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The essential role of smaller streams and tributaries indigenous to the area is crucial in revitalizing and restoring the main river system. The present study unraveled the relationship between plankton communities and environmental variables in the Shipra River, a Central Himalayan tributary of the Kosi River in Uttarakhand, India. Plankton distribution, abundance, and presence were investigated at four locations: upstream (S1 and S2) and downstream (S3 and S4). Forty-eight genera of phytoplankton and zooplankton have been identified belonging to ten classes (Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Zygnematophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Euglenopyceae, Protozoa, Rotifers, Copepoda, Cladocera, and Insecta) based on the findings. Winter was dominated by phytoplankton (Navicula spp., Nitzchia spp., Diatom spp.); summer and monsoon by zooplankton (Daphnia spp., Cyclops spp., Keratella spp., Brachionus spp.). Plankton communities of the tributary were assessed using diversity indices (Shannon-Weiner's index (H), Simpson's diversity index (1-D), and Evenness Index (E)). Seasonal variations in water temperature, specific conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, and ammonium ions were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Canonical Correspondence Analysis, K-dominance plots, cluster analysis, and NMDS analysis showed the dynamic nature of the plankton communities with seasonal physiochemical variations in the unexplored Himalayan tributary. The plankton communities exhibited significant temporal fluctuations with physicochemical factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review paper discusses Muslim parents' attitudes about their daughters' desire to pursue higher education in India. The method used in this study is the use of secondary data gathered from publicly accessible platforms, including reliable articles retrieved using online platforms, including Science Direct, Research Gate, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Initially, 186 papers were screened, and 105 met the requirements to move on to the assessment step. For the 72 papers that made it through the final round of examination, the paper maintains strict standards of accuracy, external validity, citation conventions, and review methods. The results of this review article shed light on the many factors that contribute to the educational crises that Muslim girls in India experience and the crucial role that parental attitudes play in determining their daughters' academic success. The study emphasizes how socioeconomic factors influence Muslim females' access to higher education. The report finishes with suggestions on dealing with these problems and encouraging females in India's Muslim population to pursue higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leprosy is a major public health problem in India, which affects many people every year and has significantly high new case detection rates in certain districts and blocks. According to the National Leprosy Elimination Program (NLEP) report of March 2019, there were a total of 1.14 lakhs new cases of leprosy in India with an Annual New Case Detection Rate (ANCDR) of 8.1 per 100,000 population. Aim: The present study aimed at determining the epidemiological and clinical profile of leprosy patients from a tertiary level teaching hospital in South Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, record-based study was carried out on patients registered in the leprosy clinic of a tertiary level teaching hospital of South Rajasthan during a period of ten years (2010-2019). Data regarding the demographic profile, clinical features, treatment given, and complications were analysed. Results: A total of 1372 patients registered in the leprosy clinic during a period of 10 years were evaluated. There were 1007 (73.4%) males and 365 (26.6%) females with a male-female ratio of 2.76:1. The majority of patients 671 (48.9%) belonged to the middle age group (21-40 years). Multibacillary leprosy was the most common clinical type seen in 1109 patients (80.8%). Borderline leprosy was the most common morphological type, determined in 625 (45.6%) patients, of which BL (21.0%) was the most common group. 16.7% patients presented with leprosy reaction at the time of initial diagnosis. Type 1 reaction was seen in 91(6.6%) and type 2 reaction in 138 (10.1%) patients. Grade I disability was observed in 347 (25.3%) patients whereas grade II disability was seen in 456 (33.2%) patients. 54 patients (3.9%) had a definite history of contact in the family. 28 patients defaulted during the study period. Yearly trend of epidemiological and operational parameters was observed, and the parameters were compared with the national data. Conclusion: Persistent high proportion of multibacillary cases and grade 2 disability indicates that leprosy continues to be a significant health care problem despite statistical elimination. There is a clear need to strengthen early detection, treatment and regular follow-up of these cases in both high and low endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children of parents with a mental illness (COPMI) are at greater risk of psychological and physical ill‑health, increased behavioral and developmental difficulties, educational underachievement and lower competency than their peers compared to children of healthy parents. The aim of this study was to find resilience, Social Connectedness, mental health status and quality of life (QoL) in COPMI. