Entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students of G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar

Entrepreneurship can positively impact human resource market by creating employment and economic opportunity, something that is of urgent need. Agriculture sector has immense untapped potential and huge busi-ness prospects for young entrepreneurs. Thus, to have an insight into these issues present study was undertaken to find out the socioeconomic, personal and psychological characteristics of undergraduate students along with their entrepreneurial intention. The study was conducted at College of Agriculture, G.B.P.U.A. and T. Pantnagar. Fifty five students from each, third year and final year of B.Sc. Agriculture were selected as respondents through simple random sampling technique using chit method. Analytical research design was used for the present study. Detailed pre-tested questionnaire was administered to 110 respondents for collection of data. Findings of the study revealed that majority of the respondents (60.91 %) belonged to middle age group and were female (55.55 %), belonged to general caste (60.91 %) and had received their basic education in English (72.73 %). Regarding the entrepreneurial intention of undergraduate students of agriculture, it was found that majority of the respondents (59.09 %) had mod-erate level of entrepreneurial intention, while 23.64 % of the respondents had low entrepreneurial intention and only 17.27 % students had high entrepreneurial intention. The findings of this study may help all stakeholders (policy makers, researchers, private institutions, entrepreneurship educators and youth development practitioners) who are concerned with developing youth entrepreneurship in the country

Investigations into Dynamic Response of Automobile Components during Crash Simulation

AbstractCrash simulation is a virtual recreation of a destructive crash test of a vehicle and its components using a computer aided analysis software in order to examine the level of safety of the vehicle and its occupants by analysing the level and nature of impact stresses occurring in the component and the magnitude and nature of the deformation happening in the component. Computer aided parametric design software are generally used for modelling of the vehicle components, to define all the coordinate values and geometrical details and then this CAD data is generally transferred to an FEM software for pre-processing and solution followed by generation and interpretation of results related to energies, acceleration and displacements with different loads & boundary conditions possible in various accidental situations. This major accomplishment is possible due to advent of advanced FE software system and computers offered within the last few years. Simulating the crashworthiness of the vehicle is a significant step to design automobiles of present age and automotive industry has probably the widest application of such simulation. Nowadays software such as LSDYNA, RADIOSS, ABASUS and others have very wide practical aspects to perform crash simulations.In the present work, Finite element modelling practices used for crash analysis are studied and after effects of the different parameters on the vehicle have been reviewed. The aim of this work is to study the effects of such crash parameters on the dynamic response of automobile component through finite element approach path. This paper presents an investigations of development done in the crash simulation of automobile components and the related process parameters through finite element approach

Structural and Optical Studies of 100 MeV Ni+7 Irradiated Cadmium Selenide Thin Films

The effect of irradiation with Swift (100 MeV) Ni+ 7 ions on the structural and optical properties of Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) thin films have been investigated at different fluencies in the range of 1 1011- 1 1013 ions/cm – 2. The CdSe films on glass substrates were prepared by thermal evaporation. The structural and optical changes with respect to increasing fluence were observed by the means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy. After irradiating the films with Ni+ 7 ions XRD show the increased in peak intensity and crystallite size with increasing fluence. The UV-VIS-IR spectroscopy revealed that there is decrease in band gap energy of the films after irradiation with increasing fluencies. Raman spectrum for as deposited and irradiated films show two peak, one at 209 cm – 1 and at 410 cm – 1 which is assigned to the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon mode

Structural and Optical Studies of 100 MeV Ni+7 Irradiated Cadmium Selenide Thin Films

The effect of irradiation with Swift (100 MeV) Ni+ 7 ions on the structural and optical properties of Cadmium Selenide (CdSe) thin films have been investigated at different fluencies in the range of 1 1011- 1 1013 ions/cm – 2. The CdSe films on glass substrates were prepared by thermal evaporation. The structural and optical changes with respect to increasing fluence were observed by the means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy. After irradiating the films with Ni+ 7 ions XRD show the increased in peak intensity and crystallite size with increasing fluence. The UV-VIS-IR spectroscopy revealed that there is decrease in band gap energy of the films after irradiation with increasing fluencies. Raman spectrum for as deposited and irradiated films show two peak, one at 209 cm – 1 and at 410 cm – 1 which is assigned to the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon mode

