Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

The Smooth-coated Otter Lutrogale perspicillata has not previously been documented from Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), southern India and this study confirms its presence from the landscape. A 10-day reconnaissance survey (from 17–26 October 2024) was conducted around the Chikkondanahalli Reservoir, which is located between BNP and the village of Chikkondanahalli (Karnataka) utilizing perimeter walks and community interviews. We gathered data and signs of otter presence and activity, such as spraints, tracks, and feeding remains. On the seventh day of the survey, a direct observation of a group of four otters was made, marking the first recorded sighting in the park. Additional evidence, including fresh spraints and track marks, confirmed otter presence. However, the survey also identified several anthropogenic threats, such as fishing, cattle grazing, and pollution, which may impact the quality of otter habitats and their long-term survival in the area. The results suggest that otters may use reservoirs like Chikkondanahalli as an important habitat with potential movement between water bodies. These findings highlight the need for further research to understand otter movement patterns and habitat preferences in the BNP landscape.

Anticipating land use and land cover (LULC) changes is essential for sustainable ecosystem management, water resource planning, and climate risk mitigation in rapidly evolving river basins. LULC trajectories emerge from complex interactions among vegetation phenology, climatic variability, topographic constraints, and anthropogenic pressures, rendering accurate forecasting both indispensable and methodologically challenging. This study presents an interpretable, uncertainty-aware predictive framework that integrates multi-source earth observation data with ancillary environmental and socioeconomic variables to capture these spatiotemporal dynamics. By explicitly modelling relationships between vegetation indices, climate drivers, topography, and human activities, the framework identifies key determinants of land conversion while quantifying prediction confidence. Unlike conventional Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) models constrained by uniform temporal intervals, the proposed approach accommodates irregular observation periods, thereby enabling effective learning from heterogeneous historical datasets. Additionally, the framework addresses a critical limitation of frequency-based models by enhancing prediction accuracy for underrepresented land cover classes. Application to the Godavari Basin, India, demonstrates strong overall predictive performance, with particularly robust results for grasslands, deciduous forests, urban areas, and water bodies. Persistent classification challenges between croplands and grasslands, as well as between evergreen and deciduous forests, underscore the subtle nature of these transitions and highlight the need for enhanced phenological characterization. Beyond predictive accuracy, the framework provides interpretability through its probabilistic architecture, offering valuable insights into how climatic and anthropogenic factors jointly influence land transformation pathways. The results deliver not only spatially explicit LULC projections for future scenarios but also a practical decision-support tool for policymakers and resource managers navigating the tension between development imperatives and ecosystem sustainability. Critically, such predictive capabilities are vital for anticipating compound hydroclimatic extremes where land-atmosphere feedbacks amplify drought, flood, and heatwave risks and for informing climate adaptation strategies in dynamic river basins and other climatically vulnerable regions.

ABSTRACT This research investigates the relational construction of gender and innovation within small and medium enterprises (SMEs) during systemic business crises. Moving beyond essentialist, trait‐based perspectives, this study adopts a processual feminist lens to explore how gendered organizational practices shape innovative capacity during disruptions. Drawing on a quantitative sample of 6900 SMEs from 25 countries, we analyze how gendered leadership (Female CEOs), the relational configuration of the workforce, and institutional egalitarianism influence innovation. Rather than viewing gender as an isolated explanatory variable or a set of fixed traits, we conceptualize innovation as a performative enactment that is both constrained and enabled by institutional inequality regimes. Our findings challenge the static assumptions of social role theory by demonstrating that crises disrupt traditional gender scripts. We argue that the increased participation and innovative contributions of women during crises are not temporary departures from stereotypes, but represent a strategic navigation of gendered power structures within the firm. For practice, we suggest that SMEs can achieve sustainable competitive advantage only by dismantling previous organizational logics and recognizing innovation as an outcome of diverse, intersectional organizational processes rather than individual‐level gendered traits.

Abstract Background: Medical devices are crucial in health care; however, adverse events (AEs) require safety evaluation. Causality assessment determines the contribution of the device to AEs and guides decisions. India lacks a standardized scoring tool, leading to inconsistent interpretation. Aim: This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable causality assessment tool for AEs associated with medical devices. Materials and Methods: A nine-question structured scale was developed from a literature review to classify causality as certain, probable, possible, or unlikely. Validity was established through expert comparisons using the European Union Causality Assessment Scale. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Reliability testing occurred in two phases using 50 random Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database cases (2014–2024) assessed by six raters (physicians, biomedical engineers, and pharmacists). After 6 weeks, the same cases were reassessed. Reliability was determined using Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The ICC values for phases 1 and 2 were 0.324 and 0.399, respectively ( P < 0.001), indicating moderate agreement. Validity testing showed a sensitivity of 90.95%, specificity of 83.25%, and AUC of 0.8605, demonstrating strong accuracy in determining causality. The scale demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.893). Conclusion: The validated causality assessment tool enhances consistency and reduces subjectivity among evaluators. It provides a reliable scoring system to support regulatory decisions, improve safety, and enable postmarket surveillance. This tool enables systematic assessment of device-related AEs across healthcare settings.

Green banking has become increasingly significant in India as financial institutions incorporate environmentally responsible practices into their operations. This research investigates green banking initiatives and assesses the degree of their implementation among Indian banks using a comparative framework. The focus is on identifying essential green banking practices, including digital banking services, paperless transactions, green financing, energy-efficient operations, and sustainability disclosures adopted by banks in India. A Green Banking Adoption Index (GBAI) has been created to evaluate and compare the level of green banking practice adoption across various banks. This index is formulated using selected indicators that reflect the primary dimensions of green banking, allowing for a systematic evaluation of adoption levels. The study utilizes secondary data obtained from publicly accessible bank reports, sustainability disclosures, and official publications. A comparative analysis is conducted to explore differences in green banking adoption among banks. The analysis uncovers notable disparities in the adoption of green banking practices among Indian banks. While certain banks exhibit a higher degree of integration of green initiatives, supported by structured policies and disclosures, others display comparatively lower levels of adoption. The findings suggest that although green banking practices are gaining traction in India, the extent of their implementation is inconsistent.