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In recent years in India, fly ash-lime-gypsum (FaL-G) brick production has been adversely affected by the scarcity of fly ash and lime. Consequently, the current study aims to mitigate this problem. It delves into leveraging incinerated paper mill sludge ash (IPMSA) as a supplement to fly ash and lime in FaL-G brick production, aiming to present an eco-conscious alternative to conventional burnt clay bricks. It focuses on two blends: blend 1, replacing fly ash with IPMSA (2.5–30 wt%), and blend 2 substituting lime entirely with IPMSA (2.5–15 wt%). A thorough material analysis preceded brick manufacturing, involving techniques like energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry differential thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy. Subsequent tests evaluated compressive strength, water absorption, weight density, percentage of voids, initial rate of suction and chemical resistance of the resulting bricks. According to the XRD results, the higher IPMSA levels didn't induce any phase transformation. Remarkably, bricks incorporating IPMSA in blend 1 (2.5–20 wt%) and blend 2 (2.5–7.5 wt%) met the mechanical properties specified for 'class 10' bricks according to Indian and ASTM standards. Incorporating IPMSA increases the porosity of bricks, making them lighter. This aids in minimizing construction expenses by reducing labour and transportation costs as well as lowering expenditure on foundation construction. This sustainable approach efficiently uses resources, reduces landfill wastes, shows potential for industrial-scale production, making eco-friendly bricks a promising alternative to traditional methods and promoting greener construction practices. • Ecofriendly FaL-G bricks were developed using incinerated paper mill sludge ash (IPMSA). • Reusability of IPMSA in FaL-G brick production poses both economic and environmental benefits. • Use of IPMSA in FaL-G brick production reduces landfill waste and addresses waste management issues. • IPMSA is suitable for up to 20 wt% for fly ash and 7.5 wt% for lime in FaL-G brick production, meeting relevant standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of chronic liver disease globally and in India. The already high burden of NAFLD in India is expected to further increase in the future in parallel with the ongoing epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Given the high prevalence of NAFLD in the community, it is crucial to identify those at risk of progressive liver disease to streamline referral and guide proper management. Existing guidelines on NAFLD by various international societies fail to capture the entire landscape of NAFLD in India and are often difficult to incorporate in clinical practice due to fundamental differences in sociocultural aspects and health infrastructure available in India. A lot of progress has been made in the field of NAFLD in the 7 years since the initial position paper by the Indian National Association for the Study of Liver on NAFLD in 2015. Further, the ongoing debate on the nomenclature of NAFLD is creating undue confusion among clinical practitioners. The ensuing comprehensive review provides consensus-based, guidance statements on the nomenclature, diagnosis, and treatment of NAFLD that are practically implementable in the Indian setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indigenous communities and their way of life are facing significant challenges due to globalisation, industrialisation and urbanisation, which have forced them to gradually adopt the architecture, lifestyle, and culture of mainstream society. This paper proposes a Smart Vernacular Architecture (SVA) framework and applies it to the indigenous dwellings of the Todas, a tribal community living in India's Nilgiri mountains. The architecture and indoor space quality of these dwellings are investigated in this paper based on specific thermal comfort parameters like the interior temperature and airflow. The indoor temperatures of Toda dwellings are simulated for the predicted climate of 2100 to evaluate their climate resilience. Finally, the paper illustrates the usage of virtual reality (VR) to explore and visualise the Toda settlement and the interior environment parameters of a Toda dwelling to effectively convey and preserve the knowledge of vernacular architecture. In a nutshell, this paper elucidates the advantages of vernacular architecture and construction methods to arouse the interest of academics, policymakers, students, and professionals in preserving architecture, culture, and indigenous knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal diseases are a serious threat to Eucalyptus spp., which are cultivated worldwide for pulp and paper. Robust and timely detection of Eucalyptus pathogens is thus a crucial step in disease prevention and control. In 2022 , leaf spots were observed on Eucalyptus trees in Karnal, northern India. Fungal isolates displaying morphological characteristics similar to Neofusicoccum mangiferae were consistently recovered from the infected leaves. The morphological identification was validated by phylogenetic analysis employing internal transcribed spacer (ITS), partial translation elongation factor-1α (tef1) and partial β-tubulin (tub2) regions. Finally, Koch's postulates for N. mangiferae as a foliar pathogen of Eucalyptus were fulfilled. This is the first confirmed report of N. mangiferae affecting Eucalyptus trees in India. [Display omitted] • This study first time reports Neofusicoccum mangiferae as a foliar pathogen of Eucalyptus in India. • The pathogen was identified based on microscopic features, multilocus phylogenetic analysis and pathogenicity tests. • This is a new taxonomic addition to the diversity of Botryosphaeriaceae affecting Eucalyptus in India. • This study provides future directions to decipher the diversity of Neofusicoccum spp., their host range and testing of Eucalyptus germplasm for disease-resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Caste is an important and unique axis of inequality in India. Caste based digital divide can exacerbate the existing socioeconomic divisions between different caste groups. • Using non-linear decomposition method, the present paper explains the digital divide between disadvantaged and other caste groups. • We find that there is a considerable first level and second level digital divide between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others in India. • The caste-based digital divide is largely explained by the differences in education and income between the caste groups. • The study foregrounds the importance of bridging the caste-based digital gap by closing the gap between the educational attainments of the disadvantaged and other caste groups. With the increasing importance of information and communication technologies in access to basic services like education and health, the question of digital divide based on caste assumes importance in India where large socioeconomic disparities persist between different caste groups. Studies on caste-based digital inequality are still scanty in India. Using nationally representative survey data, this paper analyzes the first-level digital divide (ownership of computer and access to the Internet) and the second-level digital divide (individuals skills to use computer and the Internet) between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others. Further, this paper identifies the caste-based differences in socioeconomic factors that contribute to the digital divide between these groups using a non-linear decomposition method. The results show that there exists large first-level and second-level digital divide between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others in India. The non-linear decomposition results indicate that caste-based digital divide in India is rooted in historical socioeconomic deprivation of disadvantaged caste groups. More than half of the caste-based digital gap is attributable to differences in educational attainment and income between the disadvantaged caste groups and Others. Findings of this study highlight the urgent need for addressing educational and income inequality between the different caste groups in India in order to bridge the digital divide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyse India's transport sector policy. The study examines the two important modes of transport, viz., road and rail, and analyses the efficiency of transport infrastructure from 2011 to 2019. Through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), we evaluate modes in terms of the capacity of registered road goods vehicles and railway goods wagons, truck km/train km and energy consumption and corresponding freight traffic. The analysis gives valuable insight into the fact that rail infrastructure is more efficient than road infrastructure. Still, current transport sector policies promote energy-intensive carbon-fuel road vehicles rather than energy-efficient alternative transport modes. The study suggests the changes that may be incorporated in inputs to improve the efficiency of the road infrastructure. The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-Malmquist Index analysis reports the need for total factor productivity improvement in rail transport and the introduction of technological innovations in road and rail transport sector management. The study employs a well-to-wheel (WTW) based index to ascertain the energy consumed and pollutants emitted by freight-carrying road and rail modes between two leading business hubs of India, i.e., Ludhiana and Mumbai. The paper identifies policy gaps and suggests a holistic approach for need-based roadway investment and a time-bound development of railway infrastructure in India. Our study generates valuable implications for India's policy planners and government authorities and provides new insights to other countries. • The study examines road and rail transport, and analyses the efficiency and energy consumption of these modes. • The study suggests the changes to improve the efficiency of the road infrastructure. • The Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA)-Malmquist Index analysis and well-to-wheel (WTW) based index have been employed for the analysis. • The paper suggests a need-based roadway investment approach and a time-bound development of railway infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) affecting populations is considered a public health issue in South/Southeast Asia. The purpose of this study was to analyze the scientometric characteristics and research trends of OSF. All the papers on OSF were comprehensively retrieved from the Scopus database. Regional comparison (India versus outside of India) and chronological comparison (before 2015 versus after 2015) were performed. Among all the 1357 papers on OSF, 930 (68.5%) were from India. In India, biology research on antioxidant, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix