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

Utilization of Industrial By-Products/Waste to Manufacture Geopolymer Cement/Concrete

There has been a significant movement in the past decades to develop alternative sustainable building material such as geopolymer cement/concrete to control CO2 emission. Industrial waste contains pozzolanic minerals that fulfil requirements to develop the sustainable material such as alumino-silicate based geopolymer. For example, industrial waste such as red mud, fly ash, GBFS/GGBS (granulated blast furnace slag/ground granulated blast furnace slag), rice husk ash (RHA), and bagasse ash consist of minerals that contribute to the manufacturing of geopolymer cement/concrete. A literature review was carried out to study the different industrial waste/by-products and their chemical composition, which is vital for producing geopolymer cement, and to discuss the mechanical properties of geopolymer cement/concrete manufactured using different industrial waste/by-products. The durability, financial benefits and sustainability aspects of geopolymer cement/concrete have been highlighted. As per the experimental results from the literature, the cited industrial waste has been successfully utilized for the synthesis of dry or wet geopolymers. The review revealed that that the use of fly ash, GBFS/GGBS and RHA in geopolymer concrete resulted high compressive strength (i.e., 50 MPa–70 MPa). For high strength (>70 MPa) achievement, most of the slag and ash-based geopolymer cement/concrete in synergy with nano processed waste have shown good mechanical properties and environmental resistant. The alkali-activated geopolymer slag, red mud and fly ash based geopolymer binders give a better durability performance compared with other industrial waste. Based on the sustainability indicators, most of the geopolymers developed using the industrial waste have a positive impact on the environment, society and economy.publishedVersio

Pregnancy outcome in Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension

Background: To study the maternal and fetal outcome of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH) in pregnancy.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed ten women with the diagnosis of NCPH in pregnancy. The study was done at St John’s Medical College Hospital Bangalore, Karnataka from January 2012 - January 2016. All the necessary data was obtained by record review.Results: The mean age of the pregnant woman was 25.5 years. Among 10 women with the diagnosis of NCPH 4 had Non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and 6 had Extrahepatic portal venous obstruction (EHPVO). Six patients were diagnosed with NCPH prior to pregnancy; while among the remaining 4 patients, 1 had variceal bleed and the other 3 manifested with splenomegaly during pregnancy which led to the diagnosis of NCPH. All these 4 patients were successfully managed with beta blockers alone without any surgical intervention during pregnancy. Thrombocytopenia and splenomegaly were the most common clinical manifestations which were observed in all 10 patients. Severe thrombocytopenia (platelet <50,000 cells/mm3) was seen in 7 patients who received platelet transfusion. Six (60%) of patients had vaginal delivery, the other 4 underwent cesarean section due to meconium stained liquor and fetal distress in early labor. Hence cesarean delivery was reserved only for obstetric indication. Postpartum hemorrhage was seen in 2 patients managed conservatively, one patient on 3rd postoperative day developed ascites and pleural effusion requiring pleural tapping and diuretics with successful recovery. There was no maternal mortality during the study period. The fetal/neonatal outcome was good in the present study with 90% of babies with good APGAR score, whereas 1 preterm neonate developed HIE stage 2 requiring prolonged NICU stay. The overall pregnancy outcome was good in the present study.Conclusions: Pregnancies can be allowed and managed successfully in patients with NCPH

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