges experienced. The paper gives the details about the courses along with the process of teaching and evaluation. It lists the students’ research achievements with a focus on HPC, for each academic year. Although the paper has focused on UG HPC education for the past seven academic years, the author also provides additional information about HPC subjects introduced to postgraduate (PG) students of computer science and engineering at various levels in the academic year 2015–16. The paper aims to serve as reference for those faculty and students who wish to introduce similar HPC courses at their schools by making use of the best practices that helped us in providing better inputs to our students to attain laudable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Migrant Suitcase is a metaphor to understand how social remittances are taken, brought back and transformed. Migrants bring with them different cultural norms, food and eating practices. In this paper I review the concept of social remittances in light of material culture, food and eating practices and examine the linkages between food, belonging, commensality and care and then provide empirical examples from the suitcases of Indian migrants. This paper is based on 30 in-depth interviews conducted among Indian migrants living in The Netherlands. The main themes from the data included food from home, cooking practices, food sharing and family relationships. Migrants' sense of belonging was intrinsically related to the food they brought from home and the memories it generates. The practices of cooking and sensorial experiences surrounding them demonstrate the place and home making processes. Commensality with co-ethnics led to a sense of community and stronger community bonds. Commensality with other non-Indian groups was perceived to be problematic. The exchanges of food, eating practices, and care create a sense of 'co-presence' in lives migrants and their transnational families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Paper proposes a FiWi network planning for creating the WiFi enabled villages (Gram Panchayats) of India. • The proposed planning provides the optimized position of wireless routers and ONUs in terms of latitude and longitude. • For optimizing position of wireless routers and ONUs, we propose to use customized SMA algorithm. • Simulation has been performed for four gram panchayats of Indore region of India to make them WiFi enabled. • Cost estimation has been given to create the complete network. Fiber Wireless (FiWi) access network consists of high speed passive optical network (PON) at back end and wireless mesh network at front end. It is emerging as the most prominent access network due to its inherent feature. It may provide fast Internet services at minimum possible cost. Many of the villages of the India are still not connected with high speed network hence the present paper provides FiWi network planning for creating the Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) enabled villages (Gram Panchayats) of India. The main aim of the paper is to deploy the cost effective FiWi network to provide the faster internet services at reasonable prices to the users of the gram panchayat (GP) in India. The area of the GP and the user's location in particular GP is taken as input for network planning. The proposed planning provides the optimized position of wireless routers and Optical Network Units (ONUs) in terms of latitude and longitude. For optimizing position of wireless router and ONUs, we propose to use customized Slime Mould algorithm (SMA). We considered four gram panchayats of Indore region of India to make them WiFi enabled using FiWi access network. The customized SMA algorithm provides the best possible position and number of wireless routers and ONUs to connect all the users of gram panchayat. Beside, the total fiber length from the Optical Line Terminal (OLT) to all the ONUs and total cost estimation is also given to create the complete network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clean energy transition via utilizing biomass resources has been projected as an important climate change mitigation strategy. A vital characteristic of biomass is its localized nature; therefore, bioenergy utilization should follow decentralized planning. Agrarian countries like India can take benefit of its large agricultural biomass waste pool to produce clean renewable energy. However, prior knowledge of spatio-temporal distribution, competing uses, and biomass characteristics are necessary for successful bioenergy planning. This paper assesses biomass resource and its power generation potential at different agro-climatic zone levels in the state of Rajasthan, India considering crop residue biomass (25 different crop residues from 14 crops) and livestock manure (from cattle, buffalo, and poultry). Uncertainties associated with the availability of biomass and the power generation potential are assessed for each agro-climatic zone under different scenarios. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions from biomass-based power generations are also estimated and compared with biomass-equivalent coal power plants. It is observed that the annual biomass power potential of Rajasthan is 3056 MW (2496 MW from crop residues and 560 MW from livestock manure). Scenario analysis suggests that the potential varies from 2445 to 6045 MW under different biomass availability and power plant operating conditions. Annual GHGs emissions due to biomass power generation is 5053 kt CO 2 eq. Replacing coal-based power with biomass power would result in annual GHGs savings of 11412 kt CO 2 eq. The paper also discusses various carriers and barriers viz. logistics, institutional, financial and technical in setting up decentralized bioenergy plants. Outcomes of the present study are expected to assist renewable energy planners in India. • Biomass resources and their power potential are assessed for Rajasthan, India. •Biomass power potential for different selected scenario ranges from 2445-6045 MW. •GHG emissions from biomass power is assessed and compared with fossil fuels. •Spatio-temporal variability, low density and logistics are limitations of biomass. •Favourable policies, technologies and market can help to promote bioenergy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenolic compounds are one of the main contributors to water source contamination worldwide. In this review, the data collected on Elsevier, Scopus, and Pubmed, considering papers published between 2000 and 2023, showed more than 60 different phenols have been identified in water matrix (<0.065–179,000,000 ng L−1). The highest concentration reported was in surface water canals in India. The most recurrent and studied compound was bisphenol A (n = 93) in concentrations ranging from 0.45 to 2,970,000 ng L−1. The solid phase extraction (HBL Oasis cartridge) and methanol as solvent was the method of pre-concentration most used followed by gas chromatography for the determination of phenols in water samples. The importance of drinking water guidelines incorporating more phenolic compounds was emphasized given the variety of these compounds quantified in water matrix. The human health risk assessment (HRA) was performed for the min-max concentrations of the pollutants reported in the literature. High HRA even at the lowest concentrations for 2-nitrophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, 3,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol was recognized. The cancer risk estimated was considered possible for 3-methylphenol, 2,4-dimethylphenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, and 2,4-dinitrophenol in the highest concentrations. The in-depth discussion of mechanisms, advantages, challenges, and carbon footprint of membrane technologies in water treatment and phenols retention demonstrated the great potential and trends for the production of safe drinking water, highlighting reverse osmosis, as a mature technology, and membrane distillation, as an emergent technology. [Display omitted] • More than 60 phenolic compounds were identified in water sources. • The highest concentration in surface water was reported as 1.79 E8 ng L−1 in India. • Water guidelines address, in general, only 14 phenols. • High risk to human health and the possibility of cancer were