A comprehensive methodology that integrates Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation （RUSLE） model and Geographic Information System （GIS） techniques was adopted to determine the soil erosion vulner- ability of a fore...A comprehensive methodology that integrates Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation （RUSLE） model and Geographic Information System （GIS） techniques was adopted to determine the soil erosion vulner- ability of a forested mountainous sub-watershed in Kerala, India. The spatial pattern of annual soil erosion rate was obtained by integrating geo-environmental variables in a raster based GIS method. GIS data layers including, rainfall erosivity （R）, soil erodability （K）, slope length and steepness （LS）, cover management （C） and conservation practice （P） factors were computed to determine their effects on average annual soil loss in the area. The resultant map of annual soil erosion shows a maximum soil loss of 17.73 t h-1 y i with a close relation to grass land areas, degraded forests and deciduous forests on the steep side-slopes （with high LS ）. The spatial erosion maps generated with RUSLE method and GIS can serve as effective inputs in deriving strategies for land planning and management in the environmentally sensitive mountainous areas.展开更多
Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE) model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery(TLSD) function was used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposi...Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE) model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery(TLSD) function was used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposition-prone areas in a tropical mountain river basin, viz., Muthirapuzha River Basin(MRB; area=271.75 km^2), in the southern Western Ghats, India. Mean gross soil erosion in MRB is 14.36 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1), whereas mean net soil erosion(i.e., gross erosion-deposition) is only 3.60 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1)(i.e., roughly 25% of the gross erosion). Majority of the basin area(~86%) experiences only slight erosion(<5 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1)), and nearly 3% of the area functions as depositional environment for the eroded sediments(e.g., the terraces of stream reaches, the gentle plains as well as the foot slopes of the plateau scarps and the terrain with concordant summits). Although mean gross soil erosion rates in the natural vegetation belts are relatively higher, compared to agriculture, settlement/built-up areas and tea plantation, the sediment transport efficiency in agricultural areas and tea plantation is significantly high,reflecting the role of human activities on accelerated soil erosion. In MRB, on a mean basis, 0.42 t of soil organic carbon(SOC) content is being eroded per hectare annually, and SOC loss from the 4th order subbasins shows considerable differences, mainly due to the spatial variability in the gross soil erosion rates among the sub-basins. The quantitative results, on soil erosion and deposition, modelled using RUSLE and TLSD, are expected to be beneficial while formulating comprehensive land management strategies for reducing the extent of soil degradation in tropical mountain river basins.展开更多
Landslide susceptibility maps are vital tools used by decision-makers to adopt mitigation strategies for future calamities.In this context,research on landslide susceptibility modelling has become a topic of relevance...Landslide susceptibility maps are vital tools used by decision-makers to adopt mitigation strategies for future calamities.In this context,research on landslide susceptibility modelling has become a topic of relevance and is in constant evolution.Though various machine-learning techniques(MLTs)have been identified for landslide susceptibility modelling,the uncertainty inherent in the models is rarely considered.The present study attempts to quantify the uncertainty associated with landslide prediction models by developing a new methodological framework based on the ensembles of the eight MLTs.This methodology has been tested at the highlands of the southern Western Ghats region(Kerala,India),where landslides have frequently been occurring.Fourteen landslide conditioning factors have been identified as part of this study,and their association was correlated with 671 historic landslides in the study area.The study used four ensemble models such as the mean of probabilities,the median of probabilities,the weighted mean of probabilities,and the committee average.The weighted mean of probability was proved to be the best model based on the average of 800 standalone MLTs,viz.,receiver operating characteristics,true skill statistics,and area under curve with corresponding validation scores.Thereafter,an uncertainty analysis was carried out on the coefficient of variation.A confident map was generated to represent the distinct zonation of landslide susceptibility areas with definite uncertainty scales.Nearly 74%of the past landslides fall in the higher susceptibility-low uncertainty category.It is also inferred that such micro-level zonation based on MLTs may improve the efficiency of landslide susceptibility maps and may help in accurately identifying landslide-prone areas in the future.The confident maps thus generated can be used as a ready reference to the planners for the formulation of landslide adaptation strategies at micro-scales.展开更多
