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Can Leaders Transform Humiliation Into a Creative Force?
The intractable group conflicts, mass killings, and genocides around the world attest to the role of humiliation as a negative force causing violence and destruction. Based on the analysis of the speeches of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the most important leader of Dalits (ex-untouchables) in India, it is suggested that leaders possess the capacity for creative use of humiliation. The creative use of humiliation is made possible by the innovation in constructing social identities involved in humiliation. Creative leadership can be an important catalyst that can transform humiliation into a positive force for social change. 2015 University of Phoenix. -
Comparison of genetic algorithm with Particle Swarm Optimisation, ant colony optimisation and Tabu search based on university course scheduling system
Objectives: Planning and allocation of the various resources according to the constraints is a hilarious task. The paper aims to find a suitable method to solve the university course scheduling problem. Methods and Statistical Analysis: This paper compares the usage of Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO), Ant Colony Optimisation (ACO), Tabu Search and Genetic Algorithm (GA) in the preparation of University Course Scheduling System. Certain hard constraints, which has to be satisfied and some soft constraints that can be satisfied are considered. Findings: The algorithm should check for the satisfaction of the hard constraints and the possibility of satisfying the soft constraints. Application/Improvements: The performance of the suitable method is found by comparing with the other methods based on various parameters. -
Microstructural evolution and wear characteristics of equal channel angular pressing processed semi-solid-cast hypoeutectic aluminum alloys
This work investigated the microstructural evolution of Al-7Si-Mg alloy cast semi-solid using a cooling slope as well as conventional casting followed by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) in a 120 die. Feed materials were prepared for ECAP by cooling slope casting and by conventional casting. The microstructure of the processed alloys extruded was observed by optical microscope and by transmission electron microscope, and their hardness and wear resistance were evaluated. After ECAP processing, the primary ?-Al phase tended to be elongated while the Si particles became fragmented and more nearly globular in shape and uniform in size than in the as-cast sample. The microstructure of the cooling slope-cast ECAPed samples was more homogenous than that of the conventionally cast ECAPed sample. The ?-Al phase sub-grains were refined to sub-micrometer sizes for samples cast by both methods after ECAP. The hardness of the cooling slope-cast ECAPed sample was also higher than that of the conventionally cast ECAPed sample. The wear resistance of the alloy improved after cooling slope casting and ECAP processing. 2014 The Authors. -
Successful turnarounds: the role of appropriate entrepreneurial strategies
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to report on a research study aimed at comparing the causes of organisational decline and turnaround strategies involved in cases of successful and unsuccessful turnarounds, with a view to identifying the differences, if any, between the two groups, which in turn is expected to provide useful information to academics, practitioners and policy makers. Design/methodology/approach Since turnaround is a business phenomenon of general interest, their stories are often published in business periodicals, which are a rich source of data on them. In order to tap this data source, the present paper employed a method of content analysis for the proposed investigation on the cause of organisational decline and turnaround strategies used. In order to quantify the data, a three-point scale was developed, where the presence of a cause/strategy is rated as 3, its ambivalence as 2 and its absence as 1, whose validity was assessed through the inter-rater agreement indices. The data thus generated are amenable to statistical analyses, using which the more commonly prevalent causes of organisational decline and the strategies commonly employed for turnaround by the successful and unsuccessful companies are identified. Findings The findings of the present study have generated a few useful insights. First, the primary causes for organisational decline are the internal weaknesses of the organisation; in fact the external changes can adversely affect the organisation only if it is internally weak. Second, organisational decline caused by multiple factors (which is usually the case) can be managed effectively by adopting a variety of strategies; hence a single-pronged strategy is often found to be ineffective. Third, the more successful turnarounds had a diverse portfolio of strategies including those of institution-building, often employed in a phased manner, consistent with the stage theories of turnaround. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this research arise mainly from the generation of data from published sources and the consequent biases, which can be managed, to a large extent, by using multiple sources for the same case for reducing the publishers biases as well as by having multiple raters for identifying the researchers biases, if any. Originality/value The study has highlighted the need for addressing the internal causes of organisational decline on a priority-basis rather than blaming the external factors, besides pointing to the need for adopting a variety of strategies for dealing with the diversity of causes affecting the organisations health, particularly the need for institutionalising the changes. These findings can be of help especially to turnaround managers and policy-makers in dealing with organisational decline and thus contribute to the creation and enhancement of economic value. 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited. -
