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Sustainable River water quality is to be maintained and it is the responsibility of all concerned stakeholders. The prime objective of Hydrology Project of Government of India is to ensure the river water quality and quantity by continuous capacity building and development of relevant both structural infrastructure (such as water quality laboratories) and cyber infrastructure (such as Decision Support Systems). Engineers and scientists working in the area of water quality need to be open minded with the ever uplifting attitude of lifelong learning to upskill with the ever-evolving relevant software and hardware technologies. Dissolved oxygen in rivers is essential for sustainability of aquatic life. Twelve year annual mean values from 2003 to 2014 of Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Nitrates, Biochemical Oxygen Demand and Temperature at nine stations along Krishna River are considered. Four types of models with varied input variables are developed in Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) using Microsoft Excel and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) using nonlinear autoregressive model Artificial neural network identification model (NARX-ANN) to predict the dissolved oxygen. Levenberg – Marquardt Method (LMM) algorithm is used. The performances of both methods are compared. This paper takes care of Goal 6 of United Nations Sustainable Development of ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all as river water quality prediction is involved. ANN model with Mean Square Error (MSE) of 0.01 and R value of 0.987 is adopted. MLR model with R value of 0.574 is adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Completed in January 2022, the 2.1 km long 12.2 m dia. twin-bore Mumbai Coastal Road tunnel is the country's largest ever constructed using a tunnel boring machine. It is also India's first undersea tunnel embracing all current international design and operational standards. This paper describes Mumbai's unique hydrogeological conditions and its impact on the choice of tunnelling machine. It then discusses the logistics of transporting the huge machine through one of the world's most congested cities; the decisions made in its assembly, lowering and relaunch; and how overall tunnelling challenges were overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most predominant and widely practiced methods for waste disposal are Landfill, Incineration, and composting. There is a scarcity of land for waste disposal and because of increasing land cost, recycling and utilization of industrial by-products and waste materials has become an attractive proposition to waste disposal. There are several types of industrial by-products and waste materials. The utilization of such materials in concrete not only decreases the overall cost of construction but also helps in reducing disposal concerns. One such industrial by-product is waste foundry sand (WFS). The annual production is about 3 million tons from different industries in India. In the metal casting process, foundry industries dispose of huge quantities of waste sand into landfills, causing a harmful impact on the environment. The silica-based spent foundry sands from iron, steel, and aluminum foundries are evaluated in the risk assessment. This paper mainly focuses on achieving concrete for EOT (Early Open to Traffic) rigid pavements with WFS along with the use of accelerator and super-plasticizer. Effects of WFS on concrete properties such as compressive strength and split tensile strength are presented. Two types of mix proportions were investigated in this study. FDOT (Florida Department of transportation) and IRC (Indian Road Congress) recommendations were adopted for mix proportions using 5% & 10% of WFS replaced partially for M-Sand. 1-day compressive strength for FDOT mix with 10% WFS was 30MPa & for IRC mix with 10%, WFS was 20 MPa. The 3-days strength for mixtures with 10% WFS was 45MPa & 47MPa for FDOT & IRC mix proportions, respectively. Though the strength decreased with the inclusion of WFS, the 1-day and 3-days strength achieved for mixtures with 10% WFS surpassed the minimum strength requirements as per the slab replacement guidelines. Normally the pavement will be open to traffic after three to four days of laying asphalt, this method of using foundry sand enables the pavements to be open to traffic inless than a day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pottery in the form of artistic expression, is one of the important ways of communicating the traditional knowledge and information as it communicates valuable information about the human past with the help of earthen made vessels and idols. It has communicated the information even before technology has made a room for science communication. Science Communication incorporates the communication among groups within the scientific community, counting those in academic world and industry. The academician from science and social science background has got many valuable information from pottery and so is the government, media (including museums and science centers) and general public. Therefore, Pottery talks and communicates the information. This paper will focus on preserving the pottery in India: A traditional medium of science Communication, as community associated with it, known as Kumhar are losing interest eventually in practicing pottery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this 21st century, researchers and engineers are using several waste and useless products. These waste materials obtained from agriculture or industries. Rice husk ash, sludge, fly ash and fly ash are waste materials used in concrete mix as supplement of cement. All these waste materials enhanced the mechanical and physical properties of concrete mix. Nowadays Sugarcane bagasse ash is getting the more attention of researcher due its fineness and help to improve the setting properties, strength properties and corrosion retardant. India has sugarcane production about the 341.20 MMT (million metric ton), secured second position in world after the Brazil. Sugarcane peel left as a residue afterthe production of sugar. In this review article, author reviewed several research papers based on uses of bagasse ash in concrete mix. Bagasse ash enhanced the tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength the durability and Chloride ion penetration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Precast Steel Reinforced Concrete (PSRC) structural frame systems for moment-resisting, comprised of Prefabricated Steel (S) girders and Precast Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) columns. This structural system has the advantage of inherent stiffness and damping during a seismic event. PSRC moment-resisting frame system is also known for its construction efficiency, lightweight and low-cost. Earlier investigations have shown PSRC systems useful in designing and constructing the buildings while maintaining ample strength and high ductility during seismic incidents. Despite much previous research on it, the use of the PSRC structural system in India is still limited. Previous studies have accepted a vital need to review thorough structural systems using experiment and analytical studies-to validate the understanding collected till date and act as evidence of concept for the PSRC moment-resisting frame system. This paper aims to facilitate more recognition and use of the PSRC structural system as a feasible choice to traditional RCC lateral resisting systems. Two structures are studied to evaluate low-rise PSRC and RCC structures' performance during maximum considered earthquake events. These consist of typical steel beams and Precast R.C. columns frame buildings. Four-story PSRC buildings are designed according to Indian Codes of practice. Design columns under provisions of Indian reinforced concrete structures code, and beams are designed according to Indian steel construction code. The comparative studies for the two buildings are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electricity is the way of the future, and it is already