Entry, Competitiveness and Exports: Evidence from Firm Level Data of Indian Manufacturing

The industry and trade policy regimes in India have witnessed drastic changes since 1991. The dismantling of the industrial licensing system and thereby allowing free entry to and exit from the industry of firms in 1991 followed by the WTO induced trade liberalization leading to substantial reduction in tariffs and gradual softening of foreign investment regulations, particularly in the context of foreign direct investment since 1995, may have had significant impact on the state of competitiveness in India industries. In this paper an attempt has been made to evaluate the effects of trade and industrial policy changes on domestic competitiveness for select Indian industries during post-liberalization period. Though there exists a pool of empirical literature focusing on the state of competitiveness in India, the link between theoretical models underlying the empirical analysis is not often strong. Moreover, a section of the literature focuses on a combination of firm and industry data for drawing conclusions on firm behavior, which may not reflect the actual scenario. Given this background, the present paper attempts to provide a unified approach to examine the inter-relationships between entry and competitiveness within a consistent oligopolistic market framework. The empirical analysis of the present study, carried out on the basis of firm data for 14 sectors over 1990-2008, indicates that Indian industry have shown considerable changes over the last decade in terms of entry and competitiveness. An overall decline in concentration is witnessed between the two end points, which signify the importance of newer entry in the markets. The Price-Cost Margin however behaves differently for different sectors, which could be explained by the differing level of spillover of technical changes as a result of increased pressure of competition due to liberalization. Demand curve is generally found to be inelastic and declines over the period. The relationship between the size of the firms and their export volume turns out to be significantly positive.Competitiveness; entry; industrial liberalization; trade liberalization

Universal Properties of Linear Magnetoresistance in Strongly Disordered Semiconductors

Linear magnetoresistance occurs in semiconductors as a consequence of strong electrical disorder and is characterized by nonsaturating magnetoresistance that is proportional to the applied magnetic field. By investigating a disordered MnAs-GaAs composite material, it is found that the magnitude of the linear magnetoresistance (LMR) is numerically equal to the carrier mobility over a wide range and is independent of carrier density. This behavior is complementary to the Hall effect that is independent of the mobility and dependent on the carrier density. Moreover, the LMR appears to be insensitive to the details of the disorder and points to a universal explanation of classical LMR that can be applied to other material systems.Comment: Accepted by Phys. Rev. B (2010

ENTADA PHASEOLOIDES ATTENUATES SCOPOLAMINE INDUCED MEMORY IMPAIRMENT, NEURO-INFLAMMATION AND NEURO-DEGENERATION VIA BDNF/TRKB/NFΚB P65 PATHWAY IN RADIAL ARM MAZE

Objective: The present study investigates the protective effects of crude extract from seeds of Entada phaseoloides and isolated compounds in enhancing cognition in Scopolamine induced learning and memory impairments in the radial arm maze model.Methods: Two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg) of the crude methanolic extract of Entada phaseoloides (MEEP) were evaluated for amnesic activity by Radial Arm Maze memory model. Scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i. p.), an amnestic drug was used for impairing memory. Tacrine (3 mg/kg, i. p.) was used as the standard drug. Animals were sacrificed to evaluate biochemical parameters viz. lipid peroxidase (LPO), nitrite oxide (NO), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), cytokine levels by ELISA, Catecholamine levels by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), Caspase-3 activity by Fluorogenic assay, Gene (BDNF, TrkB, NF-κB p65, BAX) expression studies by Western Blotting and AChE, α7nAchR, Caspase-3, Nrf2 and HO-1 by Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction.Results: Treatment with MEEP significantly decreases escape latency and reference memory error (RME). MEEP treatment reversed the Scopolamine-induced hyperactivation of Acetylcholinesterase activity and overexpression of proteins NF-κB p65 BAX and also Caspase-3 activity in the hippocampus of rats. The level of BDNF, TrkB and α7nAchR were significantly up-regulated and AChE, Caspase-3, Nrf2, HO-1 were down-regulated in the MEEP treated rat. The extract increased the activity of SOD, GSH, Catalase, 5-HT, NE, Dopamine and decreased the levels of LPO and NO in rat hippocampus. Different active components of the seeds have been isolated.Conclusion: These results indicated that seeds of Entada phaseoloides might become a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of cognitive dysfunction in addition to its already established medicinal properties

Proximity-induced ferromagnetism and chemical reactivity in few-layer VSe2 heterostructures

Among transition-metal dichalcogenides, mono and few-layers thick VSe2 has gained much recent attention following claims of intrinsic room-temperature ferromagnetism in this system, which have nonetheless proved controversial. Here, we address the magnetic and chemical properties of Fe/VSe2 heterostructure by combining element sensitive x-ray absorption spectroscopy and photoemission spectroscopy. Our x-ray magnetic circular dichroism results confirm recent findings that both native mono/few-layer and bulk VSe2 do not show intrinsic ferromagnetic ordering. Nonetheless, we find that ferromagnetism can be induced, even at room temperature, after coupling with a Fe thin film layer, with antiparallel alignment of the moment on the V with respect to Fe. We further consider the chemical reactivity at the Fe/VSe2 interface and its relation with interfacial magnetic coupling

