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Looking at the early educational activities of the anti-caste movement in the Western Indian Bombay Presidency (1848-1882), the article sheds light on the diverse, and sometimes contradictory social effects of the colonial encounter. The military defeat of the Maratha Empire, the setting up of colonial educational governance, and the emergence of missionary education had disrupted social and religious certainties. In this moment of crisis, reformers turned to education to intervene in the ongoing social transformation processes. From the perspective of the shudra-atishudra -- the serving, labouring, and untouchable castes, who formed the lowest stratum of Western Indian society -- the new political situation provided a space to challenge the established structures of caste and gender domination. The article starts with a discussion of colonial-governmental and missionary educational interventions, and proceeds to analyse anti-caste radicals' educational activities against this background. Schools, popular literature, and public performance aimed to create a reflexive knowledge among the "shudra-atishudra" about their own position in society, and the ways to change it. Finally, the article explores the anti-caste movement's varying interpretations of the changes in education and society. While anti-caste writers of the 1850s welcomed the new educational opportunities, their voices were highly critical of colonial education policy in the 1880s. In the nineteenth century's struggles over caste, gender, and education, privileges and exclusions had been reworked in a colonial-modern framework. Still, important steps had been taken towards democratising and universalising Indian education.

This review is a bird's eye view of the practice of pediatric radiology in India. The key focus of this article is training, certification and employment opportunities for radiologists aspiring to specialise in pediatric radiology. Further, we have traced the growth in academic and research opportunities over the past two decades, as well as given a peep into the future trajectory of this speciality. An understanding of these concepts is key to the expansion of pediatric radiologists not just within India, but across the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the 'Indianisation', 'nationalisation', and 'ruralisation' of the Montessori method in India at the eve, and in the aftermath of the country's political independence (1947). From 1914 onwards, Indian nationalists received Montessori's ideas through publications, the networks of the new education movement, and the Theosophical Society. While innovative pre-schools for elite children worked closely with the 'original' method, the "Nutan Bal Shikshan Sangh" ('New Child Education Society', NBSS) adapted it to local conditions ('Indianisation'). The NBSS aimed to universalise Montessori-based child education, as a contribution to nation-building ('nationalisation'). With the establishment of the "Gram Bal Shiksha Kendra" (Rural Child Education Centre), in 1945, the NBSS brought the country's most marginalised into the modernising reach of the new state, furthering Gandhi's vision of 'rural reconstruction' ('ruralisation'). From these experiments, the institutional model of the Anganwadi emerged, through which today millions of Indian children receive integrated child development services.

The utilization of digital health in India is playing a crucial role in enhancing healthcare services by transitioning from the current inadequate public health structure to a more efficient and patient-centric system. Digital health includes various digital tools, such as electronic health records (EHRs), telemedicine, mobile health applications, health information exchange systems, and other technological advancements to improve access, efficiency, and quality of healthcare delivery. This study investigates the prospects and challenges encountered by the newly-digitized Maharashtra Emergency Medical Services (MEMS). Utilizing the 38,823 MEMS calls from November 2022, this study investigates the current status of emergency service delivery mechanisms in Maharashtra. Through spatial analyses, this study also explores the causes behind calls. The findings of the study show that calls for 108 ambulance services were distributed across the districts and had variable service delivery time periods. Current challenges to the system arise from various urban and healthcare infrastructure problems, as well as socio-cultural challenges. Implementation of the digitized MEMS system reveals key factors that influence the service's success, assisting the policymakers and health administrators in identifying and further improving the service. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field investigation took place at Central Research Farm of Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, West Bengal, India during winter seasons of 2020–21 and 2021–22 with the aim to evaluate system productivity, economics, energetics and carbon footprint (CF) of oat + grasspea intercropping systems under different integrated nutrient managements (INM). The experiment was executed in split-plot design with 4 cropping systems in main plots and 4 levels of nutrient management in sub plots. The 3:3 intercropping system of oat + grasspea ensured highest system productivity, whereas sole grasspea stood best in terms of economics, energetics and environment safety by lowering CF. Notably, INM involving 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost registered significantly higher system productivity in case of 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system (CS4N3) (18.77 q ha−1). Further, this intercropping system yielded high economic profitability (net return: US$ 430.4 ha−1, benefit–cost ratio: 1.71) as well as energy indices (energy output: 71179.1 MJ ha-1, net energy gain: 60352.0 MJ ha−1, energy ratio: 6.57 and energy profitability: 5.57). CF was also found relatively low under CS4N3 (Yield scaled CF: 62.2 kg CO2-e q−1). Furthermore, high carbon efficiency (7.92) and carbon sustainability index (6.92) were also exhibited by CS4N3 as it produced maximum carbon output (1801.2 kg ha−1). In conclusion, the 3:3 oat + grasspea intercropping system using INM can be viable option to ensure economic and energy viability and minimize greenhouse gas emissions without compromising system productivity. Particularly, this intercropping system combined with 75% N through urea + 25% N through vermicompost as INM option can be recommended for the cereal and legume growers of India, specifically under intensive cropping scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leprosy has been historically associated with social stigma and discrimination. Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is indeed a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. Diagnosis of leprosy is usually done by clinically and classified as multibacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB). The disease was also classified into different types based on histopathological findings, such as tuberculoid, borderline tuberculoid (BT), mid-borderline, borderline lepromatous, and lepromatous. Aims and Objectives: The aim of the study was the clinicohistopathological correlation of all clinically diagnosed cases of Hansen’s disease. Materials and Methods: The study was done at Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital for a period of 18 months. Ethical approval was taken from the Institutional Ethics committee. All new patients 66 in number clinically diagnosed as leprosy attending the Dermatology Outpatient Department were included in the study. The skin biopsy and staining were done with hematoxylin and eosin staining and Fite-Faraco stain for every patient. The skin biopsy was reported according to the Ridley-Jopling classification. Results: Males were more commonly affected than females. Most of the leprosy cases in the study were classified as MB (86.4%) and the upper extremities were the most commonly affected sites. Bacterial index was observed negative in clinically PB cases. The most common histological subtype of leprosy identified in the study was BT, Regarding bacterial index, all clinically diagnosed MB cases were smear positive and PB cases were smear negative. Out of nine clinically diagnosed PB cases, inflammatory cells were found in 3 (33.4%). Conclusion: In a large country like India where resources are limited, no need for skin biopsy for every patient. Biopsy should do if there is any confusion with other skin lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, more than 130 million infants are born each year and a considerable number of 13.5 million of these children have inbred parents. The present study aimed to investigate the association between parents' consanguinity and chronic illness among their children and grandchildren in India. The nationally representative data, Longitudinal Aging Study in India, 2017–2018, Wave 1 was used for the present study. Bivariate analysis, a probit model, and propensity score estimation were employed to conduct the study. The study observed the highest prevalence of consanguinity marriage in the state of Andhra Pradesh (28%) and the lowest in Kerala (5%) among the south Indian States. People who lived in rural areas, belonged to the richer wealth quintile and Hindu religion were the significant predictors of consanguinity marriage in India. For individuals who were in consanguineous marriages, there was 0.85%, 0.84%, 1.57% 0.43%, 0.34%, and 0.14% chances of their children and grandchildren developing psychotic disorders, heart disease, hypertension stroke, cancer, and diabetes, respectively. Moreover, around 4.55% of the individuals have a history of birth defects or congenital disorders. To address the risk of complicated illnesses due to the consanguinity of