Higher Education in India: Structure, Statistics and Challenges

India's education system is often cited as one of the main contributors to the economic rise of India. The size of India's higher education market is about $40 billion per year. Presently about 12.4 percent of students go for higher education from the country. If India were to increase that figure of 12.4% to 30%, then it would need another 800 to one thousand universities and over 40,000 colleges in the next 10 years. This paper presents the development and present scenario of higher education in India by analyzing the various data and also identifies the key challenges that India's higher education sector is facing. This paper also presents the key initiatives by the government and recommendations to meet these challenges. The ideas presented in this paper were initially presented at the International conference on India Emerging, held at IBA, Greater Noida, India, Feb 24-25, 2011. Keywords: Higher Education, Knowledge Economy, Technical Education, Universit

Functional near vision assessment in presbyopia

The aim of this thesis was to develop standards of best practice for the subjective assessment of near visual function in presbyopia. Near visual acuity (VA) is a quick and simple measure but an assessment of the maximum reading speed and the smallest print size that can maintain this are equally important, to gain a better reflection of real world visual function. These metrics are dependent on the amplitude of accommodation (AoA) and often this must be evaluated using subjective techniques. Defocus curves are less susceptible than the push-up/push-down test to the influence of blur tolerance but their implementation must be standardised such that letter sequences and the order of lens presentation are randomised, to avoid memory effects, whilst the AoA should be quantified as the range of defocus for which only the best VA is maintained. In addition to such clinical assessments, subjective questionnaire evaluations are also important, to determine whether at least an individual’s needs are met. The Near Activity Visual Questionnaire (NAVQ) developed in this thesis can be used for this. Using these standardised near vision metrics it is shown that visual performance with monovision and multifocal contact lenses is comparable whilst initial outcomes of single optic ‘accommodating’ intraocular lens implantation are unlikely to be sustained in the long-term

Zinc Oxide Thin Film Transistors: Advances, Challenges and Future Trends

This paper presents a review on recent developments and future trends in zinc oxide thin film transistors (ZnO TFTs) together with challenges involved in this technology. It highlights ZnO TFT as next generation choice over other available thin film transistor technology namely a – Si: H (amorphous hydrogenated silicon), poly-Si (polycrystalline silicon) and OTFT (organic thin film transistor). This paper also provides a comparative analysis of various TFTs on the basis of performance parameters.  Effect of high –k dielectrics, grain boundaries, trap densities, and threshold voltage shift on the performance of ZnO TFT is also explained

ROLE OF NAVGRAHA PLANTS IN MANAGEMENT OF NON- COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity and chronic respiratory diseases, represent a leading threat to human health and human development in todays world. Medicinal plants have always been the principle sources of medicine worldwide. Ayurvedic medicines share the millennia of Ayurvedic herbs which prevent and effectively treat many non-communicable diseases. These drugs are safe, effective and affordable. We cannot limit the study of Indian plants based on their therapeutic values but we should also consider their use from Astrological point of view. As we all know, in astrology it is believed that there are nine planets which are controlling the destiny of a person and there are certain specified herbs which act as a remedy to treat disastrous effect of planets. To minimize the ill effect of Navgrahas one of the easiest methods is to plant the Navgrah Vatika (garden). It protects from various problems including non-communicable diseases. Astrology along with Ayurveda shows how we can heal ourselves through the herbs corresponding to their particular star. Combining astrology and Ayurveda fruitful results can be obtained. Each plant in this paper corresponds to that particular planet/star which gives energy to that particular person born during that particular star time. Present paper will describe the importance Navgrahavatika, role of planets in health and how these Navgraha plants are useful in prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases

Selection of Gate Dielectrics for ZnO Based Thin-Film Transistors

The bulk of semiconductor technology has been based on silicon till today. But silicon has its own limitations. It is not transparent to visible light and hence it cannot be used in certain applications. ZnO is a material which is transparent to visible light. In this paper, we compare the electrical performance of ZnO Thin film Transistors using different gate insulators. Certain performance indices and material indices were considered as the selection criteria for electrical performance. A methodology known as Ashby’s approach was adopted to find out the best gate insulators and based on this methodology various charts were plotted to compare different properties of competing materials. This work concludes that Y2O3 is the best insulator followed by ZrO2 and HfO2

Selection of Gate Dielectrics for ZnO Based Thin-Film Transistors

The bulk of semiconductor technology has been based on silicon till today. But silicon has its own limitations. It is not transparent to visible light and hence it cannot be used in certain applications. ZnO is a material which is transparent to visible light. In this paper, we compare the electrical performance of ZnO Thin film Transistors using different gate insulators. Certain performance indices and material indices were considered as the selection criteria for electrical performance. A methodology known as Ashby\u27s approach was adopted to find out the best gate insulators and based on this methodology various charts were plotted to compare different properties of competing materials. This work concludes that Y2O3 is the best insulator followed by ZrO2 and HfO2

