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In recent years, tourism has increased significantly, especially in developing countries, due to the development of infrastructures like good roads, well-connected airports, and hygienic accommodation facilities. However, the host community's attitude is critical for a tourism destination's strategic growth, development, and sustainability. As such, this study analyses attitudes and perceptions of the local community in Thrissur, a famous cultural destination in Kerala, India. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was adopted to develop a model for perceived tourism support with community attachment and overall quality of life. This model uses seven constructs: temple place image, economic benefits, social benefits, physical benefits, community attachment, overall quality of life, and perceived tourism support with forty-four attributes. The result indicates that Temple place image, socioeconomic and physical benefits, community attachment, and overall quality of life are predominant determiners for perceived tourism support of the local community.

Colour polymorphism has been previously reported in several colubrid snakes including Boiga spp. In this paper, we report colour variations within the poorly known southern Indian Boiga dightoni, provide the first molecular data for this species, from two localities (including the type locality) and compare them with data from other congeners. Additionally, we provide detailed dentition and hemipenis descriptions for B. dightoni. Molecular data for B. dightoni show very little difference (0.2–0.4% 16S; 0.9–1.2% cyt b) to the recently described Boiga whitakeri, also from southern India. We have re-examined and present new information on the pholidosis of the type specimens of B. whitakeri and reconsider its taxonomic status. On the basis of molecular data and overlapping morphological characteristics, we argue that Boiga whitakeri and Boiga dightoni are conspecific, and place B. whitakeri under the subjective synonymy of the latter. Furthermore, we show that colour polymorphism in B. dightoni is a gender-independent character and that both colour morphs are found in high as well as low elevations and partly in sympatry. A revised key to the Boiga ceylonensis complex is provided.

The concept of God has an age-old history. It has changed through the times and has had different peculiarities / interpretation in different civilizations. Research has shown that the image or concept of God as possessed by different individuals can affect their thought processes and social interactions. In the same way, it can be assumed that involvement within a religious community can also be influential on how an individual thinks and acts in society, which in turn influences how a society functions and stays together as a group. The present study was intended to understand the concept of God among believers in Kerala who belong to three major religions: Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity. The study also explored the subjects' involvement in religious communities and why they do so. There were 60 participants, and a semi-structured interview was conducted. Thematic and percentage analyses were done to analyse the data. The major concepts regarding God are the controller, creator, invisible power, protector, judge, etc. And involvement in a religious community is found to be related to social conformation and obedience.

In this chapter, keeping in mind the historical perspective of music in Kerala from pre-historic times, the evolution of Carnatic music from secular music in Kerala over a period of time has been enumerated and studied in detail.

Genus Pardosa incorporates species morphologically resembling each other. As a result, a lot of discrepancies can be observed in the group. This paper reports and redescribes Pardosa species Pardosa oriens (Chamberlin 1924) for the first time from India.

Turnover, expenses and profits of Microenterprises under Kudumbashree Mission(2018-19)

This is an independent survey aimed at understanding the feedback and experiences of public regarding counseling and psychotherapy services in Kerala, India. This study is not funded or sponsored by any agency, and the participants are not being offered any incentive for participation. The data collection is expected to be completed by December 2021. The final results of the study will be published for public consumption and discussion.

The content analysis of agricultural universities' libraries' websites in India's southern states is included in the current study analysis. They are Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University (ANGRAU) in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Kerala Agricultural University (KAU), University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Karnataka, Professor Jayashankar Telangana State Agricultural University (PJTSAU) in Telangana. A checklist created with this objective was used to collect the data from the websites of the relevant agricultural university libraries. The libraries' websites were carefully reviewed and examined. We've ranked them based on the analysis. In order for users to explore the resources through this comparison study and provide suggestions to enhance library websites, this paper's major goal is to provide librarians with guidance on how to improve their library websites. It is necessary to plan and create a special kind of library website that offers connections to other institutional websites, open access materials, and government of India agricultural projects in addition to the resources and services of each specific library. The article looks over how TNAU and KAU rank first in terms of the services they offer to users. These are the two library websites that offer the most number of services to visitors. This article provides a thorough summary of the study and makes recommendations for creating and running more effective library websites.

Background and Aim: Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, intracellular pathogen which has been implicated as a cause of several foodborne outbreaks. This study aimed to generate information on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of Listeria species isolated from seafood. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 samples of fresh fish, 100 samples of dry fish and 200 samples each of crustaceans and mollusks were collected from the fish catchment areas. All the samples were subjected to isolation and identification of Listeria spp. by two-step enrichment in UVM broth and plating on selective agar media (PALCAM) and then subjected to molecular characterization. L. monocytogenes isolates obtained during the study were subjected to serotyping by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The isolates were also subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test. Results: The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in seafoods in the present study was 0.55%. The isolates of L. monocytogenes were found to possess all virulence genes, namely, iap, hlyA, actA, prfA, plcA, and inlA. All the isolates belonged to serotype 4b. The occurrence of Listeria innocua was found to be more and was detected in 16.77% of seafoods samples. Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all isolates were resistant to cefixime but were sensitive to almost all other commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: The presence of Listeria spp. in raw seafood samples augments the need for implementation of good hygienic practices during the handling and processing of seafoods to safeguard the health of the consumers.

Pattern of seasons in Kerala, with predominantly hot humid climate, has been found to be hostile for the enhancement of animal productivity. In the context of climate change, alterations and inconsistencies of the seasons has been reported worldwide. Hence, weather parameters of Kerala were studied over a period of six years with emphasis on the seasonality and causation of thermal stress in animals. The study was carried out at Livestock Research Station, Thiruvazhamkunnu. Ambient temperature (AbT) and humidity of six years were collected from Automatic weather stations (AWS) and Temperature Humidity Index (THI) was calculated using formula. The weather parameters were analysed for monthly, seasonal and yearly pattern and the findings are discussed. It is evident that summer season in Kerala (March to May) does not correspond to the entire long day period. Even though AbT and THI were increasing from January onwards with increasing day length, onset of raining in June causes sudden drop in AbT responsible for the peculiar Kerala climate. Climatic parameters in September were more similar to October-November (North-east monsoon) than June to August (South-west monsoon). Even though December to February (post monsoon) forms winter season in rest of the country, the lowest temperature recorded in the study was 18.3 ºC, making the term “winter” a misfit except for high ranges. Thus it appears that four quarters of three months each, designated as South-west monsoon, North-east monsoon, Post monsoon and Summer forms better classification of seasons in Kerala and THI was high enough to cause thermal stress throughout the year.

