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Wave data collected along the west coast of India (off Goa, Ratnagiri and Dwarka) during non-monsoon season have been analysed to study the co-existence of wind seas and swells. Diurnal variation in wind and wave parameters is noticeable along the central west coast of India (off Goa and Ratnagiri), and this is not present along the northwest coast of India (off Dwarka). Swells are predominantly mature (91 %) and old (88 %) during late pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. Sea Swell Energy Ratio quantifies wind sea, swell and mixed seas prevailing in the regions during non-monsoon season. Intermodal Distance (ID) between the energy peaks is moder ately separated during non-monsoon season, whereas, during the shamal events, energy peaks are very close to each other (ID~ 0). However, pure wind seas (ID~ 1) are found to co-exist with the swells during non-monsoon season. Wind seas are growing, when wind and wind seas are opposite to swell direction. Wind seas have minimum angular spreads in multimodal state. Under low winds, the interaction between wind sea and swell dominates and thereby the multimodal state reduces to unimodal state. The fetch available for the evolution of the wind sea spectrum has been estimated, and it is found to be less than 150 km. For the fetch limited condition, a non-dimensional empirical relation has been derived relating the significant wind sea height in terms of wind speed and peak wind sea period, and this relation fits for the west coast of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study investigates the professional development needs of mainstream teachers in India, teaching in upper primary and secondary classes to cater to a class of diverse learners. The research was conducted in mainstream private, English medium schools in four metropolitan cities of India: Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Kolkata. A mixed methods and multi-step approach was used for data collection. Stage one utilized an online questionnaire (N=280), while stage two used focus group discussions with teachers and semi-structured interviews with the other key stakeholders: heads of schools, special educators, section heads, and counselors (8 focus groups and 16 interviews). The study explored several aspects of teacher training for inclusion, such as the challenges faced by teachers in catering to the needs of diverse learners, their professional development needs, perceptions of the efficacy of the methods currently used to meet their professional development needs, and suggestions about the content and features of an ideal professional development program (PDP). This paper reports on one aspect of this study- the framework of an exemplar PDP for inclusion. Suggestions for the content of an exemplar PDP comprised knowledge of diverse needs and identification, inclusive teaching practices, differentiated instruction, classroom management, lesson planning, and subject/age-specific training. The standard features mentioned by participants were that the PDP should be practical, regular, conducted at frequent intervals, have follow-ups, provide access to the resource person, and involve interaction with experts and other schools. The insights gained from the research will help define the framework of professional development programs for teachers, thereby influencing policy and practice. It is anticipated that teachers who are trained thus will be more effective in catering to the different aspects of a child’s education and also to the different types of learners, making them learners for life, the key tenets of quality education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wave data collected off Ratnagiri, west coast of India during 1 May 2010 to 30 April 2012 is used in the study. Seasonal and annual variation in wave data controlled by the local wind system such as sea breeze and land breeze, and remote wind generated long period waves observed along the west coast of India, is studied. Sea breeze plays an important role in determining the sea state during pre and post monsoon seasons and the maximum wave height is observed during peak hours of sea breeze at 15:00UTC. Long period waves (peak period over 13 s) are observed mainly during the pre and the post monsoon season. Maximum peak period observed during the study is 22 s and is in the month of October. Long period waves observed during the south west monsoon period of 2011 are identified as swell propagated from the Southern Ocean with an estimated travelling time of 5-6 days. The swells reaching the Arabian Sea from the South Indian Ocean and Southern Ocean, due to storms during the pre and post monsoon periods will modify the near surface winds, due to the dominant wave induced wind regime. Energy spectrum of observed waves indicates onset and decline of strong south west monsoon winds. Convergence of energy-containing frequency bands corresponding to short period waves (Tp < 8s) and long period waves (Tp > 13s) to intermediate period waves (8 < Tp < 13s) are observed at the end of the pre monsoon season; divergence is observed during the start of the post monsoon period from intermediate period waves to short period waves and long period waves. South west monsoon period is characterized by the energy corresponding to the frequency band of intermediate period waves along the west coast of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper narrates the data collection process followed before data mining for a study conducted in 50 schools across two states of India covering more than 14000 students. Objective of the paper is to document the process and challenges of conducting studies with large sample. The paper will help research organizations and/or researchers to plan and organize their data collection process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of this research is to look into the Impact of cash payment on Operating and Financial synergies generated post the merger. The two‐stage least squares method Instrumental‐variables regression technique is employed to test the hypothesis of impact of cash payment on the synergies gained by the acquirer post the merger. The uniqueness of this paper is that it develops an effective technique for evaluating the phenomena of M&As using a composite synergy variable that accurately reflects the dynamic phenomenon. The paper uses "Principal Component Analysis" (PCA) estimation to generate dependent variable which is a conglomerate of several factors. For all models, the findings of the study reveal that payment in cash has a favorable and significant relationship with Operational and Financial Synergy, demonstrating the increased viability of acquiring entities in post‐M&A stage. Synergistic advantages of M&A appear to be perceived by enhanced Operating Income, improvement in R&D expenditure (statistically significant) and a positive Return on Asset (non‐significant). The paper looks at a wide variety of domestic M&A transactions in India. So far, no systematic research has been done to determine the possible realization of synergistic gains for Indian firms undergoing M&As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The education system in India is fast developing; educational institutes and various government departments conduct different types of exams in India to select the ideal candidates. Millions of students attend these exams every year to get jobs. The aspirants are required to use essential information resources to prepare for competitive examinations. In recent years, public libraries have become the primary source of resources for students, job seekers, and the general public. As a result, the current study examines the use of public libraries in the preparation for competitive examinations through a comprehensive evaluation of academic research papers. This research article also emphasizes how Competitive Examination resources are used in public libraries. The main purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the use of public libraries in preparation for competitive exams. However, this manuscript provides a good understanding for new researchers who wish to conduct research in this field and facilitates effective data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bhajan is a Devotional genre of music in India, which is found to be sung in different ways. People who sing different genres of songs in India are often found to sing Bhajans. Bhajan is not confined to a particular way to interpret but is found to be interpreted in multiple ways by different artists. This article will discuss on the Bhajan interpretation by Vidushi Kishori Amonkar's Bhajan Gayaki (singing style) in a