Zinc Oxide Thin Film Transistors: Advances, Challenges and Future Trends

This paper presents a review on recent developments and future trends in zinc oxide thin film transistors (ZnO TFTs) together with challenges involved in this technology. It highlights ZnO TFT as next generation choice over other available thin film transistor technology namely a – Si: H (amorphous hydrogenated silicon), poly-Si (polycrystalline silicon) and OTFT (organic thin film transistor). This paper also provides a comparative analysis of various TFTs on the basis of performance parameters. Effect of high –k dielectrics, grain boundaries, trap densities, and threshold voltage shift on the performance of ZnO TFT is also explained

Characterization of sperm heparin binding proteins (HBPs) using polyclonal antibodies raised against seminal plasma HBPs: Application in buffalo bull fertility

26-33This study aimed to evaluate rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against purified seminal plasma sperm membrance extracts (SP) heparin binding protein (HBP) for identifying HBPs in buffalo bull spermatozoa by western blotting. Anti-SP-HBP recognized 11 polypeptides in SDS-sperm membrance extracts (SME) of 31 tested bulls. Thirty one bulls were divided into G-1 (>40%) and G-II (≤40%) based on acrosome reaction. Immunoblotting revealed that HBPs of 24, 30, 38 and 43 kDa were present in 3%, 7.02%, 1.16% and 4.83% more bulls of G-I, whereas, 20 and 46 kDa HBPs were present in 13.2 and 9.65% more bulls of G-II. Immunoblotting of anti-HBP with sperm extracts of 10 bulls (22-31) indicated that 31 kDa positive bulls had 10.9% higher conception rate than 31 kDa negative bulls. Although 24 kDa HBP was detected in 10 bulls, but its expression was very weak in bull number 22, 23 and 26, which had 10.7% lower conception rate than the bulls with strong expression of 24 kDa HBP. In the present study, 17/20 kDa positive bulls exhibited 4.46% and 8.67% low conception rate than 17/20 kDa negative bulls. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed matching of 24, 31, 33 and 38 kDa proteins with MHC class 1 antigen, tRNA methyl transferase 11 homolog partial, parvalbumin alpha-like and cilia- and flagella-associated protein 99. This study suggests that buffalo bull fertility can be predicted from sperm HBP

Optimizing measurement of subjective amplitude of accommodation with defocus curves

PURPOSE: To determine whether letter sequences and/or lens-presentation order should be randomized when measuring defocus curves and to assess the most appropriate criterion for calculating the subjective amplitude of accommodation (AoA) from defocus curves. SETTING: Eye Clinic, School of Life & Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, United Kingdom. METHODS: Defocus curves (from +3.00 diopters [D] to -3.00 D in 0.50 D steps) for 6 possible combinations of randomized or nonrandomized letter sequences and/or lens-presentation order were measured in a random order in 20 presbyopic subjects. Subjective AoA was calculated from the defocus curves by curve fitting using various published criteria, and each was correlated to subjective push-up AoA. Objective AoA was measured for comparison of blur tolerance and pupil size. RESULTS: Randomization of lens-presentation order and/or letter sequences, or lack of, did not affect the measured defocus curves (P>.05, analysis of variance). The range of defocus that maintains highest achievable visual acuity (allowing for variability of repeated measurement) was better correlated to (r = 0.84) and agreed best with ( 0.50 D) subjective push-up AoA than any other relative or absolute acuity criterion used in previous studies. CONCLUSIONS: Nonrandomized letters and lens presentation on their own did not affect subjective AoA measured by defocus curves, although their combination should be avoided. Quantification of subjective AoA from defocus curves should be standardized to the range of defocus that maintains the best achievable visual acuity

Comparative evaluation of anti microbial effects of triple antibiotic paste and amox and its derivatives against E. Faecalis : an in vitro study

Enterococcus faecalis is a microorganism commonly detected in asymptomatic, persistent endodontic infections. Triple antibiotic paste has stood the test of time as a proven antibiotic combination against E. Faecalis. However, problems with this include staining of teeth and standardization of the preparation. Thus, the search for better alternatives and better preparation techniques is still on. To observe the potential of combinations [(Amoxicillin+ Metronidazole, Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid + Metronidazole; Amoxicillin and Cloxacillin + Metronidazole)] over Triple Antibiotic Paste. Fifty single rooted teeth free from dental caries were selected for the study. Teeth were cut at equal distance from root apex (13mm from apex) with sterile diamond disk and straight hand piece for standardization of root length. The opening of root canal was enlarged with engine driven pro-taper files. To remove the organic and inorganic debris, canal was cleaned with 17% EDTA followed by 2.5% NaOCl for 5min. Distilled water irrigation was done for 5 min to remove any traces of used chemical and then sterilized in autoclave at 1200c for 15 min. at 15 lbs pressure. Bacteria cultured on blood agar plate and at the same time fresh antibiotic combinations were made and placed in the root canals, then incubated in the incubator, under sterile conditions and observed at 24hrs, 48hr and 72hrs. The largest inhibition zones were observed for the Triple Antibiotic Paste, followed by Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid + Metronidazole group however, the clearest zones were achieved with Amoxicillin and Clavlunic acid + Metronidazole group and the smallest for Amoxicillin and Metronidazole group. The results suggest that though Triple antibiotic showed the maximum inhibition, Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid combination along with Metronidazole gave the most reliable results. Further studies using the different combinations and different concentrations along with different methods of increasing the shelf life of such medications can be undertaken