Indian National Research Articles

Failure Of Second Line ART Demands Third -Line Options For HIV-Infected Patients In Telangana, India

Back ground: The research was carried out with the aim of detecting instances of second-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure and exploring the potential of third-line ART treatment for individuals with HIV, incorporating the utilization of HIV viral load (VL) testing. Beginning in 2016-17, individuals living with HIV are directed to government ART centers and ART plus centers for treatment. Patients who have experienced treatment failure with second-line therapy and have been exposed to multiple NRTIs, in accordance with the Indian National ART Guidelines, are referred to the SACEP Clinic for further evaluation. If deemed eligible according to the Indian National 3rd Line ART Guidelines, these patients are enrolled and followed up for the initiation of 3rd Line ART at our center. Throughout the duration of the study, a collective of 55 individuals diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) were identified as potentially experiencing a lack of efficacy with regards to their secondary line antiretroviral therapy (ART). Two patients in the cohort were diagnosed with both HIV and multi drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Method: Fifty-four and a half percent of the patient sample was classified as being in WHO stage I, while 32.8% were categorized as being in stage II, and the remaining 12.7% were identified as being in WHO stage IV. Fifty-five patients who were suspected of experiencing second-line treatment failure were transitioned to third-line antiretroviral therapy. Results: All 55 patients underwent VL follow-up, with 53 of them attaining viral suppression within a median period of 6 months. However, two patients were unable to achieve viral suppression. Conclusion: However, this study describes HIV-positive patients who need third-line ART due to probable second-line ART failure.

Reshaping Higher Education: A Comparative Study of India's National Education Policies

This research paper critically analyzes the evolution of higher education policies in India through a comparative examination of the National Policy on Education NPE 1968 the National Policy on Education NPE 1986 and its 1992 revision, and the latest National Education Policy 2020 NEP 2020. It assesses the novelty of NEP 2020 explores the shortcomings of the current higher education landscape in India, and scrutinizes how the proposed reforms seek to tackle these issues. NEP 2020 represents a significant departure from its predecessors, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach, flexibility, research orientation, and skill enhancement. This study underscores the transformative potential of NEP 2020 and emphasizes the importance of effective implementation and ongoing evaluation to achieve substantial reforms in India's higher education sector.

Analysis of Option Prices Using Black Scholes Model

A mathematical formula used in finance to calculate the theoretical price of an option and ascertain its option premium is known as the Black Scholes option pricing model, which aids option traders in making informed decisions. This article estimates the option premium of various call and put options using the Black Scholes Model. The three distinct option chains chosen for this essay are all Mid-Cap companies that are listed on the Indian National Stock Exchange. The companies are Suzlon Energy, Kalyan jewellers India, and Exide Industries Ltd. The analysis demonstrates that the options are expensive because the Black Scholes model's computation of the option premium is lower than the actual premium in the market. Keywords: Option, Black Scholes Option Pricing Model, Call, Put, Option Premium

Analysing the interlinkage between diarrhoea and drinking water faecal contamination in India

ABSTRACT Diarrhoea is one of the major waterborne diseases spread through the faecal–oral route causing over 10 million cases and over 1,000 deaths per year in India. This study critically evaluates the interlinkage between bacteriological water quality, i.e. faecal coliforms and diarrhoea cases for the three pre-pandemic years 2017, 2018 and 2019 based on multiple sources. With around 17% of households tap water connectivity as of August 2019, the majority of the Indian population depends on raw groundwater (GW) and surface water sources. For this, faecal coliform (FC) levels in surface and GW have been mapped at district levels using data from India's National Water Quality Monitoring Programme. Health Management Information System's data on diarrhoea have been used to understand the monthly and district-wise variation of diarrhoea. The trends of FC, diarrhoea inpatient cases, and diarrhoea inpatient rates have been discussed. The analysis showed issues associated with the reliability and usefulness of these datasets with 43% of total India districts with no reported FC values for the study period. This study reveals a clear gap in the interlinkage between diarrhoea and bacteriological water quality with the unavailability of granular water quality data as a major challenge.

