Farm size and land productivity in Indian agriculture: A reappraisal

This paper seeks to assess the significance of the celebrated inverse relationship between farm size and land‐productivity in the context of Indian agriculture. It is argued that the inverse relationship does not reflect a superiority of peasant production over wage‐labour‐based production as is often supposed. It exists independently of production relations and thus reflects only a static superiority of small‐scale over large‐scale production. An essential precondition for this superiority, however, is a backwardness of technology. With technological progress involving the introduction of chemical fertilizers, labour‐saving machinery and modern irrigation equipment, the inverse relationship is, therefore, likely to disappear     

Effect of various factors on the activity of sucrase from the larvae of Sesamia inferens

Salivary gland sucrase activity fromSesamia inferens Wlk. was optimal at pH 5.8 and temperature 35°. It increased up to 1.5% final sucrose concentration, but higher concentrations had no effect. A dialysed preparation showed a 37.5% reduction in the activity. It was accelerated by tryptophan and inhibited by all other amino acids used. Gut sucrase activity ofS. inferens was optimal at pH 6.2 and temperature 30°. It increased sharply up to 0.66% final sucrose concentration, and then gradually up to 1.5% while further increase in the concentration had no effect. A dialysed preparation showed an 8% increase in activity. Activity was not affected by serine; was accelerated by arginine, cystine, methionine, tryptophan and valine; and inhibited by alanine, glutamine, glycine, hydroxyproline, leucine, phenylalanine, proline and tyrosine. End-products increased with the incubation period and showed inhibitory effects. With the increase of enzyme concentration the rate of sucrose hydrolysis also increased. K⁺ ions accelerated the activity of the dialysed preparation. It was also accelerated by Li⁺⁺ ions up to their final concentration of 0.001 M, but inhibited when their final concentration increased (0.01 M and 0.025 M). TRIS also inhibited the activity.

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Résumé Deux types d'extraits ont été étudiés séparément: la sucrase extraite des glandes salivaires et celle extraite de l'intestin moyen. L'activité optimale de la sucrase salivaire s'observe pour un pH 5,8 et une température de 35°; celle de la sucrase de l'intestin moyen pour un pH 6,2 et une température de 30°. Cependant les extraits dialysés, d' origine salivaire ou d'origine intestinale, ont une activité optimum pour un même pH (5,8). L'activité des deux sucrases s'accro?t proportionnellement à la durée de la période d'incubation. L'activité de la sucrase salivaire s'accro?t nettement, jusqu'à une concentration finale en sucrose de 1.5%, alors que pour la sucrase intestinale, 90% de l'activité maximale est réalisée pour une concentration finale en sucrose de 0.66%. Quand la concentration en sucrose atteint ou dépasse 1,5% il se forme alors un oligosaccharide dont la synthèse équilibre l'hydrolyse du sucrose, ce qui rend l'activité de la sucrase constante au-dessus d'une concentration finale en sucrose≥1,5%. Cette synthèse d'un oligosaccharide intervient quand on utilise une forte concentration de sucrase, ce qui entraine la production de glucose et fructose en grande quantité; avec une faible concentration de l'extrait on n'observe pas la synthèse d'oligosaccharide. Les ions K⁺ accélèrent l'activité des extraits dialysés, d'origine salivarie ou intestinale; les ions Li⁺⁺ sont également favorables jusqu'à une concentration de 0,001 M, cette action devenant inhibitrice à partir de 0,005 ou 0.025 M; les ions TRIS, à 0,025 M ont également un effet inhibiteur. Certains acides aminés accélèrent l'activité de la sucrase salivaire ou intestinale, d'autres au contraire ont une action inhibitrice.

     

Field experiments on the competitiveness of males carrying genetic control systems for Aedes aegypti

The competitiveness carrying males of three genetic control systems forAedes aegypti (L.), viz. chemosterilized males, double translocation heterozygote males (T1T3) and distorter double translocation heterozygote males (DT1T3), released into a natural population in the Delhi metropolitanxarea was evaluated using a method based on the principle of release and recapture of marked females. Chemosterilized males and DT1T3 males showed approximately normal competitiveness in the field which is similar to the results obtained from laboratory and field cage experiments. The T1T3 males were found to have reduced competitiveness both in the field and laboratory cage tests, in contrast to previously reported results with unmarked T1T3 males in field cages. The cause of this reduction in competitiveness was not clear.

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Zusammenfassung Es wurde die Konkurrenzkraft vonAedes aegypti — M?nnchen ermittelt nach Anwendung von drei genetischen Verfahren, n?mlich Chemosterilisation der M?nnchen, heterozygote doppelte Translokation (T1T3) und gest?rte doppelte heterozygote Translokation (DT1T3) der M?nnchen, die in eine natürliche Population des hauptst?dtischen Gebiets von Delhi freigelassen wurden; dabei wurde eine auf dem Prinzip des Freilassens und Wiederfangs von markierten Weibchen beruhende Methode verwendet. Chemosterilisierte und DT1T3 — M?nnchen zeigten ann?hernd normale Konkurrenzkraft, was den Ergebnissen von Labor- und Freilandk?figversuchen entspricht. Die T1T3-M?nnchen zeigten verminderte Konkurrenzkraft im Feld und in Labork?figtests, im Gegensatz zu früher berichteten Befunden mit nicht-markierten T1T3-M?nnchen in Feldk?figen. Die Ursache dieser Reduktion der Konkurrenzkraft war nicht klar.

