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Contrarian investment behavior on paper or Demat gold by private investors, India as a country cherishes the status of holding a large number of private investors in gold. Gold as a common term usually takes to the picture of multiple shaped ornaments made up of shiny yellow metal carrying huge value in society since ages to explore the search bit wider gives the option of Gold available in paper or Demat format. The concept of paper gold which has value without physical existence is quite a new concept to the current existing trend. The study focuses on such contrarian investment and their behavioral science on financial investment in the Indian Market amidst COVID-19 Pandemic. The objective of the study is to identify independent factors influence on contrarian investment on paper gold and investor's psychological behavior on decision making when rejecting the current trends over new instrument or investment pattern. This paper also identifies the role of gender in gold investment pattern and knowledge on gold being private investors who care higher rate of risk. The study has been conducted with the sample of 110 individuals through structured questionnaire and with the help of statistical tools "two way anova and correlation" has been carried. The study concluded how the contrarian investment was not based on the age of a private investor but qualification makes much difference on their behaviorin the Indian Market amidst COVID-19 Pandemic and the same type of influence on gender over preference of gold is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to examine whether happiness at workplace (HAW) impacts organisational citizenship behaviour (OCB) and whether this impact can be further improved by promoting learning capabilities in organisations, thus investigating the mediating role of organisational learning capabilities (OLC). Design/methodology/approach: This study was conducted on knowledge-intensive workers (employees of EdTech companies) in India. Responses were collected via questionnaire in online mode, and after discarding the incomplete responses, 500 replies were considered for data analysis with PLS-SEM technique. Findings: The outcomes reveal that the HAW has a significant influence on OCB. The outcomes also reveal that this impact is further enhanced with the presence of OLC, thus confirming that OLC operates as a mediator in the link connecting HAW and OCB. Originality/value: This study makes a distinctive contribution by bringing out the significance of workplace learning in the connection between the workplace happiness and citizenship behaviour of employees that will provide impetus to the practitioners to formulate strategies in such a manner that the employees voluntarily perform the actions beyond their designated roles.

Identity formation has been a keen area of interest for researchers and it involves several physiological, cognitive, biological, emotional and hormonal changes often influenced by the adolescent's social environment. Adler conceptualized the notion that birth order of a person can leave an indelible impression on an individual's style of life. Birth order has a profound effect on how an adolescent is perceived by his family and how a person relates to the amount of responsibility, independence and freedom he or she has been given. Based on this ideology, this paper attempts to understand the influence of birth order on the identity formation of middle adolescents. The exploratory study undertakes a purposive sampling of 158 respondents (79 males and 79 females). Ego Identity Process Questionnaire (EIPQ) and Global Adjustment Inventory were the tools used for data collection. Correlation analysis indicated significant relationship between identity and various dimensions of adjustment. t-ratios were applied to study gender differences, though no significant results were found. Also, one-way ANOVA was applied to study between group differences. However, findings suggested no significant differences between the first and third born individuals for their identity formation process.

In the present times, there is a high influence caused by social media platforms in case of body image issues faced by an individual. Pregnancy is a stage for women where they go through several mental and physical changes. Realizing the inseparable role played by social media in this aspect, it is an attempt here to determine the effect caused by social media on the body image of pregnant women as well for those in their post-partum stages. The PRISMA method is used by the authors to arrive at 55 research papers from the Scopus databases that are systematically reviewed. The authors' review reveals that social media can have both negative and positive effects on women's perception of body image during pregnancy and the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the relevance and experience of Pure Consciousness through a technique called Transcendental Meditation (TM). It posits the idea that this technique of meditation can prove to be a useful spiritual tool during the current pandemic and talks about its effects on education, mental health, as well as physical health through a review of scientific studies on TM. It establishes the importance of Transcendental Meditation as a technique coming from a Vedic tradition for holistic growth. It further emphasizes the scientific validity of this technique to prove its practical relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand the new kind of investors – women entrepreneurs – and to find out the factors that drive their investment behaviour and investment decisions. Design/methodology/approach: The approach of qualitative enquiry was used for the research in which 18 in-depth exploratory interviews were conducted to identify the determinants of the investment behaviour shown by women entrepreneurs, a growing segment in investment. The accumulated data was analysed using open coding. Findings: The research show that women entrepreneurs consider investment as a long-term instrument are risk averse and quite conservative. They are willing to take risks in business but not for making investment decisions. The reasons for this low-risk behaviour include lack of time to understand investments and lack of knowledge about various products. The research asserts that if they spend time to be informed about the nuances of investment instruments, they are likely to take risks for their investments as well. The interviews also reflect that women entrepreneurs often mimic the investment behaviour of their parents. Research limitations/implications: The sample for this research was taken from only two cities in India and a broader research in other cities as well will expand the understanding of investment behaviours demonstrated by women entrepreneurs. The differences in women entrepreneurs' investment behaviour due to culture and ethnicity of the respondent are also not considered. Practical implications: The outcomes of the research will help the investment manager to get a better insight into the psychology of women entrepreneurs as investors. This will help them develop personalized and relevant portfolio recommendations. Second, the findings will help service providers to develop training modules for their investment advisors by sensitizing them to needs and wants of women entrepreneurs as potential investors. Third, the research will be of interest for policymakers and researchers to understand the determinants of personal investment decision-making amongst women entrepreneurs. Finally, it will help women entrepreneurs understand and mitigate their biases while taking investment decisions. It will lead them to take wiser investment decisions, thereby reducing the risk and maximizing opportunities of returns. Social implications: The research will provide opportunities for enhancing gender equality amongst investors. This can be achieved by educating the investment advisors on the traits and preferences of women entrepreneurs as investors. Designing and delivering specific workshops on investment awareness for women entrepreneurs can also be accomplished based on the findings of this research. Originality/value: To the researcher's best knowledge, the investment behaviour of women entrepreneurs in India has been little investigated. This study appears to be the first qualitative research attempt in that direction. This paper will be useful in understanding the behavioural biases by women entrepreneurs in considering their personal investment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the volatility persistence in sovereign bond yields of India and China during study period of 2010–2018. For that purpose, the researcher has applied the Engle and Lee (in: Engle and Lee (eds) Cointegration, causality, and forecasting: a Festschrift in honour of Clive WJ Granger, Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp 475–497, 1999) C-GARCH model to decompose the volatility of 10-year sovereign bond yields of India and China into permanent and transitory components. The results reveal that permanent conditional volatility shows long memory with long-run component's half-life decay ranges from 91 to 97 days for India and China, respectively. However, the temporary component of volatility much smaller with short-run component's half-life decay ranges from.70 to.75 for India and China, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Power is an important construct in retailing and channel literature. Power is studied in improving the performance of the firm, but less emphasis is given on the behavioral changes that lead to an improvement in performance. