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Background: Coexisting hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dyslipidemia (triple disease) can lead to greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The present study sought to comprehend the prevalence, demographic traits, clinical traits, and treatment patterns in Indian patients with these coexisting conditions. Methods: An electronic medical record (EMR)-based, retrospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted, and data were collected for patients who were diagnosed with coexistent hypertension, T2DM, and dyslipidemia. Baseline patient variables evaluated were the percentage of patients with triple comorbidity, demographic characteristics, diagnostic laboratory parameters, and treatment pattern details. Results: Data from 4793 centers (clinics) were included, with a total of 6,722,173 patients. Of these, 427,835 (6.36%) patients were found to have coexistent hypertension, T2DM, and dyslipidemia. Most of the patients belonged to the 40–64 year age group (62.10%) and were males (57.00%), while 27.40% patients had a body mass index (BMI) within normal limits, 43.30% patients were pre-obese, and 20.90% patients were class 1 obese. Further, 3402 patients (0.80%) had a recorded history of smoking. Mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) for the patients included in the study was 8.35 ± 1.96 g%. Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 138.81 ± 19.59 mm Hg, while mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 82.17 ± 10.35 mm Hg; 27.60% cases had SBP < 130 mm Hg, while 28.37% cases had DBP < 80 mm Hg. The mean low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in mg/dl were 98.38 ± 40.39, 174.75 ± 46.73, and 44.5 ± 10.05, respectively. Of the enrolled cases, 55.64% had serum LDL below 100 mg/dl, 72.03% cases had serum cholesterol below 200 mg/dl, and 44.15% males and 71.77% females had serum HDL below the normal prescribed range. The most common monotherapy used for managing hypertension was angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) (24.80%), followed by beta-blockers (24.30%). The most common combinations administered for management of hypertension were antihypertensives with diuretics (14.30%), followed by ARB plus calcium channel blockers (CCB) (13.30%). For dyslipidemia, the majority of patients (56.60%) received lipid-lowering medication in combination with drugs for other comorbidities. The most common antidiabetic agents prescribed were biguanides (74.60%). Conclusions: Coexistence of triple disease is not uncommon in the Indian population, with middle-aged patients diagnosed as pre-obese and obese being affected more commonly and receiving treatment for the same. The present study highlights that, though there are medications against the three chronic conditions, the rate of uncontrolled cases of hypertension, T2DM, and dyslipidemia remains high. Coexistence of triple disease increases the risk of cardiovascular and renal complications, which need to be closely monitored and effectively treated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a field experiment conducted in Madhya Pradesh, India, to study the impact of microbial consortia on soybean growth. The results showed that the soybean yield and nutrient uptake were significantly higher in the treatments with microbial consortia compared to the control group. The study suggests that the inoculation of microbial consortia can improve soil health and soybean production by enhancing nutrient fixation, solubilization, mobilization, and plant growth promotion. The findings of this study are consistent with previous research conducted by other scientists. [Extracted from the article]

The aim of this article is to study the various field of tribal areas where social entrepreneurs are working. the first introduction, includes social innovation and tribal peoples, the second review of literature includes a small summarization of literature on social innovation in the field of tribal development, the third research methodology, this article is based on secondary data and also includes some research questions which are covered in it, fourth analysis and finding section, we found over 20 enterprises in the various field for tribal development i.e. health, agro informatics, agriculture, financial inclusion, etc. fifth discussion and conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Several organizations decided to work remotely after the Indian Government proclaimed a state of emergency on March 24, 2020, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Employees across all industries, particularly the Generation-Y, were stressed as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The purpose of this study is to fills that gap by looking at the effects of occupational stress factors (such as coworker support, work–life balance [WLB] and role expectation conflict) on Generation-Y employees in the educational sector during COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: The causes and consequences of the three occupational stresses listed above were investigated. In total, 231 surveys from workers at private and public educational institutions in India were analyzed using partial least square-structural equation modeling analysis. Findings: The results revealed that support from coworkers greatly reduced job stress, the WLB had a positive impact on the work and personal lives, and the lack of role specification in Generation-Y employees had a negative impact on their job performance. Originality/value: This study has considered the occupational stress variables among Generation-Y in the era of COVID-19, which need attention to improve the performance of the academic sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian government unveiled new farm legislation on September 27, 2020, with the goal of empowering the farming community. According to the government, new farm regulations will reduce the reliance of indigenous farmers on the mandi (market yard) system, which is now in place and is quite exploitative and full of middlemen and legal cartels. The regulations made contract farming lawful with the intention of luring private sector investment in bolstering agricultural supply chains and infrastructure to give farmers better pricing. But these rules are referred to as repressive and anti‐farmer by the farming community. Farmers believe that eliminating the mandi system will eliminate the minimum support price (MSP) mechanism and that contract farming will ultimately be damaging, enticing major corporations and private investors to bind them to unfair contracts that will result in exploitation. Farmers' demonstrations have begun as a result in the former territory of the green revolution. In order to determine if the new farm regulations introduced by the central government are indeed beneficial to the rural community or not, the article followed the debate among many academics, policy makers, economists, researchers, stakeholders, and politicians (the government's spokesman). The article's main focus is on analysing the farmers' demand for the new farm rules to be repealed and the economic justification for their opposition. Additionally, it contends that new farm rules will encourage capitalistic farming and endanger the viability of farming communities, particularly small and marginal farms (S&M). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are a new class of anticoagulant drugs used in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation (AF). Anticoagulation requires the integration of the correct type and dose of oral anticoagulants based on patient characteristic, and therefore therapy needs to be individualized for each patient. Growing scientific evidence from studies on NOACs has led to a better understanding of their benefits and safety. A large amount of available data creates a necessity for an adaptable practical document for the usage of NOACs in India. The current consensus, developed by experts from India, aims to give recommendations on various frequently raised clinical questions with regards to NOACs and its usage. This practical document provides a platform upon which future guidelines, policies, training, and education for the use of NOACs can be tailored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this research is to compare over the developing trend in Covid-19 research publications between 2020 and 2021 in India, overall in respect of age groups, health conditions, funding support, institutions, and research design. Background: Covid-19 is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), first cited in Wuhan, China in December 2019. And has affected the entire world rapidly and still ongoing. The symptoms are fever, cough, weakness, and breathlessness; the infected individual develops pneumonia that sometimes leads to respiratory failure. The older population with co-morbidities is at higher risk. