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Isolation and characterization of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) from the rhizosphere of Spinacea oleracea L.
As the years pass by, there is an increase in abiotic stress conditions around the environment that directly or indirectly affect agriculture around the world. Therefore, there is a dire need to increase the sustainability of plants. Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) play an important role in maintaining the physiology and growth of plants under various stress conditions. This study looks into the isolation and characterization of different PGPB from Spinacia oleracea L. and their tolerance against salinity and commonly used commercial pesticides against the Spinacia family. The techniques used are isolation by serial dilution, 16sRna sequencing, characterization of different PGPB assays for confirmation such as ammonia production, catalase test, phosphate solubilisation, potassium solubilization, siderophore production, indole-3-acetic acid production, biofilm formation assay, halotolerance and tolerance study using Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). PGPB were isolated and characterized from Spinacia oleracea L., which was under an abiotic stress environment. Isolates were Bacillus clarus, Bacillus licheniformis, Paenibacillus alvei SJ6 and Paenibacillus alvei SJ8, having quantities as high as 78.10.004 mgL-1 phosphate solubilization, 43.8 mgL?1 of indole-3-acetic acid production, 14.5660.011 psu of siderophore production and 0.62 0.027 mol mL?1 of ammonia production. All isolates also had considerable amounts of halotolerance up to 10%, whereas Bacillus licheniformis had 12.5% halotolerance. The bacterial isolates had considerable tolerance against commonly used commercial pesticides against green leafy vegetables such as chlorpyriphos + cypermethrin combination and fungicides such as mancozeb. Therefore, this study looks into the isolation of potential plant growth promoting bacteria that have considerable amount of halotolerance and pesticide tolerance. 2025 World Researchers Associations. All rights reserved. -
Isolation and Characterization of Antidermatophytic Bioactive Molecules from Piper longum L. Leaves
Piper longum L. (Piperaceae) commonly known as "long pepper" is a well known medicinal plant in ayurveda. Different parts of this plant, such as root, seed, fruit, whole plant etc. are used traditionally in various ailments. Here we have investigated the antidermatophytic activity of sequentially extracted petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water extracts from P. longum leaf against Trichophytonmentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. tonsurans, Microsporum fulvum and M. gypseum. Better activity of chloroform and methanol extracts was observed. The chloroform extract was selected for further study and the MIC value was recorded as 5.0 mg ml-1 against the test organisms. In the chloroform extract, tannins and phenolic compounds were detected. Further activity-guided fractionation of chloroform extract by silica gel column chromatography yielded nine major fractions. Among these, fraction-1, 4, 5 and 7 showed higher antidermatophytic activity. Fraction-4 on further purification by repeated column chromatography yielded a potential antidermatophytic fraction showing MIC value of 0.625 mg ml-1 against T. mentagrophytes and T. rubrum as determined by broth microdilution method. The major compounds were identified as 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester (C24H38O4] (41.45 %), 2,2-dimethoxybutane (C6H14O2] (13.6 %) and ?-myrcene (C10H16) (6.75 %) based on GC-MS data. 2012 Association of Microbiologists of India. -
Islanding detection technique of distribution generation system
Islanding is a condition in which the micro grid is disconnected from the main grid which consists of loads and distribution generation. Islanding is required whenever there is a fault and whenever the maintenance is required. Under normal condition or stable condition, the system works under constant current control mode. After islanding the system switched to voltage controlled mode. There are different methods that can be used to detect islanding situation such as active and passive methods. In this paper DQ-PLL detection technique used for detecting islanding condition is carried out. This paper also explains in detail the advantages of DQ-PLL method for islanding detection The implementation is validated by using MATLAB/SIMULINK software. 2016 IEEE. -
Is there spill-over effect among metals?
This paper was aimed at examining the existence of volatility spill-over between precious and industrial metals by estimating Multi-variate GARCH model. Metals chosen for this study were aluminium, copper, gold and silver. Data from 1st march 2004 to 31st March 2018 were used for the analysis. Significant clustering effect was found in the variance of all the metals studied. Significantly strong volatility spill-over was found between aluminium and copper when compared to other metals. It was also noted that the persistence of volatility spill-over between copper and aluminium is the least among other metals. Since there is significant spill-over between aluminium and copper, portfolio managers are advised to avoid investing in them together in their portfolios. 2019 SERSC. -
Is there a Broad-Basing process in the Indian economy?
