Sleep after studying essential to retaining what you learn

In study published in Science, researchers at New York University's Langone Medical Center show for the first time that sleep after learning encourages the growth of dendritic spines, the tiny protrusions from brain cells that connect to other brain cells and facilitate the passage of information across synapses, the junctions at which brain cells meet. Moreover, the activity of brain cells during deep sleep, or slow-wave sleep, after learning is critical for such growth.

The findings, in mice, provide important physical evidence in support of the hypothesis that sleep helps consolidate and strengthen new memories, and show for the first time how learning and sleep cause physical changes in the motor cortex, a brain region responsible for voluntary movements. On the cellular level, sleep is anything but restful: Brain cells that spark as we digest new information during waking hours replay during deep sleep, also known as slow-wave sleep, when brain waves slow down and rapideye movement, as well as dreaming, stops. Scientists have long believed that this nocturnal replay helps us form and recall new memories, yet the structural changes underpinning this process have remained poorly understood.

To shed light on this process the researchers employed mice genetically engineered to express a fluorescent protein in neurons. After documenting that mice, in fact, sprout new spines along dendritic branches, the researchers set out to understand how sleep would impact this physical growth. They found that the sleep-deprived mice experienced significantly less dendritic spine growth than the well-rested mice.

The scientists showed that brain cells in the motor cortex that activate when mice learn a task reactivate during slow-wave deep sleep. Disrupting this process, they found, prevents dendritic spine growth. 

Source | Mumbai Mirror | 7 June 2014

Jun 07 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

MANUFACTURING Agenda for Manufacturing Micro Enterprises

Tamal Sarkar





The world of MSMEs is highly polarised. Of the 11.5 million manufacturing MSMEs (4th Census), 99% are MEs and less than 1% are SMEs. Also, 91% of the units are unregistered. Interestingly, the pain points that constrain the growth prospects of MEs and SMEs are not similar on many occasions.One prime issue that cripples MEs is access to formal finance. The major obstacles are registration of units, availability of small value loan at competitive rates and efforts of formal finance to reach MEs. MEs which started business either from home or rented premises, often end up operating from non-industrial land — almost a no-no as per banking norms. This requires policy intervention in supporting them in seamless conversion or relocation, if in cluster. Relocation needs to be done for the entire value chain, not just the industry in question. Special allocation of land must exist for this in a time bound manner.
A large number of MEs have a
need for loans of less than .`5 lakhs in one go. Such small value loans are not an attractive business scenario for some banks. Here, NBFCs can be supported to create various combo products for the ME clusters there, so that loan disbursement is fast. Also, NBFCs may be allowed to disburse subsidies given by ministries. Simultaneously, banks may be given targets not only with respect to value, but also to the number of non-repetitive-ME loans.
Role of pollution control boards is regulatory. Pollution control equipments are costly. There is also no approved vendor for pollution control equipment. Some desired interventions are (a) supporting MEs in reaching the pollution norms gradually in a time bound manner, rather than frightening them away (b) incentivising research for creating affordable pollution control equipment and (c) creating a list of approved
vendors for sourcing pollution control equipment/techniques.Most MEs are not even aware of scores of labour laws, leave aside the intricacies and confusions.
While simplification is the solution, immediate support is needed for providing (a) legal education and counselling in each of the industrial townships, starting with locations having more than 10 ME clusters and (b) creating an incentive mechanism for MEs who cater to these norms.
95% of MEs are proprietary/partnerships and are mostly one-person shows. They need affordable and quality business development service providers (BDSPs). At present, BDSPs who are useful are mostly not affordable. Availability of labour is a prime issue. While some of it is due to growth in real wages via MGNREGA, MEs, particularly unregistered ones who have the lowest
capacity to pay, took the worst hit.Taking the clue, there has been a trend for mechanisation. With passing years, this may lead to deskilling of labour, for whom it will be a point of no return, leading to further rise in labour costs. MGNREGA must be linked to providing employment incentives for industrial skilled work. The situation also needs creating or transferring ME friendly technology on a war footing, if we want to touch the planned target in manufacturing value added.
Also of importance is the means of communication. Most support schemes are available in English and are too complex. Simpler versions may be made available in Hindi and vernaculars. Adequate budgetary arrangements are also needed to take care of rising applications through this process. Not least is the need for clearance in a fortnight and ensuring that the cost of availing support should not be costlier than the quantum of support itself.
Cluster-level product based industry associations can help achieve these goals, if they are strengthened by creating a strong secretariat along with necessary infrastructure. They will also be the one-stop shop for putting forward the voice of MEs to ensure these achievements.