BackgroundWe report patient characteristics, treatment pattern and one-year clinical outcome of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) from Kerala, India. This cohort forms part of Kerala Atrial Fibrillation (KERALA-AF) registry which is an ongoing large prospective study.MethodsKERALA-AF registry collected data of adults with previously or newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) during April 2016 to April 2017. A total of 3421 patients were recruited from 53 hospitals across Kerala state. We analysed one-year follow-up outcome of 2507 patients with NVAF.ResultsMean age at recruitment was 67.2 years (range 18-98) and 54.8% were males. Main co-morbidities were hypertension (61.2%), hyperlipidaemia (46.2%) and diabetes mellitus (37.2%). Major co-existing diseases were chronic kidney disease (42.1%), coronary artery disease (41.6%), and chronic heart failure (26.4%). Mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.18 (SD ± 1.7) and HAS-BLED score, 1.84 (SD ± 1.3). At baseline, use of oral anticoagulants (OAC) was 38.6% and antiplatelets 32.7%. On one-month follow-up use of OAC increased to 65.8% and antiplatelets to 48.3%. One-year all-cause mortality was 16.48 and hospitalization 20.65 per 100 person years. The main causes of death were cardiovascular (75.0%), stroke (13.1%) and others (11.9%). The major causes of hospitalizations were acute coronary syndrome (35.0%), followed by arrhythmia (29.5%) and heart failure (8.4%).ConclusionsDespite high risk profile of patients in this registry, use of OAC was suboptimal, whereas antiplatelets were used in nearly half of patients. A relatively high rate of annual mortality and hospitalization was observed in patients with NVAF in Kerala AF Registry.

Compliance with medication in persons with diabetes mellitus (DM) has been a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to poor glycemic control and higher risk of complications. In the state of Kerala, India, 20–25% of adults have DM. Our cross-sectional study aimed to assess medication compliance and factors associated with poor compliance in DM persons attending selected primary care government facilities in Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic. Persons registered with DM for >6 months were consecutively interviewed between August and September 2021. Poor compliance was defined as answering “No” to one or more of three questions related to access and intake of medication two weeks prior to and the day before the interview. Factors independently associated with poor compliance were assessed using adjusted prevalence ratios (aPr) and 95% confidence intervals. Of the 560 DM persons included, 209 (37%) exhibited poor compliance. Factors associated with poor compliance were age 19–45 years (aPr 1.4, 1.1–1.9); inability to be blood glucose tested during the COVID-19 pandemic (aPr 3.6, 2.9–4.3); not having COVID-19 (aPr 1.4, 1.0–1.9); and being double vaccinated against COVID-19 (aPr 1.4, 1.1–2.0). Focused attention must be paid to these groups to improve medication compliance and prevent DM complications and severe COVID-19-related disease.

BACKGROUND Adolescence is the transitional phase of growth and development between childhood and adulthood. Menstruation, which is a milestone event in a girl's reproductive life begins during this period and it is also one of the major causes of stress in this stage. Adequate knowledge and good menstrual practices can help in addressing this stress and also in preventing reproductive tract infections to a great extent. This study tries to assess the awareness with regard to menstrual practice and its determinants among adolescent girls in a rural area of Central Kerala. The study also aims to explore the social taboos related to menstrual practices. METHODS This cross-sectional study was conducted at two high schools in Thrissur district of Central Kerala. The study methodology involved visiting the selected schools and questions about menstrual practices were put to students individually ensuring adequate privacy, with the aid of a semi-structured interview schedule. 196 adolescent girls participated in the study. The data was coded and entered into MS excel. Further analysis was done using the software SPSS 16.0 version. RESULTS The percentage of girls using sanitary pad is 32.1 %, clothes were used by 12.2 % girls, and 55.6 % used either cloth or sanitary pad. Most of them disposed their sanitary pads by burning them (75.6 %), but 16.3 % threw their pads / clothes in the general waste, some flushed them in the toilet (8.1 %). 64.3 % of them washed and exposed their undergarments in the sun but 35.7 % washed and kept them inside their house. 84.7 % of girls were aware about menstruation at the time of menarche. In 58.7 % of cases the source of information was their mother. Regarding social taboos during menstruation, the most common one was inability to attend social or religious functions during menstruation (76 %) followed by restrictions in going out (9.7 %), and 7.7 % in food preparation. 7 % of girls had to sleep in a corner of the room while they were menstruating. Maternal education, family income and awareness regarding menstruation had statistically significant association with usage of sanitary pads. CONCLUSIONS Majority of the adolescent girls had awareness regarding menstruation. However, there were some who followed less than ideal practices when it comes to disposal of sanitary napkins / clothes and care of undergarments. The wrong concepts like menstruation is a ‘disease of impurity’ and menstruation occurs when ‘bad blood’ collects is still prevalent among the adolescent girls. It is of concern that the social taboos regarding menstruation are still widely embraced by the society. KEYWORDS Menstrual Practices, Menstrual Awareness, Kerala, Menstruation

An estimated 3.5 million interstate migrant workers have become an indispensable part of Kerala’s economy. The state also offers the highest wages for migrant workers for jobs in the unorganised sector in the entire Indian subcontinent. Further, the state has evolved several measures for the inclusion of the workers and was able to effectively respond to their distress during the national lockdown. This paper examines labour migration to Kerala, key measures by the government to promote the social security of the workers and the state’s response to the distress of migrant workers during lockdown, by synthesising the available secondary evidence. The welfare measures as well as interventions initiated by the state are exemplary and promising given the intent and provisions. However, some of them do not appear to have consideration of the grassroots requirements and implementation mechanisms to enhance access. As a result, the policy intent and substantial investments have not yielded the expected results. The state’s effective response to the distress of workers during the lockdown emanates from its overall disaster preparedness and resilience achieved from confronting with two consecutive state-wide natural disasters and a public health emergency in the immediate past. While the government has played a strategic role through policy imperative and ensuring a synergistic response, the data presented by the state indicate a much larger but invisible role played by the employers and civil society in providing food and shelter to workers.

To analyse the Covid-19 cases and effective measures taken by the Kerala government in India to fight against the pandemic. To conduct an exploratory analysis of the model put forward by Kerala. Data were collected from various sources. Three phases were identified for analysis: first phase starting from January 30 to March 9, 2020; second phase starting from March 10 to May 8 and the last phase from May 9 to May 31, 2020. Data analysis was carried out in MATLAB software. The steps taken by the Kerala government ensured the virus to be contained in the affected persons itself. Community spread was reduced by the implementation of contact tracing and home quarantine. Welfare measures taken during the lockdown helped the people to adjust to the changes. The abstinence of community spread still stands strong. Apart from tackling the Covid-19 virus, Kerala with a series of welfare measures made the life of Kerala citizens comfortable. The model raised by Kerala for fighting against Covid-19 can be considered as a benchmark for how the public health department can be utilised properly.

