IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, INCUBATION PROTOCOLS, AND EGG CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GANGES SOFTSHELL TURTLE (ASPIDERETES GANGETICUS)

Reproductive biology of Aspideretes gangeticus was studied between 1986 and 2001. Clutchsize averaged 17.9 eggs and ranged between six to thirty-fi ve eggs. Egg length averaged 30.6 mm,egg width averaged 30.22 mm, and egg weight averaged 16.85 g. Clutch volume averaged 253.75ml. No signifi cant difference was observed in clutch size between dry and wet seasons. Of the variousincubation protocols tested, one that involved transitional temperatures of 28º – 31º C, to chilling at15º – 18º C, and then 23º – 26º C resulted in the highest hatching success. Aspideretes gangeticusexhibit two forms of development arrest during incubation, embryonic diapause early in incubation andembryonic aestivation in the latter trimester of incubation. The two Aspideretes gangeticus femalesthat produced clutches for the current study produced eggs with a high fertility percentage throughoutthe fi fteen years for which they stored sperm

Malawi’s Tobacco Paradox: Short Term Survival Versus Long Term Languish

The past forty years have been tumultuous for tobacco companies facing increasingly stringent regulations in the northern hemisphere. To maintain profits, they have tapped into new markets in the developing world. One of these places, Malawi, an African nation with an economic dependence on tobacco growing, has been a target of their marketing prowess. This study provides a new perspective on the dichotomy that exists between short-term economic benefits and long-term health implications of tobacco in a poverty-ravaged nation. Conflicting interests hinder tobacco regulation in Malawi. For instance, the World Health Organization (WHO) claims that tobacco companies manipulate consumers and governments in order to increase consumption. Tobacco companies say that the WHO should focus on communicable diseases rather than interfering with developing nations’ autonomy. These competing voices distort facts regarding tobacco’s true effects in order to carry out their own agenda. This study explores three areas of concern that incite these conflicts: deforestation, child labor, and crop substitution. This study also hypothesized that tobacco consumption in Malawi is increasing because of tobacco companies’ coziness with governments, advertising, and corporate philanthropy. Malawi’s economy depends on tobacco growing and sales for foreign exchange and jobs. The Legacy Tobacco Documents Library proved to be invaluable by providing primary evidence as to how tobacco companies targeted Malawians to buy more tobacco products. The companies emphasize that tobacco growing relieves the overwhelming poverty and the Malawian government has been slow to encourage tobacco control measures. Ironically, for Malawians, tobacco equates with life

A Qualitative Study on the Social Impact of Industrialisation in Badli

The article aims to investigate and analyze the social impact of industrialization on Badli. Badli is one of the largest industrial zones in Delhi which also bears large slums neighboring to the industries. The literature available on the area is also limited to news articles and government reports, thus further research on Badli is required. The social implications were examined through naturalistic observational research and unstructured interviews of 10 individuals from Badli. Using thematic analysis and secondary data analysis the data was interpreted into common themes and key ideas. The analysis showed most Industries in Badli are unauthorized and have issues such as unemployment, child labor, hazardous working conditions, nominal wages, producing illegal substances and lack of healthcare management. People living in the neighboring slum areas suffer from issues such as poor health care facilities, below par educational infrastructure, high crime rates, harmful drainage and ventilation services, congested housing structures, economic disparity, and toxic family environment. Thus Industrialization has deeper implications on the society of Badli which can be attributed to the influx of migrants, industries and poor governance by the administrative authorities to control and manage the industrial process in Badli. It can be concluded that there is a huge correlation between social change and industrialization. Further studies are required to create socio-economic policies catering to the situation in Badli for a long-lasting sustainable effect on the area