very simple way to figure out whether there is any similar idea existing in her Bhajan interpretations. The Bhajans are collected while collecting data for my 'Doctoral Thesis' paper. All the interpretations are taken from studio recordings. No public performance has been chosen for analysis in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bazaar is a market place that contributes to the economy as well as the spatial, cultural, political, educational, and social determinants of the society and its settlement. Bazaars, specifically in British colonial hill towns of India due to their unique characteristics, have showcased significant transformation in social and physical attributes. The potential reasons include the pressures of industrialization, tourism, consumerism, and continuously evolving identities. In this context, the paper examines the case of Malcolm Peth bazaar at Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra, India. It aims to comprehend the socio-cultural and spatial transformation of the bazaar, from its British colonial beginnings to the present differential scenario, emphasizing the perception and representation of the traditional place. The methodology follows the descriptive and interpretive research approach. The process commences with exploring the available theory and literature, followed by the development of a theoretical framework through the literature discourse to holistically investigate the complexities of the traditional bazaar. On-site data collection includes spatial information represented through maps and illustrations and stakeholders' perceptions recorded in interviews. Subsequently, the data is analyzed by forming domains and categories through tabular frameworks and further narrated to abstract the findings. Focusing on the changing traditions and heritage value, the interpretation of the result elucidates the bazaar's socio-spatial character in diverse time-place environments that the bazaar has reflected in its evolution process. Highlighting the insensitive approach towards the culturally sensitive traditional bazaar, the research concludes by accentuating the need to react cautiously toward preserving the historical notions of the place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cricket is one of the most popular games among young players in India. The game result is purely based on the runs scored by the teams within the prescribed "overs". Hence the players will put maximum effort to score maximum runs as much as possible. The effort is how much force the players can exert on the bat while hitting the ball so that the ball can travel maximum distance in the ground. The average velocity of the ball thrown by the bowler is in the range of 40 km/h to 150 km/h which depends on the bowling speed of the bowler. Due to such high velocity of the ball hitting on the bat, high impact force is generated on the bat as well as on the arm of the player. This paper studies the strain, stress and energy due to ball impact force with different velocities using numerical method. Also experimental verification for strain measurement is done in real time using data acquisition devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen a rapid rise in the generation of high-resolution topographic data using custom-built or commercial-grade Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Though several studies have demonstrated the application potential of UAV data, significant knowledge gaps still exist in terms of proper documentation of protocols for data acquisition, post-flight data processing, error assessments, and their mitigation. This work documents and provides guidelines for UAV data acquisition and processing from several years of field experience in diverse geomorphic settings across India, including undulating topography (~17 km2), alluvial plains (~142 km2), lowland-river basin (~66 km2), and a highly urbanized area (~5 km2). A total of 37,065 images with 16 and 20 Megapixels and 604 ground control points (GCPs) were captured with multiple UAV systems and processed to generate point clouds for a total area of ~230 km2. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for each GCP for all sites ranged from 6.41 cm to 36.54 cm. This manuscript documents a comprehensive guideline for (a) pre-field flight planning and data acquisition, (b) generation and removal of noise and errors of the point cloud, and (c) generation of orthoimages and digital elevation models. We demonstrate that a well-distributed and not necessarily uniformly distributed GCP placement can significantly reduce doming error and other artifacts. We emphasize the need for using separate camera calibration parameters for each flight and demonstrate that errors in camera calibration can significantly impact the accuracy of the point cloud. Accordingly, we have evaluated the stability of lens calibration parameters between consumer-grade and professional cameras and have suggested measures for noise removal in the point cloud data. We have also identified and analyzed various errors during point cloud processing. These include systematic doming errors, errors during orthoimage and DEM generation, and errors related to water bodies. Mitigation strategies for various errors have also been discussed. Finally, we have assessed the accuracy of our point cloud data for different geomorphic settings. We concluded that the accuracy is influenced by Ground Sampling Distance (GSD), topographic features, and the placement, density, and distribution of GCPs. This guideline presented in this paper can be extremely beneficial to both experienced long-term users and newcomers for planning the UAV-based topographic survey and processing the data acquired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floods are a recurrent phenomenon in many parts of the world. In India, they occur almost every year in some parts of the country and in recent years several areas have been experiencing severe floods, which were almost unheard of a few decades ago. Advances in data collection and in methods of rainfall and hydrologic forecasting and improved flood management by governmental organizations notwithstanding flood risk in each flood season year after year is quite high and consequent loss of life and property continues unabated. This paper revisits flood management in the country and discusses strategies for reducing flood risk and the resulting damage. It also reflects on the role climate change, besides anthropogenic changes, may be playing in the havoc being wrought each year by floods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper problematizes the increasing trend of metadata collection by law enforcement, in light of the 'going dark' debate, which was spurred by the widespread adoption of secure encryption standards. Focusing on Indian privacy law, which remains nascent as of writing, we examine and propose potential constitutional limitations on metadata collection, and provide substantive guidance on their application. These limitations are bifurcated into two stages: first, whether metadata collection infringes upon the right to privacy, and second, whether the infringement is justified. In determining whether the collection of metadata in a specific case infringes privacy, we conceive of a 'contextual approach', challenging the usual ontological subordination of 'metadata' in relation to 'content data'. At the second stage, we centre the standard of proportionality. We offer substantive guidance for Indian courts at each step of the test, including the development of a 'risk profile' of metadata collection practices. Such guidance is crucial, given the technically intricate nature of cases involving metadata processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) has enabled the Government of India to become a strategic purchaser of health care services from private providers. To generate base cost evidence for evidence-based policymaking the Costing of Health Services in India (CHSI) study was commissioned in 2018 for the price setting of health benefit packages. This paper reports the findings of a process evaluation of the cost data collection in the private hospitals. Methods: The process evaluation of health system costing in private hospitals was an exploratory survey with mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative). We used three approaches–an online survey using a semi-structured questionnaire, in-depth interviews, and a review of monitoring data. The process of data collection was assessed in terms of time taken for different aspects, resources used, level and nature of difficulty encountered, challenges and solutions. Results: The mean time taken for data collection in a private