Cage culture has been one of the most dependable fish production systems in the world. For wide adoption in countries like India, it needs to be technically feasible and socially acceptable. In the current study, the socio economic factors are taken into account for investigating the influence of these factors on the performance and productivity of the cage culture operations in central Kerala. An extensive survey was carried out among the cage farmers of the coastal districts of central Kerala to study the influence of socio-economic indicators in the overall production and performance. The study revealed that major socioeconomic features like age, occupation, level of education, experience in cage culture, technical skill, financial status and gender participation had significant effects on the cage culture productivity and economic returns.

Here we report a case of gynandromorphism in the dragonfly Crocothemis servilia (Drury, 1773), (Insecta: Odonata: Anisoptera: Libellulidae) from the Puzhakkal region of Kole wetlands, Thrissur, Kerala, southern India from a single photograph recorded during a survey conducted on 14 July 2019. The individual exhibits bilateral gynandromorphism only in the thoracic region, half of which showed blood red colouration as in males and the other half pale yellow characteristic of females. The base of the wing of the red half was marked with rich amber, in contrast with the other wing base which was paler. The head, legs, and abdomen showed typical female morphology.

Women's political participation is regarded as an essential element in all forms of development; however, the gender equality policies of India remain under scrutiny. After independence in 1947, there have been many initiatives to increase the political representation of women by the decentralization of power in various local self-government institutions of India. The act of Panchayati Raj Institutions has increased the engagement of marginalized segments of society, including women, into the decision-making role in political institutions. Therefore, this study attempts to explore the political leadership of women in Local Self Government institutions, through the use of qualitative methods, such as document analysis of the Panchayati Raj Institutions amendment act and expert interviews with elected women representatives in one district of the Kerala state. The paper seeks to identify the challenges of women in political leadership positions in India, the largest democratic nation. Findings from the study reveal that there is considerable progress in women’s equality in the leadership role; however, there are certain crucial obstacles that still exist for women to be active in the political realm., Moterų politinis dalyvavimas laikomas esminiu darnausvystymosi elementu; tačiau Indijos lyčių lygybės politika vis dar nagrinėjama. Po nepriklausomybės 1947 m. buvo imtasi daugybės iniciatyvų didinti politinį moterų atstovavimą decentralizuojant valdžią įvairiose Indijos savivaldos institucijose. Panchayati Raj institucijų aktas padidino atskirtų visuomenės segmentų, įskaitantirmoteris, dalyvavimą priimant politinius sprendimus įvairioseinstitucijose. Taigi šiame tyrime bandoma išaiškinti politinę moterų lyderystę vietos savivaldos institucijose. Taikant kokybinius metodus, tokius kaip Panchayati Raj institucijų pakeitimo akto dokumentų analizė ir ekspertų interviu su išrinktais moterų atstovais viename Keralos valstijos rajone. Šio tyrimo metu buvo siekiama įvertintiiššūkiussu kuriais susiduria moterys būdamos politinio lyderio pozicijose didžiausiose demokratinėje šalyje pasaulyje -Indijoje. Tyrimo išvados rodo, kad padaryta nemaža pažanga užtikrinant moterų lygybę užimti aukštas vadovaujančias pozicijas, tačiau vis dar yra esminių kliūčių,trukdančių moterims aktyviai reikštis politinėje arenoje.

Scenes of avarna castes (slave and intermediate castes) pondering their reflections recur throughout the history of anti-caste struggle in the princely state of Travancore in colonial-era south India. These scenes represent what I will call performative egalitarianisms, which are repetitive enactments in the performance of everyday lives that embody claims to equality against the dehumanizing caste codes of colonial Travancore. In this paper, I will describe three scenes that represent distinct yet intertwined routes for the flows of egalitarian discourses in colonial Kerala. The concept of equality emerged in Travancore, first, via Enlightenment values of the British Protestant missionaries, or soulful Enlightenment; second, as non-dualistic equality of Narayana Guru, or repurposed Advaita; and third, through the discourses and practices of a Tamil religious cult called Ayya Vazhi, or radical Siddha Saiva. In viewing the flows of egalitarian discourse through the lens of performance, I demonstrate the method of intellectual histories in the repertoire which allows us to investigate how particular conceptual frameworks and discursive modes are transmitted, transformed, and embodied by people for whom these ideas are, quite literally, a matter of life and death. The intentional, productive, and empowering relationship between universals such as equality or humanity and the particular claims of anti-caste struggle in Kerala leads to a politics of practice that I describe as repurposing universals. The centrality of the notion of the human in the anti-caste politics of colonial-era Travancore leads me to refer to these flows of egalitarian discourses and the political struggles that they empowered as genealogies of the human. In sum, I analyze the genealogies of the human in colonial-era Travancore by focussing on three scenes exemplifying performative egalitarianisms: soulful Enlightenment, repurposed Advaita, and radical Siddha Saiva.

Communism arrived in the south Indian state of Kerala in the early twentieth century at a time when the matrilineal systems that governed caste-Hindu relations were crumbling quickly. For a large part of the twentieth century, the Communist Party – specifically the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – played a major role in navigating Kerala society through a developmental path based on equality, justice and solidarity. Following Lefebvre’s conceptualisation of (social) space, this paper explores how informal social spaces played an important role in communicating ideas of communism and socialism to the masses. Early communists used rural libraries and reading rooms, tea-shops, public grounds and wall-art to engage with and communicate communism to the masses. What can the efforts of the early communists in Kerala tell us about the potential for communicative socialism? How can we adapt these experiences in the twenty-first century? Using autobiographies, memoirs, and personal interviews, this paper addresses these questions.

The world has been facing a pandemic owing to COVID-19. We have also seen the geographic expansion and outbreaks of other emerging infectious diseases (EID) in recent years. This paper investigates the direct and indirect effects of land use land cover change (LULCC) on EID outbreaks in the context of Wayanad District of Kerala, India. Wayanad is in the vulnerable tropical forested region, and it is named as one of the four environmental change hotspots. The focus of this project is mainly three EIDs prevalent in this region: Kyasanur forest disease (KFD), Dengue and Leptospirosis. Our results, based on topographical map, remote sensing and extensive field work, show that the natural forest in Wayanad was replaced with agriculture and forest plantation during 1950–2018. This paper further suggests that encroachment of forest by forest plantation causes the human–animal conflict resulting in the outbreak of KFD cases. Our analysis reveals that a high number of Dengue cases is found in the forested regions of the district and over the adjacent human-made agriculture plantation areas. High and medium number of Leptospirosis cases contain a high portion of land area devoted to paddy cultivation and agricultural plantation. In summary, the results clearly show the linkage between the outbreak of above mentioned EIDs and LULCC in the context of Wayanad district, Kerala. We also discuss in detail the causal pathway involving human–environmental dynamics through which plantation leads to the outbreak of KFD. Replacing forests with plantations poses an alarming threat of disease outbreak in the community.