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional Analytical study was used in the present study. Thirty COPMI with age group of 11–18 years of age, either of the biological parents was diagnosed with severe mental illness (Schizophrenia and Bipolar affective disorder according to international classification of diseases‑10) were selected. Socio‑demographic data sheet, Connor‑Davidson Resilience Scale, KIDSCREEN‑27 (QoL), Social Connectedness Scale, Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) were administered. Results: The finding shows that 33.3% of COMPI had low level of resilience and a stronger sense of social connectedness (M = 78.63, standard deviation [SD] = 6.83). Psychological wellbeing (M = 20.77, SD = 2.68) was higher than other domains of QoL, followed by autonomy and parents (M = 18.46, SD = 3.43), school environment (M = 14.56, SD = 2.87), physical wellbeing (M = 14.43, SD = 1.88), and peer and social support (M = 10.87, SD = 2.08). The finding shows that in the total difficulty score (SDQ), 26.7% falls under normal category while 73.3% have abnormal scores. Total Difficulties score (SDQ) has a significant negative correlation with QoL [r=‑0.520, P = 0.01] and Social Connectedness (r = ‒0.478, P = 0.01). Conclusion: The study highlighted the risk of developing emotional and behavioral problems among COPMI. Resilience based intervention is required at school and community level for mental health promotion among children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical radiculopathy, commonly called a "pinched nerve," occurs when a nerve in the neck is irritated or compressed where it branches away from the spinal cord concerning particular neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions in the neck and upper limbs. Fifty-nine percent of work-related musculoskeletal disorders are reported annually by information technology (IT) professionals, among which 30% are neck pain-related disorders. Thus, this study aims to know the prevalence of cervical radiculopathy among IT professionals with neck pain. Aims: The aim of this study was to find out the prevalence of cervical radiculopathy among IT professionals with neck pain. Objectives: The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between cervical radiculopathy and neck pain and to find out the percentage of disability by using the Neck Disability Index (NDI). Materials and Methods: The prevalence study was carried out with a sample size (n = 92) involving IT professionals in Bangalore. The NDI questionnaire (NDI) related to daily life activities was used. To identify cervical radiculopathy, specialized testing was performed. Results: Out of 92 samples, 46 tested positive for cervical radiculopathy, showing a prevalence of 50%. Cervical radiculopathy was more prevalent among males than females. There was a difference (P < 0.05) in neck disability according to a special test. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the prevalence of cervical radiculopathy among IT professionals with neck pain with a positive correlation with gender and working hours per day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction time of a group of students majoring in physics is reported here. Strong correlation between fatigue, reaction time and performance has been observed and may be useful for academicians and administrators responsible for working out timetables, course structures, student counsellings, etc. (Contains 5 figures, 1 table, and 1 footnote.)

Background: Mob lynching is violence by a crowd that results in the killing or maiming of a person or persons charged with or suspected of a crime. Lynching is an extrajudicial punishment to the accused or suspected person by a crowd or informal group without having any legal authority. In India, lynching and mob violence generally replicate internal tensions between several racial communities. Objectives: The objectives of the study are to check the attitude and gender differences and to see the predictors of mob lynching among the general population of India The study assessed the knowledge, attitude and perception of mob lynching among the general population of India. Materials and Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was carried out among 150 adults from March 3, 2022, to September 28, 2022. The survey was conducted online using a Google Form distributed through social media platform (E-mails, Whatsapp, or Messenger application). Participants aged 18 years and above, both male and female, consenting to participate in the study and able to understand English were included in the study. The survey took approximately 5–10 min to complete. Results: The findings of this study shows that gender, age, family income, religion, ethnicity, and education as variables that contributed significantly to the prediction of mob lynching among the general population of India [F (6,143) = 4.766; P < 0.01] at 16.7% (R2 = 0.167) variance. The remaining 83.3% was attributed to the variables not included in the study. Conclusion: The study also indicates that most of the cases of mob lynching are committed due to fake news, rumors, and hate speeches that are circulated on social media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Selective publication of studies has important scientific, ethical, and public health implications. Aim: We studied selective publication among mood disorder research protocols registered in the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) database. We also examined the frequency and nature of protocol deviations among the published articles. Methods: Using a systematic search strategy, we examined the publication status of all mood disorder-related research protocols registered in the CTRI database from inception till December 31, 2019. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify variables associated with selective publication. Results: Of 129 eligible protocols identified, only a third (n = 43, 33.3%) were published in literature; among those published, only 28 (21.7%) were placed in MEDLINE indexed journals. Protocol deviations were observed in more than half of the published papers (n = 25, 58.1%); many of these (41.9%) were related to sample size deviations, though, importantly, deviations in primary and secondary outcomes were also noted (16.2%). Retrospective registration of trials (odds ratio, 2.98, 95% confidence interval, 1.32--6.71) was significantly associated with publication; other variables, such as funding status or multicentric sampling, were not associated with eventual publication. Conclusions: Two out of three mood disorder research protocols registered in India do not translate into published research. These findings from a low- and middle-income country with limited spending on health care research and development represent wastage of resources and raise scientific and ethical concerns about unpublished data and futile patient participation in research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use of IoT devices is gaining significant momentum in the recent era. Smart speakers are found to be one of the major breakthrough evolutions in this concern. Indian market for smart speakers is picking substantial pace. However, there is limited evidence on how consumers' experience with the service of the smart speakers can be enhanced. Thus, the current paper aims at outlining the satisfaction with services of a product. In this context, the current paper is directed towards understanding how SERVQUAL dimensions predict the satisfaction of the IoT smart devices in India. Moreover, it seeks to gain an insight whether demographic attributes play a role in enhancing or decreasing this associations. For this purpose, the study has used a primary approach and distributed quantitative surveys among 200 existing smart device users in India. SPSS 26, AMOS 25 and Process Macro tools have been used to gauge the defined associations in the paper. Findings of the study affirm that service quality dimensions pertaining to reliability, assurance and empathy had a direct impact on customer satisfaction with regard to IoT enabled smart speakers. Significant moderation role of demographic variables namely age, education and income were observed in the association between service quality dimensions and customer satisfaction towards smart speakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mucormycosis is an invasive infection with a high mortality rate even after active management. This infection is caused by a group of filaments molds belonging to the order Mucorales. These Mucorales are decomposers and are found in thedecaying matter, rotten fruits, and vegetables other than the environmental niche, theyreproduce rapidly asexually, it is human pathogenic affecting skin, lungs, brain, gut, and other organs. Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection, also known as the black fungus which iscaused due to inhalation or ingestion of fungal spores. Immuno-compromised patients are commonly observed to be affected by this infection. The most frequently found Mucorale isRhizopus arrhizus. Initial sites of infection are found to be sinuses, lungs, skin, and gastrointestinal tract. The recent spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is a major cause of mucormycosis. Several cases of the infection were reported in India and worldwide. In India, mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 increased majorly during the second wave hit. The major causes of COVID-19 associated mucormycosis were diabetes, prolonged use of steroids, cytokine storm, and impact of delta variant. Rhino orbital mucormycosis and pulmonary mucormycosis are the most widely spread types of mucormycosisisassociated with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study for the first time illustrates a comprehensive picture of the phenolic composition of Embelia adnata and Embelia gardneriana by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis with ESI in negative ionisation. The analysis was performed in the methanolic extracts of different parts of these two species separately and identifies 54 individual phenolic compounds present in them. Among this by individual 36 and 28 compounds were recorded from E. adnata and E. gardneriana, respectively, and in this, 10 compounds were common in both the two species. The detected compounds come under the classes flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, isoflavonoids, benzenoids, coumarins, stilbens, chalcones, polyphenols, gallic acid derivatives, tannins and different derivatives of various organic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The substantial increase in new integration of wind power has required changes in grid codes to ensure grid security. Providing low voltage ride through (LVRT) protection helps to sustain the transient conditions without tripping and supports its recovery post‐fault. The grid codes for LVRT capability in countries with substantial wind capacity are surveyed in this paper. The challenges that arise, endangering the grid security due to the non‐implementation of these grid codes in the wind turbines (WT) which were pre‐installed before the mandatory grid code was established is rarely a topic focused in literature. The LVRT capability requirement as per the wind turbine type classification is elucidated. The challenges due to enhancement and upgradation of technology include financial constraints for additional LVRT fittings, planning and renovation. Discussion and prognosis on the challenges provide direction for investigation