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Purpose: The rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic upended societies across the world, with billions forced into lockdowns. As countries contemplated instating and rolling back lockdown measures, and considered the impact of pandemic fatigue on policy measures, and furthermore to prepare for the improved management of future pandemics, this study examines the effectiveness of policy measures in limiting the spread of infections and fatalities. Design/methodology/approach: The methodological approach in the study centres on a fixed effects panel regression analysis and employs the COVID-19 Government Response Stringency Index, which comprises eight containment measures and three health campaigns, with progressive degrees of stringency, in order to investigate the efficacy of government policies. Findings: Findings suggest that some government policies were effective at reducing implicit mortality rates, infection cases and fatalities during the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Solid stringency measures to reduce mortality rates include public gathering restrictions on more than 100 attendees, and international travel limits for developed countries and islands. Fatalities can further be reduced through the closing of public transport, whereas infection cases also experience benefits from public information campaigns. Comparable results are observed in a robustness test across 12 months. Originality/value: Some non-pharmaceutical policies are shown to be more effective than others at reducing the spread of infections, fatalities and mortality rates, and support policymakers to manage future pandemics more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the first data on a 2018–2021 campaign to monitor polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon levels, PAHs, in the final stretch of the Hooghly River in West Bengal, India. The range of sedimentary PAHs was 0–47,366 ng/g, higher than the ranges given by the literature for comparable study areas. The assay reveals an outstanding level of PAHs contamination in the fine sediments of the Hooghly River and Sundarban wetland, where the dominance of 4–6 ring PAHs was 83% of the total. The diagnostic ratios based on molecular ratios of PAHs show that the pollution comes mainly from the combustion of petroleum. The ratio of anthracene relative to anthracene plus phenanthrene, ANT/(ANT + PHE), was >0.30, which is higher than the reference discriminant ratio of >0.10, suggesting that PAHs were from the combustion source. In the meantime, fluoranthene over the sum of fluoranthene plus pyrene, FLT/(FLT + PYR), was >0.5 and indicated coal combustion, in agreement with the literature. The mean level of carcinogenic hydrocarbons was at 18% of the total measured PAH, with a peak of 91%, revealing significant potential risk for humans and ecosystems. The toxicity equivalence factors, TEF, of the individual PAHs and the total BaP equivalent toxicity, TEQ, were adopted as a comparison reference of sediment quality. At most sites, toxic effect ranges were classified as high and very high. The results of this research call for public authorities to remedy a situation of severe ecological risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Data envelopment analysis (DEA) has wide applications in the agricultural sector to evaluate the efficiency with crisp input and output data. However, in agricultural production, impreciseness and uncertainty in data are common. As a result, the data obtained from farmers vary. This impreciseness in crisp data can be represented in fuzzy sets. This paper aims to employ a combination of fuzzy data envelopment analysis (FDEA) approach to yield crisp DEA efficiency values by converting the fuzzy DEA model into a linear programming problem and machine learning algorithms for better evaluation and prediction of the variables affecting the farm efficiency. Design/methodology/approach: DEA applications are focused on the use of a common two-step approach to find crucial factors that affect efficiency. It is important to identify impactful variables for minimizing production adversities. In this study, first, FDEA was applied for efficiency estimation and ranking of the paddy growers. Second, the support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) were used for identifying the key leading factors in efficiency prediction. Findings: The proposed research was conducted with 450 paddy growers. In comparison to the general DEA approach, the FDEA model evaluates fuzzy DEA efficiency giving the user the flexibility to measure the performance at different possibility levels. Originality/value: The use of machine learning applications introduces