SPATIO-TEMPORAL VARIATION OF MERCURY IN BIDYADHARI RIVER OF SUNDARBAN DELTA, INDIA

Bidyadhari river originates in Nadia district of West Bengal, India and then flows through North 24 Parganas district and now serves as a sewage and excess rainwater outlet from the city of Kolkata and adjacent area, which ultimately empties at the Bay of Bengal through the Indian Sundarban delta. Four different stations situated around the course of the river at considerable distances have been selected from the outfall of sewage canals at Kulti-Ghushighata (S1), where metropolitan sewages discharged and mixed up into water of Bidyadhari river, which ultimately carried through this river via stations Malancha (S2), Kanmari (S3) to Dhamakhali (S4), just before the river confluences with the larger Raimangal river at northern Sundarban delta. This study was conducted to estimate total mercury (Hg) concentration in waters (during high tides and ebb tides) and sediments of Bidyadhari river in pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons during the period from March, 2012 to February, 2013 at those stations. It is revealed from the estimated data that agricultural runoff, sewage, effluents from various industries and Kolkata metropolitan, Salt Lake City and adjacent areas of North 24 Parganas district carried and discharged in Bidyadhari river through sewage canals are not so high in mercury content for sediment contamination but alarming in respect of water quality, which crosses the permissible limit of Hg for consumption (0.001 ppm) in wide range of areas at Kanmari and Dhamakhali around the estuary. Enhancement of Hg level in this river water and transportation of the metal through tidal effects to and fro mangrove land of Sundarban may be dangerous for aquatic lives and supposed to be grave concern for the ecology of the Sundarban delta including human

Synergistic effect on static and dynamic mechanical properties of carbon fiber-multiwalled carbon nanotube hybrid polycarbonate composites

Carbon fiber (CF) and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced hybrid micro-nanocomposites are prepared through melt mixing followed by injection moulding. The synergistic effect on both the static and dynamic mechanical properties with MWCNT/aMWCNT and CF reinforcement in a polycarbonate matrix is investigated by utilizing dynamic mechanical analysis, and flexural and tensile measurements. The enhancement in the flexural modulus and strength of the composite specimens as compared to pure PC for maximum loading of CF is 128.40% and 39.90%, respectively, which further improved to 142.94% and 42.60%, respectively, for CF-functionalized MWCNTs. Similarly, the storage modulus of the composite specimens reinforced with a maximum loading of CF and CF-functionalized MWCNTs show an increment of 176.57% and 203.33%, respectively over pure PC at 40 degrees C. Various types of parameter such as the coefficient C factor, degree of entanglement and adhesion factor have been calculated to analyze the interaction between fillers and the polymer matrix. Composite specimens containing 2 wt% of functionalized MWCNTs show a lower C value than the as-synthesized MWCNTs, which is indicative of a higher effectiveness of functionalized MWCNT-containing composite specimens. These results are well supported by optical microscopy and Raman spectroscopy by confirming the distribution of reinforcement

Interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in K-doped EuFe2As2

Superconductivity is found in 50% K-doped EuFe2As2 sample below 33 K. Our results of electrical resistivity, magnetic susceptibility and 57Fe and 151Eu Mossbauer spectroscopy provide clear evidence that the ordering of the Fe moments observed at 190 K in undoped EuFe2As2 is completely suppressed in our 50% K doped sample, thus there is no coexistence between the Fe magnetic order and the superconducting state. However, short range ordering of the Eu moments is coexisting with the superconducting state below 15 K. A bump in the susceptibility well below Tc as well as a slight broadening of the Fe Mossbauer line below 15 K evidence an interplay between the Eu magnetism and the superconducting state.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figure

Credit Channel of Monetary Transmission in India - How Effective and Long is the Lag?

This paper examined the operation of credit channel of monetary policy transmission in India during the post-LAF period of 2001:3 to 2011:3. Drawing on the literature, two reduced form equations, one representing nominal bank credit and the other real bank credit was estimated following an approach similar to Hendry’s general-to-specific method. It finds that, besides the positive influence of economic activity on bank credit, policy induced expansion or contraction in deposit or money supply makes banks to adjust their credit portfolio correspondingly. Importantly, the credit channel of monetary transmission is found to be significant and robust. Specifically, the transmission of policy rate to nominal or real bank credit growth takes about seven months over the full sample period as well as across various sub-sample periods. Over the full sample period, 100 basis points increase in policy rate was found to reduce the annualised growth in nominal and real bank credit by 2.78 per cent and 2.17 per cent, respectively. However, a decline in the magnitude of the impact of policy interest rate on bank credit has been observed during the post global financial crisis period

