West India Research Articles

Empowerment of adolescent girls and gender based violence prevention through sports: a group work intervention in India

ABSTRACT Violence against women is a severe public health issue and an unacceptable violation of human rights. The Kabaddi group work project in West Bengal, India, integrates sports and socio-emotional learning as a strategy for preventing violence against women through the empowerment of adolescent girls. Delivered by Praajak, a non-governmental organization, the Kabaddi project involves participants in athletic training and weekly study circles that raise awareness; build knowledge, skills, and confidence; and generate mutual trust and motivation to promote individual and social change. Guided by social learning theory and feminist theory, the carefully designed group work intervention follows a developmental approach that is consistent with Linda Schiller’s relational model of group development. Testimonies from group participants demonstrate the intergenerational impact of the Kabaddi project on participants, families, and communities.

Investing in Engenhos: Credit, Claims, and Sugar Mills in Dutch Brazil

This article examines the issue of private investment in the seventeenth-century Dutch colony in Brazil. For the first time, new archival discoveries allow for a reconstruction of the size of private investment in the colony, as well as a breakdown into distinct investment activities. The article argues that private investment was an absolute necessity for the West India Company in the hope of making its colony successful, as it could not provide the required funds by itself. Private individuals claimed to have invested over eleven million guilders in the colony, nearly one-and-a-half times the WIC’s original capitalization. A number of case studies elaborate the overall figures presented and show that Dutch investors did indeed move into sugar cultivation and even moved into agricultural property development. Presenting these data and sources will, it is posited, allow for a fuller picture of the role of former inhabitants of Dutch Brazil in the development of plantation systems in the wider Caribbean from the mid-1640s onwards.

Transmission of the Milindapañha

This article re-examines speculations about school affiliation of the Milindapañha (Questions of King Milinda) and traces its presence from North West India in the early centuries CE up to Southeast Asia in the nineteenth century. As there are significant differences between the textual traditions of the Pali Text Society’s Milindapañho and the Siamese printed edition, the Milindapañh?, I will discuss the little-known textual characteristics of the Siamese recensions which were circulating in Central Siam from at least the seventeenth century. This is possible with the discovery of several Ayutthaya period Milindapañha manuscripts kept at a temple and the National Library of Thailand. By the end of the eighteenth century, at least three different recensions were circulating in Central Siam. This paper will present some of their dissimilarities as well as their probable textual lineages. The newly discovered manuscripts also partly demonstrate that the shape of the textual tradition of a text, at least for the Milindapañha in Siam, reflects a function of the textual community that preserved and transmitted it.

Pacifying the Pindaris: Warfare and state building by the British in India, 1750–1830

This article examines the rise and fall of the Pindaris in India between the mid eighteenth and early nineteenth century. The Pindaris started their career as military mercenaries of the Maratha chiefs. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, they became semi-autonomous non-state powers and threatened both their employers as well as the expanding British Empire in India. The Pindari threat became intense in Central and West India. As this article shows, in the first half of the nineteenth century, an amalgam of kinetic and non-kinetic measures helped the East India Company to suppress and pacify the Pindaris.

The increasing atmospheric CO2 over India: Comparison to global trends

SummaryAtmospheric CO2 is the key Greenhouse Gas in terms of its global warming potential and anthropogenic sources. Therefore, it is important to analyze the changes in the concentration of atmospheric CO2 to monitor regional and global climate change. Here, we use ground-based and satellite measurements for the 2002-2020 period to assess CO2 over India. The average CO2 trend over India is about 2.1 ppm/yr, and the highest trends are in agreement with the increase in total energy consumption during the period, and the highest trends are found in the areas of mines and refineries in the west and east India. The estimated CO2 trends for India are comparable to that of global tropical and mid-latitude regions. The increasing CO2 implies serious anthropogenic global warming and thus, calls for mitigation measures and continuous monitoring for timely policy interventions.

Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Shorebird Assemblages in Select Estuaries along the India's West Coast

The Indian coast and its adjacent wetlands host large congregations of shorebirds, including winter and passage migrants of high conservation priority, along the Central Asian Flyway. Identifying crucial wintering and stopover sites and seasons is an important step toward conserving shorebirds and their habitats along the Indian coast. We assessed spatial and temporal patterns of shorebird composition from January 2015 to December 2016 at seven estuaries along Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district, which is located on India's west coast, a coastal zone of international importance for shorebirds. Three potential shorebird habitats –mangroves, mudflats, and sandy beaches – were selected at each of the estuaries chosen for the study. We established three vantage points, one each in the mangrove, mudflat, and sandy beach areas, to count birds during low tide. The total count method was followed to count birds, and occasional photograph-based counts were also made when flock size was big or the flocks kept changing. We recorded 31 species of migratory shorebirds, of which 68% wintered and 32% used the Sindhudurg coast as migratory stopover site. We found significantly high richness and abundance of shorebirds during winter and in the mudflats. nMDS was used to determine species composition of shorebird across habitats and months and revealed distinct patterns of composition in five unique phases: arrival, wintering, early departure, departure, and breeding. Our results revealed that the species composition of shorebirds is not homogenous across sites and months, and is largely driven by the habitat heterogeneity of estuaries, seasonality, and anthropogenic disturbances. These results provide baseline information on shorebirds along a stretch of India's west coast and highlight the importance of mudflats and non-protected coastal wetlands for shorebirds.

Prevalence and Pattern of Sexual Dysfunction in Male Patients with Alcohol Dependence.

Alcohol is a potent substance that causes both acute and chronic changes in almost all neurochemical systems, with the result that heavy drinking can produce serious psychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, and psychoses. It also affects sexual health adversely and causes sexual dysfunction. This study aimed to find the prevalence and pattern of sexual dysfunction in male patients with alcohol dependence. This cross-sectional study included 100 patients attending psychiatry out patient department (OPD) at a tertiary care center in west India. Informed written consent was taken for collecting socio-demographic and clinical data in a uniform and standard manner. Sexual dysfunction was assessed using a sexual dysfunction checklist, constructed by Arackal and Benegal at the national institute of mental health and neuroscience, Bangalore containing 12 items from the diagnostic criteria for research and ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioral disorders. The Leeds dependence questionnaire was used to assess the severity of alcohol dependence. Sexual dysfunction was present in 62% of the patients. Among the patients, 36% had difficulty achieving an erection, 34% had difficulty maintaining an erection, 37% reported premature ejaculation, 7% had delayed ejaculation, 14% reported anorgasmia, 1% had ejaculation with a flaccid penis, 2% had pain during intercourse, 6% were dissatisfied with the frequency of intercourse, 4% were dissatisfied with their sexual partner, and 7% were dissatisfied with their performance. Sexual dysfunction is significantly and positively associated with duration, amount of alcohol consumed per day, and severity of alcohol dependence.

Chatoyer’s Punch Ladle: A Museum Artifact that Speaks to the Hidden History of the Garifuna, An African-Caribbean People

ABSTRACT This paper contextualizes the artifact “Punch Ladle, 1773” on display in the “London, Sugar & Slavery” exhibition at Museum of London Docklands (UK). A placard identifies the ladle as once belonging to “Chatoyer, Chief of the Caribs” and as on loan by the West India Committee. Through this artifact, the largely forgotten story of Chatoyer and the so-called Black Caribs (Garifuna) is highlighted, while complexities of the artifact’s provenance are analyzed through an object biography approach. The paper also considers the ethical and curatorial implications of the current non-repatriation of the artifact and its present location within the “Slave Owner” part of the exhibition. Finally, by arguing for the artifact’s global significance through its association with Chatoyer, a historic African-Caribbean figure of colonial resistance, this article contributes to current museum decolonization debates.

Dynamical links of convective storms associated with tropospheric biennial oscillation in the Indian monsoon regime

Tropospheric Biennial Oscillation (TBO) is characterized by a tendency for a relatively stronger monsoon to be followed by a relatively weaker one (positive) or vice-versa (negative). This study examines the distribution of different convective systems occurring during TBO phases over the Indian monsoon region. During negative TBO phase, convection is preferential over the Arabian Sea (AS), whereas during positive TBO phase, it is favoured over the land areas and Bay of Bengal (BoB). The isolated shallow convection (ISC) is dominated over the AS and Indian west coast during negative TBO years. A relatively stable environment (statically) capped with drier mid-troposphere results in abundant ISC over the AS. Broad stratiform rain (BSR) dominates over the central and east coast of India, BoB and Myanmar coast during positive TBO years and wide convective core (WCC) are present along the orographic regions, i.e., Myanmar coast and Western Ghats during negative TBO phase. The anomalous easterlies induced by the upper-ocean temperature gradient interact with the mean monsoon winds during positive TBO to provide pathways for developing BSR echoes. The deep-wide convection (DWC) are higher along the Himalayan foothills during positive TBO years. The moist low-level flow from the AS is trapped by dry mid-level flow from high latitudes, resulting in orographic lifting along the Himalayan foothills and form DWC.

