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Throughout the globe morphological, biochemical and genetic variability exists in chilli and is harnessed to achieve specific breeding objectives. In this study, chilli germplasm was characterized based on horticultural traits, biochemical quantification and simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphism for diversity estimation. A total of 36 SSR primers were utilised to study the genetic divergence among 48 genotypes of chilli collected from nine states of India. Among the 36 primers, sixteen amplified null alleles. A total of 41 alleles were detected with average 2.05 alleles per locus. The largest number of alleles (5) were obtained with marker CAMS-234. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.06 to 0.72 with an average of 0.50. On the basis of SSR analysis, the UPGMA cluster classified 48 genotypes into three groups. There was significant variability in germplasm for all morpho-biochemical traits. Kashi Anmol (100.50 q/ha) expressed the highest yield. Highest vitamin C content at green stage was recorded in IC-561635 (187 mg/100 g) and the greatest capsaicin content (9547.90 µg/g) equivalent to pungency of 171,862.2 Scoville heat units (SHU) was recorded in Bhut Jolokia. Principal component analysis indicates that the first five principal components explain 74.63% per cent of the total variation. Additionally, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that 1% of the total genetic variation occurred among the population and 99% genetic variation within the populations, whereas the pairwise Fst specified the moderate genetic variation ranging from 0.002 to 0.020. The present investigation has strengthened the knowledge of genetic worth of this germplasm for application in various genetic improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Institutional quality has been opined as a significant determinant of FDI inflow in international business literature. On the contrary, literature on determinants of institutional quality and how it changes is scant and merits further study. This study analyses the impact of FDI on institutional distance in the context of India and its partner countries, i.e., whether it leads to convergence or divergence of institutional distance. We identified a significantly positive impact of FDI on institutional distance. Further, to capture the heterogeneity among our partner countries, we subdivided our sample based on the partner country's development level and analysed the source of change in institutional distance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the study of the regional disparities in literacy rate and examination of the σ and absolute β convergence hypotheses among Indian states for 1951-2011 is implemented. A comparative analysis of absolute β convergence between the proreform (1951-1991) and postreform (1991-2011) periods is also carried out. Further, states are bifurcated into Empowered Action Group (EAG) and non-EAG states. A separate examination of these two groups is also performed. To eliminate the effect of minor states, the analysis is also carried out for seventeen major Indian states. This paper contributes in various ways. First, it examines the convergence hypotheses for the pre-and post-reform period, and EAG and non-EAG states and secondly, the data of all the censuses of independent India (1951-2011) are considered for the analysis. The σ convergence is analysed by the coefficient of variation (CV), and absolute β convergence is explained by regression analysis, regressing the growth rate in LR on the initial value of LR to test the catching-up effect. The time trend analysis is incorporated to test the significance of the change in CV. The result shows a downward trend in CV for LR during the study period, indicating a reduction in dispersion; σ convergence, except for the EAG states. This investigation also finds significant evidence of absolute β convergence in LR for the pre- and post-reform periods and throughout the period. The process of reduction in the regional disparity is rapid in the post-reform period, as revealed by the higher convergence speed for all states, EAG states and non-EAG states. Moreover, the result of the seventeen major states does not differ from the result of all states, indicating that there is no significant effect with regards to major or minor states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been hypothesized that most Asian tropical lineages have originated in Gondwana with the Indian subcontinent playing a crucial role in the dispersal of ancestral Gondwanan taxa. The disjunct distribution of dipterocarps and the fossil record in India support the Gondwana hypothesis. This is the first comprehensive study addressing the evolutionary and biogeographic relationships of dipterocarps in the Indian subcontinent to test the Gondwana hypothesis. