Mumbai Research Articles

The first 20 years at the Cape of Good Hope (1652–1671): weather, climate and society

The Dutch arrived at the Cape (southernmost Africa) in April 1652 to establish a permanent station to replenish ships sailing between Europe and the East. We use the Dutch East India Company day registers to construct a weather and climate chronology for central Cape Town (CT) over the years 1652–1671. We also investigate weather/climate impacts on society over these years, and the associated coping/adaptive measures undertaken. Daily weather information (e.g. rainfall, wind, perceived temperature, storms, hail, snow, frost) was extracted from the registers and chronologically organized. Weather-related impacts (including on shipping) and societal responses are explored within temporal contexts (monthly to inter-annual). The CT climate of 1652–1671 had relatively (compared with more recent times) few rain days, yet experienced heavy rains at times, with consequential flooding. Summers were windy, very dry and felt hot at times. Winters seemed particularly cold, stormy and harsh at times, more so than those of the 19th -21st centuries, as evidenced by accounts of snow, frost and hail. The early 1650s and early to mid-1660s were particularly anomalous climatic periods and likely reflect conditions associated with reduced solar heating and increased volcanic forcing during the early Maunder Minimum.

Atlantic Voyages: The East India Company and the British Route to the East in the Age of Sail

Atlantic Voyages: The East India Company and the British Route to the East in the Age of Sail

‘A distant echo attracts me, fragrance of life beyond’: growing up a metalhead in India

ABSTRACT The paper is an account of growing up a metalhead in a suburb of a city in south Gujarat and then in Kolkata. The paper situates the author’s experience of growing up in a suburb of a non-metropolitan city in India as a metalhead and eventually moving to metropolitan spaces to access spaces of music consumption. The paper travels across the cities of Surat, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai and Bengaluru to narrate the heavy metal scene that was present at the turn of the noughties, from 2006 to 2013. The paper also dwells on the role of the personal computer, pirate consumption, class, geographies of live music, fuzzy contours of ‘western music’, and the peculiarity of heavy metal in Kolkata.

MaxEnt modeling for habitat suitability assessment of threatened Dipterocarpus species in the Indian East Himalayas

MaxEnt modeling for habitat suitability assessment of threatened Dipterocarpus species in the Indian East Himalayas

Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Its Impact on North East India: A Study of Revenue Generation and Public Utilities

Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Its Impact on North East India: A Study of Revenue Generation and Public Utilities

Psychosocial Factors of Adolescent Survivors of Human Trafficking in East India

Abstract Introduction: Human trafficking is referred to as modern-day slavery and is a human rights violation. India is home to 14 million survivors of trafficking, making it one of the most extensive destination grounds for the trafficking of young girls. Empirical studies on trafficking survivors’ demographic profiles and psychosocial factors are scarce in the Indian context. Aims and Objectives: The study determined the various forms of human trafficking and the sociodemographic profile while assessing the psychosocial factors related to pretrafficking, during trafficking, and posttrafficking phases of adolescent female survivors of human trafficking in East India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with 30 adolescent girls aged from 13 to <18 years rescued from human trafficking using the Trafficking Victim Identification Tool to collect data on psychosocial factors related to human trafficking. Statistical Analysis: The analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the frequency and percentages to assess the sociodemographic and psychosocial factors of adolescent survivors of human trafficking. Results: The results show that most adolescents had experienced physical abuse before trafficking. Most were trafficked by family members or relatives who promised them economic opportunities. During trafficking, most were locked up against their will, experienced physical and sexual violence at the hands of their trafficker, and had no fixed working hours. Most survivors were rescued within 1–3 months of trafficking and had low suicide ideation. In addition, most survivors were unmarried, had primary education, were Hindi-speaking unemployed, Hindu, and from a rural background. Conclusion: The study shows that the most pressing psychosocial factors among survivors of human trafficking include physical abuse before trafficking, physical and sexual abuse by traffickers, and being trafficked by known persons with a promise of economic opportunity. As trafficking is an unrelenting public and mental health concern that transcends all social classes and demographics, further dialogue is needed on survivors’ long-term consequences as the world wakes up to the reality of this modern form of slavery.

