Browse Items (1473 total)
Sort by:
-
-
-
Fabrication of electrochemical sensors for pharmaceuticals and biologically significant molecules
Newer properties of electrochemical sensors for various target molecules are being developed in continuum. Such sensors have attracted a lot of attention due to their simplicity, high sensitivity and trace-level detection of analytes in real samples. Sensor is a system that on stimulation by any form of energy undergoes change in its own state which helps to analyze the stimulant qualitatively and quantitatively. In the thesis studies presented, we have also described the development of electrochemical sensors for the determination of pharmaceuticals and biologically significant molecules. This can be achieved by modifying newlineelectrodes by electrochemical method. Electrode modifiers like metal nanoparticles dispersed on conducting polymers and carbon nanospheres were employed for modification of carbon fiber paper working electrode substrate. These modified electrodes were physicochemically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning newlineelectron microscopy (FESEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron newlinespectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemically characterized using Cyclic voltammetry and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). newlineThe modified electrodes have exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic behaviour towards oxidation or reduction of chosen analytes. These modified electrodes were used as electrochemical sensors after optimization of experimental conditions. Under optimal conditions, the sensors have displayed significantly an ultra-low level detection limit with wide linear response and high selectivity towards analyte in the newlinepresence of other interfering substances. newlineThe ultrasensitivity and reliability of the fabricated sensors towards analyte of interest were effectively determined in real samples. -
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse : A Protection Motivation Theory-Based Intervention for Mothers of Preadolescents
Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a growing concern in the world. Prevention of CSA in India is challenging due to deep rooted traditional values and beliefs. Sex and related matters newlineare difficult topics for parents to discuss. Lack of parental awareness leads to increased newlinerisk for CSA. Maternal care is the most influential aspect of child rearing and they need information and skills to educate children on sexual abuse. The literature review was based on Bloom s taxonomy for academic writing. The need for systematic and evidencebased approach in primary prevention was identified. The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)-based psycho education program in enhancing mothers knowledge, attitude and sense of parental competence among mothers. An interactive mixed-method design embedding quantitative and qualitative methods selected 72 mothers as participants from Kannur, Kerala. Mothers aged between 30-40 years who had preadolescent children (8-12 years) were assigned to control and experimental group. A facilitator s psycho education manual was developed embedding PMT constructs for the intervention. The quantitative results indicated significant differences between the groups for CSA knowledge and attitude. The impact of the intervention was moderate to high. The qualitative results indicated the benefits of intervention. Mothers have overcome communication blocks, misconceptions regarding CSA education are cleared, are aware of risks and warning signs and are confident to deal with CSA disclosure. The involvement of mothers in the prevention program was found to be effective in this study. The findings of this study have important implications for developing theory- based interventions for CSA prevention. The application of systematic evidence-based interventions promotes active engagement of participants for applying the learnt skills effectively. The culturally sensitive issues like CSA needs more contextual understanding of the problems to find effective solutions. -
-
A Posthuman Analysis of Human - Machine Relationship in Select American Science Fiction Films
The research A Posthuman Analysis of Human Machine Relationship in Select American Science Fiction Films attempts to foreground the emerging posthuman scenario brought about by the explosion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in contemporary life by analysing the posthuman representations achieved by depicting AI characters and their relationship with humans in the select American science fiction films. The primary texts for the study are Stephen Spielberg s AI: Artificial Intelligence (2001), Spike Jonze s Her (2013), Mathew Leutwyler s Uncanny (2015), and Drake Doremus Zoe (2018). The research analyses the posthuman newlinerepresentations in the select films using the methodological framework of philosophical posthumanism of Francesca Ferrando with its constituent elements of post-humanism, post-anthropocentrism, and post-dualism. The term posthuman in philosophical posthumanism refers to the critique of the notion of human preserved by the Western humanistic traditions. The three constitutive elements of philosophical posthumanism, namely, post-humanism, postanthropocentrism, and post-dualism, offer a revisit of the notion of human propagated by Western humanistic traditions and offer a renewed worldview of being human in the contemporary technocentric society where nonhuman agency is being widely newlinerecognized. From an epistemological perspective, this research adds to the evolving posthuman discussions, providing a new dimension to what it means to be a human and challenging the age-old assumptions about the human condition. -
A study on the self-esteem and social relations of adolescents with learning disability /
According to World Health Organization Learning disability is a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind. The most common learning disabilities are Dyslexia, Dyscalculia Dysgraphia, Auditory and Visual Processing Disorders and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities. Adolescents with learning difficulty have trouble expressing their feelings, calming themselves down, and reading non-verbal cues which can lead to difficulty in the classroom and with their peers. In India approximately 13 to 14 per cent of all school children suffer from learning disorders (Sadaket 2009). The social relationships of the adolescents with learning disability have a positive influence on their self esteem. It helps them to maintain a constructive relationship with their peers, teachers and parents. The study was focused to know the relationship of self esteem and social relation in adolescents with learning disability. The study was conducted among all the Adolescents with Learning Disability, in an alternative school in Bangalore. The size of the sample was 50 which include both genders and the sampling design was purposive sampling. -
-
-
-
The role of internal control and firm specific characteristics on firm value