Background Removing highly hazardous pesticides from agricultural practice in low- and middle-income countries is crucial to ensuring community and environmental health and occupational safety of farmers. However, the approach has been challenged as threatening food production, despite evidence from Asian countries that curbing agricultural use of highly hazardous pesticides does not affect crop yields. In 2011, the state of Kerala, India, banned 14 highly hazardous pesticides resulting in a marked reduction in deaths from pesticide poisoning. Objective We aimed to determine whether the Kerala pesticide bans impacted agricultural yields. Methods We collected data on agricultural production, area under cultivation, and rainfall, published by the Kerala state agricultural department from 2004 to 2018 for eight key crops that had been treated with the banned pesticides. Trends in crop yields (total production/area under cultivation) and rainfall across 14 districts in Kerala were aggregated and analysed using joinpoint regression. These trends were evaluated to ascertain possible associations with the pesticide bans. Results The joinpoint regression analyses showed no evidence for any change in yield trends for any of the eight crops in the year of the pesticide bans (2011), or the subsequent year (2012), suggesting a negligible impact of the bans on crop yields. Steady trends of predominately reductions in overall rainfall, without any change around the time of the pesticide bans, was observed in Kerala throughout the period. No evidence of district-level changes in rainfall that might have offset any potential adverse impacts of the pesticide bans on crop yields was noted. Fluctuations in yield until 2018 could be explained by variation in rainfall, changes in land use, and agricultural policies. Conclusion We found no evidence of an adverse effect on agricultural yields in Kerala that could be attributed to bans of highly hazardous pesticides. This work provides further evidence that such pesticides can be withdrawn from agricultural use without affecting yields. Further studies are required for the whole of India after the national bans of 12 pesticides in 2018 to identify state-level effects of the bans.

Background In the last few decades, the air, water, and soil are contaminated due to different anthropogenic activities and severely affect the environmental quality. Pollution is the harmful effect and creates undesirable changes in the land use and land cover pattern. The growth of urbanization leads to the degradation of the ecosystem and ultimately affects the living and non-living organisms. In view of these, the present investigation is carried out to assess the heavy metal pollution in major towns due to the impact of urbanization in Kannur district and desirable conclusions were drawn. Results The results shows that higher level of heavy metal pollution is observed in major towns of Kannur district. Conclusion The heavy metal contamination in the major towns of Kannur district is mainly due the anthropogenic activities. The discharge of domestic effluents and industrial waste is the major source of heavy metal pollution. In-depth studies and proper waste management plans are needed to decrease the level of heavy metal contamination prevailing in the study area.

The current study presents the findings from a cross-sectional survey on social factors associated with the well-being of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Kerala, India. We conducted a community-based survey across three geographical zones, North, Central, and South of Kerala state, between April and September 2021. We randomly selected two districts from each zone using a stratified sample method, followed by one local self-government from each of these six districts. Community health professionals identified individuals with disabilities, and researchers collected information on their social networks, service accessibility, well-being, and mental health. Overall, 244 (54.2%) participants had a physical disability, while 107 (23.78%) had an intellectual disability. The mean well-being score was 12.9 (S.D = 4.9, range = 5–20). Overall, 216 (48%) had poor social networks, 247 (55%) had issues regarding service accessibility, and 147 (33%) had depressive symptoms. Among the PWDs with issues with service access, 55% had limited social networks. A regression analysis revealed that social networks (b = 2.30, p = 0.000) and service accessibility (b = −2.09, p = 0.000) were associated with well-being. Social networks are more important than financial assistance because they facilitate better access to psycho-socioeconomic resources, a prerequisite for well-being.

A survey was undertaken for SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threats) analysis of rabbit production system in Thrissur and Malappuram districts of Kerala. Sixty rabbit units were selected randomly from the rabbit farmers of the two districts. The rabbit units were classified as small (1-10 doe unit) and medium (>10 doe unit). Thirty farms from each category were selected for SWOT analysis to assess internal and external factors affecting the viability and sustainability of rabbit farms in Kerala. The SWOT factors had Kendall’s ‘W’ value ranging from 0.005 to 0.017 and 0.006 to 0.069 respectively for the small and medium rabbit farms. Based upon outcomes, most important strengths and opportunities could be combined to formulate a functional strategy that can vitalize the rabbit production systems

We report here a Nipah virus (NiV) outbreak in Kozhikode district of Kerala state, India, which had caused fatal encephalitis in a 12-year-old boy and the outbreak response, which led to the successful containment of the disease and the related investigations. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, ELISA-based antibody detection, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed to confirm the NiV infection. Contacts of the index case were traced and isolated based on risk categorization. Bats from the areas near the epicenter of the outbreak were sampled for throat swabs, rectal swabs, and blood samples for NiV screening by real-time RT-PCR and anti-NiV bat immunoglobulin G (IgG) ELISA. A plaque reduction neutralization test was performed for the detection of neutralizing antibodies. Nipah viral RNA could be detected from blood, bronchial wash, endotracheal (ET) secretion, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and anti-NiV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies from the serum sample of the index case. Rapid establishment of an onsite NiV diagnostic facility and contact tracing helped in quick containment of the outbreak. NiV sequences retrieved from the clinical specimen of the index case formed a sub-cluster with the earlier reported Nipah I genotype sequences from India with more than 95% similarity. Anti-NiV IgG positivity could be detected in 21% of Pteropus medius (P. medius) and 37.73% of Rousettus leschenaultia (R. leschenaultia). Neutralizing antibodies against NiV could be detected in P. medius. Stringent surveillance and awareness campaigns need to be implemented in the area to reduce human-bat interactions and minimize spillover events, which can lead to sporadic outbreaks of NiV.