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study done by Scopus, Web of Science, and Pubmed Indexed journals, with the Covid-19, SARS-CoV, Pandemic, Coronavirus, India, and Outburst as keywords. Yearly publication data were extracted through 'Bibliometrix R studio' and relative percentage was computed and linear or exponential regressions examined the yearly growth in the proportion to research publications on Covid-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon neutrality of tropical reservoirs is a big concern in recent years as some estimates project high methane emission from these reservoirs. While there are studies available on the impact of physical processes (stratification and mixing) on the biogeochemistry of tropical reservoirs, not much information is available on the inter-annual variability in the low-oxygen conditions and production/accumulation of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methane (CH4) during summer. This paper presents time series data based on monthly in situ observations from a tropical reservoir (Tillari, Maharashtra) situated in the Western Ghats in India. Sampling was carried out for temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), H2S, and CH4 at a fixed location from March 2010 until June 2014. The reservoir experiences stable stratification during summer (March to June) with complete loss of oxygen and production of H2S (max. ~ 9 μM) and CH4 (max. ~ 185 μM) in the profundal zone. During the summer stratification, the hypolimnion acted as a pool of CH4 with integrated values ranging between 3502 and 41,632 mg m−2. However, the intensity and duration of anoxia varied during different years, influencing H2S and CH4 production. Mixing in the reservoir was observed between July and September in association with the monsoonal runoff, which increased the DO concentrations in the sub-surface layers. Besides, complete mixing was observed between December and February due to winter convection. This, however, was found to play an important role, as weaker mixing in the preceding year was associated with severe oxygen loss in the profundal zone during the following summer with a production of H2S and CH4. In contrast, more robust mixing during winter led to moderate low-oxygen conditions with less production of these gases in the subsequent summer. Based on our observations and considering a large number of reservoirs in the tropics, we hypothesise that with the present trends of global warming and less cold winters, low-oxygen conditions in the profundal zone may become more severe in the future with positive feedback on H2S and CH4 production during summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the gender differences in neonatal mortality, stillbirths, and perinatal mortality in south Asia using the Global Network data from the Maternal Newborn Health Registry. Methods: This study is a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from the three south Asian sites of the Global Network. The maternal and neonatal demographic, clinical characteristics, rates of stillbirths, early neonatal mortality (1–7 days), late neonatal mortality (8–28 days), mortality between 29–42 days and the number of infants hospitalized after birth were compared between the male and female infants. Results: Between 2010 and 2018, 297,509 births [154,790 males (52.03%) and 142,719 females (47.97%)] from two Indian sites and one Pakistani site were included in the analysis [288,859 live births (97.1%) and 8,648 stillbirths (2.9%)]. The neonatal mortality rate was significantly higher in male infants (33.2/1,000 live births) compared to their female counterparts (27.4/1,000, p < 0.001). The rates of stillbirths (31.0 vs. 26.9/1000 births) and early neonatal mortality (27.1 vs 21.6/1000 live births) were also higher in males. However, there were no significant differences in late neonatal mortality (6.3 vs. 5.9/1000 live births) and mortality between 29–42 days (2.1 vs. 1.9/1000 live births) between the two groups. More male infants were hospitalized within 42 days after birth (1.8/1000 vs. 1.3/1000 live births, p < 0.001) than females. Conclusion: The risks of stillbirths, and early neonatal mortality were higher among male infants than their female counterparts. However, there was no gender difference in mortality after 7 days of age. Our results highlight the importance of stratifying neonatal mortality into early and late neonatal period to better understand the impact of gender on neonatal mortality. The information from this study will help in developing strategies and identifying measures that can reduce differences in sex-specific mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have shown how the move toward institutional delivery in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) impacts stillbirth and newborn mortality. Objectives: The study evaluated trends in institutional delivery in research sites in Belagavi and Nagpur India, Guatemala, Kenya, Pakistan, and Zambia from 2010 to 2018 and compared them to changes in the rates of neonatal mortality and stillbirth. Methods: We analyzed data from a nine-year interval captured in the Global Network (GN) Maternal Newborn Health Registry (MNHR). Mortality rates were estimated from generalized estimating equations controlling for within-cluster correlation. Cluster-level analyses were performed to assess the association between institutional delivery and mortality rates. Results: From 2010 to 2018, a total of 413,377 deliveries in 80 clusters across 6 sites in 5 countries were included in these analyses. An increase in the proportion of institutional deliveries occurred in all sites, with a range in 2018 from 57.7 to 99.8%. In 2010, the stillbirth rates ranged from 19.3 per 1000 births in the Kenyan site to 46.2 per 1000 births in the Pakistani site and by 2018, ranged from 9.7 per 1000 births in the Belagavi, India site to 40.8 per 1000 births in the Pakistani site. The 2010 neonatal mortality rates ranged from 19.0 per 1000 live births in the Kenyan site to 51.3 per 1000 live births in the Pakistani site with the 2018 neonatal mortality rates ranging from 9.2 per 1000 live births in the Zambian site to 50.2 per 1000 live births in the Pakistani site. In multivariate modeling, in some but not all sites, the reductions in stillbirth and neonatal death were significantly associated with an increase in the institutional deliveries. Conclusions: There was an increase in institutional delivery rates in all sites and a reduction in stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates in some of the GN sites over the past decade. The relationship between institutional delivery and a decrease in mortality was significant in some but not all sites. However, the stillbirth and neonatal mortality rates remain at high levels. Understanding the relationship between institutional delivery and stillbirth and neonatal deaths in resource-limited environments will enable development of targeted interventions for reducing the mortality burden. Trial registration: The study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov. ClinicalTrial.gov Trial Registration: NCT01073475. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate shocks to food systems have been thoroughly researched in terms of food security and supply chain management. However, sparse research exists on the dependent nature of climate shocks on food-producing breadbasket regions and their subsequent cascading impacts. In this paper, we propose that a copula approach, combined with a multilayer network and an agent-based model, can give important insights on how tail-dependent shocks can impact food systems. We show how such shocks can potentially cascade within a region through the behavioral interactions of various layers. Based on our suggested framework, we set up a model for India and show that risks due to drought events multiply if tail dependencies during extremes drought is explicitly taken into account. We further demonstrate that the risk is exacerbated if displacement also takes place. In order to quantify the spatial–temporal evolution of climate risks, we introduce a new measure of multilayer vulnerability that we term Vulnerability Rank or VRank. We find that with higher food production losses, the number of agents that are affected increases nonlinearly due to cascading effects in different network layers. These effects spread to the unaffected regions via large-scale displacement causing sudden changes in production, employment and consumption decisions. Thus, demand shifts also force supply-side adjustments of food networks in the months following the climate shock. We suggest that our framework can provide a more accurate picture of food security-related systemic risks caused by multiple breadbasket failures which, in turn, can better inform risk management and humanitarian aid strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: India contributes towards a large part of the worldwide epidemic of diabetes and its associated complications. However, there are limited longitudinal studies available in India to understand the occurrence of diabetes complications over time. This pan‐India longitudinal study was initiated to assess the real‐world outcomes of diabetes across the country. Methods: The LANDMARC study is the first prospective, multicentre, longitudinal, observational study investigating a large cohort of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus across India over a period of 3 years. The primary objective of this ongoing study is to determine the proportion of people developing macrovascular diabetes complications over the duration of the study (36 months ± 45 days) distributed over seven visits; the secondary objective is to evaluate microvascular diabetes complications, glycaemic control and time‐to‐treatment adaptation or intensification. Overall, 6300 participants (aged 25–60 years) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for at least 2 years will be included from 450 centres across India. Data will be recorded for baseline demographics, comorbidities, glycaemic measurements, use of anti‐hyperglycaemic medications and any cardiovascular or other diabetes‐related events occurring during the observational study period. Conclusions: The LANDMARC study is expected to reveal the trends in complications associated with diabetes, treatment strategies used by physicians, and correlation among treatment, control and complications of diabetes within the Indian context. The findings of this study will help to identify the disease burden, emergence of early‐onset complications and dose titration patterns, and eventually develop person‐centred care and facilitate public health agencies to invest appropriate resources in the management of diabetes. (Trial Registration No: CTRI/2017/05/008452). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Indian babies are hypothesized to be born thin but fat. This has not been confirmed with precise measurements at birth. If it is true, it could track into later life and confer risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).Objectives: Primarily, to accurately measure percentage of body fat (%BF) and body cell mass (BCM) in Indian babies with normal birth weight, compare them across different gestational ages and sex, and test the hypothesis of the thin but fat phenotype in Indian babies. Secondarily, to examine the relation between body weight and body fat in Indian babies.Methods: Term newborns (n = 156) weighing ≥2500 g, from middle socioeconomic status mothers were recruited in Bengaluru, India, and their anthropometry, %BF (air displacement plethysmography), and BCM (whole-body potassium counter) were measured. Maternal demography and anthropometry were recorded. The mean %BF and its dispersion were compared with earlier studies. The relation between newborn %BF and body weight was explored by regression analysis.Results: Mean birth weight was 3.0 ± 0.3 kg, with mean %BF 9.8 ± 3.5%, which was comparable to pooled estimates of %BF from published studies (9.8%; 95% CI: 9.7, 10.0; P > 0.05). Appropriate-for-gestational age (AGA) babies had higher %BF (1.8%) compared to small-for-gestational age (SGA) babies (P < 0.01). Mean %BCM of all babies at birth was 35.4 ± 10.5%; AGA babies had higher %BCM compared to SGA babies (7.0%, P < 0.05). Girls in comparison to boys had significantly higher %BF and lower %BCM. Body weight was positively associated with %BF.Conclusion: Indian babies with normal birth weight did not demonstrate the thin but fat phenotype. Body weight and fat had positive correlation, such that SGA babies did not show a preservation of their %BF. These findings will have relevance in planning optimal interventions during early childhood to prevent NCDs risk in adult life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cultivated cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fibre crop in the world. Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is the major limiting factor and a threat to textile industry in India and Pakistan. All the local cotton cultivars exhibit moderate to no resistance against CLCuD. In this study, we evaluated an exotic cotton accession Mac7 as a resistance source to CLCuD by challenging it with viruliferous whiteflies and performing qPCR to evaluate the presence/absence and relative titre of CLCuD‐associated geminiviruses/betasatellites. The results indicated that replication of pathogenicity determinant betasatellite is significantly attenuated in Mac7 and probably responsible for resistance phenotype. Afterwards, to decipher the genetic basis of CLCuD resistance in Mac7, we performed RNA sequencing on CLCuD‐infested Mac7 and validated RNA‐Seq data with qPCR on 24 independent genes. We performed co‐expression network and pathway analysis for regulation of geminivirus/betasatellite‐interacting genes. We identified nine novel modules with 52 hubs of highly connected genes in network topology within the co‐expression network. Analysis of these hubs indicated the differential regulation of auxin stimulus and cellular localization pathways in response to CLCuD. We also analysed the differential regulation of geminivirus/betasatellite‐interacting genes in Mac7. We further performed the functional validation of selected candidate genes via virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS). Finally, we evaluated the genomic context of resistance responsive genes and found that these genes are not specific to A or D sub‐genomes of G. hirsutum. These results have important implications in understanding CLCuD resistance mechanism and developing a durable resistance in cultivated cotton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immediate response of animals to fluctuations in environmental temperature is an alteration in their physiological responses. For those who failed to cope, their production performance is affected greatly. Fat-rumped sheep is phenotypically different from the commonly available sheep breeds of the semi-arid tropical environment in India. For assessment of thermoregulatory rhythmicity under extreme seasonal variations of the semi-arid tropical region, six adult fat-rumped (Dumba) rams were selected. The study was carried out in the year 2016–2017. All the rams were maintained under stall-feeding condition with a fixed dietary regime. Respiration rate (RR), pulse rate (PR), skin temperature (ST) and rectal temperature (RT) were recorded at morning (08:00 h), and afternoon (14:00 h) in summer (May–June), winter (December–January) and spring (March–April) for six times in each season at 7 days interval. Body weight was taken at the start and end of each season under study. The meteorological data were recorded twice daily at 8:00 h and 14:00 h for the entire study period. The study indicated significant (p < 0.05) variation in RR, PR and ST with respect to season. RT and body weight showed no significant variation among seasons. The result indicated fat-rumped sheep altered their thermoregulatory physiological responses as per the change of season to cope with environmental extremes under semi-arid tropical region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing accounts of how the urban poor in the global South engage with the state fall short on two fronts. Firstly, the literature lacks an overarching framework articulating the urban poor's strategies for engaging the state. Secondly, these accounts typically capture singular instances of state engagement pursued by the urban poor and theorise on that basis. Using Partha Chatterjee's distinction between civil and political society as our theoretical point of departure, we draw on ethnographic evidence from Chennai's informal settlements to demonstrate how and when the urban poor deploy different strategies of state engagement to advance their claims to urban citizenship. We do this by proposing a typology that relates the seemingly distinct strategies of claims-making for urban citizenship to each other, and identifying a