were distinctive keywords. Risk factors of smokeless tobacco and gutkha and the roles of saliva and blood sampling were also distinctive keywords in India. In outside of India, biology research on myofibroblast, alpha smooth muscle actin, microRNA, long untranslated RNA, and protein p53 were distinctive keywords. The trend of biology research on connective tissue, genotype, genetic predisposition, messenger RNA, and cytology before 2015 has changed to research on myofibroblast, biological marker, microRNA, epithelial mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix, and oxidative stress after 2015. The trend of clinical aspects of surgery and mouth hygiene before 2015 has changed to the aspects of adverse event/effects, complication, and quality of life after 2015. This scientometric study elucidated the current scenario and research trends of OSF, and would help in improving in reciprocal collaboration and communication for this disease control in South/Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The regional coverage satellite constellations are in demand for fulfilling earth observation needs of specific user regions of interest as opposed to global coverage thus enhancing the revisit period for the area. In this paper, we present a few key mission aspects of the regional coverage constellation designed and operated by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in low earth orbit. ISRO developed three X-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Earth Observation satellites and placed them in three inclined orbit planes to enhance the Indian region's coverage. This is India's first inclined orbit constellation designed for remote sensing applications in low earth orbit. The satellites were built around a standard bus carrying a Synthetic Aperture Radar payload with a deployable Radial Rib Antenna (RRA). They were designed to achieve a high agility capability. As SAR sensors are capable of all-weather, day, and night imaging; thus, most suitable in inclined orbits where the illumination conditions vary continuously for imaging. Though the inclined orbits provide more revisit opportunities to the region of interest, their characteristics pose challenges in mission design and operations. Though the mission design and planning involved a host of elements, this paper brings out the details of a few key mission analysis elements, planning aspects and operations that were critical in the course of various mission phases. The mission analysis included mission-specific requirements like launch windows selection for the constellation and reference attitude generation specific to inclined orbit geometry. Mission planning had to take care of Radial Rib Antenna (RRA) deployment requirements which were very critical for the mission, apart from taking care of individual subsystem requirements. The SAR payload data product quality and targeting accuracy are very sensitive to the satellite image point range (vis-a-vis SAR operation data window). Extensive post-launch calibration activity was carried out to meet all these mission requirements and data product specifications. The challenge was in fixing the payload beam alignment and fixing the uncertainties in onboard and ground computations. The paper also describes the methods of fixing all possible error sources affecting the high-resolution SAR payload performance. • The regional coverage satellite constellations are in demand for area targets coverage. • Inclined orbit constellations are more suitable for regional coverage using SAR sensors. • Mission operations plans need to consider all the specific requirements of spacecraft systems. • Pre-launch and post -launch calibrations of sensors is mandatory for achieving system performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary and High School students are usually adolescents, most of them in the urban areas and metropolitan cities are aware about the existence, various opportunities, career paths and advancements of the space industry. They are constantly updated, given they have access to quality and organized education models and a competitive environment. Although, the students in the rural areas who are equally ambitious and talented yet are not fortunate enough to have access to the state of art facilities like the counterparts. Even if they try and gain access with their self-interest, they do not have the motivation to sustain the passion, given their lack of clarity in subject, lack of awareness about engaging in various ways and fields in space other than technological related and mainly lack of driving force. The purpose of this paper is to develop and present an education model, exclusively for the high school students of the rural areas and inculcate sustainable passion for space. As opposed to the primary school students, the secondary school students have a consciousness of the space industry. This paper will talk about various plans and strategies, that will allow them to gain exposure, guide them about the existence of different career paths which are not entirely technological related, yet are still essential in the space like, administrative framework for example. This opens a new dimension in their brain helping them realize how they can be part of the industry in countless ways, and this shall assist them in being on the right track to space. In addition to, hosting creative space themed exhibitions, fun and engaging model design competitions, workshops, all of these would widen their knowledge boundaries and help them challenge their skills. A real time case study example from a school located in the rural southern of India shall be focused on this paper. Including data from a survey thereby the results, with action plans shall be presented in detail, which will aid in the analysis of the need, feasibility, and long-term sustenance of this approach and the requirement to scale it over different rural areas globally. • Need for improvised education models in rural areas elucidated, with data collection. • Data analysis and correlation of space education awareness, for high school students across two geographical locations. • Readily executable action plans age groupwise, for real-time education models in remote areas globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian Financial Crisis during the late 1990 s revealed the fault lines of foreign currency loans of corporates. It starkly demonstrated that a combination of semi-pegged exchange rates and unregulated foreign currency borrowing could expose corporates and, subsequently, the entire economy to heightened vulnerability. To mitigate these risks, implementing certain capital account restrictions emerged as a potential remedy. Against this backdrop, this paper investigates the changing contours of vulnerability arising from the rising foreign currency leverage of 818 non-financial corporates in India during 2004–2022. In particular, this paper examines the impact of exchange rate shocks and changes in certain key macroeconomic policy variables on the financial vulnerabilities of these firms. Our findings unequivocally indicate that during exchange rate depreciation, unhedged exposures significantly amplified the vulnerability of Indian firms. While our study centres on India, the overarching conclusions and insights derived from our analysis possess broader ramifications for emerging economies grappling with capital account restrictions. The policy implications of our research underscore the need to proactively strengthen the macroprudential toolkit to address the risks associated with foreign currency borrowing and ensure more robust risk management practices to prevent the buildup of systemic vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green hydrogen can be the transitional solution required to reduce anthropogenic emissions and enhance energy independency from fossil fuel. To improve green hydrogen adoption, a cluster-based infrastructure, called a hydrogen hub, is devised taking into account the demand-supply interplay coupled with transport ease. In this paper, we have identified sites across states that are conducive for hydrogen hubs. It involves a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) framework deployed to assign priorities within competing set of criteria. A comprehensive analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is used to rank criteria that are connected to establish a functioning hydrogen hub. These criteria include, but not limited to, proximity to refineries, fertilizer plants, substations, chlor-alkali units, steel manufacturing plants, water availability, access to gas pipelines, railway line access, and finally distance to highways. Our analyses indicate that proximity to refineries and fertilizers scored higher (scores directly proportional to importance) while railway line access scored the least. These prioritised scores are used to spatially locate sites using geographical information system. In a total of thirteen states identified, Gujarat had the largest parcel of most suitable land for setting up hydrogen hub followed by Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. For India to set up a functioning hydrogen economy and achieve green hydrogen goals, it is important to identify states that can drive the agenda forward. This paper illustrates a way (amongst many available ways) to identify states based on their strength and capability to fulfil the national goal of 5 million tons of green hydrogen by 2030. • The paper addresses setting up of green hydrogen hubs in India based on a multi-criteria site selection framework. • Nine selection criteria covering aspects of hydrogen ecosystem proposed to identify site(s) suitable for hydrogen hubs. • Integration of AHP and GIS is used to ascertain land parcels where hydrogen economy can sustain across states in India. • Zones in 13 states were identified as potential hydrogen hubs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Manufacturing share in India's GDP has increased by about 16 percentage points between 2003 and 2018. • Dominant contribution to increased manufacturing GDP share is made by petroleum refining. • There has been a tremendous increase in the real value-added share of ICT equipment industry. • For assessing properly the performance of manufacturing, double-deflation of GDP is essential. Contrary to a widely held impression that the share of manufacturing in India's GDP has long stagnated, the paper claims that it has increased significantly. Measured at the prices of different goods and services prevailing in 2004-05, and deflation applied separately with input prices as well as output prices to account for differential input price trends, the GDP share of manufacturing has increased during the post-reform period from about 17 per cent in 1993-94 to about 32 per cent in 2018-19. The paper notes that the concept of real share in GDP relates to the volume effect and represents the change in the share of the volume of manufacturing