Robust, Recognizable and Legitimate: Strengthening India's Appliance Efficiency Standards and Labels Through Greater Civil Society Involvement

Residential use accounts for 14 percent of global energy consumption. Appliance standards alone could achieve 17 percent energy reductions in the residential sector. Although appliance efficiency standards and labeling programs (AES&L) aim to influence consumer behavior, consumers and civil society often play a limited role in the design, implementation, and monitoring of these programs. This report considers the contribution that civil society organizations can make at each stage of an appliance efficiency standards and labeling program (AES&L), based on experiences in 10 developed and developing countries

Outward FDI and Knowledge Flows: A Study of the Indian Automotive Sector

In recent years developing countries have emerged as significant participants in the OFDI (outward foreign direct investment) activities having the strategic asset seeking motive. Such OFDI which is assets exploiting cum augmenting involves potential two way cross border knowledge flows. This study examines these issues for the Indian automotive industry that is currently transnationalizing at a rapid rate in terms of both exports and OFDI. The study traces the technological capability building and several dimensions of OFDI in this industry. The case studies of two major automotive Groups highlight their competence building, and knowledge seeking operations. This study undertakes a quantitative analysis of the influence of OFDI activities on the in‐house (domestic) R&D performance of Indian automotive firms during 1988–2008. As expected, the favourable impacts on R&D intensity appear to be stronger for developed vs. developing host nations, and for joint venture vs. wholly‐owned ownership OFDI. The study concludes with suggestions to promote particularly the strategic asset enhancing OFDI.OFDI; Strategic Assets‐seeking FDI; R&D; Automotive Industry

Group Affiliation and Location of Indian Firms’ Foreign Acquisitions

Notwithstanding the extensive literature on emerging markets OFDI, generally led by Business Groups (BG), there is scant evidence on the differential patterns of OFDI by BG-affiliated and standalone firms. Employing data on the Indian overseas acquisitions during 2000–2008, this study examines their host-country related locational determinants, also separately for the BG-affiliated and other firms. The BG-affiliates have a relatively wider spread of international acquisitions and greater preference for Europe over North America. The censored Poisson estimates indicate the general attraction of host country market size and double-taxation-avoidance treaty. However, unlike the standalone firms, the overseas acquisitions location for BG-affiliates is significantly favourably influenced also by the host country growth rate, liberal inward-FDI regime and bilateral investment treaty, and is getting attracted to geographically distant nations. Again, only the standalone firms’ foreign acquisitions are significantly impacted by the cultural proximity and the quantitative relative importance, to the host nation, of imports from India. Thus, given their derived resources and parental networks, the BG-affiliated EMNEs (can) decide the OFDI host location in a broader and less restrained framework.Cross-border M&As; OFDI Location; Business Groups; Standalone Firms; Emerging Multinationals.

Social Issues and Political Interference: Impact of Bal Gangadhar Tilak on Marathi Theatre

The literary history of Maharashtra is very vibrant and so does the impact and influences that helped in shaping Marathi theatre into a new direction. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak’s name is one of them who indirectly supported Marathi theatre and gave many reasons to convert itself into a new form. Whether it is the issue related to social, political or economical; he was a great supporter of theatre. The plays written during 1880 to 1920 were especially focused on Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his ideology. He was a dominant figure in Indian freedom movement; therefore, it is not surprising but interesting to know that how a political personality can become the major subject matter of the play. For Marathi theatre, Tilak was a ready-made available material. Although he was not fully connected with theatre but it was his magical influence that almost every activity related to him became the subject matter of the plays. Even the name of the plays and name of theatre groups could not remain untouched by his dominant personality and ideologies. The present paper is an attempt to explore the influence of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and his policies on Marathi theatrical practice and how he became the medium to expose the current social and political issues of colonial India

Outward FDI and Knowledge Flows: A Study of the Indian Automotive Sector

In recent years developing countries have emerged as significant participants in the OFDI (outward foreign direct investment) activities having the strategic asset seeking motive. Such OFDI which is assets exploiting cum augmenting involves potential two way cross border knowledge flows. This study examines these issues for the Indian automotive industry that is currently transnationalizing at a rapid rate in terms of both exports and OFDI. The study traces the technological capability building and several dimensions of OFDI in this industry. The case studies of two major automotive Groups highlight their competence building, and knowledge seeking operations. This study undertakes a quantitative analysis of the influence of OFDI activities on the in‐house (domestic) R&D performance of Indian automotive firms during 1988–2008. As expected, the favourable impacts on R&D intensity appear to be stronger for developed vs. developing host nations, and for joint venture vs. wholly‐owned ownership OFDI. The study concludes with suggestions to promote particularly the strategic asset enhancing OFDI.OFDI; Strategic Assets‐seeking FDI; R&D; Automotive Industry

Maternal and perinatal outcome in Rh negative mothers

Background: The objective of this study is to find out the incidence and foetomaternal outcome of Rh negative women during pregnancy.Methods: In the study group, the labor was monitored carefully and the mode of delivery and the outcome of labor was studied in detail. Baby was thoroughly examined for any obvious congenital anomaly, weight, sex and condition was also noted particularly for hydrops. If neonate was Rh positive, then the mother was given postpartum immunoprophylaxis within 24 hours of delivery. The new born were followed for 3 days and were watched for the development of Jaundice. Mothers were advised to attend postnatal clinic for check-up after 6 weeks of delivery.Results: Blood group distribution of newborn: 37 were Rh positive and 18 were Rh negative. Raised Rh antibody titre was not found in any of the 55 cases. Maximum cases 47 delivered at 38-40 weeks, 2 cases delivered after 40 weeks and 6 patients delivered between 30-38 weeks. Maximum cases 37 delivered normally, 12 required cesarean section and 2 had forceps delivery. The babies who developed NNHB were managed either by sunrays exposure only or by phototherapy. The babies who had anemia immediately after birth were carefully monitored and considered for exchange transfusion.Conclusions: Tremendous advances in the medical services and technology during the last few decades have revolutionized the treatment of Rh disease. Various studies have been conducted and several are going on the in this field to achieve zero incidence of this disease

