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Private tuition (PT) is a common phenomenon in India. Today, it is a multi-billion U.S. dollar (USD) market and the third major contributor of household expenses in India. However, "the effect of PT on academic achievement of the students" is a subjective statement and is being questioned by its very outcomes. Literature reveals that PT has neither a "positive" nor a "null" effect on an individual's learning. However, assertively, we can conclude that PT comes with a baggage of "toxic by-products" for mainstream education. It necessitates implementing a regulatory mechanism for PT. Nevertheless, institutions need to extend additional support.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to emphasize the need for holistic geriatric health care in rural India. Many older people in Indian villages suffer from chronic ailments without any relief or intervention because of inaccessible and unaffordable health-care services. This paper explores how holistic health care can be assured for older people in Indian villages. Design/methodology/approach: This paper is based on reflections of the authors who have had experiences as caregivers to older persons within their respective families rooted in the Indian villages. Besides, they interacted with 30 older persons (18 males and 12 females in the age group of 60–80 years) living in the villages in three states of India, namely, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to develop a comprehensive viewpoint on the need of geriatric health care in rural India. Relevant reports, newspaper articles and research papers were also reviewed while developing viewpoints on such an important topic. Findings: Geriatric health-care facilities in rural India are abysmal. The older people in the villages cannot leverage health-care facilities that are generally inaccessible, inadequate and unaffordable. Even the government support for medical treatment is minuscule. Furthermore, there is lack of trained health-care professionals at all levels, namely, doctors, nurses and paramedic personnel. Training opportunities in geriatrics are also negligible. The scenario vis-à-vis geriatric health care in rural India can be upturned by increasing public spending on health-care infrastructure, increasing numbers of health-care professionals and expanding training programmes in geriatrics. Originality/value: This paper is based on the critical reflections of the authors as well as their informal interactions with some of the older people in the Indian villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, Open and Distance Learning for secondary and higher secondary level is mainly provided by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). Secondary education in India pertains to class 9 and 10 catering to the age group of 15 to 16. Similarly, higher secondary education refers to class 11 and 12 catering to the age group of 17 to 18. Based on research supported by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) this paper discusses the results from a telephone survey of close to 1000 learners who were enrolled with NIOS and completed secondary and higher secondary education during 2008-2012 in selected states. It emerged that nearly 81 per cent of respondents were gainfully employed and NIOS helped them look for better jobs, widen their job search, and gain more stable (permanent) and secure (government) jobs. NIOS has successfully enabled a good proportion of learners to continue with their higher education. Flexibility offered by open schooling is the main motivation to join NIOS; individuals facing various constraints in accessing regular secondary education have opted for this option. It appears that two different kinds of learners join NIOS at these two levels; the secondary level seems to have a bigger representation from lower socio-economic strata. The role of open schooling in reducing the gender gap at secondary level of schooling remains mixed.

Background: In carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), conservative management did not show satisfactory results, and some patients required revision surgery due to persistent or recurrent symptoms. Ultrasound (USG)-guided median nerve (MN) hydrodissection with a 5% dextrose injection is an advanced approach for treating symptoms of CTS. We prospectively investigated the patients to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of this approach. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the effect of USG-guided nerve hydrodissection using single injection of 5% dextrose on pain, MN conduction parameters, and functional status in patients with CTS of mild–to-moderate grade. The study also predicts about the safety of the procedure. Materials and Methods: A study was performed in the pain clinic of the tertiary care teaching institute of India for one year. The study included 15 patients diagnosed with mild-to-moderate CTS. The diagnosis was done on the basis of history, physical examination, and a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) study. Patients were given analgesics and NSAIDS and enrolled in the procedure. Parameters used for statistical analysis were Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, NCV study data (sensory conduction velocity [SNCV] and distal motor latency [DML]), and Boston carpal tunnel questionnaire (BCTQ) scores. Pre-injection parameters were compared with parameters 3 months after the injection to show the usefulness of this procedure. Results: A statistically significant reduction in VAS score was found in 74% of the cases (P<0.05). The nerve conduction study parameters have shown significantly higher SNCV and lower DML latency in 60% of cases (P=0.001 and P=0.001, respectively). Improved BCTQ scores were found in 80% of cases (for the symptom severity scale, P=0.001 and for the functional status scale, P<0.01). No complications such as allergic reactions, sensory loss, or paresis were recorded post-injection. However, transient injection site pain was present in all patients which did not last for more than 24 h. Conclusion: MN hydrodissection using a single injection of 5% dextrose under USG is a safe and effective approach offering pain relief, better MN conduction, and improved functional status in patients with CTS of mild-to-moderate grade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has observed increasingly persistent heat extremes in recent decades. North‐Central India, a highly populated region prone to heatwaves, has experienced record maximum temperatures (> ${ >} $48°C) during the pre‐monsoon season. While studies have shown positive trends in heatwaves due to rising air temperature, we identify a shift in pre‐monsoon mean daily maximum temperature over North‐Central India, resulting in an increase in temperature by 0.7°C post‐1998. The jump in temperature is associated with a northward migration of the subtropical westerly jet since 1998. We find that the meridional shift in the subtropical westerly jet explains more than 25% of the variability in heatwave characteristics over North‐Central India, implying that the increase in heatwaves post‐1998 is associated with a northward shift of the jet. These findings highlight that the exacerbation of heatwaves in North‐Central India is driven by atmospheric dynamical changes triggered by a regime shift, further compounded by global warming. Plain Language Summary: In recent years, India has been experiencing more frequent and intense heatwaves, especially over the North‐Central region. We found that since 1998, the temperature over North‐Central India has increased by about 0.7°C during the pre‐monsoon season. This increase appears to be due to the northward displacement of the band of strong upper tropospheric winds, known as the subtropical westerly jet. The shifting in the jet stream is making the heatwaves occur more frequently and last longer, exacerbating heatwave risks in this densely populated region. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of understanding how winds have changed in the atmosphere due to natural variability or climate change and their contribution to the intensification of heatwaves in the region. Such understanding has potential applications in forecast of heatwaves in India. Key Points: The pre‐monsoon season witnessed a regime shift in 1998, resulting in a rise in temperature over North‐Central IndiaThe subtropical westerly jet index positively correlates with the heatwave characteristics, explaining more than 25% of heatwave variabilityThe increase in heatwaves post‐1998 can be partially attributed to the northward shifting of the subtropical westerly jet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sleep disturbance is prevalent among cancer patients. The quantification of this sleep disturbance is missing, especially in palliative care settings. Aim: The aim of this study was to study the sleep patterns of the patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) using a Fitbit Charge 4 sleep-tracking device. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: A total of 110 HNC patients undergoing palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Central India. Results: Forty-four percent of patients had a poor sleep score (less than 60). Average sleep duration was 218.66 ± 139.05 min; non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep duration 197.7 ± 115.91 (light NREM 171.36 ± 104 and deep NREM 23.36 ± 16.73); REM sleep duration was 30.44 ± 34.14 min. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was 10.23 ± 3.45, which indicated sleep deprivation over the past 1 month. Moderate levels of anxiety, depression, confusion, and distress existed in the cohort. Statistically significant but weak correlation existed between sleep score, anxiety, and depression. Strong correlation existed between distress score and sleep score. Confusion score did not have a significant correlation with sleep score. Conclusion: HNC patients in palliative care settings were chronically sleep deprived. Sleep architecture was also disturbed. Moderate levels of anxiety, depression, confusion, and distress existed in the studied cohort; these psychosocial disturbances had a weak correlation with the sleep score and are likely to be multifactorial. Trial registration: Institutional Ethics Committee number: IHEC-LOP/2020/IM0349. The study has been registered with clinical trial registry of India with registration number CTRI/2021/03/032400 (http://www.ctri.in). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing literatures have discussed both ethical issues in visual research with young people, and the problems associated with applying 'universal' ethical guidelines across varied cultural contexts. There has been little consideration, however, of specific issues raised in projects where visual research is being conducted with young people simultaneously in multiple national contexts. This paper contributes to knowledge in this area. We reflect on our experiences of planning and conducting the International CYCLES project involving photo elicitation with young people in Bangladesh, Brazil, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. While some issues such as varying access to technology for taking and sharing photos and diverse cultural sensitivities around the use of photography were anticipated in advance, others were more unexpected. Balancing the need for methods to be appropriate, ethical and feasible within each setting with the desire for sufficient consistency across the project is challenging. We argue that an 'ethics in context' approach and an attitude of 'methodological immaturity' is critical in international visual research projects with young people.