here. The revolution of the automobile industry has accelerated globally in recent years. Electric Vehicles (EV's) are gaining great popularity in India and throughout the globe, however there is still significant resistance in adoption of EV's due to its poor range, long charging hours and less effective charging infrastructure. So, compared to the adoption of Fully Electric Vehicles (FEV), Hybrid vehicles may be fast and readily adopted because of their benefits such as high load capacity, high gradability, no range anxiety etc. Hybrid electric vehicle rider can experience the advantages of both fossil fuel and electricity powered technology. An innovative way for transforming an IC engine scooter into a hybrid (petrol and electric) powered scooter is provided in this paper. Techno-economic calculations are carried out for the converted vehicle, as well as the observations and results of range tests, top speed and acceleration tests are given. The road-load coefficients were also estimated. During the conversion process rear wheel is integrated with a single side shaft BLDC Hub Motor, which improves the scooter's dynamic stability. The scooter's power electronics and Li-ion battery pack are safely placed within the scooter's exterior body. This cost-effective hybrid scooter conversion methodology combines the benefits of a petrol and electric scooter. The battery gets charged while the hybrid electric vehicle is running on petrol mode. This hybrid electric scooter includes regenerative braking technology as well as parking assist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emission-free economy is an achievable target with the formulation of policies by the Governments around the globe. A major contribution is made by the transport industry. Delhi is one of the examples among the cities in India which is polluting the air by transportation which is about 20 percent. Towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, the nation has to take a different trajectory from concentrating on the technical aspect of reducing the hazardous emissions to refining the regulatory awareness. The research study is based on the statistical inputs provided by the government agencies and the judicial verdicts seeking a pollution free atmosphere. The Judiciary has been proactively recommending and directing the respective government to take necessary action towards controlling the pollution caused due to road transport. Nevertheless, the use of Artificial Intelligence has been an area which has not been strongly recommended by the apex court. The regulatory and judicial control over the emissions is towards a penalizing perspective and the technological assistance has not been resorted to. Though a one hundred percent emission-free economy is not a possibility, the areas which are still not explored or have not been brought under the purview of consideration have been the scope of study in the research paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past few years, the South Peninsular India (SPI) is facing natural calamities in terms of rainfall extremes. With the advent of satellite datasets, the challenges in the prediction of rainfall have improved to some extent. In this paper, effort has been made to evaluate Climate Prediction Center (CPC)-South Asia data set, CPC Morphing Technique (CMORPH) against observed Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) daily precipitation data over SPI. Different statistical indices including 4 categorical indices were used to assess the capability of the product in estimating precipitation extent and rainfall occurrence prediction of monsoon season from 2014 – 2020. Results suggest a strong correlation (0.8), Index of Agreement (0.9) and Kling Gupta Efficiency Index (0.7) between the predicted and observed data. Higher value of Probability of Detection (POD), Critical Success Index (CSI) and a lower value of False Alarm Ratio (FAR) implies the strong capability of CMORPH in the precipitation estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil nailing is a versatile construction technique used in stabilizing natural as well as man-made earth slopes. In Europe, this technique was initially developed and probable in various provinces. Now, this technique is widely used worldwide and used in India also. The process of soil nailing is simply embracing reinforcement for passively strengthening soil slopes. The soil nailing is mostly incumbent on the method of construction as well as the type and nature of soil or rock. The nail bending, dilation, soil moisture, overburden pressure, grout pressure, and nail roughness also affect the soil nail resistance. This paper aims to explore some important ideas or state of the art on ground improvement techniques, such as nailed soil slope and systematic techniques prolonged by a broad investigation of the method of slope stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanofluids are suspensions of nanoparticles with a minimum size of 100 nanometers or less. A decade of investigation into this composite material's wet-spreading properties, antibacterial activity, and other unique characteristics has attracted scientific interest. Nanofluids' enhanced features and behavior may benefit many industries such as chemical and process, transportation, electronics, medicine, energy and the environment. This includes device optimization and continuous improvements. Nanofluids have recently acquired prominence due to their ability to increase heat and mass transfer. The reported enhancements in nanofluids' mass diffusion and convective mass transfer coefficients are considerably larger than those observed in heat transfer research. This research concentrates on the most significant advancements in nanofluids and their fluid flow properties and their applicability in a variety of engineering fields. This investigation focuses on current nanofluid applications in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering, solar energy, sustainable architectural design, wastewater treatment, transportation, and industrial cooling. In addition, the importance of clinical imaging including the use of nanofluids in it were investigated and the colloidal drug administration and nanofluids are covered as well. Furthermore, to further examine and evaluate the term "nanofluids" and its engineering applications in different countries worldwide from 1997 to 2022, this article analyzed Scopus publications to do a statistical representation of published works in this field. According to the results, nanofluids applications are of particular importance to India and Iran, as shown by the 2476 and 2131 published papers, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India is in the midst of a water crisis, with the country's population expected to face severe water scarcity by 2025. With rising population expansion and development, different means for ensuring water availability must be seriously examined. Greywater management, which is defined as all sources of residential wastewater except toilet wastewater (Blackwater), is becoming increasingly significant, particularly in rural regions, where poor wastewater management is one of the leading causes of pollution and fatal diseases. Greywater reuse, when done correctly, has a lot of potential as an alternative water source for things like irrigation and toilet flushing. The 'Constructed Wetland (CW) system' is a solution that has proven to be particularly effective in recycling greywater. The various treatment technologies for greywater treatment are discussed in this paper. The possibilities for reuse of treated greywater are also discussed in the article. The eco-friendly nature, low capital investment, zero energy requirements and O&M hassle free approach in CW clearly identifies it as a sustainable alternative to conventional treatment systems for greywater management in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In its simplest form, a pandemic like Covid-19 progresses roughly according to a logistical law – exponentially at first till a peak rate is reached and then the curve turns and finally levels off. However, this textbook feature