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We estimate the returns (measured by hourly earnings) to education, experience, and social networking in India using individual-level panel data from the India Human Development Surveys. We combined the two latest waves of this survey using individual-level identifiers to generate a balanced panel and merged it with various household characteristics. We provide estimates of private returns for an additional year of education and experience by consumption quintiles, gender, caste, and religion in a fixed-effects Heckman model that controls for selection bias. This methodology improves upon estimates of all earlier studies on earnings in India, as most of the literature has relied on cross-section data or pseudo-panel data. We also examine the impact of social networking on earnings, which is under-explored in nationwide studies in India. We find that education significantly and positively affects earnings for all consumption quintiles, gender, caste (except schedule castes), and religious groups. Among economic groups, the highest returns are observed for the third quintile above the poverty line. Returns to females for an additional year of education are nearly double that of males but the difference in starting earnings keeps earnings of males higher for long periods. Among the castes, scheduled castes have the highest returns to education and other minorities among religious groups. Social networking positively impacts males, Hindus, and the quintile just above the poverty line. Experience positively impacts women's earnings, general caste and scheduled caste, Hindus and Other minorities and two consumption quintiles (two and five) above the poverty line.

India's linguistic diversity is reflected in classrooms across the country, where multiple languages are used by teachers and learners to negotiate meaning and instruction -- a multilingual, multicultural student body is the norm, whether in urban or rural contexts. This study documents teaching practices in English language and maths lessons in Delhi and Hyderabad, with a specific focus on language use. The findings from 104 classroom observations allow us to profile multilingual practices used in schools with different official mediums of instruction. Results reveal a predominant use of 'language mixing' in the classroom, in both English- and regional language-medium of instruction contexts -- especially in English subject lessons. Maths lessons in regional-medium schools did not involve as much language mixing by the teachers but this was still a strong feature for learners. The data also shows differences between language use particularly when comparing English-medium schools in each city. Specifically, lessons in Delhi were characterised by absolutely no occurrences of English used on its own by the teachers (as recorded during five-minute intervals), compared to significantly greater use of English alone in Hyderabad English-medium and Telugu-medium schools. Delhi teachers appear to use a greater amount of language mixing during each lesson.

Objectives In India, frailty has been predominantly studied as a physiological aspect, overlooking the subjective perceptions of community-dwelling older adults, which holds global significance. This study aims to explore frailty perceptions among community-dwelling older adults, comparing those enrolled in a geriatric welfare program facility to those not-enrolled. Methods A cross-sectional design with a qualitative descriptive framework was employed, using focus group methodology. The study took place in rural West Bengal, located in eastern India, with a sample of 27 participants aged 60–87 years. Data collection occurred between October 2018 and January 2020, conducted through a face-to-face, semistructured discussion guide. Thematic analysis was performed to ensure data saturation and reliability. Results Three key themes emerged from the analysis: (a) Perceptions of frailty were associated with aging, functional dependence, and psychosocial health, (b) Exposure to a scientific definition led to an ideological dilemma influenced by personal experiences, (c) Walking speed and grip strength were prominent components of frailty. The findings revealed that there was no difference in perception between program-enrolled and nonenrolled older adults, likely due to the concept of frailty being new to all participants. However, it was noteworthy that participants enrolled in the welfare program exhibited a resilient mindset toward the definition and demonstrated a proactive interest in preserving their overall health. Discussion This novel study underscores the necessity of enhancing community awareness and integrating frailty management into the Indian health care system, which is yet to be fully integrated, aiming to promote the well-being of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multi-morbidity is a pervasive and growing issue worldwide. The prevalence of multi-morbidity varies across different populations and settings, but it is particularly common among older adults. It poses substantial physical, psychological, and socio-economic burdens on individuals, caregivers and healthcare systems. In this context, the present study aims to provide an insight on the prevalence and degree of multi-morbidity; and also, on the relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions among a group of slum-dwelling older women. Methods: This community based cross-sectional study was conducted in the slum areas of urban Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It includes total 500 older women, aged 60 years or above. Pre-tested schedules on so-demographic and morbidity profile have canvassed to obtain the information by door-to-door survey. To determine the relationship between the level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions, correspondence analysis has performed. Results: The study revealed three most prevalent morbid conditions- back and/or joint pain, dental caries/cavity and hypertension. The overall prevalence of multi-morbidity was 95.8% in this group of older women. It was highly over-represented by the oldest-old age group (80 years and above). Majority were found to suffer from five simultaneous morbid conditions that accounted for 15.2% of the total respondents. All of the oldest-old women of this study reported to suffer from more than two medical conditions simultaneously. Three distinct groups were formed based on the inter-relationship between level of multi-morbidity and morbid conditions. The group 1 and 2 represents only 27.8% and 18% of the total sample. Whereas, group 3 comprises the highest level of morbidities (≥ 6) and 52.8% of total sample, and strongly related with general debilities, cardiac problems, asthma/COPD, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal problems, neurological disorders, hypothyroidism and oral health issues. Conclusion: The findings confirmed the assertion that multi-morbidity in slum living older adults is a problem with high prevalence and complexity. This study proposes an easily replicable approach of understanding complex interaction of morbidities that can help further in identifying the healthcare needs of older adults to provide them with healthy and more productive life expectancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conversion of forest to agricultural land has been a major worldwide concern and a cause of deterioration of soil quality. The study examined the influence of land uses on the soil quality index (SQI) using minimum datasets (MDS) constructed from soil profiles through two methods namely, additive (SQIa) and weighted (SQIw). In this study, 29 geo-referenced soil profiles (116 layers) up to a depth of 150 cm were collected in Northeastern India, representing forest, jhum, jhum fallow, and agricultural land uses. Principal component analysis (PCA) with multiple correlation analysis is found to be a suitable statistical method for selecting the key soil quality indicators. From PCA, organic carbon (OC), sand, clay, available P and available S were selected as soil quality indicators in MDS. Our results showed that these MDS significantly varied within the profiles depending on the land-uses. The estimated values of SQIs showed that SQIa was higher than SQIw across the soil depths and land-uses. For the surface soil, SQIa values were in the order of forest (2.97) > jhum fallow (2.82) > agriculture (2.68) > jhum land (1.97) and for profile soil jhum fallow (2.38) > forest (2.37) > agriculture (2.33) > jhum (1.88). Similarly, SQIw followed the trend of forest > jhum fallow > agriculture > jhum for all the three studied depths. The statistical analysis showed that the surface, subsurface, and profile soil had no significant impact on SQIw for agriculture, fallow jhum, and forest. The overall data indicated that jhum land had a significantly lower SQI than other land-uses for all soil depths. From this study, the information generated can be useful to assess the soil quality in different land-uses for managing soil health in similar areas of the Northeastern region of India. The findings are also useful in the ecosystems in which soils develop in an acid edaphic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing on field-based research in selected government-run and private preschool centres in three selected districts of the Indian state of West Bengal, this article makes four basic arguments. First, there is a need to both defend public provisioning of early childhood education for equity goals and demand its major improvement on quality grounds. Second, an early start to education often turns out to be an unfitting start, as it already mimics a full school with its excessive focus on formal instruction and readiness for competition. Third, to assess early-years learning, therefore, we need to focus on children's cognitive diversity rather than taking a restrictive and test-centric view of cognition. Fourth, we need a democratic framework of thought to collectively address some of these vexed issues and re-examine our current imagination of education, even preschool education, as a race.

