Training Teachers for Teaching English in Higher Institutes of Engineering and Technology: Challenges and Perspectives

Abstract - Higher Education in India and abroad hasundergone radical and seamless changes. The advent ofinformation technology has redefined the attitude to Englishlanguage learning and teaching. In order to meet thechallenges and demands of the profession, teachers of English inEngineering colleges need to upgrade their professional andsubject competence. This paper aims to explore the need forteachers of English in Higher Institutes of Engineering andTechnology, to equip themselves to face their professionalchallenges. This necessitates teachers of English to undergospecific training programmes designed based on their targetneeds that would in turn enable them to become betterteachers. A preliminary data was collected from135 teachers ofEnglish from various Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu,India. The findings reveal that more than 75 percent of theteachers expressed their views that there is an existing needfor in-service training and development for teachers to teachEnglish in Engineering colleges in Tamilnadu

Fissidens linearis (Fissidentaceae: Bryophyta) a new record for India

Abstract Fissidens linearis var. obscurirete, is reported as a new record of occurrence to India from the Western Ghats of Kerala

A study to evaluate the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma model using Swiss albino mice

Background: Herbs having ethnomedical uses is one of the best approaches in searching novel anticancer drugs. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma induced liquid tumor model using Swiss Albino mice.Methods: Acute toxicity test was performed using Wistar albino rats before starting the in-vivo anticancer activity, were the MTD was more than 5000 mg/kg. Animals were divided into six groups of six animals each. 250mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of ethanolic extract of HI leaves, was administered orally for 9 days and Cisplatin (3.5 mg/kg, i.p., single dose). Various parameters like Change in body weight, Mean Survival Time, Percentage Increase in Life Span, Hematological & Biochemical parameters were assessed.Results: All the parameters were considerably restored towards the normal values. HIAL500mg/kg showed more significant results than 250 mg/kg. Hence 500mg/kg was taken for combination study with standard drug Cisplatin.Conclusions: On the basis of the above result it was suggested that, the in-vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract of Holoptelea integrifolia leaves possess significant anticancer property with the dose dependent effect. This may probably due to the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, phenols and flavonoids

CARDIO PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF TAMARINDUS INDICA. LINN AGAINST ISOPROTERENOL INDUCED MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IN RATS

Objective: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the cardioprotective activity of Tamarindus Indica. Linn in Isoproterenol hydrochloride-induced Myocardial Infarction in rats.Methods: In vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous fruit extract (AQFE), alcoholic fruit extract (ALFE), aqueous seed extract (AQSE) and alcoholic seed extract (ALSE) of TI was carried by well-established in vitro methods. The extracts were investigated for in vivo cardioprotective activity against IPRT induced myocardial infarction where the animals were treated with the extracts (250 mg and 500 mg/kg body weight) for 30 d. Standard vitamin E (100 mg/kg body weight) was used to compare the effect of the extracts. Change in body weight, ECG, heart weight, serum parameters, myocardial infarct area and enzyme estimation in heart homogenate were assessed.Results: ALSE, AQSE and ALFE showed potent antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 12.94±0.14, 252.49±0.47 and 647.39±1.15 μg/ml. ALSE 250 mg and 500 mg showed dose-dependent cardioprotective activity in cardiotoxic rats. IPRT treated animals showed a marked increase in serum marker enzymes, an increase in the percent infarction area increase in heart weight and a decrease in body weight along with the increase in endogenous enzyme levels were observed.Conclusion: The administered extracts significantly reversed the effects caused by IPRT. ALSE 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight showed maximum reversal while the other extracts AQSE, ALFE and AQFE were observed to have good antioxidant activity in vitro.Keywords: Isoproterenol, Tamarindus indica. Linn, Antioxidant, Myocardial infarction, Electrocardiography, Cardiac marker

Renewable Energy Powered Autonomous Smart Ocean Surface Vehicles (REASOSE)

The REASOSE is not just an Ocean surface vehicle, its poly-type smart autonomous propulsion which eliminates the limitations of existing surface vehicles (remotely operated). The renewable energy source always proved to be abundance of availability in the environment, since the power created through renewable source with loss is engineering acceptance which can immobilise the vehicle. But REASOSE is a unique vehicle with poly-type propulsion incorporated with different renewable sources from the environment which furnishes the consistency of the vehicle inevitable. The REASOSE is a smart intelligent system of vehicle that autonomously switch over to the efficient propulsion as per the availability and in kind of any hindrances the vehicle acts smartly and reaches its destination contiguously. The proposed project novelty is not only stick to a line, the proposed vehicle serves to be change over for versatile applications, the vehicle will be incorporated with high definition live transmitted camera serves for coastal surveillance, deep sea monitoring and so on. The integrated CTD, ADCP and other oceanographic sensors can be a changeover in data collection at different area at required region and time. The stack-up space provides the transportation during unconditional or conditional mode of cargo transfer to required destination

