Search Results (50)

Background: Emotional abuse is both prevalent and underrecognized particularly in culturally complex settings like India. Adolescents, being in a critical developmental phase, are especially vulnerable to the long-lasting psychological effects of emotional abuse. This qualitative literature review aims to synthesize findings from primary studies that explore the lived experiences of emotional abuse among Indian adolescents and identify emerging patterns across sociocultural contexts. Method: Electronic databases, including DOAJ, Google Scholar, ProQuest, JSTOR, Pubmed, PsycNet, and SCOPUS, were searched for peer-reviewed articles published in English up to March 2025. Inclusion criteria comprised qualitative or mixed-methods research focusing on emotional abuse among adolescents aged 12–20 in Indian contexts. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) was used for quality assessment. Results: Five major thematic domains were identified across the included studies: (1) Family as a primary site of emotional abuse; (2) Gendered experiences of abuse; (3) Cultural normalization and silence; (4) Psychological and emotional consequences; and (5) Coping and resilience among adolescents. These themes reflect shared experiences of emotional abuse shaped by cultural, familial, and gender-based expectations. Conclusions: This review highlights the urgent need for increased awareness and culturally sensitive interventions addressing emotional abuse in Indian adolescents. The findings suggest that parents, educators, and policymakers must recognize emotionally harmful behaviors and implement prevention-oriented strategies, particularly through non-violent communication and adolescent mental health support frameworks. Full article

The framing of water infrastructure in the news influences how the public perceives future infrastructure development and associated social-environmental risks. This study examines English-language newspaper coverage of the Ken-Betwa river link, the first component of India’s National River Linking Program (INRLP) to receive approval. Data for this analysis comprised 316 newspaper articles, collected via a keyword search in LexisNexis API, from seven Indian English-language newspapers (Free Press Journal (India), Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Economic Times, The Hindu, The Times of India (TOI), and Times of India (Electronic Edition)) published between 2004 and 2022. By applying LDA topic modeling, a type of generative probabilistic model, to this dataset, this study examines how evolving media narratives frame water infrastructure in India. Our results identify 23 distinct topics and three dominant frames: (1) a government policy frame, (2) INRLP comparative frame, and (3) environmental conservation frame. We find that these frames evolve, with early coverage emphasizing feasibility and government-led negotiations, and later articles highlighting environmental risks. Our analysis shows how media discourse reflects institutional logic and infrastructure milestones. This study demonstrates the value of computational methods for longitudinal media analysis, has the potential to reveal shifts in public discourse, and highlights power dynamics in environmental reporting. Full article

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder prevalent in women of reproductive age. Treatment or management of this syndrome includes several pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches for different manifestations of the disease that vary with the patient’s age, symptoms, requirements, and geographical location. Objective: This systematic review aims to conduct a comprehensive and evidence-based analysis of the various available treatment options and identify knowledge gaps in PCOS management in India. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase databases from January 2010 till February 2024. We included randomized control trials (RCTs) using any pharmacological drugs (e.g., insulin sensitizers, anti-androgens, anti-obesity drugs, oral contraceptive pills, ovulation induction drugs, etc.) or non-pharmacological intervention (e.g., yoga, diet, herbal supplements, etc.) with Indian PCOS patients for improving common manifestations of PCOS and written in the English language. Studies were screened by two authors independently in a two-level process. Data extraction was also performed by two authors. Risk of bias was performed using the RoB 2 Tool. Subgroup analysis and meta-analysis were performed using the RevMan tool. Results: Thirty RCTs on pharmacological and eight on non-pharmacological interventions were included in the study. However, all the RCTs were so heterogeneous in terms of intervention used, subject recruited, and outcomes measured that meta-analysis was possible for only three subgroups (metformin vs. inositol, metformin vs. metformin+ inositol, and letrozole vs. clomiphene citrate), with only two or three studies per analysis. Most studies were single-centric and small-sized and had a high risk of bias, limiting their generalizability. Conclusions: This systematic review synthesized existing research and evaluated the effectiveness and safety of existing treatments. Limitations and gaps in the current research were identified, which may inform future research for better understanding and management of PCOS in the Indian context. Full article

