The process of technological innovations in small enterprises: the Indian way

This paper probes how two small foundries in Belgaum, Karnataka State, India, have achieved technological innovations successfully based on their technological capability and customer needs, enabling them to sail through the competitive environment. This study brought out that technically qualified entrepreneurs of both the foundries have carried out technological innovations, mainly due to their self-motivation and self-efforts. Changing product designs, as desired or directed by the customers, cost reduction, quality improvement and import substitution through reverse engineering are the characteristics of these technological innovations. These incremental innovations have enabled the entrepreneurs of the two foundries to enhance competitiveness, grow in the domestic market and penetrate the international market and grow in size over time.

The process of technological innovations in small enterprises: the Indian way

This paper probes how two small foundries in Belgaum, Karnataka State, India, have achieved technological innovations successfully based on their technological capability and customer needs, enabling them to sail through the competitive environment. This study brought out that technically qualified entrepreneurs of both the foundries have carried out technological innovations, mainly due to their self-motivation and self-efforts. Changing product designs, as desired or directed by the customers, cost reduction, quality improvement and import substitution through reverse engineering are the characteristics of these technological innovations. These incremental innovations have enabled the entrepreneurs of the two foundries to enhance competitiveness, grow in the domestic market and penetrate the international market and grow in size over time.

Disk-Outflow Coupling: Energetics Around Spinning BlacK Holes

The mechanism by which outflows and plausible jets are driven from black hole systems still remains observationally elusive. This notwithstanding, several observational evidences and deeper theoretical insights reveal that accretion and outflow/jet are strongly correlated. We model an advective disk-outflow coupled dynamics, incorporating explicitly the vertical flux. Inter-connecting dynamics of outflow andaccretion essentially upholds the conservation laws. We investigate the properties of the disk-outflow surface and its strong dependence on the rotation parameter of the black hole. The energetics of the disk outflow strongly depend on the mass, accretion rate, and spin of the black holes. The model clearly shows that the outflow power extracted from the disk increases strongly with the spin of the black hole, inferring that the power of the observed astrophysical jets has a proportional correspondence with the spin of the central object. In the case of blazars (BL Lacs and flat spectrum radio quasars, FSRQs), most of their emission are believed to be originated from their jets. It is observed that BL Lacs are relatively low luminous than FSRQs. The luminosity might be linked to the power of the jet, which in turn reflects that the nuclear regions of the BL Lac objects have a relatively low spinning black hole compared to that in the case of FSRQs. If extreme gravity is the source that powers strong outflows and jets, then the spin of the black hole, perhaps, might be the fundamental parameter to account for the observed astrophysical processes in an accretion powered system.

Detection of alpha(2u)-globulin and its bound putative pheromones in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat (Rattus rattus) using mass spectrometry

The role of pheromones and pheromone-binding proteins in the laboratory rat has been extensively investigated. However, we have previously reported that the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat produces a variety of pheromonal molecules and preputial glands would seem to be the predominant source for pheromonal communication. The presence of pheromone-binding proteins has not yet been identified in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat; therefore, the experiments were designed to unravel the alpha(2u)-globulin (alpha 2u) and its bound volatiles in the commensal rat. Total preputial glandular proteins were first fractionated by sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and subsequently analyzed by mass spectrometry. Further, we purified alpha 2u and screened for the presence of bound pheromonal molecules with the aid of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A novel alpha 2u was identified with a high score and this protein has not been previously described as present in the preputial gland of Indian commensal rats.This novel alpha 2u was then characterized by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Peptides with m/z values of 969, 1192, 1303 and 1876 were further fragmented with the aid of MS/MS and generated de novo sequences which provided additional evidence for the presence of alpha 2u in the preputial gland. Finally, we identified the presence of farnesol 1 and 2 bound to alpha 2u. The present investigation confirms the presence of alpha 2u (18.54 kDa) in the preputial gland of the Indian commensal rat and identifies farnesol 1 and 2 as probably involved in chemo-communication by the Indian commensal rat.Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Aerosol characteristics and radiative impacts over the Arabian Sea during the intermonsoon season: Results from ARMEX field campaign

