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We report Bungarus suzhenae Chen, Shi, Vogel, Ding & Shi, 2021 and Ovophis zayuensis (Jiang, 1977) for the first time from India. Specimens of B. suzhenae and O. zayuensis were collected during our field surveys in north (Arunachal Pradesh) and south (Nagaland-Manipur border) of the river Brahmaputra. Species identity was supported by partial cytochrome b (cyt b), and 16s mitochondrial gene. We provide a detailed morphological description and a key to the two genera of this region. This report extends the westernmost distribution of B. suzhenae by ca. 300 km from Myanmar, and the southernmost range of O. zayuensis by 170 km from Tibet. Until now eight species of Bungarus and only one Ovophis species have been reported from India. Ovophis species are recently reported to be medically important venomous snakes whose venom properties have not been investigated in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Critically Endangered Cantor's giant softshell turtle Pelochelys cantorii is a freshwater turtle found in South and Southeast Asia. Its population is declining because of habitat destruction and alteration, and hunting for its meat. Data on the species' ecology, behaviour, population size, distribution and threats are limited, and previous surveys undertaken in India have failed to detect individuals in the wild. This lack of data hinders strategic conservation planning. Ecologists and conservationists increasingly utilize local ecological knowledge to determine the status and gain insights into the ecology of threatened and rare species that are difficult to detect in field studies. To examine the historical and current occurrence of Cantor's giant softshell turtle, we conducted community interviews along the Chandragiri River in Kerala, India. With data from these interviews, we identified multiple sites where the species continues to occur. Older respondents and those that used the river for fishing and irrigation were more likely to report sightings of the species. Our findings also improved knowledge about the turtles' seasonal and diel activity patterns. A network of key informants identified through the interviews provided information on turtle bycatch, sightings and nesting. This network is being utilized for the continued monitoring of the species and could help in devising evidence-based management strategies for softshell turtles in India. These methods can also be adopted more widely for other threatened species of freshwater turtles globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a versatile crop with high genetic yield potential and various uses. While yellow maize is primarily used for animal feed, white maize is preferred as a food by rural and tribal populations in India. However, white maize landraces suffer immensely in terms of low yield. Heterotic grouping is an excellent method to develop hybrids with increased yield potential in maize. The heterotic grouping of 78 white maize inbred lines was performed using combining ability and molecular diversity analysis. The lines were crossed with two testers, and the resulting hybrids were evaluated for grain yield at three locations representing different agroecological zones in India. The combining ability analysis based on specific combining ability effects on mean grain yield was used to classify the inbred lines into heterotic groups (HG‐A: 18 inbreds; HG‐B: 33 inbreds). Additionally, marker‐based clustering using 62,470 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through genotyping by sequencing was also employed to determine the genetic relationships among these lines. The combining ability information was superimposed on marker‐based clustering data to obtain the heterotic grouping information, and two distinct HGs with 7 (HG‐1) and 18 inbred lines (HG‐2) were developed. The results of this study will contribute to the development of high‐performing white maize hybrids through the efficient utilization of clear‐cut and well‐defined HGs. Hence, the use of SNP markers along with the combining ability of inbred lines is a useful method for heterotic grouping and understanding of genetic relationships of white maize. Core Ideas: White maize is a staple crop in many parts of the world, but resources are mostly devoted in yellow maize in India.The establishment of heterotic groups in white maize is important for developing high‐yielding hybrids.The current study uses both combining ability and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)‐based methods for efficiently grouping the maize inbred lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the experience of our work in India, context and positionality determine what we perceive as backlash against gender justice. An important underlying cause of backlash today is the widespread crisis of masculinities, where subaltern masculinities are evolving differently in response to the aggressive nationalist Hindutva masculinity. Gender and development strategies have failed to recognise or address this. This article analyses grounded examples from our action research towards generating new knowledge on how two collectives are negotiating backlash. These include the community-based transgender organisation Kolkata Rista and Humqadam, a platform comprising male activists in Uttar Pradesh working with men on gender equality. Applying the framework of ontological insecurity, this article explores ways for discovering common ground in situations where polarisation destroys the space for debate and discussion. Reflecting on the political practice of fraternity, the article examines how social movements can shift strategies when faced with exclusionary discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Amylose is a type of resistant starch with numerous health benefits and industrial applications. Starch from maize (Zea mays L.) usually has an amylose content of ~25%. Aims. The aim was to develop high-amylose maize genotypes suitable for human consumption and adapted to Indian conditions. Methods. Marker-assisted backcross breeding was used to transfer the mutant ae1 allele froma high-amylose donor fromthe USA into the three parents (HKI 1344, HKI 1378, HKI 1348-6-2) of two high-yielding white maize hybrids (HM5 and HM12) grown in India. Key results. In converted lines, amylose content was 40.40-58.10% of total kernel starch, compared with 22.25-26.39% in parents. The percentage increase in amylose content was 63.70-153.03%. There was a significant amount of background recovery in each backcross generation: 66.80-79% in BC1F1, 72.85-88.60% in BC2F1, and 84.45-93.70% in BC2F2. Overall, the total kernel starch content was reduced (by ~22%) in the ae1-introgressed families. Conclusions. The converted lines developed in the study are enriched with kernel amylose while showing significant background recovery. Implications. The high-amylose lines developed may be highly beneficial for diabetic patients and in the bioplastics industry, and should be suitable for growing under Indian conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines a small-scale local business, specifically an ice factory in Bira, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal. Employing three workers, all related, the factory has been operational since 2002. Daily production stands at 2000 units, with 1500 units sold. In addition to the core team, five ice cream tricycles riders/cart vendors are employed to distribute the ice cream in the market. The research focuses on the daily work management of the individuals and investigates whether the company's earnings align with the