and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Responsible media reporting of suicide is a key population-level suicide prevention strategy. Thus far, there has been no systematic analysis of media reporting of suicide in Puducherry, a consistently high suicide burden state in India. Aim: To evaluate the adherence of media reports of suicide against the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines in Puducherry. Method: We conducted a year-round content analysis of all suicide-related reports in the two most widely read vernacular dailies of Puducherry. We used a pre-defined data extraction form and coded each item based on the WHO reporting guidelines. Results: A total of 318 suicide reports were retrieved. Harmful reporting practices such as mentioning the method of suicide (99.1%), description of the steps involved (68.2%) and location of suicide (86.5%), monocausal explanations (91.8%), and inciting life events (52.5%) were common. Helpful practices such as mentioning warning signs (1.3%), recognizing links with mental health disorders (3.8%) and effects on bereaved persons (2.2%) were rare. Only one article (0.31%) included any content related to educational/preventive aspects of suicide. Conclusion: Media reporting of suicide in Puducherry, India, does not adhere to reporting guidelines and there is very little focus on educating the public about preventive aspects of suicide. Urgent efforts are warranted to improve the quality of media reporting which should include the development of national guidelines on suicide reporting and collaborative efforts that take into account barriers and perspectives of media professionals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imbalanced use of chemical fertilizers under intensive cultivation practices over a period of years leads to various soil‐associated problems particularly nutrient availability. Thus, to examine the effect of long‐term application of balanced and imbalanced inorganic fertilizer and farm yard manure (FYM) application on the chemical fraction of DTPA‐extractable micronutrients under rice–wheat cropping system after 29 years, the observations were recorded from the ongoing field experiment at Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. An application of balanced inorganic fertilizer with FYM in rice, while without FYM in wheat significantly improved the DTPA‐extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu after rice and wheat crops in both the surface and sub‐surface soil layers. Lowest DTPA‐extractable Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu were recorded, in surface and sub‐surface soil under rice and wheat crops in control. The highest DTPA‐extractable Zn, in both surface and sub‐surface layers of rice (3.31, 1.62 mg kg−1, respectively) and wheat (2.96, 0.99 mg kg−1, respectively) was recorded because of application of N180+P80+K40+Zn(F) + FYM in rice and N180+P80+K40+Zn(F) in wheat. However, the DTPA‐extractable Fe, Mn and Cu were highest in rice and wheat because of N120+P40+K40+FYM and N120+P40+K40 application, respectively. The balanced use of inorganic fertilizer with FYM (N180+P80+K40+Zn(F) + FYM) in rice and without FYM [N180+P80+K40+Zn(F)] in wheat supported the highest rice (6.74 t ha−1) and wheat (3.50 t ha−1) grain yields, while lowest in control. Based on the study results, long‐term application of FYM at 5 tonnes ha−1 in rice crop sustained the availability of DTPA‐extractable cationic micronutrients to rice and wheat in Mollisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) is a newer, rarer and dangerous childhood disease that require early attention and is associated with Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. This article reports four clinically ill children of age 6-15 years admitted to Aster CMI hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, during October and November 2020. The diagnosis was based on elevated laboratory values (D-Dimer, C-reactive Protein (CRP), and Ferritin) and positive COVID-19 antibody test. No infectious aetiologies were identified. All patients presented at Emergency Room (ER) with hypotensive shock and were treated with inotropic support, Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IV-Ig), and steroids. Children responded well to treatment and were discharged within a period of 8-11 days. Clinical characteristics are necessary for understanding more about newly identified paediatric illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: To verify the test retest reliability of 10-meter walk test for ambulatory adults with motor complete spinal cord injury. Methods: This study was conducted in the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Christian Medical College, India. We studied 25 (22 males and 3 females) adults with lower thoracic level of spinal cord injury who were trained to walk with bilateral solid polypropylene knee ankle foot orthoses and elbow crutches. Their median age was 27 years and the median time since injury was 5.5 years. Participants underwent two trials of 10-meter walk test at their self-selected walking speed. They were tested for static and dynamic 10-meter walk test start methods separately. Findings: There was an excellent test retest reliability found in both the testing methods with the intra-class correlation coefficient of 0.99 (95% CI 0.98 to 0.99)] with a standard error of measure of 0.01. The minimum detectable change of static and dynamic start method was 0.02 sec and 0.03 seconds respectively. Bland Altman graphs showed excellent agreement between the trials. The comparison between static and dynamic testing methods showed that both the methods are highly comparable. (ICC 1 [95% CI 0.99–1]). Conclusions: The 10-meter walk test has excellent test retest reliability in assessing walking speed of ambulatory adults with complete spinal cord injury who use knee ankle foot orthoses for walking. Static and dynamic testing methods of the 10-meter walk test are comparable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The epidemiology of typhoid fever in South Asia has changed. Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi ( S. typhi) is now frequently resistant to nalidixic acid and thus labelled NARST. Treatment failure with the use of fluoroquinolones has been widely noted, forcing clinicians to adopt alternative treatment strategies. In this observational study, we looked at various treatment regimens and correlated clinical and microbiological outcomes. In 146 hospitalised adults, the median minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ciprofloxacin was 0.38 µg/mL with a median fever clearance time (FCT) of eight days (range = 2-35 days). Of the regimens used, gatifloxacin and azithromycin had a shorter FCT of six days compared to ceftriaxone (ten days; P < 0.001). Though mortality and relapse in our cohort was low, NARST seemed to correlate with mortality ( P = 0.006). Gatifloxacin or azithromycin clearly emerge as the drugs of choice for treatment of typhoid in South India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ORCID iD for the corresponding author, Amit Sharma, is incorrect. Reference 1 Rahi M, Chaturvedi R, Das P, Sharma A (2021) India can consider integration of three eliminable disease control programmes on malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and visceral leishmaniasis. [Extracted from the article]

This article provides a brief and concise account of Hollywood's long engagement with cinema and the audience in India. The focus is on the new phase that this complex relationship has entered, with Hindi films being produced under the direct and total control of Hollywood-based producers and financiers, on an experimental basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the prevalence and degree of noise induced hearing loss at speech frequency and at 4000Hz among textile workers of Surat city and also to compare the effect of duration of exposure to noise on them. Material and Methods: 50 male Hindu workers of the textile mill of Surat city between 20-50 years of age were examined by audiometry. Controls were selected from Surat city between the age group of 20-50 years. All were male and Hindu by religion with no history of any kind of exposure to noise. Results: Among 50 workers exposed to high level of sound, at speech frequency 80% workers had some degree of hearing loss and 20% were normal whereas at 4000Hz 90% workers had hearing loss and 10% were normal. At speech frequency 62% workers had mild degree hearing loss and 18% had moderate degree of hearing loss whereas at 4000Hz 4% worker had mild degree, 36% had moderate degree, 38% had moderately severe degree and 12% had severe degree of hearing loss. When the duration of exposure to noise is considered—workers with <10 years of exposure (n=15), at speech frequency 53.33% had normal hearing and 46.66% had mild degree of hearing loss. At 4000Hz, 20% had normal hearing and 80% had hearing loss—13.33% had mild, 40% had moderate and 26.66% had moderately severe. With duration of exposure between 10-20 years, at speech frequency 13.33% had normal hearing and 86.66% had hearing loss — 80% had mild and 6.66% had moderate. At 4000Hz 13.33% had normal hearing and 86.66% had hearing loss — 53.33% had moderate and 33.33% had moderately severe.With duration of exposure >20 years, at speech frequency all workers were suffering from hearing loss— 60% had mild and 40% had moderate. At 4000Hz again all workers were suffering from hearing loss — 20% had moderate, 50% had moderately severe and 30% had severe degree of hearing loss. When the prevalence of hearing loss was compared between speech frequency and 4000Hz no significant difference was observed but highly significant difference was observed when degree of hearing loss was calculated. Similarly, duration of exposure does not have any significant difference between speech frequency and 4000Hz as far as prevalence is concerned. But degree of hearing loss is significantly higher at 4000Hz than at speech frequency. Conclusion: From this study it can be concluded that the degree of hearing loss was very high at 4000Hz than speech frequency, although the difference in prevalence could not be established statistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay examines the dynamic between nationalist historiography and popular cultural forms in postcolonial and post-global India. Concerned primarily with liberal nationalist historiography, particularly the kind that has been labelled the ‘Tagore–Nehru synthesis’, this essay traces the evolution of the said historiography during the colonial-nationalist period, examines the interaction of this historiography with contesting discourses in postcolonial and post-global India and, in doing so, attempts to address the questions regarding the modes of coexistence of religion and nationalism in a secular nation-state. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sanjeevani grows on the hills of tropical areas, particularly the Arawali Mountain terrains from east to west in India and is known to be a poikilohydric lithophyte occurring along the mountains and in fact, this herb is sold for this peculiar feature in several markets in India. In Hindu mythology, Sanjeevani (Selaginella bryopeteris) is a magical herb which has the power to cure any malady. Selaginella has been used traditionally to treat wounds and bleeding such as menstruation, uterine disorders and other internal injuries. Selaginella contains a variety of secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, phenol and terpenoids etc due which it can act as antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral etc. It is also used as a tonic to improve fitness and to expand life span. So it is important to explore more and more about this wonder herb so that it can be a "Jeanie" (master wizard for all desires) medicine for one and all in this world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general inadequacy of chemical fungicides to tackle Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium oxysporum diseases in tomato has led to the search for biocontrol solutions to these maladies. Twenty-six local isolates of Trichoderma spp. and 56 isolates of fluorescent pseudomonads from Kerala were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against R. solani and F. oxysporum under in vitro conditions. Different isolates showed varying degrees of antagonism. The two most antagonistic isolates against R. solani were T. pseudokoningii TR17 and T. harzianum TR20. Likewise, T. viride TR19 and TR22 formed the most effective isolates against F. oxysporum. Production of volatile and non-volatile antibiotic compounds varied among these isolates. Of the fluorescent pseudomonads, Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates P28 and P51 showed the greatest inhibition against R. solani whereas against F. oxysporum, P20 and P28 were most effective. Isolates obtained from the phylloplane were generally unsuccessful. Inhibitory property of the antagonistic bacteria was also media-dependent. Many of the pseudomonads, which inhibited the pathogens on KMB agar, failed to retard the pathogen's growth on the PDA medium. The bacterial and fungal antagonists were also not mutually antagonistic as their co-inoculation hardly inhibited each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surficial sediments were sampled every month from three mangrove regions around the metropolis of Cochin (India). Sedimentary organic carbon content exhibited wide seasonal fluctuations. The hydrology of the mangrove system is regulated mainly by high rainfall during the monsoon and by tidal inundation. The results indicated the role of tidal activity and sediment texture in the preservation and retention of organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability of agricultural practices depends on economic, environmental, and social conditions. The Rajasthan state of India has arid climatic conditions where kharif crops are commonly grown. In this work, the four major criteria are considered such as the farm area, crop yield per unit area, the cost prices, and the market sales price. Merged analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and entropy techniques have been employed to give reasonable weight coefficients for the objective and subjective weights to each criterion. Multiple attribute-based decision-making models (MADM) have been developed using three proven techniques, namely the Exprom2, the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS), and the VlseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR). The crop Pennisetum glaucum emerged as the most productive kharif crop in the arid climatic conditions of Rajasthan, India under the given criteria. The sensitivity analysis of the three methods identifies the most significant criteria and validates that Pennisetum glaucum is the first ranked crop despite the interchange of the weights. The methodology used in this study may be applied across the globe to select appropriate crops for maximizing the profit, optimizing the natural resources, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. This study may be used to enhance the agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) to make the agriculturalists self-sufficient and to help the state policymakers in making effective regional policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lack of adequate public toilets and associated gender-based violence around their use is a matter of concern in many developing countries and has recently come to the forefront of the political agenda and media discourse in India. Previous research suggests the absence of lighting, inadequate provision of basic sanitation, poor design and siting of toilets, and lack of police presence in slums as facilitators for violence against women. However, the evidence is often anecdotal and usually unsystematic. The exact extent of crimes against women in these circumstances is unknown because unsurprisingly women in slums rarely report crimes to the police, either due to fear or lack of access. The research reported in this paper gauges women’s perception and experience of crime and violence around different types of public toilets in two slums areas in Mumbai, India. A survey of 142 households indicated that although women’s fear of crime was higher than their actual experience, the perception of insecurity was not uniform for all toilet types and locations. Findings also indicated that there was at least minimal provision of toilet facilities, basic security features, water, and electric supply in the research sites. Furthermore, greater police presence and previous contact with the police in one slum area led for greater confidence in reporting offences to the police as compared to the other. Overall, better provision of lighting and regular police patrols were considered by a majority of those surveyed to reduce fear of crime around toilets.ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHERCopyright of International Journal of Comparative & Applied Criminal Justice is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]