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Government of India has cleared the New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by bringing out many reforms in the education sector with a focus on education design, delivery, and assessment. This work is an attempt toward perceiving the post-COVID-19 era as an enabler in the engineering education process for the implementation of blended learning. Causal analysis through the Ishikawa diagram is brainstormed for enlisting all the potential causal factors for the inability to restore normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Process Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (PFMEA) is adopted for restoring normalcy through prioritized corrective actions. Thus, NEP 2020 is considered for leveraging blended learning.

Aim/Purpose: This mixed-methods study aims to examine factors influencing academicians' intentions to continue using AI-based chatbots by integrating the Task-Technology Fit (TTF) model and social network characteristics. Background: AI-powered chatbots are gaining popularity across industries, including academia. However, empirical research on academicians' adoption behavior is limited. This study proposes an integrated model incorporating TTF factors and social network characteristics like density, homophily, and connectedness to understand academics' continuance intentions. Methodology: A qualitative study involving 31 interviews of academics from India examined attitudes and the potential role of social network characteristics like density, homophily, and connectedness in adoption. Results showed positive sentiment towards chatbots and themes on how peer groups accelerate diffusion. In the second phase, a survey of 448 faculty members from prominent Indian universities was conducted to test the proposed research model. Contribution: The study proposes and validates an integrated model of TTF and social network factors that influence academics' continued usage intentions toward AI chatbots. It highlights the nuanced role of peer networks in shaping adoption. Findings: Task and technology characteristics positively affected academics' intentions to continue AI chatbot usage. Among network factors, density showed the strongest effect on TTF and perceived usefulness, while homophily and connectedness had partial effects. The study provides insights into designing appropriate AI tools for the academic context. Recommendations for Practitioners: AI chatbot designers should focus on aligning features to academics' task needs and preferences. Compatibility with academic work culture is critical. Given peer network influences, training and demonstrations to user groups can enhance adoption. Platforms should have capabilities for collaborative use. Targeted messaging customized to disciplines can resonate better with academic subgroups. Multidisciplinary influencers should be engaged. Concerns like plagiarism risks, privacy, and job impacts should be transparently addressed. Recommendation for Researchers: More studies are needed across academic subfields to understand nuanced requirements and barriers. Further studies are recommended to investigate differences across disciplines and demographics, relative effects of specific network factors like size, proximity, and frequency of interaction, the role of academic leadership and institutional policies in enabling chatbot adoption, and how AI training biases impact usefulness perceptions and ethical issues. Impact on Society: Increased productivity in academia through the appropriate and ethical use of AI can enhance quality, access, and equity in education. AI can assist in mundane tasks, freeing academics' time for higher-order objectives like critical thinking development. Responsible AI design and policies considering socio-cultural aspects will benefit sustainable growth. With careful implementation, it can make positive impacts on student engagement, learning support, and research efficiency. Future Research: Conduct longitudinal studies to examine the long-term impacts of AI chatbot usage in academia. Track usage behaviors over time as familiarity develops. Investigate differences across academic disciplines and roles. Requirements may vary for humanities versus STEM faculty or undergraduate versus graduate students. Assess user trust in AI and how it evolves with repeated usage, and examine trust-building strategies. Develop frameworks to assess pedagogical effectiveness and ethical risks of conversational agents in academic contexts.

The purpose of this research is to study the moderating role of organizational support on the relationship between social support and self-employment intentions of professional and technical education students. A total of 418 valid responses were used for data analysis. SPSS AMOS version 24 and Process Macro version 4.2 were used to test the proposed hypotheses. The direct relationship between social support and self-employment intentions was found to be strong and significant. The moderation analysis shows that at the higher level of organizational support, social support has a significant positive impact on the self-employment intentions of the students. Subsequently, as the organizational support is lessened, the relationship becomes non-significant.

The current educational scenario is changing and inclining more towards digital technologies for teaching-learning. Interactions during the classrooms or virtual sessions are vital for students' learning engagements. Learner-learner interactions and educator-learner interactions during online classes are to be promoted and sustained for a better teaching-learning experience. The use of social media in education is noted in previous research. This paper aims to explore the role of social media in learner-learner interactions and its impact on students' learning engagement. A theoretical model is proposed in the study through a review of existing literature. The model testing is done with data of 344 respondents through a self-designed structured questionnaire. The respondents are selected from an urban city in western India. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling are applied for the hypotheses testing and regression analysis. The results indicate that the learner-learner interactions, as well as the educator-learner interactions, are imperative for student learning engagement in online teaching. Also, learner-learner interactions are positively affected by the students' self-efficacy concerning the technology. The study also noted that the use of social media improves learner-learner interaction and student learning engagement in a technology-mediated learning environment.

Purpose: The study aims to examine the mediating effect of psychological well-being (PWB) on the relationship between teamwork skills and student engagement (SE) in higher education institutional setups. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a triangulation mixed-methods approach. Data were collected from final-year students pursuing post-graduation and graduation in private colleges in India. In the main study, quantitative data was gathered from 276 students through a survey. The relationship among the variables-teamwork skills, SE and PWB was empirically validated through path analysis; mediation was also conducted. In the auxiliary study, qualitative data was gathered through focus group sessions and was analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings: Results depicted that teamwork skills positively predict students' engagement with their academic program. Additionally, PWB partially mediates the relationship between teamwork skills and SE. Originality/value: The study was conducted to expand understanding of aspects related to promoting students' engagement in HEIs in Delhi and Haryana through being attentive toward teamwork skills development and through taking care of students' PWB.

