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Assessment of mutagenicity caused by popular baby foods and baby plastic-ware products: An imperative study using microbial bioassays and migration analysis
Specialized products for infants have become every parent's first choice. Although these products claim to be safe and mild for infant use, yet there is a need to monitor them using different tools for mutagenicity detection to ensure further safety. In this study, a range of popular ready to eat and powdered baby foods, formula milk powders and attractive plasticware for infants were picked from the Indian market and tested for their mutagenicity using two microbial bioassays based on Salmonella typhimurium, viz., Ames bacterial reversion assay and fluctuation assay. Furthermore, chemical migration analysis was done on the most toxic baby food and baby plasticware samples as shown by the bioassays to detect possible leaching of Bisphenol a (BPA), lead and Di-2 ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP). It was surprising to find that the products made for the most risk-prone group in the society, i.e., infants have a significant potential to cause mutagenicity. 2018 Elsevier Inc. -
Assessment of SERVQUAL Model in Hospitals Located in Tier II Cities of India
Service quality, being an assessment of services offered to a customer or the extent to which the services offered meets customers expectations, plays a significant role in healthcare industry. Patients pay hefty prices for the services they avail from specialty hospitals and they demand quality services. Hospitals have a larger challenge in delivering these services effectively to the patients. The current study helps us understand the role of information systems in service delivery process. Most of the hospitals have adopted healthcare information systems due to the benefit it provides. The study attempts to analyze the impact of information systems on service quality in the hospitals which are located in Tier II cities. The popular SERVQUAL model is adopted for this purpose. Patients who visit the hospitals were part of the respondent group. Gap score is found in order to observe the expected and actual experience of the patients based on five dimensions. 2018, 2018 Indian Institute of Health Management Research. -
Assessment of Shear Stress Distribution in Meandering Compound Channels with Differential Roughness Through Various Artificial Intelligence Approach
Accurate prediction of shear stress distribution along the boundary in an open channel is the key to solving numerous critical engineering problems such as flood control, sediment transport, riverbank protection, and others. Similarly, the estimation of flow discharge in flood conditions is also challenging for engineers and scientists. The flow structure in compound channels becomes complicated due to the transfer of momentum between the deep main channel and the adjoining floodplains, which affects the distribution of shear force and flow rate across the width. Percentage sharing of shear force at floodplain (%Sfp) is dependent on the non-dimensional parameters like width ratio of the channel (?) , relative depth (?) , sinuosity (s) , longitudinal channel bed slope (So) , meander belt width ratio (?) , and differential roughness (?). In this paper, various artificial intelligence approaches such as multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), group method of data handling Neural Network (GMDH-NN), and gene-expression programming (GEP) are adopted to construct model equations for determining %Sfp for meandering compound channels with relative roughness. The influence of each parameter used in the model for predicting the %Sfp is also analyzed through sensitivity analysis. Statistical indices are employed to assess the performance of these models. Validation of the developed %Sfp model is performed for the experimental observations by conventional analytical models; to verify their effectiveness. Results indicate that the proposed GMDH-NN model predicted the %Sfp satisfactorily with the coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.98 and 0.97 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 0.05% and 0.04% for training and testing dataset, respectively as compared to GEP and MARS. The developed model is also validated with various sinuous channels having sinuosity 1.343, 1.91 and 2.06. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. -
Assessment of the strength of grignard reagent for the synthesis of secondary and tertiary alcohols of terpenes using metal plate flow reactor
