South India Research Articles

Understanding the treatment paradigm and the sequencing of antiglaucoma fixed-dose combinations in a tertiary center in South India.

To analyze the medical management of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) and the placement of fixed-drug combination drugs (FDC) in the treatment paradigm at a tertiary eye care center in South India. Retrospective study (January 2011-December 2015) of newly diagnosed POAG and OHT patients (≥18 years) with ≥5 years follow-up. Primary outcome included percentage use of different antiglaucoma drugs (at initiation) and FDCs at the first, second, and third progression (sequencing). Secondary outcomes: Percentage discontinuation for different FDCs, efficacy parameters (decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP)/visual field), adverse events, and the median number of antiglaucoma medications (AGMs) after 5 years. Three hundred and seventy eyes (198 patients) were analyzed; 84% of them had POAG. Prostaglandin analogs (PGAs) were the most common (66.2%). FDCs were started in 48 eyes (12.9%), with brimonidine + timolol combination being the most common. FDC usage at subsequent modifications was 10.1%, 24.04%, and 30.0%. Beta-blockers and PGAs were the most frequently prescribed AGMs in our practice pattern, with b-blockers being the most consistent one. This study is a fairly large study with a minimum of a 5-year follow-up of patients with POAG and OHT and gives insights into the treatment patterns, use of FDCs, and the need for multiple medications over time.

Additions to the taxonomy of the genus Ophionea Klug, 1821 (Coleoptera: Carabidae: Lebiinae) and a new species from India

A new ground beetle species Ophionea vvrei sp. nov. is described from South India, with revised key to the species of the genus Ophionea, revised descriptions of O. bhamoensis bhamoensis (Bates, 1892) and O. interstitialis Schmidt-Göbel, 1846, first report of Ophionea ceylonica (Baehr, 1996) from Indian mainland and designation of the lectotype of O. indica (Thunberg, 1784).

Surgically induced necrotizing scleritis (SINS): Is it a standalone condition or a variant of necrotizing scleritis?

To report the clinical pattern of surgically induced necrotizing scleritis (SINS) in a tertiary eye care center in Southern India. Retrospective analysis of all SINS cases visiting the uveitis clinic of a tertiary eye institute between January 2009 and April 2019. In total, 15 patients with a median age of 65 (IQR:52-70) years were included in the study. Male (53%) predominance was noted, and SINS was unilateral (100%) in all cases. Most (87%) of the patients developed SINS after a single surgical procedure, with a median onset period of 251 (IQR:127-1095) days. None of these patients had any evidence of systemic association. Ocular hypertension (n = 3, 20%), and cataract (n = 5, 33%) were the most common complications. When compared with a cohort of patients with idiopathic necrotizing scleritis, the index study did not find any statistically significant difference between SINS and idiopathic scleritis. SINS is idiopathic necrotizing scleritis rather than an independent entity of scleritis.

Plantiness, Multispecies Conviviality and Changing Human-Plant Geographies

The essay examines changing human-plant geographies in Kodagu, situated in the Western Ghats in southern India. Paying attention to Kodagu helps investigate how plantiness impacts resource politics in indigenous landscapes across pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial timeframes. This essay will study Sarita Mandanna’s Tiger Hills (2010) and Kavery Nambisan’s The Scent of Pepper (2010) from a bioregional perspective to understand the importance of native plants, forests, vegetal and feral spaces across Kodagu’s shifting societies and timeframes and examine how human-plant encounters redefine the role of plants in Kodagu’s more-than-human geographies. With a particular focus on the Kodava ritual of Kailpodh, this essay will investigate how humans often classify plants as native, invasive, weeds, sacred and unwanted, depending on their impact on human social life, and how ritualising plants such as rajakirita (Gloriosa superba) helps to reinhabit Kodagu and deepens the Kodava human-plant interaction across space and time.

