The Parliamentary System of Government in India

In a few weeks India will be actively engaged in framing the details of her new Constitution, which will be federal in structure and will embody the British parliamentary system of government both at the centre and in the units or states. At some of the earlier sessions of the Constituent Assembly, when the main principles of the new Constitution were being laid down, there was a fairly strong current of feeling in favour of the American presidential system and this found expression in certain decisions of the Assembly not only to the mode of election of the head of the federation and of the heads of the constituent states, but also, to some extent, to the relations between the heads of the states and their ministers. This current is now weakening, but it may nevertheless leave some traces in the final version of the Constitution. It may be interesting at this stage to take a peep into the history of India, both remote and recent, and see how far her people have been accustomed to the theory and practice of parliamentary modes of government

The Constitution of the Union of Burma

The Constitution of Burma, which came into force on January 4, 1948, has many features of great interest to the constitution-maker. In form and content, in magnanimous treatment of special regions and racial groups, and in speed of enactment, it provides an example well worth our attention at the present time. The writer of this article had the honour of being associated closely with the framers of the Constitution at almost every stage

Overconfident, resentful, and misinformed: How racial animus motivates confidence in false beliefs

Many Americans not only hold misinformed beliefs about policy-relevant topics (e.g., climate change, public health) but hold those views with high degrees of confidence in their factual accuracy. Epistemic overconfidence – an application of the Dunning Kruger Effect (DKE, or “ignorance of one’s own ignorance” – is politically consequential, as misinformed individuals who hold those views with high degrees of confidence may be especially likely to oppose evidence-based policies and resist attitude change. Yet, its psychological origins – particularly in application to misinformation endorsement – are not well understood. In this paper, we propose that racial animus plays a key psychological role in motivating Americans to express confidence in misinformed beliefs. Using nationally representative survey data from the American National Election Study, we find that racial resentment plays a strong role in leading Americans to hold confidently misinformed views about racialized policy issues (e.g., the causes of anthropogenic climate change, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic), but not on less-racialized issues (e.g., MMR vaccine safety). We conclude by discussing how our work underscores the often-overlooked importance of intergroup attitudes in shaping DKE, and helps resolve theoretical tensions in the study of misinformation acceptance. Objective We examine the role of racial resentment in motivating Americans to express confidence in misinformed beliefs on racialized scientific issues. Methods We study survey data from the 2020 American National Election Study. We examine respondents’ endorsement of misinformation on different scientific issues and their reported confidence in these views. Results We find that racial resentment plays a strong role in leading Americans to hold confidently misinformed views about highly racialized policy issues (e.g., the occurrence of anthropogenic climate change or the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic), but not on less racialized issues (e.g., childhood vaccine safety). Conclusions Our work underscores the often-overlooked importance of intergroup attitudes in shaping overconfidence and helps resolve theoretical tensions in the study of misinformation acceptance

Facebook Role Play Addiction – A Comorbidity with Multiple Compulsive–Impulsive Spectrum Disorders

Problematic Internet use (PIU) is an emerging entity with varied contents. Behavioral addictions have high comorbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive–compulsive spectrum disorders. Social networking site (SNS) addiction and role playing game (RPG) addiction are traditionally studied as separate entities. We present a case with excessive Internet use, with a particular focus on phenomenology and psychiatric comorbidities. Case presentation Fifteen-year-old girl with childhood onset attention deficit disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, adolescent onset trichotillomania, and disturbed family environment presented with excessive Facebook use. Main online activity was creating profiles in names of mainstream fictional characters and assuming their identity (background, linguistic attributes, etc.). This was a group activity with significant socialization in the virtual world. Craving, salience, withdrawal, mood modification, and conflict were clearly elucidated and significant social and occupational dysfunction was evident. Discussion This case highlights various vulnerability and sociofamilial factors contributing to behavioral addiction. It also highlights the presence of untreated comorbidities in such cases. The difference from contemporary RPGs and uniqueness of role playing on SNS is discussed. SNS role playing as a separate genre of PIU and its potential to reach epidemic proportions are discussed. Conclusions Individuals with temperamental vulnerability are likely to develop behavioral addictions. Identification and management of comorbid conditions are important. The content of PIU continues to evolve and needs further study

Engineering the Structual Properties of Self-assembled Polymer/Nanoparticle Capsules

A materials synthesis technique was recently developed to generate polymer/nanoparticles composite microcapsules in which synthetic polyamines such as polyallylamine and/or polylysine were crosslinked with multivalent anions to form polymer-salt aggregates, that then served as templates for deposition of nanoparticles (NPs) of various compositions to form micron-sized hollow spheres or "nanoparticle-assembled capsules" (NACs). This electrostatically-driven "polymer-salt aggregate" or "PSA" assembly route is attractive for encapsulation and scale-up because encapsulation and materials formation occur in water, at mild pH values, and at room temperature. NACs can potentially find wide-ranging applications in pharmaceutical, food, and consumer products. It is of crucial importance to address the physical property aspects of NACs in view of their use and applicability. While most applications may require that NACs not disassemble or deform under shear stress, some may require triggered release under specific conditions to release the encapsulated material (e.g., enzymes or drugs). Comparatively, little has been done to assess the physical properties of NACs. The behavior of NACs under varying p1-1 and ionic strength conditions were determined. The capsules were found to be structural intact in the pH range of 4-9 at an ionic strength of 10 mM. The pH range in which they were intact narrowed with increasing ionic strength; the capsules fragmented into smaller pieces at 500 mM. The NACs could be made stable at ionic strengths as high as 1M by the addition of multivalent anions to the suspending fluid. The structurally intact NACs were found to vary in compressive strength from 1 atm to > ∼25 atm, via osmotic pressure studies. The benign assembly conditions of NACs allowed for encapsulation studies of various molecules such as fluorescein, Gd[DOTP] 5- (MRI contrast agent), doxorubicin (an anticancer drug), and uracil (pharmaceutical drug with anticancer properties). X-ray irradiation was studied as a potential external trigger for cargo release. A thorough experimental analysis on diffusive release of a dye molecule (fluorescein) from NACs was carried out. Manipulation of the PSA assembly process was carried out in several studies to explore the generality of the synthesis method. Positively-charged aluminosilicate NPs were studied in place of negatively-charged silica NPs. Surprisingly, these led to solid microspheres instead of hollow microspheres. Following the diffusion-deposition model for microsphere formation, it is seems that the NPs, with positively charged alumina patches on top of a negatively charged silica surface, can fully penetrate into the polymer-salt aggregate to form the solid microspheres. The viscoelastic nature of polymer-salt aggregates was exploited to produce non-sphere-shaped NACs through the use of a high-shear flow instrument (Reynolds number of ∼21,000). A mathematical model was developed to understand the formation of elongated NACs, which indicated the shear and elongational stresses within the boundary layer zones along the flow channel walls were responsible for the observed formation of rod-like microparticles

