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Background: Urban poor face a disproportionate burden of ill health and high out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), creating a severe unmet need for affordable and quality health care. This article highlights the impact of health insurance on OOPE and catastrophic healthcare expenditure among the urban poor of India. Methods: The study uses randomly collected household data from a baseline survey conducted in the states of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Separate Insurance impact models have been generated for the analysis. Results: Mean out-of-pocket health expenses is higher in the private health facility for the inpatient care but in case of outpatient care, the expenditure was more in public. Expenditure on medicine constitutes the largest part of the total OOPE. Insurance impact model shows that coverage on medicine alone can reduce medical impoverishment by 85% in the case of Outpatient Deparment (OPD) and 71% in the case of Inpatient Department (IPD). The urban poor preferred private facility for treatment in case of illness, albeit when it comes to delivery, they prefer public facility Conclusions: Study findings indicate overt reliance on private health care must be regulated, to reduce OOPE among the urban poor. Also, effective universal health insurance can go a long way in reducing the OOPE with availability of free medicines and diagnostics in the public health facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a state-wise Sustainable Livelihood Security Index (SLSI) by combining the Economic Efficiency Index (EEI), Social Equity Index (SEI), and Ecological Security Index (ESI) during 2000-2018. Thereafter, it examines the impact of climatic and geographical factors on Sustainable Livelihood Security (SLS). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique, linear, log-linear, and nonlinear regression models are used for the aforesaid investigations. The descriptive results reveal that India's SLS increases with economic efficiency, social equity, and ecological security. There is high diversity in SLS across the Indian states due to variations in climate change and economic efficiency, social equity, and ecological security associated variables. It also finds that minimum temperature, precipitation, rainfall, and latitudinal location of the respective states have a negative relation with SLSI. Based on the empirical results, it is suggested to focus on the indicators that have a positive association with SLS. Moreover, there is a need to implement effective policies to eliminate the impact of climate change on SLS in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Simlipal complex in eastern India is an elliptical structure with diameter of ca. 50 km coinciding with an elliptical region of high gravity. It overlies the Archaean basement of the Singhbhum craton and has a ring structure characterized by complex series of concentric ridges with inward dipping slopes. Quartz clasts in melt-breccias from the complex display diagnostic shock metamorphic features such as two to three sets of decorated and annealed planar deformation features (PDFs), spall and concussion micro-fractures, and the presence of coesite. They also preserve microstructures suggestive of crystallographically-controlled melting/amorphization along two or three planar directions, and within concussion micro-fractures. The inferred shock pressures in excess of 40–60 GPa are possible only during bolide impact. The Simlipal structure is possibly the remnant of a large complex impact crater having an original diameter of at least 50 km. Although zircons from an impact melt rock furnish a concordia age of 3107±14 Ma, in the absence of any unambiguous shock metamorphic effects in them, it is difficult to assign the age to the impact event. Therefore, the age of the impact is currently unconstrained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu) has been reported in several countries including India. We previously showed a prevalence of CKD in India to be 17.2% and we found a CKD epidemic in Andhra Pradesh (AP) to be 46.8%. We conducted this study to further explore the unexplained CKD epidemic in AP. We recruited 1201 adult participants through systematic random sampling from eight administrative divisions. Demographic, medical, and detailed occupational history was collected. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were taken and blood and urine samples were collected. Poisson regression model was used to identify potential predictors for CKD. We analyzed data for 1184 individuals with mean age of 44.6 ± 14.0 years, of whom 44% were male. Prevalence of CKD was 32.2%. Working as a farmer had 20% more prevalence of CKD compared to non-farmers in the fully adjusted model (PR 1.2, 95% CI 1.01–1.42). Age, alcohol consumption, and chewing tobacco were also independent predictors of CKD. Gender, hypertension, and diabetes were not associated with CKD. The prevalence of CKD in AP is 32.2%. Occupational exposure among farmers could play a potential role in this epidemic. Large longitudinal epidemiologic research studies are needed to trace the causes of this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study contributes to the development of global sustainable development index (GSDI) as an integration of environmental sustainability development index (ESDI), socio-economic development index (SEDI) and science and technological progress index (STPI) for selected 39 countries during 2000–16. It uses the composite Z-score method, while ESDI, SEDI and STPI are the assimilation of 33, 19 and 9 factors, respectively. Subsequently, it examines the association of sustainable development (SD) with ESD and vice versa using linear, log-linear and non-linear regression models. Descriptive results show that there is a significant variation in SD due to a high diversity in environmental development, socio-economic development and science and technological progress-associated