hospital was 9.31 (± 1.0) person months including time for obtaining permissions, actual data collection and entry, and addressing queries for data completeness and quality. The longest time was taken to collect data on human resources (30%), while it took the least time for collecting information on building and space (5%). On a scale of 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest) difficulty levels, the data on human resources was the most difficult to collect. This included data on salaries (8), time allocation (5.5) and leaves (5). Discussion: Cost data from private hospitals is crucial for mixed health systems. Developing formal mechanisms of cost accounting data and data sharing as pre-requisites for empanelment under a national insurance scheme can significantly ease the process of cost data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aside from the primary objective of finding potential digital evidence, preserving the integrity of the evidence and maintaining proper chain of custody are also equal priorities for an investigator to ensure admissibility of evidence in the court of law. Advanced mobile forensic techniques pose a serious challenge in achieving the latter due to the complexity of the process and possibility of alteration in the state of the device during data acquisition. Hence efforts are made to understand the critical issues faced by the investigators while employing advanced mobile forensic techniques, which may be invasive or destructive. A standardised investigative process is presented in this paper which may act as a guide to investigators, prosecutors and judicial officers dealing with digital evidence in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, the data point to a considerable number of children running away from their parental homes and migrating to urban areas in search of opportunities. Many end up in cities like Delhi where they are exposed to a number of risks. While most of these children reach cities with dreams of making it big, the reality of living on the street is fraught with a number of challenges. Transient and often moving in groups, meeting children alone for a chat is nearly impossible and even when one manages to have an individual meeting, curiosity compels others to join in. Against this backdrop, the lived experiences of migrant children in Delhi were studied using a group method. As children feel more comfortable discussing their problems in groups than when alone with the researcher, participatory techniques such as drawings, storytelling and the like could be employed. Ethical issues about this method, particularly concerning informed consent, anonymity and confidentiality are addressed. In closing, the paper provides a careful consideration of some challenges of employing groupwork as a research method with migrant children in an urban setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the ethnocentric tendencies of Indian consumers towards foreign multi-brand retailers (FMBRs), and the influence that such ethnocentrism has on their attitudes towards, and future purchasing behaviour from, these international retailers.Design/methodology/approach The paper used a mall intercept method with a randomised data collection process to secure data from 119 organised retail shoppers in a major metropolitan Indian city. The analysis was carried out using analysis of covariance, bootstrapping mediation, multiple regression analysis, and Johnson’s relative weight analysis.Findings Two main results are as follows: concern for livelihoods of small retailers and a perception that earnings of foreign retailers are unjust are revealed as the most significant drivers of negative attitude towards FMBRs, and although high ethnocentric customers have a strong negative attitude towards FMBRs, they are open to the idea of making future purchases of goods that are not available with small retailers, from the foreign retail outlets.Research limitations/implications The study sample is from a single metropolitan city, albeit one which serves as a miniature version of the Indian society. As a limitation, the results might not be generalisable to small, non-metropolitan Indian towns.Practical implications These results provide valuable input regarding the marketing strategy and sustainability of foreign retailers planning to launch operations in India. For example, FMBRs should position themselves as not being in competition with existing small retail shops by offering a different array of products. Further, younger and more educated Indians are the least ethnocentric towards FMBRs, thus making them an attractive target segment.Originality/value Extant research has studied consumer ethnocentrism of Indian consumers towards foreign brands and products, but not towards FMBRs. This paper attempts to fill that research gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The National Education Policy of India in 2020 indicated a goal that all children will achieve foundational literacy by Grade 3 by 2025. In line with this, the Indian government sets a target of 30 to 35 correct words per minute (cwpm) at Grade 3. However, there are no supporting data for reading fluency targets in the Indian reading literature. Similarly, international benchmarks are used in India, but there are no data examining their appropriateness for the Indian context. The purpose of this study was to develop data‐driven benchmarks for oral reading fluency (ORF) for students in Grade 3 in the Indian context. We compared both international standards and the national targets with our study's benchmarks to assess their suitability for the Indian population. Methods: This study assessed ORF in English for Grade 3 students from three schools following three different curricula in India. The primary tool employed was Fluency and Benchmarking for Literacy in Education (FABLe), a digital curriculum‐based measurement tool developed specifically for the Indian context. Students were assessed at the beginning and end of the academic year. Results: The performance data collected using FABLe when compared with the international benchmarks were significantly skewed, especially for the end of the year. The national Grade 3 fluency target was found to be even lower than the 5th percentile at the end of the year. Conclusion: Employing international tools and benchmarks may lead to an overidentification of the number of students that need support, and the current Indian government target may lead to an under‐identification of the same population of students. This study fills an important research gap by providing schools with a Grade 3 ORF measure developed for the Indian context. The results should be considered a preliminary benchmark in Grade 3 and be used to inform literacy practices. Highlights: What is already known about this topicThe Government of India has declared a Grade 3 target of 30 to 35 correct words read per minute, which is aligned to the National Education Policy 2020 goal of achieving foundational literacy for all students by Grade 3.International benchmarks are being employed in India, but there are no data to indicate their suitability for the Indian context.The available Indian benchmarks are based on limited data from Grade 1 and 2 students and from other developing countries. What this paper addsThis study presents preliminary data‐driven benchmarks for English oral reading fluency (ORF) at the beginning and end of Grade 3 in the Indian context.The study compares student performance with respect to the international benchmarks as well as with the Indian national target, highlighting the need to develop specific benchmarks for the Indian population. Implications for theory, policy or practiceCurrently, there are no benchmarks available for the Indian context. Policy‐makers can use FABLe benchmarks to set more realistic reading targets.International benchmarks may tend to overidentify students, and the national targets may tend to under‐identify students needing support. Indian educators can make use of FABLe benchmarks to more accurately identify students in need of intervention.Using the benchmarks, schools and educators can develop reading profiles of students to guide data‐driven instruction and monitor student progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed and examined a model to provide linkages between organizational culture and total reward. It examined the effect of organizational culture on employee behavior in terms of reward preferences. For this, the study uses the typologies of the clan, adhocracy, market, and hierarchy culture from the Competing values framework proposed by Cameron and Quinn and establishes its relationship with various transactional and relational