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Background: Clinical trials play a crucial role in biomedical research, and it is important to register them in public registries to ensure transparency and prevent research waste. In this study, we wished to determine what steps need to be taken to identify every clinical trial run in India that has been registered in any of the (non-Indian) World Health Organization-recognised primary registries. Of the 16 registries, we studied all except that of the European Union, which will be studied separately. Methods: Two methodologies were employed for each registry, except for four that did not facilitate one or the other method. Methodology A involved downloading all the records in a registry and querying them. Methodology B involved conducting a search via the registry website. Results: Only four registries provided consistent results with both methodologies. Seven registries had different results from the two methodologies. Of these, in four cases, in Methodology A one field indicated that the study ran in India, while another indicated otherwise. Conclusions: The above-mentioned ambiguities should be addressed by the concerned registries. Overall, this study reinforces the need for improved data accuracy and transparency in clinical trial registries and emphasizes the importance of resolving complications faced by users while navigating the registries. Ensuring accurate and comprehensive registration of clinical trials is essential for meta-research and the use of such data by a variety of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background We evaluated whether the addition of docetaxel (D) to a combination comprising 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (5-FU/LV) or capecitabine (C) plus oxaliplatin (O) (DOF/DOX) improved overall survival (OS) compared with 6 months of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or capecitabine in combination with oxaliplatin (FOLFOX/CAPOX) alone in advanced HER2-negative gastroesophageal junction and gastric adenocarcinomas (G/GEJ). Methods This study was an investigator-initiated, open-label, multi-institutional, randomized phase III trial in adult patients with HER2-negative advanced G/GEJs. The primary endpoint of the study was a comparison of median OS by Kaplan-Meier method. Next-generation sequencing was performed on tissue. Results Of the 324 patients randomly assigned between July 2020 and November 2022, 305 patients were evaluable for analysis (FOLFOX/CAPOX: 156; DOF/DOX: 149). With a median follow-up time of 19.2 months (95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 16.5 months to 21.9 months) for the entire cohort, the median OS was 10.1 months (95% CI = 9.2 to 10.9) for FOLFOX/CAPOX and 8.9 months (95% CI = 7.3 to 10.5) for DOF/DOX, and this difference was not statistically significant (P  = .70). An increased proportion of grade 3 or grade 4 neutropenia (21% vs 3%; P  < .001) and grade 2/3 neuropathy (17% vs 7%; P  = .005) was seen in patients receiving DOF/DOX. Genomic profiling revealed a low incidence of microsatellite instability (1%) and a high incidence of BRCA1 (8.4%) and BRCA2 (7.5%) somatic alterations. Conclusion FOLFOX or CAPOX chemotherapy for 6 months remains one of the standards of care in advanced HER2-negative gastroesophageal junction and gastric adenocarcinomas, with no additional survival benefit seen with the addition of docetaxel. Genomic profiling of patients revealed a higher than previously known incidence of somatic BRCA alterations, which requires further evaluation. CTRI (Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2020/03/023944). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objectives: To assess self-esteem, loneliness and attachment styles among adolescents and examine their association with each other and with age and gender. Method: Adolescents (55 males and 55 females) from a public school in Delhi, aged 10-13 years were administered Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (School Form), Attachment Scale and UCLA Loneliness Scale. Results: Adolescents aged 10-11 years reported higher self-esteem as compared to those aged 12-13 years (p less than 0.01). Low global, general and home-parents self-esteem were associated with high levels of loneliness. Adolescents with high self-esteem were securely attached while those with low self-esteem had preoccupied and fearful attachment. Conclusions: Adolescents studying in a public school reported high levels of self-esteem, moderate loneliness and a secure attachment style. Students with low self-esteem and feelings of loneliness may benefit from psychological intervention. more...

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases globally. It is characterized by airflow obstruction that varies markedly, regardless of treatment. It is a type of airway inflammation due to bronchial hyperresponsiveness to a wide range of allergens, leading to excessive, usually reversible, airway narrowing. Asthma occurs more frequently in obese people, and it may be linked to pro-inflammatory adipokines. Apelin, a bioactive peptide belonging to the adipokines group, is identified as an endogenous ligand of an orphan G-protein coupled receptor named Apelin receptor (AR or APJ). Apelin is demonstrated in mature adipocytes and is highly expressed in pulmonary tissue, including bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells and small pulmonary blood vessels. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of serum apelin in adult nonobese patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma cases and compare with healthy volunteers. We also aimed to correlate serum apelin levels with the severity of bronchial asthma. Materials and Methods: Twenty-two nonobese clinically diagnosed cases of bronchial asthma were included as cases and 66 age, sex, and socio-economic status-matched healthy volunteers as controls. Body mass index of cases and control subjects was calculated by weight (kg) per height (m2). Pulmonary function tests of the cases were done using spirometry. Serum apelin levels were estimated using Abbkine human ELISA-based kit. Statistical analysis was done using Pearson's correlation test and analysis of variance. Results: We recruited 22 nonobese bronchial asthma cases (mean age = 38.2 ± 10.5 years) and 66 matched controls (mean age = 39.5 ± 12.0 years. Majority of the sample were females (n = 19 cases [86.3%], 54 controls [81.8%]). The mean serum apelin levels in cases and controls were 1355.3 ± 781.0 ng/L and 725.9 ± 375.6 ng/L, respectively; this difference was statistically significant (t = 5.053, df = 86, p = 0.001). The mean serum apelin levels in mild and moderate cases of bronchial asthma were 1121.5 ± 535.9 ng/L and 2150.2 ± 1019.1 ng/L, respectively. This difference was also statistically significant (t = 3.06, df = 20, p = 0.01). Conclusion: Serum apelin levels differ significantly between adult patients with bronchial asthma and population controls. Further, serum apelin levels differed with illness severity. These findings have important implications for disease management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The building consumes almost 40% of the energy generated in the building. Investigating the photovoltaic system, wind, battery, and diesel generators for residential buildings can reduce energy utilization. In this work, various energy sources are combined to form hybrid energy sources, which are designed based on the load of the residential building. The Hybrid Optimization of Multiple Energy Resources tool optimizes various energy sources such as photovoltaic (PV), wind, diesel generator (DG), and battery. An investigation on the residential load in the smart city of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India, is being carried out. This article examined the technological and economic feasibility of solar photovoltaic, wind, diesel generators, and batteries combined to form a hybrid energy source (HES). With 2 kW of photovoltaic, 1 kW wind, 1 kW of DG, 1 kW of the power converter, and five batteries, system case 1 (photovoltaic/wind/diesel generator/battery model) had the best results in the simulation and was recommended for use in the proposed residential building. As a result, it has a minimum net present value of $14,568 and an energy cost of $0.312/kWh, which is about 39% cheaper than system base cases. The sensitivity and environmental analysis are carried out to analyze the system's feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Watersheds are vital dynamic natural systems with varying climatic, hydro-geologic and land-use and land-cover conditions. Hence, the resilience assessment of watersheds is a cumbersome task and imperative for natural resources managers. The study of watershed resilience necessitates a large amount of data, time and process-based modelling approaches. To address this problem, the study put forward a framework for the watershed resilience assessment based on the changes and the signal given by the watershed during the transition from one state to another. Streamflow is considered the key parameter for the assessment of watershed resilience, which is the response of watersheds to hydro-climatic conditions and anthropogenic activities inside the watershed boundary. The proposed framework is demonstrated with the help of watersheds of the Budhabalanga River basin in the Odisha state of India. The study revealed that the flow of the Budhabalanga River is highly influenced by the hydro-climatic conditions as well as land-use and land-cover, which has varied due to various anthropogenic activities. The upstream area of the river basin is found to be more resilient compared to other parts. Further, the streamflow at the three stations, namely Baripada, Manitri and Govindpur, in the Budhabalanga River basin shows potential for critical transition or even possible drift towards a lower resilience condition after 2013. The study illustrates the usefulness of the framework to study watershed resilience where time and availability of data are key issues for studying the resilience of watershed systems through an integrated hydro-climatological and ecosystem model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Two species, namely, Apium graveolens Linn. and Trachyspermum roxburghianum (DC.) Craib., are being popularly known as 'Ajmoda' in India and 'celery' in english. both the species belong to the family Apiaceae. The plant specimens are mostly collected from wild sources by unskilled collectors on the basis of the local names, which leads to adulteration and substitution for genuine drugs. There is a chance of improper identification because of similar name. The seeds of these species are morphologically very similar and it is difficult to identify because of their smaller size. Therefore, this study aims to find out the detailed pharmacognostical evaluation to differentiate the seeds of the two species on the basis of microscopic characters, fluorescence analysis, physicochemical values and TLC fingerprint profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

BACKGROUND: The genus Burkholderia a gram negative bacteria, belonging to phylum proteobacteria inhabits soil and plants are pathogenic to humans. These include B. mallei and B. pseudomallei of the B. pseudomallei complex, which cause glanders and melioidosis, respectively. B. cepacia complex affecting cystic fibrosis patients causes "cepacia syndrome". AIMS: To study the prevalence, risk factors, and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the Burkholderia species. METHODS: This was a hospital based prospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology, SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, Odisha. Total 820 samples collected from hospitalized patients were processed for phenotypic characterisation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: Out of 820 samples, 505 (61.6%) were found to be culture positive with maximum culture positivity among pus samples 227 (91.5%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant isolate 89 (73.5%) followed by Acinetobacter baumannii 20 (16.6%) and 11(9.09%) Burkholderia spp. Prevalence of Burkholderia species was 11/820(1.34%). Diabetes mellitus was the commonest risk factor 8 (72.7%). All the isolates of Burkholderia pseudomallei were sensitive to Ceftazidime, Imipenem and Amoxi-clav while Burkholderia cepacia complex were sensitive to Ceftazidime, Meropenem and Levofloxacin. CONCLUSION: Burkholderia spp can be identified by phenotypic methods but species level identification is more specific by molecular methods. It also guides the clinicians for instituting appropriate treatment which leads in reducing morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Delinquent offenses among adolescents is an important public health concern worldwide and has been increasing at an alarming rate in India. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and pattern of delinquency among justice-involved adolescent (JIA) males and determine the associated socio-demographic factors. This cross-sectional study was carried out during the year 2016 to 2019 among 178 male inmates (aged 10–18 years) of an observation home situated at Berhampur city in the state of Odisha, India. More than half (52.8%) of the JIA males committed overt delinquent acts and 47.2% committed covert delinquent acts. Drug trafficking (34.5%) tops the list among different covert delinquent acts followed by stealing things (33.3%) whereas rape (62.8%) was the most frequently committed overt delinquent act followed by murder (25%). Results of the multivariate analysis revealed that older age {adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.05; 95% CI [1.73, 9.51]}, lower education status of mother (aOR: 2.81; 95% CI [1.09, 7.22]), single parenthood (aOR: 4.58; 95% CI [1.27, 16.58]), and non-supportive parenting (aOR: 3.13, 95% CI [1.44, 6.80]) were significantly associated with overt delinquency in JIA males. The prevalence of overt delinquency among JIA males was high. Interventional measures incorporating these determinants should be designed to address overt delinquency in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Integrated farming system (IFS), comprising various enterprises such as crop, horticulture, dairy, poultry and fishery optimally, uses farm resources to suit small and medium farms of India. In this study, 55 IFSs with different sizes and several enterprises were assessed in terms of their environment impact, eco-efficiency and technical efficiency (TE). The households, which own these IFS, were grouped into four major categories based on farm size viz., marginal (<0.8 ha), small (0.8–1.2 ha), medium (1.2–2.0 ha) and large (>2.0 ha). Among the farm size category, the highest eco-efficiency was recorded for marginal farms, whereas the lowest eco-efficiency was observed for small farms. The highest eco-efficiency was recorded for farm having five enterprises (INR195 kg CO2eq. ha−1) followed by four enterprises (INR190 kg CO2eq.ha−1). Among the enterprises, the highest eco-efficiency was recorded in fruits, whereas the lowest eco-efficiency was observed in dairy. The TE scores estimated using stochastic frontier analysis decreased with increasing farm size and the highest TE score was recorded for marginal farms, whereas medium and large farms recorded the lowest TE scores. The findings indicated the necessity for imparting training and demonstrations and funding support as well as subsidy for larger adoption of IFS to reap higher returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Despite the availability of factor replacement therapy, including prophylaxis, to treat and prevent bleeding, haemophilic arthropathy continues to be the most common complication of haemophilia and significantly impairs the quality of life in people with haemophilia (PwH). Regular periodic assessment of joint status in PwH is essential to identify