Purpose: This study primarily aims at assessing Faculty Competences Development Components (FCDCs) that help in the development of educational leaders. The study further formulates a model using seven latent constructs that explain the development of the mechanism of development of educational leaders and extend the benefits of their development to different stakeholders including faculty, educational institutions and society at large. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify various FCDCs to construct a conceptual framework. Later, this conceptual framework was tested through empirical research using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique carried out with respect to technical institutions of Punjab (India). Findings: The study identified that organizational roles are of the highest importance for the competences development of educational leaders followed by teachers' attributes and teachers' roles. The study's findings also revealed that FCDCs significantly impact beneficiaries by developing competent educational leaders as mediators between the FCDCs and beneficiaries link. The biggest beneficiaries of development are faculty members of these institutes in terms of their performance enhancements. Originality/value: The study is unique in terms of developing a model for the competences development of educational leaders and helpful in understanding various benefits of the educational leaders to various educational stakeholders.

Purpose: The study aims to shed light on the role of university support (US), environmental concern (EC) and Sustainable Development Goal knowledge (SDGK) in forming students' intention (SI) to engage in sustainability-driven entrepreneurship. The authors attempted to blend the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and social cognitive career theory (SCCT) as a potentially useful theoretical base for sustainability-driven entrepreneurial intention (SDEI) development. Design/methodology/approach: The responses were collected from university students in India using a self-administered questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and partial least squares structured equation modelling (PLS-SEM) are used to examine the data. Findings: The university support strongly influences students' attitudes towards sustainable entrepreneurship (ATT) and outcome expectations (OEs). Also, the degree of understanding about SDGs among students was alarmingly low, which has crucial negative consequences for future SDG achievement. Practical implications: The findings of this study may assist academicians and environmental strategists in deciding the crucial factors influencing SI to start a sustainable business. The study highlights the importance of universities in promoting entrepreneurial sustainability decisions. Originality/value: This research will add value to the prevailing literature in the area of sustainable entrepreneurship as it explores the effects of environmental concern, SDGK and the role of US on sustainable entrepreneurial intention (EI) among Indian engineering students.

"Dalits" are a historically marginalized caste group in India. In this study, we examine the impact that the institution of caste has on career change. Focusing on the shift from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to non-STEM careers, we ask why members of the Dalit communities in India leave their STEM careers. To present a comprehensive understanding of this career change, we also examine the factors that facilitate their retention in STEM careers. Deriving data from in-depth interviews with 42 STEM scholars from the Dalit communities in India, we illustrate their organizational experiences that are based on casteism. Qualitative data analyses were done using the grounded theory method. Results suggest that while caste operates in a unique way to drive away Dalit scholars from their STEM careers, doing gender plays an important role in their retention within the same careers.

The propensity to cheat is intrinsic to every kind of education or training that requires effort and commitment. Academic dishonesty is a significant issue among secondary and postsecondary students worldwide. The majority of students have been involved in at least one kind of academic dishonesty in the preceding academic year. The fraud triangle was studied to explain student dishonesty. The present research evaluates how much the fraud triangle theory adds to business school students' dishonesty. Technology as a mediator has also been studied. The research found that, despite their insight into the gravity of most cheating activities, students continued to actively participate in cheating.

Purpose: The present paper concerns the domestic and international accreditations of business schools to find the commonalities in various accreditation standards. The study also addresses cost involvement and comparisons between various accreditations. Design/methodology/approach: The research examined the requirements, methods and preparations for many national and international accrediting authorities. The accreditation criteria, history and guidelines were collected from secondary data sources. The content analysis was used to draw conclusions about the similarities and differences between the data sources and identify any differences and similarities between various accreditations. Findings: The study found commonalities across accreditation standards and cost analyses, helping institutions achieve suitable accreditations. To unify the administrative procedure at the institutional level and reduce duplicates for schools seeking multiple accreditations, similarities in all accreditation requirements are analysed. The comparison helps organisations determine which accreditation standard best suits their needs and goals. Schools with limited budgets might compare accreditation costs to determine which are worth pursuing. Research limitations/implications: This study is limited to comparing a few accreditation bodies related to management education. In future research, the study may be extended to other areas. The use of the approach developed in this study for evaluating accreditation agencies of different streams, such as engineering, science and medicine, will be the study's future implications. Practical implications: The research indicates that schools can streamline accreditation by identifying commonalities, aligning procedures, comparing standards and conducting cost assessments. These insights aid efficient accreditation and inform accrediting bodies' framework enhancements. Standards facilitate global performance comparisons. Originality/value: This is likely the first study to compare Indian and international accreditations using the accreditation frameworks and cost analyses using comparative analysis. The study recommends strategies for achieving academic benchmarks through continuous improvement activities and success in international competition.

