Challenges and Opportunities for Trade and Financial Integration in Asia and the Pacific

During the past two decades, intraregional trade has assumed a lot of importance - with intraregional trade growing rapidly in several regions, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the European Union. However, intraregional trade in South Asia has not witnessed rapid expansion despite the institutional measures taken by the South Asian countries through the South Asian Preferential Trade Agreement (SAPTA) and the South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA).intraregional trade, South Asia, ASEAN, NAFTA, SAFTA, SAPTA

An Analysis of the Special Safeguard Mechanisms in the Doha Round of Negotiations - A Proposed Price-trigger-based Safeguard Mechanism

In the Doha Round of negotiations on agriculture it has been decided that all developing and least developed Member countries of the WTO will have access to a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM). This means that developing countries will now have the option to temporarily impose higher tariff rates on the import of an agricultural product if there is either a surge in its import volumes or a sharp dip in its import prices. However, the exact mechanisms of the implementation of SSMs have not been spelt out. It is also not clear what legal provisions the Member countries will have to follow to use this safeguard mechanism. This paper takes a detailed look at the SSM and analyzes its usefulness for developing countries. It also explores how the concept of a special agricultural safeguard has evolved in the present round of negotiations and what are the country positions on SSMs in the Doha Round. The paper then proposes a price-trigger-based SSM instrument which is consistent with the goals spelt out in the Doha Development Agenda and satisfies most of the desired features of a safeguard instrument.WTO, agriculture, Volatility, Special safeguards, Tariff rates

The Employment Potential of Labor Intensive Industries in India’s Organized Manufacturing

This paper attempts to identify and examine labor intensive industries in the organized manufacturing sector in India in order to understand their employment generation potential. Using the data from the Annual Survey of Industries (Government of India, various issues), the labor intensity for 97 industries at the 4-digit disaggregate level was computed for the period 1990-91 to 2003-04. The study identifies 31 industries as labor intensive industries within Indias organized manufacturing sector. The study finds that labor intensity has declined not only for capital intensive industries but also for labor intensive industries during the selected time period. The increase in output failed to generate enough employment growth resulting in a significant decline in employment elasticity. The paper briefly highlights the plausible factors that could have had an impact on labor intensity as well as on the performance of the organized manufacturing sector over the study period.Labor Intensity, Employment Growth, Labor Productivity, Capital Productivity, Organized Manufacturing

An Analysis of Novel Writing Styles of Ismat Chugtai

The research work focuses on analyzing Ismat Chughtai writing styles. From the analysis it was deduced that Ismat used humor in the plots, and casual communications between the novel characters to strike a sarcasm on the societal malpractices with needed instant eradication. The popularity of Ismat Chughtai’s work could be credited to her plain and simple language and the exact representation of the society especially the plight of women in the society post-independence. Chughtai began her writing in the second wave of feminism and therefore she hampered the progress of patriarchy in society. The research work presents vivid aspects of Chughtai’s writing skill and concludes that Chughtai is nothing but a trailblazer of feminism in independent India

Fibroid originated from rudimentary horn in mullerian agenesis

Mullerian agenesis or Mayer Rokitansky- Kuster- Hauser syndrome is defined by congenital absence of both the uterus and vagina. It affects 1 in 4000-5000 females. Leiomyoma arising from the uterine remanent in case of MRKH is very rare. Very few cases have been reported in literature. The exact etiopathogenesis of leiomyoma from the rudimentary uterus in MRKH syndrome is not known. We are reporting a rare case of 35-year-old married, nulliparous female who presented with primary amenorrhea and lump in lower abdomen since, 1 year. On physical examination, a mass of 18-week size of uterus, firm in consistency, irregular, nontender, mobile from side to side, occupying right iliac and hypogastric region was detected. Provisional diagnosis of multiple leiomyoma with mullerian anomaly was made on USG and MRI for which laparotomy was performed. Per-operatively, there was a mass of approx. 15 x 8 x 8 cm consisting of multiple fibroids present, uterus not visualized separately. Right ovary and tube absent. Left fallopian tube and ovary were normal arising from left rudimentary horn with no endometrial tissue. Blind end with no cervix. Partial agenesis of vagina. No communication possible between rudimentary horn and vagina. Patient underwent hysterectomy in view of non-functioning uterus. Histopathology report confirmed the diagnosis. Finally, it was diagnosed as a case of multiple leiomyoma originating from uterine remanent. Post-operative period was uneventful

Dickkopf homolog 3 (DKK3) plays a crucial role upstream of WNT/β-CATENIN signaling for sertoli cell mediated regulation of spermatogenesis

