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Investigations on plasma sprayed Yttria stabilized zirconia thermal barrier coatings on Al-11si
6-8% Yttria Stabilized Zirconia, (Y2O3-ZrO2), typically known as 8YPSZ, Thermal Barrier Coatings (TBCs) when applied via Electron Beam Physical Vapor Deposition (EBPVD) finds wide application in aerospace engineering. TBCs, applied on aero turbine super-alloy blades protect them from the high operating temperature environment and permit reduction in the required amount of cooling air, thereby improve engine performance and efficiency / component life. Likewise, 8YPSZ TBCs are widely used in larger components of the power generation turbines as well. In addition to aerospace, TBCs also find applications in automobiles and many other newlineengineering fields where high temperature and protection to metals is involved. Though a good amount of published literature is available on the 8YPSZ TBCs on super alloys (high temperatures alloys used in jet newlineengines), the same on TBCs on Al-11Si alloys (frequently used in automotive components) is very limited; even though the potential of this alloy in the automobile industry is enormous.In this research work, results from thermal barrier coating qualifications on a popular aluminium based alloy used in the automobile industry (removed from diesel engine piston), i.e. aluminium-11% silicon newline(Al-11Si) alloy is presented. Detailed coating qualification tests were performed on the Al-11Si alloy substrates with the 8YPSZ TBCs on them which comprised of material assessments at room temperature and higher newlinetemperatures. The performance of an actual multi (four) cylinder diesel engine incorporated with TBC coated pistons also was evaluated and compared with the performance of the baseline engine (without any coated newlinecomponents). Thus, the concept of Low Heat Rejection (LHR) engine was also assessed in this research work. Commercial plasma sprayable powders of 8YPSZ (METCO 204NS, newlineUSA) were plasma spray coated (TBC deposition) by employing an Atmospheric Plasma Spray (APS) system on substrates previously coated with Nickel Aluminide (NiAl) (AMDRY 956) plasma sprayable bond coat newlinepowders. -
Investigations on the Design, Performance and Effect of Feed Mechanisms, Defected Ground Structures and Materials for Optimized Microstrip Antenna Array
Microstrip antenna exhibiting low-profle features such as and#64258;exible, lightweight and newlinelow production cost attracts majority of communication industries working the lower newlinepart of the microwave spectrum ranging from 1 GHz to 6 GHz. Also, the microwave integrated circuit technology enables the integration of feed systems and other microwave integrated circuits on the same substrate where the antenna is printed. However, single antenna topologies feature a number of drawbacks, including low gain, poor directivity, narrow bandwidth and limited coverage being low in profle. In the perspective of miniaturization, developments in wireless communication have had a signifcant impact on antenna or array design based on the gain, bandwidth and directivity requirements for specifc wireless applications. As a result, usage of single antenna is not considered appropriate for diversity reception, long-distance communication, signal-to-interference as well as signal-to-noise ratio maximization, and direction of arrival determination, interference rejection, and high power applications. A high-gain broadband antenna or array may be the good choice for outdoor line-of-sight access points to increase signal strength and coverage range. To meet these requirements the antenna designers either can use conventional antennas or rely on miniaturized antennas. When antenna arrays are built using such small antennas to enhance the above said parameters, suitable and compact feed networks are required to ft within the given space of the overall transmitter-receiver geometry. This research work addresses the challenges faced by antenna researchers in newlineminiaturization, maintenance of gain-bandwidth and high-directivity narrow-beam newlineradiation of microstrip antenna arrays, through an investigation made on the design, new mathematical modelling of feed mechanisms for arrays, their inand#64258;uence on 1D and 2D uniform and non-uniform arrays, and the performance enhancement by amalgamating proposed arrays with defected ground structures and metasurfaces. -
Investment Decisions : Behavioral Biases in Selected Less Volatile Asset Classes
This study investigates the behavioral biases in selected less volatile asset classes and their influence on investment decisions(IDs). This study compares and contrasts demographic factors(DF) that influence behavioral biases(BB), examines the relationship between behavioral biases(BB) and risk-taking newlinebehaviors (RTB), determines whether BBs can be used to predict RTB and IDs, and looks at covariance patterns between factors that influence BBs, RTB, and IDs.A comprehensive analysis was conducted, considering various DF such as age, gender, education, annual income, marital status, total annual savings newlinepercentage, and the number of dependents in the family. The findings revealed no statistically significant interaction effects between these demographic variables and the combined dependent variables. Additionally, no significant main effects