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The pulp and paper industry is critical to global industrial and economic development. Recently, India's pulp and paper industries have been facing severe competitive challenges. The challenges have impaired the environmental performance and resulted in the closure of several operations. Assessment and prediction of the performance of the Indian pulp and paper industry using various parameters is a critical task for researchers. This study proposes a framework for performance assessment and prediction based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), Artificial Neural Networks, and Deep Learning (DL) to assist industry administration and decision-making. We presented a case study based on eight industries to demonstrate the methodology's applicability. This study analyses and predicts industry performance based on sample data observations over 30 years. The result suggests the DEA-DL-based efficiency prediction has an overall MSE of 0.08 compared with the actual efficiency. Furthermore, the efficiency rankings are compared between the three techniques. The results suggest that the integrated DEA-DL method is primarily accurate in most scenarios with the actual values. The findings of this study provide a comprehensive analysis of environmental performance for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's scenario of India most of the youth is preparing for some competitive exam. If we think behind 15–20 years the number of candidates appearing for competitive exams were in thousands but as the population is increasing exponentially in India day by day the number of candidates is increasing in lacks. We can observe by daily newspapers that most of the competitive exams are facing paper leak problems. Although online examination systems are more effective and secure as compared to offline examination systems because it's not easy to open the question paper before the time starts. On the other hand there are also various consequences where the examination process can be hacked online. But the main issue with online examination process is to lack of resources to conduct parallel examination of millions of candidates, lack of techno enabled exam centers in small cities etc. Our focus is to propose a system in which offline examination can be conducted at most of the govt. and private centers in metro cities as well as small techno backward cities with reduced possibility to leak the paper before commencement of examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to find the quality of research papers published in the domain of entrepreneurship in India. This study covers 100 research papers. A standardized measurement tool developed by the earlier researchers was used to evaluate the research quality. The data compiled using the measurement tool were analyzed with the support of the SPSS. The statistical tools such as descriptive statistics, Friedman's test, factor analysis, two-sample 't' test, and ANOVA are applied to analyze the data. The study findings reported that the quality of research papers published in the field of entrepreneurship is not up to the quality standards. The quality of multiple-author papers is better than single-author papers. Similarly, the quality of papers published by foreign authors is comparatively better than Indian authors. Further, the quality of papers published with the combination of foreign and Indian authors is substantially good. The quality of papers published in foreign journals is higher as compared with Indian journals. Further, the standard of papers published under the qualitative approach was comparatively better than the quantitative approach. The authors developed a Conceptual Model of Process and Product of Research (YOVA model). This model clearly shows that the whole research process yields six levels of research products. The study recommended that the researchers need to go for international collaborations to improve the quality of the publication. The funding agencies, higher learning institutions and research institutions should focus on enhancing research infrastructure. The study examined the validity of research articles searched by novice researchers in India in Google by using keywords related to entrepreneurship and, as such this non-focused approach is a big impediment to quality research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the years, survival of children with chronic diseases has significantly improved and a large proportion of them now are entering into adulthood. Transition of Care (ToC) of such patients with having childhood onset of chronic diseases to the adult health care system is well organized in developed countries, although it is an emerging concept in India. In situations where the systems for ToC are not in place, such cases are fraught with unsatisfactory health outcomes. With proper ToC in place, these patients are likely to receive uninterrupted care by the adult care physicians and hence reach their full potential. This document highlights the need, rationale and way forward for ToC of youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) across the country. It also describes the standard operating procedures to develop the ToC at a hospital level for clinicians and administrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper industries using different raw materials such as hard wood, bamboo, baggase, rice-straw and waste papers and bleaching chemicals like chlorine, hypochlorite, chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, sulphite and oxygen were studied to estimate organic pollution load and Adsorbable Organic Halides (AOX) per ton of production. The hard wood based paper industries generate higher Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) loads (105–182 kg t−1) and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) loads (32.0–72 kg t−1) compared to the agro and waste paper based industrial effluents. The bleaching sequences such as C–EP–H–H, C–E–H–H, C–E–Do–D1 and O–Do–EOP–D1 are adopted in the paper industries and the molecular elemental chlorine free bleaching sequence discharges low AOX in the effluent. The range of AOX concentration in the final effluent from the paper industries was 0.08–0.99 kg t−1 of production. Water consumption was in the range of 100–130 m3 t−1 of paper production for wood based industries and 30–50 m3 for the waste paper based industries. Paper machine effluents are partially recycled after treatment and pulp mill black liquor are subject to chemical recovery after evaporation to reduce the water consumption and the total pollution loads. Hypochlorite bleaching units of textile bleaching processes generate more AOX (17.2–18.3 mg l−1) and are consuming more water (45–80 l kg−1) whereas alkali peroxide bleaching hardly generates the AOX in the effluents and water consumption was also comparatively less (40 l kg−1 of yarn/cloth). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation aims to assess the phytoremediation potential of six aquatic macrophytes, viz. Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrilla verticillata, Jussiaea repens, Lemna minor, Pistia stratiotes and Trapa natans grown in paper mill effluent of JK Paper mill of Rayagada, Orissa, for remediation of heavy metals. The experiment was designed in pot culture experiments. Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of paper mill effluent showed significant decrease in pH, conductivity, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, chlorine, sulphur, biological and chemical oxygen demand after growth of macrophytes for 20 days. Phytoremediation ability of these aquatic macrophytic species for copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) was indicated by assessing the decrease in the levels of heavy metals from effluent water. Maximum reduction (66.5 %) in Hg content of untreated paper mill effluent was observed using L. minor followed by T. natans (64.8 %). L. minor showed highest reduction (71.4 %) of Cu content from effluent water followed by E. crassipes (63.6 %). Phytoextraction potential of L. minor was remarkable for Hg and Cu, and bioaccumulation was evident from bioconcentration factor values, i.e. 0.59 and 0.70, respectively. The present phytoremediation approach was considered more effective than conventional chemical treatment method for removing toxic contaminants from paper mill effluent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteriophages are key viruses that can kill thousands of harmful microbes generally present at polluted sites. Such bacteriophages are abundantly present in the river Ganga, where millions of people in India and abroad drink its water and take baths every day for spiritual reasons. Besides bacteriophages, several pathogenic and zoonotic microbes are present in the river Ganga. It is interesting to study the diversity and abundance of bacteria and their respective phages present in polluted or non-polluted sites. Thus, the metagenomics study was carried out at the most polluted sites of river Ganga near Kanpur and non-polluted sites at Farakka, which harbors several harmful bacteria and their phages. The results revealed a significantly higher percentage of Microviridae phage family, ssDNA viruses, and Mimiviridae virus family near Kanpur than Farakka. In addition, compared to Kanpur, Farakka has a more significant percentage of Myoviridae, an unidentified phage family, and Retroviridae viral families. Despite heavy drainage of untreated and contaminated effluents from the leather industry, pesticide industry, paper mills, metropolitan cities, and other sources, the vast number of said phages kills several harmful pathogenic microbes in polluted sites to maintain the Ganga water's healing power or natural sterility. In a polluted aquatic environment, the varieties of bacteriophages were identified in the Ganga and their interaction with the microbial host. The taxonomic diversity of several bacteriophages found in pathogenic host systems was investigated to get exceptional knowledge of these small viruses in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region has become the global hotspot of air pollution, and stubble burning in northern India has increased the concern due to its impact on air quality and health. The current study focuses on studying the diurnal variation of air pollutants for the first time covering Haryana, India, and identifying the sources responsible for air pollutants emissions during the different seasons of the year. Based on ecology and cropping pattern, the study area was divided in three zones. In all seasons, the diurnal peak concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) were found highest in Zone 2 as compared to Zone 1 and Zone 3, which can be due to the high polluting districts located in Zone 2 including Hisar where thermal power plants, stainless steel producing industry and pulp and paper industry are located along with district Faridabad which is known as the industrial capital of Haryana. The lowest average hourly concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 was found in late afternoon hours in winter, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon season in all three zones due to a decrease in traffic volumes which lead to low emission rates along with increase in the mixing height which cause favorable dispersion conditions. The lowest hourly mean concentration of CO, NOx and NH3 in all zones was found during the afternoon hours in all seasons. The study also focuses on understanding the day and time patterns and the maxima and minima of pollutants concentrations in different zones of Haryana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulp and paper mills generate varieties of pollutants depending upon type of the pulping process being used. This paper presents the characteristics of wastewater from South India Paper Mill, Karnataka, India which is using recycled waste paper as a raw material. The raw wastewater consists of 80-90 mg L suspended solid and 1,010-1,015 mg L dissolved solid. However, pH varied from 5.5-6.8. The biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand ranged from 200-210 and 1,120-1,160 mg L, respectively. Aerobic treatment of raw effluent attribute to significant reduction in suspended solid (range between 25 to 30 mg L) and total dissolved solid (range between 360 to 390 mg L). However, pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity were found superior after treatment. Copper, cadmium, iron, lead, nickel, and zinc were found in less quantity in raw effluent and were almost completely removed after treatment. The dendrogram of the effluent quality parameters clearly indicate that South India Paper Mill does not meet Minimal National Standard set by central Pollution Control Board to discharge in agricultural field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly aims to identify the key factors that should be included in building of smart cities in a proper efficient way. Due to rapid increase in urban population, it should be responsible to provide a better way in building of a smart city. Smart city is an idea of providing urban development that includes social, financial, ecological parts of a society. A smart and sustainable city has goals to be achieved in an adaptable, reliable, scalable, accessible, and in resilient way which will be discussed in the methodology section. This paper mainly focuses on some important factors in improving sustainability of smart cities such as climate and environmental issues and governance authorities for improving quality of life of citizens. Also, this paper explains 3E's which are environment, economy and equity are plays a crucial role in rapid development of smart cities. This research is focused on discussing various smart technologies recently used in India and the challenges involved in them. Recent literature on smart city development is reviewed, and the challenges that prevailed in recent technologies are analysed. This paper includes how Internet of Things (IoT), Connectivity, Cloud computing and AI etc., should be effectively used for developing a smart city. This paper deals with the requirements to build smart cities in India – regarding various aspects like available resources, lifestyle, transport management system, smart healthcare system, smart waste management, smart Sanitation, smart railways, smart agriculture, home automation, smart energy consumption etc. This paper also discusses 'smart living,"smart infrastructure,"smart governance,"smart economy,' and other various systems which are need for Smart India in particular. When adopted with proper planning, all the above catalysing with smart services and solutions, build a sustainable city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out for the treatment of effluent from the chlorination and extraction stages of a bleach plant at an Indian pulp and paper mill. The effluents were taken from an integrated paper mill employing OCEHH sequence for the bleaching of hardwood pulp. Effluent was treated via ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO). Thin film composite spiral-wound modules, having cross flow membranes composed of polysulfone and polyamide, were used in the study. Three initial inlet pressures were used for the UF and NF; 6.8, 10.3, and 13.7 bar. For RO initial inlet pressures of 10.3 bar, 13.7 bar and 17.2 bar, were taken in different trials. The retentate from each experiment was recycled back to the feed and retreated until the inlet pressure increased to the maximum cut-of pressure for each membrane. The UF permeate was fed to the NF, which was subsequently fed to the RO. Variations in the trans-membrane pressure and permeate flux were assessed. The removal of pollutants and fouling indices were obtained for each membrane at each initial inlet pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early childhood development (ECD) refers to the physical, motor, socio-emotional, cognitive, and linguistic development of a young child. The 'Countdown to 2030' global distribution of 'children at risk of poor development' indicates the need for urgent action and investment in ECD. Nurturing care enhances ECD, even in the presence of adversities. Strategic actions should exist at multiple levels: the family, community, health care providers and government. Previously, child health related policies and programs of the Government of India functioned in isolation, but have recently started demonstrating multi-sectoral collaboration. Nonetheless, the status of ECD in India is far from optimal. There is strong evidence that parenting programs improve outcomes related to ECD. This is dependent on key programmatic areas (timing, duration, frequency, intensity, modality, content, etc.), in addition to political will, funding, partnership, and plans for scaling up. Each country must implement its unique ECD program that is need-based and customized to their stakeholder community. Barriers like inadequate sensitization of the