YE16 isolated from yak dung of the Sikkim Himalayas for its application in bioethanol production using pretreated sugarcane bagasse

Cellulolytic bacteria were isolated from yak dung samples collected from different habitats of Sikkim, India. Isolate YE16 from the Yumthang Valley sample showed highest enzyme activity of 7.68 U/mL and was identified as Bacillus sp., which has a sequence similarity of 96.15% with B. velezensis. One factor at a time (OFAT) analysis revealed that an acidic pH of 5 with 37 °C temperature was optimum for maximum enzyme production after 36 hrs of incubation (13.88 U/mL), which was further increased after statistical optimization (34.70 U/mL). Media optimization based on response surface methodology predicted that Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and MgSO4 at concentrations of 30 g/L and 0.525 g/L, respectively, at pH 5.5 to show CMCase activity of 30.612 U/mL, which was consistent with the observed value of 30.25 U/mL and confirmed the model. The crude enzyme also efficiently hydrolyzed alkaline pretreated sugarcane bagasse, releasing 7.09 g/L of glucose equivalent with an ethanol production of 3.05 g.

Education Intervention on 'Hearing Impairment - Its Assessment and Management' among Medical Practitioners in Sikkim, India

BACKGROUND

Health care providers must be aware of the choices in aural rehabilitation methods and assessment procedures available presently to those with hearing impairment in order to facilitate early identification and intervention and ensure quality of care to those hearing impaired individuals. The referrals from the medical fraternities for the audiological services are not uniform across India. Part of reason may be that awareness about the roles of and responsibilities of audiologist's is poor among medical practitioners. In some regions of India medical practitioners may be only grossly be aware of audiologists per se. They may not know enough to refer all individuals with hearing or balance disorders for the required audiological services.

AIM

To evaluate changes in pre survey and post survey after education intervention specifically planned for medical practitioners in the state of Sikkim, India. Education intervention included awareness about hearing impairment and its assessment and management by audiologists.

METHOD

A pre and post survey comparison research design with purposive convenient sampling technique was applied. Participants were medical practitioners working in geographical area of Sikkim at the time of the study. Inspection of demographic data of respondents showed that they were in their age range of 24 and 60 years and with work experience ranging 1-40 years. Participants were invited for an awareness talk which included, information about hearing loss, early identification and early intervention, tests and management of hearing loss in different age groups, need for hearing aids/cochlear implants, auditory training, and the role of an audiologist in the management of hearing loss and ways to prevent hearing loss. A pre and post awareness program responses were collected from all the participants using a customized questionnaire tool.

RESULTS

Respondents exhibited, in the pre-survey questionnaire, lack of awareness in many aspects of audiology, including assessing hearing impairment, diagnosing hearing loss, and the role of an audiologist. There was an overall, statistically significant difference in the level of performance on the pre-awareness and post-awareness responses.

CONCLUSION

Following an awareness campaign among the medical professionals in Sikkim, there was a considerable change in their level of awareness of hearing impairment, its assessment, and management by audiologists. The reach of the awareness campaign was significant as around 70% of subjects showed significant change in their knowledge and attitude towards hearing impairment, its management.

from Sikkim Himalayas (India)

Aconitum spp. are important medicinal plants mentioned in Ayurveda as Ativisa or Vatsanabha. The present study aims to evaluate anti-rheumatic potential in seven Aconitum species and correlation with aconitine and hypaconitine content. Anti-rheumatic potential was analyzed through in vitro xanthine oxidase inhibition, anti-inflammatory and ROS scavenging assays; and quantification of aconitine and hypaconitine with RP-HPLC method validated as per ICH guidelines. The findings reveal that A. palmatum possessed the most promising response (IC50 =12.68±0.15 μg/ml) followed by A. ferox (IC50 =12.912±1.87 μg/ml) for xanthin oxidase inhibition. We observed a wide variation in aconitine and hypaconitine content ranging from 0.018 %-1.37 % and 0.0051 %-0.077 % respectively on dry weight basis. Aconitine and hypaconitine showed moderate positive correlation (r=0.68 and 0.59 respectively) with anti-rheumatic potential. The study identifies potential alternative species of Aconitum that can help in sustainable availability of quality raw material.

Climatic variability and its impact on the indigenous agricultural system using panel data analysis in the Sikkim Himalaya, India

Climate-induced extreme events with fluctuations in climatic indicators like temperature and precipitation highly influence crop productivity. This study deals with quantitative analysis of climatic variability and crop production (1990-2018) using panel data regression analysis. The focus is on variability of three crops, i.e., paddy, maize, and wheat in the Rangit river basin of Sikkim Himalaya, India. Meterological data were acquired from the Indian Meteorological Department, agricultural data from the state agricultural department and a field survey were also conducted with the farmers, using a structured questionnaire, focused group discussion, and key informant observations. The acquired data was analyzed with the help of correlation and multiple linear regression analysis to analyze the relationship between climatic variability and crop production. The result of the study shows that all three crops are dependent on rainfall; however, paddy was the most sensitive to climatic variability. It was found that the overall grain production had an inverse relation to temperature, but it had a positive correlation with rainfall. It was observed that there was a continuous decline in the overall production of paddy and wheat. During deficiency years, it was found that when - 11.33% rainfall was deficient, paddy yield declined by - 1.52%. Further, a deviation of - 13.48% led to a decline of - 54.78% in wheat. The study advocates that timely policy interventions and strategies shall reduce climatic shocks and improve productivity. This would strengthen the livelihood security of the local communities, overcome the challenges of food security, and ensure long-term sustainability of Rangit River basin.

Elevation determines the productivity of large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) cultivars in Sikkim Himalaya

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) is an economically important cash crop that provides a livelihood option for the rural communities in Sikkim Himalaya. However, its production has declined drastically over the past few decades due to climate change and other factors affecting the livelihood of marginal cardamom-dependent farmers in the region. Climate change causes a shift in elevational distributions of mountain species, and it is pivotal to understand its effect on yield and yield-related traits for economically important plant species like large cardamom. For this, we randomly studied 41 large cardamom cultivation sites in Sikkim (India) with elevations ranging between 975 and 2069 m asl and evaluated the yield-related traits (number of capsules per spike, capsule length, capsule width, fresh capsule weight, dry capsule weight, number of seeds per locule, fresh seed weight, and dry seed weight) in five cultivars (Dzongu Golsey, Sawney, Seremna, Ramsey, and Varlangey). We observed a significant variability (P < 0.05) for morphometric traits in each of the five cultivars cultivated in different elevations. The cultivation of low-elevation cultivars like Seremna and Dzongu Golsey (suitable in elevation < 975 m) has shifted upward to mid (975-1515 m) and high-elevation (> 1515 m), while cultivation of high-elevation Ramsey cultivar (suitable in elevation > 1515 m) has shifted downward (< 1515 m). The Dzongu Golsey, Sawney, and Seremna cultivated in mid-elevation (975-1515 m) performed better in terms of yield-related traits than the same cultivars cultivated in high-elevation (> 1515 m) and showed moderate to high negative correlation between elevation and yield-related traits, indicating the negative effect of elevation on their yield. Likewise, Ramsey and Varlangey cultivated in high elevation (> 1515 m) performed better than the one cultivated in mid-elevation (975-1515 m) and depicted moderate to high positive correlation between elevation and yield-related traits, suggesting a positive influence of elevation on their yield. Although there is an elevational shift in the cultivation of large cardamom cultivars, the elevation influences the performance of the large cardamom cultivars, and it also suggests cultivating the cultivars in their suitable elevation range for better productivity.