estimated. • Membrane technology can effectively remove phenols, especially reverse osmosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Asia's coastlines are the most densely inhabited and economically active ecosystems have already begun to shift due to climate change. Over the past century, climate change has contributed to a gradual and considerable rise in sea level, which has eroded shorelines and increased storm-related coastal flooding. The differences in estuary water quality over time, both seasonally and annually, have been efficiently controlled by changes in stream flow. Assessment requires digitized analytical platforms to lower the risk of catastrophes associated with climate change in coastal towns. To predict future changes in an area's vulnerability and waste planning decisions, a prospective investigation requires qualitative and quantitative scenarios. The paper concentrates on the development of a forecasting platform to evaluate the climate change and waste water impacts on the south coastal region of India. Due to the enhancement of Digitization, a multi-model ensemble combined with manifold learning is implemented on the multi-case models influencing the uncertainty probability rate of 23% and can be ignored with desired precaution on the coastal environmental. Because Manifold Learning Analysis results cannot be utilized directly in wastewater management studies because of their inherent biases, a statistical bias correction and meta-feature estimation have been implemented. Within the climate-hydrology modeling chain, the results demonstrate a wide range of expected changes in water resources in some places. Experimental statistics reveal that the forecasted rate of 91.45% will be the better choice to reduce the uncertainty of climatic change and wastewater management. • Development of Multi-Objective Neighborhood Embedding Ensemble Strategy (NEES) to predict waste water and climate change impacts. • Manifold learning with metafeatures estimator model to forecast the temperature index and oxygen depletion. • Enhanced Coastal Management system with multi-parameter reliability model for South Asia Coastal region to safeguard the environmental eco-stability. • Manifold predictor models for waste water impact and climatic influence with maximum data samples with optimized cost function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Offences Against the State (OAS) claim a distinct character within criminal law tied to the assumption of threat they pose to the very existence of state. This paper examines the distinctiveness of these offences through an analysis of a peculiar criminal law procedure of obtaining sanction for prosecution. The legal provision on 'sanction for prosecution' for OAS mandates the prior approval of the government before an accused can be brought to trial in a court. The deferral of the judicial process till the executive consents to trial, raises the following question-within a constitutional order governed by the principle of separation of powers, how does the 'political' intersect the domain of the 'judicial', in matters of prosecution? This paper interrogates this question through an analysis of the legal provision for granting sanction and the jurisprudence of sanction in India, to understand the relationship between the executive and the judiciary and its bearing on the constitutional principle of separation of powers. Constructing a theoretical framework of the 'rationality question' delving into the intention of the law, and the 'consequentiality question' exploring its effects, the paper shows how the judiciary cedes space for the political to make inroads into the domain of the judicial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides an historical perspective on everyday experiences of weather and climate, through an analysis of the diaries of two colonial figures in Bombay, western India, in the 1820s: Mountstuart EIphinstone (the then Governor) and Lucretia West (the wife of the Chief Justice). The paper explores the ways in which climate impacted upon their daily routine and health, and discusses evidence for the influence of wider climatic narratives within their writings. Climate played a dominant and complex role within colonial discourse, providing both a barrier to colonisation, and a justification for European governance over populations that had become 'degenerate' through their exposure to tropical climates. Both of the diaries evidence this influence of climate within the colonists' daily lives, but demonstrate the differing responses to climate based on the two diarists' social positions. Mountstuart Elphinstone, in particular, had a strong sense of the impact of climate upon his health, in keeping with contemporary medical beliefs equating climate with physical wellbeing. The paper provides evidence of the evolution of acclimatisation discourse during the early nineteenth century, and suggests that European beliefs concerning tropical climates were changing simultaneously within both the medical establishment and the wider colonial community. The paper also explores the medical excursions that the diarists took to towns in the Western Ghats. It is apparent that their experiences of the climate in such towns were influenced by their prior expectations, a theme which resonates with discourses of climate in our own times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial and temporal variability of macrobenthic community in intertidal habitats is governed by various physicochemical factors. Finding the relationship between environmental parameters and the biotic element of an ecosystem have been the centre of ecological studies. This paper describes the influence of environmental parameters in structuring the benthic community at spatial and temporal scales. Samplings were carried out on seasonal basis for a period of two years (August 2013 to July 2015). Fauna was collected from three soft-bottom intertidal locations (CH, MP and CT) using 25 × 25 cm quadrat along the Port Blair coast, south Andaman, India. A total of 112 macrofaunal taxa belonging to 4 major and 2 minor phyla were recorded. Polychaeta was the most dominant taxa followed by Amphipoda. Statistical analyses revealed that macrobenthic faunal assemblages were significantly different at spatial scale but not on temporal pattern. The distribution of macrobenthic fauna at spatial scale was mainly influenced by sediment characteristics (organic matter and grain size). Amphipods dominated the locations where sediment having coarser grain size and low organic matter whereas polychaetes and molluscs were found abundant at the locations characterised with fine sediment and high organic matter. This study concludes that in the regions where temporal variability is not significant, the sediment characteristics, which together with beach morphodynamics play an important role in structuring the benthic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Characterization, quantitation and evaluation of cardiac glycosides were reported. • The inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity was measured. • Enzyme kinetics and molecular docking were determined. Streblus asper Lour. (Moraceae) is a medicinal plant in Asian countries including India and Thailand, possessing activities of anti-tumor, anti-allergy, anti-parasitic and anti-bacterial. In this paper, characterization, quantitation and similarity evaluation of cardiac glycosides in different parts of S. asper were investigated by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS and chemometric methods. Then, the inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity by the compounds isolated from S. asper was measured. Meanwhile, enzyme kinetics and molecular docking were determined to exhibit the combination modes between cardiac glycosides and Na+,K+-ATPase. As a result, twenty peaks of cardiac glycosides were assigned. Strophanthidin-3- O - α - l -rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-6-deoxy- β - d -allopyranoside (1), glucostrebloside (2), strebloside (4) and mansonin (8) with a significant activity of inhibiting Na+,K+-ATPase (IC 50 7.55–13.60 μM) were chosen for the determination of enzyme kinetics, exhibiting anticompetitive inhibitory characteristics towards Na+,K+-ATPase. Compound 4 could reasonably bind to the active