activity out of the volume of all economic activities in the Indian economy. Some explanation is provided for the apparent stagnancy of the share of manufacturing in India's GDP at current prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper precisely estimates the looming demand for hydrogen within the transportation sector, spanning 14 pivotal G20 nations from 2022 to 2050, anchored in the global vehicle hydrogen market penetration rate. Employing a robust techno-economic modeling methodology and leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) for enriched visualization, it unveils distinct environmental dividends across three thoughtfully devised scenarios: Business- as -Usual, Moderate, and Aggressive. Findings herald India and China as pinnacles of hydrogen demand, with South Korea and Japan tailing closely. The study forecasts the energy consumption for solar hydrogen production in G20 countries to oscillate between 3.02 and 2.89 million GWh in 2022, while production costs are anticipated to range from $8.47/kg to $10.01/kg. In an assertive scenario, the paper illuminates a pathway towards achieving a significant CO 2 reduction, unmasking environmental savings of up to a staggering 48%, equivalent to 1.5 million mtCO 2 , by 2050. [Display omitted] • Hydrogen demand of G20 countries is analyzed using GIS and techno-economic models. • The projected adoption rates of hydrogen vary among the G20 countries. • Solar energy is crucial in determining each region's annual energy demand. • China, US, and India have the highest solar potential throughout the year. • The environmental analysis shows 850–1.5 million mtCO2 total emissions by 2050. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blueprint provides a base for assessment by assigning proportionate weightage to various content areas and helps the paper setter to construct a uniform and valid assessment. This study aimed to design and validate a blueprint for theory in Community Medicine as per the new curriculum for Medical Undergraduates in India. Blueprint in community medicine was designed by assigning impact score (I) and frequency score (F) for the competencies. Blueprint was validated using the Content Validity Index (CVI), and inter-rater agreement for subject experts using Fleiss' kappa statistics was calculated. Feedback from faculty and students was obtained afterward to assess the postimplementation response. Blueprint was designed by an expert group where impact score and frequency score were assigned to 146 competencies in the theory of Community Medicine. In Delphi survey I, 63.2% of subject experts responded, while in Delphi survey II, a response rate of 58.3% was achieved. Value of the Fleiss' Kappa test for an inter-rater agreement was 0.68, i.e. "substantial agreement," while CVI among the raters came out to be 0.86, i.e. overall valid assessment. Feedback of faculty (n = 11) suggested that the blueprint was helpful and standardized the paper setting, whereas feedback from students (n = 138) depicted that it helped in preparing for exams, and they would recommend it to other students. Validated blueprint by consensus of subject experts has impact score and frequency score along with topic-wise distribution of marks for the convenience of faculty and its utility is well proven among learners too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cyclicality in aggregate productivity predicts the efficiency of resources reallocation. • Aggregate productivity growth originates from within-plants, allocative efficiency gain, and due to entry and exit. • We exploit the Great Recession to analyse the validity of the 'Cleansing' or 'Scarring' effect of recession and 'Schumpeterian Darwinian Selection' for Indian manufacturing. • The contributions to aggregate productivity growth from within-plant and net-entry effects are procyclical. • Plants in export-oriented industries are crucial in explaining the pro-cyclicality. • The exporting sectors during 2008-09 shifted resources from more productive to less productive plants. • The relatively productive exporters exited the markets following the global crisis, scarring the economy. • The positive contribution from the net-entry exit effect of plants during the economic downturn validates the 'Schumpeterian approach of Darwinian Selection'. Understanding the cyclicality in aggregate productivity helps answer whether the economy allocates resources efficiently or not. The paper analyses the sources of aggregate productivity growth, such as direct efficiency gain within-plants, allocative efficiency gain, and gains due to entry and exit during economic fluctuations. In particular, we exploit the economic shock of the Great Recession to analyse the validity of the 'Cleansing' or 'Scarring' effect of recession and 'Schumpeterian Darwinian Selection' for Indian manufacturing. The rise and fall of within-plant and net-entry effects during the economic fluctuations explains the pro-cyclicality of productivity growth. Plants in export-oriented industries are crucial in explaining the pro-cyclicality. Negative external shock to exporting sectors during 2008–09 shifted resources from more productive to less productive plants. The relatively productive exporters exited the markets following the global crisis, scarring the economy. Nonetheless, the positive effect from the net-entry exit of plants during the economic downturn makes the 'Schumpeterian approach of Darwinian Selection' valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment, maintenance, and implementation of environmental flow (hereafter e-flow) in rivers and wetlands have been recognized as a vital tool for sustaining freshwater ecosystems in several countries including India. In this view, the paper intends to review the current understanding of e-flow concept in India. This can be accomplished by reviewing case studies reported for different river basins across India and documented literature, legislative and water policy reports, minutes of meetings, workshops, and conferences. with the aim, On the other hand, its aims to briefly trace the history of e-flow assessment studies as well as the progress that has been achieved so far since 1998s. Role of enabling factors and constraints for e-flow implementation in India at a macro scale is also highlighted, which shows e-flow understanding has received considerable attention over the past two decades for the conservation of freshwater ecosystems and is still evolving. This paper also concludes with identifying a range of actions and gives some directions for future research that requires for e-flow implementation in a river basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• First record of Miocene large-sized vertebrate coprolites from the western India. • Geochemical analyses confirm phosphatic character of ichnofossils. • Biotic inclusions confirm omnivorous diet of the chelonian producer. • Overall data suggest coprolites were deposited in coastal marine settings. In this paper, we provide the first data on large (cm-sized) coprolites (represented by three morphotypes) comprising a rare occurrence of eight specimens from a total of three vertebrate-bearing horizons identified within the Early Miocene (Aquitanian) Khari Nadi Formation and Middle Miocene (Burdigalian-Langhian) Chassra Formation, Kutch Basin, western India. The geochemical data confirm the phosphatic character of the investigated ichnofossils. The dominance of partly digested bone matter and presence of plant remains in all the three coprolite morphotypes reflects the omnivorous diet of the producers, which were most likely chelonians. The occurrence of an inclusion (in a coprolite specimen recorded in this study) showcasing an ultrastructure similar to mammalian dental enamel is a rarity in Neogene coprolite records. Additional biotic inclusions observed in the investigated coprolites include ostracods (assigned to genera Paractinocythereis, Hermanites, and Propontocypris); large planispiral benthic foraminifera including the genus Quinqueloculina ; uniserial and biserial benthic foraminifera belonging to genus Textularia ; marine calcareous algae genus Actinoporella ; chrysophytes (resting spores or cysts of planktonic algae); sponge spicules (represented by the morphotypes Acanthoxea and Strongyle); freshwater diatom genus Aulacoseira ; unidentified fungal remains; and phytoliths. Taken together, the biotic and abiotic (e.g., pyrite) inclusions, geochemical data and associated microbiota suggest that these ichnofossils were deposited in a dominantly coastal marine (intertidal) setting linked to a lacustrine/palustrine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How serious is indoor air pollution (IAP) as a threat to infants and children? This paper estimates the impact of cooking fuel choice – a predominant source of IAP – on under-five mortality in India, where reliance on biomass fuels such as firewood, animal dung, and agricultural waste is pervasive. Leveraging forest cover and agricultural land ownership for identification and nationally representative data, we find that solid fuel use for cooking significantly increases the child mortality rate - mainly driven by neonatal mortality in the first 28 days after birth. The mortality effect is higher for girls than boys and is magnified in relatively small households where there is limited scope for the division of labor between childcare and cooking responsibilities. Among polluting fuels, we find that biomass fuels drive the impact of polluting fuel use on child mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the role of political connections in facilitating access to credit for firms in the Indian corporate sector. This study aims to address gaps in the literature by combining theoretical insights with empirical data. Our model proposes that political connections may reduce risk for firms, thereby enhancing their access to credit. Utilizing a unique dataset of S&P BSE 500 companies from 2001 to 2019, we analyze the extent of these connections and their impact on financial leverage and debt-to-asset ratios. Our findings reveal that politically connected firms, defined by their monetary donations to political parties and the inclusion of Members of Parliament on their boards, exhibit significantly higher financial leverage and debt-to-asset ratios than unconnected firms. This implies a lower perceived borrower's risk and an advantageous position in accessing credit, likely a result of their political ties. The implications of our findings extend to the realms of corporate governance, economic policy, and the broader understanding of emerging market dynamics. • Political connections, as part of non-market strategies of firms, may be crucial in accessing credit. • Our theoretical framework highlights role of risk and donation to political party by a firm in accessing credit. • This study constructs a novel dataset of political connections of Indian companies. • Political connections lead to more favorable