Objectives: Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms were widely reported. However, data on post-COVID-19 conditions following infection with the Omicron variant remained scarce. This prospective study was conducted to understand the prevalence, patterns, and duration of symptoms in patients who had recovered from COVID-19. Methods: A prospective study was conducted across 11 districts of Delhi, India, among individuals who had recovered from COVID-19. Study participants were enrolled, and then returned for post-recovery follow-up at 3 months and 6 months interval. Results: The mean age of study participants was 42.07 years, with a standard deviation of 14.89 years. The majority of the participants (79.7%) reported experiencing post-COVID-19 symptoms. The most common symptoms included joint pain (36.0%), persistent dry cough (35.7%), anxiety (28.4%), and shortness of breath (27.1%). Other symptoms were persistent fatigue (21.6%), persistent headache (20.0%), forgetfulness (19.7%), and limb weakness (18.6%). The longest duration of symptom was observed to be anxiety (138.75±54.14 days), followed by fatigue (137.57±48.33 days), shortness of breath (131.89±60.21 days), and joint pain/swelling (131.59±58.76 days). At the first follow-up visit, 2.2% of participants presented with abnormal electrocardiogram readings, but no abnormalities were noticed during the second follow-up. Additionally, 4.06% of participants exhibited abnormal chest X-ray findings at the first followup, which decreased to 2.16% by the second visit. Conclusion: The most frequently reported post-COVID-19 symptoms were joint pain, dry cough, anxiety and shortness of breath. These clinical symptoms persisted for up to 6 months, with evidence of multi-system involvement. Consequently, findings highlighted the need for long-term follow-up during the post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphometric characteristics of fishes were observable characteristics that are set of largely statistical methods used for examining variations in body size and shape. The objectives taken for the current study were to examine the complete morpho-biology of Schizothorax richardsonii from three major snow-fed rivers of the Kumaun Himalaya in Uttarakhand, India, and to establish the statistical relationship among various morphological characteristics related to body size and fin shape. In this study 120 fish specimen including 66 male and 54 female were studied for one year. Twelve distinct morphometric and five meristic counts had been examined in percentage of their body length and head length respectively. For biostatistics, the data was analysed by using various statistical methods including summary statistics, correlation, PCA analysis, Barlett's test of sphericity, and multiple linear regression. Fish samples studied were found within the range of 17.7 - 42.2 cm in TL and BW from 60 - 780 gm. Morphological characteristics had high coefficient of correlation (r = 0.90), indicating the characters' strong relationship, with the highest correlation (r = 0.99). Additionally, the coefficient of determination (R2) value was found within the range of 0.62 to 0.99, which shows a significant relationship between the morphometric characteristics. PCA analysis revealed the major significance found among parameters, together with regression analysis. This study will provide a baseline data and a valuable insight into the population dynamics, and may contribute to the development of more effective strategies for the management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the health care utilization pattern, associated financial catastrophes, and inequality across Indian states to understand the subnational variations and aid the policy makers in this regard. Data from recent National Sample Survey (2017–2018), titled, "Household Social Consumption: Health," covering 113,823 households, was employed in the study. Descriptive statistics, Erreygers concentration index (CI), and recentered influence function decomposition were applied in the study. We found that, in India, 7 percent of households experienced catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and 1.9 percent of households were pushed below poverty line due to out-of-pocket expenditure on hospitalization. Notably, outpatient care was more burdensome (CHE: 12.1%; impoverishment: 4%). Substantial interstate variations were observed, with high financial burden in poorer states. Utilization of health care services from private health care providers was pro-rich (hospitalization CI 0.31; outpatient CI 0.10), while the occurrence of CHE incidence was pro-poor (hospitalization CI −0.10; outpatient CI −0.14). Education level, economic status, health insurance, and area of residence contributed significantly to inequalities in utilization of health care services from private providers and financial burden. The high financial burden of seeking health care necessitates the need to increase public health spending and strengthen public health infrastructure. Also, concerted efforts directed towards increasing awareness about health insurance and introducing comprehensive health insurance products (covering both inpatient and outpatient services) are imperative to augment financial risk protection in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper, using unit level data available in the 69th and the 76th NSSO rounds, examines access to bare necessities of life and the incidence of poverty among slum households in selected states of India. The results show that while around three-fifths of the slum households in India and in selected states with the exception of Karnataka are monetarily non poor, they are poor in terms of their deprivation score in access to bare necessities of life. The results also show that among five different dimensions of bare necessities of life, access of these households to water, sanitation and housing is particularly low. The insights from the experiences of poverty and deprivation among the slum dwellers call for targeted interventions to ensure inclusive development and hence enhance their overall well-being and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study is designed for sustainable healthcare system with providers' initiatives to provide quality services in healthcare organisations. Healthcare providers' initiatives promote quality and ensure better healthcare services. Among the healthcare providers who were studied and reviewed, it was observed that the initiatives of the healthcare providers improved the overall quality. There is a distinct scope of further enhancement with the participation of healthcare providers in healthcare organisations. The purpose of this research is to learn and determine the answers to questions through scientific application. This study shows that an augmented frequency of sustainable healthcare systems is only possible through the initiatives of healthcare providers. In healthcare services, patients remain satisfied without expressing their dissatisfaction to the management. To know the needs of patients, there has to be a certain level of relationship between healthcare providers and patients. For this purpose, the system has to be very proficient in the service conditions and their applicability for quality in the hospital. Healthcare organisations management has the conviction that the participative role of healthcare professionals in hospitals will increase patient satisfaction. In this perspective, the pressing priority of healthcare providers for hospitals will always be patients. Thus, apart from the availability of healthcare facilities and quality of care, the location of the hospital has predominant importance. Based on the findings, it is to be stated that sustainable healthcare is subject to provider's initiatives and actions for quality in healthcare organisations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Dalits" are a historically marginalized caste group in India. In this study, we examine the impact that the institution of caste has on career change. Focusing on the shift from science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to non-STEM careers, we ask why members of the Dalit communities in India leave their STEM careers. To present a comprehensive understanding of this career change, we also examine the factors that facilitate their retention in STEM careers. Deriving data from in-depth interviews with 42 STEM scholars from the Dalit communities in India, we illustrate their organizational experiences that are based on casteism. Qualitative data analyses were done using the grounded theory method. Results suggest that while caste operates in a unique way to drive away Dalit scholars from their STEM careers, doing gender plays an important role in their retention within the same careers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of planning and regulations around the landfills has resulted and continues to result in severe environmental damage to the immediate environment around the landfills. Our study systematically reviews the literature to understand different processes of monitoring and analysis of a waste disposal site. It further analyses a satellite footprint from Google Earth Engine, of the western part of India around the urban area of Bombay. For the satellite footprint, we compare different algorithms and satellites for detecting landfills using machine learning. We conduct a supervised classification for satellite images for Land Satellite Applied to Remote Sensing (LANDSAT) (2013 to 2023) and SENTINEL (2018 to 2023) using three different classification algorithms: CART (Classification and Regression Tree), Naive Bayes and SVM (Support Vector Machine). The LANDSAT SVM model was generally the most stable and consistently performed well. The model consistently has one of the highest accuracy scores over the years, followed closely by SENTINEL SVM. The analysis can be replicated to other cities and other large-area studies, and can act as a pointer in doing further analysis of the landfill that can further be used to prevent the effects of the waste disposal site on its surrounding environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spread of COVID-19, an unprecedented health shock to the world in 2020–21, led to an economic shock globally. To contain its spread, the majority of the countries introduced containment measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and quarantines. It resulted in the shutting down of many industrial establishments, a reduction in economic activities and restrictions on people's movement. The contraction in gross domestic product (GDP) and trade flow resulted in a reduction in employment and income. The recovery of output and employment varied across sectors and countries. The present endeavour aimed to understand the impact of COVID-19 on sectoral employment in India using secondary data primarily from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), the Government of India and the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) Economic Outlook. Our findings indicate that the impact of COVID-19 varies across regions, occupations and sectors. It affected employment differently across occupations in rural and urban areas. Among sectors, manufacturing, and real estate and construction, services were affected very badly. The rate of recovery was comparatively low in manufacturing, real estate and construction. All sectors indicate a V-shaped recovery for employment and output except the manufacturing sector indicating an L-shaped recovery for employment while a V-shaped recovery for output. In general, employment elasticities have declined across sectors, except for the agriculture sector, in the post-pandemic period. Given the reduction in the employment elasticities across sectors after the pandemic, it may be suggested to focus on new entrepreneurial activities, particularly in the labour-intensive sectors, and skill development programmes for enhancing employment opportunities in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is an attempt to examine the development of monopoly capitalism in India through industry-level analysis of the change in the degree of monopoly and distribution of income. To this end, the Kaleckian approach has been applied to all the 56 three-digit Indian organised manufacturing industries listed in the Annual Survey of Industries covering the period 1998–2018. The data have been examined at four levels: the aggregate sectoral level, the aggregate of the top 25 per cent industries, the aggregate of the top 10 per cent and disaggregate analysis of the top 6 industries. The study finds strong evidence of the growth of monopoly power in the manufacturing sector with the rising growth rate of the economy, indicating the rise of monopoly capitalism in India. It also brings out the dominance of the top 25 and top 10 per cent (in terms of gross value added [GVA] share and employment) manufacturing industries) in the determination of aggregate monopoly power and the wage share in the organised manufacturing sector. The study finds that under monopoly capitalism, the rise of profits of the larger industries in India's organised manufacturing sector primarily comes from the deduction of wages of production workers and the flow of surplus from smaller to larger industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to know how students in school and parents perceive social networks. A random sample of 50 adolescents aged 17–21 and 50 parents aged 45–48 irrespective of gender were selected randomly from students in the eleventh and twelfth grades with their parents in Ambala, Haryana, India. A self-developed questionnaire consisting of 60 items about social networking was used, of which half of the items were in favour and half not in favour of social networking. The scoring of the questionnaire was done using scores 1 to 7 correlating to the options from 'strongly disagree' to 'strongly agree'. Descriptive analysis and part–whole correlations and t-ratios were used to analyse the obtained data. The difference in opinion between parents and adolescents about social networking is more evident when one considers the generation gap, income group and rural and urban groups. The attitude of parents, teachers and adolescents towards social networking sites is neutral. Social networking sites are both a boon and a curse, depending upon the level of awareness pertaining to the different aspects such as privacy, accessibility and the purpose for which they are being used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to delineate the randomness and imprecision in a single framework of time-sequential information, we proposed the notion of a time-sequential probabilistic fermatean hesitant set (TS-PFHS). Triangular time-sequential probabilistic fermatean hesitant number (Tr-TS-PFHN) is also initiated as a triangular version of TS-PFHS along with its fundamental operations and a ranking function. For the employment of our proposed set, we formulated a solid transportation problem (STP) with multiple objectives with TS-PFHS parameters for a sustainable green environment. Consequently, we proposed an algorithm by utilizing fuzzy programming (FP) and weighted sum technique (WST) to address proposed green transportation model. Additionally, to highlight the significance of the suggested technique, a numerical instance based on the transportation of electric vehicles in India is also investigated. Finally, conclusion along with the future prospects and limitations of the work done are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are becoming increasingly vulnerable to a range of climatic and non-climatic stressors. Thus, the forest vulnerability assessment is crucial for identifying potential risks and enhancing forest resilience. The present study attempts to explore the forest vulnerability in the protected area of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR), India. A forest ecosystem vulnerability index (FEVI) was constructed using its three components (exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) and site-specific indicators. Exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity indices were integrated to prepare the forest vulnerability map. The map was validated through the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and confusion metrics and found reliable. The results revealed that of the total area of the Reserve, the largest area was found under moderate vulnerability (48.36%), followed by high vulnerability (32.28%) and low vulnerability (19.36%). Madanpur , Raghia , and the lower part of Harnatanr and Chiutaha were identified as the most vulnerable ranges in the VTR. High exposure, high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity were attributed to high forest vulnerability in the VTR. Thus, continuous monitoring and devising effective forest management strategies are essential for reducing vulnerability and enhancing the resilience of the VTR. Urgent policy interventions are also required for promoting ecotourism and minimizing the dependency of communities on forest. The systematic framework employed in the present study may be applied to diverse geographical regions for identifying vulnerable sites and suggesting effective conservation and restoration strategies. • Vulnerability assessment prioritizes ecosystems for conservation and management. • Forest ecosystem vulnerability was assessed using IPCC holistic framework. • Site-specific indicators were integrated for each component of vulnerability. • Analysis identified the most and least vulnerable sites in the forest reserve. • Effective policy measures are essential to safeguard forests from risks and threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports size-resolved dithiothreitol (DTT)-based oxidative potential (OP: total and water-soluble) in rural kitchens using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), firewood (FW), and mixed biomass (MB) fuels in northeastern (NE) India. In comparison to LPG, volume-normalized total OP (OP total(v) DTT) was enhanced by a factor of ∼5 in biomass-using kitchens (74 ± 35 to 78 ± 42 nmol min−1 m−3); however, mass-normalized total OP (OP total(m) DTT) was similar between LPG and FW users and higher by a factor of 2 in MB-using kitchens. The water-insoluble OP (OP wi(v, m) DTT) fraction in OP total(v, m) DTT was greater than 50% across kitchens. Size distributions across kitchens and OPDTT categories ranged from unimodal to trimodal. OP ws(v) DTT was driven by metals as well as organics across size fractions while OP wi(v) DTT was majorly constrained by metals with an increasing importance of organics in fine particles of biomass-using kitchens. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that Cu and Ba explained 71% of the OP total(v) DTT variability in LPG-using kitchens, while water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) and Ba were responsible for 44% variability in FW-using kitchens. Finally, the high internal dose of OP total(v) DTT (28–31 nmol min−1 m−3) in biomass-using kitchens established the severity of oxidative stress on the exposed population. [Display omitted] • Size-resolved measurement of oxidative potential (OP) in indoor kitchens of NE India. • Biomass-using kitchens show ∼5 times enrichment of extrinsic total OP over LPG. • Water-insoluble OP contributes more than 50% to total OP across kitchens. • Differential role of metals and organics in driving OP across particle size and fuel types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium dieback is a prevalent disease of tea (Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze) in India and China. The pathogen affects plucking shoots and causes complete crop loss under favourable conditions. Although, other fungal diseases that infect tea were widely explored for pathogen identification and characterization, little is known about Fusarium dieback in major tea growing regions of India. Therefore, in this study 24 isolates of Fusarium species causing dieback on tea in 24 tea gardens of Assam and North Bengal were isolated and characterized through micro-morphological and molecular analysis using multi-locus DNA sequences to determine whether multiple species of Fusarium are responsible for dieback disease. Molecular analysis revealed the association of four species of Fusarium , namely F. concentricum, F. solani, F. fujikuroi, and F. oxysporum. The most dominant species was F. concentricum (62.5%), whereas the occurrence frequencies of F. solani, F. fujikuroi, and F. oxysporum were 20.8%, 12.5%, and 0.04%, respectively. All Fusarium isolates were pathogenic to tea leaves when individually and co-inoculated, with F. concentricum HPE0F10 and NHT0F17 exhibiting 19.3 mm lesion length being the most virulent isolates. The growth rate of the pathogen was positively correlated with lesion lengths (P < 0.001). Co-infection of two or multiple Fusarium species enhanced the disease severity and quicker disease development compared to single inoculation. All the isolates showed diverse genetic backgrounds based on Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) primers and principal coordinate analysis. In fungicide screening test, all isolates except HPE0F10, NDS0F18, and SNY0F22 were insensitive to M1 fungicide (copper oxychloride). Isolates GNP0F8 and LKW0F16 were insensitive to MBC + M3 (Carbendazim + Mancozeb), whereas HPE0F10, NLG0F11, IND0F13, and NLW0F19 were insensitive to DMI (respective each two to Hexaconazole and Valextra) fungicides. Notably, all the isolates were susceptible to propiconazole. Further, ISSR segregated isolates insensitive to MBC + M3 and M1 fungicides into two separate clusters, representing their distinctiveness. The fungicide screening results indicate that fungicide resistance can be managed by rotating different modes of action of fungicides against multiple Fusarium species causing tea dieback. • Fusarium concentricum, F. fujikuroi, F. oxysporum, and F. solani were identified as causal agents of tea dieback. • The identification was confirmed by multi-locus phylogenetic analysis. • Fusarium isolates showed variable pathogenicity through individual and co-inoculation tests. • ISSR primers revealed diverse genetic backgrounds among 24 Fusarium isolates. • Propiconazole was effective against all Fusarium isolates tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accurate and efficient monitoring, assessment, and prediction of water resources is crucial for the sustenance of life and health of the environment. Traditional methods for assessing water quality can be laborious and time-consuming, but the use of machine learning algorithms can improve the speed and precision of these predictions. The study aimed to evaluate the quality of surface water in the lower Thoubal river using a comprehensive approach that analyzed 12 physico-chemical properties of the water samples collected from 16 different sites. Four machine learning algorithms namely, deep neural network (DNN), gradient boost model (GBM), generalized linear model (GLM), and random forest (RF) were applied and compared for the prediction efficiency of a water quality index (WQI). Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis of the parameters were carried out using a DNN-based model. The study incorporated model evaluation using learning curve along with five key performance assessors. The findings revealed marked variation in the WQI in the watershed. Of the samples tested, about 70 % were found to have good water quality, 18 % had excellent water quality, 11 % had poor water quality, 1 % had very poor water quality, and less than 1 % were deemed unsuitable. Turbidity, BOD, and COD were found to be the most influential parameter towards WQI prediction. The effectiveness of the predictive models ranked as GLM>DNN>RF>GBM, GLM>GBM>DNN>RF, and GLM>DNN>RF>GBM; based on testing, training and 5-fold cross-validation. The GLM model consistently showed superior performance with the lowest RMSEs of 0.14783 in training, 0.15936 in validation, and 0.26115 in 5-fold cross-validation. Conversely, during the training, RF displayed the worst RMSEs of 5.38354, 4.79754 by GBM in validation, and 7.04887 by GBM in 5-fold cross-validation. The analysis using the Taylor diagram and learning curve further supported that GLM was the most effective model for predicting surface water quality. Biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity, turbidity and total hardness were found to be the key parameters influencing the water quality. Unregulated and illegal sand mining from the riverbed, garbage dumping into the water bodies, runoffs from agricultural fields have significantly deteriorated the water quality in the study area. The scalable approach of the study and its results can benefit the local water managers and water research community. [Display omitted] • Traditional water quality assessment methods are tedious. • Machine learning and deep learning can predict water quality with precision. • Generalized linear model was found to be the most effective predictive model. • Turbidity, conductivity and biological oxygen demand affect water quality negatively. • Unregulated sandmining and garbage dumping are the major water pollution source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circulating plasma cells (CPCs) are frequently noted in variable frequencies in the entire spectrum of plasma cells neoplasms. With advent of high sensitivity multi-parametric flow cytometry, it is not only possible to detect CPCs present in very low numbers, but also to categorise them into circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPCs) and circulating normal plasma cells (CNPCs), based on their marker-profile. This study used multi-colour flow cytometry to evaluate the load of both CTPCs & CNPCs at the time of diagnosis and at six months' time-point of therapy, and evaluated associations of both with clinical and laboratory parameters. Twenty one newly diagnosed MM patients were enrolled. Six to nine millilitres of EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood sample was used for flow cytometry. A ten colour antibody panel was used for analysis of CPCs, which were categorised further into CTPCs and CNPCs. Approximately 4.8 million events were acquired for the analysis. The percentage &absolute numbers of CTPCs and CNPCs were noted and the proportion of CTPCs out of all CPCs (CTPCs + CNPCs) were also calculated for evaluating their statistical associations. All 21 patients of newly diagnosed MM showed presence of CPCs (CTPCs and/or CNPCs) at the time of diagnosis. The CTPCs were detected in 76 % of the study population. The median percentage and absolute counts of CTPCs were 0.52 % and 54.9 cells /µL, respectively. CNPCs were found in 95 % and the median percentage and absolute counts of CNPCs were 0.025 % and 2.66 cells/µL. After six months of therapy, CPCs (CTPCs and/or CNPCs) were found in all nine patients evaluated for this assay. CTPCs were found 33 %, with a median of 0.075 % and CNPCs were found in 89 % with a median of 0.01 %. Our study showed that the load of CTPCs was found to be higher in patients with presence of lytic bone lesions, plasmacytoma, presence of PCs on peripheral blood film by light microscopy, presence of Chr 1p32 deletion, expression of CD56 and CD81 on CTPCs, and in patients with absence of very good partial response (VGPR). Conversely, the load of CTPCs was significantly lower in patients with concomitant amyloidosis. Also, percentage of bone marrow plasma cells exhibited a significant positive correlation with the absolute count of CTPCs. We observed that the mean percentage of CNPCs was significantly higher in female patients. The load of CNPCs was lower in patients with thrombocytopenia and with hypoalbuminemia. Increased burden of CTPCs was associated with presence of lytic lesions, plasmacytomas, Chr 1p32 deletion, expression of CD56 and CD81 on tumor cells and with failure to achieve very good partial response. The CNPCs were lower in patients with thrombocytopenia and with hypoalbuminemia. To best ot our knowledge, this is the first study from India on the relevance of circulating tumor plasma cells and the first study in the world to analyse the associations of circulating normal plasma cells in newly diagnosed patients of multiple myeloma. The study also highlights the utility of multi-parametric flow cytometry in identification and enumeration of circulating plasma cells. Circulating plasma cells indicates poorer outcomes in patients of multiple myeloma. Twenty one newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients were evaluated by flow cytometry to enumerate and characterise circulating tumor plasma cells (CTPCs) and circulating normal plasma cells (CNPCs). Higher load of CTPCs correlated with known poor prognostic markers and poor response to therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present study analyzed the seasonal and spatial distribution patterns, sources, and ecological risks of seven heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in the sediments of River Ganges, finding that the majority of concentrations were lithologic, except for Cd, which was significantly higher than background standards. Elevated values of geochemical indices viz. I geo , CF, RI, C d , mC d , HQ, mHQ, and P N suggest moderate to high ecological risk in the benthic environment and its organisms due to the synergistic effect of heavy metals. The PEC-Q metals revealed 8–10 % toxicity in the upstream and downstream sites, due to the influence of agricultural activities. Multivariate statistical techniques (PCM and PCA) indicated that Cd and Pb predominantly originated from anthropogenic sources, while other metals primarily derived from geological background. These geochemical findings may help to understand the potential risks and recommend strategies to mitigate the effects of metallic contamination in river sediments. [Display omitted] • The spatial distribution pattern of heavy metals (Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in River Ganges sediments were investigated. • The level of Cd is significantly elevated compared to the sedimentary background standards. • Residual fractions were attributed to the dominant geochemical phases of all heavy metals in sediments. • RI, C d , mC d , P N , and PEC-Q metals suggest moderate to higher ecological risk in the polluted hotspots of River Ganges. • Multivariate techniques (PCA and PCM) revealed that Cd and Pb predominantly originated from anthropogenic sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite progress in reducing the infant mortality in India, the neonatal mortality decline has been slower, necessitating concerted efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal-3. A promising strategy aiming to prevent neonatal sepsis in high-risk, vulnerable, low birth weight neonates through an innovative intervention includes probiotic supplementation. This article communicates the decision by the ProSPoNS trial investigators to establish a Central Endpoint Adjudication Committee (CEAC) as an addendum to the protocol published in Trials in 2021 for the purpose of clarifying the primary outcome. In the published protocol, the study hypothesis and primary objective are based on "sepsis," the primary outcome has been specified as sepsis/PSBI, whereas the sample size estimation was performed based on the "physician diagnosed sepsis." To align all the three above, the investigators meeting, held on 17th-18th August 2023, at MGIMS Sevagram, Wardha, deliberated and unanimously agreed that "physician diagnosed sepsis" is the primary study outcome which includes sepsis/PSBI. The CEAC, chaired by an external subject expert and members including trial statistician, a microbiologist, and all site principal investigators will employ four criteria to determine "physician diagnosed sepsis": (1) blood culture status, (2) sepsis screen status, (3) PSBI/non-PSBI signs and symptoms, and (4) the clinical course for each sickness event. Importantly, this clarification maintains consistency with the approved study protocol (Protocol No. 5/7/915/2012 version 3.1 dated 14 Feb 2020), emphasizing the commitment to methodological transparency and adherence to predefined standards. The decision to utilize the guidance of a CEAC is recommended as the gold standard in multicentric complex clinical trials to achieve consistency and accuracy in assessment of outcomes.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI) CTRI/2019/05/019197. Registered on 16 May 2019., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose: We aimed to analyze patterns of failure and disease volume-treatment outcomes in patients with Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with definitive radiation with or without concurrent chemotherapy at a tertiary cancer centre in northeast India., Methods: From February 2018 to February 2022, 99 histopathologically proved non-metastatic NPC patients treated with curative-intent RT with or without chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Locally advanced patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate the impact of various prognostic factors on locoregional free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The log-rank test and Kaplan-Meir curves compared outcome variables based on ROC analysis-classified tumor volume., Results: During a median follow up of 25.4 months (17.3-39.2), 35(35.4%) patients developed recurrence. Twenty-three patients developed locoregional failures, of which 11 were in-field; 12 patient showed an out-field failure. The 3-year LRFS, DMFS, PFS and OS was 71.10%, 70.90%, 64.10% and 74.10% respectively. There was statistically significant difference in LRFS according to T staging (p < 0.0001). Gross tumor volume (GTVp) and gross nodal volume (GTVn) were an independent prognostic factor for OS, PFS, LRFS and DMFS. The cut-off volumes for GTVp and GTVn for distant metastases and locoregional failure, respectively, were found to be 13 and 22.7 mL and 3.7 and 39.2 mL, respectively, by ROC curve analysis. Based on this, 99 patients were divided into three subgroups. OS demonstrated significant differences among patients in different volume subgroups for GTVp (p = 0.03) and GTVn (p = 0.00024)., Conclusions: For NPC patients who undergo curative IMRT, primary tumour and nodal volumes are independent prognostic indicators. GTVp and GTVn are highly predictive of local control, distant metastases, disease-free survival, and overall survival. This justifies their use as quantitative prognostic indicator for NPC., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the antimicrobial susceptibility of eight drugs effective against Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) strains and the genetic diversity of H. pylori virulence genes to foresee clinical outcomes in North India., Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight H. pylori strains isolated from patients suffering from various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases were included in the study. MICs of various antibiotics were determined by the agar dilution method. The chi-squared test and Fisher exact test were used to determine the p-value, which was considered significant at p-value ≤ 0.05. RStudio 4.0 was used to for the data visualization., Results: The prevalence of drug resistance was found to be: cefixime (CFM) (41.3%), furazolidone (FZD) (34.4%), amoxicillin (AMX) (20.7%), levofloxacin (LVFX) (70.7%), metronidazole (MTZ) (39.6%), tetracycline (TET) (20.7%), clarithromycin (CLA) (17.2%), and rifabutin (RIF) (17.2%). Out of 58 H. pylori strains, 3 were pan susceptible. There were H. pylori strains with single-drug resistance (21.8%, 12/55), dual resistance (30.9%, 17/55), triple resistance (20%, 11/55), and multidrug resistance (27.3%, 15/55). The resistance rate in MTZ, CLA and RIF were found to be significantly higher in females as compared to males (p = 0.005, p = 0.002, and p = 0.02), respectively. The resistance to TET exhibited significantly higher levels in gastritis compared to GERD, DU, and other disease groups (p = 0.04) respectively., Conclusion: TET, AMX, CLA, and RIF were found to be more effective antibiotics against H. pylori infections, whereas more studies are required to provide evidence on increasing resistance rate of LVFX., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Diabetes prevalence has increased over the past few decades, and the shift of the burden of diabetes from the older population to the younger population has increased the exposure of longer durations in a morbid state. The study aimed at ascertaining the likelihood of progression to diabetes and to estimate the onset of diabetes within the urban community of Mumbai., Methods: This study utilized an observational retrospective non-diabetic cohort comprising 1629 individuals enrolled in a health security scheme. Ten years of data were extracted from electronic medical records, and the life table approach was employed to assess the probability of advancing to diabetes and estimate the expected number of years lived without a diabetes diagnosis., Results: The study revealed a 42% overall probability of diabetes progression, with age and gender variations. Males (44%) show higher probabilities than females (40%) of developing diabetes. Diabetes likelihood rises with age, peaking in males aged 55-59 and females aged 65-69. Males aged 30-34 exhibit a faster progression (10.6 years to diagnosis) compared to females (12.3 years)., Conclusion: The study's outcomes have significant implications for the importance of early diabetes detection. Progression patterns suggest that younger cohorts exhibit a comparatively slower rate of progression compared to older cohorts., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

