Kandaswami Kandar's College

Domestic work forms a significant part of the informal labor sector in India, employing millions of women who contribute to household functioning and the urban economy. Despite their importance, domestic workers often remain marginalized and excluded from formal labor protections. This study examines the socio-economic conditions of domestic women workers in Namakkal District of Tamil Nadu. The research focuses on factors such as educational background, income levels, employment conditions, health status, family structure, and access to welfare schemes. The study adopts a descriptive research design and relies on both primary and secondary sources of data. Primary data were collected from domestic women workers through structured questionnaires and interviews conducted across selected regions of Namakkal District. The findings reveal that most domestic women workers belong to economically disadvantaged communities and possess low educational qualifications. Their employment conditions are informal and characterized by long working hours, low wages, and lack of social security benefits. Additionally, the study identifies significant challenges such as health problems, gender discrimination, and limited awareness of government welfare schemes. The research highlights the urgent need for policy reforms, legal protection, and welfare initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic status of domestic workers. The study contributes to the broader discourse on labor rights and gender inequality in the informal sector.

Objectives:Osteomyelitis is a considerable clinical problem, necessitating multifunctional biomaterials that can concurrently manage infection and facilitate bone tissue regeneration. In this study, a chlorhexidine-loaded zinc oxide-hydroxyapatite/poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate) (CHX@ZnO-HA/PSSS) nanocomposite for possible therapeutic scaffold applications was manufactured and characterized. Methods:The nanocomposite was synthesized using a chemical precipitation process and studied using Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy to assess its chemical composition, crystallinity, and morphology. The in vitro bioactivity was assessed via immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF), and the drug release kinetics were predicted under physiological circumstances (pH 7.4). The biological performance was evaluated using MG-63 osteoblast-like cells, which were assessed via the MTT assay, dual acridine orange and ethidium bromide staining, scratch assays, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of osteogenic markers (BMP2, RUNX2, osteocalcin, alkaline phosphatase, and type 1 collagen). Results:Characterization tests demonstrated the effective incorporation of the amorphous PSSS/CHX layer onto the crystalline ZnO-HA framework. Studies using SBF indicated the time-dependent bioactivity, characterized by the development of a dense, bone-like apatite layer by day 7. Drug release analysis indicated a biphasic, sustained pattern, achieving 40% cumulative release of CHX over 24 h at pH 7.4, regulated by Fickian transport kinetics. Biological assays demonstrated that the CHX@ZnO-HA/PSSS composite markedly improved cell survival (97%), accelerated wound closure in scratch tests, and upregulated essential osteogenic genes relative to the untreated progenitor control group. Conclusion:The CHX@ZnO-HA/PSSS composite exhibited good cytocompatibility, low apoptotic induction, and high in vitro osteogenic potential. These findings show that the nanocomposite is a promising, multifunctional biomaterial for localized bone infection treatment and osseointegration enhancement.

The development of efficient and stable electrode materials is essential for advancing next-generation supercapacitors. In this study, ternary ZnCo₂O₄/CuS/rGO nanocomposites were successfully fabricated using a straightforward hydrothermal approach. The resulting hybrid exhibits a layered, sheet-like structure with a high specific surface area of 78.4 m² g⁻¹ and mesopores averaging 3 nm, providing plentiful active sites and promoting rapid ion transport. Electrochemical evaluation shows that the ZnCo₂O₄/CuS/rGO electrode achieves a high specific capacitance of 953 F g⁻¹ (158.8 mAh g− 1) at 1 A g⁻¹, nearly doubling the performance of the binary ZnCo₂O₄/CuS material, which exhibits the specific capacitance of 508 F g⁻¹ (84.6 mAhg− 1) at 1 A g⁻¹). The composite also demonstrates outstanding stability, retaining 95.5

Fuel demand is constantly high due to the widespread use of internal combustion engines in a variety of applications, such as power generation, on-road transportation, agriculture, and marine operations etc. In order to address this need, research on biodiesel has accelerated and is now pursuing many novel directions. This research aims is to use the transesterification process to create biodiesel from the sustainable source of seeds of Artocarpus heterophyllus or jackfruits. Nano-fuels blend prepared by mixing 20 % biodiesel with 80 % diesel and adding the outsourced Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNTs) at three different concentrations of 40 ppm/L, 80 ppm/L, and 120 ppm/L. The MWCNTs mixed with base fuel blend with the help of an ultrasonicator. A 5.2 kW single- cylinder four-stroke Compression Ignition (CI) engine test rig with load cell arrangement was used to test the neat diesel, neat biodiesel, B20 and nano-fuels at a constant speed of 1500 rpm and various load conditions like noload, 1.3 kW (25 %), 2.6 kW (50 %), 3.9 kW (75 %), and 5.2 kW (100 %). Performance metrics were compared among nano-fuels, neat diesel, neat biodiesel and B20 Biodiesel blend. The nano-fuel containing 120 ppm of MWCNT was found to have exceptional properties. It achieved a maximum Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE) of 30.19 % and the lowest BSFC of 0.282 kg/kW-hr and the resource efficiency improved at low energy consumption. Compared to conventional diesel, the 120 ppm MWCNT-enhanced nano-fuel blend produced significant emissions reductions by 31.65 % for NOx, 31.58 % for CO, 12.01 % for hydrocarbons (HC), and 29.79 % for smoke. The improved fuel properties, catalytic effects of the MWCNTs, and optimized combustion dynamics are responsible for the improved performance of the 120 ppm MWCNTs concentrated biodiesel blend. These improvements result in lower emissions and improved combustion efficiency, which makes this nano-fuel formulation ideal for internal combustion engines. By lowering emissions, it not only increases engine efficiency but also has a major positive environmental impact.

This work delineates a simple and efficient method for synthesizing a hybrid material comprising Ag2MoO4 nanoparticles anchored on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (AMO/NRGO) for high-performance supercapacitor applications. The synthesized compounds were validated and characterized using structural, functional, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, surface, elemental analysis, and electrochemical assessments. The AMO/NRGO hybrid electrode has exceptional electrochemical characteristics, with a specific capacitance of 456 Fg−1 at a current density of 1 Ag−1 and 231 Fg−1 at 1 Ag−1, along with extraordinary cycle stability, retaining 93.5