Informal Enterprise for Establishing Deviant Ideology

The study aims to understand the act of leveraging informal mechanisms to initiate the process of establishing deviant, non-conformist ideologies. We often see the persistence of such mechanisms concerning political and business actions (kindly note here actions are being stated instead of ideology). For example, the involvement of non-registered political campaigners as influences with purposeful disassociation through informality, to have the power not to be held accountable. Similarly, in the business space, it can be seen in practices of Multinational Corporations (MNCs), who would hide their ‘questionable’actions through outsourcing to an informal enterprise. This study intends to trace this aspect in the form of ideological deviance, undertaken with the aim to re-establish the structural norms. Toarrive at a conclusion, the study has recognized Ragi Kana, a sustainable living Sunday Santhe, to trace the existence of the proposed mechanisms. The methodology of primary enquiry and assessment of secondary literature is taken to establish the proposed link. Under primary enquiry, the stakeholder’s motivations and incentives are understood, with regard to their ideological rationale. Also, the secondary sources recording the ideological rationale are leveraged. The study also aims to establish the result within the framework of conflict theory and labelling theory in deviance sociology

Promoting an affordable housing market: an institutional analysis

Insufficient provision of housing for a fast growing urban population is leading to squatter settlements and slums. Some view this informal sector as a way of fulfilling the shelter needs of the urban population. The informal housing market, however, is not an acceptable solution, as the urban poor are paying a cost without security of tenure or any insurance for their investment, not to mention the unhygienic living conditions. In India efforts to stimulate a formal affordable housing market by privatising and deregulating housing markets and promoting private sector funding for housing and infrastructure as an alternative to provision by the government has not resulted in a market for affordable housing. Scholars have argued that the approach was not successful, because it is not economically feasible, largely due to the institutional constraints of land and credit. This thesis reports on a case study of housing provision and the potential for a market in affordable housing in Raipur, India, an urban centre with a million-plus population. This included surveys of households living in slum areas, builders and developers and of facilitators in the public and private sectors. While this study finds support for the explanation that institutions do constrain the market, it also finds that the intended markets did not arise because the policy was overlaid on an existing institutional structure of housing provision (SHP). The practice of clientelism acts as a meta-constraint and therefore this study argues that just removing the institutional constraints will not automatically lead to the creation of a housing market for urban poor. Some initial recommendations are made regarding the pre-requisites for such markets, and how they could be designed by restructuring the SHP. In doing so, the study puts forth a theoretical and methodological framework that can be used for institutional studies of affordable housing, as well as for other sectors

Association of acute toxic encephalopathy with litchi consumption in an outbreak in Muzaffarpur, India, 2014: a case-control study

Background Outbreaks of unexplained illness frequently remain under-investigated. In India, outbreaks of an acute neurological illness with high mortality among children occur annually in Muzaffarpur, the country’s largest litchi cultivation region. In 2014, we aimed to investigate the cause and risk factors for this illness. Methods In this hospital-based surveillance and nested age-matched case-control study, we did laboratory investigations to assess potential infectious and non-infectious causes of this acute neurological illness. Cases were children aged 15 years or younger who were admitted to two hospitals in Muzaffarpur with new-onset seizures or altered sensorium. Age-matched controls were residents of Muzaffarpur who were admitted to the same two hospitals for a non-neurologic illness within seven days of the date of admission of the case. Clinical specimens (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine) and environmental specimens (litchis) were tested for evidence of infectious pathogens, pesticides, toxic metals, and other non-infectious causes, including presence of hypoglycin A or methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), naturally-occurring fruit-based toxins that cause hypoglycaemia and metabolic derangement. Matched and unmatched (controlling for age) bivariate analyses were done and risk factors for illness were expressed as matched odds ratios and odds ratios (unmatched analyses). Findings Between May 26, and July 17, 2014, 390 patients meeting the case definition were admitted to the two referral hospitals in Muzaffarpur, of whom 122 (31%) died. On admission, 204 (62%) of 327 had blood glucose concentration of 70 mg/dL or less. 104 cases were compared with 104 age-matched hospital controls. Litchi consumption (matched odds ratio [mOR] 9·6 [95% CI 3·6 – 24]) and absence of an evening meal (2·2 [1·2–4·3]) in the 24 h preceding illness onset were associated with illness. The absence of an evening meal significantly modified the effect of eating litchis on illness (odds ratio [OR] 7·8 [95% CI 3·3–18·8], without evening meal; OR 3·6 [1·1–11·1] with an evening meal). Tests for infectious agents and pesticides were negative. Metabolites of hypoglycin A, MCPG, or both were detected in 48 [66%] of 73 urine specimens from case-patients and none from 15 controls; 72 (90%) of 80 case-patient specimens had abnormal plasma acylcarnitine profiles, consistent with severe disruption of fatty acid metabolism. In 36 litchi arils tested from Muzaffarpur, hypoglycin A concentrations ranged from 12·4 μg/g to 152·0 μg/g and MCPG ranged from 44·9 μg/g to 220·0 μg/g. Interpretation Our investigation suggests an outbreak of acute encephalopathy in Muzaffarpur associated with both hypoglycin A and MCPG toxicity. To prevent illness and reduce mortality in the region, we recommended minimising litchi consumption, ensuring receipt of an evening meal and implementing rapid glucose correction for suspected illness. A comprehensive investigative approach in Muzaffarpur led to timely public health recommendations, underscoring the importance of using systematic methods in other unexplained illness outbreaks