Modelling the current and future potential distribution of the bean bug Riptortus pedestris with increasingly serious damage to soybean.

The bean bug, Riptortus pedestris, has received intense attention in recent years because of its involvement in increasing outbreaks of staygreen syndrome in soybean (Glycine max (L.)), often causing almost 100% loss of soybean yield in China. However, for this pest of great economic importance, potential current and future distribution patterns and their underlying driving factors remain unclear. Maxent modelling under climate, elevation and land-use (including the distribution information of G. max) variables showed that the current potential distribution covered a vast geographic range, primarily including most parts of south, South East and east Asia. Under future environmental scenarios, suitable habitat expanded markedly. Areas that would become highly suitable for R. pedestris were primarily located in north-east China and west India. Five bioclimatic (BIO13, BIO08, BIO18, BIO02 and BIO07) and one land-use (C3 annual crops) predictors contributed approximately 95% to the modelling, and analyses of curve responses showed that to a certain extent, R. pedestris preferred relatively high temperature and precipitation. Our results indicate that a high risk of R. pedestris outbreaks is present in parts of Asia, especially in the soybean-growing regions of China, and this risk will continue in the future. The predicted distribution pattern and key regulating factors identified herein could provide a vital reference for developing pest management policies and further alleviate the incidence of staygreen syndrome in soybean. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Worlding the South: Nineteenth-century literary culture and the southern settler colonies.

In 1847, Pacific Islander Kiro arrived in London to help the London Missionary Society with a translation of the Bible into Cook Islands Māori. As Kiro disembarked from the missionary ship onto the West India Docks, his status suddenly changed from a fellow Christian and facilitator of the missionary efforts in the South Pacific to a potential thief, an object of surveillance and suspicion. Michelle Elleray’s chapter on Kiro’s experiences in Worlding the south: Nineteenth-century literary culture and the southern settler colonies challenges our orientation toward colonial and Indigenous identity. Kiro exposes the challenges in reading not only Christian Pacific Islander experience, but in the problem of framing and accessing such experiences through British sites and archives.

Response of hybrid fodder sorghum in relation to sulfur fertilization and irrigation regimes in semi-arid region of North West India

The animal feed nutritional value is dependent on the feed chemical composition and which could be affected by sulfur fertilization and irrigation regimes. Therefore, the present study was formulated to evaluate the effect of sulfur fertilization and irrigation regimes on fodder sorghum in semi-arid region. A two-year field experiment (2016/2017) was conducted on multi-cut hybrid sorghum with three moisture regimes (60 and 120 Cumulative Pan Evaporation (CPE), and no irrigation) and three sulfur (S) levels (0, 15 and 30 kg/ha S) as sub-plot treatment in split-plot design replicated thrice. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that individually irrigation scheduling at 60 CPE and sulfur application at 30 kg/ha resulted maximum plant height, leaf area index and number of tillers. The application of 30 kg/ha S observed with higher total green fodder yield which was 20.1% in 2016 and 16.8% more than control in 2017 and nearly, similar results were also obtained in relation to dry matter yield. Sulfur fertilization and irrigation at 60 CPE showed 39.5% mean reduction in hydrocyanic acid and the average crude protein of 10.5% and in vitro dry matter digestibility of 55.5% at 1st cut was recorded. Application of S and irrigation regimes improved the nitrogen and sulfur concentration in fodder. In conclusion, the application of sulfur @ 30 kg/ha through any sulfur source could be considered as the potential sulfur fertilizer in improving the injurious effects of water deficit condition of hybrid multi-cut fodder sorghum through alterations in nutrient uptake, yield and quality.

