Strengthening SMEs to make export competitive

The importance of SMEs in any economy cannot be overlooked as they form a major chunk in the economic activity of nations. India has nearly three million SMEs, which account for almost 50 per cent of industrial output. However, SMEs which form the backbone of industrial development in India are not export competitive and contribute only about 34 percent of exports. It is this feature of the SMEs that make it an ideal target to realize its potential export competitive. Drawing from the experiences of countries that have successfully promoted the export competitiveness of SMEs, this paper has identified ways in which SMEs in India can have an access to external markets through exports, which include simplification of procedures, incentives for higher production, preferential treatments to SMEs in the market development fund, linking up SMEs with Transnational Companies or large domestic exporting firms; and formation of clusters and networks in order to reinforce their external competitiveness.Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), SWOT Analysis, Export, India

The detection of possible transient Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the γ\gamma-ray light curve of PKS 0244-470 and 4C+38.41

The continuous monitoring capability of Fermi-LAT has enabled the exploration of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) in the $\gamma$-ray light curve of blazar that has given a new perspective to probe these source and jet physics over a wide range of time scales. We report the presence of transient QPOs in the long-term $\gamma$-ray light curve of blazars PKS 0244-470 \& 4C +38.41. We first identified different flux states using the Bayesian Block algorithm and then explored the possible transient QPOs in the segments of each flux phase where the flux level changes over fairly regular intervals. Combining this with source intrinsic variance, we identified two flux phases for PKS 0244-470: one activity (AP-1) and one quiescent phase (QP-1). For 4C+38.41, we similarly identified four activity (AP-1, AP-2, AP-3, and AP-4) and two quiescent (QP-1 and QP-2) phases. AP-1 phase of PKS 0244-470 shows QPO of $\sim$ 225 days persisting for 8 cycles ($\sim$ 4.1 $\sigma$). In 4C+38.41, AP-1 and AP-2 phases show QPO of $\sim$ 110 days and $\sim$ 60 days, respectively, persisting for 5 cycles. In AP-3, we identified three sub-phases, and all show a $\sim$ week scale recurrent rise with five complete cycles, while in QP-1, we could identify 2 sub-phases (Q1 and Q2). Q1 phase shows a significant period of $\sim$ 104 days with six complete cycles. Q2 phase also shows significant QPO but with only $\sim$ 3.7 cycles. All the detections are locally significant with at least four or more cycles. We discuss the possible origin and argue that the current driven kink instability and curved jet model seem the most likely cause for shorter and longer QPOs though the latter requires continuous acceleration or injection of particles to explain these

Adaptive shoot-through duty ratio control methodology of stand-alone quasi Z-source inverter

This paper presents an adaptive shoot-through duty ratio control methodology for a stand-alone three-phase quasi-Z-source inverter (qZSI). In practice, variable active and reactive load powers must be met by a qZSI-based stand-alone system. In this context, existing shoot-through control schemes for qZSI adjust the capacitor voltage or DC-link voltage at a fixed reference value. This causes extra voltage stresses on switches, high distortions, and an operating range reduction of the power inverter under variable load demands. On the contrary, the proposed shoot-through control scheme adjusts the shoot-through duty ratio adaptively based on load voltage feedback to improve performances. In this logic, the controllable shoot-through duty ratio facilitates various improved features in comparison to conventional schemes under load power variations. These features include reduced voltage stress across the switches, reduced distortions, and an extended operating range. The suggested proportional-integral (PI)-based scheme has a single control loop with a single measured quantity, i.e., sensing of load voltage only. The proposed concept has been verified via both simulation and experimental studies

Tracheostomy among pediatric patients: A review

Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure which has been performed since ancient time. Tracheostomy is a life-saving surgical procedure done among critically sick patients. Children with airway compromise often require tracheostomy. The indication of the tracheostomy among children ranges from airway obstruction to prolonged mechanical ventilator support. There are numerous research papers published for adult tracheostomy with its indications, operative technique, and complications, but the literature on pediatric tracheostomy is scarce. Advanced technique of pediatric anesthesia and increased awareness for vaccination for serious diseases such as polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) among children increased the changing indication for tracheostomy from emergency to more elective procedure. Standardization of the procedure, timing, and exact indications is helping to reduce the mortality related to the tracheostomy among the pediatric patients. Here, we attempt to discuss the indications, techniques, selection of the tracheostomy tube complications, and outcome of the tracheostomy among pediatric patients

Normal saline nasal irrigation in childhood allergic rhinosinusitis: Our experiences in a tertiary care teaching hospital of Eastern India