marriage, medical, genetic, and social counselling services are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The Bruguiera cylindrica L. is a mangrove plant that is typically found in coastal areas of Asia, including India. It has been known for its medicinal properties, which have been utilized for generations. For example, in Thailand, it has been used to treat wounds and diarrhoea, while in India, it has been effective in addressing diabetes, ulcers, and other health issues. This particular study sought to investigate the potential of B. cylindrica bark extract in reducing the symptoms of diabetes in rats. Methods: In this study, we examined the potential of B. cylindrica bark extract as an inhibitor of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro. We also evaluated the effects of the extract and Metformin on rats fed high-fat diets and measured their lipid profiles and biochemical parameters. Furthermore, we conducted a network pharmacology analysis to identify proteins and pathways involved in the amelioration of diabetes. Results: Through metabolite profiling, we identified 58 compounds in B. cylindrica hydroalcoholic extract. These compounds include alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, and fatty acids. The extract was found to have a dose-dependent inhibition activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC50 values similar to acarbose. In rats, oral administration of 200–400 mg/kg of B. cylindrica led to reduced blood glucose levels and normalized serum biochemical parameters. Conclusions: Bruguiera cylindrica bark may reduce blood sugar levels in rats with diabetes. The study found metabolites that interact with protein targets associated with different types of diabetes. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall serves as a lifeline for crop cultivation in many agriculture-dependent countries including India. Being spatio-temporal data, the forecasting of rainfall becomes a more complex and tedious process. Application of conventional time series models and machine learning techniques will not be a suitable choice as they may not adequately account for the complex spatial and temporal dependencies integrated within the data. This demands some data-driven techniques that can handle the intrinsic patterns such as non-linearity, non-stationarity, and non-normality. Space–Time Autoregressive Moving Average (STARMA) models were highly known for its ability to capture both spatial and temporal dependencies, offering a comprehensive framework for analyzing complex datasets. Spatial Weight Matrix (SWM) developed by the STARMA model helps in integrating the spatial effects of the neighboring sites. The study employed a novel dataset consisting of annual rainfall measurements spanning over 50 (1970–2019) years from 119 different locations (grid of 0.25 × 0.25 degree resolution) of West Bengal, a state of India. These extensive datasets were split into testing and training groups that enable the better understanding of the rainfall patterns at a granular level. The study findings demonstrated a notable improvement in forecasting accuracy by the STARMA model that can exhibit promising implications for agricultural management and planning, particularly in regions vulnerable to climate variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was conducted through semi-structured interviews, involving 38 local fishermen of three villages in the Gangani region along Shilabati River in West Bengal, India. The survey revealed that three threatened species of turtles--Nilssonia gangetica, Nilssonia hurum, and Lissemys punctata--were clandestinely harvested by the riverine communities. These species are also being documented for the first time from this area, popularly called Jangal Mahal. N. gangetica was the most commonly harvested species, followed by L. punctata and N. hurum, mostly for consumption, local sale, and as traditional medicine. The most frequently used method for capturing turtles was the 'multiple hook bait'; exclusively practiced by adult males of the fisher community, usually belonging to the age group 21-40 years, between February and June. The study indicated that the respondents knew that harvesting of turtles was clandestine, yet they continued to do so as their traditional right, as they believed minor catches will not harm local turtle populations. It is assumed that N. hurum, which is an endangered species, is already rare and on the brink of local extinction, whereas other two species are coping with the harvest in the specialized riparian habitat and adjacent ponds. In this study the harvesting of threatened turtle species was ardently associated with the socio-cultural customs rather than an economic compulsion but to check rising threat to these species, the uncontrolled harvest needs to be addressed urgently as a high priority conservation issue. This requires further explorations on the ecology of turtles, initiatives by enforcement agencies, and utilizing the inherent knowledge of indigenous people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present updated, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from the Indian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ISPN) for the management of urinary tract infection (UTI) and primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children. These guidelines conform to international standards; Institute of Medicine and AGREE checklists were used to ensure transparency, rigor, and thoroughness in the guideline development. In view of the robust methodology, these guidelines are applicable globally for the management of UTI and VUR. Seventeen recommendations and 18 clinical practice points have been formulated. Some of the key recommendations and practice points are as follows. Urine culture with > 104 colony forming units/mL is considered significant for the diagnosis of UTI in an infant if the clinical suspicion is strong. Urine leukocyte esterase and nitrite can be used as an alternative screening test to urine microscopy in a child with suspected UTI. Acute pyelonephritis can be treated with oral antibiotics in a non-toxic infant for 7–10 days. An acute-phase DMSA scan is not recommended in the evaluation of UTI. Micturating cystourethrography (MCU) is indicated in children with recurrent UTI, abnormal kidney ultrasound, and in patients below 2 years of age with non-E. coli UTI. Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA scan) is indicated only in children with recurrent UTI and high-grade (3–5) VUR. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated in children with a normal urinary tract after UTI. Prophylaxis is recommended to prevent UTI in children with bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) and those with high-grade VUR. In children with VUR, prophylaxis should be stopped if the child is toilet trained, free of BBD, and has not had a UTI in the last 1 year. Surgical intervention in high-grade VUR can be considered for parental preference over antibiotic prophylaxis or in children developing recurrent breakthrough febrile UTIs on antibiotic prophylaxis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of plant‐wax biomarkers from sedimentary sequences can enable past environmental and hydrological reconstruction and provide insights into past hominin adaptations. However, biomarker preservation in desert contexts has been considered unlikely given the sparse nature of the vegetation within the landscape. Here we evaluate the preservation of n‐alkanes and fatty acids collected from four depositional sequences associated with archaeological contexts in the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia, and the Thar Desert, India. Pleistocene and Holocene samples were selected to understand the effects of age on preservation. The results of molecular distribution patterns and indices, particularly the high carbon preference index and average chain length, show the preservation of plant‐wax biomarkers in both the Holocene and Pleistocene desert sequences, while δ13C values and organic content provide insights into the vegetation contributing to the plant‐wax organic pool. This study provides a baseline for understanding human–environment interactions and for reconstructing changes in arid land habitats of relevance to hominins during the Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) associated mucormycosis (CAM) was reported predominantly from India during the second wave of COVID‐19 and has a high mortality rate. The present study aims to understand the fungal community composition of the nasopharyngeal region of CAM‐infected individuals and compare it with severe COVID‐19 patients and healthy controls. The fungal community composition was decoded by analyzing the sequence homology of the internal transcribed spacer‐2–(ITS‐2) region of metagenomic DNA extracted from the upper respiratory samples. The alpha‐diversity indices were found to be significantly altered in CAM patients (p < 0.05). Interestingly, a higher abundance of Candida africana, Candida haemuloni, Starmerella floris, and Starmerella lactiscondensi was observed exclusively in CAM patients. The interindividual changes in mycobiome composition were well supported by beta‐diversity analysis (p < 0.05). The current study provides insights into the dysbiosis of the nasal mycobiome during CAM infection. In conclusion, our study shows that severe COVID‐19 and CAM are associated with alteration in mycobiome as compared to healthy controls. However, the sequential alteration in the fungal flora which ultimately leads to the development of CAM needs to be addressed by future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is the habitat of many freshwater fish species that make a significant contribution to endemism. However, the native species population is declining at a very fast rate due to pollution, habitat loss or degradation, new species