early arthropathic changes and prevent the development or progression of haemophilic arthropathy. Kinematic and kinetic assessment are preferable and MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing haemophilic arthropathy, but availability is limited in developing countries. HJHS and ultrasound in conjunction with HEAD-US have been shown to effective in assessing changes indicating arthropathy. This study is designed to identify which radiological assessment tool(s) works best when integrated with clinical assessment tools to examine joint health in PwH, with the aim of establishing a cheap, effective, multimodal approach to joint assessment in clinical practice in low resource settings which can then help to guide treatment. A cross-sectional observational study was carried out among PwH attending a clinic in the department of medicine at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Northeast India, over a one-year time period. The elbow, knee and ankle joints of participants were assessed clinically and functionally using HJHS and FISH and radiologically by Pettersson (X-ray) and HEAD-US (ultrasound) scoring. The resulting data was analysed statistically to ascertain correlation between these parameters. Sixty-seven PwH were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 21.69±8.24 years (median 21 years); 38 (57.72%) had severe factor deficiency. The majority (71.70%) presented with joint bleeds; 40 (59.70%) had the knee as a target joint, followed by the elbow (11; 16.41%) and ankle (6; 8.95%). Mean ABR (annual bleed rate), AJBR (annual joint bleed rate) and ATJBR (annual target joint bleed rate) values had a positive correlation with increased severity of factor deficiency (p <0.001). FISH score increased with factor activity level; HJHS, HEAD-US and Pettersson scores decreased with factor activity level. Significant positive correlation was established between Pettersson score, age and ABR. The degree of association was greatest between HJHS and HEAD-US at 60.62%; between HJHS and Pettersson it was 57.74%. Statistically significant negative correlation was established between FISH and HEAD-US. A combined multimodal approach using the HJHS, FISH and HEAD-US scoring systems can provide a cheap, quick, more reliable and accurate option for assessing haemophilic joints, with minimal inter and intra observer reliability. This can support the optimisation of management of joint damage in PwH in resource-constrained settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In this paper, we have proposed a stochastic Knapsack Problem (KP) based mathematical model for small-scale vegetable sellers in India and solved it by an advanced Genetic Algorithm. The knapsack problem considered here is a bounded one, where vegetables are the objects. In this model, we have assumed that different available vegetables (objects) have different weights (that are available), purchase costs, and profits. The maximum weight of vegetables that can be transported by a seller is limited by the carrying capacity of the vegetable carrier and the business capital of the seller is also limited. The aim of the proposed mathematical model is to maximize the total profit of the loaded/traded items, with a set of predefined constraints on the part of the vegetable seller or retailer. This problem has been solved in a Type-2 fuzzy environment and the Critical Value (CV) reduction method is utilized to defuzzify the objective value. We have projected an improved genetic algorithm based approach, where we have incorporated two features, namely refinement and immigration. We have initially considered benchmark instances and subsequently some redefined cases for experimentation. Moreover, we have solved some randomly generated proposed KP instances in Type-2 fuzzy environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Groundwater is the second largest store of freshwater in the world. The sustainability of the ecosystem is largely dependent on groundwater availability, and groundwater has already been under tremendous pressure to fulfill human needs owing to anthropogenic activities around various parts of the world. The footprints of human activities can be witnessed in terms of looming climate change, water pollution, and changes in available water resources. This paper provides a comprehensive view of the linkage between groundwater, climate system, and anthropogenic activities, with a focus on the Indian region. The significant prior works addressing the groundwater-induced response on the climatic system and the impacts of climate on groundwater through natural and human-instigated processes are reviewed. The condition of groundwater quality in India with respect to various physicochemical, heavy metal and biological contamination is discussed. The utility of remote sensing and GIS in groundwater-related studies is discussed, focusing on Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) applications over the Indian region. GRACE-based estimates of terrestrial water storage have been instrumental in numerous groundwater studies in recent times. Based on the literature review, the sustainable practices adopted for optimum utilization of groundwater for different purposes and the possible groundwater-based adaptation strategies for climate change are also enunciated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Expanded-spectrum quinolones (ciprofloxacin) are highly effective against gram-negative bacteria, but significant resistance to quinolones has been increasingly reported. We sought to evaluate the prevalence of gram-negative ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates (CRIs) from our hospital and their mechanism of action. Gram-negative CRIs were identified as per standard procedures and confirmed using the Ezy MICTM Strip (HiMedia). DNA from 67 CRIs was amplified for the quinolone resistance–determining region (QRDR) and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes. Thirty isolates positive for QRDR DNA were sequenced by Sanger's method to detect mutation. Of the isolates, 42.5% were found to be CRIs, the majority (74.42%) from inpatient departments, and E scherichia coli (64.19%) was the predominant isolate. Among the CRIs, 24.55% were ESBL producers and 35.29% were multidrug resistant. The polymerase chain reaction results showed the majority were amplified by QRDR target regions of gyr A (35.4%) while 4.61% were amplified for the plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance region of the qnrB gene. Further sequencing of QRDR-positive genes showed point mutations with amino acid changes at codons Ser83 and Asp87 in the gyr A gene and Ser80, Glu84, and Leu88 positions in the par C gene. Ciprofloxacin resistance observed in our study was mostly due to point mutations. Hence, strategies for rational use of ciprofloxacin and adherence to the dose and duration of treatment could be helpful to prevent selection and spread of mutant CRIs/strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Denudation rates are often estimated with high uncertainty using the average mass of material discharged through a drainage basin or considering the rate of surface processes. Estimating long-term denudation rates through these conventional methods requires the assumption that the surficial processes have remained constant throughout time. Since the earth's surface has been obliterated throughout the geological time by climate, tectonics, or the recent anthropogenic activities, the present rate of change may not represent past processes. This study presents changes in denudation rate using the 10Be (meteoric)/9Be ratio for the past 600 years from Anshupa Lake sediment record in the core monsoon zone of India. Paleodenudation rate estimated using 10Be (meteoric)/9Be varies from 392 ± 42 to 95 ± 6 t/km2/yr. Intense Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) during the periods of solar maxima, which caused decadal-scale floods in the Indian sub-continent, favored a higher rate of denudation than the periods of solar minima, that experienced droughts in the Indian sub-continent due to weakening of ISM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