Prediction of glaciated area fraction over the Sikkim Himalayan Region, India: a comparative study using response surface method, random forest, and artificial neural network

Glacier area fraction at high altitude mountains is a serious worry in today's time triggered by climate change. The current information on this natural resource is very important for the survival of humanity as it affects the water, food, and energy security of people dependent on it. Due to its problematic accessibility and tough environmental condition, ground monitoring is quite challenging. This study investigates the impact of environmental parameters and pollutants on glacier area fraction over the Eastern Himalaya region and its prediction through random forest (RF), multilayer perceptron (MLP), radial basis function analysis (RBFN), and response surface methodology (RSM) models. The data are obtained from the Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC), NASA's data archive portal ( https://giovanni.gsfc.nasa.gov ). The collinearity of independent variables reveals that all selected input parameters are highly correlated with R2 value > 0.9. The RSM and RF model provided valuable insight of the predictor's significance in addition to their capability to predict the response. The model performance was evaluated in terms of R2 value and the error matrices. The model's R2 value was found to be 0.843, 0.839, 0.838, and 0.743 for MLP, RBFN, RF, and RSM respectively. Although, the neural network model R2 values are the highest, but the most reliable and suitable model is RF as the error matrices for this model are much lower than others. This study encourages the investigation of the hybridization of these models for more accurate prediction.

Surface area change detection of snow/ice cover over Zemu Glacier of Sikkim Himalaya

This study assessed the snow/ice surface area changes over the Zemu Glacier in the Eastern Himalayas. Zemu is considered to be the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalayas located in the Sikkim State of India. Change detection in the snow/ice surface areal extent of the Zemu Glacier was delineated from the year 1945 using US Army Map Service-Topographical Sheets and Landsat imageries available from 1987 to 2020. The results obtained solely focus on surface-change delineation using remote sensing satellite data and GIS software. Landsat imagery of the years 1987, 1997, 2009, 2018, and 2020 was used for snow and ice pixel extraction. Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI), Snow Cover Index (S3), and new band ratio index were used to extract the pure snow and ice pixels, fresh snow, and debris-covered snow/ice area and pixels mixed with shadow to demarcate the surface area changes. Manual delineation was required and undertaken for better results. A slope raster image was generated from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM) data to delineate the slope and hill shade. The results illustrate that the snow/ice surface covering the glacier had an area of 113.5 km² in the year 1945 which was reduced to 78.31 km² in the year 2020 indicating a total snow/ice surface area loss of 31% in 75 years. A loss of 11.45% was observed from 1945 to 1987 in the areal extent, while from 1987 to 2009, a decadal loss of approximately 7% was observed. The surface area loss of 8.46% from 2009 to 2018 led to infer the maximum loss of snow and ice over the glacier body at a rate of 0.94% per year. Between the years 2018 and 2020, the glacier lost 1.08% of its surface area. The Accumulation Area Ratio (AAR) considering the accumulation and ablation areas of the glacier indicated a gradual decline of the accumulation zone in the recent years. Global Land Ice Measurement from Space (GLIMS) program data with RGI version 6.0 was used as a reference to demarcate the areal extent of Zemu Glacier. The study gained above 80% of overall accuracy by generating a confusion matrix in ArcMap. The analysis of this seasonal snow/ice cover showed that there has been a drastic decline in the surface snow/ice cover area over the Zemu Glacier over the years 1987 to 2020 and NDSI; S3 analysis provided improved results to delineate snow/ice cover area over such steep terrain topography of Sikkim Himalaya.

Characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with fine aerosols in ambient atmosphere of high-altitude urban environment in Sikkim Himalaya

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds are ubiquitous in ambient air due to their persistence, carcinogenicity, and mutagenicity. Gangtok being one of the cleanest cities in India located in Eastern Himalayan region, witnesses high developmental activities with enhanced urbanization affecting the ambient air quality. The present study aims to measure PM_2.5 and PAHs in the ambient atmosphere of the Sikkim Himalaya to understand the influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on aerosol loading and their chemical characteristics. The PM_2.5 samples were collected and analysed for the duration from Jan 2020 to Feb 2021.The seasonal mean concentrations of PM_2.5 and PAHs were observed to be high during autumn and low during summer season. Overall, the annual mean concentration of PM_2.5 was found higher than the prescribed limit of World Health Organization and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The concentration of the 16 individual PAHs were found to be highest during autumn season (55.26 ± 37.15 ng/m³). Among the different PAHs, the annual mean concentration of fluorene (3.29 ± 4.07 ng/m³) and naphthalene (1.15 ± 3.76 ng/m³) were found to be the highest and lowest, respectively. The Molecular Diagnostic Ratio (MDR) test reveals higher contribution from heavy traffic activities throughout the winter and autumn seasons. The other possible sources identified over the region are fossil fuel combustion, and biomass burning. The multivariate statistical analysis (Multifactor Principal Component Analysis) also indicates a strong association between PM_2.5 /PAHs and meteorological variables across the region in different seasons. The precipitation and wind pattern during the study period suggests that major contribution of the PM_2.5 and PAHs were from local sources, with minimal contribution from long-range transport. The findings are important for comprehending the trends of PAH accumulation over a high-altitude urban area, and for developing sustainable air quality control methods in the Himalayan region.

Post-monsoon seasonal variation of prokaryotic diversity in solfataric soil from the North Sikkim hot spring

The solfataric soil sediments of the hot springs of Sikkim located at Yume Samdung and Lachen valley were studied for deciphering the bacterial diversity. The main aim here is to present a comparative study and generate a baseline data on the post-monsoon seasonal variation for the months of October and December, analyzed through 16S rRNA V3-V4 amplicon sequencing. The results have shown that there is not much variation at phylum level in the month of October in all the three hot springs such as New Yume Samdung (NYS), Old Yume Samdung (OYS), and Tarum (TAR) hot spring. The abundant phyla mainly present were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Similarly, in the month of December, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were prevalent; however, the percent relative abundance of these phyla in the month of December is relatively less. Besides this decrease in percent abundance, it was interestingly seen that relatively more phyla were found contributing towards the bacterial diversity in the month of December. Similar to phylum level, at genus level, there was not much variation seen among various prevalent genera of the three studied hot springs in both months. The major genera prevalent in both months among all the three hot springs were followed by Bacillus, Desulfotomaculum, Lactobacillus, and Paenibacillus. A similar trend was also seen at gene level that relative abundance of various genera was higher in the month of October but more genera were found to be contributing towards bacterial diversity in the month of December. Few distinct genera were found to be more abundant in the month of December such as Rhodopirellula and Blastopirellula. The results may conclude that there is not much variation in the abundance and type of bacterial communities during the post-monsoon season in the month of October and December. However, this may be assumed that there is the accumulation or increase in the bacterial communities during the winter (relatively higher temperature among hot springs) and may favor few mesophilic and more thermophilic communities as well.