Need of Good Samaritan Law for Increasing Willingness of Bystanders to Assist Victims of RTA

Road traffic accidents are a silent pandemic especially in a country like India where urbanization has been happening on a large scale recently and most of the population travel to cities for employment, education etc. which cannot be averted. The worst hit are major cities like Mumbai, Chennai and other metropolitan cities where accidents claim several lives and also cause disability in other cases, either short term or permanent. The price which is paid by the affected person cannot be estimated just on a monetary basis as it affects the overall quality of life of not just the person but also of the family members. Even people who are willing to assist accident victims are reluctant due to several factors; few of them being legal hassles and the fear of detention at the hospitals. Hence this paper will focus on the present need of good Samaritan laws and their appropriate enforcement for increasing the willingness of bystanders to assist RTA victims, as this is the solution until such accidents can be averted as a whole. Key Words: Road traffic accident (RTA), Samaritan law, golden hour, trauma, emergency

Ecosystem productivity and carbon dynamics in Keibul Lamjao National Park, Manipur, India: a gray relational analysis perspective.

An in-depth understanding of carbon dynamics and ecosystem productivity is essential for conservation and management of different ecosystems. Ecosystem dynamics and carbon budget are assessed by estimating net ecosystem production (NEP) across different global ecosystems. An ecological productivity assessment of forest and floating meadow ecosystems in Keibul Lamjao National Park (KLNP), Manipur, North East India, was conducted using the multi-criteria decision-making process namely, gray relational analysis (GRA). The analysis was performed on 24 selected criterions classified either as "higher-the-better" or "lower-the-better" based on their degree of influence on the carbon budget. Floating meadows exhibited a higher production of aboveground and belowground biomass and a higher total mortality and decay. Furthermore, the study found that floating meadows exhibited a higher soil organic carbon (SOC) and net soil organic matter (SOM) than the forest ecosystem. The forest ecosystem showed higher total respiration (RT), heterotrophic respiration (RH), and autotrophic respiration (RA) than floating meadows. Floating meadows exhibited a higher net primary productivity (NPP) of 616.49 ± 33.87 gCm-2year-1 than the forest ecosystem, which has a NPP of 566.64 ± 65.26 gCm-2year-1. Similarly, floating meadows have higher NEP (495.25 ± 36.46 gCm-2year-1) than forest ecosystems (418.39 ± 65.76 gCm-2year-1). These characteristics have a significant influence on the carbon budget in floating meadows as compared to forest ecosystems, as shown by larger values of gray relational coefficient (GRC) in GRA. The floating meadows ecosystem (0.82) obtained 54.72% gain in gray relational grades (GRG) value with the forest ecosystem (0.53). This study might help in improving KLNP and other adjutant areas for conservation and management policies from the vital information given on the importance of wetlands in carbon dynamics and ecosystem productivity.

Elevations and roof planning of chawls at Bhivandiwala building, South Mumbai in India - a case study

Elevations and roof planning of chawls at Bhivandiwala building, South Mumbai in India - a case study

Lifestyle of Women In Tea Garden Community: A Systematic Literature Review

Tea is integral part of our society. Popularity of tea as a beverage was established by the British East India Company. However, the soothing aroma and delicate beauty of tea conceal the harsh reality of the heavy labor of tea garden workers, specifically women. More than fifty percent of workers in tea industry are women. So, the economic role of women in tea industry is very crucial. In the tea garden community women are the primary breadwinners and men livelihood depend on them. They manage both domestic responsibilities and work in tea estate from early in the morning to evening. Despite this, in their community women receive limited recognition and value. They also struggle for decent education, healthcare, living conditions, and safety. To better understand their circumstances, a systematic review was conducted to provide an overview of lifestyle of the female tea garden community. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) was used to identify, screening the article then eligible articles were included. A total number of 932 studies were eligible for systematic review. Most of the studies were obtained from Google Scholar, followed by Science Direct and Eric. Only 16 studies were included in our study. Based on these studies, educational and financial condition are the major factor that effect their lifestyle. Studies pointed out tea community women are in most vulnerable position. Every aspect of their lifestyle is filled with difficulties from their early marriage to discrepancies in wages. So, there is a need for evidence based, comprehensive intervention procedures to uplift the women’s lifestyle of tea community.

