USE OF E-RESOURCES BY RESEARCHERS AND FACULTY MEMBERS IN SELECT UNIVERSITIES OF HARYANA: A COMPARATIVE STUDYOF SCIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCE FACULTIES

E-resources rose in significance throughout the world during COVID-19 pandemic as these were used extensively in teaching, learning and research. Present study was conducted to know about the awareness and use of e-resources by the researchers and faculty members of science and social science faculties in three universities of Haryana, their purpose of using e-resources, levels of satisfaction and problems faced by them. This study is based on primary data collected from the faculty members and researchers using a self-designed questionnaire. It was found that all respondents were aware about e-resources and majority of respondents were using e-resources. The respondents of science faculty were using e-resources more as compared social science faculty. The respondents of science faculty are more satisfied with regard to e-standards/e-patents, subject specific portals and Anti-plagiarism software as compared to social science faculty. The respondents of social science faculty are facing more problems as compared to science faculty

Moisture stress induced changes in metabolites and cellular functions in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

The present investigation was aimed to study influence of moisture stress in in vitro identified tolerant (GL28151, RSG963, PDG3) and sensitive (GL22044, GNG1861, PBG1) chickpea genotypes under field conditions. Moisture stress treatments included crop sown with one pre-sowing irrigation (WSVFP), irrigation withheld at flower initiation stage (WSF), irrigation withheld at pod initiation stage (WSP) and control (irrigated as and when required). Osmolytes (in seeds) viz. total soluble sugars, starch, proline, cellular functions; relative water content, membrane permeability index and lipid peroxidation (in leaves), antioxidant enzymes (at pod filling stage) viz. peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase were estimated in chickpea seeds under control and stressed conditions. WSVFP was most severely affected by moisture stress followed by WSP and WSF and emphasized on pod intuition stage as critical stage attributable to hindered transport of assimilates towards formation of pods and development of seeds under stress imposed by lack of sufficient moisture. Highest accumulation of total soluble sugars (73.33), starch (73.12), proline (2.04) in mg/g fresh weight, least percentage reduction over control in relative water content (20.3), membrane permeability index (18.8) and minimal lipid peroxidation (31.3) accompanied by significantly enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes under WSVFP rendered moisture stress tolerance in RSG963. The pronounced cellular damage, lesser alleviation in the content of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes activity was observed in sensitive genotype GL22044 under stress treatments. High molecular weight protein bands were found either absent or of low intensity in sensitive genotypes (GL22044, GNG1861 and PBG1) under severe stress treatment (WSVFP)

Awareness and Acceptance of e-journals among Researchers of LIS: An empirical analysis

The present study is a precise attempt to be acquainted with the awareness among researches of library and information science (LIS). While discussing the research plan, the present study presents an empirical approach to recognise the selected patterns. To conduct a methodological study, total 120 respondents, formally affiliated to the subject of LIS, have been taken into consideration. The awareness, access, and use of e-journals among researchers of LIS have been examined. The collected data are critically analysed and graphically represented

Larval Development and Molting

The term larva applies to the young hatchling which varies from the grown up adult in possessing organs not present in the adult such as sex glands and associated parts. Insect development is of four types namely Ametabolous, Paurometabolous, Hemimetabolous and Holometabolous. The larvae appear in variety of forms and are termed as caterpillars, grubs or maggots in different insects groups. The larval development consists of series of stages in which each stage is separated from the next by a molt. It’s a complex process involving hormones, proteins and enzymes. Insects grow in increments. The molting is the process through which insects can routinely cast off their exoskeleton during specific times in their life cycle. The insect form in between two subsequent molts is termed as instar. The number of instars varies from 3 to 40 in different insect orders depending on the surrounding environmental and other conditions such as inheritance, sex, food quality and quantity. The larvae are categorized into four types namely Protopod larva, Polypod larva, Oligopod larva and Apodous larva

Diversity, Importance and Decline of Pollinating Insects in Present Era

Pollination is a multi-million-year-old co-evolutionary process involving flowering plants and pollinators. It is one of the most important mechanisms in preservation and promotion of biodiversity as well as life on Earth. Pollinator diversity is essential for maintaining overall biological diversity in many habitats including agro-ecosystems. Pollinators are responsible for assisting reproduction in over 80% of the world’s flowering plants. In their absence, humans and wildlife would go hungry. Insects are the most efficient pollinators as they play a crucial part in pollination ecology. Pollinators and their habitats have ecological, economic, cultural and social benefits. Pollination efficiency is highly dependent on certain attributes and characteristics of pollinators such as vision, anatomy, food preferences, olfaction, behaviour and learning ability. With the rapid growth of human population, our demand for food has also risen. Our agricultural systems will need to produce more food in a sustainable manner in the future to cope with this. Pollinators play an important role in these ecosystems and will continue to do so in the future. Because pollinators are so important to agriculture, we need to learn more about which crops require specific pollinators and how to best maintain and promote both wild and controlled species. Their diversity needs protection because there are specific relationships between certain crops and pollinators. Pollinator communities are suffering as a result of man-made habitat disruptions, including severe biodiversity loss. This diversity must be protected by combining conservation measures with sustainable farming practices which could increase crop yields while protecting insect pollinator species