Stakeholder satisfaction is an important factor in determining the success of urban heritage conservation projects.This research attempts to propose a model for assessing stakeholder satisfaction and project significa...Stakeholder satisfaction is an important factor in determining the success of urban heritage conservation projects.This research attempts to propose a model for assessing stakeholder satisfaction and project significant factors that need to be considered when determining the performance of a conservation project,taking the Thiruvananthapuram Fort Area,India as a case example.The study employed a mixed-method approach of using expert consultations,physical surveys,and statistical analysis in the development of the model.Factors influencing the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project were listed from the literature and further refined through expert discussions to be utilized for the stakeholder survey.A questionnaire survey is administered within a heritage-sensitive urban area to identify the present state of heritage buildings and the living conditions of the stakeholders pertaining to the six aspects that determine the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project.The overall satisfaction of the stakeholder group was modelled using ordinal logistic regression against the various factors to arrive at factors that positively and negatively influenced them.The model assessed that the satisfaction of the stakeholders who were a part of the historic site was highly influenced by their economic needs and the project's economic sustainability over other factors in the model.Urban economy consolidation,a known mechanism of improving an area's economic sustainability negatively affected the stakeholders'satisfaction.The results indicate that the factors under the social aspect were not significant determinants for the stakeholders of this urban heritage conservation project.The methodology developed in this study can aid researchers and planners in identifying factors determining the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project while planning for development within a heritage-sensitive urban area.展开更多
Phase equilibria modelling coupled with U–Pb zircon and monazite ages of garnet–cordierite gneiss from Vallikodu Kottayam in the Kerala Khondalite Belt,southern India are presented here.The results suggest that the ...Phase equilibria modelling coupled with U–Pb zircon and monazite ages of garnet–cordierite gneiss from Vallikodu Kottayam in the Kerala Khondalite Belt,southern India are presented here.The results suggest that the area attained peak P–T conditions of^900C at 7.5–8 kbar,followed by decompression to 3.5–5 kbar and cooling to 450–480C,preserving signatures of the partial melting event in the field of high to ultra-high temperature metamorphism.Melt reintegration models suggest that up to 35%granitic melt could have been produced during metamorphism at^950C.The U–Pb age data from zircons(~1.0–~0.7 Ga)and chemical ages from monazites(~540 Ma and^941 Ma)reflect a complex tectonometamorphic evolution of the terrain.The^941 Ma age reported from these monazites indicate a Tonian ultra-high temperature event,linked to juvenile magmatism/deformation episodes reported from the Southern Granulite Terrane and associated fragments in Rodinia,which were subsequently overprinted by the Cambrian(~540 Ma)tectonothermal episode.展开更多
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence among tribal patients is high owing to their social and geographic vulnerability. Ensuring adherence to TB treatment among them remains a challenging task as it is dependent o...Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence among tribal patients is high owing to their social and geographic vulnerability. Ensuring adherence to TB treatment among them remains a challenging task as it is dependent on socio-cultural and environmental factors. Objective: 1) To know the individuals’ perception of TB disease and anti-TB treatment;2) To explore the personal, social, family and cultural factors influencing on patient’s treatment adherence;3) To identify the challenges faced by health care providers in delivering services to the tribal population. Material and Methods: A descriptive qualitative study conducted among tribal patients (n = 16) and health providers (n = 6) of Manathavady TB unit, Wayanad District of Kerala. The data were collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs), audio-recorded in Malayalam, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Transcripts were analysed using manual descriptive content analysis. Results: Most of the patients were oriented about the importance of completing TB treatment though lacked awareness about its causation. The supportive attitude of the community further encouraged them to continue TB treatment. However, substance abuse emerged as the biggest challenge to treatment adherence particularly among males. While accessibility to the health system, animal confrontation, and disaster risk emerged as barriers owing to the geographic landscape of the community, health services were found to be acceptable, available and affordable to all the patients. No stigma or discrimination was perceived by the patients at family, community and health system level. However, their beliefs in herbal medicines and conduct of certain rituals delayed them for seeking care. The personal commitment of the health care staff helped the TB patients to adhere better with the treatment thereby yielding best results. Conclusion: The TB treatment adherence among the tribal population was satisfactory due to personal, social and health system support. However, alcoholism and geograp展开更多
The present study was an attempt to delineate potential groundwater zones in Kalikavu Panchayat of Malappuram district,Kerala,India.The geo-spatial database on geomorphology,landuse,geology,slope and drainage network ...The present study was an attempt to delineate potential groundwater zones in Kalikavu Panchayat of Malappuram district,Kerala,India.The geo-spatial database on geomorphology,landuse,geology,slope and drainage network was generated in a geographic information system(GIS)environment from satellite data,Survey of India topographic sheets and field observations.To understand the movement and occurrence of groundwater,the geology,geomorphology,structural set-up and recharging conditions have to be well understood.In the present study,the potential recharge areas are delineated in terms of geology,geomorphology,land use,slope,drainage pattern,etc.Various thematic data generated were integrated using a heuristic method in the GIS domain to generate maps showing potential groundwater zones.The composite output map scores were reclassified into different zones using a decision rule.The final output map shows different zones of groundwater prospect,viz.,very good(15.57%of the area),good(43.74%),moderate(28.38%)and poor(12.31%).Geomorphic units such as valley plains,valley fills and alluvial terraces were identified as good to excellent prospect zones,while the gently sloping lateritic uplands were identified as good to moderate zones.Steeply sloping hilly terrains underlain by hard rocks were identified as poor groundwater prospect zones.展开更多