There are fewer studies on Trichoderma diversity in agricultural fields. The rhizosphere of 16 crops was analyzed for Trichoderma species in 7 districts of Rajasthan state of India. Based on DNA sequence of translation elongation factor 1α (tef-1α), and morphological characteristics, 60 isolates were identified as 11 species: Trichoderma brevicompactum, species in Harzianum clade identified as T. afroharzianum, T. inhamatum, T. lentiforme, T. camerunense, T. asperellum, T. asperelloides, T. erinaceum, T. atroviride, T. ghanense, and T. longibrachiatum. T. brevicompactum is the most commonly occurring strain followed by T. afroharzianum. No new species were described in this study. T. lentiforme, showed its first occurrence outside the South American continent. The morphological and cultural characteristics of the major species were observed, described, and illustrated in detail. The isolates were tested for their antagonistic effect against three soilborne plant pathogens fungi: Sclerotium rolfsii, Rhizoctonia solani, and Fusarium verticillioides in plate culture assays. One of the most potent strains was T. afroharzianum BThr29 having a maximum in vitro inhibition of S. rolfsii (76.6%), R. solani (84.8%), and F. verticillioides (85.7%). The potential strain T. afroharzianum BThr29 was also found to be efficient antagonists against soil borne pathogens in in vivo experiment. Such information on crop selectivity, antagonistic properties, and geographic distribution of Trichoderma species will be beneficial for developing efficient Trichoderma-based biocontrol agents., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)