Toxicological Impact of Brick Kiln Emissions on the Liver of Brick Kiln Workers and Residents

Pakistan is the third-largest brick-producing nation in South Asia, behind China and India. In Pakistan, there are over 20,000 brick kilns and 1.8 million brick kiln employees, 50% of them are in Punjab. Brick kilns in rural Punjabi communities like district Narowal still use antiquated methods and are subject to bad laws, which has a negative impact on people's health. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the Narowal district from January 2021 to January 2022 to examine the toxicological effects of brick kiln emissions on the liver. The participants were divided into three groups based on their demographic profiles in order to examine the relationship between appropriate liver function indices, such as ALT, AST, ALP, and bilirubin, and demographic factors like age, BMI, smoking index, and length of employment among exposed (residents and workers) and control groups. The outcome demonstrated that exposed workers and residents had mean ALT (p, 0.001), AST (p, 0.001), and ALP (p, 0.002) levels that were considerably higher than reference values. Bilirubin, a measure of the liver, remained negligible. Blood chemistry tests cannot establish the presence of liver disorders. Therefore, molecular-based follow-up investigations are required to assess the health concerns related to emissions from brick kilns.

Confronting Power: Bani Abidi and Performances of Masculinity

Abstract Contemporary Pakistani artist Bani Abidi explores the overlapping and multifaceted relationship between performance, nationalism, and machinations of power. This article focuses on a subset of her work that considers how masculinity relates to these ideas. Specifically, in the works discussed in this article, she interrogates the ways masculinity is produced and maintained, ultimately revealing the hollowness of such performances. Abidi’s own diasporic perspective centres South Asian culture and identities throughout her practice. She draws our attention to universal conditions that govern the world, but does so within a specifically South Asian context. Her work points to the fictive and limiting nature of gender roles, revealing how these performances of political masculinity are legacies of the colonial encounter. By examining how the performance of masculinity operates as a mechanism of power within Abidi’s work, this article uncovers how her work addresses displays of nationalism in Pakistan and India, particularly as it relates to the region’s post colonial history.

Male Partner Involvement in Birth Preparedness, Complication Readiness and Obstetric Emergencies in Central Rural India: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Childbirth is mainly thought to be a woman'sconcern, and mortality can be prevented by making a birth plan constituting birth preparedness and complication readiness with the entire family as one unit. Indian National Plans aim to increase male involvement, but the policies lack directions and monitoring systems; hence, it becomes important to address this issue. A cross-sectional study conducted in a rural hospital and a community-based setup included 350 male participants, consisting of new fathers or expecting fathers, who were interviewed with the help of a questionnaire. Only 28.29% of male participants were well involved in the process of birth preparedness and complication readiness. 83% of the husbands accompanied their respective wives during ANC visits (mean number of visits: 5.76). 33% of males were aware of various danger signs and complications related to pregnancy. The males with better education (p-value < 0.005) and economic status (p-value < 0.0001) had better birth preparedness. Several variables in the study were positively correlated with the amount of money saved. Interpretation and conclusion: Male involvement during pregnancy significantly impacts maternal and child health outcomes. However, this study highlights a lack of awareness and involvement among males. We strongly recommend enhancing existing maternal and child health (MCH) programs to include components focused on male partner engagement in birth preparedness, complication readiness, and obstetric emergencies.

Overview of acute liver failure in India.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is an infrequent, but serious complication subsequent to severe acute liver injury (sALI) due to various hepatotoxic agents such as hepatotropic virus(es) and drugs such as anti-tubercular medications, paracetamol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antibiotics and anti-cancer and anti-epileptic therapy and due to metabolic and autoimmune disease flares. ALF after sALI presents with encephalopathy associated with prolonged international normalized ratio (INR). Mortality in ALF is high and ranges between 50% and 80%. Due to severe liver damage, multiple sequels consequent to hepatic dysfunction result in complications such as hyperammonemia that culminates in encephalopathy associated with cerebral edema; innate immune paralysis resulting in increased frequency of infections and endotoxemia causing decrease in systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and tissue hypoperfusion and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) released from damaged hepatic parenchyma inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine storm, which may cause other organ dysfunctions. Certain etiologies such as hepatitis E virus and hepatitis A virus-related ALF or paracetamol-ALF (hyper-acute presentation) have better survival than remaining causes. In addition, if etiology-specific treatment (antivirals for ALF related to hepatitis B virus (HBV) or Herpes simplex virus (HSV) or N-acetylcysteine for paracetamol) is available, then the outcome with treatment is better. About half of the patients can be salvaged with medical therapy. All patients need intensive care and organ support to provide time for the liver to regenerate. Various prognostic models to predict high probability of mortality have been described, which should be used to select patient early during the disease for liver transplantation, which is associated with high long-term survival in these sick patients. The Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL) recommends the ALF-Early Dynamic (ALFED) model as a preferred prognostic model in the Indian scenario, where hepatitis viruses are a dominant etiology of ALF and occur on a naïve liver with good regenerative capacity.