This study examines the knowledge and preparedness of preservice teachers in India and England regarding the teaching of foundational reading skills. Recognising the critical role of teachers in preventing reading difficulties through explicit instruction in phonics, vocabulary knowledge, and reading comprehension strategies, we aimed to compare preservice teachers’ knowledge in these areas between the two countries. A survey was developed for this study and administered to preservice teachers enrolled in teacher education programs in India and England. The survey assessed their phonics knowledge, pedagogical practices across key reading domains, and confidence in supporting students with reading difficulties in inclusive classrooms. Descriptive analyses indicated that English preservice teachers demonstrated greater familiarity with phonics knowledge and were better prepared in pedagogical practices, particularly in phonics instruction, phonological awareness, and reading fluency. Both groups showed low preparedness in teaching vocabulary knowledge. Notably, Indian preservice teachers reported higher confidence levels in supporting students with reading difficulties despite lower performance in knowledge assessments. These findings suggest a need for enhanced focus on explicit phonics instruction in Indian teacher education programs and increased emphasis on vocabulary instruction in both countries. Implications for early childhood education policy are discussed, particularly with regards to preparing teachers to provide high-quality literacy instruction that supports children’s academic success. Full article

This article locates the clinic as a historically contingent space which faced cultural resistance and remained alien to the colonized population in India. It corroborates the socio-political tension in setting up a clinic within the colony and investigates how the Western clinic as a colonial apparatus was resituated as the “Indian clinic” per se. With the historical emergence of a new class of medical practitioners called “daktars” (a Bengali vernacularization of the term “doctor”), the health-seeking behaviour and public health model of colonial India witnessed a decolonial shift. Unlike their English counterparts, daktars did not enjoy a privileged position within the medical archives of colonial India. This archival gap within Indian medical history presents itself as a viable topic for discussion through the means of the literature of the colonized. Bengali writer Ashoke Mukhopadhyay’s novel Abiram Jwarer Roopkotha (2018), translated into English as A Ballad of Remittent Fever in 2020, remedies the colonial politics of the archive by reconstructing the lives of various daktars and their pursuit of self-reliance. The article takes a neo-historical approach towards understanding and assessing the past of daktari medicine and thereby offers comments on its traces in the contemporary public health of India. Full article

PPHN is a common cause of neonatal respiratory failure and is still a serious condition that is associated with high mortality. Objectives: To analyze the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates with PPHN to identify neonatal cases at risk to develop severe illness. Methods: For this systematic review, we adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PubMed for studies on the development of COVID-19 in neonates with PPHN, published from 1 December 2019 to 29 February 2024, with an English language restriction. Results: Of the 2406 papers that were identified, 21 articles were included in the systematic review. Studies involving thirty-six neonates with PPHN and infected with SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed (twenty-nine survived, six died, and one is still hospitalized). The main causes of PPHN in neonates who had COVID-19 were neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) (41.7%), meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) (16.7%), preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) (11.1%), hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) (5.5%), pneumonia (5.5%), and idiopathic (2.8%). Most of those neonates were male (33.3%), belonged to Indian ethnicity (50%), and were delivered via caesarean section (44.4%). COVID-19 in cases with PPHN commonly occurred in neonates born with a pregnancy range from 32 to <37 weeks (moderate to late preterm) (36.1%). The maternal severity of COVID-19 was reported to be severe in three cases only (8.3%); however, SARS-CoV-2 infection in neonates with PPHN was either severe (44.4%) or critical (22.2%). Most of these neonates experienced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (58.3%). Early and late multisystem inflammatory syndrome in neonates (MIS-N) were reported in 50% and 11.1%, respectively. A high proportion of neonates were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) (58.3%) or needed mechanical ventilation (MV) (47.2%). Neonates with concurrent PPHN and SARS-CoV-2 infection who died had worse severity of COVID-19 [i.e., severity of COVID-19 was critical in 10% (neonates with PPHN who survived group) vs. 83.3% (neonates with PPHN who died group); p = 0.026]. Neonates with PPHN and COVID-19 had a higher relative risk of death if they received more antibiotics (RR 4.14, 95% CI 0.64–6.88) and if their COVID-19 was defined as critical (RR 2.84, 95% CI 0.86–9.39). Male neonates with PPHN and COVID-19 (RR 2.60, 95% CI 0.30–1.17) and those requiring prolonged invasive positive pressure ventilation (RR 2.22, 95% CI 0.64–7.73) also showed an increased relative risk for death. Conclusions: COVID-19 in neonates with PPHN is challenging and may be associated with increased mortality, severity, ICU admission, ARDS, MIS-N, and MV usage. The results should be interpreted with caution owing to the small number of studies and substantial heterogeneity and indicate a need for future research in this area. Due to its benefits, testing for SARS-CoV-2 should be encouraged for newborns with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, especially in neonates with a history of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Effective protection measures should be implemented during delivery and post-delivery care as necessary. Full article

