Delayed-Type hypersensitivity to latex: Computational prediction of MHC class II epitopes on latex allergens

Delayed type hypersensitivity to natural rubber latex is rare compared to IgE mediated immediate reactions. Binding of allergens to MHC Class II is a crucial step in the presentation of antigens to CD4+ T Cells responsible for delayed reactions. Computational prediction of MHC class II epitopes on thirteen known latex allergens using SMM-align method revealed strong binding with several alleles. This shows that latex allergens are capable of initiating delayed type hypersensitivity in susceptible individuals.
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Research in Cosmetic Dermatology: Reconciling medicine with business

Cosmetic dermatology is a marriage between medicine and business. Research in cosmetic dermatology shares the fundamental principles of clinical and pharmaceutical research. Research team can help the decision makers by giving a realistic picture of the uncertainties involved. Certain mathematical models and market research techniques can aid decision making.Research; cosmeceutical; decision making

Beyond the Maxwell Limit: Thermal Conduction in Nanofluids with Percolating Fluid Structures

In a well-dispersed nanofluid with strong cluster-fluid attraction, thermal conduction paths can arise through percolating amorphous-like interfacial structures. This results in a thermal conductivity enhancement beyond the Maxwell limit of 3*phi, with phi being the nanoparticle volume fraction. Our findings from non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations, which are amenable to experimental verification, can provide a theoretical basis for the development of future nanofluids.Comment: 5 Pages, 3 Figures, In Review: APL, Accepted for presentation at "Nanofluids: Fundamentals and Applications", September 16-20, 2007, Copper Mountain, Colorad

Technical terms in fishing gear materials and gear fabrication

Papers dealing with technical terms in fisheries science are few. This paper however, covers only one or two aspects of the subject, namely fishing gear materials and fishing gear fabrication. Similar papers on other aspects are also planned. Short explanations or descriptions are also given wherever considered necessary

Developmental and mental health disorders: Two sides of the same coin

AbstractChildren with developmental disorders (DD) are at substantially greater risk of developing mental health problems compared to typically developing children. However, the mental health co-morbidity is often missed or hidden in the context of DD leading to reduced quality of life and increased burden of care. Mental health problems in the context of DD also result in less optimal school and post-school outcomes with reduced opportunities for employment and community participation. There is also considerable overlap in the risk factors for both conditions, and these follow a cumulative risk model. Although awareness among clinicians and the public is improving, there is paucity of theoretical models, early identification frameworks as well as care pathways for interventions. This paper presents a framework for evaluating developmental vulnerability that highlights common risk factors for developmental and mental health disorders

Essays on international market entry:Strategic alliance governance and product segment entry

This dissertation consists of three empirical studies on the entry and evolution of foreign firms in a new market. The common thread through these three essays is a focus on the scope of the foreign firm in a host country, and on how this scope is shaped by local firms and environments. The first essay examines the effect of the technology capability of the local Indian firm on the choice between contractual and equity governance modes in strategic alliances between Indian and foreign firms. The second and third essays study the entry behaviour of foreign firms into various segments of the US automobile industry focusing on how these entry decisions are shaped by competition and mutualism from other firms in the segment. Across the three essays, the thesis thus examines the scope of the foreign firm both in terms of its economic boundaries – what it ‘makes’ and what it ‘buys’-, as well as in terms of its product-market footprint – the product segments it occupies in the host country.

Rural industrialisation in Kerala : re-examining the issue of rural growth linkages

The main purpose of our paper is to re-examine the role of linkages in a process of rural industrialisation (RI) deriving from the field experience in two purposively selected, newly emerging areas of industrial growth in an industrially backward state. While considerable evidence on survival of manufacturing activities in rural areas, particularly an agriculture-linked process of rural industrialisation, was not very encouraging, our perserverence arose out of (a) what we perceived as a rather narrow view of intra-spatial linkages in most of the studies taken up; and (b) the possibility of its greater potential in the sub region we attempted to study viz. the state of Kerala, marked by a relatively favourable rural infrastructure. We argue that: (a) an excessive concentration on agriculture induced linkages has resulted in an underestimation of the potential of rural linkages for rural manufacturing. The fast growing service sector in rural areas and its demand for simple intermediate goods provides considerable scope for production linkages; (b) at the same time the relative importance of agricultural linkages very often tends to be swamped out by ‘urban’ indicators of rural diversification. The former could play a dominant role in generating non-agricultural employment in relatively isolated rural areas primarily through consumption linkages; and (c) the local capital linkage or indigenous entrepreneurship has been relatively underemphasised. Stimulating local initiative can facilitate a rurally-linked process of RI. There is a real (psychic) advantage for local entrepreneurs operating in a local environment which redresses to some extent the relative place specific disadvantages of rural locations. Key words: rural industrialisation, rural non-farm employment, rural development, local linkages, rural growth linkages, entrepreneurship JEL Classification : M13, O18, R1