factors in selected countries. Empirical results imply that SD has a positive and significant association with ESD, socio-economic development and science and technological progress-related factors. This study emphasizes that global economies are desired to adopt conducive policies towards environmental, socio-economic and science and technological development to attain SD. Also, it advises that the protection of forest area, use of environmental and green technologies in production activities, creation of more jobs in all sectors and strong IPR regimes would be effective for sustainable, socio-economic, environmental development and science and technological expansion worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fugitive methane emissions from coal mining activities have been frequently talked about in the literature due to concerns about climate change. However, indirect and direct CO2 emissions may also result from coal mining processes. The indirect CO2 emissions include those from diesel combustion from equipment while direct CO2 emissions are a relatively new area of research and have been recently brought into the purview of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) inventory guidelines. We discuss some of the preliminary results which can give some directions into the potential research areas for better accounting of greenhouse gas emissions from coal mining activities. These have been derived from practical studies undertaken at selected coal mines in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this opinion paper, we contend that in light of recent findings and the expected future of Indian coal business, fugitive methane emissions from coal mining and handling activities may come to occupy a larger share of the national GHG inventory, and therefore methane mitigation through various approaches of coalbed methane (CBM) extraction should occupy significantly more importance in mitigating climate change. The factors in play here are the increasing global warming potential (GWP) of methane from the second to the fifth assessment reports of the IPCC, calls by researchers to shift to 20-year time frames for GWP, increasing coal production by India and the availability of coal mine methane (CMM) technology for simultaneous coal and gas production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleogeographic reconstructions of India and Madagascar before their late Cretaceous rifting juxtapose the Antongil Block of Madagascar against the Deccan Traps of India, indicating that the Western Dharwar Craton extends below the Deccan lavas. Some recent studies have suggested that the South Maharashtra Shear Zone along the northern Konkan coast of India limits the northern extent of the Western Dharwar Craton, implying that the craton does not extend below the Deccan Traps, raising a question mark on paleogeographic reconstructions of India and Madagascar. The continuity of the Western Dharwar Craton north of the South Maharashtra Shear Zone below the Deccan Traps--or its lack thereof--is critical for validating tectonic models correlating Madagascar with India. In this study, zircons in tonalitic basement xenoliths hosted in Deccan Trap dykes were dated in situ, using the U-Pb isotope system. The data furnish U-Pb ages that define three populations at 2527 ± 6, 2456 ± 6, and 2379 ± 9Ma. The 2527 ± 6Ma ages correspond to the igneous crystallization of the tonalites, whereas the 2456 ± 6 and 2379 ± 9 Ma ages date metamorphic overprints. The results help to establish for the first time that the basement is a part of the Neoarchean granitoid suite of the Western Dharwar Craton, which extends northward up to at least Talvade in central and Kihim beach in the western Deccan. By implication, the South Maharashtra Shear Zone cannot be the northern limit of the Western Dharwar Craton. The granitoids are correlated with the Neoarchean felsic intrusions (2.57-2.49) of the Masaola suite in the Antongil Block ofMadagascar, supporting the existence of a Neoarchean Greater Dharwar Craton comprising the Western Dharwar Craton and the Antongil-Masora Block. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the association between alcohol use and sexual risk in two critical migrant populations living within the same geographical areas—migrant men and female sex-workers (FSWs). Data are drawn from two independent surveys of migrant FSWs and male workers in 14 districts of four high HIV prevalent Indian states. In the paper we have examined the independent effects of degree of mobility and alcohol use prior to sex on HIV risk behaviors. Nearly two-thirds of FSWs and a similar proportion of male migrant workers, as well as nine out of ten clients of FSWs consume alcohol. More than half of the FSWs and their clients consumed alcohol prior to sex. The practice of alcohol use prior to sex among both FSWs and their clients has a significant association with inconsistent condom use during paid as well as unpaid sex, and these effects are independent of degree of mobility. The results suggest a need for developing an in-depth understanding of the role of alcohol in accentuating HIV risk particularly among migrant populations who move frequently from one place another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Simlipal Complex comprises volcano-sedimentary targets rocks of an impact structure. • Geochemical proxies suggestive of TTGs and mafic rocks from the Singhbhum Craton as source for sediments. • Detrital zircons record ages of 3.63–2.75 Ga; and metamorphic zircons yield an age of 2.54 Ga. • Sediments were deposited between 2.8 and 2.5 Ga. • A collisional tectonic setting is proposed for the depositional environment. The Simlipal Complex is a circular/elliptical structure at the eastern margin of the Singhbhum Craton in eastern India. The complex comprises metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks and may represent the remnant of an Archean impact structure. Major and trace element abundances and zircon U–Pb ages from the