Solid process fine waste or tailings of a uranium mill is a potential source of release of radiologically significant gaseous radon (222Rn). A number of variables such as radium (226Ra) content, porosity, moisture content, and tailings density can affect the extent of emanation from the tailings. Further, if a cover material is used for remediation purposes, additional challenges due to changes in the matrix characteristics in predicting the radon flux can be anticipated. The uranium mill tailings impoundment systems at Jaduguda have been in use for the long-term storage of fine process waste (tailings). A pilot-scale remediation exercise of one of the tailings ponds has been undertaken with 30 cm soil as a cover material. For the prediction of the radon flux, a numerical model has been developed to account for the radon exhalation process at the remediated site. The model can effectively be used to accommodate both the continuous and discrete variable inputs. Depth profiling and physicochemical characterization for the remediated site have been done for the required input variables of the proposed numerical model. The predicted flux worked out is well below the reference level of 0.74 Bq m−2 s−1 IAEA (2004). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study is based on social exchange theory and aims at understanding the role of employee engagement as a mediator between employee voice and organizational effectiveness. Design/methodology/approach: Data was collected to test the mediating role of employee engagement between employee voice and organizational effectiveness. The respondents were employees in different IT companies located in major cities in India. The model was tested for full and partial mediation of employee engagement using structural equation modeling. Findings: Considering the self-reported survey from 232 employees from companies in the IT sector, the findings reveal that there exists a significant association between employee voice and organizational effectiveness. The results reflect a close association between employee engagement and organizational effectiveness too. However, no significant association was found between employee voice and organizational effectiveness. Employee engagement is found to mediate the relationship between employee voice and organizational effectiveness. Research limitations/implications: The foremost limitation of the study is the sample group that is limited to employees working in IT companies in Bangalore city. The results cannot be generalized to the entire IT industry in India. Although attempts are made to eliminate common method bias, there are chances of an overstated relationship by common method variance that cannot be neglected completely. Practical implications: The paper will provide a deep insight to the practitioners about the role of employee voice in the engagement of employees. It will also indicate to the managers how the effectiveness of an organization can be heightened by creating opportunities for employees to voice their opinion in the organization. Originality/value: The present study indicated that though there is an association between the independent variable, employee voice, and the dependent variable, organizational effectiveness, the relationship becomes more significant in the presence of employee engagement between them.

Cancer is a global issue and hence various efforts are being made. Iron oxide is considered a significant biochemical agent in the biomedical arena for cancer treatment. Marine macroalgae-mediated iron oxides especially, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles (NPs) are a prospective alternative to diagnose and treat cancer owing to their fluorescent and magnetic properties. We intend to appraise the usability of the aqueous extract of Rosenvingea intricata (R. intricata) in Fe3O4 NPs synthesis and to study their cytotoxic effects against human hepatocarcinoma (Hep3B) and pancreatic (PANC1) cancer cells. In the present study, R. intricata were collected from the coastal region of South Andaman, India. Aqueous extracts of R. intricata were utilized to synthesize Fe3O4 NPs via the co-precipitation method. Phycosynthesized Fe3O4 NPs exhibited wide peak at 400–600 nm from ultraviolet–visible diffused reflectance spectroscopic analysis which validated the formation of NPs. Band edge emission peak at 660 nm in fluorescent spectra confirmed the quantum confinement in Fe3O4 NPs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed the role of R. intricata as a capping and reducing agent with functional groups such as O–H, C–H, C=O, N=O, C=C, C–O, C–N, and C–S arising from amino acids, polysaccharides, aliphatic hydrocarbons, esters, amides, lignins, alkanes, aliphatic amines, and sulfates. Physicochemical properties such as crystallite size (14.36 nm), hydrodynamic size (84.6 nm), irregular morphology, elemental composition, particle size (125 nm), crystallinity, and saturation magnetization (0.90007 emu/g) were obtained from x-ray diffractometer, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction and vibrating sample magnetometer techniques, respectively. The cell viability showed dose-dependent cytotoxic effects and enhanced the apoptosis against Hep3B and PANC1 cancer cells. R. intricata extract capped Fe3O4 NPs could be the most appropriate and effective nanomaterial for cancer treatment and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There is a global priority to ensure food security, environmental conservation and sustainability. The adoption of inputs such as organic manures, biofertilisers, and biopesticides has been widely promoted as a way to enhance agricultural sustainability, yet their adoption rates remain notably low. The study examines the determinants and impact of the adoption of multiple sustainable inputs by paddy farmers in India. The study also examines the drivers behind the intensity of their adoption and their technical efficiency. Methods: The study utilises the survey dataset on paddy farmers from "Situation Assessment of Agricultural Households and Land and Livestock Holdings of Households in Rural India" of the 77th National Sample Survey (NSSO) round. The reference period for data collection was the agricultural year from July 2018 to June 2019. The analytical methods employed include the Multivariate Probit and Ordered Probit models, Seemingly Unrelated Regression, Regression Adjustment model, and Stochastic Frontier method. Results: The empirical findings reveal that the adoption and intensity of sustainable inputs depend significantly on factors such as the household head's age and education, household size, and access to extension services. Adopting sustainable inputs has significant benefits, such as increased harvest value. However, the currently available technical advisory services are limited in effectively promoting the expenditure on sustainable inputs. Technical efficiency analysis underscores the potential for improvement and the importance of utilising optimal input levels. The research findings provide strong evidence in favour of advocating for the use of sustainable inputs in paddy farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) have been on the rise in recent decades all over the world more remarkably in developing countries like India. We intend to measure the prevalence of DM and HTN in the Indian population and to compare the trends and various correlates of these diseases in NFHS (National Family Health Survey)-4 and 5. Data of NFHS-4 and 5 were accessed from dhs program website. All statistical analyses were done in SAS (version 9.4). Mixed effects survey logistic regression models were used for estimating odds ratio (OR).p-values <0.05 were considered significant.1,637,762 individual case entries were evaluated. Both the diseases showed an increasing trend as per the advancing age in both sexes. The highest prevalence of DM is seen in the age group of 45–49 years (7.8%) in females and > 50 years (11.9%) in males as per NFHS-5. Similarly, the highest prevalence of HTN was seen in the age group of45–49 years (31.2%) in females and > 50 years (41.4%) in males as per NFHS-5. The OR (95% CI) of prevalence of DM, HTN and both the diseases in age group >50 years was 14.46 (13.14–15.7), 16.65 (15.78–17.6), 79.5 (64.76–97.73) respectively when compared to reference age group15-19 years. Highest odds for having both DM, HTN concurrently was in age >50 years with aOR(95% CI) 65.32 (52.26–72.63) in NFHS 4 and 35.57 (97.47–45.53) in NFHS 5.Rise in prevalence of DM, HTN and concurrent presence is noted with an apparent increase in cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health problem. The burden of CKD in children and adolescents in India is not well described. We used data from the recent Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) to estimate the prevalence of impaired kidney function (IKF) and its determinants in children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 19. Methods: CNNS 2016–18 adopted a multi-stage sampling design using probability proportional to size sampling procedure after geographical stratification of urban and rural areas. Serum creatinine was tested once in 24,690 children and adolescents aged 5–19 years. