Congestion externalities are a well-known phenomenon in transportation and communication networks, healthcare etc. Optimization by self-interested agents in such settings typically results in equilibria which are sub-optimal for social welfare. Pigouvian taxes or tolls, which impose a user charge equal to the negative externality caused by the marginal user to other users, are a mechanism for combating

College-aged students are one of the most vulnerable populations to high-risk alcohol drinking behaviors that could cause them consequences such as injury or sexual assault. An important factor that may influence college students’ decision on alcohol drinking behavior is socializing in certain contexts across the university environment. In the present study, we aim to identify and better understand

Pangenomes are organized collections of the genomic information from related individuals or groups. Graphical pangenomics is the study of these pangenomes using graphical methods to identify and analyze genes, regions, and mutations of interest to an array of biological questions. This field has seen significant progress in recent years including the development of graph based models that better resolve

We present an approach for generating contextualized behavior recommendations from a large, data-driven, complex agent-based simulation. We extend a previous method for generating a summary description by decomposing the output of a simulation into a tree of causally-relevant states, and show how behavior recommendations can be generated by ranking these causally relevant states in terms of their impact

The term “integrative taxonomy”, or the use of multiple lines of evidence in the delimitation and naming of new species, was independently introduced in two papers in 2005. This paper aims to provide a brief review of integrative taxonomy and the growth of molecular tools in systematics, with special reference to its prevalence and scope for biodiversity research in India. We review the literature

We describe topological dynamics over a space by starting from a simple ODE emerging out of two coupled variables. We describe the dynamics of the evolution of points in space within the deterministic and stochastic frameworks. Historically dynamical systems were associated with celestial mechanics. The core philosophies of two kinds of dynamics emerging from Poincaré and Lyapunov are described. Smale’s

The detection and management of diseases become quite complicated when pathogens contain asymptomatic phenotypes amongst their ranks, as evident during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Spreading of diseases has been studied extensively under the paradigm of susceptible–infected–recovered–deceased (SIRD) dynamics. Various game-theoretic approaches have also addressed disease spread, many of which consider

In simulation-based studies and analyses of epidemics, a major challenge lies in resolving the conflict between fidelity of models and the speed of their simulation. Another related challenge arises in dealing with the large number of what–if scenarios that need to be explored. Here, we describe new computational methods that together provide an approach to dealing with both challenges. A mesoscopic

Reducing the interactions between pedestrians in crowded environments can potentially curb the spread of infectious diseases including COVID-19. The mixing of susceptible and infectious individuals in many high-density man-made environments such as waiting queues involves pedestrian movement, which is generally not taken into account in modeling studies of disease dynamics. In this paper, a social

The spread of infectious diseases arises from complex interactions between disease dynamics and human behavior. Predicting the outcome of this complex system is difficult. Consequently, there has been a recent emphasis on comparing the relative risks of different policy options rather than precise predictions. Here, one performs a parameter sweep to generate a large number of possible scenarios for

Link prediction in graphs is studied by modeling the dyadic interactions among two nodes. The relationships can be more complex than simple dyadic interactions and could require the user to model super-dyadic associations among nodes. Such interactions can be modeled using a hypergraph, which is a generalization of a graph where a hyperedge can connect more than two nodes. In this work, we consider

This paper explores the variations of the temperatures of a black high-density polyethylene (HDPE) geomembrane (GMB) liner in a municipal solid waste landfill through the lens of a field case study. The geomembrane temperature was monitored from the start of the construction phase to the closure phase, a span of 7 years. Solar radiation had a significant effect on the temperature variations of the

Temporal point processes (TPPs) have become ubiquitous in research in recent years, with applications ranging from analysis of online information diffusion to networking systems. These processes comprise a series of discrete events localized in continuous time. In several cases, it is observed that multiple processes are realized in the same time-span which are likely to influence each other, often

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) based genomic studies are revolutionizing the field of wildlife biology. These methods have yielded unprecedented insights for understanding ecology, evolution and conservation of wild populations. Despite the advantages, biodiversity rich regions in the tropics need more NGS-based studies to understand their native species. However, the field has progressed very slowly

The massive growth in the generation of municipal solid waste due to the rising food demand, population growth, industrialization, urbanization, economic growth, lifestyles, and other necessities of the global population have embraced the unscientific disposal of wastes in particular with developing countries like India, China, Brazil, etc. Nearly 2 billion metric tonnages of wastes are generated globally

