Pre- and Post-Disinvestment Performance Evaluation of State-Owned Utility Sector Enterprises in India: The Way Forward

The consensus in recent times is that state-owned firms are not as profitable as their private counterparts. Therefore, disinvestment policies are put in place to decrease the government\u27s involvement in the economy and encourage private sector participation to increase the performance of firms. The present study examines the profitability, financial performance, and operating performances of state-owned utility sector firms in India that were successively disinvested through public offering mode from 2011 to 2020. Using a sample of the top ten utility sector firms listed in the National Stock Exchange, in 2023, the firm performance is assessed through a range of financial ratios, including return on equity return on sales, return on assets, sales efficiency, net income efficiency, and leverage. The Wilcoxon rank test compares the firms\u27 before and after disinvestment performance. Panel data techniques have been used to evaluate the impact of disinvestment on performance indicators. The findings show a significant enhancement in the financial performance of the sample firms, while there is an insignificant change in profitability and operating performance. The current study provides new empirical findings on how ownership reforms through disinvestment have affected the performance of state-owned utility sector firms in India

Novel approach for optimization of fermentative condition for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production by Alcaligenes sp. using Taguchi (DOE) methodology

Polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer which is accumulated as energy reserve material by large number of microorganisms including bacteria, fungus and yeast under nutrient stress condition. In this study, efforts have been made to optimize PHB production by Alcaligenes sp. NCIM 5085 using Taguchi (DOE) methodology. This approach facilitates the study of interaction of a large number of variables spanned by factors and their settings with a smaller number of experiments, leading to considerable savings in time and cost for process optimization. Eight factors at two levels with an OA layout of L-12 were selected for proposed experimental design. PHB concentration was increased from 5.20 to 6.58 g/L under optimal cultural condition. Result validation showed 95% resemblance with the expected value.Key words: Polyhydroxybutyrate, Alcaligenes sp. Taguchi (DOE), orthogonal arrays layout

Detailed Study of Clustering Technique In Data Mining with Principle of Data Mining

Clustering technique in data mining is a main approach to deal with the data an extraction of useful patterns and knowledge from it. Clustering is involved in the datamining process. Datamining is the way of pulling out the knowledge, information, useful patterns and a reliable data from a huge gigantic amount of raw data as per the needs of the targeted sector. In technical aspects the Data Mining is a way of finding out the useful patterns from the raw data by using the suitable techniques of statistics, Machine learning, and Database techniques. Data mining target two major aspects of extraction of meaning full pattern data for concern of large-scale for better understanding of shapes and profitable patterns of data which impacts globally and the other is small-scale which deals with the lesser impact on the global scale. This paper give a brief overview of Clustering technique under the Data mining process their features and functionality. Majorly concentrate on Clustering technique and their algorithms with the pro’s & con’s and understand the need of clustering and its importance in Data mining process. The Data mining principle is also explained briefly just to build a base to understand the techniques and their importance which has to be discusse

High Throughput Screening and Molecular Docking Analysis on DNA Polymerase (Pol) Β Cancer Variant K289M

DNA polymerase (pol) β plays a critical role in DNA repair mechanisms, and mutations in this enzyme have been implicated in various cancers. Because it may play a role in oncogenesis by altering the fidelity of DNA synthesis, the K289M variation of pol β is particularly interesting. This study uses Python molecular graphic, Cavity based docking, SwissDock, Structure validation server among other computational tools to undertake high-throughput screening and molecular docking investigations of DNA pol β cancer variant K289M (PDB ID: 6NKR). Ligands such as Boceprevir, Nirmatrelvir, Ritonavir, Carmofur, and Lopinavir were docked to identify potential inhibitors targeting this variant. Structural validation using the SAVES server and topology analysis using PDBSum helped assess the quality of the protein structure. Our results highlight several binding pockets with strong ligand affinities, suggesting potential therapeutic interventions for targeting pol β K289M in cancer

Treated Plant Waste Used as Recyclable Bio-Adsorbents for Removal of Hg (II) from Aqueous System

We have removed mercury from waste water by using waste fruit material as a bioadsorbent. Additionally, we have created reusable bioadsorbent. It was recycled five times. Additionally, we tested the chemically treated bioadsorbent\u27s capacity to remove mercury using a variety of factors, such as pH optimization, solution temperature, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and solid-liquid ratio optimization

Optimization of re-configurable multi-core processors and security based on field programmable gate arrays

n system-on-a-chip based complex processors has the problem of multithreading and miss-functionality due to their complexity and high-speed operations. In order to minimize these problems, the proposed design has machine learning based algorithms and cryptography systems for security has been incorporated. In the proposed work, the security level has been taken care of in three different stages such as data integrity, data authentication, and private and public keys encryption and decryption. In order to increase throughput with minimal latency, the proposed architecture with advanced high-performance protocol and advanced high-performance and advanced peripheral bus bridge is incorporated between the fabric dynamically re configurable multi-processor and peripherals along with security algorithms using secure hash algorithm (SHA-256) bits and advanced encryption standard (AES). In order to perform machine learning based applications, the proposed system is incorporated double-precision floating point arithmetic operations. The overall proposed architecture is developed in verilog hybrid deep learning (HDL) and quality checking using the LINT tool. The entire design is interfaced with the Zynq processor and software development kit (SDK) tool to verify data transfer between hardware and software. The obtained results are compared with existing state-of-art results and found that 18% improvement in throughput, a 21% improvement in power consumption savings, and a 34% reduction in latency

