Search

In India, the National Education Policy 2020 recommends ensuring universal access to high-quality early childhood care and education for children aged 3-6 years by 2030. Using the 75th round of National Statistical Office data (2017-2018), this paper analyses the regional and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education. Also, we investigate the specific role of households' economic status and educational attainment in explaining these inequalities. We find considerable regional (rural/urban) and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education in India, with girls and children belonging to historically disadvantaged social groups (scheduled castes and scheduled tribes) less likely to attend early childhood education, particularly in rural areas. We find that a substantial portion of the rural-urban gap in access to pre-primary education can be removed by controls for households' economic condition and household head's educational status. In addition, we find gender and socioeconomic inequalities in the household investment in early years education. These findings highlight the need to put policy efforts and commitments to reducing barriers to accessing pre-primary education for children in disadvantaged conditions in India.

This study focuses on an important issue of the mental health of white-collar construction workers, a concern that has grown more serious following the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influenced the mental health of the white-collar construction workers during the COVID-19 scenario. Based on the review of extant literature, a survey questionnaire was developed and distributed online to Indian professional construction workers, 206 responses were received, and a data set was prepared for further analysis. The data set was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis, and second-order confirmatory factor analysis and distinct stressors were identified. The most critical were lack of upskilling challenges (SFL=0.85) and workplace-related issues (SFL=0.85), followed by financial constraints (SFL=0.76) and family-related problems (SFL=0.44), both having a moderate impact. The results of the study were used to design a stress management matrix that recommends practical strategies to minimize work-related stress. By aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, this research contributes to enhancing worker wellbeing and enhanced productivity of construction workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of species, as well as their population and regeneration status of tree species, provide an important ecological foundation for assessing the current state and rate of ecosystem degradation. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the plant species composition with population and regeneration status of the 40 different tree species in peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi, eastern India using 52 belt transects each of 0.10 ha. A total of 58 different plant species of 49 genera and 26 families were recorded with the majority (86%) of native Indian origin species. The 14% of exotic origin species included dominant invasives in herb, shrub, and tree layers viz., Mesosphaerum suaveolens (L.) Kuntze. (2949 ind. ha−1), Lantana camara L. (1667 ind. ha−1), and Acacia mangium Willd. (33 ind. ha−1), respectively. On the other hand, 59% of the total plant species were IUCN Red-listed including Endangered (Tectona grandis L.f.), Near Threatened (Aegle maremlos (L.) Corrêa), Data Deficient (Mangifera indica L.), and Least Concern (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. ex DC). Total adult tree density and basal cover were 541 ind. ha−1 and 24.93 m2 ha−1, respectively and Shorea robusta C.F.Gaertn. was the most dominant tree (295 ind. ha−1) recorded in the majority of the studied patches (87%) where adult tree density (ind. ha− 1) ranged from 10 to 1520 with a mean of 363 ± 49 (SE) signifying that the majority of the studied urban vegetation was Sal dominated forest patches. The total density of tree seedlings (22,627 ind. ha−1) was highest in the studied peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi followed by total tree saplings density (2677 ind. ha−1) and adult tree (GBH ≥ 10 cm) density (541 ind. ha−1) signifying good regeneration status (density of seedlings > saplings > adults) of the peri-urban vegetation of Ranchi. was the most common human disturbance observed in 31% of the total studied patches. No regeneration of 56% of the total tree species, the prevalence of human disturbances in the 48% studied patches, and the occurrence of invasives in all three layers of vegetation in the studied peri-urban vegetation signify the ongoing biotic and abiotic pressure on the survival of different plant species at various growth stages. Besides, the predominance of plant species of rare and very rare occurrences (56.9%), IUCN Red-listed (59%) with a total of 84% native Indian origin species demonstrated the importance of the studied peri-urban vegetation and warrants for immediate conservation measures to protect it from further depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study deals with water quality (WQ) assessment season-wise ionic concentration in the Mewat district of Haryana, India. A total of 36 groundwater samples were collected, 12 each for the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon seasons of 2016, to know the status of WQ for drinking and irrigation purposes. Piper, Durov, and Gibbs plots were used to find out the water type and the factors controlling the chemistry of groundwater, respectively. Piper diagram reveals that Ca-Cl and mixed Ca–Mg-C1 typed water during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post monsoon season's where- Na-Cl water type indicates salinity problem. Gibb's plot depicted that the weathering of rocks is the major reason behind the ionic chemistry of the groundwater. Water Quality Index (WQI) has been calculated to know the overall WQ based on physico-chemical parameters estimated for this study. It was found that Na+ concentration was dominant among cations and Cl- among anions. Moreover, irrigation indices (KR, RSC, P.I, Cl–/HCO3–,SAR, and Na%) represent that majority of the groundwater samples during pre-monsoon (PRM) season were suitable for agricultural purposes but in monsoon (MON) and post monsoon (POM) season majority of samples lie in an unsuitable zone. The groundwater in the study region presents a high risk of salinization. Using the baseline data generated through this work, there is an immediate need for carrying out a detailed study to address the groundwater issues, understand salinity mechanisms, expansion of salinization in the fresh water aquifers and to suggest suitable management and remedial measures. Extension of this work is being carried out in the form of a purpose driven study under the National Hydrology Project aided by the World Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Japanese encephalitis (JE) is endemic in India. Although pigs are considered important hosts and sentinels for JE outbreaks in people, limited information is available on JE virus (JEV) surveillance in pigs. Methods and Results: We investigated the spatio‐temporal distribution of JEV seroprevalence and its association with climate variables in 4451 samples from pigs in 10 districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh, India, over 10 years from 2013 to 2022. The mean seroprevalence of IgG (2013–2022) and IgM (2017–2022) was 14% (95% CI 12.8–15.2) and 10.98% (95% CI 9.8–12.2), respectively. Throughout the region, higher seroprevalence from 2013 to 2017 was observed and was highly variable with no predictable spatio‐temporal pattern between districts. Seroprevalence of up to 60.8% in Sant Kabir Nagar in 2016 and 69.5% in Gorakhpur district in 2017 for IgG and IgM was observed, respectively. IgG seroprevalence did not increase with age. Monthly time‐series decomposition of IgG and IgM seroprevalence demonstrated annual cyclicity (3–4 peaks) with seasonality (higher, broader peaks in the summer and monsoon periods). However, most variance was due to the overall trend and the random components of the time series. Autoregressive time‐series modelling of pigs sampled from Gorakhpur was insufficiently predictive for forecasting; however, an inverse association between humidity (but not rainfall or temperature) was observed. Conclusions: Detection patterns confirm seasonal epidemic periods within year‐round endemicity in pigs in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Lack of increasing age‐associated seroprevalence indicates that JEV might not be immunizing in pigs which needs further investigation because models that inform public health interventions for JEV could be inaccurate if assuming long‐term immunity in pigs. Although pigs are considered sentinels for human outbreaks, sufficient timeliness using sero‐surveillance in pigs to inform public health interventions to prevent JEV in people will require more nuanced modelling than seroprevalence and broad climate variables alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An incisional hernia (IH) after major abdominal surgery is an unwanted complication particularly following cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS and HIPEC). The frequency of IH among patients treated with CRS and HIPEC remains unexpectedly high in various studies. This study aimed to analyze the incidence, determine the factors contributing to the occurrence of IH, and develop methods to reduce the incidence of IH. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data from a prospectively maintained structured computerized comprehensive database of 360 patients who had undergone CRS and HIPEC after January 2013 and completed two years of follow-up before December 2023. All patients were followed for a minimum period of two years with physical examination and radiological imaging when required and the occurrence of IH was documented. We used SPSS software version 24 to analyze the data using appropriate statistical tests. We set a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results: Within two years of undergoing CRS and HIPEC, 25 patients (6.9%) out of 360 developed IH, indicating an annual incidence rate of 3.5%. The mean duration of hospitalization for the CRS/HIPEC procedure was 8.4 ± 4.13 days. Fifty-two (14.4%) patients experienced early post-operative surgical complications. The development of IH in our series was significantly associated with obesity (76% vs. 8.4%, P = 0.001), the occurrence of early post-operative surgical complications (48% vs. 12%, P = 0.001), mainly category III complications (44% vs. 7.1%), category IV complications (24% vs. 2.9%) according to Clavien-Dindo classification, post neoadjuvant chemotherapy status (72% vs. 87%, P = 0.045) and need for bowel anastomosis (32% vs. 11%, P = 0.002). Conclusion: The lower incidence of IH following CRS and HIPEC in our patient cohort than in the literature can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the use of meticulous surgical techniques and the use of an abdominal binder postoperatively, particularly in obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horticulture industry has gained significant attention at the National and International levels due to its vital role in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and increasing farmers' income. Despite this, the sector faces challenges like climate change, disruptions, and insufficient supply chain infrastructure, posing risks to sustainable horticultural production. This study aims to bridge the knowledge gaps related to technology usage in sustainable horticulture, particularly among smallholder farmers in the Uttarakhand Hills region of India. The study focuses on the differences in adopting digital technology between large and small farmers and highlights the importance of sustainable solutions that cover the entire farming cycle. The research explores the potential of digital technology in tackling key challenges faced by smallholding farmers, including income generation, supply chain efficiency, and post-harvest losses. The study carried out primary research in a small Himalayan fruit orchard located in Mukteshwar, Nainital District, Uttarakhand, India. The case study highlights the positive influence of digital technologies on the lives of small farmers residing in hilly regions. The methodology of research findings is based on practical implementation and fieldwork observations and concludes with recommendations for income generation, supply chain improvement, and the establishment of a digital ecosystem tailored for smallholding farmers. These insights provide a valuable foundation for future research endeavors in the domain of sustainable horticultural production and further will be helpful to achieve the targets of SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several observational studies have reported the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) and their risk factors in an elderly population. Any information in this regard is currently lacking from India. Aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence, risk factors of CMBs, and association with cognition in an Indian urban population aged 50 years and above. Methods: Household surveys were conducted as part of ongoing Longitudinal Cognition and Aging Research on Population of the National Capital Region (LoCARPoN) study in areas of urban Delhi. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain was performed in 2599 participants. Using standard neuropsychological battery, mean Z-scores for each domain (memory, executive, information) were derived. Binary and stepwise logistic regression models were used to determine associated risk factors for the presence of CMB and its association with cognitive domains. Results: The prevalence of CMBs was 14.42% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.06-15.73). Of these, 203 (7.81%) participants had single CMBs and 172 (6.61%) had multiple microbleeds (≥2). Higher prevalence was observed in older age (6070 years: odds ratio [OR]: 1.25 [95% CI: 0.93-1.67]; 70-80 years: OR: 2.05 [95% CI: 1.48-2.84]; ≥80 years: OR: 3.27 [95% CI: 1.97-5.44]) compared to individuals in the age group 50-60 years. History of stroke (OR: 2.97 [95% CI: 1.56-5.66]), hypertension (OR: 1.36 [95% CI: 1.05-1.75]), and smoking (OR: 1.43 [95% CI: 1.11-1.85]) was associated with at least one CMB. Multiple CMBs were associated with worse scores in memory and executive domains. Conclusion: Older age, hypertension, history of stroke, and history of smoking emerged as important risk factors for the presence of multiple CMBs. Follow-up study is required to determine implications of CMBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeastern states of India are known for unique landraces of Capsicum spp. with geographical indications. However, little information is available about these valuable landraces of chillies. Surveys and collections were carried out in niche areas to find out their ecology and diversity through morphological traits and molecular analysis using microsatellite markers. Our result characterized the ecology of niche areas as cool (11.0°C--20.7°C) and humid (>60% relative humidity) climates for dalle-chilli (Capsicum annuum L.); mild-warm (12.2°C--28.6°C) and humid for king-chilli (C. chinense Jacq.); and cool to warm (11.3°C--33.1°C) and humid for bird's eye chilli (C. frutescens L.) during the crop period. The canonical correspondence analysis has shown the significant impact of temperature on the agro-morphological traits and distribution of the landraces in their niche areas. A wide variability was observed for different quantitative traits and yield attributing characters (fruit length, diameter, weight, and yield), showing high heritability (97.0%-- 99.0%), and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (119.8%--434.0%). A total of 47 SSR markers used for the molecular analysis generated 230 alleles, ranging from 2 (HPMSE-7) to 10 (HPMSE-5), with an average of 4.89 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content was also high (0.61) and ranged from 0.20 (HPMSE-7) to 0.85 (CAMS-91). The observed average heterozygosity was lower than the expected value. Analysis of molecular variance has shown significant variation within (69%) and between (31%) of the populations of Capsicum spp. Based on Nei's genetic distance, bird's eye chilli and king-chilli were found to be closer to each other, whereas dalle-chilli, a tretraploid species, was closer to hot pepper (C. annuum). However, the flower size of dalle-chilli was large and found closer to king-chilli in color and differs from C. chinense due to the presence of calyx teeth. For quality traits, landraces king-chilli, dalle-chilli, and bird's eye chilli have shown 2.8, 2.0, and 1.4 times higher average capsaicin and 0.46, 0.25, and 0.22 times higher average oleoresin content over the hot pepper, respectively. The knowledge of ecology and diversity can be used in identifying new areas for production, selection of elite lines, conservation, and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chickpea is a second most important pulse crop grown in 56 countries and India rank first in production which shares 61.4% of the total world chickpea production however, productivity is very low as compared to other countries. Therefore, varietal development with inherent tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress is the prime objective to improve component productivity traits to get better yield in rainfed agro-climatic conditions. Methods: Ninety germplasm accessions of chickpea along with four check viz., JG 14, JG 16, JAKI 9218 and Radhey were evaluated in augmented block design at experimental research farm of Banda University of Agriculture and Technology, Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India. Phenotypic data were subjected to study the genetic parameters and association analysis of yield and its component traits using SPAR 2.0 Package and Windostat Version 9.2. Result: The significant variation was observed for all the traits except number of secondary branches, number of pod per plant, number of seeds per pod among the genotypes. The maximum GCV and PCV was observed for height of first pod (35.28 and 39.29), followed by seed yield per plant (29.77 and 40.32) and number of primary branches (25.63 and 31.44). The high magnitude of heritability with genetic advance was estimated for seed index (96.61%), while the high genetic advance as per cent of mean was recorded for first pod height (65.27%). The positive and significant association of seed yield with number of pods per plant, seed index, number of seeds per pod, number of secondary branches, number of primary branches and height of first pod indicating the importance of these traits in selection criteria. Path analysis identified that number of seeds per pod, number of pods per plants, seed index and number of secondary branches per plant as highly desirable component for direct effect on seed yield per plant. The genotypes ICVT-181106 had highest selection indices for seed yield followed by ICVT-181107, PUSA-1053, JG-218, GNG-1999, ICVT-181102 and HC-5. Therefore, high GCV and PCV, significant positive direct and indirect correlation and high estimate of selection indices for grain yield can be directly and indirectly used for chickpea breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