metasedimentary rocks of the complex, which possibly constituted the target rocks of the impact, are used to constrain the provenance of the sediments and the tectonic environment of their deposition. The metasedimentary rocks include sandstones/quartzites and shales/slates/phyllites. CIA index and the A-CN-K discrimination diagram suggests moderate to extensive weathering of the source areas. The shales/slates/phyllites plot along the weathering trend of granite-granodiorite-tonalite, implying an average granodioritic source. The rare earth element (REE) patterns of shales/slates/phyllites are fractionated (La N /Yb N = 2.86–13.5) with nearly flat heavy-REE (Gd N /Yb N = 0.92–1.84) similar to Post Archean Australian shale. The Zr/Sc and Th/Sc ratios indicate zircon addition to sandstones/quartzites and mixing of mafic and felsic igneous rocks to shales/slates/phyllites. The shales/slates/phyllites are enriched in Sc, Cr, Ni, Y, Zr, Hf, Th, and U compared to Archean Upper Crust and have positive Cr and Ni anomalies suggesting contribution from mafic/ultramafic source. The major age peaks retrieved from detrital zircons in the metasediments are at 3.63 Ga, 3.46–3.26, 3.17–2.95, 2.87–2.75 Ga, and 2.54 Ga which correlate with ages reported for granitoid suites from different lithodemic units of the Singhbhum Craton. The sediments from the central and NW regions of the complex are dominated by zircons with an age of 3028 ± 15 Ma, while those from the NE regions and areas outside of it (e.g., the Kuliana region) have a preponderance of older zircon ages (ca. 3.25–3.38 Ga). The ages of the oldest metamorphic and the youngest detrital zircon population are suggestive of deposition of the sediments between ca. 2.8 Ga and 2.5 Ga. Crystallization ages and the shape of zircon crystals along with the geochemical signature of the sediments suggest that they were derived locally from the Singhbhum Craton and its surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CO 2 capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly being viewed as an important part of India's energy transitions by several practitioners. Ensemble modeling scenarios consistent with the Paris Agreement indicate that investments by the end of this decade towards CO 2 transport and geologic storage would need to be $1–8 billion/year in India. These large-scale investments are accompanied by multiple technical, environmental, financial and societal interlinkages that interface with sustainable development. This review begins by summarizing some of these considerations in context of geologic CO 2 storage. It then devotes individual sections to discussing how sustainable development goals (SDGs) could align with these projects and play a synergistic role for decarbonization. Four SDGs are particularly of interest. SDG-17 on global partnerships would be instrumental in facilitating low-cost financing for CCS investments. At the same time, other SDGs could be strategically used as co-benefits to CCS projects. These include SDG-8 on decent work, SDG-6 on clean water and SDG-9 on industry. We posit that it is not possible to study these SDG interlinkages in the global hypothetical. As such, this review takes a view of Indian geologic formations for CCS but also offers generalizable insights across other developing economies. • Contextually-explicit linkages between SDGs and CCS are discussed. • SDG-17 is critical for financing CCS in developing countries such as India. • SDGs 6, 8 and 9 are particularly relevant for understanding holistic benefits of CCS. • Illustration of CCS in aiding just transition and industry decarbonization is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the greenhouse gas emissions of anthropogenic origin by sources and removals by sinks of India for 2007 prepared under the aegis of the Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) (note 1). The emission profile includes carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and nitrous oxide. It also includes the estimates of hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride at the national level from various sectors, viz. energy, industrial process and product use, agriculture, land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), and waste. In 2007, emissions were of the order of 2008.67 Tg (note 2) of CO2 equivalents without emissions from the LULUCF sector. Whereas with LULUCF the emissions were about 1831.65 Tg CO2 equivalents. The energy sector accounted for 69% of the total emissions, the agriculture sector contributed 19% of the emissions, 9% of the emissions was from the industrial processes and product use, and only 3% of the emissions was attributable to the waste sector. The LULUCF sector on the whole was net sink category for CO2. The study tracks the improvements made in inventory estimates at the national level through the years, in terms of the expanding coverage of sources, reducing uncertainties and inclusion of new methodologies, including some elements of future areas of work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is a community-acquired virus that mainly causes acute respiratory tract infection in infants and children. HRSV is increasingly recognized as an important nosocomial pathogen causing morbidity in immunocompromised patients. Here, we are reporting a hospital outbreak of HRSV during summer in children receiving chemotherapy for haematological malignancies. Prompt detection and timely preventive measures could abort the devastating outbreak., Methods: In the month of June 2013, seven children from paediatric oncology Ward at King George Medical University presented with respiratory signs and symptoms in span of 3 days. Nasal and throat swabs of children were tested for the presence of HRSV, human metapneumovirus and their subtypes A and B, influenza A and B, measles, parainfluenza virus (1, 2, 3 and 4), adenovirus, and human bocavirus by real-time polymerase chain reaction. A segment of F gene of HRSV was amplified and sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. The