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree of the Dipterocarpaceae family including the Indian counterparts corroborates the monophyly of subfamilies/tribes and shows new biogeographic affinities. Molecular dating reveals the Cretaceous origin of Dipterocarpaceae. Diversification of major lineages occurred during the Pliocene‐Miocene epochs. The DEC analysis ascertains the Gondwanan origin and dispersal route from the Madagascar (Africa)‐India‐Sri Lanka‐Seychelles block to Eurasia. The biogeographic analysis suggests early vicariance followed by an out‐of‐India dispersal of Dipterocarpaceae. Three dispersal events from India to the remainder of Asia at 47.6 Ma, 42.53 Ma and 37.6 Ma are identified. There probably was a biotic interchange between India and mainland Asia via Sumatra following the collision of the Indian plate with Eurasia. Molecular dating and dispersal events coincide with the geological events. During the Miocene, uplift of the Himalayan‐Tibetian plateau induced climatic variation, which seems to have resulted in the extinction of major Indian dipterocarp lineages and reverse dispersal into India. Hopea‐Shorea, one of the earliest diverged lineages, originated in Southeast Asia. The establishment of Southeast Asian monsoon climate may have favoured allopatric speciation and diversification of Southeast Asian lineages also resulting in further dispersal into India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The untapped divergence of pigeonpea has remained unutilized for ages. Pigeonpea is an important natural resource with a great divergence that can be explored in the field of sustainable agricultural development. This study was undertaken to assess the nutritional divergence available in 104 cultivated and wild pigeonpea genotypes from India and Africa. Pigeonpea is studied to identify suitable genotypic groups to enhance nutritional traits for future breeding programs. Genotypes of pigeonpea exhibited highly significant differences in terms of seed iron and, zinc concentrations, protein content, phytic acid levels, lipid content, moisture content, fiber content and seed weight. Our D2 analysis grouped 104 different pigeonpea accessions into eleven clusters. Five of the eight characters including seed phytic acid levels, iron, fiber, lipid and protein contents were the predominant characters that contributed towards the pigeonpea's total divergence. Cluster II exhibited the maximum seed iron concentration. Cluster IV exhibited the maximum seed zinc concentration, lipid and moisture content; it exhibited the least phytic acid and fiber content which is desirable with regards to the bioavailability of iron and zinc. The accessions in clusters II, III, IV, V and XI are diverse and have desirable content levels of traits found beneficial for enhancing seed iron and zinc concentrations in pigeonpea. A D2 analysis revealed that Indo‐African C. cajan, C. platycarpus and R. rothii had the maximum mean seed iron concentration and R. bracteata had the maximum mean seed zinc concentration. The promising genotypes identified in the present study can contribute towards selecting suitable starting material for biofortification in pigeonpea improvement programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotaviruses by virtue of its segmented genome generate numerous genotypes. G1P[8] is the most common genotype reported globally. We intend to identify the evolutionary differences among G1P[8] strains from the study with vaccine strains. Stool samples collected from children <5 years were screened for rotavirus antigen by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The samples that tested positive for rotavirus were subjected to VP7 and VP4 semi‐nested RT‐PCR. Sanger sequencing was performed in randomly chosen VP7 and VP4 rotavirus strains. Phylogenetic analysis showed less homology between study strains and vaccine strains and they were placed in different lineages. The VP7 and VP4 proteins of rotavirus were analyzed by two different platforms to identify the amino acid substitutions in the epitope regions. Nine amino acid substitutions with respect to Rotarix®, RotaTeq® and Rotasiil®—V66A, A/T68S, Q72R, N94S, D100E, T113I, S123N, M217T, and I281T were observed in VP7. There were five amino acid substitutions—S145G, N/D195G, N113D, N/I78T, E150D in VP4 (VP8 portion) with respect to Rotarix® and RotaTeq® vaccine strains. M217T substitution in VP7 (epitope 7‐2) and N113D, D195G substitution in VP4 (epitope 8‐3, 8‐1) confer changes in polarity/electrical charge with respect to vaccine strains, thus indicating the need for continued surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

False smut disease of rice caused by Ustilaginoidea virens, is an emerging threat to rice cultivation worldwide due to its detrimental effects on grain yield and quality. False smut disease severity was 4.44‒17.22% during a roving survey in Kharif 2016 in the four different rice ecosystems of Karnataka, India. Further, 15 pathogen isolates representing four different ecosystems were studied for their virulence and morphometric diversity. Among the 15 strains studied, most virulent strains Uv-Gvt was selected for whole genome sequencing in Illumina NextSeq 500 platform using 2 × 150 bp sequencing chemistry. The total assembled genome of Uv-Gvt was 26.96 Mb, which comprised of 9157 scaffolds with an N50 value of 15,934 bp and 6628 protein-coding genes. Next, the comparative genomic study revealed a similar gene inventory as UV-8b and MAFF 236576 strains reported from China and Japan, respectively. But, 1756 genes were unique to Uv-Gvt strain. The Uv-Gvt genome harbors 422 putative host–pathogen interacting genes compared to 359 and 520 genes in UV-8b and MAFF 236576 strains, respectively. The variant analysis revealed low genetic diversity (0.073‒0.088%) among U. virens strains. Further, phylogenetic analysis using 250 single copy orthologs genes of U. virens revealed a distinct phylogeny and an approximate divergence time. Our study, report the genomic resource of rice false smut pathogen from India, where the disease originated, and this information will have broader applicability in understanding the pathogen population diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging technologies like nanotechnologies are governed in different ways around the world. This article draws attention to an important element that can help to explain the emergence of this diversity in governance practices: the role of nanotechnology in nation-building. By