68 research outputs found
Visual Culture: Darshan in the Modern World
No full textDarshan is the reciprocal exchange of glances between the devotee and the deity. This visual worship is central to Hinduism, and in its most classical formulation, it takes place between the divine mūrti (icon) that is housed within a Hindu temple located in a pilgrimage center and the visiting pilgrim who has traveled there to see and be seen by the icon and to prostrate before it seeking its blessing. This chapter focuses on the practice of darshan in the modern, post-colonial context. It provides an introduction to the range of visual media used by Hindus for darshan today, with examples drawn from the author\u27s fieldwork stays in India. It then provides an overview of several major debates that have emerged out of modern darshanic practices and a consideration of what those teach us about post-colonial Hindu identity
Invisible Hand in the Age of Algorithms: Revisiting Smith’s Wealth of Nations
No full textThis paper observes at Adam Smith’s idea of the “invisible hand” and ask how it works in today’s world of algorithms and digital platforms. In the Wealth of Nations, Smith explained that when people act in their self-interest then markets balance themselves and society benefits. But now, in this century many economic choices are not made only by people. They are guided by algorithms. For examples, this can be seen in Amazon’s product rankings, Uber’s surge pricing, Google’s search results, Netflix’s recommendations, and AI trading in stock markets. These algorithmic systems connect buyers and sellers quickly, but they also create new problems like reduced competition, unfair pricing, manipulation of consumer choices, and market instability. The paper argues that the invisible hand has not disappeared, but it now takes the form of an “algorithmic hand.” For this hand to truly serve society, there must be careful attention to ethics and policy
Invisible Hand in the Age of Algorithms: Revisiting Smith’s Wealth of Nations
No full textThis paper observes at Adam Smith’s idea of the “invisible hand” and ask how it works in today’s world of algorithms and digital platforms. In the Wealth of Nations, Smith explained that when people act in their self-interest then markets balance themselves and society benefits. But now, in this century many economic choices are not made only by people. They are guided by algorithms. For examples, this can be seen in Amazon’s product rankings, Uber’s surge pricing, Google’s search results, Netflix’s recommendations, and AI trading in stock markets. These algorithmic systems connect buyers and sellers quickly, but they also create new problems like reduced competition, unfair pricing, manipulation of consumer choices, and market instability. The paper argues that the invisible hand has not disappeared, but it now takes the form of an “algorithmic hand.” For this hand to truly serve society, there must be careful attention to ethics and policy
Income Inequality in India: Causes, Consequences, and Lessons from Developed Economies
No full textEconomy of India is growing rapidly, but income inequality remains the major concerns. The study focuses on understanding the patterns, causes, consequences, and effects of income inequality in India. In terms of income equality, Japan and Germany are the global giants; hence, the study also analyses how India can learn from their experiences in achieving inclusive growth. The research uses secondary data such as Gini Coefficient, per capita income, and wealth distribution. To explain the relationship between economic growth and inequality, the Kuznets Curve theory is applied. The role of human capital (education, skills, and productivity) is highlighted as a key factor in reducing inequality. The Findings show that inequality in India is driven by unequal access to education, healthcare, and technology. India’s major resources and wealth are concentrated among the top 1% of the population. The research provides insights into how Japan and Germany reduced inequality through strong education systems, social welfare, and industrial inclusion. The study suggests that India can reduce income inequality by improving the quality of education and skill development, encouraging rural entrepreneurship, adopting progressive taxation policies, and promoting digital inclusion to ensure equal access to economic opportunities. The study concludes that reducing inequality is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in India
Income Inequality in India: Causes, Consequences, and Lessons from Developed Economies
