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Concept maps help detect misconceptions and provide revision exercises to assess comprehension once a topic has been introduced. A concept map is a schematic drawing used to show the connection among the concepts in propositional form. A concept map is a helpful tool for illustrating the relationships between main concepts and sub-concepts. The main objective of the study was to identify misconceptions about the human digestive system among higher secondary students using concept maps. The data was collected from higher secondary students XI class students) (N = 388) with the help of students' preliminary concept maps and researcher-made concept map tools. Findings of the study showed that secondary school students hold misconceptions related to the human digestive system, i.e. few (22.68%) students have misconceptions such as 'Human Digestive System is the process by which hard food is converted into simple diffusible assimilable nutrients', few (19.32%) students have misconceptions such as 'Alimentary Canal starts with the throat," etc. The present paper will help use concept maps for the identification and remediation of students' misconceptions.

Pornography viewing is gradually becoming a part of life in many countries around the world, including India. However, the role of the extensive consumption of pornography among the Indian youths has not been given much attention by society and the government. Pornography is fuel for the global sex trade industry. In the contemporary world due to advancements in ICT they access to the porn is on the tip of their fingers which is causing Psycho-social health among youth. The main aim of the present study is to study the psycho-social effect of pornography among post graduate students in Kolhapur city and check effectiveness of pornography preventive model on PG students. The survey and experimental method was adopted by the researcher. The data was collected with a researcher-made questionnaire from N=325 PG students by a convenient sampling method. The finding of the study are: More than 3/4 respondents suffer from the following psycho-social effects of pornography: Feeling live away from society, Masturbation, Feeling guiltiness, Mental stress, increase in aggressive behaviour, Staring at women/girls as a 'Sex object'. The developed Preventive model is helpful to overcome from pornography by the PG students.

Child abuse impedes an individual personality and leaves mark on the heart of an individual eventually and affects the growth and development. The children are most vulnerable and can be easily exploits. Child Abuse refers to the action which hurt or harms children in terms physical, emotional, sexual etc. The study was intended to find out the status and perceived attitude towards the child abuse among upper primary school students of Kolhapur city. A descriptive survey was conducted and the data was collected from 221 Upper Primary School students using structured questionnaire of child abuse. The findings of study were parents do not talk about the uncomfortable situations their child might face in absence of them along with and let the child make it know about the uncomfortable situation faced by their child to the responsible adult and the child to deal with such situations at school, movie, by doctor, friend or at a workshop. This is serious concern as parents must make aware about child abuse among their wards and Most of the Boys and Girls don't know what to do if they will have to face any of the above mentioned situations.

Child abuse and Neglect is a concern as the grown child is later a responsible citizen of society. The well-round develop a child in a peaceful manner is constructive and an asset to the society and eventually to the nation and globe. Child Abuse and Neglect affects child personality in a socio-psychological manner. Identification of CAN at the right time and intervene for the child right empowers a vulnerable child. Hence teachers may play a key role in Child Abuse and Neglect. The objectives of the study were to identify the perceived concept of CAN along with the CAN Awareness among Primary School Teachers based Gender. The data was analyzed at dual-stage Qualitative and Quantitative and it was found that Moderate number of Schools does not have Policies to overcome & prevent the CAN and few of the Primary School teachers are unaware of POCSO Act. Few of Male & Female teachers are unaware of Case Identification & Reporting of CAN. A moderate number of Male & Female teachers has not participated in child abuse and neglect related awareness Training Programme.

Physics is a science that deals with matter and energy, and their interaction. The subject matter of Physics includes mechanics, heat, light, optics, electricity, magnetism, radiation, gravitation, atom structure etc. Physics concepts are included in the science textbook form primary level of education. Some Physics abstract concepts are difficult to comprehend for Primary and Secondary students. The complex and abstract nature of many concepts in physics makes them difficult to understand. It results into that the Physics subject become much more difficult due to the presence of varied misconceptions in students. The aim of the study is to identify the Physics misconceptions related to gravity, motion and inertia concepts among secondary school students. The study was descriptive in nature. One hundred forty (N=140) Ninth standard semi-english secondary school students of Kolhapur city were selected by purposive sampling method. The researchers identify three concepts of Physics i.e. Gravity, Motion, Inertia. The tool was constructed and data was collected from the Ninth standard students of affiliated to State Board of Kolhapur city. The misconceptions found were 'gravitational force just act on only heavy object', 'gravity does not affect the object in water', 'a continuous force is needed for continuous motion', 'speed and motion are same and 'inertia is the force that keep objects in motion' among the students.

Present society needs a moral, more sustaining order in every sphere of life to have a firm foundation for further human progress. School education touches the chord of ethical conduct of children as it plays a vital role in the inculcation of right values. This will stand them in good stead as they grow up. As adults, they can practice the values in social life which they imbibed at a formative stage. Hence, value education should be the primary concern of teacher preparation because a teacher has the responsibility of shaping children thoughts which decide their behaviour, and actions later on in their life. The present study examines the value system and value preferences of the prospective teachers. A sample of 330 preservice teachers of B.Ed. programme was randomly selected, and Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) was adopted for the study. The study reveals that the prospective teachers are self-oriented towards the end state of their existence showing their inclination towards freedom, comforts, and friendship. However, it is found that their modes of conduct are much oriented towards hard working nature with duty consciousness and open-mindedness. The study suggests that the curriculum and instruction should provide necessary inputs into theory and practical work to make preservice teachers realize the importance of values of equality, peace, self-respect, and honesty.

