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Soil degradation due to industrialization is a growing global concern, emphasizing the importance of evaluating soil quality near industrial zones to ensure food security, environmental sustainability, and public health. This study compares soil quality across five industrial sites, including foundries, electroplating, paper mills, textile mills, and quarries and cement industries, in the Coimbatore district. Soil samples were collected via a purposive sampling approach from nearby agricultural fields via a 500 m 2 grid. The soil quality was assessed by including all the soil parameters as soil quality indicators via principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation studies with a minimum data set followed by linear scoring and the weighted additive method. The soil quality was ranked as follows: reference soils (0.752) > foundry industrial sites (0.591) > quarry and cement industrial sites (0.554) > paper mill sites (0.552) > textile and dyeing industrial sites (0.500) > electroroplating industrial sites (0.482). The findings reveal that industrial activities significantly compromise soil quality in adjacent agricultural areas, with varying levels of impact., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflicts of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The Himalayan forests are facing a range of threats, which are making conservation efforts challenging. Using a mixed-method approach, this study investigated the threats to biodiversity conservation in Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), a fragile ecosystem in the Eastern Himalayan foothills. The study found that between 1990 and 2021, BTR experienced rising summer temperatures and decreasing annual precipitation, contributing to forest dryness, water scarcity, and forest fires. Natural disasters such as floods, flash floods, earthquakes, and landslides also caused significant damage to wildlife habitats. Changes in land use and land cover, including encroachment, infrastructure development, fuelwood collection, and grazing practices, were also identified as significant drivers of ecosystem alteration. Besides, hunting and poaching also emerged as threats to wildlife populations in the reserve. By employing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), the study determined that land use change, infrastructure development, climate change, livestock grazing, and fuelwood collection pose significant threats to flora conservation outcomes in BTR, while infrastructure development, climate change, livestock grazing, and forest fires are the primary threats to wildlife conservation outcomes in the reserve. The study recommends the regulation of land use practices, promotion of sustainable livelihoods for local communities, effective conservation strategies, and public awareness and education programs to promote the value of biodiversity conservation., Competing Interests: Compliance with ethical standards. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a genodermatosis, characterized both by premature aging and significantly increased risk of non-melanoma and melanoma skin cancers at an early age. However, limited literature is available on the common histopathological subtypes of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in these patients., Methods: In this ambispective case series, we recruited patients of XP who had either a currently present skin tumor or previously excised one, provided their histopathological sections were available. Cytogenetic analysis was performed in all the patients. The histopathological findings were recorded by two trained dermatopathologists., Results: Of 22 recruited patients with XP, 12 patients had 41 BCCs, and 23 (56.09%) of them showed a high-risk histopathological subtype. Basosquamous carcinoma (10, 24.39%) was the most frequent high-risk tumor followed by infiltrative variant (7, 17.07%). Mixed-histopathological subtypes were noted in six (14.63%) cases, and all of them had a high-risk component. The low-risk subtypes included nodular (n = 17, 41.46%) and superficial BCC (1, 2.43%). Though a deep dermal involvement was seen in 27 (65.85%) lesions, none showed a perineural invasion or necrosis. Three (7.31%) lesions showed ulceration, while 10 (24.39%) showed presence of pigmentation., Conclusions: A frequent occurrence of high-risk basal cell carcinoma was noted in patients with XP-mandating creation of appropriate treatment and follow-up strategies in these patients., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Improper and unscientific management of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites has increasingly become a pressing environmental issue especially in the mountainous regions worldwide. In view of this, an attempt was made to assess the detrimental effects of MSW landfill on the natural water sources at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh. Further, the suitability of potential landfill site and dispersion of pollutant air masses were stipulated using Arc GIS and HYSPLIT model. The findings show a discernible increase in electrical conductivity (323-858 μS/cm) and total dissolved solids (1086-1144 mg/kg levels) during sampling period. The results exhibited a notable increasing trend in the mean concentrations of heavy metals viz. As (0.13 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg), Hg (0.52 mg/kg and 0.65 mg/kg), Pb (0.10 mg/kg and 0.06 mg/kg), Zn (30.40 mg/kg and 0.22 mg/kg), Cd (0.46 mg/kg and 0.04 mg/kg), Cr (0.10 mg/kg and 0.05 mg/kg), Ni (0.28 mg/kg and 0.10 mg/kg), Mn (24.40 mg/kg and 0.35 mg/kg) and Fe (1.81 mg/kg and 0.96 mg/kg) during monsoon and post monsoon. High HPI values were observed at the sampling location near to landfill drain (9060), followed by spring site (7338). However, most of sampling points consistently exceeding the critical HPI value, across all seasons, indicated a severe level of heavy metal pollution, where sampling sites near to landfill drain pose significant environmental health risks of 63%. An overwhelming 93% population in vicinity of MSW site expressed their concern that the current landfill site poses substantial threat to their health and livestock. Furthermore, the obtained forward trajectories showed the downhill dispersion of polluted air arising from solid waste burning. A continuous monitoring of landfill leachate dynamics, atmospheric pollutants due to burning of waste and their potential impact on regional climate followed by appropriate adaptation strategies will be a promising step towards a sustainable future for the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: All the authors in this manuscript provide consent towards the research ethics. In this manuscript no harm has been done to the environment. Informed consent was also obtained during the field survey from all individual participants included in the study. Finally, all the authors state that the present study has no ethical issues. All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors. Consent to participate: Authors of the manuscript provided informed consent prior to participation. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Groundwater is often used directly by the public in several river basins of India. Hence, this study was carried out with the objective of assessing the quality of groundwater in the Amaravathi basin, India, using a multiple indices approach. Groundwater quality data from 96 monitoring wells were obtained from the Central Groundwater Board and used in this study. Drinking water quality index (DWQI) and irrigation water quality index (IWQI) were calculated to assess the water suitability for consumption, irrigation, and farming. High levels of fluoride and nitrate have a detrimental impact on health and were evaluated using USEPA methods by calculating the chronic daily intake and hazards quotient. Findings revealed that 42% of samples did not meet the DWQI standards due to high salinity, hardness, nitrate, and fluoride levels. Health risk assessment (HRA) of hazard quotients of nitrate are 81%, 61%, and 39% of samples, while those of fluoride are 85%, 68%, and 18% of samples for infants, children, and adults, respectively are unfit. High salinity rendered 35% of the sample unsuitable for irrigation, though most remained suitable for livestock. Spatial analysis revealed declining groundwater quality from the center to the east of the basin. This mapping study identified areas where the groundwater quality is inappropriate for the intended purpose and alternate water sources should be made viable., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Each author has read the instructions for the author’s declaration on the “Ethical responsibilities of authors” and complied with them appropriately. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Groundwater is a crucial global water resource; however, it faces the threat of depletion and quality degradation due to intensive agriculture and excessive fertilizer use. In India, groundwater assessments focus mainly on exploitation levels and often neglect quality. This study integrates groundwater quality with exploitation data to evaluate groundwater resources in Punjab, India. A novel Integrated Water Quality Index (IWQI), developed using advanced statistical techniques like Principal Component Analysis (PCA), identified Sodium (Na⁺), Sulphate (SO₄2⁻), Chlorine (Cl⁻), Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), and Electrical Conductivity (EC) as key contributors to groundwater quality. Spatial-temporal maps for 2014 and 2022 classified water quality into five suitability classes: Excellent (0-35), Good (35-60), Poor (60-85), High Restrictions (85-100), and Severe Restrictions (> 100). Hydrogeochemical analyses, including Piper and Durov diagrams, indicated saline water dominance due to high fertilizer use. Notably, water quality degradation was observed in the North-Eastern, Western, and Southern regions, whereas the Central Punjab region, despite over-exploitation, retained excellent water quality for agricultural use. Statistical analysis revealed that 4.7% of the groundwater depth variability was linked to changes in water quality. The block-wise groundwater exploitation map from the Central Groundwater Board was refined to improve resource management and incorporate IWQI data, providing a more comprehensive view of Punjab's groundwater status. This study underscores the importance of integrating water quality into groundwater assessments to inform irrigation strategies and ensure sustainable water resource management., Competing Interests: Declarations. Consent for publication: All authors approved the final manuscript. Competing interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Disclaimer: All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Among environmental contaminants, the rising level of cadmium in freshwater ecosystems is one of the most significant global concerns. The study addresses the current pollution status of cadmium in the middle stretch of River Ganga and explores the potential hazard associated with the consumption of 15 commercially important fish species by the inhabitants. Together 72 water and sediment samples were analyzed from the four representative sampling sites of River Ganga after the surveillance of major anthropogenic stressors. The concentration of cadmium ranges from 0.003 to 0.011 mg/l and 0.2 to 3.48 mg/kg in water and sediment respectively in 2022. The average concentration of cadmium was recorded to be the highest in Channa punctatus (1.35 mg/kg), followed by Rita rita = Johnius coitor (1.15 mg/kg), and the lowest in Labeo bata (0.2 mg/kg). The finding highlights greater exposure duration and feeding preferences of fish species have played a significant role in the bioaccumulation of the metal in the riverine system. Notably, the domestic effluents, agricultural runoffs, and pollutants brought along by the tributaries of River Ganga are identified as the main anthropogenic stressors for the moderate to considerably polluted status of the River Ganga. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and target carcinogenic risk (TCR) have revealed a higher susceptibility to cadmium contamination in children followed by females, and males. In addition, hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) has noted intake of Rita rita, Channa punctata, Puntius sophore, and Johnius coitor could be more detrimental to children's health than adults., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics Approval: Not applicable. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Floods are one of the most catastrophic and widespread disasters that cause loss of lives, infrastructure, livelihoods, and people. Therefore, the identification and mapping of flood-prone areas is crucial for flood disaster management. The main objective of this study is to identify and map the potential flood areas of the Wardha Basin using frequency ratio (FR) and statistical index (SI) models. The analysis was based on twelve determinants such as elevation, slope, aspect, curvature, topographic wetness index (TWI), stream power index (SPI), rainfall, distance from the river, stream density, soil types, land use/land cover (LULC) and distance from the road. The flood inventory map was prepared based on 377 flood sites. Flood locations were randomly classified as 70% training samples (264 flood points) and 30% (113) testing samples. According to the FR model, approximately 1% of the area belongs to the very high flood vulnerability category and 39% to the very low flood vulnerability category. On the other hand, the SI model results showed that 4161 km2 (7%) of the basin area is very high susceptible to flooding, while very low flood sensitivity covers 6011 km2 (13%) of the basin area. A comparative analysis of the FR and SI models showed that the SI model is very accurate for the Wardha Basin because it has a higher area under the curve (AUC) for success rate (88.24%) than FR (86.99%). The results of this study will assist planners and decision-makers in flood management and risk reduction in the Wardha Basin., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: Not applicable. Consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The author declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: In 2012, the UK government announced legislation changes and heightened immigration controls designed to create a 'hostile environment for illegal migration.' We measured changes in psychological distress among people from minoritised ethnic groups compared to White British controls before and throughout the implementation of these policies., Methods: We used the UK Household Longitudinal Survey to estimate difference-in-difference models for six ethnic groups (Bangladeshi, African, Caribbean, Indian, Pakistani, and White British) in three eras: pre-policy (2009-2012); (2) transition (2012-2016); and (3) ongoing policy (2016-2020). We calculated the adjusted marginal mean psychological distress score at each era using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)., Results: In the pre-policy era, we found higher psychological distress for the Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Caribbean groups compared to the White British group. We observed patterns consistent with increasing psychological distress during the transition era for the Pakistani and Bangladeshi groups, with further increases in the ongoing era for the Bangladeshi group. Levels of psychological distress the Indian and African groups were similar to the White British group in the pre-policy era and decreased over successive eras. A small decrease was observed in the Caribbean group across policy eras, while levels remained stable in the White British group., Conclusion: We found evidence that psychological distress increased among Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals following the introduction of hostile environment policies but did not detect increased distress in other ethnic groups. This finding underscores the importance of disaggregating analyses by ethnic group to capture the distinct experiences., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Enhancement of dynamic characteristics of sand through bio-cementation is one of the prospective ground improvement techniques for sustainable development considering seismic loading scenarios. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has already been established as an efficient and low-cost and sustainable bio-cementation technique. In the present study, engineering characteristics of poorly graded standard Ennore sand of India have been improved through the bio-cementation effects of Sporosarcina pasteurii bacteria using the MICP technique. Microstructure images obtained through scanning electron microscope and crystalline form of minerals present obtained through X-ray diffraction analyses are presented for the bio-cemented sand. Finally, dynamic characteristics of the bio-cemented sand are investigated through strain-controlled unconsolidated undrained cyclic triaxial testing varying the shear strain range from 0.3 to 1.5% with 1.0-Hz frequency. Variations of shear modulus and damping ratio of bio-cemented sand with shear strain are reported considering treatment durations of 7 and 14 days with treatment intervals of 12 and 24 h, respectively. It is observed that the improvement in shear modulus of bio-cemented sand for lesser strain rate approximately ranges from 37% to more than 80% compared to untreated sand. Furthermore, for strain higher than 1.0%, the margin of improvement varies from 50 to 70%. Moreover, the damping of bio-cemented sand was found to be lesser than untreated sand, and the variation is more significant for the higher number of loading cycles. This study is helpful in the assessment of dynamic characteristics of bio-cemented sand specifically applicable to seismic design., Competing Interests: Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Solid waste management in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is a growing challenge, intensified by increasing population and tourism, which strain non-sanitary landfills. This study investigates microbial diversity and functional capabilities within these landfills using a high-throughput shotgun metagenomic approach. Physicochemical analysis revealed that the Manali and Mandi landfill sites were under heavy metal contamination and thermal stress. Taxonomic annotation identified a dominance of bacterial phyla, including Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes, with genera like Pseudomonas and Bacillus prevalent. Squeezemeta analysis generated 9,216,983 open reading frames (ORFs) across the sampling sites, highlighting diverse metabolic potentials for heavy metal resistance and degrading organic, xenobiotics and plastic wastes. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) identified distinct gene clusters in Manali and Mandi landfill sites, reflecting differences in pollution profiles. Functional redundancy of landfill microbiome was observed with notable xenobiotic and plastic degradation pathways. This is the first comprehensive metagenomic assessment of non-sanitary landfills in the IHR, providing valuable insights into the microbial roles in degrading persistent pollutants, plastic waste, and other contaminants in these stressed environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Gamma-ray spectrometry was employed to assess the activity concentrations of primordial radionuclides ( 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K) in various construction materials, including those used for building, roofing, furnishing, flooring, and plastering. The measured activity concentrations of the radionuclides ranged as follows: 238 U (25 to 477 Bq kg -1 ), 232 Th (below detection limit to 239 Bq kg -1 ), and 40 K (285 to 1915 Bq kg -1 ). Based on these values, the materials were categorized in descending order of radioactivity threat as: Furnishing > Roofing > Building > Flooring > Plastering. The potential radiation dose and radiological hazards to occupants from continuous exposure were estimated using risk parameters. The absorbed dose rates for flooring (217.7 nGy h -1 ), building (286.9 nGy h -1 ), furnishing (353.1 nGy h -1 ), roofing (322.5 nGy h -1 ), and plastering ( 1 76.8 nGy h -1 ) were all found to exceed both the world average value and the typical indoor gamma dose rate of 84 nGy h -1 . This study highlights significant radiological risks to inhabitants associated with the use of certain materials in building construction. These include clay tiles for roofing, wood, specific granite varieties (reddish/brown granite), and certain types of bricks (fly ash, burnt, and AAS)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mitochondrial DNA has been widely utilized as a valuable tool for studying the evolutionary and demographic history both within and between different livestock speciesover the past three decades. Evaluation of the evolutionary history, population structure and genetic diversity is imperative for their productivity, ecosystem services, and breeding and conservation strategies for effective management. The present study included complete mitogenome of 78 cattle, out of which 33 samples belonged to 6 Bos indicus breeds of India. Mitogenome diversity of zebu cattle within population (π- nucleotide, haplotype diversity) was estimated using DnaSP v6 software and between populations (F ST ratio, AMOVA analysis) was estimated using Arlequin 3.5.2.2. Ladakhi breed showed maximum (π = 0.00645) while Gir (π = 0.00042) and Tharparkar (π = 0.00053) showed minimum diversity. The diversity between the breeds of Indian cattle was 16.34 %. There were 13 and 14 haplotypes in each of I 1 and I 2 halogroups respectively suggesting that the divergence of Bos indicus haplotypes likely occurred within the Indian subcontinent. The Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle lineages separated approximately 0.75 million years ago. The divergence pattern observed in zebu cattle highlighted the probability of a distinct ancestor and supported notion of independent divergence of Bos indicus., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Satpal Dixit reports financial support was provided by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India. Not applicable If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Antibiotics