introduction, hydrologic alterations, and overfishing. The minor carp, Labeo gonius, is one of the important fish species in the Indian river systems and holds enormous potential in culture fisheries. Therefore, the precise status of population structure is a prerequisite for the management of the species. In the present study, we assessed the potential of mtDNA ATPase 6/8 and D-loop regions as markers to determine the genetic diversity and phylogeography of L. gonius from Indian rivers. We have selected five major Indian rivers for investigation which could represent geographically distant populations of the studied fish. A total of 210 ATPase 6/8 sequences (842 bp) and 203 D-loop region sequences (683 bp) of L. gonius from the five major Indian rivers were submitted to NCBI. Results revealed that ATPase 6/8 has 17 haplotypes and 70 polymorphic sites with an overall haplotype diversity of 0.560 ± 0.036 and nucleotide diversity of 0.00347 ± 0.00. Furthermore, D-loop analysis revealed 58 haplotypes, 67 polymorphic sites, 0.954 ± 0.006 overall haplotype diversity, and 0.01914 ± 0.00 nucleotide diversity. The hierarchical AMOVA analysis indicated that a high proportion of the genetic variation (76.46% and 70.22% for the D-loop and ATPase 6/8 regions, respectively) was attributed to among-population variation under gene pool-1 (considering all the stocks from Ganga, Brahmaputra, Teesta, Narmada, and Mahanadi as a single pool). Furthermore, in gene pool-2, samples were divided into two groups: group 1 (Himalayan rivers)--Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Teesta; and group 2 (peninsular rivers)--Narmada and Mahanadi. Genetic variations in the D-loop and ATPase 6/8 regions were found among populations within groups at 70.65% and 53.48%, respectively. Haplotype network analysis revealed that there were significant differences in distributions and frequencies. The observed unique haplotypes might be useful for differentiating the stocks. In brief, the present study suggested that the D-loop and ATPase 6/8 regions are potential markers and represent a significant contribution to the genetic characterization of the minor carp L. gonius from major Indian rivers. Moreover, the L. gonius population along the east coast especially in the Himalayan rivers (Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Teesta river basin) is found to be genetically more diverse. The results would provide a scientific basis for the assessment of fisheries resources and management of this important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: India is going through the maintenance phase of VL elimination programme which may be threatened by the persistence of hidden parasite pools among asymptomatic leishmanial infection (ALI) and PKDL. The present work was designed to determine the burden of VL, PKDL, and ALI and to assess the role of treatment of ALI in maintaining post-elimination phase. Methods and finding: The study was undertaken in Malda district, West Bengal, India during October 2016 to September 2021. Study areas were divided into 'Study' and 'Control' arms. VL and PKDL cases of both the arms were diagnosed by three active mass surveys with an interval of one year and treated as per National guideline. ALI of study arm was treated like VL. ALI of control arm was followed up to determine their fate. Fed sand-fly pools were analysed for parasitic DNA. No significant difference was noted between the incidence of VL and PKDL in both the arms. Incidence of ALI declined sharply in study arm but an increasing trend was observed in control arm. Significantly higher rate of sero-conversion was noted in control arm and was found to be associated with untreated ALI burden. Parasitic DNA was detected in 22.8% ALI cases and 2.2% sand-fly pools. Conclusion: Persistence of a significant number of PKDL and ALI and ongoing transmission, as evidenced by new infection and detection of leishmanial DNA in vector sand-flies, may threaten the maintenance of post-elimination phase. Emphasis should be given for elimination of pathogen to prevent resurgence of VL epidemics. Author summary: The present study was conducted in a kala-azar endemic block of Malda district, West Bengal. The study areas were divided 'Study' and 'Control' arm and three active mass survey was conducted for detection of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) and asymptomatic leishmanial infection (ALI). In the study arm, diagnosed ALI cases were treated with Liposomal Amphotericin B. No significant difference was noted between the incidence of VL and PKDL cases in 'Study' and 'Control' arm. But the incidence of ALI cases declined sharply in 'Study' arm and increasing trend was observed in 'Control' arm. A significantly higher rate of ser-conversion was noted in 'Control' arm. In both 'Study' and 'Control' arm, the sero-conversion rate was significantly associated with untreated ALI burden. Persistence of significant number of PKDL and ALI and ongoing transmission as evidenced by new infection and detection of leishmanial DNA in sand-flies may jeopardise the maintenance of post-elimination phase. Therefore, constant vigilance is highly needed to prevent resurgence of VL epidemic. Detection and long-term follow-up of ALI may also help to sustain the elimination. However, feasibility and cost-effectiveness study for detection and treatment of ALI should also receive attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women's empowerment, a precondition of sustainable development, is a multidimensional and complex concept, often described with three interrelated components: resources, agency, and achievement. There is no universal construct for women's empowerment; rather, it has been assessed based on the context. It had been hardly explored in rural West Bengal. Objectives: This study was formulated to construct a women's empowerment index (WEI), in rural West Bengal, and assess the reliability of the index. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study focusing on Women's Empowerment, Child Health and Nutrition (WE-CHANT) was conducted in a community development block in West Bengal. Mother (of reproductive age)--child (6--59 months) pairs were recruited from 20 villages by two-stage sampling (n = 268). Mothers were interviewed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with oblique rotation was conducted with 25 measurement variables to construct the WEI. The internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha, item-rest, average inter-item, inter-domain, and domain-to-index correlation. Results: A 12-item (factor loading ≥0.40) WEI comprising three domains--decision-making power, attitude toward gender-based violence (GBV), and social independence--was constructed with acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.747). The multidimensionality of the index was also observed. Conclusion: A concise agency-based WEI was constructed, where decision-making power was explored as the major domain. This index in the context of rural West Bengal could be further utilized to assess women's empowerment and elicit its association with resources and achievements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is one of the most common types of entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremities caused by compression of the median nerve at the wrist level resulting in somatosensory deficits in the thumb, index, middle, and lateral half of the ring finger and in severe cases motor deficits in the thumb. The somatosensory system is crucial for sensorimotor integration, and sensory loss can have an impact on hand motor activities. The improvement in symptoms has also been seen to improve motor functions. As a result, it is reasonable to believe that the hand sensation and the severity of the symptoms are associated. Objectives: The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of activity-based sensory reeducation training on symptom severity in patients with CTS using an "active cognitive approach". Study Design: This was a randomized controlled study. Methods: A total of 30 CTS patients aged 20–60 years participated and were randomly assigned into two groups: Group 1 (experimental group) received sensory reeducation protocol for 20 min/session and repeated the same at home with traditional therapeutic exercises for 40 min/session a day till 4 weeks and Group 2 (control group) received only traditional therapeutic exercises (median nerve gliding, tendon gliding, and proximal conditioning exercises) for 1 h/session a day till 4 weeks. The assessment was done pre- and posttreatment using the Semmes Weinstein monofilament (SWM) test to measure the sensory threshold and symptom severity scale of the Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaires to measure the symptom severity of the affected hand. Results: Patients' scores were analyzed in the experimental group (n = 15) and control group (n = 13). There was a statistically significant improvement in sensory threshold and symptom severity in the experimental group posttreatment. Significant result (test value = 2.712, P = 0.007, 95% confidence interval = 0.095–0.385) was seen in symptom severity scores, with a mean difference score of 0.68 ± 0.22 in the experimental group when compared with the control group of 0.44 ± 0.17. Between the groups, sensory threshold showed significant improvement in all the components of SWM. Conclusions: Activity-based sensory reeducation training along with traditional therapeutic exercises leads to significant improvement in symptom severity in patients with CTS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a research-for-development (R4D) strategy developed to address how investments and interventions in agricultural intensification as a means to achieve community development can be designed to be more socially inclusive and equitable. We draw on results from a 5-year project – Promoting