The social representations of academic achievement and failure
This study tried to explore the ways in which the construct of academic achievement and failure is conceptualized and represented among different social categories based on educational roles. It was indicated that social representations of academic achievement and failure function in broader social contexts. Findings also suggested that academic achievement and failure are not the antinomies and have multidimensional aspects which collaborate and have greater bearing on the future social outcomes. National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India 2015. -
Estimation of ground state and excited state dipole moments of a novel Schiff base derivative containing 1, 2, 4-triazole nucleus by solvatochromic method
A novel schiff base derivative containing 1, 2, 4-triazole moiety (NBTMPA) has been synthesized from 4- [1, 2, 4] triazol-1-ylmethyl-phenylamine and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde in the presence of glacial acetic acid in an ethanolic medium. The absorbance and fluorescence spectra of (4-nitro-benzylidene)-(4- [1, 2, 4] triazol-1-ylmethyl-phenyl)-amine (NBTMPA) were recorded in various solvents to investigate their solvatochromic behaviour. Dipole moments of the two electronic states of NBTMPA were calculated from solvatochromic spectral shifts. These were correlated with the refractive index (n) and dielectric constant (?) of various solvents. Theoretical calculations were performed to estimate the excited state dipole moment on the basis of different solvent correlation methods, like the Bilot-Kawski, Bakhshiev, Lippert-Mataga, Kawski-Chamma-Viallet and Reichardt methods. The dipole moment in the excited state was found to be higher than that in the ground state due to a substantial redistribution of electron densities and charges. Using a multiple regression analysis, the solvent-solute interactions were determined by means of Kamlet Taft parameters (?, ?, ??). Computational studies were performed by Gaussian 09 W software using a time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) in order to calculate the atomic charges and frontier molecular orbital energies in the solvent phase. The calculations indicated that the dipole moment of the molecule in an excited state is much higher than that in a ground state. The chemical stability of NBTMPA was determined by means of chemical hardness (?) using HOMO-LUMO energies. The reactive centres in the molecule were also identified by molecular electrostatic potential (MESP) 3D plots as a result of a TDDFT computational analysis. 2015 Elsevier B.V. -
The Nainital-Cape Survey: IV. A search for pulsational variability in 108 chemically peculiar stars
The Nainital-Cape Survey is a dedicated ongoing survey program to search for and study pulsational variability in chemically peculiar (CP) stars to understand their internal structure and evolution. Aims. The main aims of this survey are to find new pulsating Ap and Am stars in the northern and southern hemisphere and to perform asteroseismic studies of these new pulsators. Methods. The survey is conducted using high-speed photometry. The candidate stars were selected on the basis of having Stromgren photometric indices similar to those of known pulsating CP stars. Results. Over the last decade a total of 337 candidate pulsating CP stars were observed for the Nainital-Cape Survey, making it one of the longest ground-based surveys for pulsation in CP stars in terms of time span and sample size. The previous papers of this series presented seven new pulsating variables and 229 null results. In this paper we present the light curves, frequency spectra and various astrophysical parameters of the 108 additional CP stars observed since the last reported results. We also tabulated the basic physical parameters of the known roAp stars. As a part of establishing the detection limits in the Nainital-Cape Survey, we investigated the scintillation noise level at the two observing sites used in this survey, Sutherland and Nainital, by comparing the combined frequency spectra stars observed from each location. Our analysis shows that both the sites permit the detection of variations of the order of 0.6 milli-magnitude (mmag) in the frequency range 1-4 mHz, Sutherland is on average marginally better. 2016 ESO. -
The behaviour of macro and micro economic variables and the impact on systematic risk of non-banking finance companies
The reforms initiated by the Indian Government during 1990 have brought in drastic changes in the financial sector functioning so as to make competitive with financial markets worldwide. The Indian financial Sector has expanded and acquired greater depth to get itself competitive with new participants in the market. The new liberal business policies introduced by the government due to financial reforms have brought in fundamental changes in the structure and functioning of Banking and Non Banking Institutions, their business models and the products and services offered by them. Global economic developments have altered the macro economic conditions of the respective nations and make the nations and their economies vulnerable to economic shocks in the form of systematic risk associated with their business activities. Macro economic factors at broader level and micro economic factors at the firm level have had effect on the risk level, assessing risk, measuring and managing risk has become paramount for banks and others Non Banking financial Institutions alike. Individual influence of factors on the systematic risk as there is weak relationship with Beta but combined effect of factors is very positive on the systematic risk of the companies. -
