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The paper aims to compare the relative influence of migrant and indigenous entrepreneurs on regional development in the eastern state of Odisha in a developing country like India. The data is based on ownership across 30 districts and ten different sectors for small and medium businesses. It is modeled on economic indicators such as Net District Domestic Product (NDDP) and employment generation at the district level. One‐way ANOVA and multiple linear regression on the data set suggest that ownership pattern influences development indices differently, hence having policy‐level implications based on the goals to be achieved. While migrant entrepreneurs' impact NDDP and employment opportunities positively for main workers, indigenous entrepreneurs from Odisha positively influence employment opportunities at an overall level, and for marginal workers, everything else remains unchanged. Hence, during slowdowns or post‐pandemic recovery situations, when the need of the hour for the local government is immediate employment and livelihood for low‐skill‐based marginal workers, facilitating indigenous owners is more preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A novel truncated annular microstrip monopole antenna with partial ground for ultra‐wideband (UWB) applications is designed and fabricated. Proposed antenna consists of overlapping a circular patch with truncated annular patch, fed by a stepped microstrip line designed on commercially available low cost FR‐4 substrate covering the UWB band from 3.0 to 42.8 GHz for return‐loss better than −10 dB. The designed antenna is very compact in size occupying 35 × 32 × 1.6 mm3. The full‐wave electromagnetic simulation software HFSS was used to estimate the return‐loss, radiation patterns, and gain of a proposed antenna. The measured results of return‐loss are also presented in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lattice Boltzmann simulations were conducted for the free convective flow of a low-Prandtl number (Pr = 0.0321) fluid with internal heat generation in a square enclosure having adiabatic top and bottom walls and isothermal side walls. The problem of free convection with volumetric heat source has represented itself in connection with advanced engineering applications, such as water-cooled lithium-lead breeder blankets for nuclear fusion reactors and liquid metal sources of spallation neutrons for subcritical fission systems. A single relaxation time (SRT) thermal lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) was employed. While applying SRT, a D2Q9 model was used to simulate the flow field and temperature field. Results have been obtained for various Rayleigh numbers characterizing internal and external heating from 103 to 106. Flow and temperature fields in terms of stream function and isotherms in the enclosure were predicted for these cases. The temperature of the fluid in the enclosure was found higher than the heated wall temperature at high values of internal Rayleigh numbers. The internal heat generation affected the rate of heat transfer significantly as two convection loops are observed in the enclosure. The average Nusselt number at the heated and cold wall was determined for all the cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work deals with the investigation of a robust analytical scheme to assess the size-independent fracture energy of concrete. The study involves the numerical modelling of three-point bend (TPB) concrete beams that are geometrically similar, having constant length to depth ratio with varying range of notch to depth (a/W) ratios. The unique nonlinear behaviour of concrete 1material is incorporated through fracture energy-based strain-softening model in the finite-element numerical simulation. The International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM) fracture energy values are evaluated through numerical simulation of several set of experimentally observed load-load line displacement response. The RILEM fracture energy values associated with geometrically similar beams have been utilised to develop a methodology for assessment of the size-independent fracture energy of concrete. The numerically predicted and experimentally evaluated size-independent fracture energy using the RILEM fracture energy values are found to be in close agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a natural hazard, drought is a complex multivariate phenomenon that does not depend on only one hydrometeorological variable, as well as, considering a particular kind of drought may not be effective for drought management. Considering this, many multivariate drought indices have been developed based on linearity assumptions or conventional copulas assuming symmetric relationships among univariate drought indices. In this study, D‐vine copula was applied to construct a four‐dimensional index, named as Integrated Drought