is interrupted by lockdowns, other pandemic mitigating protocols, and the emergence of new variants and so the picture becomes complex with multiple wavelike interferences. In this paper, we identify two components – the death rate per million of population (N) and the fractional rate of change (f) at each stage. We propose a series of hierarchically ordered indicators with a final second-order indicator X = f2N. This serves as a single number metric summarising the criticality of the rate of progress of the pandemic at that stage. We use as examples, the progress of Covid-19 at the global level, and within India. This helps to reveal the complex features of the evolution of a pandemic in a region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With current trends of going IT Industry employment in India and work from home culture in these IT industries, IT risk management is seeking a great change and thus need of new framework is paramount in current perspective. This paper examines the existing most of IT risk management frameworks and tries to find some solution with respect to the recent developments in IT industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper is meant with an comprehensive study to understand the bending behavior of ferrocement slabs which is put through various loading conditions. The idea of composite slabs with proper closed decking along with connectors that can resist shear has a good developed way. In developing countries like India the usage of composite slabs has not reached its full extent because of the constraints in fabrication, exposure resistance to climate and other beauty aspects. The depth of conventional R.C.C slabs normally used for ceilings and floor diaphragms may range from 100 to 500mm thick. Slabs of minimal thickness are used only for road slab paving. The usage of raft foundation is becoming common in the current times. These are used for constructing high rise buildings and multifloor structures. In which a large concrete bed is made and the entire structure is being built on it. The raft entirely lies on the bed of soil. This raft is of heavy depth and self weight. Steps can be taken to reduce the depths of these slabs. Ferrocement panels acts as both as formworks and as load bearing component in the structure and these types of slabs reduces the depth of elements to a good extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has been known for practicing Yoga which is embedded into its culture and heritage since times immemorial as a gateway to good health and wellness. It is India that has given to the world Yoga and Ayurveda – the two prominent therapies. The sedentary life style that was deemed to be a threat to the healthy life-style at the fag end of 20th century has emerged as a monster in the 21st century with a host of life style diseases in the form of a number of health disorders like cardiac ailments, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, carcinoma, and mental disorders etc that the world suffers from. The 21st century life style is full of stress and strain to the nearly 8 billion habitants of this planet. It is this stress which originates from a response to any stimuli which causes an alteration in the way body functions. The bodily changes involve both physical as well as psychological changes. Whenever there is an alteration in the way normal body functioning happens, a series of detrimental effects emerge in the human body and it not merely at physical level. Such changes happen at mental level too. Through this paper, an attempt is being made to introduce the concept of pranayama (a form of yoga which comprises deep rhythmic breathing in controlled manner). The basic tenet in pranayama is two way relationship between emotion and breathing. That means, it is not only emotions which impact our breathing, but by way of controlling rhythmic breathing through yoga, we can positively alter emotions too. The study involved human subjects who willingly agreed to be a part of particular experimentation involving practice of nadi shodhan pranayama (alternate nostril breathing) for 18 weeks. The outcome: there was a significant improvement by 22% in the health, a substantial gain in memory power by 19.15%, a reduction in the mental stress levels by 21.23% and 24.86 were relieved of their physical discomforts belonging to Generation Z in the pre- and post-nadi shodhan pranayama practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all countries who are signatories to the Paris Agreement have made their commitment to 'Net Zero' emissions. India has also pledged to net zero emissions by 2070 and to achieve non –fossil fuel energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030. Several renewable and green energy solutions are being actively explored. One major source of greenhouse emissions is the main propulsion engine of vehicles including military vehicles, ships, and aircrafts. While efforts are on to use hydrogen energy and batteries for main power train and Auxiliary Power Units, viability of APUs working on green technology like Fuel Cells for big trucks, buses, planes, ports, ships etc. is also being actively explored. Unlike battery powered APUs which provide fixed runtime and depend on main diesel engines for recharge, fuel cell APUs can provide quiet and environment friendly power non-stop till fuel is provided. Their immediate integration using on board fuel and their versatility to work on a variety of green fuels makes them an attractive option. A lot of resources have been invested in Polymer Electrolyte based Fuel Cell Auxiliary Power Units to develop the same as a viable alternative to existing Auxiliary Power Units. This paper discusses the technological status and cost viability of Auxiliary Power Units using PEFCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the Government, India has transformed to digital innovation but still during the spike of covid-19 cases, the country suffered due to a lack of health record management. It is therefore the need of the time to introduce an architecture that can transform the health care industry of the country. A framework must be introduced that can help in maintaining a patient's medical history so that in case of regular checkups as well as emergencies, Digital Asset in the form of health data can be utilized. The block chain is the most advanced technology to store medical transactions in the form of a ledger. In this paper, we explore how block chain can facilitate the patients while also protecting their data and giving them proper rights with transparency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking the premise that construction or meaning making largely depends on the existing knowledge and experience, this paper uses an analogy of learning the culinary art and learning to teach. This paper attempts to clarify the characteristics of signature pedagogy of teacher education focusing on the threshold concept of constructivism by using the analogy of culinary skills as the contextual/environmental element. It is assumed that the analogy helps the student teachers to comprehend the meaning of the abstract idea of constructivism because in the cultural context of Kerala most student teachers are clear about what it means to learn how to learn cooking. This paper fits into the theme of this conference as future teachers and teacher educators would learn how to relate something as abstract as constructivism with something intimately connected with life and cultural environment as learning to nourish oneself and the younger ones. While cooking facilitates nourishment of body, teaching facilitates learning and development of mind. Building upon the analogy between these two essential process of sustaining and developing human life and culture, this paper augments its arguments with the concepts of signature pedagogy and threshold concepts and elaborates on how these ideas would help to further clarify and improve the theory and practice of constructivism in teacher education. [This paper was published in "Environmental Psychology: Perspectives on Teacher Education" p19-28 2017 (ISBN 978-81-933464-0-2).]