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41745-021-00245-1

The threat of habitat fragmentation and population isolation looms large over much of biodiversity in this human-dominated epoch. Species-rich South Asia is made particularly vulnerable by its high human density and anthropogenic habitat modification. Therefore, reliably estimating wildlife connectivity and the factors underpinning it become crucial in mitigating extinction risk due to isolation. We

Gene flow, the exchange of genetic material between populations is an important biological process, which shapes and maintains biodiversity. The successful movement of individuals between populations depends on multiple factors determined by species biology and the environment. One of the most important factors regulating gene flow is the ability to move, and flight allows individuals to easily move

We review studies of the social systems of the living elephants—the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana), and African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis). Social systems include social organisation, the way relationships are structured, and the mating system; we describe each of these in turn, drawing from long-term observational studies and studies based

Chytridiomycosis is an emerging infectious disease affecting amphibians globally and it is caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytridiomycosis has caused dramatic declines and even extinctions in wild amphibian populations in Europe, Australia, Central and North America. Spanning over two and a half decades, extensive research has led to discovery of epizootic and enzootic

Mitigation of global climate impacts from landfilling of municipal solid waste (MSW) requires a broad understanding of the multitude of factors influencing gas generation and subsequent emissions. Despite recent advances in both measurement and prediction of emissions of gas from MSW landfills, there have been few efforts to collectively gather, analyze, and interpret global gas emissions data. Therefore

Gaps or wide valleys in mountain systems are of much interest to biogeographers and evolutionary biologists since they shape species distributions as well as inter- and intraspecific genetic diversity. The Western Ghats, a hill range that runs parallel to the west coast of India, is one of the biodiversity hotspots with the highest level of endemism in the Indian Subcontinent. This hill range is interrupted

Malaria is the deadliest of all mosquito-borne diseases. Thousands of malaria parasite species exploit squamate reptiles, birds, and mammals as vertebrate hosts as well as dipteran vectors. Among these, avian malaria and related parasites have revealed an extensive genetic diversity as well as phenotypic diversity with varying virulence, host range, distribution−offering an amenable experimental system

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill cover systems have evolved from being merely a soil cap to a multicomponent, nearly impermeable systems providing better control over infiltration and landfill gas (LFG) emissions. Recently, there has been a widespread development of alternative cover systems which addresses the shortcomings of conventional cover systems such as high construction and maintenance

We humans have single-handedly (as a species) changed the ecology of the planet; we are also learning why this, in the long term, is a terrible idea. As we grapple with the fallouts of increasing urbanization, deforestation, loss of wildlife, and human–wildlife conflict, we are beginning to realize that conservation must use every tool available to protect what is left of our natural world. Since molecular

Conservation geneticists apply genetic theory and techniques to preserve endangered species as dynamic entities, capable of coping with environmental change and thus minimizing their risk of extinction. Snow leopards are an umbrella species of High Asia, and a keystone for maintaining biodiversity within this fragile ecosystem. A clear understanding of patterns of snow leopard genetic diversity is

Predicting the response of biota to climate change is an active field of research. Advancements in the field of genomics has revolutionized climate change research. Genomic approaches used together with other ecological tools have the potential to identify the population and/or species at higher risk of extinction due to climate change. Himalayan biodiversity has faced drastic impacts of climate change

This paper presents selected issues of geotechnical and geoenvironmental engineering in waste landfills in Japan. Due to the limited available land space, there have been efforts in constructing and operating the coastal and offshore landfills, which are expected to provide the opportunities of proper waste management as well as the new land space for urban facilities such as port and harbour. Regulatory

Over the last few decades, landfill design and operational practices have evolved. Current landfill waste cells include innovative features that eliminate most of the negative environmental impacts associated with waste disposal on land. This review focuses on some of the historical and recent advances in waste cell design and operational practices that minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated

This paper presents a comprehensive review of the methodological frameworks and criteria used for municipal solid waste landfill selection. The review is based on 89 scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals from 1983 onwards. The descriptive statistical analyses of the reviewed papers consider temporal, location-based quantitative, and qualitative factors. The papers considered are classified

Skin, being the protective barrier against the environment, can be subject to frequent trauma and stress, hence has the ability to heal itself rapidly. This capacity is attributed to a large number of resident stem cells and progenitors in the skin, which are activated to proliferate, migrate and differentiate to recreate the cellular diversity and regain tissue integrity. The barrier function of the