trajectory of change for strategies deployed in the Indian metropolis of Chennai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The 2007 World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization/United Nations University (WHO/FAO/UNU) recommendation for the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of additional protein during pregnancy for a gestational weight gain (GWG) of 12 kg (recalculated from a GWG of 13.8 kg) is 6.7 and 21.7 g/d in the second and the third trimester, respectively. This EAR is based on measurements of potassium accretion in high-income country (HIC) pregnant women. It is not known if low- to middle-income country, but well-nourished, pregnant women have comparable requirements. Objective We aimed to estimate total body potassium (TBK) accretion during pregnancy in Indian pregnant women, using a whole-body potassium counter (WBKC), to measure their additional protein EAR. Methods Well-nourished pregnant women (20–40 y, n  = 38, middle socioeconomic stratum) were recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy. Anthropometric, dietary, and physical activity measurements, and measurements of TBK using a WBKC, were performed at each trimester and at birth. Results The mid-trimester weight gain was 2.7 kg and 8.0 kg in the second and the third trimester, respectively, for an average 37-wk GWG of 10.7 kg and a mean birth weight of 3.0 kg. Protein accretion was 2.7 and 5.7 g/d, for an EAR of 8.2 and 18.9 g/d in the second and the third trimester, respectively. The additional protein EAR, calculated for a GWG of 12 kg, was 9.1 and 21.2 g/d in the second and the third trimester, respectively. Conclusion The additional protein requirements of well-nourished Indian pregnant women for a GWG of 12 kg in the second and third trimesters were similar to the recalculated 2007 WHO/FAO/UNU requirements for 12 kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community-based active case finding (ACF) for tuberculosis (TB) implemented among marginalised and vulnerable populations in 285 districts of India resulted in reduction of diagnosis delay and prevalence of catastrophic costs due to TB diagnosis. We were interested to know whether this translated into improved treatment outcomes. Globally, there is limited published literature from marginalised and vulnerable populations on the independent effect of community-based ACF on treatment outcomes when compared to passive case finding (PCF). Objectives: To determine the relative differences in unfavourable treatment outcomes (death, loss-to-follow-up, failure, not evaluated) of ACF and PCF-diagnosed people. Methods: Cohort study involving record reviews and interviews in 18 randomly selected districts. We enrolled all ACF-diagnosed people with new smear-positive pulmonary TB, registered under the national TB programme between March 2016 and February 2017, and an equal number of randomly selected PCF-diagnosed people in the same settings. We used log binomial models to adjust for confounders. Results: Of 572 enrolled, 275 belonged to the ACF and 297 to the PCF group. The proportion of unfavourable outcomes were 10.2% (95% CI: 7.1%, 14.3%) in the ACF and 12.5% (95% CI: 9.2%, 16.7%) in the PCF group (p = 0.468). The association between ACF and unfavourable outcomes remained non-significant after adjusting for confounders available from records [aRR: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.56, 1.21)]. Due to patient non-availability at their residence, interviews were conducted for 465 (81.3%). In the 465 cohort too, there was no association after adjusting for confounders from records and interviews [aRR: 1.05 (95% CI: 0.62, 1.77)]. Conclusion: We did not find significant differences in the treatment outcomes. Due to the wide CIs, studies with larger sample sizes are urgently required. Studies are required to understand how to translate the benefits of ACF to improved treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between early pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes in rural India and Pakistan. Study Design In a prospective, population-based pregnancy registry implemented in communities inThatta, Pakistan and Nagpur and Belagavi, India, we obtained women's BMI prior to 12 weeks' gestation (categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese following World Health Organization criteria). Outcomes were assessed 42 days postpartum. Results The proportion of women with an adverse maternal outcome increased with increasingmaternal BMI. Less than one-third ofnonoverweight/nonobesewomen, 47.2%of overweight women, and 56.0% of obese women experienced an adverse maternal outcome. After controlling for site, maternal age and parity, risks of hypertensive disease/severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, cesarean/assisted delivery, and antibiotic use were higher among women with higher BMIs. Overweight women also had significantly higher risk of perinatal and early neonatal mortality compared with underweight/normal BMI women. Overweight women had a significantly higher perinatal mortality rate. Conclusion High BMI in early pregnancy was associated with increased risk of adverse maternal, perinatal, and neonatal outcomes in rural India and Pakistan. These findings present an opportunity to inform efforts for women to optimize weight prior to conception to improve pregnancy outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fate of the enormous amount of reactive nitrogen released to the environment by human activities in India is unknown. Here we show occurrence of seasonal stratification and generally low concentrations of dissolved inorganic combined nitrogen, and high molecular nitrogen (N2) to argon ratio, thus suggesting seasonal loss to N2 in anoxic hypolimnia of several dam-reservoirs. However, 15N-experiments yielded low rates of denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium--except in the presence of methane (CH4) that caused ~12-fold increase in denitrification. While nitrite-dependent anaerobic methanotrophs belonging to the NC10 phylum were present, previously considered aerobic methanotrophs were far more abundant (up to 13.9%) in anoxic hypolimnion. Methane accumulation in anoxic freshwater systems seems to facilitate rapid loss of reactive nitrogen, with generally low production of nitrous oxide (N2O), through widespread coupling between methanotrophy and denitrification, potentially mitigating eutrophication and emissions of CH4 and N2O to the atmosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relative grazing impact of Noctiluca scintillans (hereafter referred only Noctiluca) and copepods ( Acrocalanus gracilis, Paracalanus parvus, Acartia danae and Oithona similis) on the phytoplankton community in an upwelling-mudbank environment along the southwest coast India is presented here. This study was carried out during the Pre-Southwest Monsoon (April-May) to the Late Southwest Monsoon (August) period in 2014. During the sampling period, large hydrographical transformation was evident in the study area (off Alappuzha, Southwest coast of India); warmer Pre-Southwest Monsoon water column condition got transformed into cooler and nitrate-rich hypoxic waters during the Southwest Monsoon (June-August) due to intense coastal upwelling. Copepods were present in the study area throughout the sampling period with a noticeable increase in their abundance during the Southwest Monsoon. On the other hand, the first appearance of Noctiluca in the sampling location was during the Early Southwest Monsoon (mid-June) and thereafter their abundance increased towards the Peak Southwest Monsoon. The grazing experiments carried out as per the food removal method showed noticeable differences in the feeding preferences of Noctiluca and copepods, especially on the different size fractions of phytoplankton. Noctiluca showed the highest positive electivity for the phytoplankton micro-fraction (av. 0.49 ± 0.04), followed by nano-fraction (av. 0.17 ± 0.04) and a negative electivity for the pico-fraction (av. −0.66 ± 0.06). In total ingestion of Noctiluca, micro-fraction contribution (83.7%) was significantly higher compared to the nano- (15.7%) and pico-fractions (0.58%). On the other hand, copepods showed the highest positive electivity for the phytoplankton nano-fraction (av. 0.38 ± 0.04) followed by micro- (av. -0.17 ± 0.05) and pico-fractions (av. −0.35 ± 0.05). Similarly, in total ingestion of copepods, nano-fraction (69.7%) was the highest followed by micro- (28.9%) and pico-fractions (1.37%). The grazing pressure of Noctiluca on the total phytoplankton was found to be 27.7% of the standing stock and 45.6% of the