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Using firm-level data collected through a survey in 2008 followed by semi-structured interviews with firms in 2009-2010, this article systematically compares the geography of linkages of the software industry between two regions, one in India (Pune) and one in China (Great Beijing). In contrast to what the literature on knowledge bases and regional innovation systems argues the paper points out to marked differences both in the organization as well as in the geographical spread of the knowledge sources in the software industry between Pune and Greater Beijing. The paper suggests that the literature of knowledge bases could benefit from incorporating the insights from strategy studies as well as innovation systems studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What is the significance of the fact that several recent or upcoming sport mega-events are hosted by emerging powers such as China (the 2008 Beijing Games), India (2010 Commonwealth Games), South Africa (2010 FIFA World Cup), Russia (2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi) or Brazil (2014 FIFA World Cup)? This paper analyses events hosted by three states of the emerging power (or so-called BRICSA) axis. These are the 2008 Olympics, the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games. It suggests that the hosting of such events by today's emerging powers occurs through a common agenda: to showcase economic achievements, to signal diplomatic stature or to project, in the absence of other forms of international influence, soft power. Furthermore, emerging powers can reshape the way in which events are viewed, planned for and commercialized, and by which they impact upon stakeholders. In all, sport mega-events constitute a key part of the political imagineering of emerging powers, serving as a focal point both for the type of society and state these authorities try to create, as well as for the position in the international order these rulers attempt to craft. While this strategy has some success, it also tends to come at some material and symbolic costs for these states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the tribal population constitutes almost 8.6% of the nation's total population. Despite their large presence, there are only a few reports available on Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) strain prevalence in Indian tribal communities considering the mobile nature of this population and also the influence of the mainstream populations they coexist within many areas for their livelihood. This study attempts to provide critical information pertaining to the TB strain diversity, its public health implications, and distribution among the tribal population in eleven Indian states and Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Island. The study employed a population-based molecular approach. Clinical isolates were received from 66 villages (10 states and Island) and these villages were selected by implying situation analysis. A total of 78 M. tb clinical isolates were received from 10 different states and A&N Island. Among these, 16 different strains were observed by spoligotyping technique. The major M. tb strains spoligotype belong to the Beijing, CAS1_DELHI, and EAI5 family of M. tb strains followed by EAI1_SOM, EAI6_BGD1, LAM3, LAM6, LAM9, T1, T2, U strains. Drug-susceptibility testing (DST) results showed almost 15.4% of clinical isolates found to be resistant to isoniazid (INH) or rifampicin (RMP) + INH. Predominant multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) isolates seem to be Beijing strain. Beijing, CAS1_DELHI, EAI3_IND, and EAI5 were the principal strains infecting mixed tribal populations across India. Despite the small sample size, this study has demonstrated higher diversity among the TB strains with significant MDR-TB findings. Prevalence of Beijing MDR-TB strains in Central, Southern, Eastern India and A&N Island indicates the transmission of the TB strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the factors influencing path dependence in regional information and communications technology (ICT) innovation. Silicon Valley influenced ICT innovation in Zhongguancun (China) and Bangalore (India). Yet, they evolved in distinctive ways. Zhongguancun's ICT innovation is mainly based on indigenous firms, localizing multinational corporations' (MNCs) computer products for the domestic market. ICT innovation in Bangalore began with MNCs, with the indigenous firms supporting them in outsourcing. Moreover, Zhongguancun leads Bangalore in computer equipment manufacturing, but lags in terms of software services. Our comparative examination identifies the specific forces behind the differential evolution along four dimensions: institutions, agglomeration, social capital and university-industry linkages. We argue that the path dependence/ creation debate needs to be viewed critically, depending on the local context. Resumen. Este artículo examina los factores que influyen en la dependencia de la trayectoria de la innovación regional de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC). Silicon Valley ha influido en la innovación de las TIC en Zhongguancun (China) y Bangalore (India). Sin embargo, ambas ciudades han evolucionado de manera diferente. La innovación de las TIC en Zhongguancun se basa principalmente en empresas nacionales, dedicadas a localizar productos de informática de empresas multinacionales (EMN) para el mercado doméstico. La innovación de las TIC en Bangalore comenzó con EMN, con la ayuda de empresas locales apoyándolas como subcontratistas. Por otra parte, Zhongguancun está por delante de Bangalore en la fabricación de hardware, pero se queda atrás en la oferta de servicios de software. Nuestro examen comparativo identifica las fuerzas que impulsan específicamente esta evolución diferente con respecto a cuatro dimensiones: instituciones, aglomeración, capital social y vínculos universidad-industria. Nuestra postura es que el debate acerca de la dependencia de la trayectoria / creación debe ser visto críticamente, en función del contexto local. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) aerosol optical depth (AOD) and almucantar retrievals (single scattering albedo (SSA) and aerosol size distribution) from 2005–2009 in Beijing and Kanpur are used to analyze differences and similarities in aerosol optical properties over these two regions. The examination of monthly mean AOD (440 nm) shows that maximum and minimum values occurred in summer and winter, respectively, for Beijing, while the range in AOD in Kanpur was lower. Precipitation in both Beijing and Kanpur peaked in summer; however, the columnar water vapor (CWV) exhibited a high correlation with AOD in Beijing (R 2 = 0.79) but had a weak relationship with AOD in Kanpur (R 2 = 0.13). The Angstrom exponent (α, 440–870 nm) generally increased linearly as the fine mode fraction (FMF) of AOD (500 nm) increased for FMF < 90% in both regions, with a high correlation of R 2 > 0.96. However a clear decrease in α for FMF > 90% found in Beijing is not shown distinctly in Kanpur, and is mainly due to the higher aerosol loading in this FMF bin at Beijing (AOD at 440 nm > 2.2) which results in a stronger coagulation of fine mode particles. Bimodal seasonally-averaged size distributions reveals similar aerosol mixtures composed of fine pollution particles and coarse dust particles in both regions. The analysis of spectral SSA as a function of α is emphasized in this paper. The average SSA at 440 nm in both regions shows a similar low dynamic range of ∼0.03 for α < 1.4. The obvious increase in SSA at 440 nm for α > 1.4 in both regions can be attributed to a higher FMF leading to fine mode coagulation. However, the distinctly smaller increase in Kanpur suggests that fine mode aerosols at Beijing are less absorbing than those at Kanpur. The visibly lower SSA at 675 nm at Kanpur compared to that at Beijing for α > 0.4 is due to a larger find-coarse mode separation radius of ∼0.76 μm in Beijing versus a value lower than ∼0.58 μm in Kanpur. Another reason lies in the weaker absorption by fine mode aerosols in Beijing. The distinctly lower near-infrared SSA in Kanpur when α < 1.4, compared to Beijing, may be attributed to lower aerosol concentrations in all α bins, resulting in less aggregation of absorbing black carbon particles on coarse particles in Kanpur. The classification of aerosol properties shows that the AOD accumulation mode in all seasons, even including spring, in Beijing and in post-monsoon and winter seasons in Kanpur can be attributed to fine particle coagulation or hygroscopic growth; during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons in Kanpur, it is due to coarse mode particle accumulation or cloud contamination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Molecular epidemiological studies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) are the core of current research to find out the association of the M. tuberculosis genotypes with its outbreak and transmission. The high prevalence of the Beijing genotype strain among multidrug resistance (MDR) TB has already been reported in various studies around India. The overall objective of this study was to detect the prevalence of Beijing genotype strains of MDR M. tuberculosis and their association with the clinical characteristics of TB patients.Methods: In this study 381 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were obtained from sputum samples from 2008 to 2014. The multiplex-PCR and Spoligotyping (n = 131) methods were used to investigate the prevalence of the Beijing genotype strain by targeting the Rv2820 gene and their association with drug resistance and clinical characteristics of TB patients. The drug susceptibility testing of first-line anti-TB drugs was performed by using the proportion method and MGIT960. A collection of isolates having Beijing and non-Beijing strains were also characterized to see if Beijing genotype strains had a higher rate of mutations at codons 516, 526 and 531 of the 81-bp region of the rpoB gene, codon 315 of the katG gene, and codon 306 of the embB gene.Results: The sensitivities and specificities of multiplex-PCR assay compared to that of standard Spoligotyping was detected to be 100%. Further, we observe that the multi drug-resistance was significantly associated with Beijing genotype strains (p = 0.03) and a strong correlation between Beijing genotype strains and specific resistance mutations at the katG315, rpoB531, and embB306 codons (p = < 0.0001, < 0.0001 & 0.0014 respectively) was also found.Conclusions: This rapid, simple, and cost-effective multiplex PCR assay can effectively be used for monitoring the prevalence of Beijing genotype strains in low resource settings. Findings of this study may provide a scientific basis for the development of new diagnostic tools for detection and effective management of DR-TB in countries with a higher incidence rate of Beijing genotype strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR TB) is a threat to global tuberculosis control. A significant fitness cost has been