Do Employment Quotas Explain the Occupational Choices of Disadvantaged Minorities in India?

This article investigates the effects of a large-scale public sector employment quota policy for disadvantaged minorities (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) in India on their occupational choices, as defined by skill level, during the 1980s and 1990s. We find that, first, the employment quota policy significantly affects the occupational structure of both disadvantaged minority populations. In response to the employment quotas, individuals belonging to the Scheduled Caste group are more likely to choose high-skill occupations and less likely to choose low- and middle-skill occupations, while individuals belonging to the Scheduled Tribe group are less likely to choose high-skill occupations and more likely to choose low- and middle-skill occupations. Second, the impact of the employment quotas is significantly related with an individual's years of schooling. Overall, the results indicate that the employment quota policy changes the occupational choices of individuals within the targeted populations and contributes to their improved socio-economic standing.skill, affirmative action, employment quota, occupational choice, caste, India

Sorption of sulfamethoxazole, sulfachloropyridazine and sulfamethazine onto six New Zealand dairy farm soils

We have investigated the sorption potential of three sulfonamides (SAs) in six New Zealand dairy farming soils using a modified batch equilibrium method employing 0.005 M CaCl₂ as background solution. Both liquid and solid phases were extracted to analyse for the antibiotic concentrations in order to avoid underestimation that may arise a result of photolysis or biotic degradation. The experimental data were later used to construct Freundlich isotherms to determine the effective distribution coefficients. Low log Koc value for all SAs suggests considerable leaching potential for SAs under conditions that are conducive for leaching. The sorption affinity for all soils followed the trend SCP>SMZ>SMO

Propulsion simulator for magnetically-suspended wind tunnel models

The objective of phase two of a current investigation sponsored by NASA Langley Research Center is to demonstrate the measurement of aerodynamic forces/moments, including the effects of exhaust gases, in magnetic suspension and balance system (MSBS) wind tunnels. Two propulsion simulator models are being developed: a small-scale and a large-scale unit, both employing compressed, liquified carbon dioxide as propellant. The small-scale unit was designed, fabricated, and statically-tested at Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI). The large-scale simulator is currently in the preliminary design stage. The small-scale simulator design/development is presented, and the data from its static firing on a thrust stand are discussed. The analysis of this data provides important information for the design of the large-scale unit. A description of the preliminary design of the device is also presented

Discussion on some interesting topics in Graph Theory

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Standardization on purification process of "POORAM": A Comparative Analysis