River systems are vital for both civilization and biodiversity. The rising threats to it is due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization, resulting in heightened wastewater discharge. This study delves into the Ramganga River watershed in India, conducting a comprehensive assessment of its water quality for both drinking and irrigation purposes. A total of 84 water samples were collected from three streams, further categorized into two clusters, involving the evaluation of 30 water characteristics. To measure water suitability, the CCME-WQI was computed, revealing distinct categorizations during the Dry Season (DS) and Wet Season (WS) in the year 2019-20. Cluster 1, comprising Sampling Sites-1 (S-1), Sampling Sites-3 (S-3), and Sampling Sites-5 (S-5), fell within the fair category during DS, shifting to marginal during WS. Cluster 2, encompassing S-2, S-4, S-6, and S-7, remained in the poor category during DS, transitioning to marginal during WS. IWQI was employed to assess water quality for irrigation. Notably, S-1 and S-3 consistently fell under the high suitability category, while S-2 exhibited high suitability during DS and medium suitability during WS. S-4 remained in the medium suitability category for both seasons. In contrast, S-5, S-6, and S-7 demonstrated medium suitability during DS and high suitability during WS. Cations and anions assessment unveiled an alkaline dominance Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) exceeding alkalis Sodium (Na+) and Potassium (K+), while anions depicted weak acid Bicarbonates (HCO3-) and Carbonates (CO3-) surpassing strong acid Sulphate (SO42-) and Chloride (Cl2-), with an exception at S-4 during DS. The USSL diagram indicated medium-high salinity and low sodium levels, signifying potential irrigation suitability. The study extends to heavy metal concentrations, indicating adherence to standard limits, except for elevated iron levels. These findings furnish invaluable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in water resource management, providing a nuanced understanding of challenges and opportunities in sustaining water quality in the Ramganga River watershed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study evaluates the potential of airborne hyperspectral and space-borne multispectral satellite datasets to determine alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity combining in-situ floristic composition in tropical deciduous forests (TDFs) of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (MTR), India. 43 forest plots (each of 0.04 ha) were sampled to record the species diversity in MTR. The very high-resolution AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral images and temporal Sentinel-2 multispectral images were used to extract spectral variables by associating each field plot with corresponding pixels of the satellite images. A high positive correlation of field-based α-diversity (Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H′)) with AVIRIS-NG based α-diversity (R2: 0.83 (2016); R2: 0.82 (2018)) was observed compared to Sentinel-2 based α-diversity (R2: 0.50 to 0.63) with high correlation during post-monsoon (R2: 0.63). Principal coordinate analysis of AVIRIS-NG based β-diversity signifies a low diversity (H′: <1.00) in the eastern parts (0.13% of MTR) in contrast to moderate (H′: 1.00 to 2.00; 13.39% of MTR) to high diversity (H′ >2.00; 86.49% of MTR) in the remaining parts of MTR. The study highlights the application of high spectral-spatial AVIRIS-NG images for precise tree diversity mapping and the high temporal-spatial Sentinel-2 satellite images for assessing the phenological variations of the forest species. The integration of high spatial-hyperspectral and temporal multispectral satellite datasets with field-based observations for fine-scale tree species diversity mapping at geographical and temporal scales is the novelty of the study that may effectively contribute in devising effective forest management plans for biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harar (Terminalia chebula) and soybean (Glycine max) are the potential tree and agricultural crops of subtropical region of Himachal Pradesh, India, however the potential of these crops under agroforestry system has not been explored both from ecological and economical point of view. The objective of this paper was to determine the effect of harar–soybean combination on soil chemical properties and to analyse the economics of the agroforestry system as compared to the open system. Soybean was grown under harar trees as per the recommended package of practices. Before sowing and after harvesting, soil samples were collected from four directions (East, West, North and South) at three distances (1, 2 and 3 m) from harar trees and open cropping system (sole soybean) for determining chemical properties (pH, electrical conductivity and organic carbon) and nutrient dynamics (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium). In addition, the soil at two depths (0–15 cm and 15–30 cm) under trees at 2 m distance and in open was analyzed by GC–MS before and after cropping for the presence of allelochemicals that may affect crop yield. The economics of tree-crop combination was worked out and compared with the sole cropping system. The soil chemical properties and available nutrients in soil exhibited maximum values in the north direction. Except available phosphorus content, values of all the studied properties of soil increased with an increase in the distance of soybean crop from harar. It was also observed that values of soil chemical properties and nutrient contents increased significantly after intercropping in comparison to those before intercropping soybean. A substantial increase in soil properties was observed under the agroforestry system over the sole cropping system before sowing and after harvesting soybean. It was revealed that allelochemicals viz., octadecanoic acid, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid and phthalic acid which do exist in harar trees were also detected in soil under the canopy of harar trees. The total cost of cultivation (Rs. 45,028.49 ha−1), gross returns (Rs. 101,937.78 ha−1), net returns (Rs. 56,909.29 ha−1) and benefit–cost ratio (2.26) were higher under the agroforestry system (harar + soybean) over sole soybean cropping. Improvement in soil health, soybean yield and higher economic returns indicated that combination of harar and soybean can be a viable option for farmers of subtropical areas of Himachal Pradesh for the upliftment of their socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis with a broad clinical spectrum. Thisthe disease mostly affects liver and kidney tissues. Other organs can be affected by leptospirosis-induced vasculitis. In addition, cardiac manifestations are common, and the presence of transient ECG abnormalities can be found in 50-60 % of the patients(1). Early diagnosis and adequate supportive therapy are crucial for the appropriate management of symptoms. In this article, we present a case of leptospirosis with myocarditis with hypokalemia and non-oliguric acute renal failure. All clinical findings gradually regressed after treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 32 sweet potato genotypes were evaluated to assess the genetic diversity based on quantitative traits and molecular markers, as well as stability for yield and related traits. Wider variability was observed for the traits like vine length (181.2–501.3 cm), number of leaves/plant (103.0–414.0 cm), internodal length (3.20–14.80 cm), petiole length (6.5–21.3 cm), leaf length (8.50–14.5 cm), leaf breadth (8.20–15.30 cm), leaf area (42.50–115.62 cm2), tuber length (7.77–18.07 cm), tuber diameter (2.67–6.90 cm), tuber weight (65.60–192.09 g), tuber yield (7.77–28.87 t ha−1), dry matter (27.34–36.41%), total sugar (4.50–5.70%) and starch (18.50–29.92%) content. Desirable traits such as tuber yield, dry matter and starch content have shown high heritability (>60%) with moderate to high genetic advance. Under molecular analysis, a total of 232 alleles were observed from all 32 microsatellite markers, which ranged from 4 to 14 with an average of 7.77 alleles per locus. In the population, the average observed heterozygosity (0.51) was higher than the expected heterozygosity (0.49). The contribution of genotype, genotype by environment interaction to the total variations was found to be significant. Based on the multi-trait stability index (tuber length, tuber diameter, tuber weight and tuber yield), genotypes X-24, MLSPC-3, MLSPC-5, ARSPC-1 and TSP-12-12 were found to be most stable. Among them, the high-yielding and stable genotypes TSP-12-10 (26.0 t ha−1) and MLSPC-3 (23.9 t ha−1) can be promoted for commercial production or used as parental material in future crop improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing-based surface energy balance models are widely utilized for estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) over large spatial scales, providing crucial information for water resource management. These models rely on the surface energy balance algorithm to estimate ETa. The objective of this study was to obtain the spatial distribution of ETa, for wheat crop in rabi season (2019–20) using the EEFlux model for a minor irrigation canal command in Bhagwatipur distributary, Bihar, India, and compare it with the CROPWAT 8.0 model (Modified Penman–Monteith Model). The EEFlux model estimated daily ETa values of 1.15 mm/day, 2.4 mm/day, 4.9 mm/day, and 3.5 mm/day during the early, vegetative, maturity, and full maturity stages of the crop, respectively. The minimum and maximum ET a values were 0.96 and 1.30 mm/day, respectively, and the average was found to be 1.15 mm on 6th January. As January is a cold month and the crop was in the development stage, the evapotranspiration demand is low. The average ET a value increases from January 6th to March 26th, with the maximum value in March varying between 3.85 and 4.79 mm/day for the selected fields, which were in the maturity stages of the crop. Besides this, in April, the ET a values decreased. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (R2) was found to be 0.79 between the two estimation methods indicating a close agreement. Nonetheless, the Mean Bias Error (MBE) and Root Mean Square Errors (RMSEs) were also found to be 0.60 and 0.86 mm/day, respectively. Therefore, it could be inferred from these results that the EEFlux model is a good estimator of ETa for the crop, which could be used for irrigation planning in the command area to enhance the irrigation efficiency and water productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the latest National Sample Survey (NSS) education round data, we examine the patterns and determinants of demand and cost of private coaching in higher education in India. Two-step Heckman selection equation results find that students with better household resources (rich and educated) are more likely to take private coaching and tend to spend more on it. Results show that not only pro-male gender discrimination is in existence; there is also caste inequality in the demand and cost of private coaching, with a higher marginal effect among poor households. The study establishes that the market of shadow education, which by its very nature, is highly selective and delivers the service largely to the students of socially and economically well-off families. This article provides a rationale to consider the dynamics of inequalities in access to private coaching while devising educational policies, for making higher education egalitarian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anxiety is a prevalent issue among adolescents and can adversely affect their academic performance and everyday functioning. Aims & Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety among adolescents in urban and rural areas and to study the socio-demographic correlates of anxiety among adolescents in urban and rural areas. Methods: A comprehensive survey was conducted in the field practice area of Department of Community Medicine of a Medical College in western district of Uttar Pradesh. The survey was aimed at young people between the ages of 10 and 19 who lived in the practice area of the medical college. Result: The burden of anxiety was observed to be 19.6 % (n=92). Female gender, urban residence, early adolescent age-group (10-13 yr), nuclear family, day-time somnolence and family history of mental illness were factors having statistical significance. Poor education level of parents was also statistically significant. Physical activity and substance abuse did not have significant contribution in burden of anxiety. Conclusion: Anxiety in adolescents is a significant issue influenced by various factors. Early intervention and support are crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) is a crucial indicator of ecosystem health and soil quality. Machine learning (ML) models that predict soil quality based on environmental parameters are becoming more prevalent. However, studies have yet to examine how well each ML technique performs when predicting and mapping SOC, particularly at high spatial resolutions. Model predictors include topographic variables generated from SRTM DEM; vegetation and soil indices derived from Landsat satellite images predict SOC for the Lakhimpur district of the upper Brahmaputra Valley of Assam, India. Four ML models, Random Forest (RF), Cubist, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), and Support Vector Machine (SVM), were utilized to predict SOC for the top layer of soil (0–15 cm) at a 30 m resolution. The results showed that the descriptive statistics of the calibration and validation sets were close enough to the total set data and calibration dataset, representing the complete samples. The measured SOC content varied from 0.10 to 1.85%. The RF model's performance was optimal in the calibration and validation sets (R2c = 0.966, RMSEc = 0.159%, R2v = 0.418, RMSEv = 0.377%). The SVM model, on the other hand, had the next-lowest accuracy, explaining 47% of the variation (R2c = 0.471, RMSEc = 0.293, R2v = 0.081, RMSEv = 0.452), while the Cubist model fared the poorest in both the calibration and validation sets. The most-critical variable in the RF model for predicting SOC was elevation, followed by MAT and MRVBF. The essential variables for the Cubist model were slope, TRI, MAT, and Band4. AP and LS were the most-essential factors in the XGBoost and SVM models. The predicted OC ranged from 0.44 to 1.35%, 0.031 to 1.61%, 0.035 to 1.71%, and 0.47 to 1.36% in the RF, Cubist, XGBoost, and SVM models, respectively. Compared with different ML models, RF was optimal (high accuracy and low uncertainty) for predicting SOC in the investigated region. According to the present modeling results, SOC may be determined simply and accurately. In general, the high-resolution maps might be helpful for decision-makers, stakeholders, and applicants in sericultural management practices towards precision sericulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North-Eastern region (NER) of India falls under the Eastern Himalayan region and it is a bio-diversity hub. Diverse maize landraces with wide adaptability to extreme climatic and soil scenario like heavy rainfall, drought and acidic soil conditions have been grown in NER since time immemorial. However, maize diversity in NER region has drastically reduced due to introduction of high yielding varieties and hybrids. Modern maize breeding programmes are focused on high yield but other unique traits like stay green trait, prolificacy (more than one fertile ear per plant), self-fertilizing ability are also important and the local germplasm of the NER region can contribute with these unique traits. Prior to the selection of any lines in several breeding programmes, assessment of genetic diversity and population structure are basic requirements. Hence, in the present study assessment of genetic diversity and population structure study in 30 maize inbreds developed from different germplasm of NER was undertaken using SSR markers, selected for their broad distribution throughout the genome, in order to assess the extent of allelic diversity among the lines and whether any population structure could be established. In addition to assessing molecular diversity, the study aims to evaluate the potential for yield and other beneficial and unique alleles that have high potential to contribute in the genetic enhancement programme of maize. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design and selection of ideal emitter discharge rates can be aided by accurate information regarding the wetted soil pattern under surface drip irrigation. The current field investigation was conducted in an apple orchard in SKUAST- Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir, a Union Territory of India, during 2017–2019. The objective of the experiment was to examine the movement of moisture over time and assess the extent of wetting in both horizontal and vertical directions under point source drip irrigation with discharge rates of 2, 4, and 8 L h−1. At 30, 60, and 120 min since the beginning of irrigation, a soil pit was dug across the length of the wetted area on the surface in order to measure the wetting pattern. For measuring the soil moisture movement and wetted soil width and depth, three replicas of soil samples were collected according to the treatment and the average value were considered. As a result, 54 different experiments were conducted, resulting in the digging of pits [3 emitter discharge rates × 3 application times × 3 replications × 2 (after application and 24 after application)]. This study utilized the Drip-Irriwater model to evaluate and validate the accuracy of predictions of wetting fronts and soil moisture dynamics in both orientations. Results showed that the modeled values were very close to the actual field values, with a mean absolute error of 0.018, a mean bias error of 0.0005, a mean absolute percentage error of 7.3, a root mean square error of 0.023, a Pearson coefficient of 0.951, a coefficient of correlation of 0.918, and a Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient of 0.887. The wetted width just after irrigation was measured at 14.65, 16.65, and 20.62 cm; 16.20, 20.25, and 23.90 cm; and 20.00, 24.50, and 28.81 cm in 2, 4, and 8 L h−1, at 30, 60, and 120 min, respectively, while the wetted depth was observed 13.10, 16.20, and 20.44 cm; 15.10, 21.50, and 26.00 cm; 19.40, 25.00, and 31.00 cm, respectively. As the flow rate from the emitter increased, the amount of moisture dissemination grew (both immediately and 24 h after irrigation). The soil moisture contents were observed 0.4300, 0.3808, 0.2298, 0.1604, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 just after irrigation in 2 L h−1 while 0.4300, 0.3841, 0.2385, 0.1607, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 were in 4 L h−1 and 0.4300, 0.3852, 0.2417, 0.1608, and 0.1600 cm3 cm−3 were in 8 L h−1 at 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm soil depth in 30 min of application time. Similar distinct increments were found in 60, and 120 min of irrigation. The findings suggest that this simple model, which only requires soil, irrigation, and simulation parameters, is a valuable and practical tool for irrigation design. It provides information on soil wetting patterns and soil moisture distribution under a single emitter, which is important