Towards A Competitive Manufacturing Sector

The Indian manufacturing sector has grown at an impressive average rate of 9.5 per cent annually since 2003-04. Its sustained growth is crucial for generating employment opportunities needed to absorb the rapidly expanding workforce. In this context, this paper reviews the current state of the sector and focuses on determinants of its competitiveness. The paper finds that Indian manufacturing sector exhibits a great deal of regional variation and a marked dualism between the organized and the unorganized segments in terms of both productivity and wage levels. The level of labour absorption in the organized manufacturing sector has been weak as reflected in the declining labour intensity in this sector. This does not augur well for achieving inclusive growth. We also find that although there have been significant changes in the composition of exports in the last 20 years; India is still a very small player at the global level, especially in knowledge intensive and advanced technology products. Finally, the paper explores Indias potential for transforming itself into a hub of mass manufacturing. We find that the main constraints in doing so have been the low level of R&D, relative lack of skilled personnel and relatively low FDI levels.manufacturing, competitiveness, mass manufacturing

Metabolic syndrome in schizophrenia: how much is attributable to drug treatment?

Background: This study was planned to investigate new onset metabolic syndrome (MS) and its various components associated with two widely used second generation antipsychotics i.e. olanzapine and quetiapine in the management of schizophrenia using International Diabetic Federation (IDF) criteria.Methods: A total of 60 drug naïve patients with ICD-10 diagnosis of first episode schizophrenia, divided in two groups of 30 patients each, were randomly allocated to receive two different treatments i.e. olanzapine and quetiapine. Metabolic parameters were measured at day 0, then at 6 and 12 weeks. For categorical variables, ‘Chi-square test’ was used for comparison between the two groups.For continuous variables student’s t-test was used.Results: At 6 weeks none of the patient, treated with olanzapine, developed Metabolic Syndrome (MS), but among quetiapine group 3.33% (1 out of 30) developed MS. At the end of 12 weeks, 20% patients (i.e. 6 out of 30) had MS in olanzapine treatment group and 10% (3 out of 30) in quetiapine treatment group.Conclusion: Both olanzapine and quetiapine were found to cause comparable metabolic derangement and metabolic syndrome.

Numerical Simulation of the Phase Space of Jupiter-Europa System Including the Effect of Oblateness

We have numerically investigated the phase space of the Jupiter-Europa system in the framework of a Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem. In our model, Jupiter is taken as oblate primary. We have considered time-frequency analysis (TFA) based on wavelets and the Poincare Surface of Section (PSS) for the characterization of orbits in the Jupiter-Europa model. We have exploited both cases: a system with and without considering the effect of oblateness. Graphs (ridge-plots) explaining the phenomenon of resonance trapping, a difference between chaotic sticky orbit and the non-sticky orbit, and periodic and quasi-periodic orbit are presented. Our results of Poincare surfaces of the section of the Jupiter-Europa system (with and without the effect of oblateness) reveal the impact of oblateness of Jupiter as reducing parameter for regular and chaotic regions. Time-frequency analysis based on wavelets is comparatively fast and is suitable for the identification and characterization of the different type of trajectories in the nonlinear dynamical system

Gender based perspectives about organ donation among students in a medical school in North India

Background: Deaths due to organ failure are reaching alarming numbers mainly due to paucity of organ donation. The medical students who are the future doctors hold promise to alleviate this paucity by willing to register as a donor themselves as well as facilitating cadaver organ donation process. Objective was to assess the perspectives (awareness and attitudes) of medical students regarding organ donation.Methods: The present cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 280 undergraduates’ students of Government Medical College Jammu, J and K, India. A pretested and self administered 22 item questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographic characteristics (5), to assess awareness (11) and attitude (6) about organ donation.Results: Higher proportion of female students were aware about transplantation of human organ act (p<0.05). Awareness about organ donation card was very poor among both the sexes. Only 77.50% of the respondents were aware of the legal age for organ donation. Higher proportion of male students considered themselves to be future organ donor (p<0.05) although both the sexes wanted to be informed more on organ donation. Organ could be wasted (47.14%) was the main barrier among respondents for organ donation.Conclusions: The awareness and attitude among the respondents were found to be non-desirable on many parameters. Authors suggest introduction of a teaching module which should include all aspects of organ donation in medical schools starting from first profession onwards

Emergency contraception: knowledge, attitude and practices among recently married females in a rural area of North India

