Inclusive Higher Education in India in the Age of Neo-Liberalism

Education is now considered a pre-condition in all societies, particularly in the developing societies, for inclusive development and to fight different inequalities. This can only be possible if access to higher education is based on equity, and a public-funded education system can ensure this. The paper is based on qualitative research and analyses the changes in the higher education system in India from a largely public funded education system towards a commercial, profit-driven system. The policy shifts are analyzed from comparative and historical perspectives. The neo-liberal approach to education facilitates commercialization,leading to the exclusion of the poor from the higher education system and defeating the constitutional goals of building an inclusive democratic society. The functioning of democracy is also dependent on education as it creates citizens and empowers the marginalized to enter into the democratic system, thus legitimizing the state. The paper concludes that the neo-liberal paradigm of development is contradictory to inclusive education and inclusive development as it commoditizes education

Inclusive higher education in India in the age of neo-liberalism

Education is now considered a pre-condition in all societies, particularly in the developing societies, for inclusive development and to fight different inequalities. This can only be possible if access to higher education is based on equity, and a public-funded education system can ensure this. The paper is based on qualitative research and analyses the changes in the higher education system in India from a largely public-funded education system towards a commercial, profit-driven system. The policy shifts are analyzed from comparative and historical perspectives. The neo-liberal approach to education facilitates commercialization, leading to the exclusion of the poor from the higher education system and defeating the constitutional goals of building an inclusive democratic society. The functioning of democracy is also dependent on education as it creates citizens and empowers the marginalized to enter into the democratic system, thus legitimizing the state. The paper concludes that the neo-liberal paradigm of development is contradictory to inclusive education and inclusive development as it commoditizes education

Analysis of Pavement Deterioration

Transportation plays an important role in the economic growth and development of the country. One of the primary responsibility of the Transportation department is to maintain their network. The surface quality and surface roughness has a strong influence on the public judgement of its serviceability. Pavement deterioration is a continuous process which need to be taken care of by applying some maintenance and improvement standards. There are various distresses that we have to deal with to maintain the pavement condition and to provide a better surface quality. Here in this research 3 important distresses i.e. Raveling, Rut depth and Cracking are considered. The value of these distresses are analyzed using HDM-4 software. The changes in the values of these distresses in different roads in different traffic and climate condition is found out. According to the values of different distresses, graphs are plotted and the suitable trend lines are drawn. The equation of different trend lines are found out

Clinico-biochemical profile and etiology of acute viral hepatitis in hospitalized children: A study from Eastern India

Background: Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) in children continues to be a major public health problem in India. Objective: To identify the etiology, and to assess the clinical and biochemical profile, complications and outcome of AVH in children. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 children with the clinical diagnosis of AVH were included in this record based retrospective study from January 2014 to August 2016. Data on clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters, immediate outcome, and treatment received were obtained, and analysis was performed. Results: Specific etiological agents were identified in 84.2% children. Out of these, 93.7% were due to a single virus, whereas 6.3% were due to mixed infection. Hepatitis A virus (HAV) was found to be the sole infecting agent in 75% children. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) were found in 12.5% and 6.2% children, respectively. Mixed infection was seen in the form of HAV and HEV in 3.1%, and HAV and HBV in 3.1%. The mean age of children with hepatitis A was 8.29±2.74 years, with 70.8% boys and 29.2% girls. Common clinical features were jaundice (95.8%), loss of appetite (95.8%), tender hepatomegaly (68.8%), fever (50%), vomiting (50%), pain abdomen (33.3%), splenomegaly (31.2%), itching (27.1%), bleeding (2.1%), and seizure (2.1%). Acute liver failure was seen in 4.1% and 2% of admitted children died. The mean age of presentation of AVH due to HBV and HEV were 10.7±2.6 years and 10±2.2 years, respectively. Clinical features were similar without any complications or mortality. Significant elevations in hepatic enzymes were seen in mixed infection due to HAV and HEV (p<0.05). Conclusion: HAV is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality due to AVH in this region. HBV and HEV infection may present with similar clinical features, and serological testing must be done to identify the cause