With the emergence of integrated reporting (IR) system, it is required to know how this innovative corporate reporting reform will benefit the stakeholders in general and shareholders in particular. The study analyses the impact of capital outcome variables of the IR process on the profitability of twelve Indian companies spreading six different sectors over three years using a panel regression framework. The analysis of data revealed that when all the capitals are taken into consideration, except natural capital, all other capitals like financial capital, human capital, intellectual capital, manufactured capital and social and relationship capital have a positive impact on the profit margin. The manufacturing capital and the intellectual capital are significantly affecting the profit margin. So, the focus should be on these two capitals to increase the accounting performance of the companies. At both individual level and combined level, natural capital is having significant negative impact on the profit margin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A study was conducted to examine the interrelationships among socioeconomic factors, household consumption patterns, calorie intake and greenhouse gas emissions factors in rural eastern India based on household survey data. Findings indicated that higher monthly per capita incomes (12.1–80.1$) were associated with greater average calorie intakes (2021–2525 kcal d−1). As estimated by the FEEDME model, in total 17.2% of the population was calorie malnourished with a regional disparity of 29.4–18.2% malnourishment. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions were calculated only on the basis of crop and livestock production and consumption. Rice accounted for the highest share of total GHG emissions, on average 82.6% on a production basis, which varied from 58.1% to 94.9% in regional basis. Rice contributed the greatest share (~ 65% and 66.2%) in terms of both calories and GHG emissions (CO2 eq y−1), respectively, on a consumption basis. We conclude that extensive rice farming and increasing animal product consumption are dominant factors in the higher carbon footprint in this region and are likely to further increase with increase in per capita income. This study provides useful information to help for better crop planning and for fine-tuning food access policy, to reduce carbon footprint and calorie malnutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) after cholecystectomy unduly delays patients' early return to normal activities and also leaves behind relatively disfigured cosmetic scars at the port sites. This prospective study was undertaken to assess the various risk factors leading to SSI in patients undergoing cholecystectomy, both by laparoscopic and open techniques in this part of India for which no data is available at present. Material and Methods: A total of 1507 cholecystectomies (1184 by laparoscopy and 323 by open technique) during a 6 year period. The various risk factors studied were gender, age, BMI, DM, chronic anaemia, COPD, timing of surgery (elective or emergent), influence of surgeon (operated by resident surgeon or faculty), intraoperative bile spillage, etc., Odd's ratio was calculated to see the influence of the factors on SSI and statistical significance was tested by Chi-square test. Results: The overall rate of infection was 3.12% (1.94% in laparoscopy and 7.43% in the open technique). Intraoperative bile spillage, increasing age, increased duration of surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy done by resident surgeons, increased intraoperative blood loss, emergent operations done for acute cholecystitis, etc., were associated with higher rates of SSI. Conclusion: Meticulous operative techniques avoiding bile spillage and blood loss during cholecystectomy may reduce the chances of developing SSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The construction sector of India is the best representation of the informal workforce, which employs 36.12 million workers. These laborers flock together in a particular place on early morning every day in order to find a wage provider for them. It is a sale of labor for the day, where workers stand and make themselves available for a day to be hired by contractors or individual house owners. These places are known as labor stands, a stop for finding daily laborers for construction work, which is the distinctive addition of this research to the scant literature. This paper tries to explore the labor process among these unique informal construction workers' labor assemblies consisting of 15,000 laborers per day and explore their employment conditions and labor relations. The paper also aims to examine the role of various actors of industrial relations such as trade unions and the government in regulating this employment relationship. The paper is based on a field study encompassing the transcribed records of observation, field interaction with 84 migrant construction workers, and 118 still photographs. The data were analyzed by using qualitative analysis software and adopting open thematic coding and later by developing categories and hierarchy and doing comparative analysis. The findings reveal that these laborers experience precariousness and are challenged by nonavailability of regular work, shortages of food, burden of large family size, and social evils of living in a slum, and also face being harassed by goons as well as contractors with minimal support from trade unions and government. Employers are apathetic toward their legal obligations. With labor stands being a primary source of labor supply to the construction sector, the findings of this paper will help in enriching labor relations and policy measures for its regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine the mediating effect of perceived work–life balance (WLB) between work overload and career commitment among law enforcement officers in India. The study also explores whether satisfaction with organizational WLB strategies moderates the relationship between work overload and perceived WLB. Design/methodology/approach: This research is based on a sample of 819 law enforcement officers through a structured questionnaire based data collection. The reliability coefficient of the scales varied between 0.86 and 0.94. The study adopted a hierarchical multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses. Findings: The result supported the mediating role of perceived WLB in the relationship between work overload and career commitment. It also demonstrated that the impact of work overload on perceived WLB would be diminished among employees having high levels of satisfaction on organizational WLB strategies. Practical implications: The research findings have significant policy implications for the organization under study and a reference for many others with deteriorating WLB to amend the existing policy or formulate new measures. Originality/value: The present study expands the scant literature on the mediating role of perceived WLB between work overload and career commitment. The study also furthers the literature by exploring the moderating roles of WLB strategies between work overload and perceived WLB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Neonatal sepsis remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality globally, particularly in developing countries like India. Early and late onset sepsis present unique challenges in diagnosis and management, with maternal and neonatal factors playing crucial roles in the manifestation of the condition. Methodology: Data were collected from tertiary care hospitals affiliated with Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru. A structured proforma was used to gather information on maternal factors, birth history, neonatal conditions, and complications. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi- square test and student's 't' test. Results: Out of 132 cases, 50.75% were early onset sepsis (EOS) and 49.25% were late onset sepsis (LOS). Blood culture reports were positive in 46.1% cases. Maternal comorbidities included gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), antepartum hemorrhage (APH), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Neonatal comorbidities such as convulsions, congenital malformations, neonatal jaundice, preterm birth, and low birth weight were observed. Positive blood culture reports correlated with low birth weight and preterm births. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common organism, followed by Citrobacter Spp., Enterobacter Spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sensitivity analysis revealed varying degrees of susceptibility to different antibiotics. Conclusion: Maternal factors like GDM, APH, and PIH showed no significant correlation with neonatal sepsis, whereas neonatal factors such as low birth weight and preterm birth were associated with an increased risk. Consanguinity also emerged as a potential risk factor. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant causative organism, with varying antibiotic sensitivities. This study underscores the importance of understanding maternal and neonatal factors in the prevention and management of neonatal sepsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

High nitrogen (N) rate often leads to low yield of rice due to lodging and mutual shading. This study was conducted to ascertain whether silicon (Si) could enhance yield response of rice to higher N rate by enhancing rigidity of plant parts and improving photosynthesis. The effects of Si and N on crop growth, photosynthesis, N use efficiencies and yield of rice were investigated during wet season (June to November) in sub‐humid tropical region of India. An increasing trend in crop growth rate with Si at all levels of N was observed. Silicon reduced the flag leaf angle making the leaf more upright and enhanced flag leaf N content. Leaf chlorophyll concentration and single leaf photosynthesis rate were higher with Si compared to without Si at flowering stage. Both N and Si significantly affected panicle number and grain filling. Application of 200 kg SiO2 ha−1 and 100 kg N ha−1 produced the highest number of panicle per square meter, filled grain per panicle and yield. Significant yield increases ranging from 8.2–16.9% were observed with Si compared to without Si. Both N and Si treatments had significant effects on N uptake and N use efficiency. Agronomic N use efficiency and N recovery efficiency were higher with Si compared to without Si. The highest physiological N use efficiency was recorded with 200 kg SiO2 ha−1 and 80 kg N ha−1. Silicon may enhance yield response of rice to higher N rate by improving source (photosynthetic) capacity and sink (reproductive organ) strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The present study was to delineate management zones (MZs) in salt affected Mahakalpada block in eastern India by capturing both spatial variability of soil parameters along with satellite derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). Grid wise 237 soil samples collected from the study area were analyzed and spatial maps were generated for physicochemical properties, DTPA extractable micronutrients, i.e. iron, zinc, copper, and manganese and major nutrients, i.e. available nitrogen (AN), phosphorous (AP), and potassium (AK). Soil electrical conductivity and AK showed a high CV of 100% and 56.7%, respectively. Principal component analysis was performed using the soil spatial maps, NDVI and EVI maps and only four principal components which produced eigenvalues > 1 and accounting for 75.4% of the total variability were retained for further analysis. Further, fuzzy c-mean clustering was used to delineate the MZs based on fuzzy performance index (FPI) and normalized classification entropy (NCE) was used for identifying the three MZs. There was a significant difference between MZ1 and MZ2 for all the variables except AN and EVI whereas all the variables were significantly different between MZ1 and MZ3 highlighting the usefulness of MZs delineation technique for site-specific nutrient management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: A community intervention framework was developed based on systematic reviews of existing evidence showing what is working in the low and middle income countries for improving reproductive and sexual health of young married couples. The systematic review helped us to design intervention framework for young married women in India in a comprehensive manner targeting early and repeated pregnancies and utilization of antenatal, delivery, post-partum, contraception and abortion services. Methods: The focus was on research studies and evaluation reports of different community level initiatives in improving access to contraception, pregnancy care and safe abortion services by young married couples, where women were in the age-group of 15–24 years in low and middle income countries. Results: The findings from the systematic reviews shows engaging husband, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, community leaders and community health workers are effective in enhancing young women’s reproductive health outcomes. This finding helped to plan and design the intervention framework according to Indian setting. Further, the newly designed intervention framework was implemented in the rural areas of India to improve sexual and reproductive health of the young married women. Conclusion: The systematic review helped to design intervention framework targeting empowering individuals, mobilizing families and communities, and sensitizing community health workers to improve access to reproductive health services among young married couples in LMICs in a comprehensive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The Solar tracking system has an important role in solar photovoltaic systems; it increases the generated energy. Different solar tracking systems like horizontal axis continuous adjustment tracking system, two axis adjustment tracking system, vertical axis continuous adjustment tracking have been analyzed in Kurnool Solar Plant situated in Andhra Pradesh, India. This Kurnool Solar Plant is located in 15°40.9'N, 78°17.0'E and it has been chosen because it has been well equipped with an average solar radiation of 5.51 kWh/m2/day. The status of Generic flat plate PV, converter and grid is analyzed for different tracking systems. The result helps to know the performance of different tracking systems in Kurnool Solar Plant, Andhra Pradesh. The energy purchased and sold every month for a year has been analyzed for different tracking systems when the Solar PV system has been connected to the grid. The 20kW solar power plant in Kurnool Solar Plant station connected to grid using fixed and two axis tracking system are compared and the result has been calculated for various estimated losses in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

