Is education the panacea for economic deprivation of Muslims? Evidence from wage earners in India, 1987-2005

Few researchers have examined the nature and determinants of earnings differentials among religious groups, and none has been undertaken in the context of conflict-prone multi-religious societies like the one in India. We address this lacuna in the literature by examining the differences in the average (log) earnings of Hindu and Muslim wage earners in India, during the 1987-2005 period. Our results indicate that education differences between Hindu and Muslim wage earners, especially differences in the proportion of wage earners with tertiary education, are largely responsible for the differences in the average (log) earnings of the two religious groups across the years. By contrast, differences in the returns to education do not explain the aforementioned difference in average (log) earnings. In conclusion, we discuss some policy implications

Development of passive radiation detectors of improved sensitivity

The future development of a solid track high energy particle detector is discussed. The goal is to improve the sensitivity and lower the threshold of the detector. One most widely used material for such purpose is a plastic commercially known as CR-39. A scheme is presented which involves changing the formula of the monomer, diethylene glycol-bis-allyl carbonate. This is to be accomplished by substituting some heteroatoms for H and substituting sulfur atoms for oxygen in the ether linkages. Use of a new plasticizer to make the etched surface clearer than what has been accomplished as of today is suggested. Possible improvement in acquiring better tracks and increasing the ratio of V sub T/V sub B was planned. This is to be accomplished by changing the composition of the etchants, etching time, and etching temperature

Is education the panacea for economic deprivation of Muslims? Evidence from wage earners in India, 1987-2005

Few researchers have examined the nature and determinants of earnings differentials among religious groups, and none has been undertaken in the context of conflict-prone multi-religious societies like the one in India. We address this lacuna in the literature by examining the differences in the average log earnings of Hindu and Muslim wage earners in India, during the 1987-2005 period. Our results indicate that education differences between Hindu and Muslim wage earners, especially differences in the proportion of wage earners with tertiary education, are largely responsible for the differences in the average log earnings of the two religious groups across the years. By contrast, differences in the returns to education do not explain the aforementioned difference in average log earnings. In conclusion, we discuss some policy implications

A Double Outburst from IGR J00291+5934: Implications for Accretion Disk Instability Theory

The accretion-powered millisecond pulsar IGR J00291+5934 underwent two ~10 d long outbursts during 2008, separated by 30 d in quiescence. Such a short quiescent period between outbursts has never been seen before from a neutron star X-ray transient. X-ray pulsations at the 599 Hz spin frequency are detected throughout both outbursts. For the first time, we derive a pulse phase model that connects two outbursts, providing a long baseline for spin frequency measurement. Comparison with the frequency measured during the 2004 outburst of this source gives a spin-down during quiescence of -4(1)x10^-15 Hz/s, approximately an order of magnitude larger than the long-term spin-down observed in the 401 Hz accretion-powered pulsar SAX J1808.4-3658. If this spin-down is due to magnetic dipole radiation, it requires a 2x10^8 G field strength, and its high spin-down luminosity may be detectable with the Fermi Large Area Telescope. Alternatively, this large spin-down could be produced by gravitational wave emission from a fractional mass quadrupole moment of Q/I = 1x10^{-9}. The rapid succession of the outbursts also provides a unique test of models for accretion in low-mass X-ray binaries. Disk instability models generally predict that an outburst will leave the accretion disk too depleted to fuel a second outburst after such a brief quiescence. We suggest a modification in which the outburst is shut off by the onset of a propeller effect before the disk is depleted. This model can explain the short quiescence and the unusually slow rise of the light curve of the second 2008 outburst.Comment: 17 pages, 8 figures; accepted by Ap

Quantum size effects in layered VX2 (X=S, Se, Te) materials: Manifestation of metal to semimetal or semiconductor transition

Most of the 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDC) are nonmagnetic in pristine form. However, 2D pristine VX2 (X=S, Se, Te) materials are found to be ferromagnetic. Using spin polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we have studied the electronic, magnetic and surface properties of this class of materials in both trigonal prismatic 2H- and octahedral 1T-phase. Our calculations reveal that they exhibit materially different properties in those two polymorphs. Most importantly, detailed investigation of electronic structure explored the quantum size effect in 2H-phase of these materials thereby leading to metal to semimetal (2H-VS2) or semiconductor (2H-VSe2, 2H-VTe2) transition when downsizing from bilayer to corresponding monolayer.Comment: 18 pages, 12 figures, 3 table

Fish guild structure along longitudinally determined ecological zonation of Teesta, an Eastern Himalayan River in West Bengal, India