During the second phase of the Arabian Sea Monsoon Experiment (ARMEX-II), extensive measurements of spectral aerosol optical depth, mass concentration, and mass size distribution of ambient aerosols as well as mass concentration of aerosol black carbon (BC) were made onboard a research vessel during the intermonsoon period (i.e., when the monsoon winds are in transition from northeasterlies to westerlies/ southwesterlies) over the Arabian Sea (AS) adjoining the Indian Peninsula. Simultaneous measurements of spectral aerosol optical depths (AODs) were made at different regions over the adjoining Indian landmass. Mean AODs (at 500-nm wavelength) over the ocean (similar to0.44) were comparable to those over the coastal land (similar to0.47), but were lower than the values observed over the plateau regions of central Indian Peninsula (similar to0.61). The aerosol properties were found to respond distinctly with respect to change in the trajectories, with higher optical depths and flatter AOD spectra associated with trajectories indicating advection from west Asia, and northwest and west-coastal India. On average, BC constituted only similar to2.2% to total aerosol mass compared to the climatological values of similar to6% over the coastal land during the same season. These data are used to characterize the physical properties of aerosols and to assess the resulting short-wave direct aerosol forcing. The mean values were similar to27 W m(-2) at the surface and -12 W m(-2) at the top of the atmosphere (TOA), resulting in a net atmospheric forcing of +15 W m(-2). The forcing also depended on the region from where the advection predominates. The surface and atmospheric forcing were in the range -40 to -57 W m(-2) and +27 to +39 W m(-2), respectively, corresponding to advection from the west Asian and western coastal India where they were as low as -19 and +10 W m(-2), respectively, when the advection was mainly from the Bay of Bengal and from central/peninsular India. In all these cases, the net atmospheric forcing (heating) efficiency was lower than the values reported for northern Indian Ocean during northern winter, which is attributed to the reduced BC mass fraction.

Evidence for an association with type 2 diabetes mellitus at the PPARG locus in a South Indian population

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma 2 (PPARG2) is a nuclear hormone receptor of ligand-dependent ranscription factor involved in adipogenesis and a molecular target of the insulin sensitizers thiazolidinediones. We addressed the question of whether the 3 variants (-1279G/A, Pro12Ala, and His478His) in the PPARG2 gene are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and its related traits in a South Indian population. The study subjects (1000 type 2 diabetes mellitus and 1000 normal glucose-tolerant subjects) were chosen randomly from the Chennai Urban Rural Epidemiology Study, an ongoing population-based study in southern India. The variants were screened by single-stranded conformational variant, direct sequencing, and restriction fragment length polymorphism. Linkage disequilibrium was estimated from the estimates of haplotypic frequencies. The -1279G/A, Pro12Ala, and His478His variants of the PPARG2 gene were not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the 2-loci analyses showed that, in the presence of Pro/Pro genotype of the Pro12Ala variant, the -1279G/A promoter variant showed increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 2.092; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.59; P = .008), whereas in the presence of 12Ala allele, the -1279G/A showed a protective effect against type 2 diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 0.270; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.49; P < .0001). The 3-loci haplotype analysis showed that the A-Ala-T (-1279G/A-Pro12Ala-His478His) haplotype was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (P < .0001). Although our data indicate that the PPARG2 gene variants, independently, have no association with type 2 diabetes mellitus, the 2-loci genotype analysis involving -1279G/A and Pro12Ala variants and the 3-loci haplotype analysis have shown a significant association with type 2 diabetes mellitus in this South Indian population. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Seismic passive earth pressures in soils