Elements of Violence in Anna Burns’ Milkman

This paper explores the intricate layers of violence in Anna Burns’ Milkman, set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Through a meticulous analysis, the study delves into how Burns portrays the pervasive and multifaceted nature of violence, not only as a physical force but as a socio-political and psychological phenomenon deeply embedded in the lives of individuals and communities. Drawing on theories from Antonio Gramsci, Michel Foucault, Slavoj Žižek, Judith Butler, and other critical thinkers, the paper examines the ways in which power, surveillance, and societal norms perpetuate structural, symbolic, and normative violence. The protagonist’s struggle to navigate a society governed by fear, suspicion, and rigid social codes reflects the broader tensions of a divided nation. By situating Milkman within these theoretical frameworks, this study reveals how the novel transcends its historical setting to offer a universal commentary on the human condition under systemic oppression

Effectiveness of Pilates Exercise and Conventional Exercise on Trunk and Postural Stability in Collegiate Basketball Players

Introduction: To study the effects of Pilates exercise and conventional exercise on trunk and postural stability in collegiate basketball players. Objectives: To determine the effects of pilates exercise on trunk and postural stability in collegiate basketball players. To determine the effects of conventional exercise on trunk and postural stability in collegiate basketball players. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental design of pre and post-test type. The study duration was for 6 weeks, age between 18-25 years and the study conducted on university players. The modified star excursion balance test and double leg lowering test was used as the outcome measures to evaluate the postural control and core muscle strength. Subjects were explained about the training protocols. Procedure: Subjects in Group-A underwent Pilates exercise and Group-B underwent conventional exercise. The data was collected prior to the training program as well at the end of the training program. A combination of mobility and stability is required by active people for optimal functional performance and for the correction of poor posture, muscle imbalances and poor biomechanics. The concept of trunk mobility and stability contributing to improved performance was used in training and rehabilitating athletes today. Conclusions: The Pilates exercise shows better improvement than the conventional exercise in trunk and postural stability. So, it is concluded that Pilates exercise training is recommended to improve trunk and postural stability of collegiate basketball players

A Note on Differential Asymmetric Effects of Money Supply and Policy Rate Shocks in India

The paper attempts to analyse the asymmetric effects of money supply and policy rate shocks in India using quarterly data from 1996-97Q1 to 2011-12Q4. It finds that both the shocks impact real output growth and inflation in the short-run, but have a differential impact among components of aggregate demand. An unanticipated hike/cut in policy rate has a symmetric impact of reducing/increasing GDP growth arising due to a corresponding symmetric impact on investment growth only. In contrast, an unanticipated increase/decrease in money supply has an asymmetric impact– only an unanticipated increase in money supply increases private consumption growth and GDP growth, while there is no impact on the other components aggregate demand. An unanticipated hike/reduction in policy rate leads to a symmetric decline/rise in inflation. An unanticipated change in money supply leads to higher inflation, but a similar decrease in it has no significant impact on inflation

Estimating Impacts of Monetary Policy on Aggregate Demand in India

Using a structural VAR model on quarterly data from 2000Q1 to 2011Q1, this paper estimated the impact of monetary policy on aggregate demand in India. The overall impact on aggregate demand is then decomposed to observe the differential impact among the various components. It finds that an interest rate hike has a significant negative impact on the growth of aggregate demand. However, the maximum impact is borne by investment demand growth and imports growth. Impact on private consumption growth and exports growth are relatively far more subdued, while there is hardly any cumulative impact on government consumption growth as it increases after some marginal fall initially. Variance decomposition analysis indicates that interest rate accounts for a significant percentage of the fluctuation in the growth of all the components of aggregate demand, except government consumption. Further, interest rate channel completely dominates exchange rate channel in monetary transmission, though the latter channel has non-negligible impact on investment and imports

Are there Asymmetric Effects of Monetary Policy in India?

The paper attempts to analyse asymmetric effects of monetary policy in India using quarterly data from 1996-97Q1 to 2011-12Q4. It finds that an unanticipated hike and an unanticipated cut in policy rate have a symmetric impact of on real GDP growth, but differentially impact the components of real aggregate demand. While the impact on real investment is symmetric, it is asymmetric on real private and government consumption in that while an unanticipated cut in policy rate leads to their increase, an unanticipated hike in policy rate has no impact on them. The impact on inflation is also symmetric. An anticipated policy rate change also has a negative impact on real GDP growth as well as on the components of real aggregate demand, except for real government consumption. However, there are ranges where anticipated policy rate changes become neutral to components of aggregate demand and, thus, on inflation, ranging from 6.25 per cent to 7.0 per cent

Have Economic Reforms Affected Exchange Rate Pass-Through to Prices in India?

This paper examines the behaviour of exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices in India after the reforms initiated in the early 1990s. Unlike observed in several countries, it finds a rise in exchange rate pass-through to domestic prices until recent years. Besides economic factors typically associated with economic liberalisation, the persistence of higher inflation is an important factor for the rise in pass-through