Major, trace and platinum-group element geochemistry of mesoarchean komatiites from the banasandra greenstone belt, Western Dharwar craton (southern India): implications for multi-stage plume magmatism in generating compositionally diverse komatiites

ABSTRACT The early Archean Al-undepleted komatiites (AUK) from two locations (Kunikenahalli, Kodihalli) of the Banasandra greenstone belt in the Western Dharwar Craton are studied for understanding their petrogenesis. The field distribution, mineralogy and geochemistry indicate their cogenetic nature. The samples are mainly cumulates (MgO: 37–45 wt%), now completely serpentinized, while the spinifex zone is obscure. Using geochemical modelling, the MgO content of the primary undifferentiated magma is estimated to be nearly 25 wt%. The depleted LREE values from this study, and the positive εNd values from previous studies suggest that the komatiites are derived from a depleted mantle source. Trace-element and PGE geochemistry eliminate the possibility of crustal contamination and sulphide-saturation in these komatiites after emplacement. Modelling results estimated in this study suggest ~45% melting of a deeper mantle (~6 GPa) to generate the komatiites. Fractionation of olivine (Fo94) from the parental melt and their accumulation formed the mesocumulates in Kodihalli, and the more fractionated orthocumulates in Kunikenahalli. The compositional spectrum from AUK through Al-depleted (ADK) to Al-enriched (AEK) varieties in the Banasandra greenstone belt reported in this study and others, are proposed to be a product of melting of a single mantle plume at different depths.

The material and the moral: contradictory imperatives and the production of trafficking narratives in South India

ABSTRACT Transnational anti-trafficking networks seek to ‘rescue’ cisgender women who sell sex in India. This article puzzles out why cis female sex workers might narrate themselves as victims of trafficking in need of rescue despite making comfortable livings as independent sex workers who control their own labour. I draw data from my own ethnographic observations, interviews with 130 Telugu-speaking sex workers, as well as publicly circulating media clips, all from fieldwork conducted in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana between 2009 and 2018. The victim narratives analysed here were told by sex workers familiar with arguments in favour of decriminalising and destigmatizing sex work. My research suggests that many women who sell sex value the material goals of the sex workers’ rights movement while nevertheless longing for the immaterial moral security touted by anti-traffickers. I argue that publicly performing trafficking narratives allows women who sell sex to disavow moral agency in participating in what they often refer to as tappudu pani (bad work) while nevertheless accessing the material benefits of sex work. Participating in what Lindquist has called the aesthetic of trafficking, therefore, enables them to plead for sympathy from not only faceless donors but their own moral communities.

Near vision impairment and effective refractive error coverage for near vision in Andhra Pradesh, India – The Akividu Visual Impairment Study (AVIS)

ABSTRACT Clinical relevance Near Vision Impairment (NVI) is common in developing countries. A substantial proportion of NVI can be addressed by providing spectacles. Innovative eye care programmes are needed to address NVI. Population-based epidemiological studies can provide vital data to plan such eye care service delivery models. Background To report the prevalence of NVI and effective Refractive Error Coverage (eREC) for near vision in West Godavari and Krishna districts in Andhra Pradesh, south India. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out using a Rapid Assessment of Visual Impairment methodology. Presenting and pinhole distance visual acuity were assessed followed by near vision assessment using a N notation chart at a fixed distance of 40 cm. If the presenting near vision was worse than N8, the best corrected near visual acuity was recorded with age appropriate near vision correction. NVI was defined as presenting near vision worse than N8 among those without distance vision impairment (6/18 or better in the better eye). Effective Refractive Error Coverage for near was calculated as the proportion of individuals with an adequate correction to the total participants, including those with inadequate, adequate, and no correction for near vision. Results Data of 2,228 participants aged ≥40 years were analysed. The mean age of these participants was 54.0 ± 10.4 years; 53.8% were women; 44.5% had no formal education. The prevalence of NVI was 27.1% (95% CI: 25.2–29.0%). NVI significantly associated with 70 and above age group (adjusted OR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.45-3.70). Participants with formal education had lower odds for NVI (adjusted OR: 0.75; 95 % CI: 0.68-0.83). The eREC for near vision was 48.0%. Conclusion NVI affects over a quarter of people aged ≥40 years in the West Godavari and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh. However, eREC is under 50% and there is scope for improving this by establishing eye care services to achieve universal eye health for all.