elements of total reward. Survey method was used for data collection while the hypotheses are tested on a sample population of 309 using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The findings from this study will guide the total reward professionals in formulating reward programs that meet the needs of employees and provide practical solutions to problems in that process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research study specifically covers the comparative analytical study of the articles of the Constitution of Pakistan and India which are relevant with the President with main focus on the Constitutional drawbacks, vagueness in the relevant articles which may cause Constitutional crisis at any time. In this regard comparative analysis of the articles of the Constitution of Pakistan and India has been given. To conduct this research qualitative doctrinal methodology has been applied and utilized data collection methods such as review of relevant documents constitutional provisions and case laws. Through this method this researcher reached on a conclusion and proposed solutions to address the vagueness in the provisions of the Constitution of Pakistan. From this research it appeared that on many issues Constitution of Pakistan is silent and some articles are vague in language need amendment and interpretation therefore there is need of amendment and interpretation in such articles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising price and demand for energy are significant issues for the food sector, which consumes a substantial amount of energy throughout the supply chain. Hence, improving energy efficiency has become an essential priority for the food sector. However, most food businesses have limited awareness of the recent technological advancements in real‐time energy monitoring. Thus, the concept of "Internet of Things" (IoT) has been investigated to increase the visibility, transparency, and awareness of various energy usage levels. This paper presents a case study of a beverage factory where the implementation of an IoT‐enabled sensing technology based on the embodied product energy (EPE) model helped to reduce the energy consumption. This arrangement made provision for the collection of real‐time energy data within a food production system to support informed and energy‐aware operational decisions, which lead to optimized energy consumption and significant savings of approximately 163,000 kWh in the year 2017. Practical applications: Given the importance of energy efficiency and Internet of Things (IoT), especially in the food manufacturing industry, this research reports a baseline application at a beverage company in India. The results allowed the company to use energy more efficiently to have an advantage over its competitors and better market positioning. More data could be incorporated into the energy management system with the use of IoT. The availability and accuracy of such valuable data would help managers to make better energy‐efficient decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of anthropogenic activities on the earth atmosphere and its systems have been engaging attention planners, governments and politicians worldwide. The countries across the world are engaged in working out the impacts and associated variability's to the projected climate change. In the twentieth century many recent studies show changes in rainfall patterns of India as well as changes in weather conditions climate changes, decrease in rainfall duration and rainfall amount and increase in rainfall intensity paper describe Climate Change Impact Studies on Rain Madhya Pradesh, India. The rainfall data collected for a period of 1901 to 2019from the District Land Record Department of Chhatarpur and Indian Meteorological Department, New Delhi (IMD). The results historical rainfall records of Chhatarpur district have been analysis using statistical and Mann Results are also discussed for the future climate change scenario in rainfall variability of thearea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to analyze Indian researchers' publications on malaria research and to serve as a guide to libraries needing to collect information on malaria. It also seeks to compare malaria affected Asian countries global rank with their publication and death rates. Design/methodology/approach – For the purpose of the study Indian researchers' publication data which were indexed in Thomson Reuters Web of Science (WoS) were used. Various statistical techniques and bibliometric measures have been employed for further analysis. Findings – The present study found out 2,020 documents with h-index of 48, published by Indian researchers which were indexed in WoS during 2003 to 2012 and the majority of them were articles (81.43 percent). Malaria Journal is the most favored research journal among the Indian research community which covers 97 papers. A.P. Dash contributed maximum number of 136 (6.74 percent) papers. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is the largest Indian funding agency with 184 (9.11 percent) research grants. Research limitations/implications – Limitation by geographical area and time, i.e. the study only focuses the research publication of Indian researchers on malaria research during 2003 to 2012. Originality/value – This is the first attempt to apply bibliometric techniques to analyze malaria research by Indian researchers, and, more generally for a country which is very badly affected by the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper examines the pattern of the volatility of the daily return of select commodity futures in India and explores the extent to which the select commodity futures satisfy the Samuelson hypothesis. Methods: One commodity future from each group of futures is chosen for the analysis. The select commodities are potato, gold, crude oil, and mentha oil. The data are collected from MCX India over the period 2004-2012. This study uses several econometric techniques for the analysis. The GARCH model is introduced for examining the volatility of commodity futures. One of the key contributions of the paper is the use of the β term of the GARCH model to address the Samuelson hypothesis. Result: The Samuelson hypothesis, when tested by daily returns and using standard deviation as a crude measure of volatility, is supported for gold futures only, as per the value of β (the GARCH effect). The values of the rolling standard deviation, used as a measure of the trend in the volatility of daily returns, exhibits a decreasing volatility trend for potato futures and an increasing volatility trend for gold futures in all contract cycles. The result of the GARCH (1,1) model suggests the presence of persistent volatility and the prevalence of long memory for the select commodity futures, except potato futures. Conclusions: The study sheds light on significant characteristics of the daily return volatility of the commodity futures under analysis. The results suggest the existence of a developed market for the gold and crude oil futures (with volatility clustering) and show that the maturity effect is only valid for the gold futures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social work research is an important part of social work practice. It adds to the knowledge base of the profession, facilitates understanding of the challenges facing society and encourages researchers to find solutions to these challenges. The focus of qualitative research in social work in India has likewise been generating and adding to the knowledge base of the profession. More specifically, qualitative methods of data collection have not been interrogated from the perspective of their potential to enhance competencies such as empathy and critical reflection amongst the students of social work. This paper examines the possibility of using observation, a method of data collection in qualitative research, to enhance empathy and critical reflection amongst students of social work. The paper is based on the outcomes of an assignment on observation given to second semester postgraduate students of social work in the Department of Social Work, University of Delhi, India. The assignment required the students to take on the role of marginalized members of society and use observation as a method in the field to record the responses of the generalized others towards them. The assignment also encouraged the students to reflect on their reactions and responses to the behavior of people towards them when they performed the specific roles. The outcome of the assignment points towards the possibility of using practical training in observation as a method of data collection in facilitating empathetic understanding and critical reflection amongst students, when used in conjunction with role-taking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Benchmarking is a very important tool to know the gap in your performance and best performance. It is possible to apply benchmarking in a wide variety of area. This paper uses benchmarking for assessing women entrepreneurship. Women entrepreneurship is a symbol of the balanced growth of the society. Financial inclusion schemes offered by the government are aimed to encourage a large number of women of the country to entrepreneurship. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of financial inclusion and others factor like family circumstances, benchmarking, entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial intention of women on their decision to take up entrepreneurship as a career choice.Design/methodology/approach This research study is undertaken to understand the relation of financial inclusion schemes on women entrepreneurship and also to develop a cause–effect relationship. Here, financial inclusion effort is an independent variable, whereas women entrepreneurship is a dependent variable. A sample size of 250 women entrepreneur was taken. The sample was selected on the basis of convenience. Out of the total sample, 125 women belonged to the self-help group and 125 women were registered under the RSETI program of lead banks of Haridwar and Dehradun districts of the Uttarakhand state of India.Findings The results of the present study indicate that there is a statistically significant impact of financial inclusion on women entrepreneurship. It provides the platform to the women that help them in establishing a new business.Research limitations/implications Data for present study were collected from two districts of Uttarakhand. In future, data can be collected from different geographical areas of India for generalizing the findings of the study.Practical implications The results of present study indicate that there is a statistically significant impact of financial inclusion on women entrepreneurship. It provides the platform to the women that help them in establishing a new business. For promoting women toward entrepreneurship, the government has launched many schemes.Social implications After the study, the author found that the society will accept the fact that women entrepreneurship is emerging as a dire need for the country.Originality/value The author followed all the guidelines that were concerned about the originality of the paper. This paper is not under review of any journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews methodology, survey design, definition, and concepts used in five important data sources available on agricultural wages in India. Major limitations of the data sources are also discussed. The methods of wage data collection used by different data sources have followed different survey designs and methodology. These differences in data sources make it difficult to arrive at a definite conclusion on agricultural wage estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of digitalization in every sector of economy is increasing day by day. In today's world, the increasing role of digital banking cannot be ignored. Digital Banking helps to cope up with the company's strategy and plans. Digitalization in payment of commerce and trade has gained a lot in the present scenario and at the time of global pandemic era. Paper aims to discuss and analyse the increasing role of digital banking, and to increase the use of cashless transactions and to have smooth functioning in trade and commerce. The source of data collection is both i.e., primary as well as secondary. The data is collected from 300 respondents. The investigation was done to examine the similarities and differences of plans and policies, role of digital banking in every sector, and how they cope up with others using of digital banking. The finding of the study is that, the role has become important with digital payment, standards, position in the arrangement of policies to determine available options by digitalization in payment. Through the study, the capacity and competency of employees are acknowledged to be faced by industries and companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the standout problems in rural regions of India is the lack of a comprehensive medical record system. Medical records are a vital part of any diagnosis as they provide a glimpse into the patient's past, which is influential to the current diagnosis. Medical records help practitioners spot anomalies and patterns in a variety of medical cases. It is also utilized to gain a better understanding of the health situation in certain demographics. In this paper, the authors have proposed a comprehensive distributed system which can be used to preserve the medical history of individuals, and also provide a valuable insight into the health situation of the rural populous. The distributed data are aggregated into a single entity from which observations are gathered. The data acquired could be of extreme importance to the government, as it can be utilized to determine the health issues which require immediate attention, and to evaluate possible mitigation plans. The data collected would be portable and easily accessible with the help of mobile devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In spite of the fact that literature shows that big data analytics (BDA) pass on a distinct corporate ability, little is thought about their performance impacts, specifically logical conditions. Establishing this research in the dynamic capability view (DCV) and corporate culture and dependent on an sample of 310 Indian production industries, the purpose of this paper is to experimentally study the impacts of BDA on corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate green performance (CGP) using variance-based structural equation modeling (for example, PLS). Design/methodology/approach: A questionnaire was used to accumulate data sets to examine research hypothesis. The authors pre-examined the survey with six scholastics and six directors from production firms in India. With the help of their sources of data, the authors have adjusted their wordings to improve the transparency and guarantee that length of the survey is accurate. Finally, the questionnaire was prepared for definite data collection. Findings: The authors conclude that BDA has noteworthy effect on CSP/CGP. Notwithstanding, the authors did not find proof for directing role of flexible direction and control direction in the connections among BDA and CSP/CGP. This research offers a more nuanced comprehension of the performance ramifications of BDA, and in this way, it is tending to the critical inquiries of how and when BDA can improve in supply chains. Originality/value: This investigation makes helpful commitments to the BDA research and its effect on CSP/CGP. To the authors' best of information, this is the first hypothesis-focused approach to clarify the effect of BDA on ecological and social supportability. Second, this investigation likewise gives empirical proof that BDA impact on CSP/CGP and is free of flexible or control direction of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poverty as an object of study in India continues to be the domain of economists, statisticians and demographers. The National Sample Survey Organisation (NSS) serves as the main instrument of data collection to measure poverty relative to economic indicators. In this paper we draw on strengths-based research undertaken in an Indian village to foreground alternative ways of conceptualising and practising data collection when measuring poverty. Explored through an analytics of biopolitics, asset-mapping exercises with young people and women revealed new subjectivities that emerged via illustrative meaning-making and dialogue. This approach to poverty measurement facilitated methods and produced outcomes that were less calculated and predefined than the NSS, and encouraged participation, even questioning of the status quo, in the 'doing' of the methodology itself. A strengths orientation to poverty opens up radical possibilities, particularly in India where the state-sanctioned self--governing body, the Gram Sabhas, has a mandate to provide for the most marginalised groups. And while this governing body is not free from power imbalances, the potential it offers, when combined with strengths-based approaches (SBA) that value people for the expertise they already have, demands renewed attention in practitioner and policy debates in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise in use and changing nature of the Internet has led to an increase in the number of