Index (IDI), by combining four univariate drought indices (Standardized Precipitation Index [SPI], Reconnaissance Drought Index [RDI], Standardized Soil moisture Index [SSI] and Standardized stream flow Drought Index [SDI]) to better reflect many hydrometeorological variables (precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil moisture and stream flow) and different kinds of drought (meteorological, agricultural and hydrological) simultaneously. Vine copula was used to solve nonlinear and asymmetric relationships among drought indices due to its flexibility over the free selection of copula(s) in each step of hierarchical structure in high dimensional modelling. The IDI was constructed for 1‐ and 4‐month timescales for the upper Tapti basin of the central region in India. The performance of IDI was tested with dependence measures (Pearson's correlation coefficient, Mutual Information) and evaluated against the Terrestrial Water Storage Anomaly data derived from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) mission. Spatial analysis of drought was carried out by fuzzy c‐means (FCM) clustering algorithm with IDI. IDI based on vine copula solved the nonlinear and asymmetric relationships among different variables associated with the occurrence of droughts effectively with a reduction of uncertainty as compared to the single drought indices for different kinds of droughts. Analysis revealed spatially different drought risks in the upper and lower river basins. In general, the vine copula addresses nonlinear and asymmetric relationships that exist between the variables associated with natural hazards like drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Review: 29 refs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to investigate the dose-dependent effects of Salvia haematodes Wall roots ( SHW) extract on male reproductive function and copulatory behaviour in rats. Sexually mature males were assigned to four groups: control and treated (5, 50 and 300 mg kg−1 day−1 for 30 days). At the end of treatment regimes, the reproductive activity viz. body/organ weights, testicular spermatogenesis, daily sperm production rate ( DSP) and epididymal sperm counts, and sexual behaviour including mounting latency ( ML), mounting frequency ( MF), intromission latency ( IL), intromission frequency ( IF), ejaculation latency ( EL), post-ejaculatory interval ( PEI) and penile reflexes ( PE) were assessed. Results showed significant increase in body weight (at 300 mg kg−1), testis/epididymis weights (at 50 and 300 mg kg−1), testicular spermatids, DSP, tubular diameter and epididymal sperm counts (at 50 and 300 mg kg−1doses) in treated compared with control rats. It also produced dose-dependant changes in sexual behaviour. The 5 mg kg−1 dose of extract increased MF and PE, whereas 50 and 300 kg−1 doses caused significant increase in MF, IF, PE, EL (but less than sildenafil citrate treatment), hit rate and seminal plug weight. It is concluded that SHW extract enhances anabolic activity, testicular function and sexual behavioural performance in a dose-dependant manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast cancer advocacy movements, driven by advocate-led civil society organizations (CSOs), have proven to be a powerful force for the advancement of cancer control in high-income countries (HICs). However, although patient advocacy movements are growing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in response to an increasing cancer burden, the experiences and needs of advocate-led breast cancer CSOs in LMICs is understudied.Methods: The authors conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 98 participants representing 23 LMICs in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, East and Southern Africa, and Latin America.Results: Despite geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic differences, the common themes that emerged from the data across the 3 regions are strikingly similar: trust, knowledge gaps, stigma, sharing experiences, and sustainability. The authors identified common facilitators (training/education, relationship building/networking, third-party facilitators, and communication) and barriers (mistrust, stigma, organizational fragility, difficulty translating HIC strategies) to establishing trust, collaboration, and advancing cancer advocacy efforts. To the authors' knowledge, the current study is the first to describe the role that coalitions and regional networks play in advancing breast cancer advocacy in LMICs across multiple regions.Conclusions: The findings of the current study corroborate the importance of investing in 3-way partnerships between CSOs, political leaders, and health experts. When provided with information that is evidence-based and resource appropriate, as well as opportunities to network, advocates are better equipped to achieve their goals. The authors propose that support for CSOs focuses on