Subcontracting Relationship of Indian SMEs with a Global TNC: Do SMEs Gain and How?

TNCs having their production bases in developing countries provide increasing opportunity for local SMEs to have subcontracting relationships with these TNCs.Even though some theoretical and a few empirical studies throw light on the nature of assistance provided by TNCs to local SMEs through subcontracting relationships,none of the studies so far analysed the diversity of assistance that subcontracting SMEs of India would be able to obtain from a TNC using quantitative measurement.This paper probes the extent of linkages and diversity of assistance that Indian subcontracting SMEs would be able to obtain from a TNC customer based on primary data from SME subcontractors of a major TNC automobile manufacturer. Statistical analysis of direct assistance revealed that SMEs receive more of product and purchase process assistance. The extent of assistance for their process related,marketing, human resource and financial requirements is low whereas the assistance for their organisational know-how requirements is moderate. The major indirect benefits these SMEs could achieve are knowledge transfer, business volume, superior work culture, reputation and quality improvement.

Biocorrosion in industrial applications

Industrial situations afflicted by corrosion induced by microorganisms are illustrated with examples. The types and characteristics of microorganisms involved in biocorrosion processes are discussed. Possible mechanisms in biocorrosion as occurring under sub-soil, sea water and fresh water conditions are analyzed. Methods to combat biocorrosion are also outlined.

Study on degradation of H-acid by Alcaligenes latus isolated from textile industrial effluent

This study presents 100% degradation of H-acid under optimized conditions using Alcaligenes latus, isolated from textile industrial effluent. Gene/s responsible for H-acid degradation was/were found to be present on plasmid DNA. Addition of bipyridyl to incubated medium resulted in accumulation of terminal aromatic compound, suggesting that catechol may be terminal aromatic compound in degradation pathway of H-acid by A. latus. SDS-PAGE of cell free extracts showed two prominent bands close to molecular weight of catechol 1,2-dioxygenase.

Combining ``chimie douce'' and green principles for the developing world: Improving industrial viability of photocatalytic water remediation

We highlight the need for a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach for the development of cost-effective water remediation methods. Combining ``chimie douce'' and green chemical principles seems essential for making these technologies economically viable and socially relevant (especially in the developing world). A comprehensive approach to water remediation will take into account issues such as nanotoxicity, chemical yield, cost, and ease of deployment in reactors. By considering technological challenges that lie ahead, we will attempt to identify directions that are likely to make photocatalytic water remediation a more global technology than it currently is. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Biological sulfate reduction of a sulfate-rich industrial waste liquor using sulfate reducing bacteria

An industrial waste liquor having high sulfate concentrations was subjected to biological treatment using the sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Toxicity levels of different sulfate, cobalt and nickel concentrations toward growth of the SRB with respect to biological sulfate reduction kinetics was initially established. Optimum sulfate concentration to promote SRB growth amounted to 0.8 - 1 g/L. The strain of D. desulfuricans used in this study initially tolerated up to 4 -5 g/L of sulfate or 50 mg/L of cobalt and nickel, while its tolerance could be further enhanced through adaptation by serial subculturing in the presence of increasing concentrations of sulfate, cobalt and nickel. From the waste liquor, more than 70% of sulfate and 95% of cobalt and nickel could be precipitated as sulfides, using a preadapted strain of D. desulfuricans. Probable mechanisms involving biological sulfide precipitation and metal adsorption onto precipitates and bacterial cells are discussed.

External support and innovation performance of SMEs in Bangalore: Role of firm level factors

This paper probes the role of internal factors in SMEs in obtaining external support and achieving innovation performance in the context of auto component, electronics and machine tool industries of Bangalore in India. Using step-wise logistic regression analysis, the study found that only if SMEs have internal technical competence in terms of technically qualified entrepreneur, an exclusive design centre, and innovate more frequently, they will be able to obtain external support. Further using step-wise multiple regression the study concluded that SMEs which have come up to implement innovative ideas or exploit market opportunities and which have obtained external support with technically qualified entrepreneurs are able to exhibit better innovation performance.

The Evolution of Animal Welfare and the 3Rs in Brazil, China, and India

Increasingly, scientific collaborations and contracts cross country borders. The need for assurance that the quality of animal welfare and the caliber of animal research conducted are equivalent among research partners around the globe is of concern to the scientific and laboratory animal medicine communities, the general public, and other key stakeholders. Therefore, global harmonization of animal care and use standards and practices, with the welfare of the animals as a cornerstone, is essential. In the evolving global landscape of enhanced attention to animal welfare, a widely accepted path to achieving this goal is the successful integration of the 3Rs in animal care and use programs. Currently, awareness of the 3Rs, their implementation, and the resulting animal care and use standards and practices vary across countries. This variability has direct effects on the animals used in research and potentially the data generated and may also have secondary effects on the country's ability to be viewed as a global research partner. Here we review the status of implementation of the 3Rs worldwide and focus on 3 countries-Brazil, China and India-with increasing economic influence and an increasing footprint in the biomedical research enterprise.