borrowing-related outcomes of companies such as, financial leverage and debt-assets ratio. • Political connections specific to a particular political party tend to serve companies more (in terms of the aforementioned outcomes), when that particular party is in power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global problem of climate change and difficulties related to energy access, air pollution, and water pollution in India (and other developing countries) necessitate the need to look for alternative clean, local, and low-carbon energy sources for displacing fossil fuels. This paper analyses the existing waste-to-biomethane potential of the sericulture, fisheries, and agro-industrial sectors in India, which have mostly been neglected previously in India's waste-to-energy assessments. In the process, the volume of wastewaters generated from India's agro-industries are also estimated, data on which are scarce in the academic and grey literature. India's annual biomethane potentials (for 2018–19) were found to be 88 million m3, 207 million m3, and 3514 million m3 from the three sectors, respectively. To assess the energy generation potential of these wastes, a comprehensive literature review was conducted and data on residue-to-product ratios, results of proximate analyses, and specific biomethane yields were either compiled or calculated. The gross thermal energy and electricity generation potentials are 132 PJ and 22 TWh respectively; between 19 and 95 million people can benefit from such waste-to-energy production, depending on the end use of the biomethane for electricity generation or as a domestic cooking fuel. The corresponding mean removal of organic pollution from India's surface waters can be between 5.5 and 9.3 million tonnes of chemical oxygen demand. For the end uses of biomethane in electricity generation and cooking, the cumulative GHG abatements attributable to these industries are 11.4 million tonnes and 6.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent respectively. Besides the numeric results reported, this paper also contains a comprehensive compilation of data on waste characteristics and biomethane productions. The present status of biogas generation and related policy implementation in India are reviewed and discussed. Overall, our findings indicate that biomethane from these wastes and wastewaters can generate substantial energy for India, is in line with recent government policies, and can aid India in achieving six Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. • Annual estimates of wastes from India's sericulture, fisheries and agro-industries • The corresponding annual biomethane generation potential is 3810 million m3. • Clean electricity or cooking gas for 19 and 95 million people respectively • Quantitative estimates of atmospheric GHG and surface water COD removals • Biomethane data compilation and a review of present status and policies in India [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social innovation has come to be identified as a key aspect of development. Objectives related to personal and socioeconomic development often inspire this type of innovation. Relevant goals can drive societies to fulfil citizens' needs while promoting overall empowerment and inclusion. This paper analyses the emergence and development of social innovation in rural territories in the opposing socioeconomic settings of Portugal and India. By addressing social innovation in rural territories, the paper contributes to the research and provides empirical evidence from contexts and analytical frameworks that have been neglected by most innovation scholars. The paper acknowledges the context of innovation processes and dynamics - rural territories in western and non-western countries. The consideration of two different, contrasting socioeconomic contexts provides a privileged framework to analyse the dynamics involved in the emergence and development of social innovation, namely the top-down and bottom-up approaches that characterize it. • There are contrasting realities concerning the SI processes in Portugal and India. • Depending on the context, SI takes place under top-down, bottom-up or mixing the two approaches. • It is important to open the 'black box' of SI and understand the concrete modes of its emergence and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Maize production due to its many climate friendly properties have been center of research and development in terms of yield, water per hectare requirement, and so forth. • Out of agricultural stubble waste, corncob showed highest potential for beneficiation amongst traditional cash crops. Corncob beneficiation products and their applications span from bio fuels to mattress, with over 3500 products. • With processes such as gasification, pyrolysis, combustion and so forth, we can use this agricultural waste product for energy generation. • With applications such as bio-oil, ethanol blending, poultry feed, bio char, methanol, and so on maize was found to be the answer to many global problems. Increased global energy consumption and energy generation constraints using non-renewable energy sources have stressed countries and major industries to practice and develop cleaner, sustainable, readily available and predictable source of energy. On the other hand, agricultural waste or stubble burning presents a major problem for developing countries like India as it alone produces 516 million tons of agricultural waste in the year 2017-2018, out of which 116 million tons waste was burnt producing 176.1 Mt Carbon dioxide, 10 Mt of Carbon monoxide, and other harmful greenhouse gases. Though 13% of India's total energy is produced by the biomass, a lot of scope and potential in waste biomass is still left unexplored. Research and development in biomass (agricultural waste) conversion to energy is the potential solution to both problems. Out of all agricultural waste biomass, corncob was the center of research for this review paper. This review paper covers global and Indian scenario in the generation of corn cob, its beneficiation and uses in multiple industries, characteristics of corn cob, technologies available and used for the biomass conversion, limitations faced by the industry in corn cob's beneficiation, future potential developments, pledged goals and projected targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appropriate and timely first aid reduces morbidity in burns. This study aims to assess the knowledge of first aid in burns among healthcare workers (HCW) and nonhealthcare workers. (NHCW). A survey, distributed in both paper and Google survey formats, presented five sample cases with multiple-choice answers. Participants recorded the most suitable first aid management for each scenario. Correct answers were provided on completion. Out of the total 753 participants, only 89 (11.8%) got all five answers correct. 16% HCW and 6% NHCW could answer all 5 questions correctly (with a true HCW:NHCW ratio of 2.67:1). Providing care for individuals with burns substantially raised the probability of giving accurate responses (p = 0.0001). While attending the general First Aid Course did not affect the responses (p = 0.08), participation in the Burns First Aid Course demonstrated slightly improved results (p = 0.052). The scenario involving liquid petroleum gas leakage saw a high proportion of correct responses, likely influenced by media coverage. We find a clear need for adequate training in burns first aid due to low awareness among healthcare workers (HCW) and non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Factors such as participation in burn first aid courses and gaining firsthand experience in treating burns were found to be linked to improved knowledge of burns prevention and first aid. Utilizing various media channels could be a valuable strategy to reach a broader audience, especially in remote and inaccessible areas. • There is limited awareness of burns first aid and prevention among both healthcare and non-healthcare workers • Experience in treatment of burn injuries improves knowledge of burns first aid better than first aid training. • Efficient use of multimedia and technology enhances burns prevention and first aid knowledge, reaching remote areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunization programs globally have played a pivotal role in reducing mortality rates. However, the effectiveness of these programs often falls short of the intended coverage targets, primarily due to challenges within the supply chain, storage facilities, and distribution processes. Notably, a substantial percentage of vaccine wastage has been observed in numerous countries, thereby imposing a significant financial burden on immunization initiatives, and presenting a formidable challenge to policymakers. This paper undertakes a comprehensive study of the financial dynamics inherent in an immunization program within the context of India. Employing a systems perspective, we scrutinize the intricate interactions among various cost factors. Through a five-year system dynamics simulation, we derive insights into the amplified financial constraints resulting from vaccine wastage and the inefficiencies associated with shared personnel. Furthermore, our analysis extends to evaluate the impact of an additional investment aimed at enhancing the quality of the cold chain infrastructure and health worker proficiency on the overall funds of the immunization program. This research contributes to a nuanced understanding of the financial intricacies of immunization programs, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to optimize program efficiency and resource allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents evidence of gender peer effects in high schools in India using new administrative data. Identification of gender peer effects is achieved by exploiting variation induced by idiosyncratic changes in gender composition across cohorts within schools, in addition to controlling for past scores. The proportion of female classmates in a student's cohort has a sizeable positive effect on the test scores of both male and female students. We find that peer effects vary non-linearly with the proportion of female students. Finally, we provide suggestive evidence on plausible mechanisms. We show that achievement spillovers are not the main driver of positive gender peer effects. Using a supplemental dataset, we show that a greater proportion of female students leads to an improved classroom environment in the context of Indian schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Three characteristically different plasma structures viz. EMSTID, plasma depletion and non-electrified MSTID were observed simultaneously. • The individual structures underwent evolution, distortion, and dissipation separately. • The lack of mutual interaction between these three structures, despite existing simultaneously, is highly unusual. An unusual event of three characteristically