The secondary and tertiary alcohols of terpenes were synthesized from aldehydes, and ketones using allyl magnesium chloride by the continuous metal flow reactor method. The flow process was conducted using metal plate reactors of 10 ml capacity in the presence of solvent mixtures, instead of large amounts of pure solvent like tetrahydrofuran. The products were isolated, and confirmed using gas chromatography and Nuclear magnetic resonance techniques respectively. Subsequently, the optimization studies were conducted to obtain mild, and economical reaction conditions, by varying the amount of allyl magnesium chloride, temperature, pressure, retention time, and flow rates. A comparison between batch processes and flow processes proved the advantages of the flow process in terms of reproducibility and product yield without the requirement of excess reagents compared to the batch process. The product yield was found to be excellent (6097 %) and reproducible at (150) gram scale through flow process. The scope of the reaction was studied by synthesizing terpene alcohols using different carbonyl compounds at optimized reaction conditions, which resulted in high product yield. This research addresses a crucial gap in terpene alcohol synthesis, offering a scalable and environmentally friendly approach with broad applicability. 2024 -
ASSESSMENT OF WATER QUALITY IMPACTS ON CROP PRODUCTIVITY IN SALINE SOILS: INTEGRATING HYDRO CHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND CROP PERFORMANCE
This study aims to address the effect of water quality on crop productivity on saline soils. Water quality parameters to be studied include salinity level, pH, oxygen concentration, nutrient, and heavy metal level. The study will particularly focus on irrigation water sources that are situated in regions characterised by saline soils. Moreover, there are intended growth experiments for the evaluation of various specific crops such as rice, wheat or maize with different levels of water quality. The study will incorporate sophisticated analytical tools including ion chromatography, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), and electric field mapping (EMI) to shed light on the current water quality and soil conditions of the selected area. The experiments that we plan to conduct will involve studying the growth parameters, yield, water use efficiency and the percentage of uptake of nutrients under several water quality scenarios. The data collected in this work will ascertain the link between the values of water quality parameters, soil salinity extent and productivity of crops and will provide the basis for the creation of innovative saline soil agriculture irrigation management practices. 2024, Scibulcom Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Asset liability management to control the volatility in net interest income and economic value through gap analysis of selected public and private sector banks /
International Journal Of Academic Research In Business And Social Science, Vol.6, Issue 1, pp.123-142, ISSN: 2222-6990. -
Assimilating sense into disaster recovery databases and judgement framing proceedings for the fastest recovery
The replication between the primary and secondary (standby) databases can be configured in either synchronous or asynchronous mode. It is referred to as out-of-sync in either mode if there is any lag between the primary and standby databases. In the previous research, the advantages of the asynchronous method were demonstrated over the synchronous method on highly transactional databases. The asynchronous method requires human intervention and a great deal of manual effort to configure disaster recovery database setups. Moreover, in existing setups there was no accurate calculation process for estimating the lag between the primary and standby databases in terms of sequences and time factors with intelligence. To address these research gaps, the current work has implemented a self-image looping database link process and provided decision-making capabilities at standby databases. Those decisions from standby are always in favor of selecting the most efficient data retrieval method and being in sync with the primary database. The purpose of this paper is to add intelligence and automation to the standby database to begin taking decisions based on the rate of concurrency in transactions at primary and out-of-sync status at standby. 2023 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved. -
Association Between Emotional Intelligence and Marital Quality of Married Couples
International Journal of Physical and Social Sciences, Vol-2 (12), pp. 222-235. ISSN-2249-5894 -
AstroSat's view of 4U 1735-44: spectral, temporal, and type I X-ray burst studies