Doctoral Research in Library and Information Science: A Case Study of Punjabi University, Patiala

The paper includes the analysis of doctoral (Ph.D.) research of Punjabi university, Patial

Doctoral Research in Library and Information Science: A Case Study of Punjabi University, Patiala

The paper includes the analysis of doctoral (Ph.D.) research of Punjabi university, Patial

Awareness and Acceptance of e-journals among Researchers of LIS: An empirical analysis

The present study is a precise attempt to be acquainted with the awareness among researches of library and information science (LIS). While discussing the research plan, the present study presents an empirical approach to recognise the selected patterns. To conduct a methodological study, total 120 respondents, formally affiliated to the subject of LIS, have been taken into consideration. The awareness, access, and use of e-journals among researchers of LIS have been examined. The collected data are critically analysed and graphically represented

Gender inequity and age-appropriate immunization coverage in India from 1992 to 2006

Background A variety of studies have considered the affects of India's son preference on gender differences in child mortality, sex ratio at birth, and access to health services. Less research has focused on the affects of son preference on gender inequities in immunization coverage and how this may have varied with time, and across regions and with sibling compositions. We present a systematic examination of trends in immunization coverage in India, with a focus on inequities in coverage by gender, birth order, year of birth, and state. Methods We analyzed data from three consecutive rounds of the Indian National Family Health Survey undertaken between 1992 and 2006. All children below five years of age with complete immunization histories were included in the analysis. Age-appropriate immunization coverage was determined for the following antigens: bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), oral polio (OPV), diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus (DPT), and measles. Results Immunization coverage in India has increased since the early 1990s, but complete, age-appropriate coverage is still under 50% nationally. Girls were found to have significantly lower immunization coverage (p<0.001) than boys for BCG, DPT, and measles across all three surveys. By contrast, improved coverage of OPV suggests a narrowing of the gender differences in recent years. Girls with a surviving older sister were less likely to be immunized compared to boys, and a large proportion of all children were found to be immunized considerably later than recommended. Conclusions Gender inequities in immunization coverage are prevalent in India. The low immunization coverage, the late immunization trends and the gender differences in coverage identified in our study suggest that risks of child mortality, especially for girls at higher birth orders, need to be addressed both socially and programmatically

Impact of targeted interventions on heterosexual transmission of HIV in India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeted interventions (TIs) have been a major strategy for HIV prevention in India. We evaluated the impact of TIs on HIV prevalence in high HIV prevalence southern states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A quasi-experimental approach was used to retrospectively compare changes in HIV prevalence according to the intensity of targeted intervention implementation. Condom gap (number of condoms required minus condoms supplied by TIs) was used as an indicator of TI intensity. Annual average number of commercial sex acts per female sex worker (FSW) reported in Behavioral Surveillance Survey was multiplied by the estimated number of FSWs in each district to calculate annual requirement of condoms in the district. Data of condoms supplied by TIs from 1995 to 2008 was obtained from program records. Districts in each state were ranked into quartiles based on the TI intensity. Primary data of HIV Sentinel Surveillance was analyzed to calculate HIV prevalence reductions in each successive year taking 2001 as reference year according to the quartiles of TI intensity districts using generalized linear model with logit link and binomial distribution after adjusting for age, education, and place of residence (urban or rural).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the high HIV prevalence southern states, the number of TI projects for FSWs increased from 5 to 310 between 1995 and 2008. In high TI intensity quartile districts (n = 30), 186 condoms per FSW/year were distributed through TIs as compared to 45 condoms/FSW/year in the low TI intensity districts (n = 29). Behavioral surveillance indicated significant rise in condom use from 2001 to 2009. Among FSWs consistent condom use with last paying clients increased from 58.6% to 83.7% (p < 0.001), and among men of reproductive age, the condom use during sex with non-regular partner increased from 51.7% to 68.6% (p < 0.001). A significant decline in HIV and syphilis prevalence has occurred in high prevalence southern states among FSWs and young antenatal women. Among young (15-24 years) antenatal clinic attendees significant decline was observed in HIV prevalence from 2001 to 2008 (OR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.28-0.62) in high TI intensity districts whereas in low TI intensity districts the change was not significant (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 0.67-1.5).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Targeted interventions are associated with HIV prevalence decline.</p