The end of the twentieth century and the beginning of the new millennium are marked by artistic writings, theory and theoretical criticism on post-coloniality, migration, diaspora and transnationalism. William Safran's (1991) characterisation of diaspora from 1991, imposing the existence of a migratory group for diaspora to even be accepted, has been long debated, re-assessed, and re-interpreted with some theorists taking diasporas to the global level, some others emphasising the inevitable hybrid nature of diasporans' identities and the 'in-between', 'Third Space' that they inhabit (Bhabha, 1994). Some others have questioned the very validity of recent diasporas, as opposed to 'classic' diasporas, due to their widespread conceptual extension generative of lack of density and of substance for diaspora. In this paper, the researcher, aware of the processes of 'diasporic homing' and of how diasporans may or may not negotiate their cultural affiliations in the diasporic space, sets to explore modalities through which diasporans re-consider 'home' by gradually becoming part of a de-diasporisation process (Laguerre, 2006). This article is an analysis of director Sange Dorjee Thongdok's Crossing Bridges (2013), a film that challenges theories according to which diasporans negotiate their home and space in the diaspora. Instead, it follows the experience of a multi-lingual multi-cultural man who re-discovers the homeland, involuntarily getting involved in a whole system of de-diasporisation within the home. The type of diaspora alluded to in the film is internal diaspora while the protagonist's diasporic thinking and consciousness are equally investigated in the context of post migration homeland. The paper also insists on the particularity of internal diaspora with the protagonist shifting between ethnic and national identities, languages and cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exponential growth or up-gradation in technologies, requirements for working or learning from home during COVID-19, manufacturers competition in releasing new electronic gadgets and devices that serves the consumers comfort and a declivity in services has contributed to an increase in the e-waste or waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) generation rates. In order to attain the goal and objectives, the following qualitative methods were used: a content analysis of the recent scientific and professional literature available, secondary data research of governmental reports, and industry databases. The study is based on scientific papers published by scholars, reports from governmental and industry bodies. This paper has discussed the generation of e-waste in India and its main constituents. The study was conducted in October and November 2021. The study includes a general screening of more than 100 publications covering the period 2010- 2021 and a reading of more than 20 selected publications, including the cited literature and each citation. The paper launches a discussion of previous research on e-waste management, suggests ideas for further research, and expands the literature to the optimal utilization of e-waste. Furthermore, aspects related to the effect on the health due to e-waste and current practices in handling e-waste in the country. In particular, the current regulatory directives in India and how these regulations, control the authorized recycler is also discussed. Finally, the author conducted a T-test to study the relationship between the literacy and formal recycling centres in their states of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is based on the retrospective reviews of the Information Systems study group who went on the international study tour to India to learn, network and collaborate with academics, students and industry professionals overseas. The paper addresses concerns of local Australian Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics recruiters and identifies how a well-planned educational study tours could in the future help graduates meet industry and recruiters' demands. It furthermore identifies that 21st century international business ventures and global partnerships require future graduates to not only be skillful in their professions but also be global citizens, know and understand different cultures, easily adapt to new environments, skillfully negotiate business deals, mindfully communicate and swiftly learn to apply and follow local rules, customs and regulations. [For full proceedings, see ED571459.]

In this study, we explore the possibilities of utilizing and implementing an e-Education platform for Indian school-level curricula. This study will demonstrate how the e-Education platform provides a positive result to the students' learning and how this tool helps in managing the overall teaching processes efficiently. Before describing the overview of this e-Education methodology, the current Indian education policies, and the curriculum implementation strategy in School-Level education will be discussed. We will extend our opinions on current state-of-the-art e-Learning methodologies employed in Finnish educational institutions and pursue a comparative study on Indo-Finnish education systems. In this paper, our views on the appropriateness of the developed platform ("ViLLE" e-Education Platform) towards Indian elementary-level curricula and its foreseen implementation impacts will be presented. At last, we will show that the chosen approach is green, environment-friendly, and highly aligned with the roadmap of reducing and eliminating paper consumption in academic institutions in the future. [For full proceedings, see ED571459.]

This paper notes that education needs to essentially lead to sustainable development serving two-fold purpose--eradicating the problems of unemployment and poverty; and ensuring equitable distribution of wealth while ensuring the right understanding leading to a peaceful, prosperous and developed world. In its current state, technical education doesn't seem to serve the above two objectives. The paper presents a holistic view of technical education in India. In order to ensure sustainable development for India in the contemporary global scenario, the paper finds technical education to be one of the core competencies that need to be developed. The paper observes that there seems to be no linkage between the "education" being provided in the country and these problems getting solved. In order to provide a real educational solution for all-encompassing development of India, the paper suggests that "what to do" is the real question for technical education than just "how to do". The paper suggests a model for the State (province) of Punjab in India to elaborate on the model of technical education for sustainable development. [For full proceedings, see ED571459.]

