Search

Retracted articles by Indian scholars have received significant attention in recent times. However, no comprehensive study has been conducted to analyse the citations of retracted papers authored by Indian researchers. This study aimed to assess the citations to retracted works published between 2001 and 2020 pre‐ and post‐retraction. The study found that there was an increase in retractions over time, with empirical data suggesting that the number of retractions has increased significantly, from 72 papers between 2001 and 2010 to 365 papers between 2011 and 2020. Duplication (n = 128) and plagiarism (n = 119) were the primary reasons for retraction. Notably, 90% of the retracted articles continued to receive citations after retraction. Among the retracted papers, eight received more than 50 post‐retraction citations, 39 received 20 to 50 citations, 347 received one to 19 citations, and 43 were not cited at all post‐retraction. There was an overall 8% decrease in citations after retraction. Retractions were observed across journals of varying impact factor, with a higher number of retractions observed in journals with an impact factor of less than 5 (n = 286; 65%). Furthermore, smaller research teams of two to five authors accounted for 72% of the total retractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on the first record of wilt and gummosis disease in subabul trees caused by Fusarium equiseti in India. Subabul trees are economically important for the paper and pulp industry in India. The affected trees exhibited symptoms of yellowing, wilting, and gummosis. Isolates of Fusarium equiseti were obtained from the diseased tissue and were found to be identical in their genetic sequences. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that the Fusarium isolates caused similar symptoms in healthy subabul plants. The rapid spread of this disease poses a threat to subabul plantations, and the development of management strategies is necessary. [Extracted from the article]

We thank Patil Pillai et al. for preparing a critique on our article (Joy et al., 2018). Patil Pillai et al. contest the analytical procedure utilized for the carbonates and "geological information" documented in our research article and raise concerns on our conclusions. We hereby provide our reply to each of their comments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's primary science funding agencies, the Department of Science & Technology, and the Department of Biotechnology (DST & DBT) together formulated an open access (OA) policy in 2014. This policy mandates immediate self‐archival of research articles generated from publicly funded research across all the institutions in suitable repositories. But with inadequate infrastructure and awareness, the OA mandate did not flourish as expected. This paper aims to understand whether journal policies impede the prospect of DST‐DBT OA policy and the possible routes to achieve policy compliance. The analysis presented in this paper tracks down the journal self‐archiving policies of the top 50 popular journals (among Indian authors) from each of the six STEM fields—Biology, Chemistry, Clinical‐Medicine, Engineering, Materials science, and Physics. The results show that most journals have an embargo of 12–24 months on self‐archiving of the post‐print (final author version after peer‐review), which contradicts the DST‐DBT OA mandate. The study also reveals that hybrid journals dominate, and article processing charges craft a new form of inequity for Indian STEM researchers. We expect that these findings will be helpful for the funding agencies to restructure their policies, and negotiate with journal publishers to resolve the contradictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provided a comprehensive understanding of the source process of the 1819 M 7.7 Kachchh Indian earthquake using physics‐based dynamic rupture modeling and strong ground motion simulations. We successfully simulated the spontaneous dynamic rupture along a curved non‐planar fault using the 3‐D curved‐grid finite‐difference method (CGFDM). The estimated earthquake magnitude is around 7.6, consistent with previous estimations. Our simulations accurately replicated macroscopic rupture patterns and surface deformation, showing agreement with observed data along the Allah Bund fault (ABF) with a maximum displacement ∼5.5 m at the Earth's surface. The maximum modeled coseismic slip on the fault was approximately 7.5 m. Notably, the ABF exhibited characteristics of a weak barrier (leaky barrier) at the bending part, allowing the rupture to propagate further. Despite limitations in surface deformation calculations, the modeled values aligned with the trend of surface fault slip, with a slight deviation in the epicenter toward the east compared to earlier studies. We observed a homogeneous principal stress oriented N25°E, consistent with the present day Indian plate motion. The estimated horizontal peak ground velocities (PGVh) and the maximum value of Intensity X+ aligns well with observations. Furthermore, conducting thorough case studies on significant earthquakes and potential seismic scenarios in stable continental regions is crucial. Such studies play a vital role in validating and improving dynamic rupture models. When combined with statistical methods, this research holds great promise for advancing seismic hazard assessments, earthquake engineering, and strategies for disaster management. Plain Language Summary: This paper is centered around the simulation of the dynamic rupture of the 1819 M 7.7 Kachchh earthquake in India. We have successfully replicated the earthquake's behavior using a three‐dimensional simulation method. The study's results demonstrate the significant influence of the local tectonic setting and non‐planar fault structure on earthquake generation and rupture progression. Although slight discrepancies exist between the simulation results and actual observations, the simulations capture significant trends and reproduce macroscopic rupture patterns. The estimated magnitude of the earthquake aligns well with previous studies. The study highlights the role of fault bending and its impact on surface deformation, contributing to a better understanding of seismic hazards and providing insights for seismic hazard assessments and earthquake source characterization. This work is valuable for comprehending earthquake sources, particularly from earthquake perspectives in the SCR region and other areas. Key Points: Dynamic rupture simulations of the 1819 Kachchh M 7.7 earthquake replicate co‐seismic fault slip, enhance our knowledge of the earthquake sourceWeak barrier characteristics observed at the bending part of the fault enabled further rupturing, influenced by SH and the nucleation pointContributes to understanding earthquake hazards, enhancing seismic assessment, engineering, and disaster management strategies [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) programme has been the central focus of the POSHAN Abhiyaan to combat maternal and child malnutrition under the national nutrition mission in India. This paper examined the linkages between utilization of ICDS and underweight among children aged 6–59 months. The study utilized data from two recent rounds of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS‐4 [2015–2016] and NFHS‐5 [2019–2021]). Descriptive analyses were used to assess the change in utilization of ICDS and the prevalence of underweight at the national and state levels. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to examine factors associated with the utilization of ICDS and underweight. Linkages between utilization of ICDS and underweight were examined using the difference‐in‐differences (DID) approach. Utilization of ICDS increased from 58% in 2015–2016 to 71% in 2019–2021. The prevalence of underweight decreased from 37% to 32% in the same period. Changes in ICDS utilization and underweight prevalence varied considerably across states, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. Results from decomposition of DID models suggest that improvements in ICDS explained 9%–12% of the observed reduction in underweight children between 2016 and 2021, suggesting that ICDS made a modest but meaningful contribution in addressing undernutrition among children aged 6–59 months in this period. Key messages: Utilization of ICDS services among children aged 6–59 months increased from 58% (2015–2016) to 71% (2019–2021) nationally. The programme's expansion was prominent in urban areas, showcasing progress across states.The prevalence of underweight among children in India declined by 5 percentage points from 2016 to 2021, but almost one‐third of children are still underweight.Increase in coverage and service delivery strengthening of ICDS explained 9%–12% of the observed reduction in underweight between 2016 and 2021.The findings suggest that optimizing quality of interventions under ICDS can have a modest but meaningful contribution in reducing childhood underweight in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the link between a mother's autonomy—the freedom and ability to think, express, make decisions and act independently—and the nutritional status of her children. We treat 'autonomy' as a latent variable, and design a novel statistical framework to measure this. This method allows us to separate the direct associations of maternal and family characteristics in our model for nutrition, from