socially inclusive and sustainable agricultural intensification in West Bengal (India) and southern Bangladesh (SIAGI). We reflect on a major pivot in the project's strategy, from being primarily research-driven to placing community concerns and priorities at the centre with a shift towards Ethical Community Engagement (ECE). This became the foundational framework which guided the definition and undertaking of all subsequent activities – including a rethink of methods and concepts to develop tools and frameworks fit for purpose and local context, and inculcating a culture of reflexivity and mutual learning in the project. We show that creating the conditions for true participation, where project beneficiaries and non-government organizations are equal partners alongside researchers and government actors, and for co-learning using the ECE framework, sets the foundations for increased and potentially enduring social inclusion in agricultural intensification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, we have witnessed accelerated digital interactions among new technology users as a means of communication, leading to addictive behaviours owing to the overuse of smartphones and other new technological interfaces that have reshaped our daily routines. Thus, we adopted the social cognitive theory and the attachment theory to explore and understand the users' app adaptations and how mobile app characteristics, through their influence on smartphone addiction, impact mobile shopping behaviour. We designed an online survey to gather responses from 302 mobile app shoppers in India. We analysed the data using the partial least squares structural equation modelling technique. The results indicate that perceived privacy and security, personalization, contextual offers, and retailers' reputations trigger smartphone addiction. Moreover, the interaction between smartphone addiction and app incentives encourages mobile shopping intentions and frequent purchases. These findings would presumably enhance mobile app characteristics as the stimulus of a closer relationship between consumers and retailers. We present valuable avenues for practitioners to strategically manage their businesses' mobile app environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of socio-economic factors on the Mutual Funds' investment pattern in India with reference to the frequency and time period of investments of retail investors is attempted. The paper also recognizes the financial objectives and, proposes a model facilitating the investment behavior of the retail investors. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Chi-square test were conducted to evaluate both the significant demographic impact on investment patterns as well as the pertinent perception of the investors towards particular mutual fund/s selection. The study reveals that mutual fund is now being considered as one of the important investment options among the investors irrespective of their gender and age. The findings further support the impact of educational and income levels on the preference of investment in mutual funds. The study also reveals that the investors are inclined more towards this investment avenue mainly due to its ease of investing, higher returns and the minimum risk associated with investing in mutual funds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Domestic violence is a deeply entrenched issue in Indian society, with global implications, especially for women's physical and mental health. Healthcare providers play important role in early identification and support of the victims. Medical interns, the future generation of Health care professionals, often acting as primary caregivers are uniquely positioned and expected to recognize and assist victims. This study aims to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, practices, and readiness to manage domestic violence and its associating factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 157 medical interns at a Medical college and hospital in West Bengal, India, from December 2022 to February 2023. Simple random sampling was done. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire, Medical Intern Readiness to manage domestic violence scale (MIREDS), validated after adoption from Physician Readiness to manage Intimate partner violence scale (PREMIS). Ethical approval was obtained, and participants gave informed written consent for inclusion. Satisfactory threshold was determined to be more than 50 percent. Data analysis was performed using MS Excel and SPSS software, including descriptive and inferential statistics, with a significance level of p less than 0.05, along with logistic regression analysis. Results: Only 45.2% of medical interns demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, 54.8% had a satisfactory attitude. Most interns (91.7%) exhibited poor practice in dealing with domestic violence cases, only 31.2% considered themselves ready to manage domestic violence cases. Interns who attend more patients was found to have better attitude. Positive associations were found between knowledge, attitude, and readiness to manage domestic violence cases among doctors. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of medical interns demonstrated inadequate knowledge, negative attitudes, and poor practice and inadequate readiness to manage domestic violence. Comprehensive training and education with cultural sensitivity training along with more practical exposures are in need to address this issue properly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To become the fastest-growing large economy in the world, India has set a target growth rate of 9%, reaching an economy of $5 trillion by 2024-25. It is an immense challenge to meet the growth target and keep the CO2 emissions under control. The present paper aims to discover the determinants for explaining CO2 emissions in India by conducting a complete decomposition analysis, where the residuals are fully distributed to the determinants for the country from 1990-2018. The analysis reveals that the biggest contributor to the rise in CO2 emissions in India is the expansion of the economy (scale effect). The intensity of CO2 and the change in the composition of the economy, which nearly move in tandem, also contribute to the rise in CO2 emissions, although more slowly. A declining energy intensity of the Indian economy is responsible for a considerable reduction in CO2 emissions. As a typical result for an upcoming economy, this paper did not find evidence for an environmental Kuznets curve. This implies that continued economic growth will lead to increased CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species diversity and composition enable us to understand the conservation and management of an ecosystem. There is scarcity of knowledge in understanding the diversity change across the gradients of elevation, especially in the Himalaya. Here, we focused in the eastern Himalaya to investigate the patterns of taxonomic and functional diversity of true flies with relation to variation in altitude. The study was conducted in protected area (Neora Valley National Park) in the eastern Himalaya, India and the survey was conducted at five altitudinal zones (from 500 to 3,000 m). A total of 201 species of Diptera, with 105 genera and 33 families were recorded, of which 25 species are new to the state of West Bengal and seven species are new to India. The species diversity increased with elevation (maximum was near 2,500 m) and most of the flies preferred to be close to bushes with flowers, with a substantial percentage of them being pollinator species. Flies adapt to the various vegetation and climate patterns, which was evident by the abundance of fly species at high altitudes (1,500-2,500 m). Hence, it is very important to implement appropriate actions to protect the diversity of true flies in this Himalayan landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the clinical profile of various benign and malignant cutaneous tumors and establishing their clinico-pathological correlation. Methods A total of 102 consecutive patients of cutaneous tumors fulfilling the eligibility criteria were taken in the present study. Informed consent, detailed history, clinical examination and routine laboratory investigations were carried out on requirement basis. Skin biopsy was taken from representative areas and submitted for routine processing. Correlation of clinical findings with histopathological results was done to establish a final diagnosis. Results Out of total 102 patients, 80.4% were presented with benign conditions while 19.6% were presented with malignant conditions. Most common type of tumor observed in present study was Keratinocytic (42.2%) followed by Melanocytic (18.6%). Most common individual tumor observed was Seborrheic Keratosis (27.5%), followed by Melanocytic Nevus (14.7%) and Syringoma (11.7%), while (8.8%) and (5.9%) cases of SCC and BCC were observed. Most of the pathologies were presented as either papule (55.9%) or plaque (21.6%). Growth was observed in 6 cases of SCC and two cases of melanoma. Conclusion Seborrheic keratosis is the commonest benign tumor while SCC and BCC were the maximum skin tumors in our study. Histopathological study is thus most important part in the diagnosis of skin tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has a very high prevalence of female sterilisation compared to other countries in the world, with a prevailing situation of very low level of information about contraceptive options given to women. It is well established in demographic research that, there exists a strong association between knowledge of contraceptive methods and type of contraception chosen. Present study uses data from 3 consecutive rounds of National Family Health Survey (3, 4 & 5). The sample contains currently married women who started using the current method 5 years