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was derived using the revised Schwartz equation. The eGFR value below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 is defined as IKF. Bivariate analysis was done to depict the weighted prevalence, and multivariable logistic regression examined the predictors of IKF. Results: The mean eGFR in the study population was 113.3 + 41.4 mL/min/1.73 m2. The overall prevalence of IKF was 4.9%. The prevalence in the 5–9, 10–14, and 15–19 year age groups was 5.6%, 3.4% and 5.2%, respectively. Regression analysis showed age, rural residence, non-reserved social caste, less educated mothers, Islam religion, children with severe stunting or being overweight/obese, and residence in Southern India to be predictors of IKF. Conclusions: The prevalence of IKF among children and adolescents in India is high compared to available global estimates. In the absence of repeated eGFR-based estimates, these nationally representative estimates are intriguing and call for further assessment of socio-demographic disparities, genetics, and risk behaviours to have better clinical insights and public health preparedness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The existing Building Information Modelling (BIM) research does not provide a holistic understanding of pre- and post-adoption barriers to its implementation, especially in developing countries such as India, where BIM adoption lags. First, a total of 32 barriers to BIM implementation were identified after a comprehensive literature review. Second, after discussion with experts, the barriers were classified into 23 pre- and 21 post-adoption barriers. Next, the barriers were ranked based on 218 completed survey responses from professionals working in 125 organizations in the Indian construction industry. Finally, an independent samples t-test was conducted to understand differences in the perceptions of different groups of participants. The top five pre-adoption barriers were (1) high hardware costs, (2) high software costs, (3) low adoption across the supply chain, (4) low market support, and (5) unclear benefit evaluation. In comparison, the top five post-adoption barriers were (1) high ongoing cost (license renewal, training cost, etc.), (2) shortage of skills and expertise, (3) unclear benefit evaluation, (4) client's lack of understanding, and (5) user resistance. Moreover, clients, contractors and consultants shared different views on very few barriers, which shows that these barriers are prevalent across different types of organizations in the Indian construction industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use district-level data from India to study the implications of two historical institutions, direct British rule and the heterogeneous land tenure institutions implemented by the British, on the disparity in present-day development in India. Using night-lights per capita as a proxy for district-level per capita income, we find that modern districts that were historically under direct British rule had significantly fewer night-lights per capita in 1993 relative to modern districts that were historically under indirect British rule. The large gap persists even after including correlates of development such as educational attainment, health, and physical and financial infrastructure. Looking at the growth pattern from 1993 to 2013, directly ruled districts had a lower annual growth rate compared with that of indirectly ruled districts. Much of the development gap between areas under indirect rule and areas under direct rule can be accounted for by the adverse effect of landlord-based revenue-collection systems in the directly ruled areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION What is the functional significance of Tex13b in male germ cell development and differentiation? SUMMARY ANSWER Tex13b regulates male germ cell differentiation by metabolic reprogramming during spermatogenesis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies in mice and humans suggest that TEX13B is a transcription factor and is exclusively expressed in germ cells. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We sequenced the coding regions of TEX13B in 628 infertile men and 427 ethnically matched fertile control men. Further, to identify the molecular function of Tex13b, we created a Tex13b knockout and conditional overexpression system in GC-1spg (hereafter, GC-1) cells. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Our recent exome sequencing study identified novel candidate genes for male infertility. TEX13B was found to be one of the potential candidates, hence we explored the role of TEX13B in male infertility within a large infertile case–control cohort. We performed functional analyses of Tex13b in a GC-1 cell line using CRISPR-Cas9. We differentially labelled the cell proteins by stable isotope labelling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and performed mass spectrometry-based whole-cell proteomics to identify the differential protein regulation in knockout cells compared to wild-type cells. We found that Tex13b knockout leads to downregulation of the OXPHOS complexes and upregulation of glycolysis genes, which was further validated by western blotting. These results were further confirmed by respirometry analysis in Tex13b knockout cells. Further, we also performed a conditional overexpression of TEX13B in GC-1 cells and studied the expression of OXPHOS complex proteins by western blotting. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We identified a rare variant, rs775429506 (p.Gly237Glu), exclusively in two non-obstructive-azoospermia (NOA) men, that may genetically predispose these men for infertility. Further, we demonstrated that Tex13b functions in the transcription regulation of OXPHOS complexes. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We examined the function of Tex13b in GC-1 in vitro by knocking out and conditional overexpression, for understanding the function of Tex13b in germ cells. Unfortunately, this could not be replicated in either an animal model or in patient-derived tissue due to the non-availability of an animal model or patient's testis biopsies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study identified that Tex13b plays an important role in male germ cell development and differentiation. The findings of this study would be useful for screening infertile males with spermatogenic failure and counselling them before the implementation of assisted reproduction technique(s). STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Funding was provided by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the network project (BSC0101 and MLP0113) and SERB, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (J C Bose Fellowship: JCB/2019/000027). The authors do not have any competing interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring groundwater level provides sufficient information on groundwater quantity and quality and is vital in effective management of water resources. This study applies transfer entropy coupled with directed-weighted complex network for the analysis of groundwater levels in the Sina river-basin, Maharashtra, India. All observation wells present in study area have been classified into five clusters using canopy clustering method. The direction and weight of the links of this complex network have been obtained by employing transfer entropy. Seasonal groundwater level data for pre-monsoon (May) and post-monsoon (October) were obtained from centre for groundwater board, Pune, Maharashtra for the period 1990–2009. Data analysis show that both pre-monsoon