This article examines a distinctive and debated social group called the “Baboos” in late colonial India, particularly in Bengal. The Baboos represented the Western-educated, aspiring middle class who were integral to the British administration. They were often viewed skeptically for adopting the English language and Western lifestyle. This study delves into the quotidian lives of the Baboos, particularly their interactions with the colonial rulers in public transport, which became a crucial contact zone. Despite facing racial conflicts and discrimination in these shared spaces, the Baboos were not passive victims. They used diverse strategies to combat injustices and voice their grievances publicly. Within this larger narrative of discriminating treatment, another power narrative was played out by the Baboos among their own population. Conscious of their distinct functional status, the Baboos sought to distance themselves from those Indians who did not match their ideas of “respect”. Everyday experiences formed the basis of the public outrage reflected continually in regional newspapers and, subsequently, in the larger narratives of resistance and nationalism. How the Baboos negotiated their position in the public spaces sheds light on their claims of civil rights and their ways of using the colonizer’s tropes of equality, justice, and fairness back at them. Full article

Online food delivery services are rapidly growing in popularity, making customer satisfaction critical for company success in a competitive market. Accurate delivery time predictions are key to ensuring high customer satisfaction. While various methods for travel time estimation exist, effective data analysis and processing are often overlooked. This paper addresses this gap by leveraging spatial data analysis and preprocessing techniques to enhance the data quality used in Bayesian models for predicting food delivery times. We utilized the OSRM API to generate routes that accurately reflect real-world conditions. Next, we visualized these routes using various techniques to identify and examine suspicious results. Our analysis of route distribution identified two groups of outliers, leading us to establish an appropriate boundary for maximum route distance to be used in future Bayesian modeling. A total 3% of the data were classified as outliers, and 15% of the samples contained invalid data. The spatial analysis revealed that these outliers were primarily deliveries to the outskirts or beyond the city limits. Spatial analysis shows that the Indian OFD market has similar trends to the Chinese and English markets and is concentrated in densely populated areas. By refining the data quality through these methods, we aim to improve the accuracy of delivery time predictions, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction. Full article