investigating the relation between nanotechnology and the nation in India, the article demonstrates that various particularities of the Indian governance of nanotechnology can be explained by the relation between science, technology, and nation-building. The article discusses four instances in which the governance of nanotechnology in India is informed by the role science and technology has in nation-building: the historical image of India as a country that can attain modernity and development by engaging with modern science and technology supported the government's decision to free funds for nanotechnology research; the view of India as a country that cannot rely on foreign assistance to get access to the latest technologies reinforced the strategy to pro-actively pursue nanotechnology research and development itself; the historical use of science and technology as crucial elements in overcoming deeply rooted societal divisions enabled the science-centered way in which nanotechnology was governed; and the Indian ambition to become a global superpower informed the governance of nanotechnology as an object of international competition. The governance of nanotechnology in turn defines 'Indianness' in a post-liberalization world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Managing cash flows have become one of the major challenges faced by the corporate world. Efficient cash management would enable the firm to improve their profitability and reduce the risk of bankruptcy. This research work is intended to examine divergence in cash position metrics across Metal Industry in India. The major purposes behind this research are to observe divergence in cash position between organizations belonging to metal industry in India and to examine the influence of cash balance on earnings. Design/methodology/approach To study this scenario, nine companies from Nifty-Metal index were selected on the basis of their market capitalization. The cash positions of these companies were observed from the financial year 2010-11 to 2014-15 by means of various cash performance indicators. One-way ANOVA and linear regression model were used to observe the variability in cash position between the sampled firms. Findings While evaluating the sampled firms in terms of various cash position metrics like cash turnover ratio, cash flow margin ratio, cash return on assets, etc, it was found that there exists some deviation in cash position across firms. These findings were statistically signified by means of conducting One Way ANOVA. The linear regression test results show that maintaining cash balance does not have any direct bearing on the firm's profitability. Practical Implications Throughout this study heterogeneity observed in cash management practices across metal industry. But such diversified practices were not able to bring any tangible result in terms of profitability. Hence it is advisable to form and stick on some industrial norms for keeping cash position. Keeping cash position based on some norms will enable the firms in metal industry to address issues related to liquidity and performance. Originality/Value The cash position required by the firms may vary from industry to industry. But it is quite interesting to check whether we have any benchmarking standard for maintaining cash balance across industries. From the review of literature a gap was identified for conducting a research in this line. This research would help firms to relook into their current cash position and to avoid unnecessary risk of keeping excess cash balance. As far as policy-makers or lenders are concerned, they can realistically advise the companies to adhere some industrial norms for holding cash position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the long run, prosperity and development of a region is best measured by economic growth. The paper reexamines the topic of economic growth of the states of India. The per capita net State domestic product at factor cost and current prices taken as a proxy of income for 21 states accounting for 97.5 percent of the population and 95 percent of income is analyzed for the period 1986-87 to 2013-14. The sample of states and duration of study is the largest among the various studies reviewed by the authors. The growth disparities are analyzed through the traditional popular measures of convergence supplemented by specially modeled tools. The empirical result indicates widening income disparities and identifies states for policy focus. The data is sourced from "Handbook of statistics of the Indian economy 2013-14". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country with Malay, Chinese and Indian being the dominant ethnic groups. This paper investigates the three ethnic cultures in Malaysia by examining the individual-level values of managers and professionals. Based on 528 responses to a Schwartz Value Survey ( SVS) questionnaire, the paper identifies partial convergence of the value systems of Malay, Chinese and Indian people. It was found that the three ethnic groups do not differ significantly in the individualistic value dimensions of Self-enhancement and Openness-to-change. However, Malays are found to be more conservative and less self-transcendent than Chinese or Indians, while Chinese and Indians attribute the same importance to these two sets of values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Multicultural teams are task-oriented groups from different national cultures that are often involved in dynamic, project based arrangements. They are fast becoming the norm in businesses and NGOs worldwide. The study examined team member's stereotypes as embedded in the complex environment that characterizes global teams. It contributes to the scarce research on stereotypes as embedded in contexts. The study explored the stereotypes of 120 Israelis and 80 Indians working in the high-tech industry. The conceptual frameworks of convergence, divergence and crossvergence and social identity theory provided the backdrop for the study's hypotheses. The quantitative findings documented the existence of crossvergence in global and national stereotypes and of in-group favoritism. The qualitative findings revealed that Israelis and Indians created mirror pictures of two basic stereotype categories: work related and personal characteristic. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Snails of the genus Cremnoconchus - the only freshwater members of the gastropod family Littorinidae - are endemic to the spray zones of numerous waterfalls in the Western Ghats of India. Cremnoconchus consists of nine described and possibly numerous undescribed species as many of these appear to be restricted to specific waterfalls. This is the first attempt at resolving the relationships between the various species in this genus and establishing its monophyly in the family. Further, we also undertake species delimitation analysis to characterize cryptic diversity in this group. Phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear and mitochondrial genes support the monophyly of Cremnoconchus within the family. A fossil-calibrated Bayesian time tree suggests that this freshwater lineage diverged from its marine counterparts around 90.40 million years ago. The separation of Cremnoconchus from its marine ancestors might have been facilitated by the break-up of Gondwana or fluctuating sea levels during this period. Species delimitation analysis retrieved 12 potentially undescribed species in this group. These species formed two distinct clades in the phylogeny, one largely confined to the northern Western Ghats and the other to the central Western Ghats. Species belonging to the northern and central Western Ghats seem to have separated around 56.11 mya, i.e. after the northern Western Ghats were formed. Additionally, spatial isolation due to the patchiness of suitable habitats (waterfalls) and low mobility might have facilitated their diversification., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The interest of global historians in the non-western world tends to be driven by a desire to explain growing international economic inequality between 1800 and 2000. A preoccupation with the question, when the third world fell behind, results in a neglect of important characteristics of the economic history of the third world itself. A theory of international inequality can explain neither the recent economic resurgence in the economies of Asia and Africa, nor the highly uneven pattern of transformation within the larger nations like India. The paper suggests, with the Indian example, how these issues might be brought back into the discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper attempts to investigate the extent and determinants of inter-state disparities in socio-economic infrastructure in India during the pre and post-reform period, based on 22 indicators of infrastructural development, across 15 major states of India. The state level composite indices of infrastructural development have been constructed using the correlation weights. On the basis of this analysis, the states have been classified into three different groups according to their level of infrastructural development. The study shows that relative ranking of the states in terms of infrastructural development remained, more or less, the same at all the three reference points (1981-82, 1991-92 and 2001-02). It has also been found that the states in India converged in terms of infrastructural facilities during 1980s whereas a trend of divergence could be seen during 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monsoon depressions, the main rain-producing systems over the Indian region along and near their tracks, are found to intensify the monsoon circulation by organizing low-level convergence. The normal track of the monsoon depressions is along the position of the monsoon trough at the surface, i.e., northwestward from the Head Bay of Bengal. Most of the monsoon depressions dissipate within one or two days after landfall. An unusual monsoon depression formed in the Bay of Bengal during the 1st week of August 2006 causing heavy to very heavy rainfall over Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat States of India. The track of this depression was anomalously southward from the mean track of the August depressions. It maintained its intensity during its longer travel. This paper addresses some of the dynamical characteristics of the depression in relation to its southward/westward track and longer travel. It is observed that horizontal advection of absolute vorticity above 550 hPa (below 600 hPa) along west (east) of the depression and maximum divergence of absolute vorticity below 400 hPa dominated for the westward movement of the depression. Increased moisture supply from the Arabian Sea (after the landfall of the depression) helped to maintain the intensity of the system throughout its long travel. The energy conversion terms revealed the strengthening of the zonal flow at higher levels prior to the formation of the depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A prominent outcome of the Indian development strategy has been disparity in well being. It is reflected in differential per capita incomes, access to basic facilities and human development indicators across Indian States. In order to analyze the factors that have led to disparities across states and to reflect upon the phenomenon of convergence and