In Indian system of medicine, the usage of Metallic and Mineral preparations has a very long history of treating various chronic diseases. It also offered many advantages over plant by virtue of their stability over a long period, lower doses, easy storability and sustained availability. Pooram which is one of the mineral compounds mentioned in the Siddha literatures to treat major illness. One of the most important aspects of siddha system is purification of the raw materials before using them for medicine. In this scientific era, it is very essential to determine changes in the material during the process of purification. Standardization ensures the availability of the uniform product in all part of the world and encourages marketing opportunism for Siddha formulations. Based on the above rationale the present study was carried out with an aim to standardize the purification of Pooram based on some qualitative and quanitative analysis as per PLIM guidelines. From the above study report, purification process of Pooram is more important and high lightened to remove the toxins, to increase its efficacy and to change its complicated form into more easily acceptable form. Pooram was procured from the reputed country shop in Nagercoil and got authentication. Pepper, Betle leafs and cow’s milk is purchased from local market in Tirunelveli. The plant Musumusukkai was collected from local areas in Tirunelveli and got authentication. Then the raw drug Pooram was divided in to three equal quantities of 35g. One of the part of the raw drug was taken and powered well and kept as such labelled as P1. The other two part of the raw drug Pooram was subjected to purification process by two methods. After completion of purification procedure, the treated Pooram was powered and labelled as P2, which is purified by method I and P3, which is purified by method II. The qualitative and quantitative analysis were done for P1, P2 and P3. The drug was investigated for physic-chemical parameters which ensure the long time storage and purity of the drug. All the parameters were denoted in recommended range. The physicochemical analysis of unpurified and purified samples of Pooram reveals the changes in colour and pH. After purification, both samples (P1&P2) become more acidic in nature. The change in loss of drying from before to after purification process depicts the extensive shelf life of the drug. In chemical analysis revealed the presence of sodium, ferrous iron, sulphate and chloride in all three samples. Mercury is present only in sample P1, which is absent in sample P2 and P3. In ICP-OES, elements such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper and Lead were found below detection limit in all samples. Mercury is reduced after purification in both process (P1&P2). It was confirmed that mercury level found to be decreased in after purification of Pooram. X-ray diffraction of the samples informs the genuinity and stability of the formulation, with respect to the standard reference materials. The results reveals that all the three samples diffracted in same angles as that of the standard, which shows the character of the atoms present in the lattice of Pooram. But after purification, the samples (P2&P3) infer definite variations in their intensities and shows less peaks. This implies minor alterations in the character of the compound and more active than unpurified sample. In FTIR unpurified Pooram shows Amide, O-H stretch, phosphorus, CH3 bend and Alkyl Halide C-F, C-Cl, CI functional groups. Compared with unpurified sample, the FTIR spectra of purified samples show in addition of five functional groups such as alkanes, amines, phenols, carboxylic acids and NO2 stretch. Additions of these functional groups are indicates either the formation of new organo mercuric compounds or presence of some organic compounds originally present in the herbal preparation used for the process of purification and also justify the importance of purification. It also confirmed the existance of Mercurous chloride in purified pooram. From the scanning electron microscopy analysis of unpurified Pooram (P1) shows homogeneity in morphology and size homogeneity is absent and is more or less around 5μm (5x10-6m). Sample P2 showed the difference in size and agglomeration of particle with size ranging to 1μm. Sample P3 shows the presence of distinctive crystalline phases. The study report clearly explained the reduction in particle size and more active components are present in purified Pooram when compared to unpurified Pooram. Thus it can be put forward that the purification procedures as mentioned in Siddha literature help to remove the toxic effect without interfering its therapeutic efficacy. It may reduce the effect of toxic substance in the drug. CONCLUSION: Standardization of Siddha medicine is the need of the hour. Quality of a drug can be defined as the status of a drug that is determined by identity, purity, content and other chemical, physical or biological properties or by the manufacturing processes. The present study is an attempt to establish the scientific basis of the purification for Pooram. From the data’s of the present investigation it was concluded that the siddha drug Pooram (Mercurous chloride) was purified and analyzed. There were notable changes was found between unpurified and purified form of Pooram. Hence the concept of purification procedure as mentioned in Siddha text provides contemporary evidence with a good scientific background. These explorations will definitely help to set a standard procedure for purification of Pooram in future

Thermal effects on nuclear symmetry energy with a momentum-dependent effective interaction

The knowledge of the nuclear symmetry energy of hot neutron-rich matter is important for understanding the dynamical evolution of massive stars and the supernova explosion mechanisms. In particular, the electron capture rate on nuclei and/or free protons in presupernova explosions is especially sensitive to the symmetry energy at finite temperature. In view of the above, in the present work we calculate the symmetry energy as a function of the temperature for various values of the baryon density, by applying a momentum-dependent effective interaction. In addition to a previous work, the thermal effects are studied separately both in the kinetic part and the interaction part of the symmetry energy. We focus also on the calculations of the mean field potential, employed extensively in heavy ion reaction research, both for nuclear and pure neutron matter. The proton fraction and the electron chemical potential, which are crucial quantities for representing the thermal evolution of supernova and neutron stars, are calculated for various values of the temperature. Finally, we construct a temperature dependent equation of state of $\beta$-stable nuclear matter, the basic ingredient for the evaluation of the neutron star properties.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Physical Review