     

Chromium‐Based Regulations Applicable to Metal Finishing Industries in the United States: A Policy Assessment

This article seeks to briefly evaluate the context behind the development of regulations related to chromium pollution control in metal finishing industries. The available evidence suggests the possibility of elevation of the issue to the agenda for agency rule‐making, and subsequent implementation can occur even in the absence of focusing events. Based on historical evidence, this article illustrates that gradual accumulation of knowledge of harmful effects of chromium over the period of decades has been instrumental in the formulation and implementation of standards and guidelines to regulate chromium in the environment under major statutes such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and so on. The implementation of command and control regulations has resulted in appreciable reduction of chromium released into the environment, thereby minimizing the impact on human health and the environment. However, achieving full compliance from metal finishing industries is still an illusion. There are examples of violations committed by industries. In response to this realization, policy evolution in the chromium pollution control domain has occurred in two directions: (1) gradual replacement of existing standards with more stringent standards and guidelines and (2) emphasis on multimedia, voluntary, and participatory approaches to improve compliance. But the results from the latter are not as dramatic as previously envisioned. Borrowing from the experience of the Common Sense Initiative (CSI), this article argues that consensus‐based, multistakeholder collaboration can be a policy development tool.     

Finance growth nexus across Indian states: evidences from panel cointegration and causality tests

The paper deals with finance-growth relationship across Indian states over 1980–2011 in panel cointegration and causality framework. We apply Engle–Granger two-step procedure for cointegration test in panel setting which takes care of cross-sectional dependence and heterogeneity across states. For panel Granger causality analysis, we employ Dumitrescu and Hurlin (Econ Model 29:1450–1460, 2012) method and apply bootstrapping to account for cross-sectional dependence. We find robust evidence of cointegration between per capita income and credit per capita. Using panel FMOLS, we find that 1 % change in credit per capita results in 0.14 % change in per capita income. Panel Granger causality test reveals that there is bi-directional causality (feedback effects) in the absence of cross-sectional dependence. However, with cross-sectional dependence, we find evidence in favour of supply leading hypothesis. Probable policy implication calls for inclusive financial development and growth strategies in order to mitigate uneven income levels across states.     

Eyewitness susceptibility to co-witness misinformation is influenced by co-witness confidence and own self-confidence

If an eyewitness is exposed to a co-witness statement that incorrectly blames an innocent bystander for a crime, the eyewitness can be influenced by this statement and also blame the innocent bystander for the crime. This effect is known as blame conformity. In two studies, we examined whether or not this effect is influenced by the degree of confidence a co-witness expresses in her incorrect statement (Study 1) and an eyewitness’s own level of self-confidence (Study 2). Participant eyewitnesses first watched a crime video featuring a perpetrator and an innocent bystander, then read a co-witness statement about the crime that either correctly blamed the perpetrator, incorrectly blamed the innocent bystander, or blamed nobody (a control condition). They were then asked who committed the crime. In Study 1, participants who read an incorrect statement were at increased risk of engaging in blame conformity when the co-witness expressed a high level of confidence, compared to a low level of confidence, in the accuracy of her statement. In Study 2, participants who were lowest in self-confidence were at increased risk of engaging in blame conformity. The theoretical underpinnings of these effects are considered.     

Classification of Porcine Cranial Fracture Patterns Using a Fracture Printing Interface,,

Distinguishing between accidental and abusive head trauma in children can be difficult, as there is a lack of baseline data for pediatric cranial fracture patterns. A porcine head model has recently been developed and utilized in a series of studies to investigate the effects of impact energy level, surface type, and constraint condition on cranial fracture patterns. In the current study, an automated pattern recognition method, or a fracture printing interface (FPI), was developed to classify cranial fracture patterns that were associated with different impact scenarios documented in previous experiments. The FPI accurately predicted the energy level when the impact surface type was rigid. Additionally, the FPI was exceedingly successful in determining fractures caused by skulls being dropped with a high‐level energy (97% accuracy). The FPI, currently developed on the porcine data, may in the future be transformed to the task of cranial fracture pattern classification for human infant skulls.     

Do Crime Hot Spots Exist in Developing Countries? Evidence from India

Objectives

To determine whether concentrations of crime documented in American cities such as Boston, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Sacramento, and Seattle generalize to unique environments such as India.

Methods

Two years of motor vehicle theft (MVT) and burglary incidents from two police stations in Jaipur, India are analyzed. The degree to which crime clusters is documented using nearest neighborhood hierarchical clustering (NNHC). These results are compared to several widely cited studies documenting concentrations in the United States.

Results

The NNHC procedure identified five MVT hot spots, which accounted for just .09 % of the two station’s land, but over 13 % of these incidents, and four burglary hot spots, which accounted for less than 1 % of its land, but nearly 23 % of the incidents.

Conclusions

Given the stark differences in the built environment and sociological makeup of Jaipur, a better understanding of the forces that cause crime to concentrate to a high degree needs to be discerned before implementing law-enforcement driven policies derived from the scholarship of American cities. Additional research should also seek to replicate not just the degree to which crime clusters in these unique environments, but also its stability over time and micro place variation.