Journal of Intellectuals

Green Functional Nanomaterials: Synthesis and Applications

Dibya Jyoti Saikia, Prantu Dutta — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Interaction between inorganic molecules and biological species is very fascinating. Green synthesis of metallic nanoparticle using plants and microorganisms is widely preferred over the physical and chemical methods due to their nontoxic, safer, biocompatible, less expensive, environment-friendly nature and greater biomedical applications. Some unicellular and multicellular organisms including plants and bacteria may be involved in biosynthesis as they have the ability to absorb and accumulate inorganic metallic ions. Advantages of using biological entities are that nanoparticles of wide range of shapes, sizes, compositions and physical properties may be synthesized through this. In comparison between microorganisms and plants, approaches involving plants are more advantageous because of their faster and relatively easy scale up for production in large quantities. Biological synthesis of nanoparticles can be considered as a bottoms-up approach where such particles are formed by reduction or oxidation of metallic ions. Bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus spp., Pseudomonas sp. etc. can produce nanoparticles either by extracellular or intracellular processes. Parts of plants such as leaves, fruits, roots etc. can be used for synthesis of nanoparticles due to the presence of phytochemicals which act as reducing and stabilizing agents and quantity, size and morphology of such products can be influenced by the concentration of plant extract, metal salt concentration, temperature, pH of the reaction solution and time of reaction. Biosynthesized nanoparticles have wide applications including cancer treatment, targeted drug delivery, fluorescent labelling, magnetic resonance imaging, in the field of biosensors, environmental remediation, gene therapy etc.

Damages caused by the tea pests of the family Geometridae: A review

Swarupa Bhattacharjee , Rajdeep Das — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Tea being a popular beverage and a cash crop becomes very essential from the economic point of view. Tea is a food source for many insects. There are many different pests of tea which cause heavy loss to the crop. The damages done to the crop indeed are potentially harmful and also sometimes bear serious economic consequences. As a result, checking them becomes very essential. The very first step for controlling the pest is the identification of pests and the damages caused by them. Among the insect pests of tea, Lepidopterans possess a serious threat. In India damages due to the family Geometridae is observed more. Through this review a modest effort has been made to look at the damages caused by the different pests and their intensities.

21st Century Youth and Significance of Life Skills Education: A Review

Ilaxi Bora — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The 21st Century is very crucial for the youth. Due to unimaginable development of science and technology as well as social media the majority of youth population utilizes their potential in a worst way. Use of too much smart phone hampers their productivity. The power of youth population is very high as compared to the other stages of life if they use their time in a productive manner. Being the turning period of life this is the right time to take right decisions. In this condition, life skills are those psycho social skills that enable individuals to cope effectively with their life challenges. This article draws how the life skills contribute to the individual development of Youth.

Folk Games of Assam: The Buffalo Fights in Assam

Bitapi Bora — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Folk games are a significant aspect of traditional cultures, serving as both entertainment and a means of preserving cultural heritage. In Assam, India, these games reflect the people's creativity, their relationship with nature, and their deep-rooted cultural values. This paper explores the variety of folk games in Assam, including Moh Juj, the traditional buffalo fight, which is held during the Magh Bihu festival. Folk games like Kho-Kho, Dhop-Khel, Gella-Chutt, and others, not only provide amusement but also promote physical fitness, cognitive development, and social bonding. While some games, such as egg and bird fights, have faced criticism due to their treatment of animals, they remain an integral part of Assamese culture. The buffalo fight, Moh Juj, has faced increasing opposition due to concerns over animal cruelty and its violation of animal protection laws. Despite the 2014 Supreme Court ban on animal fights, the sport continues to be controversial. The paper emphasizes the importance of finding alternatives to animal-based games while preserving the rich cultural heritage of Assam. It suggests promoting festivals that celebrate cultural traditions without causing harm to animals, thereby creating a balance between cultural preservation and ethical standards.

Reading Franz Kafka Through the Context of Covid-19

Pranjum Priyam Bora — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes in our lives, and one of the most significant measures implemented to curb the spread of the virus is the quarantine period or the lockdown. The implementation of lockdown measures has proven successful in several countries, effectively flattening the curve and preventing overwhelming pressures on healthcare systems. However, the impact of lockdown measures goes beyond the containment of the virus. The economic consequences of prolonged lockdowns have been profound, with many businesses forced to close indefinitely and millions of individuals losing their jobs. Small businesses, in particular, have borne the brunt of the economic fallout, struggling to survive under the weight of limited or no income. The sudden and prolonged isolation has taken a toll on mental health, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Along with these, we can also see the positive implications of the quarantine phase or the lockdown which resulted in the exploration of creativity and innovative ideas among the individuals. Although the topic is generic, this paper aims at studying the negative as well as the positive effects of Covid-19 through Franz Kafka's famous novel "The Metamorphosis", where a man is transformed into a "monstrous vermin" and his short story "A Hunger Artist", where an artist is confined to a cage.

