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Modern feces samples of the endangered red panda (Ailurus fulgens) were examined using multiproxy analysis to characterize the dietary patterns in their natural habitat in India. An abundance of Bambusoideae phytoliths and leaves (macrobotanical remains) provide direct evidence of their primary dietary plants. In contrast, Bambusoideae pollen is sporadic or absent in the pollen assemblages. An abundance of Lepisorus spores and its leaves along with broadleaved taxa, Betula, Engelhardtia, and Quercus are indicative of other important food sources. Average δ13C values (− 29.6‰) of the red panda feces indicate typical C3 type of plants as the primary food source, while the, δ15N values vary in narrow range (3.3–5.1‰) but conspicuously reveal a seasonal difference in values most likely due to differing metabolic activities in summer and winter. The multiproxy data can provide a baseline for the reconstruction of the palaeodietary and palaeoecology of extinct herbivores at both regional and global scales.

In the publication “Typifications, new combinations and new synonyms in Indian Impatiens (Balsaminaceae)” by Singh, R. K. et al. (2021), the authors used pseudoscientific theoretical background, utilized material collected by other persons without citing the source of data in support of their claims, and made serious errors in the determination and delimitation of Impatiens taxa occuring in Himalayas and adjacent areas. They proposed new combinations and statuses without sufficient field and literature studies and failed to show convincing evidences in their treatments. Their documentation lacks important details, like authorship of the published pictures, locations and dates of pictures, or measurements of plant parts; the whole documentation has geographically biased gaps – in case of Western Himalayan or Sikkimese taxa, there is almost no original illustrative material. Finally, they falsely claimed extensive field studies in Western Himalaya. This paper reinstates 19 species and 1 variety synonymised by Singh et al. (2021) with scientific evidences based on illustrations from types and colour photographs from fresh collections.

The aim of the present study is to measure the extent of anxiety and stress among different groups of the health care workers (HCW) of Sikkim, based on the level of insomnia they were suffering from. The sample of the present study consisted of 153 HCWs. Depression anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Insomnia Severity Index were administered. Different groups of health care workers, based on different levels of Insomnia were found to have different extent of anxiety and stress.

The purpose of this study is to determine the level of anxiety and stress among different groups of Sikkim's health-care workers, based on gender and previous exposure to ICU duties. The current study's sample included 152 HCWs who were chosen via stratified random sampling. The anxiety and stress dimension of the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was used to assess anxiety and stress. Based on gender and previous exposure to ICU duty, different groups of health care workers were found to have varying levels of anxiety and stress.

The taxonomic identity of Impatiens laxiflora Edgew. is assessed historically and the name I. leggei Pusalkar & D.K.Singh is found conspecific and synonymized. The species commonly treated in China...

Impatiens cothurnoides C.E.C.Fisch. (Balsaminaceae) is rediscovered after a gap of nearly 90 years in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, North-East India. A detailed description and photographic illustra...

A 3-y-3-mo old male child presented with massive hypertrophy and bluish-purple discoloration of the left upper limb and adjacent chest wall of 3 mo duration. There was no h/o fever, weight loss, painful large joint swelling, or any bleeding manifestations. He had spindle like nonprogressive, painless swelling of all fingers of the left hand since infancy. The child was moribund with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and consumptive coagulopathy without sepsis. He received multiple transfusions of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets, and packed RBC. Paradoxical worsening of symptoms with platelet transfusions and radiological evidences led to the diagnosis of a very rare congenital multifocal vascular tumor, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP). The index case of KHE was multifocal with cutaneous lesions, osteolytic bony lesions of all phalanx and metacarpals of the left hand, and intrathoracic extension. It was successfully managed with a combination of steroid, vincristine and sirolimus.

Impatiens cathcartii Hook.f. is recollected almost after a century, its taxonomic identity, description from fresh collection, coloured illustrations are made along with notes on typification of the name. Taxonomic identity of I. serratifolia Hook.f. along with its delimitation from closely related species is discussed, coloured illustrations with comparison of flowers with the closest species and notes on the typification of the name are also discussed.

The taxonomic identity of the species Impatiens longipes Hook.f. & Thomson is discussed and a lectotype has been designated for the name. Impatiens pseudolongipes is described and illustrated as a new species.

Operating at the science, policy, practice interface (SPPI) is often contentious, as knowledge creators and end-users seldom engage, preferring to operate in their own worlds. The application of science to solve sustainability challenges has not received the desired attention, especially in developing countries. How to strengthen the credibility, relevance and legitimacy of research so as to enhance the chances of uptake in decision making? How to generate knowledge differently, so that it is more likely to bring about change and benefit society? The purpose of this research is to examine these questions in the context of three sustainability case studies that were able to transcend the knowledge action barrier. These case studies are from the global biodiversity hot spot of Eastern Himalaya, India, and cover the themes of sustainability of pastoral systems, promoting sustainable livelihoods for the poor and co-designing a Himalayan spring revival initiative. The findings are structured to highlight how the demand for science arose, findings of the research and how the knowledge generated was translated into action. The results show that firstly relevance of science increases manifold when aligned to prominent policy decisions and real-world problems. Secondly, trans-disciplinary studies that synthesize social, economic and ecological aspects have a greater chance of influencing policy makers. Thirdly, mediation by science stewards holds lot of promise in connecting the worlds of academicians and policy makers. The study provides practical guidance on bridging the SPPI and contributes to the growing body of the literature on sustainability science.