A healthy living and a healthy community complement one another. A healthy living can undoubtedly ensure the health of a community. A community’s health is strongly affected and influenced by its members, their individual health and habits, morals and principles, their perspectives towards life in general and particular, the social capital, the immediate environment and of course the religious and spiritual bent of mind of its people. The deterioration of the health of a community may result in significant changes in its population rate. It is thus very imperative that such an important issue needs to be addressed. The unique Parsi community though an essential part of India’s multi-cultural fabric and diversity, is perhaps the only minority outside Europe to have the combination of a higher proportion of older inhabitants and a lower fertility rate. This holds the possibility of a total ethnic extinction of this minority despite having the potential to contribute substantially towards the overall growth of the country. But no matter how alienated as a minority it feels, it must always be protected at any cost. The present paper makes a humble attempt to bring to community health improvement of the Parsi people an approach that emphasizes on identifying various factors held responsible for the rapid decline of the Parsi population. Such an approach would facilitate in protecting and subsequently intensifying the growth of the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Spontaneous enterocutaneous fistula due to strangulated inguinal Richter's hernia is a rare presentation and occurs mostly either due to ignorance of the patients or delay in seeking timely medical intervention. It is seen mostly in patients from developing countries like India, Nigeria, etc., Reported here is the case of a 50-year-old female patient who presented with left sided fecal fistula which on investigation was found to be due to incarcerated inguinal Richter's hernia. The patient refused for any surgical intervention and hence was managed successfully and conservatively. No similar case reports have been found in the literature thus highlighting its significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

• Monsoonal changes triggered the Holocene denudation of Eastern Ghat. • The denudation rate was high during the early to mid-and late Holocene. • Degree of chemical weathering gradually increased towards the late Holocene. • Aridification was intense during the late Holocene. A Holocene sediment record from Chilika Lagoon, India, suggests that changes in climate control denudation and weathering rate change. We assessed climate variability in the region and through time using multiproxy data comprising biotic and abiotic proxies. Mangrove and its associate assemblages suggest a backwater estuarine environment between ∼7.8 and 6 ka B.P. Depleted δ13C org values during ∼7.8 to 5.5 ka B.P. indicate dominance of C 3 vegetation, suggesting a warmer climate and strengthened monsoon. Enhanced δ13C org and absence of pollen/spores are observed in the sediment layers deposited after ∼5 ka B.P., indicating arid climatic conditions with a dominance of C 4 photosynthesizing plants and a relative lowering of sea level. Paleodenudation rates estimated using 10 B e (m e t e o r i c) / 9 Be ratios varied between 556 ± 35 to 242 ± 15 t.km−2.yr−1. Phases of intense denudation occurred during 7.8–6.7 and 2.2–1 ka B.P., corresponding to Holocene Climatic Optimum and Medieval Climatic Anomaly, respectively. The degree of chemical weathering appears to have gradually increased from the early to late Holocene and correlates well (negatively) with the denudation rate. A gradual increase in the degree of chemical weathering from the early to late Holocene suggests an increase in the residence time of minerals in the weathering zone as the monsoon weakened. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The cyber physical system safety and security is one of the important and potential research directions recent days. Ongoing advances in science and engineering is going to improve the link between computational and physical elements by means of intelligent mechanisms, dramatically increasing the adaptability, autonomy, efficiency, functionality, reliability, safety, and usability of cyber-physical systems. The transformation of physical systems into cyber-physical systems (CPS) by imbibing them with intelligence is an ongoing process that can substantially benefit the society and the environment by improving comfort, convenience and quality of life of the people, while reducing consumption of natural resources and reducing environmental footprint. Examples of cyber physical systems are Smart Grid Networks, Smart Transportation System, Enterprise Cloud Infrastructure, Utility Service Infrastructure for Smart Cities, etc. But, the inherent dangers in this transformation are: it allows flexible control and resource use; provides conduits for information leakage; prone to misconfigurations and deliberate attacks by outsiders and insiders. In this paper we discuss the state of art of cyber physical systems and smart utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Microbial diversity within uranium mine tailings and mine water sediment from the Jaduguda uranium mine, India was characterized by metagenome-derived 16S rRNA gene clone libraries. Samples from fresh tailings (JFT244), abandoned (vegetated) tailings (JOT245) and mine water sediment (J1-5) having wide ranges of pH (5.7 to 10.4), nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon [150–5700 ppm, 800–9100 ppm and 0.18–6.5% (w/w)] and elevated metals (Ni, Cu, Zn and U) were used to explore the inhabitant bacterial and archaeal community structures. Consistent to the sample's physicochemical properties, up to four orders of magnitude variation in bacterial CFU counts was observed. The data showed that with increasing metal and decreasing nutrient (organic C, N, P, etc.) contents, microbial diversity indices decrease within the samples. Culture-independent analyses revealed predominance of phylaProteobacteriaand/orAcidobacteriawithin the samples along with members ofActinobacteria,Cyanobacteria, Chloroflexi,Genera incertae sedis OP10,FirmicutesandPlanctomyceteas relatively minor groups. Abundance ofCrenarchaeotain tailings samples andEuryachaeotain mine water sediment was noted. Diversity of dissimilatory sulfate reductase gene (dsr) was studied. Putative metabolic properties as derived from taxonomy and phylogenetic lineages indicated presence of chemolithotrophic and heteotrophic aerobic and anaerobic organisms capable of nitrogen fixation, nitrate reduction and biogeochemical cycling of metals, sulfur and methane. The data indicated that indigenous microbial populations are capable of maintaining self-sustenance in these highly hazardous environments and possess catalytic potential for their use inin situbioremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Blast caused by Magnaporthe grisea has emerged as a major threat in recent years to forage pearl millet in India. Due to lack of resistant cultivars to blast disease, the disease can be best managed through fungicides. However, no comprehensive multi-location study in managing blast disease in forage pearl millet has been conducted in India. Therefore, field trials for two consecutive years (2019 and 2020) were conducted at four geographically different locations (Ludhiana, Palampur, Jhansi and Bhubaneswar) of India. Carbendazim, tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin, tricyclazole, chitosan and neem oil were tested for their efficacy through seed treatment alone or seed treatment followed by two foliar sprays at 15 days interval. Results showed the superiority of tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin as seed treatment followed by two foliar sprays in reducing the blast disease area under disease progress as well as rate of infection at Ludhiana, Jhansi and Palampur. Tricyclazole as seed treatment followed by two foliar sprays was found superior over others in reducing the area under disease progress curve as well as rate of infection at Bhubaneswar. Reduction in blast disease area under disease progress curve and rate of infection by applying these treatments helped in achieving a significant increase in the green fodder yield at the tested locations. Through this study, an effective strategy for location specific management of blast disease of forage pearl millet has been formulated. • Blast has emerged as a major threat to forage pearl millet in India. • Multi-location studies for managing blast disease in forage pearl millet are lacking. • Field trials were conducted at four geographically different locations of India. • Tebuconazole + trifloxystrobin and tricyclazole proved effective in managing