The true characterization of elite germplasm is of utmost importance for accelerating the crop breeding programme. The Indian dolichos bean [Lablab purpureus (L.) var. typicus Prain] has the potential to improve nutritional and food security. In the present investigation, a total of 21 genotypes of dolichos bean, comprising local collections mainly, along with one standard check (Kashi Sheetal) were evaluated in a complete randomized block design with three replications for two consecutive years, 2021–22 to 2022–23 for the perusal of the genetic variability. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among all the genotypes for all the characters. PCV and GCV estimates revealed very little influence of environment on the expression of traits under study. High heritability (>90%) estimates coupled with high genetic advance as a percent of the mean were observed for flower attributes, pod length, average weight of 10 pods, pod yield and protein content. The principal component analysis revealed that the first two components cumulatively accounted for more than 50% of total variability. The present investigation revealed that the genotypes, RLBDL-S-8, RLBDL-S-14 and RLBDL-S-4-5 were stable across the years and genotype RLBDL-S-8 exhibited the highest yield potential, which can be used effectively in the development of high yielding varieties of dolichos bean in the Bundelkhand region. The study also revealed the presence of wide genetic variability in the studied local accessions which is a prerequisite for the genetic improvement of crop plants. High heritability and genetic advancement indicated the scope of selection in the crop improvement.

Healthcare personnel who deal with COVID-19 experience stigma. There is a lack of national-level representative qualitative data to study COVID-19-related stigma among healthcare workers in India. The present study explores factors associated with stigma and manifestations experienced by Indian healthcare workers involved in COVID-19 management. We conducted in-depth interviews across 10 centres in India, which were analysed using NVivo software version 12. Thematic and sentiment analysis was performed to gain deep insights into the complex phenomenon by categorising the qualitative data into meaningful and related categories. Healthcare workers (HCW) usually addressed the stigma they encountered when doing their COVID duties under the superordinate theme of stigma. Among them, 77.42% said they had been stigmatised in some way. Analyses revealed seven interrelated themes surrounding stigma among healthcare workers. It can be seen that the majority of the stigma and coping sentiments fall into the mixed category, followed by the negative sentiment category. This study contributes to our understanding of stigma and discrimination in low- and middle-income settings. Our data show that the emergence of fear of the virus has quickly turned into a stigma against healthcare workers.

We consider the effect of evaporation on the aggregation of a number of elastic objects due to a liquid’s surface tension. In particular, we consider an array of spring–block elements in which the gaps between blocks are filled by thin liquid films that evaporate during the course of an experiment. Using lubrication theory to account for the fluid flow within the gaps, we study the dynamics of aggregation. We find that a non-zero evaporation rate causes the elements to aggregate more quickly and, indeed, to contact within finite time. However, we also show that the final number of elements within each cluster decreases as the evaporation rate increases. We explain these results quantitatively by comparison with the corresponding two-body problem and discuss their relevance for controlling pattern formation in elastocapillary systems.

Several epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of finger millet (FM) alleviates diabetes-related complications. In the present study, the effect of finger millet whole grain (FM-WG) and bran (FM-BR) supplementation was evaluated in high-fat diet-fed LACA mice for 12 weeks. Mice were divided into four groups: control group fed a normal diet (10 % fat as energy); a group fed a high-fat diet; a group fed the same high-fat diet supplemented with FM-BR; a group fed the same high-fat diet supplemented with FM-WG. The inclusion of FM-BR at 10 % (w/w) in a high-fat diet had more beneficial effects than that of FM-WG. FM-BR supplementation prevented body weight gain, improved lipid profile and anti-inflammatory status, alleviated oxidative stress, regulated the expression levels of several obesity-related genes, increased the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteria and Roseburia) and suppressed the abundance of Enterobacter in caecal contents (P≤ 0·05). In conclusion, FM-BR supplementation could be an effective strategy for preventing high-fat diet-induced changes and developing FM-BR-enriched functional foods.

We present a fluid-mechanical model of the coalescence of a number of elastic objects due to surface tension. We consider an array of spring–block elements separated by thin liquid films, whose dynamics are modelled using lubrication theory. With this simplified model of elastocapillary coalescence, we present the results of numerical simulations for a large number of elements, $N=O(10^4)$. A linear stability analysis shows that pairwise coalescence is always the most unstable mode of deformation. However, the numerical simulations show that the cluster sizes actually produced by coalescence from a small white-noise perturbation have a distribution that depends on the relative strength of surface tension and elasticity, as measured by an elastocapillary number $K$. Both the maximum cluster size and the mean cluster size scale like $K^{-1/2}$ for small $K$. An analytical solution for the response of the system to a localized perturbation shows that such perturbations generate propagating disturbance fronts, which leave behind ‘frozen-in’ clusters of a predictable size that also depends on $K$. A good quantitative comparison between the cluster-size statistics from noisy perturbations and this ‘frozen-in’ cluster size suggests that propagating fronts may play a crucial role in the dynamics of coalescence.

Soil quality integrates the effects of soil physical, chemical and biological attributes. Some of them are dynamic in nature and behave differentially in various agro-ecosystems (AESs) and are quantified in terms of a soil quality index (SQI). An attempt has been made in this paper to develop an SQI based on a minimum data set (MDS), which could be used to evaluate the sustainability of the crop production in three varying AESs in India, namely sub-humid, semi-arid and arid. Thirteen indicators were utilized to develop the SQI from the properties measured from the surface soil layer (0–15 cm). Each indicator of the MDS was transformed into a dimensionless score based on scoring functions (linear and non-linear) and integrated into four SQIs. The weighted non-linear index (WNLI) was identified as the most sensitive for all the AESs and was recommended as an index for future assessments. Based on this index, the quantification of soil quality under several cropping systems was carried out for sub-humid, semi-arid and arid AESs and the most suitable cropping system was identified. WLNI was positively and significantly correlated (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.01) with wheat equivalent yield for all the cropping systems. This clearly indicated that the index may be used satisfactorily for quantifying soil quality.

Increased use of prime agricultural land for cropping and non-agricultural uses in many tropical countries implies that crop residues become more important as a source of feed for livestock. Traditionally, much research on crop residue feeding was done by focusing on laboratory measurements of feed quality but neglect of farmers' perceptions led to disappointing results in the transfer of straw feeding technologies based upon laboratory results. Farming Systems Research (FSR) provides methodologies and concepts that bridge the gap between formal commodity research (including crop residues and by-products) and field application. This paper reports the experiences of a project in India that changed the emphasis from a commodity research approach on improved crop residue feeding to a system approach by using three types of FSR. The paper first reviews the achievements of on-station research on feeding systems for crop residues in terms of treatments (biological, chemical, physical) and in terms of breeding and managing cereal crops for more and better straw. Next, it discusses definitions and problems of FSR as encountered in the project's reorientation of livestock research and development programmes. Finally it summarizes the overall results of the three FSR approaches used in the project.