Monitoring the distribution pattern and invasion status of Ageratina adenophora across elevational gradients in Sikkim Himalaya, India

Understanding the spread intensity and population dynamics of invasive plant species is a prerequisite for developing management strategies in the Himalayan Forest ecosystems that are experiencing an accelerated rate of climate change. Although there are studies on the occurrence of few invasive species in the Himalayan ecosystems, systematic information on their intensity of spread and species association is still missing. Considering existing data gaps, we aimed to assess the intensity of spread and distribution pattern of A. adenophora, one of the high-concern invasive species (HiCIS) of India that is causing havoc in the Himalayas, across an elevational gradient. Field data were collected in 2018 and 2021 in the Indian federal state of Sikkim, located in the Eastern Himalayas. We analyzed the population status and species association of A. adenophora along an elevational gradient ranging from > 600 m to 2700 m above sea level, which was divided into seven gradients of 300 m width, and each gradient was further randomly sampled. Overall, 81 species were present in association with A. adenophora, including 58 herbs, 19 shrubs, and 4 climbers, belonging to 30 families and 67 genera in the region. No other species continuously co-occurred along with A. adenophora throughout the elevation ranging from > 600 m to 2700 m. The species observed increased frequency (100%), density (40.51 ind./100 m²), and basal cover (11.25 cm²/m²) in the elevational gradient 1500-1800 m in 2018. In 2021, A. adenophora dominated the highest elevational gradient (< 2400-2700 m) with increased frequency (99.96%), density (58.41 ind./100m²), and basal cover (42.54 cm²/100m²), which demonstrated rapid invasion and improved plant health and reproductive vigor in comparison to the lower elevational gradient in Sikkim Himalaya. Despite being completely absent at the highest elevation (< 2400-2700 m), in 2018, it observed gregarious spread at the highest elevation in 2021, which is of serious concern to ecologists. The presence of the targeted species in all seven studied altitudinal gradients reflects stage III of the species invasion. An enormous shift in the distribution pattern along elevational gradients within a short time span is alarming for the Himalayan ecosystem since it is becoming a thriving habitat for invasive species owing to anthropogenic activity. We mapped the potential geographical extent using the species distribution model (SDM) and predicted the suitable habitat of distribution in Sikkim Himalaya. In order to curtail the spread and counteract the negative impact of this species on native vegetation in Sikkim Himalaya and ultimately reverse the process, local and regional initiatives for its biological control and management must be taken.

Moderate resolution LAI prediction using Sentinel-2 satellite data and indirect field measurements in Sikkim Himalaya

The leaf area index (LAI) has been traditionally used as a photosynthetic variable. LAI plays an essential role in forest cover monitoring and has been identified as one of the important climate variables. However, due to challenges in field sampling, complex topography, and availability of cloud-free optical satellite data, LAI assessment on larger scale is still unexplored in the Sikkim Himalayan area. We used two optical instruments, digital hemispherical photography (DHP) and LAI-2200C, to assess the LAI across four different forests following 20 × 20 m² elementary sampling units (ESUs) in the Himalayan state of Sikkim, India. The use of Sentinel-2 derived vegetation indices (VIs) demonstrated a better correlation with the DHP based LAI estimates than using LAI-2200C. Further, the combination of both reflectance bands and VIs were integrated to predict the LAI maps using random forest model. The temperate evergreen forests demonstrated the highest LAI value, while the predicted maps exhibited LAI maxima of 3.4. The estimated vs predicted LAI for DHP and LAI-2200C based estimation demonstrated reasonably good (R² = 0.63 and R² = 0.68, respectively) agreement. Further, improvements on the LAI prediction can be attempted by minimizing errors from the inherent field protocols, optimizing the density of field measurements, and representing heterogeneity. The recent rise of frequent forest fires in Sikkim Himalaya prompts for better understanding of fuel load in terms of surface fuel or canopy fuel that can be linked to LAI. The high-resolution LAI map could serve as input to forest fuel bed characterization, especially in seasonal forests with significant variations in green leaves and litter, thereby offering inputs for forest management in changing climate.

HS6 isolated from snow-covered soil of Sikkim Himalaya and molecular simulation of lipase for wide substrate specificity

The genomic analysis of industrially important bacteria can help in understanding their capability to withstand extreme environments and shed light on their metabolic capabilities. The whole genome of a previously reported broad temperature active lipase-producing Pseudomonas sp. HS6, isolated from snow-covered soil of the Sikkim Himalayan Region, was analyzed to understand the capability of the bacterium to withstand cold temperatures and study its lipolytic nature. Pseudomonas sp. HS6 was found to be psychrotolerant with an optimal growth temperature ranging between 25 and 30 °C, with the ability to grow at 5 °C. The genome harbours various cold-adaptation genes, such as cold-shock proteins, fatty acid alteration, and cold stress-tolerance genes, supporting the psychrotolerant nature of the organism. The comparative analysis of Pseudomonas sp. HS6 genome showed the presence of amino acid substitutions in genes that favor efficient functioning and flexibility at cold temperatures. Genome mining revealed the presence of four triacylglycerol lipases, among which the putative lipase 3 was highly similar to the broad temperature-active lipase purified and characterized in our previous study. In silico studies of putative lipase 3 revealed broad substrate specificity with partial and no inhibition of the enzyme activity in the presence of PMSF and orlistat. The presence of genes associated with cold adaptations and true lipases with activity at broad temperature and substrate specificity in the genome of Pseudomonas sp. HS6 makes this bacterium a suitable candidate for industrial applications.

To Study Association of Neck Circumference with Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Factors - A Hospital Based Case Control Study in Ethnic Population of Sikkim

Metabolic syndrome is known to increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke. Upper body obesity is found to be associated with metabolic syndrome and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. This present study is being conducted with the objective to evaluate association of neck circumference with metabolic syndrome in ethnic population of Sikkim.

MATERIAL

The present study is a hospital based pilot study conducted at Dept. of Medicine at a tertiary care centre in Northeast India after ethical clearance from institute's ethical committee and after taking written informed consent, A total of 30 subjects had been evaluated for components of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors.

OBSERVATION

30 subjects of metabolic syndrome were screened, raised triglyceride level was most commonly found, Neck circumference was found to be statistically significant associated with metabolic syndrome, 56.6 % subject with metabolic syndrome had abnormal neck circumference.

CONCLUSION

Upper body obesity had been recognized as to increase risk of cardiovascular disease and neck circumference can be used as simple and novel indicator. Patients with larger neck circumference should be screened for cardiovascular risk factors.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine introduction in Sikkim state: Best practices from the first statewide multiple-age cohort HPV vaccine introduction in India-2018-2019

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-associated mortality among women in India, with 96,922 new cases and 60,078 deaths each year, almost one-fifth of the global burden. In 2018, Sikkim state in India introduced human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for 9-13-year-old girls, primarily through school-based vaccination, targeting approximately 25,000 girls. We documented the program's decision-making and implementation processes.

METHODS

We conducted a post-introduction evaluation in 2019, concurrent with the second dose campaign, by interviewing key stakeholders (state, district, and local level), reviewing planning documents, and observing cold chain sites in two purposefully-sampled community areas in each of the four districts of Sikkim. Using standard questionnaires, we interviewed health and education officials, school personnel, health workers, community leaders, and age-eligible girls on program decision-making, planning, training, vaccine delivery, logistics, and communication.

RESULTS

We conducted 279 interviews and 29 observations in eight community areas across four districts of Sikkim. Based on reported administrative data, Sikkim achieved >95% HPV vaccination coverage among targeted girls for both doses via two campaigns; no severe adverse events were reported. HPV vaccination was well accepted by all stakeholders; minimal refusal was reported. Factors identified for successful vaccine introduction included strong political commitment, statewide mandatory school enrollment, collaboration between health and education departments at all levels, and robust social mobilization strategies.

