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This mixed methods study draws upon Young Lives India longitudinal data to analyse whether children who attended private preschools demonstrate higher cognitive skills and enhanced subjective wellbeing at the age of 12 compared to those who attended government preschools in India. Using linear logistic regression models, the analysis reveals that children who attended private preschools have significantly higher mathematics scores and more positive subjective wellbeing than those in government preschools. The propensity score matching technique further substantiates this finding. Furthermore, entering preschool before the age of 4 is shown to have a significant positive association with both cognitive achievement and subjective wellbeing at the age of 12. Given that the recently enacted National Policy on Early Childhood Care and Education recognises early childhood education as the foundation for all future learning and as a sorely neglected area, early childhood education must be prioritised by policymakers across public and private sector.

Using unique panel data from Young Lives study conducted in undivided Andhra Pradesh, India, this mixed-method paper analyses gender differentials in completion of secondary education. Results show biased secondary school completion rates in favor of boys. Probit regression results highlight certain variables such as mothers' education, wealth, high self-efficacy, early reading skills, lower birth order, and not engaging in more than two hours of domestic work and paid work at age 12, as positively associated with educational outcomes for girls. Decomposition analysis highlights that engaging in domestic chores at age 12 is the most contributory factor (36%) for the persisting gender gap. The other unexplained contributory factors may well be existing discriminatory social norms and son preference, which is captured by the qualitative case studies. The findings suggest that unless we are able to address persisting gender norms, universalizing secondary education with gender equity, will remain a distant dream.

Natural Farming represents an agro-ecological methodology for farming that emphasizes regenerative practices with an aim to promote holistic ecological balance and reduce the dependence on external inputs as well as financial resources. Substantial concern has recently arisen over the need to promote agroecosystems that are more sustainable in order to improve the deteriorating soil health as well as reversing the yield plateau of crop. So, the current on farm field experiment was executed comprising of 8 treatments with different combination of natural farming inputs (Ghanjeevamrit, Jeevamrit, Beejamrit), organic fertilizer (such as FYM), integrated nutrient management (NPK, FYM, Azotobacter and Azolla) and in-organic(NPK) to examine and compare the consequence of natural farming inputs, organic fertilizer and in-organic dosage of fertilizer on soil nitrogen uptake, soil physicochemical properties, soil biological properties, soil microbial population and crop yields in a rice-wheat cropping system over two crop seasons 2021–23 [rice (Pusa-1509) and wheat (HD-3086)]. The study results demonstrated that there was significant (p  <  0.05) increase in the soil’s nitrogen availability and nitrogen uptake with the use of natural farming inputs as compared to control treatment, whereas, natural farming treatments (TNF1, TNF2, TNF3, TMNF) were inferior than integrated nutrient management (TINM) and recommended doses of fertilizer (TRDF) treatment in case of nitrogen uptake by both rice and wheat crop. The soil enzymatic activity (Dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, and urease), soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, and soil microbial population (Bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes) were significantly (p  <  0.05) higher in treatment receiving natural farming inputs compare to in-organic fertilizer and organic fertilizer. A positive and significant correlation was observed between potential mineralization nitrogen and soil enzymatic activity (Dehydrogenase, β-glucosidase, and urease), soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen and soil microbial population (Bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes). The crop yield at the end of experiment recorded to be highest in treatment TINM (75% RDF (In-organic)  +  25% RDF (FYM)  +  BGA) i.e., (Rice4.76  t/ha and Wheat- 5.82  t/ha) compared to TRDF and TNF. A crop yield reduction of 14.2% was observed in treatment receiving natural farming inputs compare to TINM. A significant increase in crop yield was observed in TMNF (Jeevamrit (25%)  +  Ghanjeevamrit (25%)  +  50% RDF through FYM  +  Beejamrit) compare to Tc (Control) and TFYM (Farmyard manure). Therefore, our study suggests that adoption of natural farming inputs over time can facilitate the enhancement of soil biological health of Inceptisol of Trans Gangetic Plain of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to stressors because of the rapid physical and mental changes that they go through during this life period. Young people residing in slum communities experience additional stressors due to living conditions, financial stress, and limited access to healthcare and social support services. The Adolescents' Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums (ARTEMIS) study, is testing an intervention intended to improve mental health outcomes for adolescents living in urban slums in India combining an anti-stigma campaign with a digital health intervention to identify and manage depression, self-harm/suicide risk or other significant emotional complaints. Methods: In the formative phase, we developed tools and processes for the ARTEMIS intervention. The two intervention components (anti-stigma and digital health) were implemented in purposively selected slums from the two study sites of New Delhi and Vijayawada. A mixed methods formative evaluation was undertaken to improve the understanding of site-specific context, assess feasibility and acceptability of the two components and identify required improvements to be made in the intervention. In-depth interviews and focus groups with key stakeholders (adolescents, parents, community health workers, doctors, and peer leaders), along with quantitative data from the digital health platform, were analysed. Results: The anti-stigma campaign methods and materials were found to be acceptable and received overall positive feedback from adolescents. A total of 2752 adolescents were screened using the PHQ9 embedded into a digital application, 133 (4.8%) of whom were identified as at high-risk of depression and/or suicide. 