A 3-y-3-mo old male child presented with massive hypertrophy and bluish-purple discoloration of the left upper limb and adjacent chest wall of 3 mo duration. There was no h/o fever, weight loss, painful large joint swelling, or any bleeding manifestations. He had spindle like nonprogressive, painless swelling of all fingers of the left hand since infancy. The child was moribund with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and consumptive coagulopathy without sepsis. He received multiple transfusions of fresh frozen plasma (FFP), platelets, and packed RBC. Paradoxical worsening of symptoms with platelet transfusions and radiological evidences led to the diagnosis of a very rare congenital multifocal vascular tumor, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP). The index case of KHE was multifocal with cutaneous lesions, osteolytic bony lesions of all phalanx and metacarpals of the left hand, and intrathoracic extension. It was successfully managed with a combination of steroid, vincristine and sirolimus.

The Himalayas are undergoing rapid climate change, and the prevailing narrative has revolved around glaciers and river hydrology. While ironically, in the densely populated Himalayan mid-hills, it is the network of rain-fed springs that are the principal source of drinking water. Recent studies highlight the worrying trend of these springs drying up affecting women and children the most. Reviving these springs by artificial recharge using geohydrology and isotope approaches has shown positive results. However, the ‘spring-centric’ approach is too intensive for scaling up, and we explore the possibility of using the ‘mountain aquifer’ as the unit of planning. In this study, we investigate the inner workings of the mountain aquifer system using environmental isotopes and landscape-level recharge experiments. Are the aquifers disjoint or connected? Do they have annual or multi-year storage capacity? Can these aquifers be recharged using landscape-level approaches? The purpose of this research is to examine these questions in an action research mode using biophysical and socio-economic approaches in the context of Sikkim Himalaya. The findings show that mountain aquifers are connected by fractures, having multiple recharge and discharge points along the elevation gradient. These rain-fed aquifers are sensitive to rainfall patterns as they do not have the capacity for multi-year storage. Landscape-level recharge projects on hilltop forests benefitted springs in the lower and middle part the most, and an intensive socio-economic assessment further reinforced the theory of connected aquifers. Based on this understanding, we propose scaling up spring revival, by graduating from ‘spring-centric’ to ‘aquifer-centric’ approaches.

As the home surveillance and security via IP address are getting more popular since they are wirelessly monitored and need not to physically monitor it. This is mostly related to physically handicapped people and old people at home. TCP/IP network is a web of network where different physical devices like electronic devices and home appliance can be connected and allows the people to access the data from anywhere. This paper focuses on key points like establishing connection between controllers through static IP address, transfer of data from different sensor nodes to central hub and then to the web server. This data will be accessed from local area network and from any part of the world using the Internet.

We used participatory scenario planning to support strategic-level analysis by stakeholders in tourism and park management issues in Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal. Authority and responsibility for protected area management in Nepal are gradually being devolved to local communities. Tourism growth and globalization are strengthening the links between social-ecological change in mountain protected areas and drivers of change at national, regional, and global scales. Park management needs to become forward looking, and local communities need to increase their grasp of potential long-term changes and associated uncertainty. Scenario planning is a tool for dealing with long-term uncertainty and complexity and for guiding adaptive management. We developed scenarios together with representatives of the tourism industry, park comanagement institutions, and communities. Stakeholders described their understanding of the social-ecological system of the park. They formulated and tested 4 scenarios of syste...

Impatiens yui S.H.Huang from NW Yunnan is treated as a synonym of I. uncipetala C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f., known from eastern Himalaya of Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. The species epithet of the latter is misleading because observations of living specimens do not support the hook-like shape for the appendage of the upper lateral petal. The name I. uncipetala C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f. is lectotypified herewith.

Ich erinnere mich, wie ich als kleiner Junge zum ersten Mal einen shingi nawa, einen einheimischen Forstaufseher, sah. Es war in meinem Heimatdorf Khunde, einer kleinen Bergsiedlung, die in einer Hohe von etwas uber 3800 m an der Sudseite des Mount Everest (im Nepalesischen „Sagarmatha“) liegt. Einer meiner Verwandten im Dorf war dabei erwischt worden, wie er in einem nahegelegenen heiligen Wald lebende Aste von einem Baum schnitt. Der ortliche Forstaufseher zwang ihn, das Holz zuruckzulegen, und beschlagnahmte seinen Bambuskorb und sein khukuri — ein Messer, mit dem man Holz schneidet. Er muste drei Monate spater bei einer Dorfversammlung auch eine Buse in Geld und chang, einem einheimischen Bier, entrichten. Schon bevor mein Dorf oder eines der umliegenden Dorfer jemals etwas von Nationalparks oder Schutzgebieten gehort hatten, verfugten sie uber ein hochentwickeltes, lokal geregeltes System zur Waldpflege.