Urban development-induced displacement and quality of life in Kolkata

Contains fulltext : 208436.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)This paper draws together issues of urban development-induced displacement and resettlement and the quality of life of the affected population over the longer term. It reviews settlement strategies related to the Kolkata Environmental Improvement Project, exploring residents' recollection of the relocation process and comparing and contrasting the situation over time of two groups of low-income households: those who refused a resettlement package and chose to continue to reside in their canalside huts; and those who accepted the package and moved into new flats provided by the government. The paper highlights issues of livelihoods, social cohesion and sanitation among both sets of households to find out whether those who were resettled experienced improvement in these aspects of their lives. Findings point to resettled households’ overall satisfaction with sanitation despite periodic lapses in functioning, and a modicum of social support, but significant livelihood problems among the poorest households, and dissatisfaction with the small size of units.18 p

Modelling interfacial coupling in thin film magnetic exchange springs at finite temperature

This is the final version of the article. Available from the American Institute of Physics via the DOI in this record.We report a numerical study that demonstrates the interface layer between a soft and hard magnetic phase, the exchange transition layer, is the dominant factor that influences the magnetization reversal process at room temperature and long measurement times. It is found that the exchange transition layer thickness affects the magnetization reversal and the coupling of a bi-layer system by lowering the switching field and changing the angle dependent magnetization reversal. We show that the change in angle dependence of reversal is due to an increased incoherency in the lateral spin behavior. Changing the value of exchange coupling in the exchange transition layer affects only the angle dependent behavior and does not lower the switching field. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.We would like to thank the EPSRC for financial support under Grant Nos. EP/G032440/1 and EP/G032300/1, the WWTF Project MA09-029 and the Royal Society UF080837

Grain boundaries in granular materials-A fundamental limit for thermal stability

This is the final version of the article. Available from the American Institute of Physics via the DOI in this record.We show that thermal-stability and the associated switching field in well segregated, nanoscale granular materials is explained by grain boundary and interface effects. Grain boundaries pose a fundamental limit on scaling rooted in their chemical and morphological structure, while exchange interactions across interfaces cause the switching to deviate from the expected coherent Stoner-Wohlfarth behaviour. Measurements and simulations of CoCrPt-systems show a clear shift in applied field angle behaviour, arising from exchange-coupling between magnetic-phases, while the quantitative switching field can only be explained by a transition layer surrounding the grains. These results are potentially significant for Heat-Assisted-Magnetic Recording and Bit-Patterned-Media Recording. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.We would like to thank the EPSRC for financial support under Grants No. EP/G032440/1, EP/G032300/1, the WWTF Project MA09-029 and the Royal Society

Deltamethrin induced alterations of hematological and biochemical parameters in fingerlings of Catla catla (Ham.) and their amelioration by dietary supplement of vitamin C

The present study was carried out to investigate the sub-lethal toxicity of technical grade deltamethrin (a synthetic pyrethroid) of concentration 1.61 μg/L (1/3rd of 96 h LC50) on hematological and biochemical parameters of catla (Catla catla) fingerlings and its amelioration through dietary vitamin C. The deltamethrin exposed fishes were fed with different levels of supplemented vitamin C such as 50, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg diet to see its ameliorating effect by assaying hematological parameters viz. total erythrocyte count (TEC), total leukocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin content (Hb), total serum protein, albumin, globulin, albumin–globulin ratio and biochemical parameters such as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acetylcholine esterase (AChE), alanine amino transferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), total adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), magnesium adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase) and sodium potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na+, K+-ATPase) activities. The finding of this study showed that deltamethrin had negative effect on the hematological and biochemical parameters of Catla catla. The experimental group, which was exposed to deltamethrin and fed with normal diet showed significantly lower values (P ⩽ 0.05) of all parameters studied except ALT activity. This might be due to possible disruption of hematopoiesis and proteosynthesis. However, the fish fed with varied concentration of vitamin C in diets neutralized the toxic effect of deltamethrin, as evidenced by significantly lowered hematological and biochemical response. Vitamin C @ 1000 mg/kg diet was the most effective in amelioration of harmful effect of deltamethrin on hematological and biochemical parameters of catla fingerlings. The result suggests that vitamin C can be effectively used to neutralize the toxic effect of deltamethrin on catla

Alteration in haematological and biochemical parameters of Catla catla exposed to sub-lethal concentration of cypermethrin

A 60-day experiment was carried out to study the effect of sub-lethal concentration of cypermethrin (1/10th of LC50) exposure on haematological and biochemical parameters of the Indian major carp, Catla catla fingerlings. Under exposure, the total erythrocyte count, total leucocyte count, haemoglobin content and haematocrit were decreased. All the studied serum parameters viz. total serum protein, albumin, globulin contents and albumin–globulin ratio were significantly decreased in cypermethrin-exposed fishes. A marked increase was recorded in alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities in liver, whereas lactate dehydrogenase activity of muscle and acetylcholine esterase activity in brain were inhibited in cypermethrin-exposed fish. The membrane transport enzymes (total adenosine triphosphatase, sodium–potassium adenosine triphosphatase and magnesium adenosine triphosphatase) activities were decreased significantly in the gills of C. catla exposed to sub-lethal concentration of cypermethrin. The present study indicates that sub-lethal exposure of C. catla fingerlings to cypermethrin alters the haematological and biochemical parameters

Molecular characterization of induced mutagenesis through gamma radiation using RAPD markers in Jatropha curcas L.

Genetic variability in Jatropha curcas was induced by different doses (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 kR) of gamma-rays. Gamma radiation induced earliness in flowering and the plants set flowers earlier than that of control, which took longer duration of 327 days for flowering. The improved reproductive and yield parameters such as days taken to first flowering, flowering population, male to female ratio and seed yield per plant were recorded in 25 kR dose and seed germination in 5 and 10 kR treated seeds. Molecular characterization of induced mutants (M1 generation) with 47 Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers showed 65.27% polymorphism. The variability created by gamma rays ranged from 9 to 28%. The 50 kR mutant was found to be the most diverse from control followed by 25 kR mutant. Thus, this integrated approach can be used for carrying out the mutation-assisted breeding and subsequent selection of desired mutants using molecular markers in J. curcas.Keywords: Jatropha curcas, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), gamma-rays, induced mutagenesis

Engaging with sustainability issues in metropolitan Chennai : city report

Chennai is the largest metropolitan city in South India (8.7 million in 2011) and the provincial capital of the large state of Tamil Nadu (population 72 million in 2011). Before that, under British rule, the city was the capital of the Madras Presidency, and was known as Madras until 1996, when the name was officially changed to Chennai. Located on the east coast of India, on the Bay of Bengal, sea trade has been an important aspect of the regional economy since at least the colonial period. Still today, the city combines political functions with economic command functions for both manufacturing and services, reflecting the region's diversified economy. The Chennai metropolitan area has witnessed strong growth over the last 20 years in automobile manufacturing, software services, hardware manufacturing, healthcare and financial services (CDP 2009). However, it should be noted that only 30% of total employment in the city takes place in the formal sector i.e., is covered by contracts and labour laws, the remaining 70% falls in the informal sector. This underscores the importance of small and micro enterprises and self-employment for providing goods, services and livelihoods in the local economy