Renewable Energy Powered Autonomous Smart Ocean Surface Vehicles (REASOSE)

The REASOSE is not just an Ocean surface vehicle, its poly-type smart autonomous propulsion which eliminates the limitations of existing surface vehicles (remotely operated). The renewable energy source always proved to be abundance of availability in the environment, since the power created through renewable source with loss is engineering acceptance which can immobilise the vehicle. But REASOSE is a unique vehicle with poly-type propulsion incorporated with different renewable sources from the environment which furnishes the consistency of the vehicle inevitable. The REASOSE is a smart intelligent system of vehicle that autonomously switch over to the efficient propulsion as per the availability and in kind of any hindrances the vehicle acts smartly and reaches its destination contiguously. The proposed project novelty is not only stick to a line, the proposed vehicle serves to be change over for versatile applications, the vehicle will be incorporated with high definition live transmitted camera serves for coastal surveillance, deep sea monitoring and so on. The integrated CTD, ADCP and other oceanographic sensors can be a changeover in data collection at different area at required region and time. The stack-up space provides the transportation during unconditional or conditional mode of cargo transfer to required destination

Maternal and perinatal outcome of Evan’s syndrome: a 5 years study in a tertiary care centre

Background: Evans syndrome is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by simultaneous or sequential presence of a positive antiglobulin test, autoimmune haemolytic anemia (AIHA), and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). It is characterised by frequent exacerbations and remissions within a chronic course. It was first described by Robert Evans in 1951.  Incidence of AIHA is 1 per 75 - 80,000 and ITP is 5.5 /100000 per general adult population.  Incidence of Evans syndrome is 1.8% to 10% of patients with ITP. Objective was to study the maternal and perinatal outcome of women with Evans syndrome (E).Methods: About 4 antenatal mothers were identified with Evans syndrome at St. Johns medical college and hospital, Bengaluru during the study period of 5 years from July 2013-July 2017. They were followed up during their antenatal, intra natal and postnatal period and outcomes were studied. All patients included in the study fulfilled the criteria for Evans syndrome.Results: There were 4 cases of Evans syndrome, with a total number of deliveries of 11859, during this 5 year study. Incidence was 0.09 per 1000 births. All patients presented with bleeding manifestations ranging from mucosal haemorrhage to subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) at the time of diagnosis. All patients were on treatment with either 1st or 2nd line of management with corticosteroids/ azathioprine. None had bleeding during pregnancy after the initiation of treatment. Patients had antenatal complications like preeclampsia 25%, IUGR 25%, oligohydraminos 50%, IUD 25%. 2 patients received platelet transfusions intrapartum. None had intrapartum or postpartum haemorrhage. There were no maternal and neonatal mortality.Conclusions: Evans syndrome in pregnancy is a rare condition and requires multi disciplinary approach involving specialists from obstetrics, neonatology, and hematology. Close maternal and fetal surveillance and management during pregnancy is essential to increase the possibility of a favourable pregnancy outcome in these women

Study the effect of intermediate and closer stiffener on the behaviour of the cold - formed steel lipped channel section under axial compression

Cold-Formed steel built-up columns are commonly used as compression member in the industrial roof and long span bridge structures to carry larger load. To improve the strength and stiffness of the cold-formed section, the built-up column with additional stiffeners and lacings are used. This paper reports the results of experimental tests conducted on built-up cold-formed columns, composed with the combination of intermediate and closer stiffeners with pin-ended condition under axial compression. Totally twelve columns with or without intermediate and closer stiffeners were tested to failure. The experimental results aim to quantify the effect of cross-section, intermediate and closer stiffener on the overall performance, including strength, strain and failure modes for the built-up column. The Finite element model was developed by ANSYS software and the model is validated with the experimental results. The built-up column strength predicated by recommended design equations of American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) exhibited good agreement with the ultimate load of built-up columns obtained both by experimental and numerical. Based on this study a recommendation is proposed to DSM for the CFS built -up columns with intermediate and closer stiffeners