Impact of user-generated content on purchase intention for fashion products: A study on women consumers in Bangalore
The advent of online media has been instrumental in providing consumers with quick, relevant, and convenient information on products and services. The success of such media has been established for businesses such as tourism, automobile, and consumer electronics- wherein consumers tend to decide on final purchases based on user - generated content (UGC) such as customer reviews and feedback rather than on traditional advertising media. With short lead times, quick turnaround of products, and frequent changes in offerings, the fashion industry is also exploring the use of such user-generated content for marketing its products. This study sought to explore and understand the relevant factors that draw consumers towards the usage of user-generated content (UGC) in the online space for the fashion business, and its impact on the purchase intention for different categories of fashion products. The study focused on the cosmopolitan city of Bengaluru, known for its fashion centricity and brand awareness. It attempted to analyze the factors for reference to media content generated by co-consumers, especially amongst women, and inferred that content that provides them with gratifications relating to social acceptance are more liable to positively influence their intent to purchase. It also specifically identified product categories that are liable to benefit from such content. -
Search for low-mass objects in the globular cluster M4. I. Detection of variable stars
With every new discovery of an extrasolar planet, the absence of planets in globular clusters (GCs) becomes more and more conspicuous. Null detection of transiting hot Jupiters in GCs 47 Tuc, ? Cen, and NGC 6397 presents an important puzzle, raising questions about the role played by cluster metallicity and environment on formation and survival of planetary systems in densely populated stellar clusters. GCs were postulated to have many free-floating planets, for which microlensing (ML) is an established tool for detection. Dense environments, well-constrained distances and kinematics of lenses and sources, and photometry of thousands of stars simultaneously make GCs the ideal targets to search for ML. We present first results of a multisite, 69-night-long campaign to search for ML signatures of low-mass objects in the GC M4, which was chosen because of its proximity, location, and the actual existence of a planet. M4 was observed in R and I bands by two telescopes, 1 m T40 and 18-inch C18, of the Wise Observatory, Tel Aviv, Israel, from 2011 April to July. Observations on the 1 m telescope were carried out in service mode, gathering 12 to 48 20 s exposures per night for a total of 69 nights. C18 observations were done for about 4 hr a night for six nights in 2011 May. We employ a semiautomated pipeline to calibrate and reduce the images to the light curves that our group is developing for this purpose, which includes the differential photometry package DIAPL, written by Wozniak and modified by W. Pych. Several different diagnostics are employed for search of variability/transients. While no high-significance ML event was found in this observational run, we have detected more than 20 new variables and variable candidates in the M4 field, which we present here. 2016. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. -
Launch power determination algorithm for dynamic traffic provisioning in mixed-line-rate optical wavelength division multiplexed networks
In transparent mixed-line-rate (MLR) optical networks, different line rates, on different wavelengths, can coexist on the same fibre. However, along the path, signal experiences various physical layer impairments (PLIs), and its quality also degrades. A major factor that affects transmission quality is launch power of the optical signal. On one hand, power must be high enough to ensure less noise at receiver; on the other hand, it must be lower than the limit where PLIs start to distort the signal. Further, high launch power is disruptive to both, the actual lightpath and its neighbours. In this study, we investigate the problem of determining appropriate launch power for provisioning dynamic connection requests in transparent MLR networks. We propose a heuristic that determines the appropriate launch power of a lightpath. The PLI-average (PLI-A) approach is based on the optical reach of signals, is practical, and can adapt to the needs of network operators. Results show that performances of the proposed approach are better than the existing schemes. Copyright 2015 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. -
Mixed convection in the stagnation-point flow over a vertical stretching sheet in the presence of thermal radiation