Enrichment and Bioavailability of Phosphate in a Highly Urbanized Zone of Cochin Estuary, South India

ABSTRACT Sequential extraction (SEDEX method) was employed to explore the distribution of sediment-bound phosphorus (P) fractions and the bioavailability of P in Cochin estuary. Concentration of P fractions in surface sediments of the study area ranged as follows: Detrital P > Organic P > Authigenic P > Exchangeable P > Iron-bound P. Generally increasing trend was displayed by all the phosphate fractions toward the downstream sites due to effluent discharges from industrial, domestic, municipal, agricultural sectors and destruction of mangrove forests. The elevated levels of inorganic phosphorus (133.55–918.73 mg/kg) reflected the large-scale delivery of sediment loads associated with great floods during 2018 & 2019. Significant correlations of fine-grained sediment particles with all phosphate fractions indicated surface adsorption as a dominant distribution mechanism. Concentration of iron-bound phosphorus was controlled by adsorption on iron oxy-hydroxides. The buildup of bioavailable phosphate (range: 23.76 to 49.97%) indicate the fact that the estuarine sediments function as a sink for the nutrient. The upper and middle part of the study area recorded more severe contamination and eutrophication risk as indicated by phosphorous pollution index (range: 0.31 to 2.56).

Survival Games: Understanding Journalistic and Extra-Journalistic Practices and Pursuits of Small-Town Stringers in South India

ABSTRACT The precarity of journalistic labour has received significant scholarly attention globally, leading to a plethora of studies that attempt to theorise changing journalistic roles, practices, and norms. Whereas precarity in newswork is formulated as the “new normal” in the Global North, the precarious situation of marginal(ised) newsworkers in the Global South has been simply normal. Based on ethnographic research in two small-town formations in South India, this article presents how stringers working in Indian-language newspapers have developed a complex professional identity and shared norms through journalistic and extra-journalistic practices to survive in the field. In doing so, we develop, in a novel way, Bourdieu’s concept of illusio to understand the formation of a professional identity that spans adjacent fields. This paper’s critical engagement with the difficult working lives of stringers and their invisible labour has learnings for analysis of precarity in journalism across the Global North and South.

Impact of COVID-19 on production decisions of marginal, small and medium farmers: empirical evidence from South India

PurposeThis study analyzes the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural production in South India by evaluating the influence of market channels and socioeconomic conditions on the production decisions of farmers during two key cropping seasons. We base our analysis on primary data from 200 marginal, small and medium farmers, primarily focusing on the key seasonal crops, namely paddy and black gram.Design/methodology/approachWe studied the downstream supply chains of paddy and black gram crops in the district of Villupuram, situated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Using a Bi-Probit model, we analyzed the production decisions of marginal, small and medium farmers engaged in paddy and black gram cultivation. Various factors are considered, including farmers’ socioeconomic characteristics, gender, market channels accessed and the coping strategies employed.FindingsAfter the easing of lockdown measures in June 2020, our research revealed substantial disruptions in agricultural production during the critical Kharif and Rabi seasons. Most farmers refrained from returning to their fields during the Kharif season; those who did produced millet as the main crop. Factors such as choice of market channels in previous seasons, economic status, access to all-weather roads, labor availability, gender and coping strategies played an important role in the return to production in the subsequent Kharif and Rabi seasons.Research limitations/implicationsOur data revealed several interesting threads related to price volatility, irrigation and access to markets and their impact on food security. The role of intermediaries and market channels in providing liquidity emerges as an important aspect of farmers' choice of markets. The pandemic impacted all these factors, but a detailed analysis was beyond the scope of this study.Social implicationsWe also find that resilience to economic shocks varies not only by economic status but also by gender and social groups. Farmers with female members are more likely to be resilient, and marginal and small farmers primarily belong to social groups that are economically less developed.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on factors influencing farmer choice and decision-making and provides nuances to discussions by analyzing crop-specific supply chains, highlighting the critical role of socioeconomic factors. It also highlights the role of demographics and infrastructural factors like access to all-weather roads and access to markets that influence farmers’ production decisions.

