Educational deprivation and primary school provision : a study of providers in the city of Calcutta

Publicly provided education systems are increasingly being seen as unable to address the specific educational needs of poor and marginalized groups. The emphasis on pluralism in educational provision and alternative schooling systems for such groups hence assumes significance. This paper focuses on the education of the poor in the city of Calcutta, capital of the state of West Bengal in India. It dwells on initiatives that are underway to bring all children to primary schools both in state funded regular schools as well as in alternative schools that are being run by non-government organisations. The paper situates these initiatives in the larger context of the state of primary schooling in the city and the perceptions of educational deprivation among policy-makers, teachers and administrators. It points to the fact that primary schools are inadequate in terms of availability and offer education of relatively poor quality. However educational deprivation is seen by school providers to result largely from poverty, particularly child labour and the absence of home and community environments that are conducive to learning. This has provided the rationale for an alternative schooling system to address the specific educational needs of children who are not in regular schools. The paper acknowledges that poverty is an important constraint in the education of the children of Calcutta’s poor. However it stresses that an emphasis primarily on the linkages between poverty, child labour and non enrolment in school fails to address the magnitude of educational deprivation that results from the institutional context of schooling provided to the poor. While the alternative schooling system may increase educational opportunities for poor children it is unlikely to provide education of quality. On the other hand it is likely to result in a further stratification of an already iniquitous schooling system

Development and Rapid Intensification of Tropical Cyclone OCKHI (2017) over the North Indian Ocean

Tropical Cyclone OCKHI over the North Indian Ocean during 2017 underwent dramatic development and rapid intensification very close to the land - Sri Lanka, extreme South Indian coast and Lakshadweep area during its initial developmental stage and caused extensive damages over these areas. On examining the physical and structural mechanism involved in such development, it is observed that the initial development was associated with axi-symmetrisation of the vortex that could be associated with Vortex Rossby waves near the eyewall. Associated with the expulsion of high vorticity from the centre during asymmetry mixing, there was outward propagation of eddy angular momentum flux in the lower levels that strengthened a low level anticyclone to the northeast of the TC centre which in turn enhanced the cyclonic inflow near the TC centre. The rapid intensification phase was associated with vertical non-uniform heating with upper and lower tropospheric warming associated with latent heat release in convection. During the mature phase, the system sustained ‘very severe’ intensity even under increasing vertical shear and lower ocean heat flux under the influence of a break in the sub tropical ridge to the north of the system centre that enhanced the poleward outflow in the upper troposphere

Relationship between Sialic acid and metabolic variables in Indian type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUND: Plasma sialic acid is a marker of the acute phase response. Objective is to study the relationship between sialic acid relationship with metabolic variables in Indian type 2 diabetes with and without microvascular complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fasting Venous blood samples were taken from 200 subjects of which 50 were of diabetes mellitus (DM) and nephropathy patients, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes and retinopathy, 50 patients with type 2 diabetes without any complications and 50 healthy individuals without diabetes. The Indian subject's aged 15–60 years with type 2 diabetes were recruited for the study. Simultaneously urine samples were also collected from each of the subjects. All the blood samples were analyzed for total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), fasting and postprandial glucose on fully automated analyzer. Serum and urine sialic acid along with microalbumin levels were also estimated. RESULTS: There was a significantly increasing trend of plasma and urine sialic acid with severity of nephropathy (P < 0.001) and with degree of urinary albumin excretion (P < 0.001). Serum sialic acid correlated with increasing serum creatinine concentration (P < 0.001). Elevated serum sialic acid concentrations were also associated with several risk factors for diabetic vascular disease: diabetes duration, HbA(1)c, serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations, waist-to-hip ratio and hypertension. Significant correlations were found between sialic acid concentration and cardiovascular risk factors like LDL and TG in the diabetic subjects. CONCLUSION: The main finding of this study is that elevated serum and urinary sialic acid and microalbumin concentrations were strongly related to the presence of microvascular complications like diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy and cardiovascular risk factors in Indian type 2 diabetic subjects. Further study of acute-phase response markers and mediators as indicators or predictors of diabetic microvascular complications is therefore justified

Effect Of Alloxan Mixed Diet On Blood Parameters And Its Management By Silkworm Pupae Meal Diet In Common Carp

