Regulatory reform and productivity change in Indian banking

This paper examines the impact of regulatory reform on productivity growth and its components for Indian banks in 1992-2009. We estimate parametric and non-parametric efficiency frontiers, followed by Divisia and Malmquist indexes of Total Factor Productivity respectively. To account for technology heterogeneity among ownership types we utilise a metafrontier approach. Results are consistent across methodologies and show sustained productivity growth, driven mainly by technological progress. Furthermore, results indicate that different ownership types react differently to changes in the operating environment. The position of foreign banks becomes increasingly dominant and their production technology becomes the best practice in the industry

Effect of incubation temperatures on mycelial growth, conidial features and density of Stemphylium botryosum Walr isolates

The cultural and morphological variability of Stemphylium botryosum Walr was studied with five isolates viz. isolate 1 (Stb-I1), isolate 2 (Stb-I2), isolate 3 (Stb- I3), isolate 4 (Stb-I4) and isolate 5 (Stb-I5) collected from Parsa, Rautahat, Dang, Banke and Chitwan districts of Nepal respectively during 2011-2012 crop season with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) maintaining 3 replications at Plant Pathology Laboratory of Grain Legumes Research Program (GLRP), Rampur, Chitwan. Single spore isolation technique was followed to isolate the pathogen. The pathogen was grow on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and incubated with different temperatures in BOD incubator. The calibrated ocular micrometer was used to measure the length and breadth of the conidia while conidial count with sporulation intensity was attempted with hemocytometer. The mycelium color of the different isolates was varied from white, grey, brown and brownish black in peripheral part while mostly black pigmentation was noticed in lateral part of the culture plate. The shape and texture was regular and velvety for most isolates and in some isolate, roughly irregular shape with cottony texture was found. The higher colony diameter of 7.66 cm and conidial dimension of 29.42×18.12 μm (L/B ratio-1.62) with profuse sporulation intensity (46.67 conidia /0.01 ml) was observed at 25 °C after 15 days of incubation on PDA. However, 2.84 cm diameter, 19.58×9.81 μm (L/B ratio-2.00) with poor conidial density (7.60 conidia /0.01 ml) was noticed at 10 °C. The observation at 10 and 35 °C was at par in case of mycelial growth, conidial features and sporulation intensity. Mostly conidia of all isolates were brown in color at lower incubation temperature but they became dark grey brown at 25 and 30 °C and grey color was noticed when incubated at 35 °C on PDA after 15 days of incubation

Нормативно-правові аспекти дослідження витрат торговельних підприємств

У статті досліджено міжнародні та національні нормативно-правові акти, що розкривають суть та методологічні аспекти формування витрат підприємств у бухгалтерському і податковому обліку. (In the article are investigated standard-legal sources that open methodological aspects of formation of costs of the enterprises in the accounting and tax account.

A counter measure to Black hole attack on AODVbased Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks

Security is a major threat and essential requirement for mobile Ad Hoc network. Due to its inherent characteristics, it has many consequent challenges, which needs to be taken care of. In this paper we analyse the black hole attack in MANET using AODV as its routing protocol. Black hole is a type of routing attack where a malicious node impersonates a destination node by sending deceived route reply packet to a source node that initiates a route discovery process. By doing this, the malicious node can deprive the traffic from the source node. We propose a solution that makes a modification in existing AODV routing protoco

Natural treasures from Picrorhiza kurrooa: a computational exploration of drug-like properties and bioactivity of kutkin, cucurbitacin, apocynin and lupanine