blast at different locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study was undertaken to analyse the needs assessment of the gender and science programme in Open and Distance Learning (ODL) mode. The programme was conceptualized within the School of Gender and Development Studies (SOGDS), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) to comprehend the intersection of gender and science in disciplines of natural and social sciences, agriculture, health, environment and energy. Following purposive and random sampling methods, the survey data were collected from 359 respondents, which include two mutually exclusive experts and target groups covering North, South, East and West zones of India. The key research and survey questions were on: need of an academic ODL programme in gender and science, rationale, relevance and viability of the programme, job prospects and suggested course contents to meet the expectations of stakeholders. The results revealed that majority of respondents felt the need for a one year ODL diploma programme on gender and science with associated rationale and job prospects. The findings also have reflected on the aspect of bringing the interface between sustainable technologies and gender in areas of agro-ecology, natural resource management, water, climate change and energy with a project work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Environmental implications of Biological spectrum vis- à- vis tree species diversity in two protected forests of Gandhamardan hill ranges of Eastern Ghats, India, are of great ecological significance in the perspective of climatic change. Biological spectrum includes phanerophytes (38.4 %), nanophanerophytes (11.4 %), chamaephytes (5.5 %), hemicryptophytes (2.4 %), geophytes (4.1 %), hydrophytes (0.7 %), therophytes (27.3 %), and lianas (10 %). The comparison with Raunkiaer's normal spectrum depicts 'Phanero-Therophytic Phytoclimate'. The present study enlisted of a total of 10,775 trees belonging to 90 tree species within a 17.6 ha sampled area (441 plots). The Shannon-Weiner index ( H′) is 3.92 (Site-I) and 3.31 (Site-II) with Simpson's value 1.0. This value indicates that the tropical moist deciduous forests are also species diverse systems. Mean stand density was 671 ha in Site-I and 565 ha in Site-II. Ascertaining the phytoclimate of Gandhamardan hill ranges vis- à- vis tree species diversity and comparing the area on a geographical scale would be helpful for conservation and management of the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

We have quantitatively analyzed the tree species diversity with respect to soil nutrient status in three sites of a sacred forest ecosystem of Niyamgiri hill range, Eastern Ghats, India. Extensive field surveys and sampling were conducted in 3 sites of the hill range: Site 1 Pterocarpus dominated forest (PTF) (19°40′02.2″ N and 83°21′23.1″ E), Site 2 Mangifera dominated forest (MAF) (19°40′02.8″ N and 83°21′40.8″ E) and Site 3 Mixed forest (MIF) (19°36′47.1″ N and 83°21′02.7″ E). A total of 28 families, 42 genera, 46 tree species, and 286 individual trees were recorded on an area of 0.6 ha. Tree density varied between 470 and 490 individuals ha and average basal area between 3.16 and 10.04 m ha. Shannon Index (H′) ranged from 2.34 to 4.53, Simpson's Index ranged from 0.07 to 0.09, and equitability Index ranged from 0.7 to 1.34. The number of individuals was highest in the girth at breast height (GBH) class of 50-70 cm. The soil nutrient status of the three forest types was related to tree species diversity. The soil pH value of the three sites reflected the slightly acidic nature of the area. Species diversity was positively correlated with organic carbon and phosphorus and negatively with nitrogen, EC and pH. The results of the current study may be helpful to further develop a conservation plan for tree species in tropical sacred forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

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The appropriate technology (AT) movement places appropriateness as a key issue and acknowledges the role of AT in the context of India's development. The present article addresses the conceptual framework of AT and discusses the debate on AT from view points of both developing and developed countries. It also contextualizes the inception and growth of the Application of Science and Technology to Rural Areas (ASTRA), a research centre at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India for the study of its role in the context of the AT movement in India. The paper is based on the use of both primary and secondary data collected from ASTRA. The primary data were collected through the depth interviews of the researchers working at the centre of ASTRA, whereas the secondary data were gathered from the annual reports of the centre and some other materials published in national and international journals from the centre. The paper analyzes the technology development activities of the centre and attempted to bring out the socio- economic and policy related problems encountered in the dissemination of its technologies. The paper concludes the changing perception and subsequent shift of thrust of the AT movement in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Chromite mining can create hostile conditions for organisms in the surrounding environment. Overburden soil and mine water samples were collected and analyzed for their microbial diversity, nutrient content, and water quality at the Boula-Nuasahi Mine. Most of the water parameters that were measured exceed national/international standards. The microbial population was low (soil: 45 ± 0.06 × 10 bacteria, 20 ± 0.03 × 10 fungus) and the overburden soils have a low nutrient (N, P, K) content. The metal ions were found to have leached to nearby agriculture lands, making them less fertile for crop production. Overburden dumps and seepage water were found to be the main sources of chromium pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abstract: Objective: To investigate the in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities along with phytochemical screening of organic and aqueous extracts of leaf and stem of Suaeda maritima (Dumort), a mangrove associate from Bhitarkanika of Odisha, India. Methods: Antioxidant activity of the crude extracts was evaluated in terms of total antioxidant capacity, total phenol content, ascorbic acid content, DPPH radical scavenging, metal chelating, nitric oxide scavenging, and reducing power etc. The antimicrobial activity of the plant was determined by agar well diffusion method along with MIC and MBC carried out by microdilution techniques against 10 gram positive and gram negative human pathogenic bacteria. The qualitative and quantative phytochemical screening were carried out by standard biochemical assays. Results: Out of the seven antioxidant bioassays, both the leaf and stem extracts were found to posses strong antioxidant properties of 70 % to 92 % for phenol, total antioxidant capacity, DPPH free radical scavenging activity and fairly good ascorbic acid content, metal chelating (1.33 %-22.55 %), reducing power (0.01-0.12) and nitric oxide scavenging (0.84 %-66.99 %) activities. Out of the four extracts evaluated for antimicrobial activity, two leaf extracts such as acetone and ethanol showed promising activity against four pathogenic bacteria and one stem methanol extracts against one pathogenic bacteria when compared with amoxcycillin as standard. The MIC and MBC values of the antimicrobial extracts ranged between 2.5 to 5.0 mg/mL. Screening of phytochemicals showed presence of carbohydrates, protein, tannins, alkaloids and flavonoids in comparatively higher amount than other phytochemicals tested. Conclusions: The present study reveals the presence of potential antioxidants and antimicrobial properties in the plant extract which could be exploited for pharmaceutical application. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...

