Water distribution rules and water distribution performance: a case study in the Tambraparani Irrigation System

Irrigation management / Irrigation systems / Performance / Irrigation operation / Irrigation scheduling / Water distribution / Water allocation / Water delivery / Water users' associations / Legislation / Large-scale systems / Bananas / Case studies / India / Tamil Nadu / Tambraparani Irrigation System

Effectiveness of lending for vocational education and training: lessons from World Bank experience

This paper reviews the Bank involvement in the vocational education and training (VET) sub-sector in the 1990s. The paper aims to do just that, by mainly seeking answers to the following questions: 1) How has the Bank performed in its lending services to its clients in VET? 2) How have VET projects performed in terms of meeting stated objectives? 3) What factors led to the success, or failure of Bank operations? Based on what has been learned, the paper provides suggestions about how the performance of future VET interventions can be improved. This review concerns itself primarily with implementation performance, and proposes measures to improve project outcomes.ICT Policy and Strategies,Health Economics&Finance,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Teaching and Learning,Banks&Banking Reform

Magnetic phase diagram of the antiferromagnetic pyrochlore Gd2Ti2O7

Gd2Ti2O7 is a highly frustrated antiferromagnet on a pyrochlore lattice, where apart from the Heisenberg exchange the spins also interact via dipole-dipole forces. We report on low-temperature specific heat measurements performed on single crystals of Gd2Ti2O7 for three different directions of an applied magnetic field. The measurements reveal the strongly anisotropic behaviour of Gd2Ti2O7 in a magnetic field despite the apparent absence of a significant single-ion anisotropy for Gd3+. The H-T phase diagrams are constructed for H//111], H//[110] and H//[112]. The results indicate that further theoretical work beyond a simple mean-field model is required.Comment: 4 figure

Comparisons of various configurations of the edge delamination test for interlaminar fracture toughness

Various configurations of Edge Delamination Tension (EDT) test specimens, of both brittle (T300/5208) and toughened-matrix (T300/BP907) graphite reinforced composite laminates, were manufactured and tested. The mixed-mode interlaminar fracture toughness, G sub C, was measured using (30/30 sub 2/30/90 sub N)sub s, n=1 or 2, (35/-35/0/90) sub s and (35/0/-35/90) sub s layups designed to delaminate at low tensile strains. Laminates were made without inserts so that delaminations would form naturally between the central 90 deg plies and the adjacent angle plies. Laminates were also made with Teflon inserts implanted between the 90 deg plies and the adjacent angle (theta) plies at the straight edge to obtain a planar fracture surface. In addition, interlaminar tension fracture toughness, GIc, was measured from laminates with the same layup but with inserts in the midplane, between the central 90 deg plies, at the straight edge. All of the EDT configurations were useful for ranking the delamination resistance of composites with different matrix resins. Furthermore, the variety of layups and configurations available yield interlaminar fracture toughness measurements needed to generate delamination failure criteria. The influence of insert thickness and location, and coupon size on G sub c values were evaluated

Utilisation of Waste Plastics in Flexible Pavement Construction Laid on Expansive Soil Subgrade

This paper investigates the performance of model flexible pavement on expansive soil subgrade using gravel / flyash as subbase course with waste plastics as a reinforcing material. It was observed that from the laboratory test results of direct shear and CBR, the optimum percentage of waste plastics is equal to 0.3% and 0.4% for gravel and flyash materials. Cyclic load tests were carried out in the field on the reinforced and unreinforced model flexible pavements laid on expansive soil subgrades. It is observed that the maximum load carrying capacity associated with less value of rebound deflection is obtained for gravel/flyash reinforced subbase compared to unreinforced gravel/flyash subbase

Experiencing space–time: the stretched lifeworlds of migrant workers in India

In the relatively rare instances when the spatialities of temporary migrant work, workers’ journeys, and labour-market negotiations have been the subject of scholarly attention, there has been little work that integrates time into the analysis. Building on a case study of low-paid and insecure migrant manual workers in the context of rapid economic growth in India, we examine both material and subjective dimensions of these workers’ spatiotemporal experiences. What does it mean to live life stretched out, multiplyattached to places across national space? What kinds of place attachments emerge for people temporarily sojourning in, rather than moving to, new places to reside and work? Our analysis of the spatiotemporalities of migrant workers’ experiences in India suggests that, over time, this group of workers use their own agency to seek to avoid the experience of humiliation and indignity in employment relations. Like David Harvey, we argue that money needs to be integrated into such analysis, along with space and time. The paper sheds light on processes of exclusion, inequality and diff erentiation, unequal power geometries, and social topographies that contrast with neoliberalist narratives of ‘Indian shining

Effect of pharmacovigilance training programme on quantitative and qualitative adverse drug reaction reporting

Background: Adverse Drug Reactions(ADRs) are required to monitored in post marketing phase for unstudied ADR or beneficial effect which were not evident in controlled study design, but ADRs are usually under reported due to misbelieves or ignorance of health care worker. There is increasing numbers of adverse drug reaction monitoring centers in India affiliated to governing council but are in primitive phase. Also, there is lack of knowledge and attitude towards necessity for proper reporting of ADR, understanding of terminologies. Hence present study was undertaken to assess out of educational intervention in the form of simulated ADR workshop.Methods: Hundred nursing staff of JNMC were trained through Simulation Workshop i.e. initial knowledge as assessed before intervention, followed by explanations of every terminology essential for quality reporting of ADR. Ideal ADR reports were provided for study and ADR scenario was given for reporting of ADR. Deficiencies in reported ADR explained to participants. Post intervention knowledge and reporting was assessed. Deficiencies in actual ADR were pursued for three months.Results: There was statistically significant improvement observed in knowledge (p <0.01) and corresponding, proportionate quality parameters of ADRs as suggested by Z test.Conclusions: Educational intervention through simulated ADR and understanding about significance of ADR reporting’s and related terminologies improves quality as well as numbers of ADR reporting