CONCLUSIONS

Sikkim successfully introduced the HPV vaccine to multiple-age cohorts of girls via school-based vaccination, demonstrating a model that could be replicated in other regions in India or similar low- and middle-income country settings.

from the supraglacial site of Sikkim Himalaya

Microorganisms inhabiting the supraglacial ice are biotechnologically significant as they are equipped with unique adaptive features in response to extreme environmental conditions of high ultraviolet radiations and frequent freeze-thaw. In the current study, we obtained eleven strains of Pseudomonas from the East Rathong supraglacial site in Sikkim Himalaya that showed taxonomic ambiguity in terms of species affiliation. Being one of the most complex and diverse genera, deciphering the correct taxonomy of Pseudomonas species has always been challenging. So, we conducted multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using five housekeeping genes, which concluded the taxonomic assignment of these strains to Pseudomonas antarctica. This was further supported by the lesser mean genetic distances with P. antarctica (0.73%) compared to P. fluorescens (3.65%), and highest ANI value of ~99 and dDDH value of 91.2 of the representative strains with P. antarctica PAMC 27494. We examined the multi-tolerance abilities of these eleven Pseudomonas strains. Indeed the studied strains displayed significant tolerance to freezing for 96 hours compared to the mesophilic control strain, while except for four strains, seven strains exhibited noteworthy tolerance to UV-C radiations. The genome-based findings revealed many cold and radiation resistance-associated genes that supported the physiological findings. Further, the bacterial strains produced two or more cold-active enzymes in plate-based assays. Owing to the polyadaptational attributes, the strains ERGC3:01 and ERGC3:05 could be most promising for bioprospection.

Exploitation of optical and SAR amplitude imagery for landslide identification: a case study from Sikkim, Northeast India

Detection and mapping of landslides is one of the most important techniques used for reducing the impact of natural disasters especially in the Himalaya, owing to its high amount of tectonic deformation, seismicity, and unfavorable climatic conditions. Moreover, the northeastern part of the Himalaya, severely affected by landslides every monsoon, is poorly studied. The information on the inventories is inhomogeneous and lacking. In this context, satellite-based earth observation data, which has significantly advanced in the last decade and often serves as a potential source for data collection, monitoring, and damage assessment for disasters in a short time span, has been implemented. Keeping in mind the above framework, this study aims to exploit the potentials of Sentinel-1 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Sentinel-2 optical imagery for identifying new landslides in vegetated and hilly areas of the northeastern part of India. In order to assess the potentials of our data and methodology, a landslide event which occurred on 13 August 2016 13:30 h (IST) in North Sikkim, India, triggered due to rainfall has been explored in detail. The landslide also resulted in the formation of a lake, 2.2 km in length and 290 m in width. Difficulty in procurement of cloud-free datasets immediately after the event led us to the use of Sentinel-1 SAR backscatter data, to assess its potential for this purpose. It is observed that the potential of SAR amplitude imagery is limited to different aspects as per the sensor look direction during the mode of acquisition. Furthermore, the present study also incorporates a change detection algorithm to evaluate the performance of the Sudden Landslide Identification Product (SLIP) model to identify new landslides using Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery. Overall, the results exhibit that integrated usage of both optical and SAR amplitude imagery may provide a plethora of information for identification and mapping of new landslides for damage assessment and early warning. All the above results combined together suggest this method for rapid identification of landslides in the Himalayan terrain with special emphasis on the northeastern part of the Himalaya. The automation of this method for future operational usage is also suggested.

Distribution of antibiotic and metal resistance genes in two glaciers of North Sikkim, India

Glacier studies as of late have ruffled many eyeballs, exploring this frigid ecology to understand the impact of climate change. Mapquesting the glaciers led to the discovery of concealed world of "psychrophiles" harboring in it. In the present study, the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and heavy metal resistance genes (MRGs) were evaluated through both the culture-dependent and culture-independent methods. Samples were collected from two different glaciers, i.e., debris-covered glacier (Changme Khangpu) and debris-free glacier (Changme Khang). Functional metagenomics of both the glacier samples, provided evidence of presence of resistant genes against various antibiotic groups. Bacitracin resistant gene (bacA) was the predominant ARG in both the glaciers. MRGs in both the glacier samples were diversified as the genes detected were resistant against various heavy metals such as arsenic, tungsten, mercury, zinc, chromium, copper, cobalt, and iron. Unique MRGs identified from Changme Khangpu glacier were resistant to copper (cutA, cutE, cutC, cutF, cueR, copC, and copB) and chromium (yelf, ruvB, nfsA, chrR, and chrA) whereas, from Changme Khang glacier they showed resistance against cobalt (mgtA, dmef, corD, corC, corB, and cnrA), and iron (yefD, yefC, yefB, and yefA) heavy metals. ARGs aligned maximum identity with Gram-negative psychrotolerant bacteria. The cultured bacterial isolates showed tolerance to high concentrations of tested heavy metal solutions. Interestingly, some of the antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates also showed tolerance towards the higher concentrations of heavy metals. Thus, an introspection of the hypothesis of co-occurrence and/co-selection of ARGs and MRGs in such environments has been highlighted here.

Rich yet undocumented ethnozoological practices of socio-culturally diverse indigenous communities of Sikkim Himalaya, India

AIM OF THE STUDY

The indigenous people of Sikkim Himalaya possess indispensable traditional knowledge including the use of flora and fauna due to their close association with nature. The present study aims to explore the rich and undocumented ethnozoological practices of different indigenous communities of the Sikkim Himalaya.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaire interviews among the traditional healers and indigenous communities of Sikkim. A total of 91 respondents covering all four districts of Sikkim were interviewed from September 2017-April 2018.

RESULTS

This study recorded a total of 59 species belonging to nine taxonomic groups used for traditional ethnozoological practices by the indigenous communities of Sikkim. Mammals represented 58% of the total animals followed by birds (22%). Among the total, 71% of animal species were used for zootherapy whereas 29% were used for religious customs or shamanistic practices. Almost 64% species were used for treatment of more than one disease and the chief mode of preparation was by boiling the body parts. Among different parts used in traditional medicine, meat was most preferred while horns and hairs were mostly used for religious purposes.

CONCLUSION

Present findings suggest that traditional medicine including zootherapy still serves as a source of primary healthcare in rural areas of Sikkim and provides an identity to the culture of a region. We recommend documentation of more such traditional medicinal systems along with scientific validation of traditional practices with modern tools. Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs), the legally formed bodies at local level, may be entrusted in documentation of such practices which might contribute significantly in the conservation of traditional practices and also preserves the associated traditional knowledge as per the provision of Biological Diversity Act of India.

Evaluating the applicability of ESM (Ecotourism Sustainability Maximization) model to assess, monitor, and manage the ecotourism sustainability in mountain ecosystem (Mt. Kangchendzonga Base Camp Trek, India)

Ecotourism is the greener variant of tourism which advocates conservation of biodiversity and acts as a development strategy to build a self-sustainable system to help protect and further enhance the ecosystem through the income generated by ecotourism activities. There is a strong linkage between biodiversity conservation and ecotourism which has also been recognized by the UN and finds its place under the technical note on "Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development". But, are the stakeholders of the ecotourism destinations religiously following practices that will ensure biodiversity conservation at all times is something that needs continuous evaluation and validation. The authors have worked in the past on developing multi-stage methodology (ESA Framework, ESM Model and their validation) using Qualitative and Quantitative techniques and successfully developed Ecotourism Sustainability Assessment Method (ESAM) for such an appraisal. The present paper aims at devising a process which will show the applicability of ESM model in identifying the biodiversity related and other environmental factors, adversely impacting the ecotourism destination at present, or may impact it in times to come. In addition, it also offers the prescription to solve these issues and achieve the goal of ecotourism sustainability at the operational level. This proposed process initially will be defined with the help of a site-level case study of Mt. Kangchendzonga Base Camp Trek, Sikkim. Later, this would be extended to other ecologies and geographies so that in the future, a robust and useful model, applicable for most of the ecotourism destinations, can be developed.