different plasma structures on a geomagnetically quiet night (Ap = 4) of 08 July 2018 has been investigated in this paper using an all-sky imager installed at Hanle, Ladakh (32.7°N, 78.9°E; Mlat. ∼ 24.1°N), India. These structures include a freshly generated electrified medium scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (EMSTID), ambiguous plasma depletions, and a northward propagating non-electrified MSTID. One of the most fascinating aspects of this event was the lack of mutual interaction between the three structures, even though they existed simultaneously and propagated in different directions. They individually underwent evolution, distortion, and dissipation separately. One of the structures was an EMSTID, which got generated within the imager's field-of-view (FOV) and evolved with time. As time progressed, different strip-like structures travelled southwestward, merged with each other to form the EMSTID. The second structure was plasma depletions which appeared in the southeastern part of the FOV. They eventually merged into a single band, which propagated nearly westward. The merged band evolved with time, extended further northward, and dissipated later. Along with these, a very rare non-electrified MSTID structure with east–west aligned fronts was observed which propagated northward. Its fronts underwent distortion, became curved and dissipated. In this study, we have explored the role of electrodynamics behind the observed unique features of the three plasma structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Receivers and intermediary establishments typical to urban areas have unique freight behaviour and are understudied, particularly in developing countries. This paper uses establishment-based freight survey data to examine their freight generation patterns in the Chennai metropolitan area, India. Three sets of Simple Linear Regression (SLR) models, three single predictor proportional odds logit models, one multiple linear regression model, and one multiple predictor proportional odds logit model with business size (employment, area, and operational age) and indicators of establishment category as regressors are developed each for both freight production and freight attraction. Partial proportional odds logit models are developed in a few cases to overcome the limitations of proportional odds logit models. The best SLR model varied with the establishment category for freight production and attraction. The establishment area model is the best among single predictor proportional odds logit models. The multiple predictor proportional odds logit models marginally improved the fit over single predictor models. The proportional odds logit model results show that the establishment category has a greater impact on freight generation levels than business size variables. Since earlier studies rarely focused on receivers and intermediary establishments, policymakers may benefit from the developed models and study insights while estimating freight demand and developing freight policies. • Receivers and intermediary establishments' freight generation is studied. • Partial Proportional Odds (PO) logit models are developed for freight attraction. • Area model is the best single predictor PO logit model for freight generation. • Establishment type affects freight generation more than business size variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal solid waste generation in India is increasing as a result of rapid urbanisation and a growing population. Due to gaps in the existing waste collection, treatment and recovery methods, large-scale unscientific disposal and lesser waste recovery have been observed. Insufficient source segregation, unorganised efforts, less awareness and indifference towards malpractice, and a lack of strict implementation were identified as the causes through literature review, surveys and interviews, Therefore, there is a need for a system of interventions, which organises efforts toward waste management and reduces the tolerance for source segregation errors. This paper aims to provide a solution that increases community participation and prevents the generation of mixed waste to ensure waste recovery. The proposed framework integrates municipal solid waste, human elements, and technology into an intelligent app-based system. This includes a smart bin that segregates waste at the source through image classification and an application for communication and data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the heart of India's livelihood lies agriculture, a foundational and ever-evolving sector. The realm of agriculture faces modern challenges, encompassing unpredictable climate fluctuations, insufficient irrigation infrastructure, and erratic weather conditions. Amidst these challenges, machine learning has emerged as a valuable tool for evaluating soil fertility and Crop assessment in agriculture. Ensemble machine learning methodologies have garnered attention for their potential to enhance predictive capabilities. These techniques involve constructing meta-classifiers that collectively contribute to improved predictive accuracy. This paper centers on the analysis of soil data acquired from testing laboratories, to predict fertility based on a comprehensive dataset. The study employs prominent ensemble machine learning algorithms, specifically focusing on boosting techniques, to elevate predictive accuracy and ensure heightened consistency. The assessment of soil fertility categories involved the examination of 12 carefully chosen attributes. Diverse soil parameters were measured to facilitate the prediction of soil fertility levels. The outcomes of the experimentation revealed that the application of the boosting technique using the Xgboost algorithm yielded superior accuracy compared to alternative ensemble classifiers, achieving a remarkable 96% accuracy rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recognizing specific characters from a large set of handwritten characters is called off-line character recognition. Devanagari, the reading and writing script, is widely used in a broad region of India. This paper proposes using the modified LeNet-5 architecture for recognizing Devanagari off-line handwritten characters using the Devanagari Handwritten Character Dataset (DHCD). The dataset comprises 46 distinct character classes, each with 2000 images. The proposed modified Lenet-5 Base Architecture (MLCNN8) uses more filters and kernels of small sizes with batch normalization. The proposed modified Lenet-5 Base Architecture (MLCNN8) outperformed the Lenet-5 Base Architecture (LCNN) with an accuracy of 99.21% in 53 epochs, whereas LCNN achieved an accuracy of 94.50% in 48 epochs. Hence, the proposed modified Lenet-5 architecture outperforms the Lenet-5 Base Architecture. The proposed model's results were compared with other state-of-the-art and found that it also has an edge for recognizing the Devanagari handwritten characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mushrooms are fungi that play significant roles in ecosystems, food, and medicine. However, distinguishing toxic mushrooms from non-toxic ones is challenging, as their visual characteristics can be misleading. Deep learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, offers a promising approach to detecting and classifying mushrooms based on their toxicity. By training deep neural networks on datasets of labelled mushroom images, it becomes possible to create models capable of accurately differentiating between toxic and non-toxic mushrooms. Mushrooms are fungi that play significant roles in ecosystems, food, and medicine. However, manually distinguishing toxic mushrooms from non-toxic ones is a challenging and time-consuming task. This research work is to help the local farmers and exporters to identify the difference between the toxic and the edible mushroom which will eventually boost production and will directly have an impact on the economic growth in India. This paper compared different deep learning algorithms such as Support Vector Machine (SVM), Resnet50, YOLO V5 and Alexnet, which have been found to be the most useful in classifying the mushrooms effectively as toxic and non-toxic respectively. The patterns in the images of the mushrooms have been predicted through the above classifiers. The validation techniques show SVM to be the most effective with an accuracy of 83%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy, accounting for 1 % of all cancers 1. The genetic syndromes associated with differentiated thyroid cancers(DTC) are Cowden syndrome, Familial Adenomatous Polyposis(FAP), Carney's complex, Pendred syndrome and Werner syndrome2. The incidence of synchronous second primary tumors(SSPC) associated with oropharyngeal malignancies was 1 to 10 %3. The incidence of other malignancies other than the above syndromes occurring synchronously with DTC is very rare. Only a few case reports and series are available. The incidence of synchronous second primary cancer(SSPC) with Differentiated Thyroid Cancers(DTC) is a very rare entity. Very few case reports and case series were published in the literature. The current study is aimed to enumerate the clinicopathological data of patients with DTC with SSPC. This is a single-center retrospective study. All the patients diagnosed with DTC and SSPC from January 2016 to July 2023 were included in the study. The demographic, clinicopathological data and survival data were collected from the institute's database. Patients were followed up telephonically and survival status was documented. Synchronous cancers are defined as more than one independent primary malignancy when the second(or third) cancer occurs within six months of diagnosis of the first malignancy4. [Display omitted] A total of 1395 patients were diagnosed with thyroid cancer during the study period. Twelve patients were found to have DTC with SSPC. All the patients had papillary thyroid cancer as primary DTC. Ten patients had head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, one had malignant phyllodes tumor, and another patient with endometrioid adenocarcinoma as the SSPC. Six patients diagnosed during preoperative evaluation, one patient diagnosed 3 months after the oral malignancy diagnosis and five patients were diagnosed to have PTC in cervical nodes after neck dissection. Complete thyroid removal was done in six patients and hemithyroidectomy in two patients. Among the patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, four patients had undergone radioactive iodine scan followed by radioactive iodine ablation for two patients. Three patients had died during follow-up, two patients was lost to follow-up and the rest of the seven patients were alive. Out of those alive one patient had a follow-up of less than six months and was excluded from the survival calculation. The median follow up was 25.55 months. The median overall survival was 40.97 months. DTC constitute 95% of thyroid malignancies. Five to fifteen percent of DTC has familial disease. The genetic syndromes associated with DTC are FAP, PTEN syndromes(Cowden syndrome, Bannayan- Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome, PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome), Werner syndrome, Carney complex, DICER1 syndrome, Pendred syndrome, Ataxia telangiectasia, Li Fraumeni syndrome, and Peutz Jeghers syndrome5. But, synchronous occurrence of a second malignancy with DTC is a rare phenomenon. In the present study, the most common SSPC was SCC of the head and neck region(83.3%). 