of age, gender, annual income, education, marital status, or paying tax were observed on the combined dependent variables. The study identified several correlations among the behavioral biases examined, including overconfidence(OC), representativeness(R), anchoring(A), herding(H), mental accounting(MA), and conservatism bias(CB). Positive correlations were found between OC and R, A and OC, A and R, H and OC, H newlineand R, MA and OC, MA and R, CB and OC, CB and R, CB and A, CB and H, CB and MA, risk-taking behaviors and overconfidence, risk-taking behaviors and representativeness, risk-taking behaviors and anchoring, risk-taking newlinebehaviors and herding, risk-taking behaviors and mental accounting, and risktaking behaviors and conservatism bias. Furthermore, herding and conservatism bias was significantly associated with risk-taking behaviors, while anchoring, herding, mental accounting, and conservatism bias were associated considerably with IDs. As part of the assessment techniques utilized in this study, seven characteristics or latent constructs were examined using various observable variables or scale items. -
Isolation of Fungal Endophytes From Hulimavu Lake Flora and Characterization and Optimization of Fungal Enzymes
The present work was aimed at isolating fungal endophytes from Hulimavu Lake, newlineextracting their secondary metabolites and fungal enzymes to subsequently probe the newlinebiological properties of these fungal endophytic bioactive compounds and enzymes. newlineHulimavu Lake, known for its notoriously high levels of pollution contributed by newlineanthropogenic factors, was chosen for this study with the literature-evidence backed newlinehypothesis that plant habitat stress also positively favors the type and quanta of bioactive compounds with novel features produced by its endophytes. Literature survey was performed to identify the probable types of plants found in this lake that could be used for the study and these were subsequently collected, identified and processed under laboratory conditions. These plants were authenticated by a certified botanist and were identified as Alternanthera philoxeroides, Ricinus communis and Persicaria glabra. Fungal endophytes were then isolated from different plant parts collected and were screened using preliminary LCB staining followed by DNA sequencing analysis. Based on ITS region sequencing, nucleotide homology and phylogenetic tree mapping, these fungal endophytic cultures were identified as Aspergillus niger, Talaromyces amestolkiae, Cladosporium phaseolorum and Diaporthe phaseolorum. Crude extracts obtained from these fungal endophytes displayed bacterial growth inhibition and significant free radical scavenging/ reduction potential that was comparable to standard ascorbic acid, hence depicting antioxidant activity of these extracts. Owing to their biological properties these crude extracts were further tested for cytotoxic properties on newlinedifferent models like that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker s yeast), Artemia salina newline(Brine shrimp) and MCF-7 cell line. The presence of fungal endophytic enzymes like newlineprotease, amylase, laccase and lipase was detected qualitatively and estimated newlinequantitatively. -
Isolation, Characterization and Evaluation of Potential Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria From The Rhizosphere of Coffea arabica L. From Kodagu District, Karnataka
Agriculture is fundamental to food security and economic stability. The utilisation of newlineplant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) an eco-friendly alternative to chemical newlinefertilisers is particularly promising as these microorganisms enhance nutrient newlineavailability, stimulate plant growth, and improve resistance to biotic and abiotic newlinestresses. This study aimed to isolate and characterise PGPR from the rhizosphere of newlineCoffea arabica L. in the Kodagu District of Karnataka, focusing on their potential as newlinebiofertilizers. Soil samples collected from ten different locations within Kamath Coffee newlineEstate led to the isolation of fourteen distinct bacterial colonies, labelled NJ01 to NJ14. These isolates were evaluated for various plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits like indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) siderophore and ammonia production, nitrogen fixation, newlinephosphate, and zinc solubilization and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production. Further newlinestudies were carried out using 3 isolates with significant PGP traits. Enzyme activity newlineassays indicated that NJ01, NJ04, and NJ14 had positive results for protease, cellulase, newlineamylase, and catalase activity. These strains also displayed varying degrees of newlinehalotolerance, with NJ01, NJ04 and NJ14 tolerating up to 8%, 10% and 11% NaCl, newlinerespectively. Heavy metal tolerance tests revealed that NJ01 tolerated Pb up to 250 newlineg/mL, NJ04 tolerated Pb up to 1500 g/mL and Cd up to 50 g/mL, and NJ14 tolerated Pb up to 1000 g/mL and Hg up to 100 g/mL. Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production was confirmed in all isolates, with NJ01 yielding the highest amount (6.4 g/L). The isolates exhibited significant antifungal and the 16S rRNA sequencing identified NJ01 as Bacillus albus (OP784795), NJ04 as Bacillus licheniformis (OM780221), and NJ14 as Bacillus subtilis (OM780222). A consortium was prepared after confirming the plant growth promoting abilities of these PGPR strains by carrying out an initial plant growth studies. The optimisation of media parameters was by using a two-factor interaction model. -
