Untouchability and inter-caste relations in rural India : the case of southern Tamil villages

Justice and equality are the two subjects often talked about by most of the nationalists and leaders of various political and ideological streams across the world including India. India was at the fore-front in condemning racial discrimination particularly apartheid and also the influence of super powers) on the internal affairs of independent nations. Her commitment to secure its citizens' freedom, justice, equality and fraternity is reflected in the very preamble of the Indian Constitution. Towards achieving these challenging goals, special provisions have also been made in the Constitution to protect and promote the interests of the most oppressed section of Indian society - traditionally known as Untouchables and Constitutionally as the Scheduled Castes. These provisions are expected to alter the given unjust distribution of power (political and economic) and status (social) among different sections of people and thereby transform India into an egalitarian society. Given India's unequivocal commitment to secure its citizens these noble ideals - particularly the most exploited and pilloried section of India -, we shall attempt here to understand Indian villages, which host over 80 per cent of the Indian population, from the point of view of whether or not these villages patronise the institution of caste which is in contravention of these ideals or whether there are these little republics ideal for realising the said goals and thus to be preserved as they are as claimed by many social reformers including Mahatma Gandhi. In the process, we shall also address the question of how caste has remained unchanged, how it controls social interaction between higher and lower caste groups and accordingly perpetuates unequal control over power and status. And most importantly we shall also understand whether all the Scheduled Castes (lower castes) treat their members as equals or there is hierarchy, discrimination and practice of untouchability even among them

Évaluation de lignées de sorgho (Sorghum bicolor) pour leur résistance à la mauvaise herbe parasite Striga hermonthica au Burkina Faso

Des essais en pots et au champ ont été réalisés au Burkina Faso en 1987 pour évaluer la résistance de lignées de sorgho (Sorghum bicolor) vis-à-vis la mauvaise herbe parasite Striga hermonthica. Dans l'expérience en pots, les lignées de cycle court ICSV-1079 BF et ICSV-1078 BF ont présenté un nombre et une biomasse de S. hermonthica inférieurs à ceux du témoin sensible. Cette réaction n'a pas été confirmée dans l'expérience au champ. Aucune lignée ne s'est avérée résistante. Parmi les lignées de cycle moyen, aucune lignée ne s'est démarquée du témoin sensible dans l'expérience en pots. Dans l'expérience au champ, la lignée ICSV-1089 BF a présenté une faible sensibilité au S. hermonthica. Cependant, cette lignée a obtenu de faibles rendements. Aucune des lignées testées ne semble pouvoir être recommandée pour la lutte envers le S. hermonthica dans le sorgho au Sahel. Le cultivar Framida ne saurait être utilisé comme source de résistance au S. hermonthica. Il est urgent d'identifier de nouvelles sources de résistance afin de répondre aux besoins des programmes d'amélioration du sorgho.Pot and field experiments were performed in Burkina Faso in 1987 in order to evaluate sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) lines for their resistance to the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica. In pot experiments, low duration lines ICSV-1079 BF and ICSV-1078 BF presented a lower number and biomass of S. hermonthica than the susceptible check. This reaction was notconfirmed in field experiments. No line was resistant. Among medium duration lines, no line was significantly different from the susceptible check in pot experiments. ICSV-1089 BF exhibited a low susceptibility to S. hermonthica attack in field experiments. However, its yield was low. No line could be recommended in the perspective of controlling S. hermonthica sorghum in Sahelian countries. The cultivar Framida is not an appropriate source of resistance to S. hermonthica. Other sources of resistance are urgently required to satisfy the needs of sorghum breeding programs

Microscopic phenomena and a modern approach to turbulence

The use of an arc driven shock tube as a technique in the study of turbulence and evidence to support a kinetic theory of turbulence are described. Topics covered include: (1) reaction rate distortion in turbulent flow; (2) turbulent bursts in a shock tube; (3) driver gas flow with fluctuations; (4) improving the Mach number capabilities of arc driver shock tubes; and (5) resonant absorption in an argon plasma at thermal equilibrium

Two-crystal, synchronously pumped, femtosecond optical parametric oscillator

We demonstrate a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator based on two nonlinear crystals synchronously pumped by a single ultrafast laser for efficient intracavity signal amplification and output power enhancement. By deploying two identical MgO:PPLN crystals in a single standing-wave cavity, and two pump pulse trains of similar average power from the same Kerr-lens-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser, a minimum enhancement of 56% in the extracted signal power is achieved, with un-optimized output coupling, when temporal synchronization between the two intracavity signal pulse trains is established, resulting in a corresponding enhancement of 49% in pump depletion. Using intracavity dispersion control, near-transform-limited signal pulses with clean spectrum are obtainedPeer ReviewedPreprin