5 patients had incidental detection of thyroid cancer in cervical lymph nodes which were dissected during neck dissection done for other causes. L J Fliegelman et al published a paper on four cases of incidentally detected thyroid malignancy in cervical nodes6. Ansari-Lari et al also published cases of incidentally diagnosed PTC on cervical lymph nodes7. In the present study, one patient had synchronous papillary thyroid carcinoma with a malignant phyllodes tumor of the breast. No such case was found reported in the literature during our literature search. In the present study, we reported a case of synchronous endometrioid adenocarcinoma with PTC. Badan Marius-loan et al reported one case of PTC with endometrioid carcinoma8. Patients with Cowden syndrome can have thyroid carcinoma and endometrial carcinoma9. The overall survival of the study group was 40.97 months. Biopsy-proven SCC recurrence was seen in two patients out of four patients with clinically documented recurrence. In the literature review on case series and case reports, it was concluded that the prognosis of the patient depends on the staging of oral synchronous primary and the treatment of thyroid cancer must be decided based on oral malignancy staging and treatment. In conclusion SSPC with DTC is a very rare phenomenon. SCC of the head and neck region is the most common synchronous second primary malignancy associated with DTC. As there are no published guidelines for this clinical scenario, a multi-disciplinary panel discussion is a must to decide regarding management considering the staging and weighing the treatment benefit for both malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we show that the village social structure shapes the learning outcome of marginalised children in rural India. Exploiting the variation in the dominant social group in the village, we find a significant impact of village dominance. The reading and arithmetic skills of Scheduled Castes are better in their own castes-dominated villages compared to higher castes-dominated villages. Our findings show that village dominance affects learning outcomes primarily through differential teachers' behaviour. Children from marginalised castes are more likely to be scolded, beaten up, and treated unfairly by teachers in villages dominated by higher castes compared to their own castes. We do not find evidence of other mechanisms like the difference in parent and children's aspirations, caste diversity, discrimination in the village, or positive group externalities, which could explain why children from Scheduled Castes fare better in their own castes-dominated villages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the cultural and traditional diversity of the Indian environment, the successful implementation of self-automated and smart architectures is very challenging. As the IoT expands the network of devices, it also increases the hazards with increasing demands. This paper aims to propose an efficient model with the combination of interdisciplinary aspects of Indian building automation and numerous factors of Indian cultural differences. The proposed fuzzy-colored Petri-nets-based ubiquitous framework utilizes the capabilities of ubiquity for the diversified culture of Indian Building Automation systems. The proposed algorithms establish the Wi-Fi component connectivity and the working of the LED pin. Further, the modules of the Wi-Fi component connectivity, set up function and get values function to illustrate the working principle of the proposed model. Lastly, the integrated system using the FCPN tools. The significance of developing the proposed model is in its usefulness, usage of maximum ideas of different modeling techniques, cultural support, and its conversion into a formal qualitative and quantitative model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Challenged by complex problems and the speed of technological, social, and environmental change, the joint approach of Lean Management and the Agile Mindset has been explored in business as a management model. This paper aimed to carry out a bibliometric analysis of Lean Agile Management, pointing out trends in scientific research. To this end, an exploratory and descriptive study was developed, with a quantitative approach and based on secondary data from the Web of Science and Scopus, between 1994 and 2022. Bibliometric indicators pointed to 1808 different papers in 897 sources, with 18 citations per paper, and higher scientific productivity of U.S. (276), India (221), and UK (191), with production peaks in 2018 and 2021, suggesting the diffusion and contemporaneity of the research topic. The laws of bibliometrics were not met for this research subject, and dense networks of collaboration and co-citation among researchers were identified, mainly in four application domains, including supply chain, manufacturing, sustainability, and software development as corroborated by the word network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agriculture and its allied sector provide the livelihoods of vast rural areas in India. It also plays a vital role in the growth of developing countries like India. Rice, one of the primary components of Indian agriculture plays a significant role in the food security of the country and the world. However, it is stricken by many diseases that affect the quality and quantity of rice yield. This paper proposes a custom CNN architecture for detecting and classifying common diseases found in rice plants by reducing the number of parameters associated with the network. The proposed CNN architecture has been trained using a dataset of four types of common rice plant diseases. In addition, 1400 on-field images of a healthy rice leaf image dataset have been introduced in the paper for the detection of disease-free plants as well. Independent experiments were carried out with and without the inclusion of the healthy leaf image dataset. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated with the use of Stochastic Gradient Descent with Momentum (SGDM) and Adaptive Moment Estimation (Adam) optimization techniques using several performance matrices. Experimental results from the dataset for the classification of four rice plant diseases show that the model using SGDM optimization gives maximum accuracy of 99.66% and the model using the Adam optimization gives maximum accuracy of 99.83% on the test set in the 7th epoch respectively. However, the model with Adam optimizer performed better than the model with SGDM optimizer when the healthy leaf image dataset is included giving a maximum accuracy of 99.66% and 97.61% in the 7th epoch respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the very first time, on 22-March-2020 the Indian government forced the only known method at that time to prevent the outburst of the COVID-19 pandemic which was restricting the social movements, and this led to imposing lockdown for a few days which was further extended for a few months. As the impact of lockdown, the major causes of air pollution were ceased which resulted in cleaner blue skies and hence improving the air quality standards. This paper presents an analysis of air quality particulate matter (PM)2.5, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Air quality index (AQI). The analysis indicates that the PM10 AQI value drops impulsively from (40–45%), compared before the lockdown period, followed by NO2 (27–35%), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) (2–10%), PM2.5 (35-40%), but the Ozone (O3) rises (12–25%). To regulate air quality, many steps were taken at national and regional levels, but no effective outcome was received yet. Such short-duration lockdowns are against economic growth but led to some curative effects on AQI. So, this paper concludes that even a short period lockdown can result in significant improvement in Air quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The stimulating role of exports is analysed in this paper through what is termed as a structurally-biased investment function where domestic demand and exports have different effects on investment rate. • There are at two central features of this investment function that have been analysed through a medium-run Kaleckian model. Firstly, exports stimulate growth through the investment channel independent of the direction of change in trade balance. Secondly, in contrast to the Bhaduri-Marglin type investment functions, the sign of profit share coefficient in investment function becomes ambiguous. • The structurally-biased investment function is tested for the registered manufacturing sector in India by conducting a panel-data exercise. It is found to be valid under alternative specifications. The coefficient for profit share is found to be statistically insignificant. • The analytical framework is used to classify export regimes into three distinct categories-BOT-improving, BOT-balancing and BOT-deteriorating. The nature of export regime of a country is argued to depend on income distribution parameters, import propensity and investment responsiveness to home demand and exports. This paper examines the relation between investment and exports through a Kaleckian model and highlights the possibility of export-induced growth process despite deterioration in trade balance. The stimulating role of exports is analysed through what is termed as a structurally-biased investment function where domestic demand and exports have different effects on investment rate. There are at least two central features of this investment function. Firstly, exports stimulate growth through the investment channel independent of the direction of change in trade balance. Secondly, in contrast to the Bhaduri-Marglin type investment functions, the sign of profit share coefficient in investment function becomes ambiguous. The structurally-biased investment function is tested and found to be valid for the registered manufacturing sector in India by conducting a panel-data exercise. The coefficient for profit share is found to be statistically insignificant after controlling for the effect of exogenous changes in exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The paper documents developments in Indian economic performance and the role of structural change in this performance. • Manufacturing is dominated by informal labor, which has a deleterious effect on overall manufacturing performance. • Productivity growth is driven