Curvularia eragrostidis, a new threat to large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) causing leaf blight in Sikkim

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum Roxb.) is now affected by several diseases caused by both viruses and fungi. At present, leaf blight is considered a major threat to cardamom cultivation in Sikkim. During the past two decades, cultivation of the crop in this region has dropped by almost 60%. Hence, to quantify the severity of leaf blight damage and identification of the causal organism for the disease, a survey was conducted from May to August 2017 in different large cardamom growing regions of Sikkim. During this survey, a typical symptom of leaf blight was observed on cardamom leaves in many locations. The leaves with blights were collected, surface sterilized, and inoculated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The pathogen was isolated as pure culture, and on the basis of morphological and microscopic characteristics, the fungus was identified species of Curvularia. Molecular characterization of the fungal isolate with ITS-rDNA partial gene amplification using universal primers (ITS4 and ITS5), showed 100% similarity with Curvularia eragrostidis (family: Pleosporaceae). The fungal isolate and nucleotide sequence was deposited in National Fungal Culture Collection of India (NFCCI), Pune and NCBI with accession numbers NFCCI 4541 and MN710527, respectively. This is the first report on the occurrence of C. eragrostidis pathogen causing leaf blight of large cardamom grown in Sikkim.

Analyzing Social Networks to Examine the Changing Governance Structure of Springsheds: A Case Study of Sikkim in the Indian Himalayas

The governance of natural resources now attracts greater participation of different stakeholders, ushering in a shift from conventional governance by the state to that by a network of stakeholders-a form of governance marked by a growing role of non-state and local actors. These changing dynamics are highlighted through a study of the governance network for springsheds in the Indian Himalayas by empirically mapping the changes in the Dhara Vikas Yojna, a plan or scheme (yojana) by the state for the development (vikas) of springs (dhara) in Sikkim, India, from policy planning to policy implementation. The study highlights the diverse existing and emerging roles of different stakeholders, the complex relationships between them, and the power dynamics that influence the management of springsheds. The study (1) identified some new but missing actors/actor groups that were critical to managing springs; (2) showed that although state governments continue to play a dominant role, decision making is shifting to non-state and local actors; and (3) highlighted the importance of exchanging knowledge and information in implementing a policy more effectively. Understanding the characteristics of the governance network helped in drawing lessons to make the plan more sustainable and replicable, which include considering the policy in the wider context of policies for other sectors such as sanitation and hydropower development, incentivising the emerging actors, and building a stronger interdisciplinary and inclusive knowledge network. Such an integrated approach to policymaking can also be adopted to analyze governance networks related to natural resources other than water.

Microbial ecology of two hot springs of Sikkim: Predominate population and geochemistry

Northeastern regions of India are known for their floral and faunal biodiversity. Especially the state of Sikkim lies in the eastern Himalayan ecological hotspot region. The state harbors many sulfur rich hot springs which have therapeutic and spiritual values. However, these hot springs are yet to be explored for their microbial ecology. The development of neo generation techniques such as metagenomics has provided an opportunity for inclusive study of microbial community of different environment. The present study describes the microbial diversity in two hot springs of Sikkim that is Polok and Borong with the assist of culture dependent and culture independent approaches. The culture independent techniques used in this study were next generation sequencing (NGS) and Phospholipid Fatty Acid Analysis (PLFA). Having relatively distinct geochemistry both the hot springs are thermophilic environments with the temperature range of 50-77 °C and pH range of 5-8. Metagenomic data revealed the dominance of bacteria over archaea. The most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes although other phyla were also present such as Acidobacteria, Nitrospirae, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Parcubacteria and Spirochaetes. The PLFA studies have shown the abundance of Gram Positive bacteria followed by Gram negative bacteria. The culture dependent technique was correlative with PLFA studies. Most abundant bacteria as isolated and identified were Gram-positive genus Geobacillus and Anoxybacillus. The genus Geobacillus has been reported for the first time in North-Eastern states of India. The Geobacillus species obtained from the concerned hot springs were Geobacillus toebii, Geobacillus lituanicus, Geobacillus Kaustophillus and the Anoxybacillus species includes Anoxybacillus gonensis and Anoxybacillus Caldiproteolyticus. The distribution of major genera and their statistical correlation analyses with the geochemistry of the springs predicted that the temperature, pH, alkalinity, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl²⁺, and sulfur were main environmental variables influencing the microbial community composition and diversity. Also the piper diagram suggested that the water of both the hot springs are Ca-HCO^3- type and can be predicted as shallow fresh ground waters. This study has provided an insight into the ecological interaction of the diverse microbial communities and associated physicochemical parameters, which will help in determining the future studies on different biogeochemical pathways in these hot springs.

Hepatitis E in the State of Sikkim (North East India)-A report on an outbreak

Background Hepatitis E virus is a significant public health menace in developing countries and is being reported from newer geographical regions. It is enterically transmitted and causes acute hepatitis. Objective The objective of this study is to correlate the patient details from outbreak of Hepatitis E in 2012 with the water culture done during that period. Method Records of the patients with Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in 2012 were analysed. Their serum samples were tested for Immunoglobulin M (IgM) Hepatitis E virus by rapid immunochormatography (ICT) and further confirmed by Immunoglobulin M Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (IgM ELISA) in National Centre for Disease Control, New Delhi. Water was tested by the Multiple Tube test method using double strength Mc Conkey broth with neutral red and H2 S test method. Result Patients with febrile jaundice (n-62) were screened for Hepatitis E virus and 32 were positive by rapid Immunochromatography test and Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The overall attack rate was 0.03%. Drinking water from ten different localities in Gangtok were tested and 83% of the water were found to be unsatisfactory for drinking during that period. Conclusion Regular testing of water quality and public education and awareness is important to curb such outbreaks in future.

Diagnosing climate change impacts and identifying adaptation strategies by involving key stakeholder organisations and farmers in Sikkim, India: Challenges and opportunities

Narrowing the gap between research, policy making and implementing adaptation remains a challenge in many parts of the world where climate change is likely to severely impact water security. This research aims to narrow this gap by matching the adaptation strategies being framed by policy makers to that of the perspectives of development agencies, researchers and farmers in the Himalayan state of Sikkim in India. Our case study examined the perspectives of various stakeholders for climate change impacts, current adaptation strategies, knowledge gaps and adaptation barriers, particularly in the context of implementing the Sikkim State Action Plan on Climate Change through semi-structured interviews carried out with decision makers in the Sikkim State Government, researchers, consultants, local academia, development agencies and farmers. Using Stakeholders Network Analysis tools, this research unravels the complexities of perceiving climate change impacts, identifying strategies, and implementing adaptation. While farmers are less aware about the global phenomenon of climate change impacts for water security, their knowledge of the local conditions and their close interaction with the State Government Agriculture Department provides them opportunities. Although important steps are being initiated through the Sikkim State Action Plan on Climate Change it is yet to deliver effective means of adaptation implementation and hence, strengthening the networks of close coordination between the various implementing agencies will pay dividends. Knowledge gaps and the need for capacity building identified in this research, based on the understandings of key stakeholders are highly relevant to both the research community and for informing policy.