are extensively used in layer flocks for the prevention of diseases and to enhance their growth and production. However, their nonprudent use is leading to the occurrence of residues in eggs. The present study aimed at the detection of tetracycline group residues in egg samples collected from layer farms located in Haryana, India, and human health risk assessment. A total of 100 pooled egg samples were analyzed using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detector for the detection of tetracycline group residues. Out of 100 pooled samples, 13 (13%) were found to be contaminated with tetracycline residues (12 for chlortetracycline and one for tetracycline). Of these, five (38.5%) samples (one for tetracycline and four for chlortetracycline) exceeded the maximum residue limit (MRL) established by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. The risk assessment based on the per capita availability of eggs in Haryana revealed that the current levels of residues in eggs pose no significant toxicological effects on the consumer's health. The residues exceeding MRL indicate nonprudent use of antibiotics in veterinary practices, which could lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. There is a need to generate awareness among farmers toward judicious antibiotic usage in layer birds and adherence to withdrawal periods to prevent the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Fermented foods of the Indian Himalaya are unexplored functional resources with high nutritional potential. Chhurpi cheese, fermented by defined native proteolytic lactic acid bacteria of Sikkim was assessed for ACE inhibitory, HOCl reducing, and MPO inhibitory, activity across varying stages of gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. The enhanced bioactivity of Lactobacillus delbrueckii WS4 chhurpi was associated with the generation of bioactive and multifunctional peptides during fermentation and GI digestion. Qualitative and quantitative in silico tools were employed for prediction of ACE inhibitory activity of novel chhurpi peptides. Selected peptides, with highest predictive ACE inhibitory potential were synthesized and in vitro validation revealed the ACE inhibitory potential of peptides HPHPHLSFM and LKPTPEGDL. LKPTPEGDL showed the most potent ACE inhibitory activity (IC 50 of 25.82 ± 0.26 µmol) which slightly decreased upon GI digestion. The peptides demonstrated a non-competitive type mixed ACE inhibition modality. Furthermore, the two peptides exerted observable HOCl reducing and MPO inhibitory activity, demonstrating their antioxidative potential. HPHPHLSFM exhibited superior HOCl reduction (EC 50 of 0.29 ± 0.01 mmol), while LKPTPEGDL demonstrated higher MPO (IC 50  of 0.29 ± 0.01 mmol) inhibition. Molecular docking of the two peptides with MPO revealed proline and aspartate near peptidyl C-terminus to bind with enzyme catalytic residues. This study presents the first peptidome analysis of chhurpi produced through controlled fermentation and identifies novel peptides with MPO and ACE inhibitory activity. Furthermore, it marks the first synthesis and in vitro bioactivity validation of bioactive peptides from chhurpi cheese, highlighting its multifunctional potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Climate change-induced rise in sea surface temperatures has led to an increase in the frequency and severity of coral bleaching events, ultimately leading to the deterioration of coral reefs, globally. However, the reef-building corals have an inherent capacity to acclimatize to thermal stress on pre-exposure to high temperatures by altering their endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae community composition towards a thermal tolerant composition. This reorganisation may become an important tool in coral's resilience to rapid environmental change. Therefore, it is crucial to delineate the Symbiodiniaceae community in our reef to predict their resilience capacity. Our study aims to analyse the symbiont community associated with common reef corals in a heat-stressed, marginal turbid reef of Palk Bay, India. We employed next-generation sequencing-based high-resolution analyses of internal transcribed spacer two (ITS2) amplicons within the SymPortal framework to examine the diversity and organization of Symbiodiniaceae communities. The results revealed a dominance of heat-tolerant Durusdinium (D1-D4) and Cladocopium (C15) across coral species (Acropora cytherea, Acropora digitifera, Favites abdita, and Porites lobata) and reef environment (seawater, and reef sediment), with the presence of 18 ITS2 type profiles in our samples. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study to delineate Symbiodiniaceae communities at fine scale resolution (ITS2 type profile) from scleractinian corals in India, establishing a baseline for future research in a marginal reef ecosystem. Several studies have highlighted the importance turbid reefs as prospective climate refugia under the future threat of climate change. Therefore, this study is crucial for researchers, scientists, stakeholders, and policymakers to identify reef sites and coral species with resilience capacity for devising future reef restoration and management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mobile applications have the potential to revolutionise agricultural advisories, providing farmers with real-time information and insights for improved decision-making. However, the adoption of such apps is influenced by various behavioural factors, necessitating a participatory approach of development with the stakeholders. This study proposes a framework that begins with a prototype app informed by a literature review and the identification of behavioral determinants of app adoption. Iterative participatory feedback, grounded in these determinants, is employed to refine the app. The framework is demonstrated through the case study of Makara, an app providing risk advisories for farm yield, income, and risk mitigating practices in Maharashtra, India. A user-focused Theory of Change (ToC) was used to design a survey to identify socio-economic and behavioral drivers of agricultural app adoption. Data collected from 1354 farmers across four districts of Maharashtra during April-May 2023 informed a linear regression model that identified significant explanatory factors. Building on these findings, multiple feedback sessions with farmers were conducted over a year to iteratively co-develop the app's features. Key behavioral determinants, including norms, trust, abilities, and attitudes towards adopting mobile-based agricultural advisories, significantly influenced adoption. The participatory design process addressed these factors, incorporating features such as multi-lingual support, intercropping and multi-cropping options, and multi-component budgeting to enhance trust and perceived ease in using the app. User-friendliness was further improved through redundant communication of risks, combining textual and audio-visual formats. This paper presents a mixed-methods approach to integrating behavioral drivers of agricultural (advisory app) technology adoption into a participatory co-design framework (of such an app), enabling considerations for inclusivity and scaling in the design process of the app itself., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Microplastics (MPs) are a growing environmental issue because of their widespread prevalence and their long-term effects on ecosystems and human health. Global studies have identified MPs in various aquatic environments, such as lake, rivers, estuaries, wastewater, and oceans. Although most MPs originate from urban surface water sources, the specific intensity, characteristics, and associated risk assessments remain unclear. This study focuses on west Godavari region of India, specifically analyzing MPs in surface water samples Godavari River and two water treatment plants (WTPs). A total of 330 MPs found in the surface water and 121 MPs in theWTP. In surface water, MPs were predominantly blue and transparent fibers, with the majority measuring less than 500 μm in size. Conversely, at the WTP, larger MPs, primarily in blue fiber form and exceeding 3000 μm, were observed. Additionally, μ-Raman spectroscopy analysis identified the presence of various polymers, including PP, PVC, PC, Nylon, and PET, among others. The risks associated with MPs, including their concentration and chemical composition, were assessed across all sample types using various indices such as Contamination Factor (CFi), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Polymer Risk Index (H), Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and Estimated Intake (EI) (daily, annually, and lifetime). The risk assessment revealed that the type of polymer poses a greater risk of MP pollution than the concentrations of MPs themselves. These findings provide critical insights into MP contamination patterns and risks, emphasizing the need for targeted mitigation strategies in this region., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the word reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This research on microplastics (MPs) in marine environments, particularly in Bay of Bengal fish, underscores the limited comprehension of their accumulation and potential health and environmental consequences. The study investigated the abundance of MPs in the organs of nine marine fish species from the north Bay of Bengal, assessing their polymeric risks and implications for human health. The average MPs ingested by each individual was 32.9 ± 3.0 items/ind.10 g -1 predominantly fibers (93.1 %), followed by fragments (6.1 %), with black being the most common color (76.3 %). The primary polymers identified were polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) (19.4 %), polyether sulfone (PES) (10.7 %), polyamide PA (8.7 %), acrylic, and polyethylene (PE), in the 500-5000 (80 %) μm size range. A moderate negative correlation with strong statistical significance was found with girth sizes and MPs concentration of average (Pearson's r = -0.5728, p < 0.0001). Body weight exhibited moderate negative correlations with MPs abundance in fish tissues (Pearson's r = -0.4701, p < 0.0001). Movement behavior analysis showed a negative correlation between MPs in fish tissues and depth range (Pearson's r = -0.4231, p < 0.0001). Demersal species contained more MPs than pelagic species, and carnivorous fishes had higher MPs levels than omnivorous and planktivorous fishes. The contamination factors (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and polymeric hazard index (PHI) were high and associated with untreated industrial and municipal wastewater sources. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of MPs for adults and children indicates significant health risks. The study improves our comprehension of MPs contamination, providing a significant reference for the appropriate governance, tracking, and reducing pollutants in marine animals in coastal waters., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Road traffic injury (RTI) is one of the most common causes of accidental deaths in India. The study investigates the changes in trends in age-standardised RTI mortality rates in India by sex and age groups, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. The trend segments are estimated from 1990 to 2021 employing a joinpoint regression model. Additionally, the influence of age, time period, and birth cohort on mortality rate trends was assessed using the age-period-cohort model. Over the past 32 years, the RTI mortality rates have experienced multiple trend segments. RTI mortality rate in the ≤ 14-year-old population has declined remarkably, dropping from 5.71 (4.65 to 6.88) per lakh population in 1990 to 3.66 (3.01 to 4.35) per lakh population in 2010, and further declining to 1.98 (1.65 to 2.37) per lakh population in 2021. The study found a positive correlation between RTI mortality rates and age, with rates consistently lower for women compared to men across all age groups. The variation in RTI mortality rates across Indian states has widened over time, with the coefficient of variation increasing from 30.58% in 1990 to 32.36% in 2010, and further to 35.11% in 2021. Despite efforts, Indian states are unlikely to achieve the goal of halving RTI deaths by 2030, based on 2010 levels. To address this, road conditions and road safety policies aimed at preventing the incidence of RTIs should be further intensified., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical Approval: Not applicable due to no direct involvement of human subjects. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Use of fertilizers in agriculture soils is a worldwide practice to increase the yield of agricultural products. Fertilizers may contain radioactive elements may be present along with plant's nutrients in fertilizers. Migrated radioactive elements from the fertilized soils can find their entry into the environment and human body through several ways, which may lead to induce a potential radiological risk to human health. In the present study, total alpha radioactivity concentration in 68 samples of 18 different types of organic and inorganic fertilizers which are commonly used for cultivation in West Bengal and other states of India has been measured using a track-etch technique. Calibration of the CR-39 track detectors used in this measurement has been done using a distributed alpha-radioactive reference source material of IAEA-448 soil, obtained from Reference Materials Group of International Atomic Energy Commission (IAEA). The obtained source mass dependent calibration factors of CR-39 detectors have been used to estimate the alpha radioactivity of the fertilizer samples eliminating the self-absorption of alpha-particles in the sample. The estimated alpha radioactivity values have been found to vary from 29.4 Bq.kg -1 to 114.2 Bq.kg -1 , 2.2 Bq.kg -1 to 13.1 Bq.kg -1 and 485.0 Bq.kg -1 to 1125.8 Bq.kg -1 respectively for organic, non-phosphatic and phosphatic fertilizers. The highest alpha radioactivity is exhibited by phosphatic fertilizers and lowest alpha radioactivity is exhibited by non-phosphatic fertilizers. Alpha radioactivity is found to be strongly correlated with phosphate content of the fertilizers. The alpha radioactivity values obtained in our study are consistent with the studies reported worldwide with few exceptions. Considering radiological as well as other aspects, farmers should be encouraged to use non-phosphatic fertilizers in combination and try to avoid phosphatic fertilizers as far as practicable., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests:Biswajit Das reports was provided by Vidyasagar University. Biswajit Das reports a relationship with Vidyasagar University that includes:. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Climate change profoundly affects water resource allocation by disrupting the availability, distribution, and quality of water across various regions. Optimal allocation of water resources represents a comprehensive strategy for water resource management by addressing the intricate connections between water allocation systems and their repercussions on the environment, society, and economy. In this study, an Optimal Water Resources Management (OWRM) framework was developed, focusing on the optimal allocation of water resources and crop planting structures across various sectors. The Munneru river basin, located in the lower Krishna River region of India, was selected as the study area to validate the proposed framework. Five distinct water-demanding sectors-irrigation, domestic, livestock, industrial, and irrigation water requirements for major agricultural seasons-were identified in the study area, and their sectoral water demands were calculated at the basin level. The crop water and irrigation water requirements for various crops were estimated using the CROPWAT tool, while the framework also optimized crop planting structures to maximize returns and resource efficiency. The Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II (NSGA-II) was applied, with two objectives focused on equity and economic value. Superior solutions were then identified using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The OWRM framework was applied after identifying critical cases of water availability in future periods under climate change scenarios. Through this integrated approach, an average annual increase of 52.6% in agricultural sector returns was achieved for the simulation period (2016-17 to 2022-23). For a condition of providing at least 90% water supply to each sector, the optimal crop patterns led to revenue increases of 136.4%, 59.2%, and 74.7% compared to actual revenues for the water years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively. The developed OWRM methodology can be applied to other basins across the world that are impacted by climate change., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The establishment of site-specific target limits (SSTLs) for old municipal solid waste (MSW) dumpsites is essential for defining remediation goals in a scientifically rigorous manner. However, a standardized framework for achieving this is currently lacking. This study proposes a comprehensive framework that integrates high-resolution site characterization (HRSC) tools, targeted sampling, and contaminant transport modeling to derive SSTLs. The framework was applied to a case study at a MSW dumpsite in Delhi, India, with a focus on contaminant transport within the unsaturated zone. HRSC was performed using a cone penetrometer (CPTu) and a hydraulic profiling tool (HPT). Ammonium (NH 4 + ) and nickel (Ni) were identified as contaminants of concern based on pore water analysis from the unsaturated zone, which comprised of clay and silty sand. Sorption isotherms and soil-water characteristic curves (SWCC) were developed for different soil types to derive contaminant transport parameters. These parameters were validated by comparing model results with observed concentration profiles, yielding a satisfactory correlation. A 50-year forward modeling exercise determined an SSTL of 100 mg/L for NH 4 + . For Ni, the modeling indicated no breakthrough from the unsaturated zone over the 50-year period due to the high sorption on clays, suggesting that remediation for Ni is not required. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to identify key parameters influencing contaminant migration. This framework provides a rapid, robust, and scientifically sound approach for setting remediation goals at un-engineered landfills, supporting the implementation of dynamic remediation strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Despite widespread research on PFAS, less is known in developing countries like India. PFAS levels in sediment core samples from the Cooum River of Chennai City (India) in 2014 and 2016 were estimated to evaluate the effect of the major flood event in 2015. Among 22 target PFAS in this study, 11 and 12 of them were detected in the 2014 and 2016 samples, respectively. Total PFAS concentrations were 70-1402 pg/g dw (average: 503 pg/g dw) in 2014 and 188-3629 pg/g dw (average: 1103 pg/g dw) in 2016. PFBS, N-EtFOSA, and 6:2 FTUCA, which were not detected in any layers in 2014, exhibited a dramatic increase in DFs in 2016, showing 50%, 50%, and 88%, respectively. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the subsurface to bottom sediment layers for both years were similar in PFAS pollution, suggesting originating from the same sources. In contrast, the PFAS pollution in the surface layers in 2014 (0-18 cm) was statistically different from that in 2016 (0-23 cm), likely due to significant disturbance of the sediment profile caused by a major flood event in 2015. Correlation matrix analysis indicates the industrial uses of C8-based PFAS and shorter-chain alternatives near the studied area can be the major source of PFAS in the sediment near the studied area. The present study evidenced the ongoing production and use of PFAS in India, warranting and recommending further environmental monitoring of PFAS. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the effect of a major flood event in India on historical reconstruction of PFAS dynamics in Cooum river., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Among the mental health outcomes and disaster types (determined by damage to life, property, long-term consequences, displacement, and unpredictability), floods are associated with anxiety and sleep problems, mudslides with anxiety and mood disturbance, volcanic eruptions with acute stress reactions, and earthquakes with anxiety, depression, and physical complaints. Disasters such as tunnel collapse are unique as it involves the healthy, without loss of personal property or displacement; hence, they can have very different health-related outcomes. In this study, we explore mental health and sleep-related issues in workers rescued from an under-construction collapsed tunnel trapped for 17 days. After the initial triage and stabilization and a detailed evaluation of their physical and mental health status, the participants responded to self-administered scales for assessing anxiety [Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7], depression [Patient Health Questionnaire-9], and insomnia [Insomnia Severity Index] in the local language (Hindi). A separate research team conducted open-ended interviews to explore daily routines and concerns, circadian rhythm, orientation to time and day of tunnel collapse to day of rescue events, and sleep routine (and other nuances such as sleep quality and daytime napping) during the 17 days of entrapment. Thirty-three workers consented and hailed from the northern and eastern states of India. They report a mix of hope and worry in the initial days. On the assessment of anxiety, depression, and sleep, only 2-5 scored above the cut-off value, and scales correlated with each other, though clinically it had no bearing. One-third were disoriented to the passage of time, which was related to difficulty falling asleep and more napping. Daytime napping was associated with delayed waketime. Those depressed had more difficulty in the onset, maintinance, and termination of sleep, and reduced total sleep time. Victims of tunnel collapse experience a different set of mental health and sleep problems compared to those reported in other disasters. The