Translational motors that depend on cytoskeletal elements, either actin or tubulin, for their activity are critical for cellular function in eukaryotes. Microtubule (MT)-dependent motors are broadly classified as dyneins and kinesins, based on sequence similarity. Typically, dyneins walk towards the minus-ends of MTs, while kinesins walk towards the plus-ends, with some plant and animal kinesins also

The plasma membrane of a cell undergoes continuous deformations and turning-over of its constituents required for a diverse set of functions. And yet, the membrane retains its steady-state surface tension—without which these functions are adversely affected. In this review, we discuss how the establishment and maintenance of the homeostatic state of the membrane has a major contribution from the actin

Bacterial pore forming toxins (PFTs) are transmembrane proteins produced by pathogenic bacteria that increase infection severity in several instances. PFTs assemble into nano-sized pores on the host plasma membrane, making it permeable to ions and small molecules. As a response to PFTs, the host cell engages in cytoskeleton-mediated repair mechanisms to overcome the damage inflicted to its plasma membrane

The red blood cell (RBC) is unique in terms of its structure and function when compared to other cells in the blood and body. Its anucleated characteristic and biconcave shape (indicative of high surface area to volume ratio) render it deformable. This deformability is useful during circulation when the red blood cell has to traverse capillaries smaller than its size. The cytoskeleton of the red blood

Binary fission of prokaryotic cells depends on a protein called FtsZ that self-assembles into a membrane-associated ring structure (FtsZ-ring) in the early stages of the cell division process. FtsZ is a tubulin homologue, which interacts with many additional proteins contributing to its function forming a ring at the mid-cell, essential for bacterial cell division. Whether the Z-ring is a force-generating

The actomyosin cortex is a thin film, containing actin filaments and myosin molecular motors, located beneath the plasma-membrane of eukaryotic cells. Active processes, driven by ATP hydrolysis, can generate mechanical forces in the cortex. Coordinated force-generation drives large-scale mechanical flows and orientation patterns. These flows can pattern proteins coupled to the cortex leading to the

The year 2020 occupies a special significance in the history of the world. We all have lived through this surreal year as the Covid-19 pandemic, named unusually for the year when it struck the world, shut the entire world for a while and shook every individual directly or indirectly. Surprisingly, the show has gone on. We all have responded positively. The technology has bridged the gap between individuals

The cellular cytoskeleton consisting of microtubules, intermediate filaments and the actin filaments is a dynamic structure providing shape and structural stability to cells. Particularly, the actin cytoskeleton formed by a combination of polymerized actin molecules and several other actin binding proteins including myosin is key to sensing and development of mechanical forces in cells. Given this

Centrosome serves as the primary site of microtubule organization in a majority of animal cells. These microtubules carry out several significant functions in the cell such as cell division, chromosome segregation, mechanical support and cellular transport. Proteins localized at the centrosome play extensive role in orchestrating the process of microtubule organization, growth and stabilization in

The cytoskeleton, as its name suggests, is a class of self-assembling polymers that dictate the shape and mechanical properties of cells. Comprising the actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, the cytoskeleton also teams up with motor proteins to determine the relative positions of membrane-bound compartments within cells and bring about other vital cellular functions, including

T lymphocytes (T cells) are the major mediators of adaptive immune response. They detect pathogens primarily via the interaction of their T cell receptor (TCR) with the cognate pathogen-derived peptide displayed in the context of MHC on the infected cell. A critical step in T cell activation is the formation of immunological synapse, a specialized cell–cell conjugate interface between the T cell and

1 Progress and Promise over a Half‐Century It has been more than a half-century since Dr. Lawrence Weed published his landmark paper ‘Medical Records that Guide and Teach’ in the March 14, 1968, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. His insight—that technology could bring order to the sometimes overwhelming and chaotic world of medical practice—gave birth to the world’s first Electronic Medical

In this article, we reflect on a multi-institutional diverse digital collective, and its contribution to sifting fact from fake during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in India (March–June 2020). In March 2020, many parts of India were just beginning to see cases of COVID-19. We were hearing from our colleagues in Italy and the UK about the scale of the crisis. Data were sparse, hard to translate