Altitudinal variation and bio-climatic variables influencing the potential distribution of Culicoides orientalis Macfie, 1932, suspected vector of Bluetongue virus across the North Eastern Himalayan belt of Sikkim

Culicoides orientalis was first recorded from Sikkim, in the year 1963, but no evidence based disease outbreak were available. In the last 50 years, 260 Bluetongue disease outbreaks caused by Culicoides species have been evidenced from India. Moreover, in recent years with increase of average temperature worldwide and increase in longevity of arthropod vectors like Culicoides along with a geographical range shift to new suitable warmer regions has increased the potentiality of vector borne disease outbreak throughout the world. The Himalayan range of Sikkim in India is a biodiversity hotspot and is extremely sensitive to such global climate changes. An attempt has been made to evaluate the altitude, climate and environmental data on selected study sites of Sikkim for a period of two years (2014-2015) for discerning potential distribution of C.orientalis in this region. The altitude, temperature, precipitation and potential distribution range maps of C. orientalis showed the areas of highest species abundance within the altitudinal range of 550-1830m, with some species extending its range up to 3750m, with average precipitation of 2010-2590mm and mean temperature of 11-18°C. The Maximum Entropy Modelling (MaxEnt) and the Jackknife test of the MaxEnt model further revealed that the major contributing factors governing C. orientalis distribution are annual precipitation (78.8%), followed by precipitation of driest quarter (8.3%) and mean temperature of the warmest quarter (3.3%). Accuracy of the study was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC=0.860). The Biplot on F₁-F₂ axes (N=16, α=0.05) in the PCA showed the linear depiction of all the variables considered in our study, major contributors were annual precipitation, precipitation of driest quarter and mean temperature of warmest quarter being the primary factors governing species distribution, as analogous to results of the MaxEnt model. This study would help in developing strategies for monitoring and managing surveillance programmes to control the chances of disease spread to livestock animals and also validate the predictions on the eventual spread of the vector midges to higher altitudes of Sikkim.

Integrating ethnobiological knowledge into biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas

Biocultural knowledge provides valuable insight into ecological processes, and can guide conservation practitioners in local contexts. In many regions, however, such knowledge is underutilized due to its often-fragmented record in disparate sources. In this article, we review and apply ethnobiological knowledge to biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Himalayas. Using Sikkim, India as a case study, we: (i) traced the history and trends of ethnobiological documentation; (ii) identified priority species and habitat types; and, (iii) analyzed within and among community differences pertaining to species use and management. Our results revealed that Sikkim is a biocultural hotspot, where six ethnic communities and 1128 species engage in biocultural relationships. Since the mid-1800s, the number of ethnobiological publications from Sikkim has exponentially increased; however, our results also indicate that much of this knowledge is both unwritten and partitioned within an aging, gendered, and caste or ethnic group-specific stratum of society. Reviewed species were primarily wild or wild cultivated, native to subtropical and temperate forests, and pend IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessment. Our results demonstrate the value of engaging local knowledge holders as active participants in conservation, and suggest the need for further ethnobiological research in the Eastern Himalayas. Our interdisciplinary approach, which included rank indices and geospatial modelling, can help integrate diverse datasets into evidence-based policy.

Climate perceptions of local communities validated through scientific signals in Sikkim Himalaya, India

Sikkim, a tiny Himalayan state situated in the north-eastern region of India, records limited research on the climate change. Understanding the changes in climate based on the perceptions of local communities can provide important insights for the preparedness against the unprecedented consequences of climate change. A total of 228 households in 12 different villages of Sikkim, India, were interviewed using eight climate change indicators. The results from the public opinions showed a significant increase in temperature compared to a decade earlier, winters are getting warmer, water springs are drying up, change in concept of spring-water recharge (locally known as Mul Phutnu), changes in spring season, low crop yields, incidences of mosquitoes during winter, and decrease in rainfall in last 10 years. In addition, study also showed significant positive correlations of increase in temperature with other climate change indicators viz. spring-water recharge concept (R (2) = 0.893), warmer winter (R (2) = 0.839), drying up of water springs (R (2) = 0.76), changes in spring season (R (2) = 0.68), low crop yields (R (2) = 0.68), decrease in rainfall (R (2) = 0.63), and incidences of mosquitoes in winter (R (2) = 0.50). The air temperature for two meteorological stations of Sikkim indicated statistically significant increasing trend in mean minimum temperature and mean minimum winter temperature (DJF). The observed climate change is consistent with the people perceptions. This information can help in planning specific adaptation strategies to cope with the impacts of climate change by framing village-level action plan.

Multitemporal analysis of forest fragmentation in Hindu Kush Himalaya-a case study from Khangchendzonga Biosphere Reserve, Sikkim, India

Forests in the mountains are a treasure trove; harbour a large biodiversity; and provide fodder, firewood, timber and non-timber forest products; all of these are essential for human survival in the highest mountains on earth. The present paper attempts a spatiotemporal assessment of forest fragmentation and changes in land use land cover (LULC) pattern using multitemporal satellite data over a time span of around a decade (2000-2009), within the third highest protected area (PA) in the world. The fragmentation analysis using Landscape Fragmentation Tool (LFT) depicts a decrease in large core, edge and patches areas by 5.93, 3.64 and 0.66 %, respectively, while an increase in non-forest and perforated areas by 6.59 and 4.01 %, respectively. The land cover dynamics shows a decrease in open forest, alpine scrub, alpine meadows, snow and hill shadow areas by 2.81, 0.39, 8.18, 3.46 and 0.60 %, respectively, and there is an increase in dense forest and glacier area by 4.79 and 10.65 %, respectively. The change analysis shows a major transformation in areas from open forest to dense forest and from alpine meadows to alpine scrub. In order to quantify changes induced by forest fragmentation and to characterize composition and configuration of LULC mosaics, fragmentation indices were computed using Fragstats at class level, showing the signs of accelerated fragmentation. The outcome of the analysis revealed the effectiveness of geospatial tools coupled with landscape ecology in characterization and quantification of forest fragmentation and land cover changes. The present study provides a baseline database for sustainable conservation planning that will benefit the subsistence livelihoods in the region. Recommendations made based on the present analysis will help to recover forest and halt the pessimistic effects of fragmentation and land cover changes on biodiversity and ecosystem services in the region.

Dermatoglyphic variation among the Limboo of Sikkim, India

Variations in finger and palmar dermatoglyphic patterns are investigated among the Limboo (18-60 years, 150 males and 150 females), a little known population of Sikkim. The results for Limboo were compared with other North-East Indian populations. The most commonly occurring pattern was loop (males: 64.33%; females: 75.00%) followed by whorl (males: 31.00%; females: 21.33%) and finally arch (males: 4.67%; females: 3.66%). There were no significant differences between sexes in pattern types. The overall values of pattern intensity (P.I.I.), Dankmeijer's (D.I.) and Furuhata's (F.I.) indices were 14.08, 12.60 and 96.06 respectively. The P.I.I. was within the range for East Asian populations of North-East India. The D.I. was similar to those reported for Rajbanshi, Kalita, Rabha and Newar populations, while F.I. was higher than in other populations of Eastern Himalaya and North-East India. The most frequently occurring mainline formulae in all palm prints (left and right combined) were 7.5'.5.- followed by 9.7.5.- and finally 11.9.7.- (p>0.05) and these were similar to the reported values for other North-eastern populations of India. The mean values of total finger ridge count (TFRC) and absolute finger ridge count (AFRC) were greater among males (138.03; s=42.26 and 198.78; s=77.4) than females (137.91; s=44.15 and 194.47; s=86.71). The a-b ridge count was greater among females than males. Sex differences in AFRC and a-b ridge count were both statistically significant (p<0.05). The mean TFRC values were within ranges for populations of North-East India. Cluster analysis based on P.I.I., D.I. and F.I. shows affinity of the Limbo to some of the populations of Assam and North-East India.