The Eastern Himalaya Biodiversity Hotspot contains exceptional freshwater biodiversity and ecosystems that are of vital importance to local and regional livelihoods, but these are under threat from the developmental and anthropogenic pressures arising from the 62 million people living in the area. Therefore, monitoring the riverine health and considering future conservation approach, the study of fish biodiversity plays a significant role in this region. The River Teesta in the Brahmaputra basin in India forms one of the major rivers in the Eastern Himalayas. In the present investigation, we studied ecological fish guilds as they can enhance the usefulness of fish zonation concepts and serve as tools to assess and manage the ecological integrity of large rivers. We classified fish species according to their water flow preference and spawning substrate preference. Ten spawning habitats were identified, occurring in three water flow guilds. The most widely preferred habitat in upstream zones was lithophils while in lower stretches it was lithopleagophils. On applying predictions of the River Continuum Concept, our results indicated the presence of a zonation pattern based on fish species assemblage and their ecological attributes along the longitudinal stretch of the Teesta River in west Bengal. Along the longitudinal stretch of the river, species richness increased downstream, with maximum richness in the mid-reaches. However, species richness decreased further downstream. The number of ecological guilds also increased downstream, and there were clear shifts in the structure of the guilds.Estructura d’un gremi de peixos al llarg d’una zonació ecològica definida longitudinalment al riu Teesta de l’Himàlaia Oriental (Bengala Occidental, Índia) El ecosistema de gran riquesa (hotspot) de biodiversitat de l’Himàlaia Oriental conté una biodiversitat excepcional en aigua dolça i uns ecosistemes d’importància vital per a la subsistència de les comunitats locals i regionals, però tot això està amenaçat per la pressió antropogènica i de desenvolupament causada per l’existència d’una població de 62 milions de persones a la zona. Per tant, l’estudi de la biodiversitat piscícola exerceix un paper fonamental en aquesta regió com a forma de supervisió de la salut fluvial i d’avaluació de polítiques de conservació futures. El riu Teesta, a la conca índia del Brahmaputra, és un dels més importants de l’Himàlaia Oriental. En aquest estudi hem analitzat els gremis ecològics de peixos perquè això pot contribuir a millorar la utilitat dels conceptes de zonació i servir com a eina per avaluar i gestionar la integritat ecològica dels grans rius. Hem classificat les espècies de peixos en funció de la preferència que mostren per un segment determinat del curs fluvial i per un substrat de fresa. S’han identificat deu hàbitats de fresa que es donen en tres gremis de cursos fluvials. L’hàbitat preferit principalment al curs superior és el litòfil, mentre que al curs inferior és el litopleagòfil. Els resultats de l’aplicació de prediccions basades en el concepte de contínuum fluvial indiquen la presència de patrons de zonació basats en l’assemblatge d’espècies de peixos i els seus atributs ecològics al llarg d’un tram longitudinal del riu Teesta a Bengala Occidental. Al llarg del tram longitudinal del riu, la riquesa d’espècies augmenta aigua avall, amb valors màxims al curs mitjà, però la riquesa d’espècies es redueix al curs inferior. El nombre de gremis ecològics també augmenta aigua avall i es produeixen alteracions evidents en l’estructura dels gremis.Estructura de un gremio de peces a lo largo de una zonación ecológica definida longitudinalmente en el río Teesta del Himalaya Oriental (Bengala Occidental, India) El ecosistema de gran riqueza (hotspot) de biodiversidad del Himalaya Oriental contiene una biodiversidad excepcional en agua dulce y unos ecosistemas de vital importancia para la subsistencia de las comunidades locales y regionales, pero todo ello está amenazado por la presión antropogénica y de desarrollo provocada por la existencia de una población de 62 millones de personas en la zona. Por consiguiente, el estudio de la biodiversidad piscícola desempeña un papel fundamental en esta región como forma de supervisión de la salud fluvial y de evaluación de políticas de conservación futuras. El río Teesta, en la cuenca india del Brahmaputra, es uno de los mayores ríos del Himalaya Oriental. En el estudio actual hemos analizado los gremios ecológicos de peces ya que ello puede contribuir a mejorar la utilidad de los conceptos de zonación de los mismos y servir como herramienta para evaluar y gestionar la integridad ecológica de los grandes ríos. Hemos clasificado las especies de peces en función de su preferencia por un segmento determinado del curso fluvial y por un substrato de desove. Se han identificado diez hábitats de desove, que se dan en tres gremios de cursos fluviales. El hábitat preferido en mayor medida en el curso superior es el litófilo, mientras que en el curso inferior es el litopleagófilo. Al aplicar predicciones basadas en el concepto de continuum fluvial, nuestros resultados indican la presencia de patrones de zonación basados en el ensamblaje de especies de peces y sus atributos ecológicos a lo largo de un tramo longitudinal del río Teesta en Bengala Occidental. A lo largo del tramo longitudinal del río, la riqueza de especies aumenta aguas abajo, con valores máximos en el curso medio, pero la riqueza de especies se reduce en el curso inferior. El número de gremios ecológicos también aumenta aguas abajo, produciéndose claras alteraciones en la estructura de los gremios