Introduction Disasters can have deep physical and psychological impact among survivors. An extraordinary southwest monsoon has unleashed floods and landslides in Kerala state in 2018. Adolescents are more vulnerable to psychological impairment after a disaster and trauma during initial stages of life can etch an indelible signature in the individual’s development and may lead to future disorders. Objectives 1. To screen for PTSD and associated factors among adolescents 8 months post floods in selected schools in flood-affected areas of Alleppey district of Kerala 2. To compare the proportion of adolescents screened positive for PTSD in public and private schools. Methodology A 3-month, Cross-sectional study was done among 670 adolescents in private and public schools using stratified sampling in Alleppey district. The study tool included a structured questionnaire that collected information on sociodemographics, flood-related variables, Trauma screening questionnaire and academic performance. Results The mean age of the participants was 16.03 ± 0.73 years with almost equal gender distribution. One-third of students reported flood-related damage to house/property, and a few lost their pets. Nearly 50% of the students reported that they still re-experience and get upsetting memories about flood events. The prevalence of probable PTSD noted to be 34.9%. We observed that 31% of students in public school screened positive for PTSD compared to 38.8% of private school students. (odds ratio = 1.409, CI 1.024–1.938). Male gender (Odds ratio = 1.503, CI 1.093–2.069), higher age (Odds ratio = 1.701, CI 1.120–2.585), damage during floods (Odds ratio = 2.566, CI 1.814–3.630), presence of morbidity (Odds ratio = 3.568, CI 1.888–6.743), camp stay (Odds ratio = 3.788, CI 2.364–6.067) and loss of pets (Odds ratio = 3.932, CI 2.019–7.657) were the factors significantly associated with PTSD. We noted a deterioration in academic performance in 45.9% of students who screened positive for PTSD. Conclusion and recommendations High prevalence of stress disorder highlights the need for early identification and intervention for PTSD and including trained counsellors as a part of the disaster management team in future.

Community participation has grown in prominence in mitigating disasters globally. It involves the active involvement in search and rescue to reconstruction that people affected by disasters undertake unsolicited. Predictive power in disaster recovery has further increased its relevance. However, quantitative analysis that community participation has on disaster mitigation measures is scant.The study analyses community participation’s impact on disaster mitigation measures following the Kochi flood of 2018 and 2019 in India. We use a Multivariate Probit Regression model with a sample size of 750 to analyse the relationship between disaster mitigation measures (namely, disaster event planning, previous experience, following disaster-related news closely, and neighbourhood relationship) and community participation. Results show participants who were active in community events were 23% more likely to adopt all the disaster mitigation measures than those who did not. In addition, households with special-needs members were more likely to be prepared for an unanticipated event. Results also showed higher education levels directly correlated to implementing more significant disaster mitigation measures. Implications for government policy formation include schemes to enhance community rehabilitation and promote social participation to mitigate future disaster events.

Women's exposure to political power and their influence on policies has expanded tremendously in recent decades. However, females are nowhere proportional to males in their impact and practice of political legitimacy although political empowerment research on women's role is continuing. The Indian government national program of ‘Panchayati Raj Institutions' act of 1992 was an outstanding policy mechanism for increasing women's political participation at the national level. This act provides 50 % reservation seats for women in the Local Self Government, and thus women were capable of attaining power in the political realm. Through this policy, there is a greater possibility for women to elected in the political realms and thus process a higher role in welfare mechanisms in their respective administrative locality than before. In this context, this article aims to explore the importance of the Panchayati Raj Institution policy on the political empowerment of women in the panchayat. To find out the impact of policy, this paper conducted an empirical study by collecting the primary data from elected women representatives in one district of Kerala. The results could assess the significance of increasing women's political empowerment and their position in Kerala society., Per paskutiniuosius dešimtmečius ženkliai išaugo moterų politinė galia ir moterų vaidmuo politiniuose procesuose. Tačiau moterų įtaka vis dar nėra proporcinga vyrų daromam poveikiui. Tai ypač pastebima teisėkūros ir teisinių praktikų diegime ir reprezentacijoje. Todėl yra svarbu organizuoti moterų politinio įgalinimo tyrimus bei mokslinius debatus apie moters vaidmenį ir reprezentaciją politinėje arenoje. 1992 m. Indijos vyriausybė priėmė Nacionalinę programą „Panchayati Raj Institutions“. Ši programa yra puikus politinio mechanizmo, didinančio moterų dalyvavimą politiniuose procesuose, pavyzdys. Šiuo įstatymu moterims yra suteikiama 50 % vadovaujančių vietų vietos savivaldos institucijose. Tokiu būdu moterys bent jau oficialiai įgijo lygias teises vietos savivaldoje. Ši programa taip pat prisideda prie moterų didesnio matomumo politinėje arenoje, todėl moterys turi daugiau galimybių būti išrinktos į politinius postus ir tokiu būdu atlikti svarbesnį vaidmenį sprendimų priėmimo procesuose. Atsižvelgiant į esamą kontekstą, šiuo tyrimu yra siekiama išnagrinėti vietos savivaldos institucijų įtaką įgalinant moteris siekti svaresnio politinio vaidmens ir reprezentacijos. Tam buvo pasirinktas empirinis tyrimas. Jį sudarė kokybiniai interviu su vietos savivaldos politiniais lyderiais Indukki rajone Keralos valstijoje Indijoje. Pirminių duomenų analizė atskleidė moterų politinės galios augimą ir šio augimo reikšmę Keralos valstijoje.

Objective: Heart failure is a leading cause of death worldwide and in India, yet the qualitative data regarding heart failure care are limited. To fill this gap, we studied the facilitators and barriers of heart failure care in Kerala, India. Methods and results: During January 2018, we conducted a qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 21 health-care providers and quality administrators from 8 hospitals in Kerala to understand the context, facilitators, and barriers of heart failure care. We developed a theoretical framework using iteratively developed codes from these data to identify 6 key themes of heart failure care in Kerala: (1) need for comprehensive patient and family education on heart failure; (2) gaps between guideline-directed clinical care for heart failure and clinical practice; (3) national hospital accreditation contributing to a culture of systematically improving quality and safety of in-hospital care; (4) limited system-level attention toward improving heart failure care compared with other cardiovascular conditions; (5) application of existing personnel and technology to improve heart failure care; and (6) longitudinal and recurrent costs as barriers for optimal heart failure care. Conclusions: Key themes emerged regarding heart failure care in Kerala in the context of a health system that is increasingly emphasizing health-care quality and safety. Targeted in-hospital quality improvement interventions for heart failure should account for these themes to improve cardiovascular outcomes in the region. Keywords: Heart failure, India, Kerala, Qualitative

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the Indian population and it is found to be associated with many diseases among perimenopausal women in various hospital-based studies. Objectives: This study aimed to find out the Vitamin D status among perimenopausal women and to assess the association of selected factors with Vitamin D status among them. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 perimenopausal women in two districts of Kerala from July 2018 to February 2019. The data were collected and blood sample was taken for determining the 25(OH) D levels after obtaining informed written consent. Descriptive and inferential statistics were done using SPSS version 22. Results: Among the 184 women, 2 (1.1%) had sufficient, 18 (9.8%) had insufficient, and 164 (89.1%) had deficient 25(OH) D levels. The mean 25(OH) D levels among the population were 15.01 ± 4.32 ng/ml (95% confidence interval 14.38–15.63), much lower than the required level of 30 ng/ml. Vitamin D level was significantly higher among women who had exposure to sunlight, were on Vitamin D supplementation, and those who had skin diseases. 25(OH) D levels were higher among residents of Ernakulam district, older age group, low socioeconomic status, mixed-diet consumers, those who attained menopause, and those had calcium supplementation. The level was low among those who regularly use sunscreen topical applications and had other comorbidities such as hypothyroidism. However, none of these factors were significantly associated with 25(OH) D levels. Conclusion: The study showed that Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent among the study population.