for effectively planning and designing a drip irrigation system. Investigating soil wetting patterns and moisture redistribution in the soil profile under point source drip irrigation helps promote efficient planning and design of a drip irrigation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allelopathy Journal is the official publication of 'Allelopathy Books' that promotes allelopathy research and publish researches related to plant sciences and health sciences. This study aimed to present an insight about the researches published in this journal, to help the Authors, Readers and Editorial team to understand the journal in depth. We analyzed the scholarly publications published in the Allelopathy Journal, their Citations, focussing on other aspects such as Publication output, Citation analysis, Co-authorship patterns, Collaboration networks, Research productivity, Research topics and International collaboration. This study is useful to identify emerging trends and evaluate research impact. The data for the study was extracted from the Scopus Database for the period from 1996 to 2022. The results showed that the journal has published 1209 papers during this period, which received 9826 citations with an average of 8.13 citations per paper. F.Z. Wu was the most prolific author with 22 papers receiving 127 citations and Prof. S.S. Narwal, with second highest papers in the journal, received the highest number of citations (242). China was the most productive country with 425 papers in the journal, followed by India (243 papers). The Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most productive institute in the journal and published 67 papers with 678 citations. A total of 4870 authors have appeared in 1209 papers with 0.91 degree of collaboration and a collaboration index of 4.03. Thematic maps indicated that the topics represented by keywords such as "Distribution", "Habitat", "Essential Oil", "Lettuce", "Morphology," have potential importance for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, carried out at CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Research Centre Purara, Bageshwar (Uttarakhand), investigated the growth and productivity of geranium crops under different NPK doses in the lower hills of Uttarakhand. Nine different NPK treatments, varying from 60:40:20 to 220:200:180 kg ha-1, were applied using a Randomised Block Design. Examined factors related to plant growth and yield, included plant height, diameter, stem count, leaf count, fresh shoot biomass per gramme of plant, and fresh herb yield per hectare. The 180:160:140 NPK level produced the highest fresh herb yield of 327.29 q ha-1, which corresponded to the highest oil yield of 163.65 kg ha-1. This study provides valuable insights into optimising NPK formulations to improve geranium crop yields, which is essential for increasing agricultural productivity in the Himalayan hills ofUttarakhand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present report communicates the first complete genome sequence of S-type Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, isolated from an organised goat herd in Uttar Pradesh, India. Bacteria were isolated in pure culture on Herrold's egg yolk medium (HEYM) slants containing mycobactin J from the faecal sample collected per-rectally from a clinical diseased goat, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) revealed that the genome sequence length of the isolated strain named MAP-Gt-9 is 4,509,428 bp with no plasmid DNA, with a GC content of 69.5%, an N50 value of 125,474 bp, and an L50 value of 12, containing 4235 coding DNA sequences (CDSs), 44 tRNAs, 3 ncRNAs and 1 each 5S, 16S, 23S rRNA genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Developmental anomalies of the Atlas vertebrae are often encountered during the investigation of cervical pain. So this study was designed to find the variation of the Atlas vertebra. Methods: A total of hundred dried Atlas vertebrae of unknown age and sex of the Northern population of India were examined to find the congenital defect of the Atlas vertebra in the Department of Anatomy. Results: The presence of incomplete foramen transversarium was found in 6 % vertebrae. The Retroarticular canal was found in 9 %vertebrae. The bony spur originated from the posterior aspect of the superior articular facet was seen in 5% vertebrae. No anomaly was found in the anterior arch whereas aplasia of the posterior arch was found in 3% vertebrae. Conclusion: The first cervical vertebra often presence the development anomaly. Such developmental abnormalities in different parts of Atlas vertebrae produce various clinical symptoms. The knowledge of such variation helps clinicians to distinguish it from the fracture and to find an accurate clinical diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Adolescence is a stressful period due to physical, psychological, sexual changes, and presence of disorder such as depression is a matter of concern. Objectives: To study the prevalence of depression among adolescents in urban and rural areas and its socio-demographic correlates. Materials and methods: The PSU consisted all villages (n=29) and mohallas (n=23) in field-practice area. The required number of villages and mohallas, i.e., 10 each, were chosen using the basic random procedure, wherein each village and Mohalla has been assigned a unique serial number. Results: Overall, depression was observed in 110 participants (27.5%) with similar distribution in urban and rural areas. Low maternal and paternal education was a significant risk factor. Adolescents from the upper middle socioeconomic class (42.9%) and those from the lower middle socioeconomic class (33.3%) experienced the most depression. Burden was more among adolescents with low physical activity. Conclusion: This community based study of 400 adolescents residing in the urban and rural areas of Moradabad observed significant burden of depression in adolescent with poor maternal education, living in nuclear families, leading poor lifestyle and affected by any chronic illness at the time of the interview. Positive family history of mental illness was also an important risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to simulate the combined effects of land use/land cover (LU/LC) and climate change on the hydrological response of the Upper Betwa River Catchment (UBRC), a semi-arid region in Central India. We execute this model for two different time periods, 1982–2000 and 2001–2018, using the LU/LC data of 1990 and 2018, respectively. We classified the Landsat satellite images of 1990 and 2018 to obtain the dominant LU/LC classes (water body, built-up, forest, agriculture, and open land) in the catchment. The water body, built-up areas, and cropland have increased by 63%, 65%, and 3%, respectively, whereas forest cover and open land decreased by 16% and 23% in the UBRC from 1990 to 2018. The observed climate data in UBRC shows an increase in the average temperature and decrease in the total rainfall during the period between 1980 to 2018. Once the model is set up, we perform the calibration and validation by using the SWAT Calibration Uncertainty Program (SWAT-CUP). We considered two time periods (1991–1994 and 2001–2007) for the calibration and (1995–1998 and 2008–2014) for the validation. For both these time periods, the calibration and validation result of our model is satisfactory. The output of our calibrated model shows a relative decrease in rainfall (12%), surface runoff (21%), and percolation (9%) in the catchment during the period between 2001–2018 as compared to 1982–2000. Finally, we simulate the surface runoff and percolation in the UBRC using the future climate change scenario. We used the bias-corrected multi-model ensemble of CMIP6 GCMs for four different climate scenarios (2023–2100) by assuming no change in the existing LU/LC. We do this for two different time slices: one from 2023–2060 and the other from 2061–2100. For all the climate scenarios, rainfall and surface runoff in the catchment are expected to decrease by 15–40% and 50–79% as compared to the baseline period of 1982–2018. Percolation in the catchment will have a mixed response. It is expected to decrease by 18% in the middle part of the catchment and increase about 25% in the remaining parts of the catchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial areas play an important role in the urban ecosystem. Industrial site environmental quality is linked to human health. Soil samples from two different cities in India, Jamshedpur and Amravati, were collected and analyzed to assess the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in industrial areas and their potential health risks. The total concentration of 16 PAHs in JSR (Jamshedpur) varied from 1662.90 to 10,879.20 ng/g, whereas the concentration ranged from 1456.22 to 5403.45 ng/g in the soil of AMT (Amravati). The PAHs in the samples were dominated by four-ring PAHs, followed by five-ring PAHs, and a small percentage of two-ring PAHs. The ILCR (incremental lifetime cancer risk) of the soil of Amravati was lower compared to that of Jamshedpur. The risk due to PAH exposure for children and adults was reported to be in the order of ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation while for adolescents it was dermal contact > ingestion > inhalation in Jamshedpur. In contrast, in the soil of Amravati, the PAH exposure path risk for children and adolescents were the same and showed the following order: dermal contact > ingestion > inhalation while for the adulthood age group, the order was ingestion > dermal contact > inhalation. The diagnostic ratio approach was used to assess the sources of PAHs in various environmental media. The PAH sources were mainly dominated by