The social landscape of Kerala—the southwest Indian state—has undergone significant changes in the last century.Migration has been a major factor impelling transformation in different sectors of Kerala society,there...The social landscape of Kerala—the southwest Indian state—has undergone significant changes in the last century.Migration has been a major factor impelling transformation in different sectors of Kerala society,thereby contributing to the overall development of the state.Among the major destinations of migration from Kerala,the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC)countries continued to be a unique space for more than one reason.Apart from historical and cultural links,the GCC countries have geopolitical as well as economic importance to India,and Kerala in particular.This has naturally attracted several migration-related scholarly investigations.There are several studies and reports pertaining to the impact of the Gulf migration on Kerala’s economy and society.Yet,the cultural impact of the remittance boom on Kerala—which started in the 1970s—has not been subjected to rigorous studies and analysis.Hence,this paper tries to deploy cultural remittance as a category of analysis for understanding the changing social landscape of Kerala—with the emergence of new cultural spaces held out by the Gulf-related songs,home cinema,films,religion,cuisine,dress styles,media,and the diaspora literature.The study mainly delves into the text and context of such cultural artefacts with a view to exploring the contours of‘living Together’in the‘Gulf life-world’in Kerala.展开更多
The temporary nature of residency in the Gulf has given fewer legal and political rights to the Indian migrants,while not completely rendering their affection to their chosen‘home,’cultivated with their historical,c...The temporary nature of residency in the Gulf has given fewer legal and political rights to the Indian migrants,while not completely rendering their affection to their chosen‘home,’cultivated with their historical,cultural,and familial ties to the region.While existing literature has delved into the working conditions and political scenario that surround the immigrant workforce from Kerala residing in the Arab Gulf countries,most have not paid attention to the secondgeneration of these immigrants who have continued to stay.More specifically,the second-generation of these immigrants struggle to identify themselves in a complicated environment that does not permit them the possibility of naturalising into citizens or culturally assimilate,while their‘Non-Resident’status questions their innate cultural immersion into the native environment.Meanwhile,social media has offered a discursive space where possibilities for belonging in multiple communities emerge for the second-generation Malayali living in the Gulf.On the contrary,governments in the Gulf are attempting to rediscover and redefine their sense of self or national identity,while trying to find alternative means to deal with the dependence of foreign labour.Therefore,this study is a descriptive narrative which aims at understanding the formation of identity by second-generation migrants from Kerala and the terms that constitute their subject positions in regard to the transforming and modernising Gulf.Further,it aims to investigate possibility of physical or virtual spaces with the use of social media by these migrants which helps ponder on the larger questions of belonging and identity.展开更多
Land use and land cover change,perhaps the most significant anthropogenic disturbance to the environment,mainly due to rapid urbanization/industrialization and large scale agricultural activities.In this paper,an atte...Land use and land cover change,perhaps the most significant anthropogenic disturbance to the environment,mainly due to rapid urbanization/industrialization and large scale agricultural activities.In this paper,an attempt has been made to appraise land use/land cover changes over a century(19142007)in the Neyyar River Basin(L56 km;Area483.4 km2)in southern Keralaa biodiversity hot spot in Peninsular India.In this study,digital remote sensing data of the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series I-D(LISS III,20062007)on 1:50,000 scale,Survey of India(SOI)toposheet of 1914(1:63,360)and 1967(1:50,000)have been utilized to map various land use/land cover changes.Maps of different periods have been registered and resampled to similar geographic coordinates using ERDAS Imagine 9.0.The most notable changes include decreases in areas of paddy cultivation,mixed crops,scrub lands and evergreen forests,and increases in built-up areas,rubber plantations,dense mixed forests,and water bodies.Further,large scale exploitation of flood plain mud and river sand have reached menacing proportions leading to bank caving and cut offs at channel bends.Conservation of land and water resources forms an important aspect of ecosystem management in the basin.展开更多
A literature-based checklist of polypores reported from Kerala State,India is deduced.Altogether 148 species of polypores under 8 families belonging to 68 genera are recorded.The checklist is prepared after reviewing ...A literature-based checklist of polypores reported from Kerala State,India is deduced.Altogether 148 species of polypores under 8 families belonging to 68 genera are recorded.The checklist is prepared after reviewing all the available literature and most of them have been published during the last two decades.The geographical distribution of polypores is presented districts wise,including all the 14 districts of Kerala state.The family Polyporaceae has the highest number of species(80),followed by Hymenochaetaceae(37),Fomitopsidaceae(9),Meripilaceae(7),Ganodermataceae(7),Meruliaceae(5),Schizoporaceae(2)and Phanerochaetaceae with a single species.The genus Trametes had the highest representation with 16 species followed by Lentinus and Phellinus with 13 species each.There is no comprehensive studies have been undertaken on the diversity,distribution and functional attributes of polypore fungi in Kerala parts of Western Ghats,which undoubtedly hosting the highest mycodiversity This list is inconclusive and covers only a part of the actual diversity of polypores in Kerala as most of the forest areas are unexplored for the polypore diversity documentation.展开更多