divergence and two-way causation between human development and income, in this study we focus on district level (sub-state level) for three Indian States, namely, Orissa, Karnataka and Maharashtra representing respectively a poor, middle-income and high-income state. The analysis is carried out to provide specific answers to certain pertinent questions and to suggest relevant policy implications. A comparison of state level averages and human development parameters for top and bottom districts indicates a tendency to neglect the development of poorer districts in richer states. Skewed development priorities also have favored better off districts in poorer states. Regression analysis highlights the inadequacy of social sector interventions and indicates differences in sensitivity of human development across the selected states. Our results point to the need for incorporating these differences in a more substantive way in human development planning in the states. Our two-way regressions indicate that a more suitable development strategy incorporating appropriate state intervention may lead to enhanced income, through improved skills or better quality of labor force, much faster in poorer states. With some exceptions, our results also support the hypothesis of convergence for both the rich and the poor states which varies with duration and parameter. The results support the contention that over a longer period of time an ongoing process of convergence at district level might minimize inequality provided state intervention is made to counteract divergence in identified parameters of the social and economic infrastructure policies. This could be taken care of in recommending and making use of central transfers and grants to the respective states. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis) is broadly classified into river and swamp categories, but it remains disputed whether these two types were independently domesticated, or if they are the result of a single domestication event. In this study, we sequenced the mitochondrial D-loop region and cytochrome b gene of 217 and 80 buffalo respectively from eight breeds/locations in northern, north-western, central and southern India and compared our results with published Mediterranean and swamp buffalo sequences. Using these data, river and swamp buffalo were distinguished into two distinct clades. Based upon the existing knowledge of cytogenetic, ecological and phenotypic parameters, molecular data and present-day distribution of the river and swamp buffalo, we suggest that these two types were domesticated independently, and that classification of the river and swamp buffalo as two related subspecies is more appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the immediate post-World War II era following independence, India as the second largest country in Asia played an active role as promoter of Asian regionalism. However, India's decision to pursue a policy of non-alignment in international relations was not well received by the West and also some ASEAN countries as that policy evidenced a pro-Soviet orientation during the Cold War (1947-91). In Southeast Asia, India's support for North Vietnam and its recognition of the Khmer Rouge regime of Heng Samrin in Cambodia did little to promote good relations between New Delhi and ASEAN. However, as the Cold War ended in the early 1990s and China's influence increased in Southeast Asia, India again realized ASEAN's importance in terms of politics, economy, and diplomacy, and consequently launched its "Look East" policy, the focus of which was how to become actively engaged in Southeast Asian affairs in the post-Cold War era. This article attempts to analyse India's Look East policy and its new strategies towards ASEAN. It examines the factors affecting India's post-Cold War policies towards ASEAN, the China factor in the changing relationship between India and ASEAN, and the India factor in Sino-ASEAN relations. It concludes with the suggestion that both these simultaneously rising powers, despite being rivals, can also become stakeholders or partners in ASEAN-led Southeast Asian regionalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-seven microsatellite loci were used to define genetic variation and relationships among eight Indian riverine buffalo breeds. The total number of alleles ranged from 166 in the Toda breed to 194 each in the Mehsana and the Murrah. Significant departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium were observed for 26 locus-breed combinations due to heterozygote deficiency. Breed differentiation was analysed by estimation of FST index (values ranging from 0.75% to 6.00%) for various breed combinations. The neighbour-joining tree constructed from chord distances, multidimensional scaling (MDS) display of FST values and Bayesian clustering approach consistently identified the Toda, Jaffarabadi, and Pandharpuri breeds as one lineage each, and the Bhadawari, Nagpuri, Surati, Mehsana and Murrah breeds as admixture. Analysis of molecular variance refuted the earlier classification of these breeds proposed on the basis of morphological and geographical parameters. The Toda buffaloes, reared by a tribe of the same name, represent an endangered breed from the Nilgiri hills in South India. Divergence time of the Toda buffaloes from the other main breeds, calculated from Nei's standard genetic distances based on genotyping data on seven breeds and 20 microsatellite loci, suggested separation of this breed approximately 1800–2700 years ago. The results of the present study will be useful for development of rational breeding and conservation strategies for Indian buffaloes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]