Simulation of DSDV Protocol

An ad-hoc network is the cooperative engagement of a collection of Mobile Hosts without the required intervention of any centralized Access Point. This Application is the innovative design for the operation of such ad-hoc networks. The basic idea of the design is to operate each Mobile Host as a specialized router, which periodically advertises its view of the interconnection topology with other Mobile Hosts within the network. This amounts to a new sort of routing protocol. This paper is practically applied using the specifications that are defined through Highly Dynamic Destination Sequenced Distance Vector Routing Algorithm

Study of incidence and different aspects of cervical malignancy in tertiary centre of Jharkhand, India

ackground: Among the various killers of women of developing world, cervical cancer remains high in the list. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide and the most common cancer in developing nations. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of cervical cancer in post-menopausal women in Jharkhand and to determine various risk factors.Methods: The study was conducted on post-menopausal females presenting in outpatient department, emergency and indoor patients admitted in the department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi from March 2015 to September 2016. All post-menopausal women patients with suspected or proved cervical malignancy were included in the study.Results: The incidence of cervical cancer in this study was 16%. Maximum number of cases with cervical malignancy was in the age of 51-60 (45.83%). 45.83% of cases belonged to Hindu community. Maximum number of cases belonged to low socio-economic group (66.66%).  45.83% of cases were para 5 or more Most of the patient had more than one complains. Post-menopausal bleeding was commonest complain present in 66.66%, 77.08% came in advance stage (stage IIb+ III+ IV).Conclusions: This study showed UA-S/D ratio and UA-RI>2SD are significant predictors of perinatal deaths and immediate neonatal resuscitation in preeclampsia. Acute fetal distress in labour or neonatal nursery admission could not be predicted

A Bacillus sphaericus Based Biosensor for Monitoring Nickel Ions in Industrial Effluents and Foods

A microbial-based biosensor has been developed based on enzyme inhibition bioassay for monitoring the presence of Ni(II) in real-time samples. The sensing element is immobilized Bacillus sphaericus MTCC 5100 yielding urease enzyme. The transducer is an NH 4 + ion selective electrode in conjunction with a potentiometer. Heavy metals are potentially toxic to human beings. Nickel is associated with causing adverse health effects such as dermatitis and vertigo, in humans. Toxicity is manifested by affecting T-cell system and suppressing the activity of natural killer cells. Nickel finds applications in electroplating, coinage, electrodes, jewellery, alloys. The foods rich in Ni(II) are nuts, beans, oats, and wheat. The range of Ni(II) detection by the developed biosensor is 0.03–0.68 nM (0.002–0.04 ppb) with a response time of 1.5 minutes. For application, the Ni(II) effluent was procured from an electroplating industrial unit and was found to have a concentration of 100.0 ppm Ni(II). In foods, wheat flour sample was acid digested and Ni(II) was specifically complexed in the presence of other cations, and had an Ni(II) concentration of 0.044 ppm. The developed system has a reliability of 91.5% and 90.6%, respectively, for the samples and could possibly replace the existing conventional techniques of analysis

Study of primary caesarean section in multigravida patients

Background: Caesarean section is the most commonly performed major surgery among women. The aims and objective of this study was to know the incidence of primary Caesarean section in multigravidas, its indications and to know the maternal and foetal outcome among these patients.Methods: It was a prospective study of primary caesarean section in multigravida admitted at Kamla Raja Hospital, G.R. Medical College and J. A. Group of Hospitals, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh, India) during the period of 1 year from September 2014 to August 2015. Multigravida with pregnancy of >28 weeks gestation (gravida 2 and above), each of whom has had a previous vaginal delivery of > 20 weeks gestation were included. Women with previous abortions and previous section and Pregnancy with medical disorders were excluded.Results: During the study period of one year, total 8185 deliveries occurred, out of which 3061 (37.39%) underwent caesarean section and 386 (12.61%) were primary caesarean section in multigravida. Out of these multigravida patients who underwent primary caesarean section- most of the patients were unbooked (77.72%). Majority of the cases were direct admission in the hospital (61.13%). Maximum number of the patients were in the age group of 25-30 years (55.95%). Two third of the patients were literate (69.44%) Maximum number of patients were Gravida 2 (49.72%). Almost all of them (95.85%) underwent emergency caesarean section. The most common indication for primary LSCS in multigravida patients was Malpresentation 115 (29.79%) followed by Fetal distress in 71 (18.39%) patients, APH in 71 (18.39%), Obstructed labour in 33 (8.55%), Severe preeclampsia and Antepartum eclampsia in 39 (10.1%), Twin pregnancy in 21 (5.44%). Most common maternal complication was pyrexia 40 (10.36%). Postoperative morbidity was 21.24% among unbooked, 14.25% in Referred, 23.58% in those operated as an emergency, 12.43% in patients belonging to of low socioeconomic status and 3.88%, in patients with moderate to severe anemia. Birth asphyxia was found in 6.21% of neonates. Neonatal mortality was 2.33%. Neonatal mortality is more in Unbooked cases (90.47%).Conclusions: Many unforeseen complications occur in women who previously had a normal vaginal delivery. It is recommended that all antenatal patients must be booked and receive proper and regular antenatal care. Also 100% deliveries in multigravida should be institutional deliveries in order to reduce maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality