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The article is focused on the evolution of Soviet Indian studies in the course of the 1970s and 1980s, i.e. the period of the discipline’s indisputable academic upsurge. The present author maintains that factors instrumental of Indian studies’ ascendant development were many; among the latter foreign policy imperatives as well as high quality intellectual talent available are distinguished to explain the advancement of this area of social science research to the status of socially significant professional activities. Socio-economic, history and political studies are taken to demonstrate the academic accomplishments of Soviet scholars who exploited their own “wisdom” to comprehend India’s complex social reality and, also, utilized critical assessment of the existent social science research paradigms circulating in Indian scholarship. The “crisis” of Indian studies dating back to the late 1980s is discussed in basic aspects. The social and political origins of the “crisis” are being highlighted. The evolution of Soviet Indian studies during the late 1980s is investigated at the backdrop of sociopolitical development in the years preceding the USSR’s dismemberment. Tentative factors instrumental of the eventual “comeback” of Indian studies as an academic discipline of high societal stature are estimated.

Purpose: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on genetic retinal diseases (GRD) done in India published from 2011 to 2020 in peer-reviewed journals, and assess the productivity, trends in journal choice, publication types, research funding, and collaborative research. Methods: We searched PubMed for articles indicating both vision-related content and author affiliation with an Indian research center. We identified research collaborations and classified articles as reporting basic science, clinical science, or clinically descriptive research. Impact factors were determined from Journal Citation Reports for 2015. Results: The total number of published articles that were retrieved from 2011 to 2021 was 341. During the 10 years of study, the annual output of research articles has nearly doubled, that is, from 21 in 2011 to 44 in 2021. A total of 298 (87%) articles were published in international journals, and 149 (42%) articles in vision-related journals had an impact factor. A total of 224 (65%) articles came from six major eye hospitals. Clinical science articles were most frequently (86%) published, whereas basic science was the least (14%). The diseases on which the maximum and the minimum number of articles were published were retinoblastoma (n = 82,24%) and Stargardt disease (n = 3, 0.9%), respectively. Conclusion: This bibliometric study provides a broad view of the current status and trends in the research on GRD done in India and may help clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to better understand this research field and predict its dynamic directions.

Area Studies was an important way of studying different parts of the world after the Second World War that was promoted by US-European academic establishments. This construction emerged after the end of the Second World War and reflected the geopolitical construction of the world into different areas. It formed part of the Cold War environment, applying American social science tools to regional analysis. This essay argues that we rethink and transform such a geopolitical construction of Area Studies. It suggests that we critically engage with the epistemologies of the Euro-American world that lie behind such Area Studies projects in order to transform Area Studies and consider the claims of cosmopolitanism and planetary conversations across borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To conduct a bibliometric analysis of research on genetic retinal diseases (GRD) done in India published from 2011 to 2020 in peer-reviewed journals, and assess the productivity, trends in journal choice, publication types, research funding, and collaborative research.Methods: We searched PubMed for articles indicating both vision-related content and author affiliation with an Indian research center. We identified research collaborations and classified articles as reporting basic science, clinical science, or clinically descriptive research. Impact factors were determined from Journal Citation Reports for 2015.Results: The total number of published articles that were retrieved from 2011 to 2021 was 341. During the 10 years of study, the annual output of research articles has nearly doubled, that is, from 21 in 2011 to 44 in 2021. A total of 298 (87%) articles were published in international journals, and 149 (42%) articles in vision-related journals had an impact factor. A total of 224 (65%) articles came from six major eye hospitals. Clinical science articles were most frequently (86%) published, whereas basic science was the least (14%). The diseases on which the maximum and the minimum number of articles were published were retinoblastoma (n = 82,24%) and Stargardt disease (n = 3, 0.9%), respectively.Conclusion: This bibliometric study provides a broad view of the current status and trends in the research on GRD done in India and may help clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to better understand this research field and predict its dynamic directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) is one of the most common severe mental illnesses that cause morbidity. Stigma can negatively influence the disease experience in patients with BPAD. Significant differences are observed in the attributes of stigma across the various sociocultural milieus. The current review was thus conducted to compile the evidence regarding the burden and correlates of various forms of stigma in BPAD in India. Methods: An exhaustive literature review was conducted in PubMed, MedIND, and Google Scholar to identify Indian studies conducted on stigma in BPAD. The broad