prior to each round of survey. Multilevel Logistic Regression and Fairlie Decomposition Model are used to analyse the effect of information given to respondents and decision-making power regarding contraceptive methods on choice of female sterilisation. Women, who are informed about available methods, have lower chance (45.8%, 37.5% & 40% for NFHS 3, 4 & 5 respectively) to opt for sterilisation after controlling all other factors. If woman is the sole decision maker for contraceptive choice, the chance of sterilisation reduces than cases where decision is taken only by husband or jointly. Information about other methods also contributes towards reducing the chance of female sterilisation over the time. Information about contraceptive methods is found to be a major factor in controlling choice of temporary or permanent method. Thus, major focus for the policy makers should be to make information regarding contraceptives more accessible for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security is an important agenda in MDG goals for people of all age groups irrespective of socio-economic strata in all developing and developed countries. For India, with increasing hunger index, provision of food security among older adults comes out to be a rising concern and matter of discussion under hunger eradication programmes and policies. The study concentrated on prevalence of food insecurity among population aged 60 and above in India and their associated health factors controlling the level of food insecurity. The data used for the research is taken from a nationally representative survey, Longitudinal Ageing Study in India (LASI), Wave I (2019–2020) with a sample of 31,464 people aged 60 and above all over India. The outcome variable of food insecurity is made with composite scores from 5 sets of questions and made a binary variable of whether the respondent is food secure or insecure. Descriptive and bivariate analysis are performed to understand the correlation between the food insecurity and associated explanatory variables, with special focus on various types of functional impairments and chronic diseases. Through binary logistic regression models, the likelihood of food insecurity under different vulnerable conditions are analysed. The result describes 10.6% of older population aged 60 years and above of India experience food insecurity especially in rural areas (12.6%). Older adults living alone, in rural areas, with poor household income, with multimorbidity and functional impairments are more susceptible to be food insecure in India. With increasing number of functional limitations, the likelihood of being food insecure increases around 1.6 times. While presence of multimorbidity increases food insecurity; individual diseases like diabetes and hypertension negatively affects food insecurity among older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the 21st century, India is still struggling to reduce the burden of malnutrition and child mortality, which is much higher than the neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Shri Lanka. Preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) predispose early-age growth faltering and premature mortality among children below the age of five. Thus, highlighting the determinants of LBW and PTB is necessary to achieve sustainable development goals. Objective: The present study provides macro-level estimates of PTB and LBW and aims to highlight the nature of the association between various demographic, socioeconomic, and maternal obstetric variables with these outcomes using a nationally representative dataset. Methods: Data on 170,253 most recent births from the National Family health survey (NFHS-5) 2019–21 was used for the analysis. The estimates of PTB and LBW are measured by applying sample weights. The correlates of LBW and PTB were analyzed using logistic models. Results: There were cross-state disparities in the prevalence of PTB and LBW. In India, an estimated 12% and 18% of children were LBW and PTB, respectively, in 2019–21. Maternal obstetric and anthropometric factors such as lack of antenatal care, previous caesarean delivery, and short-stature mothers were associated positively with adverse birth outcomes such as LBW and PTB. However, a few correlates were found to be differently associated with PTB and LBW. Mothers belonging to richer wealth status had higher chances of having a preterm birth (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.11–1.20) in comparison to poor mothers. In contrast, the odds of having LBW infants were found to be increased with the decreasing level of the mother's education and wealth quintile. Conclusions: In India, PTB and LBW can be improved by strengthening existing ante-natal care services and evaluating the effects of the history of caesarean births on future pregnancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbes evolve rapidly by modifying their genomes through mutations or through the horizontal acquisition of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) linked with fitness traits such as antimicrobial resistance (AMR), virulence, and metabolic functions. We conducted a multicentric study in India and collected different clinical samples for decoding the genome sequences of bacterial pathogens associated with sepsis, urinary tract infections, and respiratory infections to understand the functional potency associated with AMR and its dynamics. Genomic analysis identified several acquired AMR genes (ARGs) that have a pathogen-specific signature. We observed that blaCTX-M-15, blaCMY-42, blaNDM-5, and aadA(2) were prevalent in Escherichia coli, and blaTEM-1B, blaOXA-232, blaNDM-1, rmtB, and rmtC were dominant in Klebsiella pneumoniae. In contrast, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii harbored blaVEB, blaVIM-2, aph(3'), strA/B, blaOXA-23, aph(3') variants, and amrA, respectively. Regardless of the type of ARG, the MGEs linked with ARGs were also pathogen-specific. The sequence type of these pathogens was identified as high-risk international clones, with only a few lineages being predominant and region-specific. Whole-cell proteome analysis of extensively drug-resistant K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa strains revealed differential abundances of resistance-associated proteins in the presence and absence of different classes of antibiotics. The pathogen-specific resistance signatures and differential abundance of AMR-associated proteins identified in this study should add value to AMR diagnostics and the choice of appropriate drug combinations for successful antimicrobial therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organizations adopt blockchain technologies to provide solutions that deliver transparency, traceability, trust, and security to their stakeholders. In a novel contribution to the literature, this study adopts the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework to examine the technological, organizational, and environmental dimensions for adopting blockchain technology in supply chains. This represents a departure from prior studies which have adopted the technology acceptance model (TAM), technology readiness index (TRI), theory of planned behavior (TPB), united theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) models. Data was collected through a survey of 525 supply chain management professionals in India. The research model was tested using structural equation modeling. The results show that all the eleven TOE constructs, including relative advantage, trust, compatibility, security, firm's IT resources, higher authority support, firm size, monetary resources, rivalry pressure, business partner pressure, and regulatory pressure, had a significant influence on the decision of blockchain technology adoption in Indian supply chains. The findings of this study reveal that the role of blockchain technology adoption in supply chains may significantly improve firm performance improving transparency, trust and security for stakeholders within the supply chain. Further, this research framework contributes to the theoretical advancement of the existing body of knowledge in blockchain technology adoption studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses some fundamental aspects of the circulation of knowledge connected with the spread of the first global model of school management and classroom organisation in the early nineteenth century: the so-called "monitorial system of education" or, as it was named after its "inventors", the "Bell-Lancaster Method". By looking at the communication of educational ideas between England and the early British possessions in India, this paper first analyses the actors involved in this process, especially their agendas and means. Inspired by the widespread belief in the powers of education to improve both society as a whole and individuals, educational activists gathered in a number of committees and organisations--among whom the "British and Foreign School Society" proved most influential. Protestant missionary societies also became active in the field of popular education. The monitorial system of education attracted social reformers, British as well as Indian, and missionaries to whom it appeared to be a technology with civilising powers, a rational instrument to morally uplift and, at the same time, subject individuals "to their respective places" in society. Second, the paper looks at the processes of hybridisation and transformation of the pedagogical knowledge that was communicated between India and England: the origins of the monitorial system in an orphanage school at Madras, its export to London, where it was developed into a standardised model, and its subsequent "re-import" into India. Finally, reports about the implementation of the monitorial system in India again had an impact on English public discourses on education. (Contains 89 footnotes.)