Background: Fluoride is a noxious element known to destroy gastrointestinal mucosa, leading to erythrocytes' destruction and causing anaemia. The birth weight of newborn babies is a significant indicator of a child's vulnerability to the risk of childhood diseases and chances of existence., Methods: This prospective cohort study was planned to find linkages between fluorosis and the low-birth weight of newborn babies with anaemic mothers. Antenatal mothers until the 20th week of gestation were followed up till delivery in the Antenatal Clinic of a District Hospital in one of the known fluoride-endemic districts (Nagaur) and the other not-so-endemic district (Jodhpur) of Western Rajasthan., Results: Around 19% of the newborn in Jodhpur and around 22% in Nagaur had low birth weight. Mean fluoride values in water samples were measured to be 0.57 (range from 0.0 to 2.7 PPM) in Jodhpur and 0.7 (range from 0.0 to 3.4 PPM) in Nagaur., Conclusions: Thus, in fluoride endemic areas, other factors should be included besides iron and folic acid supplementation for improving anaemia in pregnant women. This calls for assessing the effectiveness of de-fluoridation activities along with the area's most common indigenous food practices., Competing Interests: No competing interests were disclosed., (Copyright: © 2024 Bhardwaj P et al.)

India began its nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program on January 16, 2021, in a phased manner. In this paper, we have discussed our experience at one of the COVID-19 vaccination centers in the country and have identified a few of the major challenges and their implications. The guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination in the country were changing frequently, leading to ambiguity among the beneficiaries. Co-WIN software, used for program implementation, had some glitches, which caused dissatisfaction among the service providers and beneficiaries. Vaccine hesitancy and eagerness caused low vaccine uptake initially and overcrowding at vaccination centers later. Some of the vaccination centers had the potential to become hot spots for further spread of the virus due to insufficient infrastructure. The disparity in access to vaccines for the homeless and other vulnerable groups was another hurdle for adequate vaccination coverage. These challenges could have been addressed by pretesting the information technology platform, long-term planning with a vision for handling vaccine hesitancy and eagerness, strong communication systems, removing disparities in vaccine access, and maintaining uniformity in messages for frequently updating guidelines.