people using discussion forums and social networking sites for the purpose of online social interaction, sharing experiences, and learning. Whilst researchers have begun to capitalize on the increasing pool of online participants for research online, very few studies have examined the benefits of online participant recruitment for offline data collection. Through the format of a 'back stage' essay, this paper follows the research process of participant recruitment using a social networking site to arrange offline interviews with local rail users in Mumbai and Chennai, India. This paper contributes to the literature about the methodological issues associated with ensuring authenticity of online-recruited research participants. It also builds on the existing literature about incorporating researcher safety into the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The state of Rajasthan is highly vulnerable to climatic extremes. The perception of local communities regarding climate change and their indigenous coping management strategies is important for decision-making and policy formation. In this paper, the perceptions of farmers and their coping strategies were studied using primary data collected from 180 farmers of Bikaner and Kota districts. The data were collected through personal interviews as well as focused group discussions. The findings indicated that the risk of droughts, rainfall anomalies and wind-storms increased over the decade. The people at drought-prone regions were more food insecure in comparison to flood-affected regions. However, their traditional wisdom and indigenous species like Khimp (Leptadenia pyrotechnica), Kair (Capparis decidua), Phog (Calligonum polygonoides), Khejri (Prosopis cineraria), etc. helped them in coping with climate extremes. Adjustments in the dates of sowing, deep summer ploughing in morning hours, dry sowing, increased seed rate, mixed cropping and farming; especially croplivestock integration were common coping management strategies. Farmers perceived that with modernization of agriculture, biodiversity of the region is declining. The study suggests that local communities need to be incentivized for conserving these species. These indigenous products have high market value. Therefore, the value chains of these products need to be strengthened by providing processing equipment such as solar drier at subsidized rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health service and health outcome data collection across many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) is, to date largely paper-based. With the development and increased availability of reliable technology, electronic tablets could be used for electronic data collection in such settings. This paper describes our experiences with implementing electronic data collection methods, using electronic tablets, across different settings in four LMICs.Methods: Within our research centre, the use of electronic data collection using electronic tablets was piloted during a healthcare facility assessment study in Ghana. After further development, we then used electronic data collection in a multi-country, cross-sectional study to measure ill-health in women during and after pregnancy, in India, Kenya and Pakistan. All data was transferred electronically to a central research team in the UK where it was processed, cleaned, analysed and stored.Results: The healthcare facility assessment study in Ghana demonstrated the feasibility and acceptability to healthcare providers of using electronic tablets to collect data from seven healthcare facilities. In the maternal morbidity study, electronic data collection proved to be an effective way for healthcare providers to document over 400 maternal health variables, in 8530 women during and after pregnancy in India, Kenya and Pakistan.Conclusions: Electronic data collection provides an effective platform which can be used successfully to collect data from healthcare facility registers and from patients during health consultations; and to transfer large quantities of data. To ensure successful electronic data collection and transfer between settings, we recommend that close attention is paid to study design, data collection, tool design, local internet access and device security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to develop an institutional framework to examine the role of governmental and social pressures on green product purchase intentions. Because of the increased focus on environmental issues in emerging markets, an examination of the institutional environment in India can provide unique insights into the drivers of green consumption. Design/methodology/approach: A large-scale data collection is conducted via an online survey to test the validity of the theorized model. A survey methodology is used to collect responses from a sample of 400 consumers in India and analyzed via Smart PLS 3.0. Findings: The findings suggest moral norms, injunctive and descriptive, have varying influences on consumers. Further, governmental influence, at least in India, may not have a positive impact one would expect. The results indicate the institutional framework developed in this research has a good predictive ability in green marketing settings and offers insights for businesses and policymakers to enhance consumers' motivations to purchase green products. Originality/value: From a theoretical perspective, this research is the first to examine the institutional environment on green consumption in India and provides unique insights into the influences of green consumption. The results suggest the institutional environment in India presents unique opportunities for practitioners and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Like other applications, under the purview of pattern classification, analyzing speech signals is crucial. People often mix different languages while talking which makes this task complicated. This happens mostly in India, since different languages are used from one state to another. Among many, Southern part of India suffers a lot from this situation, where distinguishing their languages is important. In this paper, we propose image-based features for speech signal classification because it is possible to identify different patterns by visualizing their speech patterns. Modified Mel frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) features namely MFCC- Statistics Grade (MFCC-SG) were extracted which were visualized by plotting techniques and thereafter fed to a convolutional neural network. In this study, we used the top 4 languages namely Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, and Kannada. Experiments were performed on more than 900 hours of data collected from YouTube leading to over 150000 images and the highest accuracy of 94.51% was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalayan Endangered Languages Archive (SiDHELA) created by the Centre for Endangered Languages, Sikkim University is India's first endangered language archive. This archive is part of the ongoing language documentation initiatives of the Centre funded by the University Grant Commission. The Centre, formally established in December 2016 aims for preservation and promotion of endangered languages in Sikkim and North Bengal. The Centre carries out documentation and description of the indigenous endangered languages of the region through linguistic and ethnographic fieldwork. SiDHELA conceptualised as a platform for a linguistic resource of the languages spoken in the region, houses the primary data collected through fieldwork. One of the main aims of this archive is to preserve the data for long term usage and dissemination. Central Library, Sikkim University hosts the archive under its digital library. Through this archive the Centre for Endangered Languages, Sikkim University seeks not just to preserve and protect but also to promote the use of endangered languages spoken in the region. This paper presents the journey of this archive from idea to reality. This paper outlines the motivation behind the conceptualisation of SiDHELA as a regional archive and then discusses its development. It includes discussion on the developmental platform, theoretical issues in the conceptualisation of the archive and practical challenges in its design and development and its prospects. This paper thus primarily intends to inform scholars and researchers working with endangered languages of the region about this archive and its development. Finally, it hopes to kindle interest among researchers and librarians for developments of more such regional archives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper tries to understand the nature and extent of inequality across