The economic crisis triggered by the COVID‐19 urgently required active policy interventions to enhance the revival strategies of the world economy. This paper examines the effectiveness of policy intervention of the State Government of Kerala in India in mitigating the risks caused by the pandemic. The policy effectiveness is evaluated by analyzing the data collected from a sample of 300 beneficiaries with the help of descriptive statistics, ordered probit (OP) model, and semi nonparametric extended OP (SNEOP) model. Our results are assertive with the fact that state policies are effective in reviving the crisis‐hit economy as they have primarily helped low‐income groups and other marginalized communities. The majority of BPL families, self‐help group members, and social security beneficiaries rated government policies as highly or fairly effective. Though the policies are found to be highly effective among those who have suffered income loss, the study does not find sufficient evidence to believe that the government interventions are effective in helping those who have lost their jobs. The level of effectiveness is inversely related to age, education, and family size. Our results suggest that an extensive fiscal package is required to help people recover from the crisis. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Public Affairs (14723891) is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 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 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 . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rapidly spread from a city in China to almost every country in the world, affecting millions of individuals. The rapid increase in the COVID-19 cases in the state of Kerala in India has necessitated the understanding of SARS-CoV-2 genetic epidemiology. We sequenced 200 samples from patients in Kerala using COVIDSeq protocol amplicon-based sequencing. The analysis identified 166 high-quality single-nucleotide variants encompassing four novel variants and 89 new variants in the Indian isolated SARS-CoV-2. Phylogenetic and haplotype analysis revealed that the virus was dominated by three distinct introductions followed by local spread suggesting recent outbreaks and that it belongs to the A2a clade. Further analysis of the functional variants revealed that two variants in the S gene associated with increased infectivity and five variants mapped in primer binding sites affect the efficacy of RT-PCR. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first and most comprehensive report of SARS-CoV-2 genetic epidemiology from Kerala.

A new species of Melastomataceae, Sonerila longipedunculata Resmi & Nampy sp. nov., is described from the southern Western Ghats, India. It is morphologically close to S. travancorica, but differs by the tuberous root stock, fleshy stems, ovate to cordate lamina, longer, angular peduncles, 3-ribbed hypanthium, ovate-elliptic petals, acute anthers, and 3-ribbed capsules. Detailed description, distribution map, and photographic images are provided. The morphological differences with relevant species are discussed. The status of the new species is provisionally assessed here as ‘critically endangered’ according to IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. The name Sonerila travancorica is lectotypified and its identity is discussed. The status of Sonerila longipetiolata is discussed and is synonymised under S. travancorica.

In his 2014 Malayalam-language film Iyobinte Pusthakam (The Book of Job), Amal Neerad combines this Biblical fable with The Brothers Karamazov and King Lear to illustrate gen- erational tensions in a divided South Indian family on a colonial tea plantation. Patriarch Job perpetuates colonial evils, including anti-tribal pogroms and sandalwood smuggling. Here, Job disinherits his youngest son Aloshy (a conflated Edmund+Cordelia figure) upon discovering his Communist sympathies. Through such Shakespearean dilemmas, Neerad’s film raises ethical questions regarding caste, race, politics and environment. Ultimately, familial and societal transgressions reflect pivotal times of national division and transforma- tion, during the era of India’s colonisation, Partition and Independence. En su película de 2014 en Malayalam, Iyobinte Pusthakam (El Libro de Job), Amal Neerad combina esta fábula bíblica con Los Hermanos Karamazov y El Rey Lear para mostrar las tensiones generacionales en una familia dividida del sur de la India en una plantación colo- nial de té. El patriarca Job perpetúa los terrores coloniales, como las matanzas anti-tribales o el contrabando de sándalo. Aquí, Job deshereda a su hijo más pequeño, Aloshy (una combinación de Edmund y Cordelia), al descubrir su simpatía por la ideología comunista. A través de dilemas Shakespearianos, la película de Neerad se pregunta cuestiones éticas sobre la casta, la raza, la política y el entorno. En definitiva, las transgresiones familiares y sociales reflejan periodos cruciales de división nacional y transformación durante la era de la colonización india, la Partición y la Independencia.

Nipah virus (NiV) disease (NVD) remains a re-emerging public health threat in India. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception of NVD and future vaccine intent among a convenience sample of health care providers (HCP). The primary outcome measures were the knowledge, attitudes, and risk perception scores. Of 261 participants surveyed, 203 (77.8%) had heard of NiV and associated symptoms. The majority (248, 95%) identified the fruit bat as a primary NiV reservoir and 205 (79.8%) were aware of human-to-human transmission via droplets. Only 101 (38.7%) participants were aware that drinking date palm sap is a risk factor for transmission. Most HCP either agreed (117 (44.8%)) or strongly agreed (131 (50.2%)) that NiV is a serious illness. Less than half (121 (46.4%)) were aware of any institutional protocol for NiV; 235 (90.7%) of HCP stated that they need more information about prevention and treatment options. Knowledge scores were significantly higher among physicians compared to nurses whereas nurses and academic providers were more likely to have higher attitudes scores. A majority of respondents (20,779.9%) were willing to be vaccinated and willing to recommend the NiV vaccine to their patients (21,682.8%). Future strategies include education of HCP to bridge the knowledge gaps and enhance preparedness through disease-specific training for NiV infection.

Floods affected the state of Kerala following unusually heavy rainfall during the monsoon season in August 2018. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common and debilitating psychological disorder among victims of floods or any other massive disaster. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and the factors associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among flood-affected adults in a panchayat in Kerala. In light of the looming threat of climate change, and with Kerala being especially prone to recurring floods due to its geographical location, there is an urgent need to assess the impact of floods on the psychological wellbeing of the residents of the state. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the occurrence of PTSD among the residents of Kerala following exposure to floods. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study undertaken in 100 households in a flood-affected community in Kerala. The PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) was administered to diagnose PTSD. The intensity of flood exposure was measured using a checklist of ten factors. Results: The prevalence of PTSD was 22%. Loss of a relative, physical injury, and affliction with a physical illness were significantly associated with PTSD. A higher intensity of flood exposure was associated with a greater prevalence of PTSD. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the high prevalence of PTSD following floods in Kerala and the need to conduct post-disaster mental health screening. It highlights those factors that may predict the occurrence of PTSD in the affected population. Recommendations are also put forward to mitigate the psychological impact of floods on the inhabitants of the state in the coming years.