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relationship between sources of power and channel members' trust, affective commitment, agent dependence and environmental munificence individually. Also, the paper examines the interrelationship among coercive, expert, referent, legitimate and reward sources of power. Design/methodology/approach: The study uses a structured questionnaire to collect data from 214 channel members from an Indian oil company. The study uses a covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) approach for establishing the interrelationship among sources of power. Also, the study uses partial least squares SEM approach for determining the relationship between power sources and channel members' behavior. Findings: The study establishes that the dichotomous nature of power, i.e. coercive and non-coercive power source exists independently in an emerging country context. Further, coercive power sources are negatively and non-coercive power sources are positively associated with trust. Also, coercive and reward power sources are positively associated with agent dependence, whereas expert, referent and legitimate power sources are positively related to affective commitment. Finally, referent power is found to be positively associated with environmental munificence. Practical implications: The paper offers several managerial implications. For practitioners, the paper highlights that application of coercive and non-coercive power sources can bring the desired change in channel members' behavior. Also, acknowledging the power position between channel leader and channel member can foster more efficient association. Originality/value: The paper contributes to the literature on channel management by enhancing the understanding of sources of power and their influence on the behavior of channel members. First, the study examines the relationship between channel members' behavior of trust, affective commitment, agent dependence and environmental munificence and five sources of power. Second, the study establishes the interrelationship among sources of power. Finally, the paper outlines the implications for managers for effective use of sources of power in channel management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) is the 4th largest sector in India and provides employment to around 3 million people (ASSOCHAM, 2020). FMCG industry in India is growing at 9.4% in due quarter ending March, 2021 after a growth at 7.3% in the previous year. India's robust economic growth and household incomes are expected to increase consumer spending to US$ 3.6 trillion by 2020. The retail market in India is expected to reach USD 1.1 trillion by 2020 from USD 840 billion in 2017 with a modern trade expected to grow at 20.25% per annum which is likely to boost revenue of FMCG (ibef.org.2018). The demand for packaged goods segment of FMCG grow by 7.8% in March quarter of 2020, compared to non-food categories which grew only 1.8% in value. This trend indicates people preferred panic buying and stockpiling of food items. Covid-19 impacted very much on FMCG sector and a change is observed not only in the consumer behaviour but also made the companies to reconsider strategies towards consumers acquisition, retention and value proposition (Rajeshwari, 2021). Money would not flow to consumers and thus consumers resort to conservative buying (Gaurav Shetty et al., 2020). The need at present arises more than previous about identifying changing consumer buying behaviour. The paper analyses demographic profile of respondents and its impact on FMCG buying, factors driving the growth of FMCG sector, characteristics, respondents preference of health and skincare brands, and challenges faced by FMCG industry. The data for this research work has been collected through questionnaire and findings have been theoretically presented. The survey reveals that respondents are aware of growth drivers of FMCG, characteristics, preferences and challenges faced by the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of energy is a determinant of the socioeconomic status of many citizens across the globe. The majority of rural households in India are dependent on biomass fuels. Existing data on the factors affecting fuel switching in rural India are insufficient to analyze a behavioral change among families. This paper evaluates the influence of four variables income, education, cost of fuel, and clean fuel supply on fuel adoption decisions. To understand the study population's behavioral change, a Household Survey is conducted in 20 villages (in India's rural district). Along with field observation, data are also collected on energy usage at the household level using a formal questionnaire. Binary logistic regression is applied to establish a link between the variables. Both biomass fuels and Liquefied Petroleum Gas are used mostly for cooking. The prevalence of energy stacking behavior is observed even among middle and upper‐income families. Modest evidence for the "energy ladder" hypothesis is seen, however, a "switch over" to cleaner fuels is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Encouraging employees to exhibit innovative behaviour at the workplace is the need of the hour. Prior studies reported the impact of organisational justice on innovative behaviour; however, the majority of these studies are from the Western context. Moreover, the underlying mechanism linking these variables, namely, the role of knowledge sharing, is sparse. The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of knowledge sharing in the relationship between organisational justice and innovative behaviour through the lens of social exchange theory in the Indian context. Design/methodology/approach: Mediation analysis using PROCESS macro was performed on a sample of 288 employees using three structured questionnaires. Participants were recruited from various manufacturing organisations in India. The validity of the hypothesised model was established using AMOS software. Findings: Organisational justice impacted both knowledge sharing and innovative behaviour. It was also illustrated that knowledge sharing influenced employees' innovative behaviour. The most important finding is the partial mediation of knowledge sharing in the organizational justice–innovative behaviour relationship. Originality/value: This study tries to demystify the organisational justice–innovative behaviour relationship by highlighting knowledge sharing as an underlying mechanism. The existing theoretical framework that describes the effects of organisational justice is enriched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nations, including India, face a number of daunting challenges in the twenty-first century, including population growth, political strife, rapid urbanization, food and water scarcity, environmental pollution, infectious diseases, and climate change. In this turbulent era, there is a need for resilience at every level—from the village family to the corporate boardroom to the halls of government. We argue that achieving resilience will require both enlightened government policies and successful initiatives by social and environmental innovators that demonstrate the capacity for adapting to these challenges. Such practical first steps can serve as models for creating a more resilient and sustainable economy in India. One way to stimulate rapid progress is development of circular economy solutions that create innovative pathways for utilization of discarded materials, thus seeking to eliminate waste. Previous research has shown that such initiatives reduce environmental pressures and improve community resilience, while stimulating the regional economy. An international conference on Waste Management