Climate-induced elevational range shifts and increase in plant species richness in a Himalayan biodiversity epicentre

Global average temperature increase during the last century has induced species geographic range shifts and extinctions. Montane floras, in particular, are highly sensitive to climate change and mountains serve as suitable observation sites for tracing climate-induced biological response. The Himalaya constitute an important global biodiversity hotspot, yet studies on species' response to climate change from this region are lacking. Here we use historical (1849-50) and the recent (2007-2010) data on temperature and endemic species' elevational ranges to perform a correlative study in the two alpine valleys of Sikkim. We show that the ongoing warming in the alpine Sikkim Himalaya has transformed the plant assemblages. This study lends support to the hypothesis that changing climate is causing species distribution changes. We provide first evidence of warmer winters in the region compared to the last two centuries, with mean temperatures of the warmest and the coldest months may have increased by 0.76±0.25°C and 3.65±2°C, respectively. Warming-driven geographical range shifts were recorded in 87% of 124 endemic plant species studied in the region; upper range extensions of species have resulted in increased species richness in the upper alpine zone, compared to the 19(th) century. We recorded a shift of 23-998 m in species' upper elevation limit and a mean upward displacement rate of 27.53±22.04 m/decade in the present study. We infer that the present-day plant assemblages and community structure in the Himalaya is substantially different from the last century and is, therefore, in a state of flux under the impact of warming. The continued trend of warming is likely to result in ongoing elevational range contractions and eventually, species extinctions, particularly at mountaintops.

Pediatric Scrub typhus in South Sikkim

We present five cases of paediatric Scrub typhus from Community Health Centre, Namchi, South Sikkim emphasize timely diagnosis of scrub typhus for appropriate management. Response to doxycycline was good, with fever subsiding within 48-72 hrs of starting the treatment. Four out of five cases completely recovered once appropriate medication was given.

Reproductive health and its bio-cultural correlates among Rai and Bhutia women of rural Sikkim: a micro level study

This study addresses the relationship between utilization of maternal health services in terms of antenatal care, delivery care, and contraceptive use, and current prevalence of gynecological problems mediated through socioeconomic, demographic and biological correlates, in two ethnic communities of Sikkim. Study participants included 506 parous, nonpregnant women of Rai and Bhutia communities. Information on morbidity status and utilization of maternal health care facilities were collected using appropriate pretested questionnaires. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used. Anthropometric measurements were taken and blood tests were carried out for estimating hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Logistic regression showed significant association between participant's education, parity, husband's cooperation and maternal health care utilization on one hand and prevalence of gynecological problems, hemoglobin concentration, ESR and parity on the other. Study results reinforce an interrelation between prevalence of gynecological problems and maternal health care utilization during pregnancy and delivery. A single effective health care program can be launched to meet the needs of these two ethnic groups.

Elevational gradients in bird diversity in the Eastern Himalaya: an evaluation of distribution patterns and their underlying mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Understanding diversity patterns and the mechanisms underlying those patterns along elevational gradients is critically important for conservation efforts in montane ecosystems, especially those that are biodiversity hotspots. Despite recent advances, consensus on the underlying causes, or even the relative influence of a suite of factors on elevational diversity patterns has remained elusive.

METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We examined patterns of species richness, density and range size distribution of birds, and the suite of biotic and abiotic factors (primary productivity, habitat variables, climatic factors and geometric constraints) that governs diversity along a 4500-m elevational gradient in the Eastern Himalayan region, a biodiversity hotspot within the world's tallest mountains. We used point count methods for sampling birds and quadrats for estimating vegetation at 22 sites along the elevational gradient. We found that species richness increased to approximately 2000 m, then declined. We found no evidence that geometric constraints influenced this pattern, whereas actual evapotranspiration (a surrogate for primary productivity) and various habitat variables (plant species richness, shrub density and basal area of trees) accounted for most of the variation in bird species richness. We also observed that ranges of most bird species were narrow along the elevation gradient. We find little evidence to support Rapoport's rule for the birds of Sikkim region of the Himalaya.

CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE

This study in the Eastern Himalaya indicates that species richness of birds is highest at intermediate elevations along one of the most extensive elevational gradients ever examined. Additionally, primary productivity and factors associated with habitat accounted for most of the variation in avian species richness. The diversity peak at intermediate elevations and the narrow elevational ranges of most species suggest important conservation implications: not only should mid-elevation areas be conserved, but the entire gradient requires equal conservation attention.

Essential oil composition of two unique ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) cultivars from Sikkim

Volatile oils from two most popular cultivars from Sikkim namely, Bhaisa and Majulay, were isolated, characterised by analytical GC and GC-MS. Sixty constituents accounting for 94.9% and 92.6% of the Bhaisa and Majulay oils were identified. The major compounds of Bhaisa oil were geranyl acetate (18.8%), zingiberene (16.3%) and geranial (8.2%) and those of Majulay oil were zingiberene (19.8%) and geranial (16.5%). Compared to other ginger cultivar oils, the Bhaisa oil had higher content of oxygenated compounds (43.1%). This is the first report on the essential oils from Sikkim ginger cultivars.

Morphological and morphometric features of scaphoid bone in north eastern population, India

A study was performed to analyse the morphometry and morphological variants of adult scaphoid bone in Sikkimese population of North Eastern India. The study included 100 dry human scaphoid bones. The bones which had previous signs of fracture were excluded. The morphometric parameters were measured with vernier caliper of 0.02 mm accuracy; the circumferences were measured by placing a thread around them and measuring its length. A magnifying lens was used to observe the number of foramina. From our observations, 22 (44%) of the left scaphoid were having conical shape and 28 (56%) were pyramidal in shape. On the right side, 36 (72%) had conical shape and 14 (28%) were pyramidal. All the bones had waist, except one right sided scaphoid (2%) in which the waist was absent. The scaphoid had main dorsal sulcus in 63% of cases, 29% had two dorsal sulci and 6% had Y shaped sulci. The dorsal sulcus was absent in 3 cases (1 on left side and 2 on the right side). All the scaphoids had a minimum of one foramen in the main dorsal sulcus and 92% had more than one foramen. The present study has provided the additional information on morphology and morphometry of adult human scaphoid bones in north eastern population, India. We believe that the data obtained from the present study are important for the hand surgeons and radiologists. The details obtained will also be helpful for the morphologists and clinical anatomists.