A Study on Suicidal Intent, Quality of Life, Medical and Psychiatric Comorbidity in Cancer Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Puducherry

Background- Cancer is now widely recognised as a new epidemic globally which accounts for nearly 10 million deaths in year 2020. Aims and Objectives-The aim of the study was to estimate suicidal ideation among cancer patients and to evaluate the association between suicidal intent with the quality of life, medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Methods-The study group included 70 cancer patients who were surgically treated in the Department of Surgical Oncology in a tertiary care hospital in South India. The sample size was calculated using Open Epi Version 3.0. Sampling was done using consecutive sampling method. The study was conducted from March 2021 to September 2022. A socio-demographic information form, HADS (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale), Beck Suicide Intent Scale and WHO-QOL BREF (WHO Quality of Life BREF) were used. Results- In our study 12.9% reported having attempted suicide in the recent past, 18.6% scored abnormal on anxiety scale and 40% scored depression level on HADS. Conclusions- Cancer patients are at increased risk of developing many psychiatric illnesses including anxiety, depression and suicidal attempts. The QOL of cancer patients are affected by these psychiatric comorbidities. Timely assessment and intervention can improve their QOL and also reduce the risks of suicide. There is a significant correlation between anxiety, depression and suicide attempt. Keywords: Suicide, Anxiety, Quality of Life, Cancer .

Association of antibiotic duration and all-cause mortality in a prospective study of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia in a tertiary-level critical care unit in Southern India

ObjectivesTo estimate all-cause mortality in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and determine whether antibiotic duration beyond 8 days is associated with reduction in all-cause mortality in patients admitted with VAP in the...

Predicting the Outcome of First Episode Psychosis Subjects by Assessing Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Volume

Aim: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), Neurological Soft Signs (NSS) and Cognitive impairment have been described as predictors of outcome of First Episode Psychosis (FEP), therefore we aimed to find the predictors of clinical, social and functional outcome variables in a cohort of first episode non affective psychotic subjects. Subjects and Methods: A prospective follow up study was conducted from August 2018 to August 2020 in a tertiary care hospital of South India. A semi-structured questionnaire was given to all subjects for socio-demographic details. All subjects were assessed with Heidelberg scale, Bender Gestalt Test (BGT) and underwent MRI Brain 3D volumetric scan to examine NSS, cognitive impairment, and DLPFC volume at baseline respectively. Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale scales (SOFAS) were administered at baseline, 1 month and at three month follow up. At 3 months, clinical and socio-functional outcome was defined by BPRS scores and SOFAS scores. Pearson’s correlation was found between DLPFC volume of all subjects, BPRS, BGT scores at baseline with BPRS and SOFAS at 3 months. To test the statistical significance of the comparison of mean values of all continuous clinical and demographic parameters between two groups of BPRS and SOFAS, Mann Whitney U test was used. Results: Smaller DLPFC volume predicted clinical, socio-functional outcome significantly. A significant moderate correlation was found between NSS and BPRS scores at baseline. Conclusion: Baseline right DLPFC volume can be an important predictor of clinical and socio-functional outcome in FEP.

Top Management Commitment as a Moderator in the Relationship Between Green Banking Adoption Practices and Performance: Evidence from India

This article aims to investigate the relationship between green banking adoption practices and performance. A conceptual model has been developed to test the moderating effect of top management commitment in the relationship between green banking adoption practices and performance in a lower-middle-income country context, that is, India. Using a survey instrument, data were collected from 393 employees working in banks in southern India. First, the psychometric properties of the survey instrument were checked using LISREL software for structural equation modelling. Second, the hypothesised relationships were tested using hierarchical regression and double-checked with path analysis. The findings indicate that green banking adoption practices are precursors to environmental, operational and financial performance. The results also provide support for the moderating effect of top management commitment in the relationship between green banking adoption practices and (a) environmental performance, (b) operational performance and (c) financial performance. The green adoption practices encompass a range of initiatives to reduce environmental impact, promote sustainability and address climate change concerns. Top management commitment is at the forefront of driving these practices, which plays a pivotal role in shaping organisational strategies and fostering a culture of sustainability. To the best of our knowledge, the model developed is the first of its kind, particularly in the context of banks in India. Investigating the interaction effect of top management commitment in enhancing performance is a novel idea and significantly contributes to the literature on sustainability. The implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Health Status of Working Women in a Tertiary Care Center, North Kerala, India: During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Introduction: Women constitute about one-half of the workforces in most countries and spend a significant proportion of their time at the workplace, contributing to a lot of physical and mental stress. The health-care professional in the workforce was the most affected during the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and associated risk factors have a substantial correlation. According to numerous studies from around the world, people who already have established risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, or other vascular risk factors, are more likely to contract COVID-19 and experience complications or even pass away from it. Objectives: The objective is to assess the health status of working women in a tertiary health-care center in Kerala during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: The study was done in a tertiary health-care center in Kozhikode district, Kerala, South India. This center comprises medical, paramedical and nursing institutes. A total of 262 women were included in the study, and data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Results: This study demonstrated that working women’s stress was prevalent. It reveals that 94 (99.4%) women experience stress, 60.7% experience depression, 72.5% do not engage in daily physical activity and 80.8% of women were at risk of having NCDs. Conclusion: This study was an attempt to explore the health status of the women’s working health status during COVID-19 time. It found that some women are hypertensive, depressed and have stress-related disorders such as anxiety and worries. Mental health is directly linked with physical activity. The stress levels were controlled for those who were involved in physical activity on regular basis. Hence, we should work on this area to help improve these conditions.