Exploring genetic variation for pre-harvest sprouting tolerance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) germplasm conserved in Indian National Genebank

Exploring genetic variation for pre-harvest sprouting tolerance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata [L.] Walp.) germplasm conserved in Indian National Genebank

Transcriptome-wide association mapping provides insights into the genetic basis and candidate genes governing flowering, maturity and seed weight in rice bean (Vigna umbellata)

BackgroundRice bean (Vigna umbellata), an underrated legume, adapts to diverse climatic conditions with the potential to support food and nutritional security worldwide. It is used as a vegetable, minor food crop and a fodder crop, being a rich source of proteins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. However, little effort has been made to decipher the genetic and molecular basis of various useful traits in this crop. Therefore, we considered three economically important traits i.e., flowering, maturity and seed weight of rice bean and identified the associated candidate genes employing an associative transcriptomics approach on 100 diverse genotypes out of 1800 evaluated rice bean accessions from the Indian National Genebank.ResultsThe transcriptomics-based genotyping of one-hundred diverse rice bean cultivars followed by pre-processing of genotypic data resulted in 49,271 filtered markers. The STRUCTURE, PCA and Neighbor-Joining clustering of 100 genotypes revealed three putative sub-populations. The marker-trait association analysis involving various genome-wide association study (GWAS) models revealed significant association of 82 markers on 48 transcripts for flowering, 26 markers on 22 transcripts for maturity and 22 markers on 21 transcripts for seed weight. The transcript annotation provided information on the putative candidate genes for the considered traits. The candidate genes identified for flowering include HSC80, P-II PsbX, phospholipid-transporting-ATPase-9, pectin-acetylesterase-8 and E3-ubiquitin-protein-ligase-RHG1A. Further, the WRKY1 and DEAD-box-RH27 were found to be associated with seed weight. Furthermore, the associations of PIF3 and pentatricopeptide-repeat-containing-gene with maturity and seed weight, and aldo–keto-reductase with flowering and maturity were revealed.ConclusionThis study offers insights into the genetic basis of key agronomic traits in rice bean, including flowering, maturity, and seed weight. The identified markers and associated candidate genes provide valuable resources for future exploration and targeted breeding, aiming to enhance the agronomic performance of rice bean cultivars. Notably, this research represents the first transcriptome-wide association study in pulse crop, uncovering the candidate genes for agronomically useful traits.

Validation of cloud mask product from multi-channel satellite INSAT-3DR

The Indian National Satellite-3DR (INSAT-3DR) provides half-hourly multispectral images over the Indian region from a geostationary position. It observes diurnal variations highly relevant for variety of application areas, including weather forecasting. This work assesses the performance of the cloud mask product of INSAT-3DR new algorithm developed by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) by comparison with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer radiometer (MODIS) cloud mask data for the months from July 2019 to July 2020. The cloud detection algorithm employs nine different tests, considering solar illumination, satellite angle and surface type conditions to get pixel-resolution cloud mask. Our validation results indicate that the probability of detection (POD) of cloudy (clear) sky is 86 % (82 %) with 83 % hit rate for INSAT-3DR cloud mask, using MODIS cloud mask as a reference. When the INSAT-3DR cloud mask algorithm is also implemented on similar channels of MODIS, the POD of cloudy (clear) sky is 76 % (74 %) with 85 % hit rate. Our findings indicate the reliability of the INSAT-3DR cloud mask retrieved product for research and other applications. This is one of the important parameter of satellite derived products, which plays major role in daily operational weather forecasting.

Indian National Congress: Demagogy, Dynasty, Disunity and Decline

The Congress, the grand old party of India, plunged into a political abyss after consecutive defeats in the national elections of 2014 and 2019. It called for a deep remedial overhaul, but it resorted to ‘Band-Aid political strategies’ for pro-tem gains. It recirculated rootless leaders in various party positions, added digital footprints rather than foot soldiers and launched the ambiguous ‘Bharat Jodo Yatras’ (walkathons) – shepherded by Rahul Gandhi to reclaim its lost political dominance. It becomes contextual to revisit the deinstitutionalization thesis of Congress party and probe criticalities of personalism-dynasticism in top echelons and generational factionalism-leadership conundrums in states in hastening its endemic decline.