their indirect associations that work through maternal autonomy. Using data from India, we explore the sensitivity of our estimates to endogeneity caused by sample selection in the presence of son preference. We find: (i) a one standard deviation (SD) higher autonomy score is associated with a 0.16 SD higher height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ score); and (ii) a 10% lower prevalence of stunting (HAZ < −2 SD). The latter is equivalent to the prevention of approximately 300,000 children stunting, indicating the important role of maternal autonomy. This paper is part of the Economica 100 Series. Economica, the LSE "house journal" is now 100 years old. To commemorate this achievement, we are publishing 100 papers by former students, as well as current and former faculty. Wiji Arulampalam obtained her PhD from the LSE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the timing of one‐time fluctuations in births subsequent to the 1918 influenza pandemic in Madras (now Chennai), India. After seasonally decomposing key demographic aggregates, we identified abrupt one‐time fluctuations in excess births, deaths, and infant deaths. We found a contemporaneous spike in excess deaths and infant deaths and a 40‐week lag between the spike in deaths and a subsequent deficit in births. The results suggest that India experienced the same kind of short‐term postpandemic "baby bust" that was observed in the United States and other countries. Identifying the mechanisms underlying this widespread phenomenon remains an open question and an important topic for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prevalence and Patterns of Epilepsy in India.Purpose:To estimate the prevalence of epilepsy in India by meta-analysis of previously published and unpublished studies and determine the pattern of epilepsy by using community-based studies.Methods:As many as possible previously published and unpublished studies were identified on the prevalence of epilepsy from various parts of India by using multiple search strategies. The studies were assessed regarding the methods and definitions (population structure, method of case ascertainment, sensitivity and specificity of screening instrument, whether validation resurvey was done, definitions of epilepsy and active epilepsy, and inclusion of febrile fits/single seizures). The prevalence rates for rural and urban populations, as well as male and female ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated. The studies, which provided details on the age structure, age-specific rates, and patterns of epilepsy, were chosen for meta-analysis. The crude and age-standardized prevalence rates after accounting for heterogeneity, as well as pooled estimates of standardized prevalence, were calculated. Theχ2 test was used for homogeneity testing. Heterogeneity correction was done by using a simple random-effects model.Results:We identified 21 studies conducted over the last 38 years (10 on urban and 14 on rural populations covering 11 states and two union territories) involving a population sample of 837,039, among whom 4,220 had epilepsy, giving a crude prevalence of 5.04/1,000. The nonstandardized crude prevalence per thousand (95% confidence interval) after correction for heterogeneity was 5.44 (3.79–7.09). Age-standardized rates (seven studies from seven states involving a population sample of 448,109), after correction for the variability in estimates of heterogeneity, revealed that the prevalence rate per 1,000 (95% confidence interval) was overall, 5.39 (3.78–7.01); males, 5.76 (4.23–7.28); females, 4.68 (2.94–6.42); urban, 6.02 (3.98–8.05); and rural, 4.77 (2.36–7.18). Although urban male and female subjects had higher prevalence compared with rural male and female subjects, the difference was not statistically significant. Age-specific prevalence rates were higher in the younger age group. The onset of epilepsy was mostly in the first three decades. The treatment gap was>70% in the rural areas. Generalized seizures constituted 45.45–86%, and partial seizures, 11.45–54.54%; 5.2–24.4% had a family history of epilepsy. The frequency of mental retardation ranged from 4.4 to 22.9%.Conclusions:The heterogeneity found among the various studies may be partly due to methodologic differences referred to earlier. The heterogeneity also may be due to prevalence of local types of epilepsy (hot-water epilepsy); differences in prevalence of cysticercosis, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and head injuries; or due to denial of epilepsy on account of social stigma. The prevalence rates (crude and age-standardized) found in this meta-analysis are comparable to those in the Western countries and China. The estimated number of persons with epilepsy in India as per the census population for 2001 (1,025 million) would be 5.5 million. Because the rural population constitutes 72% of the Indian population, the number of persons with epilepsy in rural areas will be∼3.6 million, among whom three fourths will not be receiving any specific treatment as per the present standards. The model used in this study is useful for estimating disease burden in large countries. Epilepsy in an Indigenous Population: Experiences of Epilepsy Reported by New Zealand Maori.Purpose:To explore New Zealand Maori (14% of population) understanding of the causes, nature, effects, and treatment of epilepsy. Maori are highly westernized, owning their own homes, with 83% urban, and of all socioeconomic status (SES) levels. Their collectivist society has been remarkably revitalized since 1970, with 3% of schools teaching in Maori, 17% of children studying Maori, and 20% of Maori-fluent speakers. A life expectancy of 69 years and median age of 22 years (cf. 78 and 37 for non-Maori) suggest a higher epilepsy prevalence. Their health concept includes self, spiritual, family, and environmental aspects, with epilepsy traditionally seen as demonic possession resulting from breaking of sacred laws. New Zealand epilepsy treatment is by general practitioner after referral to a neurologist; no epilepsy centers or specialists exist. Drugs are heavily subsidized. Information and support is provided by Epilepsy New Zealand Field Officers, who report disproportionately few Maori clients, whereas hospitals report excessive Maori hospitalizations for seizures. Hills and Simonsen (1999: Epilepsy in an Indigenous Community. Poster paper at the Annual Conference of the American Epilepsy Society, Orlando, FL, U.S.A.) found some belief in supernatural causes, that epilepsy reduced personal and family status, poor compliance, alternative medicine use, and poor access to informed support.Methods:A Maori interviewer (L.E.M.) administered a structured interview in their own homes to 16 adult Maori with either tonic–clonic or complex partial epilepsy and thematically analyzed responses.Results:Perceived causes of epilepsy included heredity, injury, puberty, spiritual experience, and medical misadventure. Supernatural causes cited included a devil inside, a curse, being God-given, and stigma carried from ancestral sacred law breaking. Many were ignorant of seizure type. Most families reacted with acceptance and support, explanation in terms of spiritual beliefs, some victim-blaming, and little desire to know more. Reported were childhood teasing, shame and feeling outcast, with adults feeling unloved and restricted and wanting to know more. Coping strategies included calm acceptance, music, art, education, weather-watching, prayer, and herbal alternative medication. Collectivist Maori society emphasizes familial world-view and decision-making influence. Familial shame about epilepsy triggers sheltering and secrecy. However, the extended family, assisted by friends, social workers, and Maori Health Provider organizations provides psychological support, assisting with medication compliance and societal reactions. Treatment must involve the family and may include externally applied herbal medicine, head-to-toe massage, and developing a positive attitude by using art, music, etc. Maori regarded epilepsy with tolerance, humor, and little desire to know more, although friends might fear epilepsy as insanity. Costs described included deteriorating friendships and marital relations. Important socialization difficulties included not being able to drive a car or drink alcohol, and acquaintance avoidance. The financial costs of medication, doctors' fees, and travel to a clinic for small-town dwellers and nondrivers were cited, as were employment and education difficulties. Doctors were described as providing little information or discussion, using incomprehensible jargon, and being ignorant of cultural specifics. Participants wanted Maori-oriented health workers and field officers to advocate with medical experts and provide culturally sensitive information and support, information on state financial support, contact with other Maori with epilepsy, and education of their extended family about epilepsy. Alternative treatments should be recognized as effective and in harmony with the body, nature, and the spiritual world.Conclusions:Maori people with epilepsy demonstrated ignorance of medical explanations of the cause, nature, and treatment of epilepsy; belief in supernatural and ancestral causes; and emphasis on the family role, acceptance and resignation, a need for culturally sensitive treatment, advice and support, and a holistic approach to health.Acknowledgment:New Zealand