advanced strategies and important factors influencing agricultural production, which may help future research in farms' performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is considered as menace as it affects poultry industry globally causing immunosuppression, high mortality and heavy economic loss. Outbreaks of IBD were reported in many states of India including Kerala. VP1 gene acts as an important factor in the process of virus encapsidation and its involvement in viral virulence and viral replication indicates its importance in infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The present study was conducted to carry out the molecular characterization of VP1 gene of virulent IBDV in Kerala. A total of 42 samples were processed for the detection and analysis of VP1 gene of IBDV. Out of 42 samples, 21 samples were positive for VP1 gene of IBD. The phylogenetic analysis of the partial VP1 gene sequences reveals the clustering of IBDV isolates into very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) and non-virulent IBDV (vIBDV). Eighteen isolates (11 isolates from vaccinated flock and 7 from non-vaccinated flocks) clustered with very virulent strains. Three isolates (2 isolates were from vaccinated flock and 1 from non-vaccinated flock) clustered with non-virulent IBDV strains, showing more evolutionarily similarity to south Indian strain VCN14/ABT/MVC/India. It is observed that vvIBDV isolates from this study have common ancestor with the south Indian strain PY12 but showed 9-10% divergence from this strains. The amino acid analysis of these 21 isolates revealed that 17 isolates possessed the characteristic vvIBDV TDN amino acid triplet, while the three isolates had non-vIBDV NEG amino acid triplet at 145/146/147 position. The remaining isolate 1/CVASP/IBDV/VP1 shows unique PDN triplet instead of TDN. Two vvIBDV isolates (15/CVASP/IBDV/VP1 and 18/CVASP/IBDV/VP1) showed 100% nucleotide and amino acid similarity with intermediate plus vaccine strain. Four vvIBDV isolates showed neutral amino acid substitution K251R which was earlier reported in Indian strains but first time in south Indian isolates. The most common unique amino acid substitution observed in our study was neutral E269D amino acid substitution in 12 isolates, neutral amino acid substitution T329S in five isolates, neutral T174N and non-polar to polar amino acid substitution A178T in isolate 10/CVASP/IBDV/VP1, non-polar to polar amino acid substitution P360R in isolate 17/CVASP/IBDV/VP1 and non-polar to polar amino acid substitution P188S in isolate 1/CVASP/IBDV/VP1. These novel mutations in our study reveal the role of genetic drift in the evolution of vvIBDV strains. The isolate 2/CVASP/IBDV/VP1 from non-vaccinated flock shows VP1 gene of non-vIBDV, but possessing VP2 of vvIBDV type indicates this is evolved by genetic shift of segments A and B. This is the first genetic characterization study of field VP1 gene of IBDV isolates in Kerala, India., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Soil samples were collected over a year-long period along a background-urban-rural transect in Delhi, India for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), black carbon (BC), and total organic carbon (TOC) in five grain size fractions, x, in μm of 0≤ x<53 (I), 53≤ x<250 (II), 250≤ x<500 (III), 500≤ x<2000 (IV), and their sum (total: T). Maximum concentrations of PAH, BC, and TOC were observed in the smallest fraction (I) comprising silt and clay, irrespective of site or season. Results of the molecular diagnostic ratios and principal component analysis (PCA) identified coal, wood, biomass burning, and vehicular emissions as major sources of PAHs at all the three sites, while BC/TOC ratios pointed toward biomass combustion as the chief source of carbonaceous species. This work presents the first such rural-urban transect study considering PAH, BC, and TOC in soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fine airborne particulate matter and bound chemical compounds are potential mediators of adverse health effects. In this study, PM2.5 and PM10 were characterized for bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the mutagenic potential of extracts was assessed. PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected on glass fiber filters at Agra from July to December 2010 using a fine particulate sampler (Envirotech, APM 550). The content of PAH was analyzed by gas chromatography and the extract were tested for mutagenicity by the Ames test without using S9. Individual PAH concentration varied from 13–172 ng m−3 with concentration for Chrysene and a dominance of low molecular weight compounds. Both PM and PAH concentrations were higher in the winter and were negatively correlated with temperature