Unfolding rotational tectonics and topographic evolution from localized verses diffuse plate boundary counterparts

We present a kinematic model developed from geodetic observations, topography analysis and analogue tectonic modelling results, which reveals a striking similarity between the rotational tectonic settings of the Gakkel Ridge-Chersky Range system in the Arctic, and the Central Indian Tectonic Zone within the Indian subcontinent. A crucial aspect of large-scale extensional rift systems is the gradual variation of extension along the rift axis, due to plate rotation about a Euler pole, which may lead to contraction on the opposite side of the Euler pole to form a rotational tectonic system. Our geodetic and topographic analysis, combined with the reanalysis of analogue tectonic modelling results demonstrates such rotational tectonic plate motion in both the Arctic and Indian case. However, the plate boundary between the North American and Eurasian Plates as represented by the Arctic Gakkel Ridge-Chersky Range system is strongly localized, whereas the Central Indian Tectonic Zone that separates the North and South India Plates involves diffuse deformation instead. Furthermore, in both the Arctic and Central Indian we find that the relative Euler rotation pole is located near an indenter-like feature, which possibly controls the present-day rotational tectonics and contrasting topography on opposite sides of the Euler pole.

Exploring the Relationship Between Serum Creatinine and Salivary Creatinine Levels in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in South India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Exploring the Relationship Between Serum Creatinine and Salivary Creatinine Levels in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in South India: A Cross-Sectional Study

The rich-poor divide: Unravelling the spatial complexities and determinants of wealth inequality in India

This study presents the first in-depth analysis of spatial differences and factors influencing wealth distribution among households in India. It uses data from the latest National Family Health Survey, covering 707 districts. Techniques like the Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient, Location Quotient, Morans statistics, and Univariate and Bivariate LISA methods explore inequalities, concentration, and clustering patterns of rich-poor households at the district level. Additionally, spatial regression models such as OLS, GWR, and MGWR help to uncover spatial disparities and variability. Our findings demonstrate significant regional disparities, with the affluent household concentration being notably higher in north-western and southern India, while central, eastern, and northeastern regions exhibit greater inequality. Key factors impacting wealth inequality include rurality, low female literacy rates, educational level of household heads and prevalence of Scheduled Castes/Tribes. This study highlights the spatial dimensions of wealth inequality and provides a nuanced understanding of the factors contributing to these patterns. The GWR and MGWR models prove most effective, explaining more than 90% of the variation in wealth distribution factors. This study sheds light on the spatial dynamics and factors behind wealth disparities in India, offering strategic insights for equitable growth initiatives targeting diverse socio-economic sectors.

Knowledge About the Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Among the South Indian Population: An Institutional Retrospective Study

Knowledge About the Importance of Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders Among the South Indian Population: An Institutional Retrospective Study

Archean crustal evolution and craton formation in peninsular India: new insights from the Singhbhum, Dharwar and Bastar Cratons

Archean crustal evolution and craton formation in peninsular India: new insights from the Singhbhum, Dharwar and Bastar Cratons