building trust through increasing opportunities for engagement, disseminating best practices and evidence-based information, and fostering the creation of platforms for partnerships and networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glycine soja Siebold & Zucc. PI 393551 carries gene(s) for resistance to yellow mosaic disease, which is caused by Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV). Yellow mosaic disease is a serious constraint to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production in India. However, the gene(s) imparting resistance to MYMIV in G. soja have not yet been mapped. In the present study, three F2 populations derived from crosses of the three G. max cultivars 'Ankur', 'Sawarn Vasundhra', and 'JS335' with PI 393551, the donor for MYMIV resistance, were phenotyped for reaction to MYMIV at the geographic hot spot for yellow mosaic disease to determine inheritance of MYMIV resistance in PI 393551. All three F2 populations exhibited a 15:1 ratio of individuals resistant and susceptible to MYMIV, indicating duplicate dominant inheritance of MYMIV resistance genes. Further, a large F2 population (1520 plants) reconstructed from JS335 x PI 393551 was used for mapping MYMIV resistance genes. Bulked segregant analysis identified two genomic regions associated with MYMIV resistance, one on chromosome 8, and another on chromosome 14. A total of 78 plants with 100% MYMIV infection, which were expected to be homozygous for recessive genes, were genotyped using polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers near linked markers on chromosome 8 and 14. Genetic analyses revealed tight linkages of MYMIV resistance with SSR marker BARCSOYSSR_08_0867 (15,434,295 bp) on chromosome 8, and with BARCSOYSSR_14_1416 (47,686,933 bp) and BARCSOYSSR_14_1417 (47,738,940 bp) on chromosome 14. The identified SSR markers that are tightly linked to MYMIV resistance genes will be useful for introgression of MYMIV resistance from G. soja into G. max. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: We report here the genomic characterization of two rare rotavirus A (RVAs) G1P[11] and G9P[X] strains detected in cattle calves from two different geographical locations in India during routine rotavirus surveillance. These strains possessed unusual G types (VP7 gene) on a bovine/artiodactyl genotype constellation, G1‐P[11]‐I2‐Rx‐Cx‐Mx‐Ax‐N2‐T6‐E2‐H3 (HR‐B91) and G9‐P[X]‐I2‐Rx‐Cx‐Mx‐Ax‐N2‐T6‐E2‐H3 (WB‐H2). This is the first report on molecular characterization of G9 in cattle, and second report on G1 in cattle. The VP7 gene of HR‐B91 occupied lineage IIc within G1 while that of WB‐H2 occupied IIIb within G9 genotype. The latter was found to be very diverse from other RVA strains of G9 genotype, and this may emerge as a new genotype in due course. The study provides evidence of zooanthroponotic transmission of human G1 and G9 RVA genes to calves. Of note, the G9 genotype was found to serve as the ancestral genotype for G1. Phylogenetic analysis of remaining gene segments revealed close relatedness to artiodactyl or artiodactyl‐like human RVA strains. The findings of this study highlight the potential role of interspecies transmission and reassortment events in generating the rare rotavirus strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nagaland-Manipur ophiolites (NMO) of Northeast India forms a part of the Tethyan ophiolites and comprises a suite of tectonite peridotites and cumulate mafic-ultramafic sequence with mafic extrusive-intrusive rocks, felsic intrusives and oceanic pelagic sediments along with minor podiform chromitites. However, sheeted dykes, which are considered as a significant component of ophiolites, are absent in the NMO. The tectonite peridotites are distinguished from the cumulate pyroxenites by the presence of pyroxene lineation, deformed bands and strained extinction in olivine, kink twin lamellae in pyroxene. Both the tectonite peridotites and cumulate pyroxenites contain aluminous spinel with Cr number [Cr# = Cr/(Cr + Al)] in the range of 0.14 to 0.29 and 0.27 to 0.48, respectively. Mg number [Mg# = Mg/(Mg + Fe2+)] in Cr-spinel is higher in tectonite peridotites (0.71-0.76) than cumulate pyroxenites (0.44-0.53). Chondrite-normalized rare earth elements (REE) patterns of cumulate pyroxenites exhibit depleted at light REEE (LREE) (LaN/SmN = 0.380-0.759) but flat middle REE (MREE) to heavy REE (HREE) (SmN/YbN = 0.622-0.756). However, the tectonite peridotites show gradual decrease in concentrations from HREE to MREE (SmN/YbN = 0.285-0.460) and slight increase in LREE (LaN/SmN = 0.721-2.201). The cumulate pyroxenites show strong enriched PPGE patterns and higher PGE concentrations (∑PGE = 85.8-163.5 ppb) compared with the tectonite peridotites (∑PGE = 34.8-113.0 ppb). The estimated equilibration temperature ranges from 890 to 931 °C for cumulate pyroxenites and 971 to 1156 °C for tectonite peridotites. The olivine-spinel