Agri-tourism in peri-urban Mumbai and Pune: ecological citizenship and rural-urban linkages in the Global South

Post structuralist research is increasingly influencing environmental knowledge – feminist/post-colonial authors have led the path for incorporating subjective and lived experiences of human-nature interactions into environmental discourses. In India's southern context, however, environmental literature, policy and governance are still dominated by structuralist discourses; hence wider environmental knowledge and governance remain detached from everyday life. Using a theoretical framework of "sustainable development" and "ecological citizenship", this PhD aims to rectify this literature gap through a qualitative analysis of agri-tourism in Maharashtra. Within peri-urban Mumbai and Pune, industrialization and urbanization are transforming the agrarian landscape. Although urbanization is displacing farmers from cultivation, it is also creating new opportunities through markets, education, employment and connectivity. These contribute to agriculture's transformation into serving multiple roles beyond food production – towards higher levels of multifunctionality. Agri-tourism is a form of agricultural multifunctionality. Farm owners provide urban visitors with accommodation, activities and entertainment on their privately owned farms. As a rural service, agri-tourism provides urban visitors a flavour of rural life and culture through recreation, farming activities and rural products. While revenue and jobs are created, there are also new opportunities for rural and urban interactions and environmental learning. Even though the news-media often portrays agri-tourism as "sustainable" and a low impact alternative to mainstream tourism, these claims have not been tested on the ground. Through fieldwork in three agri-tourism farms, this research unpacks how sustainability is interpreted in agri-tourism. It analyses how agri-tourism stakeholders (farm owners, urban visitors, employees and villagers) perceive notions of environmental responsibility and entitlements in the farm. Using narratives from over eighty semi-structured interviews, the analysis draws wider connections with neo-liberal policies in India. The study concludes that the most significant factor in shaping people's attitudes and values towards the environment is how they perceive "rurality" and "urbanization" in everyday life

Modeling the adsorption of benzeneacetic acid on CaO2 nanoparticles using artificial neural network

AbstractThe present work reported a method for removal of benzeneacetic acid from water solution using CaO2 nanoparticle as adsorbent and modeling the adsorption process using artificial neural network (ANN). CaO2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a chemical precipitation technique. The characterization and confirmation of nanoparticles have been done by using different techniques such as X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), high resolution field emission scanning electron microscope (HR-FESEM),transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) and high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) analysis. ANN model was developed by using elite-ANN software. The network was trained using experimental data at optimum temperature and time with different CaO2 nanoparticle dosage (0.002–0.05 g) and initial benzeneacetic acid concentration (0.03–0.099 mol/L). Root mean square error (RMS) of 3.432, average percentage error (APE) of 5.813 and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.989 were found for prediction and modeling of benzeneacetic acid removal. The trained artificial neural network is employed to predict the output of the given set of input parameters. The single-stage batch adsorber design of the adsorption of benzeneacetic acid onto CaO2 nanoparticles has been studied with well fitted Langmuir isotherm equation which is homogeneous and has monolayer sorption capacity

Bilateral Parotid Involvement as the Solitary Metastatic Site from Squamous Cell Lung Cancer

The detection of metastatic disease has major therapeutic and prognostic implications on the management of cancer patients. We report an asymptomatic metastasis from the lung cancer to the intra-parotid lymph node which was detected by the FDG PET scan and subsequently confirmed by fine needle aspiration cytology. The case is unique as solitary metastatic involvement of the parotid from non-head and neck tumors are extremely rare and thus, may be missed during staging evaluation

Generating evidence for planning eye care service delivery in an urban underprivileged population setting in Pune, Western India.

PURPOSE: To estimate prevalence of blindness, diabetic retinopathy and causes of blindness through rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey in Pune, India to develop an evidence base for planning urban eye care services. METHODS: 'Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness and diabetic retinopathy' methodology was used. Compact segment sampling was used in each of the 60 selected electoral wards identified through cluster selection module of the RAAB software using probability proportionate to size method. Persons >50 years of age were enumerated from selected segments to achieve cumulative target of 60/day by two teams. Participants underwent presenting and pinhole visual acuity (VA) testing in each eye. A torch light examination and direct ophthalmoscopy established cause of visual impairment/blindness if present. Data were entered into and analysed using RAAB software. RESULTS: The response rate was 89.5% (3221/3600), and 55.3% were women. Results of only RAAB module are presented in this paper. Age-standardised and sex-standardised prevalence of blindness was 1.3% (95% CI 0.9 to 1.8). Cataract was the most common cause of blindness (45.7%) followed by overall posterior segment disorders (39.1%). Cataract surgical outcome was good (VA>6/18) or very good (VA>6/12) in 805/1190 (67.6%) cases. Cataract surgical coverage was 96.7%. 'Need not felt' (36.6%) and 'cost' (31.7%) were the most common barriers for cataract surgery. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of blindness is showing declining trend in urban India. Cataract remains a major cause of blindness followed by posterior segment disorders. Social marketing, and referral linkages between community and service providers were planned after this survey

Estimating the magnitude of diabetes mellitus and diabetic retinopathy in an older age urban population in Pune, western India