Testicular Sertoli cells (Sc) are main somatic component of seminiferous tubules that govern the differentiation of germ cells (Gc) and provide them physical support. Sc are the target of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) which are known to regulate spermatogenesis. FSH and T levels in human and sub-human male primates remain high during infancy (4–6 months post birth), similar to those during puberty. Subsequently, juvenile phase is marked with low levels of these hormones. In spite of prolonged hormonal exposure, spermatogenesis is not discerned during infancy unlike that during puberty. Situation during infancy is similar to certain idiopathic male infertility, where prolonged hormone supplementation fails to initiate spermatogenesis. In our quest to determine non hormonal causes of idiopathic infertility which may reside within the Sc, we investigated the association between spermatogenesis and Sc specific gene(s) expressed differentially during puberty and infancy. Although products of several genes may be necessary for quantitatively normal spermatogenesis, one needs to investigate their roles one by one. Differential display and real time PCR analysis revealed higher expression of a known tumor suppressor, Dickkopf homolog 3 (DKK3), by pubertal monkey Sc as compared to infant Sc. To evaluate role of DKK3 in spermatogenesis, we generated DKK3 knock down mice (DKDM) using shRNA construct targeted to DKK3. In testis of adult DKDM, expression of DKK3 mRNA and protein were significantly (p<0.05) low and was associated with elevated WNT-4/β-CATENIN activity. Elevated β-CATENIN activity is known to restrict Sc maturation. Abundant expression of infant Sc marker, Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), in the testes of adult DKDM confirmed lack of Sc maturation in DKDM. Gc differentiation and fertility was severely compromised in DKDM. This is the first report of role of DKK3 in the testis and DKK3 mediated regulation of spermatogenesis via WNT-4/β-CATENIN modulation

An Analysis of the Special Safeguard Mechanisms in the Doha Round of Negotiations: A Proposed Price-trigger-based Safeguard Mechanism

In the Doha Round of negotiations on agriculture it has been decided that all developing and least developed Member countries of the WTO will have access to a Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM). This means that developing countries will now have the option to temporarily impose higher tariff rates on the import of an agricultural product if there is either a surge in its import volumes or a sharp dip in its import prices. However, the exact mechanisms of the implementation of SSMs have not been spelt out. It is also not clear what legal provisions the Member countries will have to follow to use this safeguard mechanism. This paper takes a detailed look at the SSM and analyzes its usefulness for developing countries. It also explores how the concept of a special agricultural safeguard has evolved in the present round of negotiations and what are the country positions on SSMs in the Doha Round. The paper then proposes a price-trigger-based SSM instrument which is consistent with the goals spelt out in the Doha Development Agenda and satisfies most of the desired features of a safeguard instrument

The Employment Potential of Labor Intensive Industries in India's Organized Manufacturing

This paper attempts to identify and examine labor intensive industries in the organized manufacturing sector in India in order to understand their employment generation potential. Using the data from the Annual Survey of Industries (Government of India, various issues), thelabor intensity for 97 industries at the 4-digit disaggregate level was computed for the period 1990-91 to 2003-04. The study identifies 31 industries as `labor intensive industries' within India's organized manufacturing sector. The study finds that labor intensity declined not only for capital intensive industries but also for labor intensive industries during the selected time period. The increase in output failed to generate enough employment growth resulting in a significant decline in employment elasticity. The paper briefly highlights the plausible factors that could have had an impact on labor intensity as well as on the performance of the organized manufacturing sector over the study period.Labor Intensity, Employment Growth, Labor Productivity, Capital Productivity, Organized Manufacturing.

Quantitative study of plasticity in the auditory nuclei of chick under conditions of prenatal sound attenuation and overstimulation with species specific and music sound stimuli

Morphological effects of prenatal sound attenuation and sound overstimulation by species specific and music sounds on the brainstem auditory nuclei of chick have been evaluated quantitatively. Changes in length, volume, neuron number, size of neuronal nuclei and glial numbers of second and third order auditory nuclei, n. magnocellularis (NM) and n. laminaris (NL), were determined from thionine-stained serial sections of control and experimental groups on posthatch day 1 using stereological methods. Significant increase in volume of both auditory nuclei attributable to increase in length of nucleus, number and size of neurons, number of glia as well as neuropil was observed in response to both species specific and music overstimulation given during the critical period of development. The enhanced development of auditory nuclei in response to enriched environment prenatally indicates a positive effect of activity on neurons which may have clinical implications in addition to providing explanation for preference to auditory cues in the postnatal life. Reduction in neuron number with a small increase in proportion of cell nuclei of large size as well as an increase in glial numbers was seen in both NM and NL of the prenatally sound attenuated chicks. The increase in size of some neuronal nuclei may probably be evidence of enhanced synthesis of proteins involved in cell death or an attempt at recovery. The dissociated response of neurons and glia under sound attenuated and auditory stimulated conditions suggests that they are independently regulated by activity-dependent signals with glia also being under influence of other signals for a role in removal of dead cell debris

The Employment Potential of Labor Intensive Industries in India's Organized Manufacturing

This paper attempts to identify and examine labor intensive industries in the organized manufacturing sector in India in order to understand their employment generation potential. Using the data from the Annual Survey of Industries (Government of India, various issues), the labor intensity for 97 industries at the 4-digit disaggregate level was computed for the period 1990-91 to 2003-04. The study identifies 31 industries as 'labor intensive industries' within India's organized manufacturing sector. The study finds that labor intensity has declined not only for capital intensive industries but also for labor intensive industries during the selected time period. The increase in output failed to generate enough employment growth resulting in a significant decline in employment elasticity. The paper briefly highlights the plausible factors that could have had an impact on labor intensity as well as on the performance of the organized manufacturing sector over the study period