workers' lifestyles. Furthermore, it explores the economic conditions of both owners and workers through an anthropological lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan foothills and associated environment are well‐known for driving the rapid diversification of many species and the formation of biodiversity hotspots. The effects of environmental change since the Miocene have accelerated species diversification, and hence are useful for studying population genetic structure, and evolutionary relationships via genetic approaches. To date, the effects of climatic fluctuations on the biogeography of large‐bodied lizards have not been assessed comprehensively. Herein, we examine the diversification of Varanus bengalensis, focusing on its genetic structure to provide insights into how landscape structure and climatic fluctuations have shaped species differentiation. We confirm the existence of two distinct lineages within V. bengalensis distributed across the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of mainland India. Divergence analyses revealed the split between the Himalayan foothills and the remainder of the mainland lineages of V. bengalensis in the mid‐Pliocene ~3.06 Ma, potentially as a consequence of the Siwalik broadening and climatic fluctuations across the Himalayan foothills. The results suggest recognition of a new lineage of V. bengalensis from the Himalayan foothills as a distinctive evolutionarily significant unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Endometrial cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer affecting female reproductive organs. The most common histologic type, endometrioid carcinoma, accounts for 75--80% of all endometrial cancer cases. Studies on DKK1 expression profiles and their inhibitory role in the Wnt signalling pathway in the genesis and development of endometrial carcinoma are scarce. This study aimed to investigate DKK1 expression in endometrial carcinoma and its correlation with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Methods: A total of 160 formalin-fixed paraffinembedded samples were included in this study (50 cases of endometrial atypical hyperplasia, 50 cases of endometrioid endometrial carcinoma, 30 cases of proliferative endometrium and 30 cases of secretory endometrium). The expression patterns of DKK1, E-cadherin, β-catenin and c-Myc in endometrial atypical hyperplasia and carcinoma were investigated and compared with that of proliferative and secretory endometrium. Immunohistochemistry and analysis were performed from July 2018 to June 2020. Results: A decreasing pattern of immunopositivity for DKK1, E-cadherin and β-catenin from proliferative/secretory endometrium to endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid carcinoma was found. Increasing c-Myc immunopositivity was noted from proliferative/ secretory endometrium to endometrial atypical hyperplasia and endometrioid carcinoma. Moreover, decreasing DKK1 immunopositivity was well correlated with E-cadherin, β-catenin and c-Myc immunopositivity. Conclusion: Decreasing DKK1 positivity from benign endometrium to endometrioid carcinoma suggests a negative regulatory function of DKK1 in endometrioid carcinoma. DKK1 is downregulated in the Wnt signalling pathway in endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Therefore, DKK1 is promising as a biomarker for screening endometrioid carcinoma. Future studies should examine the reactivation of the DKK1 gene, which may be a valuable strategy for antagonising the Wnt signalling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an updated inventory of the reptilian fauna of Dampa Tiger Reserve based on two separate field surveys during March and September 2021. We recorded 33 species of reptiles which is about 27􀐹 of the total reptilian diversity recorded from the state. This includes new distribution records for 16 snake species with observations on rare species: Smithophis atemporalis, Smithophis bicolor, and Boiga quincunciata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) catastrophe caused significant mental threats to health care workers (HCW), especially during the first wave of the pandemic. India successfully implemented vaccination strategies in January 2021 that is likely to ameliorate the mental health impact of HCWs. The current survey aims to identify the change in impact following vaccination and address the issues affecting mental health. Objective The primary objective is to reevaluate the stress levels of radiation oncology HCWs with vaccine implementation and compare it with the mental health status at the onset of the pandemic. The secondary objective is to identify the current causative factors influencing mental health. Materials and Methods Health care workerswho participated in the initialmental health impact survey at the outsetof theCOVID-19 pandemic fromMay to July 2020were included in this study. Two hundred eligible HCWs were reassessed of the total 363 initial assessments. The 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and 22-item Impact of Events Scale-revised (IES-R) was again served for assessing anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder. The Mc Nemar test was used to evaluate the change and significance of the mental health impact. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to identify the causative factors affecting mental health. Results The cohort'smedian age was 30 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 27-33). The incidence of moderate-to-severe level anxiety, depression, and stress significantly declined to 6.5% (p = 0.031), 9% (p = 0.01), and 19% (p<0.001) compared with 39.5, 40.5, and 30.5% during the pandemic onset. On further analysis, HCWs with affected family members had higher levels of stress (p = 0.002). The rest of the parameters did not have significant impact on mental health outcomes. Conclusion With public education, awareness, and vaccination strategies, the second follow-up survey conducted after vaccine implementation demonstrated a significant number of HCWs in the radiation oncology community, exhibiting a decline in the incidence of anxiety, depression, and stress levels compared with the initial wave of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Psoriasis is a common dermatological disorder with both inflammatory and genetic etiology. In India, the incidence of psoriasis is on the verge of rise. Very less data is available on the efficacy of isotretinoin versus methotrexate in patients suffering from plaque psoriasis. Aims and Objective: In this prospective cohort study, we aimed at comparing the efficacy and safety of systemic isotretinoin with systemic methothotrexate in patients suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a tertiary care medical college hospital in eastern India. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective cohort study conducted in the dermatology and pharmacology department of Burdwan Medical College between December 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021, on 60 patients suffering from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Patients receiving methotrexate and isotretinoin as systemic therapy of psoriasis from the dermatology outpatient department at the time of the study constituted the methotrexate and isotretinoin group, respectively. Each group had 30 patients. Psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) score were utilized for evaluation of improvement in disease severity and quality of life, respectively. Different laboratory parameters and patients reported side effects were noted for evaluation of safety. Results: Fifty-eight patients completed the study (28 patients from methotrexate group and 30 patients from isotretinoin group). Both drugs were effective in managing psoriasis. 