Innovation and growth of engineering SMEs in Bangalore: Why do only some innovate and only some grow faster?

This paper probes two research questions by ascertaining the factors which distinguish (i) innovative SMEs from those which are not, and (ii) SMEs which experienced a higher sales growth from those which experienced a lower sales growth, with reference to 197 engineering industry SMEs in Bangalore city. The differentiating factors between innovative and non-innovative SMEs brought out that SMEs must have ``own resources and capabilities'' in the form of internal strength and definite internal strategy if they have to innovate successfully. Younger and smaller firms which are ``entrepreneurial'' in nature and which are innovative contributed to higher sales growth of SMEs compared to older and larger firms which are ``salary-substitute firms'' in nature and which are not innovative. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biodiesel Exhaust Treatment with Dielectric Barrier Discharges Coupled with Industrial Waste Byproducts

Biodiesel run engines are gaining popularity since the last few years as a viable alternative to conventional petro-diesel based engines. In biodiesel exhaust the content of volatile organic compounds, oil mist, and mass of particulate matter is considerably lower. However, the concentration of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) is relatively higher. In this paper the biodiesel exhaust from a stationary engine is treated under controlled laboratory conditions for removal of NOx using dielectric barrier discharge plasma in cascade with adsorbents prepared from abundantly available industrial waste byproducts like red mud and copper slag. Results were compared with gamma-alumina, a commercial adsorbent. Two different dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactors were tested for their effectiveness under Repetitive pulses /AC energization. NOx removal as high as 80% was achieved with pulse energized reactors when cascaded with red mud as adsorbent.

Incidencia de Cysticercus bovis en la matanza industrial de Nicaragua

En este trabajo, se analizó la situación existente con respecto a la Cysticercosis bovina, en la Empresa Julio Moneada Tercero, ubicada en el Km 11 carretera Norte, departamento de Managua; Esta Empresa cubre el 33% de la matanza industrial en Nicaragua. Con los datos recabados se Evaluaron: Niveles de infestación de los años 1984, 1985, 1988 y 1989; se determinó la infestación por categorías; EL departamento de mayor incidencia; Y las pérdidas económicas. Para el análisis estadístico, el método utilizado fue el de mínimos cuadrados generalizado, usando el procedimiento CATMOD del paquete statistical Analisis System. Los resultados obtenidos en el Análisis de varianza, demuestran que existen diferencias significativas entre años, con un nivel de significancia de P< 0.05 obteniéndose 1.24% de infestación global para los cuatro años, así como también existen diferencias significativas para las diferentes categorías (P< 0.05), siendo la categoría vaca (C2) la más afectada. Matagalpa resultó ser el departamento con el mayor número de animales parasitados seguido de Boaco, Managua y León. Las pérdidas económicas revelan cifras aproximadas de US$ 109,121.50 (ciento nueve mil ciento veinte y un dólares con cincuenta centavos) para el productor, adicionando a esto, las divisas no captadas por un monto aproximado de US$ 653,511.07 (seiscientos cincuenta y tres mil quinientos once dólares con siete centavos) por disminución de las exportaciones.

Residuos de plaguicidas en carne bovina de exportación en el Matadero Industrial Amerrisque

El presente trabajo se realizó en el matadero Amerrisque ubicado a la altura del km 128 carretera el Rama a 130 metros sobre e1 nivel del mar con el objetivo de evaluar los residuos de plaguicidas en carne bovina de exportación. Los datos fueron recopilados de la matanza diaria realizada en dicho matadero a partir del mes de enero de 1987 al mes de diciembre de 1992 a excepción de los meses de marzo, abril, agosto y noviembre del año 1989, de igual forma el año 1990, debido a que los registros ya para este año se encontraron incompletos. Las variables en estudio fueron: Niveles de contaminación aceptable y no aceptable para la exportación, procedencia de dichas carnes, plaguicidas que mayormente se acumulan en 1a carne y las pérdidas económicas. El procedimiento analítico se realizó por medio de una distribución de frecuencias, se hizo uso de medias como estadística descriptiva y también se determinó el rango. Como resultado del presente estudio observamos que la matanza industrial efectuada para los cinco años en estudio fue de 142,919 cabezas, de éstas 18,434 resultaron contaminada con un promedio de contaminación de 0.059 partes por millón, dejándose de percibir USA $ 10,497 dólares.