Antibiotic resistance has become a global problem and India emerges as a key battlefield in the fight against it. While inappropriate use of antibiotics is well known, the review article deliberates a less recognized yet equally perilous facet of the crisis i.e. improper antibiotic disposal. An investigation of the sources of antibiotic pollution in Indian water bodies identifies discharge of pharmaceutical effluents, hospital waste, and agricultural runoff as major contributing factors. Furthermore, it discusses the repercussions of antibiotic pollution including those relating to human health, aquatic ecosystems, and antibiotic resistance. Reviewing the causes and consequences of improper antibiotic disposal practices emphasizes the necessity of rethinking antibiotic waste management practices. The review highlights the need for stringent rules and increased awareness, while also discussing the emerging technologies and strategies to mitigate the risks of antibiotic disposal in India., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The electronic cigarette (EC) was developed as an alternative to cigarette smoking. In less than a decade, the prevalence of past-month EC usage increased from 1.5 to 27.5 % among US high-school students. In the coming years, Asia-Pacific countries will have the highest sales of electronic nicotine/non-nicotine delivery systems (ENDS/ENNDS) after Western Europe. Based on the World Health Organization and Indian Council of Medical Research recommendations, India approved a complete ban on EC in 2019. Even though it has been three years since the ban, EC is still being sold in India's grey markets, where marketing is not regulated. In this narrative review, we discuss that vaping is not just a harm reduction strategy for tobacco smoking cessation but poses a serious threat to India's existing tobacco control efforts as well as the health of the country's young people., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

