Toward probabilistic checking against non-signaling strategies with constant locality

Non-signaling strategies are a generalization of quantum strategies that have been studied in physics over the past three decades. Recently, they have found applications in theoretical computer science, including to proving inapproximability results for linear programming and to constructing protocols for delegating computation. A central tool for these applications is probabilistically checkable proof (PCPs) systems that are sound against non-signaling strategies. In this thesis we show, assuming a certain geometrical hypothesis about noise robustness of non-signaling proofs (or, equivalently, about robustness to noise of solutions to the Sherali-Adams linear program), that a slight variant of the parallel repetition of the exponential-length constant-query PCP construction due to Arora et al. (JACM 1998) is sound against non-signaling strategies with constant locality. Our proof relies on the analysis of the linearity test and agreement test (also known as the direct product test) in the non-signaling setting

Salsa/Bhangra: Transnational Rhythm Cultures in Comparative Perspective

The dance-music complexes known as “Salsa” and “Bhangra” have not been subjected to any comparative academic scrutiny, despite clear parallels in their respective histories as cultural processes born out of multiple ruptures and conjunctions, including European colonialism, migrations during the postcolonial period, and transnational cultural and commodity flows. While Salsa has resulted from the movement of people, music and rhythmic cultures across Africa, the Caribbean and the United States, Bhangra evinces their movement across the partitioned space of the Punjab, the United Kingdom, and the post-Partition nations of India and Pakistan. Both Salsa and Bhangra have, moreover, moved beyond original regional ambits to become cultural signifiers (albeit often contested as much as claimed) of wider Latino/a and Desi (pan-South Asian) identities respectively. Undoubtedly, it is the academic and cultural embedding of Salsa within a Hispanophone postcolonial paradigm, and of Bhangra within its Anglophone counterpart, that has prevented serious comparative work between these two musical expressive cultures which are equally but differently exemplary of the complex relationship between music and migration. Yet across the world, from Delhi to San Francisco, the two dance-music complexes increasingly meet each other in the same space, particularly that of the dance floor. Drawing on such evidence as well as on personal experience of dancing both the Salsa and the Bhangra, I will advance in this article a theoretical framework for their comparison as transnational musics, suggesting ways in which such a framework can illuminate the circuits of pleasure and politics that traverse each of these dance musics as embodied histories of a traumatic yet life-affirming postcolonial modernity

PERCEPTION AND PREFERENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS IN ADOPTION OF AGRICULTURAL INNOVATIONS AMONG FARMERS OF KURNOOL DISTRICT, ANDHRA PRADESH

Agriculture is the prime contributor and serves food, raw materials for secondary production. In this modern era, when everything are modernized, agriculture also need to be modernized which can be done by adopting new innovations in agriculture. But absence of linkage between researchers and extension workers leads to lesser rate of adoption of farmers. In order to increase the rate of adoption, there should be a proper linkage to bridge the gap between the researchers and the extension service providers, which can be done with the help of social media. Hence, there is a need to study about the perception and preferences of various social media platforms in adoption of agricultural innovations among farmers. A random of 120 farmers those who possess smartphone of Kurnool district were selected as respondents and the data is gathered through pre-tested interview schedule. Findings of the study revealed that, importance and popularity of various social media platforms among farmers for adoption of innovations. To promote agriculture, the farmers should be improvised with up-to-date technologies and information. Hence, the farmers’ knowledge can be updated with the help of social media through Government and Extension service providers using appropriate programmes and schemes. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i4.00

Sustainability and Profitability of Organic Ginger Growers in South District of Sikkim

The present study was conducted in South district of Sikkim to study the sustainability and profitability of organic ginger growers. A total number of 120 organic ginger growers were selected proportionately from five villages under Namchi Block because production, productivity and area under organic ginger cultivation were found to be maximum. The data were collected by personal interview method by using pre-tested interview schedule and later appropriate statistical analysis was done to find out the meaningful result. Sustainability indicators with various organic practices have been used to check the sustainability of organic farming practices of organic ginger growers. Whereas, the profitability of the respondents was found to be Rs.11578.57 on an average. Thus, it can be seen that investment of a rupee in organic farming yields 2.57 rupees. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i8.01

Determination of Gap in Accreditation Standards Establishment Process Using Zachman Framework at a Health-Educational Hospital

