Reconfiguring Colonial Subjects as Informed Travellers: Cross-Cultural Encounters and Representation of Australia in Two Indian Travel Narratives of late Nineteenth Century

In recent times, an urgency is felt within the postcolonial scholarship as well as in the area of cultural studies to address the diverse ramifications of colonial history and ideology beyond the narratives of colonial encounters between Great Britain and its colonies so that hitherto unfamiliar patterns of cross-cultural and intersubjective relationships can be explored between such colonial cousins as Australia and India. This paper presents a case for two early travel narratives by Indian travellers – Nunda Lall Doss and Hajee Sullaiman Shah Mahomed – about Australia. I have examined how these travellers have represented the Australian landscapes and urban centres. They worked largely within the framework of colonial travel writing about Australia and described the continent in terms of wide, empty spaces, opulence of natural resources, dwindling indigenous population and spectacular urbanization and modernization under colonial rule; yet their accounts are not without complexity. These accounts present their writers casting themselves as imperial subjects beyond the colonial stereotypes and trying to carve their distinct identity as Indian travellers abroad. In this way they emerged as informed travellers with their critical judgements vis-à-vis the naïve and the passive tourists struck by awe and wonder at every spectacle witnessed. More remarkably, their critique of British imperialism and white Australian policies regarding immigration and “race” helps us to understand the late nineteenth century pro-Federalist discourse of Australianness in its racist and ethnonationalist contexts

Uterine Arteriovenous Malformation As A Rare Cause Of Menorrhagia

Uterine arterio venous malformation is uncommon cause of menorrhagia. We report a rare case of arteriovenous malformation diagnosed after 18 years of suffering from menorrhagi

Recent Computer-Aided Design Techniques for Rectangular Microstrip Antenna

In modern microwave systems, rectangular microstrip patch antennas (RMPAs) are probably the most investigated topics among the planar antennas. There are several methods available in literature, for designing and analyzing such antennas, but most of them are very complex and give only approximate results. In this chapter, we have discussed the most accurate and updated computer-aided design (CAD) formulations related to probe-fed RMPA for computing its fundamental input characteristics (resonant frequency and input impedance) and improving radiation characteristics, i.e. gain and polarization purity (the parameter that signifies how much an RMPA is free from spurious modes). These formulations have evolved in the last decades and have been validated against numerous simulations and measurements. The present CAD formulas for resonant frequency and input impedance can accurately address a wide range of RMPA with patch width to patch length ratio (W/L) from 0.5 to 2.0, a substrate having thickness up to 0.23 λg where λg is the guide wavelength and relative permittivity (εr) ranging over 2.2–10.8. The role of a finite air gap on resonant frequency and gain of an RMPA have also been presented. The chapter will be surely useful to antenna designers to achieve a concrete understanding of the RMPA theory

Effect of nano materials in geopolymer concrete

SummaryIn general, cement based concrete can be replaced by low calcium fly-ash based geopolymer concrete regarding the adverse effect of the manufacture of ordinary Portland cement on environment. Nowadays, nano technology has an important role in the field of construction industries. It has been seen that several properties of cement based concrete are affected by different nano materials. As low calcium fly-ash based geopolymer concrete is an alternate option for cement based concrete, nano materials may also have some influence on it. An experimental program has been taken up on low calcium fly-ash based M25 grade geopolymer concrete having 16 (M) concentration of activator liquid. Different percentage of nano materials viz. nano silica, carbon nano tube, titanium di-oxide were also used to investigate the effect of nano materials on geopolymer concrete. Geopolymer concrete with 1% titanium di-oxide shows appreciable improvement in compressive strength although pH remains almost same in all cases

Behavior of branched buried MDPE gas distribution pipes under relative axial ground movements

The performance of medium density polyethylene (MDPE) gas distribution pipes subjected to relative ground movements has been a significant concern to the utility owners and companies. The tee-joints (tapping tee) and the lateral branches, common in gas distribution piping systems, may increase the effects of ground movement caused by various geohazards such as landslides, earthquakes etc. Most ground movement scenarios depict leak/stress concentration near the tapping tee of the branched pipe system. However, limited studies are currently available in the literature on the soil-pipe interaction of branched pipes during ground movement. Thus, the complex interactions of the pipe, the tee-junction, and the branch with surrounding soil are not well-understood. This thesis presents an experimental investigation of different configurations of 42.2-mm and 60.3-mm diameter branched buried MDPE pipes under relative axial ground movement. Tests with different positions of the tee-joint with respect to the pulling end of the pipe and varying densities of sand are conducted using the laboratory facility at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Pipe wall strains and soil pressures around the pipes are measured during the tests to capture the mechanism of soil-pipe interaction. Subsequently, an additional test is done with the tapping tee only (without the branch pipe) to identify the contribution of the branch pipe to soil resistance and pipe wall strain. The study explores the contribution of the trunk pipe, the tapping tee, and the branch pipe separately on the axial pulling force. Test results reveal the possibility of localized strain occurring on the trunk pipe near the tee. The anchoring effects of the tee and the branch significantly affect the soil resistance and the strain distribution on the trunk pipes