Seismic passive earth pressure coefficients were computed by the method of limit equilibrium using a pseudostatic approach for seismic forces. Composite curved rupture surfaces were considered in the analysis. While earlier studies using this type of analysis were mainly for sands, seismic passive earth pressure coefficients were obtained in the present study considering the effects of cohesion, surcharge, and own weight. The minimum seismic passive force was obtained by adding the individual minimum values of these components and the validity of the principle of superposition was examined. Other parameters considered in the analysis were wall batter angle, ground surface slope, soil friction angle, wall friction angle, wall adhesion to soil cohesion ratio, and horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations. The seismic earth pressure coefficients were found to be highly sensitive to the seismic acceleration coefficients both in the horizontal and vertical directions. Results of the study are presented in the form of figures and tables. Comparisons of the proposed method with available theories in the seismic case are also presented.

Dynamics of ''internal'' interannual variability of the Indian summer monsoon in a GCM

1] The poor predictability of the Indian summer monsoon ( ISM) appears to be due to the fact that a large fraction of interannual variability (IAV) is governed by unpredictable "internal'' low frequency variations. Mechanisms responsible for the internal IAV of the monsoon have not been clearly identified. Here, an attempt has been made to gain insight regarding the origin of internal IAV of the seasonal ( June - September, JJAS) mean rainfall from "internal'' IAV of the ISM simulated by an atmospheric general circulation model (AGCM) driven by fixed annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST). The underlying hypothesis that monsoon ISOs are responsible for internal IAV of the ISM is tested. The spatial and temporal characteristics of simulated summer intraseasonal oscillations ( ISOs) are found to be in good agreement with those observed. A long integration with the AGCM forced with observed SST, shows that ISO activity over the Asian monsoon region is not modulated by the observed SST variations. The internal IAV of ISM, therefore, appears to be decoupled from external IAV. Hence, insight gained from this study may be useful in understanding the observed internal IAV of ISM. The spatial structure of the ISOs has a significant projection on the spatial structure of the seasonal mean and a common spatial mode governs both intraseasonal and interannual variability. Statistical average of ISO anomalies over the season ( seasonal ISO bias) strengthens or weakens the seasonal mean. It is shown that interannual anomalies of seasonal mean are closely related to the seasonal mean of intraseasonal anomalies and explain about 50% of the IAV of the seasonal mean. The seasonal mean ISO bias arises partly due to the broad-band nature of the ISO spectrum allowing the time series to be aperiodic over the season and partly due to a non-linear process where the amplitude of ISO activity is proportional to the seasonal bias of ISO anomalies. The later relation is a manifestation of the binomial character of rainfall time series. The remaining 50% of the IAV may arise due to land-surface processes, interaction between high frequency variability and ISOs, etc.

Novel peptides of therapeutic promise from Indian Conidae

Highly structured small peptides are the major toxic constituents of the venom of cone snails, a family of widely distributed predatory marine molluscs. These animals use the venom for rapid prey immobilization. The peptide components in the venom target a wide variety of membrane-bound ion channels and receptors. Many have been found to be highly selective for a diverse range of mammalian ion channels and receptors associated with pain-signaling pathways. Their small size, structural stability, and target specificity make them attractive pharmacologic agents. A select number of laboratories mainly from the United States, Europe, Australia, Israel, and China have been engaged in intense drug discovery programs based on peptides from a few snail species. Coastal India has an estimated 20-30% of the known cone species; however, few serious studies have been reported so far. We have begun a comprehensive program for the identification and characterization of peptides from cone snails found in Indian Coastal waters. This presentation reviews our progress over the last 2 years. As expected from the evolutionary history of these venom components, our search has yielded novel peptides of therapeutic promise from the new species that we have studied.