Chapter 8 is by Malini L. Tantri and Shruthi Mohan Menon. They answer the title question, Is There a Broad-Basing Process in the Indian Economy?' with the help of three criteria: food security, poverty and unemployment. Though economic growth in terms of GDP has been significant in the last two decades, the achievements on the fronts of food security, poverty reduction and employment growth have not been equally impressive. The states which have high levels of poverty are showing a slower decline in poverty. The number of the poor is declining, though still high. Employment growth is taking place mainly in the non-farm sector, but it is in the farm sector where there is a crisis. Even within the non-farm sector, informal employment is increasing more than the formal. Thus a large portion of the workforce - in agriculture and also non-farm sector - does not have job security, paid sick leave, medical reimbursement and retirement benefits. Economic growth has not yet brought the marginalised into the mainstream of the advantaged. The authors recommend greater stress on employment generation, skill creation, a boost to education and health sectors ensuring benefits to the marginalised, and a massive push to the village economy. 2020 selection and editorial matter, M. V. Nadkarni. -
Is the Electronic Market the Way Forward to Overcome Market Failures in Agriculture?
This paper examines the performance of agricultural markets through analysing the primary data from 856 farm households in six states along with secondary data. It argues that adequate physical and storage infrastructure is crucial even for the functioning of the electronic market, and other related policy measures are needed to have a significant improvement in agricultural marketing. The results indicate that farmers obtained 3.75% higher prices in these markets vis-vis the prices received before selling to these markets. This is significant as the prices plummeted by 8.34% in the manual transactions. 2022 Economic and Political Weekly. All rights reserved. -
Is the effect of oil price shock asymmetric on the Indian stock market? Firm-level evidence from energy-intensive companies
Purpose: This paper aims to examine the asymmetric impact of the oil price increase and decrease on stock returns at the firm level. Design/methodology/approach: To ascertain the impact oil price can exert on the stock price at the firm level, this study uses panel structural vector auto regression with various linear and nonlinear measures of oil price shock on a data set, containing 1,168 firms listed in Indian stock markets. This study also considers stock index returns, Fama-French factors and inflation as control variables. Findings: This paper finds evidence that at firm level, net oil price increase and decrease have an asymmetric impact on stock returns. Other oil price shock measures, namely, shock because of oil price increase and decrease, do not show any sign of asymmetric impact on stock returns. Originality/value: The comparison of firm-level return on its response towards oil price fluctuation can give valuable insights into a firms features. 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Is robotics education and training gender dependent? A suggestive robotics syllabus for teacher training
Application of robotics is rapidly increasing in all fields of life. Though robotics education became popular in the 21st century, its teaching and training has not gained much importance across the world, especially in developing and low-income countries. There are various reasons for its neglect and one of them could be gender-science stereotypes. Research studies are yet to explore the reasons for its slow emergence. The present study explores the need and training for educational robotics considering the role of students, teachers, teacher-educators and parents, determining whether it is gender-dependent or not. The study also proposes to come up with a syllabus for robotics training. The study employs exploratory, sequential, qualitative-quantitative mixed-method research design and applies purposive sampling techniques. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews, including five science teacher-educators, five science teachers, and five trainee teachers majoring in sciences to understand the need, scope and benefits of robotics education. They recruited 100 high school students, 50 teacher-educators, and 100 parents to test whether their interest in robotics is gender-dependent through Chi-square analysis. The study revealed the need for robotics education under four themes and seven subthemes. It has been found that the interest of students and parents and the readiness of teacher-educators for robotics education is gender-dependent. The study came up with a suggestive syllabus for robotics training. It recommends that future researchers should focus on the implementation of robotics teaching for teacher and school education. 2021 Authors. -
Is Open ready for investment? A venture capitalists dilemma
Learning outcomes: Upon completion of the case study, student will be able to discuss valuation of new-age ventures and understand how it is different from the valuation of organisations with a longer history; analyse the considerations (quantitative and qualitative) while evaluating investments in new-age ventures; and develop a framework involving the various dimensions of investment readiness. Case overview/synopsis: The fintech space in India has seen an upsurge of activities since 2016. The growth of Paytm, RazorPay and many such ventures and the drastic improvements in this ecosystem have been significant catalysts for this segment of new-age tech companies. Funding and valuations have seen a sharp increase, especially when businesses worldwide felt the after-effects of the pandemic, with India being home to a large number of unicorns, second only to the USA. Open Financial Technologies Ltd (OPEN TECH) is one such venture that claimed its spot as the 100th unicorn of India within a span of five years since inception. With a strong focus on disrupting the banking sector in India, this neo-bank aspires to be the equivalent