57% (n = 75) of those at high risk were diagnosed and treated by primary health care (PHC) doctors, who were guided by an electronic decision support tool based on WHO's mhGAP algorithm, built into the digital health application. Conclusion: The formative evaluation of the intervention strategy led to enhanced understanding of the context, acceptability, and feasibility of the intervention. Feedback from stakeholders helped to identify key areas for improvement in the intervention; strategies to improve implementation included engaging with parents, organising health camps in the sites and formation of peer groups. Trial Registration: The trial has been registered in the Clinical Trial Registry India, which is included in the WHO list of Registries, Reference number: CTRI/2022/02/040307. Registered 18 February 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The massive expansion of higher education in contemporary India has been accompanied by corresponding increases in the number of women students in colleges and universities. Given this backdrop, this paper discusses the experiences of young women students within the public and private spaces of their new lives in college. Some recent discussions concerning young women in urban India have privileged public spaces as sites of freedom to which they should lay claim. This paper is based on research on women students in Prayagraj, a city in North India, and shows how college and hostel spaces enable new forms of sociability, in which they form non-kin relationships. These are formed among students of diverse social identities but are shaped by their class locations as well within the social context of homosociality. Young women students create a new social world inside their colleges and hostels, build friendships and create certain kinds of intimacies. Cooking together and caring for each other in times of illness emerge as important aspects of their friendships. Hostel spaces, in particular, provide some freedom and comfort for the young women who reside in them. This article brings out the ways in which women students inhabit such spaces, creating social support systems and care networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Newcastle disease (ND) is an economically important viral disease affecting the poultry industry. In Kerala, a state in South India, incidences of ND in commercial and backyard poultry have been reported. But a systematic statewide study on the prevalence of the disease has not been carried out. Objectives: A cross‐sectional survey was performed to detect the presence of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in suspect cases and among apparently healthy commercial flocks and backyard poultry, in the state and to identify risk factors for NDV infection. Methods: Real‐time reverse transcription‐PCR (RT‐PCR) was used to detect the M gene of NDV in choanal swabs and tissue samples collected from live and dead birds, respectively and the results were statistically analysed. Results: The predominant clinical signs of the examined birds included mild respiratory signs, huddling together and greenish diarrhoea. Nervous signs in the form of torticollis were noticed in birds in some of the affected flocks. On necropsy, many birds had haemorrhages in the proventriculus and caecal tonsils which were suggestive of ND. Of the 2079 samples tested, 167 (8.0%) were positive for the NDV M‐gene by RT‐PCR. Among 893 samples collected from diseased flocks, 129 (14.5%), were positive for M gene with pairwise relative risk (RR) of 15.6 as compared to apparently healthy flocks where 6 out of 650 (0.9%) samples were positive. All positive samples were from poultry; none of the ducks, pigeons, turkey and wild birds were positive. Commercial broilers were at higher risk of infection than commercial layers (RR: 4.5) and backyard poultry (RR: 4.9). Similarly, birds reared under intensive housing conditions were at a higher risk of being infected as compared to those reared under semi‐intensive (RR: 6.7) or backyard housing (RR: 2.1). Multivariable analysis indicated that significantly higher risk of infection exists during migratory season and during ND outbreaks occurring nearby. Further, lower risk was observed with flock vaccination and backyard or semi‐intensive housing when compared to intensive housing. When the M gene positive samples were tested by RT‐PCR to determine whether the detected NDV were mesogenic/velogenic, 7 (4.2%) were positive. Conclusions: In Kerala, NDV is endemic in poultry with birds reared commercially under intensive rearing systems being affected the most. The outcome of this study also provides a link between epidemiologic knowledge and the development of successful disease control measures. Statistical analysis suggests that wild bird migration season and presence of migratory birds influences the prevalence of the virus in the State. Further studies are needed to genotype and sub‐genotype the detected viruses and to generate baseline data on the prevalence of NDV strains, design better detection strategies, and determine patterns of NDV transmission across domestic poultry and wild bird populations in Kerala. A study was carried out to detect Newcastle disease virus in commercial and backyard chicken in Kerala, India, by employing real time RT‐PCR. The overall percentage positivity obtained was 8%. Risk analysis revealed significantly higher risk for broiler birds and intensive type of housing. The risk was also higher for birds housed in facilities in areas with a history of