Bacterial community structure of heavy metal rich- uranium ores and surrounding soils was explored using 16S rRNA gene based clone library analysis and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to provide baseline microbial diversity data on autochthonous communities. Sequence analysis of major ribotypes and/or DGGE bands revealed Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria as the two most frequently present bacterial phyla across the samples, although relative abundance of each phyla and identity of their members at lower taxonomic level showed marked difference. Gammaproteobacteria (Pseudomonas and Escherichia) was most abundant in U-ore samples along with the lineages of β-Proteobacteria (Burkholderia and Janthinobacterium), α-Proteobacteria (Brevundimonas), Bacteroidetes (Spingobacterium), Firmicutes (Peptoniphilus), Actinobacteria (Corynebacterium), uncultured -Acidobacteria, -Chloroflexi and -Cyanobacterium. In contrast to this soil communities were represented by mixed populations predominated by uncultured Acidobacteria along with Gammaproteobacteria (Succinivibrio, Cellovibrio and Legionella), β-Proteobacteria (Rhodocyclus), α-Proteobacteria (Methylocystis and Phenylobacterium), δ-Proteobacteria, unclassified bacteria, uncultured Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes (Bacillus), Cyanobacteria (Scytonema), Actinobacteria (Actinomadura) and candidate division TM7. Principle Component Analyis (PCA) of geochemical data and UPGMA cluster analysis of DGGE profiles were in close agreement showing characteristic relatedness of samples obtained from either ores or soils. Our analysis indicated that soils surrounding the ore deposit bear specific geochemical as well as microbiologial characteristics distinct from the ore deposit and therefore these data obtained at the onset of mining could serve as a baseline of information to gauge the subsequent environmnetal impact of U-mining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The epidemiological knowledge on acute condition of lymphatic filariasis is essential to understand the burden and issues on management of the disease. Methods: A one year long longitudinal prospective surveillance of acute adenolymphangitis (ADL) was carried out in rural population of Orissa, India. Results: The annual incidence of ADL per 1000 individuals is 85.0, and is slightly higher (P > 0.05) in male (92.0) than in female (77.6). A steady rise in the incidence of ADL episodes along with the age is recorded. The distribution indicates that persons with chronic disease are more prone to ADL attacks. The average number of episodes per year is 1.57 (1.15 SD) per affected person, and is gender dependent. Duration of the episode varies from 1 to 11 days with mean duration of 3.93 (1.94 SD) days. The chronic disease is the significant predictor for the duration of the episode. The data show that fever and swelling at inguinal regions are most common symptoms. Conclusion: The incidence, frequency and duration of ADL episodes in this community are similar to that of other endemic areas. As the loss due to these ADL episodes is substantial, it should be considered while further estimating the burden due to lymphatic filariasis. The disability and loss caused by chronic forms of filariasis is higher, and the additional incapacity caused by the ADL episode, majority of which occur among chronic filariasis patients, further poses the burden on individuals and their families. Hence, morbidity management measures to prevent ADL episodes among endemic communities are to be implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Achieving electrification in an island considering less emission and levelized energy cost is a challenging goal on developing islands such as Kalpeni Island. This work exhibits the techno-economic assessment of a standalone hybrid system to generate power to Kalpeni Island, India through sensitivity and optimization analysis using HOMER software. Various system configurations like solar/DG, wind/DG, solar/wind/DG, and solar/wind are analyzed based on cost and electrical parameters. Based on the optimization results, the best hybrid system is chosen for Kalpeni Island considering different solar tracking methods. Then, multi-year and sensitivity analysis are performed to analyze the effect of load growth, rising diesel price, rising battery minimum SOC, rising PVS derating, rising photovoltaic cell temperature, and changing inverter and rectifier efficiency. The system operated with a solar photovoltaic system (PVS) and diesel generator (DG) with a tracking system on a vertical axis (TSVA) shows the best optimization result compared to other hybrid configurations with a low levelized energy cost (LEC) of 0.222 $/kWh and net present cost (CNP) of $448,269 for the chosen location. The TSVA plays a vital role on power production in the system operated with solar and DG sources, which produces 9.77% more power compared to fixed system without tracking (FSWT). The total emission produced in the system operated with solar and diesel generator with TSVA is 88.2% less compared to an WT/DG configuration operated with FSWT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: Rice is a major cereal crop and staple food of eastern India, and most farmers depend solely on rice for their livelihood. Rice farming provides both tangible and non-tangible benefits to ecosystems which need to be maintained and enhanced. These benefits are provided through ecosystem services (ES) that include both marketable and non-marketable. Methods: In this study, the rice farms in eastern India were valued by quantifying the economic value of the services under conventional method of rice cultivation and the gap of ecosystem services value and farm income per unit area were assessed. A stratified random sampling technique was used in this study for selection of agro-climatic zones, districts, blocks, gram panchayat, and study units (households). Soil sampling was also performed for assessing the regulating services (biocontrol of pests, carbon flow, soil erosion, nitrogen fixation), provisioning services (food and by-products), and supporting services (soil fertility, hydrological flow, nutrient cycling, and soil formation). Results: The results indicated that the total economic value of ecosystem services ranged from US$ 1238 to 1688 ha−1 year−1. The marketed (primary production) and non-marketed ecosystem services values ranged from 66–89 to 11–34% of the total, respectively. Valuation of some of the ecosystem services such as cultural services, biodiversity, and gas regulation, which may play a significant role in total ecosystem services, has not been made due to non-availability of data and appropriate methodology for rice ecosystem. Different values of parameters can explain the variability in ecosystem services among the agro-climatic zones in eastern India. Clustering of locations based on variability of ecosystem services helps in identifying intervention points for sustaining and improving ecosystem services, while permitting sustainable agro-ecological intensification. The highest total economic gap between ES value and farm income was found in the north central plateau zone (US$ 1063 ha−1 year−1) and the lowest in the north western plateau zone (US$ 670 ha−1 year−1). Conclusion: We suggest various measures to reduce the economic gap, including payments for ecosystem services for rice farming for sustainability of the ecosystem and agricultural development, while ensuring reliable farm income. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article features the Corallodiscus Batalin that belong to family Gesneriaceae which was found in the Eastern Ghats of Orissa, India. It is highly variable taxon that grows in moist rock crevices from northeast India to China. It has 18 species and it is confirmed in the list for Gesneriaceae that there are five taxa under genus Corallodiscus Batalin which include the Corallodiscus Lanuginosus var. minuta. more...

Summary: Gross haematuria caused by lymphatic filariasis has been rarely reported. An adult woman living in a filarial-endemic area presented at a hospital in Orissa, India, in July 2004, with painless gross haematuria without any associated symptoms, such as dysuria, abdominal pain and fever. Urine microscopy revealed many erythrocytes and the immunochromatographic test was positive for filarial antigenaemia. After excluding other causes of haematuria, the patient was treated with a standard dose of diethylcarbamazine for 12 days and a single dose of ivermectin (200μg/kg) and responded well without any recurrence for 2 years of follow-up. [Copyright &y& Elsevier] more...