Feature Article

Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) was first identified in 1957, when it was isolated from a sick monkey from the Kyasanur Forest in Karnataka State, India. Since then it has been reported to be enzootic in five districts of Karnataka State. Despite the availability of a vaccine against the disease, reports of human infections are on the rise. Isolated cases and antibody against KFDV have been reported from new areas from the states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Kerala in India.

Many individuals at the end of life are unable to convey their wishes regarding medical treatments. Advance directives (ADs) or living wills (LWs) allow them to crystallise their wishes in a written form so that these can be carried out if the relevant situation arises. In many countries, ADs are legally valid and enforceable; they reduce the use of life-sustaining treatments, which often merely prolong life without improving or even maintaining the quality of life. Such treatment puts a financial burden on the patient’s family, often leading to penury.

The aim of this study is to determine landscape dynamics in the classified forest of Haut-Sassandra (CFHS) during the periods of conflict in Ivory Coast (or Côte d’Ivoire). To achieve this, the land cover of this protected area was determined by classifying satellite images obtained before, during and after the conflicts, and via ground surveys. Metrics of landscape ecology were calculated. A ground campaign for observing the CFHS’s flora and damages incurred was carried out using a sampling of eighteen 500 m-long transects.

This paper assesses impacts of Vietnam’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership on its oil import. Based on a partial equilibrium analysis and gravity regression framework, it is clear that potential tariff elimination according to commitments as expected in RCEP is going to boost import volume of oil products and create a huge loss in the tariff revenue of Vietnamese government.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) investigated the 17 April 2013 explosion at the West Fertilizer Company (WFC) that resulted in 15 fatalities, more than 260 injuries, and damage to more than 150 buildings. Among these structures were four nearby school buildings cumulatively housing children in grades kindergarten–12, a nursing care facility, and an apartment complex. The incident occurred during the evening when school was not in session, which reduced the number of injuries.

Flash floods are a recurrent phenomenon in the North Bank Plains Zone (NBPZ) of Assam, India, causing wide spread damage to rice (Oryza sativa L.) crop growing during Kharif season. Therefore, it is imperative to identify indigenous technical knowledge and integrate this with mainstream technologies, Maguri and not only to enable more effective ways of coping with such extreme events but also to enhance the adaptive capacity of small-scale local farmers of the NBPZ.

The determination of the proximate composition of A. lividus showed the extract to be rich in protein (17.28 ± 0.42 gm/100 gm and dietary fiber (8.35 ± 0.16 gm/100 gm) but very low in fat content (0.69 ± 0.05 gm/100 gm). The phytochemical screening of the various extracts revealed the presence of phenolics ranging between 1.38 to 9.07 µg GAE/mg sample, flavonoid in the range 0.88-5.04 µg RE/mg sample, alkaloids (8.16 %) saponins (29.44 %) and tannins (4.27 %).

This research was carried out with the Adi and Galo tribes of East Siang and West Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India to understand fishing methods employed by them using stones and boulders occurring in the river beds of small tributaries of the Siang River in the study area. The identified sustainable fishing technique is locally known as Lipum and practised by these communities. The capture of fish ranged from 4-10 kg per Lipum and one person could make 3-4 different Lipum structures per day.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an increasing cause of chronic morbidity and mortality around the world. Prevalence of COPD among ethnic populations is not well documented. To study the prevalence of COPD among the marginalized Gond tribes of Kundam Block of Madhya Pradesh state in central India, cross sectional survey was conducted amongst the Gond tribes of Kundam Block, during the years 2007 to 2009.

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Personal care products are a source of exposure to potentially endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, triclosan, and benzophenone-3 (BP-3) for adolescent girls.

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