by within sector growth, with positive contributions of formal and informal activities to this. • Labor reallocation to the informal segment of the manufacturing sector is growth reducing in the Indian manufacturing sector. • A shift to more productive informal activities across sub-sectors exists, but this doesn't offset the negative within effect. This paper examines the role of structural change in India's performance, and in particular the role of the informal segment in the stagnant growth of the Indian manufacturing sector. Using counterfactual analysis – including a modified shift-share approach – the paper considers to what extent the informal sector can help explain the poor performance of Indian manufacturing over the period 1980-2011. The results suggest that the informal segment of manufacturing has been a drag on overall manufacturing productivity growth, with the informal manufacturing segment unable to provide a productivity bonus when absorbing workers from the agricultural sector. Results from the shift-share analysis indicate that labor reallocation to the informal segment of the manufacturing sector is growth-reducing, with structural change being the main source of this reduction, an effect which in turn is driven by movements of employment within manufacturing sub-sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Financial barrier is an encumbrance for eco-investment for firms. • The linkage between environmental behavior and credit accessibility is driven by the ownership structure. • The paper also investigates the relationship between credit access and corporate environmental behavior according to the pollution intensity of firms. Firms play a major role in facilitating green growth in developing nations by promoting environmental protection investment to control pollution caused during the manufacturing process. The paper explores whether the financial vulnerability of firms curbs their investment towards environmental practices that eliminate the creation of wastes or pollutants and hence acts as a deterrent towards green economy. Using firm-level data for manufacturing firms from 2010 to 2019, it is confirmed that financial barrier is an encumbrance for eco-investment by firms. We also focus on the environmental behavior of firms classified according to their ownership structure observing that government-owned firms (GOFs) tend to rely less on their internal and debt capital to finance their environmental investment, whereas private-owned firms (POFs) rely mainly on their internal capital. However, internal financing methods have generally no significant impact on the eco-investment decision of foreign-owned firms (FOFs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Examines women's use of courts to claim their shares in ancestral property, as promised by India's 2005 Hindu inheritance law. • Probes High Court judgements over 2005–2020 across regions, using online databases. • Identifies opposing parties, type of property disputed, regional variations in cases, time taken for case disposal. • Analyses case outcomes, source of property granted, and gender bias in language of judgements. • 77% of rulings grant women some property, but only half of these grant their direct share in coparcenary Joint Family Property. Recent decades have seen progressive reform of inheritance laws towards gender equality, both globally and in South Asia. Yet, a wide gender gap persists in actual ownership due to family resistance to endowing daughters with property. Given this, do women use courts to claim their rights across regions? Who are the opposing parties? What kind of property is most disputed? How long do cases take? To what extent do judgements favour women, and does the language of judgements reveal gender stereotypes? No prior study has addressed these questions. This paper does so for India. Here, under the Hindu Succession Amendment Act of 2005 (HSAA 2005), Hindu women achieved legal equality in inheritance rights over all property, including agricultural land and coparcenary joint family property (JFP) in which they now have direct shares by birth. To analyse women's use of courts to claim their coparcenary shares, we draw on the four main online data sources to extract 505 cases (from over 2900 examined) relating to women coparceners, where judgements were delivered in High Courts over 2005–2020. Brothers were the most commonly listed opponents to women's claims and most of the disputes related to land, especially agricultural. In 77% of the cases filed by women or against them, the rulings granted women some share in parental property. But only in 52% of these positive rulings did they receive their direct shares in JFP, while receiving property through other rights in the rest. The legal route thus holds some promise of positive outcomes, but progress specifically in the implementation of the HSAA 2005 remains limited. This will require activating new channels of support for women. Located in the interface of social science and law, this paper would also have relevance for other countries, both methodologically and in substance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates household task allocation decisions for non-work activity episodes by activity purpose and accompanying person arrangements. The paper utilizes activity-travel behavior information of all adult members (above 19 years) from a family to model the activity episodes aggregated at the household level. Such an approach gives a better perspective on the latent propensity of household members to engage in out-of-home activities. The nature (substitution or complementary) of the inter- and intra-group interaction between household and non-household members is examined using a multivariate ordered probit model estimated on activity-travel behavior survey data, consisting of 1335 households and 3639 adult individuals, collected in Bhubaneswar Municipal Region, India. The exploratory analysis sheds light on the preferences of household members for pursuing an activity episode (shopping, pure escort, other maintenance, physically active recreation, and physically passive recreation) either alone or jointly with immediate family members or non-household (extended family members or members from social circle) members. The correlation matrix consisting of 19 dimensions suggests significant inter-group substitution effects across the four accompaniment types for different non-work activities. The intra-group effects are complementary in the case of joint pursuits highlighting the likelihood of adult household members adhering to the same accompanying group. The model also suggests that the effect of individual characteristics, household socio-demographics, and seasonal and temporal characteristics are more impactful than vehicle ownership and built environment features. The study also presents the elasticity estimates of selected control variables and discusses their policy implications from a broad viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informal public transport is generally understood as transport services that are provided in absence or violation of state regulations. This paper argues that attempts to define the informality of public transport through such liberal economic lenses are insufficient in explaining the processes which lead to production of informalities. Discussing the operation of Vikrams (individually-owned and privately-operated shared autorickshaws plying on fixed routes) in Dehradun, India, this paper uncovers the multifaceted role of the state in producing and sustaining informalities in public transport provisions. It offers a more nuanced view of informality in transport studies than its commonplace understanding as a spontaneous, self-regulating, entrepreneurial aggregate. The paper argues that informality in transport studies should be understood as a heterogeneous practice that is a product of wider structural contexts situated in the politico-historical understandings of public transport in evolving spatio-temporal moments. In the case presented in this paper these include imperial legal legacies and its intersections with shifting postcolonial political economies and territorial structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of COVID-19 on the Global scale is tremendously drastic. There are several types of research going on across the world simultaneously to understand and overcome this dire pandemic outbreak. This paper is purely a statistical study on a distinct set of datasets regarding COVID-19 in India. The motivation of this study is to provide an insight into the rapid growth of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India. The rapid growth of COVID-19 cases in India started in March 2020. The main objective of this paper is to provide a solid statistical model for the policymaker to handle this kind of pandemic situation in the near future with nonlinear data. In this paper, the data was got from 1st April to 29th November 2020. To come up with a solid statistical model, various nonlinear data such as confirmed COVID-19 cases, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, the total population (state-wise), the total area in km2 (state-wise), and the total rural and urban population count (state-wise) have been analyzed. In this paper, six different Generalized Additive Models (GAM) was identified after a thorough analysis of other researchers' (Xie and Zhu, 2020; Prata et al., 2020) findings. In all perspectives, the results were identified and analyzed. The GAM model regarding total COVID-19 confirmed cases, total population, and the total rural population provides the best average fit of R2 value of 0.934. As the population value is quite high, the author has concise it using logarithm to provide the best p -value of 0.000542 and 0.001407 for a relation between the total number of COVID-19 cases regarding the total population and total rural population respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The work done in this paper provides the solutions for power access to rural and remote areas in developing nations. • The proposed affordable solution offers many advantages over the traditional central inverters. It provides more output power as compared to traditional central inverters under shading and dusting conditions. The results are validated through experimental investigation with regard to Indian weather conditions. • The proposed solution presents an optimal sizing strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. In literature, this kind of solution is yet not reported which makes this work novel. • This work presents the customized design of solar microinverter based PV System for different power provisioning levels for rural EWS houses. The proposed solution has an added advantage of addition of load in future without change in existing infrastructure. Reliable power supply is the key requirement for developing nations. Most of these nations are trying to modernize the