Isolation, Identification and Characterization of A Potential Probiotic Bacteria and its Application in Aquaculture
In the current study, Bacillus subtilis PKB1 was isolated from dried anchovies and identified using morphological and biochemical analysis followed by 16S rRNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The antibacterial and anti- haemolytic properties of the bacteria were also examined. Probiotic qualities were assessed by measuring the isolated strain's tolerance to artificial gastric juice. To assess the isolated strain's capacity for stress tolerance, additional exposure to varied pH, temperature, and organic solvent concentrations was given. Bacillus subtilis in MRS medium produced exopolysaccharide (EPS) which was purified and a maximum yield of 1928mg/L was achieved. The novel exopolysaccharide was purified and characterized to be a heteropolysaccharide. The polysaccharide present had a molecular weight of about 20 kDa overall. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the presence of carboxyl, hydroxyl, and methylene groups in the EPS. The extremely cross-linked structure of the EPS with lumps that resembled spikes was revealed by atomic force microscopy. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that it possessed rough, asymmetrical lumps. Emulsification activity was also observed in the EPS. The current study's findings suggested that this EPS might make a good candidate for further applications. Utilizing probiotics derived from unconventional sources may improve the variety of probiotics accessible for use in aquaculture procedures. Probiotics are used in the field of aquaculture in order to improve immunity and to protect against pathogenic microbes. Species such as Aeromonas hydrophila and Vibrio parahaemolyticus are responsible for increasing mortality, decreasing production efficiency and forcing antibiotic overuse. In this study, the role of the isolated probiotic in promoting growth performance in Nile tilapia was examined using growth and challenge studies. The experiment was conducted for a duration of 30 days. Weight gain, histology and mortality rates were studied in the presence and absence of pathogenic microbes. Bacillus subtillis PKB1 supplementation for Nile tilapia helped to maintain the integrity of gill filaments and improved survivability and weight gain when used at a concentration of 1x104 CFU/ml. The study showed that the isolate improved the survival rate of Nile Tilapia against Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila. -
Isolation, Screening and Characterisation of Endophytes from Madiwala Lake for Biosurfactant, Bioremediation and Plant-Growth Promotion Properties
The significant surge in population, combined with the degradation of the environment, has imposed substantial stress on worldwide food newlinesecurity. The concerning pace of population growth, along with escalating environmental harm due to heightened industrialization, newlinehas indeed exerted considerable pressure on the global food provision. Considering the existing situation, the sustainable approach to enhance agricultural yield and facilitate environmental bioremediation entails utilizing endophytes that reside within plants. Endophytic microorganisms possessing the capacity to promote plant growth and exert biocontrol can significantly boost plant development amidst fluctuating environmental factors, both biotic and abiotic in nature. The current research aimed to extract bacterial and fungal endophytes from Alternanthera philoxeroides and newlineAlternanthera paranichoides and evaluate their potential for enhancing plant growth and controlling pests. Among the isolated newlineendophytic bacteria, Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibited various characteristics conducive to plant growth, leading to enhanced newlinegermination and vegetative growth in Vigna unguiculata plants. The isolate exhibited good Indoleacetic acid (IAA) production newline(48.752.95 g/mL) and potassium solubilization (2.130.07 ppm). The IAA production by K. pneumoniae was further enhanced by 4- fold using the RSM optimization to 195.662.51 g/mL. The newlineendophytic bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis newlineshowed good extracellular enzyme production and antimicrobial activity along with plant growth promotion. The endophytic bacterium B. amyloliquefaciens showed good newlinebiosurfactant production and bioremediation efficiency. The strain displayed notable resistance to Cr and Pb concentrations upto 2000 mg/L. It was found to possess maximum metal removal efficiency for Pb, 92.3% at pH 9 and 86.2 at 25 oC. -
Job Involvement of secondary school teachers of bangalore in relation to their work ethics organisational culture and leader behaviour of heads of institutions
