A New Upperbound for the Oblivious Transfer Capacity of Discrete Memoryless Channels

We derive a new upper bound on the string oblivious transfer capacity of discrete memoryless channels. The main tool we use is the tension region of a pair of random variables introduced in Prabhakaran and Prabhakaran (2014) where it was used to derive upper bounds on rates of secure sampling in the source model. In this paper, we consider secure computation of string oblivious transfer in the channel model. Our bound is based on a monotonicity property of the tension region in the channel model. We show that our bound strictly improves upon the upper bound of Ahlswede and Csisz\'ar (2013).Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, extended version of submission to IEEE Information Theory Workshop, 201

Does Internet Banking Affect the Performance of Community Banks?

This study examines the impact of online banking on bank performance. Results show that online banking improves bank earnings as well as helps in improving asset quality.Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies,

Efficiency Ranking of IT Service-Producing Firms: Case of Indian Multinationals

Production functions often study the output of physical products with capital and labor inputs. Instead, we use 2004 to 2016 data for 55 In- dian multinational companies to assess the production of services. Our estimates of flexible production functions yield estimates of scale elasticity (SCE) and elasticity of substitution (EOS) for pooled data. A subset of 31 companies with relatively complete data yields their individual SCE and EOS values, revealing their heterogeneity. Sorting the 31 companies by their SCE help name scale-efficient (high SCE) and scale inefficient (low SCE) multinationals. Similarly, a listing of 31 companies sorted by EOS allows us to name companies that are (and are not) robust to input price shocks. Using stock market data on these publicly traded companies, we report the values of three stock market criteria for top ranking companies by SCE. We also study empirical causal paths from the market criteria to EOS and SCE, suggesting that SCE and EOS do drive stock market indicators implying efficient markets. Our pooled and detailed results are relevant for government policy toward the IT sector and corporate governance issues

Contribution of Gandhian Thought to Corporate Responsibility

Mahatma Gandhiji transformed contemporary capitalists amidst the criticism from leftist quarters that he was working for a compromise in the interests of the Indian bourgeoisie. The purpose of this paper is to present a forerunner of today’s conversations in the world about corporate social responsibility (CSR). Gandhiji not only befriended a number of businesspersons but also advised them to consider their role as a steward of their wealth and businesses that they held. We intend to substantiate his pious intentions derived from his understanding of Bhagavad Gita, which suggested to him that one could enjoy one’s acquired wealth by renouncing it. Persuaded by such moral disposition, Gandhiji argued that it is the surest method to evolve a new order of life of universal benefit of all people in the society as opposed to the order in which most of us live for ourselves without regard to what happens to our neighbour. The paper is based on archival materials representing his conceptualisation and acceptance of trusteeship and the collaborations of the capitalists that lived in his times.Â

Neural correlates of prior expectations of motion in the lateral intraparietal and middle temporal areas

Successful decision-making involves combining observations of the external world with prior knowledge. Recent studies suggest that neural activity in macaque lateral intraparietal area (LIP) provides a useful window into this process. This study examines how rapidly changing prior knowledge about an upcoming sensory stimulus influences the computations that convert sensory signals into plans for action. Two monkeys performed a cued direction discrimination task, in which an arrow cue presented at the start of each trial communicated the prior probability of the direction of stimulus motion. We hypothesized that the cue would either shift the initial level of LIP activity before sensory evidence arrives, or it would scale sensory responses according to the prior probability of each stimulus, manifesting as a change in slope of LIP firing rates. Neural recordings demonstrated a clear shift in the activity level of LIP neurons following the arrow cue, which persisted into the presentation of the motion stimulus. No significant change in slope of responses was observed, suggesting that sensory gain was not strongly modulated. To confirm the latter observation, MT neurons were recorded during a version of the cued direction discrimination task, and we found no change in MT responses resulting from the presentation of the directional cue. These results suggest that information about an immediately upcoming stimulus does not scale the sensory response, but rather changes the amount of evidence that must be accumulated to reach a decision in areas that are involved in planning action

PHYSICO CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF VRANASHODHANAHARA TAIL AND DOORVADI TAIL- A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Tail Kalpana (Medicated Oil) is a pharmaceutical process. It comes under the Sneha Kalpana. It may be defined as a process where the various things like decoction, paste, milk and perfuming - substances are employed for the preparation of oleaginous medicaments (Oil and Ghee). This process ensures absorption of the active therapeutic properties of the ingredients used. The experimental test was done in laboratory, Department of Rasa Shastra & B.K., N.I.A., Jaipur and Oasis Lab., Jaipur by adopting S.O.P. and S.M.P. as laid down in the respective pharmacopeias. Physico – chemical properties of both the medicated oils and untreated oil were determined. The analysis includes as following- Specific gravity, Refractive Index, Loss on drying, Ash value, Acid Value, Saponification value, Ester value, Iodine Value, Unsaponifiable matter, thin layer chromatography and Spectrophotometry. The T.L.C. pattern of Unsaponifiable matters of medicated oils and base oil indicates the presence of active constituents. The absorption characteristic of the medicated oils and base oil were Studied as 0.08% v/v solutions of the oils in Cyclohexane were merely transparent in the visible region of the spectrum. The Spectra resembles those of Sesamin and Sesamolin, the lignan Substances of Sesame oil. So it’s concluded that medicated oils are better than base oil for their medicinal purpose

Improvement in Quality of Wine by Blending White and Coloured Grapes

Blending of juices from four white grape varieties viz., Thompson Seedless, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Italia with three coloured varieties, viz., Shiraz, Ruby Red and Bangalore Blue, was done in 2:1 and 3:1 ratios to assess the effect of blending on wine quality. White varieties blended with Bangalore Blue recorded maximum titratable acidity (1.23%), while those blended with Ruby Red showed the least acidity (0.42%), Alcohol content in the wine ranged from 8.11% (Italia + Ruby Red, 2:1) to 12.04% (Chenin Blanc + Shiraz, 2:1). The range of values for tannin content (0.007% to 0.044 %) and total phenol content (228mg/l to 571mg/l) indicated that white varieties blended with the coloured cv. Shiraz had the lowest content of tannins and total phenols in wine, while, those blended with cv. Ruby Red showed highest content of these in the blended wines. Hence, among different blends, Chenin Blanc, Thompson Seedless, Sauvignon Blanc and Italia blended with the coloured variety Shiraz, in 2:1 ratio, produced good quality wine