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

Impact Of Lifestyle & Diet On Prevalence Of Oral Cancer

The sixth most typical malignant neoplasm worldwide is oral cancer, which is included in the category of head and neck cancer. Although food is increasingly seen as a key driver for its development, the primary etiological variables are still cigarette and alcohol use.Several dietary elements operate in distinct ways, raising the risk of cancer development, growth, and spread while also helping to prevent it. Despite numerous advancements, oral cancer has a dismal survival rate. The survival rate depends on two most important factors they are the development site and time. If it is detected early, the survival rate is high. The so -called proinflammatory diet which is rich in fried foods and red meat, can increase the risk of oral cancer while foods like fruits, vegetables, curcumin and green tea can lowers it.  Even though oral cancer is a common cancer type in underdeveloped nations and is less common in rich western nations, a recent change in trend has been detected due to changes in lifestyle. It accounts for roughly one-fourth of all new instances of cancer and is the most prevalent kind in South Asian nations including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India. The present study includes the review on the effect of various lifestyle and dietary factors on the incidence of oral cancer worldwide

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

A novel approach for anatomical repair of ventral hernia with modified smead jones technique

Background: Ventral hernia repair is the most popular procedures done worldwide. Despite of enough literature, evidence for optimal repair is lacking. We introduced a novel surgical technique for open primary ventral hernia repair, using modified smead jones technique.   Methods: This prospective interventional study conducted at the department of general surgery in Midnapore Medical College and Hospital from October 2022 to February 2023 aimed to assess the efficacy of the modified smead jones technique in open primary ventral hernia repair. Results: Thirty cases were enrolled, predominantly featuring umbilical hernias in females aged 51-60 years. All cases presented with swelling, pain, and irreducibility. The Modified smead jones technique, employing Prolene no. 1, was utilized, with post-operative complications primarily comprising superficial wound infections managed by IV antibiotics and post-operative pain addressed with adequate analgesia. Recurrence was not observed during follow-ups at 15 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months.   Conclusions: The study concludes that this modified technique offers a straightforward approach with low rates of early and potential reduction in late complications, serving as a viable alternative in both elective and emergency settings for primary ventral hernia repair

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