demographic, clinical profile, underlying diseases, clinical diagnosis and seasonal distribution were studied and analyzed., Results: Of the total seven cases, six tested positive for HRSV A, which were genetically similar to each other. Children with respiratory symptoms were segregated from other patients, and strict implementation of restricted visiting policy was adapted, which led to control of widespread outbreak., Conclusions: HRSV A outbreak was detected in immunocompromised patients; the wider spread of which was prevented by prompt detection and application of preventive measures., (© 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is one of the major causes of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of the study was to investigate the burden and predictors of HTN in India., Methods: 6120 subjects participated in the Screening and Early Evaluation of Kidney disease (SEEK), a community-based screening program in 53 camps in 13 representative geographic locations in India. Of these, 5929 had recorded blood pressure (BP) measurements. Potential predictors of HTN were collected using a structured questionnaire for SEEK study., Results: HTN was observed in 43.5% of our cohort. After adjusting for center variation (p < 0.0001), predictors of a higher prevalence of HTN were older age ≥ 40 years (p < 0.0001), BMI of ≥ 23 Kg/M2 (p < 0.0004), larger waist circumference (p < 0.0001), working in sedentary occupation (p < 0.0001), having diabetes mellitus (p < 0.0001), having proteinuria (p < 0.0016), and increased serum creatinine (p < 0.0001). High school/some college education (p = 0.0016), versus less than 9th grade education, was related with lower prevalence of HTN. Of note, proteinuria and CKD were observed in 19% and 23.5% of HTN subjects. About half (54%) of the hypertensive subjects were aware of their hypertension status., Conclusions: HTN was common in this cohort from India. Older age, BMI ≥ 23 Kg/M2, waist circumference, sedentary occupation, education less, diabetes mellitus, presence of proteinuria, and raised serum creatinine were significant predictors of hypertension. Our data suggest that HTN is a major public health problem in India with low awareness, and requires aggressive community-based screening and education to improve health.

Background: There is a rising incidence of chronic kidney disease that is likely to pose major problems for both healthcare and the economy in future years. In India, it has been recently estimated that the age-adjusted incidence rate of ESRD to be 229 per million population (pmp), and >100,000 new patients enter renal replacement programs annually., Methods: We cross-sectionally screened 6120 Indian subjects from 13 academic and private medical centers all over India. We obtained personal and medical history data through a specifically designed questionnaire. Blood and urine samples were collected., Results: The total cohort included in this analysis is 5588 subjects. The mean ± SD age of all participants was 45.22 ± 15.2 years (range 18-98 years) and 55.1% of them were males and 44.9% were females. The overall prevalence of CKD in the SEEK-India cohort was 17.2% with a mean eGFR of 84.27 ± 76.46 versus 116.94 ± 44.65 mL/min/1.73 m2 in non-CKD group while 79.5% in the CKD group had proteinuria. Prevalence of CKD stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 was 7%, 4.3%, 4.3%, 0.8% and 0.8%, respectively., Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD was observed to be 17.2% with ~6% have CKD stage 3 or worse. CKD risk factors were similar to those reported in earlier studies.It should be stressed to all primary care physicians taking care of hypertensive and diabetic patients to screen for early kidney damage. Early intervention may retard the progression of kidney disease. Planning for the preventive health policies and allocation of more resources for the treatment of CKD/ESRD patients are imperative in India.

Background: There is an urgent need for an improved understanding of the sources, distributions and properties of atmospheric aerosol in order to control the atmospheric pollution over northeastern Himalayas where rising anthropogenic interferences from rapid urbanization and development is becoming an increasing concern., Methodology/principal Findings: An extensive aerosol sampling program was conducted in Darjeeling (altitude approximately 2200 meter above sea level (masl), latitude 27 degrees 01'N and longitude 88 degrees 15'E), a high altitude station in northeastern Himalayas, during January-December 2005. Samples were collected using a respirable dust sampler and a fine dust sampler simultaneously. Ion chromatograph was used to analyze the water soluble ionic species of aerosol. The average concentrations of fine and coarse mode aerosol were found to be 29.5+/-20.8 microg m(-3) and 19.6+/-11.1 microg m(-3) respectively. Fine mode aerosol dominated during dry seasons and coarse mode aerosol dominated during monsoon. Nitrate existed as NH(4)NO(3) in fine mode aerosol during winter and as NaNO(3) in coarse mode aerosol during monsoon. Gas phase photochemical oxidation of SO(2) during premonsoon and aqueous phase oxidation during winter and postmonsoon were the major pathways for the formation of SO(4)(2-) in the atmosphere. Long range transport of dust aerosol from arid regions of western India was observed during premonsoon. The acidity of fine mode aerosol was higher in dry seasons compared to monsoon whereas the coarse mode acidity was higher in monsoon compared to dry seasons. Biomass burning, vehicular emissions and dust particles were the major types of aerosol from local and continental regions whereas sea salt particles were the major types of aerosol from marine source regions., Conclusions/significance: The year-long data presented in this paper provide substantial improvements to the heretofore poor knowledge regarding aerosol chemistry over northeastern Himalayas, and should be useful to policy makers in making control strategies.