Human migration from the Levant and Arabia into Yemen since Last Glacial Maximum

While a broad consensus about the first successful migration modern humans out of Africa seems established, the peopling of Arabia remains somewhat enigmatic. Identifying the ancestral populations that contributed to the gene pool of the current populations inhabiting Arabia and the impact of their contributions remains a challenging task. We investigate the genetic makeup of the current Yemeni population using 46 whole genomes and 169 genotype arrays derived from Yemeni individuals from all geographic regions across Yemen and 351 genotype arrays derived from neighboring populations providing regional context. Principal Component Analysis shows stratification between Yemen districts but also with respect to nearby populations: Yemeni, other Arabian and Bedouin samples form a continuum towards the populations of the Levant, whereas East Africa and India appear strongly differentiated. This finding is further supported by higher Principal Components, admixture and haplogroup analyses, and F-statistics. Moreover, two-reference linkage disequilibrium decay estimates are most significant for Yemeni admixture from an ancient northern influx (up to 5220BP from Palestine) and East Africa (750BP). We show that the initial gene flow into the Yemeni populations of today came from the rest of Arabia and the Levant, and a less substantial and more recent genetic impact into coastal Yemen from East Africa, particularly.

Clinical and laboratory characteristics of paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus at secondary level hospital among local population in North East India

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem inflammation and the presence of circulating auto antibodies directed against self-antigens with flare-ups and remissions. Childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) is a rare disease with an incidence of 0.3-0.9 per 100.000 children-years. The study among paediatric population of north east India were few and hence this study from north east India was undertaken. Objective of this study was to study the clinical and immunological profile of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To study the distribution of Renal Lesions according to ISN/RPS Classification of Lupus Nephritis. Methods: Retrospective observational single centre study at secondary care hospital in North East India. Medical records of children with SLE admitted in Paediatric department from the period of 2018-2024 through the hospital information management were analysed. Clinico pathological features and immunological profile were compared with other studies. Results: Among 20 patients studied female to male ratio was 3:1. The mean patient’s age at the time of presentation was 12.4 years. The mean duration of illness was 8.5 months. Most common systems involved were hematological (85%), followed by kidney (75%) and mucocutaneous (75%). All (100%) cases were ANA positive. 45% were anti smith antibody positive, 20% were anti- dsDNA positive. Focal and segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis (ISN/RPS class III) was the most commonly seen histological pattern, seen in 5 (83%) patients who underwent biopsy. Diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (ISN/RPS class IV) was seen in 1 (16%) patient. Conclusions: Childhood onset SLE is still a challenge to diagnose and manage due to unpredictable clinical manifestations with variable disease activity at different age.

Conservation Genetics and Breeding using Molecular Genetic Markers in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica).

The Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) is a small migratory bird whose main habitats are located in East Asia, Russia, China, Japan, Korea, and India. The Japanese quail was first introduced into the Iraqi research sector in the early 1980s. This investigation aimed to identify the genetic divergence between the available genetic lines of the Japanese quail in Iraq as a first step to conducting further conservation and breeding, benefiting from studying the genetic diversity related to productivity, adaptation, and immune susceptibility. In this study, we harnessed the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to investigate the genetic structure, diversity, and differentiation of seven distinct genetic lines of these birds with white, brown, wild grey, and yellow plumage guided by 20 molecular genetic markers. Our findings showed a relatively high polymorphism level of these 20 markers, which was adequate for describing genetic variation within and between the quail lines under study. Overall, the pairs of the White male and Brown male, Brown female and Grey male, and Grey female and Grey male lines were the most genetically distant. Conversely, the White male and Grey male lines were the most similar. The genetic differences established between these lines can enable us to suggest recommendations for further conservation genetics and breeding of this species. In particular, we propose that choosing animals (lines) with the greatest genetic distances, i.e., the least genetic similarities, can help preserve the highest genetic variability within the population. This proposed approach mirrors many contemporary conservation strategies, and information derived directly from this study can potentially be used to improve breeder selection regimes for additional conservation initiatives ex situ.