Jun 07 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

MANIFESTO FOR DESIGN

Makarand Kulkarni Design Director at Ether Design, Bangalore





If design community is included at the highest level of decision-making, we can usher in a revolutionary way of making things happen in this country. We must learn to protect our intellectual property as fiercely as our immovable property

In his September 2013, address at platinum jubilee celebrations of the International Advertising Association, Narendra Modi called for establishing Brand India on the world stage. He gave many ideas and examples on where we could start on this. Amongst the things he mentioned was learning from how Mahatma Gandhi influenced hundreds of millions of Indians through unique storytelling using his symbols. Each object that Gandhiji carried and used communicated big ideas with effectiveness that is so difficult to create even in today's connected world. Gandhiji's life was a very well documented experiment in itself as it happened, a reality show that inspired unprecedented collective action in the last century.Modi went on lamenting the lack of `packaging and presentation' of many inspiring ideas that India stands for, ideas that could not only impress but inspire the world to solve its ongoing problems. He also underscored the importance of soft power in international relations. In many ways, this speech is a call to action for designers too.
Design, indeed, is the tool that actually manufactures all perceived reality as consumed by human senses and may the force be with the designers.
We are optimistic that a big push will be provided to large-scale infrastructure projects in a responsible way. The pros and cons of these projects should and must be debated not only by the management thinkers, bureaucrats and urban planners but also by design thinkers, furniture designers, graphic and exhibition designers. We designers have immense empathy for people and we can demonstrate our ability to create functional and experientially rich environments that also communicate our heritage with local sensibilities and global appeal. Together, we can definitely create a uniquely Indian urban experience that can inspire the world.
Let us all play an important role in primary and secondary education. We can bring in the much-needed difference by showing a way to use science and technology with a sense of history and culture. The much talked about belief in our values and our traditions needs to be inculcated at a young age. Why not look at modules that blend cultural anthropology and modern technology to foster problem-solving skills?
Working together as a team at the school level itself can work wonders when it comes to solving complex civic problems.
Designers can `package and present' a unique story for things that have the inherent symbolic value, be it a book on Gandhiji or Ayurveda and Yoga. We are not talking about the last leg aesthetic intervention after the story is writ ten but an upstream thinking on what and how it should be done. We should be on the policy committees and decision-making bod ies that will promote international trade, l s promote tourism, build museums and write guidelines for doing these. t The world has been talking about an eco logically sustainable way of life. Designers i have been, in their own capacity, effecting t this change at product level and packaging. t , We need clear policy on how manufacturers make these things and the role of designers as product architects. We do not authorise unqualified medical intervention, why do we allow unqualified development of consumer products?
Last and most important aspect is of intellectual property. If we do not develop this aspect of our story, we cannot reach out to the world with it. We must learn to protect our intellectual property as fiercely as our immovable property. After all, our culture, tradition and heritage are the most important real estate that we have.
Here's hoping we get to do what we got to do.

Jun 07 2014 : The Economic Times (Mumbai)

11-Point Plan to make Govt Shipshape

YASHODHARA DASGUPTA

NEW DELHI





Cab secy tells depts to identity archaic laws & curb decision-making to a maximum of 4 layers

India's top civil servant has asked government departments to identity archaic laws and regulations that hold up progress and to restrict decision-making to a maximum of four layers, continuing a drive by the Narendra Modi government to galvanise the bureaucracy and end the policy paralysis that is perceived to have plagued the Congress-led UPA government. The directives, spelt out in a letter from Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth to all secretaries, are part of an 11-point plan to improve governance.The letter is the outcome of a meeting between the prime minister and the secretaries of all government departments on Wednesday , during which Modi urged bureaucrats to serve the people and promised that the political leadership will back decisions taken in good faith. “Every department has been asked to identify and repeal at least 10 rules or processes and even archaic Acts that have be come redundant and the removal of which would not lead to any loss of efficiency. Also, decision-making layers would be cut down to a maximum of four,“ said an official aware of the development.
Importantly , the letter calls upon ministries to engage in collaborative decision-making and consult frequently to resolve differences.
But if there is no resolution, the Cabinet secretariat or the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will step in. The previous regime is widely regarded to have been prone to inter-departmental strife with ministries often working at cross-purposes, resulting in projects not receiving clearances.
UPA PLANS UNDER REVIEW PAGE 11 Officials said several steps are being taken to reduce clutter — both physical as well as bureaucratic formalities — as part of the PM’s directive to make government offices clean, hygienic and conducive for work.In a bid to improve processes, departments have also been asked to identify forms that are widely used and crunch or shorten them, wherever possible, to one page only. Unnecessary or irrelevant information should not be sought, says the letter from the cabinet secretary.
The directions are also specific when it comes to physical cleanliness. All government buildings and work spaces of departments should be cleared
of obstructions and spruced up, says the letter.In pursuance of this goal, passages and stairs should be cleared of obstructions, which means no office material or cupboards should be found in these spaces. Officials have been asked to ensure files, papers and so on are neatly stacked so that a “positive work environment is created“.
In certain departments, the clean-up has already begun with the disposal of old/irrelevant files and folders stacked near staircases. “The secretaries have even made rounds to see the condition of the building, passages and so on,“ said one government official.
Departments have been ordered to use information tech nology while submitting information. Eventually, this should be universalised.
Government offices would have to weed out files and papers “in accordance with rules of record-keeping including digitalisation, wherever necessary“ within 3-4 weeks.
“Digitalisation of papers has already been introduced to an extent for current files. It is the old documents and folders that would need to be taken care of,“ said another government official.
The Cabinet secretariat has asked ministries to draft a plan of action based on the 11 commandments. Interim progress will be monitored in meetings with a Group of Secretaries in the week beginning June 9.