Prevalence, severity and impacts of breathlessness in Indian adults: An exploratory, nationally representative, cross-sectional online survey.

There are no known estimates of the prevalence, severity and impacts from breathlessness in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, severity, self-attributed underlying conditions and impacts of breathlessness limiting exertion in community-dwelling adults in India. This exploratory, population-based online survey recruited a pre-planned sample of 3,000 adult respondents stratified by age, sex and rurality (quotas as per the 2011 Indian National Census). Measures included: demographics; breathlessness limiting exertion (modified Medical Research [mMRC] scale); health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L); and disability (World Health Organisation's Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 12-item questionnaire [WHODAS-12]). Respondents (n = 3,046) had a mean age of 38 years (SD 15); 57% were male, 59% lived in rural areas and 33% had completed 12th grade. Breathlessness limiting exertion (mMRC ≥1) was reported by 44%, mostly attributed to poor nutrition (28%), lung conditions excluding tuberculosis (17%) or anaemia (13%). Compared to those without breathlessness, a higher proportion of people with breathlessness (mMRC ≥1) reported problems across all EQ-5D-5L dimensions. Most people reporting breathlessness (81%) indicated the symptom had adversely affected their normal activities. Disability scores (WHODAS-12 total and individual domains) increased as breathlessness worsened. To conclude, in India, conservative estimates indicate 626 million people live with breathlessness of whom 52 million people live with severe breathlessness. The symptom is associated with poorer health-related quality of life and marked disability, including reduced ability to perform daily activities.

Resurgent Religious Nationalism in India: Changing Identity and Image of Indian Tourism

ABSTRACT Historians have presented different narratives about the image of India, out of which the colonial narrative of the British period has dominated its post-independence image. One segment of history scholars believe that the ancient history of the country presents its authentic picture. Research on the tourism image of India has not been inclusive and has not considered the different perspectives of the country image. An application-oriented approach is used in the majority of the existing studies to know the perceptions of tourists about tourist-friendly image of India. However, in the last decade, research in history and political science has identified a change in the official narrative about India after 2014 and refers to this as “Religious Nationalism”. This research attempts to identify if this official narrative is percolating to the tourism image of the country. Data generated through focus groups indeed support this and identify new symbols of tourism identity and a new evolving tourism image of India.

The temporary and partial personalization of political parties in India: A comparison of Indira Gandhi's INC and Narendra Modi's BJP

AbstractObjectiveWe analyze the extent to which the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were personalized during the tenures of India's two most famous populist prime ministers, Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi, respectively.MethodsWe use findings from contemporary Indian historiography and journalism, as well as academic secondary sources, to analyze the degree of personalization in both the INC and the BJP based on three separate dimensions of party institutionalization: internal institutionalization, external institutionalization, and objective durability.ResultsWe find evidence of partial personalization in both the INC and the BJP. To the extent that personalization took place in both cases, it involved an informal and temporary concentration of power in the hands of one leader. Both parties' formal structures remained largely constant and both parties remained valued as institutions by both voters and party members.ConclusionIndira Gandhi and Narendra Modi both became two of India's most powerful prime ministers through charismatic populist appeals and cults of personality. While meaningful and important, these outward appearances still give a somewhat misleading image of the degree to which their respective parties underwent personalization during their tenures. Both the BJP and the INC saw a temporary and personal personalization during their time in office while remaining institutionalized parties with objective durability even after their charismatic leaders leave office.

Does Female on Board Affect M&amp;A Participating Firms’ Performance? Empirical Evidence from India Using Dynamic Panel Data Analysis