This paper presents a brief overview on the entry of alloxan into foods and its fatal link to blood parameter in carp. The management of silkworm pupae meal diet induced Alloxan blood parameter in carp. Five series of experiments were conducted to investigate the induced alloxan on blood parameter studied In the 8th series of experiments, utilization of Silkworm pupae meal diets on the reduction of alloxan toxicity on blood parameter, were estimated. The increase in the levels of alloxan decreases the Hb and RBC level where as WBC, Esr and Ht increases during the exposure period. Then treatment with silkworm pupae meal diet there an opposite trend was obtained. The administration of silkworm pupae meal might be beneficial for the restoration of hematological parameters, in the present study have revealed that incorporate silkworm pupae meal diet reduced the blood nonfunctional plasma enzymes and liver function parameters in Alloxan induced hyperglycemia in common carp. On the other hand Alloxan-induced diabetes could increase the liver enzyme levels. The increase in these enzymes may occur due to peroxidation reactions, arising from Alloxan biotransformation during diabetes and these reactions may inflict oxidative injury to cellular components. Our data shows that the silkworm is a good edible resource of natural Silkworm pupae meal diet with hypoglycemic activity which retards the ill effect of alloxan induced hyperglycemia

To Determine The Acute Toxicity Pesticide Of Malathion And Metabolic Activities And Respiratory Responses In Freshwater Fish Labeo Rohita

The water pollution of aquatic environment with wide array of pesticides has become a menace to the aquatic flora and fauna. The organophosphorus pesticide malathion has been widely used in agriculture for several crops such as paddy, cotton and vegetables to control serious insects and mites. These chemicals cause severe damage to aquatic ecosystem especially to fishes. The main aim and objective of present study is to evaluate the impact on protein and glycogen in fingerlings of Labeo rohita an economically important Indian major carp. The 96 hrs LC50 value of malathion for L.rohita was 9.0 ml/L. No mortality was observed below the concentration of 7.5 ml/L. The changes in biochemical parameters such as protein and glycogen are important to indicate the susceptibility of organs system to pollutants by altering their function. In the present investigation the protein and glycogen contents of muscles, gills, liver, kidney and brain of L.rohita were analysed. Fish reared in control group registered high protein and glycogen contents when compared with malathion treated groups during 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs respectively. The similar results were obtained in the oxygen consumption of L.rohita during 24, 48, 72 and 96 hrs respectively It is concluded that malathion concentrations (low and high) is very toxic and causes alterations in vital organs of fish L. rohita

Evaluation of safety, efficacy, acceptance and expulsion of post placental intrauterine contraceptive device in a tertiary care centre

Background: Postpartum intrauterine device provides an effective temporary method of contraception for the woman who needs birth spacing rather than birth limitation and also a quasi-permanent family planning method. The aim of this study was to study the efficacy, acceptance, safety and complication of PPIUCD insertion.Method: This a retrospective analytical study done in a tertiary care teaching institute, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Egmore for a six-year period from January 2010 to December 2015 with a sample size of 81204. Outcomes measured were safety, efficacy, acceptance (patients and professionals) and complications.Results: For the study period of six years the total number of women delivered were 81204. A steady increase was noted in the insertion of PPIUCD from 2010 (1.98%) to 2015 (58%). 50.5% had insertion following caesarean section and 49.5% following vaginal delivery. Primipara had a higher rate of acceptance amounting to 74.74%. Most common complication reported was missing strings 9.25% and a greater part of the patients (83%) did not have any complaints.Conclusions: Enthusiasm and conviction on the part of the health care provider goes a long way in improving the acceptance rate of PPIUCD. It is an indispensable contraceptive tool for our country since our women most often do not return for postnatal contraceptive options

Etiopathological and diagnostic study of Margavaranajanya Hridroga w.s.r. to Coronary Artery Disease - An Observational Study