Background: Infants born with low birth weight (LBW), i.e. less than 2500g, is considered an important factor of malnutrition in Asia. In India, research related to this issue is still neglected and limited. Evidence exists that a large number of child deaths occur in India due to maternal and child malnutrition-related complications. Moreover, it has been found that the cost of malnutrition in India results in a significant reduction of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thus, in this current context, this study aims to explore the contribution of low birth weight to childhood undernutrition in India. Methods: The study used data from the 5th round of the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), a large-scale survey conducted in India. The survey collected information from 176,843 mothers and 232,920 children. The study used the last birth information (last children born 5 years preceding the survey) due to the detailed availability of maternal care information. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted to determine the percentage distribution of outcome variables. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to examine the association between LBW and undernutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight). The study also used the Fairlie decomposition analysis to estimate the contribution of LBW to undernutrition among Indian children. Results: The results show that childhood undernutrition was higher in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The results of the logistic regression analysis show that infants born with low birth weight were more likely to be stunted (OR = 1.46; 95% CI: 1.41–1.50), wasted (OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.27–1.37), and underweight (OR = 1.76; 95% CI: 1.70–1.82) in their childhood compared to infants born without low birth weight. The findings from the decomposition analysis explained that approximately 14.8% of the difference in stunting, 10.4% in wasting, and 9.6% in underweight among children born with low birth weight after controlling for the individuals' selected characteristics. Conclusion: The findings suggest that LBW has a significant contribution to malnutrition. The study suggests that policymakers should prioritize strengthening maternal and child healthcare schemes, particularly focusing on antenatal and postnatal care, as well as kangaroo mother care at the grassroots level to reduce the burden of LBW and undernourished children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Andrographis paniculata (family Acanthaceae) is known as Kalmegh, one of the traditionally used important medicinal plant contains several biologically active phytochemical including andrographolide. A. paniculata is broadly used by healthcare practitioners in India and also used in different traditional medicinal system. In this study, the leaves of A. paniculata were collected from West Medinipur, East Medinipur, South 24 Parganas, Purulia and Hooghly district of West Bengal, India. This study aiming towards validation and development of a simple, precise and reproducible reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) methods for quantification of andrographolide in A. paniculata extracts. The validated RP-HPLC and HPTLC study confirmed that different concentrations of andrographolide content present in the plant samples, which are collected from above different districts of West Bengal, India. The amounts of andrographolide were found to be 2.71% (w/w), 3.19% (w/w), 1.83% (w/w), 1.73% (w/w) and 2.94% (w/w) in RP-HPLC study and 2.13% (w/w), 2.51% (w/w), 1.01% (w/w), 1.25% (w/w) and 2.15% (w/w) in HPTLC study. This precise, reproducible, accurate and specific method can be used for the quantification of andrographolide in kalmegh, as per the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Oral lichen planus (OLP) is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the middle-aged females. The present study aims to determine the relation of the oestrogen receptor alpha (ERα) with OLP pathogenesis, correlating it with the possible cause of its higher prevalence among females. Materials and Methods: Clinically and histologically identified fifteen of each pre-menopausal and peri-menopausal OLP female patients were chosen for this study. The expression of ERα was analysed from the collected lesion tissue samples by using two-step semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (SqRT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: mRNA and protein expression of ERα were significantly higher in both groups of OLP female patients when compared with the control. The perimenopausal OLP patients showed significantly elevated expression of ERα compared to premenopausal patients. Conclusion: Higher expression of ERα in pre- and peri-menopausal females may be a causative factor for the higher prevalence of OLP among females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The COVID-19 has led to a drastic shift in holistic educational system into online mode, but its usefulness in teaching medical and nursing course is questionable. Assessing nursing students' perceptions and level of gratifications with web-based learning system has been a critical issue. Methodology: A quantitative study approach and descriptive study design was adopted to assess the perceptions and level of gratifications towards traditional and virtual learning experiences among the nursing students during a Covid-19 Pandemic. The sample consists of 140 nursing students who are having exposure to both traditional as well as virtual learning experiences, which were drawn using the probability sampling technique (simple random- lottery method). The data were collected through the administration of structured questionnaire, which consists 15 demographic questions, 28 Perception statements (towards traditional learning 14 & virtual learning 14), 16 Gratification statements (towards traditional learning 8 & virtual learning 8). Data were analyzed by using Descriptive & Inferential statistics. Results: The study results revealed that with respect to virtual learning 42(30%) had positive perceptions and 98(70%) had negative perceptions, and with regard to traditional learning 139(99.29%) had negative perceptions and only one (0.71%) had positive perceptions. In addition, with regard to virtual learning 125(89.29%) were moderately satisfied, 12(8.57%) were highly satisfied and 3(2.14%) had a low level of satisfactions, and with respect to traditional learning experiences, 115(82.14%) were moderately satisfied, 23(16,43%) were highly satisfied, and 2(1.43%) had a low level of satisfaction. Conclusion: Based on the findings of the study, it was concluded that while the empirical status of online learning studies is somewhat disappointing, online learning experiences have revolutionised learning and teaching.Virtual learning also has advantages and can enhance the nursing education learning experience, but it needs to be delivered correctly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: COVID-19 has spread throughout the world and has resulted in significant morbidity, mortality, and negative psychological impact. This cross-sectional study is exploring the effect of the pandemic on mental health and academic performace of medical students. Survey was done to solicit participants’ feedback regarding their experience in academic difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic. Material and Methods: It was a cross-sectional observational study with a convenience sample conducted in Medical College at Eastern India. Study assessed the mental health of students’ participants during the COVID-19 outbreak by using structured questionnaires and studies its impact on academic performance in upcoming WBUHS Professional Examinations. An online google form questionnaire link was shared with the participants. The final questionnaire for this study consisted of 17 questions (15 closed-ended and 2 open-ended) and a rating scale divided into three sections. After the filling of questionnaires, participants were followed up for their academic performances. Results: Ability to focus on academic work (72-93%) and difficulties with online learning (17-31%) were the most commonly cited issues related to academics. Change of behavior in response to the pandemic was pervasive. Our respondents almost universally increased hand washing, limited social outings, and started wearing masks. Conclusion: Study results indicate that college students who are experiencing considerable number of academic and everyday difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic also report increased levels of mental health burden. This study will add to the existing body of literature on the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown and online learning on the social an sychological health of students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the history of biological research on muscid flies has never been thoroughly reviewed. There is no useful documentation of their recent and past taxonomic, medical, veterinary, and forensic research trends, as well as natural history and ecology studies. In the 75 years since