Health Research Council, Waikato University Maori and Psychology Research Unit and Psychology Department, participants and their families. A Demonstration Project of the Global Campaign Against Epilepsy in the People's Republic of China.Purpose:A Global Campaign Against Epilepsy project has begun in the People's Republic of China among a population of∼2.5 million. The project included three parts: (a) epidemiologic survey to estimate the prevalence of active epilepsy and the treatment gap in seven counties of five provinces in China; (b) treatment of convulsive forms of epilepsy at a primary care level; and (c) education, social, and community interventions to reduce stigmatization of people with epilepsy. The main results of epidemiologic survey are reported here.Methods:A door-to-door epidemiologic survey was carried out in demonstration areas. The total number of people who could have been included in this survey was 58,806. The screening questionnaires were based on the World Health Organization (WHO) screening questionnaires previously used in China and on the ICBERG screening instrument and were validated at the Beijing Neurosurgical Institute for specificity (78.5%) and sensitivity (100%). Participating physicians and health workers were trained to use the questionnaire and to use a standardized technique so that the same questions could be asked in the same manner. After physicians had completed the questionnaire, any question that elicited a positive response led to a neurologist visiting that person to determine whether he or she actually had epilepsy.Results:The 55,616 (94.6%) people were interviewed in the five study areas. In total, 869 (1.6%) persons screened positive and identified as possible cases. After the review process by neurologists, however, only 387 (0.7%) persons were confirmed as having a definitive history of epilepsy. This gives a minimum lifetime prevalence rate of 7/1,000. The number of people with active epilepsy in the last year was 257, an active epilepsy prevalence of 4.6/1,000. It is estimated that nearly 9 million people have epilepsy and∼6 million people have active epilepsy in China. Of the 387 people identified with epilepsy, 157 (41%) were found not to have received any treatment; 35% had received irregular treatment, and only 96 (25%) had received antiepileptic drug treatment in the week before the survey; 257 patients had active epilepsy, 161 (63%) of whom did not receive any treatment in the week before the survey.Conclusions:This study is important for several reasons. It has provided baseline data for the demonstration project. Not only does this mean that the project's future effectiveness can be measured, but it also should lead to a better targeting of resources within the project. At a national level, the data provide further weight to the argument that epilepsy should have a higher priority in the PRC. Both the higher numbers of people with epilepsy and the higher percentage of untreated epilepsy should encourage policy makers to push epilepsy higher up the health agenda and confirm the Global Campaign's message that epilepsy must be“brought out of the shadows.” [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and tuberculosis (TB) are prevalent all across in India. TB‐DM comorbidity has emerged as a syndemic and needs more attention in India considering gaps in screening, clinical care, and research. This paper is intended to review published literature on TB and DM in India to understand the burden of the dual epidemic and its trajectory and to obtain perspectives on the gaps, constraints, and challenges in care and treatment of this dual epidemic. A literature search was carried out on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, using the key words 'Tuberculosis' OR 'TB' AND 'Diabetes' OR 'Diabetes Mellitus' AND 'India', focusing on the research published between the year 2000 to 2022. The prevalence of DM is high in patients with TB. Quantitative data on the epidemiological situation of TB/DM in India such as incidence, prevalence, mortality, and management are lacking. During the last 2 years convergence of TB‐DM syndemic with the COVID‐19 pandemic has increased cases with uncontrolled DM but also made coordinated control of TB‐DM operationally difficult and of low effectiveness. Research regarding TB‐DM comorbidity is required in the context of epidemiology and management. Detection and bidirectional screening are aggressively warranted. Management of DM in those with TB‐DM comorbidity needs more efforts, including training and supervision of frontline workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with insecticides is the main vector control intervention for the elimination of visceral leishmaniasis in India. After a change in IRS policy in 2015 due to widespread resistance of Phlebotomus argentipes to DDT, IRS with DDT was replaced with alpha‐cypermethrin IRS in 2016. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the susceptibility of P. argentipes to DDT and its alternatives, namely malathion and pirimiphos‐methyl (organophosphates); alpha‐cypermethrin, deltamethrin, lambda‐cyhalothrin and permethrin (pyrethroids), and bendiocarb and propoxur (carbamates), in support of visceral leishmaniasis elimination in India. Methods: Phlebotomus argentipes sandflies were collected from the visceral‐leishmaniasis endemic states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. In the WHO tube tests, the phenotypic susceptibility of F1, 2‐day old, non‐blood fed females were determined against filter papers impregnated with DDT 4%, malathion 5%, pirimiphos‐methyl 0.25%, alpha‐cypermethrin 0.05%, deltamethrin 0.05%, lambda‐cyhalothrin 0.05%, permethrin 0.75%, bendiocarb 0.1% and propoxur 0.1%, which were sourced from Universiti Sains Malaysia. The knockdown of sandflies after 1‐h exposure and mortality at 24 h after the 1‐h exposure period were scored. Results: Mean mortality of P. argentipes 24 h after exposure in tube tests was 22.6% for DDT and ≥ 98% for other insecticide‐impregnated papers tested. Conclusion: Phlebotomus argentipes continues to be highly resistant to DDT with no reversal of resistance after DDT's withdrawal from IRS. P. argentipes was fully susceptible to pyrethroid, organophosphate and carbamate insecticides tested. Regular monitoring is warranted for insecticide resistance management in sandfly vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the goals and targets specified by the Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, Target 3, often referred to as "30 × 30," has garnered widespread attention globally. In this paper, we critique India's potential to meet this target. We find that with its vast network of ecosystems that are under some form of protection and through the recognition of other effective area‐based conservation measures sites, India has the potential to meet the quantitative target of conserving and managing at least 30% of its area by 2030. However, the qualitative attributes of the target might be more difficult to realize owing to several challenges, such as inadequate landscape connectivity, insufficient representation of habitats in the current protected area model, and the exacerbation of socioeconomic vulnerabilities of resource‐dependent communities. To achieve strategic, inclusive, and equitable conservation, we suggest a four‐pronged approach involving landscape‐level biodiversity conservation, socially just and collaborative safeguarding of biodiversity, and relevant policy (re)formulation, informed and underlain by long‐term research and impact monitoring. Although we focus on India, the issues we discuss are of broader relevance, especially for countries across the Global South that are also likely to be significantly impacted by the implementation of the target. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental education has the potential to help reduce negative human–wildlife interactions by increasing positive attitudes toward wildlife and providing participants with knowledge and skills that can help mitigate conflict situations and promote safety. To promote positive human–wildlife relationships, effective programs could be implemented widely in areas near remote wildlife reserves and protected areas. We created and evaluated a new environmental education program for 10‐ to 13‐year‐old students in rural schools in India where human–wildlife conflicts with large mammals frequently occur. Between July 2019 and March 2020, we tested the program at 129 schools, reaching 4331 students. The program, which was iteratively designed to fit the local context, is both cost‐effective and scalable. We found that participation in the program resulted in a significant positive increase in local environmental knowledge, in knowledge of safe behaviors, and in some measures of environmental attitudes. This paper reports on the lessons learned while creating this program that may help other organizations interested in using environmental education in regions where negative human–wildlife interactions frequently occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cornerstone of conservation policy for endangered species subject to illegal harvest involves estimating their population and offtake numbers. Census enumerations are expensive to conduct on nationwide scales, especially in resource‐constrained countries housing such species. Resource and data limitations necessitate the estimation of population counts. The