Introduction: Country-specific evidence-based research is crucial for understanding the role of nonnutritive sweeteners (NNS) in managing type 2 diabetes (T2D). The main aim of this study was to explore the effect of replacing sucrose with sucralose in coffee/tea in Asian Indians with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods: This 12-week, parallel-arm randomized controlled trial included 210 participants with T2D, assigned to the intervention group, where sugar/sucrose in coffee or tea was substituted with sucralose, or the control group, where sugar/sucrose was continued. Lifestyle factors remained unchanged. The primary outcome was change in HbA1c. Secondary outcomes were changes in body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), lipid profiles, and inflammatory markers. Results: At the end of 12 weeks, no change was observed in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers between or within groups. There was a small but significant reduction in BW (− 0.5 kg [95% CI − 1.0, − 0.1]; p = 0.02), BMI (− 0.2 kg/m2 [− 0.4, 0.0]; p = 0.03), and WC (− 0.8 cm [− 1.4, − 0.3]; p = 0.002) in the intervention group. Improvements were also observed in lipid accumulation product (p = 0.01), visceral adiposity index (p = 0.04), triglyceride/glucose index (p = 0.04), total energy intake (p = 0.04), and carbohydrate intake (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In Asian Indians with T2D, replacing about 60 kcal of added sucrose with sucralose in coffee/ tea had no benefit on glycemia but resulted in a small reduction in body weight, body mass index, and waist circumference. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2021/04/032686). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, child sexual abuse is a widespread, serious, and long-growing problem. Children are generally abused by the people known to them and less likely by strangers. A majority of people remain numb about the issues because of fear, denial from the community and social stigma and also result in less reported cases among the victims. Our aim was to assess early adolescent girl's knowledge on child sexual abuse and self-protection and assess the effectiveness of interactive education programs. For the study, we adopted one group of pre-test and post-test designs. A total of 30 early adolescent girls from a selected school participated. The intervention consisted of interactive education program using role-play, discussion, storytelling, and audiovisual aids. Knowledge about CSA and self-protection was assessed pre- and post-intervention. There were significant changes in the knowledge score of pre-test from post-test (t = -7.632, P < 0.001) following interactive sessions. Also, the mean for self-protection was significantly lower than the post-test mean. After the intervention, there were significant changes in the knowledge score of pre-test from post-test (t = -5.722, P < 0.001). The results also show that the education of parents and monthly family income had significant association with the pre-intervention knowledge level. Interactive education program effectively increases the knowledge level on CSA and self-protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In low‐ and middle‐income countries most of the cancer patients attend the hospital at a late stage and treatment completion of these cases is challenging. The early detection program (EDP), in rural areas of Punjab state, India was initiated to identify breast, cervical, and oral cancer at an early stage by raising awareness and providing easy access to diagnosis and treatment. A total of 361 health education programs and 99 early detection clinics were organized. The symptomatic and self‐interested (non‐symptomatic individuals who opted for screening) cases visited the detection clinic. They were screened for breast, cervical, and/or oral cancer. Further diagnosis and treatment of screen‐positive cases were carried out at Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur. Community leaders and healthcare workers were involved in all the activities. The EDP, Sangrur removed barriers between cancer diagnosis and treatment with the help of project staff. From 2019 to 2023, a total of 221,317 populations were covered. Symptomatic and self‐interested individuals attended the breast (1627), cervical (1601), and oral (1111) examinations. 46 breast (in situ‐4.3%; localized‐52.2%), 9 cervical (localized‐77.8%), and 12 oral (localized‐66.7%) cancer cases were detected, and treatment completion was 82.6%, 77.8%, and 50.0%, respectively. We compared cancer staging and treatment completion of cases detected through EDP with the cases attended HBCH from Sangrur district in 2018; the difference between two groups is statistically significant. Due to the early detection approach, there is disease down‐staging and improvement in treatment completion. This approach is feasible and can be implemented to control these cancers in low‐ and middle‐income countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of the study is to examine the difficulties in teaching Biology Concepts by science teachers at upper primary school. The study was descriptive in nature. Sixty (N=60) science teachers of Govt. aided Marathi Medium Schools in Kolhapur City selected by purposive sampling method. The researcher was analyzed the VI, VII & VIII grade science textbook for identification of the biology concepts. To collect the data researcher made questionnaire was used. The results of the study showed that the Science Teachers faces difficulties for Comprehension of the biology concepts like cell, sporogenesis, segmentation, scurvy, anaemia, asexual reproduction etc. at VI, VII & VIII grade. While teaching biology concepts in classroom, the science teachers faced the difficulties like teaching aids are not available, consuming more time for sketching figure on a blackboard, sufficient reference material is not available in school, getting less time for teaching, insufficient content in a textbook, content level is high according to students grasping level.

Schools play a vital role in inculcation of values and development of values. It has become, of late, the central concern of teacher education. Teacher education programmes are the effective modes of transmission of values having a direct impact on the school education. A College of Teacher Education was established at Badrachalam exclusively for tribal population in the State of Telangana under Integral Tribal Development Authority (ITDA). In this institution only tribes of different communities are given the opportunity of pursuing B.Ed. Programme. Tribal habitat, culture and living styles are different because they live in deep forest in hamlets away from the mainstream of the society and their value system needs attention for their emancipation in social development. In this article, the value system and value preferences of tribal future teachers of the B. Ed. Programme are discussed to provide guidelines for curricular interventions for quality tribal teacher education.

India’s clinical trial landscape has witnessed rapid growth over the period, with the recent introduction of remote trial patient monitoring utilising technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI). The vast and diverse population, combined with well-established medical infrastructure and skilled professionals, makes India an ideal location for conducting clinical research. Many international pharmaceutical companies have chosen to outsource their operations to India as well. However, despite India emerging as a significant hub for clinical trials, recruiting participants still presents unique challenges. This review aimed to shed light on the hurdles faced in recruiting participants in Indian clinical trials and explore potential solutions to bridge this gap. It has been highlighted that overcoming the challenges in recruiting participants in Indian clinical trials requires a multi-faceted approach involving various stakeholders. Along with the powerful steps taken by the government in reforming policies and regulatory norms, certain innovative and effective strategies need to be designed to streamline the processes of participant recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Lymphatic cystic malformations occur in the mesentery of the small and large bowel, omentum and retroperitoneal area and are rare, benign, intra-abdominal cystic lesions. Aim: To review the demographics, clinical presentation and surgical outcomes of children’s mesenteric and omental lymphatic cystic lesions. Materials and Methods: A single-institution, retrospective descriptive study was conducted in the Department of Paediatric Surgery, Gandhi Medical College and Associated Hospitals, Bhopal, India, from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2023. It included cases of lymphatic cystic lesions in infants and children below 12 years of age involving the mesentery of the small and large bowel and omentum. The details collected from the case records were the age, sex, clinical presentation, radiological investigations carried out, operative findings and the outcome of the operative intervention executed for mesenteric and omental lymphatic cysts in children. The results obtained from the present study are expressed in numbers and percentages. Results: The present study analysed 18 children aged ≤12 years who underwent surgery