Advancing the Understanding of Successful Technology Implementation Factors Within State DOTs: A Maturity Model Perspective

In an effort to improve the security, dependability, and quality of infrastructure systems, the implementation of complex transportation construction and maintenance projects is essential. Building upon a previous study that identified six crucial factors for effectively implementing new and emerging technologies in the State Department of Transportations (DOTs), this research aims to comprehensively explore six critical factors using a maturity model perspective. DOTs have shown increasing interest in adopting emerging and wireless technologies, as evident in various Federal Highway Administration Every Day Counts initiative. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, using survey responses from DOT personnel to evaluate the relative significance of technology implementation factors and subfactors. The six factors for successful technology implementation explored in this study are Organization Structure, Information Technology Infrastructure, Data Security, Information Workflow, Personnel Training, and Stakeholder Engagement. The study also evaluates the relative importance of People, Process, and Technology for each of these six factors. The paper focuses on providing detailed insights into the different criteria of each technology implementation factor and subfactor to guide agencies in successful technology deployment. Understanding these factors is critical to deploying emerging technologies successfully, which, in turn, leads to much-needed efficiency and productivity in highway construction and asset management. The findings of this study can help DOTs prioritize their technology investments and ultimately contribute to the development of a more advanced and sustainable transportation infrastructure system.This article is published as Tripathi, Amit, Roy Sturgill, Gabriel B. Dadi, Hala Nassereddine, and Alexa Mitchell. "Advancing the Understanding of Successful Technology Implementation Factors Within State DOTs: A Maturity Model Perspective." Frontiers in Built Environment 10: 1258900. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2024.1258900. © 2024 Tripathi, Sturgill, Dadi, Nassereddine and Mitchell. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the CreativeCommons Attribution License (CC BY)

Extraction, Qualitative and Quantitative Determination of Secondary Metabolites of Bergenia Ciliata (How) Sternb Rhizome

In the last few years, there has been an exponential growth in the field of herbal medicine and gaining popularity both in developing and developed countries because of their natural origin and less side effects. Medicinal plants continue to be an important therapeutic aid for alleviating ailments of humankind. Bergenia ciliata Sternb (B. ciliate,  Saxifragaceae) commonly known as Paashaanbhed is a rhizomatic herb with fleshy leaves, growing upto 30 cm tall, having a stout creeping rhizomatous rootstock with scars and intermittent axillary buds. Plant is quite hardy and able to survive frost during winter turning reddish in colour. It is evergreen and flowers in April to June. Its flowers are white-pink and purple in colour. Stem is short and the rhizome comes out from the cervices of rocks and hangs in the air in sloppy areas. Leaves are 5-30 cm long, glabrous, sparsely hairy in margins, broadly obovate or elliptic, finely or sparsely denticulate or shallowly sinuatedenate. It is also reported to cure fevers, diarrhoea, boils ophthalmia and cough. It is also used to dissolve kidney and bladder stones and forms an important ingredient in various kidney curative herbal drugs. The important phytochemicals of this plant include  bergenin, gallic acid, (+)-catechin, Paashanolactone, sitoindoside, quercitin, (+) afzelechin etc tannic acid, albumen, mucilage, glucose, wax, metarbin and mineral salts, saponin, flavonoid, glycosides and polysaccharides, xyloglucan, taraxerol, carotenoids, cryptoxanthin. The aim of the present study is to examine B. ciliate rhizomes for phytochemical profile.  Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids, fixed oil and fats. The total phenolics content of ethyl acetate and methanolic extract was (208,442mg/100mg), followed by flavonoids (433, 446mg/100mg). The present study concluded that the crude extract of B. ciliate is a rich source of secondary phytoconstituents which impart significant antioxidant potential. This work also contributes significantly to support the claim about the use of this herb in folk medicines

Phytochemical analysis of the rhizomes of Bergenia ciliata (How) Sternb

Bergenia ciliata of family Saxifragaceae is known as Kodiya or Pashanbheda in Dhanolti (Uttranchal). It is a second good source of bergenin after Bergenia ligulata. It has many medicinal properties such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antidiabetic. B. ciliata is used mainly for kidney disorder. Its phytochemical constituents are Gallic acid, Tannic acid, (-)-3-0- Galloylepicatechin, (-)-3-0-Galloylcatechin, (+)-Catechin, Gallicin. The bioactive compounds that are produced by plants are collectively called as Phytochemicals. The phytochemical ingredients are plant derived compounds which protect the plants from environmental stresses, including insects, bacteria, fungus and weather changes. Though phytochemicals are not considered essential nutrients, it has become apparent that they offer many health benefits to the plants. It is well-known that plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves but recent research demonstrates that they can also protect humans against diseases. There are more than thousand known phytochemicals and they offer protection to many chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease and alzheimer's. The aim of the present study is to examine B. ciliata rhizomes for phytochemical profile. Qualitative analysis of various phytochemical constituents and quantitative analysis of total saponins and alkaloids were determined by the well-known test protocol available in the literature. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of phenols, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, alkaloids ects. It is expected that the important phytochemical properties recognized by our study in the indigenous medicinal plants will be very useful in the curing of various diseases when taken along with our food. Keywords: Bergenia ciliata, Phytochemical screening, Total saponins, Total alkaloid