findings can partly be attributed to the disruption of light-dark cycles. As only a fraction develops these problems, there is a need for triaging while providing mental health and sleep-related interventions in such circumstances. Lastly, there is a need to establish a light-dark cycle to prevent disorientation among victims., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Global strategies aim to eradicate HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) by 2030. We aim to assess HIV and other STIs morbidity trends from 1992 to 2021 across BRICS-plus (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), which accounts for nearly half of the world population., Methods: HIV and other STIs morbidity estimates were derived from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. We derived percentage changes to evaluate the progress towards HIV 2020 milestones and annualised rate of change to determine the progress needed to achieve 2030 targets. We used age-period-cohort (APC) model to estimate period (cohort) relative risks for both disease areas., Results: Around 46 % of global incident cases attributed to HIV and other STIs were found in BRICS-plus countries, exceeding the combined totals of North American countries. The HIV new cases in BRICS-plus declined by 8.2 % between 2010 and 2020. No countries within BRICS-plus achieved a target of a 75 % decrease in HIV new cases in 2020 or 2021, but India (-41.7 %), Ethiopia (-34.4 %), China (-29.7 %), and South Africa (-11.7 %) showed reductions. Individuals aged 15-24 years (-32·9 %) had a decline for HIV new cases, while individuals aged ≥ 25 years plateaued. There were evident period risks of morbidity for HIV in Russia and Iran since 2012 and for syphilis and gonorrhea in Brazil since 2012. Younger generations had a higher risk of contracting HIV in Brazil, China, Egypt, Iran, and Russia, and other STIs in Brazil, India, Iran, and South Africa, particularly genital herpes., Conclusion: BRICS-plus was still far from reaching the global 2030 targets for both disease areas. Adults aged ≥ 25 years have little progress in HIV new cases, and youth and adults in other STIs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) marks a significant milestone in India's education system, aiming to transform the country's educational landscape. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of NEP 2020, exploring its alignment with global educational trends, emphasis on competency-based progression, and potential impact on student learning outcomes, teacher training, and educational infrastructure. The policy's scientific significance lies in its potential to promote equity, quality, and innovation in Indian education, addressing longstanding challenges and preparing students for the demands of the 21st century., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Rodents are the reservoirs of the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis, which is transmitted through the bites of infected fleas. In this paper, we studied the distribution and abundance of fleas and rodents in the erstwhile endemic states and seaports of India from 2009 to 2019. The analysis showed that the Rattus rattus (Rr) was the major rodent species found in both Western (66.52 %) and Eastern (48.95 %) seaports of India and the other rodent species recorded were Bandicota indica (Bi) (16.68 % & 34.24 %), Bandicota bengalensis (Bb) (8.88 % & 16.02 %) Rattus norvegicus (Rn) (6.83 % & 0.70 %), Murines hurriane (Mh) (1.08 % & 0 %), Mus musculus (Mm) (0 % & 0.09 %), respectively. Only two flea species namely, Xenopsylla cheopis (X.c) and Xenopsylla astia (X.a) were recorded during the study period in Eastern and Western seaports. Among them, X. astia was found to be the dominant species (55.56 %) and followed by X. cheopis (44.44 %). Further, the female population of X. cheopis and X. astia was higher in both Western and Eastern seaports than the male population. Similarly, Rattus rattus (Rr) (82.43 %,) was the major rodent species found in erstwhile endemic states of India, followed by Tetera indica (Ti) (11.99 %,). Only northern endemic states (HP and UK) reported Rattus rattus terkiminasis (R.rt) (0.01 %). Four flea species namely, Xenopsylla cheopis (64.89 %), Xenopsylla astia (34.89 %), Stivalius ahalae (0.18 %), and Nosopsyllus fasciatus (0.02 %) were recorded from endemic states. The presence of rodents and vector fleas warrants sustained plague surveillance in and around seaports and endemic states., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The study aims to explore the burden and trends of prostate cancer (PC) in India at the state level from 1990 to 2021, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study., Methods: The health metrics including age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR), prevalence rates (ASPR), disability-adjusted life years (ASDR), and mortality rates (ASMR) per 100,000 for PC were analysed across Indian states and union territories. Join point regression analysis was employed to identify significant changes in these metrics over time. Projection of ASIR were done using auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model., Results: The age-wise distribution of PC showed increased in ASIR, ASPR, ASDR, ASMR among older age, majorly in the 75-79 years age group. From 1990-2021, the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in ASIR, ASPR, ASMR and ASDR increased by 157 %, 278 %, 76 % and 58 % respectively. Projections indicate a further rise in ASIR to 9.15 per 100,000 by 2031. The join point analysis showed the highest annual percentage change (APC) between 1992 and 1995 period in all health metrics. Despite Gujarat state showing the highest total percentage change in all health metrics when considering regional variations, Delhi and Kerala still remain the highest overall., Conclusion: The study emphasises the growing burden of PC in India, highlighting the need for improved diagnostic practices, localized screening guidelines, and targeted public health interventions., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Housing is an important social determinant of health. However, limited studies have focused on the relationship between housing quality and sarcopenia, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This study aims to examine the association between housing quality and sarcopenia in older adults in China and India., Methods: The study was based on the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study and Longitudinal Aging Study in India. Housing quality was evaluated by five indicators, including housing materials, water sources, sanitation facilities, main fuel for cooking, and availability of electricity. Housing quality is divided into three types: good (0-1 poor housing indicators), medium (2-3 poor housing indicators), and poor (4-5 poor housing indicators). Sarcopenia was evaluated according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 Consensus. The logistic regression model was performed to examine the association between housing quality and sarcopenia., Results: The medium (OR = 1.69, 95%CI = 1.49-1.90) and poor housing quality (OR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.89-2.54) were associated with sarcopenia in CHARLS. Similar results were also observed in the LASI with significantly higher prevalence of sarcopenia in medium (OR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.11-1.33), and poor housing quality (OR = 1.60, 95%CI = 1.43-1.79). Moreover, we observed a linear relationship between housing quality and the prevalence of sarcopenia both in CHARLS and LASI (all P for trend <0.001)., Conclusions: Poorer housing quality was associated with a higher prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults in China and India. Housing quality improvement plans such as access to tap water, promotion of clean energy may have a positive effect on reducing the prevalence of sarcopenia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

In this research paper, machine learning techniques were applied to a multivariate meteorological time series data for estimating the wheat yield of five districts of Punjab. Wheat yield data and weather parameters over 34 years were collected from the study area and the model was developed using stepwise multi-linear regression (SMLR), artificial neural network (ANN), support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF) and deep neural network (DNN) techniques. Wheat yield estimation was done at the tillering, flowering, and grain-filling stage of the crop by considering weather variables from 46 to 4th, 46 to 8th, and 46 to 11th standard meteorological week. Weighted and unweighted Meteorological variables and yield data were used to train, test, and validate the models in R software. The evaluation results showed a consistent and promising performance of RF, SVR, and DNN models for all five districts with an overall MAPE and nRMSE value of less than 6% during validation at all three growth stages. These models exhibited outstanding performance during validation for the Faridkot, Ferozpur, and Gurdaspur districts. Based on accuracy parameters MAPE, RMSE, nRMSE, and percentage deviation, the RF model was found better followed by SVR and DNN models and, hence can be used for district-level wheat crop yield estimation at different crop growth stages., Competing Interests: Declarations: The contents and views expressed in this study are the views of the author. The paper is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere and reflects the authors own research and analysis in a truthful and complete manner. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to International Society of Biometeorology.)

Kashmir's oldest Neolithic settlement dates back to 3000 BC. It stood as the centre of Buddhism and Hinduism for centuries, till the arrival of Islam in thirteenth century. Although Muslims ruled Kashmir under different empires for about four centuries and ever since there has always been a significant Muslim populace in Kashmir with or without Muslim rule, yet the literature about the history of health care in Kashmir and particularly the history about Muslim contributions to healthcare is sparingly limited. This paper aims at a) historical contextualization of healthcare in Kashmir, b) finding Muslim rulers` contributions if any to the healthcare system and c) exploring places of healing 'shafa-khanas' in Kashmir. In order to achieve these objectives, the methods used were data collection through locating key historical resources, by searching local libraries and bookshops and searching online academic databases, thereafter, subjecting the collected data to thematic analysis. Three themes emerged during data analysis, which corresponds to the objectives of this paper, these are a) 'Historical context of healthcare in Kashmir', b) 'Muslim contributions to healthcare in Kashmir' and c) 'Places of healing 'Shafa-khanas' in Kashmir'. The analysis shows that healthcare during Muslim rule was integrative, progressive, robust, indigenous, specialized, and efficient/accommodative. We conclude that though 'shafa-khanas' existed in medieval Kashmir, there is however not much literature available.