Smriti Irani approves National Academic Depository scheme 

Smriti Irani has approved National Academic Depository (NAD) scheme. The scheme was brought forward during UPA-2 and it aims to create an online database of nationwide board and university certificates that is implemented by CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) on a pilot basis. After being explained about the NAD project, Smriti Irani wanted the scheme to be implemented as soon as possible.  She has directed ministry to come up with the documents that have already been digitized or are in process. With the approval of NAD scheme, students will be able to track their records as well as use them in case they want duplicate certificates or attested copies the same. It would also assist employers as the database can be used for the verification of certificates. Schools, colleges, boards and universities will play their role as agents of the NAD office by registering students admitted to their institutions and linking their certificates.

The ministry has already sent an advisory to central universities, institutes and school boards to join NAD.  Security has been built into the system so that certificates are not tampered with or downloaded. A student can only see the certificate without being able to edit it.At present; NAD Bill is in Parliament and is expected to be in action very soon.

- See more at: http://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2014/06/smriti-irani-approves-national-academic-depository-scheme/#sthash.afMpsctk.dpuf

Restructuring UGC among top 100 priorities of Smriti Irani 

Transforming the University Grants Commission into higher education regulatory is HRD minister Smriti Irani’s top priority. She wants to restructure and refocus the UGC from a grant disbursing organization to one that maintains the standards and regulates the education sector. This is one among Irani’s top 100 day priorities.

Officials are of the view that with the growth in the sector with private players and entry of foreign education institutions has meant that the UGC would need to expand its regulatory functions. Since 1952, the function of allocating public funds to central universities and other universities was entrusted to UGC. Though there were changes in the higher education sector, the Commission’s emphasis has continued to be on its grant disbursal functions.

Irani’s focus is to keep the BJP’s poll promise of restructuring the UGC to transform it into a Higher Education Commission. The transformation will be effected by amending the UGC Act.

Ministry officials are already working on the amendments before it can be evaluated by the law minister and sent for inter-ministerial consultations, after which it will be taken up for the approval by the Cabinet and then introduced in Parliament.

- See more at: http://digitallearning.eletsonline.com/2014/06/restructuring-ugc-among-top-100-priorities-of-smriti-irani/#sthash.o7UEm7Qa.dpuf