100% patients in the methotrexate group and 89.28% patients in the isotretinoin group had reached the threshold for a minimal response (25% reduction from baseline PASI score after 12 weeks of treatment). The mean percentage reduction in PASI score was 70.23±6.78 and 52.78±7.34 in methotrexate and isotretinoin group respectively at the end of 12 weeks therapy. This difference was statistically significant. Methotrexate was more effective in improving quality of life. The mean percentage reduction in DLQI score were 60.02±5.04 and 28.49±4.84 in methotrexate and isotretinoin group respectively at the end of 12 weeks therapy. This difference was statistically significant. Isotretinoin group showed fewer patient-reported side effects and lower fluctuation of laboratory parameters. Conclusions: Methotrexate is more efficacious than isotretinoin in disease remission and improving quality of life in patients suffering from mild to moderate plaque psoriasis. Isotretinoin is safer than methotrexate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) has a negative impact on maternal and perinatal outcome and several long-term complications. The evidence from different experimental studies have shown that high serum ferritin concentration can lead to pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction and impaired glucose metabolism leading to GDM. Aim: To determine the association of increased serum ferritin level in first trimester and GDM in course of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study comprising of 204 women was conducted in S.S.K.M. Hospital, West Bengal, India, during the period from January 2015 to December 2015. The blood samples were collected and screened for GDM by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) at the beginning of the study and then assayed for serum ferritin level who were screened negative. The women were divided into four groups by quartiles of serum ferritin levels (Q1 to Q4). Then they were followed-up with OGTT at 24-28 weeks and again at 32-34 weeks. Statistical analysis was done by using paired t-test, Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results: The participants had an average serum ferritin concentration of 77.44 ng/mL. GDM prevalence within each serum ferritin quartile was 7.84%, 11.76%, 19.61% and 23.53% respectively (p-0.016). The odds ratio for GDM in the ferritin Q2-Q4 was 1.57 (CI=0.41-5.92), 2.87 (CI=0.84-9.83) and 3.62 (CI=1.08-12.11) compared with Q1 respectively. In addition, primigravida and women with high Haemoglobin (Hb) level (>13 gm%) have an increased risk of developing GDM. Conclusion: Elevated serum ferritin level is associated with increased incidence of GDM irrespective of other risk factors. Iron supplementation should therefore be individualised based on serum ferritin in early pregnancy to minimise the risk of GDM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the historical and current distribution for Cantor's giant softshell turtle (Pelochelys cantorii) in India. We report 13 new records from Kerala State. Based on our intensive survey in Kasaragod District, we report a potential breeding population from this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photovoltaic module testing apparatus being used presently for photovoltaic measurements acts principally on the method of photovoltaic module loading with resistive, capacitive, and electronic elements. In this work, a new method is described using a supercapacitor as the load to the photovoltaic module. This technique of characterization has proved to generate reliable V–I characteristics as validated by statistical and mathematical analyses in this article. Heat dissipation affecting the functioning of the photovoltaic modules is a common occurrence with resistive and capacitive loading techniques. It is reduced significantly in this method using supercapacitors, and curve tracing time is extremely modest and easily controllable. In effect, a low-cost, portable, and reliable I–V plotter is developed, which is operational from an embedded systems platform integrated with smart sensors. This I–V tracer has been used for the performance assessment of solar modules ranging from 10 to 100 Wp under varying climatic conditions in the eastern region of India. This test kit so developed in the photovoltaic engineering laboratory at Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur, is estimated to be useful for practicing engineers and photovoltaic scientists and in particular for photovoltaic module manufacturers. The performance parameters such as fill factor and performance ratio of photovoltaic modules measured by the device have been found to have almost identical values as the measurements from a reference commercial testing apparatus. The data pertaining to peak wattage as measured by the designed plotter have been found to be closely converging with an industry-friendly YOKOGAWA Power Meter (WT 330). Such peak values of power as measured and claimed by the datasheets will help reduce the uncertainties in measurement, leading to increased confidence of photovoltaic module manufacturers and investors. With this backdrop, the necessary work for scaling up of the low-cost I–V plotter has been taken up for assessing the performance of higher wattage photovoltaic modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foregut cystic developmental malformations (FCDM) are a type of rare cystic lesion. The occurrence of FCDM is exceedingly uncommon in the intraoral location. We report three cases of FCDM with intraoral location who presented at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, New Delhi, India, in 2016, 2017 and 2018 with symptoms of respiratory distress and feeding difficulties. Two patients were male and one was female with an age range of 29 days to eight years. The clinical differential diagnosis included mucocele, ranula, dermoid, lymphangioma, teratoma, thyroglossal duct cyst, etc. All patients were treated with simple surgical excision and diagnosed, based on histopathology, with FCDM. These should be considered as differential diagnosis of head and neck midline cystic mass lesions. This case report aimed to discuss differential diagnosis and appropriate terminology for these cystic masses as there is varied and ambiguous nomenclature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sociology of social movements has often drawn a fine line between individualistic “lifestyle movements” and more politically oriented collective action. Yet, this distinction belies the fact that seemingly individualistic movements can generate cognitive maps and associational ties necessary for wider mobilization. Drawing on a qualitative study of the Indian men’s feminist movement Men’s Action to Stop Violence against Women (MASVAW), we examine how an ostensibly individualistically oriented lifestyle movement can create the potential for collective action through forging social networks of like-minded individuals who can draw on local knowledge of specific situations to quickly mobilize their peers. Through this, we contribute to the literature on social movement networks by synthesizing theorizing on lifestyle movements with theorizing on activist social networks, demonstrating how networks can shift movements between different modes of coordination, from individualistic and everyday to collective and activist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of a process and impact evaluation to assess the effects of a project aiming