and post-monsoon groundwater level show significant decreasing trend. The proposed methodology determines the directional relationships between the selected observation wells of different clusters. It recognizes the most influenced well by using node strength and directed clustering coefficients. For each cluster, clustering coefficients and in-strength and out-strength have been calculated. Clustering coefficients for the selected wells of cluster 0 are 1, 1, 1, 0.6844 and 0.6342 which indicates Cluster 0 emerges as the strongest cluster. Similarly, clustering coefficients for cluster 4 are 0.6604, 0.6540, 0.3095, 0.2616 and 0 which means cluster 4 is the weakest among all the clusters formed. Clustering coefficients obtained for all clusters indicate that all wells within a cluster are forming clusters among themselves, however, some are strong whereas others are weak clusters. Therefore, transfer entropy can be effectively applied to groundwater and results obtained from it can be used for forecasting and water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the report of four taxa of Oedogonium, I(Chlorophyceae: tChlorophyta) ocollected from different aquatic habitats of northern Bihar during Jan. 2021-Feb. 2022. Of these, one formasO. cyathigeru m f. ornat um dHirn t1900aa nd the species O. mir andrium Skuja 1927eare recorded for, the first time from India. Besides, hO. ta PeinosP orum f. f owl ingenses C.-C.Jao 1937 iso the first record c from Bihar ewhereas O. i ncras satum Hallas ex Andersen 1945 constitutes the second record from India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slender-billed vulture is an Old-world vulture classified as critically endangered, yet insufficiently studied on account of future habitat and population trends. This is a narrow ranging, forest confined species found in the moist deciduous Tarai region of Northern India along Himalayan foothills. In the wake of a decreasing population trend and impact of climate change, we made model predictions to study suitable habitat area dynamics. Though the Ensemble model predicted better results than other models (GBM, GLM, MARS, CTA, ANN, MaxEnt, RF and SVM), independent Maxent prediction was found equally good. Suitable area was mainly determined by two vital climatic variables. Rising mean temperature of the driest quarter, 16 oC onwards, and falling precipitation of the wettest month, 700 mm downwards, lowered the habitability of this vulture in Tarai ecozone. The projected suitable habitat showed spatiotemporal dynamics and a general trend of net gain in the expanse in different emission scenarios of near and distant future. However, the predicted population status was not encouraging. It is suggested that considerable attention and quick recovery management practices should be enforced proactively by total warding off of the population from diclofenac, followed by intensive breeding in captivity, habitat improvement and habitat construction/reconstruction for further spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As obligate scavengers, vultures are important to ecosystem health but their numbers are declining globally. A major cause may be habitat loss due to anthropogenic or natural factors. Four threatened and endangered non-Gyps vultures (Bearded, Cinereous, Egyptian, Red-headed) found in many other countries also inhabit diverse floristic landscapes of India. This study aimed to determine present habitat expanse and the projected changes in habitat in future, identify vital habitat influencing factors, and suggest conservation strategies. Species Distribution Model Maxent, presence locations and bioclimate data for the present, and short- and long-term future were used and predictions were made for these four species. To increase the accuracy, uncertainties were removed, ensemble models were created using three GCMs and data for two RCPs (RCP4.5, RCP8.5) across two future tenures. All the models had strong predictability (AUC: 0.759–0.966, TSS: 0.445–0.866, and CBI: 0.986–1.000). With respect to habitat suitability across the landscapes, in the present-day scenario, 5%, 10%, 18% and 48% of the area were found suitable for Bearded, Cinereous, Red-headed, and Egyptian vultures, respectively, against 3.28 million km2. This expanse fluctuated due to the changing climate in future scenarios, considerably large patches undergoing either loss or gain in suitability. The three most vital bioclimatic variables for habitat prediction were bio19 (Precipitation of coldest quarter), bio01 (Mean annual temperature), and bio07 (Temperature annual range). The data generated could be useful in developing conservation strategies. Consistently suitable area could be used for establishing vulture protection area and vulnerable areas for habitat improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Teacher Empowerment means to equip a teacher for conceptual and practical teaching which focuses on the relevant syllabus topics. It means the power of the teacher to exercise his judgement of what, why, how, when and why to teach. It also insists on developing a harmonious relationship with the environment along with the right of the teacher to participate in the determination of educational goals and policies and the achievement of educational school goals. In the present study teacher empowerment means the teachers ability and potential to achieve the school goals and the educational goals. The present study is restricted to the B.Ed. trainee teachers of Ahmedabad district. The objectives of the study comprised to know the necessary general qualities, personal qualities, teaching qualities, student teacher relationship, behaviour, attitude and miscellaneous qualities required by a teacher in the classroom and amongst the students for teacher empowerment. 100 trainee teachers from ten different colleges were selected by purposive sampling from Ahmedabad district. A questionnaire was prepared and the survey method was used in the study. The raw data was then grouped and then the frequency and the percentage of the frequency of the responses by the respondents for the said factor necessary for the teacher was applied to do the analysis and interpretation of the data. The study concluded that the necessary qualities required for teacher empowerment is the minimum necessary qualifications required for a teacher, general awareness, good and clear voice, simplicity, nobility, kindness, gentleness, generosity, activeness, honesty, humbleness, politeness, mildness, softness, intelligence, creativity, knowledge of psychology, philosophy, technology, management, different methods, techniques, approach, content, various languages, presentation style, sense of humour, decency and humbleness. The other qualities required by a teacher are responsibility, course completion on time, duty oriented, unbiased, ideal and intimate in addition to bearing sympathy, mercy, spontaneity and good understanding. The teacher should avoid punishing, frowning, hatred, abusive words, chewing tobacco etc. He should not be fearful, angry, rude and revengeful but bear oneness, equality, love and affection for students and try to be friendly.

In developing countries like India, the onus of development lies mainly with the government, which faces the predicament of multiple demands and limited resources. This leads to a situation where even fundamental objectives such as basic literacy for all are not met. On the other hand, there exists a vibrant private sector, which has resources and the desire to undertake social responsibility. This sector is also coming up with innovative approaches to overcome barriers to education and is targeting the have-nots. Minimally Invasive Education (MIE) is one such endeavour. This paper discusses results obtained from Madangir (New Delhi), one of the sites where MIE learning stations were installed. It encourages children to learn on their own, with minimal, or no intervention. Children are provided with free access to computers in an open outdoor location. The informal environment enables children to acquire computer literacy, enhance their academic levels and imbibe other life skills. This project is an illustration of a public-private partnership between the Government of Delhi and NIIT (India's leading private sector corporation offering IT education, training and global IT learning solutions) to overcome digital illiteracy. (Contains 9 footnotes and 5 figures.)

