A Comparative Performance Evaluation Between Large-Cap and Mid-Cap Mutual Fund Returns

In Indian capital market provide various investment avenues to the investors, to help them to invest in various industries and ensure the profitable return. Among various financial products, a mutual fund ensures minimum risks and maximum return to the investor. Mutual fund industry has grown extensively in the last five years and has become a popular mode of investment.  There are umpteen numbers of schemes available to the investor based on capitalisation of the company such as large cap, mid cap and micro cap funds. This study attempts to measures the risk adjusted performance of large cap and mid cap funds based on several parameters and know which fund has performed better and led to better wealth creation for an investor in the last five years. For this purpose, five different Asset Management Companies have been chosen for the study and under each Asset Management Company, two funds- one large cap fund and one midcap fund have been studied. Based on the study conducted , it is clear that Mid cap funds have shown better performance than Large cap funds in the last five years and it is likely that the same trend will continue in the next five years. Keywords: Large-cap and Mid-cap mutual funds, Absolute returns, Performance, Risk

Constraints on First-Light Ionizing Sources from Optical Depth of the Cosmic Microwave Background

We examine the constraints on high-redshift star formation, ultraviolet and X-ray pre-ionization, and the epoch of reionization at redshift z_r, inferred from the recent WMAP-5 measurement, tau_e = 0.084 +/- 0.016, of the electron scattering optical depth of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Half of this scattering can be accounted for by the optical depth, tau_e = 0.04-0.05, of a fully ionized intergalactic medium (IGM) at z < z_GP = 6-7, consistent with Gunn-Peterson absorption in neutral hydrogen. The required additional optical depth, Delta-tau_e = 0.03 +/- 0.02 at z > z_GP, constrains the ionizing contributions of first light sources. WMAP-5 also measured a significant increase in small-scale power, which lowers the required efficiency of star formation and ionization from mini-halos. Early massive stars (UV radiation) and black holes (X-rays) can produce a partially ionized IGM, adding to the residual electrons left from incomplete recombination. Inaccuracies in computing the ionization history, x_e(z), and degeneracies in cosmological parameters (Omega_m, Omega_b, sigma_8, n_s) add systematic uncertainty to the measurement and modeling of $\tau_e$. From the additional optical depth from sources at z > z_GP, we limit the star-formation efficiency, the rate of ionizing photon production for Pop III and Pop II stars, and the photon escape fraction, using standard histories of baryon collapse, minihalo star formation, and black-hole X-ray preionization.Comment: Greatly revised version, based on WMAP-5 results and new models. Accepted for ApJ (2008

Constraints Faced by Farmers in Adoption of Organic Plant Protection Practices

The study was conducted in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala with a view to identify the constraints faced by farmers during adoption of organic plant protection practices in vegetables. The three major constraints faced by farmers were crops being affected by drought, lack of proper and timely extension services for transfer of organic technologies and organic produce fetching non-remunerative price. The major suggestions for refinement were regular and frequent farm visits, diagnostic and consultancy by Krishi Bhavan officials and mechanisms to ensure premium price for products derived through organic practices

Anisotropic silica mesostructures for DNA encapsulation

The encapsulation of biomolecules in inert meso or nanostructures is an important step towards controlling drug delivery agents. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) are of immense importance owing to their high surface area, large pore size, uniform particle size and chemical inertness. Reverse micellar method with CTAB as the surfactant has been used to synthesize anisotropic mesoporous silica materials. We have used the anisotropic silica nanostructures for DNA encapsulation studies and observed a loading capacity of ~ 8 μ g mg−1 of the sample. On functionalizing the pores of silica with amine group, the amount of DNA loaded on the rods decreases which is due to a reduction in the pore size upon grafting of amine groups

Genetic algorithm for optimal weapon allocation in multilayer defence scenario

Several heuristic optimisation techniques have been studied in the past to determine the most effective mix of weapons and their allocation to enemy targets in a multilayer defence scenario. This paper discusses a genetic algorithm approach to arrive at improved solutions with reduced computational time. The most important aspect of the new approach is the mapping of the nonlinear optimisation problem into a discrete problem. The results demonstrate that if the problem mapping is correct, even a primitive algorithm can yield high quality results to a complex optimisation problem

Parametric Evaluation of Digestability of Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste for Biogas Production

Municipal solid waste was collected from Varanasi’s municipal solid waste dumpsite and sorted for organic fraction present in it. Current work showed the consequences of calcium hydroxide or lime digestion on organic fraction of municipal solid waste of Varanasi, India. The organic fraction of municipal solid waste sample was digested with desired amount of calcium hydroxide. The different concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.5%) of calcium hydroxide was blended separately to substrates (10% total solid) at 30-35 °C in 3 different beakers denoted by A1, A2 and A3, respectively of 2 L capacity. Experiments of hydrolysis step were conducted on all three samples for evaluation of chemical oxygen demand, pH and volatile fatty acids content in sample. The parameters measured during experiments were chemical oxygen demand, biogas production, total solid, volatile solids, total Kjeldahl nitrogen and total organic carbon. Rate enhancement of anaerobic digestion and biogas production were occurred for calcium hydroxide digested samples. Therefore calcium hydroxide can be used as an effective alkali for the digestion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Estimation, forecasting, and prediction of arecanut yield considering the effect of external parameters: A systematic review

Intensive agriculture necessitates precise yield forecasting or yield prediction methods, which is technically challenging due to the dependence of yield productivity on the climatic, ecological and agronomic aspects and their effects. Various big data analytics framework has been used to forecast the arecanut crop yield considering hydrological, soil and meteorological datasets. This survey examines the existing literature on arecanut yield forecasting and also explores the widely used prominent methodologies and the effect of different attributes on the same. The study emphasises the problems and recent research developments in the Areca cropping system concerning the effect of weather, soil and crop genotype external parameters. By paving the route for future agricultural research, it also strengthens the substantial impact of these parameters on Arecanut diseases

Shadows of Time: Content creation for the Performance art installation

Shadows of Time is a non-linear narrative video installation which would be used as a backdrop for the larger performance event. The content creation for the performance was undergone a series of process to achieve the style which was decided by the team. The installation will showcase only the photographs of architectural details of Tombs which would depict symbolically the different phases of her life such as Hayat Bakshi’s timeline, her husband’s death, her thoughts about future following her death and finally showcasing the present scenario. In the process, I explored various style of image processing, methods and processes of filmmaking, different kind of treatments in order to achieve the required output as per the decided framework. The result is an eight-minute video narrative projection without dialogues along with the composed music and set design. The final installation event would be a collaboration with the performance artists along with other interactive installations contributed by other members in the team