for lymphatic cysts of the mesentery of the small bowel (n=14), large bowel/mesocolon (n=1) and omentum (n=3) during the study period. There were 11 boys and 7 girls. More than four-fifths (n=15) of the children were ≤5 years old at the time of diagnosis and operative therapy provided. One-third (n=7) of the cases clinically presented with the clinical features of intestinal obstruction. The cysts involved the mesentery of the small bowel in three-fourths (n=14) of the cases. The complete excision of the lymphatic cysts was possible in three-fourths (n=14) of the cases. In 10 children, resection of the adjacent/involved small bowel segment was also required during the operative procedures. Fifty percentage of the cases revealed volvulus of the small bowel caused by mesenteric cysts involving the small bowel. More than half of the cases required resection of the adjacent/involved segment of the small bowel along with excision of the mesenteric cysts. Conclusion: Mesenteric cysts are rare abdominal pathology with diverse clinical presentations ranging from vague abdominal pain and lump to an acute abdomen. Early referral to higher centres, diagnosis and prompt surgical excision of the mesenteric cysts can prevent volvulus, one of the most common complications and requirements of an emergency surgical procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil leaves, fruits, and woods assigned to Rhamnaceae have been recorded from India, however, there are no previous reports of rhamnaceous fossil flowers from India. Here, we report the first fossil flowers in appreciable numbers from the early Eocene (Palana Formation) sedimentary sequences of Gurha Lignite Mine, Rajasthan, western India, and show that they are attributable to Rhamnaceae. We examined variation in flower morphology among extant and extinct rhamnaceous species as a basis for interpreting our fossil flowers. The specimens are small star‐like, pentamerous, actinomorphic, gamosepalous flowers with triangular, keeled sepals with acute apices, spathulate, short‐clawed petals alternating with sepals, shallow, five‐lobed nectary disc with prominent pentagonal outer margin, and a centrally placed globose ovary with stigma scar. The flowers co‐occur with ziziphoid leaves and are recognized as a new species Eopaliura indica Patel, Rana & Khan sp. nov. Because of aforesaid characteristics, fossil flowers are easily identifiable as Rhamnaceae and should provide a reliable means of documenting the evolutionary history of this family during the Cenozoic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures are potent scavenges of forest ecosystem. Their food preference includes carcasses of mammals and farm livestock animals, like other raptors they are not true hunters instead they depends on hunters kill. They are top members in food chain making ecosystem neat and clean from the dreadful pathogens spreading diseases among mammals, thus helps to maintain ecological balance of the existing ecosystem. In India there is existence of nine vulture species, prominently among them Himalayan Vulture, Long-billed Vulture, Slender billed Vulture, Red-Headed Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Bearded Vulture, Eurasian Griffon and White-rumped Vulture. As per IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature White-rumped Vulture is categorized as Critically Endangered. Henceforth proper conservation measure is need of time. During survey in Kanha National Park, we found nesting of White-rumped Vulture at the tallest Saal Tree serving as best habitat within reserved forest area. Our study helps conservators to understand the habitat ecology and conservation tactics for future management to conserve them in natural habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: India contributes two‐thirds of the global mortality due to oral cancer and has a younger population at risk. The societal costs of this premature mortality are barely discussed. Methods: Using the human capital approach, we aimed to estimate the productivity lost due to premature mortality, valued using individual socioeconomic data, related to oral cancer in India. A bottom‐up approach was used to prospectively collect data of 100 consecutive patients with oral cancer treated between 2019 and 2020, with a follow‐up of 36 months. Results: The disease‐specific survival for early and advanced stage was 85% and 70%, with a median age of 47 years. With 671 years lost prematurely, the loss of productivity was $41 900/early and $96 044/advanced stage. Based on population level rates, the total cost of premature mortality was $5.6 billion, representing 0.18% of GDP. Conclusion: India needs to implement tailored strategies to reduce the economic burden from premature mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HCMV causes severe clinical complications in transplant recipients and may lead to graft rejection. Successful renal transplantation heavily relies on the early prevention and diagnosis of CMV infections, followed by prompt prophylactic treatment before transplantation. Despite the majority of renal rejection cases with acute HCMV infections being asymptomatic and occurring one to two years later, the objective of this research was to comprehend the effect of late HCMV infection on renal rejection by examining specific clinical parameters in the Eastern Indian cohort. Method: In this study, 240 patients were studied for five years following transplantation, and their data were collected from the local metropolitan hospital in Eastern India. Both HCMV-positive and -negative post-transplant patients were investigated using the clinical parameters and viral loads for latent infection. Results: Within the studied population, 79 post-transplant patients were found to be HCMV positive. Among them, 13 (16.45%) patients suffered from renal rejection within less than 2 yrs. of transplantation (early rejection) and 22 (27.84%) patients suffered from renal rejection after 2 yrs. from the operation date (late rejection). Assessment of clinical parameters with respect to HCMV infection revealed that in early rejection cases, fever (p-0.035) and urinary tract infection (p-0.017) were prominent, but in late rejection, hematuria (p-0.032), diabetes (p-0.005), and creatinine level changes (p < 0.001) were significant along with urinary tract infection (p-0.047). Conclusions: This study provides valuable insights into monitoring latent CMV infections and highlights the understanding of reducing renal rejection rates and the need for further research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H2 and CO2-utilizing chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms from the deep subsurface ecosystems have gained considerable importance for their significant role in biogeochemical cycling of carbon. In this study, ten basalt and granite rocks from the deep subsurface environment of the Deccan Traps, India, have been used to enrich chemolithotrophic microorganisms. Following incubation with H2 and CO2 for 90 days at 50˚C, the enrichments showed microbial growth as evident from protein (27–157 mg/L) and carbohydrate (0.1–2.9 mg/L) contents of the enrichment cultures along with a change in pH, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation-reduction potential values. 16 S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of the metagenomes derived from the enrichment cultures showed selective enrichment of microbial communities compared to the native rock communities. The most abundant bacterial phyla within the native rock samples were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes, whereas the enrichment cultures showed enrichment of Proteobacteria (members of Gamma-Alpha-subdivisions), Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and others under the chemolithoautotrophic condition. Predictive metabolic profiling using PICRUSt of enriched communities revealed the presence of genes related to H2 oxidation (hyaCD) and CO2 fixation (PGK, ccl, fhs, accABC) as well as genes for value-added product formation (ACSS, LDH, adh, acmAB, adh1, adcBDH, phaC, phbCZB, etc.). A total of 14 bacteria were isolated and identified as Mesorhizobium sp., Ralstonia spp., Massilia spp., Acidovorax spp., and Sphingobium sp. Among the bacterial isolates, Ralstonia sp., and Massilia sp. obtained from basaltic rock showed higher CO2 (up to 8 mg/L) utilization ability, and most of them can produce acetate (up to 14 mg/L). PCR analysis of the functional gene (NiFe-hyd) revealed the presence of probable H2 oxidation pathway in the isolates for their energy metabolism. The study showed the potential of H2 and CO2 utilizing deep subsurface bacterial populations in CO2 capture and value-added product formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing demand for quality education, it is imperative for universities to attract and retain good faculty. This study explores the effect of demographic and some external factors on faculty satisfaction. The analysis is based on a nationwide survey of full-time faculty across 1,000 colleges and institutes in India. Results show that senior faculty is more satisfied than younger ones. Policy makers in higher education and university administrators should take this input to take corrective steps to ensure teaching as a career remains attractive and competes successfully with other career options available to young eligible graduates.

