Estimation of biomass density and carbon storage in the forests of Andhra Pradesh, India, with emphasis on their deforestation and degradation conditions

The current study evaluates the growing stock, biomass and carbon content of Andhra Pradesh state’s forest (India) along with its current status of forest degradation and loss. For this purpose, the study used the growing stock data collected by state forest department in 2010 for the calculation of biomass and carbon storage using the standard conversion and expansion factors given by IPCC. The analysis shows low biomass and carbon values for the state’s forest in comparison to the mean values recorded in different studies made for Andhra Pradesh. It is also observed to be lower when compared with the average carbon and biomass for Indian forests. Overall, the analysis showed degradation and loss of forest in the state, coupled with reduction in biomass and carbon sink

Supergravity with Self-dual B fields and Instantons in Noncommutative Gauge Theory

We study Type IIB supergravity in the presence of (euclidean) D3 branes and nonzero self-dual B-fields. We point out that the Einstein frame metric is identical to the full geometry for D3 branes without B fields turned on. Furthermore, in a decoupling limit in which the theory is conjectured to be dual to noncommutative Yang-Mills theory, the entire Einstein metric remains intact, and in particular, is asymptotically flat. We construct D-instanton solutions in this geometry. We show that in the decoupling limit the D-instanton action agrees with the action of the corresponding instanton in the noncommutative Yang-Mills theory and is expressed in terms of the open string coupling. Some other aspects of this correspondence, which have unusual features because the underlying metric is asymptotically flat, are explored.Comment: 25 pages, harvma

Boosts, Schwarzschild Black Holes and Absorption cross-sections in M theory

$D$ dimensional neutral black strings wrapped on a circle are related to $(D-1)$ dimensional charged black holes by boosts. We show that the boost has to be performed in the covering space and the boosted coordinate has to be compactified on a circle with a Lorentz contracted radius. Using this fact we show that the transition between Schwarzschild black holes to black p-branes observed recently in M theory is the well-known black hole- black string transition viewed in a boosted frame. In a similar way the correspondence point where an excited string state goes over to a neutral black hole is mapped exactly to the correspondence point for black p-branes. In terms of the $p$ brane quantities the equation of state for an excited string state becomes identical to that of a 3+1 dimensional massless gas for all $p$. Finally, we show how boosts can be used to relate Hawking radiation rates. Using the known microscopic derivation of absorption by extremal 3-branes and near-extremal 5D holes with three large charges we provide a microscopic derivation of absorption of 0-branes by seven and five dimensional Schwarzschild black holes in a certain regime.Comment: Some references added, minor clarifications (harvmac, 16 pages

A multilateral model of ecological ammensalism - numerical approach

The paper concerns with the numerical study of a mathematical model of “A Multilateral Model of Ecological Ammensalism - Numerical Approach”. The mathematical model comprises of Ammensal-enemy species pair with (i) a constant number of Ammensal is provided with cover to protect it from enemy(ii)the enemy is provided with alternate resources in addition to the Ammensal species (iii) both the species are immigrated and migrated. The model is organized by a couple of first order non linear ordinary differential equations. The numerical illustrations of the growth equations are computed by implementing the classical Runge-Kutta method of fourth order. The relations among the cover protected constant and the dominance reversal time is investigated. Some conclusions are obtained by the results. AMS Classification: 92 D 25, 92 D 40&nbsp

Impact of Human Resource Development Interventions on Organizational Effectiveness: A Study on Indian Cement Industry