This study utilizes the simultaneous broad-band observations of 4U 1735-44 from AstroSat, offering enhanced spectral and temporal resolution, to investigate its spectral properties, temporal behaviour, and burst characteristics. Spectral, type I X-ray burst, and temporal analyses on 4U 1735-44 were performed using AstroSat/Soft X-ray Telescope and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter (LAXPC) observations. The hardness-intensity diagram from LAXPC-20 showed a positive correlation between hardness and intensity, with a pattern resembling the banana branch typical of atoll sources. Spectral analysis carried out in the 0.7-20.0 keV energy range, using the model combination - (), suggested a cool accretion disc truncated at a large distance from the neutron star in the system. Time-resolved spectral studies of two type I X-ray bursts detected from the source revealed evidence of photospheric radius expansion, allowing for an estimation of the source distance. Temporal analysis showed the presence of low-frequency quasi-periodic oscillation at 69 Hz (3.3 significance with more than 99 per cent confidence) and prominent noise features below 30 Hz. 2024 The Author(s). -
Asymmetric dynamic conditional copula correlation and fundamental determinants of interest rate comovement
We study time-varying interest rate comovement and its determinants for the retail banking sector in the euro area over pre-crisis and during crisis, between 2003 and 2018. The analysis is conducted for 11 euro area countries, each classified as either core or periphery. Copula Asymmetric DCC-GARCH is estimated for each country-pair to measure the dynamic interest rate correlations for deposits and loans to households. We then examine the determinants by regressing quarterly correlations on macroeconomic and cross-border linkages, banking, and sociological variables. We also assess the impact of the two crises and of policy initiatives, including negative interest rate, Single Supervisory Mechanism, and Single Regulatory Mechanism. Different panel regressions reveal limited, although varied, influence of determinants on correlations across different products, maturities, and country groups. We conclude that the intrinsic features of the retail banking industry, such as customers' trust, information asymmetry, and political influence, hinder strong interest rate convergence in the euro area. 2019-Center for Economic Integration, Sejong Institution, Sejong University, All Rights Reserved. -
Asymmetric dynamic conditional copula correlation and fundamental determinants of interest rate comovement /
Journal of Economic Integration, Vol.34, Issue 4, pp.667-704, ISSN No: 1225-651X. -
At the Interface of Colonial Knowing and Unknowing: A Critical Reading of the Golden Camellia in Amitav Ghoshs River of Smoke
This paper is a critical reading of Amitav Ghoshs fictional representation of modes of acquisition, assimilation and dissemination of colonial knowledge in River of Smoke (2012). The paper highlights the cultural exchange of botanical and horticultural knowledge between Europe and China in the nineteenth century narrativized by Ghosh. The novel illustrates the significance of non-Eurocentric modes of conserving knowledge that would otherwise suffer from the violence of utilitarian models of European epistemology. The paper explicates how Ghosh represents the Chinese as successful in ensuring that the Golden Camelliaa rare flowering variety in Chinais preserved from falling prey to the profiteering logic of botanical expeditions and epistemic hegemony by European naturalists. Using Pramod Nayars imperial cosmopolitanism and Robert Proctors agnotology as critical frames, the paper maps Ghoshs fictional representation of Chinese horticulturists using botanical illustration to disable Europeans from accessing the Golden Camellia. By circulating the nonexistence of the plant variety as the truth, the Chinese horticulturalists in the novel prevent the Golden Camellia from being usurped and profiteered by European botanists and plant traders. The paper also establishes how Ghoshs work functions as a significant addition to works foregrounding the South-South connection in the South Asian literary imagination. 2020 South Asian Literary Association. -
Attachment to God: Narratives of Roman Catholic Priests
This narrative analysis was aimed at exploring the attachment to God narratives of 28 middle-aged Roman Catholic Religious priests rendering their service in various settings in South India. The study found that majority of the Roman Catholic priests had developed representations of a secure attachment to God. Twenty-six priests had developed representations of a secure attachment to God, and two priests of an insecure attachment to God. The Majority of the Roman Catholic priests had developed representations of a secure attachment to more than one spiritual attachment figures. Along with God, most priests had also developed representations of a secure attachment to the Virgin Mary. All the major themes related to attachment to God were found in the narratives of the Roman Catholic Priests. Author(s) 2020. -