to engage men in changing gender stereotypes and improving health outcomes for women in villages in Rajasthan, India. We conducted seven focus group discussions with participants in the programme and six in-depth interviews with intervention group leaders. We also conducted 137 pre- and 70 post-intervention surveys to assess participant and community knowledge, attitudes and behaviours surrounding gender, violence and sexuality. We used thematic analysis to identify process and impact themes, and hierarchical mixed linear regression for the primary outcome analysis of survey responses. Post-intervention, significant changes in knowledge and attitudes regarding gender, sexuality and violence were made on the individual level by participants, as well as in the community. Moderate behavioural changes were seen in individuals and in the community. Study findings offer a strong model for prevention programmes working with young men to create a community effect in encouraging gender equality in social norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shallow groundwater containing toxic concentrations of arsenic is the primary source of drinking water for millions of households in rural West Bengal, India. Often, this water also contains unpleasant levels of iron and non-negligible fecal contamination. Alternatives to shallow groundwater are increasingly available, including government-built deep tubewells, water purchased from independent providers, municipal piped water, and household filters. We conducted a survey of 501 households in Murshidabad district in 2014 to explore what influenced the use of available alternatives. Socioeconomic status and the perceived likelihood of gastrointestinal (GI) illness (which was associated with dissatisfaction with iron in groundwater) were the primary determinants of the use of alternatives. Arsenic knowledge was limited. The choice amongst alternatives was influenced by economic, social, and aesthetic factors, but not by health risk perceptions. The use of purchased water was rarely exclusive and was strongly associated with socioeconomic status, suggesting that this form of market-based water provision does not ensure universal access. Demand for purchased water appeared to decrease significantly shortly after free piped water became available at public taps. Our results suggest that arsenic mitigation interventions that also address co-occurring water problems (iron, GI illness) could be more effective than a focus on arsenic alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper raises questions about the impacts of one of India's most ambitious cash conditional transfer programs, Janani Suraksha Yojana. It incorporates the perspectives of a practitioner working on maternal health issues and discusses the importance of considering alternative explanations as part of any patterns of observed results. It argues for exploring the impacts of interventions on the most vulnerable and marginalized as an essential aspect of an equity evaluation and for exploring impacts on inequities from a human rights lens. It also discusses some of the core competencies that might be needed for evaluations of equity initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incubation temperature in nests of oviparous reptiles affects reproductive success indicators, including hatching time and success, offspring size, fitness, and behaviour. The female king cobra builds an above ground nest to incubate and protect its eggs. However, it is not clear how thermal regimes inside king cobra nests respond to external environmental temperature regimes, especially in subtropical regions that witness high diel and seasonal temperature fluctuations. To better understand the relationship between inside nest temperatures and hatching outcomes for this snake, we monitored the thermal regimes of 25 natural king cobra nests in the subtropical forests of the Western Himalayas in Uttarakhand state, northern India. We hypothesized that inside nest temperatures would be higher than outside (ambient) temperatures and that thermal regimes inside nests would affect hatching success and hatchling size. Internal and external temperatures at nest sites were measured every hour until hatching, via automatic data loggers. We then calculated hatching success of eggs and measured hatchling length and weight. Mean inside nest temperatures were consistently higher by about 3.0 °C than outside environmental temperatures. External temperature reduced with increasing elevation of nest sites and was the best determinant of inside nest temperature, which had a smaller range of variability. Physical characteristics of nests (size and leaf materials used) did not influence nest temperature significantly, but nest size was positively related to clutch size. Mean inside nest temperature was the best predictor of hatching success. Average daily minimum nest temperature, which indicates a possible lower threshold for thermal tolerance by eggs, was also correlated positively with hatching success. Mean daily maximum temperature was a significant predictor of mean length of hatchlings, but not of mean hatchling weight. Our study provides unequivocal evidence for the critical thermal benefits of king cobra nests for increased reproductive success, in subtropical environments with lower and sharply fluctuating temperature regimes. • First study on temperature regimes of 25 king cobra nests from a subtropical habitat. • Nest temperatures, warmer than ambient temperatures, were maintained across most nests. • Mean nest temperature positively affected king cobra hatching success and hatchling length. • Temperature effects were consistent, irrespective of nest material, elevation, and location. • High relevance of findings for studies on thermal adaptation in reptiles in cold climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for electroencephalography (EEG) - near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) based assessment of neurovascular coupling (NVC) during anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal tDCS modulates cortical neural activity leading to a hemodynamic response, which was used to identify impaired NVC functionality. In this study, the hemodynamic response was estimated with NIRS. NIRS recorded changes in oxy-hemoglobin ( HbO2) and deoxy-hemoglobin ( Hb) concentrations during anodal tDCS-induced activation of the cortical region located under the electrode and in-between the light sources and detectors. Anodal tDCS-induced alterations in the underlying neuronal current generators were also captured with EEG. Then, a method for the assessment of NVC underlying the site of anodal tDCS was proposed that leverages the Hilbert-Huang Transform. The case series including four chronic (>6 months) ischemic stroke survivors (3 males, 1 female from age 31 to 76) showed non-stationary effects of anodal tDCS on EEG that correlated with the HbO2 response. Here, the initial dip in HbO2 at the beginning of anodal tDCS corresponded with an increase in the log-transformed mean-power of EEG within 0.5Hz-11.25Hz frequency band. The cross-correlation coefficient changed signs but was comparable across subjects during and after anodal tDCS. The log-transformed mean-power of EEG lagged HbO2 response during tDCS but then led post-tDCS. This case series demonstrated changes in the degree of neurovascular coupling to a 0.526 A/m square-pulse (0-30 s) of anodal tDCS. The initial dip in HbO2 needs to be carefully investigated in a larger cohort, for example in patients with small vessel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes the journey and lessons of