Mycorrhizae in sedges as related to root character and its ecological significance

Twenty four sedges were examined to assess the role of root characters on mycorrhizal status. Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) injection was positively related to root thickness and negatively to root hair number and length. Dried mycorrhizal roots of Bulbostylis barbata, Cyperus cyperinus. C. kyllingia and Fimbristylis ovata served as inocula oj VAMJungi in pot culture study indicating that mycorrhizal sedge roots could act as inocula in initiating and reviving mycorrhizae in natural soils

Determinants in Investment Behaviour During The COVID-19 Pandemic

This study investigated the psychological behaviour of investors in the stock market during the period of COVID-19. The survey was conducted between April and June 2020, following the lockdown announcement of the Indian Government on 25th March. There were 400 respondents. This paper has attempted to identify the impact on psychological behaviour during the initial stage of COVID-19 in India. The collected data has been used to determine the psychological factors which may have influenced investment decisions. The statistical tools of Cronbach Alpha, factor analysis, descriptive analysis, and multiple regression techniques were applied using the SPSS 21 package. The study has analysed the psychological dimensions of the behaviour when responding to fear, risk perception, risk propensity, investors’ anxiety to market volatility, herding and vaccination updates. The results show that the behavioural response to fear, risk perception, herding and vaccination updates have influenced investors’ decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges of Handling Bulk Cargoes at Discharging Port

Abstract-This study is based on bulk cargo handling by a freight forwarding company. Due to heavy globalization, the number of companies operating overseas is continuously extending their organizations offering the capability to deal with the complexities inherent in international trade. Since bulk cargo handling plays a wise role in the logistics industry are considered as main logistic mediator in trade, selecting a freight forwarder is a significant element in a company's success overseas. As major challenges are faced while handling bulk cargoes which has to be tackled as early as possible for future development. The study attempts to analyse the issues in handling bulk cargoes and techniques used for handling bulk cargoes which would help to resolve issues and contributes for major improvement for loading and unloading. There are different storage methods and the different types of bulk cargoes are stored differently and different handling equipments are used. The study is based on both primary and secondary data. The primary data is collected from 50 respondents through questionnaire survey. Keywords: Bulk cargo, Effectiveness, port, safet

Influence of ICT in Road Transportation

Purpose: Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in logistics performance on road transportation is expressed in terms of operation cost and turns rotund time. Though, numerous effects known from the utilization of ICT in the road transportation and importance of vehicle tracking for logistics industry is immeasurable. The most basic use of aGPSdevice is, of course, tracking vehicle locations an extremely useful device to companies that use afleet of vehicles in their line of business. Tracking for logistics industry can alsoprovide information necessary to fleet management for instance if the driver has done his distribution task,the time or estimated time of completion, the place, rapidity, etc. With GPS tracking for logistics industry, youare conscious of the actions of fleet at any given time. Design/methodology/approach: This analysis thus seeks to fill the gap of knowledge by examining the influence of ICT on logistics performance on road transport. Keeping in todays technology requirement, eresources, the leading web-based ERP solution providers in India, offers a powerful and efficient ERP solution for logistic and warehouse management. Practical Implication: This research would be useful to understand the Logistics ERP software symbolizes an advanced manner of organizing, shipping and transport associated processes with comfort and convenience. Findings: This paper scrutinizes the influence of ICT on logistics by conducting a survey of writings on academic logistics magazines, newsletters and articles. It founds an outline for analysing the effect of information technology on road transport in terms of e-commerce, logistics and suggests theoretical mechanisms of impact. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Logistics performance, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Road transport, GPS tracking

Natural product activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus genes