No full textEconomy of India is growing rapidly, but income inequality remains the major concerns. The study focuses on understanding the patterns, causes, consequences, and effects of income inequality in India. In terms of income equality, Japan and Germany are the global giants; hence, the study also analyses how India can learn from their experiences in achieving inclusive growth. The research uses secondary data such as Gini Coefficient, per capita income, and wealth distribution. To explain the relationship between economic growth and inequality, the Kuznets Curve theory is applied. The role of human capital (education, skills, and productivity) is highlighted as a key factor in reducing inequality. The Findings show that inequality in India is driven by unequal access to education, healthcare, and technology. India’s major resources and wealth are concentrated among the top 1% of the population. The research provides insights into how Japan and Germany reduced inequality through strong education systems, social welfare, and industrial inclusion. The study suggests that India can reduce income inequality by improving the quality of education and skill development, encouraging rural entrepreneurship, adopting progressive taxation policies, and promoting digital inclusion to ensure equal access to economic opportunities. The study concludes that reducing inequality is essential for achieving sustainable and inclusive growth in India
The role of E-cadherin in the regulation of myelination in the peripheral nervous system
No full textIn the mammalian nervous system, saltatory conduction is necessary for rapid velocities of action potentials down long axonal trunks. Myelination is the key to this near instantaneous transmission of signals. Oligodendrocytes of the central nervous system and Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system, are the cells that myelinate axons. While there is some understanding of how these cells concentrically wrap their plasma membranes around the axon to form this insulative layer, the precise induction mechanism is not clearly determined. A potential molecule involved in this process is E-cadherin, which has been previously identified to be localized to regions of compact myelin and various adhesion enriched areas. This study focuses on the role of E-cadherin, a member of the classical cadherin family of calcium dependent adhesion molecules, and its role in the initiation of myelination in the Schwann cells. Protein lysates of rat sciatic nerve demonstrate that expression of E-cadherin was shown to increase with development and that E-cadherin associated with ErbB2, a receptor tyrosine kinase known to function in Schwann cell development, promotes proliferation and myelination. Knockdown of E-cadherin has a negative effect on myelination in vitro, while ectopic expression of E-cadherin induces myelination. Additionally, upon perturbation of beta catenin binding to E-cadherin, enhanced proliferation and myelination was observed. This enhancement was found specifically in Superior Cervical Ganglion neurons (SCG), suggesting that beta-catenin coupling may also have an effect in myelination through an un-determined cadherin-catenin mechanism. These results suggest that cadherins have a critical role in the complex process of myelination.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesIncludes vitaby Darshan J. Desa
Physoschistura harkishorei Das & Darshan 2017, new species
No full textPhysoschistura harkishorei, new species (Fig. 1) Holotype. RGUMF 290, 41.3 mm SL; male, India: Arunachal Pradesh state, Lower Dibang Valley district, Dibang River (the Brahmaputra basin); 28°09´59˝ N 95°43´55˝E; Boni Amin Laskar, August 2004. Paratypes. RGUMF 291–295, 5, 42.5–53.4 mm SL; same data as holotype. RGUMF 332, 1, 46.1 mm SL, male, India: Arunachal Pradesh state, Lohit district, Lohit River at Alubari Ghat, at the immediate side of Lohit bridge (Alubari bridge), 27°51´29˝ N 96°01´36 ˝ E, elevation 159 msl; Achom Darshan and Santoshkumar Abujam, 29th August 2016. Diagnosis. Physoschistura harkishorei can be distinguished from all known congeners by the combination of the following characters: the second branched ray of the pectoral fin with a distal filamentous extension; body colour pattern consisting of 9–10 brownish vertically-elongated spots or blotches along the flank, 8–10 brownish saddles on back, saddles not contiguous with the lateral blotches; lateral line complete; a pelvic-fin lobe present; a well-developed free posterior chamber of the air-bladder; and caudal fin with 7+8 branched rays. Description. Morphometric data of holotype and six paratypes are shown in Table 1. Dorsal profile elevating abruptly in snout region, gently inclined to dorsal-fin origin, then sloping gently downwards towards caudal fin; ventral profile almost straight up to anal-fin origin, then inclined evenly towards caudal-fin base. Body crosssection sub-cylindrical anteriorly, laterally compressed from base of last pectoral-fin ray to base of caudal fin. Body covered with minute scales, absent between bases of pectoral fin and belly anterior to pelvic fin. Lateral line midlateral, complete, and straight. Cephalic lateral-line system with 7 supraorbital, 4 + 11 infraorbital, 9 preoperculo-mandibular, and 3 supratemporal pores. Head