a 12-year-long and still ongoing experience of the two authors in working with men at the community level in different parts of India. Starting with addressing domestic violence, the work has proceeded to address issues of power, control and autonomy within the context of deep-seated cultural beliefs and practices, challenging and changing the roles of men both within homes and outside in different institutions. This work has been spread over a number of 'projects', most of which remain interconnected, and currently is spread across a number of states in India. In reviewing the lessons from their practice the authors propose a set of precepts or a 'theory of change' for working with men and boys to challenge gender discrimination within the South Asian context. To conclude the article, the authors discuss some of the challenges and predicaments in continuing this work within the current development paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violence against women is increasingly seen as a key women's rights issue in India. Some efforts to address it have started to engage men. The current study focuses on the impacts of Men's Action to Stop Violence Against Women (MASVAW), a network of men working on gender-based violence in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which MASVAW activists incorporate gender-equitable attitudes and practices into their own lives and to identify their influence on men around them. The cross-sectional study includes three groups: activists, men living in an area where activists conducted outreach activities and a control group living in an area with no MASVAW activities. Both activists and activist influenced men scored higher on measures of gender-equitable beliefs and practices than controls, suggesting that MASVAW activism is successful. Furthermore, men from the activist influenced group scored higher in gender progressiveness even if they did not have contact with MASVAW themselves, suggesting a diffusion effect of social change. However, there were some areas where the activists had low scores, suggesting need for additional inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A herpetofaunal inventory based on field surveys, literature records and photographic records is presented for Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and its environs, situated in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, India. We list a total of 10 species of amphibians and 42 species of reptiles from the area. Compiled observations presented here include biological notes on the Critically Endangered Gavialis gangeticus and new locality records and natural history information of poorly known species including Polypedates taeniatus and Sibynophis sagittarius. Besides recording members of currently recognized species complexes, the study also documents species that were either conferred to closely related species (e.g., Fejervarya cf. teraiensis) or their identity remains to be ascertained (e.g., Kaloula sp.). The present study indicates that species count at Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary is likely to increase with additional surveys and systematic work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In one district of Orissa state, we used the World Health Organization’s Workforce Indicators of Staffing Need (WISN) method to calculate the number of health workers required to achieve the maternal and child health ‘service guarantees’ of India’s National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). We measured the difference between this ideal number and current staffing levels.Methods We collected census data, routine health information data and government reports to calculate demand for maternal and child health services. By conducting 54 interviews with physicians and midwives, and six focus groups, we were able to calculate the time required to perform necessary health care tasks. We also interviewed 10 new mothers to cross-check these estimates at a global level and get assessments of quality of care.Findings For 18 service centres of Ganjam District, we found 357 health workers in our six cadre categories, to serve a population of 1.02 million. Total demand for the MCH services guaranteed under India’s NRHM outpaced supply for every category of health worker but one. To properly serve the study population, the health workforce supply should be enhanced by 43 additional physicians, 15 nurses and 80 nurse midwives. Those numbers probably under-estimate the need, as they assume away geographic barriers.Conclusions Our study established time standards in minutes for each MCH activity promised by the NRHM, which could be applied elsewhere in India by government planners and civil society advocates. Our calculations indicate significant numbers of new health workers are required to deliver the services promised by the NRHM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the taxonomic status of an unidentified enigmatic macaque seen by scientists since the late 1990s in Arunachal Pradesh, India. We surveyed 49 troops of enigmatic macaques in four districts of Arunachal Pradesh. The population studied is from the macaque sinica-group as defined by the reproductive organs. The main species-separating trait in the sinica-group is tail length to head and body length ratio that decreases with latitude and elevation. We gathered data on morphology, pelage descriptions, tail to head and body ratios and tail to hind foot ratios from photos and live animals (43 individuals from 36 areas) within the range of and between the two subspecies of the Assamese macaque ( Macaca assamensis). We compared the data to six western Assamese macaques and studies of Assamese macaques and related species. We found great variability in tail length, pelage color, facial skin color, and facial and hair patterns. The tail/head-body and tail/foot ratios, although varied, supported the hypothesis that these enigmatic forms were part of a population of Assamese macaques found in the gap between the two subspecies ranges and were not a new species as described earlier. Instead, we found evidence that darker pelage, larger body size, and shorter tails occur at higher elevations and latitudes similar to the general trend in the sinica-group's adaptations to colder climates. Thus, the population may be important for its variation, throwing light on the speciation process and how the northern species of Tibetan macaques evolved from an ancestor similar to the Assamese macaques as adaptations to a colder climate. Am. J. Primatol. 73:458-473, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the reproductive and sexual rights of women in India. To assert that the advocacy for women's reproductive and sexual rights only occurred in the present era would be an understatement. Issues like widow remarriage, polygamy, and child marriage has already been supported by great social reformers of the nineteenth century like Pandit iswar Chandra Vidyasagar in Bengal and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra. The only reason why such rights were seemed like modern phenomena is that, there has been a constant struggle in the arena of contraception for over the last seventy five years already, which centers between the notion of population control backed up by the Malthusian politicians and later by the demographers, and birth control as entirely controlled by women.

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "India's Janani Suraksha Yojana, a conditional cash transfer programme to increase births in health facilities," by S. S. Lim and colleagues, along with the response of the authors.