equilibrium along with Cr-spinel chemistry and PGE data suggests that the tectonite peridotites represent the residual mantle left after limited extraction of basaltic melts by low-degree partial melting (<15%). Conversely, the presence of highly magnesian orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene in the cumulate pyroxenites in conjunction with their geothermometry suggests that they were formed at high pressure and temperature by magmatic fractionation from the basaltic melt. The geochemical data together with field and petrographical evidences indicate that both the tectonite peridotites and cumulate pyroxenites are essentially spinel-bearing and devoid of plagioclase, suggesting their derivation in the mantle beyond the stability limit of plagioclase in a mid-oceanic ridge tectonic setting. We conclude that the ultramafic sequence of the NMO was initially generated at a mid-oceanic ridge tectonic setting close to the eastern boundary of the Indian passive margin and then thrust over the continental margin of the Indian Plate towards the west during its collisional and subduction process with/beneath the Myanmar Plate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prediction of the response of structures subjected to projectiles impact may often be accomplished by means of empirical or semi-empirical formulas available in the technical literature, which address mainly cases of relevance in engineering practice in terms of the observed failure modes. The paper presents an evaluation of the performance of the equations most widely used in predictions of penetration, scabbing and perforation of concrete and rock structures by comparing the predicted results with experimentally observed response and with the results of detailed numerical analyses employing the truss-like Discrete Element Method (DEM). Numerical DEM predictions were shown to be close to the experimentally determined responses of concrete plates subjected to impact throughout the range of velocities examined and were also consistent with the empirical formulas. In all cases the authors attempted to quantify the uncertainty inherent both in the predictions of empirical formulas and of the numerical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The prediction of the response of reinforced concrete structures subjected to projectiles impact still presents open questions. These include the rate dependence of material properties, the interaction between concrete and steel reinforcement and the simulation of fracture and fragmentation. Because the appearance of discontinuities in the target structure is difficult to account using a continuum approach, the application of discrete models was developed as an appealing alternative. A version of the discrete model in which nodal masses are linked by an array of uniaxial elements, herein called discrete element method, is used in this study. This method was implemented in the system Abaqus to take advantage of its numerical and post-processing capabilities. A reinforced concrete rectangular plate subjected to impact of a projectile is examined in detail. Comparisons between experimental and numerical results are shown with the aim of validating the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity tolerance in rice varies with the state of growth, with the seedling and reproductive stages being the most sensitive. However, association between tolerances at the two stages is poor, suggesting that they are regulated by different processes and genes. Tolerance at the reproductive stage is the most crucial as it determines grain yield. An F2 mapping population was developed from two rice genotypes contrasting in tolerance: Cheriviruppu and Pusa Basmati 1 (PB1). Cheriviruppu is highly tolerant at the reproductive stage, while PB1 is highly sensitive at both seedling and reproductive stages. One hundred and thirty-one microsatellite markers polymorphic between the parents were used to construct a linkage map of 1458.5 cM (Kosambi), with a mean intermarker distance of 11.1 cM. Sixteen QTLs with LOD values ranging from 3.2 to 22.3 were identified on chromosomes 1, 7, 8 and 10, explaining 4-47 % of the phenotypic variation. The maximum number of QTL clusters for different component traits was colocalized on the long arm of chromosome 1 and chromosome 7. We identified several significant epistatic interactions, including three inter-QTL interactions, using MapManager. The results suggest that pollen fertility, Na+ concentration and Na/K ratio in the flag leaf are the most important mechanisms controlling salt tolerance at the reproductive stage in rice. The study reports the construction of a genetic map for reproductive-stage salt tolerance in rice and demonstrates its utility for molecular mapping of QTLs controlling salinity tolerance-related traits, which will be useful in marker-assisted selection in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]