themes in various forms of stigma were identified (qualitative analysis). Quantitative analysis of measures of stigma was done, calculating the effect size in BPAD and comparator groups (schizophrenia and anxiety disorders) using standardized mean difference. Results: Overall, 12 studies could be identified for qualitative analysis, and 5 were used for quantitative analysis. Overall, the current evidence points out that the stigma in BPAD is less than that in schizophrenia but more than that in anxiety disorders. Internalized stigma in BPAD is correlated with poor self-esteem, reduced community participation, and low quality of life. Caregivers of patients with BPAD also experience significant stigma. Conclusions: The review shows that stigma in BPAD is substantial. It also draws attention to the fact that the research regarding stigma in BPAD is lagging behind. This review also provides a platform to develop an intervention in the Indian scenario, where further research should be carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Florence as the capital for a new united Italy became a flourishing, and brief, centre for indian studies. This experience was always entangled with Angelo De Gubernatis's biography and initiatives and when he left for Rome, the city lost its role. Having decided to leave his rich and prolific archive in Florence's main public library meant, however, that Gubernatis returned to the city and placed it on the map of 19th century "oriental studies". Through congresses, exhibitions, museums, a worldwide network of correspondents, journals, academic teaching and travel writing and the protagonism of Angelo de Gubernatis, "oriental", "India" and "Sanskrit" became recurrent words in the Renaissance city and spaces of physical and intellectual encounter between scholars of different origins. In my paper I will also analyse how the investment in "oriental studies" became part of a strategy of affirmation of the new nation of Italy within Europe and within a wider geography were knowledge circulated through written, visual and material forms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines gender differences in the long-term care of older parents in India by studying the expected provision of care by married sons and daughters. Gender differences in long-term care are important, as the sociocultural environment of India shapes the role of married children. While married sons are expected to provide long-term care for their biological parents, married daughters have limited scope to do so, a tendency that was revealed through our data from Osaka University's 'Preference Parameters in India, 2011.' Other family members are also expected to play a significant role in parental care, while neither gender expects their parents to rely on professional long-term care. This paper contributes to the scarce empirical evidence on long-term care for older parents by married children, as opposed to previous research that has focused on the division of caregiving activities between sons and daughters in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing population in Indian cities is leading to an increased load on the built environment in urban areas which is prone to effects such as the reduction of outdoor open spaces and decline of environmental quality. In this line, focus on outdoor thermal comfort studies has become an important aspect. The current status of outdoor thermal comfort in India and its comparative scenario are not available to researchers. In this paper, a critical review is performed on the studies published in the past 10 years, those focused on a built environment from micro-scale to macro scale. For the review, 18 papers were finally selected after performing the searches in major databases and filtering out irreverent studies. Following this, the shortcomings and gaps are identified and the future scope is stated. Most importantly, future studies are necessary to cover missing climatic regions and urban areas which are not yet been explored. The review also seeks the focus on the standardization of thermal comfort indices and the range of neutral values as per climatic regions. Along with the quantitative studies, a qualitative approach is also required in the research. Furthermore, future studies need to include psychological aspects such as adaptation and acclimatization. This review is the foremost study of the Indian context. It will act as a reference for researchers, architects, planners, and urban designers to improve their knowledge of outdoor thermal comfort and understand the gaps that need to be addressed. • Built environments are represented with geometrical parameters such as SVF, H/W, LCZ and orientation. • Tmrt and PET have commonly evaluated indices whereas UTCI, DI, THI, and SET are also evaluated by some studies. • Most of the studies estimated the thermal neutral values along with the neutral range • Some studies focused on the effect of physical and climatic parameters on thermal comfort level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India's contribution to cardiovascular research has been dismal with a share of only 1% of total number of papers published in the world during the period 1999–2008. Based on two recent studies published from Kerala, the Kerala ACS Registry and the CSI Kerala CRP Study and four other studies being undertaken in Kerala, we think that a Kerala model for cardiovascular research can be conceptualized. This model which consists of funding by professional organization of cardiologists with wide participation of cardiologists, physicians, health workers, nurses, and in some situations general public, logistics looked after by a central coordinator and study design by panel of experts or institutions of repute in the region and carried out at low cost can be considered for implementation in rest of India. Studies based on such a model may change practice pattern of cardiovascular diseases in India.

