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Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) quantifies the atmospheric water demand from a hypothetical reference crop under standardized conditions. Analyzing the changing dynamics of the climatic drivers, this study rigorously assesses their individual contributions to the trend of ETo. The spatial and temporal variations of ETo , and influencing climatic drivers are studied based on data from 87 conventional weather stations (CWS) from 1990 to 2020 over different climatic zones in India. Gap-filling was performed to overcome the data discontinuity, and inhomogeneity was identified and corrected. The Penman–Monteith (PM) method was used to compute ETo. This study proposes the use of a second-order attribution model to account for the interaction among the climatic drivers and reduce the approximation error. The mean annual ETo was found to be 1,836.956 mm/year , with a declining trend observed over India from 1990 to 2020. The second-order attribution model helped improve the attribution analysis over the first-order attribution model by considering second-order independent and interactive components. Attribution analysis over the climatic zones showed that decreasing solar radiation (dimming) and wind speed (stilling) are the major contributors to the declining trend of ETo. Vapor pressure is also found to be a major contributor, which is attributed to the increasing irrigation practices causing an increasing trend of vapor pressure over India. Temperature contributes to increasing trends, which gets offset by solar radiation, wind speed, and vapor pressure, eventually leading to an overall decline of ETo. The existence of the evaporation paradox over India is also discussed. Assessment of the factors contributing to the fluctuations of ETo , is valuable for informed irrigation planning and water resource management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the factors influencing the type and timing of Alveolar Bone Grafting (ABG) among cleft centers throughout India. To examine the decision-making criteria for orthodontic treatment and the timing of ABG. Design: Cross sectional survey Method: This survey was based on a convenience-based sample selected from cleft teams across India. The survey was formulated using the SurveyMonkey platform and emailed to 40 cleft teams. The survey included questions on demographics, timing, surgical protocol, orthodontic protocol, radiograph prescription rate, assessment methods for the success of ABG and three scenarios for evaluating the timing of the bone graft. The Chi-squared test was performed to evaluate the difference in opinion between specialists. The inter-examiner reliability was assessed using Kappa statistics. Results: Thirty-five units completed the questionnaire. Most units operate with 1-2 surgeons, with 42.9% of them treating cleft patients for under 5 years. Only 11.4% of centres routinely advised oblique occlusal radiographs for post-surgery evaluation, and 31.4% prescribed CBCT. However, 40% of cleft teams did not perform audits to evaluate the success of ABG, and less than 50% advised radiographs six months post-surgery. Around 26% of centres do not routinely provide orthodontic treatment pre-ABG. The inter-examiner reliability for case scenarios showed poor agreement between the clinicians. Conclusion: The survey showed a serious lack of consensus in the ABG treatment among cleft teams in India and emphasises the need for standardised protocols for the treatment of children with cleft palate. There is an urgent need to develop core outcome set in cleft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improved tuberculosis (TB) screening is urgently needed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients., Methods: An observational, multi-country, cross-sectional study of HIV-infected patients to compare a standardized diagnostic evaluation (SDE) for TB with standard of care (SOC). SOC evaluations included TB symptom review (current cough, fever, night sweats and/or weight loss), sputum Ziehl-Neelsen staining and chest radiography. SDE screening added extended clinical signs and symptoms and fluorescent microscopy (FM). All participants underwent all evaluations. Mycobacterium tuberculosis on sputum culture was the primary outcome., Results: A total of 801 participants were enrolled from Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Peru and Brazil. The median age was 33 years; 37% were male, and median CD4 count was 275 cells/mm(3). Thirty-one participants (4%) had a positive culture on Löwenstein-Jensen media and 54 (8%) on MGIT. All but one positive culture came from sub-Saharan Africa, where the prevalence of TB was 54/445 (12%). SOC screening had 54% sensitivity (95%CI 40-67) and 76% specificity (95%CI 72-80). Positive and negative predictive values were respectively 24% and 92%. No elements of the SDE improved the predictive values of SOC., Conclusions: Symptom-based screening with smear microscopy was insufficiently sensitive. More sensitive diagnostic testing is required for HIV-infected patients.

The present experiment was conducted during March--May 2022 at ICAR--CIFE, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India to develop a unique fish feed from locally available vegetable, and fish processing waste. These two sources of the waste were used in composite bio-silage (CBS) production by combining fish (80%)--vegetable (20%) waste with probiotic proteolytic strain (E. faecalis+L. acidophilus) and jaggery (15% Jaggery) as a carbon source. The final CBS materials were used in experimental fish feed preparation by replacing fish meal (FM) protein. Changes in physicochemical, and microbiological quality characteristics of fish feed were measured every 15th day at room temperature (25--30°C). There was no change in color, the appearance of a moderately bad odour, a little bit of soft texture, and broken pellets were found in the later stages of the storage. Crude protein (38.50--36.10%) and fat (8.60--4.82%) content were decreased whereas, moisture content increased (9.15--11.10%) in all samples during the storage period. There were no notable changes in ash or crude fiber. Lipid oxidation product TBARs (8.0--13.205 MDA; nmol mg-1), Total Plate Count (2.75--6.70 log cfu g-1), and Fungal Count (1--2.50 log cfu g-1) were within acceptable range. The study's findings indicated that composite bio-silage incorporated fish feed has a shelf life of up to 60th days and can be fed during this period. The study also suggested that manufactured fish feed should not be stored for more than two months, either in the place of production or at the farmer's store. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under global change and climate variations, determining the impacts of climate change and human activities on cropland net primary productivity (NPP) in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar (BIM) is of great significance for identifying yield-limiting factors, making adaptive agricultural management plans, and improving yields. Based on the GLOPEM-CEVSA model, through an integration of remote sensing data and LAI simulation, we investigated the impacts and spatiotemporal changes of water and human activities on BIM from 1982 to 2015. Three types of cropland NPPs were considered: actual NPP (NPPA), NPP affected by temperature and water (NPPWT), and NPP only affected by temperature (NPPT). Our analysis revealed that the water factor plays a predominant role in determining the NPP level in the BIM. Temperature variability was found to be conducive to NPPT, exhibiting an increasing trend of 10.66 g C m–2 yr–1. However, this trend was partially offset by precipitation variability, resulting in a net increase of 0.96 g C m–2 yr–1. In comparing temperature-driven NPP to temperature and water-driven NPP, water stress caused NPPT to decrease by 65.46% compared to NPPWT for the entire region. Cropland NPP in northwestern India and the central Deccan Plateau were significantly affected by water stress. Moreover, the influence of