community and low competency of health care providers need to be overcome. IAP firmly believes that responsive parenting interventions revolving around nurturing care should be incorporated in office practice. This paper outlines IAP's position on ECD, and its recommendations for pediatricians and policy makers. It also presents the roadmap in partnership with other stakeholders in maternal, neonatal, and child health; Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI), National Neonatology Forum (NNF), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nagaon Pulp and Paper Mill (Assam, India) produces 100,000 tonnes of paper annually from bamboo. The mill is surrounded by a vast spread of agricultural land on all sides excepting the southern side, which is covered with hills and deep forests. The present study was undertaken with a view to assess the impact of the paper mill operations on the quality of the surrounding soil. Surface soil samples (0–15 cm depth) were collected in both dry and wet seasons over a four-year period from 19 points at different distances from the mill. The soil quality was determined with respect to a large number of representative physico-chemical properties. Estimation of the major oxides, e.g., SiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, MnO, and TiO2 showed a preferential accumulation of Al2O3, Fe2O3, and MnO in soil near the mill due to the dumping of fly ash and other solid wastes in the surrounding low lying land. Definite directional trends were observed not only with respect to these oxides, but also with the metals Ca, Mg, Na, and Pb, which decreased away from the mill. The soil pH had a tendency to turn alkaline near the mill owing to the discharge of highly alkaline effluent by the mill. The physical characteristics of the soil, viz., water holding capacity and bulk density increased with distance from the mill while the hydraulic conductivity had an opposite trend. N, P, K, B, Cl-, and organic C contents of the soil had shown a rapid decreasing trend away from the mill indicating that the dumping of solid waste and discharge of nutrient-rich treated effluent had contributed to raised levels of these constituents near the mill. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to assess the potential of wetland plants to remediate metals from a paper mill effluent contaminated wetland site in Northeast India, 25 abundant plant species belonging to 15 different families, soil, and water samples from the sites were tested for Pb, Zn, Mg, and Fe by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results showed that metal accumulation by wetland plants differed among species and tissues. Plants thrived in high Pb, Zn, Mg, and Fe which indicated their tolerance. According to the criteria used for selecting plants for phytoremediation such as high metal tolerance, short life cycle, wide distribution, large shoot biomass and translocation factor (TF) >1; five species each were Mg and Fe accumulators, nine species were Pb accumulators and, eight species were Zn accumulators and the rest were excluders. Alternanthera sessilis was the only plant species that had TF > 1 for all the four metals. The study indicated great promise for phytoremediation, as these accumulators could be used in future for practical phytoremediation approaches and reduction of the risk from harmful metals to human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Historical research is challenging when studying informal spaces like urban slums, where extant scholarship is limited, government data are sparse or absent, and populations change rapidly due to eviction, environmental shocks, and the everyday churn of migration. Moreover, written materials and political ephemera generated within slums are rarely preserved in accessible state archives, limiting the usefulness of conventional archival research. In such contexts, the discovery of informal archives—unmapped, non-systematized collections of materials kept by individuals and groups in the spaces under study—can contribute to the reconstruction of local histories. This article draws on 20 months of fieldwork in India’s urban slums to offer insights on the collection and use of informal archival materials. These materials afford an intimate look at how the urban poor organize and make claims on the state. Their analysis, however, involves inferential challenges. Researchers must consider how processes of production, preservation, and provision shape the content of gathered historical materials and thus the inferences that can be drawn from them. Beyond urban slums, informal archives are likely to be useful sources of historical data for a range of studies in comparative politics, especially those that focus on informal institutions and local quotidian politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial sector is the largest user of energy in India and many parts of the world. More than half of the total energy is used in industries to operate various energy-using machineries. Energy conservation is a cost-effective approach in any energy optimization program that can be implemented in industrial activities. Energy-intensive industries in developing economies offer significant energy-saving potential owing to the technology gap as well as lower operating efficiency. A detailed energy flow analysis was conducted in a paper carton manufacturing unit in India to quantify the energy-saving potential. The study revealed that the compressed air leakage is responsible for about 50% of the total energy loss. The specific electrical and thermal energy consumption was estimated and found to be 91.85 kWh/ton and 1,619 MJ/ton of biomass, respectively. Annual energy saving potential was found to be 5.9% of the total annual energy consumption. The cost of DG power is found to be 389% higher than the grid power. The share of self-generated DG power is estimated to be 41% of the total power consumed. Electrical energy intensity of the plant could be reduced by 6.36% implementing energy conservation measures proposed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of 15 heavy metal resistant bacteria were isolated from Barak River contaminated with paper and pulp effluents. These isolates displayed different degrees of chromium tolerance. Four isolates showed 34 %-49 % of growth at a concentration of 4.0 mM of Cr and subjected to chromium reduction assay under aerobic condition. The isolate E (4) showed highest reduction (34.38 %) followed by E (3) and K(6)PA6, both showed 28.75 % reduction and then D (2) (27.5 %) after 72 h of incubation. These 4 isolates also showed different degrees of resistance to other heavy metals like Ni, Cu, Co and Cd. Antibiotic sensitivity profile of these selected bacterial strains was determined against 10 different antibiotics. Isolate E (4) appeared to be most susceptible being inhibited by eight antibiotics and resistant to penicillin G and ampicillin. The isolate E (3) was resistant to as many as five antibiotics and showed susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. Both the isolates K(6)PA6 and D (2) were resistant to four antibiotics and showed intermediate to susceptible responses to the rest of the antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The USA, China and India are the top three producers of municipal solid waste. The composition of solid wastes varies with income: low-to-middle-income population generates mainly organic wastes, whereas high-income population produces more waste paper, metals and glasses. Management of municipal solid waste includes recycling, incineration, waste-to-energy conversion, composting or landfilling. Landfilling for solid waste disposal is preferred in many municipalities globally. Landfill sites act as ecological reactors where wastes undergo physical, chemical and biological transformations. Hence, critical factors for sustainable landfilling are landfill liners, the thickness of the soil cover, leachate collection, landfill gas recovery and flaring facilities. Here, we review the impact of landfill conditions such as construction, geometry, weather, temperature, moisture, pH, biodegradable matter and hydrogeological parameters on the generation of landfill gases and leachate. Bioreactor landfills appear as the next-generation sanitary landfills, because they augment solid waste stabilization in a time-efficient manner, as a result of controlled recirculation of leachate and gases. We discuss volume reduction, resource recovery, valorization of dumped wastes, environmental