sites of Na+,K+-ATPase, proved by molecular docking. Furthermore, the contents of the major compounds in four different parts of S. asper were extremely different, analyzed by chemometric methods, similarity analysis and principle compounds analysis. All these findings indicated that the contents of major compounds in different parts of S. asper were extremely different with a significant activity of inhibiting Na+,K+-ATPase, providing a reference for determination of effective part and administered dosage. The combination modes between cardiac glycosides and Na+,K+-ATPase were also revealed by enzyme kinetics and molecular docking, which provided a basis for further study of pharmacological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • An ODE model of dengue is studied to assess the effect of active case finding (ACF). • Sensitivity results reveal that ACF of infected persons will reduce dengue prevalence. • Model is calibrated using dengue data from eight endemic states of India. • Future projections indicate that ACF of symptomatic patients will be effective in controlling dengue prevalence. • Integration of ACF with existing controls will accelerate dengue case reduction. Abstract Dengue control in India is a challenging task due to complex healthcare settings. In yesteryears, an amplification of dengue infections in India posed the need for introspection of existing dengue control policies. Prior understanding of the impacts of control interventions is necessary for their future implementation. In this paper, we propose and analyze a compartmental model of dengue to assess the impact of active case finding (ACF) on dengue disease transmission. Currently, primary prevention of dengue is possible only with vector control and personal protection from the bites of infected mosquitoes. Although a few experimental studies are performed to assess ACF in dengue disease, but this is the first attempt to represent and study the dynamics of disease using ACF as a control strategy. Local and global dynamics of the system are studied. We use sensitivity analysis to see the effects of controllable parameters of the model on the basic reproduction number and total number of infective population. We find that decrease in the biting rate of mosquitoes, and increase in the rate of hospitalization and/or notification, death rate of mosquitoes and ACF for asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals play crucial role for the reduction of disease prevalence. We calibrate our model to the yearly dengue cases in eight dengue endemic states of India. The results of our study show that ACF of symptomatic individuals will have significant effect on dengue case reduction but ACF of asymptomatic individuals cannot be ignored. Our findings indicate that the healthcare organizations must focus on ACF of symptomatic as well as asymptomatic individuals along with personal protection and mosquitoes control to achieve rapid reduction of dengue cases in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores practices of kidnap and confinement in the Andamans penal colony, for the period 1771-1864. It argues that during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries indigenous captivity was key to successful colonization. The British kidnapped islanders in an effort to educate them about the supposed benefits of colonial settlement, and in the hope that they would become their cultural advocates. The paper shows also that the close observations that accompanied the confinement of islanders informed global discussions about 'race' and 'origin', so that the Islands were brought into a larger global frame of understanding around indigenous -- settler contact. The paper draws out some of the complexities and specificities of the colonial encounter in the Andamans. It argues that with respect to sexual violence, there was a significant gender dimension to colonization and confinement. Finally, it suggests that in a settlement comprising a penal colony and its associated infrastructure (and no free settlement) there were no straightforward distinctions between 'colonizer' and 'colonized'. Rather, there were significant overlaps between the treatment and experiences of convicts and islanders, and these expressed something of the inherent ambiguities of the penal colonization of the Andamans itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we employ a stated preference environmental valuation technique, namely the choice experiment method, to estimate local public’s willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements in the capacity and technology of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in Chandernagore municipality, located on the banks of the River Ganga in India. A pilot choice experiment study is administered to 150 randomly selected Chandernagore residents and the data are analysed using the conditional logit model with interactions. The results reveal that residents of this municipality are willing to pay significant amounts in terms of higher monthly municipality taxes to ensure the full capacity of the STP is used for primary treatment and the technology is upgraded to enable secondary treatment. Overall, the results reported in this paper support increased investments to improve the capacity and technology of STPs to reduce water pollution, and hence environmental and health risks that are currently threatening the sustainability of the economic, cultural and religious values this sacred river generates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Multidisciplinary spatial studies are relatively limited in Indian archaeology, despite their potential for research and heritage management. This paper discusses applications of satellite remote sensing, field studies and GIS, in the context of Palaeolithic archaeology. The study region covers an area of around 8000 km2, in the state of Tamil Nadu, South India, and is characterized by a rich and diverse Palaeolithic record. Satellite images of varied spatial resolutions were interpreted to address both regional and site-specific research questions. Thematic maps were generated from satellite data and refined with intensive field investigations. These were used for demarcating sources of raw material, and in investigating variability in the distribution of sites through time in relation to a range of geological and geomorphological features. Satellite data and field studies also aided in mapping impacts on sites resulting from modern landuse patterns. The paper also discusses the development and testing of a model to detect potential areas where new sites may be rapidly located. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: India''s coastal resource complexes were traditionally characterized by a continuum of ‘common property resources’ or ‘commons’ that stretched from the shores to the seas. The continuum aided the existence of sustainable livelihood systems for local communities. Today, fragmented policy approaches and economic welfare schemes have caused the disintegration of community control over the continuum. As a consequence, livelihood systems of local communities have declined. The introduction of coastal management guidelines in the 1990s has exacerbated the situation. With reference to a coastal village located in the State of Kerala in South West India, the paper describes the trajectory of unsustainable change that has taken place in the coastal area resource complexes of the country. The paper argues for restoring the continuum of commons in the study area through community driven systems of natural resource management that are based on networks of nested institutions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Economists have used historical heights as markers of health, living standards, and long-run development. Although possible selection bias has been debated, height measurement error is less studied. I analyze novel administrative data of male Indian indentured laborers with repeated measurements of adult height to answer an important underlying question of precision. Laborers were measured by British colonial officials on departure in India and again several years later when opting to return to India. I find no height differences for men who had attained full height in India. Younger men continued to grow even into their