Background: The role of artificial intelligence and radiomics in prediction model development in cancer has been increasing every passing day. Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women worldwide, contributing to 6.5% of all cancer types. The treatment outcome of cervical cancer patients varies and individualized prediction of disease outcome is of paramount importance. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop and validate the digital signature for 5-year overall survival prediction in cervical cancer using robust CT radiomic and clinical features. Materials and Methods: Pretreatment clinical features and CT radiomic features of 68 patients, who were treated with chemoradiation therapy in our hospital, were used in this study. Radiomic features were extracted using an in-house developed python script and pyradiomic package. Clinical features were selected by the recursive feature elimination technique. Whereas radiomic feature selection was performed using a multi-step process i.e., step-1: only robust radiomic features were selected based on our previous study, step-2: a hierarchical clustering was performed to eliminate feature redundancy, and step-3: recursive feature elimination was performed to select the best features for prediction model development. Four machine algorithms i.e., Logistic regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support vector classifier (SVC), and Gradient boosting classifier (GBC), were used to develop 24 models (six models using each algorithm) using clinical, radiomic and combined features. Models were compared based on the prediction score in the internal validation. Results: The average prediction accuracy was found to be 0.65 (95% CI: 0.60– 0.70), 0.72 (95% CI: 0.63–0.81), and 0.77 (95% CI: 0.72–0.82) for clinical, radiomic, and combined models developed using four prediction algorithms respectively. The average prediction accuracy was found to be 0.69 (95% CI: 0.62–0.76), 0.79 (95% CI: 0.72–0.86), 0.71 (95% CI: 0.62–0.80), and 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66–0.78) for LR, RF, SVC and GBC models developed on three datasets respectively. Conclusion: Our study shows the promising predictive performance of a robust radiomic signature to predict 5-year overall survival in cervical cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater is a precious natural element which ensures global water, food, and environmental security in the twenty-first century. Systematic monitoring, sustainable utilization, preservation and remediation are critical aspects of efficient groundwater resource management. This study deals with the analysis of spatial variability and trend in groundwater chemistry as well as identification of possible contamination sources in a coastal alluvial basin of eastern India. Pre-monsoon season data of 14 groundwater-quality variables measured in 'leaky confined' and 'confined' aquifers were analyzed for ten years (2012–2021). Mann–Kendall (M–K) test with the Sen's Slope Estimator, Spearman Rank Order Correlation (SROC) and Innovative Trend Analysis (ITA) tests were employed to assess decadal (2012–2021) trends. The analysis of the results indicated that the 'critical' water-quality parameters exceeding the acceptable limits for drinking are TDS, EC, TH, pH, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Fe2+, HCO3ˉ, Clˉ and NO3ˉ. Weak negative correlations between rainfall and groundwater elevation for both the aquifers reveal poor rainfall recharge into the aquifers. Therefore, a reduction in groundwater abstraction and augmentation of groundwater recharge is recommended. Trend analysis results indicated that the concentrations of TH, Mg2+ and Fe2+ exhibit significant increasing trends in the 'leaky confined aquifer'. In contrast, significant rising trends in TH, Mg2+, Na+, Fe2+, HCO3ˉ and NO3ˉ concentrations are identified in the 'confined aquifer'. Further, the SROC test could not detect the trends in groundwater quality in most blocks and for many parameters. On the other hand, the ITA test revealed significant trends in most of the parameters of the two aquifers in almost all the blocks. Trend magnitudes of the groundwater-quality parameters based on the Sen's Slope Estimator and the ITA test vary from –63.7 to 58.65 mg/L/year for TDS, –14 to 39.07 mg/L/year for TH, –1.49 to 4.83 mg/L/year for Mg2+, –7.14 to 22.96 mg/L/year for Na+, –0.32 to 0.44 mg/L/year for Fe2+, –8.33 to 20.75 mg/L/year for HCO3ˉ, –26.52 to 31.01 mg/L/year for Clˉ and 1.29 to 3.76 mg/L/year for NO3ˉ over the study area. The results of M–K and ITA tests were found in agreement in all the blocks for both the aquifers. Groundwater contamination in both the aquifers can be attributed to weathering, geogenic processes, mineral dissolution, seawater intrusion, poor recharge pattern and injudicious anthropogenic activities. It is strongly recommended that concerned authorities urgently formulate efficient strategies for managing groundwater quality in the 'leaky confined' and 'confined' aquifers which serve as vital sources of drinking and irrigation water supplies in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-demand work applications (ODWAs), a type of digital platforms (DPs), are technology-enabled intermediaries for gig workers. In this paper, we study these platforms and their impact on women belonging to the low socio-economic section in a developing economy. These women act as primary unpaid workers while being expected to make an economic contribution. Hence, they suffer from time scarcity where they need to find mechanisms to generate economic success from the limited time they have, in a largely informal economy. We employed the theoretical lens of affordances to delineate the affordances that are provided by the various features of ODWAs and their impact on life satisfaction of women. We conducted a mixed method study using interviews of 20 female gig workers, supplemented by a survey of 927 workers on one of the largest ODWAs in India. Our analysis points to the sense of identity and individuality that these platforms provide as well as lowering the market boundaries for greater inclusion. Our research is significant from both, the information systems and inclusion research perspectives, as it contributes to the theoretical understanding of the impact of DPs on breaking societal structures and providing avenues to marginalised sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The years 1838–1924 in colonial India saw the first organized exodus of around 1.5 million. These emigrants were employed as indentured laborers in the various plantations owned by the Empire. Along with the people, what migrated were objects like clothes and jewelry. While some of these items were provided by the plantation regimes, others were brought by the emigrants. Though there have been studies about the lives on the plantations, the marine lives of the travelers and their personal belongings have been neglected. Objects such as clothes and jewelry not only have cultural significance but also form part of the emigrants' memory. This article critically analyses the usage of cultural artifacts as "floating signifiers" and how these artifacts are altered with a change of setting. Building on the ideas of Bhabha, Skinner, and others, this article aims to understand the role of material possessions in the lives of the plantation workers. The narratives discussed allow readers to witness changes in the role of materials like clothes and jewelry accompanying the emigrants on their voyage to the plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a case report on how an 18 year old had to live with a growth on her back since last twelve years due to lack of medical facilities and taboos associated with these growths in developing nations like India. The girl had stunted growth due to the weight she was carrying and associated deformities in her spine. She was evaluated and finally underwent surgery for the same. Plexiform neurofibromas are tumors of the peripheral nerve sheaths. They occur in people born with genetic disease called neurofibromatosis. They are slow growing tumors and keep on growing with age. They are soft to begin with. There are instances when plexiform neurofibromas have shown rapid growth. Neurofibromas are generally considered benign and not removed until they cause any complication or for cosmetic reasons. We hereby present a case of plexiform neurofibroma which grew to reach a weight of 28 kgs and ended up causing spinal deformities in a young girl. Background: Plexiform neurofibromas are tumors of the peripheral nerve sheaths. They occur in people born with genetic disease called neurofibromatosis. They are slow growing tumorsand keep on growing with age. They are soft to begin with. There are instances when plexiform neurofibromas have shown rapid growth. Neurofibromas are generally considered benign and not removed until they cause any complication or for cosmetic reasons. Methods:. We hereby present a case of plexiform neurofibroma which grew to reach a weight of 28 kgs and ended up causing spinal deformities in a young girl. Results:This is a case report on how an 18 year old had to live with a growth on her back since last twelve years due to lack of medical facilities and taboos associated with these growths in developing nations like India. The girl had stunted growth due to the weight she was carrying and associated deformities in her spine. She was evaluated and finally underwent surgery for the same. Conclusions:in India, the lack of medical facilities and the negligence still met to the girl child is responsible for such humungous growths presenting at the tertiary centres even in the 21st century. It is the need of the hour to work on both these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in-depth understanding of the anatomical variations of maxillary molars is essential for endodontic success. Unlike the maxillary second molars, the presence of a second palatal root is uncommon in the first maxillary molar. This case report describes two cases of non-surgical management of maxillary molars with extra palatal roots. Careful clinical examination, knowledge of the internal anatomy, and the use of advanced radiographic modalities like cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) can reveal the presence of variations in the internal and external anatomy of any tooth. Therefore, for nonsurgical as well as surgical management clinicians should always watch out for any deviations in a tooth and utilize all the available tools to diagnose and manage them successfully. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose There is an acute shortage of neurosurgeons and spine surgeons especially in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries including India. Patients of spine surgery need to travel long distances for follow-up at tertiary care hospitals. This study was done to evaluate role and success rate of telemedicine in follow-up after spine surgery based on patients' diagnosis and demographic features and to identify barriers to successful telemedicine consultations. Materials and Methods All patients undergoing spine surgeries including craniovertebral junction (CVJ) surgeries from January 2021 to June 2022 were included in the study. Success rate of telemedicine was calculated using a simple formula: Success rate of telemedicine = successful telemedicine consultations / total number of telemedicine consultation × 100. Success rate was evaluated with respect to demographic features and underlying disease-related factors. Results Eighty-four patients formed the study group in which a total of 181 video teleconsultations were done. Overall success rate of telemedicine was 82.87%. Higher socioeconomic and educational statuses were related to higher success rates of tele-consultations (p < 0.05). Difficulty in assessing neurological condition using video call in follow-up cases of CVJ and issues related to Internet communication network leading to inability to video call and share image/videos were major causes of failures. Conclusion Telemedicine may prove an effective option for following up patients undergoing spine surgeries except CVJ, which is likely to improve further with improvements in Internet connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees rely exclusively on pollen and nectar-producing plants for strengthening their colonies and production of honey. In beekeeping, dearth period management of bee colonies is the key to success. Hence, comprehensive knowledge about foraging sources for bees in dearth need to be explored. The present study was undertaken to delineate the comparative foraging preferences of three bee species viz. Apis mellifera L., Apis cerana indica F. and Tetragonula bengalensis C. during dearth in lower Gangetic of West Bengal, India based on the analyses of corbicular pollen loads. Altogether 61 plants belonging to 26 families were recognized as pollen resources for the bee species. The choice differences among three bees had also been recorded during the study. Major pollen contributing families were Cucurbitaceae, Fabaceae, Asteraceae, Malavceae and Poaceae. Predominant pollens chosen by the bees had been found to be of Commelina diffusa, Aeschynomene aspera, Cocos nucifera and Eucalyptus globulus. However, the categorical differentiation of pollens greatly varied amongst the corbicular loads of the bee species during the study. A diversity of habitats (herbs, shrubs, climbers and trees) and type of plants (weeds, cultivated crops, ornamentals, fruits and forest plantations) that mostly have small-sized yellow and white to creamy colours flowers were observed to be foraged by all the three bee species. The study revealed the importance of different non-cultivated plants like forest trees, weeds etc. as pollen foraging sources for the sustenance of honey bees and stingless bees during the dearth period in this region, indicating the need of adopting measures for conservation of those. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores political economic developments in India's post-reform period that began in 1991 through the interactions of the non-elite, ordinary middle-class Indians and state institutions and market processes. The article introduces "twin movement" as a concept and revises the Polanyian notion of a double movement of differentiated domains of welfare and neo-liberal state which restricts exploring the tacit relationships that form between the state and the market; how the state subtly forces people to resort to market institutions and processes; and forces/encourages capital accumulation to mitigate challenges of the neo-liberal market. This ethnographic article draws attention to the re-modelling of state institutions that is attuned to neo-liberal market logics; and how this re-modelling modifies state–citizen relationships, and shapes subjectivity and "middleclassness." In doing so, the article maps how non-elite middleclassness is located in demands, desires, and aspirations; and how intricately these are weaved into the everyday insecurities, risks, and vulnerabilities that constitute the social, economic, and political life of the urban non-elite middle class in neo-liberal India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cyberspace gets advanced, its significance has increased making it a key element of national power. In response to heightened cyber threats and vulnerabilities, states may seek to achieve their national objectives through digital means. As a result, strategic policies, dedicated organizations, collaborative cyber efforts, and similar initiatives seamlessly integrate into the state system. With this perspective in mind, this article explores both internal and external cyber threats, and the measures to mitigate them in India. The article will delve into three major themes- India's domestic cybersecurity concerns, external digital threats, and its participations in global cyber affairs. As the article intends to focus chiefly on India's digital strategic interests, it concentrates on the military cyber activities, cyber doctrines, command structure, and related areas. While the article also briefly discusses on India's domestic efforts to combat cybercrime, it additionally examines India's intentions to expand its role in global cyber affairs/politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's diverse vegetation and landscapes provide an opportunity to understand the responses of vegetation to climate change. By examining pollen and fossil records along with carbon isotopes of organic matter and leaf wax, this review uncovers the rich vegetational history of India. Notably, during the late Miocene (8 to 6 Ma), the transition from C3 to C4 plants in lowland regions was a pivotal ecological shift, with fluctuations in their abundance during the late Quaternary (100 ka to the present). In India, the global phenomenon of C4 expansion was driven by the combined feedback of climate variations, changes in substrate conditions, and habitat disturbances. The Himalayan region has experienced profound transformations, including tree-line migrations, shifts in flowering and fruiting times, species loss, and shifts in plant communities due to changing monsoons and westerlies. Coastal areas, characterized by mangroves, have been dynamically influenced by changing sea extents driven by climate changes. In arid desert regions, the interplay between summer and westerlies rainfall has shaped vegetation composition. This review explores vegetation and climate history since 14 Ma and emphasizes the need for more isotope data from contemporary plants, precise sediment dating, and a better understanding of fire's role in shaping vegetation. This review highlights diverse vegetation and landscapes of India as a valuable source for understanding the vegetation-climate link during the last 14 Myr. A significant ecological shift occurred during 8 to 6 Ma in India, marked by the transition from C3 to C4 plants in the lowland regions. The abundance of C3 and C4 plants varied in India during the late Quaternary (100 ka to present). This review emphasizes the importance of more isotope data, precise sediment dating, and a better understanding of fire's role in shaping vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many underutilized edible fruit species (UEFS) are found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), which support food security (FS) for both indigenous people and other dependent communities. Unfortunately, there is little study and fragmented information available about these naturally edible products. The UEFS of the IGP was the subject of a systematic review utilizing the PRISMA protocol, which produced implications for FS and land degradation neutrality (LDN). This review aims to survey, summarize, and annotate the published information about the angiosperms native and naturalized UEFS of IGP to identify and make use of this species, particularly for the sustainable development of this region. A systematic review confirmed that 371 species of UEFS, of which 62 species were threatened