coal and petroleum/oil combustion. As both the study areas belong to industrial sites, the significant sources were industrial emissions, followed by traffic emissions, coal combustion for domestic livelihood, as well as due to the geographical location of the sampling sites. The results of this investigation provide novel information for contamination evaluation and human health risk assessment in PAH-contaminated sites in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is a significant public health problem worldwide. Nearly two-thirds of all hypertensive patients live in developing and under-developed countries, creating a considerable burden of hypertension. India is among the countries which spend more than one-third of all income on cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. Although several modern medications are available to control the disease symptoms, their expense and side effects restrict their public use. More than 80% of the world's population relies on traditional treatment, which is used recklessly without any restrictions or proof thereof. Indian Pharmacopoeia is working diligently towards standardising herbal drugs and plant-derived pharmaceuticals, i.e., Phyto-pharmaceuticals, to regulate their usage. The present article focuses on the standardisation of marker compounds of different indigenous anti-hypertensive medicinal plants, which can be used as bioactive markers in phytopharmaceutical drug development. The study includes consolidated information about the important anti-hypertensive biomarkers and their identification and assay methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We present post‐vaccination nasal shedding findings from the phase IV, community‐based, triple‐blinded RCT conducted to assess efficacy of trivalent LAIV and inactivated influenza vaccines in rural north India. Methods: Children aged 2–10 years received LAIV or intranasal placebo across 2015 and 2016, as per initial allocation. On days 2 and 4 post‐vaccination, trained study nurses collected nasal swabs from randomly selected subset of trial participants based on operational feasibility, accounting for 10.0% and 11.4% of enrolled participants in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Swabs were collected in viral transport medium and transported under cold chain to laboratory for testing by reverse transcriptase real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Results: In year 1, on day 2 post‐vaccination, 71.2% (74/104) of LAIV recipients shed at least one of vaccine virus strains compared to 42.3% (44/104) on day 4. During year 1, on day 2 post‐vaccination, LAIV‐A(H1N1)pdm09 was detected in nasal swabs of 12% LAIV recipients, LAIV‐A(H3N2) in 41%, and LAIV‐B in 59%. In year 2, virus shedding was substantially lower; 29.6% (32/108) of LAIV recipients shed one of the vaccine virus strains on day 2 compared to 21.3% on day 4 (23/108). Conclusion: At day 2 post‐vaccination in year 1, two‐thirds of LAIV recipients were shedding vaccine viruses. Shedding of vaccine viruses varied between strains and was lower in year 2. More research is needed to determine the reason for lower virus shedding and vaccine efficacy for LAIV‐A(H1N1)pdm09. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) of Eucalyptus tereticornis leaves was studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Forty-five constituents were identified in the oil hydrodistilled from the sample collected from Ghudda Village, Bathinda (Pb), India of which eucalyptol (34.39%) and ledol (9.92%) were the major constituents. In vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential of EO was analysed by DPPH 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and MTT assay. The percentage free radical scavenging activity was found to be 63.77%. The antiproliferative activity was analysed using MTT assay in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cancer cell line and showed IC50 value of 47.14 µg/ml. In silico study of EO, constituents were performed using Maestro 12.9 against EGFR (PDB ID-2RGP). Five constituents from EO showed high dockscore as compared to standard Mobicertinib which indicated the effectiveness of oil constituents against lung cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North-Eastern India is blessed with a vast diversity of rice genotypes with varying yielding abilities. However, the predominant strong soil acidity induced nutrient stresses from the toxicity of aluminum (Al3+) ions often causes sub-optimal rice productivity. The lack of suitable nutrient media for the screening of aluminum (Al) toxicity tolerance of rice genotypes is one of the limiting factors in Al tolerant varieties' development. Modified Magnavaca's solution has been the most recommended nutrient solution for this purpose where ammonium nitrate is the primary nitrogen source. However, strict regulations related to the handling and storage of ammonium nitrate in India limit the preparation of Modified Magnavaca's solution for laboratory use. Here, a modified ammonium nitrate-free formulation based upon the Magnavaca's solution has been proposed. The modified formulation was found to have 160.9 µM of active Al3+ concentration when 550 µM of aluminum chloride hexahydrate (AlCl3.6H2O) was added at pH 4.1 to the solution. Through a plant growth screening experiment using ten diverse rice genotypes a significant difference in the response of various genotypes to differential Al toxicity levels on root growth performance indicators was observed. Based on the response, we could able to categorize the genotypes into tolerant and sensitive in relative terms. Thus, the present experiment provided an important nutrient formulation suitable for screening rice genotypes under Al toxicity conditions. Moreover, the selected tolerant and sensitive genotypes can further pave the way for studying the molecular mechanism of Al toxicity response in rice and their use in the breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydropower contributes around 13% of the total renewable power generation in India. Hydraulic power plants are dependent on diversion structures, elevation (head), constant water flow, penstock arrangement, and heavy structures which are generally obtained in hilly areas, small river and canals. Currently, there are no researches and technologies that can harness the flowing wastewater in the drain and generate electricity. The majority of the untreated wastewater is discharged into the drains, where it eventually meets the river, affecting the quality and decreasing its aesthetical appeal. To utilize the energy of flowing wastewater in the drain, a pico hydropower system with unique design of blade has been developed and demonstrated in the drain after in-situ treatment of wastewater. This innovative development is able to produce electricity at low head and minimum flow in the drain. Pico hydropower is a sustainable way to generate renewable energy to electrifying small communities and various applications along the drain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cities in the contemporary world are experiencing shifts in local climatic conditions that are primarily linked to rapid urban growth, carbon emissions, and environmental degradation. In the present study, land surface temperature (LST) in urban and peri-urban regions of the city of Ranchi was estimated and correlated with land use/land cover (LULC) using temporal LANDSAT satellite images from 2000 to 2014 on a bi-annual basis. The study exhibited a gradual increase in built-up land with total growth of 47.65 sq. km (135%) at the cost of vegetation (−6.8%), rock outcrops (−44.16%), and other LULCs (0.81%). Spatiotemporal LST variability exhibited an increase in area under high-temperature (>38 °C) zones as compared to moderate (30 °C to 38 °C) and low-temperature (<30 °C) zones. Although the LST distinctively escalated in all LULC in the month of May from 2000 to 2014, urban areas exhibited cooler conditions than their environs at a regional scale, except for 2006. A higher surface temperature was observed over bare rock (min/max: 28–43 °C), fallow land (25–42 °C), and industrial built-up areas (31–43 °C), followed by vegetation (24–34 °C) and waterbodies (22–30 °C). The rapid land transformation to an impervious surface, degradation of vegetation coverage and its health, deforestation due to urbanization, the dumping of non-treated wastewater into reservoirs, and pollution altogether led to an increase in urban heat islands (UHI). The study demonstrated that the LST increased in urban regions but appeared cooler than those of its peri-urban counterparts because of the presence of barren land and rock outcrops. The existing tenancy act had an indirect impact on maintaining natural landscapes and controlling the LST within the Ranchi region. The study recommends nature-based solutions in terms of plantation and green roofing within the rising LST zones located in the urban core and in peripheral rock outcrops collectively to minimize the rising impact of LST in urban and peri-urban regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the National Education Policy 2020 recommends ensuring universal access to high-quality early childhood care and education for children aged 3–6 years by 2030. Using the 75th round of National Statistical Office data (2017–2018), this paper analyses the regional and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education. Also, we investigate the specific role of households' economic status and educational attainment in explaining these inequalities. We find considerable regional (rural/urban) and socioeconomic inequalities in access to pre-primary education in India, with girls and children belonging to historically disadvantaged