Discovery of a new chert-permineralized microbiota in the Proterozoic Buxa Formation of the Ranjit window, Sikkim, northeast India, and its astrobiological implications

For the foreseeable future, the search for evidence of past life in rocks acquired from other planets will be constrained by the amount of sample available and by the fidelity of preservation of any fossils present. What amount of rock is needed to establish the existence of past life? To address this question, we studied a minute amount of rock collected from cherty dolomites of the Proterozoic Buxa Formation in the metamorphically altered tectonically active northeastern Himalaya. In particular, we investigated 2 small petrographic thin sections-one from each of 2 bedded chert horizons exposed in the Ranjit River stratigraphic section northwest of Rishi, Sikkim, India-that together comprise an area of approximately 5 cm(2) (about the size of a US postage stamp) and have a total rock weight of approximately 0.1 g. Optical microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy and imagery demonstrate that each of the thin sections contains a rich assemblage of 3-dimensionally permineralized organic-walled microfossils. This study, the first report of Proterozoic microfossils in units of the Ranjit tectonic window, demonstrates that firm evidence of early life can be adduced from even a minuscule amount of fossil-bearing ancient rock.

Chlorinated drinking water, cancers and adverse health outcomes in Gangtok, Sikkim, India

Long-term impacts of drinking chlorinated water on the incidence of cancers and other adverse health outcomes were assessed in a population-based cross-sectional study. The study was conducted by comparing a group exposed to chlorinated drinking water for more than thirty years with control groups with less or no exposure to chlorine. A house-to-house survey was completed to gather information on residential history, age, education, income, source and extent of treatment of water and health characteristics. All residents below thirty years of age were excluded from the database used for analyses to ensure that the groups were comparable. Fourteen cancer cases were found in the long-term exposed groups of 1085 persons and 9 cancer cases in the two control populations of 725 persons. The odds ratio for cancers (OR) was 1.05 (95% CI = 0.43-2.65) and is not statistically significant. Reciprocal or inverse odds [corrected] ratios for gastrointestinal disorders, kidney problems and skin infections were statistically significant ranging from 2.06 (95% CI = 1.01-4.17) to 2.2 (95% CI = 1.45-3.33). These OR values indicate that there is no significant association between the incidence of cancer and exposure to chlorinated water while chlorinating drinking water significantly reduced the incidence of non-carcinogenic adverse health effects like gastrointestinal diseases, skin infections, and kidney diseases.

Predictors of treatment delays for tuberculosis in Sikkim

BACKGROUND

This study examined the factors associated with delays (i) between the onset of symptoms and the patient's first visit to a medical facility (patient delay), and (ii) between a patient's visit to a medical facility and the diagnosis of tuberculosis (health system delay).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 323 patients (median age 30 years, men: 190) reporting to 2 tuberculosis units and 4 microscopy centres in East Sikkim using a pre-tested structured interview schedule. Patient records were verified for dates of investigations, diagnosis and treatment. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done to find out the associations between dependent and independent variables.

RESULTS

The median patient and health system delays were 21 and 7 days, respectively. Patient delay >30 days was reported by 17% and health system delay > 7 days by 49% of the participants. Patient delay was associated with self-medication (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.0-5.18), choice of government doctors as first contact (OR 2.76, 95% CI: 1.15-6.62), use of traditional healers (OR 2.18, 95% CI: 1.03-4.61) and cost of treatment 3Rs 400 compared with <Rs 100 (OR 2.52, 95% CI: 1.17-5.38). Important predictors of health system delays were first contact with private doctors (OR 33.1, 95% CI: 13.44-81.49) and cost of treatment (OR 2.5; 95% CI: 1.22-5.128).

CONCLUSION

Efforts need to be made to eliminate the factors causing a delay in the initiation of treatment of patients with tuberculosis. These should include increasing awareness to avoid self-medication, the availability of free treatment, and training traditional healers and private doctors in the treatment of tuberculosis.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Indian black tea (Sikkim variety)

In this study, the anti-inflammatory (in reference to the cardinal signs of inflammation) and other related pharmacological activities of the hot water extract of black tea (Camellia sinensis, Sikkim variety) were evaluated along with certain standard drugs. The extract showed significant inhibitory activity against carrageenin, histamine, serotonin and prostaglandin-induced pedal inflammation. The extract inhibited exudative inflammation. The tea extract also inhibited cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation and adjuvant-induced polyarthritis. Black tea extract showed significant inhibition against glucose oxidase-mediated inflammation. The present observations establish the efficacy of this particular variety of black tea, both in the exudative and proliferative forms and as well in the chronic phase of inflammation.

Religious beliefs about causes and treatment of epilepsy

BACKGROUND

It has been acknowledged that religious and complementary therapies are commonly used among South Asian communities in the UK. However, little is known about their religious beliefs in relation to epilepsy and the type of South Asian therapies that they use to treat the condition.

AIM

To explore the influences of spiritual and religious beliefs on explanation of the cause of epilepsy, and the choice of treatment in people of South Asian origin who have epilepsy.

DESIGN OF STUDY

Qualitative study using interviews with patients, carers, health professionals, and focus groups of people from minority ethnic communities.

SETTING

Bradford and Leeds.

METHOD

Semi-structured individual interviews with 20 Muslims, six Sikhs, and four Hindus with epilepsy; 16 nominated carers (family members, friends); 10 health professionals (specialist GPs, neurologists, specialists nurses, social workers, community GPs); and two focus groups with a total of 16 South Asians without epilepsy.

RESULTS

It was found that over half of responders attributed their illness to fate and the will of God, or as punishment for sins of a past life. Some patients had experienced prejudice from people who believed that their epilepsy was contagious. A strong network of traditional healers was found, providing a parallel system of health care in the UK and on the Indian subcontinent. People turned to religiospiritual treatments in desperation for a cure, often under the influence of their families after the perceived failure of Western medicine. Such treatments were viewed as complementary rather than as an alternative to Western medication. Younger people in particular expressed considerable scepticism about the effectiveness of these traditional South Asian treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study's South Asian sample, patients commonly turned to traditional healers in search of better health. Health professionals should be aware of the belief systems of these patients and understand the types of treatments in common use. Although these treatments might potentially compete with Western health care, they are used as an adjunct rather than a substitute. Patients have a 'healthy' scepticism about the effectiveness of such treatments, and adherence to medical therapy does not appear to be affected.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in Camellia sinensis leaves from Himalayan region of Sikkim: inhibitory effects against biochemical events and tumor initiation in Sencar mouse skin

Recently, we and others showed that the components of green tea may be useful cancer chemopreventive agents. It has been suggested that (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the major constituent in green tea, may possess antitumor-promoting and/or anticarcinogenic effects in rodent tumor bioassay systems. During the chemical analysis of various green tea products, we found a traditionally preserved preparation of green tea used by tribes in the Himalayan region of Sikkim, India that was rich in EGCG. EGCG was isolated from this tea product, and its inhibitory effects were evaluated against the binding of topically applied 3H-labeled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to epidermal DNA and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) caused induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in Sencar mice, the short-term markers of tumor initiation and tumor promotion, respectively. Preapplication of EGCG resulted in significant inhibition (p less than 0.05) in the binding of [3H]PAH to epidermal DNA. Similarly, the topical application of EGCG resulted in significant inhibition (p less than 0.005) in TPA-caused induction of epidermal ODC activity. In further studies, we assessed the anti-skin tumor-initiating effect of EGCG in Sencar mice in an initiation-promotion protocol. The application of EGCG before challenge with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene as tumor initiator resulted in significant reduction both in percentage of mice with tumors and number of tumors per mouse compared with a non-EGCG-pretreated group of animals. The results of the present study suggest that the green tea preparation from Sikkim may be a good source for the isolation of EGCG and that this compound may have significant potential as a cancer chemopreventive agent.