occurrence of the disease, if migratory birds were present in the area, and during bird migration season. It was also observed that vaccination had a protective effect as indicated by lower relative risk values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is having the highest number of people defecating in the open. Swachh Bharat Mission-Gramin (SBM-G) is an ambitious programme that envisages making rural India open defecation free (ODF). Bihar's performance is at the bottom in sanitation map of the nation. Providing toilet to community and ensuring its usage are great challenges. A multidimensional approach is needed to ensure the behavioural change in the poverty-laden society of Bihar. In this paper, an attempt has been made to examine the role of Jeevikalead SHGs for leading the SBM-G. Jeevika is providing support as a development partner to 38 blocks in the state, which are called Jeevika-intensive blocks. In these blocks, the entire SBM-G programme is led by didis of Jeevika. SHGs are the best models for leading the SBM-G projects, as they change the earlier concept of toilet construction from grant driven to be demand driven. SHG plays a vital role in micro-financing for toilet construction. Women SHGs provide sanitation loans and conduct hygiene education in their communities. For awareness generation among the community, the method of community-led total sanitation (CLTS) has adapted. It aims to create ODF communities. Jeevika didis have been playing an important role in creating awareness about the need for toilets and motivating women to construct toilets. Their role in social mobilization and behavioural change has helped us to achieve an ODF Bihar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Menorrhagia is a common gynaecological problem and its cause remains unexplained in a significant proportion of females. Aim: The present study was done to diagnose a wide range of haemostatic disorders which can give rise to menorrhagia in women of adolescent, postadolescent and perimenopausal age group. Materials and Methods: A total of 1100 women presenting to gynaecological emergency with complaints of menorrhagia underwent comprehensive evaluation. After excluding local pelvic pathology and hormonal disorders as a cause of menorrhagia 104 women were included in this study. Screening investigations including bleeding time, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, platelet count and morphology were done. The following diagnostic investigations were carried out as and when required. Platelet aggregation tests using adenosine diphosphate and ristocetin, platelets function tests, specific factor analysis as and when required. Results: Age of patients ranged from 13 years to 46 years. Eighteen patients had menorrhagia since menarche. Seven patients had family history of abnormal bleeding. Twenty three patients were found to have systemic haemostatic disorder (10 patients of Von Willebrand Disease (vWD), seven of Glanzmann- Thrombasthenia, one of Bernard- Soulier syndrome and five of immune thrombocytopenic purpura). Conclusion: From this study it is concluded that systemic haemostatic disorders are found in substantial number of women presenting with menorrhagia. Hence, after excluding organic/ hormonal cause, haemostatic disorders should be considered before taking patient for invasive surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of food autonomy draws attention to qualities of local food and food networks that can facilitate connectivity between local food production and consumption. This article reports on a study conducted in Hisar, India, that reveals how rural producer, processor, and consumer preferences of mung bean quality interact with their aim to maintain and develop a territorial mung bean connectivity so as to reinforce food autonomy. The study showed that local mung bean food qualities related to suitability in the local cropping system, processing requirements, and consumption choice. It suggests that local preferences be integrated into a reorientation of research and scientific development agendas, and should become an essential consideration of development and extension efforts, which also carries implications for the food autonomy of local producers, processors, and consumers.ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is the main staple food in most of the Asian countries and rice crops generate a huge amount of rice straw as crop residue in the fields. Unsustainable use of rice straw and open burning of crop in the field not only produces threat to environment by producing large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission, but also make farmer׳s loose a very viable by-product. Rice straw can be used in bio-ethanol production and bring additional income and sustainable utilization. It will also provide clean energy solution to ever increasing energy demand in India. However, it becomes more important to study the sustainability of bio-ethanol production from rice straw and how it can make sense in today׳s Indian agricultural scenario. Although, the bioethanol obtained from rice straw is a carbon neutral in nature, but the concerns of environmental impacts have been raised for the whole process i.e. from rice cultivation, rice logistics, pretreatment techniques, bioethanol generation and transportation. The present review focuses on the environmental sustainability issues arising from use of rice straw for bioethanol production. The environmental impacts are assessed by studying the emission of greenhouse gases from each stage of life cycle. The paper presents an outlook on current status and future prospects of ethanol blending in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how teaching quality impacts students’ outcomes in public and low fee charging private schools in India. Drawing on Young Lives longitudinal study, students in private schools have a significantly higher mathematics score than public schools. Across public and private schools, teachers’ characteristics such as experience, gender, content knowledge and general education qualifications do not have significant