• Significant variation for α-, γ-, δ- and total-tocopherol was observed. • α-/total-tocopherol & α-/γ-tocopherol was high in 0/0 class over other haplotypes. • First report on relationship of haplotypes of vte4 with tocopherols in India. Vitamin-E deficiency is a serious health problem worldwide. In maize, α-tocopherol possessing the highest vitamin-E activity is regulated by vte4 gene. Here, 54 maize inbreds possessing three favourable (0/0, 7/0 and 0/118) and one unfavourable (7/118) haplotypes of vte4 were evaluated at three locations. Significant variation was observed for α-, γ-, δ- and total-tocopherol. Variation in β-tocopherol was narrow. The mean α-tocopherol of 0/0, 7/0 and 0/118 haplotypes was much higher than the unfavourable (7/118) haplotype. Further, 0/0, 0/118 and 7/0 haplotypes possessed higher proportion of α-tocopherol/ total tocopherol than 7/118 haplotype. α-, γ- and δ- tocopherols were positively correlated (r = 0.56, 0.88 and 0.45, respectively) with total tocopherol. Across tocopherols, genotypes explained 34.7–90.4 %, while environment represented 0.3–21.7 % of total variation. β- and δ-tocopherols were minute in concentration, and α- and γ- tocopherols were the predominant fractions. This is the first report on genetic analysis of tocopherols among maize inbreds possessing four haplotypes of vte4 for use in biofortification programs in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the past 15 years, several efforts have been made by the Government of India to improve maternal health, primarily through providing cash incentives to increase institutional child birth and strengthen services in the public health system. The result has been a definite but unequal increase in the proportion of institutional deliveries, across geographical areas and social groups. Tribal (indigenous) communities are one such group in which the proportion of institutional deliveries is low. The persistence of these inequities indicates that a different approach is required to address the maternal health challenges in these communities. Methods: This paper describes an exploratory study in Rayagada District of Odisha which aimed to understand tribal women's experiences with pregnancy and childbirth and their interactions with the formal health system. Methods included in-depth interviews with women, traditional healers and formal health care providers and outreach workers, observations in the community and health facilities. Results: The exploration of traditional practices shows that in this community, pregnancy and childbirth is treated as part of a natural process, not requiring external intervention. There is a well-established practice of birthing in the community which also recognizes the need for health system interventions in case of high-risk births or complications. However, there has been no effort by the health system to build on this traditional understanding of safety of woman and child. Instead, the system continues to rely on incentives and disincentives to motivate women. Traditional health providers who are important stakeholders have not been integrated into the health system. Despite the immense difficulties that women face, however, they do access health facilities, but barriers of distance, language, cultural inappropriateness of services, and experiences of gross violations have further compounded their distrust. Conclusions: The results of the study suggest a re-examining of the very approach to addressing maternal health in this community. The study calls for reorienting maternal health services, to be responsive to the requirements of tribal women, cater to their cultural needs, provide support to domiciliary deliveries, invest in building trust with the community, and preserve beneficial traditional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delta shapes are governed by relative dominance of wave, tidal, and fluvial processes, while their coastline changes primarily depend on activation and abandonment of distributary channels. The partly-reclaimed Sundarban Mangrove Wetlands occupy the fluvially abandoned western part of the macro-mesotidal Lower Ganga–Brahmaputra–Meghna Delta (GBMD) in India and Bangladesh. To ascertain the evolution of the planform of this 15,500-km2 region over a century, maps and images pertaining to 1904–24 (Survey of India topographical maps), 1967 (Corona space photographs), 2001 (IRS-1D LISS-3 + Pan merged images), and 2015–16 (Resourcesat-2 LISS-4 fmx images) were digitally compared for documenting the changes in the areas of ~250 mangrove-covered and reclaimed tidal islands above the spring high water level. Area change of the individual islands was also studied based on their relative north–south and west–east positions. The results indicated that while erosion of the estuary margins and the sea facing coastline —up to 40 m/yr—was continuing for decades in the southern islands, intervening channels between the northern islands were getting silted up, especially in the western sector, resulting in land gain. Area change in the central sector mostly tended to be small and erosional. Overall, the total island area & counts changed from 11,903 km2 & 253 (1904–24), respectively, through 11,663 km2 & 250 (1967), 11,506 km2 & 244 (2001), and 11,455 km2 & 251 (2015–16). The reduction rate of area, at −4.46 km2/yr, remained noticeably similar across all intervals of mapping / imaging years and projects that the region will lose 3.4 % of its present extent by 2100 if the observed tendencies continue. The trend of area reduction was 2.55-times higher in the western (Indian) segment of the region, than the eastern (Bangladeshi) section. At the level of individual islands, the trends of area change were classified into nine types involving linear and non-linear changes, with dominance of continuous (post-2001) erosion in 48.3 % (68.9 %) of the islands. Conversely, continuous (post-2001) accretion dominates in 15.8 % (31.1 %) of the islands. The retrogradation of the southern Sundarban can be ascribed to sediment starvation of the western GBMD due to abandonment of its deltaic distributaries and shelf bypassing of sediments through the Swatch of No Ground submarine canyon. On the other hand, the accretion of the northern interior areas, especially in the west, was mostly related to sediment reworking in a floodtide dominated environment, intervened by reclamation efforts. Factors like relative sea level rise, locational shifts in landfalls of cyclonic storms, and reclamation-related deforestation had little detectable influence on island area changes. As the observed tendencies of area change are likely to continue, planning for the region must integrate the transformations into management and development initiatives. [Display omitted] • The partly reclaimed Sundarban Mangrove Wetlands occupy an abandoned deltaic lobe. • Four sets of maps and images trace ~100-year area change of its ~250 tidal islands. • Erosion prevails in the seaboard islands and increases away from the sediment sources. • Accretion predominates the landward islands due to waning of the intervening creeks. • Sediment starvation and landward rise in tidal range and asymmetry cause the changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe a new species of ranid frog of the genus Nidirana from northeast India based on morphological, molecular and acoustic evidence. The new species is phenotypically distinct from its congeners by a combination of morphological characters: body robust with SVL 46.559.1 mm (n= 3) in adult males and SVL 60.666.0 mm (n= 2) in adult females; a pair of subgular vocal sacs and two patches of nuptial pad on the first finger in adult males; toe tips slightly dilated and oval; circum-marginal grooves present on all toes; dorsal skin with scattered small tubercles. A pale cream-coloured mid-dorsal line from the snout tip to the vent is present. Phylogenetically, the new species differs from its congeners by a genetic divergence of 3.48.0% and 7.712.4% in 16S and COI genes respectively. Furthermore, the new species can be differentiated from its congeners by its advertisement call, which consists of two different types of notes, call duration (0.580.92 s) and dominant frequency of the call (473.7 Hz). The discovery of a new species validates the presence of the genus Nidirana from India and emphasizes the importance of exploring specialized habitats such as marshlands, which are often overlooked.