protection and site reclamation toward urban development. We present the classifications and engineered iterations of landfills, operations, mechanisms and mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the work of two Indian sociologists who defined the contours of sociology in India in the immediate post-independence decades, M. N. Srinivas and A. R. Desai. It argues that their scholarship can be linked to sociology's legacy as anthropology in India and its embeddedness in the episteme of colonial modernity. It contends that Srinivas's methodology, the field view, attempted to make a break with earlier methods, such as book view. However, his three concepts, that of dominant caste, Sanskritization and Westernization were perceived as civilizational attributes and which had organized social change in India. A. R. Desai, a Marxist historical sociologist, made an incisive critique of capitalist exploitation and elaborated the material conditions that led to peasant and working-class revolts. However, his sociology could not unravel the caste-class linkages that organized the Indian 'social' which was embedded in Indian nationalism. This paper suggests that a definitive understanding of modernity emerges in Indian sociology in the late 70s when the feminist, dalit and tribal movements interrogated the material basis of contemporary India's developmentalism and its capitalist and exploitative character. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the backdrop of rapid and continuous deterioration in the quality of air, water and land, pollution prevention strategies have become a critical business issue to the industrial sector throughout the world. The present study aims to explore pollution prevention initiatives and their actual implementation across five different polluting industries from a large developing country's perspective. Ten sample plants (two from each industry group) were chosen from five different polluting industry groups (iron and steel, cement, pulp and paper, leather and pharmaceuticals) of a large developing economy like India. This study reveals that environmental concerns have increasingly spread among the selected polluting industries. Addressing pollution prevention practices into their business functions these industries have become more responsive to modify production process and improve the quality of the environment. However, there is a huge potential to improve it further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While promoting manufacturing growth is imperative to boost economic growth, potential adverse consequences on natural resources and ecology have created sustainability-related concerns and challenges. In India, with the reform processes deepening further and the business environment becoming more market-oriented over the years, the adoption of appropriate measures for sustainable manufacturing growth under such conditions would require a deeper investigation of the underlying dynamics, particularly to address the impacts of external shocks. This is especially true when external shocks alter market dynamics and, hence, input is used significantly in the manufacturing sector. Given this backdrop, the present paper examines how the major external shocks to the Indian economy during in the post-reform era have altered the resource use patterns in selected manufacturing industries. The paper uses secondary data collected from the KLEMS database of the Reserve Bank of India for the period from 1980–81 to 2019–20 and applies descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to address the research objective. It is found that energy intensity, vertical integration, capital intensity, and rate of growth of total factor productivity decreased over the decades, whereas labour productivity experienced an increasing trend in most industries. However, the trends are mixed in the case of material intensity. Further, the regression results indicate significant effects of external shocks on resource use, factor productivity, and structural changes. There are also industry-specific differences in the nature and extent of such changes. Hence, a deeper investigation of the underlying factors and impacts at a disaggregate industry level is necessary to draw more robust insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The term oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) was recommended at the WHO workshop held in 2005 and published in 2007, and increasingly large number of papers related to OPMD are published. The objective of the bibliometric analysis was to investigate the citation characteristics and analyze research trends of OPMD. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed and identified in the Scopus database since 2007 for the bibliometric list of OPMD in the syntax. Results: A total of 795 papers on OPMD were retrieved and the total number of citations was 8870. The mean number of citations is 11.2, with a range of 0 to 580. A substantial increasing tread in the number of citation is observed since 2007. Leukoplakia (42%) and lichen planus (23%) were the two most individual disorders among the general OPMD. A controlled/comparative study (43%) and a retrospective study (16%) were the two most study designs. India (n = 267) and the UK (n = 99) were the two most contributing countries. Tobacco and alcohol use and betel quid chewing (n = 351) are the most common keywords. Notably, early detection and diagnosis of oral cancer (n = 255) and biomarkers of oral carcinogenesis (n = 178) top the list, which may indicate a trend of key topics. Conclusions: The current study for the first time reported the bibliometric characteristics and research trends of the papers on OPMD in the syntax. Clinical relevance: The bibliometric analysis highlights the key topics and studies which have shaped the understanding and management of OPMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article looks at contestations over space in peri-urban India. It studies the acrimonious responses in defense of a local marketplace that occupied public land against the sovereign project of highway expansion in peri-urban West Bengal. It posits an opposition between two aspects of state governance-rational-legal and magical-that shape the contentions. In the rational-legal mode, the expansion of the highways represents the official development goals of progress. The magical aspects of the state engender the circulation of officially approved illegal chits that give occupying migrant villagers' claim to the space around the highway. The ethnography looks at the affective economy of illegal chits that political parties and local bureaucracies use to bring migrating villagers within their ambit. It explores how illegal chits embody the state's legible presence in the villagers' everyday lives, their kinnetworks, communities and transform individual affective orientations toward space. In these new modes of simultaneous 'space' and 'place' making, public land is understood less as commons, but more as a stretch that could be divided among individuals and households aspiring to be 'developed' or upwardly mobile by excluding others. The essay contends that emergence of the 'right to the city' as a collective right requires a double-edged critique. A simple celebration of the subversive potential of the magical aspect of the state vis-à-vis its rational-legal mode may not be helpful for a politics of value that seeks to challenge the idea of value (or what makes life worth living) embedded in the wider neoliberal development discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to an article related to ranking of India's top institutions on the basis of number of research papers in the Scopus citation database over the past five years in a 2015 issue.

The article presents a study on lignin removal in waste waters from a pulp and paper mill in India by the two cyanobacteria species. The study used raw waste with lignin to analyze the growth of Chroococcus minutes and Phormidium ambiguum while carbonate-tartarate and tannin-lignin reagents were used for photocalorimetric estimation of the wood polymer. Results showed that levels of lignin and other waste water components were reduced by the two algae.