The acidity characteristics of acid sulphate soils of Kuttanad, Kerala, were studied in detail by collecting surface, profile and subsurface soil samples from 20 locations of six soil series viz., Ambalapuzha, Purakka...The acidity characteristics of acid sulphate soils of Kuttanad, Kerala, were studied in detail by collecting surface, profile and subsurface soil samples from 20 locations of six soil series viz., Ambalapuzha, Purakkad, Thotapally, Thuravur, Kallara and - Thakazhi that belonged to acid sulphate soils. The soils were extremely acidic showing a range of pH （H：O） varying from 2.5 to 5.2. Lowest pH was recorded by Thakazhi series and the highest by Thotapally. The potential acidity of soils ranged from 14.71 cmol.kg-1 to 110.5 cmol-kg1 with Thakazhi series showing the highest value. The contribution of hydrolytic acidity to potential acidity ranged from 70.2% to 97.2%. In all soil series, exchangeable A13＋ was greater than exchangeable H~. A significant correlation was observed among pH （KCI）, pH （H20） and pH （CaCI2） in all series.展开更多
Globalization and liberalization offer competitive openings for several world brands to the Indian markets. Bestowed with growing disposable incomes, Kerala consumers exhibit wide diversity in their buying habits. App...Globalization and liberalization offer competitive openings for several world brands to the Indian markets. Bestowed with growing disposable incomes, Kerala consumers exhibit wide diversity in their buying habits. Apparently, the emerging fascination for imported brands impels distributers to leave enough space to shelf more ＂made in China＂ brands in their showrooms. The substantial increase in consumers＇ demand for imported goods with considerable attraction for ＂made in China＂ products inspired this study to explore the demand state for various types of Chinese products in the Indian regional markets. Divided into two stages, at first, with a primary survey, the study explores the consumers＇ perception towards selected five vastly available consumer durables such as electrical appliances, handicrafts, stationeries, toys and builds wares. Later, the demand matrix developed from the primary data defines the types of demand prevailing for each category of＂made in China＂ products based on their popularity and consumption in Kerala markets.展开更多
Objective:To study the transmission dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)among 101 confirmed cases and their 387 household contacts and to determine risk factors associated with secondary attack among the hou...Objective:To study the transmission dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)among 101 confirmed cases and their 387 household contacts and to determine risk factors associated with secondary attack among the household contacts.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 1st 2021 to February 28th 2021,among 101 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 387 household contacts who were followed up for 14 days from the last day of contact with the index case of COVID-19.The dynamics of disease transmission was estimated,and factors affecting transmission risk were analyzed.Besides,the association between various factors and household secondary attack rate was determined.Results:The median incubation period was found to be 5 days,and the observed reproductive number(R)was found to be 1.63(95%CI:1.28-1.98).The mean household secondary attack rate was 40.7%.Contacts with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus,hypertension,dyslipidemia,and hypothyroidism had significantly higher attack rates(P<0.05).Conclusions:As new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerges,it is crucial to know the trasmission dynamics.This study shows a high secondary attack rate of COVID-19 among household contacts that must be closely monitored.展开更多
Penicilliopsis clavariiformis,an ascomycete fungus is reported for the first time from Diospyros paniculata.Conspicuous clavarioid ascomata of P.clavariiformis were found emerging out of fruits and seeds of D.panicula...Penicilliopsis clavariiformis,an ascomycete fungus is reported for the first time from Diospyros paniculata.Conspicuous clavarioid ascomata of P.clavariiformis were found emerging out of fruits and seeds of D.paniculata growing in a sacred grove in Kerala State,India.Based on morphological and molecular evidences,the identity of the fungus was confirmed.展开更多
Aims:The aim was to analyze the homicide pattern in South Kerala from autopsies conducted between 2002 and 2016.Objectives:Exploring the age and gender distribution of death due to homicide,the type and distribution o...Aims:The aim was to analyze the homicide pattern in South Kerala from autopsies conducted between 2002 and 2016.Objectives:Exploring the age and gender distribution of death due to homicide,the type and distribution of injuries according to the region of the body,and trends of homicide.We also tried to study the pattern of defense wounds in homicidal cases and characteristics in dyadic deaths(homicide-suicide).Materials and Methods:It was a retrospective descriptive study.The setting was the Department of Forensic Medicine,State Medico-Legal Institute,Government Medical College(GMC),Thiruvananthapuram.All cases of autopsies with an alleged history of homicide,between 2002 and 2016,done at Mortuary of GMC,Thiruvananthapuram,were included in the study.Records of all cases of an alleged history of homicide from January 1,2002 to December 31,2016 were perused.Results:957 cases were analyzed.The annual incidence of homicide is declining after 2012.Young adult males(31T0 years)are the most common group involved(24.97%).Head injury was the most common cause of death(43.68%).The head was the most common area to be affected in fatal blunt force injuries(49%)while the chest was involved commonly in fatal sharp force injuries(36%).Females were more often the homicide victims in murder-suicides.Husband-wife and fatherchild combination was the most common pairs in dyadic deaths.Conclusion:The characteristics which were associated with the homicides were generally in agreement with the existing forensic literature.The findings encourage examining the motives of homicide and potential sociocultural factors affecting the victims and possibly the assailants.We also found that the murder-suicide cases differed from the homicides requiring a separate domain of understanding and subsequent investigations.展开更多