of Stripe in India and eventually be a strong competitor in the international market. Richard ONeil is an active investor in the fintech space, based out of the UK, and he is currently looking to expand the market by considering investment options. In the process, Richard and his team have identified India as a viable and competitive market, as new venture support and funding are increasingly emphasized through policies such as Startup India, Make in India and many such more to sustain and propel its benefits. As the team was exploring ventures worth investing, Open Financial Technologies caught their attention. However, Richard, given his experience across fields and being a seasoned private equity investor, realised that valuing new-age companies is as much an art as it is a science. Multiple quantitative and qualitative aspects need to be considered while relevance of traditional valuation techniques to put a value on such entrepreneurial ventures is questioned. At this juncture, he finds it crucial to evaluate the investment readiness of OPEN TECH. This case allows students to understand how valuation of new ventures is different from that of established companies and analyse the crucial factors worth considering while evaluating an investment proposal as a venture capitalist, which eventually helps shape the funding pitch of an entrepreneur in the space. Complexity academic level: This case study can be useful for students undertaking graduate- and executive-level courses on business valuation and strategy and entrepreneurship, as well as entrepreneurial finance elective at the undergraduate level. One could use this case in courses on entrepreneurship and innovation, such as an introductory course on entrepreneurial finance and a course on venture capital and private equity. It also allows discussion on fintech and neobanking and the valuation of privately held companies. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code: CSS 1: Accounting and finance. 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Is my culture influencing me?: Client experiences of mental illness and psychotherapy in a transitional Indian culture
The client therapy experience has been the focus of many bodies of literature in psychotherapy, even across cultures. While researchers have emphasized on the use of indigenous approaches in Indian psychotherapy, how much of this is applicable in the present scenario? The experience has become increasingly tricky to understand given the complexities arising from the influence of urbanization and westernization. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the experience of mental illness and psychotherapy in modern day India. Using the integrated, holistic idea of the person and their needs, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with ten cis-gender, urban Indian participants between 21 and 39years of age. Data analysis using thematic analysis uncovered the global theme of Transitional Culture Impacting the Therapeutic Experience. The major organizing themes and basic themes have been elaborated as well. In essence, the study concludes that the increased awareness and acceptance of psychotherapy in urban India, combined with the exposure to Western methodologies, may be related to an increase in the expectations for similar therapeutic services. Implications and recommendations have been discussed. The Author(s) 2023. -
Is Mindfulness a Key Characteristic of a Jugaad Leader?
The practice of mindfulness has its roots in Eastern religions. Both Hinduism and Buddhism emphasize the need to be calm and to focus on the present moment. This concentration is called mindfulness. In the Indian subcontinent, there is a specific tradition for innovation and creativity that produces the best possible results, even among resources that are often sparse. This approach is called Jugaad. It is increasingly being used as a management technique. Companies in South Asia are adopting Jugaad as a practice to reduce research and development costs and use unconventional approaches to maximize resources for a company and its stakeholders. Tang (The leaders guide to mindfulness. Pearson UK, Harlow, 2018) noted that mindfulness from a context of jugaad creativity or innovation allows individuals to enter a childlike state of creativity. Mindfulness promotes a directed awareness and allows one to look at problems or issues from different perspectives-not only from a clients or customers perspective, but also from that of a child-encouraging further reflection. A mindfulness approach calms the mind before a creative or brainstorming session, which can foster insight and clear the mind for an aha moment in the jugaad innovation process. Often, a successful jugaad creative process requires breaking down psychological barriers in a team-e.g., fear of doing something wrong, fear of ideas being stolen by others. A mindful approach to such issues helps team members meditate and relax, creating a safer space for creative exploration, as these exercises can teach listening and acknowledgement of each individual. Also, the associated creativity and innovation process helps to understand the problem to be solved and generate ideas from it. The mindfulness approach promotes the flexibility and clarity needed for a jugaad approach (Tang, The leaders guide to mindfulness. Pearson UK, Harlow, 2018). The following are the results of the Jugaad leadership survey conducted among managers in India. Managers felt that Jugaad leadership involves leading by example, appreciation and recognition. Also fundamental is leading with humility, openness to receiving feedback, and awareness of ones own thoughts and emotions. Mindfulness also includes language and behavior, the ability to recognize peoples needs, and an intuition in situations that require change. All of these characteristics make it clear that the Jugaad leader is a mindful person and also show that he or she practices mindfulness while guiding, interacting with, and motivating his or her team members. The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2022. -
Is it morally justified to create disabled designer babies?