Background: Allergic rhinosinusitis (AR) is a common clinical disorder among pediatric patients. There are different modalities of the treatment for AR ranging from antihistamines, corticosteroids, and mast cell stabilizers in oral or topical formulations. Objective: The objective of the study was to find out the effect of nasal saline irrigation or saline spray for reducing the symptoms in childhood AR along with an oral antiallergic treatment. Materials and Methods: The present study is a prospective study of the children suffering from AR between December 2017 and January 2019. All the children were in the age group of 5–16 years. All were randomly divided into two groups. In Group I, nasal saline irrigation was done in 56 patients twice a day along with an oral antiallergic treatment. Group II or control group consists of 56 children of AR those received only oral antiallergic treatment. Follow-up was done at the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th weeks after treatment and symptom scores were compared with previous clinical presentations. The data were analyzed by applying t-test. Results: Each group had 56 children with a mean age of 12.6 years in Group-I whereas 11.7 years in Group-II. The percentage disability scores (PDSs) at the beginning of the study were comparable in both the groups (83% vs. 88%). Both groups showed improvement in the PDS after treatment at the 2nd week; however, it was more in Group-I than in Group-II (p<0.001, paired t-test). Conclusion: Involvement of normal saline irrigation with oral antiallergic treatment in the present study provided satisfactory symptomatic relief in comparison with antiallergic treatment in pediatric patients suffering from AR

Study of house-level risk factors associated in the transmission of Indian Kala-azar

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In visceral leishmaniasis (VL), phlebotomine vectors are the main target to reduce for control measures. An attempt has been taken to delineate the association between <it>Phlebotomous argentipes </it>and housing characteristics between two districts e.g. endemic and non-endemic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 240 households for both the endemic (Vaishali district) and non-endemic (Lohardaga district) site. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to housing characteristics influencing suitable habitats for <it>P. argentipes</it>. Vector density estimated using a CDC light trap.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of <it>P. argentipes </it>in both endemic and non-endemic areas was significantly much higher (P < 0.001) when compared with the proportion of <it>Sergentomiya </it>and <it>P. papatasi</it>. The results of multilevel logistic regression analysis showed that mud plastered wall (<it>P value = 0.001)</it>, mixed dwelling (<it>P value = 0.002</it>) and area (<it>P value = 0.001</it>) were strongly associated with the presence of vectors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Result of the studied household characteristics provides an accurate, rapid assessment of house-level variation in risk. The results also have implications for maximizing surveillance efficacy of sandflies, which is likely to become increasingly important while formulating any control strategy.</p

Strengthening SMEs to make export competitive

The importance of SMEs in any economy cannot be overlooked as they form a major chunk in the economic activity of nations. India has nearly three million SMEs, which account for almost 50 per cent of industrial output. However, SMEs which form the backbone of industrial development in India are not export competitive and contribute only about 34 percent of exports. It is this feature of the SMEs that make it an ideal target to realize its potential export competitive. Drawing from the experiences of countries that have successfully promoted the export competitiveness of SMEs, this paper has identified ways in which SMEs in India can have an access to external markets through exports, which include simplification of procedures, incentives for higher production, preferential treatments to SMEs in the market development fund, linking up SMEs with Transnational Companies or large domestic exporting firms; and formation of clusters and networks in order to reinforce their external competitiveness

Environmental accounting and reporting With special reference to India

In recent years, environmental pollution becomes so acute and the stakeholders’ awareness to the issue becomes so serious that environmental accounting has become a strong branch of accounting. Still, attention towards the style and recognition of environmental accounting is not a generalized one. Legal authorities, standard setting bodies and other regulators cannot come to a consensus regarding the conceptual framework of environmental accounting and its disclosure. Thus, such disclosure is not mandatory rather voluntary that has no specific style or format. With the passage of time, more guidelines are coming in customized format that may lead us to reach a common format for recognizing environment related data and disclosure thereof through financial statements. Still, such disclosure is guided by the social responsibility and commitment on the part of the entities that work as strong agents for polluting the environment. In this paper, the theoretical foundation of environmental accounting and reporting is discussed with special reference to India. More emphasis is given on environmental accounting and awareness for that as this is supposed to be the need of today

Environmental accounting and reporting With special reference to India

In recent years, environmental pollution becomes so acute and the stakeholders’ awareness to the issue becomes so serious that environmental accounting has become a strong branch of accounting. Still, attention towards the style and recognition of environmental accounting is not a generalized one. Legal authorities, standard setting bodies and other regulators cannot come to a consensus regarding the conceptual framework of environmental accounting and its disclosure. Thus, such disclosure is not mandatory rather voluntary that has no specific style or format. With the passage of time, more guidelines are coming in customized format that may lead us to reach a common format for recognizing environment related data and disclosure thereof through financial statements. Still, such disclosure is guided by the social responsibility and commitment on the part of the entities that work as strong agents for polluting the environment. In this paper, the theoretical foundation of environmental accounting and reporting is discussed with special reference to India. More emphasis is given on environmental accounting and awareness for that as this is supposed to be the need of today

Strengthening SMEs to make export competitive

The importance of SMEs in any economy cannot be overlooked as they form a major chunk in the economic activity of nations. India has nearly three million SMEs, which account for almost 50 per cent of industrial output. However, SMEs which form the backbone of industrial development in India are not export competitive and contribute only about 34 percent of exports. It is this feature of the SMEs that make it an ideal target to realize its potential export competitive. Drawing from the experiences of countries that have successfully promoted the export competitiveness of SMEs, this paper has identified ways in which SMEs in India can have an access to external markets through exports, which include simplification of procedures, incentives for higher production, preferential treatments to SMEs in the market development fund, linking up SMEs with Transnational Companies or large domestic exporting firms; and formation of clusters and networks in order to reinforce their external competitiveness