The practice of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) varies both between and within countries. We aimed to review historical and current trends in ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations in South Asia, a region with a high burden of mental illness and suicide. We searched MEDLINE (PubMed) and Google Scholar databases for relevant literature on ECT from each country. Additionally, a team of country-specific investigators performed supplemental searches and contacted key country contacts for relevant information. Relevant data were abstracted under the following headings: ECT practices, perceptions, and legislations. Knowledge gaps and research priorities were synthesized. Modified bitemporal ECT, delivered using brief pulse devices, was most commonly offered across institutions. Schizophrenia, not affective illness, was the most common indication. Electroencephalographic monitoring of seizures was rarely practiced. Thiopentone or propofol was preferred for anesthetic induction, while the favored muscle relaxant was succinylcholine. In India and Sri Lanka, perceptions about ECT were largely favorable; not so in Pakistan and Nepal. Only India and Pakistan had laws that governed any aspect of ECT practice; ECT practice guidelines were available only in India. There is a lack of research on efficacy, ECT in special populations, continuation ECT practices, and interventions to improve ECT-related perceptions. Most regional institutions offered modified brief-pulse ECT, and schizophrenia was the most common indication. Knowledge of and attitude towards ECT varied between countries. There is a need to develop a regional ECT consortium to facilitate uniform training, advocacy efforts, and the development of regional practice guidelines., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest relevant to the contents of the manuscript., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Pharmacovigilance (PV) deals with the detection, collection, assessment, understanding, and prevention of adverse effects associated with drugs. The objective of PV is to ensure the safety of the medicines and patients by monitoring and reporting all adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with prescribed medicine usage. Findings have indicated that about 0.2- 24% of hospitalization cases are due to ADRs, of which 3.7% of patients have lethal ADRs. The reasons include the number of prescribed drugs, an increased number of new medicines in the market, an inadequate PV system for ADR monitoring, and a need for more awareness and knowledge about ADR reporting. Severe ADRs lead to enhanced hospital stays, increased treatment costs, risk of death, and many medical and economic consequences. Therefore, ADR reporting at its first instance is essential to avoid further harmful effects of the prescribed drugs. In India, the rate of ADR reporting is less than 1%, whereas worldwide, it is 5% due to a need for more awareness about PV and ADR monitoring among healthcare providers and patients. The main objective of this review is to highlight the current scenario and possible futuristic ways of ADR reporting methods in rural areas of India. We have searched the literature using PubMed, Google scholar, Indian citation index to retrieve the resources related to ADR monitoring and reporting in India's urban and rural areas. Spontaneous reporting is the most commonly used PV method to report ADRs in India's urban and rural areas. Evidence revealed that no effective ADR reporting mechanisms developed in rural areas causing underreporting of ADR, thus increasing the threat to the rural population. Hence, PV and ADR reporting awareness among healthcare professionals and patients, telecommunication, telemedicine, use of social media and electronic medical records, and artificial intelligence are the potential approaches for prevention, monitoring, and reporting of ADRs in rural areas., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)