depressed. Eye oval, placed in upper and anterior half of head, not visible in ventral view. Interorbital space flat, wide. Mouth inferior, small, strongly curved backward, about twice as wide as long. Processus dentiformis present, no corresponding notch in lower jaw. Lower lip with prominent median notch, forming two triangular pads (Fig. 2). Three pairs of barbels, outer rostral barbel long, reaching posterior rim of eye; inner rostral barbel shorter, extending to middle of snout; maxillary barbel extending slightly beyond vertical through posterior rim of eye. Anterior and posterior nostrils adjacent. Anterior nostrils in a flap-like tube, its tip truncate. Dorsal fin with 2(2) or 3*(5) simple and 8(1) or 8½*(5) or 9(1) branched rays, its origin slightly anterior to vertical through pelvic-fin origin. Distal margin of dorsal fin slightly convex. Pelvic fin with 1(7) simple and 7(7) branched rays. Pelvic-fin lobe prominent and large. Pectoral fin with 1(7) simple and 9 (1) or 10 *(6) branched rays. Second branched ray of pectoral fin with distal filamentous extension, often extended far beyond pelvic-fin origin, reaching upto posterior margin of pelvic-fin lobe in larger specimens greater than 49.0 mm SL. Anal fin with 2(7) simple and 5 (1) or 5½* (6) branched rays. Adpressed pelvic fin not reaching vent. Caudal fin forked, lobes equal in length, with 7+8 branched rays. Free posterior chamber of air-bladder placed immediately behind air-bladder capsule, spherical in shape, not encapsulated (Fig. 3). Intestine with large loop extending forward towards left posterolateral side of stomach (Fig. 4). Sexual dimorphism. Males possess a suborbital flap (Fig. 5) while females have a suborbital groove in place of male’s suborbital flap. The first branched pectoral-fin ray broadens in males by fusing together and separating at towards the tip (Fig. 6). No distinct sexual dichromaticism or dimorphism. Colouration. In 70% alcohol, background body colour yellowish cream, ornamented dorsally with 8–10 brownish saddles and 9–10 vertically elongated spots or blotches along flank, saddles alternately placed with lateral blotches, not contiguous. In some paratypes, predorsal lateral blotches extend well below lateral line. Head and snout region scattered with brown spots. A conspicuous dark-brown spot at dorsal-fin origin, a transverse brownish streak at middle of dorsal fin due to heavy accumulations of melanophores in mid-region of fin rays. Mid-base of dorsal fin, from third to sixth branched rays, along with the adjoining basal membrane brownish, distal and sub-basal portion of dorsal fin hyaline. Basicaudal bar basally broad, narrower dorsally, incomplete, terminated at a point about half eye diameter above ventral margin of caudal-fin base. Etymology. The new species is named in memory of Late Harkishore Das, the father of the first author, who inspired him (DND) to take up fisheries research as his academic career. Distribution. Presently, known from the Dibang River, its type locality and the Lohit River (both Brahmaputra basin) in Arunachal Pradesh (Figs. 7, 8). Discussion Physoschistura harkishorei differs from P. dikrongensis, and P. elongata, its sympatric congeners in the Brahmaputra basin, in having a complete (vs. incomplete) lateral line, a filamentous extension (vs. lacking extension) in the second branched ray of the pectoral fin, and lateral body markings in the form of verticallyelongated blotches (vs. bars). Further, P. harkishorei differs from P. dikrongensis by its shorter snout (32.9–40.6% HL vs. 44.1–53.9), dorsal-fin (9.1–10.4% SL vs. 13.8–17.7), 8–10 blotches (vs. 11–15 bars) along the flank, fewer (2 vs. 4) simple anal-fin rays, and supraorbital canal pores (7 vs. 9); and from P. elongata in having a longer caudal peduncle (12.9–16.7% SL vs. 11.3) and a shorter prepelvic length (46.8–53.2% SL vs. 53.8). The new species differs from P. chhimtuipuiensis in having a complete (vs. incomplete) lateral line, a filamentous extension (vs. lacking extension) of the second branched ray of the pectoral fin, a shorter head (lateral head length 19.4–22.8% SL vs. 23.0–25.9, dorsal head length 17.6–19.3% SL vs. 21.5–22.7), snout (32.9–40.6% HL vs. 42.0–45.0), a slender caudal peduncle (6.8–8.7% SL vs. 10.9–12.1), a narrower interorbital distance (21.2– 25.5% HL vs. 29.0–32.0) and absence (vs. presence) of scales between bases of pectoral-fin and on the belly. The new species and Physoschistura raoi are the only two members of the genus with a long pectoral fin extending up to the origin of the pelvic fin. In the new species, the pectoral fin is extended to the pelvic-fin origin or often beyond by means of a distal filamentous extension of the second branched ray (Figs. 9a & b). In case of P. raoi, the pectoral fin is large and long but lacking any filamentous extension of the fin rays (Fig. 9c). Further, the new species differs from P. raoi by its complete lateral line (vs. incomplete). The new species can