An Innovative VLSI Algorithm Design Technique To Reduce Leakage Current In CMOS VLSI Circuits

Abstract-In this paper we give the introduction to leakage current and methods to minimize the leakage current. Further we also present the evaluation of various methods to minimize the leakage current in CMOS VLSI circuits with the proposed ideas. Process Modification method is one of the method to minimize the leakage current, the other method is the Circuit level modifications, and in this paper these modification techniques are described effectively

Assessing the Vulnerability of Cancer Patients for COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome involving corona virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been implied to cause COVID-19 disease, leading to an unprecedented health emergency across the globe with a staggering figure of mortality rate. Measures to control the pandemic are pushing the economy into a tailspin, putting burden not only on the individuals but also on the nations. Despite the widespread infection rates, young people have shown better recovery rate while COVID-19 symptoms are more pronounced in elderly and people with comorbid conditions such as diabetes, cardiac and respiratory diseases. Cancer is a highly prevalent disease affecting millions of individuals. In this study, we analyzed the expression status of genes that are required for SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and its propagation to assess the susceptibility of certain cancer patients to infection and subsequent complications. Our data indicate that patients with colon, rectum, cholangiocarcinoma, lung adenoma, kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma and kidney renal clear cell carcinoma are more at risk for COVID-19. Genes that are responsible for severe COVID-19 are also highly expressed in many cancer types. We also carried out the association rule mining analysis which is helpful in predicting the expression of proviral genes in various cancers

Population Risk Factors for Severe Disease and Mortality in COVID-19 in the United States during the Pre-Vaccine Era: A Retrospective Cohort Study of National Inpatient Sample

Background-Previous studies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were limited to specific geographical locations and small sample sizes. Therefore, we used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) 2020 database to determine the risk factors for severe outcomes and mortality in COVID-19. Methods-We included adult patients with COVID-19. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the predictors of severe outcomes and mortality in COVID-19. Results-1,608,980 (95% CI 1,570,803–1,647,156) hospitalizations with COVID-19 were included. Severe complications occurred in 78.3% of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and 25% of COVID-19 pneumonia patients. The mortality rate for COVID-19 ARDS was 54% and for COVID-19 pneumonia was 16.6%. On multivariate analysis, age > 65 years, male sex, government insurance or no insurance, residence in low-income areas, non-white races, stroke, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, malnutrition, primary immunodeficiency, long-term steroid/immunomodulatory use, complicated diabetes mellitus, and liver disease were associated with COVID-19 related complications and mortality. Cardiac arrest, septic shock, and intubation had the highest odds of mortality. Conclusions-Socioeconomic disparities and medical comorbidities were significant determinants of mortality in the US in the pre-vaccine era. Therefore, aggressive vaccination of high-risk patients and healthcare policies to address socioeconomic disparities are necessary to reduce death rates in future pandemics