Ecological Disturbances and Adaptation of Mangroves in High-Disturbance Urban Areas of Navi Mumbai in India

Mangroves are coastal ecosystems characterized by salt-tolerant intertidal forest structures that serve as vital buffer zones between the coastal waters and human habitats. They expose an evolutionary course spanning around 60 million years, leading to the emergence of tailored adaptations like salt-excreting glands and prop roots. Despite widespread acknowledgment of their value, mangroves are swiftly declining due to coastal development and climate change. Rapid urbanization has increased anthropogenic pressures on these ecosystems, yet comprehensive assessments of their resilience in highly disturbed environments remain limited. This study looks at the ecological health of mangrove populations across three sites in Navi Mumbai, areas facing high urban and industrial growth. The analysis revealed elevated Zn (-0.88, p < 0.001), Cu (-0.73, p < 0.01), Pb (-0.70, p < 0.05), and Mn (-0.76, p < 0.01) correlating with reduced plant height, alongside consistently acidic water pH (mean = 5.93) and high salinity (range: 35–40 PSU). These conditions amplify metal mobility and toxicity, disrupting pneumatophore function, and lowering DO (mean = 3.8 mg/L), reflecting ecological degradation. Despite these stressors, mangrove populations exhibited decent growth traits, demonstrating a capacity for urban adaptation. Regulations of industrial discharge to reduce heavy metal specifically zinc contamination, coupled with targeted restoration efforts focusing on enhancing mangrove density and structural integrity, are essential to sustain these ecosystems.

Navigating the maze: determinants influencing student’s choices in higher education admission across diverse disciplines in Maharashtra

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to unravel the complex factors guiding students' decisions during the higher education admission process in the Maharashtra state.Design/methodology/approachThe study is based on descriptive and exploratory research and to accomplish the above said objectives, researcher use mix method (qualitative and quantitative). The research was conducted in the higher education institutions, colleges, coaching centers and universities providing under graduate and postgraduate courses in the cities of Maharashtra state, like Pune, Mumbai and Nashik where streams like management and engineering, are available.FindingsThrough a comprehensive dissection of these determinants, the research aims to provide nuanced insights that can guide educational institutions and policymakers in tailoring effective strategies. By recognizing the unique needs and aspirations of students across disciplines in Maharashtra, this study aims to contribute to the enhancement of the higher education admission process.Research limitations/implicationsWhile the study provides valuable insights into student decision-making in Maharashtra, its findings may not be directly applicable to other regions with different socioeconomic, cultural and educational contexts. Therefore, the generalizability of the findings beyond Maharashtra may be limited.Originality/valueFocusing specifically on Maharashtra adds a regional dimension to the research, considering the unique sociocultural, economic and educational characteristics of the state. This contextual focus allows for insights that are tailored to the local context, providing a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities in higher education admissions within Maharashtra.

Edible insects as a futuristic fiber resource: unlocking the potential of ‘entomofibers’ (chitin and chitosan) from North-Eastern India

Abstract Dietary fiber plays a crucial role in human health and wellbeing. Although plants are usually considered to be the major source of dietary fibers for human consumption, insects have also been reported to contain fiber as one of the macronutrients suitable for human diet. Insect consumption is an ancient dietary practice that has existed since the Paleolithic era. Insects are known to be protein-rich food, but insect-fiber has not received as much attention as insect-protein till date. Therefore, the present study made an attempt to comprehensively review the fiber content of edible insects across the world in general and northeastern India in particular, based on published information. Chitin, a key constituent of insect exoskeleton, is structurally analogous to cellulose, which is often termed as ‘plant fiber.’ In this review, chitin and its derivative chitosan, along with some other polysaccharides have been referred as entomofibers and primary focus has been given to chitin and chitosan as the major components of crude fiber found in edible insects. The fiber content of most preferred edible insects from North East India and the insects raised for commercialization were compared with fiber content of conventional food sources. Upon analyzing the data, it could be concluded that edible insects offer an exceptional, viable, and sustainable source of dietary fiber, surpassing many conventional, plant-based fiber sources in terms of nutritional value and environmental sustainability. Thus, selective edible insects can be promoted as a source of “ecofiber/entomofiber” apart from edible insects designated as “ecoprotein” sources to address various health issues including constipation, diabetes, dysbiosis, obesity etc.