Assessment of coastal variations due to climate change using remote sensing and machine learning techniques: A case study from west coast of India

Climate change and other environmental disturbances are causing sea level rise all over the world. Due to sea-level rise and other unprecedented atmospheric phenomena caused by climate change, Indian coasts are vulnerable to coastal erosion. The Kerala coast, at the southern tip of India's west coast, has experienced a sea change in the last decade. To address coastal variations, we investigate coastal erosion, coastal accretion, and shoreline changes (from 2006 to 2020) along this coast between Pozhiyoor and Anchuthengu (58 km). To monitor the status and predict changes along the coast, remote sensing, GIS, field checks, and machine learning tools were used. The data analysis reveals that the shoreline configuration, rate of beach accretion, and erosion have all changed significantly. When the rate of erosion in the 58-km-long coastal stretch was examined, it was discovered that approximately 42 km face acute erosion, 13 km face accretion, and approximately 3 km face neither accretion nor erosion and remain in equilibrium. According to the estimates, approximately 2.62 km2 of land has been eroded away from the shore over a 14-year period, while 0.7 km2 of land has been accreted. At locations where the influence of river discharge or groynes is minimal, the normal rate of accretion in the stretch is around 1–2 m/y. Nonetheless, the rate of accretion increased to 5–8 m/y where groynes or river mouths, or both, have a significant influence on shoreline stability. The normal rate of erosion in the stretch under consideration, however, is around 5 m/y. With a rate of 10.59 m/y, Pozhiyoor had the highest erosion rate. According to the data, the rate of erosion is faster between Pozhikkara and Veli. The increase in shoreline changes is primarily may be due to increased cyclone occurrences in the Arabian Sea, the formation of swell waves, changes in wave energy, and sea level rise due to climate change. The slow rate of sediment discharge by rivers, groyne construction, groyne spacing, groyne length, long shore currents, and preferential northward sediment transport all play a role in the formation and destruction of beaches along India's west coast. Using machine learning techniques, a prediction model for the year 2027 was created using data from the previous 14 years (2006–2020). According to the model, almost the entire stretch will experience severe erosion, with the rate remaining consistently high between Shanghumugham and Anchuthengu. As a result, soft and appropriate engineering solutions are required for coastal stability all along the beach, particularly at these two locations after a feasibilty study.

"Ethno-microbiology" of ethnic Indian fermented foods and alcoholic beverages.

The concept of "ethno-microbiology" is to understand the indigenous knowledge of the Indian people for production of culturally and organoleptically acceptable fermented foods by natural fermentation. About 1000 types of common, uncommon, rare, exotic and artisan fermented foods and beverages are prepared and consumed in different geographical regions by multi-ethnic communities in India. Indian fermented foods are mostly acidic and some are alkaline, along with various types of alcoholic beverages. A colossal diversity of microorganisms comprising bacteria mostly belongs to phylum Firmicutes, filamentous moulds and enzyme- and alcohol-producing yeasts under phyla Ascomycota and Mucoromycota, and few bacteriophages and archaea have been reported from Indian fermented foods. Some microorganisms associated with fermented foods have functionalities and health promoting benefits. "Ethno-microbiology" of ethnic Indian people has exhibited the proper utilisation of substrates either singly or in combination such as fermented cereal-legume mixture (idli, dosa and dhokla) in South and West India, sticky fermented soybean food (kinema and related foods), fermented perishable leafy vegetable (gundruk and related foods), fermented bamboo shoots (soibum and related foods) and fermented fish (ngari and others) in North East India, and fermented meat and sausage-like products in the Indian Himalayas, fermented coconut beverage (toddy) in coastal regions, and various types of naturally fermented milk products (dahi and related products) in different regions of India. This review has also highlighted the "ethno-microbiology" knowledge of the people involving the consortia of essential microorganisms in traditionally prepared amylolytic starters for production of cereal-based alcoholic beverages. The novelty of this review is the interpretation of ethno-microbiological knowledge innovated by ethnic Indian people on the use of beneficial microorganisms for food fermentation to obtain the desired fermented food products for consumption.

Environmental Factors Associated With Soil Prevalence of the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei: A Longitudinal Seasonal Study From South West India.