water on NPP in the BIM exhibited a substantial upward trend from 1982 to 2015, with Myanmar experiencing the most significant increase. The gap between NPPWT and NPPA in BIM demonstrated a notable decreasing trend during the same period, underscoring the positive impact of human activities on NPP. Inferences drawn from our findings suggest that with the implementation of rational and efficient crop management practices, there is a 36.80% potential improvement in NPPA compared to NPPWT in the BIM region, with India and Myanmar showing potential increases of 39.20% and 38.29%, respectively. These insights provide guidance for practical measures aimed at water resource management to enhance cropland productivity in the BIM, and they present a methodology for quantifying the effects of climatic changes and human activities at a regional scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between canopy air temperature difference and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in wheat crops under normal or nonstressfull conditions. The treatments were undertaken on five plots, having randomized block design (RBD), each maintained at different levels of soil moisture having full irrigation; no irrigation; and 10%, 30%, and 50% soil moisture. Then canopy air temperature difference was regressed against VPD to generate non-water stress and maximum water stress baselines, and the crop water stress index (CWSI) was computed using empirical approach-baseline methods at different soil moisture deficits. It was found that irrigation treatment at 30% soil moisture deficit yielded the maximum water use efficiency. The canopy air temperature difference and VPD resulted in linear relationships, and the slope (m) and intercept (c) for lower baseline of preheading and postheading stages of wheat crop were found as m=−2.371 , c=−1.659 ; and m=−1.8952 , c=−2.32 , for the crop season of 2018–2019. Similarly, the non-water stress baseline equation in the season of 2019–2020 had m=−1.7184 , c=−2.3009 ; and m=−1.8137 , c=−1.9176 for preflowering and postflowering stages of wheat, respectively. The CWSI was determined by using the developed empirical equations for three irrigation schedules of different maximum allowable depletion (MAD) of available soil water (ASW). The developed CWSI may have the potential to improve irrigation scheduling of wheat in India. The study shows practical applications for enhancing wheat cultivation under varying soil moisture conditions. First, it recommends irrigating at 30% soil moisture deficit to maximize water use efficiency, aiding farmers in balancing crop yield and water conservation. Second, established relationships between canopy air temperature difference and VPD allow for the assessment of water stress. By utilizing regression equations, farmers can estimate the CWSI across soil moisture levels, guiding irrigation scheduling during critical growth stages. Third, the developed empirical equations enable real-time prediction of water stress. Monitoring the canopy air temperature difference and VPD offers insights into plant health, helping with informed decisions on irrigation and fertilization. Last, the findings are relevant for water-scarce regions like India, where tailored CWSI equations can be integrated into irrigation systems, promoting sustainable practices under a changing climate. This study may help farmers with practical tools for water-efficient wheat cultivation, fostering informed choices for sustainable agriculture, particularly in water-scarce regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arunachal Pradesh in one of the largest states in north eastern states of India, having subtropical humid climate influenced by monsoon. An attempt has therefore, been made to understand the climatic conditions of the state and its influence on the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and crop water requirement (CWR) of rice crop, using 21 years (2001-2021) data of 14 districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The results revealed that the maximum temperature varied from 13°C to 30°C while minimum temperature varied from 3°C to 20°C and annual rainfall varied from 1200 mm to 2700 mm across the state. The maximum temperature was found to decrease while the minimum temperature and rainfall were found to increase with varying significant levels in different districts. The mean annual reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was found to vary between 900 mm and 1400 mm. The crop water requirement of rice estimated using CROPWAT model revealed a large spatial variation from 508 mm to 731 mm in different districts of the state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is a nation of unity and diversity; Unity is its strength. The diversity of the workforce in an organization is managed by the rules and regulations laid down by India's Constitution. Thus, diversity in the workforce for the public sector and the government is managed by default. Allen, R. Et al. (2008) Staff diversity expectancy at the organization's management level is directly linked to organizational success views. Wambui, T. W., Wangombe, et al. (2013) Diverse workers add quality value, strong credibility, and high competitiveness. India is known for "Atithi Devo Bhava," which means You become the one who considers that Guests are equivalent to God. It has embraced many cultures and systems in its journey, and thus today, it is a multicultural and multi-ethnicity nation. India's Constitution maintains India's diversity; it has prescribed the reservation for Other Backward Class, Scheduled Tribe, Schedule Cast, EWC (Economically weaker Class, General and other minorities (Muslim, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Zoroastrian, Christian). This reservation is not a new formulation of India after independence. However, it exists from the British's days, the reservation had been there, and it has been carried further with some modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding crop water requirements is critical for irrigation scheduling and cropping pattern decisions in any environment. Using the CROPWAT model, a study was conducted to estimate the irrigation requirement of major crops cultivated in the humid subtropical climate of Meghalaya from 2001 to 2022 and preparing irrigation scheduling plan for the current scenario. The results showed that the annual ET 0 from 2001 to 2022 at the selected station was 876.7 mm. The lowest monthly ET 0 (46.8 mm) was observed in December and the highest (94 mm) was observed in March. The results also indicated that the seasonal minimum and maximum CWR for rice, maize, ginger, mustard, and potato were 462.5 and 652.2 mm, 314.6 and 455.8 mm, 673.3 and 922.9 mm, 199.8 and 413.4 mm, and 341.5 and 465.3 mm, respectively. The minimum and maximum IR for rice, maize, ginger, mustard, and potato were 152.9 and 378.8 mm, 0 and 30.2 mm, 60.1 and 255.7 mm, 0 and 193 mm, and 0 and 170.8 mm, respectively. The net irrigation requirement (NIR) and gross irrigation requirement (GIR) were calculated using the scheduling option and 70% efficiency for the preparation of the irrigation schedule. For rice (transplant), the effective rainfall partially met its water needs, requiring supplemental irrigation. Maize, Cotton, and Jute relied entirely on effective rainfall, eliminating the need for irrigation. Ginger and Mustard needed both effective rainfall and additional irrigation. These findings delivered a comprehensive understanding of the location-specific water variations for crops in Meghalaya, vital for sustainable water resource management. PRACTITIONER POINTS: CWR are critical for irrigation scheduling and cropping pattern decisions. FAO CROPWAT model was used for crop planning and irrigation scheduling. The net irrigation requirement and gross irrigation requirement for hilly watershed Comprehensive understanding of the location-specific water variations for crops The irrigation needs vary among different crops based on efficiency % and depletion %., (© 2025 Water Environment Federation.)