effect of poaching on species recruitment is often ignored in scientific population projections. Estimation of population counts should account for the interactive feedback between harvest and recruitment. Data on tiger population sizes and poaching from 51 reserves in India between 1994 and 2022 were obtained to calibrate a coupled ecological‐economic model of tiger population dynamics and poaching. Cobb–Douglas harvest functions with differing degrees of concavity and scale economies are used to characterize the economics of poaching. Population dynamics are evaluated using exponential and critical depensation growth functions. The predictive abilities of linked models and their parameter parsimony are evaluated using information criteria. Poaching is shown to substantially affect recruitment dynamics and is best characterized by a Schaefer function coupled with critical depensation growth. This paper provides a novel perspective of the interaction between tiger poaching and population dynamics in India. A systematic understanding of coupled ecological‐economic processes would improve the management of high‐value endangered species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the long‐term effects of population and GDP changes requires a multisectoral and regional understanding of the coupled human‐Earth system, as the long‐term evolution of this coupled system is influenced by human decisions and the Earth system. This study investigates the impact of compounding economic and population growth uncertainties on long‐term multisectoral outcomes. We use the Global Change Analysis Model (GCAM) to explore the influence of compounding and feedback between future GDP and population growth on four key sectors: final energy consumption, water withdrawal, staple food prices, and CO2 emissions. The results show that uncertainties in GDP and population compound, resulting in a magnification of tail risks for outcomes across sectors and regions. Compounding uncertainties significantly impact metrics such as CO2 emissions and final energy consumption, particularly at the upper tail at both global and regional levels. However, the impact of staple food prices and water withdrawal depends on regional factors. Additionally, an alternative low‐carbon transition scenario could compound uncertainties and increase tail risk, particularly in staple food prices, highlighting the influence of emergent constraints on land availability and food‐energy competition for land use. The findings underscore the importance of considering and adequately accounting for compounding uncertainties in key drivers of multisectoral systems to enhance our comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of multisectoral systems. The paper provides valuable insights into the potential implications of compounding uncertainties. Plain Language Summary: Understanding how future population and economic growth changes could impact our energy, water, food, and environment requires looking across multiple sectors and regions. This is because these systems are all connected. For example, increasing population drives higher food demand but requires more energy and water to grow food. At the same time, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy through increased biofuel consumption can compete with food production for land resources. This study explored how uncertainties in future population and GDP growth could compound and interact to affect future energy use, water withdrawal, staple food prices, and carbon dioxide emissions. Using a model that connects all these systems, the study found that combined uncertainties in population and GDP lead to more significant risks of extreme outcomes than individually looking at those uncertainties. There are substantial regional differences in future outcomes, like higher uncertainty in food prices for India and West Africa compared to other regions. We highlight the need to consider multisector and multisystem interactions between uncertainties across different regions. Accounting for these compounding uncertainties provides valuable insights into potential risks, like higher extreme projections for food prices or water use. These insights are essential for long‐term planning in our connected human‐Earth system. Key Points: Long‐term implications of population and GDP changes on the coupled human‐Earth system focusing on multisectoral and regional understandingUncertainties in GDP and population growth can compound, resulting in more extreme outcomes for multisectoral systemsCompounding uncertainties differ by region and metrics; staple food prices and water withdrawal show significant regional variability [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper adds to the literature on financialisation with firm‐level evidence from India, an emerging market in the growth phase, when capital accumulation is likely to be important. I use a broader definition of financialisation to add on to the investment function developed by Orhangazi (2008, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 32, 863). Empirically the above specification is tested for two samples of Indian non‐financial firms for the study. The first, Group I, includes firms prominent on the stock market represented by the combined sample of NIFTY non‐financial indices (ninety‐two firms), and the second, Group II, includes a broader group of all non‐financial firms (704 firms). Using the Arellano–Bond dynamic panel model, the paper finds that financialisation has a robust negative impact on capital accumulation. The negative impact of financialisation is reflected in higher financial income for both the samples, underlining a likely trade‐off between income from core activities and real capital accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prosocial P2P lending platforms are a novel and powerful example of a digital social innovation (DSI) in which the operating model relies primarily on digital technologies and the overarching focus is on the "social" aspect of the innovation. These platforms establish a virtual connection between low‐income individuals and lenders, helping the former access loans at low rates of interest. In realising their mission of fighting poverty, prosocial P2P lending platforms maintain a challenging hybrid – online and offline – focus. This paper explores how prosocial P2P lending platforms enact their hybrid orientation. It draws on an inductive qualitative study of Rang De, India's first prosocial P2P lending platform. The analysis highlights five clusters of actions: digital attention‐building, digital credibility‐building, digital empathy‐building, intermediary relationship‐building, and borrower relationship‐building. The paper argues that significant strengths on the online side help establish a sustainable business model. A willingness and commitment to maintain a high degree of engagement with the complex offline world of low‐income borrowers helps develop the model as an impactful social innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Engagement has been defined as an attitude toward work, as a positive, satisfying, work‐related state of mind characterized by high levels of vigour, dedication, and absorption. Both its definition and its assessment have been controversial; however, new methods for its assessment, including artificial intelligence (AI), have been introduced in recent years. Therefore, this research aims to determine the state of the art of AI in the study of engagement. To this end, we conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA to analyse the publications to date on the use of AI for the analysis of engagement. The search, carried out in six databases, was filtered, and 15 papers were finally analysed. The results show that AI has been used mainly to assess and predict engagement levels, as well as to understand the relationships between engagement and other variables. The most commonly used AI techniques are machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP), and all publications use structured and unstructured data, mainly from self‐report instruments, social networks, and datasets. The accuracy of the models varies from 22% to 87%, and its main benefit has been to help both managers and HR staff understand employee engagement, although it has also contributed to research. Most of the articles have been published since 2015, and the geography has been global, with publications predominantly in India and the US. In conclusion, this study highlights the state of the art in AI for the study of engagement and concludes that the number of publications is increasing, indicating that this is possibly a new field or area of research in which important advances can be made in the study of engagement through new and novel techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper addresses petrography, geochemistry and Ar‐Ar geochronology of a significant number of mafic dykes from the Paleo‐ to Neoarchean Bundelkhand Craton in central India. The majority of the dykes are NW‐SE oriented (with a few NE‐SW and ENE‐WSW) with tholeiitic, sub‐alkaline and basalt to basaltic andesite composition. The trace element geochemistry of these dykes indicates an island arc setting during emplacement. The Ar‐Ar mineral dating (plagioclase) of three representative dykes reveals an emplacement age between 1.53 and 1.46 Ga. This finding and earlier reports (2.1–1.73 Ga) point to sustained mafic magmatism