A remarkable new deep-water skate, Leucoraja longirostris n. sp., is described based on eight specimens caught during different expeditions to the southern Madagascar Ridge in the southwestern Indian Ocean. The new species differs from all congeners by its remarkably long and acutely angled snout (horizontal preorbital length 17.2–22.6% TL vs. 8.5–11.9% TL and 4.2–6.1 vs. 1.7–3.5 times orbit length, snout angle 65–85° vs. 90–150°). Furthermore, it is apparently endemic to the Madagascar Ridge, distant from the known distribution areas of all congeners. In addition to L. fullonica and L. pristispina, L. longirostris n. sp. is also the only species with plain dorsal coloration. Furthermore, the new species is the only Leucoraja species with an external clasper component dike and, besides L. wallacei, the only one with four dorsal terminal (dt) cartilages. The shape of the accessory terminal 1 (at1) cartilage with four tips is also unique within the genus. A new approach for the visualization of the clasper characters is introduced based on 3D models of all skeletal and external features. This enables a much easier and much more precise interpretation of every single clasper component, of the entire structure, and, in particular, the relationship between external features and skeletal cartilages. A new English translation of the first diagnosis of Leucoraja is provided, along with a revised generic diagnosis and a key to the species of Leucoraja in the Indian Ocean. Full article

This study examined phonetic backward transfer in ‘Glaswasians’, the ethnolinguistic minority of first-generation bilingual immigrant Indians in Glasgow (Scotland), who present a situation of contact between their native languages of Hindi and Indian English (L1s) and the dominant host language and dialect, Glaswegian English (L2). This was examined in relation to the Revised Speech Learning Model (SLM-r) and Speech Accommodation Framework. These predict that the migrants’ L1 sound categories can either shift to become more Glaswegian-like (‘assimilation’ or ‘convergence’) or exaggeratedly Indian-like (‘dissimilation’ or ‘divergence’) or remain unchanged. The effect of Indian and Glaswegian Contact on transfer was also investigated. Two control groups (Indians and Glaswegians) and the experimental group (Glaswasians) were recorded reading English and Hindi sentences containing multiple phones which were examined for multiple phonetic features (/t/—VOT, /l/—F2-F1 difference, /b d g/—Relative Burst Intensity). In both languages, Glaswasian /t/ and /g/ became more Glaswegian-like (assimilation), whereas F2-F1 difference in /l/ became exaggeratedly Indian-like (dissimilation). Higher Indian Contact was associated with more native-like values in /t/ and /l/ in Hindi but had no influence on /g/. Higher Glaswegian Contact was related to increased assimilation of /g/ in English but had no effect on /l/ and /t/. Full article

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is a medicinal plant belonging to the traditional Indian medical system, showing various therapeutic effects such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic, and hepatoprotective activity. Of great interest is W. somnifera’s potential beneficial effect against neurodegenerative diseases, since the authorized medicinal treatments can only delay disease progression and provide symptomatic relief and are not without side effects. A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus databases was performed to identify preclinical and clinical studies focusing on the applications of W. somnifera in preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Only English articles and those containing the keywords (Withania somnifera AND “neurodegenerative diseases”, “neuroprotective effects”, “Huntington”, “Parkinson”, “Alzheimer”, “Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”, “neurological disorders”) in the title or abstract were considered. Reviews, editorials, letters, meta-analyses, conference papers, short surveys, and book chapters were not considered. Selected articles were grouped by pathologies and summarized, considering the mechanism of action. The quality assessment and the risk of bias were performed using the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions checklist. This review uses a systematic approach to summarize the results from 60 investigations to highlight the potential role of W. somnifera and its specialized metabolites in treating or preventing neurodegenerative diseases. Full article

Eating pathology is increasingly common among Indian adolescents. However, brief validated measures of disordered eating in Indian contexts are scarce. This study adapted and validated a culturally appropriate English language version of the Child Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (ChEDE-Q) among 385 adolescents (mean age = 13.42 years; 47.3% girls) in urban India. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a two-factor eight-item solution had an acceptable fit to the data across gender: an ‘Eating Concerns and Restraint’ subscale and a ‘Weight and Shape Concerns’ subscale. Further, the questionnaire can be utilised as both a unidimensional and multidimensional tool. This allows for the computation of a total score on the primary factor of ‘Child Eating Pathology’, as well as the two subscales. Internal consistency of the ‘Weight and Shape Concerns’ subscale (α = 0.825) and ‘Eating Concerns and Restraint’ subscale (α = 0.649) was satisfactory. Concurrent validity was established through medium significant correlations with measures of body image and broader mental health. The results support the use of the ChEDE-Q for assessing disordered eating among urban Indian adolescents, thus providing the research community and practitioners with a measure to investigate the nature and scale of disordered eating among adolescents in India. Full article