and wind speed. Diagnostic ratio analysis indicated contributions from vehicular exhaust and emissions from combustion of domestic fuel like coal and wood. Mutagenicity assays indicated the presence of mutagens capable of causing base pair and frame shift mutagenicity; however, within the range of tested concentrations no significant toxic effects were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM) samples were collected at Nunhai Agra from April to September 2006. The concentrations of 16 PAHs in aerosols were quantified. The dominated predominant PAHs in TSPM include high molecular weight (HMW) congeners BghiP, DbA, IP and BaP. Nap and Acy were not detected in any of the samples. The sum of 14 priority PAHs ranged from 150 to 480 ng m−3 with a mean value of 269 ± 121 ng m−3. The Results indicated that PAH concentrations at Nunhai were higher than in other industrial sites, but are comparable to those measured in several urban Chinese cities, however, and less than the industrial locations of China. Higher HMW PAH concentration were attributable to higher rates of emissions as well as or greater scavenging and adsorption of vapor phase PAH on available TSPM. Potential sources of PAHs in aerosols were identified using the diagnostic ratios between PAHs. Vehicular emissions were the main contributors of particulate-associated PAHs, with minor contribution from stationary combustion sources may also contribute to the particulate PAHs. PAHs in aerosols were predominantly from gasoline and diesel engines. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Genetic diversity among 49 Indian accessions of rice (Oryza sativa subsp. indica), including 29 landraces from Jeypore, 12 modern cultivars, and 8 traditional cultivars from Tamil Nadu, was investigated using AFLP markers. In total, nine primer combinations revealed 664 AFLPs, 408 of which were found to be polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic AFLPs was approximately the same within the cultivars and landraces. Similar results were obtained when genetic diversity values were estimated using the Shannon–Weiner index of diversity. Genetic diversity was slightly higher in the modern cultivars than in the traditional cultivars from Tamil Nadu. Among the landraces from Jeypore, the lowland landraces showed the highest diversity. The present study showed that the process of breeding modern cultivars did not appear to cause significant genetic erosion in rice. Cluster analysis and the first component of principle component analysis (PCA) both showed a clear demarcation between the cultivars and landraces as separate groups, although the genetic distance between them was narrow. The modern cultivars were positioned between the landraces from Jeypore and the traditional cultivars from Tamil Nadu. The second component of PCA further separated medium and upland landraces from lowland landraces, with the lowland landraces found closest to the traditional and modern cultivars.Key words: rice, Oryza sativa, AFLP, landraces, genetic diversity.La diversité génétique parmi 49 accessions de riz (Oryzasativa ssp. indica), dont 29 variétés de pays du Jeypore et 8 variétés traditionnelles du Tamil Nadu, a été examinée à l'aide de marqueurs AFLP. Au total, neuf combinaisons d'amorces ont permis de révéler 664 AFLP dont 408 étaient polymorphes. La proportion d'AFLP polymorphes était semblable au sein des cultivars et des variétés de pays. Des résultats semblables ont été obtenus lorsque les valeurs de diversité génétique ont été estimées en utilisant l'indice Shannon–Weiner de diversité. La diversité génétique était légèrement supérieure au sein des cultivars modernes que parmi les variétés de pays du Tamil Nadu. Parmi les variétés de pays du Jeypore, les variétés cultivées en faible altitude ont montré le plus de diversité. La présente étude montre que les méthodes modernes d'amélioration génétique n'auraient pas causé d'érosion génétique significative chez le riz. Une analyse de groupement et la première composante au sein d'une analyse en composantes principales (PCA) ont toutes deux montré que les cultivars et les variétés de pays formaient deux groupes distincts, bien que la distance génétique entre eux était faible. Les cultivars modernes logeaient entre les variétés de pays du Jeypore et les cultivars traditionnels du Tamil Nadu. La seconde composante de l'analyse en composantes principales a permis de séparer davantage les variétés cultivées en altitudes moyenne ou élevée des variétés cultivées en faible altitude, ces dernières étant les plus proches des cultivars traditionnels et modernes.Mots clés : riz, Oryza sativa, AFLP, variétés de pays, diversité génétique.[Traduit par la Rédaction] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]