Education has been the mainstay of our culture, right from the time of the Gurukul to the present day. Even today, the single most important factor in our education system is the teacher and his qualities. The issue of teacher motivation and Job Involvement is an essential factor for classroom newlineeffectiveness and improvement of educational institutions. Though many studies have been conducted in the area of Job Satisfaction of teachers in India, Job Involvement of teachers has received comparatively little attention. Literature review indicates that Work Ethics, Organizational Culture, Leader Behaviour of Heads of Institutions do newlineinfluence Job Involvement along with other variables. In this area, few independent studies are available, but a study related to all these variables is not available. Moreover, most of these studies related to Job Involvement are overseas studies. Hence the investigator felt the need to take up the present study titled Job Involvement of secondary school teachers of Bangalore in relation to their Work Ethics, Organizational newlineCulture and Leader Behaviour of Heads of Institutions. The main objectives of the study were: 1) To find out the relationship between Job Involvement of secondary school teachers their work ethics, organizational culture and Leader Behaviour of Heads of newlineInstitutions. 2) To find out whether differences in background variables like Gender, Subject specialization etc would account for significant difference in Job Involvement. 3) To find out whether any differences in levels of Work Ethics, Organizational Culture, and Leader Behaviour of Heads of Institutions results in any significant difference in Job Involvement of secondary school teachers 4) To find out the interactionxvi effect of the independent variables on Job Involvement 5) To find out newlinewhether the independent variables selected by the researcher are significant predictors of Job Involvement of secondary school teachers. Based on these objectives, researcher formulated 30 hypotheses. -
Key factors elevating omni-channel retail experience : A study of critical capability dimensions
Increasing digital disruption is driving the necessity for Omni-Channel Retailing, compelling the integration of online and offline channels. The line between online and physical retailing is blurring as retailers intend to deliver a unified experience anytime anywhere, than a mere channel specific experience. As customer expectation for seamless experience intensifies, and retailers organizational, operational and technical barriers persist, it would be vital to formulate a suitable strategy towards e levating Omni-Channel Retail Experience. Though prior studies have observed the need for realigning the strategy around blended advantages of multiple channels, there is a limited understanding with regards to Omni-Channel Capabilities influencing customer experience elements. Besides, it is challenging to adopt all the capabilities within a competitive timeframe. Thus, the importance of prioritizing these capabilities remains fairly underexplored. This research aims to close this gap by ascertaining key Omni-Channel Dimensions and Capabilities influencing experiential aspects, pertaining to Apparel and Fashion retail, which is a leading category in India. The research first employs a qualitative study to corroborate the appropriateness of the Omni-Channel constructs identified from literature review, in the context of Indian retail market, followed by a quantitative study to validate their influence on Omni- Channel Retail Experience. The research determines key capabilities and dimensions from a retailers perspective that underpin key experience elements. The findings established new knowledge in terms of top priority capabilities towards Omni- Channel adoption, and accordingly designed a novel framework termed Capability Priority Framework as a plausible approach to elevate Omni-Channel Retail Experience. The framework is an original contribution of this research serving as an accelerator for retailers to build and reinforce key Omni-Channel capabilities. The research provides a novel perspective of extending The Dialectic Theory of retailing to a modern context such as Omni-Channel. It serves as a basis for organized retailers in India to realign their strategy towards Omni-Channel adoption, as they embark on this path. Finally, it adds to the knowledge base on Omni-Channel, providing a conceptual background towards strategic retailing and further research in this domain. -
Large Scale Transportation Data Analysis and Distributed Computational Pipeline for Optimal Metro Passenger Flow Prediction
Transportation has a signifcant impact on controlling traffc around a busy city. Among the transport system, metro rails became the backbone by operating above the traffc. For this reason, we have to take special consideration of the passenger and#64258;ow in the transport system and, by understanding the needs, take timely actions for smooth running. Every metro system stores information about the and#64258;ow of passengers in the form of transactions known as Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) data. For this research, AFC data is taken as the primary newlinesource of information to identify the passenger and#64258;ow within the metro rail platform. Each metro system generates massive data throughout its running period and stores data within the system and considering the size of data generated, the analytic platform has to process them in a distributed paradigm to handle quotBig Dataquot. Artifcial Intelligence (AI) algorithms can derives information, insights, and patterns from this data. The patterns