Impact of IFPRI's policy research on resource allocation and food security in Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh Food Policy Project (BFPP), implemented during 1988-94 by IFPRI in collaboration with the Bangladesh Ministry of Food, was effective in providing research-based information to enable several policy changes in the Bangladeshi food sector. This paper is an attempt to assess the impact of IFPRI's research in Bangladesh through the BFPP. It identifies major food policy reforms designed and implemented by the Government of Bangladesh, examines their linkages to the information generated by the food policy research, and estimates the benefits of the research to the Government of Bangladesh. Based on information gathered through interviews of more than 60 senior policymakers, donor representatives, collaborators, researchers, and training recipients, the paper draws lessons for future food policy research programs in Bangladesh and other developing countries. Among the more than 70 research outputs from IFPRI, two policy contributions stand out: the abolition of the Rural Rationing program and the implementation of the Food for Education program. A case study approach is used in this paper for documenting the costs and benefits of the impacts of these contributions.Resource allocation. ,Food policies. ,Food security. ,Bangladesh. ,Rate of return. ,

Do Leader and Organizational Characteristics Affect Scientist's Productivity? A Multilevel Analysis of Nigerian Agricultural Research System

Organizations offer employees with opportunities to cultivate their innovativeness and facilitate greater productivity. In this paper we analyze preconditions for individual productivity of agricultural researchers in Nigeria, measured in terms of the self-reported number of scholarly publications and technologies produced; presence of external collaborators; number of dissemination events for publications produced; and perceived adoption level of technologies developed. It utilizes a multilevel analysis to systematically examine what characteristics of individual scientists and organizations promote greater individual productivity. The statistically significant random-effect estimates show that there is considerable variance across the 47 organizations after adjusting for the effects of differences in individual characteristics. Moreover, several measures of organizational characteristics are statistically significant in explaining variations in individual productivity. This paper contributes to limited studies that systematically analyze the influence of organizational factors and the organization head’s characteristics on individual researcher’s performance.organizational culture, multilevel analysis, poisson, productivity, research, motivation, Institutional and Behavioral Economics, Productivity Analysis, Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies, Q16, L32, D23,

Building public–private partnerships for agricultural innovation in Latin America: Lessons from capacity strengthening

"The International Service for National Agricultural Research�on its own from 2002 until 2003, and as a division of the International Food Policy Research Institute thereafter has studied 124 public–private partnerships in agriculture in nine Latin American countries through its initiative on public–private partnerships for Agro-Industrial Research in Latin America...This paper examines...seven cases of public–private partnership building in which private- sector companies, producer associations, and research organizations engage in collaboration for the purpose of developing innovations in agricultural production and value chains. The paper considers different points of entry to partnership building, emulating best practices. The paper describes (a) how common interests among multiple stakeholders have been identified; (b) how partners have been motivated to participate in partnerships; (c) how the roles of different brokers within or outside the partnerships have fostered partnership development; and (d) how the contributions of partners have been negotiated to ensure that partnership arrangements are in alignment with the interests of the partners, their capacities, and the prevailing technological and market opportunities. The paper targets policymakers and administrators in agricultural development, and collaborators in research and innovation projects who are interested in issues of how best to build partnerships among public and private agents." from Authors' AbstractPublic-private partnerships, Agricultural innovations, Capacity strengthening, Agricultural research,

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF RP-CHIRAL HPLC METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF (S)-ISOMER IN TENOFOVIR DISOPROXIL FUMARATE

Objective: The main objective of present study was to develop and validate a reverse phase enantioselective chiral high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for enantiomeric resolution of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate; it decreases the HIV infection in human body. The method is specific, rapid, precise and accurate for the separation and determination of (S)-isomer in tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance form.Methods: The S-Isomer of Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was resolved on a Chiral AGP (150 × 4.0 mm, 5 µm) column (L-41) using a mobile phase system containing 0.1 M ammonium acetate in water pH 6.8 with ammonia solution and methanol in the ratio of (85:15 v/v). The mobile phase was set at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min and the volume injected was 10μl for every injection. The detection wavelength was set at 260 nm and the column temperature was set at 15 °C.Results: The proposed method was productively applied for the quantitative determination of (S)-isomer in Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance form. The linear regression analysis data for calibration plots showed a good linear relationship over a concentration range of 0.125 to 3.75 µg/ml for (S)-isomer, 0.125-3.75 µg/ml for Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The mean values of the correlation coefficient were 0.999 and 0.999 for (S)-isomer and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The detection limit (LOD) was about 0.05 µg/ml and quantitation limit (LOQ) was about 0.125 µg/ml for (S)-isomer and Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. The relative standard deviation was found to be 0.78 % for (S)-isomer in Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.Conclusion: The developed and validated HPLC method and the statistical analysis showed that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of the (S)-isomer of the Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate drug substance

Syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis mimicking dengue encephalitis in a child