Attenuation parameters of polyvinyl alcohol-tungsten oxide composites at the photon energies 5.895, 6.490, 59.54 and 662 keV
The growing demand for lightweight, non-toxic and effective X-A nd ?-ray shielding materials in various fields has led to the exploration of various polymer composites for shielding applications. In this study, tungsten filled polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) composites of varying WO3 concentrations (0-50 wt%) were prepared by solution cast technique. The structural, morphological, and thermal properties of the prepared composite films were studied using X-ray diffraction technique (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The AC conductivity studies showed the low conductivity property of the composites. The X-ray (5.895 and 6.490 keV) and ?-ray (59.54 and 662 keV) attenuation studies performed using CdTe and NaI(Tl) detector spectrometers revealed a noticeable increase in shielding efficiency with increase in filler wt%. The effective atomic number (Zeff) calculated by the direct method agreed with the values obtained using Auto-Zeff software. The % heaviness showed that tungsten filled polyvinyl alcohol composites are lighter than traditional shielding materials. 2020 M V Muthamma et al., published by Sciendo 2020. -
Attenuation properties of epoxy-Ta2O5 and epoxy-Ta2O5-Bi2O3 composites at ?-ray energies 59.54 and 662 keV
Epoxy resin filled with suitable high Z elements can be a potential shield for X-rays and ?-rays. In this work, we present the ?-ray attenuation properties of epoxy composites filled with (030 wt%) Tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5) and Ta2O5-Bi2O3, which were prepared by open mold cast technique. X-ray diffraction patterns showed crystalline peaks of Ta2O5 and bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) in the prepared epoxy-Ta2O5 and epoxy-Ta2O5-Bi2O3 composites. Homogeneity of the samples at higher filler wt% was revealed by SEM images. Mechanical characterization showed the enhanced mechanical strength of epoxy-Ta2O5-Bi2O3 composites compared to epoxy-Ta2O5. Higher storage modulus and glass transition temperature of the epoxy-Ta2O5-Bi2O3 composites showed enhanced stiffness and thermal stability when compared to neat and epoxy-Ta2O5. Decrease in the value of tan(?) at higher content of filler loadings indicated the good adhesion between filler and matrix. Mass attenuation coefficients of epoxy-Ta2O5 (30 wt%) composites at ?-ray energies 59.54 and 662 keV were found to be 0.876 cm2 g1 and 0.084 cm2 g1, while that of epoxy-Ta2O5-Bi2O3 (30 wt% Bi2O3) composite were 1.271 cm2 g1 and 0.088 cm2 g1, respectively. The epoxy-5% Ta2O5-30% Bi2O3 composites with higher ?/? value and tensile strength may be a potential ?-ray shield in various radiation environments. 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. -
AttGRU-HMSI: enhancing heart disease diagnosis using hybrid deep learning approach
Heart disease is a major global cause of mortality and a major public health problem for a large number of individuals. A major issue raised by regular clinical data analysis is the recognition of cardiovascular illnesses, including heart attacks and coronary artery disease, even though early identification of heart disease can save many lives. Accurate forecasting and decision assistance may be achieved in an effective manner with machine learning (ML). Big Data, or the vast amounts of data generated by the health sector, may assist models used to make diagnostic choices by revealing hidden information or intricate patterns. This paper uses a hybrid deep learning algorithm to describe a large data analysis and visualization approach for heart disease detection. The proposed approach is intended for use with big data systems, such as Apache Hadoop. An extensive medical data collection is first subjected to an improved k-means clustering (IKC) method to remove outliers, and the remaining class distribution is then balanced using the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE). The next step is to forecast the disease using a bio-inspired hybrid mutation-based swarm intelligence (HMSI) with an attention-based gated recurrent unit network (AttGRU) model after recursive feature elimination (RFE) has determined which features are most important. In our implementation, we compare four machine learning algorithms: SAE + ANN (sparse autoencoder + artificial neural network), LR (logistic regression), KNN (K-nearest neighbour), and nae Bayes. The experiment results indicate that a 95.42% accuracy rate for the hybrid model's suggested heart disease prediction is attained, which effectively outperforms and overcomes the prescribed research gap in mentioned related work. The Author(s) 2024. -
Attitude of generations: Does it matter online?