in time series can be identifed from the passenger and#64258;ow data using exploratory analysis. The step is an essential step in data science for understanding the underlying properties of the raw data. The research uses a data platform with a distributed computing and storage mechanism called the JP-DAP. The research leverages the above mentioned platform to extract passenger and#64258;ow data from AFC Ticketing data. After the data engineering, the results of passenger and#64258;ow information underwent further visualization and trend analysis. Based on the facts or patterns identifed from the passenger and#64258;ow information, a decision is taken for forecasting. The initial study will reveal the characteristics of metro usage and practices within the system and fnally derive a solution with machine learning-based forecasting method. The passenger and#64258;ow newlineforecasts based on the above patterns depend on factors like seasonality, trends, cyclicity, location, events, and random effects. -
Leadership management strategies and organisational practices with respect to the hotel sector of rainbow tourism group limited
This was a research exercise which sought to explore leadership management strategies and organisational practices taking place in the hotel sector of Rainbow Tourism Group Limited (RTGL). RTGL is one of Zimbabwe s biggest hotel and tourism sector. The hotel portfolio are comprised of Rainbow Towers and Conference Centre, Bulawayo Rainbow, Victoria Falls Rainbow, Kadoma Rainbow and Conference Centre, A Zambezi River Lodge and Ambassador Hotel. The six hotels have a combined total of 886 rooms, with the largest number of 304 rooms being in the five star hotel, Rainbow Towers and Conference Centre and while the rest in the three star group hotels. Other operations outside Zimbabwe are Hotel Edinburg, the Savoy Hotel and a hotel in Mozambique. The problem statement of the research study was to examine the role of organisational culture in shaping the leadership strategies in hotel and catering sector, organizational leadership and their effectiveness in helping to achieve organizational objectives. The following was newlinethe set of objectives that the research sought to achieve. Firstly, the research sought to determine and analyze the different types of leadership strategies adapted by the hotel sector of Rainbow Tourism Group Limited in the hotel sector a Case Study. The second newlineobjective was to determine the environment forces affecting the acceptance and newlineassimilation of the mentioned strategies. Thirdly the research sought to ascertain the newlineefficacy of mentioned strategies in attaining these organisational strategies in the hotel newlinesector of RTGL. The fourth objective was to suggest if any alternate strategies will be newlinerequired to enhance leadership effectiveness in Hotel Sector of the RTGL. Finally the newlineresearch sought to develop a Leadership Model that can be used in the hotel industry. -
Legal Aid Education in Karnataka: A Critical Analysis
Legal Education has witnessed major transformations since the last few decades. The Constitutional ideals of justice, have been the foundational philosophy of legal newlineeducation in India. Consequently, legal aid has been a crucial link in the entire gamut newlineof advancing the values of justice. However, these purposes and ideals have undergone newlinemutations over the years. Aligned to these ideals, the Bar Council of India, had newlineintroduced legal aid as an important pedagogic tool that can fulfil twin mandate of providing justice to the common man and at the same time, train the students of law in newlinethe necessary skills and imbibe values in their journey of professional and social newlinecommitments. The history of legal aid is not new, in India and in the global context, yet legal aid as an educational tool is undermined and least prioritized in institutions that impart legal education. This could be attributed to various reasons, priorities of the institutions, ambiguity in understanding and working towards these goals. With the emergence of National Law Universities and various types of institutions on one hand and the newlineproportional rise in the number of students pursuing legal education on the other hand, newlinecreates a vast arena for the institutions to augment the existing resources in contributing to the societal needs. There have been various studies that have been conducted which focus on certain newlineaspects of law school clinics, specifically in creating Access to Justice. But there have newlinebeen limited studies in considering legal aid as an educational tool in terms of Teaching, newlineLearning and Research. There has been lack of evidence based approach that are employed to understand impending issues that hamper the effective working of legal aid within an institutional set-up. Hence the current study focuses on how the internal and external pressures act on legal aid within four different types of institutions across the state of Karnataka. -
Linear and non linear electroconvection in a micropolar fluid