social groups (scheduled castes and scheduled tribes) less likely to attend early childhood education, particularly in rural areas. We find that a substantial portion of the rural–urban gap in access to pre-primary education can be removed by controls for households' economic condition and household head's educational status. In addition, we find gender and socioeconomic inequalities in the household investment in early years education. These findings highlight the need to put policy efforts and commitments to reducing barriers to accessing pre-primary education for children in disadvantaged conditions in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the phylogenetic relationship among Myliobatiformes was reconstructed from the Indian waters based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) gene. Overall, 307 sequences (18 collected from Mandapam fish landing centres, Tamil Nadu, and 289 from the previous literatures) from 34 species of Myliobatiformes were clustered under two major phylogenetic clades. The families Mobulidae, Rhinopteridae, Plesiobatidae, and Gymuridae were monophyletic, while the families Myliobatidae and Dasyatidae were polyphyletic. Further, the genera Aetomylaeus (Myliobatidae) and Pateobatis (Dasyatidae) show polyphyly by showing deep genetic divergence in the phylogenetic tree. Based on the phylogenetic tree analysis, Himanutra uarnak appears to be H. tutul in the Indian waters. Similarly, Neotrygon indica should be consistently used instead of N. kuhlii, as Indian specimens forms a distinct subclade within N. kuhlii species complex. In this study, it is also observed that several entries in the NCBI GenBank are erroneous; thus, an updation of data is recommended based on the present study. The biogeographic patterns revealed H. tutul, Maculabatis gerrardi, Brevitrygon imbricata, and Gymnura poecilura from the Indian coast form a separate haplotype compared to other geographical areas (Indo-west Pacific). In addition, G. poecilura and B. imbricata were genetically divergent between east and west coast populations of India, indicating a possibility of cryptic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the strategic significance of integrating international rights into domestic legislation as a mechanism to enhance the safeguarding of human rights within the specific framework of India. The process of domestic incorporation entails the assimilation of provisions derived from international human rights treaties into the legal structure of a nation, thereby granting individuals the authority to directly assert and protect their rights within local courts. This research examines the advantages and difficulties associated with implementing this technique specifically in the Indian environment. This analysis explores the possibility for enhancing safeguards for human rights, increasing accountability for violations, and improving access to remedies. The research additionally examines factors such as national sovereignty, legal culture, challenges in execution, public awareness, and allocation of resources. This research provides insights into the practical implications of integrating convention rights into India's legal system by examining the experiences and lessons acquired from other nations. The results of this study enhance our comprehension of how the integration of certain elements might promote a society that is more aware of and respects individual rights. This is particularly relevant in the context of India, which has a complex legal system and a diversified human rights environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of female entrepreneurs is growing in India, following the trends of monetary liberalisation and globalisation. The institutional and governmental framework for encouraging entrepreneurial skills, offering vocation education, and educating children has opened new doors for women's economic empowerment. This gives women greater chances to achieve financial independence. However, only around one third of the employment in financial institutions is made up of women. The entrepreneurial aspirations of women are inextricably linked to the improvement of society and economic prosperity. Women make up a relatively small percentage of those involved in entrepreneurship-related activities. The proportion of female business owners has increased significantly in almost all economies. Although the Haryana government has implemented a number of legislation to encourage the establishment of women-owned businesses in both rural and urban regions, there have been significant difficulties in putting these policies into practise. Women's latent entrepreneurial potential has come to light as a result of growing awareness of both the social and economic roles that they play in society. Women are starting businesses for a number of reasons, but their increasing business knowledge, skills, and compliance with regulations are among the most crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intense competition among shopping centre proprietors has led researchers to investigate the factors that influence customer loyalty. To this end, this research was conducted to explore the relationship between customer loyalty, service quality, and customer satisfaction at DLF Mall of India. A survey was conducted using a five-point Likert scale to collect data from customers, which was then analysed using structural equation modelling. The results of the analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between service quality and customer loyalty (β=0.528, CR=2.681, P<0.05), customer satisfaction and loyalty (β=0.78, CR=1.091, P<0.05), and service quality and customer satisfaction (β=0.65, CR=2.014, P<0.05). These findings support the proposed theory and the three hypotheses (H1, H2, and H3) that were formulated. Thus, the present study analysed the factors that contribute to customer loyalty, including service quality and customer satisfaction, in the context of DLF Mall of India and this study will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence for the significant influence of service quality and customer satisfaction on customer loyalty. Managers of shopping centres can use the insights from this research to enhance the quality of service and customer satisfaction at their establishments, which could ultimately lead to increased customer loyalty. However, the results of this study may not be generalizable to the entire nation, as the research was conducted only in the Delhi-National Capital Region. Further research in other regions of the country could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence customer loyalty. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between service quality, customer satisfaction, and customer loyalty in the context of a shopping centre. The results highlight the importance of providing high-quality service and satisfying customer needs to build long-term relationships with customers. Future research should consider conducting similar studies in other regions to gain a broader perspective of the factors that impact customer loyalty in the retail industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study aims to predict consumer complaint status (complainers or non-complainers) based on socio-demographic and psychographic factors and further to discern the differences in behavior disposition of consumer groups concerning determinants of consumer's tendency to exit (TE). Design/methodology/approach: The research used survey-based data of 600 Indian consumers of three service sectors (hotel and hospitality, automobile service centers and organized retail stores). Chi-square automatic interaction detector (CHAID) decision tree analysis was used to profile consumers. Findings: The results indicated that occupation; income; education; industry and attitude toward complaining were significant factors in profiling consumers as complainers or non-complainers. Further, determinants of TE (discouraging subjective norms, perceived likelihood of successful complaint, lower perceived switching cost, poor employee response, negative past experience and ease of complaint process) vary significantly across the groups of complainers and non-complainers. Research limitations/implications: The research questions in this study were tested with three service sectors consumers in India, so due care should be exercised in generalizing these findings to other sectors and countries. Study replication across other service sectors and countries is recommended to improve the generalizability of these findings with wider socio-demographic samples. Practical implications: Firms striving for consumer retention and aim to extend their consumer life cycle can greatly benefit from the results of this study to understand the customer complaint behavior (CCB) specific to non-complaining (exit) behavior. The future researcher may benefit from replicating and extending the model in different industries for further contribution to the CCB literature. Originality/value: To the best of the author's knowledge, there is no evidence of consumer segmentation based on their complaining behavior or socio-demographic and psychographic factors by employing CHAID decision tree analysis. In addition to illustrating the use of data mining techniques such as CHAID in the field of CCB, it also contributes to the extant literature by researching in a non-Western setting like India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal lakes and estuaries are considered economic drivers for coastal communities by delivering invaluable economic and ecosystem services. The coastal ecosystems are facing recurrent hypoxia events (dissolved oxygen; DO < 2.0 mg L−1) and are emerging as a major threat to