The syndrome of transient headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) has been infrequently reported in children. This condition can mimic many serious conditions of the central nervous system, while actually being benign in nature. The authors present the report of an 8 year old developmentally normal female with family and personal history of migraine, which was initially suspected to have Dengue encephalitis. She had an episode of seizures, meningism and altered sensorium. Normal mental status and physical findings were observed intermittently. Detailed evaluation including analysis of blood, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and neuroimaging were done. Neuro-infections, vascular pathology and autoimmune disorders were ruled out prior to reaching a diagnosis of HaNDL. She responded well to symptomatic treatment and made a full recovery. She was discharged on migraine prophylaxis considering her history. Dengue as causation and the occurrence of seizures in HaNDL has not been reported previously

ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND VALIDATION OF HPLC METHOD FOR QUANTIFICATION OF BIS-[10-(2-METHYL-4H-3-THIA-4,9-DIAZABENZO[F]AZULENE)]-1,4-PIPERAZINE IN AN ANTI-PSYCHOTIC DRUG SUBSTANCE, OLANZAPINE

Objective: The main objective of present study was to Isolate, characterize and validate a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was validated for quantification of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance; it decreases the mental disorders in human body. The method is specific, rapid, precise and accurate for the separation and determination of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance form.Methods: The bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine of Olanzapine was resolved on a Zorbax RX-C 8, 250 mm X 4.6 mm, 5 micron column (L-1) using a mobile phase system containing 0.03 M sodium dodecyl sulphate in water pH 2.5 with 1 N sodium hydroxide solution and acetonitrile in the ratio of (Mobile phase A-52:48 v/v) and (Mobile phase B-buffer and Acetonitrile 30:70 v/v) by using the gradient program. The mobile phase was set at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and the volume injected was 20μl for every injection. The detection wavelength was set at 220 nm and the column temperature was set at 35 °C.Results: The proposed method was productively applied for the quantitative determination of bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo [f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine in Olanzapine drug substance form. The linear regression analysis data for calibration plots showed a good linear relationship over a concentration range of 0.025to 0.903 µg/ml for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine, 0.081-0.608 µg/ml for Olanzapine. The mean values of the correlation coefficient were 0.999 and 0.999 for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine. The method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The detection limit (LOD) was about 0.007 µg/ml, 0.024 µg/ml and quantitation limit (LOQ) was about 0.024 µg/ml, 0.081 µg/ml for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine. The relative standard deviation was found to be 1.64 % and 2.18 % for bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine and Olanzapine.Conclusion: The validated HPLC method and the statistical analysis showed that the method is repeatable and selective for the estimation of the bis-[10-(2-methyl-4H-3-thia-4,9-diazabenzo[f]azulene)]-1,4-piperazine of the Olanzapine drug substance

Institutional and policy process for climate-smart agriculture : evidence from Nagaland State, India

A critical global policy question is how the environmental management interventions could be repurposed to meet the sustainable development goals and their target for food security, climate protection, and environmental sustainability. A common challenge facing food systems in developing countries is to improve agricultural productivity to ensure food security for all without increasing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) from agriculture. Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) approaches help to reduce GHG emissions from agriculture and address the challenges of climate change (CC) and food insecurity. Yet, CSA lack understanding of the institutional arrangements and policy processes. This paper examines 38 aspects to assess the institutional and policy status for CC mitigation and adaptation and CSA in Nagaland, India. Furthermore, we use these aspects to develop a scale to measure the policy and institutional environment for mitigation and adaptation of CC and implementation of CSA. Nagaland is relatively in a better position in nine aspects, although it can improve. Methodologically, the scale developed in this paper and the identified factors can help study the institutional and policy status of a country, state, or region. We identify several implications for understanding CC and CSA institutions and policies for informing policy research and practice.This paper is an outcome of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) funded research project on ‘Institutional and Policy Process on Climate Change and Formulation of Extension Strategy on “Climate-Smart Agriculture” in Nagaland, India’ and some part of this paper also taken from the final report of the project.https://iwaponline.com/jwcchj2023Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Developmen

Effective Image Clustering with Differential Evolution Technique

The paper presents a novel approach of clustering image datasets with differential evolution (DE) technique. The differential evolution is a parallel direct search population based optimization method. From our simulations it is found that DE is able to optimize the quality measures of clusters of image datasets. To claim the superiority of DE based clustering we have compared the outcomes of DE with the classical K-means and popular Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithms for the same datasets. The comparisons results reveal the suitability of DE for image clustering in all image datasets

Rural finance policies for food security of the poor

The objective of IFPRI's multicountry research program on rural financial policies for food security of the poor is to identify policies and institutional arrangements that help the poor integrate themselves into sustainable savings and credit systems such that they have an increased capacity to invest, bear risk, and smooth consumption. The focus of the research on policy and program design and their effects on household investment and consumption requires field data collection at the institutional and household level. This paper presents the underlying conceptual framework and various methodological approaches that have been reviewed and tested by the team at IFPRI and at collaborating institutions. Methodologies are presented for analysis at the institutional level, mainly focusing on the determinants of the formation of financial institutions and the analysis of effects of program design on institutional conduct and performance, and at the household level, thereby addressing determinants of access to and participation in financial markets and related effects on household welfare.Food security Developing countries. ,Financial institutions. ,Households Economic aspects. ,