Economic liberalisation targeted programmes and household food security

"Although there is little consensus on the impact of trade liberalization on poverty and food security, it is nevertheless widely acknowledged that there is a need for governments to establish safety-nets to guard against any potentially harmful effects on the poor and vulnerable sections of society. Against this background, programs aimed at achieving food security and reducing poverty gain increased importance in the reform era. This study aims to evaluate several such programs that are currently in place in the country from the point of view of their impact, efficiency and financial sustainability. The purpose is to determine how these programs may be improved and propose appropriate policy options for reform, while also keeping in mind the new challenges that might lie ahead. Specifically, the study evaluates the Public Distribution System (PDS), Public Works Programs, and certain food-based direct intervention programs such as the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Tamil Nadu Integrated Nutrition Program (TINP), with a view to suggest how they can be made more cost effectiveness and better targeted." From Author's Executive SummarySafety nets ,

Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of gram-negative bacterial isolates with special mention on colistin resistance from Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary care hospital: a prospective study assessing the impact of microbial resistance on clinical outcomes

Background: The frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in ICU leads to increased rates of antimicrobial resistance and occurrence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) micro-organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance pattern and colistin susceptibility among bacterial isolates from ICU patients. Method: It is a prospective study with 70 nonrepetitive isolates from ICU samples. The clinical data was obtained from the department records. The gram-negative bacterial isolates were identified by conventional biochemical tests. The antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. ESBL producers were detected by double disc diffusion test using ceftazidime, cefotaxime alone and in combination with clavulanic acid. MBL detection was done by imipenem+ EDTA combined disc diffusion test. Colistin sensitivity was determined by broth microdilution according to CLSI guidelines. Results: Out of 70 culture positive specimens. The most common gram-negative bacteria isolated from the samples was Acinetobacter spp. (41%), followed by Klebsiella spp. (20%). Among these 45% were MBL producers, 38.5% were ESBL producers and 14% were both ESBL and MBL producers. Colistin resistance was present among 5.7% isolates in ICU.          Conclusions: Non-fermenters were the most common agent causing ICU infections. An alarmingly high rate of resistance to antibiotics especially to colistin in ICU-acquired infections, necessitates new therapeutic strategies to prevent the emergence and control of antimicrobial resistance

Outcome-Driven Experiential Learning with Web 2.0

Experiential learning, an effective pedagogical method in MIS and other business courses, has been limited by instructional formats and teaching resources. But with the advent of Web 2.0 and its rich set of social networking and mass authoring tools, a shift in learning structure in content, process, and outcome is emerging. In this paper, we propose an experience-based, outcome-driven pedagogical model that is particularly suited for MBA courses, and offer case studies to exemplify such implementations. We also discuss the advantages and challenges with this model based on our initial experience

Synthesis and Self-assembly of [60]Fullerene Containing Sulfobetaine Polymer in Aqueous Solution

A series of well-defined stimuli responsive water soluble [60]fullerene (C₆₀) containing polymers such as polyelectrolytes (polyacids and polybases), polyampholyte and polyzwitterionic polymers were synthesized using atom transfer radical polymerization. The aqueous solution properties of these polymers with respective external stimuli such as pH, temperature and salt were studied using potentiometric and conductivity titration, light transmittance, laser light scattering and transmission electron microscopic techniques. The influence of polymer concentration, temperature, pH and electrolyte on the hydrodynamic radius (Rh), radius of gyration (Rg) and aggregation number (Nagg) of the particles were investigated in detail to elucidate the morphology of the particles. The morphology of the aggregates was further confirmed by the TEM micrographs. The cytotoxicity of the pH responsive C₆₀ containing well-defined polymers (PAA-b-C₆₀, C₆₀-b-PAA-b-C₆₀ and PEO-b-PAA-b-C₆₀) was studied to confirm the suitability of these particles as potential drug delivery vehicles. The binding interaction between the anti-cancer drug (doxorubicin) and C₆₀ containing pH responsive polymers was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry, and the implication of the results will be discussed.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Knowledge Creation Within the Automobile Industry

Research has identified the enabling factors and inhibitors for successfully implementing knowledge creation and accomplishing its strategic objectives. It is important to understand how these factors interact with each other to improve or inhibit performance. This empirical research presents a framework for finding the fundamental relations between these factors. It proposes strategies for implementing knowledge creation initiatives. The framework mainly focuses on the "what factor" with respect to people and identifies the vital characteristics for the knowledge creation process. It mainly illustrates the parameters of knowledge transfer, which supports knowledge creation, thereby improving organizational performance

Stimuli-responsive Novel Amphiphilic Polymers for Chemical and Biomedical Applications

Amphiphilic polymers are a class of polymers that self-assemble into different types of microstructure, depending on the solvent environment and external stimuli. Self assembly structures can exist in many different forms, such as spherical micelles, rod-like micelles, bi-layers, vesicles, bi-continuous structure etc. Most biological systems are basically comprised of many of these organised structures arranged in an intelligent manner, which impart functions and life to the system. We have adopted the atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) technique to synthesize various types of block copolymer systems that self-assemble into different microstructure when subject to an external stimuli, such as pH or temperature. The systems that we have studied are: (1) pH responsive fullerene (C60) containing poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA-b-C60); (2) pH and temperature responsive fullerene containing poly[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] (C₆₀-b-PDMAEMA); (3) other responsive water-soluble fullerene systems. By varying temperature, pH and salt concentration, different types microstructure can be produced. In the presence of inorganic salts, fractal patterns at nano- to microscopic dimension were observed for negatively charged PMAA-b-C60, while such structure was not observed for positively charged PDMAEMA-b-C60. We demonstrated that negatively charged fullerene containing polymeric systems can serve as excellent nano-templates for the controlled growth of inorganic crystals at the nano- to micrometer length scale and the possible mechanism was proposed. The physical properties and the characteristics of their self-assembly properties will be discussed, and their implications to chemical and biomedical applications will be highlighted.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

Combined ion and atom trap for low temperature ion-atom physics

We report an experimental apparatus and technique which simultaneously traps ions and cold atoms with spatial overlap. Such an apparatus is motivated by the study of ion-atom processes at temperatures ranging from hot to ultra-cold. This area is a largely unexplored domain of physics with cold trapped atoms. In this article we discuss the general design considerations for combining these two traps and present our experimental setup. The ion trap and atom traps are characterized independently of each other. The simultaneous operation of both is then described and experimental signatures of the effect of the ions and cold-atoms on each other are presented. In conclusion the use of such an instrument for several problems in physics and chemistry is briefly discussed.Comment: 24 pages, 13 figures. Figures Fixe