BURROW ARCHITECTURE OF RED GHOST CRAB OCYPODE MACROCERA (H. MILNE-EDWARDS, 1852) : A CASE STUDY IN INDIAN SUNDARBANS

A study on burrow architecture and burrow morphology of the red ghost crab (Ocypode macrocera) was carried out at the southern proximity of the Sagar island (21°37.973' N, to E 88° 04.195'), western sector of Indian Sundarbans that faces the regular tidal influences of Bay of Bengal. Ocypode macrocera constructs burrows that are highly species specific and used by single individual. Four types of burrow patterns were observed like ‘I’, ‘J’ ‘U’ and ‘semi-U’ type with different sizes as revealed by POP casting. Important physic-chemical parameters like air temperature, temperature and salinity of the water were significantly varied (P < 0.05) throughout seasons in the Ocypode zone. Burrow sand column temperature were also significantly varied from ambient air temperature thus exhibiting preference for cooler subterranean residential compartment. The digging behaviour of Ocypodes enhances oxygenation in the ground soil and facilitates decomposition of organic materials, nutrient recycling, entrapping the sediments and mangrove seedlings and helps the process of bioturbation. As per the preliminary observations it was suggested that burrow shape is directly related to tidal action and metabolic activities of the crab are strongly correlated with burrow microenvironment. They are adapted to the different sediment conditions, tidal fluctuations, varying salinity gradients, air and water temperatures and other environmental fluctuations

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THIN-LAYER CHROMATOGRAPHY BIOAUTOGRAPHY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF CLITORIA TERNATEA (FABACEAE)

Objective: The present study aims at the investigation of antioxidant activities both by qualitative (thin-layer chromatography [TLC] bioautography) and quantitative (in vitro) methods and thereby comparison of the same in different parts of the plants of Clitoria ternatea (Fabaceae). Methods: Leaves, stems, and seeds were macerated with methanol separately and preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out. The extracts were developed using two mobile phase combinations such as Toluene: Ethyl acetate: Formic acid (5:4:0.2) for test 1 and toluene: Ethyl acetate: Methanol (5:3:2) for test 2 on silica gel GF254 TLC plates and further sprayed with DPPH. Antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities were assayed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation and DPPH method with the different concentrations of test extracts (25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 μg/ml) and standard ascorbic acid. Results: The methanolic extract of the leaves, stems, and seeds revealed to possess chiefly alkaloids, phenols, and flavonoids and have shown promising antioxidant activity by all the methods in dose-dependent manner. Leaves were found to be most potent having IC50 value of 111.652 µg/ml and 106.683 µg/ml which is almost similar to the stems (IC50 of 111.685 µg/ml and 106.26 µg/ml), respectively, in DPPH method and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Seeds failed to produce any significant activity in any of the methods performed. Conclusion: The methanolic extract of leaves and stems can act as a potential antioxidant and antiradical, which are highly comparable with standard

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF YIELDS AND TOTAL PHENOLIC AND FLAVONOID CONTENTS OF EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT EXTRACTION METHODS OF CLITORIA TERNATEA (FABACEAE)

Objective: The present study aims at comparison of extraction yields, total phenolic and flavonoid contents of methanolic extracts from various methods of extraction of leaves of Clitoria ternatea (Fabaceae). Methods: Dried leaves were extracted by Maceration, Soxhlation and Microwave Assisted Extraction (MAE) methods and the percentage yields were calculated. Further total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined for the extracts obtained as above. Each of the experiments were performed in triplicate. Results: The methanolic extract of MAE was found to show the highest yield (12.22 % w/w) compared to the other methods performed. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined in the highest amount in MAE (248.29±0.29 mg GAE/gm and 191.64±1.45 mg QE/gm) than soxhlation and maceration. Conclusion: Microwave assisted extraction method possessed highest extraction yield and total phenolic and total flavonoid contents than the other two extraction methods which makes it economical and effective not only for its increased yield but also for better quality of extract, consuming less time and solvent. Further studies on this may be beneficial to establish this method for regular extraction and isolation of phytoconstituents