The Indian rock pythons (Python molurus) are classified as a near-threatened snake species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN); they are native to the Indian subcontinent and have experienced population declines caused primarily by poaching and habitat loss. We hand-captured the 14 rock pythons from villages, agricultural lands, and core forests to examine the species' home ranges. We later released/translocated them in different kilometer ranges at the Tiger Reserves. From December 2018 to December 2020, we obtained 401 radio-telemetry locations, with an average tracking duration of (444 ± 212 days), and a mean of 29 ± SD 16 data points per individual. We quantified home ranges and measured morphometric and ecological factors (sex, body size, and location) associated with intraspecific differences in home range size. We analyzed the home ranges of rock pythons using Auto correlated Kernel Density Estimates (AKDE). AKDEs can account for the auto-correlated nature of animal movement data and mitigate against biases stemming from inconsistent tracking time lags. Home range size varied from 1.4 ha to 8.1 km 2 and averaged 4.2 km 2 . Differences in home range sizes could not be connected to body mass. Initial indications suggest that rock python home ranges are larger than other pythons., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

We studied the morphological and genetic differences within Calotes jerdoni, a widespread species across northeast India. Our results suggest the presence of two distinct species in this region, one being Calotes jerdoni and the other being Calotes medogensis, which we report for the first time from India. We designate a lectotype for Calotes jerdoni and provided extended description based on freshly collected materials. Previously undetermined diagnostic characters were identified and are discussed here in detail. The aforementioned species show an interspecific pairwise genetic divergence of 13-14% in the ND2 mitochondrial gene.

We report the rediscovery of Oligodon melaneus 112 years after its original description and document the third, and only non-type, specimen for the species. The new specimen was found 267 km east of the type locality (Tindharia, West Bengal state) from Assam state, India. We designate a lectotype for the species, and provide an extended description of a freshly collected male specimen. Phylogenetic analyses of 16s and cytb mitochondrial genes provide support for O. melaneus being closely related to the widespread South Asian endemic O. arnensis.

We describe a new species of Stoliczkia from Mizoram, India. Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai sp. nov. is identified as a member of the genus Stoliczkia by distinct scale arrangements on the posterior of the head, and by scales on the body being separated by scaleless skin, and it differs from the two known congeners in body and head scalation. This is only the third specimen of Stoliczkia collected from India, and the sixth reported specimen for the genus. A revised key to the identification of the species of Stoliczkia is provided.

Purpose: To evaluate stress levels among the health care workers (HCWs) of the radiation oncology community in Asian countries., Methods: HCWs of the radiation oncology departments from 29 tertiary cancer care centers of Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nepal were studied from May 2020 to July 2020. A total of 758 eligible HCWs were identified. The 7-Item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 9-Item Patient Health Questionnaire, and 22-Item Impact of Events Scale-Revised were used for assessing anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Univariate and multivariate analysis was done to identify the causative factors affecting mental health., Results: A total of 758 participants from 794 HCWs were analyzed. The median age was 31 years (IQR, 27-28). The incidence of moderate to severe levels of anxiety, depression, and stress was 34.8%, 31.2%, and 18.2%, respectively. Severe personal concerns were noticed by 60.9% of the staff. On multivariate analysis, the presence of commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 during the previous 2 weeks, contact history (harzard ratio [HR], 2.04; CI, 1.15 to 3.63), and compliance with precautionary measures (HR, 1.69; CI, 1.19 to 2.45) for COVID-19 significantly predicted for increasing anxiety (HR, 2.67; CI, 1.93 to 3.70), depression (HR, 3.38; CI 2.36 to 4.84), and stress (HR, 2.89; CI, 1.88 to 4.43) ( P < .001). A significant regional variation was also noticed for anxiety, stress, and personal concerns., Conclusion: This survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that a significant proportion of HCWs in the radiation oncology community experiences moderate to severe levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. This trend is alarming and it is important to identify and intervene at the right time to improve the mental health of HCWs to avoid any long-term impacts.

In a recent study, Hortal et al. (2015) recognized seven shortfalls of knowledge that hamper our understanding of biodiversity. Three of these are of particular importance for drawing conservation strategies for ecological indicator species, among which we can count the amphibians (Simon et al. 2011): the Linnean shortfall describes 'the knowledge incongruity between the described species and the remaining species yet to be described' (Brown Lomolino 1998); the Wallacean shortfall defines 'paucity of knowledge about the actual distribution range of the species' (Lomolino 2004); and the Darwinian shortfall refers to 'lack of knowledge about the tree of life and evolution of lineages, species and traits' (Diniz-Filho et al. 2013).

A new species of the natricine snake genus Smithophis Giri et al. 2019 is described based on three specimens collected from Arunachal Pradesh, India. An additional three referred specimens are documented. Smithophis arunachalensis sp. nov. differs from all known congeners by a combination of 4-5 (rarely 6) small scales around the eye (excluding labial scales), presence of temporal scales, and a distinctive colour pattern of a blackish dorsum and bright yellow venter that form a sharply-defined zigzag border. The new species is known only from ca. 100 km2 in Lower Dibang Valley and Changlang Districts in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. A revised key to the identification of the species of Smithophis is presented.