The origins of "Kaunayen" game fowls of Manipur, India: Insights from mitochondrial D-loop sequence analysis.

Notably, poultry animals-particularly chickens-are recognized globally for their valuable contributions to the food, ornamental, and game economies. Further, more robust local and regional breeds can be parental donors for these area-specific consumable breeds' resilient traits. Game birds that are locally significant economically or on a much smaller scale are frequently excluded from the procedure. One such breed is the fighting chicken of Manipur, India, known locally as the Kaunayen breed and listed as the 17th breed at the ICAR, the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, India. When Kaunayen fowl from throughout Manipur are considered, they have anatomical characteristics and common behavioural traits despite the breed's extreme genetic heterogeneity. With this gap in mind, we attempted to use mitochondrial D-loop sequences to characterize Manipur's Kaunayen fowls concerning the global breeds of nearly similar molecular characteristics. We found that Kaunayen fowls share evolutionary traits such as a similar transition/transversion ratio with some Southeast Asian breeds, including a few red jungle fowls. Overall Kaunayen are also more closely related to Southeast Asian birds phylogenetically, after which with a few breeds from East Asian, Bangladesh, North-East India, and the Indian island of Nicobar. The global database including our query has 19 haplotypes, and majority of the Kaunayen fowls share haplotypes with North East Indian fowls; the remaining haplotypes are primarily associated with South East Asia and East Asia. The findings additionally indicated that Kaunayen's and the global breed's D-loop region tended to fixed neutral substitution, contributing to the distinct varieties. Further, migration research demonstrated that Kaunayen fowls originated from a substantial maternal genome influx from Southeast Asia, which may have later made a substantial contribution to East Asian and South Asian breeds. We also display a portion of the D-loop that demonstrates the majority of the substitution diversity across all breeds, and we suggest using sequence stretch to create miniature breed-specific identifying barcodes.

Seroprevalence of measles antibodies in women born between 1985 and 1999 in metropolitan city in India: a cross-sectional study

IntroductionThe Universal Immunisation Programme of India recommends first dose of measles vaccine in children at 9 months as the infant is protected by the maternal antibodies till then, and the...

Determinants of Digitised Farm Information Outreach in Aquaculture: A Case of Mobile Phone Application for Smallholder Fish Farmers in North East India

Determinants of Digitised Farm Information Outreach in Aquaculture: A Case of Mobile Phone Application for Smallholder Fish Farmers in North East India

Get It in Writing (If You Can): Regulating Foreign Communities in Tokugawa Japan

Abstract: This article proposes “capitulations” and “contracts” as a framework for reassessing how the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1868) regulated foreign merchants. Capitulations are an established subject of study in other contexts, but this work brings the concept to bear on early modern Japan. Comparing documents exchanged with the Chinese, Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish communities in the seventeenth century, we find that Tokugawa capitulations changed in form and content. Initial Tokugawa capitulations to the Dutch and other newly arriving foreign communities provided assurances in the form of written orders carrying the shogun’s personal seal. But in time guarantees of privileges direct from the shogun yielded to the issuance of restrictions that were communicated orally and put to paper (if at all) by lower-ranking officials. Later contracts made with the Dutch East India Company were agreed between local merchants and Company merchants, likely without the involvement of authorities. Together, capitulations—organizing relations between hegemons and merchants, and contracts—organizing trade among merchants, fulfilled many of the functions later assumed by commercial treaties. Using this conceptual framework helps integrate Tokugawa Japan into the broader historiography exploring how early modern regimes engaged with commercial actors straddling multiple polities during intensifying long-distance trade.