Innovation, held in 2017 in Mumbai with funding from the US Consulate General, resulted in the award of seed grants to two Indian non-profits that sought to apply circular economy principles to regional communities—one urban and one rural. These initiatives provide case studies of circular economy implementation. The World Institute of Sustainable Energy has developed an action plan to capture at least 60 percent of the electronic waste generated in the city of Pune, one of the largest metropolitan areas in India. Their approach is based on circular economy principles, and has been embraced in stakeholder meetings with city officials as well as local residents and non-governmental organizations. Barefoot College has established and demonstrated a low-cost, end-to-end solid waste management model for rural villages that is designed by the local community. Their unique approach ensures sanitation, environmental protection, income and livelihood generation, and drives behavioral change in village residents by motivating them to maintain community hygiene. This paper presents the results of these two efforts, and suggests what lessons were learned. One overarching insight is that an integrated systems view is necessary to understand the interplay of economic, environmental, and social forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study empirically demonstrates the essentiality of addressing employees' psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness through CSR-specific activities which intrinsically motivate employees to find their work engaging and execute their jobs by being innovative in their approach. In this direction, a theoretical model is proposed and empirically validated by executing a questionnaire survey among 585 employees of various luxury hotels in India. The findings of this study build on and extend previous research in the growing area of CSR and its outcomes. Theoretically, through the establishment of some novel links, this study furthers insight into the domain of micro-CSR where research is still fragmented. Besides, the paper outlines key practical implications for managers in helping them realize how to build and maintain an engaging and innovative workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in the consumption of goods and services has led to a detrimental effect on the environment, and there is a need to understand green purchase behaviour. The purpose of this paper is to study the role of connectedness to nature and perceived environmental responsibility on the green purchase behaviour of consumers. The sample comprised of individuals above the age of 20 years from urban parts of India. Data analysis consisted of structural equation modelling and AMOS. The mediation effect of perceived environmental responsibility was assessed using Hayes Process test and Sobel test. The results show that perceived environmental responsibility mediates the relationship between connectedness to nature and green purchase behaviour. Marketing managers can effectively target consumers by triggering a stronger connection to nature and highlighting their responsibility to protect the environment. The study provides insights into consumer psychology and marketing theory and adds to the emergent literature related to consumer green purchasing behaviour in a developing nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE THE present paper explores demographic factors affecting compulsive buying behavior among consumers in gaming industry and further investigates the relationship between compulsive buying behavior and customer satisfaction. Design/Methodology/Approach: For the purpose of testing proposed hypotheses, gamers were recruited through online mode. Further, data was collected by the aid of self-structured questionnaires from 400 respondents belonging to metro cities of India. For identification of factors affecting compulsive buying behaviour in gaming industry, marital status, age, gender and educational qualification of these respondents were focused upon by the researcher. Testing of the accumulated data was performed through t-test and one way ANOVA, encompassing Levene's test for equality of variance and t-test for equality of means while the relationship between compulsive buying behaviour and customer satisfaction was subjected to two-tailed correlation. Findings: Compulsive buying behaviour among gamers purposely affects gaming industry, making it a vital investigative tactic. The findings of this scrutiny indicate that marital status of the respondents affects compulsive buying behaviour among them. It is also found that gender also defines the extent of compulsive buying behaviour. However, the statistical testing results of this study reveal that both age and educational qualification do not vitally dominate compulsiveness among buyers in gaming industry. The exploration of relationship between compulsive buying behaviour and customer satisfaction divulges a strong positive correlation existing between the two. Thus, it can be stated that compulsive buying behaviour positively affects satisfaction among gamers. Research Limitations: This study involves a few limitations. Firstly, the statistical analysis is restricted to data collected from 400 respondents. Moreover, due to time constraint, the data was restricted to metro cities of India, however, compulsive buying behaviour might also exist in gamers belonging to other cities as well. So, further studies might entail an expansive data collection framework for more precise scrutiny. Managerial Implications: Compulsive buying behaviour, being a psychological phenomenon, is revolutionizing the buying patterns in gaming industry. This study investigates those aspects of Indian buyers which stimulate their buying rationale, ultimately affecting growth of the gaming market and approach of merchandisers towards them. Originality/Value: The current study scrutinizes compulsive behaviour among buyers which affects their mind set and buying decisions leading to customer satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity among societies has increased manifold in a globalized world. Media, mainly digital media, have emerged as an exciting player in the globalization process. It simultaneously augments the globalization process and also fuels ultra-localism- a complex socio-cultural phenomenon. In India, growing smartphone users have been changing the pattern of media content consumption. In the last three years, with the availability of cheap internet data, the Indian audience is consuming more and more online media content. In the entertainment sector, media consumers are showing a significant change in their consumption behaviour. Traditional cinema viewing is gradually being replaced by watching cinema and shows on Over The Top (OTT) media platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix and other service providers. This paper probes how Indian millennial audiences, mainly the 'Digital Mainstream' has been watching cinema on OTT platforms and why are they switching to mobile devices rather than sticking to the big cinema screens. Are they satisfied with watching the content on a smaller screen or are there still craving for watching on a bigger screen? Is the content different? Is the experience different?. Applying the method of survey and in-depth interviews, this exploratory paper attempts to find an answer to these research questions. Since the entertainment media content creators including the director and producers of cinema are adapting themselves to the behaviour of the audience of the OTT platforms, this paper may throw more light on the behavioural pattern of the young audience so far as taking to the new medium is concerned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of a growing adolescent population globally, it is imperative to understand which interventions will most effectively advance their sexual and reproductive health (SRH). In India and globally, peer education is often utilised as an intervention for promoting the SRH of young people. Globally, the evidence of its effectiveness is mixed. A systematic review of the literature from the Indian context gave insight into the knowledge, attitudinal, and behavioural (KAB) outcomes affected by peer education, as well as the inputs, coverage, content, and context of such interventions. Out of the over 1500 publications initially identified through the database and bibliographic searches, 13 were included in the review; no quality assessment was done, given the dearth of publications matching the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included publications highlights the multiple ways that peer education is implemented in the Indian context, as part of multi-component programmes and as a stand-alone intervention. The KAB outcomes from these initiatives are mixed, with some multi-component and some stand-alone initiatives affecting statistically significant outcomes and others not–a finding consistent with global literature reviewed for this paper. Despite the mixed results and the limited effects of behaviour relative to knowledge, this paper proposes that peer education has a place in an overall response to improving the SRH of young people. It calls for better research on peer education in India, and for research in relation to the optimal conditions for peer education to succeed in affecting KAB and other outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is having the highest number of people defecating in the open. Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) is an ambitious programme that envisages making rural India open defecation free (ODF). Bihar's performance is at the bottom in sanitation map of the nation. Providing toilet to community and ensuring its usage are great challenges. A multidimensional approach is needed to ensure the behavioural change in the poverty-laden society of Bihar. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine the role of Jeevikalead SHGs for leading the SBM-G. Jeevika is providing support as a development partner to 38 blocks in the state, which are called Jeevika-intensive blocks. In these blocks, the entire SBM-G programme is led by didis of Jeevika. SHGs are the best models for leading the SBM-G projects, as they change the earlier concept of toilet construction from grant driven to be demand driven. SHG plays a vital role in micro-financing for toilet construction. Women SHGs provide sanitation loans and conduct hygiene education in their communities. For awareness generation among the community, the method of community-led total sanitation (CLTS) has adapted. It aims to create ODF communities. Jeevika didis have been playing an important role in creating awareness about the need for toilets and motivating women to construct toilets. Their role in social mobilization and behavioural change has helped us to achieve an ODF Bihar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare consumers may be behaving to some extent based on the nature of healthcare being a necessity or otherwise. The choice of either of public and private providers may depend upon factors like availability, accessibility, cost and quality. To some extent, this is revealed through their elasticities based on income, cost, quality and socio-economic factors. Objective of this paper is to explore the demand for healthcare services in India and estimate consumers' elasticities to these factors. Using logit results we find that an individual may choose his preference for private or public based on distance of facility from residence. It may also depend whether it is rural or urban area and whether the income levels of state are below or above all India average. Comparing our results for two all India surveys, it is observed that people's perception and thus preferences are mostly based on choices of nearby location, suitable timings, presence of medical personnel and less waiting time. The presence of insurance either by a national or state sponsored scheme seems to have changed the nature of healthcare demand in India from a stark necessity to a matter of better choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumer Behaviour is one of the themes that advertiser uses to better understanding of buyer on how their behavior respond when comes to purchasing choices. Home purchasing behavior has advanced in the most recent decade. In a developing economy like India, the purchasing behaviors in the real estate sector have changed radically over the years. The consolidation of buying behavior ideas into the decision-making process of apartments and villas will enhance the understanding of the individual decision-making process. Various models and theories have been proposed to explain the customers' pre and post-purchase behavior. Therefore, this paper has aimed at exploring the existing literature in the context of the factors influencing the buying behavior and the level of satisfaction of buyers in the Realty Sector especially in the purchasing of Apartments and Villas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a constant search across the globe for optimal healthcare solutions with affordability, accessibility, availability, and quality of healthcare services being the burning issue for mankind. The pandemic has further necessitated the need of use of the Telemedicine platform to address healthcare issues which are also non Covid related. Though Telemedicine has been in use for over two decades in India, there have been various challenges and adoption issues which have not yet made the technology an effective solution to address the current healthcare issues. There has been phenomenal growth in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) over the last decade and its utilization in the healthcare field. Methods: Internet research on the various adoption strategies by healthcare providers coupled with our own experience for using this technology along with guidelines provided by the information and communication technology providers. The Telemedicine Guidelines of 2020 released by the Ministry of Health and Family welfare, India, provides a framework for the implementation of healthcare delivery through this technology. Results: This paper mentions our telemedicine experience in governmental and private institutes and highlights the implementation challenges of this technology and some solutions that made a difference in the execution. However, we discuss to a larger extent the possible challenges and barriers in the implementation of this technology in India. Conclusion: Despite successful work in the field of telemedicine, it is yet to become an integral part of healthcare system because challenges related to adaptability of healthcare users and lack of proper training to fast growing technologies. The future is going to compel the usage of this kind of technology and it is essential for setting up infrastructure and having trained personnel to man these departments to encash the full potential of the telemedicine technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 3 billion of the world's population are affected by household air pollution from relying on unprocessed solid fuels for heating and cooking. Household air pollution is harmful to human health, climate, and environment. Sustained uptake and use of cleaner cooking technologies and fuels are proposed as solutions to this problem. In this paper, we present our study protocol aimed at understanding multiple interacting feedback mechanisms involved in the dynamic behavior between social, ecological, and technological systems driving sustained use or abandonment of cleaner cooking technologies among the rural poor in India. Methods/Design: This study uses a comparative case study design to understand the dynamics of sustained use or abandonment of cleaner cooking technologies and fuels in four rural communities of Rajasthan, India. The study adopts a community based system dynamics modeling approach. We describe our approach of using community based system dynamics with rural communities to delineate the feedback mechanisms involved in the uptake and sustainment of clean cooking technologies. We develop a reference mode with communities showing the trend over time of use or abandonment of cleaner cooking technologies and fuels in these communities. Subsequently, the study develops a system dynamics model with communities to understand the complex sub-systems driving the behavior in these communities as reflected in the reference mode. We use group model building techniques to facilitate participation of relevant stakeholders in the four communities and elicit a narrative describing the feedback mechanisms underlying sustained adoption or abandonment of cleaner cooking technologies. Discussion: In understanding the dynamics of feedback mechanisms in the uptake and exclusive use of cleaner cooking systems, we increase the likelihood of dissemination and implementation of efficacious interventions into everyday settings to improve the health and wellbeing of women and children most affected by household air pollution. The challenge is not confined to developing robust technical solutions to reduce household air pollution and exposure to improve respiratory health, and prevent associated diseases. The bigger challenge is to disseminate and implement cleaner cooking technologies and fuels in the context of various social, behavioral, and economic