Firm value is considered as a vital aspect in analysing a company s financial health. It is the total value of a company. This study determines the role of firm-specific characteristics such as firm size, firm age, newlineliquidity, firm complexity, board independence, institutional ownership, newlinenon-performing assets, annual volatility of stock returns, leverage and internal control represented by Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Big4 auditor on the firm value measured using Tobin s Q, Return On Equity (ROE) and Return On Assets (ROA). This proposition was addressed with the sound statistical investigation of 127 companies listed in the NSE financial services and manufacturing sectors by utilising annual newlinepanel data for 11 years from 2007-17. Regression results indicated that in the financial services sector, the purchasers consider firm size, firm age, liquidity, the volatility of stock returns and non-performing assets. ROA shows that the management has to focus on firm size, firm age and volatility of stock returns. ROE informs that the investors will look into newlinefirm size, firm age, institutional ownership, non-performing assets, leverage, firm complexity and volatility of stock returns. Whereas in the manufacturing sector, the purchasers focus on adoption of ERM, firm size, firm age and liquidity. ROA showed that management has to give importance to ERM, firm size, firm age, firm complexity, liquidity, and leverage. ROE revealed that the investors look into firm size, firm newlinecomplexity, liquidity and leverage. These findings are of particular interest newlineto investors, researchers and practising managers in the financial services and manufacturing sector. -
-
-
-
Numerical Analysis of durability in high temperature polymerelectrolyte Membrane fuel cell based on acid basedpolybenzimidazole Membrane
The world requirement for renewable energy for a sustainable future is a topic of
great interest. Among such renewable energy, hydrogen is used as an energy carrier in the fuel cell. Among different fuel cell types, the high-temperature proton
exchange membrane fuel cell (HT-PEMFC) has attracted many researchers due to
its wide variety of applications. HT-PEMFC must be further studied to enhance its
performance and durability to meet the energy requirements.
In the present study, a three-dimensional non-isothermal model is developed to
numerically investigate the durability and performance of a HT-PEMFC. The developed model is validated against the experimental data available in literature. A
spatial characterization of CO poisoning in HT-PEMFC is carried out to investigate
the spatial resolution of the polarization curves, H2 concentration, current density,
and anode polarization loss. A graded cathode catalyst structure is studied to enhance the oxygen reduction reaction. The study reveals that the multiple graded
CLs improve performance but leads to uneven current distribution, and high Pt loading downstream signifcantly improves uniformity in the current distribution. The
study also proposes a hybrid catalyst structure to enhance performance and current distribution. The effect of various degrees of misalignment of flow feld plates
and its concomitant impact with varying the clamping pressures on HT-PEMFC operation is investigated to analyze the electrochemical behavior, reactant distribution, heat transport, electric transport, and cell performance and also suggests
the allowable misalignment tolerance. The proton conductivity numerical model for
cage-like cross-linked membranes for enhanced proton conductivity in HT-PEMFC
is developed to give a detailed and fundamental understanding of the polarization
phenomena and species transport. Sensitivity analysis of operational parameters of
HT-PEMFC is carried out to investigate the influential sensitivities of crucial operating parameters on evaluation index such as cell voltage, a standard deviation
of current density distribution, a mean and standard deviation of overpotentials of
anode and cathode at different operating current density regimes. The present research explores the possible improvement and enhancement in cell performance and
uniform species distribution to enhance cell performance and durability. -
-
-
A Study on the Entrepreneurial Traits and Characteristics of Waste Pickers and Their Contributions to the Economy and Ecology
Solid waste is problem created by mankind due to thoughtless consumerism and actions. But for surprise, a group of people of the same mankind is working day and night without support, acceptance or even without the consideration that they are also human being, to reduce the same problem. They are called waste pickers. The study intends to describe the aspects/qualities possessed by waste pickers to carry out waste picking and recycling for their existence. A sample of hundred waste pickers (n=100) were involved in completing the interview schedule to identify their entrepreneurship qualities and their contributions to economy and ecology, for the study a schedule which contain demographic and occupational details along with entrepreneurship audit and entrepreneurial traits Center (Vasant Desai) was used.. The ANOVA test helped to know whether there is a significant difference in the entrepreneurial trait among different variables. T-test analysis was used to compare entrepreneurial trait score and entrepreneurship characteristics score with independent sample variations. All statistical computations were carried out using SPSS. Results revealed that majority of the waste pickers are with innate qualities of entrepreneurs and they are largely contributing to economy and ecology. It also reveals facts related to demographic details like gender, education types of residents and duration in this occupation etc. They reveal that they get lot of public abuse and not at all getting any support. -
Effect of coriolis force and gravity modulation on the onset of Rayleigh-Benard convection in weak electrically conducting boussinesq-stokes suspension /
The effect of coriolis force and gravity modulation of small amplitude on a weak electrically conducting Boussinesq- Stokes suspension is investigated by using a linear stability analysis. A regular perturbation method is used to arrive at an expression for the correction Rayleigh number. The Venezian approach is adopted in arriving at the critical Rayleigh and wave number for small amplitudes of gravity modulation. The effect of role of Couple stress parameter, Taylor number and Hartmann number on the onset of convection is studied. The system is most stable with respect to gravity modulation. -
Meaning-making and psychological well-being of persons living with human immunodeficiency virus
being diagnosed with a life-threatening such as HIV or cancer can be often traumatic. It can also have other devastating impact on a person's life. Earlier researches on Persons Living with HIV (PLHIV) have found that HIV infection is a medical and existential crisis. PLHIV go through psychological trauma as well as social problems suck as depression, stigma,poverty and marginalization in India and elsewhere.