Adaptation to Variable Environments, Resilience to Climate Change: Investigating Land, Water and Settlement in Indus Northwest India

This paper explores the nature and dynamics of adaptation and resilience in the face of a diverse and varied environmental and ecological context using the case study of South Asia’s Indus Civilization (ca. 3000–1300 BC). Most early complex societies developed in regions where the climatic parameters faced by ancient subsistence farmers were varied but rain falls primarily in one season. In contrast, the Indus Civilization developed in a specific environmental context that spanned a very distinct environmental threshold, where winter and summer rainfall systems overlap. There is now evidence to show that this region was directly subject to climate change during the period when the Indus Civilization was at its height (ca. 2500–1900 BC). The Indus Civilization, therefore, provides a unique opportunity to understand how an ancient society coped with diverse and varied ecologies and change in the fundamental environmental parameters. This paper integrates research carried out as part of the Land, Water and Settlement project in northwest India between 2007 and 2014. Although coming from only one of the regions occupied by Indus populations, these data necessitate the reconsideration of several prevailing views about the Indus Civilization as a whole and invigorate discussion about human-environment interactions and their relationship to processes of cultural transformation

Adaptation to Variable Environments, Resilience to Climate Change: Investigating Land, Water and Settlement in Indus Northwest India

This paper explores the nature and dynamics of adaptation and resilience in the face of a diverse and varied environmental and ecological context using the case study of South Asia’s Indus Civilization (ca. 3000–1300 BC). Most early complex societies developed in regions where the climatic parameters faced by ancient subsistence farmers were varied but rain falls primarily in one season. In contrast, the Indus Civilization developed in a specific environmental context that spanned a very distinct environmental threshold, where winter and summer rainfall systems overlap. There is now evidence to show that this region was directly subject to climate change during the period when the Indus Civilization was at its height (ca. 2500–1900 BC). The Indus Civilization, therefore, provides a unique opportunity to understand how an ancient society coped with diverse and varied ecologies and change in the fundamental environmental parameters. This paper integrates research carried out as part of the Land, Water and Settlement project in northwest India between 2007 and 2014. Although coming from only one of the regions occupied by Indus populations, these data necessitate the reconsideration of several prevailing views about the Indus Civilization as a whole and invigorate discussion about human-environment interactions and their relationship to processes of cultural transformation

Adaptation to Variable Environments, Resilience to Climate Change: Investigating Land, Water and Settlement in Indus Northwest India

This paper explores the nature and dynamics of adaptation and resilience in the face of a diverse and varied environmental and ecological context using the case study of South Asia’s Indus Civilization (ca. 3000–1300 BC). Most early complex societies developed in regions where the climatic parameters faced by ancient subsistence farmers were varied but rain falls primarily in one season. In contrast, the Indus Civilization developed in a specific environmental context that spanned a very distinct environmental threshold, where winter and summer rainfall systems overlap. There is now evidence to show that this region was directly subject to climate change during the period when the Indus Civilization was at its height (ca. 2500–1900 BC). The Indus Civilization, therefore, provides a unique opportunity to understand how an ancient society coped with diverse and varied ecologies and change in the fundamental environmental parameters. This paper integrates research carried out as part of the Land, Water and Settlement project in northwest India between 2007 and 2014. Although coming from only one of the regions occupied by Indus populations, these data necessitate the reconsideration of several prevailing views about the Indus Civilization as a whole and invigorate discussion about human-environment interactions and their relationship to processes of cultural transformation

A novel method of diagnosing autonomic dysfunction in carpal tunnel syndrome: measuring skin capacitance

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is normally diagnosed via its sensory and motor manifestations. The associated autonomic dysfunction has not been exploited to its full potential as a diagnostic tool due to the difficulties in quantifying it. We aim to demonstrate that autonomic dysfunction of CTS can be quantified by measuring skin capacitance. Fifty-one patients with clinical signs and electrophysiological evidence of CTS in 89 hands were recruited. Skin capacitance was measured using Corneometer CM825 (C&K Electronic, GmbH) from the palmar aspect of the distal phalanx of the index and little finger of the affected hand. Healthy gender- and age-matched individuals were recruited as controls. The mean ratio of hydration of the index to the little finger was 0.82. The mean difference was 10.98 arbitrary units. The control group consisted of 151 subjects (80 Male & 71 Female) and 302 hands with an average age of 40.1 years (18-81 years). The mean ratio of hydration of the index to the little finger was 0.87. The mean difference was 8.67 arbitrary units. The measurement ratios (index to little finger skin hydration) between the two groups was compared directly and gave a significant mean difference of 0.05 arbitrary units. Statistically significant differences in skin capacitance between CTS patients and controls have been demonstrated and quantified using a rapid and simple method. This can be used in clinic to reduce the reliance on Nerve Conduction Studies for diagnosing CTS.Inji Ibrahim, Wasim Sardar Khan, Sujay Dheerendra, Peter Smitham, Nicholas Goddar

Influence of Foliar Application of Nutrients on Yield and Yield Attributes of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L.)

The present experiment was laid out at research farm of R.A.K. College of Agriculture, Sehore (M.P.) during Kharif season of 2022. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 8 treatments and each treatment replicated three times. The Blackgram (cv. Pratap -1) was sowing with a seed rate of 15 kg ha-1 and with a spacing of 30 cm x 10 cm. The recommended dose of chemical fertilizer viz. 20:40:20 kg ha-1 N: P2O5: K2O, respectively was applied to the crop. Results revealed that foliar spray application of nutrient shows significant effect on yield and yield attributes. Treatment T7 (2% Spray of DAP + 0.5% Spray of ZnSO4 at pre-flowering and pod initiation stage) found higher for yield and yield attributes i.e. number of pods/plant (13.67), number of seeds/pods (6.15), seed index (4.76 g), seed yield/plant (2.21 g), seed yield/plot (836 g), seed yield/ha (786 kg), straw yield (1730 kg/ha), biological yield (2516 kg/ha), harvest index (31.21 %). While, minimum values found with T1 (Water spray at pre-flowering stage and pod initiation stage)

Evaluation of Insecticides against Cowpea Sucking Insect Pests in Madhya Pradesh's Gird Region

During the Kharif season of 2022–2023 at Research Farm, Rajmata Vijyaraje Scindia Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, a field experiment was carried out to assess the effectiveness of seven treatments: T1 - Dimethoate 30 EC (1000 ml); T2 - Imidachloprid 17.8 SL (125 ml); T3 - Acetamiprid 20 SP (125 gm); T4 - Flubendiamide 48 SC (500 ml); T5 – Emamectin benzoate 5 SG (100 gm); T6 – Fipronil 15% SC (2000 ml); and T7 - Un-treated. The observations were made three, seven, and fifteen days after the first and second pesticide sprayings, respectively. The data indicated that Imidachloprid 17.8 SL @ 125ml ha-1 was the most effective insecticide out of the six, and that it was better at controlling the incidence of sucking insects in cowpea, such as aphids (Aphis craccivora (Koch)), thrips (M. distalis (Karny)), whiteflies (A. rachipora (Singh)), and jassids (E. kerri (Pruthi)). However, it was found that Acetamiprid 20 SP was least successful in controlling sucking insects