be easily distinguished from P. rivulicola, P. chulabhornae, P. pseudobrunneana, and P. brunneana in having a complete (vs. incomplete) lateral line and the second branched ray of the pectoral fin filamentously extended (vs. lacking filamentous extension). It further differs from P. chulabhornae, P. pseudobrunneana, and P. brunneana in having (vs. lacking) a pelvic-fin lobe. Physoschistura harkishorei shares with P. tuivaiensis, P. chindwinensis, P. prashadi, P. tigrina, P. shanensis, P. shuangjiangensis and P. absumbra a complete lateral line; but is distinct from them by having (vs. lacking) a filamentous extension of the second branched ray of the pectoral fin. Further, P. harkishorei differs from P. tuivaiensis and P. chindwinensis in having a shorter snout (32.9–40.6% HL vs. 43.4–51.0) and head (lateral head length 19.4–22.8% SL vs. 23.1–27.3); from P. prashadi by its fewer (2–3 vs. 4) simple dorsal-fin rays, shorter snout (32.9–40.6% HL vs. 43.8–57.0), and narrower interorbital distance (21.2–25.5% HL vs. 28.2–40.1); from P. tigrina by its shorter snout (32.9–40.6% HL vs. 46.9–50.6), more slender body (13.3–15.9% SL vs. 17.0–19.0), caudal peduncle depth (6.8–8.7% SL vs. 9.8–11.0), and narrower interorbital distance (21.2–25.5% HL vs. 27.3– 29.2); from P. shanensis in having fewer branched pectoral-fin rays (9–10 vs. 12) and branched caudal-fin rays in the upper lobe (7vs. 8); from P. shuangjiangensis by its slender body (head depth at nape 11.3–13.4% SL vs. 13.9– 15.2, body depth 13.3–15.9% SL vs.17.9–20.5, caudal peduncle depth 6.8–8.7% SL vs. 11.0–13.1) and fewer branched caudal-fin rays in the upper lobe (7 vs. 9), and from P. absumbra in having an incomplete (vs. complete) basicaudal bar, a shorter head (dorsal head length17.6–19.3% SL vs. 23–25, lateral head length19.4–22.8% SL vs. 26–28), and a body colour pattern consisting of vertically elongated lateral spots or blotches (vs. regular bars).Published as part of Das, Debangshu Narayan & Darshan, Achom, 2017, Physoschistura harkishorei, a new species of loach from Arunachal Pradesh, north-eastern India (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae), pp. 403-412 in Zootaxa 4337 (3) on pages 404-409, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4337.3.5, http://zenodo.org/record/102498
Characterizations of Soil Layers Artificially Deposited on Glass and Photovoltaic Coupons
No full textabstract: The deposition of airborne dust, especially in desert conditions, is very problematic as it leads to significant loss of power of photovoltaic (PV) modules on a daily basis during the dry period. As such, PV testing laboratories around the world have been trying to set up soil deposition stations to artificially deposit soil layers and to simulate outdoor soiling conditions in an accelerated manner. This thesis is a part of a twin thesis. The first thesis, authored by Shanmukha Mantha, is associated with the designing of an artificial soiling station. The second thesis (this thesis), authored by Darshan Choudhary, is associated with the characterization of the deposited soil layers. The soil layers deposited on glass coupons and one-cell laminates are characterized and presented in this thesis. This thesis focuses on the characterizations of the soil layers obtained in several soiling cycles using various techniques including current-voltage (I-V), quantum efficiency (QE), compositional analysis and optical profilometry. The I-V characterization was carried out to determine the impact of soil layer on current and other performance parameters of PV devices. The QE characterization was carried out to determine the impact of wavelength dependent influence of soil type and thickness on the QE curves. The soil type was determined using the compositional analysis. The compositional data of the soil is critical to determine the adhesion properties of the soil layers on the surface of PV modules. The optical profilometry was obtained to determine the particle size and distribution. The soil layers deposited using two different deposition techniques were characterized. The two deposition techniques are designated as “dew” technique and “humidity” technique. For the same deposition time, the humidity method was determined to deposit the soil layer at lower rates as compared to the dew method. Two types of deposited soil layers were characterized. The first type layer was deposited using a reference soil called Arizona (AZ) dust. The second type layer was deposited using the soil which was collected from the surface of the modules installed outdoor in Arizona. The density of the layers deposited using the surface collected soil was determined to be lower than AZ dust based layers for the same number of deposition cycles.Dissertation/ThesisMasters Thesis Engineering 201
Effectiveness of Constructivist Approach to the Teaching of Animal Classification in Science and Technology of Standard Ninth
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