Table of Content: Economic and Political Weekly

Vol - XLIX No. 23, June 07, 2014 

Editorials Debating Electoral Systems The first-past-the-post system remains preferable over proportional representation. Read more	Margin Speak Dance of Demonocracy Anand Teltumbde India has never been the democracy as it is made out to be. It has been a pure plutocracy. But for dalits, it is worse; it has been a veritable rule of demons - a demonocracy. Read more
Commentary Bank Privatisation by the Backdoor T T Ram Mohan The P J Nayak Committee on the governance of bank boards has proposed that the Bank Nationalisation Act and related legislation be repealed. It wants government shareholding in public sector banks to be transferred to a Bank Investment Committee... Read more	Commentary The Battles against Modi Akash Bhattacharya Today, we stand at a juncture where the chief beneficiaries of the neo-liberal model of “development” have succeeded in presenting it as the one best suited for everyone’s needs, which the Bharatiya Janata Party has used to... Read more
Commentary Why the Maharashtra Housing Act, 2012 Should Be Repealed Nagendra Goel The Maharashtra Housing (Regulation and Development) Act, 2012 which was enacted after the centre's Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013 was tabled in Parliament does not protect the home buyer's interests, and also undoes... Read more	Commentary A Milestone in Dalit Writing Uttara Bisht Omprakash Valmiki, who contributed so much to Hindi literature, and especially to dalit literature, was a contemporary of another great dalit poet, Namdeo Dhasal, who wrote in Marathi. Even their deaths were separated by just a month. However,... Read more
Commentary Lightning Risk in India Faisel T Illiyas, Keshav Mohan, Shibu K Mani, A P Pradeepkumar Loss of life and damage to property due to lightning are outside the ambit of disasterrelated relief and are not compensated by the National Calamity and Relief Funds. Assessment of lightning fatality figures and its comparison with other major... Read more	Commentary An Arrested Story P K Vijayan A Delhi University teacher, forced into solitary confinement in an "unda cell" (egg cell), has been charged with conspiring to wage war on the state. Incredible, but there seems to be no limit to which the powers that be can stoop -... Read more
Commentary A Combative Hero: Mukul Sinha Mihir Desai Scientist, lawyer, trade unionist Mukul Sinha fought for justice without losing either his sense of humour or his great courage. His perseverance was responsible for the conviction of Maya Kodnani in the post-Godhra riots, imprisonment of a... Read more	Web Exclusives An Architect of Conscience Mukul Sinha (1951-2014) Manisha Sethi Mukul Sinha’s death remained largely beyond the limelight amid the din over Narendra Modi’s anointment as the next Prime Minister. His steadfastly resolve and meticulous eye for detail, strengths he demonstrated while dealing with... Read more
Book Reviews The New Triad of Policy Concerns Alok Sheel Monetary Policy, Sovereign Debt and Financial Stability: The New Trilemma edited by Deepak Mohanty (New Delhi: Reserve Bank of India, Foundation Books, Cambridge University Press India), 2014, pp xiv + 370, Rs 995. Read more	Book Reviews South Asian Environmental History Lauren Minsky The British Empire and the Natural World: Environmental Encounters in South Asia edited by Deepak Kumar, Vinita Damodaran and Rohan D'Souza (New Delhi: Oxford University Press), 2011; pp XIV + 280,Rs 695. Read more
Insight RTE Grievance Redress in Karnataka Malini Bhatacharjee, Dolashree Mysoor, Arun Sivaramakrishnan Scholarly debates on the right to education in India have primarily focused on examining the content of the right while paying little attention to the institutions enforcing it. A study of the rules under the Right to Education Act in Karnataka... Read more	Special Articles Women’s Mobility and Migration Meenakshi Thapan, Anshu Singh, Nidhitha Sreekumar Muslim women have remained invisible in the larger discourse on migration. This paper shows how Muslim women who have migrated to Jamia Nagar in Delhi are leading a more fulfilling life in their new locality, as is evident from the fact that they... Read more
Special Articles Public Transport for Indian Urban Agglomerations A Strong Case for Surface Rail M Ravibabu, V Phani Sree Central, state and local governments have been investing in public transport infrastructure, especially on metro rail and bus rapid transit systems. However, surface rail-based transit systems, which are ubiquitous and cost-effective in India,... Read more	Notes Developments in the Workforce between 2009-10 and 2011-12 C Rangarajan, Seema, Vibeesh E M After a disappointing performance between 2004-05 and 2009-10, the Indian labour market showed some improvement between 2009-10 and 2011-12. During this two-year period, around 11 million jobs were created at an annual growth rate of around 1.1%... Read more
Web Exclusives Memsahib: Who Are You? Swastika Hore Interestingly, American author Ernest Hemingway used the quaint word memsahib to refer to the wife of an Englishman in his short story The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber set in Africa in the 1930s. How the word, which... Read more	Web Exclusives Did India Just Elect Its Ronald Reagan? Rohan Kalyan Narendra Modi’s decisive victory at the hustings and his pro-market stance has given rise to a spate of comparisons between him and other right-wing historical and contemporary world leaders. The article draws some striking parallels... Read more
Web Exclusives A Sting in the Tale Pramod K Nayar The increase in the number of sting operations conducted by the media today, perhaps, reflects a growing culture of surveillance where the governed, who were the ones surveilled, now become surveillers, and the governors are now in the position... Read more	Blogs Reflections on a River and its people Swedish filmmaker Arne Sucksdorff visited India in 1950 and out of this visit came short films: Village Hindou (Hindu Village) about the lack of water in an Indian village, andVinden och floden (The Wind and the River), about...