Generational examinations are turning out to be necessary with the characteristics they exhibit. This research work aimed at establishing the interceding relationship of disposition of three distinctive generations-Generation X, Generation Y, and Generation Z. In complete, 1200 responses were acquired from both male and female respondents of each generational class dependent on online purchase data collected by employing Google Forms. For the investigation, the model utilized the SOR framework. The results indicated that attitude does not play a vital role in the purchase intention of Generation X followed by the partial mediation of attitude for Generation Y and full mediation effect for Generation Z. This steady increment of attitudinal change underpins the examination by setting up proof that every age shifts in their mentality and purchasing conduct. Online retailers must concentrate on showcasing systems and create online visual merchandising cues which outwardly advance and make a feeling of stimulating attitude for generations. The current study also added value to the existing literature by classifying the customer base not merely on age, but also on their technological perspective of distinguishing web atmospheric cues and catering to their needs from a generational outlook. The study also took into account the importance of the organism's role played by attitude in the S-O-R framework. In this manner, the study helps marketers to design methodologies and plan online visual marketing space for better generational reaction and benefit. 2021, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Attitude of public towards higher education: Conceptual analysis /
Scholedge International Journal Of Multidisciplinary And Allied Studies, Vol.2, Issue 12, pp.19-28, ISSN No: 2394-336X. -
Audit Tenure, Audit Fee, and Audit Quality: Evidence from India
This paper examined the relationship between the tenure of the auditor and the audit quality of Indian companies, particularly in the wake of two significant regulations in the financial reporting, the implementation of Ind AS (the IFRS compliant accounting standards) and mandatory auditor rotation. Using Discretionary Accruals as a proxy for audit quality, the study took the data of all the companies listed on the NSE for 11 financial years, from 2009 2019 (totaling 8,171 firm-year observations). It deployed panel data regression with a random-effects model. The results showed that audit quality improved up to specific auditors tenure, particularly with the IFRS compliance and Big 4 auditors. The higher audit fee is positively significantly associated with lower earnings quality. The study suggested that mandatory auditor rotation might provide the full benefit only along with other regulations on IFRS, auditor reputation, and audit fee. The study provided an impetus to the regulators, audit fraternity, and companies to improve the relevance of financial statements. This is one of the first longitudinal studies examining the interaction effects of different audit regulations. Robustness checks with other proxies of audit quality provided the same results. 2022, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd.. All rights reserved. -
Augmentation of the energy storage potential by harnessing the defects of charcoal for supercapacitor application
The depletion of fossil fuel reserves coupled with an avalanche in the global energy demand has driven the need for developing facile techniques for energy storage devices to a large extent. Supercapacitors, has emerged as one of the most promising energy storage devices to address the demands of providing high energy density, quick charge discharge cycles and long cyclic stability. Although carbon based materials play an imperative role in the fabrication of electrode material of this device, the inherent defects are known to hinder the performance of the system. Even so, these defects can be engineered in a way to improve its overall functionality. The present work reports the tuning of the inherent defects of wood charcoal by surface functionalisation and doping via thermal annealing in order to incorporate substitutional impurities such as Nitrogen and Sulfur resulting in the improvement of the surface area and porosity of the system. The specific surface area of the system is observed to increase significantly from 4.2 m2/g of the bare material to 411.19 m2/g and 865.36 m2/g with the addition of Nitrogen and Sulfur respectively at a pyrolysis temperature of 900 C. Furthermore, the incorporation of Nitrogen exhibits a remarkable specific capacitance of 567 F/g and 193.24 F/g, and the addition of Sulfur exhibits 644 F/g and 255.1 F/g in the three-electrode and two-electrode systems respectively at a current density of 1 A/g. They also exhibit an energy density of 26.83 Whkg?1 and 17.36 Whkg?1 respectively with a capacitance retention of 88.5 % and 86.1 % for 5000 cycles. 2024 Elsevier Ltd