rural lives by electrification in remote areas. Access to electricity is a bare requirement in future ages. This paper discusses the challenges faced by the utility companies in ensuring sustained electricity access to the new consumers followed by the various solutions. The techno – economic aspects of the proposed solution is validated by the experimental study. Based on the results, an optimal low-cost design is proposed in order for everyone to fulfil the minimum power needs. The paper presents an optimal size strategy for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) for the low power rural household application. The solar microinverter based PV System has been designed based on the daily load needs for one of the proposed layout plans of the (Gramin) Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna adopted by Government of India. The proposed designs are also applicable for other developing nations. The proposed micro-inverter has been tested under different operating conditions and experimental validation proves its superiority over other inverter types, particularly for a low power application, as is the case for a typical low-income rural household. Economic considerations such as payback period has also been evaluated in this study. In addition, the proposed microinverter technology has also been tested in terms of power quality parameters under various operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of organizations are encouraging and accepting the research information management system in the institute level to assess the research progress of the organization and bring out a report on scholarly communication activities. Open and commercial product on the Current Research Information System (CRIS) is emerging in the last decade. The Directory of Current Research Information system listed 25 CRIS system across European countries. The European Current Research Information System (euroCRIS) support the CRIS thought the European countries through the conference, working group and pioneer in the advocacy since 2002. This paper considers the recent development in the CRIS related activities around the world and recent progress in India. This paper describes the various challenges to setting up the RIM for the higher education institutions including identification of nodal officers, collecting faculty profile information, retrieving scholarly communication activities from internal and external sources, etc. Also, discuss the training programme to the nodal officer level and institute level to promote the academic identities and their importance. The paper also discusses the impact of the IRINS in the higher education system in India and its use case with different stakeholders such as students, scholars, faculty members, scientists, research administrators, funding agencies and policymakers, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper revisits the Porter-Wagner dilemma about the association between environmental management (EM) and firm performance (FP). The context of informal Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) provides an interesting case since they are away from regulatory scrutiny or corporate/social obligations. The study resorts to labor productivity as the measure of FP and EM is represented by the various solid waste management practices (WMPs) adopted by the informal enterprises. Using the latest available cross-sectional data on un-incorporated firms by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) 73rd round 2015-16, we found the positive impact of WMPs was higher in the case of more productive firms in the quantile, indicating the relevance of the Porter-Wagner dilemma. The direction of causality was further validated using the propensity score matching technique by decomposing the average treatment effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new stochastic SIRD model with imperfect immunity based on a continuous time Markov process is proposed. • We explore novel stochastic properties like the extinction and alarm time beside the infection and mortality time of a tagged case. • Theorems and recursive algorithms for the computation of the stochastic properties are presented. • An extensive sensitivity analysis reveals monotonous and unimodal tendencies for the considered stochastic indicators. • Health authorities can employ this information to achieve the best balance between health benefits and economic drawbacks. Efficient assessment of epidemic phenomena has an important role in modern epidemiology, while many novel methods propose reliable estimates for epidemic evolution in a population. In this paper, we focus on the stochastic modeling of a novel epidemiological (susceptible-infected-recovered-deceased) SIRD model with imperfect immunity based on a continuous-time Markov process adapted to the characteristics of the epidemic model. We investigate several novel stochastic properties of the SIRD scheme that are both population- and individual-oriented, such as the extinction and alert time of an epidemic, in parallel with the infection and mortality times of a tagged individual. We provide propositions and detailed recursive algorithms for computing probabilities and moments, giving additional information beyond the mean and variance of the stochastic quantities. Important remarks for representing higher-order matrices and system solving are provided, decreasing significantly the operation time of these algorithms. Extensive sensitivity analysis gives light to the influence of the system's parameters, while enhancing the validity of our methodology. Unlike other analyses that focus mainly on fitting the evolution of various diseases, our goal is to complement these studies by highlighting additional noteworthy features that determine an epidemic's future. The proposed methodology is applied on the monkeypox outbreak of 2022 in India and the first COVID infection wave in Barbados. Finally, public health authorities can use the information provided by these indicators to adjust the duration of lockdowns, accordingly, achieving the best possible balance between health benefits and economic disadvantages. Simultaneously, knowledge of mortality probabilities and timing of infection can support early coordination of hospitals and intensive care units, which could notably reduce the high risk of mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trip-based models and activity-based models represent two extreme ends of the spectrum of travel demand models in data granularity requirement and ability to reflect the underlying motivation to travel. Modelling of representative freight activity-travel patterns (RFAPs) has the potential to serve as the bridge between these approaches. RFAP clusters represent homogeneous groups of establishments, where utility maximization models predict the probability that an establishment belongs to a particular cluster. However, it is still an open question how to define, interpret and model activity-travel patterns in the context of freight system. To answer this question, this study conducted a large-scale establishment-based freight survey (EBFS) in seven cities of India and resulted in a sample of 432 establishments and their 1613 shipment records. In the first part, this paper proposes a novel approach for identifying RFAPs based on the notion that "activities" that inspire trip-making for passenger is equivalent to "freight orders" in the case of establishments. The cluster analyses revealed the presence of three well separated main clusters and nine less separated nested clusters. Through interpretation and labelling of these RFAPs, freight travel market is categorized into useful segments. The results suggested that a priori industrial classification systems used in trip-based models are overly simplified representations of the complex structure of the travel patterns. In the last part, freight activity-travel pattern generation (FAPG) models are developed which predicts the probability that an establishment exhibits a particular RFAP. The FAPG models developed using these RFAPs could replace the traditional freight generation (FG) and freight trip generation (FTG) models due to its ability to convert the assigned activity-patterns to trips or tonnage. For example, FAPG model suggest that at an employment level of 120, there is a 56% probability that establishments will exhibit MDV-HFMH (medium duty vehicles - high frequency medium haul) pattern which, in turn, implies that FP = 1630 tons/year; shipment frequency, i.e., FTP = 8 trips/week; length of haul = 240.6 km and commercial vehicle type choice = MDV. Thus, FAPG models can present an enhanced representation of freight flows since both FG and FTG are jointly modeled in this approach. That is, the best features of both commodity-based modelling (i.e., ability to capture the fundamental mechanism that drives freight demand) and vehicle-based modelling (i.e., ability to capture freight traffic implications) are included in FAPG models. The study findings are expected to assist in identifying the variations in establishments' preferences so that it is possible to identify the type of transport supply improvements that the establishments will respond to accurately, and thus prioritize the infrastructure investments. Moreover, the discussions on these findings are expected to improve the behavioral and spatial foundations of traditional freight models. • Defines "freight orders" as logical equivalent of "household activities" that drive trip-making. • Activity based approach is used for modelling freight travel using EBFS data. • Identifies homogeneous segments of representative freight activity-travel patterns (RFAPs). • Propounds freight activity-travel pattern generation (FAPG) models based on RFAPs. • FAPG gives enhanced representations of freight flows (FG, FTG, vehicle type, haulage). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study is one of the significant to offer an inclusive investigation of the impact of green finance correlated policies by applying text analysis approach and panel data from 28 states and 8 union territories between 2010 and 2020. The paper uses the SDID and illustrates that overall, India's green finance associated with policies have directed a substantial decrease in industrial CO 2 emissions during the study period. Furthermore, the paper determined that the Fintech growth pays to the reduction of SO 2 (sulfur dioxide) emissions and positively influences environmental safety and investment enterprises. India is a great competitor worldwide in green finance strategy operation, and controllers need to accelerate the design of green finance products and boost the volume of financial institutions to provide green credit facilities. Though minimalizing the risk fintech stances, policymakers should inspire fintech's to take part in environmental quality protection inventiveness that encourages green consumption actively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]