Methicilin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) implicated in many post-surgical and cancer treatment as well hospital and community fatalities need to be treated with an effective alternative antimicrobial agent. In the search for anti-MRSA agent, 2 types of natural products were investigated for inhibitory activity against MRSA. In addition to the bioassay, the activity of the anti-MRSA agent was elucidated based on the effect of both natural products on nucleotide changes of chromosome-encoded genes. In this study, the methanol extract of the red marine algae and the natural pure honey were studied for its antibacterial property based on disc diffusion test and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The effects of both natural products on selected gene sequences of S. aureus’s were determined by RT-PCR analysis. The genes of interest, which have been chosen in this study, are genes that are involved in the antibacterial mechanism including inhibition of cell wall synthesis, protein synthesis and nucleic acid synthesis. Five genes of interest chosen in this study include mecA gene, mecR1 gene, mecI gene, adaB gene and sav1017 gene. The results for antibacterial property showed the methanol extract of a red seaweed and the pure honey, inhibited growth of S. aureus strain according to the inhibition zones around discs saturated with the seaweed extract and pure honey, respectively. The MIC test showed decrease in growth of MRSA isolates after growing in broth incorporated with the extract and honey, respectively. The effect of the inhibitory activity of the natural products on selected gene sequences showed that several nucleotide changes occurred in the sequences of certain genes of interest based on the gene sequences of the cDNA after RT-PCR was carried out on the mRNA of S. aureus treated with the natural products. This research underlined that the inhibition effect of the natural products may be chromosome mediated evidenced by the changes of chromosome-encoded genes. The significant findings on activities of the seaweed extract and pure honey may become very useful in the process to find a better treatment for S. aureus infection especially, for the multiple drug resistant isolates. In addition, it is also, a new finding for natural product discovery through gene-expression analysis

Annual Risk of Tuberculosis infection in Chennai City

Aim: To study the proportion of children infected with Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Chennai city. Methodology: A cluster sampling methodology was adopted to select an estimated sample size of 7000 children from five corporation zones selected systematically from ten zones of the city. A total of 7098 children aged 1-9 years were subjected to Mantoux and test read; 1897 (27%) from slum area and 5201 (73%) from non-slum area. Results: The prevalence of infection among children without BCG scar was estimated to be 10.5 % (ARTI of 2.0%) and was similar to that among children irrespective of scar status. The prevalence of infection was higher among children in slum areas (11.1%; ARTI 2.1%) compared to non-slum areas (8.9%; ARTI 1.7%); but the difference was not statistically different. Conclusion: The tuberculosis situation in Chennai as measured by risk of infection was higher in urban city area than rural areas and comparable to that found in other cities as reported from earlier studies. This information can be used as baseline information for monitoring the epidemiological trends in Chennai city in future

Fostering employee engagement and knowledge sharing through artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is the field that growing at a rapid pace which involves the development of intelligent machines that perform tasks with the aid of human intelligence. The implementation of Artificial Intelligence has led to significant advancements in various business fields. It has the potential to transform the businesses and improve the process in many ways. Knowledge is the vital asset of any person, while its shared, it becomes an asset for many. Sharing of knowledge involves the exchange of information and expertise among the individuals in an organization. Knowledge sharing can help organizations to identify and the address problems effectively and swiftly. Engaging employee in an organization becomes a vital aspect for organizational productivity and organizational success as well. Once when an employee becomes emotionally attached to their organization, they feel responsible about their work and will work with involvement. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to promote employee engagement and knowledge sharing. Through personalized learning and development opportunities, it fosters employee engagement, whereas through real-time communication and collaboration technologies it facilitates knowledge sharing within the organization. This review article aims at discovering how Artificial Intelligence facilitates sharing of knowledge and engaging employees in the organization by undertaking a secondary method of data collection. This review article\u27s primary goal is to add to the body of knowledge already available on the subject. The study found that adoption of Artificial Intelligence creates work environments that maximize knowledge sharing and enhances employee engagemen

Purchase Decision of Customers of Steel - Tamil Nadu

Abstract: Purpose: Steel is one of the core infrastructure product, whose per capita consumption indicates the Industrial development of a nation. The average per capita consumption of steel in India is at a level of 30% of the the world per capita consumption. This article attempts to examine the relationship between different dimensions of purchase decision taken by customers of steel in Tamil Nadu. This study also aims to investigate the effect of the location of the customers and their education qualification while making the Purchase decision. Design/methodology/approach: Based on literature review the impact of location and qualification of the customers on the purchase decision of steel is examined and conceptual model is developed to analyze the relationship between study variables. Simple Purposive random sampling was followed for collecting data from steel customers of Tamil Nadu Practical Implication: This research would be useful to the organization that marketing steel to understand what are the key areas to be concentrated for impacting the Purchase decision of the customer of steel in Tamil Nadu. This will help in formulating the market strategy of the customers of steel.Findings: Customers irrespective of their area of living, either urban or semi-urban, they are price conscious and expect availability of products at one source. People with higher educational qualifications have more perceptions about the factors involved in making the purchase decision. Keywords: Steel, Customers, Dimensions of Purchase decision, Location, Educational Qualification