The understanding of the impact of nitrogen (N) fertilization on the field water cycle and corresponding water use efficiency (WUE) is very important for optimizing fertilization rates and conserving stressed water resources. We modeled soil moisture dynamics of maize (Zea mays L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), and lablab [Lablab purpureus (L..) Sweet] plots using calibrated HYDRUS‐1D model on two experimental sites (rain‐fed and irrigated) for three seasons under different N treatments. The results indicate that the effects of N depended on plant specific properties such as N‐fixation and drought tolerance, and on plant available water content governed by soil structure and rainfall seasonal variability. Maize WUE of plots which received 150 kg/ha of urea (46 %$\%$ N) were 10–30 kg/ha/mm higher than plots which received none; likewise, millet that received 50 kg/ha of urea had a 7–10 kg/ha/mm higher WUE than control plots in both experiments. However, differences in water cycle components were noticeable between N treatments only in the rain‐fed experiment, where higher N levels led to around 60 and 30 mm higher transpiration, 30 and 20 mm lower evaporation, and 30 and 15 mm lower percolation per season for maize and millet, respectively. In 2018, which was the driest year, the difference in maize WUE between the high and low N treatments was only 1 kg/ha/mm, which corresponded with low actual to potential transpiration ratios (<50%$<\!50\%$). This indicates higher sensitivity of maize to water stress compared to the other crops. The results of lablab indicate a positive impact of N fertilization on WUE only under water‐limited conditions. Core Ideas: HYDRUS models calibrated and validated based on soil moisture of minimum three soil profiles per crop per treatment.Transpiration reduction was calculated as a proxy for water stress and used to distinguish between nitrogen (N) and water stress effect.Favorable soil conditions such as good pH and water availability appear to minimize N effect on field water cycle.Precipitation amounts and plant‐specific properties interact to determine how N affects water balance and water use efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrologic cycle's fundamental component, evapotranspiration, is a crucial parameter for research on climate, hydrology, and water use in agriculture. Efficient water management in agriculture requires an accurate assessment of reference evapotranspiration (ETo). The Food and Agriculture Organization recommended Penman–Monteith (PM) approach is among the most precise models for computing ETo. Nevertheless, this technique requires a comprehensive climate dataset, typically only accessible at a few meteorological observatories. As a result, estimating ETo using a small climatic dataset may be an alternative for water management aspects. Thus, in the current study, 12 temperature, ten radiation, and seven mass transfer-based models were assessed using 31 years of meteorological data (1990–2020) and compared with the traditional PM approach in the semiarid environment of Central Delhi, India. Moreover, ranking different models in data-limited situations was attempted using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques viz.,TOPSIS (technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution) and entropy. Results showed that the Priestley–Taylor (PRTY) and Blaney–Criddle (BLCD) models were found to be the most appropriate alternatives to the PM model, with Pearson's coefficient of correlation (r) values of 0.93 and 0.96, respectively, and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) values of 13.30 and 21.11%. According to the performance evaluation indices, the performance of the radiation-based models was superior to that of the temperature and mass transfer models. Nevertheless, this ranking would aid in precisely estimating ETo with minimal data, resulting in efficient irrigation scheduling and water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Renal Anomalies are relatively common. Problems with congenital anomalies of kidney are important as they may cause renal failure. Failure in Ascent of kidney can result in a pelvic kidney alternatively, the kidneys may fuse together at their caudal poles produces Horseshoe kidney. Objectives: The present study is to evaluate renal developmental anomalies Radiologically. Material and Methods: The present study was a Cross Sectional study in Tertiary Care Hospital who were referred to radiology department for CT abdomens. 3500 abdominal CT scans were observed for a period of 6 months. Among those male CT abdominal scans are 2060 and female CT abdominal scans are 1440, from Tertiary care hospital in Andhra Pradesh and observed for renal malformations. Results: 3500 abdominal C. T scans were studied for a period of 6 months. Out of the 3500 ct's males are 2060 and females are 1440. Conclusion: Renal Anomalies all though asymptomatic and accidental finding in most of the cases thorough evaluation of the patient is utmost important to rule out serious pathological conditions prior to the arrival of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to understand the pattern of surface energy fluxes over a periodical scale and energy balance closure using Large Aperture Scintillometer and Micrometeorological tower. The standalone technique as 'Scintillometry' which observes the structure parameter of refractive index based on Monin-Obukhov Similarity theory, has the potential to measure the sensible heat flux precisely. This paper discusses the surface energy balance components and energy balance closure over a period of August 2017 to June 2018. The maximum mean energy fluxes Rn, G, H and LE were observed in September (98.6 Wm-2), May (13.9 Wm-2), June (53.3 Wm-2) and August (82.1 Wm-2), respectively. The overall mean ET was observed at the rate of 1.36 mm day-1 during the study period. This scintillometry technique may further use in evapotranspiration modelling from polar orbiting satellite to geostationary satellite over a heterogeneous and undulated landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A quantitative analysis of scientific articles published in the Journal of Agrometeorology (JAM) between 2008 and 2022 was conducted using SCOPUS database and a variety of scientometric indicators. Various metrics were utilized to examine aspects including yearly research output, highly referenced sources, author rankings, contributions and profiles, cooperation trends, highly contributing nations, most cited papers, commonly searched keywords and worldwide collaboration mapping. This study employs biblioshiny for analysis and only looks at data that is available in Scopus database. With an h-index (17), a g-index (21) and 3238 total citations across the study period, the journal demonstrated considerable influence. With the greatest number of research publications (n=46) and the greatest number of citations (236), Pandey V stands out among other authors. In terms of the number of papers and citations, India emerged as the leading nation, with the Punjab Agricultural University in the lead with 744 publications. Four clusters were found by co-citation network analysis, with Allen RG being the most quoted author among them. The study also highlighted the fact that Indian authors worked together the most. This analysis is important for assessing the influence of the JAM and offers insightful information about noteworthy research trends and developments in the scientific community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcome of economic growth is visualised as the well-being of citizens or human well-being (HWB). However, it has been a great challenge to measure HWB. Though there are known reasons for considering GDP and its growth as a measure of overall development and progress of nations, yet mostly it is being used as a gospel indicator to compare nations and design appropriate policies. This paper is an effort to develop a comprehensive adjusted GDP to measure HWB through secondary data for thirty years (1990–91 to 2019–20) in India. We make thirty-five adjustments to net national income (NNI) to compute the adjusted national income (ANI) index based on the system analysis approach. The empirical findings show that the gap between NNI and ANI has been growing over time, and the ANI index shows an increasing trend. Through the analysis it is suggested that economic growth should be focused only if it improves HWB (full or partial). The paper attempts to make intervention into policy shift for improving HWB vis-à-vis happiness of people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing water scarcity and the demand for sustainable agriculture, precise estimation of crop evapotranspiration (ET) is crucial for effective irrigation management, crop yield assessment, and equitable water distribution, particularly in semi-arid regions. In this study, a large aperture scintillometer (LAS) was used to validate the remote sensing-based ET model SETMI (Spatial Evapotranspiration Modeling Interface) in an irrigated maize-wheat cropping system in a semi-arid region at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. Results obtained by the SETMI model depicted modeled surface energy fluxes compared well with LAS field data, showing a very high R2 (0.83–0.95) and NRMSE (8–29%). The SETMI model performed better in the case of the maize crop than the wheat crop in field experiments. Further, the SETMI