Objective To estimate magnitude of diabetes mellitus (DM) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a high risk population in Pune, western India. Methods DR module in rapid assessment of avoidable blindness (RAAB) survey methodology was used. Sample size of 3527 was calculated based on estimates from previous studies in India. A certified RAAB trainer conducted a training of survey teams. Random cluster sampling with probability proportionate to size was adapted to select 60 clusters consisting of 60 individuals each. Two teams visited door to door until they finished visiting 60 persons each day. Visual acuity testing, torch light examination, red glow test were carried out to determine persons with visual impairment and its cause. Every participant then underwent a random blood sugar level testing. All diabetics (known and newly detected) underwent dilated retina evaluation with indirect ophthalmoscopy to determine their DR status. Data were entered into RAAB6 software and descriptive statistics generated. Results Response rate was 89.5 % (3221/3600), females (55.3%). The prevalence of DM in the sample was (706/3221) 21.9 %(95 CI 20.1 to 23.7). Prevalence of DR was 14.3 % (95% CI 11.7 to 16.9). Most diabetics (401/579, 69.3%) never had an eye examination for DR in the past. Cataract was the principal cause of blindness (50 % cases) among diabetics. Conclusion DM affects over fifth of persons above 50 years of age in western India. Nearly seventh of the diabetics have DR, but coverage of screening is poor in Pune

Present status of exploitation of fish and shellfish resources: Oil sardine

Present status of exploitation of fish and shellfish resources: Oil sardine Considerable fluctuations coupled with a general decline in the oil sardine landings have been observed along the southwest coast of India during 1984-85 to 198889. The catch and effort data for oilsardine fishery during the different seasons have revealed that premonsoon period is the most productive period for the fishery. The decline in the fishery is attributed to the indiscriminate exploitation of juveniles and potential spawners by purse seiners and ring seins. T he traditional &or has k e n a diversely affected by the operations of purse seines in recent years in northern Kerala Exploitation of spawning st& of oilsardine during the b d n g from May to September is of great consequences far the conservation of the resources. Even though good m o n soon is most likely to have a positive Impact on the stock size and facilitate spawning and recruitment, the likely advantage is offset by Indiscreminate exploitation. Regulation of mesh size of boat seines and restricting the operations of purse and ring seine are expecteded to restore the fishery to its preeminent position and protect the interests of the traditional sector

Stock assessment of oil sardine, Sardinello longiceps Val., off west coast of India

The oil sanline contributes nearly 15% of the total annual marine fish landings of the countly and forms the mostimportant pelagic fishery resource.A brief account of the fishery. biology and stock position of the oil sardinebased on the data collected from several centres along the west coast of India during 1984-88 is given. Thegmwth wen estimatedby employing theFLIhIV-1method and the values>btaind for i-and K were 221 rnm and 0.75 res~ectivelv. The instantaneous total moaalitv rate (Z) was estimated as 2.23 and the instantaneousnatural mo&ty rate (M) as 1.30. The maximum sustainable yikld (MSY) was estimated as 150000 tonnes against a mean biomass of 107 000 tonnes

Artificial Intelligence adoption in Canadian public administration: a mixed-methods study

The economic and political climate expects public administration to do more with less. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can add immense value towards achieving these goals. However, AI use is accompanied by negative externalities on the environment and already at-risk populations. Against this backdrop of increasing rhetoric of AI benefits and its associated harms, this study explains the AI adoption phenomenon in public administration both from outside-in and inside-out perspectives. The context of the study is Canadian public administration, and the scope is limited to machine learning and natural language processing. This thesis consists of four papers. The first paper is an exploratory literature review. Through a cross-case analysis of thirty AI implementations, a typology of AI use cases is developed. The second paper is a systematic literature review and identifies technological, organisational, and environmental factors that influence AI adoption in public administration. The third and fourth papers are mixed-methods studies that draw on a cross-sectional survey (n=277) and semi-structured interviews (n=39). The third paper is grounded in institutional and sensemaking theories and explains factors that affect the perceived benefits of AI use in public administration and how they operate. The fourth paper is grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) of the firms and explains what resources and capabilities enable AI adoption in public administration and how these capabilities are developed. The study contributes to both theory and practice. Theoretical contributions include an updated AI innovation process expanding the diffusion of innovation theory within the context of AI. The study demonstrates black-box assumptions of the institutional theory and RBV can be explained by enumerating underlying mechanisms. Practitioner contributions include guidelines on four AI capability development paths with associated risks and benefits and recommendations on assessing organisational and technological AI readiness, crossing the operationalisation chasm, and managing negative perceptions of AI

Cultural and leadership determinants of innovation in public sector: evidence from Canadian public service

Despite innovation being a key trait for addressing public sector challenges, research on public sector innovation is still disparate relying on models derived from New Public Management (NPM) rather than sound theoretical frameworks. This paper tests a multi-dimensional cultural leadership model of public sector innovation using a panel dataset (2011, 2014, and 2017) from the Canadian Public Service Employee Survey. The results showcase two cultural variables, stability and supportiveness, and transformational leadership are associated with organisational innovativeness in the public sector. Furthermore, using year as a proxy, the results suggest a weak effect of the political climate on innovativeness as a result of dampening by cultural and leadership dimensions