Background: The cancer registry provides reliable data from the population. In this article, we provide cancer burden and its patterns from the Varanasi district. Methods: The method adopted by the Varanasi cancer registry is community interaction along with regular visits to more than 60 sources to collect data on cancer patients. The cancer registry was established by the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, in 2017 covering 4 million population (57% rural and 43% urban population). Results: The registry has recorded 1,907 incidence cases (1,058 male and 849 female). The age-adjusted incidence rate per 100,000 population in male and female of Varanasi district is 59.2 and 52.1, respectively. One in 15 male and one in 17 female are at risk of developing the disease. Mouth and tongue cancers are the predominant cancers in male, whereas breast, cervix uteri, and gallbladder are the leading cancer sites among the female. In female, cervix uteri cancer is significantly higher (double) in rural areas when compared with urban areas(rate ratio [RR] 0.5, 95% confidence interval [CI; 0.36, 0.72]), whereas in male, mouth cancer is higher in urban areas when compared with rural areas (RR 1.4, 95% CI [1.11, 1.72]). More than 50% of cancer cases in male are due to tobacco consumption. There may be underreporting of the cases. Conclusion: The results of the registry warrant policies and activities related to early detection services for the mouth, cervix uteri, and breast cancers. The Varanasi cancer registry is the foundation for cancer control and will play an important role in the evaluation of the interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Sleep disturbances are associated with increased healthcare costs and negative health outcomes. Oestrogen levels decrease after menopause, which may also be accompanied by deterioration in cognitive function along with the symptoms of depression and depressive disorders. Need for the study: The need of the study is evident in postmenopausal women, where physiological changes lead to a decline in vital hormones such as oestrogen and melatonin, contributing to anxiety, depression, and obstructive sleep apnoea. Consuming fruits rich in tryptophan which is a precursor of melatonin and serotonin can reduce sleep disorders and enhance sleep quality. Fruits containing tryptophan and melatonin can improve the sleep quality of healthy adults when consumed for seven days. Bananas are the prime example of nutritious food which enhances the mood-boosting benefits of serotonin. Deep breathing exercises are effective in reducing menopausal symptoms and help to manage stress related to life and menopause. Aim: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of a combination of banana consumption and deep breathing exercises with banana consumption alone and deep breathing exercises alone for managing sleep deprivation, anxiety, and depression among post-menopausal women. Materials and Methods: A random 3-arm parallel intervention study will be carried out at Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital, Sawangi Meghe Wardha, and Near Mai Hospital, Gandhi Nagar Arvi Naka Wardha, Maharashtra, India. The study will be conducted from May 2023 to May 2026. A random sampling technique will be used to select the sample. A total of 135 post-menopausal women, meeting the inclusion criteria will be chosen for the study. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) will be used to evaluate sleep deprivation, the self-rating anxiety and depression scale will be used to assess depression and anxiety, and serum magnesium tests along with demographic variables will be recorded. Statistical analysis will be performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), among the outcome variables between the three groups. A p-value less than 0.05 will be considered as statistically significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat is an important crop that plays major role in a food grain production in the country. It is a lone source for industries involved in the manufacturing of bread, biscuits, flakes, cakes etc. These industries rely on quality parameters viz., grain hardness index, biscuit spread factor, bread quality score, and bread loaf volume. Bread wheat variety Phule Satwik (NIAW 3170) is developed at Agricultural Research Station, Niphad has been released and notified by Central Sub Committee on Crop Standards, India for cultivation in North Western Plains Zone and Peninsular Zone under restricted irrigation conditions vide notification number S.O. 3482 (E) dated 7th October, 2020. The variety has high yield potential under restricted irrigation conditions along with disease resistance and superior grain quality parameters. It was the softest grain variety among all the genotypes having a biscuit spread factor of more than 10. With good nutritional and quality parameters, it will be a promising variety for bakery industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptospirosis is a reemerging zoonosis affecting humans and animals worldwide in tropical and subtropical countries. The study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of leptospirosis in high-risk occupational groups (cattle farm workers, poultry farm workers, and slaughterhouse workers) in the state of Gujarat and to determine related risk factors for leptospirosis. Methods: Using an interview-guided questionnaire, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving 123 people in high-risk occupational groups (namely, cattle farm workers, poultry farm workers, and slaughterhouse workers) from five districts of the state of Gujarat, India. The participants' serum samples were screened for antileptospiral antibodies by using Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) followed by a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The Chi-square (χ²) test and odds ratio were calculated using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) to ascertain the associated risk factors. Results: Regarding demographic information, this study included 104 men and 19 women in high-risk occupational groups. The overall seroprevalence of antileptospiral antibodies in these high-risk workers was 46.3%. The seroprevalence was the highest among poultry farm workers (56.6%), followed by cattle farm workers (54.5%) and slaughterhouse workers (25.6%). The MAT in combination with IgM is adequate for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, but we have also employed IgG ELISA to understand the chronic infection in these high-risk occupational groups as exposure was both past and present. Tests were conducted for antibodies against various Leptospira serovars in the major serogroups; frequent serovars included Hurstbridge, Panama, Javanica, Tarassovi, Copenhageni, Pomona, and Weaveri, among others. The significant (P < 0.05) risk factors associated with leptospirosis in these high-risk occupations reported to be living in field areas, the presence of livestock in the neighborhood, working in slaughterhouses, drinking water from natural water resources, contact with animals such as dogs or livestock, and wounds during occupational practice. Conclusion: Considering the high seroprevalence of leptospirosis, high-risk occupational groups should be regularly screened for potential development of the fatal disease. Hurstbridge was found to be the most prevalent serovar in the studied population, followed by Panama, Javanica, and Tarassovi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In December 2022, a leaf spot and blight disease was observed in Eucalyptus plantations in northern India. Morphological features coupled with phylogenetic analysis of combined internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1‐alpha (tef1) and β‐tubulin (tub2) regions confirmed the association of Pseudoplagiostoma eucalypti with the disease symptoms. The pathogenicity of P. eucalypti was first proved on detached leaves of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and reconfirmed in glasshouse inoculation experiments. Finally, Koch's postulates were fulfilled by re‐isolating the pathogen from the inoculated leaves. This pathogen was first described in 1995 from the leaves of Eucalyptus spp. collected from southern India, and this study confirms its first serious occurrence after more than two decades in northern India. In addition, this is the first report on the polyphasic characterization of P. eucalypti from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on Lave's theorisation of situated learning, this article engages with skills in the so-called 'unskilled' domain of waste work. Waste work involves handling diverse material discards, from household vegetable peelings, metal and plastic scraps, to human and animal faecal material and corpses. In India, forms of waste work are toxic, historically stigmatised, burdened on Dalit and Adivasi bodies, and officially categorised as 'unskilled' work. Based on