production, whereas in the case of copepods, it was 9.95% of the standing stock and 16.6% of the production. The study showed that the grazing pressure of Noctiluca on the total phytoplankton as well as larger phytoplankton fraction was 2.8- and 8-folds higher than that of the copepods. This suggests the leading role of Noctiluca as an effective grazer of larger phytoplankton along the southwest west coast of India, especially during the Peak/Late Southwest Monsoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15N and δ18O) and particulate organic matter (POM; δ15N and δ13C) were measured in the Tillari Reservoir, located at the foothills of the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, western India. The reservoir, which is stratified during spring-summer and autumn seasons but gets vertically mixed during the southwest monsoon (SWM) and winter, is characterized by diverse redox nitrogen transformations in space and time. The δ15N and δ18O values of nitrate were low (δ15ND2-10 ‰, δ18OD5- 8 ‰) during normoxic conditions but increased gradually (the highest at δ15ND27 ‰, δ18OD29 ‰) when anoxic conditions facilitated denitrification in the hypolimnion during spring-early summer. Once nitrate was fully utilized and sulfidic conditions set in, NHC 4 became the dominant inorganic N species, with δ15N ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 ‰. Low δ15N (~-5 ‰) and δ13C (-37 to -32 ‰) of POM cooccurring with high NHC 4 and CH4 in sulfidic bottom waters were probably the consequence of microbial chemosynthesis. Assimilation of nitrate in the epilimnion was the major controlling process on the N isotopic composition of POM (δ15ND2-6 ‰). Episodic low δ15N values of POM (-2 to 0 ‰) during early summer, coinciding with the absence of nitrate, might arise from N fixation, although further work is required to confirm the hypothesis. δ13C POM in the photic zone ranged between -29 and -27‰ for most parts of the year. The periods of mixing were characterized by uniform δ15N-NO-3 and δ18O-NO-3 at all depths. Higher POM (particulate organic carbon, POC, as well as particulate organic nitrogen, PON) contents and C =N values with lower δ13C POM during the SWM point to allochthonous inputs. Overall, this study, the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent, provides an insight into biogeochemistry of Indian reservoirs, using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes as a tool, where the monsoons play an important role in controlling vertical mixing and dynamics of carbon and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopic composition of nitrate (δ15N and δ18O) and particulate organic matter (POM) (δ15N and δ13C) were measured in Tillari Reservoir, located at the foothills of the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, western India. The reservoir that is stratified during spring-summer and autumn seasons but gets vertically mixed during the Southwest Monsoon (SWM) and winter is characterized by diverse redox nitrogen transformations in space and time. The δ15N and δ18O values of nitrate were low (δ15N = 2-10 ‰, δ18O = 5-8 ‰) during normoxic conditions but increased gradually (highest δ15N = 27 ‰, δ18O = 29 ‰) when anoxic conditions facilitated denitrification in the hypolimnion during spring-early summer. Once nitrate was fully utilized and sulphidic conditions set in, NH4+ became the dominant inorganic N species, with δ15N ranging from 1.3 to 2.6 ‰. Low δ15N (~-5 ‰) and δ13C (-37 ‰ to -32 ‰) of POM co-occuring with high NH4+ and CH4 in sulphidic bottom waters were probably the consequence of microbial chemosynthesis. Assimilation of nitrate in the epilimnion was the major controlling process on the N-isotopic composition of POM (δ15N = 2-6 ‰). Episodic low δ15N values of POM (-2 to 0 ‰) during early summer coinciding with the absence of nitrate might arise from N-fixation, although further work is required to confirm the hypothesis. δ13C-POM in the photic zone ranged between -29 ‰ and -27 ‰ for most parts of the year. The periods of mixing were characterized by uniform δ15N-NO3- and δ18O-NO3- at all depths. Higher POM (POC and PON) contents and C / N values with lower δ13C-POM during the SWM point to allochthonous inputs. Overall, this study, the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent, demonstrates the potential of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes to gain insight into biogeochemistry of Indian reservoirs where the monsoons play an important role in controlling vertical mixing and dynamics of carbon and nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional polymorphism A1082G in the gene ( IL10) for interleukin-10 associated with risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The present case-control study was to evaluate the possible association between IL10 A1082G gene and OSCC in north Indian population. Analysis of IL10 A1082G genotype in 232 OSCC cases and 221 healthy controls of comparable age, gender, smokers, tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption. IL10 A1082G status in cases and controls were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The frequencies of IL10 A1082G polymorphism AA, AG, GG genotypes were 29.74, 68.10 and 2.15% in OSCC cases and 57.46, 42.08 and 0.45% in healthy controls. The average frequency of G mutant allele was 36.20% in OSCC cases compared with 21.50% among the controls and this allele was associated with increased risk for OSCC cases. Heterozygous AG genotype was found statistically significant in OSCC cases than in controls (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.1-2.2, P = 0.003), whereas homozygous mutant GG genotype was not found significant (OR = 4.7, 95% CI = 0.55-41.1, P = 0.2). Moreover, we found that G allele was significant in OSCC cases of tobacco chewing. The frequency of IL10 A1082G polymorphism G allele and AG genotype is associated with OSCC cases as compared with controls; this may be due to smoking and tobacco chewing. Our findings showed that in IL10 A1082G gene polymorphism AG genotype and G allele may participate in the progression of OSCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket is an extremely popular game. More than a million cricketers play cricket daily in India alone and aspire to become professional cricketers. Cricket Talent identification and enhancement is a challenging problem due to lack of quality coaches, meagre infrastructural facilities, and poor linkages of coaching academies & cricket authorities. In India, the problem is even tougher as the majority of the population resides in villages. Many of talented players do not get timely recognition of cricket boards’ authorities thus amounting to waste of talent. Many keep on pursuing cricket despite of being non-talented. Due to lack of application of appropriate scientific methods the selection process is also criticized as biased by many. In this paper, we present a web based system viz. Cricket Talent Identification, Enhancement and Selection (C-TIES) for addressing the above issues. C-TIES utilize a cricket talent knowledgebase of experts’ opinions aggregated by applying OWA Aggregation Operator and Relative Fuzzy Linguistic Quantifier (RFLQ). The C-TIES system classifies the cricket talent level of an enthusiast into five different classes by applying Normalized Adequacy Coefficient (NAC). The Talent Enhancement and Talent Selection subsystems also uses appropriate algorithms based on OWA, RFLQ and NAC to respectively enable identification of weaknesses in a player and select most talented n-players from a larger group of players. Thus, system reduces the time for identifying weaknesses and also provides a relatively better unbiased selection method for short listing players. The system has been developed using Struts 2.0, Hibernate, J2EE, Ajax, MySql are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents Seasonal behaviour in sheep, which varies in tropical and temperate environmental conditions, is a matter of study, because it can provide a clue to address the problem of seasonality in sheep. Melatonin receptor is the membrane-bound G-coupled receptor, sensing the message of photoperiodic cues thorough melatonin. Restriction fragment length polymorphism ( RFLP) studies were carried out to assess the variability of gene at G612A and C606T SNPs in MTNR1A gene, which have been studied to be markers for out-of-season breeding. Allelic frequency distribution corresponded to higher frequency of GG and CC genotype, in tropical arid sheep breed in comparison with temperate region sheep breed. PCR amplification of MTNR1A gene of 30 animals was performed and single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) identification