An unsteady two-dimensional stagnation-point mixed convection flow of a viscous, incompressible dusty fluid towards a vertical stretching sheet has been examined. The stretching velocity and the free stream velocity are assumed to vary linearly with the distance from the stagnation point. The problem is analyzed using similarity solutions. The similarity ordinary differential equations were then solved numerical by using the RKF-45 method. The effects of various physical parameters on the velocity profile and skin-friction coefficient are also discussed in this paper. Some important findings reported in this work reveal that the effect of radiation has a significant impact on controlling the rate of heat transfer in the boundary layer region. -
Highly selective first order derivative spectrophotometric determination of osmium(VIII) using anthranilic acid as a chromogenic reagent
A simple, selective and sensitive spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of osmium(VIII) using anthranilic acid as a reagent in the presence of Triton X-100. The molar absorptivity and Sandells sensitivity of the violet coloured species are 3.03 104L mol-1cm-1 and 3.5 ng cm-2 respectively. Beers law is obeyed between 0.5-5.5 ?g mL-1 of Os(VIII) at 500 nm. The stoichiometry of the complex is found to be 1:2 (metal: ligand). Calibration graph for the first order derivative spectrophotometric determination of Os(VIII) is derived by measuring derivative amplitudes at 525 nm with a linear range 0.25-5.5 ?g mL-1. The detection limit and quantitation limit of first order derivative spectrophotometry are found to be 0.075 and 0.25 ?g mL-1, respectively.1 1The metal ions, which are normally associated with osmium in catalysts and alloy samples, do not interfere. The proposed method has been successfully applied for the trace level determination of osmium in various synthetic mixtures containing commonly associated metal ions and corresponding to the alloy composition. 2015, National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources (NISCAIR). All rights reserved. -
K? to K? X-ray intensity ratios and K to L shell vacancy transfer probabilities of Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn
The K to L shell total vacancy transfer probabilities of low Z elements Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn are estimated by measuring the K? to K? intensity ratio adopting the 2?-geometry. The target elements were excited by 32.86 keV barium K-shell X-rays from a weak 137Cs ?-ray source. The emitted K-shell X-rays were detected using a low energy HPGe X-ray detector coupled to a 16 k MCA. The measured intensity ratios and the total vacancy transfer probabilities are compared with theoretical results and others work, establishing a good agreement. 2015, Pleiades Publishing, Inc. -
SARDS: Secured anonymous routing with digital signature in wireless sensor network
A Wireless Sensor Network has witnessed a massive research towards security as well as energy efficiency in past decades. However, there are few studies that have witnessed a cost effective secure routing technique with energy effectiveness till date. Objectives: Our objective is to use public key cryptography for ensuring energy-efficient routing technique in Wireless Sensor Network. Method/Analysis: The proposed paper presents a technique called as SARDS (Secured Anonymous Routing with Digital Signature) that performs verification of the routing information exchanged among the sensors in Wireless Sensor Network. SARDS uses elliptical curve cryptography as the backbone of security formulations and performs authentication of all the communicating nodes present in the network. Findings: The system also allows a dual layer of security by introducing a novel signature based scheme towards public key encryption policy. The outcome of the study shows SARDS to excel best in performance in comparison of existing security and energy efficient routing schemes. Application/Improvements: Proposed SARDS technique offers 1) A novel public key encryption, 2) A novel digital signature scheme, and 3) A novel privacy or anonymous scheme. The outcome of the proposed system is also found to be superior as compared to existing protocols e.g. SecLEACH, LEACH and PEGASIS. -
A survey on next-generation mixed line rate (MLR) and energy-driven wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks
With the ever-increasing traffic demands, infrastructure of the current 10 Gbps optical network needs to be enhanced. Further, since the energy crisis is gaining increasing concerns, new research topics need to be devised and technological solutions for energy conservation need to be investigated. In all-optical mixed line rate (MLR) network, feasibility of a lightpath is determined by the physical layer impairment (PLI) accumulation. Contrary to PLI-aware routing and wavelength assignment (PLIA-RWA) algorithm applicable for a 10 Gbps wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) network, a new Routing, Wavelength, Modulation format assignment (RWMFA) algorithm is required for the MLR optical network. With the rapid growth of energy consumption in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), recently, lot of attention is being devoted toward "green" ICT solutions. This article presents a review of different RWMFA (PLIA-RWA) algorithms for MLR networks, and surveys the most relevant research activities aimed at minimizing energy consumption in optical networks. In essence, this article presents a comprehensive and timely survey on a growing field of research, as it covers most aspects of MLR and energy-driven optical networks. Hence, the author aims at providing a comprehensive reference for the growing base of researchers who will work on MLR and energy-driven optical networks in the upcoming years. Finally, the article also identifies several open problems for future research. 2015 by De Gruyter. -