This thesis presents a theoretical study of linear and non-linear analyses of Rayleigh Bard Marangoni/Rayleigh Bard electro newlineconvection in a micropolar fluid. The effects of non-uniform basic temperature gradient, suction injection combination and gravity newlinemodulation have been studied in the presence of electric field. The effect of heat transfer in a micropolar fluid in the presence of electric field is also studied and results are presented graphically and discussed qualitatively. These problems assume greater importance in geophysics, newlineastrophysics, oceanography, and engineering and in space situations with g-jitter connected with gravity stimulation study. newlineKeeping in mind the importance and relevance of externally controlled internal convection in a micropolar liquid. We deal with four newlineproblems, details of which are given below. newline(i) Effect of non uniform basic temperature gradient on the onset of Rayleigh Bard Marangoni electro convection in a micropolar fluid. The non-uniform temperature gradient finds its origin in the transient heating or cooling at the boundaries and as a result the basic temperature profile depends explicitly on position and time. This has to be determined by solving the coupled momentum and energy equations. This coupling also makes the problem very complicated. In the present study, therefore, we adopt a series of temperature profiles based on a newlinesimplification in the form of a quasi-static approximation that consists of freezing the temperature distribution at a given instant of time. In this method, we assume that the perturbation grows much faster than the newlineinitial state and hence freeze the initial state into some spatial distribution. newlineTherefore the effects of these non-uniform basic temperature gradient and electric field are studied on the onset of Rayleigh Bard Marangoni convection in micropolar fluid. -
Linear and Nonlinear Convection In Dielectric Fluids
The thesis is concerned with linear and nonlinear Rayleigh-Bard electroconvection in a horizontal porous layer. Modified Darcy law is employed to describe the fluid motion. The effect of non-classical heat conduction, chemical reaction, thermal radiation and finite amplitudes on the onset of Darcy electroconvection is considered. The findings of the problems investigated in the thesis may prove useful in heat transfer application situations with dielectric fluids as working medium. The summary of the problems addressed in the thesis is given below.Effect of non-classical heat conduction on Rayleigh-Bard newlineconvection in a horizontal layer of porous medium saturated with a dielectric fluid The method of small perturbations is used to examine the effect of non-classical heat conduction on the onset of Darcy electroconvection. Exact solutions for both stationary and oscillatory instability are obtained and known results have been deduced as limiting cases of the present study. It is shown that electroconvective instability in a Darcy porous layer is hastened by increasing the strengths of second sound and electric newlineforces and that the presence of second sound and dielectrophoretic force leads to shorter wavelength electroconvection. Further, it is found that the effect of Vadasz number is to advance the onset of oscillatory Darcy newlineelectroconvection and oscillatory instability sets in before stationary convection provided that the Vadasz number and the Cattaneo number are sufficiently large. Rayleigh-Bard convection in a horizontal layer of porous medium saturated with a chemically reacting dielectric fluid The problem of the effect of chemical reaction on the onset of Darcy electroconvection in a horizontal porous layer heated from below is newlineinvestigated. It is assumed that the fluid experiences a zero-order exothermic chemical reaction and that there exists a local thermal equilibrium between the fluid and the solid phases. -
Linear and Nonlinear Convection in Magnetic Fluids
The thesis deals with linear and nonlinear Rayleigh-Bard ferroconvection in a horizontal porous layer. Modified Darcy law is used to describe the fluid motion. The effect of chemical reaction, temperature newlinemodulation, gravity modulation and finite amplitudes on the onset of Darcy ferrroconvection is considered. The findings of the problems addressed in the thesis may come in handy for heat transfer application newlinesituations with ferromagnetic fluids as working medium. The summary of the problems investigated in the thesis is given below.Effect of chemical reaction on the onset of ferroconvection in a porous medium The problem of the effect of chemical reaction on the onset of Darcy newlineferrroconvection in a horizontal porous layer heated from below is investigated by means of the classical linear stability analysis. It is assumed that the fluid undergoes a zero-order exothermic chemical reaction and that there exists a local thermal equilibrium between the fluid and the solid phases. It is proved that stationary convection is preferred to the oscillatory mode. The Galerkin method is employed to determine the eigenvalues.The effect of Frank-Kamenetskii number and magnetic parameters on the stability of the system is discussed. It is newlinefound that the basic temperature profile turns out to be more and more nonlinear and asymmetric as the Frank-Kamenetskii number increases and that the effect of both chemical reaction and magnetic forces is to newlinehasten the onset of Darcy ferrroconvection. Further, it is shown that when there is very strong nonlinearity of magnetization, the fluid layer is destabilized slightly. Effect of temperature modulation on the onset of ferroconvection in a porous medium The effect of temperature modulation on the onset of Darcy ferroconvection in a horizontal porous layer heated from below is considered. The analysis is based on the assumption that the amplitude of the temperature modulation is small enough compared with the imposed newlinesteady temperature difference. -