was carried out using Lasergene software. Seven SNPs/mutations were identified, but most of them were synonymous, except the one G706A, leading to substitution of valine by isoleucine. Polyphen-2 analysis of G706A mutation revealed that it is a benign mutation. Two important SNPs C426T and G555A, which were identified in temperate sheep breeds, could not be traced in Magra and Marwari breeds of sheep. Thus, the Magra and Marwari breeds of tropical, arid region demonstrated the presence of both polymorphic SNPs markers G612A and C606T, associated with out-of-season breeding. GG and CC genotypes were having a higher prevalence in the studied population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to find out the use of Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology (GBPUAT) library collection and services by postgraduate students and research scholars. The scope of the study was limited to the use of library collection and services as well as the postgraduate students and research scholars. Questionnaires were administered randomly among 250 students. A total 137 useable questionnaires were taken for analysis and interpretation. The Likert's scale was also used for designing questionnaire. The findings showed that from the library's collection (books/monographs, reference materials, research reports/bulletins, CD-ROMs, newsletters, periodicals, thesis/dissertations, book reviews and seminars/conference proceedings/ workshops) whereas library services (photocopying, CD-ROM database, online, catalogue, indexing and abstracting, CAS, bibliographical, reference, and lending/circulation) were the most used among the P.G. students and research scholars for different purposes like (research work, project work, study, personal work). It was also observed that CD-ROM databases, e-journals and online databases were the most highly used e-resources. Moreover, electronic and online databases such as AGRIS, AGRICOLA, CAB Abstract and Agriculture & Natural Resources were the most highly used databases among the PG students and research scholars. The study puts forward its recommendations in regards to enhancing the use of collection and services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scientometric study on ‘Polymer Science Research in India’ based on Science Citation Index-Expanded shows that publication in polymer science by Indian scientists has increased steadily during the period 1999–2012. Total of 25,566 records were retrieved from the SCI for 1999–2012. In terms of world share, India stood at seventh position. India contributed only 4.38 per cent of publications to world output during 1999–2012. The authorship study validates that now-a-days multiple authorship prevails in almost all fields especially science subjects. Therefore, Lotka law when applied in our study does not pass the test. The institutions involved in polymer science research in India are mostly government supported academic institutions. The presence of private research laboratories is negligible. The Indian scientists in polymer science are collaborating with international scientists mostly in terms of joint publications. Out of top 40 journals, there are 34 foreign journals and are mostly from USA and UK. The analysis of subject categories shows that the polymer science is a multi-disciplinary field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India enforced stringent lockdown measures on March 24, 2020 to mitigate the spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronovirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we examined the impact of lockdown on the air quality index (AQI) [including ambient particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), sulfur dioxide (SO 2), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O 3), and ammonia (NH 3)] and tropospheric NO 2 and O 3 densities through Sentinel-5 satellite data approximately 1 d post-lockdown and one month pre-lockdown and post-lockdown. Our findings revealed a marked reduction in the ambient AQI (estimated mean reduction of 17.75% and 20.70%, respectively), tropospheric NO 2 density, and land surface temperature (LST) during post-lockdown compared with the pre-lockdown period or corresponding months in 2019, except for a few sites with substantial coal mining and active power plants. We observed a modest increase in the O 3 density post-lockdown, thereby indicating improved tropospheric air quality. As a favorable outcome of the COVID-19 lockdown, road accident-related mortalities declined by 72-folds. Cities with poor air quality correlate with higher COVID-19 cases and deaths (r = 0.504 and r = 0.590 for NO 2 ; r = 0.744 and r = 0.435 for AQI). Conversely, low mortality was reported in cities with better air quality. These results show a correlation between the COVID-19 vulnerable regions and AQI hotspots, thereby suggesting that air pollution may exacerbate clinical manifestations of the disease. However, a prolonged lockdown may nullify the beneficial environmental outcomes by adversely affecting socioeconomic and health aspects. Image 1 • Marked improvement in Air Quality Index (AQI) post-COVID-19 lockdown in India. • Reduction in the tropospheric NO 2 , O 3 and LST was observed post-lockdown. • Lockdown had a beneficial impact on AP-associated mortalities and RAs. • NO 2 and AQI pollutants positively correlated with SARS-CoV-2 cases and mortalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants ofOxalis corymbosadisplaying typical viral symptoms were observed during spring 2010 in plant nurseries in central India. The virus was mechanically transmissible to indicator plants and induced symptoms similar to those incited byCucumber mosaic virus(CMV). Electron microscopic examinations of symptomatic leaf samples revealed the presence of isometric virus-like particles about 28–30 nm in diameter. Molecular detection methods allowed the identification of the pathogen as a CMV. The results were confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with specific CMV primers, and digestion with a restriction enzyme. The coat protein gene was 95 and 99% identical at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, to the published sequences of CMV, high amino acid sequence homology in multiple alignment analysis and closest phylogenetic relationship with Lucknow isolate (JX570732) of CMV. This represents the first record for CMV-infectingO. corymbosain Aligarh India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted in subtropical climate of Lucknow, (U.P.) to investigate the influence of phosphorus and zinc in geranium-garlic intercropping system. Application of 40kg P2O5 ha-1 and 30kg zinc ha-1 did influence the biomass and oil yield in geranium significantly over control. Similar trend of result were noticed in garlic also. Citronellol content in geranium oil increased with age of the crop, whereas, geraniol content decreased. In general citronellol (28%) and geraniol (18%) content found in the oil of geranium were as per the acceptable standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of begomovirus with mosaic disease of Withania somnifera was detected at three locations in India by PCR using begomovirus-specific degenerate primers. The resulting amplicons of ∼1.2 kb from three locations (Aligarh, Lucknow and Hindaun City) were sequenced. The begomovirus isolates of three locations shared 96–97% identities among them and 91% identities with Jatropha mosaic India virus (JMIV). Based on highest sequence identities and close phylogenetic relationships with JMIV, these begomovirus isolates associated with mosaic disease of W. somnifera were identified as isolates of JMIV. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this paper is to examine the impact and use of e-databases at GBPUAT library because a huge amount is invested for the subscription, growth, and management of e-databases. The main aim is to determine the purpose of use of e-databases; and to find out their level of use, level of satisfaction, problems, and instructions/help in accessing of e-databases. To collect research data, questionnaire was administered randomly among 250 registered postgraduate students and research scholars of GBPUAT and 143 filled in questionnaires were returned. Finally, the researcher selected 137 useable questionnaires for the analysis using statistical techniques to derive the result. The study reveals that e-databases such as AGRIS, AGRICOLA, CAB abstract, and agriculture & natural resources were highly used among the postgraduate students and research scholars. The majority of postgraduate students and research scholars got training and individual instruction in accessing databases and most of the research scholars were satisfied with the available databases at GBPUAT library. The study identifies the importance of e-databases and the role of user education program or information literacy program to boost the usage of available databases at GBPUAT library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on oral histories and British, Indian, and Pakistani archives of the post-Partition era, this article considers the historical subjectivity of refugees to Pakistan who came from the minority-Muslim provinces of India. In contrast to Muslim refugees who arrived under the cover of a bilateral transfer of population, Pakistan’s leadership discouraged residents of the minority-Muslim provinces from leaving India. I trace how migrants (muhajirs) from the minority-Muslim provinces imagine their migration in terms of the theologically informed concept of ‘sacrifice’. I contend that the sacrificial imaginary mediates the rupture that Pakistan’s sovereignty created between membership and inclusion within the Muslim nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface waters over the western Indian continental shelf experience seasonal anoxia towards the end of the southwest monsoon season. During a 3-day study carried out at the Candolim time series site (off the coast of Goa), dimethylsulphide (DMS) concentrations showed a 40-fold increase to a maximum of 442 nM at 25 m depth compared to the oxygenated surface waters. This extremely high DMS was found to be associated with relatively low chlorophyll a, low phytoplankton cell counts and a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide. However, total dimethylsulphoniopropionate, total dimethylsulphoxide and methanethiol concentrations were quite low and unlikely to account for the DMS build-up through presently known pathways of DMS production. While there are several possible mechanisms for the observed accumulation of DMS, we were unable to pinpoint the exact pathway of DMS production. Future work will involve investigation of the source of DMS through sediment slurry experiments, to explore this interesting link between the carbon and sulphur cycles under anoxic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton and bacterial pigment compositions were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in two freshwater reservoirs (Tillari Dam and Selaulim Dam), which are located at the foothills of the Western Ghats in India. These reservoirs experience anoxia in the hypolimnion during summer. Water samples were collected from both reservoirs during anoxic periods while one of them (Tillari Reservoir) was also sampled in winter, when convective mixing results in well-oxygenated conditions throughout the water column. During the period of anoxia (summer), bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) e isomers and isorenieratene, characteristic of brown sulfur bacteria, were dominant in the anoxic (sulfidic) layer of the Tillari Reservoir under low light intensities. The winter observations showed the dominance of small cells of Chlorophyll b-containing green algae and cyanobacteria, with minor presence of fucoxanthin-containing diatoms and peridinincontaining dinoflagellates. Using total BChl e concentration observed in June, the standing stock of brown sulfur bacteria carbon in the anoxic compartment of Tillari Reservoir was estimated to be 2.27 gC m-2, which is much higher than the similar estimate for carbon derived from oxygenic photosynthesis (0.82 gC m-2). The Selaulim Reservoir also displayed similar characteristics with the presence of BChl e isomers and isorenieratene in the anoxic hypolimnion during summer. Although sulfidic conditions prevailed in the water column below the thermocline, the occurrence of photo-autotrophic bacteria was restricted only to mid-depths (maximal concentration of BChl e isomers was detected at 0.2% of the surface incident light). This shows that the vertical distribution of photo-autotrophic sulfur bacteria is primarily controlled by light penetration in the water column where the presence of H2S provides a suitable biogeochemical environment for them to flourish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two sediment types were found in five gravity cores collected from water depths between 56 m and 121 m along the northwestern continental margin of India: lime muds were abundant in the lower section while siliciclastic sediments dominated the upper section. Lime mud-dominated sediments in shelf cores contained 60%-75% carbonate, 0.3%-0.6% Sr and terrigenous minerals, whereas those at the shelf break were found to have >90% carbonate, 0.6%-0.8% Sr and traces of terrigenous minerals. Aragonite needles showing blunt edges, jointed needles and needles wrapped in smooth aragonite cement were found to be common. Stable (O and C) isotopes of lime mud indicate a potentially freshwater contribution for shelf cores and purely marine contribution for those at the shelf break. Calibrated radiocarbon ages of the lime muds ranged from 17.6-11.9 ka in different cores. The results reported here suggest that the lime muds in the shallow shelf are probably reworked from the Gulf of Kachchh, whereas those at the shelf break were biodetrital, initially formed on the carbonate platform during low stands of sea level and then exported. The change in lime mud-dominated to siliciclastic-dominated sediments in the cores may be due to climate change and rapid rise in sea level during the early Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplankton and bacterial pigment compositions were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry LCMS) in two freshwater reservoirs (Tillari Dam and Selaulim Dam), which are located at the foothills of the Western Ghats in India. These reservoirs experience anoxia in the hypolimnion during summer. Water samples were collected from both reservoirs during anoxic periods while one of them (Tillari Reservoir) was also sampled in winter, when convective mixing results in well-oxygenated conditions throughout the water column. During the periods of anoxia (summer), bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) e isomers and isoreneiratene, characteristic of brown sulfur bacteria, were dominant in the anoxic sulfidic) layer of the Tillari Reservoir under low light intensities. The winter observations showed the dominance of small cells of Chlorophyll-b containing green algae and cyanobacteria, with minor presence of fucoxanthin-containing diatoms and peridinin-containing dinoflagellates. Using total BChl-e concentration observed in June, the standing stock of brown sulfur bacteria carbon in the Tillari Reservoir was computed to be 2.4 gC m-2, which is much higher than the similar estimate for carbon derived from oxygenic photosynthesis (0.82 gC m-2). These results highlight the importance of anoxygenic photosynthetic biomass in tropical freshwater systems. The Selaulim Reservoir also displayed similar characteristics with the presence of BChl-e isomers and isorenieratene in the anoxic hypolimnion during summer. Although sulfidic conditions prevailed in the water column below the thermocline, the occurrence of photoautotrophic bacteria was restricted only to mid-depths (maximal concentration of BChl-e isomers was noted at 0.2% of the surface incident light). This shows that the vertical distribution of photoautotrophic sulfur bacteria is primarily controlled by light penetration in the water column where the presence of H2S provides a suitable biogeochemical environment for them to flourish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intra-annual variations of δ13C and δ15N of water-column suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) have been investigated to understand the biogeochemical cycling of C and N in the Western Continental Shelf of India (WCSI). The key issues being addressed are: how the δ15N of SPOM is affected by seasonally varying processes of organic matter production and respiration and how it relates to the δ15N of sedimentary organic matter that appears to show a decreasing trend despite an apparent intensification of seasonal oxygen deficiency over the past few decades? A secondary objective was to evaluate the sources of organic carbon. Elemental carbon and nitrogen concentrations, C/N ratios in SPOM, along with ancillary chemical and biological variables including phytoplankton pigment abundance were also determined on a seasonal basis (from March 2007 to September 2008), with the partial exception of the southwest (SW) monsoon period. The results reveal significant shifts in isotopic signatures, especially δ15N, of