Cement industry is one of the key industries playing a vital role in the growth and development of the nation. Cement is the most preferred building material in India and its demand in the economy can be linked to the economic development activity in the country. There has been tremendous growth of activities in the Indian cement industry in terms of modernization, in order to keep pace with such modernization due to technological development; a strong manpower base equipped with latest development has to be built within Cement industry. Human Resource Development (HRD) interventions have to be implemented to update knowledge and improve the skills of personnel at all levels including the fresh talents in the industry. Seminal works in developed countries have advocated that organizational performance is influenced by employee competencies through the implementation of HRD interventions. However, the past studies emphasizing on HRD interventions to enhance employee competencies are scarce in India. Thus, this research examined the impact of HRD interventions on employee competencies towards building organizational effectiveness in Indian cement industry. Specifically, the study focuses on gauging the perceptions of employees of Indian cement manufacturing units on HRD interventions, organizational learning culture, employee competencies and organizational effectiveness to build a logical relationship among the variables. A survey was conducted among the employees of Indian cement industry situated in two Indian states Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The selected cement manufacturing plants for the study are Jaypee Balaji Cement Plant (a unit of Jaypee Group), Madras Cements Ltd. (a unit of Ramco Group), OCL India Ltd. (a unit of Dalmia Bharat Group), Bargarh Cement Ltd. (a unit of the Associated Cement Companies Ltd.), and Jharsuguda Cement Works (a unit of Ultratech Cement Ltd.). A structured questionnaire comprising of eighty six items was administered among nine hundred fifty two respondents by adopting the method of simple random sampling. In the process of opinion survey, six hundred fifty three useful responses were retrieved owing to a response rate of sixty eight per cent. The responses obtained were subjected to analysis by using SPSS 20 and AMOS 20. The preliminary analysis of data was conducted by using the descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis. Then, the hypothesized research model was validated by using statistical tools such as exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling. The findings reveal that HRD interventions have a significant association with employee competencies. Similarly, found that organizational learning culture significantly moderates the relationship between HRD interventions and employee competencies. Further, employee competencies are significantly associated with goal oriented and competing values approach to organizational effectiveness. Along with these employee competencies partially mediated the relationship between HRD interventions and goal oriented approach to organizational effectiveness and fully mediated with competing values approach to organizational effectiveness. Thus, this research provides a holistic framework that may act as a blueprint for cement manufacturing organizations to assess and improve employee competencies as well as improve organizational effectiveness. Further, the study may also provide substantial evidence to the HRD managers for improvement of HRD practices and development of organizational learning culture through appropriate policies and procedures at the workplace along with enhancement of employee competencies towards significant outcome of organizational effectiveness

Profitability of Cotton on a Pest Management Continuum in Guntur District of Andhra Pradesh

The plant protection response of farmers in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh has been examined with particular reference to the adoption of Bt cotton varieties and IPM components. The farmers have been found to follow a wide range of practices to manage the insect pests in cotton. The use of chemical insecticides has accounted for, about 37 per cent of the total variable costs. No significant reduction in plant protection expenditure has been recorded on adoption of Bt varieties without IPM practices. The adoption of IPM practices, however, has led to reduced use of insecticides and increased profitability. The saving on plant protection chemicals has more than compensated the cost of adopting IPM components. Consequently, the net returns have been found increased considerably from cotton cultivation.Crop Production/Industries,

An overview of carbapenem, its resistance and therapeutic options for infections caused by carbapenem resistant bacteria

Carbapenems are beta-lactam drugs that have broadest spectrum of activity. They are commonly used as the drugs of last resort to treat complicated bacterial infections. They bind to penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) and inhibit cell wall synthesis in bacteria. Important members that are in clinical use include doripenem, ertapenem, imipenem, and meropenem. Unlike other members, imipenem is hydrolyzed significantly by renal dehydropeptidase; therefore, it is administered together with an inhibitor of renal dehydropeptidase, cilastatin. Carbapenems are usually administered intravenously due to their low oral bioavailability. Most common side effects of these drugs include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, and reactions at the infusion sites. Increasing resistance to these antibiotics is being reported throughout the world and is posing a threat to public health.  Primary mechanisms of carbapenem resistance include expulsion of drug and inactivation of the drug by production of carbapenemases which may not only hydrolyze carbapenem, but also cephalosporin, penicillin, and aztreonam. Resistance especially among Gram negative bacteria is of much concern since there are only limited therapeutic options available for infections caused by carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens. Commonly used drugs to treat such infections include polymyxins, fosfomycin and tigecycline