The aim of this research is to examine the impact of gender diversity and female leadership position on the firm performance of Indian listed firms participating in mergers and acquisitions (M&amp;A) activities. Available research has focused on a small sample of firms and considered ‘gender diversity’ as the only variable. Bearing this in mind, this study focusses on the leadership positions females hold on corporate board along with gender diversity affecting the firm performance measures for the sample of M&amp;A participating firms, as M&amp;As lead to major restructuring of the board. The ‘gender diversity’ is measured with the number of females present on corporate board as directors, ‘leadership position’ is measured with females holding the position either as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or Chairperson on the board. The study employs panel data set for Indian non-financial National Stock Exchange listed M&amp;A participating firms for the period 2013–2020. Using a system of GMM dynamic panel estimates, the study analyses the relationship between gender diversity and females’ varied leadership position on the firm performance measures, that is, return on asset, Tobin’s q. The findings reveal that there is a positive association between gender diversity and firm performance measures. Females holding the top leadership positions as either CEO or Chairperson on the board positively impact the firm performance measures. This study adds to the existing literature on gender diversity at the board level and M&amp;A literature in the Indian context. JEL Codes: G 3, G 34, J 16

Role of Society in National Consciousness

The role of society in national consciousness is very important. Society influences the interest, organization and status of a nation. Stability, support and partnership of society play an important role in building national consciousness. It establishes the nation's identity and self-respect and promotes prosperity and equality. The emergence of national consciousness in the nineteenth century was actually the result of the British rule. The changes made by the British rule in the political, economic and social fields, which resulted in the exploitation of the Indian society, it is true that the rise and development of nationalism in India is more as compared to other countries. It happened with difficulty. Contemporary modern educated intellectuals like Raja Rammohan Roy, Keshavchandra Sen, Ishwarbandra Vidyasagar, Swami Vivekananda Environt, Sir Syed Ahmed etc. tried to eradicate the evils prevalent in the society and became strong critics of the British policy. And by influencing the Indian public with his thoughts and actions, he awakened a sense of self-confidence in them. In the year 1883-54, postal system was established in Marath, railway lines were laid, all the cities were connected by telegraph system, connecting one province to another, there was an opportunity to establish contact with the people living in remote places. This was the beginning of Indian nationalism. Became the main reason for the rise. A sense of solidarity emerged among Indians during the anti-imperialist struggle. The presented research paper investigates these facts.

Growing the global cancer care system: success stories from around the world and lessons for the future.

Despite major biomedical advancements in various realms of oncology, the benefits of these developments are not equitably distributed, particularly in underresourced settings. Although much work has described the challenges and systemic barriers in global cancer control, in this article we focus on success stories. This article describes clinical care delivered at Rwanda's Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence, the cancer research collaborations under India's National Cancer Grid, and the efforts of Latin America's Institute of Cancer of São Paulo in advancing cancer care and training. These examples highlight the potential of strategic collaborations and resource allocation strategies in improving cancer care globally. We emphasize the critical role of partnerships between physicians and allied health professionals, funders, and policy makers in enhancing access to treatment and infrastructure, advancing contextualized research and national guidelines, and establishing regional and global collaborations. We also draw attention to challenges faced in diverse global settings and outline benchmarks to measure success in the fight against cancer.

Embarking on Friendship: Exploring Early Soviet-Indian Relations

By the onset of the Second World War, the USSR had virtually no experience or established traditions of interaction with South Asian countries. Initially, Soviet-Indian relations could be characterized as tepid, largely due to a lack of accurate information about each other. During the wartime, the USSR underestimated the advantages of forging close ties with Indian left-wing centrists, favoring instead communists who provided the Kremlin with falsified data on the national liberation movement in the country.The article examines how bilateral relations evolved and strengthened as mutual knowledge grew. The second stage of Soviet-Indian relations (1955-1971) can be termed as a period of "birth of friendship," as the image of partnership is consolidated in the eyes of Soviet and Indian politicians and the public. Soviet diplomacy played a pivotal role in shaping policy changes: diplomats sought to gather crucial information about events in the country, transmit it to the USSR, and promote bilateral rapprochement, sometimes even acting in violation of instructions.The article pays particular attention to the activities of Subhas Chandra Bose, the leader of the left wing of the Indian National Congress, who according to Indian sociological surveys on the most prominent politicians of the 20th century, ranks second only to Mahatma Gandhi. During the Second World War, he was an uncompromising fighter against British colonialists. The Soviet Union did not pay sufficient attention to S.C. Bose, although he potentially could have been a valuable partner for Moscow.At present, the problem of mutual lack of awareness has resurfaced, hindering the development of closer political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian ties between Russia and India.

A Critical Analysis of India's National Education Policy 2020 and its Alignment with the UN SDGs

A Critical Analysis of India's National Education Policy 2020 and its Alignment with the UN SDGs