influence on students’ learning outcome. Proximity of teacher's residence to the school, teacher's professional qualification and teacher's attitude towards schools and students and teaching practices such as regular checking of books, emerge as important determinants of students’ outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to draw attention to two important, but less researched, areas regarding low fee private school provision in India. Firstly, the paper evaluates the impact of fees on household debt burden and decision-making, and secondly highlights the dynamic interplay between the private and government sub-sectors and the potential consequences this may have for educational delivery. The paper attempts to provide an overview of the historic growth, extent and performance of low fee private schools and private tutoring. Consistent with others, the paper finds that private provision is not currently accessible to the poorest and thus potentially deleterious to equity both within schools and within families. While drawing on existing research and particularly the longitudinal Young Lives data sets in Andhra Pradesh – findings are largely exploratory. The paper concludes that there is a need for further research on both household and school effects related to increasing privatisation in education. In particular there is a focus on how emerging inequalities emanating from school choice and private tuitions can be addressed. This is urgently needed to inform policy and investment decisions that maximise the contribution of both sectors and mitigate against inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate microalbuminuria at mid-pregnancy, using the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), as a predictor of pre-eclampsia. Material and Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out on 144 normotensive women, aged < 35 years, body mass index < 25 kg/m2, and live singleton pregnancy between 24 and 28 weeks. In all, the ACR was measured in spot random urine samples. Normoalbuminuria was an ACR of <30 mg/g, whereas microalbuminuria was an ACR of 30-299 mg/g creatinine. All were followed till delivery. Primary outcome was the development of pre-eclampsia. The secondary outcome measures were preterm births and neonatal birthweight. Statistical analysis was done with Fisher's exact and t-tests. Results: Of all, 77.1% (111/144) had normoalbuminuria and 22.9% (33/144) had microalbuminuria. Of 33 microalbuminuric women, the mean blood pressure was significantly higher in those who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia ( P < 0.001). The mean ACR (mg/g) in this cohort was 60.6 ± 29.4. The mean ACR (mg/g) in women who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia was significantly higher than in women who remained normotensive ( P = 0.003). Of 33 microalbuminuric women, 12 (36.4%) developed pre-eclampsia, and eight (24.2%) had preterm births. The mean birthweight (kg ± standard deviation) was significantly lower in the microalbuminuria group (2.45 ± 0.6) as compared to the normoalbuminuria group (2.8 ± 0.37), P < 0.001. Conclusion: Microalbuminuria in mid-pregnancy may be a significant predictor of development of subsequent pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and low-birthweight babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: Improving health services worldwide has led to a gradually aging population. Sarcopenia has been identified as an important contributor to health costs in elderly women in developed countries. The lifestyle and access to medical services is vastly different in the developing countries like India. The present research was conducted to study the status of sarcopenia among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women of India. METHODS: Institutional review board approval for the study was obtained from institutional ethical committee. Women aged 40 years or more, having no complaints, and coming to hospital as companions were enrolled after taking consent. A detailed history was taken and activity levels were classified according to the ICATUS 2016 (International Classification for Time-Use Statistics). Muscle strength was evaluated by handgrip strength, gait speed, and appendicular skeletal mass measurement. Serum estradiol, vitamin D3, fasting plasma glucose, and fasting insulin levels were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 50 women were enrolled. 80% (n=40) of women had a sedentary lifestyle while the remaining reported light activity. Sarcopenia was noted in 16% (n=8) and showed a significant association with increasing age (P <.001). None of the women less than 62 years of age had sarcopenia. All women with sarcopenia had a sedentary lifestyle. Women with low body mass index were more likely to have sarcopenia. Low serum estradiol and serum vitamin D3 levels were significantly correlated to sarcopenia (P <.001). CONCLUSION: Sarcopenia is an emerging problem. Counseling of women for good nutrition and an active lifestyle can help prevent or delay the onset of sarcopenia. Poor nutrition status of women in developing countries needs to be addressed to combat the problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents detailed crop and gas flux data from two years of rice production at the experimental farm of the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi, India. In comparing 4 nitrogen (N) fertiliser regimes across 4 rice cultivars (CRD 310, IR-64, MTU 1010, P-44), we have added to growing evidence of the environmental costs of rice production in the region. The study shows that rice cultivar can impact yields of both grain, and total biomass produced in given circumstances, with the CRD 310 cultivar showing consistently high nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) for total biomass compared with other tested varieties, but not necessarily with the highest grain yield, which was P-44 in this experiment. While NUE of the rice did vary depending on experimental treatments (ranging from 41% to 73%), 73%), this did not translate directly into the reduction of emissions of ammonia (NH 3) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Emissions were relatively similar across the different rice cultivars regardless of NUE. Conversely, agronomic practices that reduced total N losses were associated with higher yield. In terms of fertiliser application, the outstanding impact was of the very high methane (CH 4) emissions as a result of incorporating farmyard manure (FYM) into rice paddies, which dominated the overall effect on global warming potential. While the use of nitrification and urease inhibiting substances decreased N 2 O emissions overall, NH 3 emissions were relatively unaffected (or slightly higher). Overall, the greatest reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions came from reducing irrigation water added to the fields, resulting in higher N 2 O, but significantly less CH 4 emissions, reducing net GHG emission compared with continuous flooding. Overall, genetic differences generated more variation in yield and NUE than agronomic management (excluding controls), whereas agronomy generated larger differences than genetics concerning gaseous losses. This study suggests that a mixed approach needs to be applied when attempting to reduce pollution and global warming potential from rice production and potential pollution swapping and synergies need to be considered. Finding the right balance of rice cultivar, irrigation technique and fertiliser type could significantly reduce emissions, while getting it wrong can result in considerably poorer yields and higher pollution. • Both genetic and agronomic solutions have similar potential to improve yield and NUE. • Co-application of nitrification and urease inhibitor reduced N 2 O emissions. • Decreasing irrigation resulted in less methane emission, but increased nitrogen pollution. • Rice genetics had no significant effect on the gaseous emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermittent flooding (IF) of rice has been encouraged as an approach to reduce water use and methane emissions compared with continuous flooding (CF), but may involve trade-offs. This study compared the contrasting effect of IF and CF flooding regimes on emissions of methane (CH 4), nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and ammonia (NH 3), nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and yield. A split plot design was used which assessed the effects of four different fertiliser types. The results suggest that converting from CF to IF irrigation does lower CH 4 emissions (by approximately 18%); however, this comes at a cost. IF irrigation resulted in a significant decrease in grain yield, regardless of fertiliser type (6.1% in this study) and also a significant decrease in NUE (a drop of 22.5% when compared to CF). IF irrigation also resulted in a small, but statistically significant (t -test p < 0.01) increase in N 2 O emissions. Difference in NH 3 emission between the flooding regimes was not statistically significant. Our study concludes that conversion from CF to IF irrigation methods may well reduce overall global warming potential of greenhouse gas emissions from rice production; however, yield penalties and nitrogen pollution are likely to increase as a result. Leaf colour chart based application of Neem coated urea may lower the yield scaled GHG emissions under CF irrigation and NH 3 loss in IF irrigation. • Intermittent flooding (IF) irrigation lowers CH 4 emissions by approximately 18%. • Highest harvest NUE (64.5%) was in LCC based N with Continuous flooding irrigation. • LCC based N application lowered Yield scaled-GWP in CF and NH 3 loss in IF. • IF resulted in trade-off between reduced GWP and yield penalty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: There are around 250 million adolescents (10-19 years) in India. The prevalence of mental health-related morbidity among adolescents in India is approximately 7.3%. Vulnerable subpopulations among adolescents such as those living in slum communities are particularly at risk due to poor living conditions, financial difficulty and limited access to support services. Adolescents' Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental Health in Indian Slums (ARTEMIS) is a cluster randomised controlled trial of an intervention that intends to improve the mental health of adolescents living in slum communities in India. The aim of this paper is to describe the process evaluation protocol for ARTEMIS trial. The process evaluation will help to explain the intervention outcomes and understand how and why the intervention worked or did not work. It will identify contextual factors, intervention barriers and facilitators and the adaptations required for optimising implementation., Methods: Case study method will be used and the data will include a mix of quantitative metrics and qualitative data. The UK Medical Research Council's guidance on evaluating complex interventions, the Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance Framework and the Affordability, Practicability, Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, Acceptability, Safety/Side Effects and, Equity criteria will be used to develop a conceptual framework and a priori codes for qualitative data analysis. Quantitative data will be analysed using descriptive statistics. Implementation fidelity will also be measured., Discussion: The process evaluation will provide an understanding of outcomes and causal mechanisms that influenced any change in trial outcomes., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics Committee of the George Institute for Global Health India (project number 17/2020) and the Research Governance and Integrity Team, Imperial College, London (ICREC reference number: 22IC7718) have provided ethics approval. The Health Ministry's Screening Committee has approved to the study (ID 2020-9770)., Trial Registration Number: CTRI/2022/02/040307., Competing Interests: Competing interests: We declare that the George Institute for Global Health has a part-owned social enterprise, George Health Enterprises, which has commercial relationships involving digital health innovations., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ.)

