Marketing System and Market Structure for Secondhand Tractors in Punjab

The secondhand tractor markets in Punjab have assumed special significance. Around 20000 tractors are transacted annually in these markets, which are generally held on a fixed day of the week specific for each market. About 80 % of the secondhand tractors sold pass through the marketing channel: Farmer ! Agent / Sub-agent ! Farmer. The markets are unorganized and unregulated. The market place is also not proper, congested, costly, inconvenient with hardly any facility. Generally the large farmers sell their secondhand tractor to replace with a new one and the small farmers purchase the secondhand tractor. The price determination is fairly competitive. The distress sale has not been ruled out but has declined with escalation in land prices. The malpractices have been rare but as usual the farmer is the weaker party. The study has suggested that secondhand tractor markets in Punjab should be organized and regulated; the dealers should be registered and the market charges should be fixed. The market agency should maintain record of transactions in the marketMarketing,

Impact of Multiple Insect-Pest Incidence on Yield in Basmati Rice

The experiments for determining the multiple insect-pest incidence on yield loss in basmati rice was conducted for two crop seasons. Five treatments were, viz. application of imidacloprid in vegetative stage; application of granular insecticide in vegetative stage; application of higher dose of Urea; augmentive releases of yellow stem borer egg mass at vegetative and booting stage; untreated control. During both the years, the correlation between grain yield and dead heart, leaf folder damage and planthopper population at 50 and 65 DAT and white ear at maturity was negative. The analysis of variance of regression analysis of yield Vs damage levels at different crop growth stages during both the years revealed a significant linear relationship. The yield loss was highly related to incidence of stem borer and leaf folder damage at 50 and 65 DAT during both the years. For integrated pest management, effective monitoring of stem borer and leaf folder from 50 to 65 DAT is required, which appeared as a critical crop growth stage. The farmers should remain cautious during this period to prevent yield loss

E-loyalty formation of Generation Z: Personal characteristics and social influences

Purpose: This study examines the personal characteristics and social influence of Generation Z on their e-loyalty towards tourism websites. In contrast to previous models, this study explores the effect of perceived compatibility and innovativeness (personal characteristics) and subjective norm (social influence) on perceived usefulness and trust on tourism websites, which in turn influence e-loyalty in a generational context. These factors are crucial in e-commerce, but they have not been studied together in the context of tourism, especially for Generation Z. Methods: Using a sample size of 389 respondents falling within Generation Z in India, the proposed model was validated using PLS-SEM. A quantitative approach was followed in this study and the data was collected by using a survey questionnaire. Results: Within the wider context of technology adoption, the findings show the decisive role of both personal characteristics and social influence in determining the e-loyalty of Generation Z towards tourism websites. Implications: The implications of understanding the e-loyalty of Generation Z may assist tourism firms in retaining them by developing and implementing effective marketing strategies. Moreover, the study’s most significant contribution is that it considers Generation Z, a generation that will shape the world’s future economy and a digital sector with significant purchasing power and influence

Generalized Gravi-Electromagnetism

A self consistant and manifestly covariant theory for the dynamics of four charges (masses) (namely electric, magnetic, gravitational, Heavisidian) has been developed in simple, compact and consistent manner. Starting with an invariant Lagrangian density and its quaternionic representation, we have obtained the consistent field equation for the dynamics of four charges. It has been shown that the present reformulation reproduces the dynamics of individual charges (masses) in the absence of other charge (masses) as well as the generalized theory of dyons (gravito - dyons) in the absence gravito - dyons (dyons). key words: dyons, gravito - dyons, quaternion PACS NO: 14.80H

Parametric Optimization of Lactic Acid Extraction from Aqueous Solution in a Mixed Flow Reactor using Emulsion Liquid Membrane by Response Surface Methodology

A statistical programme using Box-Behnken design, which applies a response optimization algorithm, was used to calculate and optimize simultaneously the lactic acid extraction by emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) in a mixed flow reactor. A 3-level Box-Behnken design with seven variables i.e. lactic acid concentration, internal reagent concentration, Alamine 336 fraction in oleyl alcohol, stirring speed, fraction of acceptor phase containing internal reagent in emulsion feed: emulsion ratio and residence time was used to identify a significant correlation between the effect of these variables on lactic acid extraction from aqueous phase since the conventional practice of single factor optimization by maintaining other factors at an unspecified constant level does not depict the combined effect of all the factors involved. The experimental values were found to be in good agreement with predicted values. The analysis of the variance (ANOVA) shows that all the extraction process parameters significantly affect the performance and also shows that there are some interactions between the extraction parameters. The contribution of feed: emulsion ratio and stirring speed on extraction efficiency was more than other factors and the fraction of acceptor phase in emulsion has minimum contribution. The optimum value of the process quantities for the maximization of extraction of lactic acid from aqueous phase using ELM in MFR by the application of Box-Behnken design has been found. The recommended optimal conditions have been verified by conducting confirmation experiments. It can be concluded that the Box-Behnken experimental design provides a suitable means of optimizing and testing the robustness of lactic acid extraction in a MFR using emulsion liquid membrane and 100 % lactic acid extraction in MFR using ELM from aqueous feed can be achieved in few minutes within the specified range of independent process parameters