states of India with special reference to Bihar. The study is based on secondary data collected from various sources, including NSSO, NFHS and other government/non-government documents and reports. The study analyzes inequalities under four themes: livelihood, education, health and gender. The analysis finds that, however, some positive changes can be seen in terms of enrolment in case of primary education, but still, productivity of education is the lowest in Bihar. The state government has invested money in attracting students to government schools, but because of a low per capita expenditure on education, access to facilities like computers in schools is the lowest in Bihar. In the case of health expenditure, the people of Bihar have to bear significantly higher per capita out of pocket expenditure. Though, Bihar has achieved higher growth in the last couple of years but the level of female empowerment is still very low in the state. Thus, this study finds that Bihar is still at lowest position in all four themes across states of India and, people of this state are facing grim challenges related to livelihood, quality education and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to bring theories of branding and relationship marketing together under the lens of the brand manager and reseller relationship for integrating into a single paradigm. The conceptualization bridges a gap in theory and practice by explaining how a brand can be managed by brand managers building empathetic relationships with resellers and understanding their requirements. Design/methodology/approach: It draws upon qualitative methodology and data collected from 12 business-to-business resellers for brands and 8 brand managers working for international brands in India. Findings: Brand personified and represented in research questions investigated showed the enablement aspects of brand representatives in competitive reseller networks. Practical implications: The findings of this study will be very useful for brand managers aiming to penetrate markets through individuals who could represent their brands to resellers. Social implications: This study will help brand managers to create a stronger brand-reseller relationship marketing strategy by incorporating the emotional aspect of personification to benefit a socially driven relationship. Originality/value: This study offers new insights into the temporal aspects of branding for business-to-business markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Based on the unfolding theory of voluntary turnover, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the linkage between abusive supervision (a shock) and subordinate's intention to quit (withdrawal cognition). The study also explores the multi-mediation routes by testing the abusive supervision-intention to quit relationship via psychological contract breach and via burnout. Design/methodology/approach: To test the proposed hypotheses, the study draws cross-sectional data from Indian employees working in various MNCs in the country. Data were collected using an electronic data collection method. The online form link was send to 600 employees, out of which 246 valid and complete responses were received (n=246). Partial least square (PLS–SEM) was used for the analysis. Findings: Results showed that abusive supervision is positively related to intention to quit. Similarly, psychological contract breach and burnout partially mediates the abusive supervision-intention to quit linkage. Originality/value: First, the current study has conceptualized and tested abusive supervision as a shock that triggers various adverse cognitions including withdrawal cognition (intention to quit). Second, the study also empirically investigated multi-mediational routes via psychological contract breach and burnout that explained the indirect effect between abusive supervision and intention to quit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, knowledge of the geographic distribution of Trichosanthes species is inadequate, largely due to the lack of revisionary work. Based on field observations, collected specimens and data from herbarium specimens, this paper describes a new taxon - T. dunniana subsp. clarkei from Sikkim and northern hill districts of West Bengal in northeastern India; and presents the first confirmed records of three southeast Asian taxa, viz., T. dunniana subsp. dunniana and T. wallichiana subsp. subrosea from northeastern India, and T. tricuspidata from the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The name T. khasiana has been lectotypified, and Indochinese T. inthanonensis has been reduced under it. The southern Chinese Trichosanthes subrosea is transferred at reduced rank as T. wallichiana subsp. subrosea, while T. tridentata has been reduced to synonymy of this subspecies. Furthermore, we provide an updated distribution map with confirmed occurrences of these taxa in India, critical taxonomic notes and additional taxonomic characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper contributes to the emerging literature on freight studies by identifying the optimal freight traffic analysis zone (FTAZ) system at which to conduct macro-level freight travel analysis. To arrive at the optimal scale, we develop alternate zone systems by grouping census wards with similar freight-related characteristics (industrial characteristics, commercial land use characteristics, locational characteristics and socio-demographic characteristics). The resultant zone systems are analysed at multiple geographic scales and the optimal scale of each zone system is determined by performing the Brown–Forsythe test. Results suggest that a 1:3 aggregation ratio (24–28 zones) is the optimal scale for Metropolitan FTAZs, whereas the publicly available ad-hoc zone system and prior literature on National FTAZs follow 1:10 aggregation. The study findings suggest that Metropolitan planning organizations need to reconsider their existing data collection strategy, consider a larger aggregation ratio and, by extension, adopt smaller zones to ensure that both local and global freight travel characteristics are captured in freight travel analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this paper is to examine the effect of urbanization on housing conditions and access to basic amenities in rural urban fringe of Faizabad city. Food, clothing and shelter are the basic needs for the survival of human beings. Although food and clothing have their own importance, however, the need of better housing conditions cannot be ignored. The inadequacy of housing conditions affects the quality of life and social well-being. Ruralurban fringe generally has unique characteristics. The mixture zone is characterized by both traditional and new houses with all facilities. This study is mainly based on secondary sources of data collected from the village directory and housing listing tables from the census of India. The paper reveals that the overall better housing conditions and housing amenities exist only in primary fringe. Thus, this paper suggests some remedial measures for improving the overall housing conditions in rural-urban fringe of Faizabad city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A national study, 'Costing of healthcare services in India' (CHSI) aimed at generating reliable healthcare cost estimates for health technology assessment and price-setting is being undertaken in India. CHSI sampled 52 public and 40 private hospitals in 13 states and used a mixed micro-costing approach. This paper aims to outline the process, challenges and critical lessons of cost data collection to feed methodological and quality improvement of data collection. Methods: An exploratory survey with 3 components–an online semi-structured questionnaire, group discussion and review of monitoring data, was conducted amongst CHSI data collection teams. There were qualitative and quantitative components. Difficulty in obtaining individual data was rated on a Likert scale. Results: Mean time taken to complete cost data collection in one department/speciality was 7.86(±0.51) months, majority of which was spent on data entry and data issues resolution. Data collection was most difficult for determination of equipment usage (mean difficulty score 6.59±0.52), consumables prices (6.09±0.58), equipment price(6.05±0.72), and furniture price(5.64±0.68). Human resources, drugs & consumables contributed to 78% of total cost and 31% of data collection time. However, furniture, overheads and equipment consumed 51% of time contributing only 9% of total cost. Seeking multiple permissions, absence of electronic records, multiple sources of data were key challenges causing delays. Conclusions: Micro-costing