model was employed at the regional level using high-resolution Sentinel-2 to estimate the regional water productivity of wheat crops over a semi-arid region in India. The estimated regional, seasonal wheat actual ET mainly ranged between 101 mm and 325 mm. The regional wheat water productivity varied from 0.9 kg m−3 to 2.20 kg m−3. Our research reveals that the SETMI model can give reliable estimates of regional wheat water productivity by examining its spatial and temporal fluctuations and facilitating the creation of regional benchmark values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As global population ages, "Aging in Place" is prioritized as the top aging strategy for many of the older adults worldwide. India, being a nation that is expected to hold the maximum share of the older adult population in the near future, has a huge responsibility vested in it to take care of the needs of older adults. The social structure of the nation has emphasized the importance of older adults to age in place, experiencing all the independence and autonomy at their own dwelling places for as long as possible. This study aims to provide a profound understanding of the meaning, attitude, and perceptions of older adults toward aging in place. Using a qualitative research design, in-depth interviews were conducted among 15 community-dwelling older adults who chose aging in place in Kerala, India. Following the interviews, thematic network analysis was done, inspired by Jennifer Attride-Stirling. Three global themes were derived, which include the older adults' perspectives on (1) determinants of aging in place, (2) challenges of aging in place, and (3) strategies for successful aging in place. The study evokes in-depth exploration of the experiences of older adults aging in place, which inform future evidence-based practices and policy-level implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the LULC change is essential to adopt the new development activities in the particular study area. The study reveals the LULC change for four different decades (1990, 2000, 2011, and 2022) of the Sulur-Singanallur region of the Coimbatore district. In this study, the Landsat satellite data of four decades were used to assess the regional LULC changes and identified the area under Built-up land increased from 6 to 25.77% and Waterbodies decreased by 5.48% (6–0.52%). Similarly, the current scenario of agriculture has decreased as Crop lands by 12.77% (30–17.23%). At the same time, the fallow land has risen and fall from starting to the ending years. Hence, the CA-ANN method has been adopted using the Modules for Land Use Change Evaluation (MOLUSCE) plugin of QGIS software. The spatial entities such as DEM, slope, distance to river, and distance to road were utilized as drivers to predict the future LULC of 2030, 2040, and 2050. The study's findings reveal that the crop land has decreased to 10.90%, 8.89% and 8.87%, respectively. Similarly, the waterbodies will be decreased by upto 1%, and the prediction findings portrays the increasing trend was observed in Built-up area and the better kappa statistics results identified as 0.81, 0.76, and 0.76 for 2030, 2040, and 2050. The observation of post classification shows that MLC is one of the best suited method and producing realistic result in the study for the change detection analysis. Overall, the outcome of the study showcased the continuous increase Built-up land were declined the natural land environment. If it continues, the agriculture ecosystem will be affected, and minimizes the cropping pattern and further anthropogenic influences will also reduce the agricultural activities in future. This modelling study results serves the benefit to land managers, stakeholders, farmers, and researchers to take possible measures immediately to manage the land sustainably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing-based surface energy balance models are widely utilized for estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) over large spatial scales, providing crucial information for water resource management. These models rely on the surface energy balance algorithm to estimate ETa. The objective of this study was to obtain the spatial distribution of ETa, for wheat crop in rabi season (2019–20) using the EEFlux model for a minor irrigation canal command in Bhagwatipur distributary, Bihar, India, and compare it with the CROPWAT 8.0 model (Modified Penman–Monteith Model). The EEFlux model estimated daily ETa values of 1.15 mm/day, 2.4 mm/day, 4.9 mm/day, and 3.5 mm/day during the early, vegetative, maturity, and full maturity stages of the crop, respectively. The minimum and maximum ET a values were 0.96 and 1.30 mm/day, respectively, and the average was found to be 1.15 mm on 6th January. As January is a cold month and the crop was in the development stage, the evapotranspiration demand is low. The average ET a value increases from January 6th to March 26th, with the maximum value in March varying between 3.85 and 4.79 mm/day for the selected fields, which were in the maturity stages of the crop. Besides this, in April, the ET a values decreased. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.79 between the two estimation methods indicating a close agreement. Nonetheless, the Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) were also found to be 0.60 and 0.86 mm/day, respectively. Therefore, it could be inferred from these results that the EEFlux model is a good estimator of ETa for the crop, which could be used for irrigation planning in the command area to enhance the irrigation efficiency and water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the co-creation of value by bottom of the pyramid consumers in the health services context. Following a qualitative approach, we use the empirical context of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in India, one of the largest healthcare policy interventions in the world. Our grounded theory-based research used semi-structured interviews conducted in 28 villages across three states using a purposive sample (NRHM beneficiaries). The qualitative data were analysed utilising a discovery-oriented approach, in accordance with the value co-creation and service-dominant logic frameworks. We draw insights about the roles of individual agency, the individual's social milieu, and supplementary forces in affecting different types of individual wellbeing. Our results help to explicate the processes of the exploitation, combination and reinforcement of resources within a co-created healthcare ecosystem, and six propositions explain value co-creation-driven health service delivery. We also discuss implications for marketers and policy implementers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is a technology that uses plants to break down, remove, and immobilize contaminants in surface water, shallow groundwater, and sediment to achieve cost savings compared with conventional treatments. This study describes a marshy land on an explosives manufacturing site in India that consistently reported elevated concentrations of nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, perchlorate, and lead (contaminants of potential concern-CoPC). The study also illustrates the potential for addressing the human health and environmental risks associated with the explosives manufacturing industrsy in India using innovative, sustainable, and carbon-neutral techniques. This work focuses on reconstructed marshy lands, desedimentation, microwatershed management, and phytoremediation using Phragmites and Vetiveria species (also known as vetiver) to reduce contaminants in surface water and groundwater, improve stormwater management and carbon capture, and increase natural capital like biodiversity. The results obtained during the trial indicate that the selected indigenous species are effective and can be used to remediate sediment and shallow groundwater for many CoPC in tropical climates. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1987-2002. © 2024 SETAC., (© 2024 SETAC.)

Agriculture faces a significant problem as a result of the decline in per capita freshwater supply that has been observed over the past couple of decades. Better water management strategies are required in order to make agriculture water secure, environmentally sustainable, and economically attractive. The goal of this study was to develop water productivity scenarios for rice and wheat crops in India's Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) by analysing agricultural production from the perspective of water consumption. To pinpoint the areas that are hydrologically suitable for growing rice and wheat crops under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate change scenarios, water footprints and water productivity have been mapped. The study found that changes in temperature trends under future climate scenarios are probably going to increase crop water requirements, leading to greater water footprints for IGP regions. Water risk hotspots have been identified in the IGP for the rice- and wheat-growing states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. In order to achieve food security in a sustainable way, attention should be given to increase the water productivity of both crops., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Some recent studies highlight that vehicular traffic and honking contribute to more than 50% of noise pollution in urban or sub-urban areas in