Background: Emergency contraception (EC) is indicated after unprotected sexual intercourse to prevent unintended pregnancy and its harmful consequences. Its optimum use can avoid unintended child birth or unsafe abortion which can in turn lower maternal mortality. So, the present study aimed to study the knowledge, attitude and practices of recently married females towards EC in a rural area of Jammu.Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted among recently married females visiting the OPD in CHC RS Pura during the course of the three months and were willing to participate. Information was obtained using a questionnaire and results were presented as proportions.Results: 90% respondents had ever heard of EC with media being the main source of information. 91% knew oral pills being used as EC and 81% had correct knowledge of time regarding its usage. 85% would recommend it to friend/relative if required and 73% were willing to use EC themselves in case of unprotected sex. 70% of the respondents had ever used EC.Conclusions: High awareness, positive attitude and adequate usage of EC among currently married females is a good sign which is probably due to high literacy among them. But it should not make the authorities complacent, rather interventions intended to combat maternal mortality through use of regular contraceptives besides EC need to be promoted among the target groups

Assessment of Knowledge and Practices towards Swine flu: A cross-sectional study among rural housewives

Background: Swine flu is an emerging public health problem in various countries including India and was declared a “Phase 6 Pandemic” by WHO in 2009. India ranks as 3rd most affected country for cases and deaths of swine flu globally. Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge and practices regarding Swine flu among rural housewives of Jammu and to find out the association between the two. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the month of April 2015 using a pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire among 310 housewives from two villages of Jammu district. Results: Adequate knowledge was seen in 61.9% of the respondents and 53.5% had followed good practices. Mean (SD) for knowledge and practices score was 11.4(2.37) &amp; 10.3(2.58) respectively. Literacy levels were identified as a positive predictor for adequate knowledge and good practice score. A linear relationship was evident both between knowledge / practices as well as age upto 40 years after which there was a declining trend. Also significant positive association was found between knowledge and practices (p&lt;0.001). Conclusions:&nbsp;Age and education played a key role in attaining adequate knowledge and inculcating healthy practices towards prevention of swine flu. Continuous and sustained efforts are required on the part of government to impart scientific and necessary information to the target population

Efficient water supply system in the context of smart cities

70-75In spite of demographic growth, urbanization and climate change, and with changing requirements, there is a need to develop efficient water supply systems. Whereas, the cost of water supply schemes is very high and beyond the means of most urban local bodies / state governments. The Sustainable Development Goal calls for challenges to new practices, to enhance water security and provide better services to citizens as a precursor to realizing the vision of 'smart cities'. The total water demand is already more than the supply for about 760 lakh people in India. Also the demand for adequate drinking water supply is increasing year by year, while the economy of this place is growing fastest in the world. The important question is how to accomplish these objectives? However there is no doubt that technical solution are available and play a fundamental role. The smart city approach to solving the water problems of cities is a simple way to solve the water issue with a national design, vision and civic engagement. Cities can improve their infrastructure on a large scale by trust and participation of common people along with effectiveness and capacity addition of water supply system. This article will discuss the current status of water resources and future forecasts and measures for solutions. It will conclude by highlighting the importance of an analytical framework to identify and analyze the challenges and responses to water supply system operations, along with a discussion of the key factors affecting urban water supply system

Efficient water supply system in the context of smart cities

In spite of demographic growth, urbanization and climate change, and with changing requirements, there is a need to develop efficient water supply systems. Whereas, the cost of water supply schemes is very high and beyond the means of most urban local bodies / state governments. The Sustainable Development Goal calls for challenges to new practices, to enhance water security and provide better services to citizens as a precursor to realizing the vision of 'smart cities'. The total water demand is already more than the supply for about 760 lakh people in India. Also the demand for adequate drinking water supply is increasing year by year, while the economy of this place is growing fastest in the world. The important question is how to accomplish these objectives? However there is no doubt that technical solution are available and play a fundamental role. The smart city approach to solving the water problems of cities is a simple way to solve the water issue with a national design, vision and civic engagement. Cities can improve their infrastructure on a large scale by trust and participation of common people along with effectiveness and capacity addition of water supply system. This article will discuss the current status of water resources and future forecasts and measures for solutions. It will conclude by highlighting the importance of an analytical framework to identify and analyze the challenges and responses to water supply system operations, along with a discussion of the key factors affecting urban water supply system