throughout the Bundelkhand Craton in a preferred structural orientation between 2.1 and 1.46 Ga. Mafic magmatism was episodic and can be linked to the perpetual subduction accretion processes between the central Indian Archean continents during the development of the Columbia supercontinent. The mafic dykes were emplaced at 45° to the maximum compression direction (E‐W), that is, along the line of no finite longitudinal strain. This time equivalent widespread NW‐SE and NE‐SW trending mafic dyke system is also relatable along the adjacent continents (Singhbhum, Bastar) and thus opened up a new paradigm for the dyke's emplacement across the Indian cratons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for vehicles in India is on a continuous rise, primarily attributed to increasing income levels. The Indian government has initiated steps to decarbonize the transport sector, offering incentives for alternate vehicles' adoption. This study introduces a qualitative framework, employing a causal structure to comprehend the dynamics of vehicle demand. The framework takes into account critical feedback loops that influence the demand for alternate vehicles and, consequently, the overall vehicle demand. The causal loop diagram for vehicle demand encompasses five key domains: socio‐economic development, infrastructure development, environmental awareness, fuel supply market and alternate vehicle technology. Notably, economic activity, urban sprawl, vehicle demand, alternate vehicle technology improvement, and the sustainability and fuel constraints linked with internal combustion engine vehicles emerge as the critical aspects governing the dynamics of the model. The leverage and intervention points influencing the vehicle demand are also identified. Further, based on the evolving interaction of the various reinforcing and balancing loops, this work identifies three distinct phases of the evolution of vehicle demand dynamics in India, namely, the emerging phase (2020–2040), the growth phase (2040–2060) and the stagnation phase (2060–2080). The paper discusses the crucial features of these phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Regional Science Policy & Practice is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: To evaluate the entomological efficacy and the residual activity of indoor residual spraying with Fludora® Fusion 562.5 WP‐SB, a combination formulation containing clothianidin, a neonicotinoid and deltamethrin, a pyrethroid, against the main rural malaria vector, Anopheles culicifacies s.l., in India in a small‐scale trial. Methods: In three study villages, suitable households were randomly allocated to five treatments: Fludora® Fusion 562.5 WP‐SB (target dose 225 mg active ingredient AI/m2); clothianidin 70 WG (target dose 200 mg AI/m2); K‐Othrine 250 WG (deltamethrin, target dose 25 mg AI/m2); Ficam VC 80 WP‐SB (bendiocarb, target dose 400 mg AI/m2) and unsprayed control. Insecticides were sprayed by hand compression sprayers with control flow valves and 8002E nozzles. Post‐spray cone bioassays were done on insecticide‐treated walls using a colonised, deltamethrin‐resistant strain of An. culicifacies. Mosquitoes were collected from treated rooms by different methods. The insecticide content on filter papers collected from the sprayed walls was determined by chemical assay to assess the spray quality. Results: The ratios of applied to target doses of insecticides were within 0.84 to 1.4, showing a good spray quality. The cone bioassays revealed residual action lasting 7 months for all insecticides without significant differences in mortality between different surfaces treated nor between the four treatment arms (P > 0.05). Considering all entomological parameters such as indoor resting density, excito‐repellency, blood‐feeding inhibition and delayed mortality, the overall efficacy of Fludora® Fusion WG‐SB was equal or better compared with other insecticides. Conclusions: Fludora® Fusion showed overall equal or better efficacy than deltamethrin and bendiocarb alone against a pyrethroid‐resistant malaria vector population and can be considered as an alternative product for management of pyrethroid resistance in malaria vectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There was a growing realization that Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are overarching, ambitious, complex, and less impactful. Consequently, the 193 member countries of the United Nations (UN) came out with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a well‐thought‐out global development agenda in the year 2015. By involving the private sectors in the designing of SDGs, UN has rightly identified their potentials in offering solutions to the most relevant sustainability challenges. SDGs came into force in January 2016 across the globe when corporate social responsibility (CSR) was already legalized in India. There has been a whooping investment of approximately Rs. 15,000 crores by nearly 20,000 companies every year under CSR in the country. However, it is argued that the contributions to SDGs are not substantial. Based on review of relevant literature, the current paper makes a modest attempt to explore the connections between CSR and SDGs in contemporary India. Further, it critically examines how CSR in India contributes to SDGs. The paper also analyses the underlying reasons for the inadequate engagement of CSR with SDGs. Despite CSR practices in India having linkage with the SDGs, the outcomes are not as per the expectation as a number of firms operate with less involvement and strategic efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the post‐COVID period, demand augmenting policies were needed and have been exercised by the Government of India to prevent the Indian economy from falling into recession. However, these demand augmenting policies seem to be inflationary as in the recent past high inflation has been observed in India. Thus, optimum combination of monetary and fiscal policies is needed to simultaneously achieve the objectives of demand growth and price stability. This paper proposes combinations of the two policies based on the results of a sign‐restricted vector autoregressive (VAR) modelling framework. The experimentation was performed using sign restrictions on macroeconomic target variables viz. demand growth and inflation rate while leaving the policy variables free to suggest proposed stances to achieve desired objectives. On the basis of the empirical findings, the proposed stances of monetary and fiscal authorities were then compared with the actual stances and requisite correction in the policy behaviours has been suggested in terms of improvements to the magnitude and frequency of contraction and expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the structure and functioning of agricultural markets and the policies and institutional space, smallholder farmers in India often face the risks of strategic failures, which force them to either opt for distress selling, operate as fringe retailers or participate in the existing supply or value chains on given conditions. In this perspective, this paper examines if smallholder farmers' collectives can potentially strengthen their market position vis‐à‐vis other individual players and enable them to explore strategic options in a greater way. On the basis of the structure–conduct–performance theory and field experiences from two selected villages of West Bengal (India), the paper finds that the collectivization of smallholder farmers helps in exploring a larger set of strategic options for better outcomes. Further, the choice of the strategy set varies across the collectives depending on their composition, functioning, and resource endowments. Nevertheless, there is a possibility of strategic failures because of intra‐ as well as intercollective conflicts and competition from other players. The success in this regard would, therefore, depend on how the collectives democratically resolve such conflicts and develop capacity and capabilities to enhance their competitiveness for greater strategic success. Besides, addressing market imperfections through policy and institutional interventions would also be crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an empirical attempt to assess the relations among business cycles, financial cycles, and economic uncertainty for India during the period January 2003 to January 2020. Empirical findings from the vector autoregression model suggest a bidirectional causal relationship between the real and financial markets. Further, the aforementioned markets are found to influence the uncertainty index in India. We employ the Granger causality test in the frequency domain which exhibits the dynamic nature of causal relations, while our novel fractal connectivity approach reveals the long‐run correlation structure among all three variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic congestion is a serious problem in today's world and it happens because of urbanization and population growth. The traffic reduces the transport efficiency in the city, increases the waiting time and travel time, and also increases the usage of fuel and air pollution. To overcome these issues this papers propose an intelligent traffic control system using the Internet of Vehicles (IoV). The vehicles or nodes present in the IoV can communicate between themselves. This technique helps in determining the traffic intensity and the best route to reach