New distribution record of a rare taxa Gottschelia schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle, of Jungermanniales occurring in Anamudi shola National Park in the Western Ghats of Kerala

A rare liverwort Gottschelia schizopleura (Spruce) Grolle, of Jungermanniales is discovered from the Western Ghats of Kerala. A brief description with colour plate is provided

Bryophyte diversity of Thamarassery pass (Wayanad pass) in the Western Ghats of Kerala

The bryophyte diversity in the Thamarassery pass (Wayanad pass) a historically important place of Kozhikode district is documented. This report represents many interesting finds such as Taxiphyllum giraldii (C.Muell.) M.Fleisch., Taxithelium laeviusculum Dixon are new records for Peninsular India

Nutrient dynamics in the sediments of Kerala coast

ABSTRACT Kerala is one of the smallest states in India which is situated in the south west coast of the country. Sediment samples from four prominent areas of Kerala Coast were collected and analyzed for nutrients. Variation of nutrients was highlighted according to the distributional characteristics of the designated sites. Nutrient trend in Cape, Trivandrum, Kollam was in the order as Ammonia > Nitrite >Nitrate, where as Cochin showed the trend as Ammonia > Nitrate > Nitrite. Greater concentration of ammonia in the entire sediments showed the ammonification of nitrogen compounds

The genus Drepanolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. (Lejeuneaceae; Marchantiophyta) in the Western Ghats with special reference to Kerala

Diversity of the genus Drepanolejeunea (Spruce) Schiffn. of the family Lejeuneaceae in Kerala is discussed in detail. So far, 8 species have been reported from the Western Ghats, of which 6 occur in Kerala. This paper provides detailed descriptions of 5 of the species collected from Kerala during the present survey. Among these, Drepanolejeunea erecta (Steph.) Mizut. is new to the Western Ghats, D. fleischeri (Steph.) Grolle & Zhu, D. pentadactyla (Mont.) Steph. and D. ternatensis (Gottsche) Steph. are new records for Kerala

Bryophyte diversity in the Sacred Groves, with special reference to Vallikkattukavu of Kozhikode district in Western Ghats

The bryophyte diversity in the Vallikkattu kavu of Kozhikode district is enumerated along with the conservation of bryophytes in the sacred grove is discussed. This report represents many interesting finds such as Bryum retusifolium  var. heterophyllum Card. ex Gangulee a new record to Kerala and Ditrichum tortuloides Grout. is a new record for Peninsular India. The endemic species Fissidens kammadensis Manju et al. and the rare species Calymperes palisotti  Schwaegr. could be collected from this sacred grove

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

New national and regional bryophyte records, 59

Peer reviewe

Neurodevelopmental disorders in children aged 2-9 years: Population-based burden estimates across five regions in India.

BACKGROUND: Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) compromise the development and attainment of full social and economic potential at individual, family, community, and country levels. Paucity of data on NDDs slows down policy and programmatic action in most developing countries despite perceived high burden. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed 3,964 children (with almost equal number of boys and girls distributed in 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories) identified from five geographically diverse populations in India using cluster sampling technique (probability proportionate to population size). These were from the North-Central, i.e., Palwal (N = 998; all rural, 16.4% non-Hindu, 25.3% from scheduled caste/tribe [SC-ST] [these are considered underserved communities who are eligible for affirmative action]); North, i.e., Kangra (N = 997; 91.6% rural, 3.7% non-Hindu, 25.3% SC-ST); East, i.e., Dhenkanal (N = 981; 89.8% rural, 1.2% non-Hindu, 38.0% SC-ST); South, i.e., Hyderabad (N = 495; all urban, 25.7% non-Hindu, 27.3% SC-ST) and West, i.e., North Goa (N = 493; 68.0% rural, 11.4% non-Hindu, 18.5% SC-ST). All children were assessed for vision impairment (VI), epilepsy (Epi), neuromotor impairments including cerebral palsy (NMI-CP), hearing impairment (HI), speech and language disorders, autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and intellectual disability (ID). Furthermore, 6-9-year-old children were also assessed for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disorders (LDs). We standardized sample characteristics as per Census of India 2011 to arrive at district level and all-sites-pooled estimates. Site-specific prevalence of any of seven NDDs in 2-<6 year olds ranged from 2.9% (95% CI 1.6-5.5) to 18.7% (95% CI 14.7-23.6), and for any of nine NDDs in the 6-9-year-old children, from 6.5% (95% CI 4.6-9.1) to 18.5% (95% CI 15.3-22.3). Two or more NDDs were present in 0.4% (95% CI 0.1-1.7) to 4.3% (95% CI 2.2-8.2) in the younger age category and 0.7% (95% CI 0.2-2.0) to 5.3% (95% CI 3.3-8.2) in the older age category. All-site-pooled estimates for NDDs were 9.2% (95% CI 7.5-11.2) and 13.6% (95% CI 11.3-16.2) in children of 2-<6 and 6-9 year age categories, respectively, without significant difference according to gender, rural/urban residence, or religion; almost one-fifth of these children had more than one NDD. The pooled estimates for prevalence increased by up to three percentage points when these were adjusted for national rates of stunting or low birth weight (LBW). HI, ID, speech and language disorders, Epi, and LDs were the common NDDs across sites. Upon risk modelling, noninstitutional delivery, history of perinatal asphyxia, neonatal illness, postnatal neurological/brain infections, stunting, LBW/prematurity, and older age category (6-9 year) were significantly associated with NDDs. The study sample was underrepresentative of stunting and LBW and had a 15.6% refusal. These factors could be contributing to underestimation of the true NDD burden in our population. CONCLUSIONS: The study identifies NDDs in children aged 2-9 years as a significant public health burden for India. HI was higher than and ASD prevalence comparable to the published global literature. Most risk factors of NDDs were modifiable and amenable to public health interventions