Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid: An Alternative Perspective

The Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) has emerged as one of the dominant ideas in business. Cognizant of the overwhelming attention BOP has attracted and its potential impact on the billions of the poor and on managerial practices, the author analyzes the different aspects of BOP approach on how large corporations can serve low income customers profitably. An attempt is made to provide an alternate perspective on the BOP concept. I argue for the facilitation of selective consumption by the poor by avoiding their undesirable inclusion (marketing products that are not likely to enhance their wellbeing or products that are likely to be abused by them) and exclusion (not offering products that are likely to enhances their wellbeing) in target market selection decisions by the private sector organizations. A framework is presented for assessing the appropriateness of large corporations’ participation in BOP markets. I also emphasize the need to strengthen the role of the poor as a producer for rapid poverty alleviation.

Surface-Directed Spinodal Decomposition: A Molecular Dynamics Study

We use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study surface-directed spinodal decomposition (SDSD) in unstable binary ($AB$) fluid mixtures at wetting surfaces. The thickness of the wetting layer $R_1$ grows with time $t$ as a power-law ($R_1 \sim t^\theta$). We find that hydrodynamic effects result in a crossover of the growth exponent from $\theta\simeq 1/3$ to $\theta\simeq1$. We also present results for the layer-wise correlation functions and domain length scales.Comment: 29 pages, 13 figures, submitted to PR

Examining the Nonlinear Effects in Satisfaction-Loyalty-Behavioral Intentions Model

Extant research has widely investigated linear functional forms in satisfaction and loyalty models. Though complex nonlinear nature of satisfaction loyalty link is suggested by several researchers, few attempts have been made to empirically examine nonlinearity. Moreover, researchers have used divergent functional forms to model nonlinearity and their findings are often inconclusive. In this study we use nonlinear form to describe the relationship between satisfaction, attitudinal loyalty, purchase loyalty and customer behavioral intentions such as willingness to pay more and external and internal complaining responses in the context of business-to-consumer ecommerce. We find modest empirical support for nonlinear effects in the relationship. Results support nonlinearity only in the case of attitudinal loyalty to internal complaining response link. Results also present evidence about the mediating role of attitudinal loyalty in the relationship between satisfaction, purchase loyalty, willingness to pay more and internal complaining responses.

Morphological Phase Separation in Unstable Thin Films: Pattern Formation and Growth

We present results from a comprehensive numerical study of {\it morphological phase separation} (MPS) in unstable thin liquid films on a 2-dimensional substrate. We study the quantitative properties of the evolution morphology via several experimentally relevant markers, e.g., correlation function, structure factor, domain-size and defect-size probability distributions, and growth laws. Our results suggest that the late-stage morphologies exhibit dynamical scaling, and their evolution is self-similar in time. We emphasize the analogies and differences between MPS in films and segregation kinetics in unstable binary mixtures.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures; Accepted for publication in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physic

Antenatal care awareness among rural pregnant women of Uttar Pradesh, India: a community-based study

Background: A great deal of research evidence indicates that inappropriate antenatal care (ANC) increases the likelihood of maternal morbidity and maternal mortality. The adverse effects can be minimized if pregnant women are aware to ensure necessary registration, regular antenatal check-ups, and early diagnosis of high-risk pregnancy. The present study was conducted to explore the ANC awareness of pregnant women and its association with socio-demographic factors.Methods: A cross-sectional community-based study was conducted on 605 pregnant women who registered were at the primary health center (PHC) of Harhua block of Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh. The self-developed ANC awareness schedule (ACAS) was used to assess the ANC awareness of pregnant women. Statistical analysis was performed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 20 software.Results: Among 605 study participants, the majority of them (62.48%) were in the age group of 20–25 years. Out of 10.74% of study participants were illiterate while only 21.65% were graduated. Most of the pregnant women were from the lower middle class (44.30%), and only 3.47% belonged to the upper class. The study reveals that 57.36% of pregnant women were found to be aware of ANC. Out of 86.61% of pregnant women knew that regular antenatal check-up was necessary once they became pregnant. Socio-demographic variables such as category, education, occupation, and socioeconomic status of pregnant women were found to be significantly associated with ANC awareness.Conclusions: The level of awareness regarding ANC among pregnant women was not found satisfactory. They do not have proper knowledge and awareness about the various parameters of ANC. Improving awareness of ANC among pregnant women will enable them to detect high-risk pregnancies at the right time, which will also increase their chances of a healthy delivery.

Power system harmonics estimation using different signal processing techniques

Harmonics have been available for quite a while and its presence shapes the execution of a power system. Consequently, harmonics estimation is of principal vitality while analyzing the power system. Emulating the beginning of harmonics, different filters have been formulated to attain an ideal control methodology for constant rejection. This thesis acquaints different algorithms to dissect harmonics in the power system. The target is to estimate the voltage magnitude and phase plot of the power system in the proximity of noise by using various estimation approaches. This thesis has centered the consideration towards the investigation of Kalman filter (KF), Recursive Least squares (RLS), least mean square (LMS) and Variable leaky least mean square (VLLMS) based filter for estimation of harmonics. For a test signal KF, RLS, LMS and VLLMS based calculations have been examined and the results have been looked at. The several algorithms are compared for various signals to noise ratio. The SNR used here are 40 dB, 30dB and 20dB. The proposed estimation methodologies are implemented on a typical power system signal acquired from mechanical burden embodying power electronic converters and arc furnaces

Passive Night Sight using Image Intensifier Minimum Resolvable Contrast Model

Performance study of a passive night sight has been carried out using an image intensifierminimum resolvable contrast (IIMRC) model. It has been shown that for two identically designedpassive sights, the one incorporating super gen tube performs better by factor of 1.3 againstthe other incorporating second gen tube. Effects of spectral characteristics of night-skyillumination as also spectral reflectance of scene elements have been investigated. It has beenconcluded that field performance of passive night sight may be correlated to dark-tunnelmeasurements of limiting resolution at illumination level corresponding to near-starlit conditionfor acceptance or otherwise of the sight

A review on nanomaterials and nanohybrids based bio-nanocomposites for food packaging

With an increasing demand for a novel, eco-friendly, high-performance packaging material “bio-nanocomposites” has attracted great attention in recent years. The review article aims at to evaluating recent innovation in bio-nanocomposites for food packaging applications. The current trends and research over the last three years of the various bio-nanocomposites including inorganic, organic nanomaterials, and nanohybrids, which are suitable as food packaging materials due to their advanced properties such as high mechanical, thermal, barrier, antimicrobial, and antioxidant are described in detail. In addition, the legislation, migration studies, and SWOT analysis on bio-nanocomposite film have been discussed. It has been observed that the multifunctional properties of the bio-nanocomposite materials, has the potential to improve the quality and safety of the food together with no /or fewer negative impact on the environment. However, more studies need to be performed on bionanocomposite materials to determine the migration levels and formulate relevant legislation