Parametric Optimization of Lactic Acid Extraction from Aqueous Solution in a Mixed Flow Reactor using Emulsion Liquid Membrane by Response Surface Methodology

A statistical programme using Box-Behnken design, which applies a response optimization algorithm, was used to calculate and optimize simultaneously the lactic acid extraction by emulsion liquid membrane (ELM) in a mixed flow reactor. A 3-level Box-Behnken design with seven variables i.e. lactic acid concentration, internal reagent concentration, Alamine 336 fraction in oleyl alcohol, stirring speed, fraction of acceptor phase containing internal reagent in emulsion feed: emulsion ratio and residence time was used to identify a significant correlation between the effect of these variables on lactic acid extraction from aqueous phase since the conventional practice of single factor optimization by maintaining other factors at an unspecified constant level does not depict the combined effect of all the factors involved. The experimental values were found to be in good agreement with predicted values. The analysis of the variance (ANOVA) shows that all the extraction process parameters significantly affect the performance and also shows that there are some interactions between the extraction parameters. The contribution of feed: emulsion ratio and stirring speed on extraction efficiency was more than other factors and the fraction of acceptor phase in emulsion has minimum contribution. The optimum value of the process quantities for the maximization of extraction of lactic acid from aqueous phase using ELM in MFR by the application of Box-Behnken design has been found. The recommended optimal conditions have been verified by conducting confirmation experiments. It can be concluded that the Box-Behnken experimental design provides a suitable means of optimizing and testing the robustness of lactic acid extraction in a MFR using emulsion liquid membrane and 100 % lactic acid extraction in MFR using ELM from aqueous feed can be achieved in few minutes within the specified range of independent process parameters

Hemichorea as a presentation of acute rheumatic fever: a case report

Chorea is a major manifestation of acute RF and is the only evidence of RF in approximately 20% of cases. We report on a 15-year-old boy who presented with transient right side involuntary jerky movements, apical systolic murmur, sinus bradycardia, arthralgia, elevated antistreptolysin O titer and ESR, who was diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever and improved with haloperidol, prednisolone, digoxin, aspirin and furosemide and was given benzathine penicillin prophylaxis for future RF. Patient is faring well in follow up visits. We present our case because of its rarity

Pholidata articulata Lindl., An Orchid Used in Bone Jointing in Kumaun Region, Western Himalaya

Pholidata articulata Lindl., known locally as ‘Harjojan’ or bone jointer, is distributed commonly in moist ravines and river valleys up to 1600 m in the Kumaun Himalaya. It is an epiphytic or lithophytic plant. The whole plant is used in traditional medicine

Higher dimensional inhomogeneous dust collapse and cosmic censorship

We investigate the occurrence and nature of a naked singularity in the gravitational collapse of an inhomogeneous dust cloud described by higher dimensional Tolman-Bondi space-times. The naked singularities are found to be gravitationally strong in the sense of Tipler. Higher dimensions seem to favour black holes rather than naked singularities.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX, 1 figure, 2 table

Clinical implications of p53 alterations in oral cancer progression: a review from India

p53 plays a central role in prevention of normal cell from the development of the malignant phenotype. Somatic alterations (mutations, loss of heterozygosity, deletions) in p53 are a hallmark of most human cancers and cause defects in normal p53 function. However, in the tumors harboring wild-type p53, there are alterations in the regulation of the p53. Thus, understanding why p53 is unable to perform its role as a tumor suppressor in these wild-type tumors is very crucial. Germ-line polymorphisms in p53 are also anticipated to cause measurable disturbance in p53 function. Over-expression as well as polymorphic variants of MDM2 might have effects on cancer development. In addition, degradation of p53 by E6 protein of high risk human papillomavirus is also suggested as one of the mechanisms which attenuate p53 responses in oral carcinogenesis. p53 has also been demonstrated to mediate cellular responses upon various DNA damaging cancer therapies, importantly, apoptosis. These responses have been implicated in an individual’s ability to respond to these cancer therapies. Thus, exploring mechanisms by which normal function of p53 is affected in the comprehensive way in oral cancer might aid in the identification of tumor characteristics, prognosis and thus in the development of a new approach to treat the oral cancer