Influence of grandparents on the emotional intelligence of early adolescents in Kerala
Children find unique acceptance in their relationships with grandparents, which benefits them emotionally and mentally. The presence of grandparents in the family can be a source of great support for other family members, especially children and adolescents. They are often role models, playmates and mentors for younger generations. The aim of the study is to compare emotional intelligence of adolescents with regard to the influence of grandparents through a quantitative research design. The sample taken for this research comprised of 427 adolescents of VIII to XII standards, among which 278 were from nuclear families and 149 from three generation families. They belonged to ten different government aided urban state syllabus English medium schools in Kerala. Mangal Emotional Intelligence Inventory was used to yield the total score and four dimensional scores in areas of Intrapersonal awareness, Interpersonal awareness, Intrapersonal management and Interpersonal management in adolescents. An independent sample t-test between two types of families indicated that grandparents have an influence on the emotional intelligence of adolescents. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology. -
Discontinuities in the trajectory of solar photovoltaic (SPV) technology development in India
The objective of this paper is to understand different phases of solar photovoltaic (SPV) technology in India and the interplay of scientific, technological, economic, and political factors in each of the phases. There are four distinct phases. In the first-phase (1947-1970), SPV technology was recognized as an important source of energy for countries like India. In the second phase (1971-1990), the oil crisis led to the formulation of new scientific and technological initiatives and programs in SPV, but due to a lack of political commitment the initiatives disintegrated. In the third phase (1991-2003), several factors seemed to have undermined the development of SPV sector. Currently in the fourth phase (2003 to the present), India has virtually lost the race for development of photovoltaic technology. Within the context of climate change and resource constraint, India has reformulated its strategy which has taken the form of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission Plan (JNNSM).This paper examines how JNNSM influences indigenous attempts in photovoltaic technology development. The paper shows how scientific, technological, economic and political factors have contributed to discontinuities in the development of the technology. Koninklijke Brill Nv, Leiden 2015. -
Recognition and Understanding of Emotions in Persons with Mild to Moderate Mental Retardation
Deficits in intellectual ability have been linked to deficits in emotion understanding and consequently social competence. Research suggests that individuals with mental retardation exhibit deficits in their ability to identify emotional states in themselves and others, relative to normal mental age matched controls and peers and display an inability to decode facial expressions of emotion. Emotional experience is elicited in part by a cognitive appraisal of a situation toward a goal. However, the ecological validity of previous studies is limited. In this study we developed new materials to investigate the emotion understanding skills of persons with mild to moderate mental retardation. Six tasks included faces displaying emotion in context, comic strips, audio, video and audio-visual material of individuals expressing emotions in context. Results indicated that the mentally retarded were able to identify emotions in context than expressions without context and emotion understanding improved with increasing contextual cues and dynamic content. 2014, Springer India Pvt. Ltd. -
DFT electronic structure calculations, spectroscopic studies, and normal coordinate analysis of 2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl acetate
The solid phase FTIR and FT-Raman spectra of 2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl acetate (25N2LCPA) have been recorded 450-4000 cm-1 and 100-4000 cm-1 respectively. The normal coordinate analysis was carried out to confirm the precision of the assignments. DFT calculations have been performed giving energies, optimized structures, harmonic vibrational frequencies and IR intensities. The structure of the molecule was optimized and the structural characteristics were determined by density functional theory (DFT) using B3LYP method with 6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The detailed interpretation of the vibrational spectra has been carried out with aid of normal coordinate analysis (NCA) following the scaled quantum mechanical force field methodology. The Vibrational frequencies are calculated in the above method and are compared with experimental frequencies which yield good agreement between observed and calculated frequencies. Stability of the molecule arising from hyper conjugative interactions, charge delocalization has been analyzed using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis. In addition, Frontiers molecular orbital and molecular electrostatic potential were computed by using Density Functional Theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) basis set. The calculated HOMO and LUMO energies show that charge transfer occurs in the molecule. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.