Design and evaluation of mucoadhesive microspheres of repaglinide for oral controlled release

Gastro retentive dosage forms have potential for use as controlled-release drug delivery systems. Multiple unit systems avoid the “all-or-none gastric” emptying nature of single-unit systems. A controlled release system designed to increase its residence time in the stomach with contact with the mucosa was achieved through the preparation of mucoadhesive microspheres by the emulsion solvent evaporation technique consisting of (I) chitosan mucoadhesive (ii) repaglinide, an oral hypoglycemic agent; and (iii) Eudragit RS-100 as polymer. The microspheres were evaluated for surface morphology and particle shape by scanning electron microscope. The microspheres were also evaluated for their microencapsulation efficiency, in vitro wash-off mucoadhesion test, in vitro drug release and in vivo study. The microspheres were found to be spherical and free flowing. The microencapsulation efficiency was in the range of 61.44±1.16 to 79.90±1.17and microspheres exhibited good mucoadhesive property in the in vitro wash off test. The drug-polymer concentration of dispersed phase influences the particle size and drug release properties. All the formulations were followed by Matrix-Peppas model. The drug release was also found to be slow and extended for 24 h. In vivo testing of the mucoadhesive microspheres in diabetic albino rats demonstrated significant antidiabetic effect of repaglinide. The hypoglycemic effect obtained by mucoadhesive microspheres was for more than 16 whereas repaglinide produced an antidiabetic effect for only 10 h suggesting that mucoadhesive microspheres are a valuable system for the long term delivery of repaglinide.Keywords: Controlled Release, Repaglinide, Solvent Evaporation, Microspheres, Mucoadhesive

Structure and Surface Analysis of SHI Irradiated Thin Films of Cadmium Telluride

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) thin films grown by thermal evaporation on quartz substrates were irradiated with swift (100 MeV) Ni + 4 ions at various fluences in the range 1011 – 1013 cm – 2. The modification in structure and surface morphology has been analyzed as a function of fluence using XRD and AFM techniques. The XRD showed a reduction in peak intensity and grain size with increasing fluence. The AFM micrographs of irradiated thin films show small spherical nanostructures. In addition to direct imaging, AFM profile data enable to derive the Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the surface roughness. In the present work PSD spectra computed from AFM data were used for studying the surface morphology of films. The PSD curves were fitted with an appropriate analytic function and characteristic parameters were deduced and discussed in order to compare film morphology with varying fluence levels. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2960

Groundwater resilience Nepal: preliminary findings from a case study in the Middle Hills

Groundwater resources in the Middle Hills of Nepal perform a major role in supplying domestic and irrigation water and in regulating river flows. However, there has been little systematic study of groundwater within the region, making it difficult to evaluate how water supplies and river flows may change in response to climatic and anthropogenic change. To begin to build an evidence base, two catchments in the Middle Hills were investigated. The aim of the study was to characterise the hydrogeology of the catchments, assess water supplies and water usage and evaluate how resilient groundwater may be to change. Two contrasting sub-catchments within the Kali Gandaki River catchment were chosen: Ramche Village Development Committee (VDC), at an elevation of 2000 – 3000 m, with subsistence terraced farming and highly forested slopes, and Madanpokhara VDC which is largely below 1000 m, with expanding commercial agriculture. Groundwater sampling was undertaken during the post-monsoon season 2013 and pre-monsoon season 2014. Springs, tube wells and rivers across the two catchments were investigated using a combination of surveys, flow measurements, and sampling for inorganic chemistry, stable isotopes, groundwater residence time indicators (CFC and SF6) and noble gases. In addition, 12 months of weekly hydrological monitoring and monthly water usage surveys were undertaken at several sites. There is a heavy reliance on springs for water supply in Ramche. The springs are typically perennial but with significantly reduced flows during the winter and pre-monsoon season. The springs have bicarbonate groundwater chemistry and generally low overall mineralisation. Springs issuing from the higher slopes are reliant on seasonal monsoon rainfall and snow to sustain higher flows, but baseflows are sustained by groundwater storage within the weathered aquifer and will therefore have some inter-annual storage. Discrete springs issuing from lower slopes are most likely to be fed from groundwater storage within the fractured aquifer network. Groundwater residence time indicators (CFC and SF6) suggest a mean residence time of 10-20 years for pre-monsoon groundwater, implying inter-annual storage and therefore some built in resilience. However the general low storage of the groundwater environment suggests that none of the springs would be resilient to a long term reduction in precipitation. In the lower catchment of Madanpokhara where floodplain and outwash deposits are present, many hand-drilled shallow tubewells have been installed in the last 5-10 years, decreasing the reliance on springs. The development of groundwater resources has resulted in a thriving agricultural co-operative, inward migration and a growing population. These shallow tubewells have increased the resilience of the water supplies to change but are potentially vulnerable to over-exploitation as a result of the rapid increase in abstraction. Groundwater sampled in tubewells along the margin of the floodplain is modern (~20 yrs Mean Residence Time (MRT)) with bicarbonate groundwater chemistry and no significant water quality concerns. Groundwater sampled from tubewells towards the centre of the floodplain appears to be older (~50 yrs MRT) with elevated concentrations of iron, manganese, zinc and arsenic detected at some sites. With a growing recognition of the importance of groundwater storage in the Middle Hills there is significant potential to further advance the characterisation of groundwater systems and investigate the resilience of groundwater supplies to change. Systematic monitoring of groundwater, as springs flows, groundwater levels and chemistry would give a much better understanding of emerging trends. Likewise, monitoring current yields of springs and comparing to historic values at installation may allow some conclusions to be drawn about the trajectory of springflow. There are several groundwater-related initiatives underway within organisations in Nepal; the lessons learned from this current research, the methodologies used and the preliminary findings will be of value to these