One of the major problems in the environment is deforestation. In the last five years, the deforestation rate is about 10 Million hectares per year. The main reason for deforestation is the dominance of wood dependent industries. On the other hand, agricultural biomass is generated in huge amounts in India. Agricultural wastes are considered to be a promising and novel source for the preparation of Cellulose, a highly valued precursor for production of cellulose based bio-polymer, paper, textile products. Recently, enormous research is being performed in the utilization of agricultural biomass to various by-products. In the present work, extraction of alpha-cellulose from Rice husk waste as an alternative for the extraction of cellulose for application in various industries has been discussed.Rice husk is initially delignified using 12%(v/v) NaOH at 100⁰C for 60 min and bleached with 15%(v/v) Hydrogen peroxide for 20 min. The effect of temperature on the extraction of alpha-cellulose content from the rice husk has been carried out. The results revealed that at the temperature of 150℃, cellulose yield was high with alpha cellulose content of 86%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A nationwide lockdown has been announced on March 25, 2020, for 21 days, limiting movement of the entire residents of India as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 pandemic in India. This lockdown has been extended further in a phased manner up to 3rd May and unlocked some of the areas where they reported no COVID case past 14 days. Since the unlock from May 4th India returned to work, more than 30 industrial accidents happened, at least every two days one accident, killing 75 people, injuring hundreds, polluting the surroundings with long-term health, and environmental implications. Nearly of the accidents on May 7th are toxic gas leaks at LG polymers plant in Andhra Pradesh, boiler explosion at Yashashvi Raasayan Private limited in Gujarat, and Neyveli Lignite Corporation's thermal power plant in Tamil Nadu. Safety Ontology study gives information about the root causes of these accidents such as process safety management failure, entropy risk occurrence, the role of ergonomics, and the inadequacy of the statutory system in India. This study aids to recover the start-up, shut down trials, hidden threats due to unexpected shutdown, opposing effects of overdue maintenance, and poor valuation of the life cycle of material or product in the various chemical process plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper emphases on subjects relating to sustainability and carbon emanations of building construction keeping Indian construction industry in mind. Globally, India holds second position in the production of bamboo. The amplified reliance on conservative construction constituents is seized to be accountable for the concentrated wood capitals and for degradation of the environment, which has directed the thought of substituting steel and wood with the use of bamboos. Bamboo is recognized as simple economic, rapidly emerging and sustainable material. Consequently, it is vital to optimize the use of eco-friendly resources for structures. Bamboos as an amalgamated material could be cast-off in several exterior as well as in interior of buildings like flyovers, foundation, multi-storey buildings, dwellings, large span structures in recreational buildings and interiors of airports. The present work focuses on Bamboo's prospective to be used as supportive substantial in construction industries rather than its conventional use and also what not to do while adopting bamboo as a construction material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil is a valuable natural resource that is vital to preserving environmental equilibrium. It was the purpose of this paper to examine how soil dielectric constants vary with respect to physical components and readily available nutrients. In a soil sample from the Dantewada district, it discusses the relationship between physiochemical parameters and dielectric constant. Soil samples were taken from agriculture land at several locations throughout the Dantewada district, including the NMDC Dantewada agricultural area Furthermore, several chemical factors such as varying percentages of clay, slit, and other physical qualities were studied the electrical conductivity and dielectric potential of soil samples allowed researchers to investigate several chemical parameters, including the relative proportions of clay and silt in the soil. These findings revealed that the physical and chemical qualities of soils vary greatly depending on where they are found. All of these qualities aid in a better knowledge of soil physics, agricultural applications, and remote sensing data analysis. This research also aids farmers in making the best crop choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to study the importance of CSR to firm's financial performance. This has assumed significance in light of the amendments passed and adopted with respect to 'The Companies Act". In April 2014, India became the first countryto make CSR a mandatory requirement for companies, subject to certain conditions. This approach garnered massive appreciation from representatives of different philanthropic institutions across the world, However, little research has been conducted from an Indian perspective to study the impact of CSR investments on the financial performance of firms. To addressthis research gap, this study investigates the relationship of investments in CSR with firms' financial performance. Accordingly, a dataset of 471 Indian firms across three sectors of Agriculture, Manufacturing/Industry and Service was compiled for the years 2015-2020. In this timeframe, firm-wise CSR investments, in addition to other relevant dependent and control variables were identified in structure of Panel data. Panel Data Regression was employed for in depth analysis of the relationship between CSRspends and the Financial Performance dimensions. Major findings of the study include positive impact of Investment in CSR on Enterprise value and Net worth in presence of selected control variables. Another panel data model establishes positive impact of Investment in CSR on Profitability Measure like EPS, ROTA & ROE. The study also presents sector wise comparisonof this relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was the in-depth examination of the effects of a computer information technology (IT) training curriculum delivered entirely online sector personnel in India. The paper also focuses on studying the impact of online training on self-efficacy of the employees working in IT industry. The results show that online training had a great impact on the efficiency of the employees. The planning performance of employees has also increased considerably. Online training helped the employees to be more creative and innovative and online training has also compelled the employees to make more efforts in their work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented financial crisis and disruptions worldwide. It has affected the economy of most of the developing and developed countries drastically. In particular the manufacturing and service sectors have faced many problems, because of the draconian lockdowns, boarder ceases, travel bans, social distancing norms, unavailability of skilled and non-skilled work forces, unavailability of raw materials, reduced export-imports and may more, impacting the world economy adversely. This paper includes extensive review of available literatures, accentuating the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of India, highlighting the national economic slow-down, job losses and exodus of migrant workers, increased unemployment, and other socio-economic problems. Government initiatives to rescue the Indian MSMEs from the global crisis are discussed, and some strategies as suggested by different economists are also incorporated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The word Taxonomy is the way of Classification. It is the science of naming and classifying all the living organisms as well as extinct organisms of the world. Swedish Botanist Carlous Linnaeus was the father of taxonomy; Out of 17000 plant species present in India, more than 7600 plants are medicinal plants. Indigenous Indian medicines are formulations of traditional knowledge and medicinal plant