developing countries, including Indian cities. Frequent honking has an adverse effect on health and hampers road safety, the environment, etc. Therefore, recognizing the various vehicle honks and classifying the honk of different vehicles can provide good insights into environmental noise pollution. Moreover, classifying honks based on vehicle types allows for the inference of contextual information of a location, area, or traffic. So far, the researchers have done outdoor sound classification and honk detection, where vehicular honks are collected in a controlled environment or in the absence of ambient noise. Such classification models fail to classify honk based on vehicle types. Therefore, it becomes imperative to design a system that can detect and classify honks of different types of vehicles to infer some contextual information. This paper presents a novel framework A C lassi H onk that performs raw vehicular honk sensing, data labeling, and classifies the honk into three major groups, i.e., light-weight vehicles, medium-weight vehicles, and heavy-weight vehicles. Raw audio samples of different vehicular honking are collected based on spatio-temporal characteristics and converted them into spectrogram images. A deep learning-based multi-label autoencoder model (MAE) is proposed for automated labeling of the unlabeled data samples, which provides 97.64% accuracy in contrast to existing deep learning-based data labeling methods. Further, various pre-trained models, namely Inception V3, ResNet50, MobileNet, and ShuffleNet are used and proposed an Ensembled Transfer Learning model (EnTL) for vehicle honks classification and performed comparative analysis. Results reveal that EnTL exhibits the best performance compared to pre-trained models and achieves 96.72% accuracy in our dataset. In addition, context of a location is identified based on these classified honk signatures in a city., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI), a pivotal indicator derived from canopy temperature, plays a crucial role in irrigation scheduling for water conservation in agriculture. This study focuses on determining CWSI (by empirical method) for wheat crops in the semi-arid region of western Uttar Pradesh, India, subjected to varying irrigation treatments across two cropping seasons (2021-2022 and 2022-2023). The aim is to investigate further the potential of four machine learning (ML) models-support vector regression (SVR), random forest regression (RFR), artificial neural network (ANN), and multiple linear regression (MLR) to predict CWSI. The ML models were assessed based on determination coefficient (R 2 ), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE) under diverse scenarios created from eight distinct input combinations of six variables: air temperature (T a ), canopy temperature (T c ), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), net solar radiation (R n ), wind speed (U), and soil moisture depletion (SD). SVR emerges as the top-performing model, showcasing superior results over ANN, RFR, and MLR. The most effective input combination for SVR includes T c , T a , VPD, R n , and U (R 2  = 0.997, MAE = 0.901%, RMSE = 2.223%). Meanwhile, both ANN and MLR achieve optimal results with input combinations involving T c , T a , VPD, R n , U, and SD (R 2  = 0.992, MAE = 2.031%, RMSE = 3.705%; R 2  = 0.759, MAE = 13.95%, RMSE = 19.98%, respectively). For RFR, the ideal input combination comprises T c , T a , VPD, and U (R 2  = 0.951, MAE = 5.023%, RMSE = 9.012%). The study highlights the considerable promise of ML models in predicting CWSI, proposing their future application in integration into an irrigation decision support system (IDSS) for crop stress mitigation and efficient water management in agriculture., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Irrigation is crucial for sustainable agriculture and improving farm yields, but a significant gap exists between the irrigation potential created and its actual utilization. This gap is due to losses in canal conveyance and the inefficiency of conventional irrigation methods within canal command areas. Most modernization efforts in India focus on implementing micro-irrigation for tube well systems, addressing the problem of water table decline experienced in many districts. With this context, the present study examines the command area of Gadarjudda minor of the Upper Ganga Canal in Haridwar district, Uttarakhand, India, to assess the present state of the canal by conducting on-site surveys and feasibility of micro-irrigation by evaluating the viability of replacing minor canals with a gravity flow piped irrigation network. The evaluation involves assessing the current canal status, designing the gravity flow piped irrigation network, and conducting a social survey to determine farmers' willingness, awareness, and purchasing capacity toward adoptin of micro-irrigation systems on their farms. The study identifies high conveyance loss and poor maintenance in conventional irrigation methods, highlighting the importance of micro-irrigation in the study area. The profile of the minor canal is adequate to support gravity flow in the pipe network, with velocity and pressure head within permissible limits. A social survey revealed that 85% of farmers are willing to adopt micro-irrigation, but low purchasing capacity (36%) hampers its adoption. The study concludes that micro-irrigation is viable in the Gadarjudda minor canal command area as long as a piped irrigation network is implemented and farmers receive government subsidies and proper training., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The present study led to setting up a grid-based soil fertility map along with the best fit model in the coastal regions based on soil physical (coarse, sand, silt, clay, bulk density), chemical (CEC, pH, and soil organic carbon), topographic (elevation), and nutrient elements (P2O5, K2O, Na, Zn, B) in the active Ganga deltaic region of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, India. Soil samples have been collected from 30 soil grids, and 0–15 cm soil depth was preferred for fertility analysis because most essential soil chemical and nutrient elements affecting soil fertility are concentrated in this depth range. We have used the fuzzy-AHP-Delphi (FAHP) and fuzzy logic-Delphi (FL) methods to determine the soil fertility zone. The rules are generated on the MATLAB interface in the text form; the words "IF," "THEN," "IS," "AND," etc., are used to complete the mode-building process. The weights and the desirable limits for each criterion were set based on the expert opinions and existing literature. The kriging interpolation method and natural break classification were used to represent the soil fertility maps into five classes, namely very high fertility (0.80–1.0), high fertility (0.60–0.80), moderate fertility (0.40–0.60), low fertility (0.20–0.40), and very low fertility (0.00–0.20) respectively. Both the models show that soil fertility is respectively higher near the Hooghly River bank. In many cases, the results obtained from FAHP and FL are quite similar but huge dissimilarity has been noticed in grid numbers G2, G3, G4, F1, and F2. Since the FAHP method has been used for the weight of each criterion, therefore, it only prefers those more important parameters over others. The overall accuracy of the soil fertility map was 82.16% for the fuzzy logic model, and 79.62% for the FAHP model and the kappa coefficient value was determined as 0.82 for the fuzzy logic model and 0.79 for the FAHP model. The soil fertility map was validated using the success rate curve under the ROC technique, and the area under curve (AUC) was calculated as 84.02% for the fuzzy logic model and 81.60% for the FAHP model. Since the standard limits for each criterion were known, therefore, fuzzy logic was found to best fit the model for analyzing soil fertility for each grid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay argues that English departments in India have had two advantages that their counterparts in the west lack. First, the ability to speak and write correctly in English is understood as a social and professional resource and this prompts large numbers of college students to opt for an English major. Second, English literature has unfolded, historically among several highly developed literatures in our regional languages and this, in conjuction with post‐colonial theory, has opened up vast new fields of research for English professors in India. Improved salaries and research facilities after the mid‐eighties began attracting excellent faculty to our best English departments and, by the end of the twentieth century, some of these were poised to compete with the best departments of the world. Despite this, Indian universities are perenially plagued by political interference and corruption and this has made it impossible for several excellent departments and indeed entire universities to sustain excellence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the effectiveness of different mediums, including printed wordbooks, word-learning videos, and mobile vocabulary applications, in teaching novel words to children aged 4 to 6 years. It discusses how children can recognize objects, pronounce words correctly, and improve their reading skills when exposed to digital media, while also highlighting the need for a balanced approach combining printed materials and digital media for vocabulary learning in young children.