Melioidosis is a seasonal infectious disease in tropical and subtropical areas caused by the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. In many parts of the world, including South West India, most cases of human infections are reported during times of heavy rainfall, but the underlying causes of this phenomenon are not fully understood. India is among the countries with the highest predicted melioidosis burden globally, but there is very little information on the environmental distribution of B. pseudomallei and its determining factors. The present study aimed (i) to investigate the prevalence of B. pseudomallei in soil in South West India, (ii) determine geochemical factors associated with B. pseudomallei presence and (iii) look for potential seasonal patterns of B. pseudomallei soil abundance. Environmental samplings were performed in two regions during the monsoon and post-monsoon season and summer from July 2016 to November 2018. We applied direct quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) together with culture protocols to overcome the insufficient sensitivity of solely culture-based B. pseudomallei detection from soil. A total of 1,704 soil samples from 20 different agricultural sites were screened for the presence of B. pseudomallei. Direct qPCR detected B. pseudomallei in all 20 sites and in 30.2% (517/1,704) of all soil samples, whereas only two samples from two sites were culture-positive. B. pseudomallei DNA-positive samples were negatively associated with the concentration of iron, manganese and nitrogen in a binomial logistic regression model. The highest number of B. pseudomallei-positive samples (42.6%, p < 0.0001) and the highest B. pseudomallei loads in positive samples [median 4.45 × 103 genome equivalents (GE)/g, p < 0.0001] were observed during the monsoon season and eventually declined to 18.9% and a median of 1.47 × 103 GE/g in summer. In conclusion, our study from South West India shows a wide environmental distribution of B. pseudomallei, but also considerable differences in the abundance between sites and within single sites. Our results support the hypothesis that nutrient-depleted habitats promote the presence of B. pseudomallei. Most importantly, the highest B. pseudomallei abundance in soil is seen during the rainy season, when melioidosis cases occur.

Spaces of Enslavement: A History of Slavery and Resistance in Dutch New York by Andrea C. Mosterman

Reviewed by: Spaces of Enslavement: A History of Slavery and Resistance in Dutch New York by Andrea C. Mosterman Christy Clark-Pujara Spaces of Enslavement: A History of Slavery and Resistance in Dutch New York. By Andrea C. Mosterman. New Netherland Institute. 246 pages. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 2021. Cloth, ebook. Andrea C. Mosterman's Spaces of Enslavement examines the experiences of enslaved people in Dutch New York using historical spatial analysis, offering an in-depth study of the often-overlooked spaces where enslaved people lived and labored. Her thorough examinations of the physical places occupied by bound people demonstrate the necessity of seriously considering space and the built environment in slavery studies. As she effectively shows, the use of private and public space was contested through the institution of slavery. She pays particular attention to how the relationships between enslavers and the enslaved were articulated and mitigated through the occupation of and movement in and out of space, especially family homes, churches, and public areas. Mosterman thus demonstrates how Dutch American enslavers attempted to use the built environment to control and surveil enslaved people and how enslaved people resisted the restrictions and limits placed on their movements and occupation of various spaces. Spaces of Enslavement is a hyper-local study that begins with the Dutch invasion and occupation of Manhattan in the 1620s and concludes during the early American republic. The enslavers she studies were those Dutch colonists and later Dutch Americans who, even after the sale of New Netherland to the British, spoke Dutch and were members of the Dutch Reformed Church. The first generations of enslaved people were African-descended Atlantic Creoles—bound peoples primarily transported by privateers from the West Indies. Many of them were familiar with the commercial world of the Atlantic, semifluent in multiple languages, and intimately knowledgeable about multiple cultures. By contrast, in the eighteenth century, the enslaved were predominantly captives from Madagascar, the Gold Coast, and Senegambia who entered the region directly and whose experience of enslavement was marked by extreme disorientation. Through meticulous interrogation of archival materials—including account books, newspapers, and court and church records from the United States and the Netherlands—Mosterman paints an intimate picture of the lived experience of enslaved people in Dutch New Amsterdam and early Dutch America more broadly. She also employs the methods and theories of social scientists—particularly archaeologists—to describe the spaces where enslaved people lived, worked, socialized, and prayed. Her research included taking measurements to determine if they could stand upright in the spaces where they slept, deducing the intensity of heat in the summer and cold in [End Page 477] the winter, and assessing how much privacy they had to make love, change their clothes, and sleep. Similarly, when examining their religious lives, she focuses on questions such as whether they could see and hear the minister from their segregated seats in church. Mosterman's attention to detail is a concrete reminder of how much impact the built environment had on the day-to-day lived experience of enslaved people. Spaces of Enslavement is organized both chronologically and thematically. The first two chapters focus on the Dutch period, highlighting the importance of slave labor and how those held in bondage by the Dutch West India Company took advantage of the lack of spatial control to negotiate greater freedoms both formal and informal. Chapter 1 opens with the botched hanging of an enslaved man who was to be executed for the murder of another enslaved man; his life was spared when colonists pleaded with officials to reconsider executing him after the initial attempt failed. Mosterman uses this sensational event to highlight how instrumental the labors of enslaved people were to the maintenance of the colony, as enslaved people helped to build the colonial infrastructure and were armed during conflicts with Indigenous peoples. Chapter 2 begins with freedom petitions from three enslaved women. They asked the New Netherland council both to manumit them after decades of "loyal" (31) labor and to allow them to live together among other freed Black people north of New Amsterdam. The council agreed but required the women to return weekly for domestic work...