Sexual dysfunctions are common among females with common mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. However, discussion on this topic remains taboo in many cultures, including India. Worldwide, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) is the most used tool to evaluate sexual functioning in females. Researchers across the globe attempted to translate and validate this scale in native languages (e.g., Japanese and Spanish); however, such translations are not available in Hindi. Strikingly, although there is literature informing us about the regional validation process of this scale, little has been discussed about qualitative nuances of the process of translation, the expert panel discussion, and cognitive interviewing during pilot testing. The lack of such procedural qualitative data limits the replicability of such translations in different cultures; furthermore, it can adversely influence the parameters of the validation study. Hence, the current study was conducted to highlight the process of Hindi translation of the FSFI and illustrate the challenges faced at various stages of translation and testing. The study was conducted in the multidisciplinary hospital of Central India by involving five translators, five expert panel discussants, and 15 patients with common mental health conditions or their caregivers. The significant findings of the current work include the requirement of semantic and grammatical changes and rephrasing of the sentences for improving comprehensibility and applicability in the Indian population (during the panel discussion). Additionally, it informed us to use alternate or more than one word to capture a concept, including English words written in Hindi (during preliminary pilot testing). Critical roadblocks were inadequate awareness of the issues, lack of typical/comprehensive terminologies to capture the ideas, and significant stigma attached to the subject. Full article

Linguistic diversity is present in many audiovisual productions and has given rise to fruitful research on translation of multilingualism and language variation. Monsoon Wedding (Mira Nair, 2001) is a prototypical film for translation analysis, since multilingualism is a recurrent feature, as the film dialogue combines English (L1) with Hindi and Punjabi (L3), which creates an effect of code-switching. This article analyses how the multilingualism and the cultural elements present in the source text (ST) have been transferred to the Spanish translated text (TT) La boda del monzón. The results show that in the Spanish dubbed and subtitled versions, few Indian cultural elements are left, and little language variation is preserved. Thus, L3 does not play a central role as it does in the source text. In the translation, only a few loan words from Hindi or Punjabi are kept, mainly from the domains of food and cooking, as well as terms of address and greetings, or words related to the wedding ceremony. The results also show that when L3 is not fully rendered in translation, otherness is still conveyed through image and music, thus (re)creating a different atmosphere for Spanish audiences. Full article

Background: In recent years, the completeness of ethnicity data in the English cancer registration data has greatly improved. Using these data, this study aims to estimate the influence of ethnicity on survival from primary malignant brain tumours. Methods: Demographic and clinical data on adult patients diagnosed with malignant primary brain tumour from 2012 to 2017 were obtained (n = 24,319). Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) for the survival of the ethnic groups up to one year following diagnosis. Logistic regressions were then used to estimate odds ratios (OR) for different ethnic groups of (1) being diagnosed with pathologically confirmed glioblastoma, (2) being diagnosed through a hospital stay that included an emergency admission, and (3) receiving optimal treatment. Results: After an adjustment for known prognostic factors and factors potentially affecting access to healthcare, patients with an Indian background (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), Any Other White (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.76–0.91), Other Ethnic Group (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.62–0.79), and Unknown/Not Stated Ethnicity (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75–0.88) had better one-year survivals than the White British Group. Individuals with Unknown ethnicity are less likely be diagnosed with glioblastoma (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.58–0.84) and less likely to be diagnosed through a hospital stay that included an emergency admission (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.53–0.69). Conclusion: The demonstrated ethnic variations associated with better brain tumour survival suggests the need to identify risk or protective factors that may underlie these differences in patient outcomes. Full article