Development and Characterization of Eudragit RS 100 Loaded Microsponges and its Colonic Delivery Using Natural Polysaccharides

In the present work, paracetamol loaded eudragit based microsponges were prepared using quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method. The compatibility of the drug with various formulation components was established. Process parameters were analyzed in order to optimize the formulation. Shape and surface morphology of the microsponges were examined using scanning electron microscopy. The colon specific formulations were prepared by compression coating of microsponges with pectin:hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) mixture followed by tabletting. The in vitro dissolution studies were done on all formulations and the results were evaluated kinetically and statically. The kinetics of release study showed that the release data followed Higuchi matrix and the main mechanism of drug release from microsponges was diffusion. In vitro studies exhibited that compression coated colon specific tablet formulations started the release the drug at the 6th hour corresponding to the arrival time to proximal colon

ASEAN: perspectives on economic integration: ASEAN capital market integration: issues and challenges

I am grateful for the assistance of Kaleon Leong and Chong Wui Jean in the preparation of this paper. The paper draws on the work of the ASEAN Integration plan and other related papers for which the author gratefully acknowledges. The views expressed in the paper do not necessarily reflect the views of the Securities Commission

Changing Character of Rural Economy and Migrant Labour in Punjab

Rural economy of Punjab has been undergoing structural transformation. But the dependence of rural population in general and rural labour in particular for earning livelihood from the rural economy continues. This process of rural transformation has perpetuated the distress among the rural workforce. It is strange phenomenon that migrant labour continues to pour into the rural areas. The rural economy of Punjab, due to wage gap, continues to attract huge amount of inflow of people from other poorer states of India. Rural-rural migration, which is largely seasonal and stay of workers in most cases, is less than six months. Therefore, the official statistics on migration grossly under record the rural-rural migration. Attempt has been made in this paper to fill this gap. Despite the fact that rural real wage rate has declined between the period 1990 and 2000, however, rural-rural migration has increased during the same period. The majority of the migrants (more than 90 per cent) are able to find work in agriculture up to 50 days in a year. It has wide ranging implications for the rural-rural migration and level of living of the families of the migrants.Rural-rural migration, Punjab, Rural economy, migrant labour

Diversification of Indian Agriculture: Composition, Determinants and Trade Implications

The pattern of diversification across states/crops in India has been schematized and various determinants of diversification have been deciphered. To objectively confer the empirical resonance, values of Simpson index have been estimated. The diversification index (SID) has been found to range from 0.47 (WB) to 0.90 (Karnataka) in 1990-91 and from 0.40 (Orissa) to 0.92 (Karnataka) in 2000-01. The increase in diversification Index signifies shift towards non-foodgrain crops. In Karnataka, though the Index has increased, but the similar increases in area under foodgrain imply shift from coarse to fine cereals. Agricultural diversification is influenced by a number of infrastructural and technological factors. The coefficients have indicated that the presence of electricity and road density are negatively associated with the diversification. In the year 2001-02, large share of export earnings has come from non-traditional items, namely rice, fruits, vegetables, livestock and marine products, signifying positive boost to diversification. Indian agriculture has witnessed diversification with impressive improvements in the shares of livestock and fisheries sectors in the total income from agriculture. Within the crop sector, the diversification has largely been in favour of non-foodgrains crops in most of the states. However, diversification in these states has not been essentially for income generation, but also for the risk-mitigating proposition. However, harnessing the potential of diversification presupposes gradual restructuring of diversification hindering market institutions, infrastructure and quality standards.Agricultural and Food Policy,

Effects of comprehension, writing, fluency, & vocabulary interventions on the literacy of an eighth grade student with a learning disability

In this study, the effects of research based literacy interventions in the areas of comprehension, writing, fluency, and vocabulary were implemented on a struggling reading with a learning disability. The aim was to find out if these interventions would help to increase the student’s overall literacy skills. A student, identified as having a Speech and Language Impairment (SPLI) as well as Cognitive Disability (CD) who was transitioning into 9th grade was the center of this study. The student struggled with comprehension of expository texts, organized writing, sentence structure, fluency, and acquiring new vocabulary. Various interventions were examined, and then implemented based on the needs of this particular student. It was discovered, that a one on one intervention was successful based on the results of the data collection before, after, and during the implementation of these various intervention strategies

Concerns of Groundwater Depletion and Irrigation Efficiency in Punjab Agriculture: A Micro-Level Study

The present study, conducted during 2005-06, in two districts, viz. Amritsar and Faridkot of Punjab, (former having pre-dominantly tubewell-irrigated area and the latter having canal + tubewell irrigation facilities) has assessed the extent of water depletion and has measured irrigation efficiency at the farm level. Due to profitability and availability of water at shallow depths during 1970s, paddy and wheat (two of the high water-consuming crops) replaced other crops like maize, groundnut and pulses in the entire state. The area under these two crops increased from 7.22 per cent to 32.92 per cent for paddy and from 37.12 per cent to 43.53 per cent for wheat, from TE 1965 to TE 2005. Consequently, the problem of groundwater depletion has become severe in the Amritsar district, with a fall of 77cm/ annum in watertable. In the district of Faridkot, this fall has been of 33cm/annuum. The technical efficiency of irrigation on farms estimated through Data Envelopment Analysis, has indicated the mean irrigation efficiency of 57 per cent and 65 per cent in paddy production and 61 per cent and 68 per cent in wheat production, in tubewell-irrigated and canal+tubewell irrigated farms, respectively. It has clearly indicated that there is potential to improve irrigation efficiency by 39 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively in the sample farms. To sustain production system in the state, there is an urgent need to (i) do away with the rice-wheat cropping system in the regions where groundwater depletion is very severe, (ii) evolve regulation for use of groundwater and conjunctive use of surface water, and (iii) disseminate improved agronomic practices for increasing use-efficiency of water and other inputs.Resource /Energy Economics and Policy,