Association of CAG repeat loci on chromosome 22 with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder

Chromosome 22 has been implicated in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in a number of linkage, association and cytogenetic studies. Recent evidence has also implicated CAG repeat tract expansion in these diseases. In order to explore the involvement of CAG repeats on chromosome 22 in these diseases, we have created an integrated map of all CAG repeats 5 on this chromosome together with microsatellite markers associated with these diseases using the recently completed nucleotide sequence of chromosome 22. Of the 52 CAG repeat loci identified in this manner, four of the longest repeat stretches in regions previously implicated by linkage analyses were chosen for further study. Three of the four repeat containing loci, were found in the coding region with the CAG repeats coding for glutamine and were expressed in the brain. All the loci studied showed varying degrees of polymorphism with one of the loci exhibiting two alleles of 7 and 8 CAG repeats. The 8-repeat allele at this locus was significantly overrepresented in both schizophrenia and bipolar patient groups when compared to ethnically matched controls, while alleles at the other three loci did not show any such difference. The repeat lies within a gene which shows homology to an androgen receptor related apoptosis protein in rat. We have also identified other candidate genes in the vicinity of this locus. Our results suggest that the repeats within this gene or other genes in the vicinity of this locus are likely to be implicated in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Prevalence of child maltreatment in India and its association with gender, urbanisation and policy:a rapid review and meta-analysis protocol

Introduction India is home to 20% of the world’s children and yet, little is known on the magnitude and trends of child maltreatment nationwide. The aims of this review are to provide a prevalence of child maltreatment in India with considerations for any effects of gender; urbanisation (eg, urban vs rural) and legislation (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012).Methods and analysis A rapid review will be undertaken of all quantitative peer-reviewed studies on child maltreatment in India between 2005 and 2020. Four electronic databases will be systematically searched: PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane and PsychInfo. The primary outcomes will include all aspects of child maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect and physical neglect. Study participants will be between 0 and 18 years and will have reported maltreatment experiences using validated, reliable tools such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences Questionnaire as well as child self-reports and clinician reports. Study selection will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, and the methodological appraisal of the studies will be assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality assessment scale. A narrative synthesis will be conducted for all included studies. Also, if sufficient data are available, a meta-analysis will be conducted. Effect sizes will be determined from random-effects models stratified by gender, urbanisation and the pre-2012 and post-2012 POCSO Act cut-off. I2 statistics will be used to assess heterogeneity and identify their potential sources and τ2 statistics will indicate any between-study variance.Ethics and dissemination As this is a rapid review, minimal ethical risks are expected. The protocol and level 1 self-audit checklist were submitted and approved by the Usher Research Ethics Group panel in the Usher Institute (School of Medicine and Veterinary Sciences) at the University of Edinburgh (Reference B126255). Findings from this review will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and in various media, for example, conferences, congresses or symposia.PROSPERO registration number CRD42019150403

Packages of Care for Alcohol Use Disorders in Low- And Middle-Income Countries

In the fourth in a series of six articles on packages of care for mental disorders in low- and middle-income countries, Vivek Benegal and colleagues discuss the treatment of alcohol use disorders

"The fruits of independence": Satyajit Ray, Indian nationhood and the spectre of empire

Challenging the longstanding consensus that Satyajit Ray's work is largely free of ideological concerns and notable only for its humanistic richness, this article shows with reference to representations of British colonialism and Indian nationhood that Ray's films and stories are marked deeply and consistently by a distinctively Bengali variety of liberalism. Drawn from an ongoing biographical project, it commences with an overview of the nationalist milieu in which Ray grew up and emphasizes the preoccupation with colonialism and nationalism that marked his earliest unfilmed scripts. It then shows with case studies of Kanchanjangha (1962), Charulata (1964), First Class Kamra (First-Class Compartment, 1981), Pratidwandi (The Adversary, 1970), Shatranj ke Khilari (The Chess Players, 1977), Agantuk (The Stranger, 1991) and Robertsoner Ruby (Robertson's Ruby, 1992) how Ray's mature work continued to combine a strongly anti-colonial viewpoint with a shifting perspective on Indian nationhood and an unequivocal commitment to cultural cosmopolitanism. Analysing how Ray articulated his ideological positions through the quintessentially liberal device of complexly staged debates that were apparently free, but in fact closed by the scenarist/director on ideologically specific notes, this article concludes that Ray's reputation as an all-forgiving, ‘everybody-has-his-reasons’ humanist is based on simplistic or even tendentious readings of his work