This study investigated heavy metal contamination in cow and buffalo milk from industrial and residential areas of Raipur, India, assessing health risks and identifying contamination sources. Milk samples were collected from seven sites and analyzed for Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Results revealed higher contamination in industrial areas, with fodder being a primary source for Zn, Ni, Fe, and Cu, while water contributed to Mn, Cr, and As. Estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and carcinogenic risk (CR) determination highlighted non-carcinogenic risks for Ni, Fe, and Pb, and significant carcinogenic risks for Pb and As. The concentrations of Zn, Ni, Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and As in milk samples were ranged from 1.708 to 3.243, 0.078-0.295, 1.480-4.450, 0.119-0.472, 0.032-0.461, 0.007-0.040, 0.006-0.032, 0.040-0.204, and 0.006-0.023 mg/kg, respectively. The principal component analysis (PCA) identified fodder as a source of Zn, Ni, Fe, Cu, and Cd, while water contributed to Mn, Cr, and As. This study needed monitoring and regulation to mitigate health risks from contaminated milk in Raipur., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) is a vital crop, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, where it serves as a staple food for millions. However, the emergence of sheath and stem blight poses a significant threat to its cultivation, potentially impacting food security. A field survey was conducted during the Kharif 2023 across major pearl millet-growing regions in Tamil Nadu, India led to the collection of diseased samples displaying typical symptoms of sheath and stem blight. A total of 14 pure fungal isolates were obtained and designated as FPM1 to FPM14. Morphological examination revealed the presence of microconidia, macroconidia, and chlamydospores, characteristic of Fusarium species. Molecular identification using ITS and β-tubulin gene sequencing confirmed these isolates as members of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC) and Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC). The pathogenicity of these isolates was assessed through in vitro and in vivo tests, revealing significant variability in their ability to induce lesions on pearl millet. Isolate Fusarium pseudonygamai FPM2 demonstrated the highest pathogenicity, producing the largest lesions, while isolates viz., Fusarium proliferatum FPM5 and F. proliferatum FPM10 exhibited minimal infectivity. Additionally, the study evaluated the enzyme activity of the virulent isolate F. pseudonygamai FPM2, identifying strong cellulase, xylanase, and protease activities, which are implicated in the disease progression. This study reported the new disease, sheath and stem blight on pearl millet which was caused by Fusarium pseudonygamai in India and based on pathogenicity test and enzyme assay, its virulence factors were confirmed. It further emphasizes how important it is to implement organic disease management strategies to lessen the negative effects of sheath and stem blight on pearl millet agriculture., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Essential newborn care (ENBC) practices are recommended for all births to improve neonatal survival. This paper aims to understand the facility-level variations and factors associated with the essential newborn care practices by providers in higher-level public health facilities in 25 high priority districts (HPDs) of Uttar Pradesh (UP)., Methods: We used observational cross-sectional quantitative data from 48 selected public health facilities (23 district hospitals (DH) and 25 community health centres (CHC)-first referral units (FRU)) implemented in 25 HPDs of UP from February 2020 to May 2021. We defined ENBC practice as both cord care and initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth were practiced in normal deliveries by the staff nurse. Descriptive analysis was done based on data from 2603 newborns attended by 318 providers. A stratified analysis was done by DH and CHC-FRU., Results: Overall, essential newborn care was practiced among 26.1% of the newborns (26.2% in DH and 35.0% in CHC-FRU). The ENBC practice varied across facilities from 3.0% to 64.1% in DH and from 0% to 91.0% in CHC-FRU. The ENBC practice was about 2.3 times higher in facilities with a high level of skill and knowledge of the providers (39.0%) compared with the facilities with a low level of skill and knowledge (16.9%). Similar patterns of association between providers' skills and knowledge of ENBC practices were observed in DH and CHC-FRU., Conclusion: Skill and knowledge on ENBC components are significantly associated with the clinical practices of providers, with a high level of variability across facilities. This suggests a focused facility-based assessment and enhancement of the clinical competencies of the providers to improve the quality of care in public health facilities in UP., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2025. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ Group.)

The Indian coast has been experiencing an increase in algal bloom events over the decades. Owing to the regional and seasonal dynamics of algal biomass (proxy: chlorophyll-a, hereafter chl-a), a multitude of thresholds of chl-a has been defined for different parts of the global seas to determine algal bloom conditions. However, no such clear definition is given for the Indian coastal waters. The current study defined chl-a thresholds to demarcate algal bloom conditions for the coastal waters of India, accounting for the variability at hotspots (in accordance with reported events: secondary data), causative species, and satellite-retrieved long-term trends. The secondary data analysis identified nine bloom hotspots along the east and west coasts of India. Among the blooms, diatoms prevailed the most, compared to dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria. Quartile analysis was employed on satellite-retrieved daily chl-a anomaly to determine specific bloom thresholds. Consequently, these quartile thresholds were utilized to classify various bloom phases, such as the 25 th percentile (Likely to Bloom), 50 th percentile (Bloom), 75 th percentile (Intense Bloom), and 90 th percentile (Extreme Bloom). As per this percentile-based classification, the 'Bloom' category corresponds to a chl-a range of 0.89-0.94 mg m -3 and 0.76-2.87 mg m -3 , for the identified hotspots along the east and west coasts, respectively. Likewise, during the 'Intense Bloom' phase, the chl-a concentration exceeds 0.99-1.47 and 1.12-4.46 mg m -3 at the hotspots along the east and west coasts, respectively. The seasonality of blooms revealed an increasing trend during the pre-southwest monsoon period on the central east coast of India. On the west coast, significant upwelling during the southwest monsoon period has been substantiated to be conducive for blooms. This study provides an avenue towards utilization of the threshold criteria in detecting different phases of bloom using satellite data in coastal waters where field observations are limited due to various factors., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ladakhi cattle, native to the high-altitude region of Ladakh in northern India (ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 m above sea level), have evolved unique genetic adaptations to thrive in harsh environmental conditions, such as hypoxia, extreme cold, and low humidity. This study explored the genome of Ladakhi cattle to investigate genetic structure, selection signatures, and adaptive mechanisms. Whole genome sequencing reads, generated on Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform, were aligned to the Bos taurus reference genome with BWA-MEM. SNPs were identified and filtered using GATK and bcftools, and functionally annotated with SnpEff. For population genomic analysis, PCA and admixture modeling assessed genetic structure, while Neighbor-Joining trees, LD decay, nucleotide diversity (π), and F ST evaluated phylogenetic relationships and genetic variation. Selective sweeps were detected using RAiSD, and gene-set enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses were conducted to explore functional pathways related to adaptation. The study revealed 3,759,279 unique SNPs and demonstrated that Ladakhi cattle form a distinct genetic cluster with an estimated admixture of 68 % Bos indicus and 32 % Bos taurus ancestry. Key findings include rapid linkage disequilibrium decay, low inbreeding level, and the identification of selection signatures and genes associated with hypoxia response, energy metabolism, and cold adaptation. Mean nucleotide diversity (π, 0.0037) and F ST values indicated moderate genetic differentiation from other breeds. The analysis highlighted selection signatures for genes like HIF1A, ENO4, ANGPT1, EPO, NOS3, MAPK3, HMOX1, BCL2,CAMK2D, MTOR, AKT2,PIK3CB, and MAP2K1, among others, including various keratin and heat shock proteins. The interaction between genes associated with hypoxia signaling (HIF-1) and other enriched pathways such as PI3K, mTOR, NFκB, ERK, and ER stress, reveals a complex mechanism for managing hypoxic stress in Ladakhi cattle. These findings offer valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at enhancing livestock resilience in extreme environments and enhance understanding of mammalian adaptation to high-altitude conditions., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Vegetative insecticidal protein (vip) genes of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are candidates for gene pyramiding in the resistance management of pests. The prevalence of vip genes in Bt isolates is relatively under-explored. Bt isolates recovered from 29 diverse sources in nine agro-climatic zones of India were screened for the presence of vip3-type genes by PCR with 4 sets of oligonucleotide primers. Out of 155 Bt isolates, 70.32 % (109) and 44.52 % (69) isolates were positive for amplification of partial vip3-type genes with primer sets 1 and 4, respectively. The primer set-2 was found to be more efficient for amplifying full-length genes (29.03 % /45 isolates) as compared with primer set-3 (3.23 %/ 5 isolates), also corroborated in the amplification of full-length vip3 genes in ten Bt BGSC strains used as reference. Frequency analysis revealed presence of vip3 genes in Bt isolates across all agro-climatic zones. Thus, Indian Bt isolates from diverse sources have a rich repertoire of vip3-type genes. Our study reports the highest number (45) of full-length vip3-type genes detected in a native Bt isolates collection, demonstrating enrichment of Indian Bt isolates for vip3 genes. Twelve of these genes have been cloned, sequenced, and out of these, six were found to be effective against Helicoverpa armigera in our laboratory previously. Comparison of substitutions in deduced amino acids sequence of these genes and expression of Vip3 proteins in SDS-PAGE analysis of selected native Bt isolates positive for full-length vip3-type genes indicated their biopesticidal potential., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Medical training in India is experiencing a paradigm shift. The competency-based medical education (CBME) for undergraduate medical training was adopted from the admission session 2019. The Indian Medical Graduate (IMG) was identified under CBME, by explicitly documenting its roles viz. clinician, professional, communicator, leader and life-long learner. In the recently released amended guidelines, two additional roles of IMG have been added. Looking at the roles of the IMG, it can be inferred that professionalism is one of the core roles assigned to IMG, and most other roles like - clinician, leader, and communicator fall under the broad definition of role as professional. It is argued that the objective of the curriculum should not only be to equip the students for identifying their professional roles but to support them to develop their professional identities. The potential of the CBME to equip the teachers and students to develop the professional identity of students is adequately supported by literature. However, the professional identity of IMG has not been defined to date, and no structured framework to develop this professional identity of the undergraduate students in the Indian context is available. The conceptual paper is an effort to define the professional identity of IMG and provide a framework to develop their professional identity.