Newcastle disease (ND), caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is a contagious disease that affects a variety of domestic and wild avian species. Though ND is vaccine-preventable, it is a persistent threat to poultry industry across the globe. The disease represents a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in chickens. To better understand the epidemiology of NDV among commercial and backyard chickens of Odisha, where chicken farming is being prioritized to assist with poverty alleviation, a cross-sectional study was conducted in two distinct seasons during 2018. Choanal swabs (n = 1361) from live birds (commercial layers, broilers, and backyard chicken) and tracheal tissues from dead birds (n = 10) were collected and tested by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the presence of matrix (M) and fusion (F) genes of NDV. Risk factors at the flock and individual bird levels (health status, ND vaccination status, geographical zone, management system, and housing) were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analyses. Of the 1371 samples tested, 160 were positive for M gene amplification indicating an overall apparent prevalence of 11.7% (95% CI 10.1-13.5%). Circulation of virulent NDV strains was also evident with apparent prevalence of 8.1% (13/160; 95% CI: 4.8-13.4%). In addition, commercial birds had significantly higher odds (75%) of being infected with NDV as compared to backyard poultry (p = 0.01). This study helps fill a knowledge gap in the prevalence and distribution of NDV in apparently healthy birds in eastern India, and provides a framework for future longitudinal research of NDV risk and mitigation in targeted geographies-a step forward for effective control of ND in Odisha., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

From the last few years a debate has been continuing over the issue of malnutrition and hunger in the developing countries. The present article investigates the importance of participatory varietal selection in the development of a suitable cultivar of mungbean along with the nutritional content and the agronomic traits of the cultivars selected by farmers in participatory varietal selection. A combination of the conventional survey strategy, participatory varietal selection, molecular markers, and chemical analysis were used to carry out the study, and results revealed that the farmers have the capacity to utilize available genetic resources to manage disease, and they can identify the disease at early stages of plant development. The genetic diversity was studied using 23 inter-simple sequence repeat marker, which shows that the extent of genetic diversity ranges from 65% to 87%, while chemical analysis of selected mungbean cultivars shows a moderate amount of iron (3.9 mg/100 g) and zinc (2.5 mg/100 g).

The international standard decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) for emergency Caesarean sections (CSs) is ≤ 30 minutes but there is little evidence to support this recommendation. The aim of this study was to evaluate DDI for emergency CS and its relationship to perinatal outcome. We undertook a prospective observational study of consecutive cases of emergency CS. Perinatal outcomes were recorded as: Apgar score; neonates requiring admission; and perinatal deaths. The relation between DDI and perinatal outcome was analysed using chi-square and one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). Of 204 pregnancies observed, 19% of deliveries were achieved in ≤ 30 minutes. The mean DDI was 42.5 ± 19.4 minutes. There was no difference between the perinatal outcome for babies with DDI of ≤ 30 versus 31-60 minutes. There was a significantly higher risk of poor perinatal outcome for babies with DDI > 60 minutes. The perinatal outcome between DDI of ≤ 30 and 31-60 minutes was statistically not different. However, the ≤ 30 minutes DDI should remain the gold standard.