Indigenous carbon humidity sensor for radiosondes

This paper describes the carbon humidity sensors manufactured in IMD using the material available in the Indian market. These are used in the IMD MK-IV radiosondes for taking routine upper air observation in the network.

Sustainable Perspective of Electric Vehicles and Its Future Prospects

Vehicles running on fossil fuel are creating a threat to the environment by emitting pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and sulfur and nitrogen oxides into the environment. Electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles provide a perennial solution to this problem and since the utilization of renewables for charging, the market is on verge of electric vehicle revolution. Electric propulsion systems can also be used in heavy transport vehicles, thus transitioning them to electric. This paper puts forth an overview of the electric vehicles for transportation of masses and freight across the globe and emphasis on the battery charging infrastructures. Recent trends and advancements in electric vehicle batteries are discussed briefly, along with sustainability in Li-ion batteries and its materials; moreover, a comparative study of different electric vehicles available in the Indian market is done. Similarly, the incentives offered by government, challenges faced by these vehicles and future development areas are conversed at the end of the paper.

Impact of ethical certifications and product involvement on consumers decision to purchase ethical products at price premiums in an emerging market context

In emerging markets, instances of increasing consumers focus on ethical aspects of the product are observed. To this end, we aim to examine the influence of two ethical certifications and two product involvement types on consumers willingness to purchase ethical products at price premiums in the Indian market. No animal cruelty certification and no child labor certification are chosen as the ethical certifications, and a shirt and a bar of soap are chosen as high and low involvement product categories. Data is collected from 206 respondents for the experiment, in which consumers willingness to purchase a product is evaluated for different product scenarios. The results of the study indicate that individuals show highest willingness to purchase products (a shirt or a soap) when both certifications (no animal cruelty, no child labor) are present. However, in comparing individual certifications, individuals prefer no animal cruelty certification for a shirt and no child labor certification for a bar of soap. The study provides insights to practitioners regarding consumers present perception of ethical aspects in the product and directions to increase sales of ethical products in the Indian market.

Quality Evaluation of Generic Products of Metformin and Vildagliptin Tablets

The aim of the present study was the evaluation and comparison between four different Metformin and Vildagliptin tablets which are commercially available in Indian market. These tablets were assessed for various pharmacopoeial quality control tests. Parameters including weight variation, hardness, friability, drug content, and disintegration time were evaluated. Results were within acceptable limits for all selected products (three generic and an innovator). These results show that the tested generic products were biopharmaceutically similar to the innovator formulation. Therefore, the consumer can select any one of these equivalent products as a substitute for innovator product in case of cost concern or unavailability.

THE DAVIDS AND THE GOLIATHS: INVESTMENT DYNAMICS AND PERFORMANCE DIFFERENTIALS OF SMALL FIRMS AND FAMILY-CONTROLLED LARGE FIRMS IN FOUR SECTORS OF THE INDIAN MARKET

This study focuses on investment structures and performances of family-controlled and non-affiliated publicly traded firms on the Indian market. While many influential, family-controlled firms dominate a large part of the Indian industry today, this study finds that a considerable fraction of the non-affiliated firms are able to maintain stable financial performance by forging strategic ties with other non-affiliated firms in transactional supply-chains modes. This study contributes to the understanding of the question concerning how investment structures of firms might be governed through interfirm ties of coordinated and cooperative investments. The results have important implications for the markets of emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific and the Southeast Asian regions.

Rational use and cost variation analysis of antitussive-expectorants available in the Indian market: a pharmacoeconomic study

Background: Antitussive-expectorants are among the most frequently prescribed drugs by physicians in clinical practice. Upper respiratory tract infections, such as common cold, acute pharyngitis and acute trachea-bronchitis, are the most common of all communicable diseases and significantly increase OPD burden. This study aimed to assess the rational use, cost ratio, and percentage cost variations in different brands of the commonly prescribed antitussive-expectorants available in the Indian market.Methods: The cost of antitussive-expectorant manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies was obtained by using drug today Jan-April 2021 vol 2. The maximum and minimum price was noted down, cost ratio and percentage cost variation of the individual formulation were analysed. Results: Analysis of cost ratio and percentage cost variation for each formulation of the antitussive-expectorants drug, syrup (100 ml) chlorpheniramine (2 mg), dextromethorphan (10 mg), phenylephrine (5 mg) combinations show the highest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 5.30 and 430.25 respectively, and syrup (100 ml) dextromethorphan (10 mg), guaifenesin (100 mg), phenylephrine (25 mg), chlorpheniramine (4 mg) combinations show lowest cost ratio and percentage cost variation as 1.17 and 17.69 respectively.Conclusions: There was a wide variation in the cost of different brands of antitussive-expectorant drugs available in the Indian market. So, clinicians should be aware of rational use and variations in cost to reduce the treatment cost and increase patient compliance.