is time and resource intensive. Addressing key issues prior to data collection would ease the process of data collection, improve quality of estimates and aid priority setting. Electronic health records and availability of national cost data base would facilitate conducting costing studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: High quality personal exposure data is fundamental to understanding the health implications of household energy interventions, interpreting analyses across assigned study arms, and characterizing exposure–response relationships for household air pollution. This paper describes the exposure data collection for the Household Air Pollution Intervention Network (HAPIN), a multicountry randomized controlled trial of liquefied petroleum gas stoves and fuel among 3,200 households in India, Rwanda, Guatemala, and Peru. OBJECTIVES: The primary objectives of the exposure assessment are to estimate the exposure contrast achieved following a clean fuel intervention and to provide data for analyses of exposure–response relationships across a range of personal exposures. METHODS: Exposure measurements are being conducted over the 3-y time frame of the field study. We are measuring fine particulate matter [PM < 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5)] with the Enhanced Children’s MicroPEM™ (RTI International), carbon monoxide (CO) with the USB-EL-CO (Lascar Electronics), and black carbon with the OT21 transmissometer (Magee Scientific) in pregnant women, adult women, and children < 1 year of age, primarily via multiple 24-h personal assessments (three, six, and three measurements, respectively) over the course of the 18-month follow-up period using lightweight monitors. For children we are using an indirect measurement approach, combining data from area monitors and locator devices worn by the child. For a subsample (up to 10%) of the study population, we are doubling the frequency of measurements in order to estimate the accuracy of subject-specific typical exposure estimates. In addition, we are conducting ambient air monitoring to help characterize potential contributions of PM2.5 exposure from background concentration. Stove use monitors (Geocene) are being used to assess compliance with the intervention, given that stove stacking (use of traditional stoves in addition to the intervention gas stove) may occur. CONCLUSIONS: The tools and approaches being used for HAPIN to estimate personal exposures build on previous efforts and take advantage of new technologies. In addition to providing key personal exposure data for this study, we hope the application and learnings from our exposure assessment will help inform future efforts to characterize exposure to household air pollution and for other contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human nature is based on the factors or surroundings in which he lives in like home, office or society. A restaurant is a place where people visit to have food or spend good time with their friends and loved ones or to discuss their daily day to day happenings in their lives. Physical surroundings of the service environment, often referred to as servicescape, was firstly introduced by Bitner in 1992. It highly influenced the consumers’ perceptions towards an organization. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the various environmental factors at restaurants, and to analyze how the servicescape influences the overall service quality at restaurants. The research approach used was based on surveys (personal interviews and electronic collection) to collect data on facts with regard to the servicescape and overall service quality at restaurants. The collected data was analyzed by means of multiple regression methods in order to obtain factors that can influence overall service quality at restaurants through SPSS. The findings of this paper support Bitner’s (1992) framework of servicescapes. The conducted study indicates that servicescape elements or factors, such as ‘ambient conditions’, ‘staff’, ‘Physical Environment’, and ‘External Environment’, are important in influencing overall service quality in the restaurants. Additionally, especially the ‘Physical Environment’ factor was found to induce the highest level of pleasure and approach behavior. In relation to the restaurants, when customers have favorable emotions, they tend to enjoy the food, spend more money, and probably return to the restaurant the next time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and evaluate discovery layer search tools for retrieval of legal information in Indian law libraries. This paper covers current practices in legal information retrieval with special reference to Indian academic law libraries, and analyses its importance in the domain of law. Design/Methodology/Approach. A web survey and observational study method are used to collect the data. Data related to the discovery tools were collected using email and further discussion held with the discovery layer/ tool /product developers and their representatives. Findings. Results show that most of the Indian law libraries are subscribing to bundles of legal information resources such as Hein Online, JSTOR, LexisNexis Academic, Manupatra, Westlaw India, SCC web, AIR Online (CDROM), and so on. International legal and academic resources are compatible with discovery tools because they support various standards related to online publishing and dissemination such as OAI/PMH, Open URL, MARC21, and Z39.50, but Indian legal resources such as Manupatra, Air, and SCC are not compatible with the discovery layers. The central index is one of the important components in a discovery search interface, and discovery layer services/tools could be useful for Indian law libraries also if they can include multiple legal and academic resources in their central index. But present practices and observations reveal that discovery layers are not providing facility to cover legal information resources. Therefore, in the present form, discovery tools are not very useful; they are an incomplete and half solution for Indian libraries because all available Indian legal resources available in the law libraries are not covered. Originality/Value. Very limited research or published literature is available in the area of discovery layers and their compatibility with legal information resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The core objective of any point-of-care (POC) testing program is to ensure that testing will result in an actionable management decision (e.g. referral, confirmatory test, treatment), within the same clinical encounter (e.g. POC continuum). This can but does not have to involve rapid tests. Most studies on POC testing focus on one specific test and disease in a particular healthcare setting. This paper describes the actors, technologies and practices involved in diagnosing major diseases in five Indian settings - the home, community, clinics, peripheral laboratories and hospitals. The aim was to understand how tests are used and fit into the health system and with what implications for the POC continuum.Methods: The paper reports on a qualitative study including 78 semi-structured interviews and 13 focus group discussions with doctors, nurses, patients, lab technicians, program officers and informal providers, conducted between January and June 2013 in rural and urban Karnataka, South India. Actors, diseases, tests and diagnostic processes were mapped for each of the five settings and analyzed with regard to whether and how POC continuums are being ensured.Results: Successful POC testing hardly occurs in any of the five settings. In hospitals and public clinics, most of the rapid tests are used in laboratories where either the single patient encounter advantage is not realized or the rapidity is compromised. Lab-based testing in a context of manpower and equipment shortages leads to delays. In smaller peripheral laboratories and private clinics with shorter turn-around-times, rapid tests are unavailable or too costly. Here providers find alternative measures to ensure the POC continuum. In the home setting, patients who can afford a test are not/do not feel empowered to use those devices.Conclusion: These results show that there is much diagnostic delay that deters the POC continuum. Existing rapid tests are currently not translated into treatment decisions rapidly or are not available where they could ensure shorter turn-around times, thus undermining their full potential. To ensure the success of POC testing programs, test developers, decision-makers and funders need to account for such ground realities and overcome barriers to POC testing programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]