Formulation of herbal-based low-cost mosquito repellent coils from Neem (Azadirachta indica) and Makhioti (Flemingia strobilifera) leaves

Parbin Iraqui, Pratistha Nazir Kashyap, Rakhi Dutta, Parbin Sultana Rahman — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Mosquitoes are the most disturbing blood sucking insects affecting human beings. Several mosquito species belonging to the genera Anopheles, Culex and Aedes are vectors of pathogens for various diseases such as dengue, malaria, yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis and several other infections. Mosquitoes also transmit diseases, to more than 700 million and over one million deaths are reported annually across the globe. Therefore, the control of mosquitoes is an important public health concern around the world, despite the technological developments in the healthcare sector, Mosquitoes- borne diseases pose serious challenges. Repellence as one of the strategies has been in practice for a long time in the management of mosquito borne diseases, most of the mosquito repellent products and device available in the market are reported to have harmful effects human beings. They can cause respiratory problems, headache, skin infections etc. Mosquito repellent coil which are available in the market give harmful effects on our health. It is also not good for our environment. So, in his study we had selected Neem (Azardirachta indica) and Makhioti (Flemingia strobilifera) plant leaves to prepare herbal mosquito repellent coils and evaluate their flammability as well as mosquito repellence activity. The leaves of these two plants have been used traditionally to repel insect as well as mosquitoes. Neem oil is used to kill harmful insects. In this study we had found that these herbally prepared mosquito repellent coils gave better results than the chemical mosquito repellent coils. These herbal coils are also eco-friendly as well as not injurious to our health. Results showed that herbally prepared coils possess better mosquito repellent activity than the market available chemical mosquito repellent coils.

Student Support Services in Assam's Higher Education: An Empirical Study

Kasturi Goswami, Reema Rabha, Pankaj Bora — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Student support, encompassing scholarships, counseling, and various administrative services, is essential for accommodating the increasing diversity within the student population. This empirical study examines the student support services in higher education institutions in Assam, particularly focusing on NAAC-accredited colleges. The study identifies and analyzes the mechanisms available for facilitating students' academic and career aspirations, aiming to foster holistic development.Using secondary data from Self Study Reports of 26 accredited colleges over five years,from 2016-17 to 2020-21, the research assesses various components such as the relationship between institutional performance, scholarship distribution, capacity-building initiatives, and student progression. The findings indicate that while government support significantly surpasses institutional resources, there remains a pressing need for enhanced career guidance and skill development programs. The study concludes with recommendations for optimising student support systems to align with the diverse needs of students, thereby improving their academic outcomes and career trajectories.

A Website analysis of Selected State University Library Portals of Assam

Sagarika Medhi — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Library websites are a reflection of the institution; they showcase its mission, programmes, services, and all other aspects of the institution and its staff. Any type of library, whether it is an academic library, a public library, or a special library, must now take this into account. This study attempts to analyse the library portals of 10 selected state govt. University library portalsof Assam. The selected universities are the oldest to newest from the year of establishment. The main objective of the study is to learn about the library portals and what information they provide through these portals. The study found that the contents of the library portals differ from each other. It was also found that some of the library portals do not provide the basic information about the library.

The Usefulness of Swami Vivekananda’s Concept of universal religion for world peace

Monalisha Dutta — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Establishing global peace is an important topic in the present time. Currently, there are numerous conflicts at the goal level, resulting in significant economic, social and humanitarian damage. It cannot be said that all these conflicts are solely based on religious or ethnic grounds, but direct or indirect religious or ethnic reasons can be found in these conflicts. Achieving peace cannot be accomplished solely by cessation of war. To establish lasting peace, there needs to be a change in social and ideological structures. The allegation of equality among all human beings is the key to establishing permanent peace, and Vivekananda’s concept of “Universal Religion” is capable of accomplishing this complex task. Vivekananda accepts the uniqueness of all religions even in the midst of equality. This universal religion inspires individuals to turn their attention inward, where love, equality, welfare, brotherhood and all divine qualities reside. Swami Vivekananda’s universal religion promotes universal brotherhood, love and unity among all religions and sects, thus addressing the challenge of a lack of these values in a global society. If the global community is introduced to the idea of Vivekananda’s “Universal Religion” it will undoubtedly be helpful in establishing peace permanently.

Artificial Intelligence: The Evolved Space For Library, The Perpetually Growing Organism

Subhrojit Sengupta, Abhilash Borthakur — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is starting to affect every sphere of life. It is taking humanity to another level. The expansion capability of its effects is enormous. It is going to change everybody’s lives. In this article its impact on library and its future is studied. AI tools like ChatGPT and its influence on libraries, AI taking up the important roles of an ever-expanding library in the future.