Ample quantities of a crepidotoid agaric were collected from an evergreen forest in Kerala State,India and subsequent morphological and molecular analysis based on nLSU sequence confirmed it as Conchomyces bursiformis...Ample quantities of a crepidotoid agaric were collected from an evergreen forest in Kerala State,India and subsequent morphological and molecular analysis based on nLSU sequence confirmed it as Conchomyces bursiformis.A reappraisal along with comprehensive description,photographs,and discussion of this rare monotypic agaric is provided.展开更多
文摘A comprehensive methodology that integrates Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation （RUSLE） model and Geographic Information System （GIS） techniques was adopted to determine the soil erosion vulner- ability of a forested mountainous sub-watershed in Kerala, India. The spatial pattern of annual soil erosion rate was obtained by integrating geo-environmental variables in a raster based GIS method. GIS data layers including, rainfall erosivity （R）, soil erodability （K）, slope length and steepness （LS）, cover management （C） and conservation practice （P） factors were computed to determine their effects on average annual soil loss in the area. The resultant map of annual soil erosion shows a maximum soil loss of 17.73 t h-1 y i with a close relation to grass land areas, degraded forests and deciduous forests on the steep side-slopes （with high LS ）. The spatial erosion maps generated with RUSLE method and GIS can serve as effective inputs in deriving strategies for land planning and management in the environmentally sensitive mountainous areas.
基金Financial support from Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (004/FSHP/05KSCSTE)
文摘Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation(RUSLE) model coupled with transport limited sediment delivery(TLSD) function was used to predict the longtime average annual soil loss, and to identify the critical erosion-/deposition-prone areas in a tropical mountain river basin, viz., Muthirapuzha River Basin(MRB; area=271.75 km^2), in the southern Western Ghats, India. Mean gross soil erosion in MRB is 14.36 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1), whereas mean net soil erosion(i.e., gross erosion-deposition) is only 3.60 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1)(i.e., roughly 25% of the gross erosion). Majority of the basin area(~86%) experiences only slight erosion(<5 t ha^(-1) yr^(-1)), and nearly 3% of the area functions as depositional environment for the eroded sediments(e.g., the terraces of stream reaches, the gentle plains as well as the foot slopes of the plateau scarps and the terrain with concordant summits). Although mean gross soil erosion rates in the natural vegetation belts are relatively higher, compared to agriculture, settlement/built-up areas and tea plantation, the sediment transport efficiency in agricultural areas and tea plantation is significantly high,reflecting the role of human activities on accelerated soil erosion. In MRB, on a mean basis, 0.42 t of soil organic carbon(SOC) content is being eroded per hectare annually, and SOC loss from the 4th order subbasins shows considerable differences, mainly due to the spatial variability in the gross soil erosion rates among the sub-basins. The quantitative results, on soil erosion and deposition, modelled using RUSLE and TLSD, are expected to be beneficial while formulating comprehensive land management strategies for reducing the extent of soil degradation in tropical mountain river basins.
基金The authors would like to thank Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies(KUFOS)for providing high computing facilities(HP-Z6)granting permission to conduct the study。
文摘Landslide susceptibility maps are vital tools used by decision-makers to adopt mitigation strategies for future calamities.In this context,research on landslide susceptibility modelling has become a topic of relevance and is in constant evolution.Though various machine-learning techniques(MLTs)have been identified for landslide susceptibility modelling,the uncertainty inherent in the models is rarely considered.The present study attempts to quantify the uncertainty associated with landslide prediction models by developing a new methodological framework based on the ensembles of the eight MLTs.This methodology has been tested at the highlands of the southern Western Ghats region(Kerala,India),where landslides have frequently been occurring.Fourteen landslide conditioning factors have been identified as part of this study,and their association was correlated with 671 historic landslides in the study area.The study used four ensemble models such as the mean of probabilities,the median of probabilities,the weighted mean of probabilities,and the committee average.The weighted mean of probability was proved to be the best model based on the average of 800 standalone MLTs,viz.,receiver operating characteristics,true skill statistics,and area under curve with corresponding validation scores.Thereafter,an uncertainty analysis was carried out on the coefficient of variation.A confident map was generated to represent the distinct zonation of landslide susceptibility areas with definite uncertainty scales.Nearly 74%of the past landslides fall in the higher susceptibility-low uncertainty category.It is also inferred that such micro-level zonation based on MLTs may improve the efficiency of landslide susceptibility maps and may help in accurately identifying landslide-prone areas in the future.The confident maps thus generated can be used as a ready reference to the planners for the formulation of landslide adaptation strategies at micro-scales.