This research paper explores the questionwhether it is morally permissible for an auditory impaired parent to create an auditory impaired offspring? It makes an epistemological inquiry into the experiences of persons with auditory impairments to make an informed decision on the question at stake. There is a general attitudinal bias against the disability. On the contrary, arguments have been raised that a parent with auditory impairment may have a moral right and a liberty to have a specially designed deaf baby. It is argued that a deaf parents desire to have a deaf child, stems from their need to relate linguistically and culturally with the child. It is also in the best interest of the child and the parent. Such arguments seem grossly misguided and are often countered with arguments of open future, and the costs of disability. This research paper seeks to inquire into the epistemic challenges in examining the validity and the soundness of these arguments. It engages into the arguments and counter arguments with respect to whether auditory impairment is a disadvantageous condition to find that deafness does involve an element of harm though it is not only and only harm. It argues against the proposition that laws permitting abortion in case of foetal anomaly are eugenic. It uses Kantian theory to delve into the moral permissibility of the use of genetic engineering for the creation of impairment and enhancement. In the light of moral, ethical and jurisprudential considerations it finds that it is morally impermissible to use genetic interventions to create impairments or enhancements, as it strikes at the humanity in the designer babies and uses them as a means for the satisfaction of desires. 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU). -
Is Industry-Specific Value Premium Declining? Evidence from India
This article examines whether the literature promised value effect exists and the changing nature of value premium at the industry level. It also determines the value premiums strength by controlling the January effect within and across the regulated industry groups. This is done by utilizing the two most prominent pricing models: FamaFrench three- and five-factor, considering all listed firms trading at BSE India between 1999 and 2020. The results show that a significant value effect exists in 15 of the 17 regulated industry groups over 21.5 years, while sub-period analysis revealed variation in the value effect at industry-based portfolio returns. We developed quintile and multivariate portfolios within and across the industries. Results show that the industry-specific value premium has been relatively low in the current decade due to decreasing industry portfolio returns and increasing P/B ratios within industry groups. The study also used the GRS test to explore the explanatory power of models. Results indicated that the explanatory power of models has declined in post-crisis periods. While controlling the January effect, the value premium has slightly diminished within and across the industry groups in the recent decade. We also observed that investors who seek to allocate assets within and across industries are likely to have potentially predictable and pretty stable returns. While other countries have found industry-specific value premiums, no such study has been conducted in India. As a first attempt, these findings are relevant for investors and academia. 2022 Management Development Institute. -
Is Hedonism present in the purchase of academic books? an empirical analysis in online and traditional purchase methods.
Vol. 1 Issue V, December, ISSN: 2321-9653 -
Is gold price volatility in India leveraged?
This paper examined the presence of leverage effect on the gold price volatility in six major Indian cities using PGARCH model. This study also examined the impact of US gold price return on the volatility of gold price in India. For this study, daily time series data of gold price in six major Indian cities and gold price in the United States over a period of seven years (January 2011 to August 2017) were collected. The results suggest that conditional volatility of gold price in all the six cities in India carries volatility clustering feature. Leverage effect was also found in the gold price volatility of five out of six Indian cities studied. The United States gold returns had a significant influence on the gold price volatility of five out of six Indian cities studied. Hence, the gold price volatility in India is indeed leveraged. -
Is ESG the Key to Stimulate Financial Performance? An Empirical Investigation
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principle is a critical framework for businesses and non-business entities. Recently, investors increasingly concentrate on the ethical impact of their investments in addition to financial rewards. The present study outlines links between a companys ESG practices and its financial performance. By means of performance comparison between the Nifty 100 ESG and Nifty 100 Indices within the Indian context, it issuggested that investing in ESG-adopting companies can lead to better financial performance. The study uses statistical analysis to compare the performance of both indices between 2018 and 2022. The analysis includes financial ratios, such as P/E ratio, ROA, ROE, and ROCE. The findings reveal a relatively modest connection between ESG and P/E ratio. The stronger negative correlations between ESG and key financial metrics (ROA, ROE, and ROCE), signifies a more robust trade-off between ESG focus and financial performance. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024. -
Is digital GOOD for providing water security?- A case study of India