the destination. The area of study used in this paper is Vellore city in Tamilnadu, India. The city map is separated into many segments of equal size and Ant Colony Algorithm (AOC) is applied to the separated maps to find the optimal route to reach the destination. Further, Support Vector Machine (SVM) is used to calculate the traffic density and to model the heavy traffic. The proposed algorithm performs better in finding the optimal route when compared to that of the existing path selection algorithms. From the results, it is evident that the proposed IoV‐based route selection method provides better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of digital transformation programs requires careful allocation of software developers to a variety of digital products and services with different levels of modularity. This paper investigates how deadline orientation (an individual‐level preference of developers for completing work close to deadlines) and architectural modularity (a characteristic of products) influence central outcomes in software development. We argue that architectural modularity positively interacts with deadline orientation to influence software quality and the job satisfaction of developers. Our empirical analyses, using rare and high‐quality data from 131 software developers and 29 product owners working at a captive software development center in India of a leading global software firm, confirm our hypotheses. We contribute to the literature on software development by showing that the fit between the technological characteristics of the software product (i.e., architectural modularity) and people factors (i.e., the temporal work style preferences of developers) plays an important role in shaping both software quality and job satisfaction. Our study has wider implications for the literature on software development, temporal work styles, and architectural modularity. It is instructive for practitioners tasked with hiring or allocating software developers for software products with varying technological characteristics in their digital transformation efforts. Highlights: The success of digital transformation efforts often requires the development of new software in a quick and iterative manner with high quality and the ability to retain software developers through high job satisfaction.The study considers two key factors in software development: deadline orientation, defined as the preference for doing work shortly before deadlines versus an alternative approach of doing most of the work either upfront or with a steady pace throughout, and software modularity.The study finds that ensuring a fit between developers' deadline orientation and software modularity is important, as deadline‐oriented developers will produce higher‐quality software and will be more satisfied with their job in regard to software with high architectural modularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among several devastating natural hazards, flooding is a common and serious threat to society causing huge loss of lives, properties, and infrastructure throughout the world. The intensity and frequency of this extreme weather event are expected to increase due to significant changes in the present‐day climate and land use and land cover (LULC) pattern. India has a very systematic and organized structural program and policies but lacks proper implementations, and adverse effect of climate change and the extreme event goes on in society. This paper is an analysis of floods in India and hazards due to climate change and LULC change patterns. Three models, namely "Eco‐biogeography‐based optimization (EBO), Random forest (RF), and Support vector machine (SVM)" were used to obtain the final output to prepare a "Flood susceptibility map". The result was validated through the "Receiver operating characteristics (ROC)" with "Area under curve (AUC)" values. The future rainfall scenario has been estimated by considering the "General circulation models" through different "shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs)". The values of AUC are 0.915 (EBO), 0.887 (RF), and 0.869 (SVM), respectively. After consideration of different SSPs, the result shows that there is an increasing tendency of flood hazards in the projected period. Among all the employed modelling approaches, the EBO model has notable potential in delineating the possible flood‐prone regions for effective flood planning and management. Decision‐makers can benefit from country‐specific information and regional planner to implement sustainable and long‐term measures to overcome this type of hazardous situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural transformation in most currently developing countries takes the form of a rapid rise in services but limited industrialization. In this paper, we propose a new methodology to structurally estimate productivity growth in service industries that circumvents the notorious difficulties in measuring quality improvements. In our theory, the expansion of the service sector is both a consequence—due to income effects—and a cause—due to productivity growth—of the development process. We estimate the model using Indian household data. We find that productivity growth in nontradable consumer services such as retail, restaurants, or residential real estate was an important driver of structural transformation and rising living standards between 1987 and 2011. However, the welfare gains were heavily skewed toward high‐income urban dwellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing research on technology affordance rarely considers the role of social structures in shaping the interaction between human actors and technology. In this paper, we draw upon the concept of social positioning to explore how socialized affordances of technology adoption, as well as their impact in work and social life, are shaped by the social positions that human actors occupy within multiple social structures. We do so by examining the adoption of mHealth devices by community health workers in India. The study generates theoretical implications for research on affordances of technology and social structures by integrating social positioning of actors in the analysis of a digital practice, and enriching IS research by incorporating the broader social arrangements and power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, only 52% of children aged 6-23 months meet the minimum meal frequency and a mere 29% meet the minimum dietary diversity, with large disparities across and within regions. With most of the stunting occurring during the first thousand days-from conception to age 2 years-improving complementary feeding in children 6-23 months old is an urgent priority. With this evidence in mind, UNICEF collaborated with the governments of India and Maharashtra to convene a global meeting in Mumbai, India, under the theme: First Foods: A Global Meeting to Accelerate Progress on Complementary Feeding in Young Children (November 17-18, 2015). The global meeting provided a platform that aimed to (a) synthesize the biological and implementation science on complementary feeding; (b) review the practice and experience in improving access to nutritious complementary foods and good complementary feeding practices; and (c) consolidate a strong evidence base that can inform the development of strategies and approaches to improve complementary feeding that are fit to context. This overview paper summarizes the rationale on why improving complementary foods and feeding for infants and young children matters and what it takes to improve them. It builds on the papers presented at the First Foods Global Meeting and those commissioned as a follow on to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introductory article makes a critical estimation of the impact of pandemics on the Global South consumer's well‐being. Our paper moves beyond the concerns of the other papers of this Special Issue. Instead, we focus on the issues of the vulnerable, marginal, and subaltern consumers of the Global South—experiences and anxieties, distinct from those of more "modern," capitalized, industrialized, democratized, and economically liberated Global North consumers. We offer the North–South comparisons across national lines or from block to block that bring in a series of promising directions and new currents in the critical, interdisciplinary studies of consumer affairs. Primary perspectives and associated topics for future agenda impacting TCR highlighted are (i) socio‐economic inequalities and injustices, (ii) environmental injustice and sustainable future. We finally suggest an innovative research paradigm, "altruistic‐activist consumer research," to address the concerns and impact the well‐being of marginal consumers from the Global South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While India's low female labor force participation in urban areas is often attributed to its demographic and labor market characteristics, education, and cultural aspects, attention is not paid to the labor market opportunity structure limiting women's labor market participation. We examine the role of transport infrastructure in gendergap in labor force participation and its variations by gender-norms across communities. Using India Human Development Survey and city-level data on transport infrastructure, the causal effects of differential employment status of women and men are related to size and