文摘Stakeholder satisfaction is an important factor in determining the success of urban heritage conservation projects.This research attempts to propose a model for assessing stakeholder satisfaction and project significant factors that need to be considered when determining the performance of a conservation project,taking the Thiruvananthapuram Fort Area,India as a case example.The study employed a mixed-method approach of using expert consultations,physical surveys,and statistical analysis in the development of the model.Factors influencing the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project were listed from the literature and further refined through expert discussions to be utilized for the stakeholder survey.A questionnaire survey is administered within a heritage-sensitive urban area to identify the present state of heritage buildings and the living conditions of the stakeholders pertaining to the six aspects that determine the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project.The overall satisfaction of the stakeholder group was modelled using ordinal logistic regression against the various factors to arrive at factors that positively and negatively influenced them.The model assessed that the satisfaction of the stakeholders who were a part of the historic site was highly influenced by their economic needs and the project's economic sustainability over other factors in the model.Urban economy consolidation,a known mechanism of improving an area's economic sustainability negatively affected the stakeholders'satisfaction.The results indicate that the factors under the social aspect were not significant determinants for the stakeholders of this urban heritage conservation project.The methodology developed in this study can aid researchers and planners in identifying factors determining the outcome of an urban heritage conservation project while planning for development within a heritage-sensitive urban area.
基金funding from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India(India) under the DST INSPIRE Faculty Scheme (Grant:DST/INSPIRE/04/2014/000221)
文摘Phase equilibria modelling coupled with U–Pb zircon and monazite ages of garnet–cordierite gneiss from Vallikodu Kottayam in the Kerala Khondalite Belt,southern India are presented here.The results suggest that the area attained peak P–T conditions of^900C at 7.5–8 kbar,followed by decompression to 3.5–5 kbar and cooling to 450–480C,preserving signatures of the partial melting event in the field of high to ultra-high temperature metamorphism.Melt reintegration models suggest that up to 35%granitic melt could have been produced during metamorphism at^950C.The U–Pb age data from zircons(~1.0–~0.7 Ga)and chemical ages from monazites(~540 Ma and^941 Ma)reflect a complex tectonometamorphic evolution of the terrain.The^941 Ma age reported from these monazites indicate a Tonian ultra-high temperature event,linked to juvenile magmatism/deformation episodes reported from the Southern Granulite Terrane and associated fragments in Rodinia,which were subsequently overprinted by the Cambrian(~540 Ma)tectonothermal episode.
文摘Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) incidence among tribal patients is high owing to their social and geographic vulnerability. Ensuring adherence to TB treatment among them remains a challenging task as it is dependent on socio-cultural and environmental factors. Objective: 1) To know the individuals’ perception of TB disease and anti-TB treatment;2) To explore the personal, social, family and cultural factors influencing on patient’s treatment adherence;3) To identify the challenges faced by health care providers in delivering services to the tribal population. Material and Methods: A descriptive qualitative study conducted among tribal patients (n = 16) and health providers (n = 6) of Manathavady TB unit, Wayanad District of Kerala. The data were collected through in-depth interviews (IDIs), audio-recorded in Malayalam, transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Transcripts were analysed using manual descriptive content analysis. Results: Most of the patients were oriented about the importance of completing TB treatment though lacked awareness about its causation. The supportive attitude of the community further encouraged them to continue TB treatment. However, substance abuse emerged as the biggest challenge to treatment adherence particularly among males. While accessibility to the health system, animal confrontation, and disaster risk emerged as barriers owing to the geographic landscape of the community, health services were found to be acceptable, available and affordable to all the patients. No stigma or discrimination was perceived by the patients at family, community and health system level. However, their beliefs in herbal medicines and conduct of certain rituals delayed them for seeking care. The personal commitment of the health care staff helped the TB patients to adhere better with the treatment thereby yielding best results. Conclusion: The TB treatment adherence among the tribal population was satisfactory due to personal, social and health system support. However, alcoholism and geograp
文摘The present study was an attempt to delineate potential groundwater zones in Kalikavu Panchayat of Malappuram district,Kerala,India.The geo-spatial database on geomorphology,landuse,geology,slope and drainage network was generated in a geographic information system(GIS)environment from satellite data,Survey of India topographic sheets and field observations.To understand the movement and occurrence of groundwater,the geology,geomorphology,structural set-up and recharging conditions have to be well understood.In the present study,the potential recharge areas are delineated in terms of geology,geomorphology,land use,slope,drainage pattern,etc.Various thematic data generated were integrated using a heuristic method in the GIS domain to generate maps showing potential groundwater zones.The composite output map scores were reclassified into different zones using a decision rule.The final output map shows different zones of groundwater prospect,viz.,very good(15.57%of the area),good(43.74%),moderate(28.38%)and poor(12.31%).Geomorphic units such as valley plains,valley fills and alluvial terraces were identified as good to excellent prospect zones,while the gently sloping lateritic uplands were identified as good to moderate zones.Steeply sloping hilly terrains underlain by hard rocks were identified as poor groundwater prospect zones.