associated with DR strains from specific lineages. Evaluation of the influence of the competing drug susceptible strains on fitness of drug resistant strains may have an important bearing on understanding the spread of MDR TB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fitness of MDR TB strains, from a TB endemic region of western India: Mumbai, belonging to 3 predominant lineages namely CAS, Beijing and MANU in the presence of drug susceptible strains from the same lineages. Methodology: Drug susceptible strains from a single lineage were mixed with drug resistant strain, bearing particular non synonymous mutation (rpoB D516V; inhA, A16G; katG, S315T1/T2) from the same or different lineages. Fitness of M.tuberculosis (M.tb) strains was evaluated using the difference in growth rates obtained by using the CFU assay system. Conclusion/Significance: While MANU were most fit amongst the drug susceptible strains of the 3 lineages, only Beijing MDR strains were found to grow in the presence of any of the competing drug susceptible strains. A disproportionate increase in Beijing MDR could be an alarm for an impending epidemic in this locale. In addition to particular non synonymous substitutions, the competing strains in an environment may impact the fitness of circulating drug resistant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Confronted during the first decade of the twenty-first century with the rapidly burgeoning US-Indian security partnership and then by the emergence of the India-Japan security relationship, Beijing struggled to respond. After initially attempting to court India away from a too-close partnership with the United States in the first half of the decade, Beijing shifted to a more coercive approach around the end of 2005. One key mechanism used to pressure India was psychological war waged via the Internet raising the possibility of another Sino-Indian war. As China shifted from a soft to a hard-line approach toward India, policy toward Japan was moving in the opposite direction. After keeping relations with Japan in the freezer during the early part of the decade, around 2006, Beijing shifted gear and adopted a much more conciliatory approach. The authors hypothesize that these simultaneous shifts in Sino-Indian and Sino-Japanese relations were not coincidence but predicated instead on an understanding that simultaneous efforts to pressure Japan and India could drive those countries further together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In developing countries, aerosol particles damage the health of hundreds of millions of people. Migration from the country side to megacities increases emissions and exposure to particles. Some countries have started to limit emissions based on particulate mass, but this may increase particle number concentrations. In this study we discuss some earlier measurements carried out in the developing world and compare results from one-week measurement campaigns concerning the particle number size distribution and PM10 mass concentrations in New Delhi, India and Beijing, China. Our results show that submicron particle concentrations are high in both places. The average PM10 concentration was 360 μg/m3 in New Delhi and 120 μg/m3 in Beijing. The corresponding total particle number concentrations in the size range 3–800 nm were 63 000 cm−3 and 35 000 cm−3. Number and mass concentrations and their characteristics showed significantly different behaviour between these two locations, which stresses the importance of long-term simultaneous measurements of both quantities in different types of megacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Differentiating between ulcerative colitis (UC), Crohn's disease (CD) and intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) using endoscopy is challenging. We aimed to realize automatic differential diagnosis among these diseases through machine learning algorithms.Methods: A total of 6399 consecutive patients (5128 UC, 875 CD and 396 ITB) who had undergone colonoscopy examinations in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2008 to November 2018 were enrolled. The input was the description of the endoscopic image in the form of free text. Word segmentation and key word filtering were conducted as data preprocessing. Random forest (RF) and convolutional neural network (CNN) approaches were applied to different disease entities. Three two-class classifiers (UC and CD, UC and ITB, and CD and ITB) and a three-class classifier (UC, CD and ITB) were built.Results: The classifiers built in this research performed well, and the CNN had better performance in general. The RF sensitivities/specificities of UC-CD, UC-ITB, and CD-ITB were 0.89/0.84, 0.83/0.82, and 0.72/0.77, respectively, while the values for the CNN of CD-ITB were 0.90/0.77. The precisions/recalls of UC-CD-ITB when employing RF were 0.97/0.97, 0.65/0.53, and 0.68/0.76, respectively, and when employing the CNN were 0.99/0.97, 0.87/0.83, and 0.52/0.81, respectively.Conclusions: Classifiers built by RF and CNN approaches had excellent performance when classifying UC with CD or ITB. For the differentiation of CD and ITB, high specificity and sensitivity were achieved as well. Artificial intelligence through machine learning is very promising in helping unexperienced endoscopists differentiate inflammatory intestinal diseases.Conference: The abstract of this article has won the first prize of the Young Investigator Award during the Asian Pacific Digestive Week (APDW) 2019 held in Kolkata, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]