Fluazinam a promising fungicide, is not yet registered in India. Consequently it is important to study the dissipation of its specific formulation in Indian soil and water. This study focuses on the degradation and residue dynamics of Fluazinam (40% SC) in different soil types (alluvial, lateritic, coastal saline and black) and water pH (4.0, 7.0, 9.2). Adsorption kinetic models suggested that the half-life period (days) varies among soils following the order lateritic (Jhargram), 54.07 > alluvial (Mohanpur), 45.10 > coastal saline (Canning), 28.33 > black (Pune) 26.18. These differences are attributed to soil pH and organic carbon (OC) content, where higher pH levels reduce pesticide adsorption, leading to quicker dissipation, while higher organic carbon content provides more binding sites, slowing down the process. The first order kinetics explained the dissipation better compared to second order model across all soil types. The study also found that the half-life of was lowest at pH 9.2, as compared to pH 7.0, and very high stability at pH 4.0. Additionally, the study introduces an interactive R-based tool for analysing dissipation kinetics and half-life of different pesticides offering a valuable resource for researchers and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics, an emerging contaminant, are widespread in oceans around the world, and rivers are the key conveyors of these pollutants into the oceans. There exists a dearth of available data pertaining to seasonal fluctuation, spatial distribution and risk assessment of microplastics in rivers extending from upper reaches to the lower reaches. The collection of such data is of utmost importance for the purpose of formulating beneficial management strategies for riverine microplastics. In order to bridge this research gap, an investigation was made in the Periyar River in Kerala, India, which is exposed to anthropogenic stress and is at risk of microplastic pollution. A total of eighteen sites (six sites each from downstream, midstream and upstream) along the 244 km of the river were investigated across three seasons in a year. The study revealed a discernible pattern in the spatial distribution of microplastic concentrations, wherein there was a rise in abundance from the upstream to midstream and then a sudden increase of abundance along the downstream regions towards the lower reaches. The highest mean microplastic abundance of 124.95 items/L was obtained during the monsoon season followed by post-monsoon season i.e. 123.21 items/L and pre-monsoon i.e. 120.50 items/L. The predominant forms of microplastics were found to be fibres, fragments and filaments. Most prevalent polymer types acquired were polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). Pollution hazard index (PHI) and pollution load index (PLI) were also evaluated to assess the water quality of this river. The findings of this study conclude that the Periyar River is polluted with microplastics throughout its course and offer significant insights into the detection of microplastic origins in river systems and lend support to the implementation of potential measures aimed at mitigating their impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare conflicts are complicated and often dysfunctional in nature. The Indian healthcare system, with its thinning workforce, finds it increasingly difficult to meet the demands and expectations of its healthcare service recipients. Healthcare service providers like physicians, nurses, technical and administrative personnel work in a dynamic and stressful environment with resource and manpower limitations. Healthcare service recipients like patients and their families often face challenges regarding access to care, associated costs, time issues and other situational dynamics. These underlying situations often result in different types of conflicts in the workplace. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand the factors that serve as primers for healthcare conflicts in the Indian scenario. Data were collected from hospital feedback forms for patients/patient families. The top 10 threads indicating the patient satisfaction factors and conflicting grounds were identified through content analysis, and that formed the basis of the semi-structured questionnaire schedules. Fifty semi-structured interviews were done with healthcare service recipients and healthcare service providers (25 in each set) in private clinical establishments of Kolkata, West Bengal. Four main themes and nine subthemes were identified that illustrated the grounds for healthcare conflicts in Indian settings. The identification of the causes of dissatisfaction and understanding their relationship with healthcare conflicts will go a long way in conflict management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is a multicultural society which is inhabited by a diverse population with multitudes of castes and religions, languages, cultures, and racial groups. Ethnic identities in India are apprehensive of being assimilated into the dominant culture leading to the dilution of their cultural heritage. Hence, there is an increase in horizontal solidarity that makes the in-group members more resistant to acknowledge and accept out-group members. The present study follows a convergent parallel mixed method design to examine the impact of ethnic prejudice towards diverse linguistic groups amongst male and female young adults. A sample of 30 participants (m =15, f =15) between the age range of 18 and 25 years, Bengalee, and residing in Kolkata, were selected. Participants responded to a survey using the social distance scale. Then, a semi-structured interview was conducted. Chi-Square test was carried out to test the association between ethnic prejudice towards linguistic groups and the desire to engage in a proximal interpersonal relationship. Additionally, Phi-Coefficient assessed the strength of the association. Further, thematic analysis was carried out to analyse qualitative data. Results indicate a significant association between ethnic prejudice and proximal interpersonal relationships. The Punjabi linguistic group was most favourably appraised followed by Assamese, Marathi, Odia, and Telugu. However, the Bhojpuri linguistic group was least favourably appraised. The qualitative findings revealed the decision to accept or reject ethnic groups in proximal interpersonal relationship was dependent on perceived beauty, perceived traits and perceived similarity of the ethnic groups. The preconceived notions of beauty, trait and similarity that the participants hold for the ethnic groups moderate their evaluation of each group member in determining their level of engagement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Indian context, concerns have been raised for many years about the learning outcomes of primary school children. The complexity of the issue makes it difficult to advise stakeholders on what needs to be done to improve learning in primary schools in India. As it has been shown that low socio-economic status is one of the key factors that negatively affect learning outcomes, the focus of the Multilila project ('Multilingualism and multiliteracy: Raising learning outcomes in challenging contexts in primary schools across India') is on educational achievement among children of low socio-economic status. In following the development of language, literacy, maths and cognitive abilities of primary school children over two years we hope to throw new light on why multilingual children in India do not always experience the cognitive advantages associated with multilingualism in other contexts. This paper focuses on some of the methodological challenges faced by this project. After explaining the rationale for the study, we sketch the contribution this project can make to the discussion about cognitive advantages of bilingualism. We then focus on the Indian context before presenting the methodology of the project (design, participants, instruments and procedure). Finally, we summarize the key challenges for the project and possible solutions to those challenges, and present an outlook towards the future.