Evaluation of petroleum based horticulture oil for the management of the tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Neitner (Acarina: Tetranychidae)

The Servo agro spray oil (petroleum based horticulture oil) was evaluated in the laboratory against tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae to determine its effect on adult mortality, viability of eggs, oviposition deterrence and repellent properties. The same was also evaluated in the field to determine its effect on mite population. Direct spray method was used in the laboratory at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. Mortality of O. coffeae was both concentration and time dependent. Deposition of eggs by adult mites on treated leaf surfaces decreased significantly and the viability of eggs was also significantly reduced. In addition, different concentrations of the Servo agro spray also exhibited repellent properties against adult mites. In the field Servo agro spray oil significantly reduced the mite population and its bio-efficacy was comparable to that of the synthetic pesticide (propargite 57 EC). No phytotoxic effect was observed when tea bushes were sprayed with different doses of Servo agro spray. Tea samples were taint free. Quality (appearance of liquor, flavour, taint and taste) of made tea was not adversely affected by treatments with Servo agro spray oil. Therefore Servo agro spray oil may be a potential agent to be used in the sustainable management of tea red spider mite

Mapping the Landscape of COVID-19 Crisis Visualizations

In response to COVID-19, a vast number of visualizations have been created to communicate information to the public. Information exposure in a public health crisis can impact people's attitudes towards and responses to the crisis and risks, and ultimately the trajectory of a pandemic. As such, there is a need for work that documents, organizes, and investigates what COVID-19 visualizations have been presented to the public. We address this gap through an analysis of 668 COVID-19 visualizations. We present our findings through a conceptual framework derived from our analysis, that examines who, (uses) what data, (to communicate) what messages, in what form, under what circumstances in the context of COVID-19 crisis visualizations. We provide a set of factors to be considered within each component of the framework. We conclude with directions for future crisis visualization research.Comment: 23 page

Trichoglossum hirsutum (Pers. ex Fr.) Bourd. var. longisporium (Tai) E. B. Mains from Assam with a note on the Indian Geoglossaceae

This article does not have an abstract

Zinc(II) complexes of 3,10-C-meso-2,5,5,7,9,12,12,14- octamethyl-1,8-diaza-4,11-diazoniacyclotetradecane as its bis(acetate) trihydrate, [LBH2][CH3COO]2.3H2O: Synthesis, Characterization and antimicrobial studies

One isomeric ligand, LB among three isomers (LA, LB and LC) of 2,9- C-meso-2,5,5,7,9,12,12,14-octamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecanes, differing in the orientation of methyl groups on the chiral carbon atoms) on interaction with vinyl acetate produces 2,9-C-meso-2,5,5,7,9,12,12,14- octamethyl-1,8-diaza-4,11-diazoniacyclotetradecane as its bis(acetate) trihydrate, [LBH2][OOCCH3]2.3H2O. This ligand salt trihydrate reacts with Zn(CH3COO)2.2H2O to produce square pyramidal monoacetatozinc(II) acetate complex [ZnLB(CH3COO)](CH3COO), which undergoes anion exchange reaction with NaClO4.6H2O to produce monoacetatozinc(II) perchlorate complex, [ZnLB(CH3COO)](ClO4). The complex, [ZnLB(CH3COO)](ClO4) undergoes axial substitution reactions with KSCN, NaNO2 and KNO3 to form the substitution products, [ZnLB(NCS)](NCS), [ZnLB(NO2)](ClO4) and [ZnLB(NO3)](ClO4) respectively where CH3COOis replaced by NCS- , NO3 - and NO2 - . All these complexes have been characterized on the basis of analytical, spectroscopic, conductometric and magnetochemical data. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of these compounds have been studied against some phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria

Comparing titanium elastic nailing and plate osteosynthesis in treating both bone diaphyseal fractures of forearm in children

Background: The present study aimed to compare the outcome of fixation of diaphyseal fractures of both bones of forearm using plate osteosynthesis (PO) and titanium elastic nail (TEN).Methods: This comparative non-randomized clinical trial was done on children aged 5 to 15 years, with diaphyseal fractures of both bone forearm fractures, operated and managed at the department of orthopedics, Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh. Intra- and post-operative findings were compared between PO and TEN group patients.Results: Duration of hospital stay was significantly lower in patients in the TEN group (44.75±6.38 minutes) as compared to those in the PO group (69.71±5.91 minutes), p value <0.01. Similarly, duration of hospital stay was significantly lower in patients in the TEN group (5.01±0.67 days) as compared to those in the PO group (8.32±1.44 days), p value <0.05. Based on price criteria, 80% of the patients in the PO group and 85% in TEN group had excellent functional outcome. Radiological union time, maximum radial bow and location of maximal radial bow were found to be statistically similar in the two groups. Complication rate was similar in the two study groups.Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, we conclude that both PO and TEN are be safely performed in children with diaphyseal both bone forearm fractures. With comparable functional and radiological outcomes, future studies are required before one technique can be recommended over the other