extracts. The traditional knowledge is transferred from one generation to other generations which is used as drug for various diseases, instead of relying on what is the ingredients and proportions these drugs are based on traditional knowledge. These drugs involve the use of plant extract. The World Health Organization (WHO) , leading agency in health care found that 80 % population in low economic output countries depend on traditional medicine for their essential health care[1]. In the current era of pandemic medicinal plant species like citrus spp, allium sativum, allium cepa found effective in management of COVID 19. As per WHO guidelines, In the field of medicinal research where clinical trials are used for new drug discovery, there is need of continuous supply of authenticated products which are correctly identified, classified, and verified [1]. Traditional identification and classification methods are not quick, efficient and reliable. Automated Classification of medicinal Plants help to conserve knowledge of medicinal plant species, share it from one generation to next generation and help the whole society to improve the knowledge about medicinal plants. The paper presents traditional and recent trends using Computer vision and machine learning for classifying medicinal plant species. The main focus is on Leaf image as input. It presents the challenges as well as opportunities in identifying and classifying medicinal plant species by performing comprehensive review of traditional methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work we study the STEM researchers' plans, motivation, and opinions about the post-pandemic work and challenges. We gathered data from 34 STEM researchers in India, among them the 88% of the researchers agree that the pandemic has impacted their research work. The data was taken through online survey with both Likert-type and open-ended questions. The results show that 61.8% of the researchers have already planned their research activities for the post-pandemic times. Only 20.6% believe that they will have great opportunities, while 50% have no doubts/hesitation of doing research. 79.4% of the researchers believe that it would be arduous to perform researchers in the post-pandemic era. 24.2% are motivated to perform STEM researchers and 12.9% researchers are not motivated for the post-pandemic era. This paper also discusses in detail the perception of STEM researchers about the challenges in post-pandemic research works. The female STEM researchers were found to have less planning, more difficulty perception and more doubts about the post-pandemic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the depletion of fossil fuels around the world and the renewable energy sources becomes distinct, energy harvesting becomes prominent alternative for the continual rise of the energy demand. Mankind has necessitated and handed down the energy at an increasing rate for the surface and well-being since time-honoured. Because of this researchers have shown that the energy harvesting from the human locomotion is more significant and predominant for highly populated countries like India and china where the temples, railway station etc are overcrowded all times unending, So that we can powering up the low power applications such as lights small home appliances etc with the human steps. This paper presents energy harvesting methods by human steps which uses the piezoelectric transducers as key elements. When the shoes are contrived with piezoelectric technology, the electrical energy produced by the pressure is captured by sensors in shoes and converted to an electrical charge by piezo - transducers,and then stored in batteries later can be used as a power source. Moreover this power sources has many applications such as powering up the street lights, home appliances applications and as energy source of sensors in remote areas. Converting the weight energy to electrical energy is the idea behind the generating the electricity in this article. The shoes which are engendering the power have in a view to interpret the kinetic energy to the electrical energy power as we all know that Energy crisis is the main concern of the world present days. The prime intention of of this research work is to handle this calamity somehow. Even Though it may not meet the demands of electricity but as a matter of fact,However with in 12 steps it is possible to design a power generating floor that can put together 100W. And for 120 steps it is possible to put together 1000watt. And if we install such type of 100 floors with this system then it can produce 1 MegaWatt,Which itself is an procurement to make it noteworthy. Instead of power generating floor, we arranged sensor in shoe sole and the electricity generated is 1.2 v. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing trend in Building Information Modelling (BIM) implementation worldwide. However, its implementation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry in India is low. This paper aims to identify the critical factors to BIM implementation and their underlying relationships. First, 19 potential factors to BIM implementation were identified using literature review and verified by interviews with AEC professionals. Then, a questionnaire survey was sent to AEC practitioners in India to rate the importance of these factors. The mean score, standard deviation, and the normalized value method were employed to identify the critical factors. ANOVA test was performed to reveal any significant difference in the factors' criticality. Factor analysis was then used to reveal the underlying relationships between the factors. The results indicate that 13 factors are critical to BIM implementation in India. Also, there are consistent views among the respondents towards the critical factors to BIM implementation. In addition, 17 out of 19 factors to BIM implementation can be grouped into two major components: (a) environment, legal, and resources; and (b) organizational. Therefore, stakeholders should address these two components and commit resources to increase the BIM implementation rate in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time series forecasting is a decisive step in data modeling and a significant area in machine learning. This paper presents Long short-term memory (LSTM) network, a deep learning neural network for predicting Covid-19 cases in India. The neural network models are trained and tested with Covid-19 case data sets obtained from PRS Legislative Research database. Further, the parameter optimization is carried out for choosing the optimal network. The parameters considered for evaluating the performance of LSTM network are RMSE, number of epochs, accuracy and loss. The results are compared with various recurrent neural network models and autoregressive model. The results revealed an improved accuracy of 92.8% for LSTM network in predicting the transmission of Covid-19 in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of automobiles in today's life is quite irreplaceable. A two-wheeler is a vehicle that is self-equipped for impelling itself. For the seventeenth century, a few endeavors have been made to plan and build employable two-wheelers. The number of these two-wheelers is increasing dramatically in non-industrial nations like India because those are accessible at reasonable expense, simple and comfortable for brief distance drive. It has been observed very commonly that the two-wheeler riders neglect or forget to lift the side stand before beginning the ride either in criticalness or rush. This has become a major reason for the huge number of mishaps or accidents for bikes nowadays. Along these lines, there is a need to concentrate on this issue and to take sufficient necessary correction by integrating a specific component that can lift the side stand automatically without the riders' efforts before the ride begins. Our venture centers around devising a mechanism that would provide complete safety to bikers and lessen the chance of accidents occurring due to failing in using a side stand in appropriate situations. This paper details the complete design, fabrication, and reliability study of automatic retrieval of a two-wheeler side stand using some electronics components like a servo motor, motor drive, and an Arduino Uno microcontroller board. The device was fabricated under the motorcycle specification in India and works