State sponsored large scale technology transfer projects in a developing country context

Technology transfer can be seen as an effective mechanism to advance the flow of technological development in a developing country’s economy. Though normally small-scale technology transfer projects are initiated and managed by private organizations, the large-scale technology transfer projects in a developing country are sponsored by the state itself, given the complexity level of and resource requirements for such projects. The purpose of this paper is to identify and discuss the critical elements of a successful large-scale technology transfer process framework in a developing country context. Four components are highlighted that facilitate a successful large-scale technology transfer process. These are: (i) understanding and selecting technology components; (ii) selecting a technology transfer mode; (iii) negotiating effective process; and (iv) developing capability. Aspects of negotiation and adoption/assimilation capability development are stressed in this paper, which is commonly missed out in conventional technology transfer framework. Accordingly a comprehensive and goal oriented technology transfer framework has been presented in the paper linking all the core elements. A Libyan case study is discussed to illustrate the framework.      

The Mughals, merchants and the European Companies in the 17th century Surat

This paper deals with the port administration of Surat. It looks into the ways in which the port administration dealt with the European Companies and tried to control them. An analysis of the records of the period enables us to see how the European trading Companies responded to the rules and regulations laid by the Mughal authorities. The issues concerning the mint and monetary regulations will also be reviewed. The bullion importation by the Companies and their effort to procure ready money for commercial transactions will be dealt with. What role did the embassies and representations to the Mughal court play in the procurement of trading concessions? Did Indian merchants enjoy immunities from customs and tolls compared to European Companies by the Mughal state? An attempt has been made to answer these questions.     

CHINA’S WATER PROBLEMS

This article looks at the problems facing China in regard of its water supply and usage. It considers China's available water resources and their uses, the growing water pollution, and the water management system adopted by China to secure the country's future. This includes small and large-scale projects, dams, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project/South-North Water Transfer Project (SNWDP/SNWTP) or <italic>Nanshuibeidiao</italic>, and the Sponge Cities Initiative. It also looks at some of the policy issues and relevant legislative frameworks developed to respond to the problem. This article argues that despite the measures taken by the Chinese government, water remains an area of concern for China.     

A View of Public Action as Collective Action: Evidence From an Indian Village

A theory of public action will be a sociological one, for it can explain the activities of different individual stakeholders who are both driven by varied motives and interests and are required to come together for achieving some avowedly public objective. On the basis of a review of scholarly literature and three case studies of public action (based on ethnographic fieldwork) in an Indian village, this study observes that public action is far more complex than celebrated problems of collective action. In public action we want collective action to happen and deliver optimum outputs for target publics. But this should at the same time offer gains, rewards, and outcomes of different kinds to different stakeholders. This discussion aims to outline the scope and possible types of public action. Such a discussion has important implications, for policy as public action should be designed adequately as collective action with differential rewards in place for participants.     

Removal of Dyes using Wheat Husk Waste as a Low-Cost Adsorbent

Abstract

Color removal from wastewater has been a matter of concern, both in the esthetic sense and health point of view. Color removal from textile effluents on a continuous industrial scale has been given much attention in the last few years, not only because of its potential toxicity, but also due to its visibility problem. The ability of wheat husk to act as biosorption medium in the removal of dyes from aqueous solution was successfylly investigated. The analysis of dye remaining in the solution was done colourimetrically using a spectrophotometer. It may be concluded that easy availability and suitability for production of bioadsorbent from wheat husk makes it one of the materials that can be used for removal of RB 19 and RB 195 from waste water.     

Contract Law in Common Law Countries: A Study in Divergence

Liverpool Law Review -     

Denatured Ricin Can Be Detected as Native Ricin by Immunological Methods,but Nontoxic In Vivo

Abstract: Ricin is a glycoprotein from Ricinus communis seeds. It is known to have diverse toxic effects on cells of different visceral organs. In the present study, we purified and denatured ricin in a boiling water bath for different time intervals. We further made an attempt to identify native and denatured ricin by immunobased detection systems. All the antigen/antibody‐based assays identified native and denatured ricin. On SDS–PAGE, only native ricin was observed. In western blotting, ricin boiled for 3.75 min gave a strong band on X‐ray film. On native polyacryl amide gel electrophoresis, native and denatured ricin gave ricin band in 60‐kDa region. The denatured ricin did cause mortality up to 25 mg/kg, while 5 and 10 μg/kg of native ricin caused 50% and 100% mortality, respectively. Detection of native and denatured ricin is very difficult, and the investigating agencies, forensic scientists, and analysts should be very careful while interpreting the results.