twenties. A caste subgroup analysis finds mostly similar results. This paper provides some of the first evidence showing height consistency in repeated measurements of adult heights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementing unified municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is often difficult due to socio-economic variables. However, spatial GIS models and statistical analysis of solid waste characterized by the weekdays, weekends, and festivals can somewhat mitigate the variance and assist with selecting suitable waste management methods. This paper presents the example of Rajouri, India, to propose a suitable MSWM based on Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) intensity maps and statistical findings. The considered region was divided into different sample sites based on the local population density, and Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) was collected from four locations in each site on weekdays, weekends, and festivals. Compositional analysis of the MSW was then used to generate spatial IDW models in QGIS 3.22.7 to interpolate MSW generation over the entire area. Finally, statistical analysis was conducted to gain insight into the waste generation and accumulation trends. The results show that Rajouri produces 245 tonnes of waste daily (per capita: 0.382 kg/day) with a large organic fraction compared to other waste categories. Besides, waste generation is observed to increase over weekends and festivals due to increased consumption of material goods. Composting could serve as a vector for municipal solid waste because of its increased organic component and cost constraints. However, further research on the potential segregation techniques for the organic fraction of solid waste is needed. • Extensive MSW sampling on weekdays, weekends, and festivals is investigated. • Waste generation is observed to increase over weekends and festivals. • Spatial modeling and thorough statistical analysis of the gathered data. • Dominated MSW contents are organics (Max = 87.05%) and plastics (Max = 12.67%). • Pearson analysis showed (+) correlation for WDF, WDPl and (−) correlations for WDPa, WDTe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safety of sanitation workers remains an often-ignored aspect in Fecal Sludge Management. While shifting workers from manual to mechanical means of de-sludging remains a priority, this paper highlights that there are a number of safety issues, including exposure to sludge, faced by sanitation workers, even in a mechanised context, where de-sludging trucks are utilised to provide de-sludging services. Based on a detailed analysis of observation of stakeholders and extensive process documentation (of de-sludging process), and expert interviews, the study identified three key safety concerns: inhalation of harmful gases, contact with sludge, and physical injury, and determined the underlying cause for the same, using a systems thinking approach. These causes are varied including behaviours and practices by households such as non-compliance of septic tank construction to design standards, irregular cleaning, improper disposal of inappropriate items in toilets; inappropriate or inadequate design of decanting stations, tools and equipment, and inadequate awareness and knowledge among all stakeholders. Using the hierarchy of controls framework, a set of measures are described to increase the safety of workers. These proposed interventions go beyond the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and range from behaviour change campaigns, improvements in decanting stations, better access to appropriately designed tools. The study highlights the need to place emphasis on eliminating, substituting and controlling the hazards as necessary steps for PPE to be relevant. Finally, the paper places the issue of occupational safety within the larger context of the informal nature of de-sludging occupation and the overall vulnerability of workers. It posits that this makes safety more complicated to address as several factors need to be taken into account, and actions are required by multiple sets of actors. • Safety concerns are prevalent even with mechanical desludging. • Key concerns are exposure to harmful gases, skin infections and physical injury. • hierarchy of control pyramid need to be addressed in totality. • Measures to improve worker safety must address existing processes and practices. • All stakeholders – households, workers, government are responsible to ensure safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pastoralist women are perceived as doubly disadvantaged, due to gender inequality and their low status as pastoralists. Thus, development organizations are adopting gender-specific approaches to improve the specific position of female pastoralists. This paper examines this issue with respect to the Raika (Rabari), the largest nomadic pastoral community of Western India, using an ecofeminist theoretical framework. Because Raika women observe purdah, there is an outward impression that men play the dominant role in sheep production, but in reality nomadic shepherding is a family operation and dependent in equal parts on the contribution of women and men. A series of interviews and group discussions revealed that women often prefer being on migration to staying in the villages because of lower workloads, nevertheless, they are concerned about security issues and the dangers of nomadism. Raika women increasingly express their resistance to traditional customs by refusing to consummate marriages with husbands to whom they have been betrothed in childhood. Very often the reason for the refusal is that they do not want a husband following the traditional pastoralist livelihood, preferring an urban way of life. The gradual decline of Rajasthan's sheep population over the last fifteen years may be due in part to women's refusal to engage in shepherding. It is suggested that this issue needs to be addressed by instating pro-pastoralist policies that benefit pastoralist families at large rather than gender-specific measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a collation and synthesis of the literature review with the focus on the vulnerability of rural women in developing countries to climate change on the one hand and being pro-active in adapting to climate change on the other. The geographic coverage of the literature is global but with specific examples from India. The information presented in this paper is derived from diverse sources including journal articles and thematic books, and indicates severe adverse impacts not only on women's livelihood opportunities but also on exacerbating the workload and fatigue while decreasing their self esteem and forcing them to undertake some high risks and hazardous activities. The literature indicates that poverty, gender inequality, insecure land rights, heavy reliance on agriculture, less access to education and information are among the principal reasons for their vulnerability to climate change. The vulnerability is also confounded by the meager asset base, social marginalization, lack of mobility and exclusion from the decision-making processes in response to a disaster. However, the literature also shows that women are not only the passive victims of climate change but are also pro-active and agents of hope for adaptation to and mitigation of abrupt climate change. They utilize their experience and expertise to reduce the adverse impacts by adopting prudent strategies. They are also concerned about environmental issues, and are highly supportive of policies regarding environmental restoration. Large knowledge gaps exist regarding the vulnerability of women to changing and uncertain climate especially in arid regions. Authors of this article suggest some action plans and strategies to minimize vulnerability to climate change such as empowering women economically and educationally, organizing training and outreach programmes, and involving them in formal climate change mitigation and adaptation policies and programmes. Authors also outline research needed in order to identify and implement strategies regarding climate change. Collective and continuous efforts are critical to finding the sustainable solutions for this global phenomenon which is adversely impacting the most vulnerable but critically