University campuses serve as second homes for students, teachers, administrators, and parents coming from diverse regions, religions, classes, castes, and different genders. Interaction and camaraderie between the major characters in the academe develop. The bonhomie that exists between the stakeholders of the academe has its own rules, rules that are marked by the interference of power. The one wielding more power by virtue of one's position, class, caste, or gender tries to dictate the terms of a particular relationship. Relations evolve as power relations, whereby a specific code of conduct regarding speech, behavior, thought, writing, love, and life is laid down for all--from administrators and professors to students and parents. This article studies how in a location as specific as Chennai University as described in Srividya Natarajan's "No Onions Nor Garlic," the ideological prejudices and hierarchical divisions highlighted by the play of power affect the daily life of the academe and chart out the course of action for everyone, from professors, students, high caste, low caste to men and women, involved in power relations. On the basis of that, this article suggests power in general serves not only to suppress the powerless but is productive also, as countering power with power creates a proper kind of resistance that blurs the difference between the agent and the target of power in power relations.

This article presents a new score generation algorithm to compute the accuracy of student concept maps in comparison to teacher maps. The algorithm follows a "compare and remove" method to remove the extra vertices and wrong edges of student concept map with respect to teacher map. A group of 230 students were taken to generate student maps on a pretaught chapter for finding multivariate regression coefficients for different independent factors incorporated in the study. It was found that there exists a positive correlation between the score obtained by the students and the degree of knowledge acquired by him while constructing concept maps.

Background: Dengue is a vector borne disease with various grades of severity. Pregnancy is a high-risk group and is prone for complications of dengue haemorrhagic fever. Dengue fever has rapidly emerged as the most common arboviral infection globally. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to assess maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancies affected with dengue fever. Materials and methods: It was an institutional based prospective observational study. It was conducted in Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, College of Medicine & Sagar Dutta Hospital, Kamarhati, Kolkata, West Bengal, India. After receiving the clearance from the ethical committee study was conducted from June 2022 to December 2022. All pregnant patients reporting to the hospital with fever and serologically confirmed dengue infection (40 confirmed cases) were included in the study. Clinical and laboratory data of patients were collected. The cases were followed up till their delivery to monitor the effect of dengue. The data were entered in MS Excel spreadsheet and analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Result: In the present study platelet count of 9 (22%) patients were <25000 lac and platelet count of 13 (33%) patients were 15000 to 50000 lac. In the present study 3 (7.50%) patients need ICU care followed by 9 (22.50%) need platelet transfusion, 7 (17.50%) need C PAP, 8 (20%) need PPH, 7 (17.50%) need abortion and 2 (5%) patients need abruption. In the present study 5 (12.5%) fetals suffered from fetal distress followed by 2 (5%) suffered from Oligohydramnios. In the present study 4 (35%) neonatal were normal. 8 (20%) neonatal need SNCU admission, 2 (5%) neonatal need NICU admission. Conclusion: Pregnancy-related dengue illness progressed quickly and caused serious consequences. For both the mother and the fetus to have a positive outcome, close materno-fetal monitoring and prompt obstetric care are necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foods high in fat, sugar or salt are important contributors to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases globally and in India. Health taxes (HTs) have been used by over 70 countries as an effective tool for reducing consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs). However, the potential impacts of HTs on consumption and on revenues have not been estimated in India. This paper aims to estimate the potential impact of health taxes on the demand for sugar, SSBs and foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) in India while exploring its impact on tax revenues. PE of sugar was estimated using Private Final Consumption Expenditure and Consumer Price Index data while price elasticities for SSBs and HFSS were obtained from literature. The reduction in demand was estimated for an additional 10–30% HT added to the current goods and services tax, for varying levels of price elasticities. The results show that for manufacturers of sweets and confectionaries who buy sugar in bulk and assuming a higher price elasticity of −0.70, 20% additional HT (total tax 48%) would result in 13–18% decrease in the demand for sugar used for confectionaries and sweets. For SSBs, HT of 10–30% would result in 7–30% decline in the demand of SSBs. For HFSS food products, 10–30% HT would result in 5–24% decline in the demand for HFSS products. These additional taxes would increase tax revenues for the government by 12–200% across different scenarios. Taxing unhealthy foods is likely to reduce demand, while increasing government revenues for reinvestment back into public health programmes and policies that may reduce obesity and the incidence of non-communicable diseases in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its inception, Ayurveda, India's ancient therapy science has been dealing with neurological disorders, but language has been another matter. Ayurveda as a consequence of Vata disease is treated with neurological illness. Vata dosha vitiation in the human system creates imbalance and disharmony which lead to neurological disorders. Ayurvedic treatment aims to correct this Vata imbalance and to harmonize Vata dosha and Kapha dosha in a manner which eliminates every aspect of an individual's disease. Panchakarma is a holistic model of health care, in which mind, body and spirit are given equal importance - a fact that is regarded as essential to existence. To achieve this objective, Panchakarma is the most effective and effective medical model. In this article, attempts have been made to explain the treatments of Panchkarma used for neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the experience of our work in India, context and positionality determine what we perceive as backlash against gender justice. An important underlying cause of backlash today is the widespread crisis of masculinities, where subaltern masculinities are evolving differently in response to the aggressive nationalist Hindutva masculinity. Gender and development strategies have failed to recognise or address this. This article analyses grounded examples from our action research towards generating new knowledge on how two collectives are negotiating backlash. These include the community-based transgender organisation Kolkata Rista and Humqadam, a platform comprising male activists in Uttar Pradesh working with men on gender equality. Applying the framework of ontological insecurity, this article explores ways for discovering common ground in situations where polarisation destroys the space for debate and discussion. Reflecting on the political practice of fraternity, the article examines how social movements can shift strategies when faced with exclusionary discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association of physical frailty and psycho-social health is well established. However, it appears no study on the interaction of these conditions in determining the Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) has yet been attempted in India. Hence, present study aims to investigate the interaction effects of physical frailty and psycho-social health in determining the HRQoL. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 500 community-dwelling rural older adults from West Bengal, India. The modified Fried's Frailty instrument was assessed physical frailty status. Psycho-social characteristics investigated were depression, anxiety and stress using the 21-item DASS instrument, loneliness using the UCLA Loneliness instrument, and cognitive function using the Mini-Mental State Examination instrument. HRQoL was assessed by the 36-items Short Form health survey questionnaire. Overall prevalence of frail, pre-frail and non-frail was 26.2%, 60.2%, and 13.6%, respectively. One-way ANOVA highlighted that mean scores of psycho-social traits are significantly differed among different physical frailty status groups (p < 0.01). All the participants were clustered with their psycho-social characteristics instrument scores as clustering variables using Hierarchical Cluster Analysis to understand psycho-social health of the participants. Two-way ANCOVA showed significant interaction of physical frailty status (frail, pre-frail and non-frail) and empirically occurring clusters of psycho-social health (low, moderate and good) in determining the overall HRQoL [F(8,491) = 8.904,p < 0.01]. Thus, the study findings suggest that consideration of physical frailty and psycho-social health status will be a prudent approach for a better diagnosis of HRQoL and challenges related to the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A structured dedicated health programme for Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been initiated in the state of West Bengal, India. Aim: The aim is to provide comprehensive healthcare to all children, adolescents and young adults living with T1DM, along with the provision of free supply of insulin, glucose measuring devices, blood glucose test strips, and other logistics. The strategic framework for programme implementation is to utilise the infrastructure and manpower of the already existing non-communicable disease (NCD) clinic under National Health Mission. Methodology: Establishing dedicated T1DM clinics in each district hospital by utilising existing healthcare delivery systems, intensive training and hand-holding of named human resources; providing comprehensive healthcare service and structured diabetes education to all T1DM patients; and building an electronic registry of patients are important components of the programme. T1DM clinics run once a week on the same day throughout the state. All T1DM patients are treated with the correct dose of insulin, both human regular insulin and glargine insulin. Patients are routinely monitored monthly to ensure good glycaemic control and prevent complications of the disease. Routine anthropometric examination and required laboratory investigations are conducted in the set-up of the already existing NCD clinic. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the T1DM programme are being conducted in terms of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values, growth and development, complication rates, psychological well-being, quality of life, and direct and indirect expenditure incurred by families. Through this programme, any bottlenecks or gaps in service delivery will be identified and corrective measures will be adopted to ensure better health outcomes for those living with T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is an acute febrile illness with symptoms such as fever, chills, and organ failure. The similar clinical presentation in other common diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid fever creates difficulty and delay in the clinical diagnosis of scrub typhus. This delay may increase the risk of scrub typhus complications. In India, it is a public health issue with a paucity of data. Aims and Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors of patients with scrub typhus. Materials and Methods: This institutional-based observational, cross-sectional study was conducted among consecutively selected 154 adult patients suffering from scrub typhus at a Medical College Hospital situated in the southern part of West Bengal, India. All data were collected according to a pre-designed proforma. At the end of the study, results were analyzed statistically. Results: Younger, females, and homemakers are more susceptible to scrub typhus, mostly in the post-monsoon season from July to November. The incidence of scrub typhus complications is high in the southern part of West Bengal. The case fatality rate of scrub typhus is 6.5%. Male sex, pre-hospitalization duration of illness more than 7 days, presence of diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine (Scr) more than 1.5 mg/dL, serum bilirubin more than 3 mg/dL, systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg, altered sensorium, and acute respiratory distress syndrome were associated with poor prognosis. Conclusion: A high degree of clinical suspicion is required for the early diagnosis of scrub typhus and the factors associated with poor prognosis must be considered to reduce morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the effects of chronic liver disease (CLD) on calcium homeostasis and bone mineral metabolism in Eastern India. The study reveals that individuals with CLD have lower levels of serum calcium and 25(OH) Vitamin D, as well as higher levels of intact parathyroid hormone compared to those without the disease. The severity of CLD is also linked to hypovitaminosis D and hypocalcemia. The study suggests that regular monitoring of these parameters is crucial for CLD patients to receive appropriate therapeutic interventions. However, it is important to note that the study's sample size and generalizability are limited. [Extracted from the article]

In the context of climate change, the Indian agricultural sector treads in a certain duality between promoting food security in response to the increasing population, but at the same time in ensuring environmental sustainability, and sustained economic growth, especially in developing countries like India. The concept of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) emerged from the recognition of this duality. Using the Indian Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) 2017–18, the economy-wide effects arising out of agricultural interventions were estimated, keeping accord with the impacts on sectoral outputs and household incomes from the adoption of varying CSA interventions such as Conservation Agriculture, System of Rice and Wheat Intensification (SRI-SWI) and Natural Farming, fitting the three-pillared criterion of CSA—(1) Productivity (2) Adaptation and (3) Mitigation. Additionally, a shift in cropping patterns from Paddy and Wheat to less emission-intensive crops was also studied. Results show that SRI-SWI provides the highest economy-wide impacts while accounting for lower GHG and water footprint. Alternative crops such as Maize, Sorghum, and Millet have minimal increase in income and output effects while having lower water and carbon intensity compared to rice and wheat. The current study would sensitize policymakers to prioritize suitable policy and institutional measures for upscaling climate smart interventions in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is among the busiest railways reservation systems since the Indian Railways (IR) is the vital and economical mode of transportation in India. Hence, rating of the trains seems to be critical aspect for selecting an appropriate train for travelling. In this study, we have considered 7 vital attributes of 500 popular trains and rate their performance based on 7 important related attributes. For this purpose, we have employed 2 different approaches to analyse of the train attributes, which eventually contribute to the overall performance of the trains. Here, we have developed a rule based rough set decision support system to analyse the criticality of the train attributes while rating the train performance. Furthermore, we have also used 3 Machine Learning (ML) model estimators: Extra Trees Classifier (ETC), Support Vector Machine Classifier (SVMC) and Multinomial Naive Bayes Classifier (MNBC) and perform their comparative analysis with respect to 7 performance metrics while predicting the overall train rating based. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delineation of carbon management zones (CMZs) by capturing geospatial distribution of soil organic carbon (SOC) stock down the profile is an effective strategy for precision agriculture and climate change mitigation. Satellite (Landsat OLI 8), terrain (SRTM 30 m DEM) and bioclimatic (WorldClim dataset) factors were used as covariables in this digital soil mapping approach. Depth harmonization using the quadratic spline method (equal-area) was carried out prior to quantile regression forest (QRF) algorithm-based modelling to estimate SOC stock at six standard soil depths (0-5, 5-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-100 and 100-200 cm). Soil depth and SOC stock for the whole soil profile were used for the delineation of CMZs using fuzzy k-means clustering. The predicted SOC stock, varied from 14.68 to 42.35 Mg ha-1 in the top layer (0-5 cm depth), while 17.91 to 36.88, 14.15 to 34.70, 12.55 to 35.59, 10.30 to 28.52 and 7.26 to 20.16 Mg ha-1 in the depths of 5-15, 15-30, 30-60, 60-100 and 100-200 cm, respectively. The QRF algorithm performed well in predicting SOC stock with high R2, which ranged from .67 to .83 for all the soil depths. To delineate three CMZs, modified partitioning entropy and the fuzzy performance index were used. In CMZ2, there was a significant increase in SOC stock, followed by CMZ1 and CMZ3. This zone (CMZ2) was located in the central region of the study area and was mostly covered by dense forest and perennial plantations (rubber). The CMZs provided the necessary foundation for the development of site-specific carbon management techniques that can enhance ecosystem service and meet climate change mitigation goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate pedo-morphological properties to quantify the soil quality of alluvial soils in Indo-Gangetic Plains, India. In total, 241 geo-referenced soil profiles were collected representing four major landforms. The optimal scaling method was used to transform the categorical variables into numerical variables and the minimum datasets (MDS) were identified by categorical principal component analysis (CATPCA). Structure type and grade, texture class was highly loaded in PC 1 and explained about 36% of the variability. Four variables e.g. texture class, root quantity, structure size and hue were selected as MDS with 44%, 23%, 18% and 15% contribution to morphological soil quality index (MSQI), respectively. The MSQI of the study area varied 0.437–0.986 for surface and 0.110–0.989 for the sub-surface soils. The MSQI of alluvial landforms followed the sequence of old alluvial plain > young alluvial plain > meander plain > flood plain, respectively. The correlations of the selected pedo-morphological indicators were conducted and they were validated with laboratory data. In conclusion, landform-specific soil quality indicators were appropriate for the evaluation and monitoring of alluvial soils and MDS identified in this study could be effectively used to evaluate soil quality in a similar landscape with limited data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of climate change with the recognition of interlinkages between Food‐Energy‐Water (FEW) resource security has brought forth a renewed emphasis on ascertaining the FEW footprints of varied policy interventions. The nexus approach through an IO framework explores the interplays and synergies between sectoral flows and their FEW footprints. India is currently undergoing great transformations under policy interventions on both the economic and environmental front. The country has been attracting investments to expand its manufacturing base, while also aiming to transition into a greener economy. The district of Pune has a balanced and diversified economic profile, spread across manufacturing, as well as knowledge‐based tertiary sectors. However, rapid urbanization has put an undue burden on its FEW resources, challenging urban sustainability. Hence cohesive strategies are of priority to ensure sustainable and equitable development. Toward this end, the current study presents the first‐ever district‐level economy‐wide FEW nexus study in India. Results indicate that the most resource‐intensive sectors in Pune district include the food processing sector, motor vehicles, and electrical engineering and instruments. Based on this comprehensive footprint analysis, priority sectors are identified to pursue sector‐wise efficiency analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian classrooms are multilingual by default though learners' multilingual resources are not always utilized to their fullest potential. The aim was to develop comprehension and vocabulary knowledge in English of fifth-grade learners through the translanguaging pedagogy. For the present study, four participant English teachers from low SES government primary schools in Hyderabad were trained to design lesson plans based on the translanguaging reading model. The teachers were observed in four lessons, based on which narrative notes were written to understand the teachers' translanguaging practices. The opportunities and challenges they faced while implementing the lesson plans were mapped through narrative notes of the classroom observations and teacher views expressed in semi-structured interviews. The findings of the study suggest that the teachers were able to integrate translingual strategies to develop vocabulary knowledge by using learners' L1 knowledge and elicit meaning, as well as help them make inferences by using a variety of questions to draw links between text-based ideas and their schemata or background knowledge. The difficulties of implementing translanguaging steps in a systematic manner and lack of teachers' reflecting habits were found to be significant challenges. The study has implications for teacher education and policy recommendations for promoting translanguaging pedagogy in multilingual contexts like India. It affirms that learners' first languages are resources in the classroom that can pave a way for inclusivity and equity in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the consequence of affirmative action for a "middle" ranked group on equity and the leader's overall performance or "efficiency." The literature on electoral quotas is invested in the equity question for disadvantaged groups, but is mostly silent on this issue. We use a randomized electoral quota for an intermediately ranked caste group (OBCs) in a large state in India to show that overall, such a quota does not affect delivery of public projects, or redistribute projects away from disadvantaged groups (SC/STs). Moreover, we show that when the group is large, the quota may in fact improve leader's performance. The improvement in overall performance does not come at a cost of lower allocation to the most disadvantaged group. We argue and provide suggestive evidence that when the group is large, such a quota for the group increases within-group electoral competition in villages. The result highlights that "efficiency" concerns regarding affirmative action may need reevaluation. It further justifies the targeting of electoral quota policy in India towards jurisdictions where the group is numerous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate the returns (measured by hourly earnings) to education, experience, and social networking in India using individual-level panel data from the India Human Development Surveys. We combined the two latest waves of this survey using individual-level identifiers to generate a balanced panel and merged it with various household characteristics. We provide estimates of private returns for an additional year of education and experience by consumption quintiles, gender, caste, and religion in a fixed-effects Heckman model that controls for selection bias. This methodology improves upon estimates of all earlier studies on earnings in India, as most of the literature has relied on cross-section data or pseudo-panel data. We also examine the impact of social networking on earnings, which is under-explored in nationwide studies in India. We find that education significantly and positively affects earnings for all consumption quintiles, gender, caste (except schedule castes), and religious groups. Among economic groups, the highest returns are observed for the third quintile above the poverty line. Returns to females for an additional year of education are nearly double that of males but the difference in starting earnings keeps earnings of males higher for long periods. Among the castes, scheduled castes have the highest returns to education and other minorities among religious groups. Social networking positively impacts males, Hindus, and the quintile just above the poverty line. Experience positively impacts women's earnings, general caste and scheduled caste, Hindus and Other minorities and two consumption quintiles (two and five) above the poverty line. Plain Language Summary: Impact of Education, Experience, and Social Networks Impact Earnings in India by Class, Gender, Caste and Religion Purpose: Enhancing human capital is critical for India's development. It would help overcome existing labor market hierarchies based on economic class, gender, religion, and caste. We study the impact on private earnings of (a) an additional year of education and experience, and (b) social networking. Methods: We use an individual level panel dataset assembled from the two latest rounds of the Indian Human Development Survey (I&II). Our Heckman type earnings equation controls for selection bias. Results: An additional year of education increased earnings between (a) 2.4% and 8.8% among different consumption quintiles (b) 3.7% for males to 5.2% for females, (c) 1.5% (STs), to 5.9% (SCs), and (d) 2.3% (Muslims), to 9.9% (Other Minorities). Experience increased earnings of two economic groups, females, the General and Scheduled castes, and of Hindus and Other Minorities. Social networking increased earnings of males, Hindus, and one economic quintile. Conclusions: Higher marginal returns to education for females justifies greater investment in women's education. Lower returns on education among STs and Muslims indicate the need for affirmative action for these groups. The positive returns to education for the poor suggests that anti-poverty programs in combination with educational opportunities for the less privileged would meet the goals of social justice. Implications Better education (SDG4) would help achieve gender equality (SDG5), and social justice for marginalized (economic, caste and religious) groups (SDG1, SDG10). Limitations: We were unable to account for ability bias. Stratification by state and sector would provide better estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: In India, the awareness about the psycho-social dimension of chronic pain is minimal among physicians and patients. The research with community-based group therapies (like mindfulness) to address the psycho-social aspects in chronic pain patients remains limited. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to see the effects of mindfulness on pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, chronic pain acceptance, perceived stress, well-being, and mindfulness characteristics. Materials and Methods: In this two-site, parallel group, clinical trial, 170 patients attending pain outdoors of two government hospitals in West Bengal, India, were randomized to attend five weekly in-person mindfulness sessions (cases) or usual care sessions (controls) within the hospital premises. Pre-program and post-program data were collected and analyzed using statistical methods like repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: In participants of the mindfulness group, significant changes post session were noted in pain intensity [F(1,326) = 15.0122; P = 0.0001291], pain acceptance [F(1,326) = 4.5311; P = 0.03403], and perceived stress score [F(1,326) = 13.2788; P = 0.0003122] compared to pre-session. The changes in pain catastrophizing, World Health Organization well-being and Freiburg mindfulness inventory scores were non-specific. Conclusion: Mindfulness had a positive influence on pain intensity, pain acceptance, and perceived stress of Indian chronic pain patients. The effects on pain catastrophizing, mindfulness characteristics, and well-being (non-specific) were also encouraging. Further studies will be required to substantiate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontal disease (PD) is a recognized complication of diabetes and is associated with poor glycemic control. Prevalence of PD is high, both in type 2 and type 1 diabetes. However, such information is not available for FCPD, which is a unique subtype of diabetes. Material and methods: Twenty-five subjects of FCPD were evaluated for detailed dental evaluation and compared with nondiabetic control (N = 25) and T2DM (N = 50). Baseline demographic parameters, HbA1c, were recorded, and periodontal health was evaluated by simplified oral hygiene index (OHIS), gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), loss of attachment (LOA), and probing depth (PPD). Results: PD was significantly higher in FCPD (17/25, 68%) as compared to control (9/25, 36%) (p = 0.04). In T2DM, 31/50 (62%) had PD (p = NS compared to FCPD). In FCPD, it was mild in 20% and moderate in 48%. The duration of diabetes and mean HbA1c was 7.9 ± 2.58 years and 8.10 ± 0.78%, respectively. The mean LOA and PPD were 1.80 ± 0.9 mm and 2.45 ± 0.69 mm, respectively, and OHIS was 2.04 ± 0.59. Bleeding on probing was found in 4 subjects (18%). All parameters in FCPD were significantly worse compared to nondiabetic controls. However, the parameters in FCPD except OHIS were not different from T2DM. There was a positive correlation of HbA1c with GI (r = 0.49, p = 0.04) and the LOA (r = 0.420, p = 0.03) but not with BOP and OHIS in FCPD group. Conclusion: PD is common in FCPD like other forms of diabetes, and its severity correlates with glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paleobiogeographic affinity of the late Early to Late Cretaceous bivalves of the Cauvery Basin, India, has been debated for decades. While some studies have documented an affinity with the Austral province, others have suggested more similarity with the bivalve fauna of the East African province-subprovince. In the present study, we present an updated dataset of the Albian–Maastrichtian bivalves of the Ariyalur region of the Cauvery Basin. Records of the contemporaneous bivalves from the Austral province and the East African province-subprovince are also compiled from the global database and previous literature. Quantitative analyses suggest that the paleobiogeographic history of the Ariyalur bivalves is more complex than previously thought. Ariyalur bivalves were more similar to the bivalves of the Austral province in the Albian to middle Turonian. However, the paleobiogeographic affinity of the Ariyalur bivalves shifted towards the East African province-subprovince in the middle Turonian to Maastrichtian. This temporal shift is evident in different taxonomic levels and ecological groups. The northward movement of the Indian plate and the associated change in the relative distance between the provinces with the Ariyalur region may explain the observed temporal shift in the paleobiogeographic affinity. Research Highlights: An analytical approach, along with an updated dataset, suggests that the biogeographic history of the Late Cretaceous Ariyalur bivalves is more complex than previously reported. While the Ariyalur bivalves show higher similarity with the Austral province in the Albian–mid Turonian (113–91.1 Ma), the paleobiogeographic affinity of Ariyalur bivalves shifted to the East African province-subprovince in the middle Turonian–Maastrichtian (91.1–66 Ma). Analyses at different taxonomic levels and ecological groups with three different similarity indices reinforce the observed shift in faunal similarity. The northward movement of the Indian plate and the change in relative distances between provinces may explain this temporal shift in paleobiogeographic affinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advancement in smart cities can have adverse effects on the environment. Timely monitoring of smart cities to preserve environmental sustainability is a thrust area of research. It can be done by using change detection with multi-temporal satellite data. The success of these methods solely depends on the calibre of the backend image segmentation and Land-use Land-cover classification technique. The limitation of using cutting-edge classification algorithms is the availability of a proper dataset and identification of the edge structure of different LULC classes. In contrast, a segmentation algorithm cannot detect LULC classes automatically. In this research, we eliminated these shortcomings by considering a hybrid approach. We proposed a multi-class Support Vector Machine (SVM) and ISODATA-embedded large-scale change detection method. This method can automatically segment, detect, and perform LULC change analysis. We have considered the multi-sensor dataset of Barasat, West Bengal, India, obtained from the WorldView satellite sensor for the experimental study. The proposed method is validated concerning three different cutting-edge methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Re-emerging joint families and declining female labour force participation rates (FLFPR) are the two paradoxical consequences of India's steady urbanisation over the past few decades. In this backdrop, our study is motivated to examine the causal link between intergenerational co-residence and married women's employment status in urban India. Exploiting housing affordability in the locality as an instrument for co-residence with in-laws, we find significant negative impact of such traditional but still relevant social institution on women's labour force participation. We identify access to pooled financial resources and lack of decision-making authority relating to work participation as the key drivers of this phenomenon. However, co-residence does not act as a barrier to women's work in families characterised by lower economic status. Public policies encouraging family nuclearisation are to accelerate the process of household transformation which in turn would promote women's work in urban India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper interrogates the ways in which "reflexivity" has proliferated as a normative methodological discourse in the field of international and comparative education. We argue that the dominant approach to reflexivity foregrounds the standpoints of researchers and their subjects in a way that does not attend to the situated, contingent, and relational dynamics of "knowing" itself. This too easily bypasses the "performative" effects of research; how disciplinary ways of knowing (through associated methods and discourses) enact particular realities of the world. Drawing on theoretical devices from actor-network theory, we put forward the perspective that social researchers, through the methods and disciplinary discourses they deploy, are "brokers" and "translators" of knowledge. This signifies the ways in which the process of research engages actors, scripts, and performances which produce particular understandings of, and effects on, education and development. The paper illustrates the contribution of this perspective through the case of research on teachers and education reform in India.