Although, the aerosol-cloud interactions and its impact on daily to seasonal radiation/temperature has been well observed over South Asia in last two decade, the role of aerosol-cloud interactions on cloud occurrence trends (and surface temperature) is yet not evident. Here, evidence of aerosol-induced control on cloud occurrence trends over the Northern Bay of Bengal (NBOB) during the monsoon onset period is presented. In last 15 years, increased aerosol emissions over North India have led to an increase in aerosol loading at an elevated altitude of 1–3 km over the NBOB outflow region in monsoon onset period. This elevated aerosol loading induces increases the air temperature at 1–2 km altitude and stabilizes the lower troposphere over the region in recent years. The enhanced atmospheric stability in the region caused low-level cloud occurrences (below 3 km) to increase in recent years by ~20%, potentially contributing to the observed non-intuitive cooling trends in sea surface temperatures. These aerosol-cloud-climate observations emphasize the crucial need for improved aerosol representations in coupled ocean-atmosphere models for accurate predictions of climate change over South Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. The hand block printing technique practiced in Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh involves highly repetitive tasks with awkward posture, which contribute to the development of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among the artisans, The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of MSDs and the risks factors involved. Methods. An observational study and a self-reported questionnaire study were conducted with a sample of 70 artisans. The working postures of the artisans were analyzed using rapid upper limb assessment (RULA) and the occupational repetitive actions (OCRA) method. p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant throughout the study. Results. MSDs in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrist/forearm, lower back and hips/thighs were found to be highly prevalent among artisans of age greater than 31 years and experience greater than 11 years. Most complaints were reported in the wrist, neck and lower back region. Conclusion. From the findings, it was evident that artisans working in Bagh printing are at high risk of the development of MSDs; thus, an immediate intervention is needed to eliminate the ergonomic risks among the artisans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Armed conflicts create significant risks on almost every section of the society, as new forms of violence arise and the existing ones get exaggerated. In Kashmir, the long-standing conflict has resulted in the number of widows, orphans and enforced disappearance; however, little in-depth attention has been given in the literature on widows to the impact of this conflict. This present study examined the lived experiences of Kashmiri widows who had lost their husbands to the on-going conflict. Using the snowball sampling approach, 12 women were recruited for the face-to-face in-depth interviews. The findings of the study gained an in-depth understanding of the experiences of violence, deprivation, social stigma and psychological trauma, followed by their strategies for coping and struggle for justice. Widows are the worst hit victims of armed conflict and, therefore, inclusive interventions are needed to enhance the status of widows in a long run. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mafic-ultramafic terrain of the Bhavani complex in southern India is considered for lithological mapping. The Landsat-8 OLI satellite data was used for the interpretation of different rock types in the study area. The satellite data were digitally processed using ENVI 5.6 image processing software. In the OLI data, excluding bands 8 and 9, the remaining seven bands were used for the generation of colour composite images, band ratios, principal component analysis and SVM classification. Reflectance spectral measurements were carried out in laboratory conditions for five rock samples collected from the study area. The XRF analysis was carried out to estimate the composition of major oxides present in the rock samples. The results obtained from XRF analysis were compared with the rock spectra in characterizing the spectral features of the rock types. The colour composite images (B543, B567, B456, and B457), PCA composite image (PC312 and PC456), band ratios (BR5/5 and BR4/3), colour composite images from band ratios, and SVM classified output are useful in delineation various rock types in the terrain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuity of employees in the organization is important as it saves costs, ensures quality, and enhances guest satisfaction. In the service industry, employee continuity is considered more important than the abilities possessed by the employee. Hospitality organizations are service organizations with high employee-guest interaction and need high levels of employee professionalism and professional satisfaction leading to guest satisfaction. This paper tests the relationships between employee professionalism, professional satisfaction, and employee continuity. Employee professionalism has been conceptualized as the importance given to the organization, its goals, and rules and procedures, while employee professional satisfaction is conceptualized to be achieved from job satisfaction and guest satisfaction. Data have been gathered on 200 employees from their superiors of various hospitality organizations in Goa, a major tourist destination in India, using a structured questionnaire. The analysis using structural equations modeling showed that employee professionalism significantly influenced employee continuity mediated by employee professional satisfaction. Multiple methods have corroborated the results. The findings are of theoretical importance and practical significance since it confirms the need for high professionalism among hospitality staff, which substantiates the need to train the staff in professionalism. Heads of the Departments can design various training activities to incite high professionalism among the staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cretaceous‐Miocene sedimentary rocks in the Nepalese Lesser Himalaya provide an opportunity to decipher the timing of India‐Asia collision and unroofing history of the Himalayan orogen, which are significant for understanding the growth processes of the Himalayan‐Tibetan orogen. Our new data indicate that detrital zircon ages and whole‐rock Sr‐Nd isotopes in Cretaceous‐Miocene Lesser Himalayan sedimentary rocks underwent two significant changes. First, from the Upper Cretaceous‐Palaeocene Amile Formation to the Eocene Bhainskati Formation, the proportion of late Proterozoic‐early Palaeozoic zircons (quantified by an index of 500–1200 Ma/1600–2800 Ma) increased from nearly 0 to 0.7–1.4, and the percentage of Mesozoic zircons decreased from ca. 14% to 5–12%. The whole‐rock 87Sr/86Sr and εNd(t = 0) values changed markedly from 0.732139 and −17.2 for the Amile Formation to 0.718106 and −11.4 for the Bhainskati Formation. Second, from the Bhainskati Formation to the lower‐middle Miocene Dumri Formation, the index of 500–1200 Ma/1600–2800 Ma increased to 2.2–3.7 and the percentage of Mesozoic zircons abruptly decreased to nearly 0. The whole‐rock 87Sr/86Sr and εNd(t = 0) values changed significantly to 0.750124 and −15.8 for the Dumri Formation. The εHf(t) values of Early Cretaceous zircons in the Taltung Formation and Amile Formation plot in the U‐Pb‐εHf(t) field of Indian derivation, whereas εHf(t) values of Triassic‐Palaeocene zircons in the Bhainskati Formation demonstrate the arrival of Asian‐derived detritus in the Himalayan foreland basin in the Eocene based on available datasets. Our data indicate that (1) the timing of terminal India‐Asia collision was no later than the early‐middle Eocene in the central Himalaya, and (2) the Greater Himalaya served as a source for the Himalayan foreland basin by the early Miocene. When coupled with previous Palaeocene‐early Eocene provenance records of the Tethyan Himalaya, our new data challenge dual‐stage India‐Asia collision models, such as the Greater India Basin hypothesis and its variants and the arc–continent collision model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and availability of water resources have been greatly impacted by global climate change and unsustainable human activities. This has resulted in increased pressure on surface water supplies, human consumption and socioeconomic growth. Although water management requires monitoring, a substantial amount of water consumption globally, including both groundwater and surface water, remains unmeasured. Madhya Pradesh (MP) has a very varied semi-arid geographical region in Central India. Recent studies have found that 36 out of 51 districts in the state of MP have been facing severe hydrological drought conditions. Despite the challenges in the MP region, there is little understanding of the permanent and seasonal changes in surface water and the overall availability of surface water resources in each district. Field-based monitoring of surface water bodies in large regions such as MP poses considerable difficulties. However, gaining knowledge about changes in the distribution of water on the Earth's surface across time and space can be enhanced by analysing data obtained via remote sensing. To understand the long-term changes in surface water in different districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, over the past 38 years, we analysed a publicly accessible global surface water dataset provided by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) European Commission. This dataset is based on Landsat imagery