important members of the society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningococcal A Conjugate Vaccine (MenAfriVac) is the world's first Monovalent Conjugate Vaccine against Neisseria Meningitidis serogroup A which has obtained Controlled Temperature Chain (CTC) label claim of "stable upto 40°C for 4 days prior to reconstitution" developed by Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. Pune, India and the vaccine was granted permission from World health Organization. This paper elucidates and talks about the layout of various studies performed to characterize the product to declare as CTC at the time when the knowledge and mechanism to describe CTC was not fully known which in term helped to design the CTC guidelines. Product stability was assessed using clinical, consistency and regular lots released by NRA. The critical stability indicating parameters like free polysaccharide, molecular size distribution along with Potency and safety tests were carried out to support the product stability making sure it also qualifies for Vaccine Vial Monitor label claim of VVM30. An additional in use stability (reconstitution) was also performed. All studies indicated that the product remains stable at real time as well as elevated temperatures and well within the specifications approved by NRA and formed the strong basis for CTC claim which is now recommended by WHO. • MenAfrivac played a crucial role in elimination of N. meningitidis serogroup A in the African 'meningitis belt'. • Development and matrixing of unique and challenging stability studies to claim CTC status for MenAfrivac. • WHO recognized MenAfrivac as the world's first vaccine for CTC claim of "40 °C for 4 days prior to reconstitution". • CTC studies present in the publication were considered by WHO to draft the ECTC guidelines for vaccine. • WHO granted permission to use Men A Vaccine within 6 h after reconstitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater management predominantly takes the form of On-Site Sanitation (OSS) in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). In India, households construct and operate OSS systems in the absence of regulatory oversight and seldom in compliance with the national technical standards – posing a risk to water sources and public health. The present paper reviews novel evidence on the quality of these systems from a multi-state survey of 3000 households in India to identify policy and practice interventions for creating sustainable urban sanitation futures. The paper argues for local and national governments to unlock the potential of OSS as a safe and long-term wastewater management solution through (1) re-envisioning the system design to simultaneously meet household and environmental needs, (2) fostering prefabrication of systems as a means to distribute the compliance responsibility optimally, and (3) updating technical standards for facilitating such a paradigm shift. • Septic tanks in urban India are non-compliant and fail to provide safe sanitation. • High urban densities preclude subsoil dispersion as scalable solution. • Wider adoption of prefabricated 'packaged' on-site systems can improve sanitation. • Standards for on-site system performance are key to facilitate the transition. • Greywater management needs mainstreaming within new systems, policy, and standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change has an adverse impact on rural livelihoods by increasing vulnerability and reducing crop yields. Climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices have been advanced as a possible solution to adopt and mitigate climate change issues. Administering a structured questionnaire survey among the 494 rural farming households of an eastern Indian state, namely Odisha, the study explores the key determinants of CSA adoption. Three districts, one from the state's coastal and two from the inland regions, are chosen for the study. The majority of the respondents (85%) perceive an increase in temperature and (76%) perceive a decrease in rainfall due to climate change in the region. The respondents have adopted a range of CSA practices such as rescheduling planting (74.5%), crop rotation (59.3%), crop diversification (31.2%), soil conservation (62.1%), drought-resistant seeds (36%) and agroforestry (10.3%) to adapt to these weather anomalies. The current paper employs a multivariate probit model in which the findings of econometric modelling have been triangulated to explore the key determinants of the adoption of CSA practices. The result shows that the key determinants are – perception of climate change, agricultural extension services, and access to energy for irrigation. • Climate change has adversely affected yields and the livelihood of rural farmers in Odisha. • Climate-smart agricultural practices have been advanced as a possible solution. • A multivariate method has been used to analyze the factors affecting the adaption. • Perception, access to extension and energy sources are the major determinants. • The information gap and lack of financial and market access are the barriers to adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil Liberties and Democratic Rights Movement (henceforth CLDR movement) in India has been documenting and highlighting the issue of custodial violence for long. This paper attempts to cull out the nuances of the engagement of the civil and democratic rights movement in India with the issue of custodial violence over a period of time. The paper analyses some of the reports by the CLDR organizations, particularly, People's Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) which are based upon the fact-findings done by these civil rights organizations. The fact-finding reports of the CLDR organizations are examined to form an understanding of the process through which the CLDR organizations approach the issue of custodial violence and the challenges therein. It also reveals the manner in which the CLDR groups foreground the voices of the people who suffered. The paper further seeks to show that the intervention of the civil and democratic rights movement on the issue of custodial violence in India made the practice of violence in custody 'visible' to the larger public pointing to the systematic and institutional failure of the Government to address the issue. Through its fact findings, the CLDR movement has tried to document and disseminate facts regarding torture and deaths in custody of security establishments like the police, and sexual violence in custody. In this process, the movement has also continuously jostled with the given understanding on 'custody' arguing for an expansion of its meaning and has sought to redefine the notion of crime, criminality and punishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports on an innovative application of dioxin-like persistent organic pollutants (dl-POPs) emission trends as a measure of environmental performance for designing feasible municipal solid waste management (MSWM) schemes. MSWM systems are highly dependent on the income status and the population density and it is quintessential for developing countries to devise strategies suiting to its characteristics rather than simply adapting successful processes/technologies in developed nations. Hence a lower-middle-income, high-density populated state of India – Kerala, which represents the typical scenario of majority of towns in developing countries was selected as the verification study site. Annual inventorisation of dl-POPs for the current scenario of the state was developed as a spatial model at the lowest administrative block level using geographical information system for the easy and effective comparative assessment. Further, a dl-POPs emission based MSWM scheme which could reduce up to 65% of emissions from current scenario has been developed and compared it with contemporary life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) schemes in terms of green-house gas emissions (GHG) and landfill area requirements as environmental performance validation. Daily exposure dose of dl-POPs were predicted from the per-capita annual emission associated with different MSWM schemes and hazard quotients were also calculated to provide an overview of the health risk posed by the emissions. The predicted health risk factors were observed to be 