Clinical profile and outcome of shock in mechanically ventilated patients in pediatric intensive care unit of tertiary care centre

Background: The clinical syndrome of shock, a clinical state characterized by inadequate tissue perfusion, is one of the most dramatic, dynamic and life-threatening problems faced by the physician in the critical care setting.Methods: Retrospective observational study of all critically ill children between 1month-12years who were admitted and mechanically ventilated in our 8-bedded PICU between January 2015 to June 2016; and had clinical evidence of shock. PIM3 (Paediatric Index of Mortality 3) was calculated. Authors noted morbidity and mortality pattern in all types of shock including outcome in Paediatric ICU. The data collected were compiled and tabulated.Results: The frequency of shock in authors’ Paediatric intensive care unit was 8.6% (n=780). However, among mechanically ventilated patients it was present in 65.5% patients. Septic shock was the most commonly encountered shock (n=48, 61.5%). Mortality was highest in cardiogenic shock (n=12, 80%) and obstructive shock (n=4, 80%). Survival was best in Hypovolemic shock. Authors found significant correlation between LOS MV and mortality (p=0.018). Type of shock had no correlation with PIM3 score (p=0.374) and mortality (p=0.884). Blood culture yield was positive in 26.9% patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and MRSA being most common organisms isolated.Conclusions: Shock is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children especially below 5yrs of age. Septic shock was the commonest form of shock in children. Severe pneumonia was the commonest illness causing septic shock. Mortality was associated with longer length of stay on mechanical ventilation. Larger prospective multicentric study in developing countries is desirable

Performance of summer sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrids under different nutrient management practices in coastal Odisha

The field experiment was conducted at Department of Agronomy, College of Agriculture, OUAT, Bhubaneswar during summer 2014 to find out appropriate hybrids and nutrient management practices for summer sunflower. Application of recommended dose of Fertiliser(RDF) i.e. 60-80- 60 kg N, P2O5-K2O ha -1 + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 recorded the maximum capitulum diameter (15.60cm), seed yield (2.17 t ha -1 ), stover yield (4.88 t ha -1 ) and oil yield (0.91 t ha -1 ), while application of RDF + Boron@ 1 kg ha-1 recorded the highest number of total seed (970) and filled seed per capitulum (890) with the lowest unfilled seed (80) and sterility percentage (9.0%). The hybrid ‘Super-48’ recorded the highest seed and oil yield of 2.17 and 0.91 t ha -1 , respectively, at recommended dose of fertiliser + ZnSO4 @ 25 kg ha -1 . Experiment was conducted in evaluating the new hybrids in addition to evaluate the response of variety to different nutrient management practices

Microstructural analysis of neutron-irradiation induced changes in polyester fibre studied using EPMA

Electron microscopy is an important characterization technique for the study of textile fibre as it gives more information on fabric wear, nature of fibre fracture, chemical degradation, abrasion, fatigue and many others. Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) micrographs of virgin and some neutron-irradiated samples (graphite coated) are discussed. The filament diameter, D, of virgin PET fibre obtained from EPMA study was 12.5 µn. The surface topography of single filament distinctly reveals the core and sheath parts of the filament. The core diameter of the virgin fibre was estimated to be 1.43 µm. The fibre irradiated at fluence 1 × 1012 n/cm2 shows radiation induced sphere like polymer balls or spherulites of diameter 2.27 µm in the expanded core region. Due to irradiation, the sheath area crosslinks with expanded core region, which may be responsible for increase of strength and hardness of the polymer materials. Moreover, the micrograph at 3000 X magnifications clearly shows that there is no preferred orientation of the polymer in any direction confirming the isotropic nature of the sample.Microstructural analysis of neutron-irradiation induced changes in polyester fibre studied using EPMA Biswajit Mallick1*, Ramesh Chandra Behera2, Simanchal Panigrahi1, Tanmaya Badapanda1, Biswanath Parija1, Banita Behera1, Manas Panigrahi1 and Madhumita Sarangi2 1Department of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela-769 008, Orissa, India 2Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela-769 008, Orissa, India E-mail : [email protected] of Physics, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela-769 008, Orissa, India 2Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela-769 008, Orissa, Indi