ecosystem structure and functioning. The Ashtamudi Lake, (area = 56 km2), is one of the Ramsar sites in the State of Kerala and located on the SW coast of India. The waterways are extensively used for backwater tourism and for fishery activities. This paper discusses the spatio-temporal variation of water quality attributes with emphasis on hypoxia during non-monsoon and monsoon seasons. The extent of hypoxia on fishery diversity was discussed. The Southern Zone, adjacent to the urban area, shows the hypoxic condition with higher concentration of BOD, NO3-N, and NH4-N. The hypoxic condition is largely limited to the Southern Zone in both seasons. The occurrence of low DO in the lake is highly related to salinity and organic load in the lake system. The tracking of pollution sources in the lake system was also done through identification of pollution potential zones and found that catchments adjacent to Southern and Western Zones (urban regions) are the major source of pollution. The study suggests that hypoxia is chiefly attributed to anthropogenic interventions in the form of discharge of wastes into the lake causing overloading of nutrients and organic effluents, decrease in the freshwater supply, the absence of proper freshwater mixing or dilution, and effluent discharge from nearby urban centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To report the clinico-demographic profile of rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM) in patients during the "second wave" of the COVID-19 pandemic in eastern India, and their ophthalmic manifestations at presentation to our tertiary institute. Methods: Cross-sectional study amongst patients presenting to our center based on their hospital records. Demographic information, history related to COVID-19, records of detailed ocular examination, and microbiological, radiological, and histopathological investigation were entered into an online worksheet and analyzed using SPSS 26.0. Results: A total of 219 patients with ROCM were treated from May to September 2021, and 110 of these had ocular manifestations at presentation (50.2%). The age of patients ranged from 22 to 83 years and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) age was 49.9 ± 12.9 years. Ninety (81.8%) patients had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, 31 (34%) had hypertension, and 10 had other comorbidities. The duration between the onset of COVID-19 and mucormycosis symptoms was 0 to 60 days with a mean ± SD interval of 20.9 ± 12.6 days. Fifty-six (50.9%) patients had a history of steroid use. Unrelenting ocular or facial pain was the most common presenting symptom, ptosis was the most common anterior segment manifestation, and ophthalmic artery occlusion was the most common posterior segment manifestation. Conclusion: Our data from eastern India reinforces the relationship between COVID-19, diabetes, corticosteroid use, and ROCM. Knowledge of various presenting anterior and posterior segment manifestations of the disease as described in the present study will guide clinicians to recognize the disease early and make every effort to prevent complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights the land use/land cover change, and its implications on the long-term changes in various hydrometeorological parameters in India during 2001–2018. The study exhibited a decrease in grassland (15.1%), barren land (10.2%), and shrubland (9.5%) in contrast to an increase in deciduous broadleaf forest cover (27.4%) and croplands (25.2%) in India. The study exhibited 31.7% of the geographical area observed a low warming (<0.8°C), in contrast to 52.1% of the area observed a low cooling (> 0.8 °C) in India over the observation period. The transformation of (a) barren land to shrubland and cropland (Western India) and (b) cropland, and grassland to forest cover (Central India) led to the cooling effects. While Indo-Gangetic Plain and North-Eastern parts observed warming effects due to greenness and wetness change. The findings highlight the relevance of bio-geophysical and land-climate feedback, which may help in developing integrated and effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the COVID-19 risk considering positive cases (as a hazard) and the demographic structure (as a socio-economic vulnerability) at districts scale across India using fuzzy analytical hierarchical process and geospatial modelling. Despite the fact that the high and very high COVID-19 hazard was observed in a limited area (14.2%, 233 districts), the proportion of high to very high COVID-19 risk was evident in larger regions (42.5%, 575 districts). A moderate to very high socio-economic vulnerability was recorded in major parts of the country (60.0%, 557 districts), while the districts with megacities had been severely affected due to the more complex urban and social systems. The study highlights the zones under high COVID-19 hazard and its possible linkages with vulnerability and risk at district scales in India that may effectively support emergency preparedness and response mechanisms during the different waves of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Natural Fibers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Despite the continuous growth in renewable sources of energy, coal remains the primary source of energy security in developing countries and accounted for 1.1 Gt of CO2 annually. The present study was conducted to examine the dynamic land cover changes, deforestation, and carbon (C) emissions in the mined landscape of Central India. Geospatial techniques coupled with field measurements were conjunctively employed for quantifying land use and vegetation changes from the period of 2001 to 2020. The unchecked mining (6.4–30 km2) along with the rapid expansion of agriculture (586.7–642.5 km2) were identified as major drivers of deforestation, which resulted in the net loss of 115.3 km2 area under intact sal (Shorea robusta) dominated forest. The mining and associated activities increased the fragmentation of intact forest that had not only decreased density, basal area, and diversity of vegetation but also a huge loss of biomass of ~2.5 Tg that contributed to a net loss of 1.08 Tg C (~3.98 Tg of CO2) in the past 20 years. The study explored the use of land management options and confirmed that C offset ensued from land use changes without hampering coal production for the next two decades. The scenarios will provide valuable information to the policymakers for devising sustainable coal mining by underpinning the ecological compensation for deforestation while promoting cleaner production technologies through decarbonization to counteract emissions, which could help in achieving ambitious goals set by India for planned C reduction targets as Intended Nationally Determined Commitments under the Paris Agreement (2015). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, soil loss by water in the Chambal river basin (CHB) has been estimated using Google Earth Engine and Geographic Information System platforms employing the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). Google Earth Engine, a cloud-based platform, has been used for generating land use/land cover map from the voluminous satellite remote sensing data. The observed mean rate of soil erosion in the CHB is 1.17 t/ha/yr. The study reveals that very severe type of soil erosion in the Chambal river basin is found in the gullies/ravines and barren lands with the highest mean rate of soil erosion in the gully areas at 13.44 t/ha/yr. Catchment-wise soil loss estimates suggest that the four catchments namely Kali Sindh, Lower Chambal, Upper Chambal and Parbati are experiencing much higher soil loss in comparison to others; hence these catchments are prioritised for soil conservation efforts. Sensitivity analysis of individual factors and their interaction effect indicates that LS factor is the most influential factor in the study area followed by C factor. Research highlights: Estimates soil loss by water for the first time at basin scale in the Chambal river basin (mean rate 1.17 t/ha/yr) by integrating Google Earth Engine and GIS employing RUSLE. Provides insight into the spatial pattern and status of soil erosion in the study area. Reveals very severe type of soil erosion in the areas of gullies/ravines with the highest mean rate 13.44 t/ha/yr and 5.92 t/ha/yr, respectively. LS factor is the most influential factor in the study area, followed by C factor. Prioritises Kali Sindh, Lower Chambal, Upper Chambal and Parbati catchments for soil conservation efforts based on much higher soil loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Betwa River basin, a semi-arid catchment that has been classified as a major hotspot of groundwater depletion in Central India. The rainfall and streamflow intermittency have affected agricultural practices due to the variability of groundwater availability for irrigation. This study evaluates the spatial and temporal variations of groundwater level (GWL) in the last 25 years (1993–2018) in the catchment. We applied a nonparametric Seasonal Trend decomposition based on the Loess (STL) method to decompose the GWL time series into the seasonal, trend, and remainder components. We observed that the GWL in the northeastern regions of the basin has depleted about 3–5 mbgl in the last two decades. During the same period, the basin has experienced a reduction in the rainfall magnitude (2.07 mm/yr). We observed that the overexploitation of groundwater for irrigation and rainfall variability have greatly impacted the GWL condition in the study area. Further, if the groundwater extraction continues at present rates, the Betwa River basin may experience severe depletion in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]