independence, efforts have mostly focused on faunistic surveys. However, new study avenues have emerged in agricultural, medical, and forensic fields, as well as other areas such as molecular, ecological, and microbial research. In order to develop a state-wise perspective, we reviewed all the available old and recent studies on family Muscidae (Diptera) throughout the country and suggested areas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of pearl millet in India is experiencing important transformations. Here, we propose a new characterization of the pearl millet production environment using the latest available district level data (1998–2017), principal component analysis, and large-scale crop model simulations. Pearl millet cultivation environment can be divided in up to five environments (TPEs). The eastern part of the country (Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh) emerges as the only region where pearl millet cultivation has grown (+0.4 Kha/year), with important yield increase (+51 kg/ha/year), and potential surplus that are likely exported. Important reductions of pearl millet cultivated area in Gujarat (−4.5 Kha/year), Maharashtra and Karnataka (−4 Kha/year) are potentially due to economy-driven transition to other more profitable crops, such as cotton or maize. The potential rain increase could also accelerate this transition. With R 2 ∈ [0.15–0.61], the tested crop models reflected reasonably well the pearl millet production system in the A1 (North Radjasthan) and AE1 (South Rajastan and Haryana) TPEs covering the largest area (66%) and production share (59%), especially after the use of a new strategy for environment and management parameters calibration. Those results set the base for in silico system design and optimization in future climatic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of the VP1 gene sequence of the foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) is critical to understanding viral evolution and disease epidemiology. A standard set of primers have been used for the detection and sequence analysis of the VP1 gene of FMDV directly from suspected clinical samples with limited success. The study validated VP1-specific degenerate primer-based reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the qualitative detection and sequencing of serotype O FMDV lineages circulating in India. The novel degenerate primer-based RT-PCR amplifying the VP1 gene can circumvent the genetic heterogeneity observed in viruses after cell culture adaptation and facilitate precise viral gene sequence analysis from clinical samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at Central Research Farm, Gayeshpur, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, West Bengal, India during kharif (June–September, 2019 and 2020) to evaluate the influence of different organic nitrogen sources on growth, quality, yield and yield parameters and production economics of dual purpose ricebean (Vigna umbellata) of Bidhan ricebean-2 variety. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. The organic nitrogen sources used in the experiment were vermicompost, farm yard manure and biocompost. Experiment results revealed that application of 50% RDN through FYM+50% RDN through Vermicompost gave significantly higher leaf–stem ratio and drymatter accumulation. Among other treatments, with application of 50% RDN through FYM+50% RDN through vermicompost significantly highest green forage yield, dry matter yield was observed. Highest seed yield and yield attributes like pods plant-1, seeds pod-1 was observed with application 50% RDN through FYM+50% RDN through vermicompost. Application of 50% RDN through FYM+50% RDN through Vermicompost recorded highest quality parameters like crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and crude protein yield when compared to other treatments. With respect to economics of different organic and inorganic nitrogen sources, application of 50% RDN through FYM+50% RDN through vermicompost recorded higher gross returns and net returns but higher B-C ratio was noticed with application of 100% RDN through inorganic fertilizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the effects of definitional information in the form of dictionary entries, on second language learners' vocabulary learning in an instructed setting. Indian students (Native Hindi speakers) of English received monolingual English dictionary entries of five previously unknown words from four different learner's dictionaries. Results exposed drawbacks of instructional vocabulary learning. (Author/VWL)

The coastal population of Indian subcontinent experience a variety of coastal hazards, of which cyclone is the most destructive one. The paper analyses the vulnerability level of the east coastal districts of Bay of Bengal stretching for 1400 km by adopting an innovative approach to estimate vulnerability index through hazard exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability measures. Findings reveal that northern districts located close to the apex of Bay of Bengal are more vulnerable to coastal cyclones as compared to the southern part. Districts with a higher degree of coastal vulnerability experience markedly higher neonatal and under-5 mortality. Prevalence of diarrhoea among children, unimproved sanitation facility and unimproved sources of drinking water are revealingly associated with more neonatal and under-5 mortality across coastal districts. Women, children, elderly and the agrarian population are more sensitive to the cyclone. Lack of infrastructure, education and poor health care system hinder adaptive capacity. The study propagates strong disaster planning and improvement of basic facilities, especially immunization coverages of the vulnerable districts of east coast in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Packages of fluvial systems in the Lower Ganga plains (LGP) archive the changes in stratigraphic architecture induced by perturbations in the climatic system. In some parts of this landscape, where the fluvial sequences predominate, the role of climate in landsculpting is strongly indicated by the presence of sediment architecture. The present study is focused on the formation of alluvial plains of the Ajay River in the Rarh region that represent a region's environmental templates for understanding the landscape of LGP. The sedimentological, geomorphological, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) chronological investigations were attempted to document sedimentation patterns and the timing of deposition. The stratigraphic data from two exposed cliff sections and three boreholes are compared with proxy records to understand the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) controls on alluvial sedimentation for the last ~2.4 ka. The fluvial packages in the study area correspond to two significant channel phases: Period‐I (2.4–1.3 ka) and Period‐II (800–200 years ago). Period‐I is characterized by the episodes of floodplain development and lateral migration of the trunk river during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) I, especially around 2 ka corresponding to the Roman Warm (RW) period in the Indian subcontinent. The sediment filling was high during ~2.4 ka due to ISM intensification, but in the later stage, the sedimentation was at a fairly steady rate. Conversely, Period‐II is characterized by flooding phenomena and aggradation of channel bodies across much of the present valley area during the last 800 years. The distinct flood events occurred during the times of significant shifts in ISM, from fluvial dormancy to sudden outbursts of monsoons (end of Little Ice Age [LIA] ~ 19th century), indicating that climatic patterns can be associated with the occurrences of abrupt flood events. The alluvial records fit well with the historical, instrumental, and published proxy data on the ISM validating the chronology and the potential of sedimentary archives for further studies related to the palaeoenvironment and palaeogeography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a developing country like India, the primary source of power generation is fossil fuels. The lion's share of India's electricity production is from fossil fuels leading to massive greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) like CO 2 , which causes global warming. To deal with climate change and control global warming, the carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) project in geological formation is a practical, comparatively secure, inevitable and emergent method to be materialized. However, CO 2 storage in deep geological structures in the sedimentary basin has a risk of leakage due to the geological formation of different seams, which might harm human beings, including different underground, terrestrial, and aquatic species. It could affect the energy sources of our environment also. Therefore the selection of CO 2 storage site in geological media is based on some criteria, and therefore it is a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problem. The multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method is proposed to get a more impartial result, using the soft computing methodology