appropriately as intended. The proposed mechanism is supposed to be compatible with all types of gear-driven two-wheelers with very minimal expense. The plan we are proposing here will bring about a substantial difference in curbing one of the very obvious mishaps which are occurring because of the non-collapsing of the motorcycle stand. On account of the traditional motorcycles, the side stand ought to be collapsed physically. Tragically, it won't work at the earnest times since people generally ignore lifting off the stand at rush times. While taking a profound bend or any obstructions coming on the way, certainly there is a most extreme possibility to meet with a mishap. So, to stay away from this mishap, we tracked down a better approach to operate the side stand more naturally and appropriately. Our plan began with a very simple yet effective system that can be applied to both industries and the public. The working principle of the above-mentioned system is that when the rider changes the gear from neutral to first to begin the ride, the side stand consequently gets released from the grounded position by utilizing aservo motor, motor driver, and Arduino. A physical model was prepared to test this plan and it was observed that the component worked greatly on the model as per the expectation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of nations is mostly dependent on the urbanization of the country. In upcoming years India aims to become more and more urbanized as it plays a commanding role in the economic growth of the country. As a part of urbanization, the demand for automobiles is increasing rapidly and accordingly good road conditions become a prime need to be developed meticulously. India is paying more attention to such reforms. India haslarge road networks in rural and urban areasincluding state and national highways.They serve as the arterial network across the country. However, owing to these developments the accidental rate and fatal rate of India is remarkably high. With a huge network of roads and a higher population ratio, the frequency of accidents compared to other countries is a major problem in India. The road accidents statistics showings some serious figures and it'sa very challenging task to avoid these accidents. Although there are extensive efforts by the researchers like automatic emergency braking system. It has reduced road accidents considerably in China1. Some manufacturers are using the antilock braking system. It's proving helpful for drivers. In India, the growth in the population is significantly noted, which will lead to one of the measure causes of pedestrian accidents. So this paper mainly focuses on the need for an innovative braking system to avoid and reduce accidents to some extent referring to road statistics and population growth, urbanization, and reasons for accidents in the Indian scenario. The integration of ABS with emergency brake assistance could be more suitable and helpful for Indian road conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Until 1824, lime led the role in masonry structures as a binding agent but with the advent of cement, lime lost its popularity. Cement was opted for in this space age because of its quick setting properties compared to lime. However, lime has its own advantage of being less brittle. Lime helps to reduce moisture and improve the environment of the home. The production of lime does not cause global warming like cement. Lime can be manufactured on a small scale. Nature can provide materials that are more durable than man-made materials and processes that use less energy without harming the environment Lime prepared from limestone is harmful to the environment whereas lime prepared from seashells are a boon to the construction industry and sustains the environment. Seafood is common in the coastal region. As seashells are biodegradable it is appropriate to dispose them by landfilling. But the excavation of a vast ditch is tiresome and expensive for shell farmers. So, by adopting the process of producing lime from seashells, the landfilling of seashells can be reduced. Hence in this paper we will study the scope of producing lime based bricks (shellcrete), tiles, mortar etc. from seashells in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, in our country earthquake has shown an increase in seismic zoning factor over various parts. India is divided into 4 seismic zones that are seismic zones 2,3,4 and 5, which covers over 60% of total land area. So, it has become very important to decide seismic reactions over structures in these particular risky zones. This review shows different research that has been carried out on this topic to get an overall idea where we stand currently and what more we can do. Comparison of result is done with respect to different parameters like displacement, storey drift, bending moment etc. Authors have used different types of methodologies and modern-day techniques like Response spectrum analysis and Equivalent static method to analyze a good range of structures and their seismicity. This review paper focuses on comparing manual calculations with a long range of advanced designing software data to finally get the optimum conclusion in the field of seismic analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India presently has the largest population of blind people in the world. Over 15 million individuals in India are blind, making up a quarter of the world's 37 million blind people. Our project will aim to investigate the development of an application and an obstacle sensing device for visually challenged people (blind). The model is built on a microcontroller with synthetic speech output. The device is portable and will provide users with information on urban walking routes to help them make the best decision possible. On the other side, to provide help to the blind person, an obstacle detection system using ultrasound will detect the nearest obstacle via ultra-sonic sensors. To provide more detailed information about the obstacle, we are also implementing Computer Vision to ultimately make the commands more descriptive and accurate.An SOS system will be used that will to provide help to the blind person. The proposed equipment and mobile application would be used to assist blind or partially sighted people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ecosystem has been affected adversely in the 20thcentury. Global warming is a threat to mankind. To meet patients' needs healthcare facilities consume resources intensively and contribute to the carbon footprint. Adoption of sustainable measures will reduce their carbon footprint and aid to reduce the negative impact on the environment. HCO employing sustainable measures can gradually reduce its negative impacts. This paper discusses how the current HCO shifted from being resource-intensive to an environmentally friendly setup. The transition from conventional healthcare setups to green healthcare will benefit in multiple areas. Overall, such green healthcare setups will have multiple benefits. Such initiatives will increase overall efficiency, significant financial benefits, and a healthy environment for the staff, patients, and society. This study can assist hospital and care system leaders in determining their organization's route to sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homeschooling is an alternative method of teaching where parents take the responsibility of education and teach their children at home. This method of education is increasing worldwide. Various authorities around the world have taken note of this trend and recognized homeschooling as an alternative method of education in their legislation. The paper examines the educational policy and practice of homeschooling in the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) through a literature study, with the aim of comparing the five countries to hit. It also looks at what the BRICS countries can learn from each other regarding homeschooling. Most of the BRICS countries have education law that does not provide for homeschooling. In the countries where homeownership is legal, there are strict requirements that must be met. These requirements place a heavy burden on home school parents. However, it is clear from the investigation that homeschooling is increasing in the BRICS countries legally and illegally. There are also other similarities arising from the study.

