Design and development of values education index and perceptual mapping in Indian perspective

The present research works explore the constructs contributing to the values of education in the Indian educational framework and make an effort to understand its perception among the stakeholders. We have made a scientific effort to explore various dimensions of value education constructs from available literature and shaped those constructs on the perceptual mapping framework that have created its positions on the graphic dimension of the frame. It explains how the value education contributes to shaping the mindset and personality amongst the students. We have developed a value education index on the identified constructs that shows the relative weights on each identified construct. The constructs identified as family cohesion, parent conflicts, parents expatiation, teachers' role, school administration, mass media and internet, social orientation, community structure, religious education, and public institution. Key words: Value education, perceptual map, value education index, higher education DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-33-20 Publication date: November 30th 202

Estimation of extra-pancreatic necrosis volume and its correlation with the clinical outcome in acute pancreatitis

Background: The aim of study was to measure extra-pancreatic necrosis volume in acute pancreatitis and associate with the clinical outcome and to determine the threshold volume of extra-pancreatic necrosis that predicts severity of acute pancreatitis.Methods: Hospital based observational study was carried out in the department of radiodiagnosis, Armed forces medical college, Pune, Maharashtra. All cases referred for CT scan in suspected cases of acute pancreatitis (by clinical and/or biochemical parameters) as a part of institutional protocol were included in the study. Multiplanar reconstruction with volumetric analysis was done for measuring the extra-pancreatic necrosis volume (EPNV) using inherent CT scanner volume assessing software.Results: Out of total 41 patients studied, more than one cause was identified in 9 patients. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis was alcohol use 32 (64%), followed by gallstone and diabetes mellitus (8% each). There was a positive correlation between EPNV and duration of hospitalization which was statistically significant with Spearman's correlation coefficient of 0.579 and p<0.001.Conclusions: Our study showed highly significant correlation between the EPNV and the prediction of end organ failure, systemic infection, duration of hospital stay and need for intervention. Statistically patient presenting with EPNV of more than 100 ml was closely associated with end organ failure; hence EPNV may be used as a useful scoring system. This study has highlighted the convenient and easier technique of predicting clinical outcome in patient by simply assessing the severity of acute pancreatitis by measuring EPNV.

Driving--induced bistability in coupled chaotic attractors

We examine the effects of symmetry--preserving and breaking interactions in a drive--response system where the response has an invariant symmetry in the absence of the drive. Subsequent to the onset of generalized synchronization, we find that there can be more than one stable attractor. Numerical, as well as analytical results establish the presence of phase synchrony in such coexisting attractors. These results are robust to external noise.Comment: To be published in Phys. Rev. E. 201

Atmospheric Aerosols Monitoring: Ground and Satellite-Based Instruments

Aerosols are submicron particles suspended in the atmosphere which affect Earth’s energy balance directly by scattering and absorbing the of solar radiation. In addition, they can indirectly affect radiation balance by changing the micro-physical and optical properties of the cloud. The difficulties in accessing the contribution of aerosols to radiative balance are caused partly due to incomplete knowledge of spatiotemporal variabilities in physicochemical and optical properties of aerosols on regional to global scale. Several state-of-the-art instrumentation techniques for ground-based measurements and satellite remote sensing technologies have been developed in past three decades to monitor physicochemical and optical properties of aerosols for a better understanding of radiative balance and feedback mechanisms. Satellite retrievals of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS), ozone monitoring instrument (OMI), multi-angle imaging spectroradiometer (MISR) are used for this purpose. Ground-based measurements of aerosol properties provide a basis for validation of atmospheric correction procedures and can be used for validation of aerosol models used in atmospheric correction algorithms. This chapter describes in details about the widely used ground- and satellite-based remote sensing instruments for aerosol monitoring

Studies on Production and Characterization of Bio Diesel from Jatropha

Our world is getting industrialized and modernized with each passing day which is increasing the vehicles and engines in our daily life and solution is not to reduce them but to use them in a smarter way. However we are having limited resources for petro-fuels. Therefore it is a high time to search for new alternatives in place of petro-fuels. Our research is based on finding such an alternative fuel in the form of Jatropha Oil which is easily available on the earth especially in India. We have compared Jatropha oil with Diesel on a Diesel engine, on different parameters such as CO emission, break thermal efficiency, break specific fuel consumption, smoke density and hydrocarbon emission. We have observed that Jatropha oil is either close to diesel or sometimes performing better than diesel and can be used an alternative to Diesel

DEVELOPMENT OF UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF BENIDIPINE HYDROCHLORIDE BY USING QUALITY BY DESIGN (QbD) APPROACH