This study aims to explore the nature of article retractions in India for a time frame of 75 years (1947-2021) by developing a comprehensive primary dataset of 1,376 retracted items, and then merging the dataset as developed with an array of external datasets by deploying data carpentry methods and techniques available in OpenRefine, an open-source data wrangling software. This value addition leads to exploring many new angles of study related to retraction in India, like gender distribution, geospatial distribution, institutional distribution, subject distribution in retraction, relations between journal quality and retraction, identification of serial offenders, relations between citation and retraction, and more importantly, reasons for retraction. It discovers many facts about retraction in India and attempts to represent the findings using a few next-generation visualization techniques. The major findings include the following: retraction in India is growing exponentially, and we are now the 4th highest in retraction on a global scale; the majority of the retracted items are published in quality journals in terms of quartile, impact factor, H-Index, and CiteScore; retracted items are distributed in both close-access and open-access source titles; most retracted items are able to fetch citations (mean citation 19.73), including recent citations; a considerable number of retracted items are authored by serial offenders; the retraction map of India includes the majority of the states and union territories; elite educational and research institutes are equally responsible for retraction, along with not-so-known institutes; text manipulation is still the most visible reason for retraction in India, but data manipulation, and image manipulation are increasing rapidly. It also finds that a few cases of retraction are simply due to a lack of awareness on the part of the scholars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attempts have been made in the present study for ascertaining the concentrations of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using passive biosamplers in preference to conventional air sampling methods. Mechanical stirring, sonication, Soxhlet technique and microwave-assisted Soxhlet extraction (MASE) were employed to extract PAHs from an evergreen plant (Murraya paniculata) leaves (having long life-span) sampled from polluted places of South Kolkata, India, with dense population and heavy traffic. Effects of extraction methods and operational parameters (solvent and time) on the recovery levels of PAHs were also investigated. Purified extracts, acquired through adsorption chromatography, were subjected to GC–MS and HPLC–UV analyses for qualitative and quantitative assessment of PAHs. Spatio-temporal distribution of accumulated PAHs across the sampling sites was monitored over premonsoon, postmonsoon and winter supported by pollutant source characterization. The results displayed that the extraction yields of Soxhlet (272.07 ± 26.15 μg g−1) and MASE (280.17 ± 15.46 μg g−1) were the highest among the four techniques. Conditions of extraction with toluene for 6 h were found to be most favorable for PAHs. In spatio-temporal analysis, total concentrations of PAHs in the foliar samples varied from 200.98 ± 2.72 to 550.79 ± 10.11 μg g−1 dry weight, and the highest values being recorded in the samples of Exide More because of daylong inexorable traffic flow/crowding increasing the burden of ambient PAHs. Widespread changes in meteorology exerted influence on seasonal concentrations of PAHs in plant leaves, and extent of leaf contamination by PAHs was observed extreme in winter followed by postmonsoon and then, premonsoon. Foliar accretion of PAHs differed in the study sites with diverse sources of emission from motor vehicles, fossil fuel and biomass burning along with other human interferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social equity is a critical component of social justice and is measured in multiple ways. Conventionally, researchers use literacy levels, workforce participation, political participation and representation, corporate presence, and demographic parity as indicators of social and economic equity. We add law enforcement outcomes to this literature by examining the demographic profiles of convicts in prisons in India for each state and compare it with that of the population of the respective state. To test whether entrenched social inequities have permeated into the law enforcement system, we use three indicators of social identity–religion, caste, and domicile–to create a social equity index (SEI). This is a composite index combining caste, religion and domicile similar in method to the Human Development Index which combines income, education and health. Our indicators are not considered in other popular development indices and is a conceptual innovation. Our paper innovates by combining prison data and census data at the state level over the two latest census rounds (2001 and 2011). We use a spatial panel analysis as well as a distributional dynamics approach to test for bias and transitions over time at the state level. We find that entrenched social hierarchies are mirrored in conviction outcomes and that social identities influence law enforcement. In contrast to earlier studies, we find that states that are conventionally considered to perform poorly in terms of economic and human development have done better in terms of social equity than economically advanced states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shear bands critically govern the shear failure processes and associated geophysical phenomena, for example, faulting, in Earth's crust. Earlier studies on homogeneous materials recognized temperature and strain rate as principal factors controlling the band growth. However, how inherent mechanical heterogeneities can influence their growth mechanisms and complex internal structures needs further investigations. The present article revisits this problem by combining field observations and laboratory experiments, supported by numerical simulations considering geological strain‐rates. Field studies in the Chotanagpur Granite Gneissic Complex of eastern India reveal varied types of macro‐scale shear zone localization. We conducted plane‐strain compression experiments on rock‐analogue models to investigate their origin. The experiments show that mechanical heterogeneities develop wide bands, localized preferentially in their neighborhood, unlike uniformly distributed, conjugate sets of closely spaced narrow bands in a homogeneous system. The wide bands eventually attain a composite structure, containing a core of densely packed band‐parallel sharp secondary bands, flanked by linear zones of closely spaced, narrow bands. We also demonstrate the effects of global strain‐rate on the band evolution in heterogeneous systems. Decreasing strain‐rates replace the composite bands by well‐defined homogeneous shear bands, containing a core of uniform shear, bordered by weakly sheared narrow zones, grading into almost undeformed walls. The experimental results are complemented with numerical models based on visco‐elasto‐plastic rheology, which establish appropriate scaling of the rock analogue to mid‐crustal deformations. This integrated approach finally leads us to conclude that inherent heterogeneities can result in large variations of shear band structures in geological terrains. Plain Language Summary: In Earth's lithosphere, tectonic deformations often concentrate preferentially along narrow, linear regions to form shear bands/zones, which trigger a range of geophysical phenomena, like earthquakes. Understanding the origin of shear bands is thus a subject of great concern in geophysics. Earlier studies mainly addressed the problem of band formation in homogeneous media. However, geological terrains are usually heterogeneous due to various inherent entities, like fractures, melt pockets and foreign objects. We present a set of field examples to highlight different types of shear bands produced in such heterogeneous geological settings. From laboratory experiments on analogue materials our study demonstrates the role of pre‐existing weak bodies in determining the modes of band formation under compressive stresses. The experimental results enable us to explain band growth with simple as well as complex internal structures. The deformation rate in the heterogeneous system is found as another critical factor to decide the band structures, where increasing strain rate results in transformation from simple to complex internal patterns. We include real‐scale numerical simulations to show the suitability of our experimental material for reproducing geological band structures under laboratory conditions. These two parallel lines of investigations lead us to a generalized conclusion of our study. Key Points: Control of inherent mechanical heterogeneity on shear strain localizationRole of global strain rate on the modes of shear band formationDiverse types of bands in natural shear zones inferred from plane‐strain compression tests on heterogeneous models [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the central Indian context, there are some pictograms used in almost all pesticide packaging. These pictograms depict the nature of pesticides, their correct dosage and handling. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different colors (black, red, yellow, green, blue, and pink) on the comprehensibility of pesticide pictograms. Thirty farmers were selected as the participants of this study. Two tests were conducted in this study, a Comprehension test and a Ranking test. In the Comprehension test, comprehensibility for different colors of pesticide pictograms was evaluated. In the Ranking test, the participant's preference for colors was checked for the pesticide pictograms. Maximum comprehension level was observed for the pictogram of 'Wash after using pesticide' (100%) for all the colors. A minimum comprehension level was observed for the pictogram of 'How to handle liquid' (65%) for red color. Results indicated no significant variations (p > 0.05) in comprehension levels for changes in different colors of pesticide pictograms. Results of the ranking test indicated that the users preferred Red color (mean rank 1.37) for pesticide pictograms, while Yellow (mean rank 4.54) and Pink (mean rank 4.57) colors were the least preferred colors for pesticide pictograms. The results we mentioned are for comprehension level though no significant difference was noticed, but for the ranking test red color was preferred over other colors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Primary glomerular disease accounts for one-sixth of all chronic kidney diseases (CKDs) in India. We remain limited in our ability to effectively treat these conditions because of lack of understanding of the disease mechanisms and lack of predictors to identify the clinical course and therapeutic responsiveness. We propose to develop a network of investigators in glomerular diseases, collect information in a systematic fashion to understand the clinical outcomes, answer translational research questions better, and identify and recruit patients for clinical trials. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, observational study. The Indian TrANslational GlomerulonephrItis BioLogy nEtwork (I-TANGIBLE) cohort will enroll patients (>18 years) with biopsy-proven minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulonephritis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), IgA nephropathy (IgAN), or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) (immune complex- and complement-mediated), with first biopsy taken within 2 years of enrollment. Patients with estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rate <15 ml/min/1.73 m² for >3 months at the time of screening, kidney transplant or bone marrow transplant recipients, patients with active malignancy, and patients with active hepatitis B/C replication or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-I/II will be excluded. Clinical details including history, medication history and details, and family history will be obtained. Consenting patient's blood and urine samples will be collected and stored, aligned to their clinical follow-up. Expected Outcomes: The network will allow accurate ascertainment of disease burden of glomerular diseases across study sites, establishment of the treatment pattern of common glomerular diseases, investigation of medium- and long-term outcomes (remission, relapse, rate of eGFR decline), and building a suitable infrastructure to carry out clinical trials in primary glomerular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with Turner syndrome (TS) have a high risk for prediabetes/type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). There is scarce data regarding risk factors for prediabetes in TS, specially from South Asia. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on girls with TS aged 12-30 years who had achieved pubertal stage B3 and above--spontaneously or with oestrogen. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were conducted, and medical records were reviewed for details about pubertal onset and progression, growth hormone (GH) and oestrogen therapy. Results: Out of 129 patients with TS in our database, 99 met the criteria for inclusion, mean age 18.33+/-3.78 years and mean BMI 20.57+/-3.71 kg/m2. Prevalence of prediabetes was 23.23%. Plasma-glucose measured after 75 g-oral-anhydrous-glucose-load (OGTT-PPG) identified five additional prediabetes cases, who had normal fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or HbA1c%. Compared to those without prediabetes, TS with prediabetes (n = 23) had higher mean body weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC) [42.02+/-5.83 vs 36.22+/-8.07, 22.77+/-2.78 vs 19.91+/- 3.72, 85.26+/- 3.52 vs 81.08+/- 4.59, pall < 0.03], higher median WC-to-height ratio (WHtR) and WC-to-hip ratio (WHR) ((0.64 [0.6-0.69] vs 0.59[0.56- 0.66], 0.9[0.84-1.12] vs 0.85[0.75-1.01], pboth < 0.02), and higher LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and greater prevalence of hepatosteatosis (47.1% vs 21.1%, P < 0.01). Among GH recipients (n = 36), those with prediabetes had delayed initiation and shorter duration of GH therapy. There were no differences in cardiometabolic parameters or the prevalence of diabetes between different karyotypic variants of TS. BMI, WC and WHR had significant positive correlation with FBG, OGTT-PPG and HbA1c% (pall < 0.004). Delay in oestrogen initiation had a significant correlation with OGTT-PPG (Spearman's-rho = 0.69, P < 0.004). BMI, WHR and pubertal status were independent predictors for prediabetes (OR: 1.27 [1.03-1.57]), 1.18 [1.04-1.34]) and 0.09[0.02-0.38], respectively, pall < 0.02), but karyotype was not. BMI had the highest sensitivity [cut-off: 21.04 kg/m2 (sensitivity: 82.6%, specificity: 62.2%) and WHR had the highest specificity [cut-off: 0.89 (sensitivity: 73.9%, specificity 78.4%)] for predicting prediabetes. Conclusion: Indian girls with TS have a high risk for prediabetes, irrespective of underlying karyotype and should be screened with oral glucose challenge to identify prediabetes. Timely intervention against central obesity and early initiation of GH and oestrogen should be ensured in TS. Late presenting girls should be closely monitored for dysglycaemia before and during treatment with GH and/or oestrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's higher emphasis on Renewable Energy adoption is aligned with the twin Sustainable Development Goals of tackling climate change (Goal 13) and ensuring sustainable, affordable, reliable energy for all (Goal 7). This study intends to evaluate the macroeconomic impact of India's ambitious 280 GW solar and 140 GW wind capacity expansion programme by 2030 using an Input-Output framework. The economic implications of solid waste generation and waste abatement in the End-of-life phase are evaluated. The solar and wind energy's economy-wide contribution is minimal; however, the solid waste generation is significant, ranging between 7.1–24 thousand tonnes of PV waste and 14.2–48.3 million tonnes of wind turbine waste in different solar and wind capacity mix. The solid waste abatement cost which constitutes the treatment of materials is aimed towards the attainment of the 3R strategy. The Green-GDP estimate by accounting for the net-environmental and health burden of solar and wind energy mix and the material waste generation witnesses 0.9 % to 1.52 % increase in net loss to GDP in different scenarios. The substantial emission savings of 11–23 % from the transition towards solar and wind energy can serve as a catalyst in helping India achieve its decarbonization targets. • India targets 280 GW solar and 140 GW wind capacity installation by 2030. • Steady phase-down of coal power will have a negative macroeconomic impact. • Coal replacement by solar and wind power will generate solid waste in EoL phase. • GHG and non-GHG savings between 11 and 23 % are witnessed by solar and wind energy mix. • Green-GDP estimates show a net loss between 0.9 % and 1.52 % of GDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of evidence in maternal health policy processes in Vietnam, India and China. Both formal and informal types of evidence were used; and differences were found between the stages of policy processes. Evidence used mostly covered easily quantifiable issues and clearly identifiable technical solutions. Different policy actors were involved; actors' evidence preferences were affected by their power, agendas, values and perceived characteristics of robust evidence. To enhance evidence role there is a need to: develop culture of evidence-informed policies; value different evidence types; ensure evidence use throughout policy processes; recognise and manage actors' agendas; and develop context-specific strategies.

This paper critically examines the ways in which inclusion and equity are constituted through education development policies in India. Programmes implemented under global and national Education for All (EFA) policies have largely involved the quantification of "equity" whereby schooling processes are measured against broad targets for school outcomes--focused mainly on student attendance, retention and academic achievement. Drawing on perspectives from Actor Network Theory, the paper puts forward the view of development reforms as "networks of translation" in order to trace the shifts and vicissitudes of educational ideals. Reporting on ethnographic data of two reforms in the south Indian state of Karnataka, we show how narrow understandings of equity are produced through target-driven approaches to EFA. In doing so, the paper highlights the performative effects of education development policy and its potentially counterproductive consequences in contexts of poverty and marginalisation. (Contains 1 figure and 7 notes.)