constraints faced by poor households and communities. Trial registration: The Institutional Review Board of Washington University in St. Louis has exempted community based system dynamics modeling from review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus responsible for transmitting severe viruses, such as dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, and Zika, pose a significant health threat in India. Challenges in vector control, including insecticide resistance and limited progress in vaccine development, coupled with factors like climate change and urbanization, contribute to an extensive expansion of mosquito habitats and disease transmission. However, the existing literature on how these factors influence mosquito behavior, genetic architecture, and virus transmission patterns in different regions of India is insufficient. Methods: This scoping review conducted a thorough search across online databases, such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed. The keywords that were used were as follows: “Ae. Aegypti,” “Ae. albopictus,” “breeding habitat,” “feeding preference,” “genetic diversity,” “virus transmission,” “dengue,” “chikungunya,” “Zika,” and “India.” The online search, conducted from October to November 2023, focused on English-language articles from 2013 to November 2023. The inclusion criteria encompassed articles addressing Aedes behavior, genetic diversity, and disease transmission, while the exclusion criteria removed non-Aedes mosquito studies and duplicates. Article quality was manually checked and assessed. Results: The literature survey spanning the past ten years categorized the data into the following four subgroups: “Arboviral disease,” “arbovirus transmission,” “Aedes mosquito behavior,” and “genetic diversity.” The data synthesis emphasized the need to focus on Aedes mosquito breeding habitats and virus transmission patterns in common dengue endemic regions, like Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh in India. However, research on feeding behavior and genetic diversity is scarce. Hence, more research should be conducted in these areas. Conclusion: This analysis highlights critical gaps in our understanding, emphasizing the necessity for detailed mapping, studying virus evolution, socio-epidemiological research, and using advanced technologies for real-time monitoring. Understanding the complex relationships between blood-feeding patterns, host preferences, and diverse breeding habitats is crucial for effective disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 was one of the rare events that shocked almost every world government simultaneously, thus creating an unusual opportunity to understand how political institutions shape policy decisions. There have been many analyses of what governments did. We focus instead on what they could do, focusing on the institutional politics of agency – how institutions empower rather than how they constrain, and how they affect public policy decisions. We examine public health measures in the first wave (March-September 2020) in Brazil, India, and the U.S. to understand how the interplay of institutions in a complex federal context shaped COVID-19 policy-responses. We find similar patterns of concentrated federal executive agency with limited constraints. In each case, when federal leadership failed public health policy responses, federated, subnational states were left to compensate for these inefficiencies without necessary resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that the ground behaviour for rock tunnelling depends on the rock mass strength and the in situ stresses. The rock mass strength, to a considerable extent, is governed by the presence of joints/discontinuities and their properties. Three aspects concerning the joints are primarily responsible for the reduction in the strength and are measurable in the field: (i) Joint frequency or number of joints per metre length in the direction of loading (Jn), (ii) orientation of critical joint set with respect to loading direction (β), and (iii) shear strength along the critical joint set (r). These three factors have been combined into another rock mass parameter, namely, the joint factor (Jf). Thus, joint factor has been selected as one of the parameters for developing the empirical correlation for predicting the ground behaviour. In addition to joint factor, the tunnel size and the tunnel depth are the other two involved parameters. Details of data and the process of developing the empirical correlations are discussed in the paper. The proposed empirical correlations for non-squeezing and squeezing ground behaviours have been validated by comparing the results with the observed data obtained from various sections of one Himalayan tunnel recently excavated in the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the promising growth of Organic Food in the Asia region, this paper attempts to identify and understand the factors influencing the Purchase Intention and Actual Purchase of Organic Food in the Indian Urban market. The research was done starting with an extensive literature review followed by conducting a survey by administrating a structured questionnaire in the city of Mumbai. Empirical results reinforced the findings of few earlier studies of the countries of the emerging economies and challenged a few. The results indicate that Health, Environment friendly processes and Quality are the primary factors influencing the Purchase Intentions of the customers, however when it comes to Actual purchase the factor of the product being produced through environmentally friendly process is not influencing the consideration of the customer. Further research can be undertaken to identify the factors which will build the confidence and trust of the customer regarding adherence to environmentally friendly processes for production of organic food. This will help the marketers to convert the Purchase intention of the customers to Actual Purchase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the gap between the perception and actual behaviour of Indian men towards the sexual and reproductive rights of women in the country. Data from National Family Health Survey (NFHS, 2005-2006) and from Coordinated HIV/AIDS Response through Capacity Building and Awareness (CHARCA, 2007-2008) was used. Results revealed a considerable gap in men's perception and behaviour. The gap is almost double in the state of Bihar compared with national average. It (the gap) is more conspicuous in districts than their respective states. Positive communication to address power dynamics within marriage is vital and needs to be promoted to tackle this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Safe disposal of feces is ensured when it is deposited into a toilet, whereas unsafe disposal of child's feces plays a crucial role in disease transmission and environmental pollution. These areas are overlooked by many sanitation promotion interventions. Objective: To determine the effect of positive deviance (PD) approach on safe disposal of child's feces among households who owned a toilet. Materials and Methods: A community-based quasi-experimental study was conducted in the four field practice villages of the Urban Health Training Center, Villupuram, for 18 months. Households who owned a toilet and had a child less than 5 years old were included. After IEC clearance, information was collected from a representative sample of 100 households before intervention and another 100 households after intervention. PD approach was applied for 6 months to promote safe disposal practices in the study villages. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software (version 24). The Chi-square test was used to determine the significance of difference between baseline and endline data. The effect size was calculated to estimate the magnitude of difference between baseline and endline data. Results: Before intervention, only 3% of households disposed the feces into a toilet, while after intervention, almost 38% of households disposed in the toilet (χ² = 37.39; df = 1; P = 0.001). The effect size (Cramer's V) was found to be 0.43. Conclusion: PD approach demonstrated considerable improvements in safe disposal of child's feces in rural settings. Further, to sustain the behavior change, frequent reinforcement of key messages at frequent intervals needs to be emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased use of smart devices is causing a movement away from traditional learning methods and towards online learning approaches. Concerns have been expressed concerning the harmful impact of increased internet usage among children on a variety of factors, including health, social activities, outdoor participation, academic performance, and behavior. The purpose of this study is to look into how children's internet use affects their academic achievement, outdoor activities, social interactions, behavior, and health. This study presents a model to show the potential correlations between children's internet usage, academic performance, outdoor activities, social interactions, behavior, and health. The study intends to create links and comprehend the total influence of internet usage on children by analyzing these characteristics. A questionnaire with closed-ended questions was used as a survey strategy to collect data for the study. In and around Navi Mumbai, India, 502 responses were collected from parents of school-aged children aged 6 to 12 years. A random sample method was used in the survey research design, and information was gathered using a pre-structured questionnaire. The information gathered was coded and entered into SPSS 20 for analysis. To analyses the data, descriptive statistics and the Chi Square test were used, and conclusions were drawn based on the results. A significant correlation was discovered between children's internet usage, academic achievement, outdoor activities, social interactions, behavior, and health, according to the research. The study's model successfully establishes probable correlations between these factors, and statistical tests confirm these linkages further. Finally, the growing popularity of online learning methods, fueled by the rising use of smart devices, has sparked concerns regarding the influence of internet consumption on children. This study looks into the consequences of internet use on several elements of children's lives. The study proposed model aids in understanding the connections between internet usage, academic performance, outdoor activities, social interactions, behavior, and health. The statistical study supports the probable correlations between these variables, providing important insights into the implications of children's internet usage in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of hip fractures in older adults in India is likely to increase dramatically in the coming decades as a result of an aging population and increasing life expectancy. Currently, more than 600,000 adults over 60 years of age suffer a hip fracture annually in India. This paper outlines a protocol for a qualitative study investigating the care seeking behavior of older adults with hip fractures: to determine the processes in decision making, identify causes for delay in obtaining care, and identify potential barriers and facilitators to seeking appropriate care in time. Methods and design: The planned study will consider Odisha, an eastern state in India with limited health care facility, as a suitable case study. It is proposed to conduct 30 in-depth interviews in two administrative districts of Odisha. The participants will be patient and their carers in seven health facilities- four public hospitals, two private hospitals and one traditional bone-setting facility. The study relies on a purposive sampling strategy. Ethics permission will be sought from each participating institution and participants. The participants will be adults aged 50 years or older of both sexes arriving at the recruiting centers with a history of fall or injury, pain in the hip region and inability to walk and X-ray confirmed diagnosis of proximal femoral fracture and their primary carer. Trained qualitative research team will conduct these interviews. A thematic framework approach will be used to analyze the data using NVivo 9 software. The data collected from the interviews will be analysed to explore the cause of the hip fracture, events following the injury, the experiences of patients from the time of sustaining the injury, pain relief measures, decision to seek care, understanding of the urgency for treatment, causes for delay in receiving treatment, funding sources, cost liabilities for the family, financing mechanisms for out of pocket expenditure and the burden for caring. Discussion: The findings of this study will provide an increased understanding of the care seeking behaviors of older adults with hip fracture, and inform contextually appropriate changes in healthcare program and policy aimed at improving health outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To test an infographic two-pager on medication abortions (MA) aimed to improve pharmacists counseling in India.Methods: A quantitative baseline survey was conducted among 283 pharmacists in three districts around Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh in January 2018. The intervention (infographic) was given to 117 of these pharmacists a few weeks later and a follow-up survey was conducted 3 months later with 281 pharmacists. In addition, mystery clients were sent to 115 of the pharmacists.Results: A statistically significant improvement in knowledge post-intervention was found, compared to pre-, for almost all quality items measured. Difference-in-difference estimators showed a difference in knowledge among indicators related to misoprostol in particular. However, mystery client reports showed few differences in pharmacist behaviors between intervention and control pharmacists.Conclusion: This simple, paper-based intervention, which required no training, showed a significant improvement in pharmacists' knowledge and was welcomed by the providers. Translating knowledge into behavior change, however, seems more difficult to impact. Adapting this simple intervention to motivate providers to change behaviors could improve the quality of care provided by pharmacists in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed consumer buying behavior across the world. COVID-19 crisis brought a behavioral change in consumers' attitudes toward health, financial and social well-being. The current research work highlights the factors influencing consumer buying behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic considering saving and safety perspectives. Design/methodology/approach: This study attempts to understand the gap in buying behavior with reference to saving and safety. Survey-based study was conducted during the second phase of COVID-19, and the respondents were those who lived in highly affected COVID cities in India. Exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were carried out for testing the hypotheses. Findings: Seven factors became the prominent factors in consumer buying patterns during the pandemic. Consumers in the times of COVID-19 pandemic spend only on essential items as compared to nice-to-have and non-essential items. Research limitations/implications: Respondents considered in the research were millennials aged 25–40. The current research is limited to specific geographic location. Practical implications: The study assessed how savings and safety influence consumer buying behavior. The 2S framework model for consumer buying behavior during pandemic has been developed. The findings of the study provides a road map to the companies, policy makers, managers and consumers in understanding the consumer buying behavior during pandemic. Originality/value: The current research work observe the changes in the behavioral patterns of consumers in the context of 2S framework, i.e. saving and safety. This study offer novel contribution as there is no available literature that examined the saving and safety aspects together for consumer buying behavior during crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How can ethnographic research improve surveys? I illustrate the benefit of sustained qualitative research on survey design and implementation with reference to my own study of a neglected urban population: internal migrants. Such migrants are an important part of expanding South Asian and African cities. The informality and circular mobility of these populations prevent researchers from accessing them through traditional residence-based surveys. Scant existing knowledge weakens our ability to design theoretically precise and contextually appropriate survey instruments for these understudied communities, particularly cognitively demanding survey experiments to assess political attitudes. I argue that ethnographic fieldwork can help researchers address insufficient access and weak ecological and construct validity. I substantiate these arguments with data and insights from 15 months of fieldwork among circular urban migrants in India. First, I show how ethnography can help design context-sensitive sampling strategies that mitigate concerns of inadequate coverage, high non-response, and inefficiency. Second, I show how ethnography can be used to improve the ecological and construct validity of survey-based experiments. Finally, I show how such ethnographic innovations can be applied beyond the study population that inspired them. Sustained qualitative fieldwork can thus improve survey-based research on political behavior on neglected communities across the global south. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To make informed decisions on fertility treatment, couples need to understand the treatment options available to them. A wide range of treatment options is available from the traditional and biomedical service providers in India. There is a dearth of research to find out factors that influence the treatment-seeking behavior of couples, particularly in rural areas. Objectives: The study aimed to document the treatment-seeking behavior of women for their infertility problems. Further, the research focused on the socio-economic determinants aecting allopathic treatment-seeking of women and the services needed for couples experiencing infertility in rural India. Methods: The study is cross-sectional. Primary data were collected from the two high infertility prevalence districts. Complete mapping and listing were carried out to identify the eligible respondents. A total of 159 ever-married women (20–49 years) out of 172 identified women were interviewed. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Among 159 interviewed women, only three did not seek any kind of treatment. Of the 156 women, 63, 65, and 28 women (mutually exclusive) received first, second and third-order treatment, respectively. The number of women decreased in the succeeding phases of infertility. Women aged above 35 years, were significantly less (OR = 0.310, p < 0.05) compared to women aged below 30 years to receive allopathic treatment. The use of allopathic treatment was significantly three times higher among women who were educated (OR = 3.712, p < 0.01) and two times higher among those who were exposed (OR = 2.217, p < 0.5) to media. Further, for those who had felt the treatment was necessary, about 30, 44, 10, and 19% mentioned that due to unaordability, inaccessibility, or inconveniences they couldn’t consult allopathic treatment. Conclusions: Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment play important role in infertility management. Women who are more educated and are exposed to media tend to consult allopathic treatment. Similarly, time and money spent on care vary significantly and independently by type of treatment and socioeconomic factors. There is a need for mandatory insurance coverage for infertility treatment enacted by the state government. In addition to public services, the private sector and the traditional healers are both important alternative sources of first help. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to depict the experience of the people in enduring the quarantine in the global supply chains breakdown during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Quarantined Individual's behavior can be defined as the means by which an individual withstands and behaves in response to the quarantine process. The study was a cross sectional, exploratory study carried out in India. Exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and correlation were performed from the data. Exploratory factor analysis was carried out to validate the Quarantined Individual's Behavior scale which reveals six factors which include quarantine awareness, quarantine anxiety, personal measures, domestic measures, hygiene measures, and societal measures. The survey was conducted online, 382 responses of the internet users of different groups was taken as valid. The first order confirmatory factor analysis was performed and further the Correlation was performed to check the multicollinearity. Thus, the scale Quarantined Individual's Behavior is proved suitable to be used in different context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study explores the readiness of government agencies to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the efficiency of disaster relief operations (DRO). For understanding the behavior of state-level and national-level government agencies involved in DRO, this study grounds its theoretical arguments on the civic voluntarism model (CVM) and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). Design/methodology/approach: We collected the primary data for this study from government agencies involved in DRO in India. To test the proposed theoretical model, we administered an online survey questionnaire to 184 government agency employees. To test the hypotheses, we employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: Our findings confirm that resources (time, money and skills) significantly influence the behavioral intentions related to the adoption of AI tools for DRO. Additionally, we identified that the behavioral intentions positively translate into the actual adoption of AI tools. Research limitations/implications: Our study provides a unique viewpoint suited to understand the context of the adoption of AI in a governmental context. Companies often strive to invest in state-of-the-art technologies, but it is important to understand how government bodies involved in DRO strategize to adopt AI to improve efficiency. Originality/value: Our study offers a fresh perspective in understanding how the organizational culture and perspectives of government officials influence their inclinations to adopt AI for DRO. Additionally, it offers a multidimensional perspective by integrating the theoretical frameworks of CVM and UTAUT for a greater understanding of the adoption and deployment of AI tools with organizational culture and voluntariness as critical moderators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding how knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding leprosy differ in endemic countries can help us develop targeted educational and behavioural change interventions. This study aimed to examine the differences and commonalities in and determinants of knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears regarding leprosy in endemic districts in India and Indonesia. Principle findings: A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was used. Persons affected by leprosy, their close contacts, community members and health workers were included. Through interview-administered questionnaires we assessed knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears with the KAP measure, EMIC-CSS and SDS. In addition, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. The quantitative data were analysed using stepwise multivariate regression. Determinants of knowledge and stigma that were examined included age, gender, participant type, education, occupation, knowing someone affected by leprosy and district. The qualitative data were analysed using open, inductive coding and content analysis. We administered questionnaires to 2344 participants (46% from India, 54% from Indonesia) as an interview. In addition, 110 participants were interviewed in-depth and 60 participants were included in focus group discussions. Knowledge levels were low in both countries: 88% of the participants in India and 90% of the participants in Indonesia had inadequate knowledge of leprosy. In both countries, cause, mode of transmission, early symptoms and contagiousness of leprosy was least known, and treatment and treatability of leprosy was best known. In both countries, health workers had the highest leprosy knowledge levels and community members the highest stigma levels (a mean score of up to 17.4 on the EMIC-CSS and 9.1 on the SDS). Data from the interviews indicated that people were afraid of being infected by leprosy. Local beliefs and misconceptions differed, for instance that leprosy is in the family for seven generations (Indonesia) or that leprosy is a result of karma (India). The determinants of leprosy knowledge and stigma explained 10–29% of the variability in level of knowledge and 3–10% of the variability in level of stigma. Conclusion: Our findings show the importance of investigating the perceptions regarding leprosy prior to educational interventions in communities: even though knowledge levels were similar, local beliefs and misconceptions differed per setting. The potential determinants we included in our study explained very little of the variability in level of knowledge and stigma and should be explored further. Detailed knowledge of local knowledge gaps, beliefs and fears can help tailor health education to local circumstances. Author summary: This study aimed to examine the differences and commonalities in and determinants of knowledge, attitudes, practices and fears regarding leprosy in endemic districts