In this reply to the discussion of our paper (Kumar et al. in Nat Hazards 116:2437–2455, 2023), we attempt to rebut the claims made regarding the use of the maximum sustained wind speed of a cyclone event irrespective of its location, inappropriate implementation of fitting methods, and inconsistent use of future projected sea surface temperature to historical records. While the discussion highlights certain observations about our results, the application of such techniques for evaluating PMTC parameters (adhering to AERB criteria) requires further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technical progress has a tremendous potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by reducing energy consumption, a major concern across production units. However, the existing empirical literature concerning technical efficiency and carbon intensity is scanty. Thus, this paper examines the relationship between technical efficiency and carbon intensity for the organized manufacturing sector of two states, Maharashtra and Odisha, and the all-India level from 2001 to 2018. The paper uses data envelopment analysis to estimate technical efficiency scores. It applies the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Tier 1 methodology for estimating carbon intensity for each 3-digit manufacturing industry in all three sample cases. The study has used static panel regression and fractional logit regression techniques to examine the deterministic relationship between technical efficiency and carbon intensity. The result shows that technical efficiency is highly sensitive to carbon intensity in the Indian manufacturing industries. The findings also addressed that the size of the industries also reduces the technical performance of manufacturing units. This paper also confirmed that increased profit could boost the Indian manufacturing industries' technical efficiency. Thus, this study addresses that carbon intensity as a proxy for the manufacturing sector's potential to affect climate change plays a crucial role in explaining the technical efficiency variations across industries. Thus, it calls for better policies aimed at reducing the emissions of industries specifically to achieve sustainable growth for the Indian manufacturing sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child malnutrition remains a pervasive problem in India though there are significant improvements in several health indicators with country's consistent economic growth. Along with other factors, maternal autonomy is considered to be critical in influencing health outcome of a child. This paper attempts to examine the determinants of nutritional measures of children under age five with the focus to the role of mother's autonomy in India. There are studies which link characteristics of mother, like education, age, with nutrition of her children. But maternal autonomy is a complex subject as this variable is not tangible. Women's autonomy in daily life is more likely to result in their better healthcare which in turn influences children's birth weight and infant nutrition. We used nationally representative India Human Development Survey 2004–05 (IHDS- 1) and 2011–12 (IHDS 2) data for the analysis. This paper studies the association between maternal autonomy and childhood stunting, the indicator of chronic malnutrition, and the risk of having a stunted child. We have also used the panel data using both waves of IHDS and used mothers fixed effect model to evaluate the impact of maternal autonomy. The autonomy index is created using four dimensions-women's decision making, freedom of movement, financial autonomy and attitude toward domestic violence. The two dimensions of autonomy—physical autonomy, financial autonomy—remain significant determinants for childhood stunting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian securities markets have undergone significant transformations in the recent past. The paper discusses and documents initiatives taken by the market regulator to expand and deepen the securities markets, including encouraging innovations in financial instruments, improving market efficiency by appropriate and timely regulatory interventions, expanding issuers' base and investors' participation for inclusive growth, ensuring regulatory compliance for fair play of market forces. The study helps investors, intermediaries, and regulators outside India to gain insights into recent developments and opportunities they offer to make the Indian securities market their preferred investment destination. The study concludes with the papers' key findings on "Investor interest and innovative instruments" in the special issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  China, Russia, and India are playing an increasingly important role in global nanotechnology research and development (R&D). This paper comparatively inspects the paper and patent publications by these three countries in the Thomson Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI) database and United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database (1976–2007). Bibliographic, content map, and citation network analyses are used to evaluate country productivity, dominant research topics, and knowledge diffusion patterns. Significant and consistent growth in nanotechnology papers are noted in the three countries. Between 2000 and 2007, the average annual growth rate was 31.43% in China, 11.88% in Russia, and 33.51% in India. During the same time, the growth patterns were less consistent in patent publications: the corresponding average rates are 31.13, 10.41, and 5.96%. The three countries’ paper impact measured by the average number of citations has been lower than the world average. However, from 2000 to 2007, it experienced rapid increases of about 12.8 times in China, 8 times in India, and 1.6 times in Russia. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), and the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) were the most productive institutions in paper publication, with 12,334, 6,773, and 1,831 papers, respectively. The three countries emphasized some common research topics such as “Quantum dots,” “Carbon nanotubes,” “Atomic force microscopy,” and “Scanning electron microscopy,” while Russia and India reported more research on nano-devices as compared with China. CAS, RAS, and IIT played key roles in the respective domestic knowledge diffusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Citations are an important measure of the quality and content of scientific communications. Since no study regarding the most cited articles in surgical literature from India exists, this article aims to identify these top cited articles. Materials and Methods: The 100 most frequently cited articles in surgery that originated from India were identified using the database of Scopus using a three pronged search. Results: The top 100 most cited articles were tabulated in descending order as Table 1. The most cited article received 196 citations, whereas the 100th received 20. The majority of the articles were published in the decade 1991 to 2000, with 39 institutions authoring these 'landmark' articles. Conclusions: When compared to other published 'citation classics', the Indian scenario has lot of scope for improvement. A definite conscious effort is required on the part of the Indian surgical fraternity to improve the citation value of our research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in India is steadily deteriorating, leading to a rise in the mortality rate due to Lung Cancer. This decline in air quality can be attributed to various factors such as PM 2.5, PM 10, and Ozone (O3). To establish a relationship between AQI and Lung Cancer, several predictive models including Linear Regression, KNN, Decision Tree, ANN, Random Forest Regression, and XGBoost Regression were employed to estimate pollutant levels and Air Quality Index in India. The models relied on publicly available state-wise Air Pollution Dataset. Among all the models, the XGBoost Regression displayed the highest accuracy, with pollutant level estimations reaching an accuracy range of 81% to 98% during training and testing. The second-highest accuracy range was achieved by Random Forest. The paper also explores the impact of increasing pollution levels on the rising mortality rate among lung cancer patients in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public disclosure programs that collect and disseminate information about firms' environmental performance are increasingly popular in both developed and developing countries. Yet little is known about whether they actually improve environmental performance, particularly in the latter setting. We use detailed plant-level survey data to evaluate the impact of India's Green Rating Project (GRP) on the