Background: Institutional quarantine centres were set up in all districts in Kerala as a novel strategy in the fight against novel COVID-19 virus. These were meant for returnees from affected areas, for whom home quarantine was not possible due to lack of facilities. This research aims to evaluate facilities and services of Institutional quarantine centres in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state and to study profile of persons under quarantine in these centres. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate institutional quarantine centres established in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in April 2020. Evaluation was done using a checklist based on standard operating procedures for functioning of centres issued by Health department. Inspection of facilities and registers was done. Details of a subset of inmates were collected by telephonic interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Two (0.41%) inmates in the centre turned positive on testing while in quarantine. Both of them were foreign returnees and were asymptomatic. There was not a single case of transmission of infection between inmates or to staff and volunteers. The adherence to infection control practices was satisfactory in all centres. One third of inmates were from listed highly affected countries and were mandatorily quarantined. Conclusion: Institutional quarantine centres were functioning effectively to provide quarantine facilities for high-risk individuals and thereby controlling the spread of COVID-19. Selection of facilities, staffing pattern and day to day functioning of these centres is a model which can be replicated at other COVID-19 affected areas.

Background and Aim: Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, intracellular pathogen which has been implicated as a cause of several foodborne outbreaks. This study aimed to generate information on the prevalence and antibiotic resistance profile of Listeria species isolated from seafood. Materials and Methods: A total of 400 samples of fresh fish, 100 samples of dry fish and 200 samples each of crustaceans and mollusks were collected from the fish catchment areas. All the samples were subjected to isolation and identification of Listeria spp. by two-step enrichment in UVM broth and plating on selective agar media (PALCAM) and then subjected to molecular characterization. L. monocytogenes isolates obtained during the study were subjected to serotyping by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The isolates were also subjected to antibiotic sensitivity test. Results: The prevalence of L. monocytogenes in seafoods in the present study was 0.55%. The isolates of L. monocytogenes were found to possess all virulence genes, namely, iap, hlyA, actA, prfA, plcA, and inlA. All the isolates belonged to serotype 4b. The occurrence of Listeria innocua was found to be more and was detected in 16.77% of seafood samples. Antibiotic sensitivity test revealed that all isolates were resistant to cefixime but were sensitive to almost all other commonly used antibiotics. Conclusion: The presence of Listeria spp. in raw seafood samples augments the need for implementation of good hygienic practices during the handling and processing of seafoods to safeguard the health of the consumers.

As the COVID-19 pandemic causes unprecedented disruptions in citizens' lives and work, prompting a wide range of responses from governments across the globe. The southern Indian state of Kerala, India's COVID-19 “ground zero”, stands out with a fatality rate at a fraction of other richer Indian states and countries. This has happened despite the state presenting strong vulnerabilities to COVID-19. Using the theoretical lens of frugal innovation, I analyse how the Kerala State Government (KSG) combated the spread of COVID-19. This research uncovers the mechanisms at play as KSG implemented and used frugal technologies as platforms that helped decision making and strategy to fight the pandemic. I find a rich interplay of frugal innovations promoted by the government, in partnership with research institutes and private sector actors, which are cheap and efficacious. The study defines and promotes the concept of government frugal innovation (GFI) and provides valuable insights and tools to help governments navigate and effectively respond to this crisis, encouraging the rest of the world to learn from Kerala's experience. My conceptual model characterizes GFI as involving collaborative aspects, and holds practical implications beyond the times of crises., Highlights • Study reveals how it is possible to combat Covid-19 frugally. • Introduces the concept of governmental frugal innovation (GFI). • Governments partnering with knowledge intermediaries can provide efficacious solutions. • Findings point out to the role of information technologies in frugal innovation. • Study suggests a “third way” to fight the pandemic efficaciously and at low cost.

BACKGROUND: The current novel coronavirus pandemic started as a simple outbreak in December 2019 from Wuhan, China, and it has now become a global threat. The governments from most of the countries including India have already taken strict precautionary measures to reduce the coronavirus spread such as social distancing, closure of schools, colleges, airports, restaurants, shopping malls, and other places where the people might gather. An increase in the levels of anxiety, aggression, depression, forgetfulness, and hallucinations are possible psychological effects of isolation. Too little is understood of the social impact of the pandemic. AIM: To study the social impact of post-COVID-19 lockdown in Kerala from a community perspective. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 700 families (50 families from each district) from all the 14 districts of Kerala from during April-May 2020 using respondent-driven sampling. The data were analyzed and the categorical variables have been presented as percentages and proportions. RESULTS: Anxiety (44%) and fear (44.3%) were reported by many of the study participants. The survey also picked up an increase in the prevalence of domestic violence (13.7%) during the period. The most common social change brought about by the lockdown was an improvement in the hygiene practices among the study population. CONCLUSION: The present study highlights the positive social changes brought about as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. Further studies need to be conducted on a larger scale to assess the psycho-behavioural impact of COVID-19 on the wider population.

Objective India reported its first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in the state of Kerala and an outbreak initiated subsequently. The Department of Health Services, Government of Kerala, initially released daily updates through daily textual bulletins for public awareness to control the spread of the disease. However, these unstructured data limit upstream applications, such as visualization, and analysis, thus demanding refinement to generate open and reusable datasets. Materials and Methods Through a citizen science initiative, we leveraged publicly available and crowd-verified data on COVID-19 outbreak in Kerala from the government bulletins and media outlets to generate reusable datasets. This was further visualized as a dashboard through a front-end Web application and a JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) repository, which serves as an application programming interface for the front end. Results From the sourced data, we provided real-time analysis, and daily updates of COVID-19 cases in Kerala, through a user-friendly bilingual dashboard (https://covid19kerala.info/) for nonspecialists. To ensure longevity and reusability, the dataset was deposited in an open-access public repository for future analysis. Finally, we provide outbreak trends and demographic characteristics of the individuals affected with COVID-19 in Kerala during the first 138 days of the outbreak. Discussion We anticipate that our dataset can form the basis for future studies, supplemented with clinical and epidemiological data from the individuals affected with COVID-19 in Kerala. Conclusions We reported a citizen science initiative on the COVID-19 outbreak in Kerala to collect and deposit data in a structured format, which was utilized for visualizing the outbreak trend and describing demographic characteristics of affected individuals.