The incidence of cardiac diseases is increasing at an alarming rate in our society due to sedentary lifestyle as an impact of western culture. In India, many studies have reported increasing coronary artery disease incidence over 60 years. One in 4 deaths in India are due to coronary artery disease. So thorough understanding of pathogenesis of this disease is very important. Ayurveda literature elaborates multiple maladies related to heart under Hridroga. Margavarana is a unique pathology explained in our classics. Various dietary, behavioural, psychological factors contribute to morbid accumulation of Kapha and Medas leading to Shonita Abhishyandana. Further morbid state of Shonita Abhishyandana by Upalepa of Dhamani culminates in development of Dhamani Prathicchaya. Eventually due to Siraaja Granthi Dhamani Prathichhaya ends up in Margavarna and is the leading pathology of Hridroga. In the realm of conventional medicine, it is said that sedentary life style is the major cause of morbid accumulation of fat in the body leading to metabolic syndrome. It is characterised by dyslipidemia which in turn leading to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis predisposes the thromboembolism and complete obliteration of blood circulation within the vessel. Hence, in the present study an endeavour is made to corelate the concept of Coronary artery disease and its ill effects with the classical reference regarding the concept of Margavarana pathology occurring in the Hridaya causing Margavaranajanya Hridroga and also its diagnosis through the modern tools

Torque magnetometry study of the spin reorientation transition and temperature-dependent magnetocrystalline anisotropy in NdCo5

We present the results of torque magnetometry and magnetic susceptibility measurements to study in detail the spin reorientation transition (SRT) and magnetic anisotropy in the permanent magnet NdCo5. We further show simulations of the measurements using first-principles calculations based on density-functional theory and the disordered local moment picture of magnetism at finite temperatures. The good agreement between theory and experimental data leads to a detailed description of the physics underpinning the SRT. In particular we are able to resolve the magnetization of, and to reveal a canting between, the Nd and Co sublattices. The torque measurements carried out in the ac and ab planes near the easy direction allow us to estimate the anisotropy constants, K 1, K 2 and K 4 and their temperature dependences. Torque curves, τ(γ) recorded by varying the direction of a constant magnetic field in the crystallographic ac plane show a reversal in the polarity as the temperature is changed across the SRT (240 < T < 285 K). Within this domain, τ(γ) exhibits unusual features different to those observed above and below the transition. The single crystals of NdCo5 were grown using the optical floating zone technique

Effect of short-term naturopathy and yoga intervention on anthropometric variables, lipid profile and thyroid profile in obese hypothyroid patients: a randomised controlled trial

Background: Hypothyroidism reflects decreased thyroid function and is one of the most common conditions seen in clinical practice. Practice of naturopathy and yoga has shown improvement in anthropometric variables and lipid profile in obesity and other chronic diseases. So, the aim of this study was to find out the effect of naturopathy and yoga in obese hypothyroid patients.Methods: A total of 60 subjects, of which 29 males (age 44.2±7.0 years) and 31 females (age 40.6±7.4 years) with body mass index (BMI), ≥30 were randomly assigned to case group (n=30) and wait list control group (n=30). The subjects of case group underwent naturopathy and yoga intervention for 10 days. Anthropometric variables, viz., body weight, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference, serum lipid profile, and serum thyroid profile were assessed at 1st day (pre), at the end of 10 day (post).Results: The result showed a significant reduction in body weight, BMI, WC, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) along with significant improvement in high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in case group compared with control group in independent samples t test. Significant reduction in body weight, BMI, total cholesterol, LDL-C and TSH were observed in case group unlike in control group in student's paired t test.Conclusions: Reduction in the body weight, BMI and improvement in serum lipid profile and serum thyroid profile in case group subjects compared to control group suggest that naturopathy and yoga have therapeutic and protective effects in the management of obese hypothyroid patients

Understanding the etiopathogenesis of Uttana Vatarakta (peripheral vascular disease) - An Observational Study

Advanced life style and changing food habits affects the activities of individual which leads to many diseases and Peripheral Vascular Diseases are one among them. They are characterized by reduction of blood flow and oxygen supply through peripheral vascular vessels. This can happen in arteries or veins. The incidence of Varicose vein is more common with age and high prevalence is after 30 years of life. PAD occurs in patients over 40 years old; the highest incidence occurs in the sixth and seventh decades of life and it affects 10-15% of the general population. The symptoms of Uttana Vatarakta owing to the Margavarana pathology simulate with the symptoms of Peripheral vascular diseases and some of the etiological factors of Uttana Vatarakta in the writing are specific in inclining Peripheral Vascular Diseases. Ayurveda emphasise the importance of study on etiopathogenesis of disease before the planning of treatment protocol. In this study an effort is done to identify the Nidanas and pattern of Samprapti in relation with Peripheral vascular diseases for the better understanding of different clinical presentations of Uttana Vatarakta