文摘The social landscape of Kerala—the southwest Indian state—has undergone significant changes in the last century.Migration has been a major factor impelling transformation in different sectors of Kerala society,thereby contributing to the overall development of the state.Among the major destinations of migration from Kerala,the Gulf Cooperation Council(GCC)countries continued to be a unique space for more than one reason.Apart from historical and cultural links,the GCC countries have geopolitical as well as economic importance to India,and Kerala in particular.This has naturally attracted several migration-related scholarly investigations.There are several studies and reports pertaining to the impact of the Gulf migration on Kerala’s economy and society.Yet,the cultural impact of the remittance boom on Kerala—which started in the 1970s—has not been subjected to rigorous studies and analysis.Hence,this paper tries to deploy cultural remittance as a category of analysis for understanding the changing social landscape of Kerala—with the emergence of new cultural spaces held out by the Gulf-related songs,home cinema,films,religion,cuisine,dress styles,media,and the diaspora literature.The study mainly delves into the text and context of such cultural artefacts with a view to exploring the contours of‘living Together’in the‘Gulf life-world’in Kerala.
文摘The temporary nature of residency in the Gulf has given fewer legal and political rights to the Indian migrants,while not completely rendering their affection to their chosen‘home,’cultivated with their historical,cultural,and familial ties to the region.While existing literature has delved into the working conditions and political scenario that surround the immigrant workforce from Kerala residing in the Arab Gulf countries,most have not paid attention to the secondgeneration of these immigrants who have continued to stay.More specifically,the second-generation of these immigrants struggle to identify themselves in a complicated environment that does not permit them the possibility of naturalising into citizens or culturally assimilate,while their‘Non-Resident’status questions their innate cultural immersion into the native environment.Meanwhile,social media has offered a discursive space where possibilities for belonging in multiple communities emerge for the second-generation Malayali living in the Gulf.On the contrary,governments in the Gulf are attempting to rediscover and redefine their sense of self or national identity,while trying to find alternative means to deal with the dependence of foreign labour.Therefore,this study is a descriptive narrative which aims at understanding the formation of identity by second-generation migrants from Kerala and the terms that constitute their subject positions in regard to the transforming and modernising Gulf.Further,it aims to investigate possibility of physical or virtual spaces with the use of social media by these migrants which helps ponder on the larger questions of belonging and identity.
文摘Land use and land cover change,perhaps the most significant anthropogenic disturbance to the environment,mainly due to rapid urbanization/industrialization and large scale agricultural activities.In this paper,an attempt has been made to appraise land use/land cover changes over a century(19142007)in the Neyyar River Basin(L56 km;Area483.4 km2)in southern Keralaa biodiversity hot spot in Peninsular India.In this study,digital remote sensing data of the Indian Remote Sensing satellite series I-D(LISS III,20062007)on 1:50,000 scale,Survey of India(SOI)toposheet of 1914(1:63,360)and 1967(1:50,000)have been utilized to map various land use/land cover changes.Maps of different periods have been registered and resampled to similar geographic coordinates using ERDAS Imagine 9.0.The most notable changes include decreases in areas of paddy cultivation,mixed crops,scrub lands and evergreen forests,and increases in built-up areas,rubber plantations,dense mixed forests,and water bodies.Further,large scale exploitation of flood plain mud and river sand have reached menacing proportions leading to bank caving and cut offs at channel bends.Conservation of land and water resources forms an important aspect of ecosystem management in the basin.
文摘A literature-based checklist of polypores reported from Kerala State,India is deduced.Altogether 148 species of polypores under 8 families belonging to 68 genera are recorded.The checklist is prepared after reviewing all the available literature and most of them have been published during the last two decades.The geographical distribution of polypores is presented districts wise,including all the 14 districts of Kerala state.The family Polyporaceae has the highest number of species(80),followed by Hymenochaetaceae(37),Fomitopsidaceae(9),Meripilaceae(7),Ganodermataceae(7),Meruliaceae(5),Schizoporaceae(2)and Phanerochaetaceae with a single species.The genus Trametes had the highest representation with 16 species followed by Lentinus and Phellinus with 13 species each.There is no comprehensive studies have been undertaken on the diversity,distribution and functional attributes of polypore fungi in Kerala parts of Western Ghats,which undoubtedly hosting the highest mycodiversity This list is inconclusive and covers only a part of the actual diversity of polypores in Kerala as most of the forest areas are unexplored for the polypore diversity documentation.