We live in an urbanizing world. Large cities with population greater than 750,000 would represent US$21.8 trillion in economic activity or 47.7% global GDP. These cities are already home to 1.7 billion people, about 24% of the worlds population. By the year 2050, it is expected that ninety percent of the worlds urban population growth will occur in Asia and Africa. Economic growth goes hand-in-hand with the urban growth. With the population increase in cities, there is a need for ample and consistent supply of water. The supply of water is a fundamental component of the environmental, economic and social health of cities. There is a huge investment of US$90 billion a year in water supply infrastructure to ensure delivery of clean water to the citizens. If the current trend continues, the volume of urban water need will have to go up by 80% by the year 2030. In this context, The World Economic Forum classified water security as one of the greatest threats to global prosperity in the year 2014. Hence, it becomes essential to manage the water resources in an efficient manner to cater to a large population. The world around us is transformed by various technologies and adopted by humans. Improvement in the performance and cost of computing power, storage and bandwidth are the causes of these technologies. Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies like Virtual & Augmented Reality, Big Data Analytics, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Block Chain have created disruption in various industries through the way businesses are run. India as a country has an advantage of monetising digital technologies for solutions related to social issues due to STEM qualified expertise and experience. AI4SG has got the potential to provide the most sought after Water Security for a country like India. The current study attempts to identify whether there is a dearth in the supply of water due to lack of rain or excess exploitation; or is it that the resources are available but the management of water resources is not efficient. State-wise analysis across India is conducted to identify the gap. The measure used for this study is the Composite Water Quality Index devised by Niti Aayog. The study has found that the gap between supply and demand of this significant resource can be bridged with the proven technology of Block Chain. Issue of Water loss, Water trading and Water quality could be resolved using Block Chain technology. The most common areas of improvement in Water management across various States of India are Water supply, Ground water restoration/rejuvenation, Participatory Irrigation, On-farm use, and Waste water treatment. Block Chain as a technology solution is proposed to bring in possible resolution to these issues to improve upon the water management process. 2019 SERSC. -
Is corporate reputation associated with voluntary cybersecurity risk reporting?
Purpose: This study investigated the effect of voluntary cybersecurity risk reporting (VCRR) on corporate reputation. By examining the association between VCRR and corporate reputation, this study aims to provide exploratory evidence of how cybersecurity risk is sensitive to a companys image and reputation. Design/methodology/approach: An automated content analysis of VCRR by 95 Bombay Stock Exchange-listed companies was undertaken using Python code. Signaling and legitimacy theories were adopted to interpret the findings, establishing whether VCRR was related to corporate reputation. Findings: The results confirm that VCRR improves the corporate reputation in the financial market. The results also confirm the signalling and legitimacy theory that a company can manage reputational risks through higher voluntary risk disclosure. Practical implications: The corporations managers can gain insights from the studys findings and proactively address cybersecurity risks through strategic disclosure and management practices. In addition, organizations can recognize that investors value transparency and establish a positive reputation for those who communicate openly. Social implications: A significant association between VCRR and corporate reputation implies that such disclosures enhance trust and transparency in the business sector and induce security and accountability among investors engaging with the company. Originality/value: To the best of the authors knowledge, this study is the first that empirically investigates this issue and adds to the international literature a new explanatory variable, corporate reputation, to explain VCRR practices. 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Is ChatGPT Enhancing Youths Learning, Engagement and Satisfaction?
Integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational practices necessitates the understanding of the influence of tools such as ChatGPT. Self-determination Theory (SDT) has been used to examine the impact of ChatGPT usage by students for the improvement of perceived learning, engagement and satisfaction. The moderating role of students AI literacy between ChatGPT and the antecedents of intrinsic motivation, autonomy, competence and relatedness. The data was collected through questionnaire from 481 students and structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data. The findings of the study shows that ChatGPT usage impacts students perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness, enhancing intrinsic motivation. Also, there is a moderation of AI literacy between ChatGPT usage and these psychological needs. This study extends SDT to student interactions with ChatGPT and underscores the pivotal role of AI literacy. The findings contribute to the discourse on AI and education, offering valuable perspectives on students use of ChatGPT and its effect on their academic experience. 2024 International Association for Computer Information Systems. -
Is carbon neutrality a reality for India?
India, the third-largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, aims to achieve zero emissions by 2070. India is committed to its Panchamrit and has launched various initiatives such as green bonds, carbon credits, carbon market, investing in green hydrogen, etc. However, given the present scenario with respect to the dependency on coal-based power generation and lack of green financing, the present article assesses the different solutions and their practicality in achieving carbon neutrality. (2024), (Indian Academy of Sciences). All rights reserved.