FMEA and Fault Tree based Software Safety Analysis of a Railroad Crossing Critical System

Software for safety-critical systems must deal with the hazards identified by safety analysis in order to make the system safe, risk-free and fail-safe. Certain faults in critical systems can result in catastrophic consequences such as death, injury or environmental harm. The focus of this paper is an approach to software safety analysis based on a combination of two existing fault removal techniques. A comprehensive software safety analysis involving a combination of Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is conducted on the software functions of the critical system to identify potentially hazardous software faults. A prototype safety-critical system - Railroad Crossing Control System (RCCS), incorporating a microcontroller and software to operate the train on a track circuit is described

Increasing Compliance with Mass Drug Administration Programs for Lymphatic Filariasis in India through Education and Lymphedema Management Programs

Global elimination of lymphatic filariasis requires giving drugs at least annually to populations who live at risk of becoming infected with the parasite. At least 80% of people at risk need to take the drugs annually for 5 or more years to stop transmission of the infection. People suffering from the long-term effects of infection, such as swollen legs, benefit from programs that teach self-care of their affected limbs. In this study, we assessed the impact of an educational campaign that, after addressing previously identified predictors of compliance, significantly improved drug compliance. The specific factors improving compliance included knowing about the drug distribution in advance, knowing that everyone is at risk for acquiring the infection, knowing that the drug distribution was for lymphatic filariasis prevention, and knowing at least one component of leg care. We also found that areas with programs to assist people with swollen legs had greater increases in compliance. This research provides evidence that program evaluation can be used to improve drug compliance. In addition, our work shows for the first time that programs to benefit people with swollen legs caused by lymphatic filariasis also increase the participation of people without disease in drug treatment programs

Striga (Witchweeds) in Sorghum and Millet: Knowledge and Future Research Needs

Striga spp (witchweeds), are notorious root hemiparasites on cereal and legume crops grown in the semi-arid tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, India, and parts of the eastern USA. These weed-parasites cause between 5 to 90% losses in yield; total croploss data have been reported. Immunity in hosts has not been found. Past research activities and control methods for Striga are reviewed, with emphasis on the socioeconomic significance of the species. Striga research involving biosystematics, physiological biochemistry, cultural and chemical control methods, and host resistance are considered. We tried to itemize research needs of priority and look into the future of Striga research and control In light of existing information, some control strategies which particularly suit subsistence and emerging farmers' farming systems with some minor adjustments are proposed. The authors believe that a good crop husbandry is the key to solving the Striga proble

Increasing grain Fe and Zn concentration in sorghum: progress and way forward

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is among the top ten crops that feed the world (Goldschein 2011). It is one of the cheapest sources of energy and micronutrients; and a vast majority of population in Africa and central India depend on sorghum for their dietary energy and micronutrient requirement (Parthasarathy Rao et al.). Micronutrient malnutrition, primarily the result of diets poor in bioavailable vitamins and minerals, causes blindness and anemia (even death) in more than half of the world’s population, especially among women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating women and pre-school children (Underwood 2000, Sharma 2003, Welch and Graham 2004); and efforts are being made to provide fortified foods to vulnerable groups of the society. Biofortification, where possible, is the most costeffective and sustainable solution for tackling micronutrient deficiencies as intake of micronutrients is on a continuing basis with no..

Selection of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties resistant to the parasitic weed Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth

Pot and field experiments were performed in Burkina Faso in 1987 and 1988 to evaluate the resistance of selected ‘low-stimulant’ sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) varieties to the parasitic weed (Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. In a pot experiment, the variety IS-7777 supported the lowest number and had the latest emergence of Striga, compared with the other varieties tested. The varieties IS-14825, IS-6961, IS-7739, IS-14928 and IS-14975 also had signifi cantly lower numbers of emerged Striga per pot than the resistant control Framida. The resist ance of IS-7777 was confirmed in field experi ments, as was that of IS-7739, IS-6961 and IS-14928. However, the yield potential of these poorly adapted varieties was low in Striga-infested fields. The varieties IS-14975, IS–14825 and Seguetana Niarabougou exhibited a low susceptibility associated with a grain yield equivalent to that of the other varieties in farm fields infested by Striga. As Seguetana is already grown by Sahelian farmers, its use could be recommended in the absence of resistant varieties adapted to Sahelian agroclimatic conditions. The exceptionally high level of restance exhibited by IS-7777 could be exploited in studies on the genetics and mechanisms of resistance of the host plant to the parasite, as well as in sorghum improvement programme