and covers the period from 1984 to 2021. This research study examines the associations between variations in the permanent surface water level and the extent of land being irrigated, the intensity of agricultural activities and the seasonal oscillations in surface water for several districts in Madhya Pradesh. The findings from this research will be beneficial for assessing several significant MP districts in terms of their water footprint and sustainable management., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The present study analyzed the actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and its components [transpiration (Et), bare soil evaporation (Eb), interception loss (Ei), and open water evaporation (Eo)] data to study the long-term (1980–2018) trends over different meteorological sub-divisions in India. Quantitatively, all India average (µ) annual ETa is 573 mm (standard deviation (σ) = 29 mm), where Et (µ = 456 mm; σ = 30 mm) plays a major role compared to other evaporation processes like Eb (µ = 56 mm; σ = 9 mm), Ei (µ = 34 mm; σ = 3 mm), and Eo (µ = 27 mm). The Mann–Kendall (MK) test reveals an increasing trend (1.33 mm/yr) in annual ETa due to the rising trend in Et (1.91 mm/yr) and Ei (0.16 mm/yr). The sub-division-wise analysis shows the increasing trend in ETa observed over irrigated regions located in the south, north-west, and foothills of the Himalayas during pre-monsoon (March–May) and monsoon season (June–September). The correlation analysis observed a complex relationship between ETa and climatic factors (rainfall (RF), soil moisture (SM), surface temperature (T), relative humidity (RH), surface net solar radiation (SSR), and wind speed (WS)) during monsoon season such that the water-limited areas have a positive correlation with SM, RH and RF, and negative correlation with WS, T, and SSR, whereas, in energy-limited areas (east India), the ETa showed a positive correlation with SSR and T and negative correlation with RF. The main climatic drivers for the increasing trend of ETa are SM and rainfall over dry regions and SSR and T over densely vegetated regions in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main focus of this work was to study the use of freshwater wetlands by 12 waterbirds (4 resident species and 8 Palearctic migrant species) during the wintering period in West Bengal, India. From morning to evening hours, the time budget of waterbirds changed significantly. The differences in diurnal activities between migrants and residents were statistically significant. Foraging niche overlaps were calculated based on foraging habitats and techniques; five migrant species had exceedingly high niche overlaps (habitats 0.80–0.99; techniques 0.79–0.99). Overlap among resident birds or migrant species was much lower (habitats 0.01–0.56; techniques 0.01–0.66). Niche dimensions like the foraging habitats (1.26–3.47) and foraging techniques (1.13–4.54) and these two dimensions together (1.64–8.63) calculated the niche breadths. A mean Euclidean distance of 5.63 in Cluster analysis constructed on two niche dimensions reliably defined four distinct guilds. The post hoc test highlighted significant differences between the intra-guild niche breadths. Proportional differences in the uses of foraging habitats and techniques and temporal variations in foraging activities accommodated residents and winter migrants in the study sites. Such information would be crucially important for the conservation and effective management strategies of Indian waterbirds and their habitats, situated along the East Asian-Australian and Central Asian Flyways, which are significant tropical wintering grounds for migratory waterbirds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the potential of using machine learning to downscale global-scale climate model output towards ground station data. The aim was to simultaneously analyze both city-level air quality and regional- and global-scale radiative forcing values for anthropogenic aerosols. As the city-level air pollution values are typically underestimated in global-scale models, we used a machine learning approach to downscale fine particulate (PM 2.5) concentrations towards measured values. We first simulated the global climate with the aerosol–climate model ECHAM-HAMMOZ and corrected the PM 2.5 values for the Indian megacity New Delhi. The downscaling procedure clearly improved the seasonal variation in the model data. The seasonal trends were much better captured in the corrected PM 2.5 than in original ECHAM-HAMMOZ PM 2.5 when compared to the reference PM 2.5 from the ground stations. However, short-term variations showed less extreme values with the downscaling approach. We applied the downscaling model also to simulations where the aerosol emissions were following two different future scenarios: one following the current legislation and one assuming currently maximum feasible emission reductions. The corrected PM 2.5 concentrations for the year 2030 showed that mitigating anthropogenic aerosols improves local air quality in New Delhi, with organic carbon reductions contributing most to these improvements. In addition, aerosol emission mitigation also resulted in negative radiative forcing values over most of India. This was mainly due to reductions in absorbing black carbon emissions. For the two future emission scenarios modeled, the radiative forcing due to aerosol–radiation interactions over India was -0.09±0.26 and -0.53±0.31 W m -2 , respectively, while the effective radiative forcing values were -2.1±4.6 and 0.06±3.39 W m -2 , respectively. Although accompanied by relatively large uncertainties, the obtained results indicate that aerosol mitigation could bring a double benefit in India: better air quality and decreased warming of the local climate. Our results demonstrate that downscaling and bias correction allow more versatile utilization of global-scale climate models. With the help of downscaling, global climate models can be used in applications where one aims to analyze both global and regional effects of policies related to mitigating anthropogenic emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The upper tropospheric ozone (O3) strongly influences the atmosphere's radiative budget. Using the Aerosol and Chemistry Model Intercomparison Project simulations, we study the influence of present‐day and future anthropogenic nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions on the upper tropospheric O3 concentrations over India during the Asian summer monsoon (ASM). We observe that the upper tropospheric O3 concentrations increased 1.5 times over the ASM anticyclone region during the ASM due to higher NOx emissions in 2014 compared to 1850, and their transport due to convection. These NOx‐induced O3 changes exert a regional positive radiative forcing of 0.6 Wm−2 at the top of the atmosphere. The upper tropospheric O3 increases in the future with increasing NOx emissions. However, air quality policies to reduce surface NOx emissions also reduce the upper tropospheric O3 over India during the ASM. Plain Language Summary: This study estimates the change in the upper tropospheric ozone concentration, during the Asian Summer Monsoon (ASM) over India, due to the changes in atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions. NOx emissions have increased globally over the last 150 years due to human activities such as fuel combustion. During the ASM, some of the surface NOx and ozone from India are transported to the upper troposphere due to the vertical winds. In the upper troposphere, this transported NOx chemically reacts with other atmospheric species to form more ozone there. The upper tropospheric ozone efficiently traps atmospheric heat and thus warms the planet. Using output from community atmospheric transport simulations of NOx and ozone, we estimate that the NOx‐induced changes in the upper tropospheric ozone concentration have increased the atmospheric heat considerably in the last 150 years over India during monsoon. The upper tropospheric ozone is projected to increase in the future if all countries continue emitting more NOx from combustion activities. However, cleaner air policies aimed at reducing surface NOx emissions also reduce the upper tropospheric ozone because of reduced near‐surface NOx and ozone available for vertical transport. Key Points: Higher NOx in 2014 compared to 1850 increased the upper tropospheric O3 by 1.5 times over India during the Asian summer monsoon (ASM)NOx‐induced O3 changes exert a radiative forcing of 0.6 Wm−2 at the top of the atmosphere over the ASM anticyclone region during the ASMProjected increase in future NOx emissions leads to an increase in the upper tropospheric O3 over India during the ASM [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Felsic volcanic rocks of rhyolite to dacite composition, hosting copper mineralization, are exposed near Mundiyawas-Khera area within the Alwar basin of Proterozoic North Delhi Fold Belt. Distinct variations in grain size, mineralogical composition, texture, sulfide mineral associations, structure, and outcrop patterns of the felsic volcanic rocks are observed in the field. In this study, litho-facies analysis of felsic volcanic rocks around Mundiyawas-Khera copper deposit has been attempted for the first time to understand their spatial distributions and bearing on copper mineralization. Signatures of five distinct facies variations in felsic volcanic rocks are recorded based on the field and laboratory studies. These facies variations recorded in the study area are (a) vitrophyric felsic volcanics; (b) fine grained felsitic fiamme bearing tuff; (c) fiamme-bearing welded ash flow tuff; (d) poorly welded ash flow tuff; and (e) volcanic ash. Presence of glass shards in the study area indicates phreatomagmatic eruptions in an