Beyond (COVID-19) lockdown: faculty experiences in the post-pandemic academic landscape

BackgroundThis study investigates the nuanced experiences of faculty members in higher education institutions during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on family–work conflict, job satisfaction, and personal wellbeing, the research aims to provide comprehensive insights into the challenges and adaptations encountered by faculty members amidst unprecedented disruptions.MethodA mixed-method approach was employed, encompassing both quantitative and qualitative measures. The quantitative facet involved 82 participants who responded surveys distributed to faculty members across diverse regions of India. Concurrently, qualitative data were collected through interviews with 30 faculty members in three states. The quantitative study utilized standardized tools, while the qualitative inquiry followed a semi-structured interview schedule.ResultQuantitative findings revealed a significant upswing in job satisfaction after institutional reopening compared to the lockdown period. However, no significant differences were observed concerning work–family conflict and personal wellbeing. Notably, faculty members reported heightened work–family and family–work interference compared to national statistics. Qualitative responses highlight a notable shift in teaching methodologies, incorporating multimedia and online tools. Faculty members exhibited mixed sentiments about returning to the office, expressed a deepened appreciation for social relationships post-reopening, and emphasized the positive impact of institutional hygiene protocols.ConclusionThis study offers crucial insights into the multifaceted experiences of faculty members in higher institutions during the COVID-19 lockdown and subsequent reopening. The research contributes valuable perspectives to the evolving discourse on post-pandemic academia, providing a foundation for further exploration and understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by faculty members in the changing scenario of higher education

<span style="mso-bidi-language:HI">Mossbauer, X-ray and magnetization studies of Ni_0.5Zn_0.5Al_xFe_2-xO₄ system </span>

44-50The structural and magnetic properties of the mixed spinel system Ni0.5Zn0.5AlxFe2-xO4 (x=0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) have been investigated by X-ray diffraction, magnetization and Mossbauer measurements. The variation of Mossbauer parameters, lattice parameters and crystalline size of the products formed with variation in the composition of Fe and Al ratio has been studied. The studies confirm the formation of nano-size ferrite particles. It is observed that lattice parameters decrease, with increasing aluminium concentration. A ferromagnetic relaxation occurs when x is increased to 0.6, which is followed by weak paramagnetic transition. With further increase of x to 1.0 the system again shows weak ferromagnetism. The decrease in magnetic hyperfine field with increase in Al concentration has been explained on the basis of super transferred hyperfine field. The variation of the saturation magnetic moment per formula unit measured at 300 K decreases with Al concentration x, suggesting the decrease in ferromagnetic behaviour. These observations indicate the existence of a non-collinear structure in a nano-particles ferrite system. The non-collinear structure in this system is also verified by Neel's two sub-lattice model. </span

Natural Radioactivity, Radon Exhalation Rates and Radiation Doses in the Soil Samples Collected from the Vicinity of Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant, West Bengal, India

653-658Natural radioactivity has been determined by means of a highly efficient thallium-doped sodium iodide detector in soil sample from surface of from vicinage of “Kolaghat Thermal Power Plant” The activity concentration (specific activity) is found to vary from 23.70 ± 3.41 to 33.90 ± 4.33 Bqkg-1 for 226Ra, from 6.67 ± 2.01 to 21.60 ± 2.11 Bqkg-1 for 232Th and that for 40K from 461.01 ± 66.16 to 610.25 ± 80.87 Bqkg-1 with expected value of 29.26 ± 3.50, 4.86 ± 2.03 and 517.53 ± 71.61 Bqkg-1 of Radium-226, Thorium-232 and Potassium-40 correspondingly. The radon exhalation rates were also computed from all samples using the "Sealed Can Technique”. The activity due to radon fluctuates from 47.9 ± 6.2 to 157.6 ± 11.3 Bqm-3 having an arithmetic mean of 89.3 ± 7.9 Bqm-3. The surface exhalation rate and mass exhalation rates were estimated to fluctuate from17.3 ± 2.2 to 56.8 ± 4.1 mBqm-2h-1 with an expectation of 32.1 ± 3.0 mBqm-2h-1 and from 0.6 ± 0.1 to 2.1 ± 0.2 mBqkg-1h-1 averaged out to 1.2 ± 0.1 mBqkg-1h-1respectively. Radiation doses were also calculated in these samples. Indoor and outdoor annual effective doses, Absorbed dose rates, External Hazard index and Indoor inhalation exposure, also known as radon effective dose, was computed and varied from 0.19 to 0.25 mSv y-1, 39.30 to 51.61 nGyh-1, 0.048 to 0.063 mSvy-1, 0.21 to 0.28 and 0.29 to 0.36 and 2.04 to 6.70 μSvy-1 respectively. The values which were obtained in this study are found to be well below the allowed permissible limits, so the soil may be used as building construction material

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Not AvailableThe evaluation of soil quality is essential in monitoring the long term effects of rice cultivation. Present study investigated the effects of long term rice cultivation on soil properties and organic C pools and identified indicators for monitoring soil quality in Ghaggar-flood plains of hot arid India. Soil samples were collected from fields with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 years of rice cultivation. The study revealed that electrical conductivity (EC) and exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) increased after 30–40 years of rice cultivation. Available nutrients increased with increas- ing years of rice cultivation. The organic carbon pools namely, total organic carbon (TOC), Walkley Black carbon (WBC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were increased above 50% in 20 and above years of rice cultivation. The TOC and POC were increased by 40.6 to 132.4% and 31.7% to 104.8% in 10 to 40 years of rice cultivation. Cation exchange capacity, WBC, ESP and CaCO3 could serve as soil monitoring indicators of long term rice cultivation in arid region. The findings clearly indicated that long term rice cultivation could aggravate soil salinity and have negative impact on soil quality in arid environment.Not Availabl