Competition Clauses in Bilateral Trade Treaties - Analysing the Issues in the Context of India’s Future Negotiating Strategy

There is a recent trend towards trade agreements that include trade related competition provisions. However there are large differences across these trade agreements in terms of how the competition provisions are addressed. In this context, this research report tries to analyze the competition provisions in few selected FTAs and draw lessons for India, which is also following the path of entering into trade agreements. The analysis suggests that cooperation in implementing competition laws is immensely helpful. However, at this moment, India can follow the EU style of agreements with competition provisions such as cooperation, exchange of non-confidential information, technical assistance and consultation.trade, India, Competition Clauses

Impact of Organized Retailing on the Unorganized Sector

The retail business, in India, is estimated to grow at 13 per cent per annum from US$322 billion in 2006-07 to US$ 590 billion in 2011-12. The unorganized retail sector is expected to grow at about 10 per cent per annum from US$309 billion 2006-07 to US$ 496 billion in 2011-12. Organized retail which now constitutes a small four per cent of retail sector in 2006-07 is likely to grow at 45-50 per cent per annum and quadruple its share of total retail trade to 16 per cent by 2011-12. The study, which was based on the largest ever survey of all segments of the economy that could be affected by the entry of large corporates in the retail business, has found that unorganized retailers in the vicinity of organized retailers experienced a decline in sales and profit in the initial years of the entry of organized retailers. The adverse impact, however, weakens over time. The study has indicated how consumers and farmers benefit from organized retailers. The study has also examined the impact on intermediaries and manufacturers. The results are indicative of the mega-and-minimetro cities around a limited number of organized retail outlets. Based on the results of the surveys, the study has made a number of specific policy recommendations for regulating the interaction of large retailers with small suppliers and for strengthening the competitive response of the unorganized retailers.Retail Sector, Organised Retail, Unorganised Retail, Kirana store, Food Supply Chain

MYCOLOGICAL PROFILE AND ANTIFUNGAL SENSITIVITY OF INFECTIVE KERATITIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF SOUTHERN ODISHA

Background: Infective keratitis is the second major cause of blindness next to cataract. Mycotic keratitis is an important ophthalmologic problem especially in developing countries including India. Fungal infection involving cornea is a fatal condition which needs early diagnosis and treatment to save the patient's eye. Though studies on mycotic keratitis have been reported from different part of India, to the best of our knowledge this study showing antifungal susceptibility is the first to be reported from Southern Odisha. Objective: The purpose of this study was to study epidemiological characteristics, predisposing factors, fungal etiology and antifungal susceptibility of common fungal isolates in infective keratitis cases. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted from November 2015 to October2017 in the Department of Microbiology and Ophthalmology M.K.C.G Medical College and Hospital. Relevant information was recorded using standard proforma of keratitis cases. Corneal scrapings were collected under strict aseptic conditions and subjected to10% KOH mount, Gram stain and culture. Identification of fungal agents were done as per standard microbiological procedures. An antifungal sensitivity test was done by microbroth dilutions as per CLSI reference method. Results: Over a period of two years 149 patients of infective keratitis were evaluated. Microbiological diagnosis of mycotic keratitis was established in 39 (26.17%) cases. Filamentous fungi were isolated more often than yeasts. The most frequently encountered filamentous fungi and yeasts were Aspergillus spp. 14(35.89%) and Candida albicans 7 (17.94%) respectively. Males were more commonly affected and were mostly in the age group of 46-60 years. Ocular trauma due to vegetative matter was the most common predisposing factor. Natamycin was the most effective antifungal against filamentous fungi and amphotericin B was most effective for Candida albicans. Conclusion: Because of serious consequences of mycotic keratitis, it is very important to know the exact etiological agents and effective antifungals to save the eye of the patients. So laboratory confirmation should be undertaken and fungal infection should be ruled out before prescribing antimicrobial agents

Pathogenesis of cerebral malaria: new diagnostic tools, biomarkers, and therapeutic approaches.

Cerebral malaria is a severe neuropathological complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. It results in high mortality and post-recovery neuro-cognitive disorders in children, even after appropriate treatment with effective anti-parasitic drugs. While the complete landscape of the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria still remains to be elucidated, numerous innovative approaches have been developed in recent years in order to improve the early detection of this neurological syndrome and, subsequently, the clinical care of affected patients. In this review, we briefly summarize the current understanding of cerebral malaria pathogenesis, compile the array of new biomarkers and tools available for diagnosis and research, and describe the emerging therapeutic approaches to tackle this pathology effectively

Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 variants induce cell swelling and disrupt the blood-brain barrier in cerebral malaria.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is caused by the binding of Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes (IEs) to the brain microvasculature, leading to inflammation, vessel occlusion, and cerebral swelling. We have previously linked dual intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)- and endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR)-binding P. falciparum parasites to these symptoms, but the mechanism driving the pathogenesis has not been identified. Here, we used a 3D spheroid model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to determine unexpected new features of IEs expressing the dual-receptor binding PfEMP1 parasite proteins. Analysis of multiple parasite lines shows that IEs are taken up by brain endothelial cells in an ICAM-1-dependent manner, resulting in breakdown of the BBB and swelling of the endothelial cells. Via ex vivo analysis of postmortem tissue samples from CM patients, we confirmed the presence of parasites within brain endothelial cells. Importantly, this discovery points to parasite ingress into the brain endothelium as a contributing factor to the pathology of human CM

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Competition Clauses in Bilateral Trade Treaties: Analysing the Issues in the Context of India's Future Negotiating Strategy

There is a recent trend towards trade agreements that include trade related competition provisions. However there are large differences across these trade agreements in terms of how the competition provisions are addressed. In this context, this research report tries to analyse the competition provisions in few selected FTAs and draw lessons for India, which is also following the path of entering into trade agreements. The analysis suggests that cooperation in implementing competition laws is immensely helpful. However, at this moment, India can follow the EU style of agreements with competition provisions such as cooperation, exchange of non-confidential information, technical assistance and consultation.

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Not AvailableAbout 91 varieties of different ecology released from National Rice Research Institute (NRRI),Cuttack were screened for duration of seed dormancy harvested after 25,30 and 35 days of heading. The varieties harvested after 25 days of heading showed 0-37 days of dormancy with Lunishree was observed as strongly dormant with 37days of dormancy duration. Moderate dormancy (20days) was observed in Jayanti, Kamesh, Jayantidhan, Nua chinikamini, Nua kalajeera, and Lunisree harvested at 30days after heading. The varieties that were collected after 35 days of heading showed 0-20 days of dormancy and were mostly non dormant and weakly dormant at this stage of sampling. Varieties Jayanti, Nua chinikamini, and Lunisree identified with moderate seed dormancy (15 days) may be useful for breeding programme. Highest duration of dormancy was observed in the varieties developed for coastal salinity followed by deep water ecology. Variation in duration of dormancyof the variety Luna Sampad grown in two different ecologies strengthen the influence of ecology on seed dormancy.Not Availabl

Impact of Organized Retailing on the Unorganized Sector

The study has indicated how consumers and farmers benefit from organized retailers. The study has also examined the impact on intermediaries and manufacturers. The results are indicative of the mega-and-mini- metro cities around a limited number of organized retail outlets. Based on the results of the surveys, the study has made a number of specific policy recommendations for regulating the interaction of large retailers with small suppliers and for strengthening the competitive response of the unorganized retailers. [WP No. 222].consumers, farmers, organized, retailers, unorganized, mega, mini, metro, stores, cities, city, outlets, policy recommendations, competitive, response, suppliers, surveys, regulating, intermediaries, manufaturers, india, business, sales, profit, decline