Background: Accreditation is usually a voluntary plan supported by a non-governmental institution and trained evaluators that examine the competency of organizations providing health service according to pre-specified performance standards. Objectives: The current study aimed to determine the degree of establishment of accreditation standards using logical framework of Zachman. Methods: This descriptive research was conducted during year 2015. The population of the study included people involved in the establishment of accreditation standards. Sampling was conducted in the form of complete enumeration according to 36 standards of accreditation. The instrument used for data collection was the “Logical framework of Zachman”. Columns of framework consisted of people involved in conducting the work (Who), the purpose of the work (Why), strategy of the work (What), work time (When), and sub-system of doing work (Where) and way of doing work (How), and rows of framework included the view of hospital chief, director/assistants of hospital, officials and personnel. Test chi-square was used to compare between accreditation standards text and studied hospital gap. Descriptive statistical method was used for variables. Results: People involved in doing work and sub-systems of doing work at the hospital were consistent with specified accreditation standards. In 27% of the standards, time interval of doing work in the hospital was not conducted according to accreditation standards. In terms of way of doing work, 25% of standards had not been established, and 26% of them had been established incompletely. During interviews, it was found that 59% of personnel of purpose of doing work, and 94% of them are not informed about the strategy of doing work, according to accreditation standards in the hospital. Conclusions: Uncertainties in the accreditation standards in dimensions of purpose, people involved, strategy and time interval of doing work, respectively, led to a lack of understanding the intention of author/developers of standards by personnel. As a result, this led to lack of complete establishment of accreditation standards in the studied hospital. Keywords: Accreditation, Establishment, Gap, Hospitals, Tehra

Maternal complications and neonatal outcomes in oligohydramnios

Background: Oligohydramnios is a condition of abnormally low amniotic fluid volume which is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The objectives of the study were to find out the prevalence of oligohydramnios, to observe maternal complications associated with oligohydramnios, to detect neonatal morbidities and mortalities in oligohydramnios.Methods: A cross sectional, descriptive study was carried out in the in-patient department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Dhaka national medical college hospital between March 2016 and February 2017.Results: In this study 64 women had oligohydramnios among 1240 pregnant mothers admitted for delivery in obstetrics and gynaecology department and prevalence was 5.2%. Sixty six percent occurrence of oligohydramnios was due to premature rupture of membranes. The mean maternal age was 24.82±3.71 years.  Maternal infections like, Respiratory tract infection (15%), vaginitis (20%), UTI (31%), hyperpyrexia (7%) and maternal systemic illness like, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were also noticed in 7% and 5% of the population. Majority (71%) of the mothers delivered by caesarian section and of them 31.82% was due to foetal distress. Unfavorable neonatal outcome was noticed as low birth weight (LBW) (28%), respiratory depression (32%), perinatal death (14%) and NICU admission (29%). Conclusions: No significant association was found between maternal systemic illness and oligohydramnios. Whereas maternal infection was found as a significant factor leading to PROM related oligohydramnios. Occurrence of caesarian sections and unfavourable neonatal outcomes were found high in oligohydramnios

To Study the Socio-Economic Status of Small and Marginal Farmers with Special Reference to Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe Farmers of Kamrup District of Assam

SES (socio-economic status) is a measurement of an entity's economic and social position in comparison to others in society. It has an impact on resource accessibility, livelihood patterns, food and nutritional security, and so on. Knowledge, attitude, perception, adoption, change-proneness, level of aspiration, economic motivation and other psychological and behavioural components of a sample are frequently predicted. The present study tried to investigate about the socio economic status of the marginal and small farmers with special reference to Schedule caste and schedule tribe farmers in Kamrup district of Assam. Descriptive research  design has been used . Data of 120 respondents were collected with the help of pre-structured questionnaire and personal interview. The study was conducted in 5 villages in Kamrup district of Assam in the year 2021.Thirteen variables were selected viz. category Gender, age, caste, education, annual income, occupation, social participation, types of house, land holding , Mass media exposure, farm power, material possessed, Extension contact were taken into account. Equal numbers of respondents were taken from SC and ST. 64.2% of the respondents were male. Majority of them were under 30 years old. Majority of the percentage had primary level of education, along with medium annual income. The overall SES category was medium level with 48.3%  and low level 32.5% of SES category, 19.2% high level. View Article DOI: 10.47856/ijaast.2021.v08i8.01