Springs, storage and sensitivity to change : groundwater in Nepal's Middle Hills

The valleys in the foothills of the Himalayas may be some of the most sensitive areas to environmental and societal changes in Asia. Changes to the Asian monsoon and increasing temperatures could lead to variations in snow melt and runoff, and forecasts of increasingly inhospitable temperatures for lowland areas of Nepal and northern India (up to 60 oC) are already leading to migration to the cooler middle-hills. The use of groundwater within these catchments (from spring flows, tube wells and indirectly through baseflow) is vital for continued secure water supply for the growing populations and increased agricultural production. However groundwater resources in these valleys are poorly characterised and the resilience of water supplies dependant on these resources largely unknown

Optic nerve head three-dimensional shape analysis

We present a method for optic nerve head (ONH) 3-D shape analysis from retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT). The possibility to noninvasively acquire in vivo high-resolution 3-D volumes of the ONH using spectral domain OCT drives the need to develop tools that quantify the shape of this structure and extract information for clinical applications. The presented method automatically generates a 3-D ONH model and then allows the computation of several 3-D parameters describing the ONH. The method starts with a high-resolution OCT volume scan as input. From this scan, the model-defining inner limiting membrane (ILM) as inner surface and the retinal pigment epithelium as outer surface are segmented, and the Bruch's membrane opening (BMO) as the model origin is detected. Based on the generated ONH model by triangulated 3-D surface reconstruction, different parameters (areas, volumes, annular surface ring, minimum distances) of different ONH regions can then be computed. Additionally, the bending energy (roughness) in the BMO region on the ILM surface and 3-D BMO-MRW surface area are computed. We show that our method is reliable and robust across a large variety of ONH topologies (specific to this structure) and present a first clinical application

CuBe: parametric modeling of 3D foveal shape using cubic Bézier

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows three-dimensional (3D) imaging of the retina, and is commonly used for assessing pathological changes of fovea and macula in many diseases. Many neuroinflammatory conditions are known to cause modifications to the fovea shape. In this paper, we propose a method for parametric modeling of the foveal shape. Our method exploits invariant features of the macula from OCT data and applies a cubic Bézier polynomial along with a least square optimization to produce a best fit parametric model of the fovea. Additionally, we provide several parameters of the foveal shape based on the proposed 3D parametric modeling. Our quantitative and visual results show that the proposed model is not only able to reconstruct important features from the foveal shape, but also produces less error compared to the state-of-the-art methods. Finally, we apply the model in a comparison of healthy control eyes and eyes from patients with neuroinflammatory central nervous system disorders and optic neuritis, and show that several derived model parameters show significant differences between the two groups