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This study explores the genetic landscape of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in a cohort of 33 patients from Southern India using targeted exome sequencing. Our analysis revealed a diverse range of mutations across the cohort, with missense mutations being the most prevalent. Pathogenic mutations, as classified by ClinVar, exhibited significant individual variation, highlighting the heterogeneity of OSCC. Seventy-five genes were identified to harbor pathogenic or potentially pathogenic mutations, with notable recurrence in genes such as TP53, PDGFRA, and RAD50 among others. Comparison with high-frequency mutation genes in HNSCC from TCGA database revealed significant overlap, emphasizing the relevance of these mutations across different populations. Additionally, several novel mutations were identified, including those in CHD8, ITPKB, and HNF1A, shedding light on potential genetic risk factors specific to this population. Functional annotation and pathway analysis underscored the involvement of these mutated genes in various cancer-related pathways. Despite limitations such as sample size and the need for further validation, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of OSCC pathogenesis and highlights potential genetic markers for prognosis and targeted interventions, especially in the Indian context., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The Western Himalayan mountains, with several riverine systems, are considered one of the most fragile environments in the world. Among them is Beas, a primary river that provides essential ecosystem benefits to thousands of indigenous people in North India. One of the major pollutants, microplastics (MPs), are ubiquitous contaminants, yet their occurrence in the Beas and ecological risk factors remain largely unexplored. Due to extensive tourism and urban-related burdens, the usage and release of enormous amounts of plastics and MPs into the Beas are apparent. Here, we investigated the extent of MPs pollution and subsequent environmental risks in water and sediments from Beas along a stretch of 300 km. Our results showed that MPs were abundant and widely distributed, with the abundance range (mean ± SE) being 46-222 (112.27 ± 12.43) items/L in water and 36-896 (319.47 ± 49.25) items/kg in sediment samples. We found significant differences in MPs' abundance in water but not sediments among the five sampling sites. There was a significant positive correlation between population size and the abundance of MPs, with the highest abundance in populated Kullu and the lowest loads at the remote Dhundi Glacier. Fibers and film were common morphotypes; most items measured <1 mm. Of the eleven polymers identified, the majority were polyethylene. The pollution load index ranged up to 4.99 (low-risk category); however, the polymer hazard index exceeded 1000 (highest-risk category), and the potential ecological risk index was 13,761 (extreme-risk category) at selected sites. This study fills a crucial knowledge gap and raises concerns about the possible impact on human health, as many riparian residents depend on Beas as their primary source of potable water. Our findings may assist governmental agencies in formulating comprehensive eco-friendly policies and advancing environmentally sustainable strategies in vulnerable locales adjoining the Beas waterway., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Utilizing treated wastewater for crop cultivation is essential in regions with scarce freshwater resources for irrigation. This study evaluated the growth, fruit yield, nutritional and phytochemical quality of tomato fruits cultivated using a treated wastewater-based hydroponics system developed for the Trans Himalaya, India. Tomatoes grown with treated wastewater exhibited better growth, yield, nutritional content, phytochemical properties, and antioxidant activities than those grown in soil. Specifically, the lycopene and β carotene were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in tomato fruits cultivated in treated wastewater (0.05 ± 0.00 and 0.09 ± 0.00 mg/g) than soil (0.02 ± 0.00 and 0.01 ± 0.00 mg/g). Also, significantly (p < 0.05) higher carbohydrate and protein contents (55.91 ± 1.19 and 21.34 ± 0.31 mg/g, respectively) were obtained under-treated wastewater than soil (39.48 ± 0.07 and 18.52 ± 0.10 mg/g). Similar trends were also obtained in phytochemicals and mineral analysis. However, morphological, proximate, and phytochemical characteristics of tomatoes in nutrient and wastewater-based hydroponics were comparable. Treated wastewater offers eco-friendly benefits for quality crop production., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

An efficient wastewater treatment plant is imperative to limit the entry of emerging pollutants (EPs) and emerging microbial contaminants (EMCs) in the river ecosystem. The detection of emerging EPs in aquatic environments is challenging due to complex sample preparation methods, and the need for sophisticated accurate analytical tools. In Varanasi (India), the river Ganga holds immense significance as a holy river but is consistently polluted with municipal (MWW) and hospital wastewater (HWW). We developed an efficient method for untargeted detection of EPs in the water samples using High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), and identified 577 and 670 chemicals (or chemical components) in the water samples from two major bathing ghats, Assi Ghat (AG) and Dashashwamedh Ghat (DG), respectively. The presence of EPs of different categories viz chemicals from research labs, diagnostic labs, lifestyle and industrial chemicals, toxins, flavor and food additives indicated the unsafe disposal of MWW and HWW or inefficient wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Besides, shotgun metagenomic analysis depicted the presence of bacteria associated with MWW viz Cloacibacterium normanse, Sphaerotilus natans (sewage fungi), E. coli, and Prevotella. Also, the presence of human pathogens Arcobacter, Polynucleobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, Vibrio, and Campylobacter suggests the discharge of HWW. EPs are linked to the development, and transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), plasmid-borne β-lactamases, aminoglycoside transferases, and ARGs associated with integrons, transposons and plasmids viz mcr-3 gene that confer resistance to colistin, the last resort of antibiotics confirmed the presence of emerging microbial contaminants. Subsequent genome reconstruction studies showed the presence of uncultivable ARB and transmission of ARGs through horizontal gene transfer. This study can be used to monitor the health of aquatic bodies as well as the efficiency of WWTPs and raise an urgent need for efficient WWTPs to safeguard the river, Ganga., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Anil Kumar Tripathi reports financial support was provided by Science and Engineering Research Board. Anil Kumar Tripathi reports a relationship with Science and Engineering Research Board that includes: funding grants. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The identification of helminth parasites in Schizothorax spp. from Kashmir, including Schyzocotyle acheilognathi, Pomphorhynchus kashmirensis, and Adenoscolex oreini, is hindered by morphological limitations and high intraspecific variation. While previous studies have relied on morphological diagnosis, a comprehensive molecular characterization is lacking. To address these limitations and achieve more accurate species identification, this study employs molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis., Method: Genomic DNA was extracted using standardized protocols. Partial amplification of 18S, ITS, and 28S rRNA was carried out using specific primer sets, followed by Sanger sequencing. Genetic characteristics were analyzed using bioinformatic approaches, focusing on Nucleotide divergence and Phylogenetic relationships., Results: Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the monophyly of S. acheilognathi, revealing close relationships with S. nayarensis. Interspecific variation ranged from 2.0 - 4.1% for 18S and 0.8 - 2.2% for 28S rDNA, while P. kashmirensis showed high genetic similarity to P. tereticollis and P. laevis with variations ranging from 0.1 - 1.5% for 18S and 2.3-6.0% for ITS rDNA. A. oreini forms a monophyletic lineage separate from Caryophyllaeides and Caryophyllaeus species., Conclusion: Our study resolved persistent taxonomic ambiguities within the order Bothriocephalidea, resulting in the reassignment of Schyzocotyle acheilognathi (previously Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) to the reinstated genus Schyzocotyle. This study underscores the utility of ribosomal gene sequencing in characterizing fish parasites and highlights the need for taxonomic re-evaluation of A. oreini within the Capingentidae family., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical approval: No live animals were used in this research. All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors as found in the Instructions for Authors and are aware that with minor exceptions, no changes can be made to authorship once the paper is submitted. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Background: Ischemic stroke, accounting for 85% of stroke cases, leads to severe disabilities and increased mortality. Its global incidence rose by 87.55% from 1990 to 2019, posing significant health and economic burdens. The BRICS-plus nations-Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and five others-represent a large global population, presenting unique public health challenges. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiological trends and variations in the burden of ischemic stroke across BRICS-plus nations in a timely manner., Methods: Data on the number, all-age rate, age-standardized rate, and relative change in ischemic stroke disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from 1992 to 2021 within BRICS-plus were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study (GBD) 2021. Relationships between the DALYs rate and the Socio-demographic Index (SDI) were evaluated using Pearson correlation analyses. Additionally, age-period-cohort modeling was employed to estimate net drift, local drift, age, period, and cohort effects over the past three decades., Results: From 1992 to 2021, total DALYs due to ischemic stroke increased by 47.14%, while the age-standardized DALYs rate decreased by 33.79%. All BRICS-plus countries exhibited a declining trend in the age-standardized DALYs rate over the past three decades. Egypt reported the highest age-standardized DALYs rate (2,462.60 per 100,000 population) in 2021, whereas the most substantial reduction of 59.37% was observed in Brazil. The annual net drift in the ischemic stroke DALYs rate ranged from -3.04% for Brazil to -0.48% for Egypt among the ten countries. A significant positive correlation was observed between the DALYs rate of ischemic stroke and SDI values. Countries exhibited similar age effect patterns, with an increasing risk of DALYs rate with advancing age. Period and cohort effects highlighted declines in observed nations, indicating improved ischemic stroke management strategies., Conclusion: The burden of ischemic stroke showed an overall declining trend across the BRICS-plus from 1992 to 2021, but persistent health inequalities between these countries were driven by socioeconomic disparities. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity for targeted interventions across age, period, and cohort dimensions to address the distinct challenges posed by ischemic stroke in these rapidly developing countries., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Data were all analyzed anonymously, so ethical approval was not needed. All methods in this paper were performed following the relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease in infants and young children worldwide. Vaccination offers the best protection against this disease, and two rotavirus vaccines were developed in India and included in its routine immunization program. The Government of India's decision to adopt this intervention was supported by a solid base of evidence from clinical trials, as well as substantial research regarding rotavirus disease burden and the potential health and economic value of immunization. Following program implementation, multiple studies were initiated, including three evaluations of effectiveness and several investigations regarding intussusception. These additional data regarding vaccine impact, safety, and delivery from post-introduction evaluations in conditions of real-world use will further strengthen and sustain the immunization program. This manuscript evaluates the status of existing and forthcoming evidence regarding rotavirus vaccination in India through a literature review and consultation with relevant stakeholders. Studies evaluating vaccine impact, effectiveness, safety, health economics, and acceptability, as well as operational and programmatic research, were included in the review. Overall, we found that the evidence base did not contain any major gaps. Nevertheless, additional smaller-scale research studies would be valuable in providing a more complete picture of rotavirus vaccine performance and benefit. Documentation of India's experience with rotavirus vaccines may provide lessons learned for other countries in the Asia region, where rotavirus disease burden remains high, yet vaccine adoption has been slow, as well as for countries worldwide that may be considering implementation of the Indian-made rotavirus vaccines., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Niranjan Bhat reports financial support was provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Elisabeth Vodicka reports financial support was provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Allison Clifford reports financial support was provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Kanduri Balaji Ananth reports financial support was provided by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background: Verbal autopsy (VA) has been a crucial tool in ascertaining population-level cause of death (COD) estimates, specifically in countries where medical certification of COD is relatively limited. The World Health Organization has released an updated instrument (Verbal Autopsy Instrument 2022) that supports electronic data collection methods along with analytical software for assigning COD. This questionnaire encompasses the primary signs and symptoms associated with prevalent diseases across all age groups. Traditional methods have primarily involved paper-based questionnaires and physician-coded approaches for COD assignment, which is time-consuming and resource-intensive. Although computer-coded algorithms have advanced the COD assignment process, data collection in densely populated countries like India remains a logistical challenge., Objective: This study aimed to develop an Android-based mobile app specifically tailored for streamlining VA data collection by leveraging the existing Indian public health workforce. The app has been designed to integrate real-time data collection by frontline health workers and seamless data transmission and digital reporting of COD by physicians. This process aimed to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of COD assignment through VA., Methods: The app was developed using Android Studio, the primary integrated development environment for developing Android apps using Java. The front-end interface was developed using XML, while SQLite and MySQL were employed to streamline complete data storage on the local and server databases, respectively. The communication between the app and the server was facilitated through a PHP application programming interface to synchronize data from the local to the server database. The complete prototype was specifically built to reduce manual intervention and automate VA data collection., Results: The app was developed to align with the current Indian public health system for district-level COD estimation. By leveraging this mobile app, the average duration required for VA data collection to ascertainment of COD, which typically ranges from 6 to 8 months, is expected to decrease by approximately 80%, reducing it to about 1-2 months. Based on annual caseload projections, the smallest administrative public health unit, health and wellness centers, is anticipated to handle 35-40 VA cases annually, while medical officers at primary health centers are projected to manage 150-200 physician-certified VAs each year. The app's data collection and transmission efficiency were further improved based on feedback from user and subject area experts., Conclusions: The development of a unified mobile app could streamline the VA process, enabling the generation of accurate national and subnational COD estimates. This mobile app can be further piloted and scaled to different regions to integrate the automated VA model into the existing public health system for generating comprehensive mortality statistics in India., (©Harleen Kaur, Stuti Tripathi, Manjeet Singh Chalga, Sudhir K Benara, Amit Dhiman, Shefali Gupta, Saritha Nair, Geetha Menon, B K Gulati, Sandeep Sharma, Saurabh Sharma. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org).)

Aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, is crucial for global food security. However, the increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) in marine environments, shrimp feeds, and atmospheric particles has made MP contamination in shrimp tissues inevitable. This study systematically investigates the abundance, characteristics, and temporal trends (from 15th to the 120th day of culture) of MPs contamination in Litopenaeus vannamei, along with associated feed, water, and sediment across 12 shrimp ponds of two major shrimp-producing regions of India. MPs were detected in 93.7 % of shrimp samples and all environmental matrices, with the highest abundance recorded in coastal culture ponds. The overall average MPs abundance in shrimp was 4.07 items/individual (1.24 MPs items/g). MP sizes ranged from 8 μm to 4.22 mm, with MPs smaller than 100 μm being predominant in shrimp samples, though their prevalence decreased over the culture period. Fragments and fibers were the dominant morphotypes across all matrices, with a shift towards larger MPs and an increased proportion of fibers and films over time. Micro FTIR analyses revealed polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) were the most common polymers detected, indicating their widespread environmental distribution. Feed was identified as the primary source of MPs contamination in shrimp. The presence of MPs in shrimp raises significant concerns for consumer health, food safety, and trade, as shrimp are among the most widely consumed aquatic food products. This study underscores the dynamics of MP contamination in shrimp aquaculture and highlights the urgent need for targeted strategies to mitigate contamination, ensuring consumer safety and industry sustainability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: People with disabilities due to neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), such as leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF), often encounter situations of stigma and discrimination that significantly impact their mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing services are often not available at the peripheral level in NTD-endemic countries, and there is a need for such services. Basic psychological support for persons with NTDs (BPS-N) from peers is an important potential solution for addressing mental wellbeing problems. As there was no written document advising delivery of such support, NLR India brought experts together to develop a new guide. This paper describes the process used in developing the guide and provides information about its content., Methods: As a qualitative and participatory methodology, more than 10 meetings and workshops were held to consider the suitability of existing guides for chronic stress in NTDs and develop a new guide through consensus and adaptations; attendees included both technical experts and affected persons. The first meeting was a 3-day virtual workshop held on 9-11 June 2020, followed by other online meetings. The BPS-N guide development happened during the COVID-19 lockdowns. The Psychological First Aid (PFA) package of WHO was selected as a suitable basic model for adaptation. Aspects of the Rights-Based Counselling intervention were also integrated into the new guide. Two teams were formed for drafting and reviewing the guide., Results: All suggested changes were discussed, and a consensus reached for developing the document. The affected persons contextualized the content for ensuring its relevance and practicality. The new BPS-N guide was simple, professionally sound, ethical, adequate, and appropriate. The guide promotes knowledge, skills, compassion, and action among peer supporters., Conclusion: The new guide, through regular trainings, behavior change, and action principles will likely provide much-needed services. It is important that the new guide be now tested, and modifications made if needed., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Nayak et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Purpose: Henneguya sp. is a crucial myxosporean parasite known to cause milky flesh or tapioca disease in the freshwater fish population, leading to heavy mortality. Studies to investigate its host range and to monitor their prevalence in wild and aquacultured fish are necessary., Methods: The infected orange-spotted snakehead (Channa aurantimaculata) fish samples showing clinical signs such as severe ulceration and open wounds on the mouth and operculum were collected from an ornamental fish-rearing unit in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The sample was diagnosed with myxosporean infection by microscopic observation, morphological records and DNA sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis., Results: The Henneguya infection was identified in C. aurantimaculata for the first time. Necropsy of the infected fish revealed characteristic multifocal whitish-yellow, oval-shaped cysts measuring 3-5 mm in length on the liver and spleen. The wet mount of cysts showed numerous mature Henneguya spores that were uninucleate, elongated, lenticular and ellipsoidal with the bluntly rounded anterior end gradually tapering off to the posterior with a caudal elongation. The spore body measured 12.1 ± 0.9 μm (10.1-14.7 μm) × 7.1 ± 0.6 μm (5.3-8.5 μm) with two slightly unequal pyriform polar capsules of 6.1 ± 0.5 μm (5.1-7.4 )× 2.5 ± 0.4 μm (1.6-3.9) (large); 6.0 ± 0.4 μm (5.2-6.4) × 2.5 ± 0.3 μm (1.7-3.1) (small) and a caudal elongation of 16.1 ± 1.2 μm in length. The parasite was confirmed to be a Henneguya sp. by PCR amplification of SSrRNA followed by gene sequencing. The sequence generated was submitted in the GenBank under accession number PP852214.1 The maximum likelihood analysis revealed that the obtained sequence is a close relative of H. exilis with pairwise sequence variation of 3.3% and a homology of 99.04%., Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential impact of Henneguya sp. on ornamental fish health, underscoring the need for vigilant monitoring and management in India., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethical Approval: Ethical approval for this study was given by the Institutional Ethics Committee at the Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri, Tamil Nadu. All research activities adhered to ethical guidelines of CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals) for experimentation on fish, 2021. Inform Consent: “All authors have read, understood, and have complied as applicable with the statement on “Ethical responsibilities of Authors” as found in the Instructions for Authors and are aware that with minor exceptions, no changes can be made to authorship once the paper is submitted.” Consent to Participate: Not applicable. Consent to Publish: Not applicable. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)