environmental performance of the country's largest pulp and paper plants. We find that the GRP drove significant reductions in pollution loadings among dirty plants but not among cleaner ones. This result comports with statistical and anecdotal evaluations of similar disclosure programs. We also find that plants located in wealthier communities were more responsive to GRP ratings, as were single-plant firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IRNSS/NavIC is an independent navigation system developed by India. The dependence on external satellite-based navigation systems is gradually decreasing as a result of the deployment of our own navigation system, IRNSS/NavIC, which exhibits enhanced reliability. In this paper, a software-based IRNSS/NavIC receiver is developed using the standard Signal-In-Space Interface Control Document as a reference for signal structure, subframe patterns and parameter calculations. The IRNSS/NavIC receiver is validated with the I/Q data file as input which is generated by software based IRNSS/NavIC simulator. Analysis of the effect of a specific error on receiver output position necessitates repeated trials and modification, or in some cases, the development of new algorithms. The intermediate stage data can be viewed or stored as needed; a few examples are provided. In this paper Squared Correlators Code Discriminator (SCCD), a new multipath mitigation method has been designed and developed for IRNSS/NavIC receiver. The SCCD method is derived from Strobe Correlator (SC) and Combination of squared correlator method (CSC). The pseudorange bias is investigated and eliminated from the SCCD approach. The performance parameters of the IRNSS/NavIC receiver using each of the four approaches are compared, and the outcomes are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development is essential for the survival of the planet. The massive increase in GHG emissions due to human activities has put the world in unrest. The Indian construction industry is emerging and evolving at a rapid rate and has understood the grave situation, and for saving the environment has come up with innovative solutions for developing green buildings or sustainable construction. In this paper, the two different (the GRIHA Rating System and the IGBC Green New Building Rating System) of India were studied. The sample size was 40 construction professionals working on green building projects. An interview schedule was used for data collection. The data was subjected to a suitable analysis and the AHP method was applied. Based on the research findings, strategies to go green has been suggested for the IGBC and GRIHA rating system which may serve as a ready reckoner for enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the construction management process. Therefore, keeping in mind the above view this research paper "Review of Indian Green Building Rating Systems by Using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) on Various Parameters" becomes indispensable. Hence, this research study can be considered an effort to empower construction professionals to create an extensive analysis of green building concepts and develop sustainably in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All over the world, waste and its disposal are becoming a more prominent issue, as landfills swell up and growing evidence points to its contribution to climate change and environmental degradation. In the developing world, waste pickers sort through solid waste and sell it to vendors, who will recycle the product into something consumable. The work they do is vital to climate change mitigation, as well as urban cleanliness. In a way, waste pickers, especially in India, are vehicles of environmental justice, but they are often discriminated against and subjected to inhumane working conditions. In this environment, the pandemic hit, making waste pickers' already precarious life even worse. This paper attempts to fill the gap in the academic literature by compiling a systemized literature review of the impacts of COVID-19 on waste-pickers' lives using an environmental justice perspective. The review also uses a Feminist Political Ecology perspective to illuminate the double jeopardy that female waste pickers face in the era of COVID-19, which academia often ignores. Ultimately, this paper shows that COVID-19 exacerbated the preexisting injustices that the waste picker community face and created an immense burden on women. This paper will show that it is important to notice the differentiation between female and male waste picker challenges, especially at the crux of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper has important policy implications as well as research considerations for both environmental justice and feminist political ecology scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting of load is essential for operating power systems. India recently witnessed one of the worst power crisis with the highest ever power demand of 207 GW on April 29, 2022. The demand in the month of May and June 2022 was estimated to reach 215 GW. The peak demand this year 2023, according to the electricity ministry, is predicted to be around 230 GW from April to June. The inability to meet certain fundamental issues as power can take a toll on any country's economy. Proper prediction helps in proper decision making and planning. The main objective of this paper is to predict day ahead electrical load demand for Assam. Statistical and Machine Learning Algorithms has been studied. The study has been carried out using real-time data for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the different hyper parameters of the deep learning models and their effect is seen on the learning efficiency. A novel stacked forecasting model is proposed using neural networks as base learners and CatBoost as the meta-learner. The performance of the proposed model has been evaluated and compared with individual models in terms of training time and accuracy using different error metrics namely MAE, MSE, RMSE, MAPE and R2 score. A comparison of the proposed prediction model with the prediction models available in literature has been presented. The conclusion states that both the statistical and machine learning algorithms used in this study act as useful tools for daily load forecasting with considerable accuracy; yet machine learning algorithm outperforms the statistical methods. The entire work has been done in Google Colaboratory using Python as the programming language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scholarship and discussion on urbanization and urbanism are restricted to the exploration of a few metropolitans and global cities. In this way, especially in India, several cities and towns do not fit into the understanding of knowledge produced from metropolitan or large cities. Taking the case of Dharamshala a small town in the Western Himalayas, this paper discusses how debate and conceptualization of urban processes, level of urbanization and scale of economies bypass thousands of small towns not only in India but across the global South. The paper draws attention to the categorization of the urban into small and big, metropolitan and non-metropolitan, unable to provide a comprehensive theory or concept to conceptualize activities and processes that coexist in binaries. Employing an ethnographic approach it discusses the ambiguous statistical criteria, infrastructural facilities, social and cultural dynamics, informality and illegality of Dharamshala. Building on this, the paper asserts that small towns and big cities have a lot of similarities in processes and activities, they may be different from each other at the level of size and scale. Drawing any kind of hierarchy among cities and towns that have the foundation in size (population and geographical) and scale (economies) and positioning them in 'subaltern' positions does not produce a comprehensive framework nor contribute to Southern urban theory but position small towns in between position of metropolitan's cities and urban theories. Noting such debates and discussions, the contribution opens a fresh perspective to study small towns beyond their size and scale and focuses on the processes and activities that contribute to an understanding of Indian urban transition, thereby expanding Southern urban theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is significant for measuring the strength of national and global economies in urban profiling areas. GDP is significant because it provides information on the size and performance of an economy. The real GDP growth rate is frequently used to indicate the economy's health. This paper proposes a new model called Pearson Correlation-Long Short-Term Memory-Recurrent Neural Network (PC-LSTM-RNN) for predicting GDP in urban profiling areas. Pearson correlation is used to select the important features strongly correlated with the target feature. This study employs two separate datasets, denoted as Dataset A and Dataset B. Dataset A comprises 227 instances and 20 features, with 70% utilized for training and 30% for testing purposes. On the other hand, Dataset B consists of 61 instances and 4 features, encompassing historical GDP growth data for India from 1961 to 2021. To enhance GDP prediction performance, we implement a parameter transfer approach, fine-tuning the parameters learned from Dataset A on Dataset B. Moreover, in this study, a preprocessing stage that includes median imputation and data normalization is performed. Mean Square Error, Mean Absolute Error, Root Mean Square Error, Mean Absolute Percentage Error, Median Absolute Error, and determination coefficient (R2) evaluation metrics are utilized in this study to demonstrate the performance of the proposed model. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed model gave better results than other regression models used in this study. Also, the results show that the proposed model achieved the highest results for R2, with 99.99%. This paper addresses a critical research gap in the domain of GDP prediction through artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. While acknowledging the widespread application of such algorithms in forecasting GDP, the proposed model introduces distinctive advantages over existing approaches. Using PC-LSTM-RNN which achieves high R2 with minimum error rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INDIAN PEDIATRICS 190 VOLUME 58 FEBRUARY 15, 2021 C C C C C O O O O O R R R R R R R R R R E E E E E S S S S S P P P P P O O O O O N N N N N D D D D D E E E E E N N N N N C C C C C E E E E E Position Paper on Kawasaki Disease in India: Pertinent Issues We read with interest the recently published IAP position paper on Kawasaki disease (KD) [1]. The definition of recurrent KD would essentially mean a recurrence after documented remission of the first episode of KD (clinically, echocardiography and laboratory). This condition has clinical features which overlap with other inflammatory diseases in childhood like Kawasaki disease (KD) and toxic shock syndrome (TSS) [2]. Recurrent KD is defined as a repeat episode of KD after complete resolution of the first episode [1,2]. [Extracted from the article]

A smart home energy management system plays an important role in improving the efficiency of an energy distribution system and also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of the power utility company. For a developing country like India, one of the main challenges faced while integrating an energy management system and renewable energy technology is the migration cost faced by the user from the existing system. The existing energy policy of the nation or the community should be reformed in such a way that the user who is willing to adapt to an energy management system should be properly rewarded. Smart appliances and IoT-enabled devices reduce wiring complexity in any conventional home and the smart metering facility aids in the bidirectional communication between consumers and utility companies. But how does it take care of user privacy? What are the reasons behind the user's negligence on-demand response schemes in India? Through a case study, it was observed that the power consumption of domestic consumers in India increased over the years. It was also observed through an energy survey of 200 low-tension domestic consumers that a simple reengineering of lighting loads can save up to 4.68 Megawatt-hour of energy in a year. The paper also identified the negative impact of the inclining block rate billing scheme by comparing the bimonthly energy consumption pattern of consumers and also proposed a new billing scheme. The paper also reviews the types of optimization methods available for load scheduling. This paper is an attempt to enlighten readers on the importance of adopting a sustainable home energy management system, as a socio-economic commitment towards a green future. Highlights: The connected loads in Indian homes are increasing day by day and so the electricity bill A smart green HEM system helps to reduce the carbon footprint Novel demand response programs policies should be formulated Harvesting renewable energy will have multiple applications in a home Dimming lighting loads considerably reduces usage cost [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pines play a significant role in forest biodiversity globally and generate huge forest litter. Dry pine needles due to low ignition temperature and high frictional force with the ground catch fire quickly. Annual forest fires in the northern states of India greatly impact the Indian economy besides causing huge loss to biodiversity, livelihood, and environment. Pine needles are also considered unfit for fodder consumption due to presence of tannins. Although the presence of softwood lignin in pine needles makes it difficult to degrade easily, the presence of holocellulose (68.5%) containing 45–51% cellulose makes this biomass a potential substrate to be used in pulp-making industries for low-grade paper sheets. The good fiber length of pine needles (1.3–1.4 mm) with a diameter of 30–32 μm, maybe considered important property for paper making. The use of pine needles in the pharmaceutical and food industries are due to the presence of secondary metabolites (α-pinene, β-pinene, caryophyllene etc.). The various other potential applications of pine needles are for producing bio-ethanol (yield, 3.98%; purity, 94%), biogas (yield, 23.1 L kg−1), smokeless briquettes (calorific value, 18.77 MJ kg−1), biochar (calorific value, 25.6 MJ kg−1), bio-composites (tensile strength, 21–60 MPa), and bio-pesticides. This paper comprehensively reviews the current applications of pine needles along with its future prospective applications that can have the dual advantage of providing employment opportunities to the people along with environmental protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lie-detection tests are traditionally carried out by well-trained experts using polygraph machines. However, it is time-consuming, invasive, and, overall, a cumbersome process, not admissible by the court of law. Trained individuals can easily flaunt these tests. On the other hand, facial thermal imaging could be more effective as it is noninvasive and could be a stealth method of tracking the facial blood flow patterns, which have been proven to detect deceit. This paper presents a method based on facial thermal imaging to detect deception in human subjects. The major issue in such research is the lack of proper real-life databases which emulate the crime scenes. In this paper, first, we have developed a database based on almost real-life theft incidents with due diligence using isolated subjects over a period of time at a government hospital under the plea of free health checkup. The experiment has been conducted at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal, India, with proper ethical committee approval. The participants are selected at the behest of the police department with habitual crime records. Most of them have been repeatedly charged with petty crimes of pick-pocketing and stealing. They are invited individually at different instances of time under the plea of medical checkup where they have been enticed to steal cash. It is followed by a two-stage process, a friendly interaction followed by a slightly tougher interrogation. Their forehead and periorbital region skin surface temperature are recorded by a hidden thermal camera. Upon analysis, conspicuous changes in the temperature profile and blood flow pattern have been observed in the individuals who stole money and those who did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to investigate the cyclical dynamics of the business, credit, and investment sectors in India. This was achieved by utilizing annual data from 1980 to 2021 and investigating the impact of domestic and global financial cycles on the business cycle. The cycles were derived using the Hodrick–Prescott filter, and structural vector autoregression (SVAR) and Granger causality tests were employed to establish the dynamic interactions among these cycles. The results of the study revealed a clear divergence between domestic and global financial cycles. Additionally, the SVAR analysis confirmed the presence of a long-run relationship between business, investment, and credit cycles. Notably, the findings suggest that credit cycles can provide valuable insights to manage business cycles in India. Finally, robustness checks were conducted to confirm the reliability of SVAR findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) chat programs has opened two distinct paths, one enhancing interaction and another potentially replacing personal understanding. Ethical and legal concerns arise due to the rapid development of these programs. This paper investigates academic discussions on AI in medicine, analyzing the context, frequency, and reasons behind these conversations. Methods: The study collected data from the Web of Science database on articles containing the keyword "ChatGPT" published from January to September 2023, resulting in 786 medically related journal articles. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed articles in English related to medicine. Results: The United States led in publications (38.1%), followed by India (15.5%) and China (7.0%). Keywords such as "patient" (16.7%), "research" (12%), and "performance" (10.6%) were prevalent. The Cureus Journal of Medical Science (11.8%) had the most publications, followed by the Annals of Biomedical Engineering (8.3%). August 2023 had the highest number of publications (29.3%), with significant growth between February to March and April to May. Medical General Internal (21.0%) was the most common category, followed by Surgery (15.4%) and Radiology (7.9%). Discussion: The prominence of India in ChatGPT research, despite lower research funding, indicates the platform's popularity and highlights the importance of monitoring its use for potential medical misinformation. China's interest in ChatGPT research suggests a focus on Natural Language Processing (NLP) AI applications, despite public bans on the platform. Cureus' success in publishing ChatGPT articles can be attributed to its open-access, rapid publication model. The study identifies research trends in plastic surgery, radiology, and obstetric gynecology, emphasizing the need for ethical considerations and reliability assessments in the application of ChatGPT in medical practice. Conclusion: ChatGPT's presence in medical literature is growing rapidly across various specialties, but concerns related to safety, privacy, and accuracy persist. More research is needed to assess its suitability for patient care and implications for non-medical use. Skepticism and thorough review of research are essential, as current studies may face retraction as more information emerges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper based on original fieldwork, I seek to contribute to critical scholarship in international law by providing an investigation into the engagement with international law by actors in civil society working against son preference primarily in Tirupati, India. I suggest that the turn to the international legal order by civic actors should be theorized as something else than as merely coming 'from above', 'from below' or as a 'translation' of 'global' law to 'local' conditions. Instead, I propose that the mobilization of international law within Tirupati's civil society should be seen as an emancipatory undertaking, an act of resistance with the overarching ambition to reclaim the zenana. In that, I argue, the strategies within Tirupati's civil society are more appropriately understood as critical international law put into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to examine the relationship between competitivenessand environment-friendly behaviour of producers under an economic liberalisation regime. For that purpose, it employs a probit model and estimates the influence of the prime movers of industrial growth suchas technical change and economies of scale on environmental degradation. The empirical results of the study of pulp and paper industry, identified as one of the most polluting industries in India, indicate that these variables, as the key players of competitiveness improvement, have positive influence on environment-friendly behaviour. Such findings, therefore, fail to provide support to a view that articulates ruthless exploitation of the environment under economic liberalisation programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to design the least-cost delivery routes relating to the distribution of geotowns through the shortest distance matrix estimated by the multiple traveling salesman problems. We construct the initial distance matrix based on road distance considering all the nodes. Based on the adjacency matrix, we use the R package "sna" to calculate the different measures of centrality in the network. Next, we apply the traveling salesman problem to connect all the nodes at once for planning the trip in the proposed circuit. Finally, we use the Louvain community detection algorithm to cluster geotowns for better tourism planning and ease of travel. Based on the proposed geoheritage sites in Northeast India, the tourist spots may be organized and interconnected. This paper promotes and develops an approach to incorporating national geosites with national geoheritages and moves towards geoparks, keeping in view conservation measures of appropriate international impartial organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China, India, and the USA are the countries with the highest energy consumption and CO2 emissions globally. As per the report of datacommons.org, CO2 emission in India is 1.80 metric tons per capita, which is harmful to living beings, so this paper presents India's detrimental CO2 emission effect with the prediction of CO2 emission for the next 10 years based on univariate time-series data from 1980 to 2019. We have used three statistical models; autoregressive-integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, seasonal autoregressive-integrated moving average with exogenous factors (SARIMAX) model, and the Holt-Winters model, two machine learning models, i.e., linear regression and random forest model and a deep learning-based long short-term memory (LSTM) model. This paper brings together a variety of models and allows us to work on data prediction. The performance analysis shows that LSTM, SARIMAX, and Holt-Winters are the three most accurate models among the six models based on nine performance metrics. Results conclude that LSTM is the best model for CO2 emission prediction with the 3.101% MAPE value, 60.635 RMSE value, 28.898 MedAE value, and along with other performance metrics. A comparative study also concludes the same. Therefore, the deep learning-based LSTM model is suggested as one of the most appropriate models for CO2 emission prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mathematics education in India is offered in one of the 22 officially recognized state languages or in English even though there are at least 270 languages with more than 10,000 speakers each. Caste, a deep-rooted structure that stratifies Indian society, is integrally linked to shaping state languages. There is minimal research from India that looks at language and mathematics education and practically none that factors in caste. Focusing on Tamil Nadu, a state with a history of anti-caste movement on the one hand and pure Tamil movement (a movement that sought to create a Tamil language with no words from other languages) on the other, this conceptual paper seeks to explore this dimension. More specifically, by using caste as an analytical framework, and by drawing on examples from the mathematics textbooks published by the Tamil Nadu State Board of Education and the experience of a few teachers and learners, the paper seeks to make a theoretical argument that the use of pure Tamil in mathematics textbooks has negative implication for socio-culturally and economically marginalized students who are solely dependent on textbooks as the only source for learning mathematics. There is a strong need for carrying out empirical work that would highlight the nuances and complexities involved in realizing 'mother tongue' education in mathematics, particularly for those who belong to marginalized caste-class backgrounds, and we hope that such work would emerge in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]