Load Balancing Strategy for Large Scale Software Defined Networks
Programmability has left its mark on every facet of business, with technology playing newlinean integral role. Social networking industry trends underscore technology s ubiquity in newlinenearly every business transaction. Traditional networks grapple with numerous challenges, rendering them ill-equipped to process and handle the demands of the modern newlinelandscape effectively. The lack of programming in these networks leads to stagnation, newlineinhibiting their ability to evolve or enhance performance. The advent of Software Defined Networks (SDN) has introduced increased flexibility into conventional networks, newlineopening avenues for creating innovative services. newlineSDN technology addresses challenges in large-scale networks, offering solutions for newlinehigh throughput, virtualization, fault detection, and load balancing, providing effective network management. The rapid expansion of network services and applications newlinein SDN environments demands sophisticated load-balancing solutions that adapt to newlinedynamic traffic patterns and varying service requirements. This study presents a pioneering algorithm, the Dynamic Load Balancing Algorithm (DLBA), which utilizes the newlineProgramming Protocol-independent Packet Processors (P4) language. The algorithm is newlinespecifically crafted to tackle the issues associated with optimizing traffic distribution in newlinethe data plane of SDN. newlineP4 programming language, recognized as one of the most robust languages, addresses newlinethe limitations of traditional networking, enhancing programmability and agility by newlinedistributing the load across the network. The research implements a novel quotDynamic newlineLoad Balancing Algorithmquot using the P4 language to instill dynamism and achieve load newlinebalance in large-scale networks. The P4-based implementation showcases dynamicity, scalability, flexibility, and adaptability. This research commences with thoroughly newlineexamining existing load-balancing algorithms implemented using the P4 language, followed by a comparative analysis between these algorithms and DLBA. -
Managing individual and orgnizational challenges with respect to diversity perceptions and social capital among members of virtual teams,
Diversity encompasses complex differences and similarities in perspectives, identities, and points of view among members of an institution as well as among individuals who make up the wider community. Diversity includes important and interrelated dimensions of human identity such as race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and newlineexpression, socio-economic status, nationality, citizenship, religion, newlinesexual orientation, ability and age. These differences are important to understand but they cannot be used to predict any individual s values, choices or responses. Organizations with diverse employees are better suited to serve diverse external customers in an increasingly global market. Such organizations have a better understanding of the requirements of the legal, political, social, economic, and cultural environments. Organizations that manage diversity are recipients of more commitment, and better satisfied as well newlineas better performing employees (Patrick and Kumar,2012). newlineEnsuring better social relations among team members has become complex. The nature of teams is not how they used to be, organizations have spread across geographically which has led to the birth of virtual teams. Virtual team members are been separated by time and space this makes it even more difficult to ensure that social capital is being maintained among virtual team members, as only when there is a trust, newlinereciprocity and cooperation among virtual team members they will be better connected individuals who obtain greater advantages, this ensures that groups and organizations improve performance and obtain sustainable competitive advantage (Tsai and Ghoshal, 1998). newlineThe present investigation was focused on understanding the perception of members of virtual teams towards diversity at workplace. newlineThis study newlineassists us to find out how virtual team members can overcome Individual newlineand Organizational Challenges towards diversity and to find out the social newlinerelations among virtual team members, how much trust exists among them. -
Managing Sustainability in Perishable Food Supply Chains : A Case of Mango From Farm-to-Table