quality of transport in twelve Indian cities. Interaction effects are explored to understand varying impacts of transport on employment by gender-context in communities. We find that an improvement in the size and quality of transportation infrastructure improves women's labor market participation more than that of men. In gender egalitarian communities, stronger positive effect of transport on female labor and reduction of gender gap in employment. Along with generation of new job opportunities suitable for women, it is important to encourage a gender-friendly institutional and social fabric to allow women to connect to new jobs. Using a novel data, the paper highlights the importance of ostensibly gender-neutral development policies for shaping gender inequalities in outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores how restrictions of credit affect the turning point of the non‐linear relationship between financial performance and the environmental sustainability of manufacturing firms in India. Our results are in support of the inverted U‐shaped relationship between financial performance and environmental sustainability. The study builds upon an alternative long‐run specification, which avoids the non‐linear transformations of potentially non‐stationary regressors in panel estimation and finds evidence that the higher the firm's degree of credit constraints, the lower is its financial performance at the turning point, indicating the different finance‐sustainability paths across firms due to credit frictions. We also investigate the aforementioned relationship by considering the exporting potential of the firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The establishment, development and abandonment and/or destruction of ancient civilizations were catalytically controlled by geomorphic features such as lakes and rivers and the climate. This paper examined the possible influence of tectonism and climate on six habitations of the ancient Vaigai River Basin civilization in South India, using multiple proxies such as grain size, geochronology and geochemistry of the sedimentary archives. The tectonic setting of the basin changed between the active margin and passive margin; the discriminant diagrams suggested varying provenance and changing climatic conditions over the mid‐ and‐late Holocene. Tectonic activism and quiescence, base‐level change in the channel morphology led to the burial/marooning of the first habitation surface. Overall, arid conditions were punctuated with catastrophic flooding and peak discharge (flood) destroyed the second, third and fourth habitation sites. These flooding events were characterized by moderate weathering (CIA) and high values of Al, Fe and Rb/Sr and low Ca/Mg in the sediment records. The abandonment/destruction of the fifth habitation also occurred during an arid interval (droughts), possibly caused by weak monsoon. Along with the interactions between tectono‐climatic and fluvial geomorphic factors, the new results provided avenues to (a) check and recognize the archives for 8.2 and 4.2 ka‐like events in this part of the world, and (b) the utility of integrated analyses to constrain on the civilizational histories of the mankind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years concerns have been raised regarding the environmental consequences of over-use of nitrogen fertilizers on a global level. However, the balance between sustainability and agricultural productivity, a central concern for policy makers in developing countries, has not been sufficiently addressed. In this paper, I evaluate farmers' fertilization practices and their effect on yield using unique plot level data from India. I estimate quadratic crop response functions for different crops and cropping systems. To address endogenous input choices, I use input prices and cost shifters from the fertilizer industry as instrumental variables for the fertilization practice. I find that a large share of Indian cultivators overuse nitrogen relative to the other two nutrients, and could benefit from simply reducing the amount of nitrogen used while keeping the other nutrients fixed. This suggests a potential win-win situation where both productivity and sustainability can be improved by changing fertilizer application. The widespread "nitrogen-only" fertilization pattern is rejected as optimal in most cases. [EconLit Citations: Q12, Q15, Q16, E23, C26, C14]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper outlines the characterization, electrokinetic behaviour, and flotation response of rejected coking coal fines with 32.5% ash generated in a coal washery in Eastern India. The response methodology and central composite rotatable design (RSM‐CCRD) were used for the process modelling and optimization of the flotation process using diesel, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), and sodium hexametaphosphate as a collector, frother, and depressant to maximize ash reduction, yield, and combustible recovery. At optimum condition, a 9.7% clean ash coal was achieved with a 63% yield at collector, frother, and depressant dosages of 0.78, 0.31, and 0.80 kg/ton, respectively. The model prediction and experimental data corroborated sufficiently. Subsequently, within 1 year, the fines oxidized and did not float with the collector. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed surface oxidation on oxidized coal. The oxidized coal responded favourably to acid oil, a vegetable oil refinery waste. With acid oil as a collector, the oxidized coal can upgrade to 12% clean ash coal with a 60% yield; the combustible recovered is 80%. The work indicates successful upgradation of fresh and oxidized coal using the froth flotation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies market distortions due to farm support policies. Using a recently implemented Price Deficiency Payments (PDP) policy in India, we examine how PDP affects farm‐gate prices and crop supply. We document a new channel, the fall in reservation price of farmers under PDP, behind the decline in farm‐gate prices. This impact depends on the magnitude of the deficiency payments and can lead to a supply glut and price crash. Empirically, the scheme led to a 4% decrease in farm‐gate prices and a 51% increase in market arrivals for black‐gram, a crop with a high magnitude of PDP. Using bid‐level data on crop auctions, we rule out collusion among the market participants, another potential channel for price crash under PDP. The effects of the policy are transitory and disappear after the policy is withdrawn. In terms of welfare effects, this scheme is associated with a monetary loss of INR 1 billion. We discuss an alternate payment scheme that can reduce such losses. In summary, our results extend the current understanding of PDP schemes and contribute to the optimal design of such policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationships between inflation, output growth and their uncertainties for India over the period from 1971 to 2015. The paper extends the existing empirical literature by employing a regime switching model to understand the dynamics of the above linkages in different inflation and output growth regimes of India. Our estimated results indicate that inflation is a positive determinant of output growth in the low‐growth regime. Furthermore, output growth significantly boosts inflation during low‐inflation regime. Thus in a situation, when both inflation and output growth are low, moderate inflation is helpful to growth as well as rise in growth feeds back into inflation. On the other hand, during high‐inflation regime, nominal uncertainty significantly reduces inflation, thus providing evidence in support of the price "stabilization" motive of the monetary authority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic wounds are associated with significant clinical, economic and quality‐of‐life burden. Despite the variety of wound imaging systems available in the market for wound assessment and surveillance, few are clinically validated among patients of Asian ethnicity. We aimed to clinically validate the accuracy of a smartphone wound application (Tissue Analytics [TA], Net Health Systems Inc, Florida, USA), versus conventional wound measurements (visual approximation and paper rulers), in patients of Asian ethnicity with venous leg ulcers (VLU). A prospective cohort study of patients presenting with VLU to a specialist wound nurse clinic over a 5‐week duration was conducted. Each patient received seven wound measurements: one by a trained wound nurse clinician, and three separate wound measurements using TA on each of the iOS and Android operating systems. Inter‐rater and intra‐rater reliability between clinical and TA‐based measurements were analysed using intra‐class correlation statistics, with values of <0.5, 0.5 to 0.75, 0.75 to 0.9, and >0.9 indicating poor, moderate, good and excellent reliability, respectively. 82 patients (51% males), with a mean age at 65.8 years, completed the 5‐week study duration. 