Confirmation of linkage and refinement of the RP28 locus for autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa on chromosome 2p14-p15 in an Indian family

PURPOSE: To report the linkage analysis of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) in an Indian family. METHODS: Individuals were examined for symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa and their blood samples were withdrawn for genetic analysis. The disorder was tested for linkage to known 14 adRP and 22 arRP loci using microsatellite markers. RESULTS: Seventeen individuals including seven affecteds participated in the study. All affected individuals had typical RP. The age of onset of the disease ranged from 8-18 years. The disorder in this family segregated either as an autosomal recessive trait with pseudodominance or an autosomal dominant trait. Linkage to an autosomal recessive locus RP28 on chromosome 2p14-p15 was positive with a maximum two-point lod score of 3.96 at theta=0 for D2S380. All affected individuals were homozygous for alleles at D2S2320, D2S2397, D2S380, and D2S136. Recombination events placed the minimum critical region (MCR) for the RP28 gene in a 1.06 cM region between D2S2225 and D2S296. CONCLUSIONS : The present data confirmed linkage of arRP to the RP28 locus in a second Indian family. The RP28 locus was previously mapped to a 16 cM region between D2S1337 and D2S286 in a single Indian family. Haplotype analysis in this family has further narrowed the MCR for the RP28 locus to a 1.06 cM region between D2S2225 and D2S296. Of 15 genes reported in the MCR, 14 genes (KIAA0903, OTX1, MDH1, UGP2, VPS54, PELI1, HSPC159, FLJ20080, TRIP-Br2, SLC1A4, KIAA0582, RAB1A, ACTR2, and SPRED2) are either expressed in the eye or retina. Further study needs to be done to test which of these genes is mutated in patients with RP linked to the RP28 locus.

Mineralogical changes and geotechnical properties of an expansive soil interacted with caustic solution

The type and amount of clay mineral plays an important role in the behaviour of fine-grained soils. Clay minerals are the primary source and moisture is often the external agent of swelling in soils. Also soils may exhibit increased/reduced swelling due to interaction with chemicals. Alkalis used in industrial operations are one such example. Concentrations of alkali and mineral type are the key factors in such interactions. The present paper reports the changes in the properties of an expansive Black Cotton soil containing a mixed layer mineral, rectorite upon interaction with high concentration caustic solutions. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that the rectorite present in the soil undergoes changes with increase in the concentration of alkali. Saponite gets transformed to nantronite. Small amount of kaolinitic mineral present in the soil also reacts with alkali producing some changes in its mineralogy. Many hydroxides are produced. Differential thermal analysis studies have been supportive of these changes. Consequent of these changes, the soil-specific surface increases, changes its Atterberg limits and free swell volume increases. The results have been supported by the characteristics and behaviour of samples contaminated in the field with alkali from an alumina extraction plant.

Antipyrine complexes of rare-earth nitrates

Antipyrine complexes of eight rare-earth nitrates of the composition M(C11H12N2O)3 (NO3)3 where M = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, and Y, have been prepared by a new, simple method and characterised. The complexes undergo exothermic decomposition at ~3oo°C. Infrared and U.V. spectral studies of the complexes indicate that antipyrine coordinates to metal through oxygen. The nature of the nitrate bonding is discussed in the light of infrared evidence, and conductivity studies in nitromethane and dimethylformamide.

Rare-earth trichloroacetates

The rare-earth trichloroacetates having the formula Ln(Cl3CCOO)3. 3H2O, where Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd or Y, were investigated by conductimetric, cryoscopic and infrared methods. The results suggest a structure in which the acetate anion coordinates to the metal through both the oxygen and the water molecules remain outside the coordination sphere.

Dimethyl sulphoxide complexes of rare-earth perchlorates

Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) complexes of rare-earth perchlorates of the formula M(ClO4)3·n DMSO (M = La, Ce, Pr and Nd, n = 8; M = Sm, Gd and Y, n = 7) have been prepared. I.r. studies indicate co-ordination through oxygen. Cryoscopic and conductivity data show co-ordination number of 7 and 8.

Dimethyl formamide complexes of rare-earth nitrates

Dimethyl formamide complexes of five rare-earth nitrates, M(DMF)4(NO3)3 where M = La, Pr, Nd, Sm or Y have been prepared and their infra-red spectra and conductivities in nitromethane and DMF studied. It is suggested that the co-ordination number of the metal ion in these complexes is nine.