fieldwork in a town in central India, the paper draws attention to skills in waste work, documenting social practices that involve processes of learning and acquiring skills. Analysing institutions that mediate skill acquisition in waste work, the paper argues that 'skilled' work is politically and socially constructed and materially contingent. The article destabilises reified notions of how work gets classified as '(un)skilled'. Further, the paper reflects on the conflicts and paradoxes that a conversation on skills in waste work throws up: valuing and recognising different forms of waste work while also pointing to their toxicities and struggles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian seed industry has shown an annual growth rate of 15.7% during 2011-2018 and is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% during 2019-2024, reaching a value of US $ 9.1 Billion by 2024. For any seed system to be viable and sustainable it requires a great deal of efforts through the right kind of laws, acts and policy framework and interventions as its essential pre-requisites. Due implementation of some progressive policies by the government of India, seed market has witnessed a major restructuring. These policies bought relaxed seed trade norms, reduced import restrictions on germplasm, encouraged foreign investments, supported quality seed production, plant variety protection, farmers and breeders right protection. Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions imposed had tremendous impact on the seed industry. The policy response and initiatives taken up by the government to address the problems by adopting various strategies helped in the uplifting the farming community. By classifying agriculture sector as essential, it eased in the continuous movement of the seed. This review gives insight about how the Indian seed legislation helped to increase the growth rate of Indian seed industry and also impact of covid-19 pandemic on seed sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-recruitment and its effective implementation is necessary for organizations that focus to channelize hiring, reduce costs, and attract a diverse talent pool in the present era. It is vital to understand and analyse the adoption of e-recruitment websites by job-seekers in India by focusing on factors like perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, and perceived ease of use. The main goal of this study is to establish the relationship between these antecedents and the user acceptance of e-recruitment in the Indian context. This cross-sectional study with descriptive research design used purposive sampling. The responses on pre-tested research instrument was collected from 612 respondents that validated the degree of relationship among the chosen factors. Perceived ease of use and pleasure positively correlated with perceived usefulness. Perceived usefulness positively impacts e-recruitment website usage. This research examined job-seekers' acceptance of online recruiting using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). This study is beneficial for Human Resource (HR) recruiters, research scholars, HR professionals, job seekers, manpower consultants, and those who use technology to recruit employees. The study found that perceived enjoyment and perceived usefulness of the technology were two major drivers of job-seekers attitude towards adoption of e- recruitment websites in India at (p<0.001). The research would assist decision-makers understand recruiting website adoption antecedents. The widespread adoption of this technology will help in economizing for both firms and job-seekers, apart from knowing the job-seekers behavioural intent to adopt internet recruitment websites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancistrocladaceae, a family of shrubs or woody lianas, are widely distributed in tropical West and Central Africa and Southeast Asia. However, no fossil from this family has been reported to date. Here, we report winged fruits of Ancistrocladaceae consisting of five wings and a globose nut from the early Eocene (Palana Formation) sediments of Gurha lignite mine, Rajasthan, in western India. We determine their taxonomic position based on detailed macromorphological features and compare them thoroughly with both modern and fossil species of angiosperms having five-winged fruits. All of the major morphological characters (size, shape, and venation pattern) of the early Eocene winged-fruit fossil are comparable with winged fruits of extant Ancistrocladus Wall. (Ancistrocladaceae), and therefore we assign them to a new fossil species, Ancistrocladus eocenicus Ali, Manchester & Khan. The fossil evidence indicates that Ancistrocladus once existed in western India during the early Eocene period. However, at present Ancistrocladus is absent from the local present-day desert vegetation and is endemic to the evergreen tropical forests of the western ghats of India, probably a consequence of environmental changes. Our discovery constitutes the first reliable fossil recognition of Ancistrocladaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasmodium vivax remains a major challenge for malaria control and elimination due to its ability to cause relapsing illness. To prevent relapses the Indian National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) recommends treatment with primaquine at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg/day provided over 14 days. Shorter treatment courses may improve adherence and treatment effectiveness. Methods: This is a hospital-based, randomised, controlled, open-label trial in two centres in India. Patients above the age of 16 years, with uncomplicated vivax malaria, G6PD activity of ≥ 30% of the adjusted male median (AMM) and haemoglobin levels ≥ 8 g/dL will be recruited into the study and randomised in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard schizonticidal treatment plus 7-day primaquine at 0.50 mg/kg/day or standard care with schizonticidal treatment plus 14-day primaquine at 0.25 mg/kg/day. Patients will be followed up for 6 months. The primary endpoint is the incidence risk of any P. vivax parasitaemia at 6 months. Safety outcomes include the incidence risk of severe anaemia (haemoglobin < 8 g/dL), the risk of blood transfusion, a > 25% fall in haemoglobin and an acute drop in haemoglobin of > 5 g/dL during primaquine treatment. Discussion: This study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of a 7-day primaquine regimen compared to the standard 14-day regimen in India. Results from this trial are likely to directly inform national treatment guidelines. Trial registration: Trial is registered on CTRI portal, Registration No: CTRI/2022/12/048283. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high incidence of oral carcinomas is due to its multifactorial etiology and the presence of various risk factors. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has a proven role in the pathogenesis of oral carcinomas, but in the recent times there has been an increasing incidence of oral cancers who are negative for HPV infection. Also, these patients are non-smokers and non-drinkers so it could be speculated that these oral cancers are due to some other etiological factor probably of other viral infections. Therefore, this study examined the prevalence of Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) among oral cancer patients. This cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2019 to June 2020. Biopsy samples from 47 newly diagnosed untreated patients with oral malignancies were collected along with their demographic and clinicopathological information. DNA extracted from the biopsies was processed for nested PCR for the detection of EBV and HSV. All the samples tested negative for HPV and HSV infection. Nested PCR detected 29 cases (70.7%) to be positive for EBV. The non-cancerous adjacent tissues also were negative for HPV, EBV and HSV. The prevalence of EBV was found to be more in males (62.1%) and the highest number of cases was of the left buccal mucosa compromising 34% of the total cases. From the present study it can be concluded that EBV but not HSV infection is associated with an increased risk of developing oral cancers. Although, 70.7% of the patients were found to be positive for EBV whether the viral infection played any role in the driving the malignancy needs to be further elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students in Hyderabad, India, explain the "freshmen's Composting Initiative", a project they undertook as a part of their environmental science course. The initiative puts a strong emphasis on problem-based learning (PBL) and real-world sustainability. It emphasizes the significance of giving pupils the knowledge and abilities necessary for environmental responsibility as well as the connection between human wellbeing and the natural world. The all-India Council for Technical Education's (AICTE) decision to