and near threatened (TNT)-UEFS. Among the TNT-UEFS, 41 species were threatened, while 21 species were NT. The threatened species were further categorized as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in the IGP as vulnerable (21 species), endangered (16 species), and critically endangered (four species). This systematic review suggests integration of the native and naturalized UEFS in afforestation and reforestation programs to aid in various ecosystem services. Calamus inermis, Corypha taliera, Licuala peltata, and Saurauia punduana are examples of multipurpose species that require immediate sustainable conservation and cultivation initiatives to save them from extinction in the near future. Multipurpose species such as Aegle marmelos, Buchanania lanzan, Manilkara hexandra, Syzygium cuminii, Tamarindus indica are immensely constructive and climate-smart by surviving in harsh agroclimatic conditions and have great potential for establishment on marginal and wastelands throughout the IGP region. These resilient fruit species enhance biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes in addition to providing food for humans. It progressively advances India’s commitment to LDN, combating climate change, and achieving the UN-SDGs, which call for reducing hunger and raising FS by 2030. As a result, the study will offer baseline data for the next investigations and be helpful to policymakers in creating sustainable and scientific policies for the IGP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: French bean is one of the most precious and highly relished widely grown short duration legume vegetable. This investigation is intended to assess the integrated manner of nutrient management for higher productivity of French bean under acidic soil condition in subtropical humid zone of Nagaland. Methods: The experiment was carried out during three consecutive years (2017-2018, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020) of rabi season on French bean at Horticultural Research Farm, School of Agricultural Sciences and Rural Development, Medziphema, Nagaland University with the combination of eight treatments. The experiment was laid out in randomized block design with three replications using the variety Arka Komal. Result: The pooled results of three years revealed that the highest growth, quality and yield parameters were observed in treatment T3 (75% NPK through inorganic + 25% N through vermicompost) with maximum plant height (35.68 cm), no. of pods per plant (27.77), no. of seeds per pod (7.01), length of pod (13.96 cm), width of pod (10.58 mm), fresh weight of pod (4.22 g), fresh yield (153.61 q ha-1), crude protein content (28.83%) and benefit cost ratio (4.06) of French bean which was found significantly superior over other treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have an increased risk of cardiovascular involvement, which is among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Echocardiography (ECHO) could be a reliable, non-invasive tool for predicting the risk of cardiovascular modalities in patients with COPD. Combining the ECHO parameters with highly selective cardiac troponin could predict the severity and outcome of patients with COPD. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in South India. All patients who met the criteria were included. Patients with other concomitant chronic lung diseases were excluded. An echocardiographic examination was performed, and blood samples for hs-Tnt were taken on admission for patients admitted with COPD. Categorical variables were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square test, and the T-test was used to compare the means. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Bonferroni multiple comparison tests was done to compare different echo parameters concerning COPD severity. Results: The mean tricuspid annulus plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) and right ventricle (RV) fraction area change (FAC) values were lower with the increase in the disease severity (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in the mean systolic pressures in the right atrium and ventricle in patients with severe COPD (P < 0.001). The mean hs-TnT values were significantly higher in patients with severe COPD (18.86 ± 18.12) and correlated well with the increase in the severity of the disease (P < 0.001). Changes in the echo parameters, such as mean TAPSE and RV FAC values, negatively correlated with COPD severity. There was an increase in systolic pressure in both atria and ventricles with the progression of COPD. Troponin helped predict mortality during hospitalization. Conclusion: Comprehensive echocardiographic parameters, such as TAPSE and RV FAC, help assess the disease's severity, predict mortality, and evaluate whether the proper ventricular function is reliable. Troponin is a valuable adjunct that is an independent and strong predictor of overall mortality in patients with COPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) not associated with known risk factors, called CKD of unknown etiology (CKDu), has been reported from several geographically distinct regions across the world. This study reports the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with CKDu from a new hotspot in central India. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study describes the sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory profile of the patients diagnosed with CKDu visiting a tertiary care public hospital in the state of Chhattisgarh in central India between June 2019 and June 2021. CKDu was diagnosed as progressive CKD, minimal proteinuria, absence of hematuria, diabetes, severe hypertension, systemic illness, glomerulonephritis or other urinary tract diseases, and presence of symmetrically contracted kidneyon ultrasound. Results: A total of 166 (3.1%) out of 5365 patients with CKD were diagnosed with CKDu. The mean age was 53.6 ± 11.8 years. The patients were predominantly male (n = 113, 68.1%), belonged to rural areas (n = 147, 88.6%), and were engaged in farming (n = 105, 63.3%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at presentation was 21.5 ± 15.1 ml/min/1.73m². Forty-four (26.5%) had stage 3 CKD, 57 (34.3%) had stage 4 CKD, and 65 (39.2%) had stage5 CKD. There was an over-representation of CKDu cases in patients with CKD from Gariyaband (36.0%) and Mahasamund (25%) districts of Chhattisgarh and Nuapada (35.0%) and Balangir (30.0%) districts of Odisha. Conclusion: The study suggests clustering of cases of CKDu in certain districts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeastern states of India are known for unique landraces of Capsicum spp. with geographical indications. However, little information is available about these valuable landraces of chillies. Surveys and collections were carried out in niche areas to find out their ecology and diversity through morphological traits and molecular analysis using microsatellite markers. Our result characterized the ecology of niche areas as cool (11.0°C--20.7°C) and humid (>60% relative humidity) climates for dalle-chilli (Capsicum annuum L.); mild-warm (12.2°C--28.6°C) and humid for king-chilli (C. chinense Jacq.); and cool to warm (11.3°C--33.1°C) and humid for bird's eye chilli (C. frutescens L.) during the crop period. The canonical correspondence analysis has shown the significant impact of temperature on the agro-morphological traits and distribution of the landraces in their niche areas. A wide variability was observed for different quantitative traits and yield attributing characters (fruit length, diameter, weight, and yield), showing high heritability (97.0%-- 99.0%), and genetic advance as a percentage of the mean (119.8%--434.0%). A total of 47 SSR markers used for the molecular analysis generated 230 alleles, ranging from 2 (HPMSE-7) to 10 (HPMSE-5), with an average of 4.89 alleles per locus. The average polymorphism information content was also high (0.61) and ranged from 0.20 (HPMSE-7) to 0.85 (CAMS-91). The observed average heterozygosity was lower than the expected value. Analysis of molecular variance has shown significant variation within (69%) and between (31%) of the populations of Capsicum spp. Based on Nei's genetic distance, bird's eye chilli and king-chilli were found to be closer to each other, whereas dalle-chilli, a tretraploid species, was closer to hot pepper (C. annuum). However, the flower size of dalle-chilli was large and found closer to king-chilli in color and differs from C. chinense due to the presence of calyx teeth. For quality traits, landraces king-chilli, dalle-chilli, and bird's eye chilli have shown 2.8, 2.0, and 1.4 times higher average capsaicin and 0.46, 0.25, and 0.22 times higher average oleoresin content over the hot pepper, respectively. The knowledge of ecology and diversity can be used in identifying new areas for production, selection of elite lines, conservation, and crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the impact of social settings on sleep, physical and mental health in female adolescents of North India (latitude 29.5 oN; longitude 77.5 oE). Using a battery of questionnaires, we compared the chronotype, sleep–wake pattern, sleep health (e.g. sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and fatigue) and mood (via depression, anxiety and stress symptoms) in female students (age 14–18 years) from rural (N = 719) and urban (N = 1033) schools separated by about 35 km, but families had almost similar socio-demographic details. The morning type was prevalent amongst rural, whilst