SPOM before and after the onset of SW monsoon. Very low δ15N values, reaching a minimum of -4.17‰, are found during the pre-monsoon period. Our results provide the first direct evidence for the addition of substantial amounts of isotopically light nitrogen by the diazotrophs, especially Trichodesmium, in the region. The δ15N of SPOM is generally lower than the mean value (7.38‰) for surficial sediments, presumably because of diagenetic enrichment. The results support the view that sedimentary δ15N may not necessarily reflect denitrification intensity in the overlying waters due to diverse sources of nitrogen and variability of its isotopic composition. The observed intra-annual variability of δ13C of SPOM during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods is generally small. Phytoplankton production and probably species composition could drive some of the observed changes. The largest changes (depletion of δ13C and increase in C/N) appear to occur during the pre- and post-monsoon seasons, presumably through episodic deposition of terrestrial organic matter from the atmosphere. During the SW monsoon, when a large input of terrestrial organic matter is expected through runoff from land, the C/N ratio remains low, but significant difference is observed between δ13C data in 2007 and 2008. Inputs of soil organic matter that may have elemental and isotopic signatures different from those of the conventional (C3 plant derived) organic matter could explain the constancy of the C/N ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radon and its progeny have been recognized as one of the major contributors to the natural radiation and health hazards in the human dwellings. Even lung cancer is expected if it is present in enhanced levels beyond maximum permissible limit. This paper reports the measurements of indoor radon and its progeny in the urban dwellings of the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh province in Northern India using the cellulose nitrate (LR-115 type-II) plastic track detectors. It is found that the values of radon concentration vary from 3.52 to 248.64 Bq m with a standard deviation of 69.19. The values of radon progeny concentration vary from 0.38 to 26.88 mWL with a standard deviation of 7.48. The effective dose has been calculated and found to vary from 0.05 to 3.76 mSv year with a standard deviation of 1.05. The lifetime fatality risk is found to vary from 0.04 × 10 to 2.90 × 10. The results have been compared with the results reported in the rural areas of the same district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is a bibliometric analysis of the research output of the Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, in the field of natural sciences. A total of 1313 records in the form of journal articles (984), conference papers (273) and books (56) were analysed. Bradford’s Law and Lotka’s Law were tested and found applicable to the data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Extensive observations during the late Southwest Monsoon of 2004 over the Indian and Omani shelves, and along an east-west transect reveal a mosaic of biogeochemical provinces including an unexpected high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll condition off the southern Omani coast. This feature, coupled with other characteristics of the system, suggest a close similarity between the Omani upwelling system and the Peruvian and California upwelling systems, where primary production (PP) is limited by iron. An intensification of upwelling, reported to have been caused by the decline in the winter/ spring Eurasian snow cover since 1997, is not supported by in situ hydrographic and chlorophyll measurements as well as a reanalysis of ocean colour data extending to 2009. Iron limitation of PP may complicate simple relationship between upwelling and PP assumed by previous workers, and contribute to the anomalous offshore occurrence of the most severe oxygen (O2) depletion in the region. Over the Indian shelf, affected by very shallow O2-deficient zone, high PP is restricted to a thin, oxygenated surface layer probably due to unsuitability of the O2-depleted environment for the growth of oxygenic photosynthesizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tomato leaf curl viruses, which are the members of the genus Begomovirus, have emerged as devastating pathogens worldwide causing huge economic losses and threatening production of crops like cassava, cotton, grain legumes and vegetables. Even though the ToLCV isolates from Northern India have been shown to possess bipartite genome (designated as DNA A and DNA B), those from Australia, Taiwan and Southern India have a single genomic component (DNA A). We describe here the genetic diversity of two isolates of monopartite Tomato leaf curl virus infecting tomato in two extreme regions (North and South) of Indian subcontinent. Results: The rolling circle amplification (RCA) products obtained from symptomatic samples were digested, cloned and sequenced. The complete DNA sequence of two Tomato leaf curl virus isolates identified as ToLCV-CTM (India, New Delhi, 2005) and ToLCVK3/K5 (India, Kerala, 2008) are reported here. These isolates had the characteristic features of Begomovirus genome organization with six conserved open reading frames (ORFs). The ToLCV-K3 and ToLCV-K5 isolates may be the strains of the same virus since they show sequence homology of 97% over their entire genome. This, according to the guidelines established by the ICTV Geminiviridae Study-Group is higher than threshold (92%) for delineation of different viral variants and hence single, average value has been assigned for all their analyses presented here. The ToLCV-CTM and ToLCV-K3/K5 viruses were found to be monopartite, as neither DNA-B component nor betasatellite associated with begomovirus species, were detected. The complete nucleotide sequence of DNA-A genome of CTM exhibited highest sequence homology (88%) to Croton yellow vein mosaic virus (AJ507777), and of isolates K3/K5 (88.5%) to Tomato leaf curl Pakistan virus (DQ116884). This is less than the threshold value for demarcation of species in the genus Begomovirus. Conclusion: K3/K5 and CTM are considered to be novel isolates of Tomato leaf curl virus. Sequence analyses and phylogenetic study indicate that these two ToLCV isolates might have evolved by recombination between viruses related to two or more viral ancestors. The existence of different ToLCV isolates having high genome diversity in India poses a threat to the tomato production in the Asian continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In-situ measurements of benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients were made in the subtidal region of the Mandovi estuary during premonsoon and monsoon seasons to understand the role of sediment–water exchange processes in the estuarine ecosystem. The Mandovi estuary is a shallow, highly dynamic, macrotidal estuary which experiences marine condition in the premonsoon season and nearly fresh water condition in the monsoon season. The benthic flux of nutrients exhibited strong seasonality, being higher in the premonsoon compared to the monsoon season which explains the higher ecosystem productivity in the dry season in spite of negligible riverine nutrient input. NH4 + was the major form of released N comprising 70–100% of DIN flux. The benthic respiration rate varied from −98.91 to −35.13mmolm−2 d−1, NH4 + flux from 5.15 to 0.836mmolm−2 d−1, NO3 − +NO2 − from 0.06 to −1.06mmolm−2 d−1, DIP from 0.12 to 0.23mmolm−2 d−1 and SiO4 4− from 5.78 to 0.41mmolm−2 d−1 between premonsoon to monsoon period. The estuarine sediment acted as a net source of DIN in the premonsoon season, but changed to a net sink in the monsoon season. Variation in salinity seemed to control NH4 + flux considerably. Macrofaunal activities, especially bioturbation, enhanced the fluxes 2–25 times. The estuarine sediment was observed to be a huge reservoir of NH4 +, PO4 3− and SiO4 4− and acted as a net sink of combined N because of the high rate of benthic denitrification as it could remove 22% of riverine DIN influx thereby protecting the eco system from eutrophication and consequent degradation. The estuarine sediment was responsible for ∼30–50% of the total community respiration in the estuary. The benthic supply of DIN, PO4 3− and SiO4 4− can potentially meet 49%, 25% and 55% of algal N, P and Si demand, respectively, in the estuary. Based on these observations we hypothesize that it is mainly benthic NH4 + efflux that sustains high estuarine productivity in the NO3 − depleted dry season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]