include "Environmental Science" in the first-year B.Tech. Curriculum served as the impetus for the effort. Although sustainability is emphasized in policies, there is frequently a gap in actual application, which this research seeks to fill. This research helps students comprehend sustainable business practices and environmental issues while also giving them a foundation for putting sustainability into reality. It illustrates the transformative potential of PBL and the part that students play in bridging the sustainability gap between theory and practice. In conclusion, the "Freshmen's Composting Initiative" shows how first-year engineering students may actively support sustainability through practical projects, aligning with the increased emphasis on environmental education and the real-world application of sustainable ideas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A lot of people come to us complaining about erectile dysfunction. These days, even those under the age of 30 frequently deal with the problem of early onset hypertension and diabetes. Material and Methods: The study comprised 70 consecutive patients who were referred from several departments, including general medical outpatient, psychiatry, diabetology, and urology. This study was conducted at the Department of Radiology, Sri Balaji Medical College. Renigunta, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India between March 2023 to Jan 2024. Every patient complained of erectile dysfunction for at least half a year. A thorough clinical history and basic blood chemistry were performed on each subject. Results: These are a few instances of venous and arterial insufficiency patterns associated with erectile dysfunction. The individuals' ages ranged from 22 to 65 years old, with a mean age of 44. The average score of the 70 subjects on the SHIM questionnaire was 14.6. About 30% of the participants had no identified risk factors, despite the fact that diabetes and hypertension were the primary causes in the great majority of instances. Out of 70 participants, 56 responded normally to sildenafil and 59 to papaverine. Papaverine found that 21 individuals taking sildenafil had erectile dysfunction, compared to 18 who did not. Conclusion: Tab. Sildenafil significantly increases blood flow to the penile vasculature, according to the study, suggesting it may be useful as an erectogenic agent in penile Doppler studies when paired with self-tactile stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of the study is to asses Efficacy and safety of Rosuvastatin in altering lipid profile of patients newly diagnosed with dyslipidemia. Methods: This study was conducted in the outpatient department of Cardiology and General medicine in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Tamil Nadu, India. The study was done during period of January 2023 to November 2023.Patients diagnosed with Dyslipidemia were included in the study. Baseline characteristics like age, gender and variables like duration of illness and duration of therapy for other comorbidities were noted. The serum lipid profile values were also included from before the start of the study 0 weeks. The serum lipid profile was assessed periodically 4, 8, 12 weeks. Results: Over 90 patients who were visiting cardiology and general medicine out patient department who are diagnosed with dyslipidemia were included in the study. The study showed LDL lowered by 40% in patients taking Rosuvastatin. LDL/HDL ratio by 40.43% in rosuvastatin. Conclusion: By the above study we conclude that there is significant amount of lowering in serum LDL and VLDL levels after start of treatment with atorvastatin found in patient on metformin therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetes is one of many medical diseases that correlate with depression. This disease impacts several life implications due to its complications, ranging from economic burden to lifelong dependency. The present study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of a web-based model in improving the mental health status among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending a tertiary care hospital in Mysuru, southern India. Methodology: A 3-month quasi-experimental study was conducted among 545 T2DM patients attending the outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Mysuru, southern India. Patients were asked to use diabetes care (https://www.diabetes-care.co.in/), a website that can predict the risk for uncontrolled diabetes and recommends lifestyle changes. The Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 items questionnaire was used to assess participants' mental health at the beginning of the study and 3 months later. Results: Depression (moderate depression from 3.7% to 2% and severe depression from 0.4% to 0%), anxiety (severe anxiety from 1.3% to 0.2%), and stress (moderate stress from 5% to 0.7%). scores showed a reduction during post assessment period compared to the initial assessment. However, this difference was not statistically significant (<0.05). There was a negative correlation between all domains of quality of life (QoL) and depression, anxiety, and stress scores, implying that lower QoL scores were associated with more depression, anxiety, and stress scores and vice versa. Conclusion: Patients with T2DM using the web-based model that predicts the risk of uncontrolled diabetes and suggests lifestyle changes experienced an improvement in their mental health status 3 months' postintervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating soil quality in the alluvial plains of the semi-arid tropics is vital to understand the impact of existing land management practices, thus facilitating the adoption of more sustainable agricultural methods. We analysed soil profiles using 146 horizon-specific samples from 24 pedons, representing seven soil series from the sub-tropical to semi-arid River Cauvery Delta basin, Tamil Nadu, India. Using principal component analysis (PCA), we identified minimum datasets (MDS) from 30 different soil properties. The plough layer's MDS were clay content, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), very coarse sand content, soil pH and soil organic carbon (SOC). For the subsurface layer, sand content, ESP, SOC, diethylene-triamine-pentaacetic acid extractable zinc (DTPA-Zn), and very coarse sand content were identified as the MDS. Soil quality index (SQI) values were 0.47-0.72 for the plough layer and 0.46-0.56 for the subsurface soil, suggesting limited soil function support in subsurface soils. Surface soil-site suitability criteria displayed a moderate correlation with SQI values derived via PCA, with additive (R2 = .545) and weighted additive indices (R2 = .659). Both simple additive index and weighted derived SQIs demonstrated a moderate association with rice yield (R2 = .50 and .55, respectively). This research indicates the potential to identify soil quality indicators in alluvial plains of semi-arid tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research deals with the study on some physicochemical parameters and the population of aquatic insect and insect larvae of Pardi lake, Gadchiroli which was carried out from February 2016 to January 2017. Total 10 genera of aquatic insect larvae recorded during the present piece of investigation, among which Order Diptera is represented by 07 genera and Coleoptera by 03 genera. The Dipteran species are found to be dominant in the lake. The high density of pollution indicator species like Chironomus, Eristalis and Trichoptera larvae indicates the polluted nature of the lake. Thus, keeping in view the importance of the study, the necessary steps should be taken for the conservation and maintenance of lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Drought is one of the important abiotic stresses that can significantly reduce crop yields. In India, about 24% of Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) cultivation is taken up under rainfed conditions, leading to low yields due to moisture deficit stress. Hence, there is an urgent need to improve the productivity of mustard under drought conditions. In the present study, a set of 87 B. carinata-derived B. juncea introgression lines (ILs) was developed with the goal of creating drought-tolerant genotypes. Method: The experiment followed the augmented randomized complete block design with four blocks and three checks. ILs were evaluated for seed yield and its contributing traits under both rainfed and irrigated conditions in three different environments created by manipulating locations and years. To identify novel genes and alleles imparting drought tolerance, Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis was carried out. Genotyping-by-Sequencing (GBS) approach was used to construct the linkage map. Results: The linkage map consisted of 5,165 SNP markers distributed across 18 chromosomes and spanning a distance of 1,671.87 cM. On average, there was a 3.09 cM gap between