the evening type was prevalent amongst urban students who also had access to smart phones, suggesting a possible greater use of the internet. There were greater negative sleep effects, daytime sleepiness, overall poor sleep quality, higher fatigue and anxiety levels in urban than the rural cohort. Interestingly, these measures also differed between school days and free days, suggesting an impact of the conflict between internal biological and social timings (= social jet lag). We also found a significant relationship between chronotype, internet addiction, mood-related parameters and measures of sleep health. Overall, these results suggest a possible impact of social settings on sleep health and mood-related behaviours in female adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analysis of plant‐wax biomarkers from sedimentary sequences can enable past environmental and hydrological reconstruction and provide insights into past hominin adaptations. However, biomarker preservation in desert contexts has been considered unlikely given the sparse nature of the vegetation within the landscape. Here we evaluate the preservation of n‐alkanes and fatty acids collected from four depositional sequences associated with archaeological contexts in the Nefud Desert, Saudi Arabia, and the Thar Desert, India. Pleistocene and Holocene samples were selected to understand the effects of age on preservation. The results of molecular distribution patterns and indices, particularly the high carbon preference index and average chain length, show the preservation of plant‐wax biomarkers in both the Holocene and Pleistocene desert sequences, while δ13C values and organic content provide insights into the vegetation contributing to the plant‐wax organic pool. This study provides a baseline for understanding human–environment interactions and for reconstructing changes in arid land habitats of relevance to hominins during the Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime is a major social problem in most developed and developing countries. It induces a social, economic, and psychological impact on the victim. Over the last few decades, India has also witnessed an increasing trend in crime rates. The majority of these crimes are property-related. This study aims to examine the relationship between online preventive searches on Google and the reduction in property crimes in the states of India. We use Poisson quasi-maximum likelihood estimation to analyze the panel dataset for four states on monthly frequency for the period 2017 to 2020. Our results indicate that preventive searches on Google are significantly related to reduced property crimes like Burglary, Robbery, and Theft. A one percent increase in preventive Google searches reduces property crimes by 0.37–0.60%. "Target Hardening" and "Formal Social Control" appear to be the highly correlated preventive inquiries, while "Surveillance" appear to be the least correlated. Our findings indicate that personal precautions are a much more reliable measure for preventing property-related crime than community-level measures. Our result remains robust for both the socially less progressive and highly progressive states. This study contributes to policy discussions by taking a new perspective, providing novel empirical evidence, and contributing to academia through its quantitative approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women's birthing experience is a sensitive indicator of the quality of childbirth care and can impact the physical and mental health of both women and their neonates. Negligible evidence exists on Indian women's birth experiences and–to the best of authors' knowledge–no questionnaire has been tested in India for measuring women's birthing experiences. This study aimed to test the construct validity and reliability of the Kannada-translated Revised Childbirth Experience Questionnaire. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among postnatal women (n = 251, up to six months postpartum, with a live healthy neonate) who had given birth at a public or private health facility using the Kannada-translated CEQ2 in two districts of Karnataka. Data were collected at participants' homes after seeking written informed consent. Model fit was determined by Confirmatory Factor Analyses. Results: The 4-factor model of the CEQ2 showed good fit after deletion of one item (item 8, subcategory "participation") with CMIN = 1.33; SRMR = 0.04; GFI = 0.92, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.99, RMSEA = 0.037 and p value 0.002). The Cronbach alpha values were acceptable for the four subscales (0.92, 0.93, 0.97, 0.91) as well as for the overall 21-item scale (0.84). Conclusions: The Kannada-translated CEQ2 is a reliable tool to measure the childbirth experiences among Kannada-speaking women and can serve as a reliable ongoing evaluation of women's birth experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature comparing maternal and perinatal outcomes among women with scarred and primary uterine rupture are limited. Therefore, the study aimed to compare maternal and perinatal outcomes and associated risk factors of uterine rupture among scarred and unscarred uterus. This retrospective cohort study was performed at a large tertiary care of India between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2020. We analysed all the cases of complete uterine rupture beyond the 20th week of gestation. The outcome measures were live birth rate, perinatal mortality, maternal mortality and morbidity. A total of 115 complete uterine ruptures were noted in 148,102 pregnancies. Of those 115 uterine ruptures, 89 (77.3 %) uterine ruptures occurred in women with a history of caesarean delivery, and 26 (22.6 %) uterine ruptures occurred in primary uterine rupture. The primary uterine rupture group had a significantly higher incidence of lower parity, breech presentation and mean birth weight. The live birth rate (68.18% vs. 42.85 %; p=0.04) was significantly higher in the scarred group, and the stillbirth rate (57.14% vs. 31.86 %; p=0.009) was significantly higher in the primary uterine rupture group. Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, APGAR score, and neonatal intensive care unit admission were comparable. Postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusion, severe acute maternal morbidity and intensive care unit stay were more frequently reported in the primary uterine rupture group. The maternal and perinatal outcomes appear less favourable among women with primary uterine rupture than scarred uterine rupture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the socio-economic determinants of student mobility in India and evaluates the factors that hinder and promote higher educational mobility. It is argued that despite the mass expansion of higher education in India in recent times, student mobility is directed towards developed educational regions. India is a unique case because it consists of regions with a high variation in socio-economic development and has local higher education markets with different levels of competition between institutions. This study shows the importance of the socio-economic characteristics in student mobility. Drawing on the assumptions of human capital theory and the literature on international student mobility, we suggest that individual and family factors are important determinants of inter-state mobility for higher education in India. This article concludes by suggesting how this pattern of inter-state student mobility might have impact on recent policy focus on expansion of higher education in India.

With increasing cost and use of energy in agriculture, the traditional practice of mono-cropping of rice in upland is neither sustainable nor eco-friendly. It is necessary to identify crop diversification options with high energy efficiency, productivity, and low global warming potential (GWP). In this experiment, an inclusive system analysis was accomplished for 3 years (2016--2019) of five mono-cropping production (MCP) systems namely rice (R), finger millet (FM), black gram (BG), horse gram (HG), pigeon pea (PP), and four intercropped systems viz. R+BG, R+HG, FM+ BG, and FM + HG. The key objective was to evaluate the flow of energy, carbon balance, and GWP of these varied production systems. Puddled rice was recorded as an energy-exhaustive crop (27,803 MJ ha-1), while horse gram was noted to have the lowest energy use (26,537 MJ ha-1). The total energy output from pigeon pea (130,312 MJ ha-1) and diversified intercropped systems (142,135 MJ ha-1) was 65.3% and 80.3% higher than mono-cultured systems, respectively. Rice and rice-based intercropping production systems showed higher carbon footprints (1,264--1,392 kg CO2 eq. ha-1). Results showed that R+BG and R+HG were the most energy-efficient production systems, having higher energy ratio (5.8 and 6.0), higher carbon efficiency (7.41 and 8.24), and carbon sustainability index (6.41 and 7.24) as against 3.30, 3.61, and 2.61 observed under sole cropping production systems. On average, rice and rice-based production systems had 7.4 times higher GWP than other production systems. In productivity terms, pigeon pea and FM+HG had higher rice equivalent yields of 8.81 and 5.79 t ha-1 and benefit-cost ratios of 2.29 and 1.87, respectively. Thus, the present study suggests that pigeon pea and finger millet-based intercropping systems were the most appropriate crop diversification options for the rainfed upland agro-ecosystem of the eastern region of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]