PEARL Multidisciplinary Journal

Occupational Stress among Long Route Truck Drivers: A Study

Long route truck drivers are the people who travel from one place to another to deliver goods by truck or trolleys. Researchers have identified a number of health concerns and other health related issues, which include obesity, heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes and more. These conditions are very prevalent in the trucking industry, and impact not only the driver’s health, but also their ability to stay on the road (Thorpe, 2017). Long working hours, night work, or spending extended periods on the road away from friends and family can isolate drivers and levee them too exhausted to nourish their relationships. This descriptive study was undertaken among 200 long route truck drivers to find out the occupational stress experienced by the ong route truck drivers. Purposive sampling technique was followed. The study indicates that these drivers experience tremendous stress in several areas. The study suggests that these drivers should have a periodical medical checkup and counseling services to find out the problems related to their ailments and take steps to reduce the same.

The Problem of Plenty Versus Quality of Life

The quality of life of people largely depends upon meaningful development of an economy. A healthy, educated and an empowered population contributes to improved productivity which in turn sustain economic growth. In view of the emerging multi-faceted trends in population in India, population stabilization is the chief issue which the country has to accord top priority in its march towards socio-economic development. The programme of family planning and infant health care programmes are of vital importance to improve the’ quality of life’. In this paper an attempt is made to present a model of small family norm in improving quality of life through social marketing principles.

Repositioning India’s Cotton Lint Export Direction

Following the recent non-impressive performance in the export volume of its cotton lint which in turn affected its foreign exchange earnings from the sector due to bear raid by USA and China price subsidies which caused imperfection in the global trade market, the researchers conceptualized the need to identify the magnitude and effects of the key drivers of India’s cotton lint exports using Engel-Granger two-step procedure. The study used dated data spanning from 1981 to 2013 which were sourced from FAO and UNCTAD databases. The results of the long-run and short-run models showed that India’s cotton lint export is stimulated mostly by the internal economic forces. However, export growth of the product was hindered by both the domestic and external forces. In this regard, in as much as the negative impact on India’s cotton lint due to distortion induced downward pressure on world prices caused by price subsidies offered by China and USA, inefficiencies and constraints in the domestic environment would preclude India from appropriately exploiting opportunities and adjusting to unexpected market developments in the short-run. Therefore, to revitaliz the gloomy export trade of India’s cotton lint, policy makers and various stakeholders in the industry should put in place measures to address domestic inefficiencies over which the country has some control compared to inefficiencies on the global market, thus placing the country in a better position to exploit market opportunities and adjust to unexpected developments in the shortest possible time.

Colloidal Processing and Slip Casting of Mullite

Mullite an aluminosilicate ceramic due to its excellent refractory, mechanical and dielectric properties find wide applications as structural and high temperature ceramics as well as for electric and optical applications. Slip casting is a well established shaping or forming method to fabricate ceramic shapes having simple to reasonably complicated shapes. In the present study commercially available mullite powders were characterized for crystallographic phase purity, particle size distribution and morphology. The optimum dispersion condition of the powder in de-ionised water was studied through measurement of zeta potential as a function of pH. The mullite powder dispersed in deionised water with and without addition of MgO was slip cast in plaster mould. The slip cast samples were sintered at different temperatures to study the effect of MgO addition on the sinterability of mullite. The products were characterized for density, porosity and microstructure.

Care Givers’ Experiences in Families Living with Mentally Ill Patients

Family members play vital role in care of persons with sick especially with mental illness living in families. Their care is multiple in terms of taking day-to-day care, supervising medications, taking the patient to the hospital and looking after the financial needs as well as to bear with the behavioral disturbances of the patient. Thus, the family caregiver experiences considerable stress and burden, and needs help in coping with it.

The present study assessed the experiences faced by care givers in care of mentally ill patients living in their families. It is a part of UGC sponsored minor research project. The four rural areas were selected to assess around 100 participants who were taking care of mentally ill persons in their families. The Convenient sampling technique was adopted for selection of samples by making house-to-house visits, interviewing, and assessment of care giving and living conditions in the families. A Semi-Structured questionnaire was used for this study. In the process of development of the tool the investigator reviewed the secondary data on Mental Illness and the validity of the questionnaire was discussed with subject experts from the field of education and health profession and developed the tool.

Major findings were assessed based on the results of the study. According to this research there is mental illness existing in families, most of family members feel that mental illness is a burden, there is negative opinion (stigma) among family members. An unhealthy coping style is likely to adversely affect the care giving function. Hence, it is important to take care of the needs of the family caregivers. The family caregiver has remained as a neglected lot, often ignored by the mental health professionals. This key support system can’t be taken as granted and ignored. Further studies required to provide accurate information for assessment and effective care giving strategies to cope their burden and issues in care giving.