adjoining markers. A total of 29 additive QTLs were identified for drought tolerance; among these, 17 (58.6% of total QTLs detected) were contributed by B. carinata (BC 4), suggesting a greater contribution of B. carinata towards improving drought tolerance in the ILs. Out of 17 QTLs, 11 (64.7%) were located on the B genome, indicating more introgression segments on the B genome of B. juncea. Eight QTL hotspots, containing two or more QTLs, governing seed yield contributing traits, water use efficiency, and drought tolerance under moisture deficit stress conditions were identified. Seventeen candidate genes related to biotic and abiotic stresses, viz., SOS2, SOS2 like, NPR1, FAE1-KCS, HOT5, DNAJA1, NIA1, BRI1, RF21, ycf2, WRKY33, PAL, SAMS2, orf147, MAPK3, WRR1 and SUS, were reported in the genomic regions of identified QTLs. Conclusions: The significance of B. carinata in improving drought tolerance and WUE by introducing genomic segments in Indian mustard is well demonstrated. The findings also provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of drought tolerance in mustard and pave the way for the development of drought-tolerant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the polymorphism in 7th exon of beta-casein gene (CSN2) gene in seven domestic (Kosali, Tharparkar, Gangatiri, Sahiwal, Gir, Khariar, Motu) and two exotic cattle breeds (Jersey and Holstein-Friesian). Genomic DNA was extracted from 1000 milk samples, and the C > A polymorphism in CSN2 was determined using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. In all Indigenous cattle breeds, the mean frequency of A1A2 and A2A2 genotypes was 0.19 and 0.80, respectively. The A1A1 genotype was absent in all seven domestic cattle breeds. The frequency of the A2A2 genotype was highest in the Gir breed (0.93). However, the Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Motu breeds also had a higher frequency of A2A2 genotype compared to other breeds. In contrast, Gangatiri breed of India showed lowest frequency of A2A2 genotype. The mean A1 and A2 allele frequency was 0.09 and 0.91, respectively. In exotic breeds, the mean frequencies of the A1A1, A1A2, and A2A2 genotypes were 0.42, 0.55, and 0.03, respectively. Similarly, the mean A1 and A2 allele frequency was 0.69 and 0.31, respectively. This study suggests the high potential of Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Motu cattle for A2 milk production since they carry a favorable A2 genotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to assess the secular trends in the prevalence of diabetes and pre-diabetes from two cross-sectional studies done 11 years apart, in rural Tamil Nadu. Methods: The Telemedicine PRoject for screENing Diabetes and its complications in rural Tamil Nadu(TREND) study is a cross-sectional survey that screened 14,117 individuals aged ≥ 18 years between 2018–2021. TREND was conducted in 30 villages of Chengalpattu/Kancheepuram districts of Tamil Nadu in Southern India. The prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes was compared with an earlier study the Chunampet Rural Diabetes Prevention Project(CRDPP) which screened 23,380 individuals aged ≥ 20 years between 2006–2010 using similar methodology, in 42 villages in the same area. Diabetes and prediabetes were diagnosed using the WHO criteria. Results: Individuals screened in TREND were significantly older (43.7 ± 14.5 vs.40.5 ± 15.2 years) and had higher BMI (23 ± 5 vs.21.4 ± 4.1) compared to CRDPP participants. The age and gender adjusted prevalence of diabetes increased from 5.3% to 13.7% (158.5% increase) during this 11-year period. There was a significant increase in prevalence of both self-reported diabetes (3.8% to 9.7%) and newly diagnosed diabetes (1.5% to 4.0%), but a decrease in prevalence of prediabetes from 16.7% to 8.4% (49.7% decrease) during the 11-year period. Age, male sex, BMI, formal education, occupations other than agriculture, family history of diabetes, and systolic blood pressure were significant predictors of diabetes. Conclusions: The prevalence of diabetes among adults in rural south India has dramatically increased while that of prediabetes, has decreased, over a 11-year period. The decrease in prevalence of prediabetes might suggest a future slowing down of the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The staging, prognostication, and treatment of ENKTL has evolved over the years with better understanding of the disease biology. There is significant heterogeneity in the treatment followed across the world. Literature from India have been few with small number of patients. We studied the outcomes and prognostic factors of patients with ENKTL treated between May 2010 and December 2021 at our center. A total of 78 patients diagnosed with ENKTL were treated at our center. L-asparaginase based chemotherapy was administered in 84% of the patients. Close to 2/3rd patients received SMILE chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 30 months (18.5–41.4 months), the median relapse free survival and overall survival for the overall population was 45 months (12–118 months) and 45 months (14–118 months) respectively. By multivariate analysis, PINK score of 2–4, non-receipt of RT and non-achievement of CR were associated with poor survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human societies are going through a historical process whereby the politics and economy of the diverse local territories are being increasingly integrated into the global system through transnational media and information technologies. Based on either sheer opportunism or compulsion, the global and local cultural systems have long been going through a process of co-modification and co-adaptation called "glocalization." Focused on the period 1990-2023, this study aims to divulge the multiple facets of glocalization as a market-led cultural phenomenon in India and the key questions and dialogues related to them. A review of literature on media, consumerism, Indian culture, and business adaptations in India is undertaken in seven segments. Considering glocalization as a dynamic cultural-economic force, this paper offers a critical understanding of the television, marketing, and advertising practices in post-global India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different multipurpose tree species integrated into agroforestry may exhibit variable effects on soil characteristics, which not only depend on planted tree species but also on tree management practices being adopted. In the present study, the effect of different tree management practices on soil organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity, microbial biomass carbon and potentially mineralizable nitrogen was assessed in three well-established agroforestry models viz. model 1: crown pruning management [three levels: 0 (unpruned), 50 and 75%] in Albizia procera, model 2: tree density management (three levels: 200, 400 and 800 trees ha−1) in Hardwickia binata, and model 3: in situ soil moisture conservation (SMC) measures [four levels: normal planting (control), stone mulch, deep basin and deep basin + deep ploughing] in Emblica officinalis-based agroforestry. The aim was to determine (1) whether tree management practices have any effect on soil biological properties, and (2) what levels of these management practices are desirable in selected agroforestry systems. We hypothesized that these practices will improve soil in terms of biological properties, with moderate levels being more beneficial. For the purpose, soil samples were collected from two sampling locations [rhizosphere (> 1.5 m from tree base) and the non-rhizosphere zone (outside the tree canopy i.e. < 5 m from tree base), and at each location, from two soil depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm). The findings revealed that unpruned trees of A.procera caused the maximum improvement in soil, followed by trees subjected to 50 and 75% crown pruning. The maximum tree density of H. binata (800 trees ha−1) yielded the highest values of the studied soil biological parameters, followed by 400 and 200 trees ha−1. The SMC measures adopted in E. officinalis had variable effects on studied parameters, with deep basin and deep basin + deep ploughing outweighing stone mulch and normal planting. The values of all the parameters were significantly higher in the rhizosphere as well as in the upper soil (0–15 cm). Conclusively, the study suggests that light crown pruning in A. procera, stocking of 400–800 trees ha−1 of H. binata, and deep basin and/or deep basin + deep ploughing SMC measures in E. officinalis may be adopted as desirable management practices for optimum soil biological health in the semi-arid region of Central India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In routine dental practice, clinicians often face difficulty in selecting accurate interocclusal recording materials due to the introduction of numerous options in the market. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate material and use it correctly for the success of any prosthesis. Aim: To evaluate and compare the linear dimensional stability of three different types of interocclusal recording materials: polyvinyl siloxane bite registration paste (orangebite), polyether bite registration paste (ramitec), and bite registration wax (aluminium filled). Materials and Methods: An in-vitro study was conducted in the Department of Prosthodontics and Crown and Bridge, with microscopic evaluation performed at the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology and Microbiology at Maratha Mandal’s NGH Institute of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Belagavi, Karnataka, India in September 2020 for a period of four days. A stainless steel die was used to make impressions, and materials were manipulated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. A total of 30 samples (10 for each material) were created. Three minutes after the respective setting time of each material, discs were separated from the die. The distance between two parallel lines was measured using a stereomicroscope at different time intervals: one hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Statistical analysis was performed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and the Mann-Whitney test. Results: In the intragroup comparison of dimensional changes at different time intervals, all three materials showed statistically insignificant results (p>0.05). However, statistically significant results (p≤0.05) were found when comparing the materials at different time points. Polyether bite registration material exhibited better dimensional stability than polyvinyl siloxane and bite registration wax at one hour, 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours. Conclusion: Polyether demonstrated superior dimensional stability compared to polyvinyl siloxane and bite registration wax. The dimensional stability was influenced by both the material used and the duration of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The objective is to present the patterns of dual primary malignancies diagnosed at the Pathology Laboratory of Cancer Hospital with the support from hospital-based cancer registry (HBCR), Sangrur, Punjab, India for the years 2018 and 2019. Methods HBCR abstracts data from electronic medical records. Trained cancer registry staff abstracts cases in standard pro forma. Dual primary was coded as per the International Agency for Research on Cancer rule and was rechecked by the pathologist. Statistical Analysis Data about multiple primary was entered and documented in an Excel sheet. Time interval was calculated by subtracting the date of diagnosis for second primary and first primary. Results A total of 6,933 cases were registered, 45 cases are dual primary (26 females, 19 males) of which 64.4% are synchronous and 35.6% metachronous cases. Seventy-nine percent received cancer-directed treatment for synchronous and 87% for metachronous. The most common sites of the primary tumor were breast (33%), head and neck (22.2%), gynecological sites (11%), prostate (9%), esophagus (4%), and remaining other tumors (20.8%). Most common sites for second malignancies were gastrointestinal (GI) tract (31%), gynecological sites (18%), head and neck (16%), hematological malignancies (7%), soft tissue sarcoma (4%), breast (2%), and other sites (22%). Conclusion More than 70% of cases of primary tumors were in breast, head and neck, gynecological, and prostate. Of these, more than 60% of the second malignancy was found in the GI tract, gynecological, and head and neck sites. Around two-thirds of dual tumors are synchronous. Breast cancer cases have higher incidence of second malignancy. Regular follow-up is necessary to assess the survival of the second primary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digitalization has posed severe challenges to traditional businesses. Traditional firms are still not sure of the benefits of digitally engaging their customers. In contrast, the new-age firms have successfully leveraged digital media. This article examines the relationship between digital adoption by customers and customer lifetime value (CLV). This study analysed the mobile recharges by 13 million rural and urban prepaid telecom customers over 60 million transactions from January 2019 to June 2019 in the Indian telecom industry. The computed predictive CLV has been computed and compared across various customer segments (digitally engaged, partially digitally engaged and digitally unengaged customers). The studied data were statistically validated using the Kruskal–Wallis test. The data proved to be non-normally distributed as per the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. The results supported that digital adoption helps increase customer engagement, loyalty and CLV. The study presents several managerial implications, such as digitally engaged customers being a surrogate for high value and more profitable customers. Also, digitally engaged customers are relatively more loyal, contributing higher CLV than digitally unengaged customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the short-term contamination and associated risks arising from the release of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to the 2020 Baghjan oil blowout in upper Assam, India. Shortly after the Baghjan oil blowout, samples were collected from water, sediment, and fish species and examined for PAHs contents. The results of the analysis revealed ΣPAHs concentrations ranged between 0.21–691.31 μg L-1 (water); 37.6–395.8 μg Kg-1 (sediment); 104.3–7829.6 μg Kg-1 (fish). The prevalence of 3–4 ring low molecular weight PAHs compounds in water (87.17%), sediment (100%), and fish samples (93.17%) validate the petrogenic source of origin (oil spill). The geographic vicinity of the oil blowout is rich in wildlife; thus, leading to a significant mass mortality of several eco-sensitive species like fish, plants, microbes, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals including the Gangetic River dolphin. The initial ecological risk assessment suggested moderate to high-risk values (RQ >1) of majority PAHs concerning fish, daphnia, and algae species. This study highlights the need for recognizing the potential for short-term exposure to local species. To safeguard local ecosystems from potential future environmental disasters, it is imperative for the government to adopt a precautionary strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: According to recent research, decreased renal function and cardiovascular disease are significantly linked to elevated serum levels of uric acid and hs-CRP. In order to identify early renal function deterioration before the start of proteinuria and cardiovascular risk in type 1 diabetic patients, this study will examine the roles of uric acid and hs-CRP. Method: In the cross-sectional study, a total of 140 type 1 diabetic individuals (70 normoalbuminuric and 70 microalbumin uric) were enrolled. Enzymatic colorimetric method and ELISA method were each used to quantify uric acid and hs-CRP, respectively. Blood pressure, body mass index, HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, plasma lipid profile, serum creatinine, and urine albumin creatinine ratio were also evaluated as metabolic markers. The CKD-EPI equation was used to compute the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Result: Mean uric acid levels were 3.92+/-1.59 and 4.99+/-2.48mg/dL, respectively, for normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria (p-0.004). Mean hs-CRP levels were 1.93+/-2.14mg/L in normoalbuminuria and 4.47+/- 3.05mg/L in microalbuminuria, respectively (p <0.001). Urinary albumin to creatinine ratios were 15.74+/- 8.88 in normoalbuminuria and 129.98+/-85.25 in microalbuminuria (both p<0.001). The mean GFR in individuals with normoalbuminuria was 112.45+/-20.30ml/min, whereas it was 100.25+/-27.12ml/min in individuals with microalbuminuria (p-0.02). A greater than 90 ml/min eGFR was present in 55.6% of normoalbuminurics and 47.5% of microalbuminurics. The eGFR was less than 90 ml/min in 36.8% of normal albuminurics and 67.6% of microalbuminurics. Lower GFR was strongly and independently linked with both elevated blood uric acid and elevated urine albumin creatinine ratio. Uric acid and hs-CRP correlated positively (p-0.04 and p0.001, respectively), whereas uric acid and eGFR correlated negatively. Conclusion: When blood uric acid levels were in the upper normal range and hs-CRP levels were elevated, renal function was decreased in patients with type 1 diabetes. As a result, in the clinical setting in India, where the detection rate is lower and the repercussions are more frequent, it can be used as markers for identifying cardiovascular risk and early renal function deterioration in patients with type 1 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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