5 times higher than the threshold level in current scenario whereas 10 times reduction in dose levels could be achieved through the proposed scheme of MSWM. [Display omitted] • Employed dl-POPs emission as a decision support tool for formulating MSWM scheme. • Verified the environmental performance in a typical developing country scenario. • 65% reduction in dl-POPs emission can be achieved through proposed scheme. • Spatial inventory of dl-POPs from MSWM activities has been prepared. • Average per-capita dose from proposed MSWM scheme was below the acceptable dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impact of heavy metal (HM) pollution and its understanding on environment as well as human beings has grown a lot during the last few decades. The goal of this study is to create a scientometric study on heavy metal contamination, in the period 1989 to 2020, in order to provide futuristic goals for the new researchers on wastewater treatment. For this, a search was conducted in the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases, related to heavy metal pollution. Totally, 37,154 records were collected during the study period from 1989 to 2020. The findings revealed that China, the United States, and India has most referenced papers across a wide range of trans disciplinary issues such as toxicity, technology, and pollution. As a result, this study concludes that more research on various treatment methods is required in order to obtain high-quality water for consumption and routine activities, with the incorporation of various treatment tasks poses various challenges for the upcoming future studies. [Display omitted] • A bibliometric study is performed an heavy metal pollution between 1989 and 2020. • 37,154 records were critically analyzed to extract the bibliographic maps. • China, USA and India are the leading countries in heavy metal pollution research. • Advanced oxidation, coagulation-flocculation, adsorption, and membrane filtering technologies were focussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations in the Mandovi estuary, located on the central west coast of India, have shown that the salinity field in this estuary is remarkably time-dependent and passes through all possible states of stratification (riverine, highly-stratified, partially-mixed and well-mixed) during a year as the runoff into the estuary varies from high values (∼1000 m 3 s −1 ) in the wet season to negligible values (∼1 m 3 s −1 ) at end of the dry season. The time-dependence is forced by the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) and hence the estuary is referred to as a monsoonal estuary. In this paper, we use a three-dimensional, open source, hydrodynamic, numerical model to reproduce the observed annual salinity field in the Mandovi. We then analyse the model results to define characteristics of residual estuarine circulation in the Mandovi. Our motivation to study this aspect of the Mandovi's dynamics is derived from the following three considerations. First, residual circulation is important to long-term evolution of an estuary; second, we need to understand how this circulation responds to strongly time-dependent runoff forcing experienced by a monsoonal estuary; and third, Mandovi is among the best studied estuaries that come under the influence of ISM, and has observations that can be used to validate the model. Our analysis shows that the residual estuarine circulation in the Mandovi shows four distinct phases during a year: a river like flow that is oriented downstream throughout the estuary; a salt-wedge type circulation, with flow into the estuary near the bottom and out of the estuary near the surface restricted close to the mouth of the estuary; circulation associated with a partially-mixed estuary; and, the circulation associated with a well-mixed estuary. Dimensional analysis of the field of residual circulation helped us to establish the link between strength of residual circulation at a location and magnitude of river runoff and rate of mixing at the location. We then derive an analytical expression that approximates exchange velocity (bottom velocity minus near freshwater velocity at a location) as a function of freshwater velocity and rate of mixing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucalyptus plantations, which form the basis of several wood-based and pulp/paper-based industries in northern India, are seriously threatened by fungal diseases. Symptoms of Calonectria leaf blight disease with 40–100% disease incidence were frequently encountered during recent disease surveys conducted in commercial Eucalyptus nurseries/plantations in northern India. Isolation from the leaf samples with blight symptoms yielded fungal isolates having Calonectria -like morphology. A BLASTn homology search, phylogenetic analysis conducted using the concatenated data set of partial β-tubulin (tub2) and translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) gene regions confirmed the species as Ca. pseudoreteaudii. In detached leaf assays and glasshouse inoculation experiments, Ca. pseudoreteaudii isolates produced leaf blight symptoms similar to those observed during the field surveys. Finally, Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re-isolating the pathogen from the inoculated leaves. This work is the first time to confirm Ca. pseudoreteaudii as an important incitant of a serious leaf blight disease of Eucalyptus in northern India. These results necessitate a selection program to identify resistant Eucalyptus germplasm against Ca. pseudoreteaudii and other probable pathogenic Calonectri a spp. in India in the long-term. [Display omitted] • This study reports Calonectria pseudoreteaudii as a destructive pathogen of Eucalyptus in the Indian subcontinent for the first time. • The pathogen has been identified based on microscopic features, DNA sequence analysis and pathogenicity tests. • This is a new taxonomic addition to the diversity of Calonectria fungi in India. • This study warrants testing of new Eucalyptus genotypes for disease resistance on an urgent basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of biofuels as alternative energy source over fossil fuels has gained immense interest over the years as it can contribute significantly to reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy production and utilization. Also with rapidly increasing fuel price and fall in oil wells, the present scenario forces us to look for an alternative source of energy that will help us in the operation of industrial as well as the transportation sector. The pulp mills in India are one of the many options. The pulp mills in India can help us to produce bio-fuels by thermo-chemical/biochemical conversion of black liquor and wood residues. These technologies include extraction of hemi-cellulose from wooden chips and black liquor, lignin from black liquor, methanol from evaporator condensates, biogas production from waste sludge, syngas production from biomass using gasification and bio-oil production from biomass using pyrolysis. The objective of this paper is to overview these emerging bio-refinery technologies that can be implemented in Indian Forest Industry to get bio-fuels, bio-chemicals and bio-energy to reduce GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tides play a vital role in coastal hydrodynamics, and it is important to understand their complex characteristics in the coastal areas of creeks, bays, estuaries and gulf. In this study, the spatial variation of heterogeneous friction coefficients and their influence on the variation of different tidal constituents (K1, M2, N2, O1, P1 and S2) along Gulf of Khambhat, west coast of India, were studied. A two-dimensional finite element-based numerical model was developed and zones of different friction coefficients were identified by comparing numerically estimated tidal levels and currents with that of measured and reported by earlier studies. Based on the comparisons, the gulf was divided into five zones of different bottom friction values. The numerical model, assigned with friction coefficients, was used to map the contours of selected tidal constituents. From the results, it was observed that two constituents, M2 and K1, influence the hydrodynamics, significantly. The description of the numerical model, calibration, validation and