Research on special education has showed that the use of digital technology for the special need children can help to simplify their educational process. Intellectual disability (ID) is a kind of developmental disorder. ID children need some kind of scaffolding during their learning process. Hence, as part of our ongoing research to design and develop an AR-based educational technology (ET) tool for ID children, we have conducted 3 studies. This paper describes our findings from these studies. Initially we have conducted a pilot study to investigate how Augmented Reality (AR) based educational application would help the mild and moderate ID children in learning English alphabets. Then we have conducted a survey to know the concern of special teachers about technology tools for ID children. In the third study, we have visited some of the special schools in Kerala to know more about the issues pertaining to the ID children. The results of these 3 studies warrant the need to design and develop some kind of AR/VR application for educating ID children.

With the advances in globalization and growing diversity in the workforce, employee engagement is becoming inevitable for organization's sustainability and success. However, most of the literature on engagement is based on studies conducted in large organizations despite the importance of SMEs in job creation and their economic contribution, little attention has been paid to this sector. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the current status of employee engagement in SMEs of an emerging economy, India. It also examines the key issues related to employee engagement and the three categories of engagement; vigor, dedication and absorption. The study follows a descriptive approach. Data were collected through self administered questionnaire from a random sample of 139 employees working in SMEs of Delhi NCR region. SPSS 25.0 was used to analyze the data. Overall, the results depict an encouraging representation of employee engagement among SME employees. Moreover, the vigor and dedication scales of engagement were found to be significant and strongly correlated. With limited resources, most SMEs face a major challenge to engage employees. Both, theoretical and practical implications can be drawn from this study. Since, little is researched on SMEs, this paper contributes to the current literature of employee engagement and application in SME sector. The study provides an insight into the current status of employee engagement, which would help managers of SMEs to devise new ways which could help improve the engagement among the workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corporate governance has become an important issue of late. Corporate governance is about ethical conduct in business. It is the system by which businesses are directed and controlled. The issue of ethics & corporate governance is particularly important for developing countries since it is central to financial and economic development. India, with the legacy of the British legal system, has one of the best corporate governance laws but poor implementation combined with socialistic policies of the pre-reform era which affected corporate governance. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between Corporate Governance and Sustainability in Banking Sector. This research examines the practices of corporate governance attributes in banking sector also presents discussion surrounding governance practices by some Indian banks. The methodology consists of a case study based approach of secondary sources like Bank websites, RBI reports, etc. This paper reviews the existing codes of Corporate Governance (CG) in India. It analyzes the CG structures and practices in HDFC bank & State Bank of India by using a case study methodology. It uses secondary data for analyzing the adaptability of CG codes and the initiatives for sustainable development in the Indian context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hackathon concept emerges from marathon. In hackathon different ministries of India raise problems on current issues and to solve these problems there were a race to prepare software. "The Smart India Hackathons program", a 36 hours nonstop digital programming competition was started on 1st April 2017 and ended on 2nd April 2017 by ModiGovernment. The project focused on involvement of youth in current issues faced by our society and encouraging innovative suggestions from youth using upgraded technology. This paper focus on analytical study of concept of hackathon, different issues raised in hackathon, solutions put forward by youth and implementation of different ideas. The paper also discusses comparative study of hackthonn 2017 and hackathon 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very few studies have given attention to parental support for children's play-based conceptual development in a home setting. The key aspect of this paper is to investigate how parental support aids development of children's mathematical and science concepts in collective play in the home context and what happens to the play during parent-child collective engagement. The data has been collected through video, audio and semi-structured interviews from four Indian families and their children (four to five years old and median age 4.5 years). For data analysis, Hedegaard's (2008a) three levels of interpretation--common sense, situated practice and thematic interpretations--were employed. Drawing upon Vygotsky's (2004) concept of imagination and creativity, Fleer's (2010, p. 140) pedagogical model of "collective and individual play" and Kravtsova's (2009, p. 22-23) concept of "subject positioning" are used for thematic analysis. The paper analyses the play experience of a five-year-old boy, Jay (pseudonym used) and his mother's co-construction of play in the home context. The findings of our analysis shows that the mother's interactive approach as an active play partner in Jay's play promoted his learning and development. The paper argues that the parents' active involvement in children's play is not only important to develop the play itself but also important for providing better learning opportunities for children.

Cotton is one of the important cash crops in India grown on more than 9 million hectors. Like other crops this also suffers from diseases but the effect on the yield affects many livelihoods. Thus, it is necessary to detect the disease in early phase so that cure can be taken. This paper proposes a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model for detecting diseases in cotton plants. The model implements in proposed work utilize transfer learning technique, leveraging pre-trained model that have been trained on extensive datasets. Specifically, the Resnet152v2 model serves as foundational architecture for the model, enabling accurate classification of distinct objects. In addition to Resnet152V2 base, the proposed work incorporates two supplementary dense neural network layers. These additional layers enhance the model capacity to learn complex pattern and improve its classification capabilities. With integration of transfer learning and inclusion of supplementary dense network layer, the model demonstrates its ability to effectively classify objects. In addition to Resnet152a 98.36% accuracy in distinguishing between healthy and diseased cotton plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most frequent cause of natural disasters in India is tropical cyclones. Early warning, real-time monitoring, impact and damage assessment, and relief operations all depend on remote sensing and GIS. The Bay of Bengal is frequently the source of cyclones of various intensities. In this paper, the actual goal is to predicate the tropical cyclone in the tropical region of the Bay of Bengal, for that the main satellite data set is collected from the NASA data repository. The overall work is being done by using the tool MATLAB, where all machine learning classifications are applied to the data set and trained. As a result, which classifier has the highest accuracy will be considered as the best result. The primary goal of this research is to forecast cyclones using day-by-day satellite data of coastal regions and a variety of weather factors. The objective of this work is threefold. First to design a model to reduce the dependency on a single classification technique, secondly to avoid the over-fitting of data, as well as to improve the accuracy of the prediction. Two number of steps in collective learning: Multiple machine learning models created using the same or different machine learning algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]