文摘The acidity characteristics of acid sulphate soils of Kuttanad, Kerala, were studied in detail by collecting surface, profile and subsurface soil samples from 20 locations of six soil series viz., Ambalapuzha, Purakkad, Thotapally, Thuravur, Kallara and - Thakazhi that belonged to acid sulphate soils. The soils were extremely acidic showing a range of pH （H：O） varying from 2.5 to 5.2. Lowest pH was recorded by Thakazhi series and the highest by Thotapally. The potential acidity of soils ranged from 14.71 cmol.kg-1 to 110.5 cmol-kg1 with Thakazhi series showing the highest value. The contribution of hydrolytic acidity to potential acidity ranged from 70.2% to 97.2%. In all soil series, exchangeable A13＋ was greater than exchangeable H~. A significant correlation was observed among pH （KCI）, pH （H20） and pH （CaCI2） in all series.
文摘Globalization and liberalization offer competitive openings for several world brands to the Indian markets. Bestowed with growing disposable incomes, Kerala consumers exhibit wide diversity in their buying habits. Apparently, the emerging fascination for imported brands impels distributers to leave enough space to shelf more ＂made in China＂ brands in their showrooms. The substantial increase in consumers＇ demand for imported goods with considerable attraction for ＂made in China＂ products inspired this study to explore the demand state for various types of Chinese products in the Indian regional markets. Divided into two stages, at first, with a primary survey, the study explores the consumers＇ perception towards selected five vastly available consumer durables such as electrical appliances, handicrafts, stationeries, toys and builds wares. Later, the demand matrix developed from the primary data defines the types of demand prevailing for each category of＂made in China＂ products based on their popularity and consumption in Kerala markets.
文摘Objective:To study the transmission dynamics of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)among 101 confirmed cases and their 387 household contacts and to determine risk factors associated with secondary attack among the household contacts.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 1st 2021 to February 28th 2021,among 101 SARS-CoV-2 cases and 387 household contacts who were followed up for 14 days from the last day of contact with the index case of COVID-19.The dynamics of disease transmission was estimated,and factors affecting transmission risk were analyzed.Besides,the association between various factors and household secondary attack rate was determined.Results:The median incubation period was found to be 5 days,and the observed reproductive number(R)was found to be 1.63(95%CI:1.28-1.98).The mean household secondary attack rate was 40.7%.Contacts with comorbidities like diabetes mellitus,hypertension,dyslipidemia,and hypothyroidism had significantly higher attack rates(P<0.05).Conclusions:As new variants of SARS-CoV-2 emerges,it is crucial to know the trasmission dynamics.This study shows a high secondary attack rate of COVID-19 among household contacts that must be closely monitored.
文摘Penicilliopsis clavariiformis,an ascomycete fungus is reported for the first time from Diospyros paniculata.Conspicuous clavarioid ascomata of P.clavariiformis were found emerging out of fruits and seeds of D.paniculata growing in a sacred grove in Kerala State,India.Based on morphological and molecular evidences,the identity of the fungus was confirmed.
文摘Aims:The aim was to analyze the homicide pattern in South Kerala from autopsies conducted between 2002 and 2016.Objectives:Exploring the age and gender distribution of death due to homicide,the type and distribution of injuries according to the region of the body,and trends of homicide.We also tried to study the pattern of defense wounds in homicidal cases and characteristics in dyadic deaths(homicide-suicide).Materials and Methods:It was a retrospective descriptive study.The setting was the Department of Forensic Medicine,State Medico-Legal Institute,Government Medical College(GMC),Thiruvananthapuram.All cases of autopsies with an alleged history of homicide,between 2002 and 2016,done at Mortuary of GMC,Thiruvananthapuram,were included in the study.Records of all cases of an alleged history of homicide from January 1,2002 to December 31,2016 were perused.Results:957 cases were analyzed.The annual incidence of homicide is declining after 2012.Young adult males(31T0 years)are the most common group involved(24.97%).Head injury was the most common cause of death(43.68%).The head was the most common area to be affected in fatal blunt force injuries(49%)while the chest was involved commonly in fatal sharp force injuries(36%).Females were more often the homicide victims in murder-suicides.Husband-wife and fatherchild combination was the most common pairs in dyadic deaths.Conclusion:The characteristics which were associated with the homicides were generally in agreement with the existing forensic literature.The findings encourage examining the motives of homicide and potential sociocultural factors affecting the victims and possibly the assailants.We also found that the murder-suicide cases differed from the homicides requiring a separate domain of understanding and subsequent investigations.
基金Manoj Kumar acknowledges UGC,India for providing FDP Teacher Fellowship(No.F.No.FIP/12th Plan/KLCA042 TF05)Bijeesh acknowledges financial support from the UGC,India in the form of RGN Fellowship(Grant No F1-17.1/2013-14/RGNF-2013-14-SC-KER-41924).
文摘Ample quantities of a crepidotoid agaric were collected from an evergreen forest in Kerala State,India and subsequent morphological and molecular analysis based on nLSU sequence confirmed it as Conchomyces bursiformis.A reappraisal along with comprehensive description,photographs,and discussion of this rare monotypic agaric is provided.