results are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines if in-home access to toilets reduces the risk of violent crimes against women. We use the roll out of the Swachh Bharat Mission , a flagship toilet construction program in India, to ascertain if assaults and rapes of women reduce when access to in-home toilets increases. We bolster our findings through an instrumental variable strategy using political alignment of locally elected representatives in close elections with the national government's political party, post the launch of the program, as an instrument. We find that construction of toilets reduces sexual assaults on women, but do not discern consistent changes in rapes. Our findings for sexual assaults are robust to a variety of controls, specifications, and identification approaches. We address reporting changes as a plausible alternative explanation and present evidence to support the exclusion restriction in our IV strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1881 the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) commenced service between Siliguri, on the Bengal plains, and the hill-station of Darjeeling, 40 miles north and nearly 7000 feet above. Its open, 'Lilliputian' carriages climbed narrow, hill-side rails, hoisting passengers from lowland heat into bracing mountain air. While the train is typically considered a mode of transport, it also constitutes a technology of perception and social space. This paper examines how one railway mediated experiences of travel and landscape. It shows how the DHR formed a rolling enclave in and through which Western travelers encountered a colonial frontier, reinforcing passengers' identities and generating touristic modes of observation. It explores how the train's structure and motion neutralised perceived and actual hazards of the Indian environment, while rendering the track-side surroundings a series of sights for aesthetic contemplation. Finally, it examines how the DHR integrated with perceiving bodies and choreographed the passing terrain, thus demonstrating the value of attending to material technology in the phenomenological study of landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spatio-temporal understanding of past domestic activities is a key aspect of archaeological reasoning. The identification of markers of particular anthropic actions through time has become a fundamental issue. Chemical analyses of archaeological floors are an essential tool to investigate and identify anthropic markers of past human activities. This paper explores the relative spatial variability of chemical residues of floors in an ethnographic context to provide a constructive basis to experiment with spatial analysis for the detection and interpretation of anthropic activity markers. These markers are recognised as anomalies and tendencies in the relative spatial distribution of chemical residues embedded in the floor. The experiment has been carried out in a controlled environment and serves to test the methods and assumptions to be used in archaeological contexts. Spatial interpolations (IDW, Map Algebra and PCA) were performed and allowed the identification of anomalies in the distribution of residues that can be associated with specific activities (fuel use, food preparation and consumption, use of fireplaces). Geostatistics (Ordinary and Regression Kriging) was used in order to contribute to the identification of trends related to the use of space and the connected activities (e.g. inner versus outer space, storage versus cooking). The results show how the integration of different techniques can improve data interpretation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we study the impact of air pollution on child growth in India. We rely on wind direction to capture quasi-random variation in three main criteria air pollutants. We show that an increase in the average concentration of fine particulate matter by one standard deviation is accountable for almost 5 and 2.4 percentage points of stunting and severe stunting rates, respectively. We also find that ozone and carbon monoxide impact weight-related outcomes. Stunting has critical long-term health and economic consequences; through its impact on stunting, pollution exacerbates the height premium in earnings, with girls being more adversely affected than boys in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The megalithic period in India is notable for the emergence and development of iron metallurgy and the appearance of new burials known as megaliths. A number of iron objects from megalithic sites in the Vidarbha region of India, dating to the first half of the 1st millennium BC, have been examined for their microstructures and carbon distributions. The artifact assemblage consists mainly of edged or pointed tools and weapons, along with some domestic implements. Results show that the technology applied in their manufacture is characterized by the use of low carbon iron of bloomery origin and the application of surface carburization as the primary means of steelmaking. The functional parts of the objects examined were made mostly of steel with their mechanical properties finely adjusted through a combination of quenching and tempering. Of particular importance are certain fan-shaped plates which we believe were produced and circulated as intermediaries to meet a wide range of consumer needs. It appears that the Vidarbha megalithic communities shared a fully developed and well-standardized iron technology of substantial flexibility. While exceptions to this general trend were found in some unfinished or used objects, these do not suggest the presence of an inferior technological status. This paper raises questions as to the origin of such a developed technology, and will discuss the probable spreading of several key technical ideas which bear striking similarities to those noted in the early iron traditions of Korea. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper tests the hypothesis that the expansion of improved drinking water supplies in rural India reduced household expenditure on water quality, offsetting some of the quality benefits from source protection. I estimate demand for in-home treatment using geological characteristics to predict a household's drinking water source. The probability of treatment and in particular boiling reduces by 18–27 percentage points in response to source protection, offsetting 4% of the water quality gains and saving households 0.5–1% in monthly expenditure. Behavioral choices partly counteract the water quality gains from source protection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Migration has been a major source of human survival, adaptation, and economic change over centuries across regions. Today, more than ever, migration forms a central part of the global flow of humans, practices, and ideas. However, from a social point of view, migration is often considered as a potential source of social disorder and crime. Several explanations have been provided on this aspect in Indian context but none of these provide a sound analysis of the linkage between migration and crime. This paper attempts to investigate empirically the association between interstate migration and crime in India. Our analysis does not show any significant association between interstate migration and crime. Therefore, this study discards the controversial thought that migration is responsible for increasing crime in the nation, and suggests adopting constructive means to control crime rather than staring at migration. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tiger conservation in India represents an excellent case study of the many challenges facing conservation programs internationally. It is well understood that tigers are sensitive to human disturbances and large areas of habitat need to be protected for their conservation. Such protected areas in India are managed by the governments using an exclusionary approach. However, this approach is known to create several issues with local communities, including historical, legal, livelihood and management issues; with a volume of literature suggesting the inclusion of local communities in management. Yet, other evidence suggests that inclusion of communities in tiger conservation may lead to anthropogenic disturbances that can jeopardize tigers. The gravity of the situation is reflected in the recent disappearance of tigers from two key protected areas in India, the Sariska and Panna Tiger Reserves. This review paper connects the key literature from conservation biology, environmental history, management sciences, policy and political sciences to underline the gridlock of tiger conservation: it needs exclusive protected areas that antagonize communities, and it depends on the support of the same communities for success. We examine the possibility of reconciliation between these disciplines, and assert that research on tiger conservation needs to allow for an increasingly interdisciplinary approach. We call for a more integrated approach to tiger conservation, to examine the values inherent in conservation and to shed more light on the social factors that affect tiger conservation schemes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Many technological alternatives for wastewater treatment are available, ranging from advanced technologies to conventional treatment options. It is difficult to select the most appropriate technology from among a set of available alternatives to treat wastewater at a particular location. Many factors, such as capital costs, operation and maintenance costs and land requirement, are involved in the decision-making process. Sustainability criteria must also be incorporated into the decision-making process such that appropriate technologies are selected for developing economies such as that of India. A scenario-based multiple-attribute decision-making (MADM) methodology has been developed and applied to the selection of wastewater treatment alternative. The four most commonly used wastewater treatment technologies for treatment of municipal wastewater in India are ranked for various scenarios. Six scenarios are developed that capture the regional and local societal priorities of urban, suburban and rural areas and translate them into the mathematical algorithm of the MADM methodology. The articulated scenarios depict the most commonly encountered decision-making situations in addressing technology selection for wastewater treatment in India. A widely used compensatory MADM technique, TOPSIS, has been selected to rank the alternatives. Seven criteria with twelve indicators are formulated to evaluate the alternatives. Different weight matrices are used for each scenario, depending on the priorities of the scenario. This study shows that it is difficult to select the most appropriate wastewater treatment alternative under the “no scenario” condition (equal weights given to each attribute), and the decision-making methodology presented in this paper effectively identifies the most appropriate wastewater treatment alternative for each of the scenarios. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we explore the major, minor and some trace elements of sixty-five glass beads from eighteen oasis sites both north and south of the Taklamakan Desert, the ancient centre of the Silk Routes linking East and West; the samples date from the Warring States period (475–2211 BCE) to the Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE). Using a high-resolution portable XRF spectrometer, with special attention to issues of surface weathering and sample preparation, we obtained quantitative chemical compositional data that, when combined with archaeological context and the technology of bead manufacture, provide the basis for an understanding of both changes in glass type over time, and possible source areas for the Xinjiang glasses. While glass beads at the early sites (1st c. BCE to 4th c. CE) were coming primarily from Kushan-controlled territories in northern India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, with a small contribution from central China, most of the later glass (4th–10th c. CE) is similar to that produced in the Sasanian Empire at such sites as Veh Ardashir in central Iraq. These changes most likely reflect changing cultural and economic conditions in the Silk Road towns. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Our paper provides a comparative perspective on the development of public primary education in four of the largest developing economies circa 1910: Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). These four countries encompassed more than 50% of the world's population in 1910, but remarkably few of their citizens attended any school by the early 20th century. We present new, comparable data on school inputs and outputs for BRIC drawn from contemporary surveys and government documents. Recent studies emphasize the importance of political decentralization, and relatively broad political voice for the early spread of public primary education in developed economies. We identify the former and the lack of the latter to be important in the context of BRIC, but we also outline how other factors such as factor endowments, colonialism, serfdom, and, especially, the characteristics of the political and economic elite help explain the low achievement levels of these four countries and the incredible amount of heterogeneity within each of them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper utilizes conservation of resources (COR) theory and two of dimensions of culture (individualism and power distance) to examine the impact of display rules on job satisfaction and performance in an Indian call center sample. Contrary to findings in an American sample (Wilk & Moynihan, 2005), we proposed that due to cultural differences as well as differences in the nature of the job among representatives in an Indian call center, supervisory focus on display rules would reduce emotional exhaustion, and in turn, have positive consequences for employee performance and job satisfaction. Using multi-source data in a sample of 137 Indian call center representatives, results confirmed the hypothesized mediating effects of emotional exhaustion on performance and job satisfaction. Implications of these results for future cross-cultural research are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Developing countries across the world have embraced the policy of high economic growth as a means to reduce poverty. This economic growth largely based on industrial output is fast degrading the ecosystems, jeopardizing their long term sustainability. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has long been recognized as a tool which can help in protecting the ecosystems and aid sustainable development. The Screening guidelines for EIA reflect the level of commitment the nation displays towards tightening its environmental protection system. The paper analyses the screening process for EIA in India and dissects the rationale behind the exclusions and thresholds set in the screening process. The screening process in India is compared with that of the European Union with the aim of understanding the extent of deviations from a screening approach in the context of better economic development. It is found that the Indian system excludes many activities from the purview of screening itself when compared to the EU. The constraints responsible for these exclusions are discussed and the shortcomings of the current command and control system of environmental management in India are also explained. It is suggested that an ecosystem carrying capacity based management system can provide significant inputs to enhance the effectiveness of EIA process from screening to monitoring. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper investigates the spatial organization of social relations in settlement contexts through a quantitative and distributional analysis of surface ceramic attributes from Iron Age Period (1200–300 BC) archaeological sites in Southern India. The results discern variation in depositional contexts across each site, from which I infer a variety of basic settlement activity structures (e.g., site maintenance, trash disposal, residence, animal husbandry, metallurgy, ritual). I use these results, together with further analyses of artifact and feature distributions, to infer a basic suite of places, place-making practices and some of the social relations and organizational structures that produced these historically unique Iron Age settlement landscapes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]