Objective: To develop a simple, rapid, accurate, robust and inexpensive spectrophotometric method for the estimation of benidipine hydrochloride by using quality by design (QbD)†approach.Methods: A UV spectrophotometric method was developed on Shimadzu UV-1800 double beam spectrophotometer using methanol as solvent and wavelength of 236 nm was selected as absorbance maxima (ðœ†max). Effect of input variables on spectrum characteristics were studied for the selection of critical parameters and proposed method was validated for various parameters like system suitability, linearity, precision, accuracy, detection limits and quantification limits as per the International Conference on Harmonization guidelines ICH Q2(R1).Results: Linearity of the method was found to be excellent over the concentration range 3 to 18 µg/ml with high correlation coefficient value of 0.9999. Limits of detection and quantification were found to be 0.20 µg/ml and 0.60 µg/ml respectively. The mean recovery was found to be 100.35 % with low percentage relative standard deviation (% RSD) value. The precision study also has shown low % RSD value (&lt;1). No interfering peaks were observed during specificity studies.Conclusion: Obtained result indicated that the developed spectrophotometric method is robust and efficient for the determination of benidipine hydrochloride

Non-Polar and Complementary Resistive Switching Characteristics in Graphene Oxide devices with Gold Nanoparticles: Diverse Approach for Device Fabrication.

Downscaling limitations and limited write/erase cycles in conventional charge-storage based non-volatile memories stimulate the development of emerging memory devices having enhanced performance. Resistive random-access memory (RRAM) devices are recognized as the next-generation memory devices for employment in artificial intelligence and neuromorphic computing, due to their smallest cell size, high write/erase speed and endurance. Unipolar and bipolar resistive switching characteristics in graphene oxide (GO) have been extensively studied in recent years, whereas the study of non-polar and complementary switching is scarce. Here we fabricated GO-based RRAM devices with gold nanoparticles (Au Nps). Diverse types of switching behavior are observed by changing the processing methods and device geometry. Tri-layer GO-based devices illustrated non-polar resistive switching, which is a combination of unipolar and bipolar switching. Five-layer GO-based devices depicted complementary resistive switching having the lowest current values ~12 µA; and this structure is capable of resolving the sneak path issue. Both devices show good retention and endurance performance. Au Nps in tri-layer devices assisted the conducting path, whereas in five-layer devices, Au Nps layer worked as common electrodes between co-joined cells. These GO-based devices with Au Nps comprising different configuration are vital for practical applications of emerging non-volatile resistive memories

Assessment of Biomass Potential in Engine Emission Reduction

77-80The twin crisis of environmental degradation and fossil fuel depletion has confronted the world with the upcoming threat to seek the solution for some alternate fuel. The present condition of environment forces the search of some suitable alternate fuel. The present degradation of environment is also mainly influenced by the diesel vehicles. The emissions released by these diesel vehicles not only degrade the environment but also increase the number of health diseases. The present research on bio-fuels will lead to develop a sustainable solution to this problem and also create a harmonic relationship between the economy and ecosystem. The present research will provide the optimized blending ratio compression ratio and other operating parameters to be selected while approaching to sustainable output. The present study will depict the behavior of different bio-fuels poured in VCR engine at different compression ratio at different operating parameters. The outcomes of this research paper reveals the discussion on the potential assessment of different biofuels in the reduction of engine emissions

Quality of life among lung cancer patients undergoing treatment at a tertiary cancer institute in North India

Background: Lung cancer patients mostly present with advanced disease. Its treatment has shown limited progress in recent decades, so we studied their quality of life (QOL) and how it is affected during treatment.Methods: Patients ≥18 years of age, diagnosed/registered at our institute from 1st September 2012 through August 2013 were included in the study. QOL was assessed by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-LC13. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statisticsResults: Out of 91 patients included in the study, 73 (80.2%) were males and 18 (19.8%) were females. Mean age of the study population was 59.24±10.53 years and median age was 60 years. A better QOL for nausea and vomiting (P=0.011), sleep disturbance (p=0.021), and coughing (p=0.016) was observed in female patients. There was significant worsening in symptom scales of fatigue (p=0.000), nausea and vomiting (p=0.000), sleep (0.006), appetite (p=0.000) and constipation (p=0.000). Though the mean scores of pain, dyspnoea and financial difficulties decreased, but they were not significant. According to the LC13 module, significant improvement was seen in the symptom scales of cough (p=0.000), haemoptysis (p=0.000) and pain chest (p=0.040).Conclusions: Lung cancer patients undergoing treatment suffer many limitations due to an array of symptoms and disruptions in various areas of QOL, arising from both the disease process and its treatment. It should be studied at every visit for each individual patient