in India and Indonesia. Persons affected by leprosy, their close contacts, community members and health workers were included. We administered questionnaires (the KAP measure, EMIC-CSS and SDS) to 2344 participants. In addition, 110 participants were interviewed in-depth and 60 participants were included in focus group discussions. Knowledge levels were low. In both countries, cause, mode of transmission, early symptoms and contagiousness of leprosy was least known, and treatment and treatability of leprosy was best known. In both countries, health workers had the highest leprosy knowledge levels and community members the highest stigma levels. Data from the interviews indicated that people were afraid of being infected by leprosy. Local beliefs and misconceptions differed. The potential determinants we included in our study explained very little of the variability in level of knowledge and stigma and should be explored further. Our findings show the importance of investigating the perceptions regarding leprosy prior to educational interventions in communities: even though knowledge levels were similar, local beliefs and misconceptions differed per setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors explore the role of social–emotional learning in developing positive behaviors in students and the related challenges faced by teachers in the United States and India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On March 24, 2020 India implemented a national lockdown to prevent spread of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among its 1.3 billion people. As the pandemic may disproportionately impact women and girls, this study examines gender differences in knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms and preventive behaviors, as well as the adverse effects of the lockdown among adolescents and young adults. A mobile phone-based survey was implemented from April 3–22, 2020 in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar among respondents randomly selected from an existing cohort study. Respondents answered questions related to demographics, COVID-19 knowledge, attitudes, and preventive behaviors practiced, and impacts on social, economic and health outcomes. Descriptive analyses and linear probability regression models were performed for all participants and separately for men and women. A total of 1,666 adolescents and young adults (18–24 years old) were surveyed; 70% were women. While most participants had high awareness of disease symptoms and preventive behaviors, there was variation by gender. Compared to men, women were seven percentage points (pp) less likely to know the main symptoms of COVID-19 (coeff = -0.071; 95% confidence interval: -0.122 - -0.021). Among women, there was variation in knowledge by education level, urban residence, and household wealth. Women were 22 pp less likely to practice key preventive behaviors compared to men (coeff = -0.222; 95% CIL -0.263, -0.181). Women were also more likely to report recent depressive symptoms than men (coeff = 0.057; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.109). Our findings underscore that COVID-19 is already disproportionately impacting adolescent girls and young women and that they may require additional targeted, gender-sensitive messaging to foster behavior change. Gender-sensitive information campaigns and provision of health services must be accessible and provide women and girls with needed resources and support during the pandemic to ensure gains in public health and gender equity are not lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Person-centered quality for family planning has been gaining increased attention, yet few interventions have focused on this, or measured associations between person-centered quality for family planning and family planning outcomes (uptake, continuation, etc.). In India, the first point of contact for family planning is often the community health care worker, in this case, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs).Methods: In this study, we evaluate a training on person-centered family planning as an add-on to a training on family planning provision for urban ASHAs in Varanasi, India in 2019 using mixed methods. We first validate a scale to measure person-centered family planning in a community health worker population and find it to be valid. Higher person-centered family planning scores are associated with family planning uptake.Results: Comparing women who saw intervention compared to control ASHAs, we find that the intervention had no impact on overall person-centered family planning scores. Women in the intervention arm were more likely to report that their ASHA had a strong preference about what method they choose, suggesting that the training increased provider pressure. However, qualitative interviews with ASHAs suggest that they value person-centered care for their interactions and absorbed the messages from the intervention.Conclusions: More research is needed on how to intervene to change behaviors related to person-centered family planning.Trial Registration: This study received IRB approval from the University of California, San Francisco (IRB # 15-25,950) and was retrospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT04206527 ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian flying fox Pteropus giganteus (Brünnich, 1782) is one of the largest fruit bats (Pteropodidae) in the world. However, studies on seasonal variations and influence of weather parameters on diurnal roosting of this species in urban areas are almost non-existent. We carried out this study in a major urban landscape of India to determine which weather parameters influence diurnal roosting behaviours of Indian flying fox. Behavioural data was assessed through scan sampling method. Sleeping, thermoregulatory, locomotion and communicative behaviour, all of which varied significantly, showing highest incidences of sleeping followed by thermoregulatory, locomotion and communicative behaviours. Sleeping was negatively related with thermoregulatory, locomotion and communicative behaviours; thermoregulatory behaviour was positively related with locomotion and locomotion with communicative behaviour. Except sleeping, all other behaviours were positively related to temperature and were higher in summer than winter. Cloud cover negatively influenced sleeping and positively influenced thermoregulatory and locomotion behaviour; humidity negatively influenced thermoregulatory behaviour and rainfall negatively influenced locomotion behaviour of Indian flying foxes. Our findings might be useful for conservation of diurnal roosting sites of fruit bats in many urban landscapes in the recent scenario of changing climate and rapid urbanization throughout the globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What led to the Sino-Indian militarized confrontations in 1959? I argue that Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai became a victim of changed perceptions in China. As long as China's external and internal environment was relatively secure, India was seen as a potential ally, and Sino-Indian relations thrived. As external and internal pressures on China mounted, India's behaviour vis-à-vis the Dalai Lama's flight from China and the territorial dispute was perceived by China as reactionary. This change in perceptions prevented Beijing from adopting a conciliatory approach to India's claims and eventually led to the 1962 border war. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological crisis during recrudescence of pandemic like COVID-19 may stir fear and anxiety leading to prejudices against people and communities, social isolation and stigma. Such behavioral change may wind up into increased hostility, chaos and unnecessary social disruptions. A qualitative exploratory approach was utilized to conduct an extensive review of secondary literature. The case-studies were gathered from academic literature like articles, opinions and perspective pieces published in journals and in grey literature like publications in humanitarian agencies and media reports. Grey literature was included in the scope as the COVID-19 situation is still evolving. I discuss some of the mechanisms of stigmatization and how social connectedness and empathetic understandings can be a way out of negative stereotyping and discrimination met out to the sufferer of the communicable diseases as COVID-19. Empathetic understanding paves a way to approach a problem from the perspective of 'we' not limiting one only to 'I'. The moment when we make an approach from 'I' to 'We' actually then we embark on a journey of illness to wellness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]