ANTI TUBERCULAR DRUGS INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN A NEW TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF A TRIBAL DISTRICT OF ODISHA

Objective: India accounts for about one-fourth of the global TB burden. WHO TB statistics for India for 2018 gives an estimated incidence fig. of 2.69 million cases (199 per one lakh population). Drug-induced Hepatotoxicity is responsible for significant morbidity and mortality of the TB patient if these drugs continued after symptoms of hepatotoxicity develop. Whether the hepatotoxicity is due to individual drugs or due to additive effects is still unclear. The management therapy for TB patients with anti-TB DIH is imperative to ensure successful TB treatment and not recurrence DIH. Aim of the current study is to find out the pattern of Liver enzyme raised after antitubercular therapy in the tribal population of Koraput district where different phylogenetic populations reside where clinically it was observed by the physician little early onset of hepatotoxicity than national and international data. Methods: A prospective study was done after clearance from the Institutional Ethical Committee, Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College, Koraput, from January 2019 to December 2019. Patients with>15 y of age with pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis with normal liver enzymes were included. Patients having abnormal liver enzymes before treatment, seropositive TB patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection, pregnant ladies and children<15 y of age were excluded. Results: Out of 922 patients in total; 4.78% (44) tuberculosis patients developed anti TB DIH. 68.18% (30) patients are below 50 y of age and 31.82% (14) are above 50 y of age group among TB patients with DIH. Age has no statistically significant influence on the occurrence of anti-TB DIH, but there is a statistically significant influence of sex on the occurrence of anti TB DIH. The mean occurrence of anti TB DIH is 18±18.16 d. One case of anti TB DIH patients shows signs and symptoms as early as on day 6th. The commonest symptoms are nausea and vomiting in 64% of patients who developed DIH. Interruption of ATT after DIH occurred in 79.54% of patients with recurrence in only 9.9% of patients after the reintroduction of ATT. Conclusion: Anti TB DIH mostly occurred between 7-28 d of starting the ATT in this geographical region. The duration of the anti TB ATT regimen is prolonged due to DIH. We recommend that all patients should have LTs 2 w after starting ATT, even if asymptomatic

Agroforestry practices for physiological amelioration of salt aff ected soils

Agroforestry is a sustainable land use system act as an alternative form of biological reclamation in salt affected soils apart from sustainable production, continuous income, and regular employment along with food and nutrition security. In general, salt affected soils get ameliorated by tree species; however, following factors such as nature and type of tree species planted, growth habit, quantity and quality of litter production, planting density, nitrogen fixation, and different management practices are influenced. In the present study, various studies pertaining to soil reclamation in the salt affected soils are reviewed. Overall result showed that trees grown with crops, horticultural crops, pastures resulted in improvement of physical and chemical properties of soil under various agroforestry systems. For instance, reduction of soil pH, electrical conductivity, and exchangeable sodium percentage minimization of salt deposition in the upper layers of the soil, improvement of water permeability and water holding capacity, improvement of infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity with soil fertility, enhancement of cation exchange capacity, and other features are characteristics of soil as influenced by tree species, as well as through agroforestry practices. Various multipurpose tree species such as Acacia auriculiformis, Acacia nilotica, Albizia lebbeck, Terminalia arjuna, Casuarina equisetifolia, Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora; and fruit trees such as Zizyphus jujuba, Emblica officinalis, Syzygium cumini, and Tamarindus indica ameliorated the different salt affected soils in different agroforestry systems viz., agrisilvicultural system, silvipastoral system, multipurpose wood lot, and agrihorisilvicultural system. Thus, agroforestry system provides an alternative for restoring soil health and amelioration of salt affected soils for further yield improvement. Therefore, these species are suggested for reclamation of salt affected soil through agroforestry systems