Background: To analyse and predict the basic pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties of four compounds of interest found in Picrorhiza kurroa (Kutkin, cucurbitacin, apocynin and lupanine) using computational bioinformatics tools. Methods: The chemical structures and molecular properties of the compounds were obtained from authentic sources and processed for data profiling. 2D structures were converted to 3D structures using ChemSketch software and PHASE module. In silico screening of the 3D structures was performed using bioinformatics prediction software to assess drug-likeness, absorption, blood-brain barrier penetration, enzyme interaction potential, skin penetration, and acute oral toxicity. Results: Kutkin exhibited poor drug-likeness and low oral absorption, while the other three compounds showed promising drug-like properties and good oral absorption. Cucurbitacin and lupanine were predicted to cross the blood-brain barrier, while Kutkin and Apocynin were not. None of the compounds were substrates for P-glycoprotein, but Kutkin and cucurbitacin were substrates for CYP3A4. All four compounds had low skin penetration. Acute oral toxicity varied, with cucurbitacin classified as highly toxic and the others as slightly toxic. Conclusions: Cucurbitacin, apocynin, and lupanine have potential for further development as therapeutic agents due to their favorable drug-like properties and good absorption. Kutkin's poor drug-likeness and low absorption make it less suitable for oral drug development. This information provides valuable insights for further research on the medicinal properties of Picrorhiza kurroa and the development of new drugs based on its active compounds

Mechanistic insights into the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of alcoholic extracts from Curcuma longa

Background: Aim of the study was to scientifically validate the traditional Indian claims of Curcuma longa's (turmeric) antinociceptive (pain-relieving) and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods: The alcoholic extract of C. longa was tested in three rodent nociceptive models: acetic acid-induced writhing: examines visceral pain, formalin test: evaluates both acute and chronic neurogenic and inflammatory pain and tail immersion test to assess thermal pain. The extract's effects were compared to a control group and morphine (reference drug). Results: C. longa extract significantly reduced abdominal constrictions in the acetic acid test (59.36% inhibition). In the formalin test, the extract significantly decreased paw licking response time in both early (54.12% inhibition) and late phases (78.59% inhibition). C. longa extract significantly increased the tail flick reaction time in the immersion test, indicating pain relief. Conclusions: This study confirms the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of C. longa, providing scientific evidence for its traditional use in pain management

Low Power and Efficient Re-Configurable Multiplier for Accelerator

Deep learning is a rising topic at the edge of technology, with applications in many areas of our lives, including object detection, speech recognition, natural language processing, and more. Deep learning's advantages of high accuracy, speed, and flexibility are now being used in practically all major sciences and technologies. As a result, any efforts to improve the performance of related techniques are worthwhile. We always have a tendency to generate data faster than we can analyse, comprehend, transfer, and reconstruct it. Demanding data-intensive applications such as Big Data. Deep Learning, Machine Learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), and high- speed computing are driving the demand for "accelerators" to offload work from general-purpose CPUs. An accelerator (a hardware device) works in tandem with the CPU server to improve data processing speed and performance. There are a variety of off-the-shelf accelerator architectures available, including GPU, ASIC, and FPGA architectures. So, this work focus on designing a multiplier unit for the accelerators. This increases the performance of DNN, reduced the area and increasing the training speed of the system

Filarial Lymphedema Is Characterized by Antigen- Specific Th1 and Th17 Proinflammatory Responses and a Lack of Regulatory T Cells

Background: Lymphatic filariasis can be associated with development of serious pathology in the form of lymphedema, hydrocele, and elephantiasis in a subset of infected patients. Methods and Findings: To elucidate the role of CD4+ T cell subsets in the development of lymphatic pathology, we examined specific sets of cytokines in individuals with filarial lymphedema in response to parasite antigen (BmA) and compared them with responses from asymptomatic infected individuals. We also examined expression patterns of Toll-like receptors (TLR1–10) and Nod-like receptors (Nod1, Nod2, and NALP3) in response to BmA. BmA induced significantly higher production of Th1-type cytokines—IFN-c and TNF-a—in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic individuals. Notably, expression of the Th17 family of cytokines—IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, and IL-23—was also significantly upregulated by BmA stimulation in lymphedema patients. In contrast, expression of Foxp3, GITR, TGFb, and CTLA-4, known to be expressed by regulatory T cells, was significantly impaired in patients with lymphedema. BmA also induced significantly higher expression of TLR2, 4, 7, and 9 as well Nod1 and 2 mRNA in patients with lymphedema compared with asymptomatic controls. Conclusion: Our findings implicate increased Th1/Th17 responses and decreased regulatory T cells as well as regulation of Toll- and Nod-like receptors in pathogenesis of filarial lymphedema