aqueous to sub-aqueous environment. Occurrences of massive sulfide associated with the felsic volcanic unit can also correlate with well-known volcanic hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposit and is taken as an additional evidence of felsic volcanic rock occurrences at a submarine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The national and global restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sudden, albeit temporary, emission reduction of many greenhouse gases (GHGs) and anthropogenic aerosols, whose near-term climate impact were previously found to be negligible when focusing on global- and/or annual-mean scales. Our study aims to investigate the monthly scale coupled climate-and-circulation response to regional, COVID-19-related aerosol emission reductions, using the output from 10 Earth system models participating in the Covid model intercomparison project (CovidMIP). We focus on January–February and March–May 2020, which represent the seasons of largest emission changes in sulfate (SO2) and black carbon (BC). During January–February (JF), a marked decrease in aerosol emissions over eastern China, the main emission region, resulted in a lower aerosol burden, leading to an increase in surface downwelling radiation and ensuing surface warming. Regional sea-level pressure and circulation adjustments drive a precipitation increase over the Maritime Continent, embedded in a negative Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)- and/or El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-like response over the Pacific, in turn associated with a northwestward displacement and zonal shrinking of the Indo-Pacific Walker cell. Remote climate anomalies across the Northern Hemisphere, including a weakening of the Siberian High and Aleutian Low, as well as anomalous temperature patterns in the northern mid-latitudes, arise primarily as a result of stationary Rossby wave trains generated over East Asia. The anomalous climate pattern and driving dynamical mechanism reverse polarity between JF and MAM (March–May) 2020, which is shown to be consistent with an underlying shift of the dominant region of SO2 emission reduction from eastern China in JF to India in MAM. Our findings highlight the prominent role of large-scale dynamical adjustments in generating a hemispheric-wide aerosol climate imprint even on short timescales, which are largely consistent with longer-term (decadal) trends. Furthermore, our analysis shows the sensitivity of the climate response to the geographical location of the aerosol emission region, even after relatively small, but abrupt, emission changes. Scientific advances in understanding the climate impact of regional aerosol perturbations, especially the rapidly evolving emissions over China and India, are critically needed to reduce current uncertainties in near-future climate projections and to develop scientifically informed hazard mitigation and adaptation policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The field experiment was conducted on taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) during 2017, 2018 and 2019 with three spells of irrigation (irrigation for 2 months and remaining period under stress, irrigation for 4 months and remaining period under stress, irrigation for 6 months) and four levels of drip irrigation, viz. 75%, 100%, 125% and 150% of water requirement of the crop (ETc) in factorial design. Pooled analysis of three years data revealed significant difference in growth and yield as well as water-use efficiency under stress and non-stress conditions. Moisture stress two and four months after planting resulted in reduction in leaf area index (-21 and -19%), number of tillers (-27 and -6%), root to shoot ratio (-60 and -43%), cormel to corm ratio (-69 and -53%), cormel yield (-58 and -28%), water-use efficiency (-32 and -36%) and increase in corm yield (+34 and +52%) respectively, compared to no stress. Drip irrigation for six months @ 100% ETc recorded optimum growth, cormel yield (21.08 tonnes/ha) with water-use efficiency (0.4 g/L) in upland condtion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, ecotourism has been identified as an adaptation strategy for mitigating climate change impacts, as it can optimize carbon sequestration, biodiversity recovery, and livelihood benefits and generate new opportunities for the sustenance of the economy, environment, and society of the area endowed with natural resources and cultural values. With the growing responsibility at the global level, ecotourism resource management (ERM) becomes inevitable for its sustainable requirements. The integration of ecological and socio-economic factors is vital for ERM, as has been demonstrated by developing an Ecotourism Sustainability Maximization Model for an area under study, that is the Yuksam-Dzongri corridor (also known as Kangchendzonga Base Camp Trek), in the Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve (KBR), Sikkim, India. This model is based on the earlier developed ecotourism sustainability assessment (ESA) framework by the authors, which is based on the hierarchical relationship among ecotourism principles, criteria, indicators, and verifiers. Employing such relationships, this paper attempts to maximize ecotourism sustainability (ES) as a function of its sustainability principles, criteria, indicators, and verifiers, subject to the constraints identified through the safe minimum standard (SMS) approach by employing linear programming. Using 58 indicators as decision variables and 114 constraints, the model resulted in a maximum level of achievable ES with a score of 84.6%, allowing the resultant optimum values of the indicators to be maintained at the operational level. A central tenet of the model is the collective responsibility and adoption of a holistic approach involving the government, tourists, tourism enterprises, and local people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The along‐strike heterogeneity in the tectonics of Himalaya is well recognized; however, the eastern segment of Himalaya is less studied compared to the other segments. This study combines the comprehensive field data, as well as the U–Pb geochronology of sandstone samples from the Indo‐Burma Range (east India). The study shows that the Lower Disang Formation was deposited in an open marine environment with a steep gradient during the Late Cretaceous to Mid‐Eocene, accommodating the detritus solely from an Indian source. Furthermore, during the Early to Late Eocene interval, the sedimentary basin changed to a shallow marine shelf when the sediments from Himalayan as well as trans‐Himalaya were deposited. The Upper Disang Formation must have been deposited just before or during the collision process between the Indian and Asian plates. After the India‐Asian collision, there was a remnant ocean, in which the sediments of the Barail and Surma groups were deposited in the shallow marine to deltaic environments. The Tethys Ocean completely dried out in the Late Miocene resulting in a change from marine to fluvial environments, which facilitated the deposition of the sandstones of the Tipam Formation. Based on the U–Pb ages, the Palaeogene basin history in the Indo‐Burma Range was unlike the central Himalaya, that is, the detritus were mainly sourced from the Burmese Plate and adjoining magmatic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. Hand block printing is a highly repetitive and precision job involving tasks such as hitting the wooden hand block with the hands as a hammer, causing chronic mechanical trauma to the ulnar side of the palm. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of work-related hand symptoms, to identify ergonomic risks and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and evidence of mechanical trauma among artisans working in Bagh print of Madhya Pradesh. Methods. Occupational risk involved in the artisan's wrist area was identified using the modified Dutch musculoskeletal questionnaire (MDMQ) and modified Boston hand evaluation questionnaire. The Boston hand evaluation questionnaire helps in the measurement of the severity of the symptoms. A direct observation study was performed to identify the chronic effects of mechanical trauma (CEMT) on artisan's hands. Results. Symptoms like pain, weakness, numbness and tingling were highly prevalent among the artisans, those with experience <3 years were more likely to report pain during working hours (p < 0.001) and those with experience >13 years were more likely to report numbness (p < 0.001) and tingling (p < 0.001). Conclusion. This study supports the evidence that the new artisans are at higher risks of reporting pain and CEMT, including fever and body pain, ultimately causing job loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) is a primary determinant for making decisions on irrigation scheduling. For assessing water demand ahead of time, FAO-56 Penman–Monteith (FAO-56 PM) equation is the traditional empirical method applied to obtain ETo. In real time, the precise calculation of ETo is genuinely troublesome and complex due to its complex mix of attributes. Artificial Neural Networks (ANN)-based modelling techniques are employed to predict evapotranspiration. In this study, the viability of the deep learning neural network (DLNN) in predicting ETo on the data obtained in the command area of the Veeranam tank system during the period 1995–2016 in India is investigated. The predicted ETo obtained by DLNN is compared with ETo obtained by empirically calculated FAO-56 PM method. To show that DLNN is superior to other ANN methods, result of DLNN method is also compared with radial basis function neural network and multilayer perceptronas baseline methods in terms of various error metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]