We present a comprehensive inventory of amphibians from Panna Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh based on morphological, molecular and bioacoustic data. Representatives of 15 anuran species were collected, corresponding to roughly four fifths of the known amphibian species of Madhya Pradesh. The main results of this study are: (1) Description of advertisement calls of eleven species, including the first-time description of advertisement calls of Sphaerotheca pashchima. (2) Identification of cryptic species using acoustic and molecular techniques. (3) Five new significant range extensions and new state records. (4) Description of geographical variation in call properties in three anuran species. This study also provides morphological descriptions with ecological and natural history notes for each species that may be useful in management planning for amphibian conservation in Panna Tiger Reserve.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in India. Previously it was thought to be a disease of the elderly but now an epidemiological transition is being seen with increasing incidence in the very young adults as well. Such patterns are not well studied in the South East Asian population., Objective: To study the epidemiological profile of very young (≤35 years) adults presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in comparison with an older cohort., Methodology: The present study included all patients presenting with AMI to the emergency or to the out-patient department of the G B Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER), New Delhi between January 2014 and October 2015. A total of 102 subjects ≤35 years with AMI comprised the study subjects (cases) and were compared with 104 subjects >35 years old with AMI (Controls)., Results & Conclusion: Most of the very young AMI patients presented with an anterior wall ST segment elevation myocardial infarction, a stable hemodynamic profile, single vessel disease and better left ventricular ejection fraction as compared with controls. Most of the patients were from urban and semi-urban areas, middle and lower middle socioeconomic status and were smokers but lacked other traditional risk factors., (Copyright © 2020 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The montane agamid lizard genus Oriocalotes is currently considered monotypic, represented by the species, O. paulus. The systematic status of this taxon has remained questionable since its initial descriptions in the mid-1800s. A detailed molecular and morphological study was carried out to assess the validity of this genus, and its systematic position within the Asian agamid subfamily, Draconinae. Freshly collected and historical museum specimens from the type locality of O. paulus were examined morphologically, along with additional samples collected from localities in Mizoram state, Northeast India. Utilising newly generated molecular sequences (two mitochondrial and three nuclear genes), combined with those previously published for representative genera from the subfamilies Draconinae and Agaminae, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic trees were constructed. Phylogenetic results suggest that Oriocalotes is part of the widespread South and Southeast Asian radiation of Calotes. Comparative morphological studies (including external morphology, hemipenis and osteology) between Oriocalotes and related genera further support this systematic placement. Oriocalotes is herein regarded as a junior subjective synonym of Calotes. Calotes paulus comb. nov. is also assigned a lectotype and given a detailed redescription based on the lectotype, paralectotypes and additional topotypic material. Furthermore, the specimens collected from Mizoram populations are found to be morphologically and genetically distinct from Calotes paulus comb. nov., and are described herein as a new species, Calotes zolaiking sp. nov.

Based on the first molecular phylogenetic analyses of samples from northeast India, specimens referred to Rhabdops from this region are more closely related to the southeast and east Asian natricine genera Opisthotropis Günther, 1872 and Sinonatrix Rossman Eberle, 1977 (as well as to New World and western Palearctic natricines) than to peninsular Indian (true) Rhabdops. Morphologically, these northeast Indian populations differ from other natricines by having a single ('fused' or unpaired) internasal shield and a single prefrontal shield. Given the morphological and phylogenetic distinctiveness of these northeast Indian populations, we refer them to a new genus, Smithophis gen. nov., and transfer Rhabdops bicolor (Blyth, 1854) to Smithophis bicolor comb. nov. Based on morphological and molecular variation within our northeast Indian sample, we additionally describe Smithophis atemporalis sp. nov. from the state of Mizoram.

Millions of people in rural South Asia are exposed to high levels of arsenic through groundwater used for drinking. Many deployed arsenic remediation technologies quickly fail because they are not maintained, repaired, accepted, or affordable. It is therefore imperative that arsenic remediation technologies be evaluated for their ability to perform within a sustainable and scalable business model that addresses these challenges. We present field trial results of a 600 L Electro-Chemical Arsenic Remediation (ECAR) reactor operating over 3.5 months in West Bengal. These results are evaluated through the lens of a community scale micro-utility business model as a potential sustainable and scalable safe water solution for rural communities in South Asia. We demonstrate ECAR's ability to consistently reduce arsenic concentrations of ~266 μg/L to <5 μg/L in real groundwater, simultaneously meeting the international standards for iron and aluminum in drinking water. ECAR operating costs (amortized capital plus consumables) are estimated as $0.83-$1.04/m(3) under realistic conditions. We discuss the implications of these results against the constraints of a sustainable and scalable business model to argue that ECAR is a promising technology to help provide a clean water solution in arsenic-affected areas of South Asia., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A new species of montane toad Duttaphrynus is described from Nagaland state of Northeast India. The new species is diagnosable based on following combination of characters: absence of preorbital, postorbital and orbitotympanic ridges, elongated and broad parotid gland, first finger longer than second and presence of a mid-dorsal line. The tympanum is hidden under a skin fold (in male) or absent (in female). The species is compared with its congers from India and Indo-China. We propose to consider Duttaphrynus wokhaensis as junior synonym of Duttaphrynus melanostictus.

India, the world's second most populous country, is facing the emergence of a hitherto "hidden" epidemic: neurologic disability. The rapid economic, demographic, and social transformation of India in recent decades has already resulted in the double burden of unresolved epidemics of infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, tuberculosis) coupled with rising rates of chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases). Neurologic disability is likely to join these public health concerns as a third epidemic, largely due to 3 emerging health trends: 1) an increase in traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from road traffic accidents (RTA); 2) an increase in the incidence of age-related dementia; and 3) an increase in the stroke incidence. Without adequate preparation, the treatment and long-term care for an increasing population of neurologically disabled people will strain India's health care system and economy in the coming years in unprecedented ways.