Background: Palliative care has an important role to play in the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is integrated and is a key component in the governmental and community structures and services in Kerala, in India. Palliative care in the state has grown to be a viable model recognized in global palliative care and public health scene. The community network of palliative care, especially the volunteers linking with clinical teams, is a strong force for advocacy, relief support including provision of emergency medications, and clinical care. Objective: To develop a palliative care resource tool kit for holistic care of patients affected with COVID-19 and to support the health-care workers looking after them to enable palliative care integration with COVID-I9 management. Methods: The Kerala State government included senior palliative care advisors in the COVID-19 task force and 22 palliative care professionals formed a virtual task force named Palli COVID Kerala as an immediate response to develop recommendations. Results: Developed a palliative care in COVID-19 resource toolkit which includes an e-book with palliative care recommendations, online training opportunities, short webinars and voice over power point presentations. Conclusion: Integrated Palliative care should be an essential part of any response to a humanitarian crisis. The e resource tool kit can be adapted for use in other low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Since December 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has globally affected 195 countries. In India, suspected cases were screened for SARS-CoV-2 as per the advisory of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The objective of this study was to characterize SARS-CoV-2 sequences from three identified positive cases as on February 29, 2020. METHODS: Throat swab/nasal swab specimens for a total of 881 suspected cases were screened by E gene and confirmed by RdRp (1), RdRp (2) and N gene real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions and next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis, molecular characterization and prediction of B- and T-cell epitopes for Indian SARS-CoV-2 sequences were undertaken. RESULTS: Three cases with a travel history from Wuhan, China, were confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2. Almost complete (29,851 nucleotides) genomes of case 1, case 3 and a fragmented genome for case 2 were obtained. The sequences of Indian SARS-CoV-2 though not identical showed high (~99.98%) identity with Wuhan seafood market pneumonia virus (accession number: NC 045512). Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Indian sequences belonged to different clusters. Predicted linear B-cell epitopes were found to be concentrated in the S1 domain of spike protein, and a conformational epitope was identified in the receptor-binding domain. The predicted T-cell epitopes showed broad human leucocyte antigen allele coverage of A and B supertypes predominant in the Indian population. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: The two SARS-CoV-2 sequences obtained from India represent two different introductions into the country. The genetic heterogeneity is as noted globally. The identified B- and T-cell epitopes may be considered suitable for future experiments towards the design of vaccines and diagnostics. Continuous monitoring and analysis of the sequences of new cases from India and the other affected countries would be vital to understand the genetic evolution and rates of substitution of the SARS-CoV-2.

Objective: We investigated the prevalence, awareness, treatment, control of hypertension and the factors associated with hypertension prevalence and control among school teachers in Kerala, India. Methods: We surveyed 2216 school teachers in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala as part of the control of hypertension among teachers in schools in Kerala (CHATS-K), India. We used World Health Organization STEPS tools for non-communicable diseases risk factor surveillance. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured using standard protocols. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg, or self-reported current antihypertensive medication. Controlled hypertension was defined as SBP

Background The health issues and social problems associated with alcohol use are well known. This study seeks to identify the prevalence of alcohol consumption and dependence among alcohol users in a rural area of Trivandrum district. Objectives To assess the prevalence of alcohol use among adults of Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Trivandrum, Kerala, to find out the interventions required among the alcohol users, and to identify persons with harmful and hazardous use of alcohol using AUDIT. Settings and design Cross-sectional study in Nellanad Panchayat, Trivandrum district, Kerala. Methods and materials A cross-sectional study was carried out among 1545 residents in Nellanad Panchayat, a rural area in Kerala, by interviewing adults with the help of a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results The overall prevalence of current alcohol use was 146 (9.5%). The prevalence among males was 143 (18.3%) and females was 3 (0.4%). ASSIST scores showed that 99 (50%) of ever users required health education, 74 (37.8%) required counseling, whereas 23 (11.7%) required de-addiction. Conclusions Among males, the alcohol consumption is still as high as 18.3%. The most important factor affecting alcohol use is peer pressure. Health education is the most required intervention to reduce burden of alcohol use.

This paper reflects on the impact of Covid 19 lockdown in India on religious festivals. Two Hindu religious festivals in the state of Kerala namely Vishu and Thrissur Pooram are addressed here. Both festivals are immensely popular and close to the heart of the Malayali Hindu and non-Hindu communities alike. Rather than focusing on the economic impact, the emphasis here is on the socio cultural and psychological impact that it has had on the community. The nature and spirit of these festivals differ from one another which has helped or worsened the impact for the festival lovers. Due to the Covid 19 lockdown measures, secondary data collection is reduced to data sources such as newspaper articles, magazines, media reports, reflections and author insights regarding the general ‘vibe’ of the community. The findings suggest that the Vishu festival, even after the strict measures in place, was successful in the eyes of the community and its spirit was not broken. However, in the case of Thrissur Pooram, there is massive disappointment amongst the community and possible alternatives such as a Virtual Pooram could shape the future of such festivals.

Background: Worldwide, 36.7 million people were infected with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) by the end of 2015. Over the period 2007 to 2015, there was a declining trend in the prevalence of adult Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the state of Kerala, India. The current study aims to find a suitable statistical modelling technique for the distribution of HIV incubation time and predict the cumulative number of AIDS cases. Materials and Methods: The requisite data were obtained from the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) for the years 2007 to 2015. To assess the distribution of HIV incubation time, the data of 22 HIV-infected Keralite patients were retrieved from the medical records of a teaching hospital. Data included age, gender, and incubation time. The back-calculation method was utilized to predict the cumulative HIV/AIDS cases. Results: The estimated total cumulative AIDS cases in Kerala for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 were found to be 35,777, 48,944, 62,039, 45,669, 45,668, and 43,605, 42,377, 39,362, 37,617, 39,583, 25,414 respectively using back-calculation method with Weibull (2) incubation time distribution. The mean incubation time of the total HIV cases (male and female) was 4.4 years which indicates a rapid progression of the disease in the state of Kerala. Conclusion: The back-calculation method is a powerful tool to estimate the cumulative frequency of AIDS cases; which predicted a declining HIV trend among Keralites. Moreover, the Weibull distribution is the best fitted distribution for HIV incubation time in our population.

This study was carried out to assess the population of Ratufa macroura in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Kerala part of the southern Western Ghats. The population density of Ratufa macroura was estimated to be 15.26 squirrels/km2. The total count method, however, gave the population range between 11 to 14 squirrels. The current population estimation is about 78–85 % lesser than the previous population estimation of the Ratufa macroura carried out in 1993 and 2007 respectively, which is quite alarming. The following conservation recommendations are suggested for the long-term conservation of R. macroura, which include habitat restoration to maintain the canopy contiguity and regulation of the pilgrimage and the tourism activities in and around the R. macroura habitat. Urgent steps should also be taken to undertake studies on the genetics of R. macroura. It is also suggested that systematic and scientific monitoring of the population of R. macroura be undertaken on a regular basis.