Aim: To assess the incidence of cutaneous lesion in bipolar affective disorder (BPAD) patients on lithium therapy. To evaluate the relationship between duration of lithium therapy, dosage of lithium, serum lithium level, and cutaneous lesions. To assess whether reduction/stoppage of dose of lithium has any change in the course of cutaneous side effects. To look for a relationship between addition of isotretinoin and the course of mood disorder. Methodology: We retrospectively collected hospital case records of 125 consecutive BPAD patients initiated lithium therapy, assessed with inclusion and exclusion criteria. We follow up them for 2½ years for the assessment of above said aims. Results: The prevalence of skin reaction in BPAD patients with lithium therapy was 19.8%. Among patients on lithium therapy, cutaneous lesion emerged in initial 6 months and later after 1 year of treatment. Nearly 55% of patients on higher doses of lithium (1200 mg) had a cutaneous lesion. Patient on therapeutic serum level of lithium had a higher incidence of skin lesion. Out of six patients in whom dosage of lithium was reduced, three of them had reduced lesions (P = 0.6), in two patients, skin lesion increased, and one patient had no change. Among 11 patients treated with isotretinoin, only two patients had emergence of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Lithium continues to increase the incidence of multiple cutaneous lesions among BPAD patients on lithium therapy. Incidence of cutaneous side effects directly correlates with the dose of lithium and therapeutic range of serum lithium level. Altering the dose of lithium does not statistically influence the cutaneous lesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two most populous countries in the world, China and India are both experiencing fast economic development and rapid social change, including in their communications sectors. Both these nations are part of the "BRICS" group of nations and they aspire to play a bigger role internationally, in culture as much as in politics, challenging traditional notions of power and the West. The Cold War period was characterized by an emphasis on hard power. The post cold war period has seen the growing importance of 'soft power' and information as well as several new models of international relations which have a bearing on international communications. The past two decades have also been characterized by globalization, with communications being both a cause and consequence of globalization, along with privatization and liberalization. Against this back-drop, what is the role of information vis-à-vis the world order? What role does media have to play in establishing India's soft power? Have traditional notions of diplomacy been replaced by mediated agenda setting in the context of India? Furthermore, is digital diplomacy emerging as important in a democracy such as India? While pondering these questions, countries such as India, China and Brazil are not only large consumers of media content, but they are also large producers of it, including entertainment programming. Information and communication has increasingly shifted to the digital domain. This paper explores these issues, taking as its central reference point, the theoretical framework of Joseph Nye's concept of 'soft power'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to address the lack of a region-wide view of widow discrimination in India, the home of 42 million widows. This study analyzed the household data collected in face-to-face interviews from January to March of 2011 in six major Indian cities. It was revealed that widow discrimination does not prevail across the nation. That is, this research did not deny the existence of traditional widow discrimination in some areas but demonstrated that this phenomenon does not represent the whole nation if we focus on the widows’ old age and the treatment by their families. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

By analyzing the history of a photograph taken in a Bombay photo studio in 1885, this article explores notions of the production of knowledge on India and cultural dialogues, encounters, appropriations, and conflicts in colonial British India in the late nineteenth century. The photograph was taken after a Hindu religious ceremony in honour of the Italian Sanskritist Angelo de Gubernatis. Dressed as a Hindu Brahman, he is the only European photographed next to three Indian scholars, but what the image suggests of encounter and hybridity was challenged by the many written texts that reveal the conflicting dialogues that took place before and after the portrait was taken. Several factors were examined in order to decide who should and who should not be in the photograph: religion, cast, and even gender were successively discussed, before the category of 'knowledge' became the bond that unified the four men who studied, taught, and wrote on India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]