I was born in 1953, the year Mount Everest was scaled and the double helical structure of DNA was solved. Alan Turing and Claude Shannon had already made their incredible breakthroughs in information science and theory, while computing machines were just about making a mark in public consciousness. The UNIVAC computer had successfully predicted the outcome of the US presidential elections in 1952 on

Some of the key questions of interest during the COVID-19 pandemic (and all outbreaks) include: where did the disease start, how is it spreading, who are at risk, and how to control the spread. There are a large number of complex factors driving the spread of pandemics, and, as a result, multiple modeling techniques play an increasingly important role in shaping public policy and decision-making. As

We highlight the usefulness of city-scale agent-based simulators in studying various non-pharmaceutical interventions to manage an evolving pandemic. We ground our studies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and demonstrate the power of the simulator via several exploratory case studies in two metropolises, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Such tools may in time become a common-place item in the tool kit

The COVID-19 pandemic is imposing enormous global challenges in managing the spread of the virus. A key pillar to mitigation is contact tracing, which complements testing and isolation. Digital apps for contact tracing using Bluetooth technology available in smartphones have gained prevalence globally. In this article, we discuss various capabilities of such digital contact tracing, and its implication

The COVID -19 pandemic has seen a rise in the deployment of digital health technologies. This includes those aimed at identifying the infected and making sure they did not spread the infection any further as well as other technologies providing data driven insights aimed at improving the effectiveness of decisions such as locking down certain areas and allowing others to re-open. This paper attempts

Many countries have introduced Lockdowns to contain the COVID19 epidemic. Lockdowns, though an effective policy for containment, imposes a heavy cost on the economy as it enforces extreme social distancing measures on the whole population. The objective of this note is to study alternatives to Lockdown which are either more targeted or allows partial opening of the economy. Cities are often spatially

The digitization of data including health data (referred to as Internet of Things-IoT in Healthcare) and its usage in delivery of healthcare has been growing rapidly across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a pivot for exponential growth of IoT in healthcare. Several rapidly evolving technologies are converging to influence the trajectory of IoT in healthcare. There are several challenges in

COVID-19 pandemic represents an unprecedented global health crisis in the last 100 years. Its economic, social and health impact continues to grow and is likely to end up as one of the worst global disasters since the 1918 pandemic and the World Wars. Mathematical models have played an important role in the ongoing crisis; they have been used to inform public policies and have been instrumental in

The Internet, which has spanned several networks in a broad range of domains, is having a significant impact on every aspect of our lives. The next generation of networks will utilize a wide variety of resources with significant sensing capabilities. Such networks will extend beyond physically linked computers to include multimodal-information from biological, cognitive, semantic, and social networks

The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is often used as a proxy for the actual number of ground truth COVID-19-infected cases in both public discourse and policy making. However, the number of confirmed cases depends on the testing policy, and it is important to understand how the number of positive cases obtained using different testing policies reveals the unknown ground truth. We develop an agent-based

Pondering on pandemics and the promise of purification from the plethora of problems that it has spawned, the paper builds on a game-theoretic model of host–pathogen interaction, and... moves beyond. It highlights how quickly this ‘wicked’ problem has led to deceptive Nash equilibria of certain information-asymmetric games as well as their sequels of more complex intertwined games at human scale but

Health Heatmap of India is an open data platform built for bringing together data from diverse sources and facilitating visualization, analysis, and insight building from such data. In this paper, we describe the context and need for such an open data platform and describe the technical aspects of building it. The beta site of the portal is available at https://healthheatmapindia.org.

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to propagate around the world, it is becoming increasingly important to scale up testing. This is necessary both at the individual level, to inform diagnosis, treatment and contract tracing, as well as at the population level to inform policies to control spread of the infection. The gold-standard RT-qPCR test for the virus is relatively expensive and takes time, so combining

Disease surveillance is essential not only for the prior detection of outbreaks, but also for monitoring trends of the disease in the long run. In this paper, we aim to build a tactical model for the surveillance of dengue, in particular. Most existing models for dengue prediction exploit its known relationships between climate and socio-demographic factors with the incidence counts; however, they

India reported its first case of COVID-19 on January 30, 2020. Six months since then, COVID-19 continues to be a growing crisis in India with over 1.6 million reported cases. In this communication, we assess the quality of COVID-19 data reporting done by the state and union territory governments in India between July 12 and July 25, 2020. We compare our findings with those from an earlier assessment