Pythagorean fuzzy VIKOR ("VIekriterijumsko KOmpromisno Rangiranje", a Serbian term for "multi-criteria optimization and compromise solution") modified with a novel divergence called Pythagorean fuzzy Jensen-Shannon Song (PJSS). The fuzzy DEMATEL (DEcision MAking Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) method is introduced to evaluate the criteria weights. A Comparative Study and Sensitivity analysis are also presented in this article. Finally, the outcomes of the work show that the proposed methodology is feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primarily benthic, shallow-water, reef-associated Indian frogfish, Antennarius indicus Schultz 1964, belongs to the family Antennariidae (order Lophiiformes) and may be found in nearly all of the world's tropical and subtropical oceans and seas. Comprehensive morphological parameters of the Indian frogfish found in the Hooghly and Matlah estuary systems of India are provided by the current study. A single specimen with a length 97.87 mm and weight 33.48 g was collected from the winter migratory bagnet catch at Fraserganj fish landing site. Till now, there are no records of the occurrence of frogfishes in the Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system. The morphological features such as dorsal-fin spines - 3, dorsal-fin rays - 12, anal fin rays - 7, pectoral-fin rays - 10, and pelvic fin rays - 5, confirmed the first record of Indian frogfish A. indicus from the Hooghly-Matlah estuarine system. The estuary's current condition was revealed by the examination of the water quality at the collection site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High quantity of potato wastage from the process and cold storage facilities in India poses serious disposal issues and loss of carbonaceous starches. Waste potato biomass has the potential estimated to be 6.3–7.2 MMT of fermentable sugar equivalent per annum. This study evaluates ethanol and yeast lipid production feasibility using the non-marketable waste potato. For obtaining optimum sugar, the dilute acid hydrolysis was first optimized by one variable at a time (OVAT) approach, and an artificial neural network was formulated to model the hydrolysis process. The optimized variables considered were reaction time, temperature, and acid concentration. The optimum glucose concentration of 55.82 g/L was utilized as a carbon source for ethanol and yeast lipid production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa IIPL32. Ethanol and lipid concentrations of 33.74 and 2.6 g/L were obtained, respectively. The carbon balance of the two processes showed that the flow of net carbon concerning the feedstock was more towards the waste streams. The finding, therefore, proposes that with proper supply chain management, this fermentable carbon can be destined as a co-feed in any existing distillery, or even a separate decentralized system can be envisaged. This study thus investigates the stepwise carbon mapping from the feedstock to the product leading to a cradle to gate carbon flow assessment to understand the net carbon sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture is the primary profession in India which relies on several climatic factors such as rainfall, temperature, humidity, etc., for the successful growth of crops. Weather and drought forecasting may help to take preventive measures in an unusual situation due to crop failure. Most of the existing work attempts to forecast the weather or analyse the reason for the occurrence of drought and its effects in the past. This paper adopts the machine learning model called the long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network to forecast the long-term rainfall and standardised precipitation index for drought estimation. The predicted annual rainfall from LSTM is taken as an input to forecast the drought conditions of India for the upcoming years, which is a unique approach and objective, and based on this work appropriate decisions can be made for future actions. The past 117 years of rainfall and drought conditions are compared with the recent 50 years by analysing the data in several ways in order to predict the future scenario. The forecasted results are compared with actual observations to demonstrate the effectiveness of the LSTM model to produce adequate results. The error and network loss of the model is 0.059 and 0.0036, which is minimal, and the forecasted rainfall level is almost equal to actual level specifically accuracy is 99.46% for the previous year, 2021. It was found that there is a rainfall decline of 0.04% every year. Apart from the prediction for the country, a clear picture of the region regarding drought forecasts is presented in this work. The real-time drought level is mild and moderate for most of the regions in the country which matches with the drought level determined using forecasted rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic diversity of organisms is an indicator of their long-term survival and can potentially be shaped by the extent of geneflow between populations. Geographical features and anthropogenic interferences can both obstruct and also facilitate animal movement, directly or indirectly. Such patterns have not been extensively studied across grasslands in the Indian subcontinent which is a mosaic of both natural and man-made topography. This study looks at genetic variation in an endemic ungulate, the Antilope cervicapra or blackbuck, throughout its distribution range. Using mitochondrial and nuclear (microsatellite) information, we find that different markers shed light on different aspects of their evolutionary history. Absence of robust geographical clustering in mitochondrial DNA indicate recent isolation in these populations, while lack of shared haplotypes between sampling locations suggests female philopatry. Nuclear data shows the presence of three genetic clusters in this species, pertaining to the Northern, Southern and Eastern regions of India. Our study also shows that an ancestral stock separated into two groups that gave rise to the North and South clusters and the East population was derived from the South at a later time period. Both microsatellite and mitochondrial data indicate that the population from the Eastern part of India is genetically distinct and the species as a whole shows signatures of having undergone recent genetic expansion. In spite of immense losses in grassland habitats across India, blackbucks seem to have well-adapted to human altered landscapes and their numbers are beginning to show an upward trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wasting develops over a short period and can be reversed with short‐term interventions. The prevalence of wasting typically varies from season to season—becoming higher during the monsoon (June to September) season as compared to the winter (October to January) and summer (February to May) seasons every year in a cyclical fashion. However, to the best of our knowledge, using nationally representative demographic surveys to extensively study the impact of the timing of the survey on the results and trends around wasting has not been done so far. Objectives: The goal of this study is to ascertain whether seasonality has an impact on the trend and levels of wasting between NFHS‐3 (2005–2006) and NFHS‐5 (2019–2021). Methods: The analysis was based on data on 51,555, 259,627, and 232,920 children under 5 years included in NFHS‐3, NFHS‐4, and NFHS‐5 respectively. Multivariable logistic regression analysis and the predicted probabilities approach were employed to examine the effect of the months of interview on the prevalence of wasting. The analysis was conducted for 9 states of India which had data for comparable months to compute wasting levels. Results: We found that at the national level, wasting increased in India by one per cent from NFHS‐3 to NFHS‐4 but declined by 2% from NFHS‐4 to NFHS‐5. The results show that seasonality significantly influenced the prevalence of wasting. It was observed that compared to January, the odds of wasting were particularly higher in summer and monsoon seasons, especially in the month of August across all three rounds, indicating the influence of seasonality in the prevalence of wasting in the country. Discussion: The prevalence of wasting in India needs to be interpreted across seasonal changes as seasonality affects many of the variables intrinsically related to child health and nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of instructional resources based on information and communication technology (ICT) by secondary English instructors is examined in this study. We investigate the importance of teachers' attitudes towards ICT, their selfconfidence in utilising these tools, and their competence in incorporating ICT into their teaching practises using a case study method. The data, collected through interviews, observations, and surveys from a sample of English teachers, highlight the complex interplay of these factors and suggest that positive attitudes, high selfconfidence, and strong competency are significant predictors of teachers' willingness and ability to adopt ICT-based instructional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]