This research explores the significant role of India in the global food production sector, with a specific focus on perishable goods. It examines how this sector contributes to rural income and overall economic growth, while also addressing issues like post-harvest losses and inefficiencies in the perishable sector. The study highlights the necessity of a sustainable and efficient perishable sector for the progression of the Indian economy. By utilizing insights from resource-based view theory, stakeholders theory and systems theory, the research delves into the challenges and opportunities present in India's perishable food supply chain, emphasizing the crucial role of farmers in ensuring quality and effectiveness in India. Additionally, the study explores the broader context of Indian agriculture, with a specific focus on the perishable and horticulture sectors, their economic importance, and challenges such as post-harvest losses and the impacts of climate change. The research advocates for a strategic collaborative approach involving governments, businesses and communities to secure the sustainability and resilience of the perishable food supply chain in light of current and future challenges. The existing literature on the perishable food supply chain is evaluated to find the research gaps. This evaluation is conducted through a bibliometric analysis, shedding light on areas that have been neglected or inadequately explored in prior research. The identified gaps serve as the foundation for the research objectives of the study, aiming to fill these voids with fresh insights and discoveries. To establish the groundwork for the investigation, this research also initiates an in-depth discourse on each hypothesis, ensuring that the research design presented is both transparent and logical. The ultimate objective is to enhance comprehension of the perishable foodsupply chain, paving the way for future studies to build upon this foundational work. Then the research seeks to elucidate the research methods utilized to meticulously validate the researchmodel, employing stringent techniques and measures to guarantee the integrity and dependability of the findings. This framework aims to encapsulate the entire research process succinctly, from its fundamental objectives to the eventual implications of its findings, guiding readers through the investigative journey undertaken in the study. To achieve these objectives, a research model is presented that examines the interrelationships between quality, efficiency, sustainability and technological capabilities within the perishable food supply chain. The research methodology employed in this study combines both quantitative and qualitative techniques. It encompasses a detailed description of the sampling procedure and data collection methods, including the utilization of probability sampling techniques and surveys. Furthermore, the statistical tools and techniques employed in the study is Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The study formulates a comprehensive model that takes into account quality, efficiency and sustainability within the perishable food supply chain, with a specific focus on the moderating impact of technological capabilities. It identifiespositive connections between quality and sustainability, efficiency and sustainability, as well as the combined influence of quality and efficiency on sustainability. Technological capabilities are revealed to bolster these connections, underscoring the significance of circularity in the supply chain to minimize waste and align with sustainability objectives. The research concludes by providing insights on the challenges and prospective pathways towards more sustainable, efficient, and quality-driven practices in the perishable sector, particularly in light of technological advancements and the global trend towards circularity. -
Mapping Cityscapes : Interrogating the Cultural Spaces in the Select Novels of Bapsi Sidhwa
Bapsi Sidhwa (1939) a well-known Pakistani Zoroastrian novelist in English offers the cityscapes of Lahore that provide the settings for her fictional works. The select newlinenovels for the study include The Crow Eaters (1978), The Pakistani Bride (1983), IceCandy Man (1988) and An American Brat (1993). Fascinated by the cityscapes of Lahore, the novelist personalizes the cityscapes and the personalized cityscapes are fictionalized. The novelist is aided by imagination. However, the imagined cityscapes in the select novels become illegible with a growing sense of alienation from the city. The cityscapes are cityspaces that are shape shifting. The metaphorical cityscapes in newlinethe select novels are woven with imagination, memory and nostalgia. The thesis examines the fictional representation of the cityscapes of Lahore and the relationship between the novelist and the imagined cityscapes. The study adopts the method of qualitative textual analysis in an attempt to examine the cityscapes. This illumines the in-between status of the cityscapes connecting the factual and fictional images of the city. The study unveils a layered construction of heterogeneous cityscapes which are selective and subjective. The urban cultural spaces are interrogated through the fictional characters who experience the city like fleurs and contribute to the making of the spatial stories. The acts of walking in the city offer knowledge of the city which enables the fictional characters to attain self-awareness. The awareness helps in achieving autonomy in the movements of the fictional characters. However, only a few fictional characters are perfect fleurs and the others view the city as voyeurs. Since the imagined cityscapes of Lahore are guided by the sense of place, the legibility of the cityscapes declines with the acts of alienation from the city. However, the novelist attempts to recover the palimpsest cityscapes from memory through cognitive mapping.