25 (30%) had underlying diabetes mellitus. Chinese, Malay and Indian ethnicity comprised 68%, 12% and 11%, respectively. The VLU healed in 26 (32%) of patients within the study period. In total, 358 wound episodes with 2334 wound images were analysed. Inter‐rater reliability for length, width and area between wound nurse measurements and TA application measurements was good (range 0.799‐0.919, P < 0.001). Separate measurements of intra‐rater reliability for length, width and area within the iOS or Android systems were excellent (range 0.967‐0.985 and range 0.977‐0.984 respectively, P < 0.001). Inter‐rater reliability between TA used on the iOS and Android systems was also excellent (0.987‐0.989, P < 0.001). Tissue Analytics, a smartphone wound application, is a useful adjunct for wound assessment and surveillance in VLU patients of Asian ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) convergence has been the face of the global accounting standardisation movement for the past few decades, accounting reforms in the public sector had started to gain momentum from the late 1990s. This paper examines the reasons for the adoption of public sector accrual accounting reforms in India. It explores the various sources of pressure influencing these reforms and the ways in which these pressures are balanced and addressed by key decisionmakers in the national and transnational contexts of an emerging economy like India. This study finds that demands for greater accountability from the public in the national context (demand pressures) as well as requests for greater transparency from international financial institutions in the transnational context (supply pressures) are two major sources of pressure that are balanced by the state in its quest for greater legitimacy. This is demonstrated through a triggering event such as political scandals evoking responses from the government to reinforce its weakened legitimacy by adopting public sector accounting reforms. Extant literature on public sector accounting reforms, mostly focuses on the phases where the standards are being actually implemented by the country. Studies exploring decision‐making processes that lead to actual implementation of accrual accounting reforms are limited. This study contributes to existing literature by examining the decision‐making process that ensues before the actual use of international standards in public sector accounting reforms and demonstrates the significant role that institutional influences play in defining such decision‐making processes. The role of these institutional influences also draw attention to the probable disparities between rationales and actual reasons for government accounting reforms undertaken by developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents data on the U–Pb chronology of detrital zircon grains and radiogenic isotopic composition (87Sr/86Sr, ɛNd) from the Proterozoic clastic successions of the Garhwal‐Kumaon Lesser Himalaya representing the extended northern Indian cratonic margin, NW India. The Proterozoic Lesser Himalayan Basin in Garhwal‐Kumaon Himalaya is divided into two sectors, namely, Inner Lesser Himalaya (ILH) and Outer Lesser Himalaya (OLH) by a tectonic boundary, namely the Tons Thrust (TT). Age distribution from inner and outer sectors of the Lesser Himalaya shows that the U–Pb chronology of most of these zircons provides Palaeoproterozoic (between 1.6 and 1.8 Ga) to Neoproterozoic (800 Ma) ages. The age data suggest sedimentation of the Rautgara Formation (Damtha Group) of ILH continued till the Neoproterozoic (~850 Ma), which was earlier regarded as ≤1.6 Ga. Tracking the detrital U–Pb zircon ages in the near adjacent cratonic parts point towards Aravalli Orogen as the major source region. Whole‐rock ƐNd(0) values for ILH rocks range from −37.6 to −14.6 and for OLH it ranges from −19.6 to −6.7. More negative ƐNd values along with dominance of Neoarchean‐Palaeoproterozoic ages in ILH indicates supply from more evolved protolith or recycled sources and less negative ƐNd values with major Neoproterozic zircon ages from OLH supports for less evolved source rock. The change from more negative ƐNd to less negative ƐNd values progressively upward the stratigraphy can be due to a shift in source with time. Both U–Pb zircon and ƐNd supports for a continuous sedimentation model, rule out the presence of ~500 Ma unconformity within the LH and argues for separate evolution of the Lesser Himalayan Basin on the trailing edge of the extended north Indian craton in "Columbia" configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐performance work practices (HPWPs) enacted within public sector undertakings (PSUs) in emerging economies are a relatively underexplored topic. By employing the theoretical lens of social exchange and the ability, motivation and opportunity paradigm, this paper highlights the mediating effects of knowledge sharing on the relationship between employee perceptions of HPWPs and employee and business unit performance. We provide evidence drawn from both manager‐ and employee‐level voices by applying a qualitative case study design to two large Indian PSUs and taking a reverse/inverse approach in order to delineate the commonly understood conceptualizations of HPWPs. Our findings confirm the presence of a combination of high‐commitment, high‐involvement and high‐performance work systems that increase the ability, motivation and opportunity of employees to share knowledge, and thus help achieve positive employee and financial outcomes. We found that our set of HPWPs exhibit a strong paternalistic welfarism ethos. We also discuss the implications of our study for research and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The climatic risk consists of financial and environmental risks, predominantly evolutes from carbon dioxide emissions from coal‐fired power plants. We develop a climatic risk control model to investigate the coexistence of renewable energy and the post‐combustion carbon capture technology as CO2 reduction strategies. Additionally, our proposed framework explicitly considers the acceptance of such strategies based on a balance of electricity supply according to demand. This paper adopts an additive fuzzy mixed‐integer optimization approach to model uncertain parameters and determines the optimal solution focusing on business and the environment. Furthermore, we investigate the feasibility of such emission control strategies with scenario analysis that help to execute the country's emission reduction policies. The usefulness of our methodology is demonstrated using data from the coal‐based power sector in the Eastern part of India. Overall, with the proposed model, we can achieve 30% reduction in emission release, which provides strategies to the decision‐maker for investment towards sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given that learning has become a core element in addressing the ever‐increasing complexities in public sector accountability, we investigate two issues in this paper: (a) how learning was involved in the process of disseminating a competency framework (CF) in four state departments in Kerala, India; and (b) an analysis of the challenges involved in this process, using the theoretical insights from learning accountability. Although the CF would revitalise governance and accountability mechanisms by establishing a conducive environment for administrators to learn in, the nuances of the existing administrative structure limited the scope of this learning exercise. The CF in Kerala generated fear, tension, and resistance amongst the administrators, due to a perceived gap between the very objectives of the CF and the administrative settings, in which learning was insignificant. The paper argues that imposing public administrators' accountability reforms, such as the CF, would be meaningless until an emphasis is placed on learning accountability. Furthermore, there is a need to "unlearn" or "discard" the prevailing traditional learning and accountability practices; unless this is achieved, a conducive environment for learning accountability cannot be institutionalised, nor can reforms such as the CF be materialised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the relationship between land revenue systems and returns to agricultural labour in colonial India. I provide the first district‐level comparative estimates of agricultural labour returns relative to average income, on the basis of wage/income ratios for 1916. I then use those estimates to analyse the impact of the land revenue systems established by the British colonial authorities. Results show that districts with a larger proportion of non‐landlord land revenue systems presented higher relative wages, closer to the average income. This effect was mainly driven by differences in land concentration connected to the type of landownership introduced by land revenue systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Service offshoring raises the fear of job loss for high‐skilled workers, unlike goods offshoring, because workers at home compete with highly educated workers in low‐income countries. This paper examines whether the increase in the United States's service offshoring to India has reduced the domestic employment of the occupations with greater exposure to Indian service imports. To account for endogeneity, I instrument for the growth of the United States's service imports from India by exploiting the change in Indian exports to European countries. Service offshoring reduces total employment from 2000 to 2006; however, this effect disappears overall and becomes positive for college‐educated workers in the later period from 2006 to 2016. Unlike goods offshoring, the employment effect is largely driven by college‐educated workers, and the employment growth in the later period is larger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]