Morphometric Analysis of Laminae of C3–C6 Vertebrae of Cervical Spine in the Population of North West India

Introduction: The knowledge of morphometric parameters of laminae of cervical vertebrae is indispensable in surgical procedures and developing instrumentation for surgical processes. Literature reports ethnic and geographical variations reported in these dimensions. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study included analysis of laminae of 212 cervical vertebrae (C3–C6). The length of superior border of lamina and inferior border of lamina was measured on the right and left sides using vernier caliper. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was done with the help of Microsoft Excel version 2021. Results: The length of the superior border of lamina on both sides increases from C3 to C5. The length of the inferior border of the lamina on both sides decreases from C3 to C4, then on the right side, it increases from C4 to C5 and then decreases from C5 to C6, and on the left side, it increases from C4 to C6. At C4, the length of superior border of lamina on the right side differed statistically from the length of superior border of lamina on the left side (P = 0.042). A significant difference between lengths of the inferior border of laminae on the right and left sides was also found at the C5 vertebra (P = 0.001) and C6 vertebra (P = 0.012). No significant difference in thickness and height of lamina was observed between right and left sides. Conclusion: The present study indicates morphometric parameters of laminae of typical cervical vertebrae in the North West Indian population differ from the same parameters in Brazilian as well as South Indian populations. The length of superior border as well as inferior border of lamina has significant differences between right and left sides. However, there is no significant difference in height and thickness of laminae between right and left sides.

Screening adults with tuberculosis for severe illness at notification: programme experience from Gujarat, India.

National tuberculosis (TB) programmes in high-burden countries do not systematically assess severity at diagnosis followed by referral for inpatient care. Due to limited capacity, comprehensive assessment of all TB patients is not practical. In three districts of Gujarat (West India) in June 2021, we determined the feasibility of screening for severe illness by paramedical staff of public facilities and the burden of 'high risk for severe illness' at notification among adults (≥15y of age) with TB. In this cross-sectional study, the screening criteria for high risk for severe illness was the presence of any one of the following: body mass index (BMI) ≤14.0kg/m2, BMI ≤16.0kg/m2 with bilateral leg swelling, respiratory rate >24/min, oxygen saturation <94% or inability to stand without support. We summarized the feasibility indicators and burden using proportion (95% confidence interval [CI]) and median, as applicable. Of 626 notified adults, 87% were screened. The median time interval for screening was 3d from notification and all indicators were collected in 97% of patients. The burden of high risk for severe illness was high, at 41.6% (95% CI 37.5 to 45.8). High burden and feasibility (high coverage, acceptable time interval and minimal missing data) makes a strong case for routine screening of severe illness.

An annotated checklist of anomuran species (Crustacea: Decapoda) of India

An annotated checklist of the anomuran crustaceans recorded from Indian waters is compiled from available published literature. A total of 231 species belonging to 58 genera, 15 families and five superfamilies are listed. The highest number of species was seen in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Ecoregion (114 species, 37 genera, 14 families), followed by the South India Ecoregion (111 species, 41 genera, 14 families), West India Ecoregion (93 species, 36 genera, 14 families), Eastern India Ecoregion (76 species, 29 genera, 12 families), Maldives Ecoregion (34 species, 15 genera, 10 families) and Northern Bay of Bengal Ecoregion (22 species, nine genera, five families). Notes on the questionable identifications and records of some anomuran crabs are also provided.

The Incidence and Etiology of 3rd, 4th, 6th, and Multiple Cranial Nerve Palsies in South India: A 6-Month Retrospective Prevalence Study

Cranial nerve palsies may occur secondary to various etiologies including vasculopathic risk factors, trauma, cerebrovascular accident, neoplasms, inflammation, pituitary apoplexy, aneurysm and giant cell arteritis [1-6]. Studies have compared various etiologies in the West, Korea, and North India but data aimed at the South Indian population is limited. Geographic specific data can help in better understanding region specific risk factors.